Hello my friends! It was a nice really nice having Lori over for lunch today - And she has some time so we could have a nice visit - what a blessing! Also tonight was another birthday celebration with my husband's siblings, and we all were together again at a restaurant, and good visiting. In a week, another birthday celebration - his brother turns 70!. Thank you all for your posts, and for those who don't want to post, thanks for reading. Thanks all for your prayers.
We are partially responsible for every wrong which we had the power
to prevent. Lord, grant me the courage to not look the other way when
I could make a difference.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
habitation of the Most High." Psalm 46:4
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
We seem to live not only in time but also in eternity. If we abide with
God and God abides with us, we may bring forth spiritual fruit which can
last for eternity. If we live with God, our lives can flow as some calm
river through the dry land of earth. It can cause the trees and flowers
of the spiritual life--love and service--to spring forth and yield
abundantly. Spiritual work may be done for eternity, not just for now.
Even here on earth we can live as though our real lives were eternal.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may try to make my life like cool river in a thirsty land.
I pray that I may give freely to all who ask my help.
"I Don't Fit In"
A friend of mine witnessed what I am about to tell you.
Several years ago, a well dressed older gentleman entered an elevator in a tall office building, apparently consumed with whatever business he was taking care of that day.
It was mid-afternoon of the work day, and there were only three people on that elevator -- the gentleman, a middle-aged woman and my friend -- all being transported down to the street level.
Out of the blue, the woman starts crying. Taken aback, the gentleman and my friend didn't know what to say or do.
"I'm sorry. I'm making a spectacle of myself," said the woman, sobbing and searching her purse for a handkerchief.
The gentleman offered her his. "Thank you," she said, "I just don't know anymore. I'm usually not like this, but I just don't know anymore."
"I'm sure everything will turn out fine -- don't you worry, Miss," he said.
"No. No. It's not that. I have so much to be grateful for," she said as she shook her head. "It's not what you think."
Not wanting to pry, her elevator mates stood speechless.
"It's just that I don't fit in. I've never fit in. I do everything I'm supposed to do, but I don't feel like I belong," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
The elevator continued its downward journey as the distraught woman tried to compose herself.
"I'm so embarrassed. You'll have to pardon me. Things have just caught up to me," she said.
"Miss, I have something I want to tell you, if you have just a minute," the old man said.
The elevator opened as they reached the lobby.
"Oh yes, please, I need to get my mind focused on something," she said.
They left the elevator and walked into the busy lobby. The old man turned to my friend, and invited him to join them. By this time, my friend's curiosity had got the best of him.
The old man's face had some well worn lines. His gray hair bespoke of his experience, and his dark eyes peered over his bifocals, lending confidence to his words.
"I don't know what your situation is Ma'am," he said politely. "However, I was in the same boat many years ago. And while I was in my little personal crisis, I felt the same way. Moreover, I came to find out that everyone, sooner or later, feels like they don't fit in."
"Sometimes it happens early in life in school. Teenagers are thrown together with strangers and told to fit in. It's almost an impossible situation. Then, the same thing happens at work, or with your neighbors at home. You always feel like you are the odd man out. Everyone else seems to be happy. They look comfortable. They look like they belong, and you always feel like you are an intrusion. I know all about that," said the old man.
"I know exactly what you're saying," the woman said as she nodded in agreement.
"A lot of people avoid those feelings by limiting contact. Watching television, or reading books, or sitting in front of a computer provides a comfort zone, and if you can afford to do that, I suppose that's fine if that's what you want to do. However, for many of us, the real world cannot be escaped. We have to work. We have to make a living. And we have to interact with relatives and strangers in settings everyday. And, Ma'am, this is what I want to tell you..."
"You see, it's all in how you look at it. Some people face those feelings and settings with a sense of adventure. Others face the same situation with dread. Yes, we all have different personalities and some of us are more sensitive and vulnerable than others. However, if you can remember just a couple of things, it will make your life a whole lot easier," he said.
"Do you work in this building?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Well, this is my first time here and I had no idea where I was going, and had never met the person I was going to see. Now, who is the one who feels like they don't fit in?" he asked. "But, somehow, I got through it, and I'll be walking out that front door in a minute without a scratch."
She and my friend chuckled.
"You can safely assume that the people you are interacting with feel as out of place as you do. So, you simply practice the Golden Rule and make them feel as comfortable as you can. They don't teach the Golden Rule in school, so this is something you have to pick up along the way. Suffice it to say, if you make others feel comfortable, they will reciprocate."
"Second, remember that in order to sense that feeling of belonging, you have to feel you belong to yourself. In other words, if you aren't settled and comfortable with yourself first, you'll be a fish out of water. Be confident about what you believe. Be true to your feelings. You don't have to pretend to be someone else. Just be yourself and let the world appreciate what you have to offer. Everyone is good at something, including you. Offer what you are good at, and who knows, maybe the world might even pay you for it!", the old man said as he started to laugh.
"You're not alone," he said as he patted the woman's shoulder.
"Don't go nuts trying to force yourself to fit in. There are too many holes and too many pegs out there to even try. Just have a little faith in yourself, associate with people who lift you up, and you'll soon find folks coming to you for help. And when you get lost in helping them, you won't even think about fitting in. At that point, you won't be looking at life, you'll be a part of it."
"Oh, thank you," she said, as the old man walked toward the street.
My friend just stood there, not saying a word. At that split second of awkwardness, the woman and my friend extended their hands and shook.
"Nice to meet you," they both said at the same time. And then, just as quickly and simultaneously, they said, "Have a nice day," as they both went in different directions.
While they never knew each others' names, it was an encounter they would never forget.
- Author Unknown
S L E E P I N G T H R O U G H T H E S T O R M
Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He
constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to
work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that
raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady
stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age,
approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked
him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired
him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to
dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out
of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired
hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get
up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told
you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him
on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his
amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been
covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in
the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then
understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep
while the wind blew.
When we are prepared, we have nothing to fear. We can secure ourselves
against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in God's Word and
God's love.
You Ask Why I Follow This Jesus?
You ask why I follow this Jesus?
Why I love Him the way I do?
When the world's turned away from His teachings
And the people who serve Him are few.
It's not the rewards I'm after
Or gifts that I hope to receive
It's the Presence that calls for commitment
It's the Spirit I trust and believe.
The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful
Or spare them all suffering and pain,
Like everyone else I have burdens,
And walk through my share of rain.
Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,
And that joy only Christians have known,
I never know what comes tomorrow,
But I do know I'm never alone.
It's the love always there when you need it;
It's the words that redeem and inspire,
It's the longing to ever be with Him
That burns in my heart like a fire.
So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus?
Well, friend, that's so easy to see,
But the one thing that fills me with wonder is
Why Jesus loves someone like me.
Prayer for Protection for oneself
Lord God, Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come before you in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I ask that I may have the powerful protection that comes form the Precious Blood of Your Son that was poured out for me on the cross at Calvary. In the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus, I ask that you send angels to protect and defend me from any attack of the enemy and to defend all the members of my family, my friends and loved ones.
Protect and bless everyone who has asked me to pray for them. Give me the grace to hear your voice and the courage to walk in your ways. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who will come again in the fullness of his glory. To him be glory and praise, now and forever. Amen.
Unceasing Prayer
Dear Father, who answers our prayers,
Help me to be steadfast in my praying to you, even to stay awake that I may pray!
Fill my life with thanksgiving to you.
O God, I pray for all your servants everywhere that you may open a door for us to proclaim your Word, to declare the now-public secret - Christ crucified, glorified, and coming - and to make the message clear, as we ought to speak.
In the name of Jesus I ask you to fill our lives with your holy life and to claim all our motives and deeds as your own. Amen.
November 5 - Jesus Calling
You can live as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don’t turn out as they’d hoped. They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.
Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don’t let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. —Philippians 4:12
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.” —Genesis 28:15
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. —Philippians4:19
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38–39
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