Amazement & Gratitude

“Through it all,” the words of a song proclaimed,

“I’ve learned to trust in Jesus.”   Did you hear it, too?

Amazement and gratitude stirred within my heart.

Is this something that speaks to you?

Was there some melody that you remembered then?

Grumblings and complaints seem the topics of today;

Gratitude is a missing attitude!

“What difference does it make?”  Is this what you say?  

“There are too many details to deal with,

I have way too many problems of my own!”

Most everyone you know feels the same way;

A person struggling with faith feels alone. 

So, where do you find amazement and gratitude? 

Acknowledge that struggles come to open your eyes . . . 

Did You Pray for that Hateful Man?

        The first time I heard his name in the news it was shocking.  Then, as months went by this hateful man was mentioned several more times in the national TV news.  

        I remember meeting that man years ago when I was a teenager when he came to speak at our church as a visiting evangelist. What he said then was real Bible preaching. What he said and did now was angering the people who needed to hear the message of God’s love and salvation. 

        Finally, last week the latest news: he had died. It was sort of a relief that he was gone, and I knew he’d face the judgment of God for all the bad he had done.

        But, out of the blue, the thought came to me, I had never prayed for the man.

        Oh, you might say, what makes you think one prayer from you, now and then, would have made any difference to that bad man!

        Maybe my prayer wouldn’t have changed a thing.  But, still, I could have prayed for him. It is no big complicated thing to pray for someone, to ask the LORD to put circumstances into his life that could bring him to repentance and restoration. 

        If he did read his Bible in those years he would have been reminded of the importance of repentance.  He needed a big dose of honesty to own up to his hateful attitude.  As a traveling speaker he should have had a team of intercessors who helped keep him accountable to God’s Word. 

        Did you pray for him?  Did you pray for those who saw and heard him, and grew angry, or confused, or hurt, or turned away rejecting God and the Bible?  Did you pray for the media people who were there to document the protesting?

        No, it wasn’t any of my business; I was busy with my own life, the people nearby and around me. I do pray for my siblings, my family and relatives. And I do read the Bible, completing the whole thing by the end of each year.  So, am I doing what I should?                + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2014

Willing and Available, Alert and Aware!

                           I’m willing and available,

and I reject confusion and fear;

LORD, I know from reading Your Word 

That you are certainly here.

I’m ready to listen and to obey

What You empower me to do;

Life’s challenges bring a lesson,

And I want to do good and please You. 

I‘m going to keep alert and aware—

The world has many problems and needs,

But You’ve blessed me so many ways

With Your help I can plant blessing seeds.

                      + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

Getting Our Attention

        The smartphone can do it.  The timer on the microwave can do it. The dog outside can, too.   (The list could go on if you reached for a pen to add to it.)
So, what gets your attention? 

        Sights:  flashing lights, barricades, an official-looking envelope in the mailbox.

        Smells from the stove, the bubbling geyser at Yellowstone, popcorn at the theater.

        Pain: from your elbow, stubbing your toe, owwie from a mosquito.

Time to look and consider. How do you do that? 

        A word pops into your head or a name comes to your mind.

        A list of TO DO on your computer.

        A display of cupcakes at the grocery store.

 Time to take action.  Time to . . . . 

Reasons to Believe

The high school reunion invitation arrived and Eric was anticipating a good time.  See the old buddies, have a few drinks, then the barbecue out back, yes, I’ll go.  “Of course, we’ll go, honey,” was Lizzi’s exclamation.  

The turnout was excellent and the “remember when” was a humorous challenge.  Eric and Lizzi mingled with the crowd.  With a big grin Eric slapped Bruce on the back.  “Hey, guy.  What’s been keeping you busy this last year?”

The response was totally unexpected.  “Yeah, I’ve made an astounding discovery and made a huge decision.”

What?  This wimp of a guy had put on muscle since he last saw him, but what does he mean?