Hello my friends,
Well Lucy - my hair didn't grow darker, but lighter, and I thought I look better as the red God intended me to be - my sister Deil told me that she still remembers when I was born, a carrot red!!! I didn't know you also are a red head - Yes, like "I love Lucy"! Today's blessings are this: I picked yellow beans, lots of raspberries, lots of kale and collard, and I even dug a bunch of red potatoes! With a chicken breast, I used my new electric fry pay ( the other one wore out), and I fried the chicken with a fresh onion from the garden I just got too, and all the beans after washed, snipped and cut got in there with mushroom soup, and I cooked the potatoes, and on top of the potatoes, forked, went the other mixture and it was very delicious and of course a great blessing from God indeed!! First time I used kale and collard, just torn up into that dish I was making, fried with the rest, and was that ever good!!! Not mean to brag, friends, but this is all gifts from God and to Him I give the Credit! He's the only One who deserves the credit - Praise His Holy Name!
It is much harder to see today if you are looking at yesterday. Lord, help
me to live and appreciate each moment as I am experiencing it so that I am
prepared more fully for the next moment.
Scripture for the day:
"Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and
slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God." ~Ephesians 4:31-5:2
Meditation for the day:
We cannot believe in God and keep our selfish ways. When we believe
more strongly in God, we begin to abandon our selfish ways. The old
self can shrivel up and die, and God's image can become much clearer.
The gradual elimination of selfishness in the growth of love for God and
our fellow human beings is a wonderful goal in our lives. As the
picture grows, we can reveal more and more of the likeness of God until
those who see us can see in us the power of God's grace at work in a
human life.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may grow in my likeness to God. I pray that others may see in
me some of the power of God's grace at work.
The Seven Wonders
I heard about a group of Geography students who studied the Seven Wonders of
the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what
they each considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World.
Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:
Egypt's Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal,
the Empire State Building, St. Peter's Basilica and China's Great Wall.
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl,
hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having
trouble with her list.
The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind
because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are,
to touch and to taste, to see and to hear . . . " She hesitated a little,
"and then, to run and to laugh and to love."
It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them
as "wonders" while we overlook all that God has done, regarding them as
merely "ordinary."
May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous!
- Author Unknown
A Prayer for Loved Ones
Lord, be their Shepherd,
Keep them with the flock,
Watch them and tend him,
Be their solid rock.
Don't let them falter,
Don't let them fall,
Wait with them, Father,
Be there for their call.
Hold their hand firmly,
The path grows so steep,
Wipe their tears gently,
Should they start to weep.
Teach them to follow,
In Your humble way,
Help them to walk,
In Your shadow each day.
Strengthen their body,
Weaken their will,
Should they deny You,
Stay with them still.
Give them Your shoulder,
On which they may rest,
Embrace them warmly,
Next to Your breast.
Please place Your hand,
Upon their dear head,
And give them Your blessing,
As their spirit is fed.
Quiet their mind,
Comfort their soul,
Put peace in their heart,
Make their life whole.
Give them a vision,
Of Your tender smile,
Let them feel loved,
All of the while.
HEAVE'N'S GROCERY STORE
Author Unknown
As I was walking down life's
highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read
Heavens Grocery Store.
When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said
"My child, shop with care."
Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more.
First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom
and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity, of course,
I would need some of that, too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage
to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for
Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
Then I started to the counter
to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
to do the Masters will.
As I went up the aisle I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful,
the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the angel
"How much do I owe?"
He smiled and said
"Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked "Really now,
how much do I owe?"
"My child " he said,
"God paid your bill a long, long time ago."
Count Your Blessings
Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count you gains instead of your losses,
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your courage instead of your fears,
Count your laughs instead of your tears.
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count you health instead of your wealth,
Count on God instead of yourself.
~ Author Unknown
THE TONGUE THAT STINGS
By Dr. Jeff Lee
"It is getting so red and swollen. Itches like crazy!
What should I do?" The caller was frantic. An ant bite on
her hand hours earlier had caused terrible suffering.
All of us have experienced the unexpected irritation and
pain of insect bites. Yet, far worse than bug stings are
the inconsiderate words from the loose tongue of another
Christian; that pain lasts a lot longer.
Casual and unintentional remarks do great damages long
after they are said and forgotten. I have committed my
fair share.
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the
wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a
lying tongue lasts only a moment. There is deceit in the
hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who
promote peace. Prov 12:18-20
Excuses like "I didn't mean it," "I was just trying to be
funny," "But, that's me," and "People can't be so
sensitive," are not good for us who are Christians.
Am I one who needs frequent reminder of the need of tongue
control? Is it to say less or not say it at all?
How do I deliberately choose my words to bring healing to
someone? Are my words genuine, praising and encouraging?
"Try not to scratch it! You will only make it worse!"
I told my friend. But, what should I do with injuries from
the tongue of a Christian?
The Three Trees
Author Unknown
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they
wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold
treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones.
I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's
way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying
powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and
women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all.
I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise
their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the
world."
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall.
One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked
at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me."
With a swoop of his ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a
beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is
strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his ax, the second tree fell.
"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a
strong ship for mighty kings!"
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way.
She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the
woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he
muttered. With a swoop of his ax, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The
once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was
coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no
mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was
hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too
weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little
lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams
and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered.
"All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a
young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a
cradle for him." her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth
and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said. And suddenly the
first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing
boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into
the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree
shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many
passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said,
"Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the
second tree knew she was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked
from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an
angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to
her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun
rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that
God's love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the
third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest
tree in the world.
The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, sit tight
and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.
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