Every Day is FATHER'S DAY

Fathers have a job to do,

thought I’d mention it here to you.

Raising your kids, helping your wife,

avoiding impatience and strife; 

Keep on smiling as your words you say —

it’s your challenge every day.

Notice other people too;

do they set an example for you?

Every day it’s God’s Word you read;

This is a blessing each of us need. 

“Nobody’s perfect,” you’ll hear it said,

but keep working to improve, tell your head. 

The LORD empowers you to think and do —

the Bible’s promises apply to YOU. 

So this is how to start each day,

Bow your head, and sincerely pray. 

Father’s Day 

is really every day !

God loves you, 

and that is true !

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Idea for You for Father's Day

        Here comes Father's Day.  Here's an idea you could use for your family.  See if you remember, see if your kids remember . . . 

Your father's name and date of birth

Where he lived:

How long he lived:

Remember his occupations:

Think about any illness or physical problems he has or had:

Remember his wife, the children:

Recall what he believed about God: 

Your grandfather's name, date of birth & date of death, if he has already died

Where he lived:

How long he lived:

Remember his occupations:

Think about any illness or physical problems he has or had:

Remember his wife, the children:

Recall what he believed about God: 

On Father’s Day give the LORD thanks for His blessings on the family you came from. + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

A Special Gift for YOUR Kids for 2018

     Which Christmas do you remember, growing up?  Which family vacation do you remember when you were just a kid? 
     Here's a special gift you can give YOUR kids this year . . . on some special day . . . or just any ordinary day.

     Jot down some memories of the early Christmas things you remember.  (This is not a Master’s thesis for ASU.)   Just get started on some of it today.  Later, in your “spare” time . . . if you have any empty time before bedtime . . . your clever, busy brain will think of some other things to add to it.  

     Then take some other spare minutes to jot down some other memories you have.  When they're written down that's a big help.  

     See how good you're doing so far?  Go back and add other interesting details that come to mind. 

     Keep in mind what a nice surprise this will be for your kids someday in 2018.  Maybe at a family meal for a holiday, or any other day when you've made your memories into a booklet you have a unique gift . . . one of a kind!

     Keep a copy for yourself in case you live to be 99 and are slightly forgetful by then!

     ( Don't you wish computers and printers were invented back in Grandma's and Grandpa's day?  What a wonderful blessing that would be for you, as well as the coming generation, to know more about living in those olden times !) 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

     

YOUR Assignment That Will Help YOUR Kids

Two reasons why you don’t want to do this.  (It’s a challenge, but you can certainly do it.)  

It will take a little time.

You will need to check the spelling and punctuation to make it look nice. 

Two reasons why you should do this now — that means this week.

Your kids deserve to know it.

It is a display of your love and your concern.

One big benefit that you will no doubt receive when you do this.

The LORD will bless you in some wonderful way when you sincerely pray   
       about it and sit down and DO it.

So, what’s the assignment?

Write down on a piece of paper how and when you decided to become a  
          Christian.

Elaborate:  how old you were, what motivated you to ask God for   
          forgiveness.

Explain how you invited Jesus into your heart.

  Describe what led up to this decision, then describe what happened 
          afterwards.

You can do it.  Search your memory.  Choose the words to use.  Write down 
          version one.

Give it a couple of days, then read it over and make any little 
           improvements.  Save one copy of it for yourself. 

Now, present it to the first person the LORD brings to your mind. Smile.  
      Pray.      
      Let them read it and share any comments with you.

Which kid, or which sibling, or which friend comes to mind now?  Copy it for 
      them. 

Etc. — etc. — etc. 

                                                             + + + 

         by Elaine Hardt ©2016  

'Twas the Day After Thanksgiving

'Twas the day after Thanksgiving and time for a rest,

Certainly each year we say, “This was the best.”

With family nearby and some who drove some miles;

We had time to talk and to exchange our smiles.

The food?  Ah, yes, amazing kinds --  a lot and a lot!

It was yummy, and we asked, “Is this what you brought?”  

We had time to help in the kitchen and time flew along,

Finally, the prayer of thanks and the family song.

Yes, we thank God for His many, many blessings,

Then set the table with turkey, gravy, and dressings.

(Well, there was a lot more food, and some doesn’t rhyme,

But I’ll try to be more specific when I write you next time.) 

Catching up on extended family news, you know,

Then more hugs and kisses when someone had to go.

The time flies by when you have fun with family,

Then reluctant good-byes, some day later YOU we’ll see.

We’ll plan ahead and of course, keep each other in prayer,

This is a family of faith, hope, love, and care!

by Elaine Hardt @ 2015 

"Be present at our table, LORD
be here and everywhere adored.
these mercies bless and grant that we
may strengthened for Thy service be."

Here Comes Thanksgiving Day

We know there’s a reason for this day in history,

We learned about those Pilgrims and Puritans in school; 

To refresh ourselves with the history here’s a site to see: 

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/read/thanksgiving-history  

So, let’s plan a family feast and family fun for this season,

Yes, but it’s time to thank God for His blessings!

Sometimes being busy makes us forget this lesson; 

Let’s not forget gratitude is the reason. 

Put honesty to God in your November prayers,

Every day we should remember the LORD,

His Word tells us He loves us, He really cares.

This is definitely a message each of us shares.  

Not just formal words at a fancy dinnertime,

Prayer is a thoughtful habit to cultivate;

So, every day can be a thanks giving time,

Reminding you is the real purpose of this rhyme. 

By Elaine Hardt ©2013

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. 

Holding On When You're So Tired

    The man was carrying a very tired youngster in his arms.  The little boy, probably two  years old, laid his head on the man’s broad shoulder.  The child needed rest and security; the child needed someone to take him where he needed to go.   Cuddled up to his father his small hands held on to the man’s jacket. 

     But it was the father’s strong arms, not the child’s small hands that did the holding on. 

     This is the way with you and me.  We are to “hold on” to our Heavenly Father.  
     But our little weak hands cannot give us support and security.  “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,” Deuteronomy 33:27. 

       Of course, we are tired.  
      The world out there is very big and very unfriendly.  God did not mean for us to face life alone in our own strength.  No matter how old or independent or capable we may have become we always will need our strong Heavenly Father.  
      Clinging to Him doesn’t make us weak; it develops our trust and our obedience. Why would God have given His Holy Spirit to us if we didn’t need Him?  He will teach, remind, and empower us to do what pleases our Father. 

     After a person prays to receive Jesus as his Savior he or she begins a new way of life, a new relationship with God.  It’s not like the old way, the familiar way of living.  This new way is like walking with our hand in the hand of our Heavenly Father.  Always we are to be holding on— and yet in a much grander sense, it is God who is holding on to us. 

     Is this too simple to believe? Or, is it something you really want to do? This is very personal. Now, you are being put on the spot to decide for yourself.  

        Here's a list for you to check out:  

Are You a Christmas Person?

        Are you for Christmas, or against Christmas?  Is it a matter of gimme-gimme-gimme, or showing off when we give something to someone else?  Is it outdoing the neighbors in decorating house and yard? 

        Is it party time, dress up time, go to see all the cute holiday movies?  Whose birthday is it, anyway?  Santa Claus or Jesus of Nazareth?

        Beyond this, a deeper controversy is heard every year.  Dare we do any of the “worldly things” for Christmas?  Are we being bad to take part in any kind of celebration?

        A look into the Bible brings to light some facts.  Nowhere are we commanded to keep December 25 as a holy day.  Nowhere does it specify that Jesus was born on December 25. History shows some pagan traditions that do claim December for their unChristian beliefs.

        Do we advance the cause of worldly traditions when we take part in some of them?  No, there is an advantage for the believer and a blessing we can give to the unbeliever.

Seven Suggestions for Father's Day

Father’s Day is nearly here,
It comes around again this year.
You might not find a fancy card in time,
And it’s not easy to write a rhyme!

A present might not be his size,
All of this you realize.
Watch for some occasion when you can say
some kind word to brighten a father’s day.

Here's 7 suggestions -- sentence starters -- for that note you'll write to Dad . . .

The Missing Shipment of Perfection

        “When will Perfection arrive?” I asked the man at the counter.
        “Lady, you’re asking me something that I don’t know.”
        We both shrugged our shoulders, and with a sigh I walked away. What a Father’s Day this was going to be. No Perfection could be had, any place, at any price. I knew it would be a perfect present, but now frustration mounted.
        Practically any man wants Perfection, I reminded myself. My own dad worked for years at strenuous jobs, preferring to be his own boss, even though that meant more planning, details, complications, and predictable stress. Growing up, there was no Perfection to be found on Northview Avenue, but we kids did try to make dad’s life easier by behaving ourselves.

Missing You

Of course, we’ll be missing you.
Another holiday season, another celebration
And we are so far away.