The Tale of Sam Sunder

Almost a year ago, Sam Sunder lost his footing only to find himself belly up floating downstream during one of the area's greatest floods. Sam was tiny then, and the tragedy separated him from all family and friends.

As an orphan, he had to pick up information along the way. Growing up can be difficult without someone to teach you. But Sam was smart, though perhaps not very wise. He learned quickly how to gather leaves and save for the future. He became an expert at dodging long-beaked birds and curious children, who laughed and ran in the woods looking for a Science specimen.

But Sam had one problem. It hounded him every morning and every night regardless if the day was happy or sad. He observed his world and found many wonders such as the prancing deer, the howling bear, the princely fox, and the regal eagle – in Sam's estimation, this was God's most amazing animal. He thought, To fly, now that would be heavenly! His mind soon mocked him, and he wondered why God made him a worm. I am the most lowly of creatures, of what use am I?

Past the tree where Sam sat brooding, a serious meeting of robins formed. As they gathered round, their chief counselor pronounced judgment on a young, wounded bird. “He has been injured quite severely and will never fly again. He can no longer be part of our clan. This is his own doing – a careless oversight on his part!” Then after a brief pause, the counselor pointed to the fledgling and said, “You young lad, will no longer be part of our alliance. We will have to let you go.” With that the flock of robins took to flight and left the hapless creature to fend for himself.

Sam watched the brown bird nursing his wing. With hesitation, he maneuvered his way nearer and said, “Hey there Mr. Robin, you look like you could use some help.”

“Yes, I guess I could. I've had an unfortunate fall.”
"Listen,” said Sam, “I can help you, just as long as you promise not to eat me.”
“Not a problem,” replied the Robin, “besides, I prefer eating berries.”
With that agreed, Sam built a comfortable place for the bird to rest using sticks and leaves, and he also made the robin a splint for his wing. Sam learned that the bird's name was Jeremy, and the two of them became best friends.

Jeremy often told Sam stories of his adventures in the air. Like the time he fell asleep on a dead limb that broke free. By the time he woke up, he was only a few feet away from crashing to the ground. But Jeremy soared skillfully to safety.

Eventually, Jeremy's wing healed, he flew again, and both the bird and the worm gave thanks.
Sam was happy for his friend, and he accepted his place in life. He understood that maybe he would never be able to fly. He was, however, able to help his friend soar once again. Older, wiser, and now very sleepy, Sam crawled onto a large tree trunk and instinctively began to weave a cocoon around his long, fat body. He stayed there asleep for many days... Seasons change, even for Sam, and the day arrived when he awoke from his long nap. He struggled to get free from the cocoon's shell. It took some time, but he made his way out. Sam looked at his new body and was amazed at the metamorphosis. He soon discovered he had wings to fly. After a time of adjustment to his new wings, he sailed effortlessly through the air with his friend Jeremy.

Sam looked beyond himself and his own worries to help another in need. He spent time at Jeremy's side, nursing him to health. In the end, after enabling Jeremy to recover, Sam's own desire of being airborne transpired. When we reach out to others in the Spirit of Christ's love, enabling them to succeed, many times we discover that our own God-inspired dreams take flight.

© Copyright 2011 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.

Thank You for Your Mercy

Don't sit in darkness
Your back turned to the light
Open up and let the Daystar shine on you

There is forgiveness for you
No matter how far you've strayed
The Father will run to you
And restore you
He will remove all your shame

His mercies are new every morning
There is a time to mourn over sin and failure
But after He washes us
After we have turned from our sin
To the Master
We must stand in His righteousness

We who are Christ followers
Are the redeemed, the forgiven
Gratitude rises up in our hearts

Let us forgive those who have harmed us
Let us proclaim His mercy
Without Him we are nothing
Without His touch we are utterly broken

But He has redeemed us
Because of His blood
We have been made completely righteous
Right-standing with God is our breastplate
Thank you Lord for Your great and abundant mercy
Thank you for forgiving us when we each had lost our way

Enter into His Joy

His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Matthew 25:21

Real joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It infuses us with strength, enthusiasm, and motivation. Did you know that real joy is also a product of our faithfulness to God? When we cultivate and use the talents the Lord has given us for His kingdom pursuits, we discover joy in the process. In the parable of the talents, the master commended two out of three of the servants for their faithfulness. He promised to give them greater responsibility and influence. He also promised to cause them to enter into his joy. The third servant fearfully hid his talent in a hole in the ground. His master said he was a wicked and lazy servant. He rewarded the servant by banishing him to a place of torment.

When we pursue God's assignment for our lives, when we cultivate our gifts and talents, the Lord fills us with joy. But when we ignore our Master's plan for our lives, we suffer the torment of knowing we are not fulfilling His will. I would encourage you to assess your life. Ask the Lord to uncover your gifts. Trust him to reveal to you what your contribution to the kingdom is to be. Then go after it. As you are faithful, you will live with a sense of purpose, and you will enter into His joy.

Your Majesty (We Don’t Deserve)

We don’t deserve the mercies You lavishly bestow
Your forgiveness that freely flows
The kindness that You always show

We deserve a place called hell
Where suffering never ceases
Where the imprisoned can’t find freedom

Where fear and pain reign
Where hopelessness remains

But You, Oh God, rescued us from shame
Filled us with Your praise
Healed our every pain

Thank you for giving us
What we do not deserve
One day in heaven we will serve
Your Majesty

Fear Not

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear immobilizes us like a poisonous dart that spreads paralysis. Fear is one of Satan’s most potent and most used weapons. All of us have been guilty of yielding to its sway at times. Fear has many faces. There is the fear of failure, the fear of man, the fear of sickness, the fear of responsibility, the fear of heights, the fear of being alone, and the fear of death to name a few.

The good news is that the remedy for this demonic foe is found in Christ. The word of God says that God has not given us a spirit of timidity or fear. Instead, he has clothed us with a spirit of power (God’s ability and authority), love, and self-discipline or a sound mind. When we are tempted to fear, we must speak God’s word against the enemy of our souls. 2 Timothy 1:7 is a good scripture to begin with. We have also been give authority to use the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus against our adversary. Here is an example of how we can pray and exercise spiritual warfare:

Father God, I thank you that You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. In the name of Jesus, I command you spirit of fear to flee from me for I am covered by the blood of Jesus. You have no right to come against me. I command you to flee in Jesus name.


Father God I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit afresh and anew, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.


We must recognize that we are in a spiritual battle and that fear is a spirit. It is also important that we learn to face our fears. Many times the enemy works to make us afraid to keep us from flowing in a spiritual gift. When I was a young Christian, I had a strong desire to tell others about the good news of salvation. There was one problem - I struggled with a fear of man and had a difficult time sharing my faith with unbelievers because of it. But I began to face my fears. I would buy gospel tracks and place them in phone booths and on car windows. These actions helped to break the fear of witnessing over me. Now I have much more freedom in this area and because of God’s grace I have had the opportunity of leading a number of people to Jesus.

If you are battling with a specific fear, identify it and ask God to help you overcome it. Stand on His word. Exercise spiritual warfare, and learn to face your fears. Step by step God will bring you out into the wide open space of His liberty.

The last thing I would like to remind you of is that God loves you. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” The more we receive God’s love for us the more we will love Him and others and the more we will find release from fear. Meditate on scriptures that focus on God’s love for you. This kind of revelation will banish fear from your presence.

If you are feeling afraid, know that God has not left you alone. He has given you the tools to triumph. Take to heart what I have shared with you and put these things into practice. I believe the Lord would say to you, “Fear not my child for I am with you always.”

God's Love

It's the greatest thing in heaven and earth
It triumphs over all the world

Its hand can heal the twisted soul
Make broken lives completely whole

It is love, God's love

When Christ hung
On that splintered cross
It was love that moved Him
To save the lost

It was love, God's love

When we face an enemy
And choose to pray for him or her
On bended knee

When we extend our hands
To feed the poor
And to the outcast open the door
We display

Love, God's love

For no attribute can compare
To the greatest gift we have to share
Though many live unaware

Let's give to each other love, God's love

For have you heard? Did you know?
That God is love from head to toe.
If He's the One we're living for

We'll walk in love, God's love

Good News Bears Expression

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15


A young woman lies silent in a hospital bed. Infected with a dangerous virus; her health plummets. Many pray for her healing. During the first and second day in the hospital, she remains unconscious. It is as if she is courting death. But after three days she awakes and her husband hears the doctor say, “She will live and not die.” The words, like a flash of lightening, ignite the man’s soul.

He phones his friends and relatives to communicate the good news. Good news bears expression. When we are excited about something wonderful that has happened to us, we are compelled to share it with others.

When we receive blessings from God’s hand whether we experience salvation, healing, protection, deliverance, or provision, we are inspired to share what we have received with others. Jesus commanded each of us to go and publish the good news of salvation – the news that was once new to us. We have been commissioned to gossip the gospel – to let others know what the Lord can do for them. We are lights in a world with blinders on. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can make an eternal difference in their lives. They, like us in the past, are doomed to die. But Jesus is the remedy for their plight. Because of Him, they can live and not die.

Let us be the bearers of good news to those who haven’t heard they can be forgiven. The world is waiting – what a privilege, what an awesome opportunity. Let’s say yes to the call.

Dear Lord of the Harvest,


Help me to realize all that You’ve done for me. Help me to remember especially how you brought me out of darkness and welcomed me into the light. Enable me to go and make disciples of those lost in the dark. Thank you Jesus for entrusting me with this all-important responsibility. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.