How I Got Rid of That Problem

The Problem acted so big!

It flaunted its importance,

strutting onto the scene unexpectedly.

But I remembered what to do:

I called it a Challenge

and faced it immediately.

Of course, I needed Wisdom,

and I found it when I asked

the LORD, honestly and prayerfully.

Then I applied Effort

and it took some careful Thought,

but I summoned adequate Energy.

With some Time, that turned that Problem

into an Achievement,

which I could then call Victory.  

What a relief to conquer

the Problem that looked so strong!

Now I could celebrate happily.  

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

Oh! Technology!

More inventions, there’s no end to them you’ll agree,
Improvements are being made to most everything;
As diseases mutate, they become harder to heal,
Now, we wonder what the next “miracle” will bring. 

A new overpass on the downtown freeway,
An elevator used to have someone to run it,
Drones now can spy, hover and take photos,
A skyscraper is built taller than any before it.

Snazzy new looks on the latest gas-saving new car,
There’s a huge boost in power in that pickup truck . . . 

Take a Grownup Look at Prayer

Is praying just a kiddy-thing?

A child’s bedtime routine?

Or, is prayer for actual grownups

Who say to God what they mean?

Is praying out loud for showing off?

How can it be from the heart?

What do we find in the Bible,

That we’ll make a brand-new start? 

People prayed with serious words

Back in those olden days;

They confessed sins and weakness,

Then they gave the LORD their praise. 

Sometimes today we hear mumbled words

Or frivolous phrases in prayer;

We must consider for ourselves

Do we believe that God is There?

A Creator, awesome in power!

And He cares so much for us!

We so bravely acknowledge Him

that we choose to obey and trust.

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

Will You Let THAT Ruin Your Day?

        Today will not go perfectly the way you’ve planned.  Your lists of To Do, and Go & Get will get  squeezed in between the demands of family and job. That’s mostly normal. 

        While you’re trying to be the perfect specimen of man or woman your attempt at combining energy, talent, and logic does sometimes meet up with unscheduled delays and various aggravations.

        It might be a parking lot scrape, or a neglected piece of paper requested by the bank, or a speeding motorcycle bent on getting ahead of the long line of traffic on Grand Avenue.  

        Or maybe it will be verbal, choosing the wrong word in your explanation to the boss, or unexpectedly stumbling over words on the phone ordering that bargain deal.

        Or maybe the trouble will be hidden from everyone except you.  Some angry thought bubbled up, or some jealous attitude jumped into your mind as you sat there at the board meeting.

        Big or little, really serious or just a petty irritation the choice is yours: how will you label that unexpected crook stealing your peace of mind?

        It could help to just ask yourself, “Will I let THAT ruin my day?”  Take that longer look and size up the ramifications that could affect how the rest of the day will go.