A man was on the side of the road with a large birdcage. A boy noticed that the cage was full of birds of many kinds.

"Where did you get those birds?" he asked.

"Oh, all over the place," the man replied. "I lure them with crumbs, pretend I'm their friend then when they are close, I net them and shove them into my cage."

"And what are you going to do with them now?"

The man grinned, "I'm going to prod them with sticks, and get them really mad so they fight and kill each other. Those that survive, I will kill. None will escape."

The boy looked steadily at the man. What made him do such things? He looked into the cruel, hard eyes. Then he looked at the birds, defenseless, without hope. "Can I buy those birds?" the boy asked.

The man hid a smile, aware that he could be on to a good thing if he played his cards right. "Well," he said hesitantly, "The cage is pretty expensive, and I spent a lot of time collecting these birds, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll let you have the lot, birds, cage and all for ten dollars and that jacket you're wearing."

The boy paused, ten dollars was all he had, and the jacket was new and very special, in fact it was his prized possession. Slowly, he took out the ten dollars and handed it over, then even more slowly he took off his jacket, gave it one last look then handed that over too. And then he opened the door and let the birds go free.

We Have A God Who Did That For Us.

The Enemy of the world, Satan, was on the side of life's road with a very large cage.

The man coming towards him noticed that it was crammed full of people of every kind, young, old, from every race and nation. "Where did you get these people?" the man asked.

"Oh, from all over the world," Satan replied. "I lure them with drink, drugs, lust, lies, anger, hate, love of money and all manner of things. I pretend I'm their friend, out to give them a good time, then when I've hooked them, into the cage they go."

"And what are you going to do with them now?" asked the man.

Satan grinned. "I'm going to prod them, provoke them, get them to hate and destroy each other; I'll stir up racial hatred, defiance of law and order; I'll make people bored, lonely, dissatisfied, confused and restless. It's easy. People will always listen to what I offer them and (what's better) blame God for the outcome!"

"And then what?" the man asked.

"Those who do not destroy themselves, I will destroy. None will escape me."

The man stepped forward. "Can I buy these people from you?" he asked.

Satan snarled, "Yes, but it will cost you your life."

So Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid for your release, your freedom from Satan's trap, with His own life, on the cross at Calvary. The door is open, and anyone, whom Satan has deceived and caged, can be set free.

Author Unknown

God Wants To Set You Free.

Friend, make no mistake about it.. God loves you. He loves so much that He paid the penalty of sin for you. He took the blows that you deserved. He was beaten, mocked and hung on a cross for you. That is love.

Listen to me.. that love is reaching out to you right now. It is touching your heart and it is calling you to return to God. It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are doing.. God loves you. God wants to take away the pain and hurt and give you a brand new life. You can have it right now.

How? Simple follow the way shown in Romans 10:9. Romans 10:9 says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected by the Father? Will you confess Him as Lord? That means asking Jesus to become Lord of your life. How do you do it?

Prayer this simple prayer.."Jesus I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. Forgive me of all my sin. I want to start again. So come into my heart as my Lord. I accept you, Jesus, as my Savior, as the risen Son of God. My life is yours."

And with a simple prayer like that.. God comes in and cleanses you from all sin. Now go and call someone and tell them what you have done. E-mail us and we will send you a book to help you on your way in this new walk with God.

Remember, It is love...God's great love that has made the way.