Goodbye, Frustration! Hello, Celebration!

You’re too busy?  Ticked off?  Depressed?

Look at the Bible, take a little time.

You’ll be impressed, you’ll be blessed!

Read how much God loves YOU.

There’s nothing to pay, nothing specific to say,

No earning God’s forgiveness;

No specific words you must pray —

Read how much God has done for you.

What’s right you want to do, and find what’s true,

Your Creator sees and knows and loves YOU.

Jesus died for your sin, to cleanse your heart within,

And life in Heaven after dying waits for you.

The Gospels tell the life of Jesus, you’ll see. 

You are wondering how?  Don’t read the whole Bible now!

The small book of Acts gives a short history;

You need to find out for yourself, and do it soon. 

Life is full complication! Avoid resignation!

Give yourself some time to find information. 

Go from frustration to celebration;

So, what do YOU say?  Today’s a great day!

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

A New Verse for "Almost Persuaded"

Have you heard this song at your church?  Did you like it? 

Philip Paul Bliss who lived from 1838 to 1876 wrote “Almost Persuaded.” Hear the original song  and read the words at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1046  Recently, we heard it on a old CD sung by George Beverly Shea.  

The song has quite a message, but it lacks a grand finale.  Here is the final verse that belongs there.  Or, this could be a separate song.  See what you think of my poem: 

Yes, I’m persuaded now to believe!

I invite Jesus the Savior to receive;

His forgiveness I see I need,

His Words I do now heed,

His grace now fills my heart,

My life has a new start!

Thank You, dear Lord. 

     This new verse can be sung with a big smile on your face.  You can have the amazing peace of mind when you’ve thought it through and made that wonderful decision.

Not sure about it yet? You can talk to your Creator right now.  Discuss what’s on your mind.  Realize that what’s out in the Universe did not just accidentally come into being from some lonely, tiny cell.  You were not an accident.  You are a valuable human with tremendous possibilities for doing life very well now, and for transitioning to an eternal life that has no end. 

The Evening News and YOU

Several friends recently confided to me that they don’t watch the evening news on TV anymore. I agreed that the news reports are mostly no fun, and watching for an hour and a half at supper time interferes with family conversation.  

    We don’t need to listen or watch the news all day long, but we do need to know what’s happening.  To prudently prepare we need to be properly informed. Honestly, we cannot ignore or deny the problems of our town, our nation, and the world. 

    We can pray.  No, God does not need our ideas.  We don’t tell Him what He doesn’t know.  But praying right then acknowledges the seriousness of the situations, while it lifts our burden of worry, fear, or anger. 

Have Yourself a Blessed, Happy New Year

Here comes a jolly celebration in lots of places!

   Perhaps you will be going out on the town,

But do have yourself a blessed Happy New Year,

   Anticipating the future, without a frown.

Yes, there will be many challenges unforeseen,

   And some you already have been warned about,

But claim those as opportunities to grow;

   With a positive outlook, no need to doubt.

For Such a Time as This

Perhaps you are where you are today . . . 

Because it was a mistake you made,

But there’s some reason why you are where you are;

Something to learn?  Something to do?  Something to say?

Perhaps you are where you are today

Because of someone else’s fault,

But there’s a reason why you are there;

Something for others to observe? A reason to pray?

Perhaps you are where you are today

Because it’s a detour to something better,

But there’s a purpose in God’s plan for you;

Something to be thankful for? Something today?

The One Best Word

         Could the “one best word” be the happiest word? The one word that cheers up each person who has a good reason to use it?  Is it the one word you’ve said recently that improved your whole day, maybe your entire outlook on life?

Of course, you make the pronouncement yourself. Perhaps you have thought of other people saying this one word in some situation, but here, just briefly, we are speaking of you.  Read on with yourself in mind.

        That one simple word that is so powerful, so broad, yet it can be applied so specifically, is “temporary.”  Is that what you anticipated?

Anyhow, let’s take a look at its use, its possibilities, its good points. When a tiny zit pops up on a teenager’s face. When company arrives for just the weekend.  When you stubbed your toe in the dark on the way to the bathroom.  When there’s a shipper’s delay in getting that nifty new tool delivered via UPS.  

Even, when the elevator at work is stuck between floors! When there’s a traffic jam on Interstate 19! When your little kid fell off the swings and broke his arm!

As you picture these situations you will probably agree that when that #1 happiest, best word, “temporary,” comes to mind it does help alleviate the stress, frustration, and unhappiness.  

  Instead of totally dwelling on the bad event you can have a measure of relief. Whatever that uncalled for, or stupid, or aggravating event was there’s an expected end to it. Things could go back to normal.  Things might even be improved as a result of thinking about cause and effect and possible prevention and solution.  

When huge unwelcome circumstances invade your household, your job, your commute or your vacation this one happy word, “temporary,” can spur you on to doing some serious thinking, planning, and rearranging. It can encourage you to action. 

By now you have thought of some recent events in your own life that warrant the audible verbalization by you of this word, “temporary.“ You could be writing some short article yourself!

But, before we close this mental exercise there’s one very certain situation where the word “temporary” does not apply.