Thankfulness

All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.

Thought to be by Daniel Defoe

Sometimes our blessings seems to pale in light of wanting more and more.  We never seem to be satisfied with what we do have. Instead we want more money, a bigger house, a better job.  True happiness will only come to us when we are thankful for what we do have.  When we stop to look and think about so many people that do not have even the necessary things like a home or food, we should be ashamed for wanting more and bigger things.  I’m not saying don’t strive to better yourself but show gratitude for what you do have.  Think about it.

Cheerfulness and Contentment

Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks.

Thought to be by Charles Dickens

The beauty industry is a lucrative business today.  We spend thousands of dollars trying to look younger and more beautiful.  Think of all the money we could save if we were just to be contented with our life and put on a cheerful countenance.  Think about it.

Ease Heartache

 

To ease one’s heartache is to forget one’s own.

Thought to be by Abraham Lincoln

Sometimes we are so depressed and overwhelmed by our heartaches and trials we cannot see anything else.  It’s as though we have “tunnel vision”.  If we want to be able to overcome our own troubles, lend a hand to someone else.  Sometimes all you need to do is to listen and cry with them.  We are put on this earth to help one another and this is one way we can help each other.  Think about it.

Where You Are

Yes, you are on purpose.  You are right where God wants you to be.

God has great plans for you.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good…to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

No matter what we are going through at the moment God knows.  Although we can’t understand.  It is a part of His plan for us.  We are in His sight and in His plan.  Keep the faith and know He knows the last chapter because He wrote it.  Be encouraged  that He will never leave you or forsake you.

Being Who You Are

It take courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.

e.e. cummings

It is easier to hide our true self from the world.  We fear criticism, ridicule or scorn.  It is so much simpler to put on a mask so we can hide our true inner beings from everyone we know.

Diligence

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich,

Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)

Father:

Help me to be diligent in life so that I may spread your word.  Keep my hand from becoming slack.  Give me the wisdom and strength to fulfill the plans you have for me.

Working Through Problems

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.

Henry J. Kaiser.

How many times have we been overwhelmed with problems?  Many times we want to just give up and let the problems unarm us and render us helpless.  God said we would have problems and our lives would be difficult.  He never promised a smooth life as His followers.

We should lay our problems at His feet always but sometimes He will tell us to get to work.  When this is His message we should put on our work clothes and open our eyes to the opportunities that are in the midst of these problems.

Coals of Fire

With the tense atmosphere Christians are facing today we should all stand together.  I found this quote in one of my many books I am reading and felt it adequately expresses our country today.  I would like feedback on what you think about it. 

Christians are like coals of fire—together, they glow; apart, they grow cold.  ODB July 2004.

God’s Gift

 

Never let the gifts of God become more important than the God who gives the gifts.

Tony Evans

Sometimes we make the blessings and gifts from God our god.We put our material possessions on a pedestal and worship our achievements and forget that God made it possible for us to enjoy them.  This is not only inanimate objects we sometimes worship but our family and friends too.   Anything that comes between us and our relationship with our Father can be considered an idol.  Our Father wants us to have nice things to enjoy in life but remember He is also a jealous God and does not us to put more emphasis on what He give us than on Him.

Remember, God is the giver of blessings—the blessings are not the giver of God, 

Life is

Life is air conditioners breaking in a heat wave

Life is having expenses but no money to meet them.

Life is school starting and funds are low.

Life is a daily job to keep our heads above water.

Life is trusting that God will meet all our needs because he is our Father and loves us unconditionally.

So as each day’s struggles seem insurmountable and overwhelming….

Remember that Life is a gift from God and He is always with us.

God Will Always :Love Me

Some days I feel as though I am alone in this world.  I am down on myself because I feel I am worthless, hopeless, and unlovable.  I know these thoughts are put into my mind by the enemy who wants to destroy my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  One day I heard God’s loving voice speak to my heart.  “I love you child, you should know that.  Nothing will take that love away.  Nothing or nobody will come between us.  Just trust me.  I then went to a quiet place and opened my bible to the book of Romans.  Here I found confirmation of that love and was able to resist the enemy’s lies.  In Romans 8:39 I found what my heart needed to hear that day. 

I know this.  Death, life, angels, rulers, things happening now, things that will happen, high things, low things; nothing else in all the world can come between us and God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:39 (WE)

School Daze

School will be starting here on Thursday.  I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about this momentous occasion.  I will be able to claim control of my house again but it seems like the school year just ended last week.  This summer has gone by waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast.

I hope everyone has had a good summer and built a lot of memories with families and friends.  My family has recorded new memories—some good and some bad.  But isn’t that what life is made of?

 

A little girl came home from school and said to her mother, “Mommy, today in school I was punished for something that I didn’t do.”

The mother exclaimed, “But that’s terrible! I’m going to have a talk with your teacher about this … by the way, what was it that you didn’t do?”

The little girl replied, “My homework.”

And Then I Had Kids

 

I began thinking about life without my (grand)kids the other day and realized that although my life has changed since they came to live with me I am glad they did. They keep my life from becoming boring.

My hair was always fixed
not a strand at a place.
I even had time to put
makeup on my face –
then I had kids.
I could clean my house
in about an hour
and still have time
for a long hot shower –
then I had kids.
I could spend all day shopping
without a single worry.
take time to browse around
and never had to hurry –
then I had kids.
Since the kids came along
my life would never be the same
some days I can even
remember my name –
but I love those kids.
Now my house is a mess
with toys and clutter.
Can't you clean up this mess??
I often hear dear hubby mutter-
but I love those kids.
Now my hair stand on end and
there's no time for showers
the kids fighting scream
sometimes for hours –
but I love those kids.
Come to think of it
my life has really changed
but you know I wouldn't trade it
for anything because
I love those kids

Tell Me About Your Mother

 

Enjoy the answers given by elementary school-age children to the following questions:

Why were mothers created?
She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

Is anything about your mom perfect?
Yes, it must be her children.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

Describe the world's greatest mom.
She'd always be smiling and keep her opinions to herself.

Why did your mom marry your dad?
My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just have to work at work.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

What did your mom needs to know about your dad before she married him?
She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say no to drugs and yes to chores?

I found this on the Internet and think it expresses children's opinions of their moms very well.

The World is a Puzzle

 

There was a man who had a little boy that he loved very much. Every day after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with the little boy.

One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had extra work to do for the evening, and that he would be able to play with the little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy something to keep them busy. So, looking around his office he saw magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He removed the map, and then patiently toward up into small pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket,

When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do and couldn't”t play just now, but he let the little boy to the dining room’, and taking out all the pieces of the map, he spread them on the table. He explained that it was a map of the world, and that by the time he could put it back together, his extra work would be finished, and I could both play. Surely this would keep the child busy for hours, he thought.
About half an hour later the boy came to the man and said,”Okay, it's finished. Can we play now?'” The man was surprised, saying " that's impossible. Let's go say." And sure enough, there was the picture the world, all put together, every piece in its place.

The man said," that's amazing! How did you do that?" The boy said," it was simple. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together the whole world fell in the place."’

Author Unknown

If we can put ourselves together and remember who created the earth and each of us our world will be put together again.

Practice What You Preach

Don’t worry that children never listen to you.  Worry that they that they are always watching you.

Robert Fulghum

 

Too many times we are overly concerned that our children are not listening to our “lectures” and rules.  We so often forget that they are constantly watching us to judge what they should and should not do or say.

This story is told of a family who had invited the pastor and his family for Sunday dinner.  The father looked fondly at his small daughter.  “Amy, he said in a quiet voice.  Why don’t you say the blessing tonight?” 

As everyone bowed their heads, Amy looked up at her father with panic in her eyes.  “But Daddy, I don’t know what to say.”  “Honey,” her father attempted to put her at ease, “Just say what you heard your mother say.”  Suddenly her face lit up and she bowed her head. “O Lord,” she began in the sweetest voice she could muster. “Why in the world did I invite this old goat for dinner tonight?”

Lesson :  We should always walk the walk if we are going to talk the talk for our children.

Father, I pray tonight that as these precious children you have entrusted me with, I will always let uplifting and edifying words come out of mouth.  Let me walk the walk and talk the talk so these innocent lambs of yours can see you in me.  I don’t want to do anything to hinder or harm them in any way.  I want to be remembered as someone that taught them about your great love.

Amen.

Golden Rules

 

If you open it, close it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.

If you unlock it, lock it up.

If you break it, admit it.

If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.

If you borrow it, return it.

If you value it, take care of it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you move it, put it back.

If it belongs to someone else and you want to use, get permission.

If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.

If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

If it will brighten someone’s day, say it.

If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself.

Author Unknown

If we followed these rules, just think how much better our lives could be.  A lesson I know I need to learn is “think before I speak” or to put it another way—Remember I have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.

Face Difficulties Positively

 

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.

Author Unknown