Memories Are All We Have

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

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

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

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