Autumn Means, "Prepare for Winter"!

Autumn brings respite from the summer’s heat,
Unexpected drought finally relieved by rain;
Now autumn signals time for preparation,
Winter storms will challenge survival again.

Anticipate hard times in case they come,
Set aside supplies from fields and store;
Wishful thinking is not the same as work,
Planning and doing are certainly called for.

Perhaps you’ll be needed to help someone,
Your example today might inspire;
Count your blessings while you get busy,
Remember to lift your goals higher.

Enjoy autumn scenery while you can,
Winter will soon assault that grassy sod;
Make gratitude your on-going attitude,
Appreciate wisdom given by God.

By Elaine Hardt ©2009

photo by Carlene Hardt ©2006

The Weeds' Revenge

Little green leaves and tiny colored flowers tried to masquerade their true identity. But the seeds that were awakened by last week’s showers were not welcome in the desert-landscaped lawn. The intruders were weeds.

A few days later, armed with a long-handled weed-stabbing tool I donned my gardening gloves and marched outside with a plastic bucket. By the early morning shade I vigorously attacked the invaders. Some of them had roots like miniature carrots.

Earlier, looking out the front room window I estimated that there were only about 15 - 20 weeds, and I’d be done in mere minutes. However, upon closer scrutiny there were more than that. Some had cleverly disguised themselves to blend in with the gray and blue colored gravel.

Nearly an hour later I carried a full bucket of weeds to the garbage can. A change of clothes and soon I was on my way to meet some friends at the coffee house.

By bedtime muscles in my back and legs were starting to complain. Midnight found me wide awake, reaching for some liniment I found in the bathroom cabinet. It didn’t help.

The next day by 8 a.m. I was phoning the chiropractor. Owwww. Even my left thumb hurt. The weeds had their revenge.

Does this hold true in other areas of life? Miscalculating how much time and energy a task will take, that’s one thing. Not expecting a backlash of pain or other trouble, that’s another possibility to take into consideration.

Parents try to teach children to think a matter through, to anticipate possible effects, to avoid careless or harmful outcomes. And, from our years of experience we may have learned to make reasonable choices. But there’s always room for improvement, or so it seems.

Looking back just on the last dozen years in our own nation there has been an increasing flood of “bad,” masquerading as “normal” and “acceptable” and “tolerant.” Growing up with TV and movies the younger generation has not had many examples of making good choices.

Consider Lot
Did Lot intend to make a real mess of his life, and the lives of his wife and children? Or did he just gradually see a different viewpoint that accepted more and more sinful behavior? He probably had a house in a nice section of town, had friends, a good income, maybe knew some of the town’s leading citizens. But little by little the behavior of the majority affected Lot’s family.

In Genesis 13 it says that Lot as he moved about with Abram had flocks and herds and tents. When given a choice Lot moved and pitched his tents near Sodom. In Genesis 14 Lot was living in Sodom. By Genesis 19 the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was so bad that the Lord was going to destroy those evil people. Two angels urged Lot to leave before the city’s punishment.

Lot did escape in time, but without his wife, without his riches. A life of comfort had eluded him. The possibility of leaving a legacy of faith and obedience to God had been shattered.

Lot did not identify the small warnings, and later did not react to the bigger warnings. In Luke 17 Jesus reminded his listeners about Lot and the results of his careless life. In 2 Peter 2:7 Lot was called a “righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men,” but he could have done better.

When we make a good effort to tidy up our lives and remove the weeds, consider the real possibility that the weeds can affect us even after we think they’re eradicated. We need the wisdom and empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit to deal with sin. Carelessness will affect us, our families, and our testimony to others. God will help us do what pleases Him, and that will be very good. # # #

by Elaine Hardt ©2009

The Five Seasons of Prayer

WINTER
Winter is the season of struggle.
The world holds each one captive; the spirit is not yet set free.
The Winter Heart battles to survive in a cold environment.
The soul is weary, blown about with questions and confusions.
Prayer in this season of life may reflect sincere wishful thinking
or a formal, religious ritual.

SPRING
Spring is the season of new beginnings.
Choosing to become Born Anew, the Spring Heart settles down in peacefulness.
Warming to the Son, the first sprouts of Holy Spirit fruit begin to grow.
Trust is deepening; new discoveries of life are made.
Although certain pests try to devour or spoil the seedlings, there are strategies to use.
Prayer enjoys the new freedom of conversation with the Lord.

SUMMER
Summer is the season of ripening fruits.
The Summer Heart is secure in being, and grows more honest and open.
Full of God’s Holy Spirit, constantly abiding in Him,
there is determination in times of dryness to see it through.
There’s appreciation for the rain (reign) of Christ.
Now, pests attack areas that are stressed and vulnerable,
and the plants must yield as pruning takes place.
Prayer has become a lifestyle; it is on-going, free-flowing.

AUTUMN
Autumn is the season of maturity and harvest.
The Autumn Heart is cooperating with God for a great harvest.
There’s gladness in generously providing for others.
Stronger immunity has been built up by faith and obedience,
so pests find it harder to cause trouble.
Prayer has grown confident and bold.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON
In the awesome plan of God comes the Grand Finale,
the unending season of rejoicing.
Culminating a life of believing and trusting, growing and obeying
the spirit rises to His Presence
to enjoy His grace and goodness, there to dwell forever.
Prayer now sees, face to face, the Lord of Glory!

By Elaine Hardt ©2002

The Pebble in the Pond

I threw a pebble in the pond,
it sank to watery depths below;
But the ripples it made spread far and wide,
beyond the place where I could throw.

I carelessly spoke to someone
and later never could retrieve a word;
far-reaching was the influence
from the sentences she heard.

Now I want to give God's love away,
spread circles of blessings throughout the day,
aware of my pebble and the pond
and widening ripples from what I say.

by Elaine Hardt ©1993

The Most Helpful Question to Ask Yourself

Wake up in the morning — look at the clock;
Yes, it is a new day!
Scan the calendar’s list of Things To Do,
And then what will you say?

“What can I learn from this?”

Whether the day brings
Simple salutations
or unacceptable aggravations,
Nagging necessities
or pertinent possibilities,
Maybe glad tidings of great joy
or some puzzle that may annoy,
Unexpected complications,
or endearing inspirations,

Ask yourself this question
Whenever you can,
“What can I learn from THIS?”
It’s a most helpful plan.

You are quite a capable thinker
And you know quite a lot;
Thank God for each one of your blessings
And everything you’ve got.

Face your day with confidence
And try not to complain;
To benefit from each situation,
Ask yourself the question again.

“What can I learn from THIS?”

By Elaine Hardt ©2009

How Much Shall I Worry?

Cookie is concerned; she’s written to her list of friends saying, “No more negative emails. I refuse to drown under this political stuff.” Now Cookie has fewer email forwards to read. So far, at least, she’s grateful to be just “left alone.”

At the Wednesday Friendship Group at church the majority of people effectively cut off any discussion that ties current events with Bible prophecy or even Jesus’ teaching about troubles coming at the “end of the age.” If there would have been any concerns or questions they didn’t see the light of day. Is it apathy, carelessness, or acceptable?

Curtis wants to keep informed. He probably spends too much time researching news sites on the Internet. He listens to the a.m. news radio program and sits through an hour and a half of evening news on the TV. There’s no smile on his face these days. Friends are quick to change the subject when he joins them at the coffee house.

What’s a normal Christian supposed to do? Is it one extreme or the other? Is there a middle-ground that would be mentally healthy and spiritually adequate?

If Cookie doesn’t listen to anything she is short-changing herself. Her prayer life will omit vital requests for her own spiritual growth and protection. She won’t recognize God’s hand of provision in this area of life.

If Curtis doesn’t realize that God has something for him to learn about prayer and trust he’s going to miss wonderful peace of mind. Blessings and miracles, large and small, completely escape his notice.

Our responsibility is to show respect to our Maker. He didn’t put each of us here at this time and place just so we will be ignorant and disobedient. He didn’t send Jesus, His only Son to Earth just so people would have a controversy to keep theologians and atheists occupied.

There’s time for trivia; how about some time to read the Gospels of the New Testament. What was important to Jesus? What did he emphasize? Were his teachings just cute little stories?

What did those early believers do? Did they wring their hands over the political problems? Did they hide out at home? Did they speak up to unbelievers?

How much shall I worry? There’s plenty to worry about: globalization would take away individual rights and freedoms, universal health care is very complicated — how much power do we want the government to have? On and on…..

Three words give us a direction: pray, plan, prepare.

Prayer is not mumbling a written poem, it’s actual communication with the Lord Himself. Acknowledging His love, His power, then we realize that His reproof is meant to bring us to repentance and rebirth.

Planning involves gaining information. What assets do we already have in place? What do we need to do? What do we need to learn how to do?

Preparing means being able to provide for our own families. Government handouts will not cover the needs of everybody, everywhere. Preparing means getting ready, spiritually, emotionally, and all those other aspects of living. Be practical and prudent.

Both Cookie and Curtis can pray and plan and prepare with God’s help.

Let’s pray for wisdom and direction, ”Show us what to do.” Let’s ask for physical strength, and add, “Show us, Lord, how to cooperate with the health and healing You’re giving us.” Then pray about others. “Show us what to say, who to say it to, when to say it.”

God wants to bless each of us!

by Elaine Hardt ©2009