Hello my friends! Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Day! Ours started out slow, Sammy got groomed, we thought that's all we'd do, but I made bread for the first time in a long time, it turned out great! 4 loaves of Oatmeal Oat Bread, and then Darla called and invited us over for supper, and we played some darts, Darla and I against the men, and they won by maybe 1 point! It was a very close game, lots of fun. Darla is nine weeks along with the twins now. She showed us her latest ultra - sound - they are an inch long now! They have their ears, eyes, all kinds of new things happening! She is so excited. She appreciates all prayers!
Today ask God for anything that is in line with His will for you. Plead with Him
and Tell Him your needs and keep praying.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes
refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the
destroying storms pass by." ~Psalm 57:1
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
"My soul is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." A river flows
on, until it loses itself in the sea. Our spirits long for rest in the
Spirit of God. We can yearn to realize a peace, a rest, a satisfaction
that we have never found in the world or its pursuits. Some of us are
not conscious of our need, and can shut the doors of our spirits against
the Spirit of God. That makes it difficult for us to find true peace.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may feel the divine unrest. I pray that my soul may find
its rest in God.
GOD CAN
When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean,
when you think that no one can heal you,
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
When you think that you are unforgivable
for your guilt and your shame
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
When you think that all is hidden
and no one can see within
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
And when you have reached the bottom
And you think that no one can hear
Remember my dear Friend
God Can.
And when you think that no one can love
the real person deep inside of you
Remember my dear Friend,
God Does.
~~Author Unknown~~
My Morning Prayer
I come before You, Lord, In the newness of this day
To ask Your grace upon me, Your love to guide my way.
May I face this day with strength, A gift from You above,
And may I show to others The mercies of your love.
May I don my Christian faith Best to wear at its best,
So when temptations come to taunt I'm ready for their test.
Then when at last it's evening And I come again in prayer
May I not forget to thank You For this tender, loving care.
By Mary Leonard
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Author Unknown
A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next
door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College,
girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved
clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush
of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and
often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his
future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought
of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack
said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you
were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his
side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make
sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in
this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching
me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the
funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to
his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to
see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway,
Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another
dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he
remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of
furniture... . Jack stopped
suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box? " Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser
family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post
office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old
and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The
handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his
attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and
ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."
A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears
filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he
found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over
the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time!
Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most...was.. .my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"
Thank you for your time.....
PRAYER FOR THE PRESENT MOMENT
Dear God. I spend so much time reliving yesterday or
anticipating tomorrow that I lose sight of the only time
that is really mine - the present moment. You give me
today one moment at a time. That's all I have - all I ever
will have.
Give the faith which knows that each moment contains
exactly what is best for me. Give the hope which trusts
You enough to forget past failings and future trials.
Give the love which makes each moment an anticipation of
eternity with You. We ask this in the name of Jesus who is
the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.
January 2 - Jesus Calling
Relax in My healing Presence. As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today’s plans and problems. Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal. Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me. Thus I equip you to face whatever the day brings. This sacrifice of time pleases Me and strengthens you. Do not skimp on our time together. Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done. You have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from you.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
—Psalm 105:4
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
—Luke 10:39–42
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