topic Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday in Community Chat

Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

gloriajean — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:26:52 GMT

Hello my friends!!! Today's blessings was our first Anniversary card from a friend! Then we had Ray and Ann over for supper, chicken on the grill, mashed potatoes (from the garden), beans (from the garden) and lettuce salad with cuke and tomatoes from the garden. Being he can't have anything gluten, we don't have desserts, but just my raspberries, and she surprised me by bringing some blueberries they picked! Having them both together in a dish was great! He cannot have sugar either, so no ice cream. Had a wonderful visit as usual! They surely are best friends and what a blessing from God!! Ann and I are planning on seeing Wanda next week sometime.

Prayer helps us see that God is not the cause of unpleasant happenings, but

the healing of them. Lord, I trust in You for the right outcomes in all

situations.

Scripture for the day:

"My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.

For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that

I may walk before God in the light of life." ~Psalm 56:12-13

Meditation for the day:

I will never forget to say thank you to God, even on the grayest days. My

attitude can be one of humility and gratitude. Saying thank you to God is a

daily practice that is absolutely necessary. If a day is not one of

thankfulness, the practice has to be repeated until it becomes so. Gratitude

is a necessity for those who seek to live a better life.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that gratitude will bring humility. I pray that humility will bring

me to live a better life.

U Turns

"Thanks for inviting me to go to church with you next Sunday, Uncle Al." Tim

and his uncle were on their way to Bonny Lake. They had heard the fishing

there was great. "I... I don't want to hurt your feelings," continued Tim,

"but... well... I'm not sure I want to get into this religious stuff.

Besides, Mom and Dad don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh?" asked Uncle Al in surprise. "I thought you said that your parents

wouldn't mind if you went with me. You sounded quite interested last week.

You even said the Gospel was beginning to make sense to you."

"Yeah, but since then I've done a lot of thinking," Tim said slowly. "I

don't think I feel like getting 'saved' right now. The crowd I hang around

with at school wouldn't understand, and I like being with them. Someday I'll

start going to church, but I think I'll just go on the way I am for a while.

I know I'm not perfect, but I'm not so bad, either."

Tim's uncle drove on silently for a few minutes. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed as

they passed a road sign. "I was so intent on our conversation that I missed

the turnoff! We should have gotten off this road five miles back!"

"Guess we'll have to turn around and go back now, huh?" asked Tim. But Uncle

Al shook his head. "I don't feel like turning around right now," he said. "I

guess we'll just keep going this way. I kind of like this road, and the

scenery is nice."

Tim looked at his uncle in amazement. "But we have to turn around to get to

Bonny Lake," he protested, "and the longer we keep going this way, the

longer it will take to get back. If we wait too long to turn around, we

might not even get there in time to fish."

Uncle Al smiled at Tim as he slowed down for the next turn. "You're right,"

he said, "and what you said just now is exactly what I've been trying to

tell you about spiritual life... that when you're traveling down the wrong

road, the sooner you turn around, the better. If you wait too long, you

might never get to your goal: Heaven."

- - -

Proverbs 20:4 - A farmer too lazy to plow his fields at the right time will

have nothing to harvest.

PINEWOOD DERBY

Author Unknown

PINEWOOD DERBY (The wisdom of a child)

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a

short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper,

a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to

"dad".

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to

doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and

scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young,

eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.

Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The

project began. Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best

if I simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he

did. I read aloud the measurements, the rules of what we could do and

what we couldn't do.

Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A

little lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom).

Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids' cars and was feeling

pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning", the pride that comes with

knowing you did something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and

pride in his heart we headed to the big race. Once there my little

one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only

car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son

partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for

speed.

A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's lopsided,

wobbly, unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility, Gilbert was the

only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from

single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their

side, Gilbert had "mom".

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing

as long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the

finely sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest,

fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my

wide eyed, shy eight year old ask if they could stop the race for a

minute, because he wanted to pray. The race stopped.

Gilbert went to his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood

between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his

Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then

he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their

car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart

and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly

great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second

before Tommy's car.

Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank You" as the crowd

roared in approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with

microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to

win, huh, Gilbert?"

To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to

ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so

I wouldn't cry when I lost."

Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God

to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome. Gilbert asked

God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the

other cars he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a father's

help!". No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend too

much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make us number

one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle, when

we should be seeking God's strength to get through the struggle. "I

can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians

4:13

Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He

never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray

to win, thus hurt someone else, he prayed that God supply the grace to

lose with dignity. Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his

Father also showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad", but

His Father was most definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked

away a winner that night, with his Father at his side.

May we all learn to pray this way.

THE ' L I T T L E ' THINGS

As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son

started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto

accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that

morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he

developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a

band-aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic , miss an elevator, turn back to answer a

ringing telephone . . . . All the little things that annoy me.

I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very

moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong ,

The children are slow getting dressed,

You can't seem to find the car keys,

You hit every traffic light,

Don't get mad or frustrated;

It May be just that God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things

And may you remember their possible purpose.

PINEWOOD DERBY (The wisdom of a child)

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short

time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of

wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad".

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing

things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at

the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The

block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.

Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The project

began. Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply

read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud

the measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't do.

Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A

little lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom).

Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids' cars and was feeling pretty

proud of his "Blue Lightning", the pride that comes with knowing you did

something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride

in his heart we headed to the big race. Once there my little one's pride

turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely

on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool

paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.

A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's lopsided, wobbly,

unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility, Gilbert was the only boy

without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent

homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side, Gilbert had "mom".

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as

long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely

sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest

looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide eyed, shy

eight year old ask if they could stop the race for a minute, because he

wanted to pray. The race stopped.

Gilbert went to his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between

his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He

prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on

his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car

sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and

watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed

and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.

Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank You" as the crowd roared in

approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and

asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?"

To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask

God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I wouldn't

cry when I lost."

Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win

the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome. Gilbert asked God to give

him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't

cry out to God, "No fair, they had a father's help!". No, he went to his

Father for strength. Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God

to rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to

remove us from the struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get

through the struggle. "I can do everything through Him who gives me

strength." Philippians 4:13

Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never

doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win,

thus hurt someone else, he prayed that God supply the grace to lose with

dignity. Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also

showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad", but His Father was

most definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that

night, with his Father at his side.

May we all learn to pray this way.

A Prayer For Endurance For Christ

Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit, Awesome God,

I praise your name, O Lord, for you have given me life everlasting.

I praise your name, O Lord, for you give me meaning and purpose when there

would be only aimlessness.

I praise your name, O Lord, for I can feel the sunshine of your love within

my soul.

When the people I care for turn against me because of you, I can still feel

the warmth of your presence within me.

When the world makes fun of you and I feel anger because of their scorn, you

touch my heart and help me to be understanding and forgiving

When I look at the world and the world blames you for the world's troubles,

I can see the day of your return.

When it seems I am the only one left standing for you, embolden me,

strengthen me, and show me the legions of others in diverse places who are

standing firm for you as well.

When it seems there is no hope, show me the legions of my ancestors of the

faith who wait patiently in heaven for the day of our great reunion.

All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus

Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.

Amen

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

Bobbi sue — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 14:55:48 GMT

God's blessings on all here. I am eating better. That is a blessing. Feeling better too.

Gloria, your meal sounded great. What a garden you must have. Did you plant corn?

Everyone have a happy Sunday. God bless.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

masque — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:02:54 GMT

gloriajean: What a wonderful post. Thank you.

I could almost see that Pinewood Derby race. I was a den mother when my oldest son was in the Cub Scouts. Wish I had taken a picture of it, but I do remember that it was painted white and was made by him with only a little help from Dad.

Bobbiesue: Praise God that you are feeling better. I read on here more than I post, but I have "seen" you around. Praying that God will continue to bless you .

To all who read and post here: May God bless you and keep you in the palm of His Hand.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

HeresLucy — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:19:12 GMT

Good morning!

Gloria, your meal sounds wonderful, my kind of eating...minus the berries! lol We've been eating beans and potatoes right out of the garden, fresh tomatoes and fried okra, such good food. Potatoes fresh out of the earth are something else. I'll even eat a piece or two raw, something I wouldn't do otherwise. Glad you enjoyed time with friends.

Bobbisue, so glad that you are doing better!

Please say prayers for my family members, Sandra, Jimmy, Ken. Thanks

I got an email from Juanita telling me about a co-worker that is very ill, please remember Wanda in your prayers.

Here is a prayer that I read this morning.

MORNING PRAYER: Father God, when my life is flowing smoothly, my faith is as strong as a three-fold cord. But some days are a different story, and it seems like things are crashing down around me. I cannot make any guarantees, but in the middle of my storm I will try with all that I have to hold steady and trust You. Amen

Have a blessed day.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

HeresLucy — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:20:00 GMT

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

HeresLucy — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:31:57 GMT

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

hsawaknow — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:35:14 GMT

Greetings to my friends here. I will keep you in my prayers and I thank you all for the prayers you have said for me. My pain from my surgery is finally albeit slowly down to 2 pain pills a day! May God be with us all.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

HeresLucy — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:16:10 GMT

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

gloriajean — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 02:15:11 GMT

Bobbiesue - so good to hear your good news! Glad you're eating better now and feeling better too! That's a great blessing! We'll never plant corn again, we tried a couple rows and the squirrels ate it so no more!!! We have a little fence around our garden so the rabbits can't get in. Our cabbage is getting big heads!

masque - Welcome to our thread! Glad that story brought back some good memories! I'm glad you read here, and I love hearing from you too!!!

Lucy - good you heard from Juanita and we'll keep her co-worker, Wanda, in our prayers too. Thanks for your graphics and that Morning prayer.

Felicia - so good to see you here!! Glad our prayers are helping a bit that the pain isn't so severe now - and down to two pain pills a day. We'll keep those prayers going.