A Certain Day THIS Week

       “I’m curious about a certain day that comes THIS week,” was the first thing Rocky announced after he was introduced by Randy.

That got everyone’s attention since today was the first weekend before the 4th of July.  The newspaper was full of articles and ads for the Independence Day celebration and the start of the Rodeo. What do you suppose Rocky was going to speak about today? 

This was the monthly meeting of the Older Kids Corral at Mama’s Yummy Cafe. Ten couples sat around the big table with their coffee and donuts in the back room.  They expected some interesting info, as this definitely piqued everyone’s attention.

“What month is it?  What day is Friday? What year is it?” Rocky challenged them.

“It’s July, and here comes Friday, the seventh, and this is 2017,” Pauline spoke up first.      

        The rest nodded in agreement. 

“So, what’s the big deal?  Well, you’d figure it out, but I’ll give you the scoop,” smiled Rocky.  “The numbers are 7, 7, 17.  And we read about that number ‘seven’ in the Bible.”

“Oh, I know,” answered Allen.  “The first mention of seven in the Bible is in Genesis.  After the six days of creation it says God rested on the seventh day. In the second chapter,  ‘On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done.  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.’”  

“And how important was the seventh day?”

Rita found it first, “It says this in Exodus: remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy….”  

Here Rocky spoke up again, “It’s interesting to do a search on biblegateway.com  for the word ‘seven.’  It’s a total of 607, which is 523 in the Old Testament, and 64 in the New Testament.  And ‘seven’ is 36 times in Revelation.”  

       He went on to say,  “So, here’s what I’m curious about. This coming Friday will be 7-7-17.  Is something important or really bad going to happen somewhere in the world?”

A lot of frowns greeted that statement.  

Ginger offered this, “I think we’ll have to wait and see.  So, what’s your point, Rocky?”

“That’s my point, but I’m going to add this . . . 

Your Good Day — TODAY!

Encouragement is like a nice gift you can give yourself,

a present wrapped with colorful consideration;

Take a little time to look back, look around, look ahead,

jettison today’s feeling of frustration. 

Of course, there’ll be unexpected things today!

Interruptions that interfere with some plan,

Go ahead, turn on that amazing brain you’ve got;

Give yourself a smile and say, “I think I can!”

Banish that anger and discouragement!

Of all of this stuff your Heavenly Father knows;

Pray for wisdom and protection and help,

this is how a caring person like you grows.  

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Stop! Remember!

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

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

                        and 

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