Hello my friends!! Today on his day off, my dear husband worked hard on the garage, pressured washed it all, worked on different things in the yard, and now he feels he's finished and can finally relax and just do some touch ups etc. but not real hard stuff. Praise the Lord for that!! He really works like a trooper - I can't, my back would cave in, I do what I can, though. Today Ollie did a terrible thing! He ate 57 Tums out of Lori's bottle, she knows exactly how many because it was a new bottle of 60 and she had 3. She called the Vet, he was concerned of the overdose of calcium, so she had to bring him in, and he induced vomiting, and sedated him and she brought him here then for me to check on him, which he slept nearly the whole time he was here, and didn't vomit anymore, but around the time she came to pick him up he seemed normal again and was playing ball again! Tomorrow she has to go back with him for some blood work to be done. Wow!!! Let's all pray for a very special intention, okay!! I won't mention it, but God knows what it is. Thank you all!!
God is better to us than we deserve. Lord, thank you for the strength
You give in my trials and especially thank you for the trials You have
kept from my door.
Scripture for the day:
"Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all
times." ~Psalm 106:3
Meditation for the day:
Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living
the right kind of life, of doing the right thing. We need not search
for happiness. We can search for right living and happiness can be our
reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But
happiness can come again, as God's smile of recognition of our
faithfulness. True happiness is the by-product of a life well lived.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may not seek happiness but seek to do right. I pray that
I may not seek pleasure so much as the things that bring true happiness.
What the Pine Trees Told Me
I paused by a quiet lake in the moonlight and listened, and this is what the
pine trees said to me:
"We have grown tall, because we have grown straight. We have grown big
because we have reached for the stars. We have learned that the way to
increase our height is to keep growing. We have grown strong because we have
rooted deep in the good earth. We have been patient, for we have learned
that it takes time to grow a great tree.
We have faced life bravely as it came: sunshine, and storm, snow and rain.
We have filled the air with the sweet aroma of our needles and have given
shade to those who came our way. We have known the joy of service by
sheltering with our branches the nests of birds. We have been still and
listened to God and we have seen His face in the dawning of each new day."
The pines were silent then, swaying as though in benediction. And I walked
away beneath the stars meditating on their message.
ARE YOU JESUS?
Author Unknown
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales
convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be
home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.
In their rush, with tickets and brief-cases, one of these salesmen
inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of baskets of
apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they
all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed
boarding.
All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his
feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose
apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of
them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and
explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal
where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears
running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time
helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about
her, no one stopping, and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put
them into the baskets, and helped set the display up once more. As he
did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and
bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl,
"Here, please take this $20 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't
spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called
out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those
blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way
to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing
about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people
cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that
is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.
It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the
apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He
stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called
Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.
Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.
USE CAUTION WHEN ASKING!
By Marion Smith
July 30, 2009
Jeremiah 29:11
We arrived at the 5 story Embassy Suite in Detroit, Mich.,
ready to unpack and settle in. “May I see which room we will be in?”,
I asked. The receptionist showed me the floor plan of the hotel, and
I proceeded to pick the perfect room for us. Only a few had balconies-
fresh air was a must for me ! And, I had noticed when we walk in,
there were a lot of birds in two trees out front. . perfect.. I want
to hear those birds chirping their cheerful morning songs! As I opened
the sliding glass doors to allow the refreshing cool breeze into our
room, I was assaulted with the unrelenting drone of cars traveling on
the freeway nearby. “Well,” I thought” that is o.k., the fresh air
and balcony is worth the noise.” As we closed the door for the night,
we were unable to shut out the freeway noise. The next morning we
awoke and I could hardly wait to open those sliding doors and listen
for the birds chirping their sweet songs from the trees. Instead I
heard a raucous racket of angry mother birds protecting their nests in
the eve above our balcony. As other variety of birds would sweep
toward their nests, they would holler and squawk unmercifully. The
sounds they made grated my nerves and I finally closed the door,
trying to shut out some of the noise.
I was so disappointed- I had received exactly what I had
asked for, and it turned out to be.. ”not so good”- to say the
least!
This scenario reminded me how cautious I should be when I
go to God with a request. Answers which I think may be “perfect” are
not always so. Actually, my plans are very often quite bad, and
always short sighted. God tells us in the Bible that –He has plans
for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a
hope and a future( Jeremiah 29:11).-. I really need to be careful, as
I pray, to seek God’s wisdom (looking in His Word) and praying for His
guidance as I place my requests at the foot of His throne. I must
always remember that He sees the big picture- not just a short term
solution or a quick fix for something which I think needs immediate
attention. When prayers are not answered in the way I had hoped, I
need to return to that scripture which reminds me that God has a
wonderful plan for my life and that of each person I pray for. Then I
need to thank Him for being, and staying, in control.
We need to get away at times
From life's demanding ways
And find some quiet, little nook
in which to dream or pray
A small escape from daily trials
that temper joys of life
and burden us with little fears
that add to tears of strife
a private place where we can be
alone in God's embrace
and dream, a little, and dwell, a little
in arms of Holy Grace
A place to rest our heart and soul
against what is to be
when return to what we left
and what we can't foresee.
--author unknown
Ask, Search, Knock
We can be embarrassed by prayer of petition for sometimes we feel that we
pray only when we want something. Jesus tells us not to have such
inhibitions. The prayer of petition is natural because it expresses our
awareness of our relationship with God. We are creatures who are not our own
beginning or last end. Christ is glorified by what we ask the Father in his
name. Because of God´s love for us we can ask for anything.
Prayer
Father, teach me to pray. Fill my lips with words that you want to hear. You
are the Holy One whom all should honor and revere. May your Kingdom come in
the fullness of time. I pray that the love of you may permeate the universe.
Give us the food we need each day, food for body, food for soul. I need your
forgiveness for my faults and failings. I am often proud and over-confident,
not remembering that I can do little without your help. Teach me the way to
forgive and forget. Help me not to have bitterness within me. Give me the
spirit, Lord, to forgive those who sinned against me. Do not let me wander
to occasions of sin.
Help me to love you with all my heart, loving my neighbor as myself. May I
always be humble enough to say "Your will be done". You know, Lord, what is
best for me and those around me. As I storm heaven with prayer, you are
listening, giving what I need. Thank you, Lord, for all you did for me.
Don´t forget me in the months and years to come. Give me the chance to honor
and praise you for all eternity. Amen.
GOD KNOWS JUST WHAT WE NEED
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was
very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get
some medication for her daughter.
Upon returning to her car she found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter. She didn't know what
to do, so she called her home and told the baby sitter what had happened and
that she did not know what to do.
The baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. She said,
"You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The woman
looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down
on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked
their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't
know how to use this." So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some
help.
Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy,
bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman
thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she
was also very thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes,
my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked
my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger
to unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the
car was opened.
She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You
are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison
yesterday. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out less than 24
hours."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh,
Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"
God may not always send us what we expect, but He will always send us what
we need. It's up to us to have the wisdom to recognize the difference and
be thankful.
-- Author Unknown
Believing in People
A wealthy businessman in a small town had signs
printed and placed all over the town. They stated
that if any person in the town who owed debts,
would come to his office on a certain day between
nine and twelve in the morning, he would pay
those debts. Naturally, that promise was the talk
of the town. But very few believed it. They
thought there was a catch somewhere.
The day came. The business man sat in his office
at nine. But at ten, no one had come. At eleven, a
man was seen walking up and down outside,
occasionally looking up at the office door.
Finally he seemed to take courage and open it. He
put his head in and asked, "Is it true that you
will pay any person's debt?"
"That's right," the rich man replied. "Are you in
debt?" "I certainly am," the caller answered. "Do
you have along the bills and statements to prove
it?"
The visitor produced the documents and the
business man wrote out a check covering all of
them. Before twelve o'clock, two other men came
and had their debts paid. People outside could
not believe it. But now there was no time left to
have their bills paid.
If people don't believe in the goodness of man,
how can they believe in the goodness of God?
"A True Look At Life"
Life can seem ungrateful ~ and not always kind...
Life can pull at your heartstrings ~ and play with your mind...
Life can be blissful ~and happy and free...
Life can put beauty ~ in the things that you see
... Life can place challenges ~ right at your feet...
Life can make good ~ of the hardships we meet...
Life can overwhelm you ~ and make your head spin...
Life can reward those ~ determined to win...
Life can be hurtful ~ and not always fair...
Life can surround you ~ with people who care ...
Life clearly does offer ~ its Up and its Downs...
Life's days can bring you ~ both smiles and frowns...
Life teaches us to take ~ the good with the bad...
Life is a mixture ~ of happy and sad...
SO...
Take the Life that you have ~ and give it your best...
Think positive be happy ~ let God do the rest...
Take the challenges that life ~ has laid at your feet...
Take pride and be thankful ~ for each one you meet...
To yourself give forgiveness ~ if you stumble and fall...
Take each day that is dealt you ~ and give it your all...
Take the love that you're given ~ and return it with care...
Have faith that when needed ~ it will always be there...
Take time to find the beauty ~ in the things that you see...
Take life's simple pleasures ~ let them set your heart free...
The idea here is simply ~ to even the score
As you are met and faced with ~ Life's Tug of War.
Author Unknown
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I noticed that most call you Gloria, but I call you Gloriajean. Hope that's ok. I used to babysit a little girl named Gloriajean,and I think of her when I see your name.
