“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)
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