Stop! Remember!

Did you know you’re setting an example for others to see?  

When you’re frustrated . . . when you’re confused . . . 

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When you’re happy and smiling . . .when you say nice words to somebody . . .

when you’re being helpful . . . 

Stop speaking up before you’re thinking!  Remember Who loves you.

You can be a blessing:   encouraging . . .  reminding . . . doing good . . .

living for the LORD . . . keeping Eternity in mind!

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by Elaine Hardt ©2017  

A Compliment -- and -- A Challenge for YOU

The words you speak up to say

can encourage someone today:

A compliment, a correction,

A helpful direction,

A smile that’s reminding

Your recognition they’re finding.

You can choose your words well,

even a question can tell.

You intend to be kind

with friendship in mind.

You do have some learning to do:

Three cheers, and God bless you.  

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by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Father's Day Blessing

                Men want recognition and respect. Here’s mine for you.

Being a good father was always a hard job.
And if you did all the things the Bible said you should do, it was even harder. God always asks us to do impossible things.
And for good reason; so we’ll find out what our human limitations are.
This is so that we will relinquish control over our lives to Him, and let Him be our Savior and Boss.
Being a man has lots of advantages, but even those advantages might slow us down from humbling ourselves to come to God.
Best deal is to take it like a man.
God wants to be that Perfect Father that you never had. He wants to take you to Heaven for Eternity.
What’s so hard about that?
Well, for one thing, there’s this humility stuff,
Then asking forgiveness and expressing love,
It’s not exactly every man’s vocabulary, but, it’s worth it.

Here’s to all the men who are fathers,
Do the right thing. You can trust God to give you the straight scoop.
I appreciate you and your many good qualities
so this is not like criticism,
just a reminder that Departure Day is coming for all of us, and there’s a choice to be made.
Already know Jesus? Good for you.

          HAPPY FATHER’S DAY and many more happy days, besides. 

by Elaine Hardt ©2000

Smile at Someone?

Here’s something that doesn’t cost you any money, doesn’t take up any of your time, doesn’t need to be planned ahead in your Daily Plan Book. 

The best part is what it does for you.  It helps improve your awareness.  It gives your busy mind a happy break from the stress of your day.  And, at the end of your day it gives you a pleasant memory, (which is good exercise for your brain.)

So, what is this marvelous, magical, mysterious event that doesn’t even use your muscles or your speech either?  It’s a simple smile.  

At the grocery store: smile at that old gent who is riding on one of those “electric chairs” as he’s up and down the aisles shopping.  At the bank: smile at the teller who is counting out some $20 bills for your check.  That acknowledges that she’s doing an OK job for you.

At the mall:  smile at the half a dozen people you pass.  Probably each one will glance your way without smiling.  But you are the kind-hearted person who smiles at them, though they don’t deserve any attention from a stranger.

Walking out to the mailbox across the street smile at the young boy on his bike who’s no doubt on his way home from school.  That acknowledges that even at his young age he’s noticed by a grown-up person such as you.  He might even smile back. 

What different kinds of smiles come to mind?  When the kids in fifth grade were asked this question their answers ranged from “pleasant” and “friendly” to “uppity,” to “silly,” and “amused.” Take a look in the mirror and see what kind of smile you’d give to a stranger on the bus or in a store.

Kind of fun to think about it; see what bright ideas you come up with.  See if you can smile at somebody today.   + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Finding Out More

For the newlyweds Guy’s idea was to ask each of the nearest relatives to contribute a Bible verse so he could type it all up as a booklet with a verse a day for a month. Everyone chipped right in and soon the booklet went out to the family and to the bride and groom.  

For the first couple of months it was an interesting “chore” to read the daily verse, see who had sent it in, and give it some thought.  

Guy was curious to see what that daily Bible verse word of instruction or encouragement meant to some of the family. He’d ask Zack first, the oldest brother of the family.  He sent a message over via social media and got a brief report back.  Obviously, Zack was too busy to mention any details. 

Then, it got a little more personal for Guy.  

At the Wednesday fellowship meeting of the OK (Older Kids) at church, the man giving the ten minute devotions read some verses from Revelation.  It was part of a letter to some church in a place called Laodicea.  Verses 14 through 22 was the overall look, with emphasis on “I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone opens the door . . . “  
        He held up a small framed picture that most all the 2 dozen men and women there recognized.  He closed with a short prayer, inviting Jesus to come in to each life and bring His blessing.

Guy’s curiosity woke up there.  He took it on as a personal challenge to dig into more of those nine verses from the last book of the Bible.  But as he looked at the maps in the back and the concordance in the back of his Modern English Version of the Bible he sat down at the computer and hatched some ideas to improve his own understanding.

It turned out to be quite helpful, and he wrote it up for the OK group for next month’s handout.  At the following month’s meeting there was a lively discussion with lots of positive comments directed to Guy.

Here’s a copy of that handout. 

                                                 How to Find Out More

Zipping through that one Bible verse in your family’s daily devotional booklet or reading some devotional on the Internet page.  Try this:  S-L-O-W—-D-O-W-N—-Read that verse again and ask yourself . . .   Don’t know?  Maybe read a few verses ahead and a few verses afterwards.  See if you find a little more background that helps you picture what’s going on …..for them….and in your own life.  

1. Who is saying that, or who wrote that to someone?
2. Who did he write it to?
3. When was it said and written?
4. Why did he write that particular information?
5. Do we know what happened afterwards?  Any big change of attitude or circumstances there?
6. Do you know of anyone in these days who commented on this verse and its surrounding ones?
7. Have you heard anyone quote that verse or section of verses in giving a today’s version of a testimony in public or in conversation you heard?

OK.  You be a better thinker?  You can apply something from that verse to your own life? 

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by Elaine Hardt ©2017