Hello my friends! It was such a nice day! First coffee in the patio, and then we had breakfast before Church - sausage and scrambled eggs with my homemade bread, and Lori invited us over for supper tonight - she made chicken on the grill, whole chicken that sits in a beer can full of beer, and cooks until done like that with a good rub on, with a slight beer flavor - and it was so good!! She made two of them like that, and gave me the bones and carcass to make her some soup. After that, we had a bon fire - and the weather couldn't have been more perfect!! It was so nice and relaxing sitting by the fire, and my sister, Deil, enjoyed it very much!! She has this sore toe for so long, and it's so painful - shoes hurt, so we'll be taking her to a shoe place that can help her in the morning - and Lori's essential oils are relieving her pains - Praise God for that!!! She couldn't believe how quickly the pain went away when she was applying the oils. We're having waffles for breakfast, got the batter made already for the morning. Take care everyone, and remember you are all in our prayers and thanks much for your prayers for us. Oh Yes, I got a text this afternoon that Erma is discharged from the hospital and back to her place at the Nursing Home!! What a blessing!
It is important to remember that different can be better. Lord, as I resist
change
and cling to the familiar, help me to remember that Your plan is perfect and
will
truly make me happy.
Scripture for the day:
"One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another,
and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment
is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, 'Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with
all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." ~Mark
12:28-31
Meditation for the day:
To truly desire to do God's will , therein lies happiness for us. We
can start out wanting our own way. We want our wills to be satisfied.
We can take and not give. Gradually, we can find that we are not happy
when we are selfish, so we begin to make allowances for other peoples'
wills. But this again dos not give us full happiness, and we begin to
see that the only way to be truly happy is to try to do God's will. In
these times of meditation, we can seek to get guidance so that we can
find God's will for us.
Prayer for the day;
I pray that I may subordinate my will to the will of God. I pray that I
may be guided today to find God's will for me.
Daily Prayer
Lord,
Allow me to use the experience and knowledge I have gained
for the benefit of my family and friends. Give me wisdom, so
that I may be wise. Not in the wisdom of the world, but in
my dealings with people, so that I may advise sensibly,
support regularly, encourage frequently, challenge always.
Allow me to continue to grow in experience and knowledge.
Allow me to strive for further glory, considering every view
point, and going forward in faith, trusting in your
guidance.
Amen
Ordinary Miracles
Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ---
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work.
I wish you a day of of little things to rejoice in ---
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfection ---
Little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling
that the universe is smiling on you, holding you so gently
because you are someone special and rare.
BE YOU
Contributed by Melanie Schurr
It is amazing how much energy many of us waste over what others think
of us, instead of just being who we are.
A bit of nonsensical gossip is told to us by Aunt Bertha, and we spend
the remainder of the day wondering who could have started such a
ridiculous lie! Or, while at a dinner party, someone makes an
insensitive passing comment about your weight, or style of dress, and
when you return from the evening out, you toss and turn all night,
emotionally beating yourself up for being so repulsive.
I myself have fallen in this trap on occasion. Although I have been a
freelance writer, author and columnist for many years, a couple of
family relations have made it clear they don't agree with what I
write, and do not regard me as a "real" professional writer.
Of course the jabs hurt, but when I realized I was spending so much
time trying to understand how or why they could hold such a negative
view of something I love and which has given my life a sense of
meaning and purpose, I knew I was doing myself a disservice by
allowing someone or something to interfere with my relationship with
God.
While it is good to view ourselves in an unbiased manner, such as
realizing smoking isn't doing our health any good and coming up with a
plan to quit, there is a big difference between keeping your life on
track, and obsessing over things over which we generally have no
control, such as what others may be saying behind our back.
If something or someone is distracting you; negatively affecting your
relationship with God, and keeping you from the peace our Heavenly
Father desires for all His children, I encourage you to let go of the
pain and worry, move on from the stress, and BE who God designed you
to be!
He Chose to Adopt Us
This story tells of the man who set out to adopt a troubled teenage girl.
One would question his logic. She was destructive, disobedient, and
dishonest.
One day she came home from school and ransacked the house looking for money.
By the time he arrived, she was gone and the house was in shambles.
Upon hearing of her actions, a friend urged him not to finalize the
adoption. "You haven't completed the paperwork. You haven't signed any
documents. Let her go."
His response was simply, "But I've already promised her that she would be my
daughter."
God, too, has made a covenant to adopt his people. His covenant is not
invalidated by our rebellion. It's one thing to love us when we are strong,
obedient, and willing. But when we ransack his house and steal what is his?
This is the test of love. And God passes the test; Despite our sin, in the
face of our rebellion, He chose to adopt us.
- - -
Romans 5:8 - But God has shown us how much he loves us - it was while we
were still sinners that Christ died for us!
Matthew 9:12-13 - (Jesus said) "People who are well do not need a doctor,
but only those who are sick... I have not come to call respectable people,
but outcasts."
A Tree We Could All Use
I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse,
and he had just finished a rough first day on the job. A
flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw
quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving,
he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward
the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching
tips of the branches with both hands.
When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation.
His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his
two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my
curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had
seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied.
"I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one
thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my
wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree
every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them
up again. Funny thing is he smiled, "when I come out in the
morning to pick'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I
remember hanging up.
Ephesians 1:5 - God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would
make us his sons...
The Chosen Vessel
The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!
The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine
And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.
Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.
Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.
The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!
Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.
Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. There's work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.
By Beulah V. Cornwall
Mother Teresa Said...
We are all capable of good and evil. We are not born bad: everybody has
something good inside. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there. God
created us to love and to be loved, so it is our test from God to choose one
path or another.
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