Hello my friends! Today got a lot done - made a list and crossed things off! Lori came over this afternoon with the corn on cob and the brots (sausage) for the cream can. We have plenty potatoes and hopefully carrots too, need to get cabbage yet and onions. It's getting closer - one week away! Hope I'm not boring you with all of this. Many blessings we've had today already! Praying for you all - know that you are all blessed and loved!
Today picture yourself as the happiest person that you know and watch how
contagious this enthusiasm for life is. Lord, may I bring out the best in
those
with whom I share today so they can in turn bring out more of my best.
Scripture for the day:
"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our
potter; we are all the work of your hand." ~Isaiah 64:8
Meditation for the day:
We may consider the material world as the clay which the artist works
with, to make of it something beautiful or ugly. We need not fear
material things, which are neither good nor bad in the moral sense.
As human beings we can have either evil intentions--resentments,
malevolence, hate and revenge--or good intentions--love and good will.
They can make something ugly or something beautiful out of the clay of our
lives.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may make something good out of my life. I pray that I may
be a good artisan of the materials which I have been given to use.
SLOW ME DOWN, LORD
Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amidst the confusion of my day,
the calmness of everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves with the soothing music
of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations of slowing down,
to look at a flower,
to chat with an old friend or make a new one,
to pat a stray dog,
to watch a spider build a web,
to smile at a child, or to read from a good book.
Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift,
that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward at the towering oak and know that it
grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well. Amen.
HAVE YOU SAVED YOUR DOCUMENTS
Author Unknown
Sitting at the computer one day, I was typing a research paper.
Setting the format for the page had been simple, spell check had found
only a few errors, and I had done well in my vocabulary. I was just
about finished with the body of the paper when suddenly, the power
went off. My heart sank. I had been typing my paper but hadn't saved
it. Maybe the program was one of those programs that saves it
automatically for you. At least I hoped it was. I waited about 30
minutes and when the power came on, I ran to the computer. My heart
pounding and mind racing, I wondered if the document had been saved.
After searching the program and practically the whole computer, it was
nowhere to be found. I had lost it all. The whole thing...gone! Why
didn't I save it? It would've been so easy.
Our lives are like living documents. Everything we do, say, and think
is recorded in God's Book of Life. But there are two kinds of "living
documents," those that are saved and those that are not saved. Those
who live their lives according to the will of God and the instruction
of Jesus Christ, will have their "living documents" saved forever and
ever in heaven. Those who live their lives in defiance of the will of
God and the commandments of Jesus, will lose their them to the pit of
fire.
How do you save your "living document?" It's easy. Jesus says, "Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest... my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). If
you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9).
You will never have to worry that
your "living document" will be lost. You will never have to worry
about losing it all.
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Author Unknown
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor
once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very
brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man
stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of
his son were
sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching
storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so
high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could
not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two
teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began,
looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a
rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of
his life....to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He
only had seconds to make the
decision.
The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that
his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be
matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love
you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he
pulled the friend back to the
capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into
the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew,
waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The
father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with
Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping
into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How
great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With
that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence
filled the room.
Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the
old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the
boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up
his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down
at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once
again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic,
is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives
me a glimpse of what
it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me."
"You see....I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."
Let Go Of Sorrow
I've heard it said don't go to bed while hanging on to sorrow,
you may not have the chance to laugh with those you love tomorrow.
You may not mean the words you speak when anger takes its toll,
you may regret your actions once you've lost your self-control.
When you've lost your temper and you've said some hurtful things,
think about the heartache that your actions sometime bring.
You'll never get those moments back, such precious time to waste,
and all because of things you said in anger and in haste.
So if you're loving someone and your pride has settled in,
you may not ever have the chance to say to them again...
"I love you and I miss you and although we don't agree,
I'll try to see your point of view, please do the same for me."
Author Unknown
My Hand In God´s
Each morning when I wake I say,
"I place my hand in God's today;"
I know He'll walk close by my side
My every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
When paths are dark and I despair---
No need for me to understand
If I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed;
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
And realize how much I'm blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him; and then
I place my hand in God's again.
By Florence Scripps Kellogg
WELCOMING THE HOLY SPIRIT
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my mind.
Holy Spirit, please transform my mind.
Bring my every thought into alignment with God's perfect plan for my life.
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, please transform my heart.
Erase every feeling, memory and experience that is not a reflection of God's
love for me.
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my life.
Holy Spirit, please transform every condition, situation and circumstance of
my life.
Make my life a living reflection of the goodness and glory of God.
-
Holy Spirit, transform every part of me that is not in keeping with God's
love, God's goodness, God's purpose
and God's perfect plan for me to live a life of joy, peace, wholeness, ease,
harmony and abundance.
-
Holy Spirit, help me to be all that God created me to be. For Your Presence
I Am So Grateful!
Good night everyone! Sweet Dreams to all! Hope you all have a great
weekend - and stay positive!
God bless you!!
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