GEORGE SPEAKS UP

         The monthly lunch of the Hungry Heroes was last Tuesday at the Best Breakfast and Brunch cafe.  Everyone was all smiles, except for George.  

        After the waitress took their orders Sam smiled and said, “George, you must have had something to irritate you.  What’s up?”

“Well, ordinarily my feelings don’t take over my face.  But, yesterday! I jotted down some words on my computer sorta quickly.  Now, I wasn’t going to make a big deal of it.  But I did write about it.  So, here goes . . . “

Face Your Aggravations 

Worry is the opposite of Trusting God,

Fear means we lack Faith in God,

Ask Him for directions and energy, too.

Obey what He tells you to do;

He will truly help you.

Sometimes stuff is easy for you to do,

Sometimes you feel overwhelmed with circumstances.

How long do you want to feel so blue?

What have you already tried to do?

Is the whole world looking at you?

Situations in the world are getting worse

Do you remember that God loves you? 

Confess your shortcomings to Him now,

Ask Him to teach you and show you how;

Life is a daily test — now you can do your best.  

It was completely quiet now, some of the guys looking down to avoid making eye contact.  Then Sam said, “My compliments to you, George.  You give all of us something good to think about.” 

                                                            + + +

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

YOUR WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES !

That Aggravation

  turns out to be a Test —

    which becomes a Challenge,

      that is an Opportunity.  

So, avoid that Anger,

  Examine that Situation —

    Start thinking of Possibilities,

      Acknowledge your Choice.

Question the Timing,

  Realize the Potential for good —

    Pray for God’s wisdom,

      Set a good Example for somebody. 

Make use of your wonderful Possibilities !

                S M I L E !

by Elaine Hardt  1-9-19 

When It Looks IMPOSSIBLE

When something looks impossible to you

            AND it’s something important for you to do . . . 

                    hopefully, you’ve got a little time to take a good look.

Jot down what comes to mind, then see what other info you find. 

If it looks impossible:  

What are reasons why you feel it’s necessary to deal with now ?

What is the possibility you can locate some trustworthy info yourself ?

How do you classify this impossible challenge ?

Your job

Your location 

Financial

Medical

Physical

Family relationship 

Social relationship

other - - - 

Is this like some other recent challenge ?

Is this like some everyday irritation ?

Is this like some problem others are facing now ?

Take a few minutes to appreciate that you’ve conquered other problems in your life.  You didn’t get where you are today by just sitting down and looking out the window at the flowers in your back yard. 

Take a few minutes to discuss your view of this new problem/challenge with your Heavenly Father.  He already sees and knows it all, but here now you acknowledge your needs, your viewpoint, your feelings.  Maybe some Bible verse will come to mind and you can affirm the blessings you appreciate in your life today.    + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Y O U R Troubles . . . Y O U R Solutions

Those irritations and troubles YOU didn’t deserve

took some of your energy, some of your time.

     Other problems came in your growing up years —

     that brought stress and maybe some tears,

but they taught you a lot in the meantime.

Today’s troubles might give you experience

when you learn to concentrate and pray;

     You accumulate the challenges you had —

     Now, analyze what was good and what was bad,

You’ll decide what to do now and what to say. 

When you merely complain, argue, and fuss

or turn your attention to inventing some fun,

     you miss the point of growing up strong —

     you might slide into doing stuff wrong.

Maybe later you’ll look back on what you’ve done.

David was the youngest of the family,

more attention went to brothers who were older.

     Life wasn’t perfect in those olden days —

     He worked hard and missed getting praise,

but he did a good job, growing strong and bolder.

You can read the facts and details right now.

You can see the outcome for yourself,

     What an example of growing strong and brave —

     These are lessons for you to learn and save.

Find your Bible there at home on the shelf.

Read 1st Samuel chapter 17;

Consider the challenges in David’s young life.

     Then read that Goliath was huge and strong —

     That biggest event really didn’t last long.

Obeying God brought David through the strife.  

                                       * * * 

 by Elaine Hardt ©2018 

                 Also, go to www.Biblegateway.com  to see Psalm 63, written by David. 

                 And see 1st Peter 1:6-8 which tells about trials and faith.

Think About This, Thankfully

In the good times . . . 

In the hard times . . . 

Remember all the time

God cares about you;

God cares for you.

You have been blessed . . . 

You are being blessed . . . 

Remember why Jesus came.

He wants to save you;

Remember to be thankful.

He hears your prayer.

Be honest to confess . . .

Be honest to request . . .

And do all of this

All the time.

     + + + 

                                                  by Elaine Hardt ©2016

Ten Good Things About Being Sick

1. Your brain gets to exercise, trying to figure it out with the details you already know.
2. You have something to compare with yesterday and last week.
3. You can get determined to get over it.
4. You might gather some facts and information from people.
5. You will hear what happened to others with these symptoms.
6. You will find out who is sympathetic.  
7. Your body switches gears from energetic to tired, so you have to see how to cope.
8. You bravely examine your feelings about possibility of getting sicker.
9. You very bravely think about dying.
10.   What’s missing here?  Write your idea. 

Got your idea written down?  Now, here’s the grand finale, at least for now.  This is a new opportunity for you to pray about your sickness.  

The bigger the problem

The bigger miracle you need;

Start praying boldly now,

See where the LORD will lead.

Yes, life is a challenge! 

In God you must believe,

And grow in faith today

So His blessings you’ll receive.

When your life’s days are over,

Heaven is where you want to go!  

Open up your Bible and

The truth about dying you’ll know. 

So, smile at everyone you see!

You can cheer up today!

Life is worth living because

Jesus shows us the way.

           + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

Those Aggravating Politicians !

The latest political ad just came up on TV, or Facebook, or Twitter, etc.  Maybe to irritate you some friend emailed you a link to it.  

What to do?  Quick!  Pray for that politician.   They’re labeled for prayer. 

Now, you’re doing something positive, something necessary, something that will also help you.  You pray for that person who obviously needs the LORD.  They’re saying something that’s a bad exaggeration, or a bold lie.  Pray for him or her or them to repent of their sin.  Pray for a change in their attitude and their outlook.  Pray that they don’t get elected and affect thousands of people for the worse.  Pray that they turn to God very soon. 

You are helping yourself develop an astute and devoted attitude.  People who talk like that, or wear a T-shirt with filthy language or pictures, or do suggestive actions to show off their boldness to get attention — they need help.  You care about their eternal soul,  as well as their influence on the younger generation, and people of your age, and even the old folks who are becoming careless in their decision-making abilities.

See ‘em, pray for ‘em.  The sooner you do it, then you’re less likely to forget.  The sooner you do it, the more of a burden you relinquish.  Don’t let the devil use such bad stuff to get your attention.  You have more important things to do with the life the LORD has given you.      + + + 

 

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

Encouragement for YOU

Encouragement is something

I hope I’m giving to you,

And encouragement is something

You can give to others, too. 

There’s encouragement in Jesus,

He died so we could be forgiven;

And wonderful news! All who accept Him

Will see Him and will go to Heaven.  

Without forgiveness we are lost,

During this one lifetime: we choose —

Will we believe in God before it’s too late?

Salvation will be welcome news. 

Now, through life’s aggravations,

Challenges we face everyday;

The LORD empowers us to 

Overcome when we obey.

So, think it over by yourself

Carefully, in a quiet way;

See if you find this peace of mind

and celebrate your faith today.

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

Solving That Problem!

          Got a problem? 

Talk it out

Figure it out

Work it out

This only lacks one thing to say:

Remember to pray!

Got frustration? 

Something’s wrong

Something’s incomplete

Something needs improvement

It’s very important today:

Don’t forget to pray!

Got a plan? 

You need words

You need examples

You need thinking

This might take a little time,

But don’t forget to pray!

Got a response?

Your Creator knows you, 

You know that’s true

You can get headed to Heaven 

You don’t really want to stray! 

So talk to Him: pray! 

Got a challenge?

Life is for learning

Life is for growing up

Life is for you choosing what to do

You’d better not delay:

Now is the time to pray.  

                         + + +

by Elaine Hardt ©2015 

I Want to be Happy

Happiness may be a choice,

Happiness may be a chore;

Sometimes it seems Happiness says, 

“You won’t see me anymore.”

Oh, Happiness please come back;

Oh, please come back to stay!

I was careless, it was my fault;

I really need you today.

So, thinking it over,

Considering its place,

Happiness is more than a

Little fake smile on my face.

Happiness comes from a peaceful

Trust in the LORD in my heart;

A prayer of welcoming Him

Gives Happiness its start.

Happiness knows: God sees and knows,

Taking me from trouble and strife;

Love and Joy come in with Faith.

Celebrating a new life. 

                                                              By Elaine Hardt ©2015

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.