“How are you today?”
I smiled at the clerk and responded, “I am fine. How are you today?”
As my eyes met hers, her face lit up and with enthusiasm she reported that she was doing great.
“I start every day telling myself it’s going to be a great day. I continue telling myself throughout the day that it will be a great day. It works. I always have a great day.”
The clerk showed me the aisle to find what I was looking for as we continued our conversation. She disappeared around the corner.
As I drove home, I kept thinking about our conversation. It is true for me as well. My day goes better when I decide, right at the beginning of my day, that it is going to be a great day.
In the spring and summer when the sun comes through my window, it is easy to greet the day with a smile and a prayer. Now that fall is here and winter approaches, I am missing that sunny reminder. But enjoying an extra few minutes of warmth under the blanket now gives me a perfect place to be thankful for the day.
Scripture Thought for Today: This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Grandmom's Faith
Growing up I loved spending time with my Grandmother Rachel.
“Everything’s going to be okay because Grandmom says so.”
That’s what I always heard when I shared my fears, sadnesses or hopes with grandmother. She would give me a crushing grandmom hug, make her declaration and that would be the end of our conversation. It was always comforting.
When I left home to go to college, we would talk over the phone. At the end of our conversation grandmom would always tell me that she was praying for me every day.
As an adult I look back and can see the strength of grandmom’s faith. I know that Grandmom was a woman of prayer. She really believed in the power of prayer. As she prayed, she truly believed, she knew, that God would answer her prayer.
Grandmom never talked about her faith. She lived her faith everyday. She was a quiet witness to those who knew her and loved her.
After all these years, there are still times when I hear a voice within me say, “Everything’s okay because grandmom says so.” With a smile I am prompted to take my concern to God in prayer.
Today’s Scripture Thought: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NIV)
“Everything’s going to be okay because Grandmom says so.”
That’s what I always heard when I shared my fears, sadnesses or hopes with grandmother. She would give me a crushing grandmom hug, make her declaration and that would be the end of our conversation. It was always comforting.
When I left home to go to college, we would talk over the phone. At the end of our conversation grandmom would always tell me that she was praying for me every day.
As an adult I look back and can see the strength of grandmom’s faith. I know that Grandmom was a woman of prayer. She really believed in the power of prayer. As she prayed, she truly believed, she knew, that God would answer her prayer.
Grandmom never talked about her faith. She lived her faith everyday. She was a quiet witness to those who knew her and loved her.
After all these years, there are still times when I hear a voice within me say, “Everything’s okay because grandmom says so.” With a smile I am prompted to take my concern to God in prayer.
Today’s Scripture Thought: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NIV)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
God's Blessings
Have you noticed the blaze of color that surrounds you? The leaves on the trees seem to have turned overnight and the cold weather has encouraged them to hang on for a while.
Yesterday I took a shortcut through a neighborhood to get to our home. As I rounded a curve, I was startled by a huge tree. It stood by itself, completely filling a front yard. It thrust a bright sunshine of yellow leaves into the sky. It was breathtaking.
I was driving to make my way home but my eyes were drawn to all of the trees lining the streets and the mixtures of color. I decided to take an extra loop around the neighborhood to enjoy more and give my mind a break from the day’s routine. It was a great distraction and I felt recharged when I pulled into the driveway.
I thank God for putting this display in front of me. This beautiful distraction reminded me to pause in my hectic day and praise Him for His awesome blessings. I need to pause during each day to refresh my heart. I need to thank Him for the blessings I have received and those that are new with each day. God is good to me…all the time!
Scripture for Today: I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12 (NIV)
Yesterday I took a shortcut through a neighborhood to get to our home. As I rounded a curve, I was startled by a huge tree. It stood by itself, completely filling a front yard. It thrust a bright sunshine of yellow leaves into the sky. It was breathtaking.
I was driving to make my way home but my eyes were drawn to all of the trees lining the streets and the mixtures of color. I decided to take an extra loop around the neighborhood to enjoy more and give my mind a break from the day’s routine. It was a great distraction and I felt recharged when I pulled into the driveway.
I thank God for putting this display in front of me. This beautiful distraction reminded me to pause in my hectic day and praise Him for His awesome blessings. I need to pause during each day to refresh my heart. I need to thank Him for the blessings I have received and those that are new with each day. God is good to me…all the time!
Scripture for Today: I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12 (NIV)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Loving Your Neighbor
I read in the newspaper recently about a 66 year old man who had seriously injured his knees. He was unable to walk, had surgery, and had to stay in a rehabilitation center. His inability to function within his two-story home kept him from being able to go home.
A neighbor had purchased their home from a handicapped person. When they heard that their elderly neighbor’s recovery depended on his ability to return to a comfortable, easily accessible home, they offered their handicapped friendly ranch home to the man and his wife. The neighbor didn’t have a problem knowing that the man’s recovery could take several weeks or several months. The elderly couple was reluctant at first but eventually accepted the offer. On the day the man was discharged, the neighbors exchanged homes.
The article continues relating how these two couples and other neighbors, who joined in, worked through a very difficult situation together.
Isn’t this an awesome story of loving and caring? The couple, who offered their home didn’t think twice about doing what they did! They said that they just felt it was the right thing to do!
Scripture Thought for Today: 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: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 29:30-31 (NIV)
A neighbor had purchased their home from a handicapped person. When they heard that their elderly neighbor’s recovery depended on his ability to return to a comfortable, easily accessible home, they offered their handicapped friendly ranch home to the man and his wife. The neighbor didn’t have a problem knowing that the man’s recovery could take several weeks or several months. The elderly couple was reluctant at first but eventually accepted the offer. On the day the man was discharged, the neighbors exchanged homes.
The article continues relating how these two couples and other neighbors, who joined in, worked through a very difficult situation together.
Isn’t this an awesome story of loving and caring? The couple, who offered their home didn’t think twice about doing what they did! They said that they just felt it was the right thing to do!
Scripture Thought for Today: 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: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 29:30-31 (NIV)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Strength, Hope, and Encouragement
I meet a lot of wonderful people in my therapeutic water exercise class. They are such an encouragement and inspiration to me every day.
Margaret has serious heart problems and is on oxygen. She arrives in a wheel chair and enters the pool very slowly. Tubing runs from her oxygen tank to more than the width of the pool.
The first time I met her she had not walked across the width of the pool. As we talked she started walking with me toward the other side of the pool. I’m not sure she was aware of what was happening. When we got to the other side her face lit up with a beautiful smile of accomplishment.
I asked her if she wanted to return to the other side. “Only if you go with me, honey,” she burst out with laughter.
She has continued walking forward and back across the pool each day. She gets tired and moves slowly, sometimes stopping, but she is doing it with an attitude of happy commitment and the support and encouragement of all her new friends.
There are times when we need someone to help lessen our burdens; someone to walk beside us to cheer us on and give us hope and encouragement.
Help comes when we turn to God and trust Him to give us the strength we need for the day, peace and rest.
Scripture Thought: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Margaret has serious heart problems and is on oxygen. She arrives in a wheel chair and enters the pool very slowly. Tubing runs from her oxygen tank to more than the width of the pool.
The first time I met her she had not walked across the width of the pool. As we talked she started walking with me toward the other side of the pool. I’m not sure she was aware of what was happening. When we got to the other side her face lit up with a beautiful smile of accomplishment.
I asked her if she wanted to return to the other side. “Only if you go with me, honey,” she burst out with laughter.
She has continued walking forward and back across the pool each day. She gets tired and moves slowly, sometimes stopping, but she is doing it with an attitude of happy commitment and the support and encouragement of all her new friends.
There are times when we need someone to help lessen our burdens; someone to walk beside us to cheer us on and give us hope and encouragement.
Help comes when we turn to God and trust Him to give us the strength we need for the day, peace and rest.
Scripture Thought: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Voice
Our daughter, when she was about four, was getting into lots of things and testing her limits. My husband called it a lively spirit of scientific exploration. I called it the stage we needed to get out of soon.
One day I pulled her onto my lap.
I said, “Karen, when you start to do something you shouldn’t, stop and listen. If you hear a little voice inside you say “No!” then just don’t do what you are about to do.” She agreed to the plan.
I felt so much power and peace. I was sure that I had solved the whole problem!
NOT! That same afternoon she came running into the house sobbing. She told me the whole story of what she had done.
She took a deep breath in between sobs and said, “Mommy, I heard that little voice just like you said, but I HAD to do it anyway!”
Then my favorite part, she threw her arms around me and warmed my heart with, “I’m sorry, mommy!”
“I love you, Karen,” I whispered.
This story is amusing until we realize that, as adults, we do the same thing. There are times when we ignore what the voice behind us is telling us. We take the wrong path.
We know we can turn toward God and ask His forgiveness. He will be by our side to love us through whatever we have done wrong.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:20 (NIV)
One day I pulled her onto my lap.
I said, “Karen, when you start to do something you shouldn’t, stop and listen. If you hear a little voice inside you say “No!” then just don’t do what you are about to do.” She agreed to the plan.
I felt so much power and peace. I was sure that I had solved the whole problem!
NOT! That same afternoon she came running into the house sobbing. She told me the whole story of what she had done.
She took a deep breath in between sobs and said, “Mommy, I heard that little voice just like you said, but I HAD to do it anyway!”
Then my favorite part, she threw her arms around me and warmed my heart with, “I’m sorry, mommy!”
“I love you, Karen,” I whispered.
This story is amusing until we realize that, as adults, we do the same thing. There are times when we ignore what the voice behind us is telling us. We take the wrong path.
We know we can turn toward God and ask His forgiveness. He will be by our side to love us through whatever we have done wrong.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:20 (NIV)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
God is With Me
My Thoughts: It happened in just seconds. Looking out the window of the plane as we were landing, I noticed another plane taking off on the same runway almost below us.
I grabbed my husband’s arm. I managed to say, “We’re not going to…”
My response was cut short by the sharp upward turning of our plane. My ears closed as I felt the pressure inside the cabin increase. The eerie crackle of the plane under the stress of being forced up mimicked my own response to being lifted unexpectedly. I felt my hands grasp the arms of my seat.
As the plane shook, luggage shifted and alarms rang, my attention shifted to a puff of air on my cheek. It was refreshing and comforting in spite of what was happening.
In my head I heard a familiar soft firm voice speak, “It is okay. I am here.”
After what seemed to be forever, the plane leveled off, made a wide circle back to the airport and landed. I noticed how calm, kind, and patient people were as they left their seats to depart from the plane. All was okay. Peace had replaced fear.
The experience confirmed that wherever I am, God is with me to protect me and care for me.
Scripture Thought:
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)
I grabbed my husband’s arm. I managed to say, “We’re not going to…”
My response was cut short by the sharp upward turning of our plane. My ears closed as I felt the pressure inside the cabin increase. The eerie crackle of the plane under the stress of being forced up mimicked my own response to being lifted unexpectedly. I felt my hands grasp the arms of my seat.
As the plane shook, luggage shifted and alarms rang, my attention shifted to a puff of air on my cheek. It was refreshing and comforting in spite of what was happening.
In my head I heard a familiar soft firm voice speak, “It is okay. I am here.”
After what seemed to be forever, the plane leveled off, made a wide circle back to the airport and landed. I noticed how calm, kind, and patient people were as they left their seats to depart from the plane. All was okay. Peace had replaced fear.
The experience confirmed that wherever I am, God is with me to protect me and care for me.
Scripture Thought:
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Joy and Peace of God's Presence
Thoughts for Today: I listened intently to a 60 year old man telling his story about losing his job. He had recently gotten another job after about a year of interviews. The difficulty was selling his current house. His new job was in another state and that meant purchasing another home. With the depressed real estate market, both he and his wife knew it wasn’t going to be easy. After putting their house on the market, they soon realized that they could sell it, but for a price of $150,000 under what they still owed on their home.
He and his wife shared many of their thoughts as they moved toward a decision. They decided to sell their home at a loss and use retirement funds to pay the difference. In the process, they discovered that they had enough left in their retirement funds to use on the down payment for their new home. They also had money left in their retirement account.
At the end of the interview we see the husband and wife embracing on their deck. They were reassuring each with a quiet, “everything is going to be okay”.
It had to be a difficult year for the couple, but in the end the husband did get another job. They faced the difficult decision of selling their home for less than what they owed, but they had funds to make up the difference with enough left for a down payment on their new home. And they had money beyond that! The couple had what they needed. Seeing one’s lifetime planning and work towards retirement disappear is certainly devastating. They obviously had each other and they were able to do what they needed to do. Certainly they wanted more. Most of us would have wanted more security and reassurance.
As the couple’s story unfolded, it became clear to me that God was creating some good things within the couple’s struggle. I’ve also noticed that whenever bad happens in my life, God reveals some good things to go with it. I have learned to hold on to the good things in my life to get through the bad times. The good amid the bad is not always easy to see. Sometimes it takes me a while to clear the fog so I can look, but I know God is by my side. He’s always with me to help me through each day, good or bad.
I have no idea if the couple I listened to were believers. Were they aware of God’s presence as He protected and cared for them? I wondered if they knew that they were experiencing His reassuring peace as they said, “everything is going to be okay.” I pray that the couple is aware of God’s presence and are thankful for the joy and peace which came from receiving God’s blessings!
Scripture for Today: The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
He and his wife shared many of their thoughts as they moved toward a decision. They decided to sell their home at a loss and use retirement funds to pay the difference. In the process, they discovered that they had enough left in their retirement funds to use on the down payment for their new home. They also had money left in their retirement account.
At the end of the interview we see the husband and wife embracing on their deck. They were reassuring each with a quiet, “everything is going to be okay”.
It had to be a difficult year for the couple, but in the end the husband did get another job. They faced the difficult decision of selling their home for less than what they owed, but they had funds to make up the difference with enough left for a down payment on their new home. And they had money beyond that! The couple had what they needed. Seeing one’s lifetime planning and work towards retirement disappear is certainly devastating. They obviously had each other and they were able to do what they needed to do. Certainly they wanted more. Most of us would have wanted more security and reassurance.
As the couple’s story unfolded, it became clear to me that God was creating some good things within the couple’s struggle. I’ve also noticed that whenever bad happens in my life, God reveals some good things to go with it. I have learned to hold on to the good things in my life to get through the bad times. The good amid the bad is not always easy to see. Sometimes it takes me a while to clear the fog so I can look, but I know God is by my side. He’s always with me to help me through each day, good or bad.
I have no idea if the couple I listened to were believers. Were they aware of God’s presence as He protected and cared for them? I wondered if they knew that they were experiencing His reassuring peace as they said, “everything is going to be okay.” I pray that the couple is aware of God’s presence and are thankful for the joy and peace which came from receiving God’s blessings!
Scripture for Today: The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
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