Memories are all we have
But great memories they are:
It helps us lay aside our grief
And the pain we feel
To recall the good times
And appreciate what is real.
It’s good to share about predicaments and puzzles,
Discuss advice and serious things,
But also rehearse the lighthearted times,
The humor that a good friend brings.
Remembering helps establish perspective,
And talking it over helps the soul
View the world, life and death on God’s terms
So He can make us whole.
We know some who are too busy,
No inclination to invest their time
To examine the truth of one magnificent Creator God,
So to uncertainty they resign.
We sometimes struggle to introduce them to Jesus,
But we can with confidence, pray;
Who knows if happiness or maybe sadness
Will to the Lord, point the way.
Meanwhile, tears and caring mingle
For each one, near or far;
Memories are all we have
But great memories they are.
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
EncouragingU * * * * * * * * * * * * We ALL need a word of encouragement once in awhile.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Four Missing Ingredients in the NORMAL Christian Life
Boldness, courage, confidence, faith!
Four words that sound impossible to today’s men and women are the four missing ingredients. If we take time to read the Bible these strong words are there. Not only is this a description of the first believers, it identifies what you and I can demonstrate.
“Hold on,” you say. “I didn’t sign up to make a spectacle of myself. Just being normal is good enough for me.”
But, wait. Don’t sell yourself short. Nowhere does Jesus say, “Follow me and I will let you have a quiet little life, an ordinary existence that doesn’t require any belief or any actions beyond normal.”
“Well, that was then and this is now,” you interrupt.
Before you gain your composure I smile understandingly. Yes, those were my very words not long ago. I actually complained to God. Since I knew He knew what I was thinking anyway, I just blurted it out in sort of a bedtime prayer. I have tried to be honest with Him.
The very next day my routine Bible reading was interrupted by God’s Holy Spirit. It was like a bright yellow highlighter pen drew my eyes to certain words. I was speed reading through Colossians to try to keep to my schedule.
I saw “heard of your faith” and “bearing fruit.” Then it was “filled with knowledge” and “all spiritual wisdom” and “please Him in all respect.” The pinnacle was “strengthened with all power.” A strange dawning of honesty showed me my life was missing what these guys had.
Reading just those assigned verses from chapter one was enough for me. My eyes clouded up and so I closed them as I closed the Bible. “Lord, I don’t even know the basics, here, not to mention the depth.”
It was time to find out what was going on.
A yellow tablet became my outline. I wrote on the first page, BOLDNESS. On the second I put COURAGE. The third was CONFIDENCE. The fourth became FAITH. Over the next couple of weeks I read and meditated and re-read the 95 short verses of that New Testament book. I noted the verses for each topic; good food for thought.
The last verse of that first chapter gave me quite a boost. “For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
I wondered how many times the Bible uses these words. This Internet website let me search:
http://bibleresources.bible.com/index.php
Here’s what I found there: Boldness = 3 times
Courage = 50 times; Confidence = 39 times
Faith, faithful = 505 times, Power = 529 times
Be strong = 310 times. (NLT version)
Before this I’d seen the verse, “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” in Acts 1:8, but now the truth shined like a glorious sunrise.
If the world, so laden down with selfishness, sin, and suffering could see God’s power in you and me there’d be no more passivity in us. We wouldn’t be covered with confusion or smothered with indifference. We would be actively, eagerly asking for God’s wisdom, then actively, eagerly reaching out to our needy world.
At this point of our boldness, courage, confidence and faith the powers of darkness would make us a target. All the more reason to stand tall in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Why does the Bible talk about spiritual warfare? For the empowered believer that is “normal.”
The message of salvation gets attention, and God gets the credit. The Gospel can change the lives of individuals and nations. You and I could be a blessing to unbelievers, pre-believers and ordinary, passive believers.
When people around us see a difference in our words and our behavior, then we have gone past the normal, ordinary, indifferent lifestyle. In embracing a true love relationship with Jesus we now display the missing ingredients of the real, normal Christian life:
Boldness, Courage, Confidence, and Faith!
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
Four words that sound impossible to today’s men and women are the four missing ingredients. If we take time to read the Bible these strong words are there. Not only is this a description of the first believers, it identifies what you and I can demonstrate.
“Hold on,” you say. “I didn’t sign up to make a spectacle of myself. Just being normal is good enough for me.”
But, wait. Don’t sell yourself short. Nowhere does Jesus say, “Follow me and I will let you have a quiet little life, an ordinary existence that doesn’t require any belief or any actions beyond normal.”
“Well, that was then and this is now,” you interrupt.
Before you gain your composure I smile understandingly. Yes, those were my very words not long ago. I actually complained to God. Since I knew He knew what I was thinking anyway, I just blurted it out in sort of a bedtime prayer. I have tried to be honest with Him.
The very next day my routine Bible reading was interrupted by God’s Holy Spirit. It was like a bright yellow highlighter pen drew my eyes to certain words. I was speed reading through Colossians to try to keep to my schedule.
I saw “heard of your faith” and “bearing fruit.” Then it was “filled with knowledge” and “all spiritual wisdom” and “please Him in all respect.” The pinnacle was “strengthened with all power.” A strange dawning of honesty showed me my life was missing what these guys had.
Reading just those assigned verses from chapter one was enough for me. My eyes clouded up and so I closed them as I closed the Bible. “Lord, I don’t even know the basics, here, not to mention the depth.”
It was time to find out what was going on.
A yellow tablet became my outline. I wrote on the first page, BOLDNESS. On the second I put COURAGE. The third was CONFIDENCE. The fourth became FAITH. Over the next couple of weeks I read and meditated and re-read the 95 short verses of that New Testament book. I noted the verses for each topic; good food for thought.
The last verse of that first chapter gave me quite a boost. “For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
I wondered how many times the Bible uses these words. This Internet website let me search:
http://bibleresources.bible.com/index.php
Here’s what I found there: Boldness = 3 times
Courage = 50 times; Confidence = 39 times
Faith, faithful = 505 times, Power = 529 times
Be strong = 310 times. (NLT version)
Before this I’d seen the verse, “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” in Acts 1:8, but now the truth shined like a glorious sunrise.
If the world, so laden down with selfishness, sin, and suffering could see God’s power in you and me there’d be no more passivity in us. We wouldn’t be covered with confusion or smothered with indifference. We would be actively, eagerly asking for God’s wisdom, then actively, eagerly reaching out to our needy world.
At this point of our boldness, courage, confidence and faith the powers of darkness would make us a target. All the more reason to stand tall in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Why does the Bible talk about spiritual warfare? For the empowered believer that is “normal.”
The message of salvation gets attention, and God gets the credit. The Gospel can change the lives of individuals and nations. You and I could be a blessing to unbelievers, pre-believers and ordinary, passive believers.
When people around us see a difference in our words and our behavior, then we have gone past the normal, ordinary, indifferent lifestyle. In embracing a true love relationship with Jesus we now display the missing ingredients of the real, normal Christian life:
Boldness, Courage, Confidence, and Faith!
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Is Christmas Just a Kid-Thing?
Is Christmas just a kid-thing,
Doing what you did, thing?
Or is there meaning for us of older size?
Is it toys and decorations,
Gift-y celebrations,
Or does Christ’s birthday still apply?
Past the lights and past the sales,
Past the Santa fairy tales,
Finding where the truth of the holiday lies.
Ancient written proclamation
Became historic declaration,
Amazing revelation to those ready and wise.
When we are sincerely seeking
And honesty is speaking
The truth of Jesus in the Bible can arise.
Invite the Lord into your heart,
Make Christmas this year your new start;
His love, forgiveness, and joy will shine in your eyes!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Doing what you did, thing?
Or is there meaning for us of older size?
Is it toys and decorations,
Gift-y celebrations,
Or does Christ’s birthday still apply?
Past the lights and past the sales,
Past the Santa fairy tales,
Finding where the truth of the holiday lies.
Ancient written proclamation
Became historic declaration,
Amazing revelation to those ready and wise.
When we are sincerely seeking
And honesty is speaking
The truth of Jesus in the Bible can arise.
Invite the Lord into your heart,
Make Christmas this year your new start;
His love, forgiveness, and joy will shine in your eyes!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Sunday, December 02, 2007
I Complain to God
“Which way shall I look?” I complained.
“Behind? Ahead? I sense some dread.
Around? There’s too much to see.
Lord, give perspective to me.”
I whined and complained and fussed,
“Life is too hard, too unjust!”
When I settled quietly in bed,
This is what He said:
“Trust Me with your life,
Lift your eyes above, receive My love,
Each new moment embrace;
Appreciate your place.
“Grow stronger, even longer,
Confess your sin, welcome Jesus within;
From irritations turn,
Ponder the process and learn.
“I am your Maker, I know what’s best,
I give the power for your testing hour;
Life eternal awaits you ahead,
Complain no more,” is what He said.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
“Behind? Ahead? I sense some dread.
Around? There’s too much to see.
Lord, give perspective to me.”
I whined and complained and fussed,
“Life is too hard, too unjust!”
When I settled quietly in bed,
This is what He said:
“Trust Me with your life,
Lift your eyes above, receive My love,
Each new moment embrace;
Appreciate your place.
“Grow stronger, even longer,
Confess your sin, welcome Jesus within;
From irritations turn,
Ponder the process and learn.
“I am your Maker, I know what’s best,
I give the power for your testing hour;
Life eternal awaits you ahead,
Complain no more,” is what He said.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Recipe for Thanksgiving
This free, no-calorie recipe can’t be beat for simplicity and good results. It’s just what every busy person needs, and this means you! Go ahead, indulge yourself.
Close your eyes and count to 10.
As you open your eyes be thankful you can see. Be thankful you remember your numbers. Be thankful you can speak aloud.
Look around. Be thankful for a roof and 4 walls and a door. Got a bathroom? Be thankful. Food in the fridge? Be thankful.
Now, before you get carried away with feeling really good stop and ask yourself, “Who gave me all these blessings?”
Talk to God, out loud if possible. Acknowledge Him as the Creator of everything and Maker of you, in particular. If you haven’t been on speaking terms with Him lately now is the time to remedy that unintended neglect.
This is not the time to present Him with a list of what you want for Christmas. This is not the time to whine and complain, either.
The purpose of Thanksgiving is to sharpen your skills of awareness of what it means to be alive, and who better to thank than the One you are going to meet when you die.
As the day goes on see how many other things you can be thankful for.
By the end of the day look out the window and see the sunset, then look for the stars and moon. Be thankful you live on the only beautiful, inhabitable planet there is.
End the day by thanking God for anything else you can think of before falling asleep with a big smile on your face.
Look in the Bible at the many examples of thanking God. Especially in Book of Psalms read of people calling out to God, talking about His blessings, and giving thanks. “The LORD is righteous in everything he does, He is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on Him. . . ” Psalm 145:17-18.
The blessing of Thanksgiving is peace, contentment, appreciation, and deep inner joy. This blessing is a free gift from God, and it comes when we are in a loving relationship with Him. Jesus makes this possible. Read the Gospels in the New Testament to appreciate Him.
You may enjoy this Recipe for Thanksgiving so much you decide to do it every day, or at least one day a week. Call it Sabbath, a rest for the body and soul. When you are thankful you are bringing a blessing upon yourself, as well as giving God respect and honor that is due Him.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Close your eyes and count to 10.
As you open your eyes be thankful you can see. Be thankful you remember your numbers. Be thankful you can speak aloud.
Look around. Be thankful for a roof and 4 walls and a door. Got a bathroom? Be thankful. Food in the fridge? Be thankful.
Now, before you get carried away with feeling really good stop and ask yourself, “Who gave me all these blessings?”
Talk to God, out loud if possible. Acknowledge Him as the Creator of everything and Maker of you, in particular. If you haven’t been on speaking terms with Him lately now is the time to remedy that unintended neglect.
This is not the time to present Him with a list of what you want for Christmas. This is not the time to whine and complain, either.
The purpose of Thanksgiving is to sharpen your skills of awareness of what it means to be alive, and who better to thank than the One you are going to meet when you die.
As the day goes on see how many other things you can be thankful for.
By the end of the day look out the window and see the sunset, then look for the stars and moon. Be thankful you live on the only beautiful, inhabitable planet there is.
End the day by thanking God for anything else you can think of before falling asleep with a big smile on your face.
Look in the Bible at the many examples of thanking God. Especially in Book of Psalms read of people calling out to God, talking about His blessings, and giving thanks. “The LORD is righteous in everything he does, He is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on Him. . . ” Psalm 145:17-18.
The blessing of Thanksgiving is peace, contentment, appreciation, and deep inner joy. This blessing is a free gift from God, and it comes when we are in a loving relationship with Him. Jesus makes this possible. Read the Gospels in the New Testament to appreciate Him.
You may enjoy this Recipe for Thanksgiving so much you decide to do it every day, or at least one day a week. Call it Sabbath, a rest for the body and soul. When you are thankful you are bringing a blessing upon yourself, as well as giving God respect and honor that is due Him.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Walk in the Wind
The house crammed full of unpolished words,
noise reverberates from ceiling to floor;
Countless urgencies have pushed me to the wall,
my head complains, “Don’t do this anymore.”
A walk outdoors on a windy day,
billowing clothes and hair now have their say;
The breeze whispers softly along this stroll,
pushing stuffy accumulations away.
Clouds show off congenial gatherings,
the persistent sun smiles and warms my face;
Growing things here beckon and quietly boast,
allowing reprieve from a demanding pace.
Yes! I walk outdoors on a windy day,
turn aside from intimidating stress,
Celebrate nature’s living lessons:
Taking time to trust God more and worry less!
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
What Happened to Thanksgiving?
September didn’t used to be the start
Of holiday shopping and decoration;
Halloween didn’t get this much attention,
Christmas was more about little surprises of love,
Less of expensive expectation.
What in the world happened to Thanksgiving?
Where is the gratitude earnestly expressed,
Appreciating hard work and persistence,
Celebrating God’s bountiful hand of blessing?
We have forgotten thankfulness.
In our hurried life we speed through November,
Some will dash right on to December;
Presents to buy, cards to send, parties, and, and, and—
But I for one, will find a quiet place,
Thank God for His mercy and wondrous grace.
By Elaine Hardt ©2002
Of holiday shopping and decoration;
Halloween didn’t get this much attention,
Christmas was more about little surprises of love,
Less of expensive expectation.
What in the world happened to Thanksgiving?
Where is the gratitude earnestly expressed,
Appreciating hard work and persistence,
Celebrating God’s bountiful hand of blessing?
We have forgotten thankfulness.
In our hurried life we speed through November,
Some will dash right on to December;
Presents to buy, cards to send, parties, and, and, and—
But I for one, will find a quiet place,
Thank God for His mercy and wondrous grace.
By Elaine Hardt ©2002
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thankful for God's Love
Photo of Peter Hardt atop Merry Go Round Rock, Sedona, AZ
Photo by Joy Hardt ©2003
Have I told You lately that I love You?
And I’ve neglected to proclaim Your praise!
Your love demonstrated in Jesus,
Father, You have blessed me all of my days.
One God, all powerful, eternal,
Beyond anything my mind can conceive;
Redeemer of everyone who calls to You,
I’m grateful You invite me to believe.
You sent Jesus, Your only Son, the only way;
I reaffirm my decision to accept Him today!
As I face the truth of my shortcomings;
My own efforts cannot this sin erase,
But You’ve made forgiveness possible,
I would be lost without Your grace.
Have I told You lately that I love you?
Heavenly Father, I’m telling You now.
You are Creator of the Universe,
You’ve made it all, I don’t know how;
You’ve been my Provider and Protector,
Oh yes, I love You; I’m telling You now.
Before me lies life’s mystery of death,
So soon I will pass from here to There;
How I long to see You in true reality,
And face to face, my love declare.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Look at Life . . . and Learn
Photo by Carlene Hardt ©2007
Look at life, take a new view;
There are lessons to learn,
sort the false from the true.
Don’t let the past weigh you down;
Surrender dark recollections,
hand over that frown.
Don’t let the present overwhelm you;
Be realistic about what
you think you can do.
Don’t let the future cause you to fear;
Trust God, He knows all about it,
and He is here.
Past, present, future, life is your own;
With Jesus as Friend you need not face
your days alone.
Banish confusion, frustration!
Embrace God’s love, faith, and
shining expectation.
Be blessed with joy and peaceful glow;
Look at life anew with thankfulness
and learn to grow.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
From Bored to Restored!
What do you say when there’s nothing to say,
Your mind is completely blank?
You stifle that frown, put a little smile on
And you think of Someone to thank.
“Oh, God,” you begin with great honesty,
“I’ve lost my joy, I’ve nothing to do;
But — I could go through the motions, without emotions
And leave the results up to You.”
Thankfulness is a powerful way
To defeat life’s aggravations;
Firmly set aside your own agenda,
Open God’s Word for contemplation.
Read with your heart, not just with your eyes,
Meet your Lord in a reality prayer;
Confess those misbehaving feelings,
Receive your restoration there.
Listen up: this is a test, do your best!
Refuse to sink into confusion’s mire;
You CAN walk that road, you CAN carry that load,
God’s plan is to take you higher!
By Elaine Hardt ©2006
Your mind is completely blank?
You stifle that frown, put a little smile on
And you think of Someone to thank.
“Oh, God,” you begin with great honesty,
“I’ve lost my joy, I’ve nothing to do;
But — I could go through the motions, without emotions
And leave the results up to You.”
Thankfulness is a powerful way
To defeat life’s aggravations;
Firmly set aside your own agenda,
Open God’s Word for contemplation.
Read with your heart, not just with your eyes,
Meet your Lord in a reality prayer;
Confess those misbehaving feelings,
Receive your restoration there.
Listen up: this is a test, do your best!
Refuse to sink into confusion’s mire;
You CAN walk that road, you CAN carry that load,
God’s plan is to take you higher!
By Elaine Hardt ©2006
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Now the View is Peaceful
(Photo by Peter Hardt ©2006)
Dark storm clouds move aside, revealing
A radiant sun in a peaceful blue field
Has been there
All the time.
Internal turmoil lessens, revealing
A strong heart surrounded by God’s love;
He’s been here
All the time.
Questions sometimes jab like lightning bolts;
A weary mind examines possibilities,
Because He’s still here
All the time.
Discomfort stirs my realizations
I can’t make a success of myself alone;
I need Someone who’s here
All the time.
Another storm may roll in. Sooner? Later?
God’s faithfulness, His grace, His power
Keeps me, grows me
All the time.
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
Saturday, September 01, 2007
This Is Most Certainly So
One day as I pondered a problem
the answer came simply to me:
Why do I worry, why do I fret?
Here’s something I must not forget:
He did it before; He can do it again,
God is totally awesome;
If we knew it then, we should know it now,
He is the mighty God.
When He did it before, we should remember back then,
God is completely faithful;
His Word is still true, He knows what to do,
God is the One that we need.
If we needed Him then, we need Him now,
God is certainly able;
When we call out to Him, we can trust Him,
God is the Ruler of all.
There’s nothing too hard, for He is the Lord,
God made the whole Universe;
When we humbly call, He hears us all,
God wants to answer our prayer.
We’re worn out with sin, we need Him within,
God wants to save our soul;
Repentance is needed, His Word is heeded,
Then He can answer our call.
Now He’s my Lord, and now He’s my friend,
And this is how it will be;
One day I’m going to Heaven to see
Jesus who died for me.
And how about you? You need Him, too,
Let Jesus enter your heart;
Don’t wait and delay, this is your day,
God is calling to you.
By Elaine Hardt ©2003
the answer came simply to me:
Why do I worry, why do I fret?
Here’s something I must not forget:
He did it before; He can do it again,
God is totally awesome;
If we knew it then, we should know it now,
He is the mighty God.
When He did it before, we should remember back then,
God is completely faithful;
His Word is still true, He knows what to do,
God is the One that we need.
If we needed Him then, we need Him now,
God is certainly able;
When we call out to Him, we can trust Him,
God is the Ruler of all.
There’s nothing too hard, for He is the Lord,
God made the whole Universe;
When we humbly call, He hears us all,
God wants to answer our prayer.
We’re worn out with sin, we need Him within,
God wants to save our soul;
Repentance is needed, His Word is heeded,
Then He can answer our call.
Now He’s my Lord, and now He’s my friend,
And this is how it will be;
One day I’m going to Heaven to see
Jesus who died for me.
And how about you? You need Him, too,
Let Jesus enter your heart;
Don’t wait and delay, this is your day,
God is calling to you.
By Elaine Hardt ©2003
Friday, August 17, 2007
More Than a Promise, More Than a Dream
Difficulty, betrayal, deceit, disaster —we see it in the life of young Joseph, son of Jacob. But we also see the faithfulness of God, His plan of promise, dreams, and blessing.
When you and I take a closer look at this Bible story it brings us hope and joy. If you’ve ever been misunderstood or cheated you’ll feel relieved to see how God’s blessing comes to the man or woman who trusts and obeys the Lord.
Joseph was daddy’s favorite of all his children. At first it almost sounds like he was a spoiled kid, a tattle-tale, an attention-getter. It sounds like he bragged about his dreams and got on his brothers’ nerves. But what was his attitude, his understanding, his behavior?
For many years God prepared Joseph to fill an important role in a family of great destiny.
God taught Joseph in his family.
Father Jacob surely had often gathered his youngsters around him to hear him recount the story of his life. He would have told about his dream of the ladder that reached to Heaven, and of hearing the very voice of God, “Behold, I am with thee . . . I will not leave thee…” (Genesis 28:15).
Years later, Jacob traveling back from Mahanaim with his wives and children met angels of God, (Genesis 32:1), and at Peniel Jacob wrestled with a “man” and Jacob said, “…I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” (32:28-30). God spoke with him at Bethel (35:7-15).
In those days families might sit out under the starry skies by the burning campfire after the day’s work was done and listen to their parents recite the stories of God’s dealings with mankind. Repetition and memorization of important facts of the family history was of great importance. Surely, Joseph knew that God had a destiny for his father’s family.
Joseph knew right from wrong. His father could trust him to make a truthful report about the brothers and the flocks. Father was grooming him for leadership. God was grooming him for leadership.
God gave Joseph the dreams.
At the age of seventeen Joseph was assured of God’s presence in his life through two dreams. Knowing God made the difference.
Was it the naiveté and self-confidence of a unpretentious teenager that led Joseph to relate his dreams? It well could have been the mercy of God, testing both the family and Joseph, as a way to reveal the condition of their hearts.
When he was sold into slavery, later falsely accused and thrown into prison he would remember those two wonderful dreams, but he must have also had a personal relationship with God, the Father he could always talk to, any place, any time.
Later he’d interpret the dreams of others. God gave discernment and wisdom.
God gave Joseph a robe.
Joseph learned to love and trust God, for he experienced his own father’s love and trust. That beautiful robe (the “coat of many colors”) had probably been presented to him at a family gathering, and Father Jacob would have again recounted important details of blessing and worship of God for all to hear.
Remembering that robe of honor perhaps Joseph later realized it had been a glimpse of another beautiful robe that he’d wear, after God had tested and trained him, and prepared the circumstances for Joseph to become a great and powerful leader.
God gave Joseph what he needed.
When his brothers turned against him Joseph could not be delivered from trouble. God had a greater plan. Joseph later would deliver others with the wisdom God gave him.
God gave Joseph what he didn’t deserve; trouble and disgrace, but eventually great honor and power.
God gave Joseph testing.
For the next thirteen years Joseph was tested to see if he’d fall into depression or confusion or anger.
He was tested to see if he’d take a short-cut to success, taking advantage of an illegal relationship with another man’s wife.
He was tested to see if he could take the stress.
He was given responsibility, and he developed managerial skills.
He was tested in prison, and he mastered leadership skills.
He was tested when he interpreted the dreams for two prisoners.
He was tested when he was called before Pharaoh.
Joseph passed the tests. His heart was right; his attitude was right. He gave God the credit.
More than seven years later when the brothers came to Egypt Joseph was tested to reveal his attitude. He was caring, wise, and mature.
When Joseph revealed who he was to his brothers he declared, “…God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:7).
Joseph was tested in his generosity to the 70 members of Jacob’s family.
Later he assured his family what he had believed, all those years, “What you meant for evil God meant it unto good . . . to save many people,” (Genesis 50:20).
Throughout the life of Joseph he was blessed by God, and he was tested so that his obedience could be a blessing to his family, and then to thousands and thousands of others.
In all of his testing he never denied God or abandoned his family. He did what was right, even when it must have been hard.
God gave Joseph fame.
It’s a fascinating story to read and consider. From weakness to strength. From obscurity to fame. From hard physical labor to a life of great wealth. From ridicule to rulership. From trials to triumph.
His brothers grew up and became the leaders of the tribes of the nation of Israel. Later known as Jews they filled an important role in God’s purposes throughout the Old Testament times. Jacob’s family was in the lineage of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:34).
Five things we learn from the life of Joseph:
1. As God provides ways for us to be a blessing to others we will be tested.
2. God wants us to discover the condition of our hearts.
3. God gives us knowledge and wisdom; we can rely on Him.
4. God wants us to trust Him, no matter what’s going on at the time.
5. God’s time is not the same as our time.
One thing to remember . . .
More than a promise, more than a dream God gave Joseph an awareness of His very presence. God gave him His faithfulness and His love. Throughout his life Joseph developed steadfast courage and determination, hard work and faith. He gave God the credit.
What you and I need is more than a promise, more than a dream. We, too, need an awareness of the very presence of God in our life. We need a relationship with the Lord that endures testing, so we can bring to others great blessing.
Living as we do in these difficult days, let His awesome love mean more than a promise, more than a dream.
###
by Elaine Hardt ©2004
When you and I take a closer look at this Bible story it brings us hope and joy. If you’ve ever been misunderstood or cheated you’ll feel relieved to see how God’s blessing comes to the man or woman who trusts and obeys the Lord.
Joseph was daddy’s favorite of all his children. At first it almost sounds like he was a spoiled kid, a tattle-tale, an attention-getter. It sounds like he bragged about his dreams and got on his brothers’ nerves. But what was his attitude, his understanding, his behavior?
For many years God prepared Joseph to fill an important role in a family of great destiny.
God taught Joseph in his family.
Father Jacob surely had often gathered his youngsters around him to hear him recount the story of his life. He would have told about his dream of the ladder that reached to Heaven, and of hearing the very voice of God, “Behold, I am with thee . . . I will not leave thee…” (Genesis 28:15).
Years later, Jacob traveling back from Mahanaim with his wives and children met angels of God, (Genesis 32:1), and at Peniel Jacob wrestled with a “man” and Jacob said, “…I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” (32:28-30). God spoke with him at Bethel (35:7-15).
In those days families might sit out under the starry skies by the burning campfire after the day’s work was done and listen to their parents recite the stories of God’s dealings with mankind. Repetition and memorization of important facts of the family history was of great importance. Surely, Joseph knew that God had a destiny for his father’s family.
Joseph knew right from wrong. His father could trust him to make a truthful report about the brothers and the flocks. Father was grooming him for leadership. God was grooming him for leadership.
God gave Joseph the dreams.
At the age of seventeen Joseph was assured of God’s presence in his life through two dreams. Knowing God made the difference.
Was it the naiveté and self-confidence of a unpretentious teenager that led Joseph to relate his dreams? It well could have been the mercy of God, testing both the family and Joseph, as a way to reveal the condition of their hearts.
When he was sold into slavery, later falsely accused and thrown into prison he would remember those two wonderful dreams, but he must have also had a personal relationship with God, the Father he could always talk to, any place, any time.
Later he’d interpret the dreams of others. God gave discernment and wisdom.
God gave Joseph a robe.
Joseph learned to love and trust God, for he experienced his own father’s love and trust. That beautiful robe (the “coat of many colors”) had probably been presented to him at a family gathering, and Father Jacob would have again recounted important details of blessing and worship of God for all to hear.
Remembering that robe of honor perhaps Joseph later realized it had been a glimpse of another beautiful robe that he’d wear, after God had tested and trained him, and prepared the circumstances for Joseph to become a great and powerful leader.
God gave Joseph what he needed.
When his brothers turned against him Joseph could not be delivered from trouble. God had a greater plan. Joseph later would deliver others with the wisdom God gave him.
God gave Joseph what he didn’t deserve; trouble and disgrace, but eventually great honor and power.
God gave Joseph testing.
For the next thirteen years Joseph was tested to see if he’d fall into depression or confusion or anger.
He was tested to see if he’d take a short-cut to success, taking advantage of an illegal relationship with another man’s wife.
He was tested to see if he could take the stress.
He was given responsibility, and he developed managerial skills.
He was tested in prison, and he mastered leadership skills.
He was tested when he interpreted the dreams for two prisoners.
He was tested when he was called before Pharaoh.
Joseph passed the tests. His heart was right; his attitude was right. He gave God the credit.
More than seven years later when the brothers came to Egypt Joseph was tested to reveal his attitude. He was caring, wise, and mature.
When Joseph revealed who he was to his brothers he declared, “…God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:7).
Joseph was tested in his generosity to the 70 members of Jacob’s family.
Later he assured his family what he had believed, all those years, “What you meant for evil God meant it unto good . . . to save many people,” (Genesis 50:20).
Throughout the life of Joseph he was blessed by God, and he was tested so that his obedience could be a blessing to his family, and then to thousands and thousands of others.
In all of his testing he never denied God or abandoned his family. He did what was right, even when it must have been hard.
God gave Joseph fame.
It’s a fascinating story to read and consider. From weakness to strength. From obscurity to fame. From hard physical labor to a life of great wealth. From ridicule to rulership. From trials to triumph.
His brothers grew up and became the leaders of the tribes of the nation of Israel. Later known as Jews they filled an important role in God’s purposes throughout the Old Testament times. Jacob’s family was in the lineage of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:34).
Five things we learn from the life of Joseph:
1. As God provides ways for us to be a blessing to others we will be tested.
2. God wants us to discover the condition of our hearts.
3. God gives us knowledge and wisdom; we can rely on Him.
4. God wants us to trust Him, no matter what’s going on at the time.
5. God’s time is not the same as our time.
One thing to remember . . .
More than a promise, more than a dream God gave Joseph an awareness of His very presence. God gave him His faithfulness and His love. Throughout his life Joseph developed steadfast courage and determination, hard work and faith. He gave God the credit.
What you and I need is more than a promise, more than a dream. We, too, need an awareness of the very presence of God in our life. We need a relationship with the Lord that endures testing, so we can bring to others great blessing.
Living as we do in these difficult days, let His awesome love mean more than a promise, more than a dream.
###
by Elaine Hardt ©2004
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Artificial Flowers
During the pastor’s long-winded prayer Sunday morning I sneaked a glimpse towards the pulpit. There on the table in front was a large bouquet of artificial flowers.
As I pondered those flowers I think I even saw a tiny spiderweb from one fern to another. With a wry smile I reached for my pencil and here’s what I jotted on the back of the Sunday bulletin:
Why I don’t want to be an artificial flower:
No scent. The thing has no fair aroma that stirs the senses, that paints pictures on the minds of the viewer.
No freshness. No need for water’s blessing in a cycle of life.
No reproduction. The thing cannot make other flowers, cannot pass life on.
The thing invites creepy things, like spiders, to set up webs. It gets dusty.
No change. The thing is dead, always has been and always will be.
Then I summarized my thoughts by writing,
I’m glad I’m alive. Life: what a gift from God! Lord, I want to grow and bloom and please you, most of all.
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
As I pondered those flowers I think I even saw a tiny spiderweb from one fern to another. With a wry smile I reached for my pencil and here’s what I jotted on the back of the Sunday bulletin:
Why I don’t want to be an artificial flower:
No scent. The thing has no fair aroma that stirs the senses, that paints pictures on the minds of the viewer.
No freshness. No need for water’s blessing in a cycle of life.
No reproduction. The thing cannot make other flowers, cannot pass life on.
The thing invites creepy things, like spiders, to set up webs. It gets dusty.
No change. The thing is dead, always has been and always will be.
Then I summarized my thoughts by writing,
I’m glad I’m alive. Life: what a gift from God! Lord, I want to grow and bloom and please you, most of all.
by Elaine Hardt ©2007
Tears, So Much Like Rain
Tears, so much like rain
washes the soul, releases a sorrowful shower
a heart quake, a heart break
pierces an unseen reservoir
permitting a cascade of private indulgence
Weeping so fits the melancholy sound of rain
as distant rumbles pulsate from heavy clouds
Other times the floods have arisen
lightning flashing, searing
raw emotions convulsing
crying was an intruder with angry red eyes
But today a strange gentleness persists bringing
a healing, a refreshing of pearl gray dimensions
waters bestowing an affirmation of life
whispered in the stirring of a necessary breeze
The sun gone down, so no prospect of rainbow arising
yet this rain in staunch darkness is kind
One slightly salty tear tastes sweet
by Elaine Hardt ©1991
washes the soul, releases a sorrowful shower
a heart quake, a heart break
pierces an unseen reservoir
permitting a cascade of private indulgence
Weeping so fits the melancholy sound of rain
as distant rumbles pulsate from heavy clouds
Other times the floods have arisen
lightning flashing, searing
raw emotions convulsing
crying was an intruder with angry red eyes
But today a strange gentleness persists bringing
a healing, a refreshing of pearl gray dimensions
waters bestowing an affirmation of life
whispered in the stirring of a necessary breeze
The sun gone down, so no prospect of rainbow arising
yet this rain in staunch darkness is kind
One slightly salty tear tastes sweet
by Elaine Hardt ©1991
Of Weeds and Prayers
One stubborn weed
pushes upward from a tiny crack
between the wall and the sidewalk
proving in that narrow space
life will not be denied
flowers and seeds are its reward
My stubborn prayer
pushes upward from life’s clutter
defying the world’s narrow view
proving beyond circumstance
God’s grace cannot be denied
His presence is my reward
by Elaine Hardt ©1997
pushes upward from a tiny crack
between the wall and the sidewalk
proving in that narrow space
life will not be denied
flowers and seeds are its reward
My stubborn prayer
pushes upward from life’s clutter
defying the world’s narrow view
proving beyond circumstance
God’s grace cannot be denied
His presence is my reward
by Elaine Hardt ©1997
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Do You Hear the Song?
A song of sadness was heard across the land,
Tears fell in torrents like April’s rain,
Questioning hearts cried out to God— or hid,
Refusing emotion again.
A song of honesty was heard across the land,
Show me my weakness, show me my part,
What could I have done differently
To spare someone’s breaking heart?
A song of surrender was heard across the land,
Lord, we are all frail and weak,
You alone know each person’s heart;
It’s You, not just comfort we must seek.
A song of caring was heard across the land,
I’m determined to reach out to others,
Give me wisdom and discernment;
As Jesus’ love I discover.
A song of thankfulness was heard across the land,
God’s Holy Spirit points us to Him;
We pray, then rest peacefully,
Confident though our vision is dim.
A song of praise was heard across the land,
There’s coming an end to sadness,
Trust God, obey Him fully,
He fills our hearts with gladness.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Tears fell in torrents like April’s rain,
Questioning hearts cried out to God— or hid,
Refusing emotion again.
A song of honesty was heard across the land,
Show me my weakness, show me my part,
What could I have done differently
To spare someone’s breaking heart?
A song of surrender was heard across the land,
Lord, we are all frail and weak,
You alone know each person’s heart;
It’s You, not just comfort we must seek.
A song of caring was heard across the land,
I’m determined to reach out to others,
Give me wisdom and discernment;
As Jesus’ love I discover.
A song of thankfulness was heard across the land,
God’s Holy Spirit points us to Him;
We pray, then rest peacefully,
Confident though our vision is dim.
A song of praise was heard across the land,
There’s coming an end to sadness,
Trust God, obey Him fully,
He fills our hearts with gladness.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Me, Pray About the Weather?
Bad weather stretched across the US from the Atlantic to the Pacific. There on the computer screen the warnings were visual. It looked scary. Heavy rain in the southeast. Strong storms advancing in “Tornado Alley,” and a continuing drought in the southwest.
With no rain for 78 days here our concern is for the forest. Bible camps outside of town are vulnerable. Everyone — camp administrators, fire officials, the sheriff’s department are on full alert, concerned about the potential danger. Everyone, that is, except the Christians I’ve talked to lately.
Pray about the weather? It sounds strange to petition God about seemingly unchangeable weather patterns. Perhaps it would bother Him and distract Him from more important things. It seems sort of selfish to ask for Him to fix the weather, kind of like something children would do when dark clouds advance towards the park.
Other people will claim that they don’t want to focus on bad things, only on the good things that are happening. That way they can keep on smiling, while ignoring the worldly events. They might point to the fact that in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples He does not mention praying about the weather.
What if we believers were to pray fervently about the bad weather, and then the bad weather kept on coming, people were injured, property was lost. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?
What kind of a testimony would that be to our unbelieving friends and neighbors!
What we pray for
shows what we care for.
Of course, God is not counting how many prayers are asking for a certain thing to happen. And He does have an over-all plan for mankind. His Will will be done.
But our prayers to Him are not wasted. The Lord is developing our character. Events come at us each day, and we have a choice of how to act. If we pray for Grandma Maude’s place to be spared from the flood we can trust that God already loves her more than we do. God can answer prayer in a way that works out to be a wonderful blessing.
The Bible mentions weather: heat, storm, rain, snow, wind, lightning. Noah, Moses, Job, Paul, Elijah, and others dealt with the forces of weather. When you read one of those accounts picture what is happening. Imagine how the people are feeling, what they might be saying and doing. God is getting someone’s attention; He’s making a point.
David wrote, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me. . . My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness. . . My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises.” From Psalm 57 (NLT).
Perhaps as we look out the window at the drifting snow — or the pounding rain — we should be questioning ourselves. What does God want me to learn in this situation? What can I do to help someone? When was the last time I felt like this?
Prayer is not a formal, dry and unemotional reading of some holy-sounding words someone has written. Prayer is not a scientific formula. And we all know that prayer is not confined to church on Sunday.
What shall I say? What shall I pray? Is my relationship with the Lord growing strong and confident?
No need to be bashful about telling others that you pray and you converse with God about such daily stuff as the weather. “Let your light shine . . .” to give God the glory. Our part is to trust and obey.
+ + +
With no rain for 78 days here our concern is for the forest. Bible camps outside of town are vulnerable. Everyone — camp administrators, fire officials, the sheriff’s department are on full alert, concerned about the potential danger. Everyone, that is, except the Christians I’ve talked to lately.
Pray about the weather? It sounds strange to petition God about seemingly unchangeable weather patterns. Perhaps it would bother Him and distract Him from more important things. It seems sort of selfish to ask for Him to fix the weather, kind of like something children would do when dark clouds advance towards the park.
Other people will claim that they don’t want to focus on bad things, only on the good things that are happening. That way they can keep on smiling, while ignoring the worldly events. They might point to the fact that in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples He does not mention praying about the weather.
What if we believers were to pray fervently about the bad weather, and then the bad weather kept on coming, people were injured, property was lost. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?
What kind of a testimony would that be to our unbelieving friends and neighbors!
What we pray for
shows what we care for.
Of course, God is not counting how many prayers are asking for a certain thing to happen. And He does have an over-all plan for mankind. His Will will be done.
But our prayers to Him are not wasted. The Lord is developing our character. Events come at us each day, and we have a choice of how to act. If we pray for Grandma Maude’s place to be spared from the flood we can trust that God already loves her more than we do. God can answer prayer in a way that works out to be a wonderful blessing.
The Bible mentions weather: heat, storm, rain, snow, wind, lightning. Noah, Moses, Job, Paul, Elijah, and others dealt with the forces of weather. When you read one of those accounts picture what is happening. Imagine how the people are feeling, what they might be saying and doing. God is getting someone’s attention; He’s making a point.
David wrote, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me. . . My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness. . . My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises.” From Psalm 57 (NLT).
Perhaps as we look out the window at the drifting snow — or the pounding rain — we should be questioning ourselves. What does God want me to learn in this situation? What can I do to help someone? When was the last time I felt like this?
Prayer is not a formal, dry and unemotional reading of some holy-sounding words someone has written. Prayer is not a scientific formula. And we all know that prayer is not confined to church on Sunday.
What shall I say? What shall I pray? Is my relationship with the Lord growing strong and confident?
No need to be bashful about telling others that you pray and you converse with God about such daily stuff as the weather. “Let your light shine . . .” to give God the glory. Our part is to trust and obey.
+ + +
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Beautiful Photograph Tells Another Picture
Photo by Peter Hardt ©2007
Beautiful scene, was the first comment. Yes? And?
Well, it would be a nice place to visit. The lake and the mountain in the back . . .
And?
The photo sort of gives me a peaceful feeling. I like the calm sky and the reflections in the lake.
So, if you were there?
I’d be surrounded by beauty. I’d see the depth of the distances better. I’d feel the coolness and the quietness.
We were both looking at a photo of Mt. Rainier that my son Peter had sent. I, too, thought the photograph was a masterpiece and proudly displayed it on my desk. But, showing it to my friend I realized how a quick glance does not do it justice. And that came to mind today as I clicked on the Internet for a quick, little Bible reading.
Reading the Bible is like snatching up my son’s photograph and giving it a cursory glance. One quick look and we’re ready to put it down.
Sometimes, when you and I read God’s Word we scan through in search of a particular word or term. When we find it we’re done. We jot down a note mentally or on paper. That’s it.
Taking more time with that page of the Bible we might be able to soak in the surroundings, bring details into focus, reveal the background. We could see things that we missed the first time.
How did the mist arising from the lake affect the photographer’s picture? How close from the lake was the photographer? Were there any other people there at that time? Were they all hushed with the beauty, or chatting before getting back on the tour bus? Is there more to discover, more to learn?
The Bible is a unique book. Picking it up is like holding history in your hands — people’s conversations, people’s lives — God’s communication of goodness and law, love and salvation. There are some details that we can relate to, other information that takes us quite by surprise.
God Himself, our Creator and the Author of the Book invites us to enter into a relationship with Him. Like a tour guide He points out a personal message to us, if we respond to Him.
Consider the beautiful picture of God’s awesome plan for our little planet Earth and its inhabitants — a stunning revelation of truth about Now and Hereafter. Take another look at the Bible!
(Photo by Peter Hardt ©2007. Writing by Elaine Hardt ©2007)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Disagreement at the Bible Study?
What’s it like when YOU go to Bible study?
o Calm and predictable, but the teacher does make it interesting most of the time.
o Very calm and very predictable. Nearly boring, but I know that I ought to go.
o Irritating. Makes my blood pressure go up, but, oh well.
o Fascinating. Discussions are lively. It gives us something to apply to our lives.
What can I do?
Go prepared. Try the COMB approach and “then” and “now.”
C= Context. Read ahead of and after the verses in the study. What is being talked about?
O= Other verses. What other Scripture sheds light on the concept.
M= Meaning. Look up the meaning of key words. Is the word repeated frequently in this book?
B= Background. What has happened to bring on these events? Picture yourself in the scene.
Then: How did this teaching apply to the people in those days?
Now: How does this teaching apply to us in our time?
What if a disagreement arises?
If you’re the teacher, be thankful. It’s an opportunity to go past a routine reading of the verse. It’s an opportunity to display patience with each other. It’s a challenge for each of us to dig deeper.
If you’re one of the members of the group, be thankful. You can demonstrate a good attitude while developing your communication skills. You can show initiative in study before the next meeting.
Size it up.
It’s too bad when the teacher or the class feels it must press on to complete a certain number of pages. This may rob us from some honest questions and helpful discussion.
Is this important enough? Does anyone else in the group feel it’s worth the extra time and effort?
Can it be better covered a few weeks from now? Consult the calendar. Let’s all do some homework.
Is there anyone who we could invite to share knowledge or first-hand experience?
How can I share with the others?
1. Clarify what the disagreement is. Can you put it into writing?
2. What version of the Bible are you using?
3. What version of the Bible are the others in the group using?
4. What other verses use the same word or the same concept?
5. Read the chapter before and the chapter after: note the context.
6. Have you checked Strong’s Concordance? Or other concordance?
7. Who is the “authority” you are quoting? What are his/her qualifications?
8. Are there other books that you recommend to us?
9. Make written notes to hand out to the others.
10. Be a good listener when others are speaking. Ask good questions, too.
What if we all cannot agree?
• Be thankful for God’s goodness and mercy, since we are all less than 100% brilliant.
• Be quick to encourage each other.
• Take into consideration how much you have been growing, spiritually.
• Decide if further study and discussion might be helpful at this time.
How important is it?
Keep in mind that there are important, life-affecting, eternal truths that we must receive as we embrace our Savior. Other issues are probably interesting, but could be mainly historical, or helpful for children, or useful for teaching new believers.
Be a Berean. Read what they did in Acts 17:11.
Read and study of the Bible with another believer. Both of you can be blessed.
“As iron sharpens iron,
a friend sharpens a friend.”
(Proverbs 27:17, NLT)
In closing . . .
A sermon is not enough. A TV program can’t do it for you. The stories from childhood Sunday School can not give you an adult perspective.
Bible study is not a time-filler, a routine meeting. For the believer it is not optional.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV)
Welcome the Lord and His Word into your life. We need God’s presence, His empowering, and His grace to learn to do what pleases Him.
❤
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
o Calm and predictable, but the teacher does make it interesting most of the time.
o Very calm and very predictable. Nearly boring, but I know that I ought to go.
o Irritating. Makes my blood pressure go up, but, oh well.
o Fascinating. Discussions are lively. It gives us something to apply to our lives.
What can I do?
Go prepared. Try the COMB approach and “then” and “now.”
C= Context. Read ahead of and after the verses in the study. What is being talked about?
O= Other verses. What other Scripture sheds light on the concept.
M= Meaning. Look up the meaning of key words. Is the word repeated frequently in this book?
B= Background. What has happened to bring on these events? Picture yourself in the scene.
Then: How did this teaching apply to the people in those days?
Now: How does this teaching apply to us in our time?
What if a disagreement arises?
If you’re the teacher, be thankful. It’s an opportunity to go past a routine reading of the verse. It’s an opportunity to display patience with each other. It’s a challenge for each of us to dig deeper.
If you’re one of the members of the group, be thankful. You can demonstrate a good attitude while developing your communication skills. You can show initiative in study before the next meeting.
Size it up.
It’s too bad when the teacher or the class feels it must press on to complete a certain number of pages. This may rob us from some honest questions and helpful discussion.
Is this important enough? Does anyone else in the group feel it’s worth the extra time and effort?
Can it be better covered a few weeks from now? Consult the calendar. Let’s all do some homework.
Is there anyone who we could invite to share knowledge or first-hand experience?
How can I share with the others?
1. Clarify what the disagreement is. Can you put it into writing?
2. What version of the Bible are you using?
3. What version of the Bible are the others in the group using?
4. What other verses use the same word or the same concept?
5. Read the chapter before and the chapter after: note the context.
6. Have you checked Strong’s Concordance? Or other concordance?
7. Who is the “authority” you are quoting? What are his/her qualifications?
8. Are there other books that you recommend to us?
9. Make written notes to hand out to the others.
10. Be a good listener when others are speaking. Ask good questions, too.
What if we all cannot agree?
• Be thankful for God’s goodness and mercy, since we are all less than 100% brilliant.
• Be quick to encourage each other.
• Take into consideration how much you have been growing, spiritually.
• Decide if further study and discussion might be helpful at this time.
How important is it?
Keep in mind that there are important, life-affecting, eternal truths that we must receive as we embrace our Savior. Other issues are probably interesting, but could be mainly historical, or helpful for children, or useful for teaching new believers.
Be a Berean. Read what they did in Acts 17:11.
Read and study of the Bible with another believer. Both of you can be blessed.
“As iron sharpens iron,
a friend sharpens a friend.”
(Proverbs 27:17, NLT)
In closing . . .
A sermon is not enough. A TV program can’t do it for you. The stories from childhood Sunday School can not give you an adult perspective.
Bible study is not a time-filler, a routine meeting. For the believer it is not optional.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV)
Welcome the Lord and His Word into your life. We need God’s presence, His empowering, and His grace to learn to do what pleases Him.
❤
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
ABCs of Prayer
Adoring our Lord
Bowing before His throne
Confessing doubt and weakness and sin
Dancing and singing, delighting in Him
Encompassing a needy world with love
Forgiving others, forgiving myself as He forgives me
Grateful for hope in the face of adversity
Having sweet fellowship with Jesus
Interceding in the Spirit
Joyful in salvation
Kept from deception, confident in Christ
Lavishing His blessings on others
Mindful of eternity
Needing nothing else
Overcoming evil in obedience to God’s Word
Praising His name
Quieting my anxious thoughts in the light of His love
Resting in my Father’s arms, receiving His peace
Speaking by faith His Words of deliverance and healing
Thankful for His grace
Understanding little, trusting much
Victorious in His armor, empowered by the Spirit
Weeping over the lost
X excited about what God has already done
Yielding my life, saying Yes to His leading
Zealous to give Him all glory!
by Elaine Hardt ©1995
Bowing before His throne
Confessing doubt and weakness and sin
Dancing and singing, delighting in Him
Encompassing a needy world with love
Forgiving others, forgiving myself as He forgives me
Grateful for hope in the face of adversity
Having sweet fellowship with Jesus
Interceding in the Spirit
Joyful in salvation
Kept from deception, confident in Christ
Lavishing His blessings on others
Mindful of eternity
Needing nothing else
Overcoming evil in obedience to God’s Word
Praising His name
Quieting my anxious thoughts in the light of His love
Resting in my Father’s arms, receiving His peace
Speaking by faith His Words of deliverance and healing
Thankful for His grace
Understanding little, trusting much
Victorious in His armor, empowered by the Spirit
Weeping over the lost
X excited about what God has already done
Yielding my life, saying Yes to His leading
Zealous to give Him all glory!
by Elaine Hardt ©1995
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Attitude Adjustment
What’s your passion, what do you do well?
Do you dream that you can?
An attitude can be improved
By a careful, thought-out plan;
Without His Word we do not know God,
We could follow false dreams;
He has a good plan for each of us,
Quite challenging it seems.
You can’t receive when your fist is clenched,
Give up both anger and fear;
Satan seeks to block your destiny,
Don’t believe every voice you hear.
Can you trust God? He’s giving you
A certain number of days;
Empowered by His Holy Spirit
Obey Him, give Him praise.
Perhaps what you dream is not for now,
Don’t let pride get in your way;
Life is too short! Avoid confusion!
God calls —now is the time to pray.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Do you dream that you can?
An attitude can be improved
By a careful, thought-out plan;
Without His Word we do not know God,
We could follow false dreams;
He has a good plan for each of us,
Quite challenging it seems.
You can’t receive when your fist is clenched,
Give up both anger and fear;
Satan seeks to block your destiny,
Don’t believe every voice you hear.
Can you trust God? He’s giving you
A certain number of days;
Empowered by His Holy Spirit
Obey Him, give Him praise.
Perhaps what you dream is not for now,
Don’t let pride get in your way;
Life is too short! Avoid confusion!
God calls —now is the time to pray.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Father, You Know
Too much is out there in the world,
Too much is going on;
I can’t keep up, find out, figure it out,
I’m tired of the struggle and fear and doubt.
Too much noise and confusion,
Little lies and downright deception;
Too much bitterness and strife,
Too many problems for a too-short life.
Too much is out of order, those who care are few,
Too little that just one person can do.
Evil is hidden, evil is plain to see;
Everyone is caught up in superficiality.
Father, You know.
Father, You know.
My heart longs for things to be right,
For truth to prevail, blindness give way to sight.
I hand over my stress and aggravation,
Forgive my complaining and frustration.
Father, I’m glad You are here in this place;
I rest in Your goodness, I’m safe in Your grace;
You restore and refresh my world-weary soul,
I’m eternally glad that You’re in control.
Yes, my life is insignificant and small,
But I will listen when You call;
What You tell me I will do
And leave the end results to You.
By Elaine Hardt ©2002
Too much is going on;
I can’t keep up, find out, figure it out,
I’m tired of the struggle and fear and doubt.
Too much noise and confusion,
Little lies and downright deception;
Too much bitterness and strife,
Too many problems for a too-short life.
Too much is out of order, those who care are few,
Too little that just one person can do.
Evil is hidden, evil is plain to see;
Everyone is caught up in superficiality.
Father, You know.
Father, You know.
My heart longs for things to be right,
For truth to prevail, blindness give way to sight.
I hand over my stress and aggravation,
Forgive my complaining and frustration.
Father, I’m glad You are here in this place;
I rest in Your goodness, I’m safe in Your grace;
You restore and refresh my world-weary soul,
I’m eternally glad that You’re in control.
Yes, my life is insignificant and small,
But I will listen when You call;
What You tell me I will do
And leave the end results to You.
By Elaine Hardt ©2002
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Day After Easter
Easter came and went
dressed in ribbons and lace
bringing baskets of
colored eggs nestled in plastic grass.
Glazed ham emerged from its pan
and everyone ate too much.
But now it's over,
wilted lettuce and melted Jello,
and back to school.
But I chose instead
to remember Resurrection,
God's approval of Jesus,
the ultimate Passover Lamb,
His powerful answer to the daily crush,
and the unspoken questions of being,
and the heart's deepest cry.
So my celebration
has no end.
—Elaine Hardt ©l984
dressed in ribbons and lace
bringing baskets of
colored eggs nestled in plastic grass.
Glazed ham emerged from its pan
and everyone ate too much.
But now it's over,
wilted lettuce and melted Jello,
and back to school.
But I chose instead
to remember Resurrection,
God's approval of Jesus,
the ultimate Passover Lamb,
His powerful answer to the daily crush,
and the unspoken questions of being,
and the heart's deepest cry.
So my celebration
has no end.
—Elaine Hardt ©l984
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
What Can I Say About Easter?
What can I say about Easter
That hasn’t been said before?
Stuffed rabbits and baby chicks,
Eggs in baskets or hidden nests,
Yummy cupcakes. jelly beans,
Is this a treat for your dentist?
At least that’s what it seems!
But let’s get past the pretending
And recall the Easter facts
of Jesus’ Resurrection Day;
Let’s search the Bible truth
Of that early celebration,
Passover’s sacrifice remembered
In solemn commemoration.
So what is this holiday
Really supposed to be about?
God’s love, His sacrifice for our sin,
Jesus rising from the tomb,
Our obedience and trust,
Thankful for forgiveness,
So celebrate, we must!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
That hasn’t been said before?
Stuffed rabbits and baby chicks,
Eggs in baskets or hidden nests,
Yummy cupcakes. jelly beans,
Is this a treat for your dentist?
At least that’s what it seems!
But let’s get past the pretending
And recall the Easter facts
of Jesus’ Resurrection Day;
Let’s search the Bible truth
Of that early celebration,
Passover’s sacrifice remembered
In solemn commemoration.
So what is this holiday
Really supposed to be about?
God’s love, His sacrifice for our sin,
Jesus rising from the tomb,
Our obedience and trust,
Thankful for forgiveness,
So celebrate, we must!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
The Mathematical Question
Several times people wanted to make Jesus king,
“My hour is not yet come,” was His reply.
One day He arranged it Himself, rode into Jerusalem,
In a mathematical way we find the reason why.
We read in the Gospels about Palm Sunday
To the shouts of the happy crowds, He allowed their praise.
And, here’s the unbelievable fact about that date
Predicted to be 173,880 days.
Several hundred years earlier Daniel wrote it,
The King coming, as prophesized, for all to see,
Messiah long-awaited and promised by God.
We nearly overlook this event today, amazingly.
No coincidence, the facts lined up,
Scholars deciphered the mathematical prophecy
Of Daniel 9:24-27 and knew Zechariah 9:9;
Setting the date of the triumphal entry.
On March 14, 445 B.C. Longimanus gave command to restore.
(Jewish and Babylonian calendars used a 360 day year.)
And on April 6, 32 A.D. Jesus presented Himself as King;
Accounting for leap years the exact total will then appear.
The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies,
The Bible, Word of God, is really true;
“What difference does it make to me?”
To accept Jesus means eternal life to you.
-Elaine Hardt ©2007
(Information is from Chuck Missler’s K-House News, 3-27-07.)
The book of Daniel was translated into Greek prior to 270 B.C. several centuries before Christ was born. Read about Artaxerxes Longimanus; see an article at http://www.khouse.org/articles/1996/46/
“My hour is not yet come,” was His reply.
One day He arranged it Himself, rode into Jerusalem,
In a mathematical way we find the reason why.
We read in the Gospels about Palm Sunday
To the shouts of the happy crowds, He allowed their praise.
And, here’s the unbelievable fact about that date
Predicted to be 173,880 days.
Several hundred years earlier Daniel wrote it,
The King coming, as prophesized, for all to see,
Messiah long-awaited and promised by God.
We nearly overlook this event today, amazingly.
No coincidence, the facts lined up,
Scholars deciphered the mathematical prophecy
Of Daniel 9:24-27 and knew Zechariah 9:9;
Setting the date of the triumphal entry.
On March 14, 445 B.C. Longimanus gave command to restore.
(Jewish and Babylonian calendars used a 360 day year.)
And on April 6, 32 A.D. Jesus presented Himself as King;
Accounting for leap years the exact total will then appear.
The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies,
The Bible, Word of God, is really true;
“What difference does it make to me?”
To accept Jesus means eternal life to you.
-Elaine Hardt ©2007
(Information is from Chuck Missler’s K-House News, 3-27-07.)
The book of Daniel was translated into Greek prior to 270 B.C. several centuries before Christ was born. Read about Artaxerxes Longimanus; see an article at http://www.khouse.org/articles/1996/46/
Friday, March 23, 2007
Faithfulness
Faithfulness
is a quality that God Himself inspires and enables.
God is faithful to us,
and faithful to His Word.
He sent Jesus to earth to be our Savior,
so faithful was He to His Word which He promised so long ago.
He sent His Holy Spirit to indwell believers
so faithful was He to His promises spoken by Jesus to His friends.
When life seems too hard
and we turn aside in frustration,
or anger,
or fear,
we need to remember
we can be faithful for this one day.
Then, at evening we can say,
“God made it possible for me to do the right thing today.
With His help I can be faithful again,
tomorrow.”
FAITHFULNESS is
trusting the One who loves us more than any other.
FAITHFULNESS is
reaching out to Him, forsaking our self-made notions.
FAITHFULNESS is
obeying what He said to do.
FAITHFULNESS is
doing what He says
and leaving the results to Him.
Eternity is but a breath away,
And I want to hear Him say to me, “Friend, you have been
good and faithful.”
—Elaine Hardt ©2003
is a quality that God Himself inspires and enables.
God is faithful to us,
and faithful to His Word.
He sent Jesus to earth to be our Savior,
so faithful was He to His Word which He promised so long ago.
He sent His Holy Spirit to indwell believers
so faithful was He to His promises spoken by Jesus to His friends.
When life seems too hard
and we turn aside in frustration,
or anger,
or fear,
we need to remember
we can be faithful for this one day.
Then, at evening we can say,
“God made it possible for me to do the right thing today.
With His help I can be faithful again,
tomorrow.”
FAITHFULNESS is
trusting the One who loves us more than any other.
FAITHFULNESS is
reaching out to Him, forsaking our self-made notions.
FAITHFULNESS is
obeying what He said to do.
FAITHFULNESS is
doing what He says
and leaving the results to Him.
Eternity is but a breath away,
And I want to hear Him say to me, “Friend, you have been
good and faithful.”
—Elaine Hardt ©2003
Sunday, February 18, 2007
NOW, So Hard to Describe
NOW cannot actually be true,
For as soon as I said NOW to you,
NOW evaporated and did not last;
It was demoted into the Past.
It seems to be the Future’s fault
That Time itself can never halt;
NOW refuses yet to stay,
Blink your eyes, it’s gone away.
NOW we cannot hold,
feeling fear or being bold;
Happy or sad, NOW is fleeting,
Another moment we are meeting.
This paradoxical puzzle
The intellect to muzzle,
NOW teases and perplexes me,
Challenging views of reality.
NOW is beyond the mind of man!
Puzzled by when NOW began?
Ask our Creator in Eternity,
He knows everything, certainly.
At death each man will know what’s true.
A timeless, magnificent NOW for you.
A new NOW by faith in God, believed,
That NOW by Jesus Christ received.
NOW being hard to be described
This poem’s point may seem contrived,
But serious thought is needed here,
Let truth come through, both loud and clear.
By Elaine Hardt ©2006
For as soon as I said NOW to you,
NOW evaporated and did not last;
It was demoted into the Past.
It seems to be the Future’s fault
That Time itself can never halt;
NOW refuses yet to stay,
Blink your eyes, it’s gone away.
NOW we cannot hold,
feeling fear or being bold;
Happy or sad, NOW is fleeting,
Another moment we are meeting.
This paradoxical puzzle
The intellect to muzzle,
NOW teases and perplexes me,
Challenging views of reality.
NOW is beyond the mind of man!
Puzzled by when NOW began?
Ask our Creator in Eternity,
He knows everything, certainly.
At death each man will know what’s true.
A timeless, magnificent NOW for you.
A new NOW by faith in God, believed,
That NOW by Jesus Christ received.
NOW being hard to be described
This poem’s point may seem contrived,
But serious thought is needed here,
Let truth come through, both loud and clear.
By Elaine Hardt ©2006
Friday, February 16, 2007
Explaining Life in 194 Words
Small problems, daily ordinary concerns,
a matter of learning and doing;
the average person deals with life.
Catastrophic problems, immense realities
demand research, effort, mental engagement;
Concern mingles with confusion and irritation.
Unprincipled persons take advantage
to press for power and greedy gain;
weakness will be our downfall.
Consider Elijah of Bible fame: brave, determined.
Strong enough to believe in the one, true God.
Strong enough to confront the evil.
Consider Jesus: know what He said, know what He did,
Confronting the sin, calling to the sinner;
He shows us God, He shows us love.
Today, mounting disasters reveal
evil grows bolder, weak souls hesitate or cave in;
the devil lures us to destruction.
Success demands the prepared person,
God uses those few who are available;
The outcome is on His terms, not ours.
We need strong, secure belief in the Lord,
Strong, confident, yet desperate prayer;
God empowers each of us to do what is right.
Life is no more a child’s storybook, a simple song,
Reality is life and death, joy and pain, Heaven and Hell,
Our choices affect so many others, besides ourselves.
Life is a tremendous challenge, an astounding opportunity!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:19 NLT
a matter of learning and doing;
the average person deals with life.
Catastrophic problems, immense realities
demand research, effort, mental engagement;
Concern mingles with confusion and irritation.
Unprincipled persons take advantage
to press for power and greedy gain;
weakness will be our downfall.
Consider Elijah of Bible fame: brave, determined.
Strong enough to believe in the one, true God.
Strong enough to confront the evil.
Consider Jesus: know what He said, know what He did,
Confronting the sin, calling to the sinner;
He shows us God, He shows us love.
Today, mounting disasters reveal
evil grows bolder, weak souls hesitate or cave in;
the devil lures us to destruction.
Success demands the prepared person,
God uses those few who are available;
The outcome is on His terms, not ours.
We need strong, secure belief in the Lord,
Strong, confident, yet desperate prayer;
God empowers each of us to do what is right.
Life is no more a child’s storybook, a simple song,
Reality is life and death, joy and pain, Heaven and Hell,
Our choices affect so many others, besides ourselves.
Life is a tremendous challenge, an astounding opportunity!
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:19 NLT
Saturday, January 20, 2007
One Thing You Lack
Your life resembles a well-crafted book
And you’re willing to take a thoughtful look;
Columns of figures comprise the sum,
Year-end results will show what you’ve done.
What if there’s an area neglected,
Forgotten or much earlier rejected?
Are you open to making needed change?
Can you, your rigid ideas re-arrange?
Not to be fussy or hypercritical,
Not that you failed to be analytical;
You reject failure, aim for success;
See if you will pass God’s test.
Once a man said, “There’s one thing you lack. . . “
Listeners paid attention, taken aback;
A spiritual truth it turned out to be,
Vital consideration for you or me.
You might welcome it— an idea, find,
To pique the interest of your active mind.
Maybe it’s time for you to take
Another look, for Heaven’s sake.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
And you’re willing to take a thoughtful look;
Columns of figures comprise the sum,
Year-end results will show what you’ve done.
What if there’s an area neglected,
Forgotten or much earlier rejected?
Are you open to making needed change?
Can you, your rigid ideas re-arrange?
Not to be fussy or hypercritical,
Not that you failed to be analytical;
You reject failure, aim for success;
See if you will pass God’s test.
Once a man said, “There’s one thing you lack. . . “
Listeners paid attention, taken aback;
A spiritual truth it turned out to be,
Vital consideration for you or me.
You might welcome it— an idea, find,
To pique the interest of your active mind.
Maybe it’s time for you to take
Another look, for Heaven’s sake.
By Elaine Hardt ©2007
Hello, New Year: I'm Ready and I'm Here
I’m ready to meet the New Year,
No matter what bad news I hear;
God sees and He knows,
My faith in Him grows,
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’m ready to meet the New Year,
I’ll take my stand without fear;
I’m reading God’s Word,
His promise I’ve heard,
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’ll talk to the Lord in prayer,
Finding peacefulness there.
When I’m tempted to confusion,
I’ll cast out thoughts of delusion.
I’ll recite reasons for gratitude,
Improving my smile and my attitude.
I’ll offer forgiveness where You show me,
I receive Your forgiveness gratefully.
I’m determined to grow stronger,
Delay new commitment no longer.
God knows what is best
To honor Him in each test.
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’m ready! I’m ready! I’m ready
to meet the New Year.
— Elaine Hardt ©2005
No matter what bad news I hear;
God sees and He knows,
My faith in Him grows,
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’m ready to meet the New Year,
I’ll take my stand without fear;
I’m reading God’s Word,
His promise I’ve heard,
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’ll talk to the Lord in prayer,
Finding peacefulness there.
When I’m tempted to confusion,
I’ll cast out thoughts of delusion.
I’ll recite reasons for gratitude,
Improving my smile and my attitude.
I’ll offer forgiveness where You show me,
I receive Your forgiveness gratefully.
I’m determined to grow stronger,
Delay new commitment no longer.
God knows what is best
To honor Him in each test.
I’m ready to meet the New Year.
I’m ready! I’m ready! I’m ready
to meet the New Year.
— Elaine Hardt ©2005
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