Thinking . . . Planning . . . Doing !

Trouble brings Opportunity.

  Opportunity means Challenge. 

    Challenge calls for Thinking. 

      Consider your Choices.

        Size up your Situation.

       Pray for Wisdom.

    Thank God for His blessings.

  S M I L E ! 

Do it       : )  

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

Another Booklet: It's # 100.

        At first I wrote books for parents and kids. You'll find some now on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/140-8384738-5505841?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Elaine+Hardt+books   that people have listed for resale.  And there's one with Kindle on that same page that you can access on line,  Your Discovery, Your Decision.
      Then I found ClickBook on line and saw how easily I could make my own small booklets.   http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/clickbook/  So with 12 or so pages printed 4 to a piece of paper I made my own booklets to hand out when my husband and I traveled to speak.  Now retired and not traveling I mail booklets and hand them out to friends and family.  Look here at the side for Booklets Published and click to bring up the list.  My latest writing is Number 100. 
       Take a look and then email me for your copy of a booklet you'd like to receive.  The booklets are FREE.  I'd like to encourage you!  

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Write It !

        Which is it? Write it down! Write it up! Maybe it depends on what and why you are writing. But, take a look right now; consider how helpful it is for YOU when you write something.
        Writing helps you organize your thoughts. Maybe it’s just on a piece of paper, writing with an old-timey pencil. Maybe writing with a pen. The idea pops into your head — and you are smart to write it. Later, you can review it and add to it.
        And here’s a biggie: this first writing, called the “first draft,” is only for your eyes. Spelling doesn’t count. As long as you can read it yourself then it’s OK for now. Later, you can go back and check the spelling on your computer and fix it so someone else could read it.
        When an idea comes maybe you’re at the computer, or your tablet, or your smartphone. Write it as soon as you can. Then, remember what title you gave it and where you filed it!
        Here’s some of the useful things for you to write for your own benefit.

• directions to that location
• instructions on “how to do” something
• a compliment you want to say to someone — today? later?
• a problem you noticed and what to say about it to someone
• a list of things to get at the grocery store
• an event you want to put on your calendar
• a bright idea you want to pursue later, when you have some free time
• a question that bugs you to find an answer, when you have time

And,

Trying to Get to Sleep?

Ever have a night when you don’t seem to slip off to slumber?  As you’re snuggled in bed try some of these ABCs.  And, invent some categories of your own. 

1. Edibles

A = apple pie    B = banana bread   C = cabbage  (Can you make it to Z?)

2.  Girl’s Names

A = Ann            B = Betty             C = Christine     (You’re on your own!)

3.  Things you’re glad you DON’T have

A = arthritis  B = broken bones C = claustrophobia      D =  etc.

4.  Subjects you took in high school

A = algebra B = biology C = chemistry             D =  etc.  

5. Names of cities in the USA

A = Atlanta     B = Bismarck C = Carson City          D =  etc.  

(There are 7 more creative categories on the next page.  Take a look here: 

See If This Works for You, Too

Haven’t seen this old friend of mine

For such a very long time.

There’s a solution for this

I’m sure you don’t want to miss!

All you do is run to the store

To grab a few things, nothing more.

You’re wearing some pathetic old clothes

And who do you see?  Goodness knows!

He (she) recognizes you, oh my!

And chats before he says, “Good bye.”

So, what a new thought, this remedy!

You decide who you would want to see.

Of course, you’ll greet everyone with a smile,  
"The LORD bless all of you,  all the while!" 

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

Spanish? French? Italian? or . . .

        Maybe you've already found out how to get your computer to switch to your language.  It’s easy here on blogspot.  And it’s amazing to look at the list of languages.  Maybe you’re taking German as a foreign language course in college? 
        Go  to this little area at the top of this blog and try it out.  There are over 100 languages of the world.  How fun to look at them! 
          Want to hear your computer to read it out loud?  Look here for Mac  http://lifehacker.com/5782701/make-your-mac-read-articles-out-loud-with-a-keyboard-shortcut    Or do a Google search to find how to do it on your computer. 

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 

Sleepless? Sing a Silent Song

You haven’t drifted off to sweet slumberland just yet?  Sing a silent song.  As you’re lying there in bed find a line of a song that starts with the next letter in the alphabet.  See how far in the ABCs you can get. Here’s the idea:
            A,  abide with me, fast falls the eventide
            B, because He lives I shall live forever
            C, create in me a clean heart and . . .
            D, do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh do remember me
Well, some of those are old songs and choruses from my early days.  Maybe they don’t fit in your memory lane.  So, substitute a line, not even necessarily the first line of the song or chorus that comes to your mind.  See how far in the alphabet you can go.  
Maybe one of your songs will strike a happy chord in your memory and you can recall singing that in Sunday School or church or that youth group from back then. Whatever.  
Give your busy brain a simple task and see how it relaxes you!
Next time you don’t have to try to recall those same first lines; you’ll probably think of some others.  That just proves how helpful your brain can be.  
     And hopefully, some of the lines you’ve remembered will bring back some of the rest of those song lyrics, too. Sleep in blissful sleep.  
                And . . . 

Relief From the World's Chaos

Chaos, troubles of every size

Assaults us from every side,

Wars and fightings are getting worse,

Evil men have increasingly lied. 

Many natural calamities

Are becoming worse increasingly; 

Politicians and government leaders

Make complications we might not see. 

Pay attention to these events,

Be cautious, alert, aware;

Each person’s life has an ending here,

But our Father in Heaven does care.

Eternal life is a Bible promise,

Tell everyone you can that you care;

Judgment day is coming for all mankind,

Now is the time to prepare. 

by Elaine Hardt ©2015

Who is on YOUR Team? Whose Team Are YOU On?

A team can accomplish more than a single person.  Agree?  

Who is on YOUR team?  And, whose team are YOU on?

Some verses in the Bible in Exodus 17 give us a look at this principle and can give us some insight into our own situation today.

PROBLEM:

Moses is leading the people of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt to the promised land.  Now they are in a wilderness at a place called Rephidim. Some enemies called the Amalekites came against them and fought with Israel.  

STRATEGY:

Giving orders; Moses set Joshua as leader of the warriors.  Moses took Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill overlooking the battle. In verses 9 to 11 we read that Moses took the “rod of God in his hand.”  

When Moses held up his hand Israel prevailed against the enemies, but when his hand got tired and he lowered the rod, the Amalekites began to prevail. 

ADVICE AND HELP:

Here’s where his personal team up up there beside him sprang into action.  They got him a stone large enough to sit on, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands.  This was how he was able to hold up that rod until sundown, and the Israelites won the battle. 

ANALYSIS: 

Everyone there got to see an amazing victory. Later, thousands would hear about it; then later, millions would read about it. 

God told Moses to write this account for Joshua.  It was not to be forgotten.  And Moses built an altar as his response of worship to the LORD.

TO APPLY THIS TO YOU: 

You’ll agree that those steps to success make sense.  Realize you have a problem, come up with a strategy.  Get some advice and help from your “team.”  Then do it.  Then analyze it so you and your team gain info that could come in handy some other time.  

Beware This Sneaky Scam

His smile looked sincere, and his words sounded reasonable. Lois let her guard down. Her experience is a warning for us.  

Lois phoned me with the scary news of the scam.  “Thank God, I’m OK,” she assured me.  We both agreed that the Lord had protected her, but she urged me to tell others, “Beware.  You are not as safe as you might think.”

Yesterday the doorbell rang while she was in the kitchen.  A neatly dressed workman holding a clipboard stood at the front door. 

“Your neighbor is getting a new fence.  Let me show you where he wants to put it,” he gestured towards the alley behind her house.

This unexpected news was unsettling.  With a quick glance around Lois followed the man.  He lowered his voice, so she had to move closer to him.  At a steady pace he took her down the alley.  On and on he talked. It sort of made sense; however as he continued past her property to the neighbor’s place, going towards the next yard, Lois felt a slight twinge of worry. 

Then his cell phone rang and he stopped to answer.  “No, no.  I’ll get back with you a little later,” he responded to whoever was calling. 

Without going any farther he asked her, “Do you have any questions?” 

“I want to go back home and sit down. Do you have papers that explain this?”

Ignoring her request, he rambled on, repeating vague terms about her fence and the neighbor’s fence. When his cell phone rang again Lois started to walk back towards her house.  Getting closer she noticed the pickup truck across the street. 

The Christmas Worry

        I need to tell someone.  Maybe you’d consider this?
        It’s almost Christmas!  People are going to send out some Christmas cards.  It’s an outreach to some relatives and some friends; it’s not just to provide jobs for the postoffice.  These people (that’s you . . . ) need to be encouraged to write — in their own words — about God’s magnificent love that we each desperately need to personally accept.  

        “Aaaack,” some will frown or declare or yell.  “I don’t want my relatives and friends to label me a Religious Nut.”  

    (Please be patient and read on.  This is only 654 words long.  You can do it?)

        So, the problem is what to say and how to say it?  We’ve been drowning in pressure to sit down and shut up and be tolerant of every one’s notion of life and death. 

Would-a . . . Could-a . . . Should-a

As days rush by to another year’s end

I search and fumble for words to say

To analyze and explain and speak,

In order to improve things today. 

I would-a . . .  except for these reasons,

I could-a . . .  if I had thought ahead,

I should-a . . .  thinking back on it now,

I wish I’d thought and now wish I’d said.  

I said the word “love” too infrequently,

But I tried to be thoughtful and kind;

I could have asked questions to show

That you were certainly on my mind.  

How are you doing, how are you feeling?

What’s most important to you right now?

What do you like about this or that?

That’s nifty, can you show me how? 

Down With Disappointment

Examine that disappointment

To see what you can discover;

Look for clues that brought it on

And help yourself recover.

Focus on the words and deeds 

You’ll do next time differently;

Problem solving is a skill,

A challenge to more clearly see.

Discouragement and depression

Will try to barge in to your mind;

Grab hold of determination,

Work so success you could find.  

Are you open to suggestions?

Will you commit this struggle to prayer?

It’s easier to smile when you

Believe that the LORD is there.

You might not get what you think you want,

Things might not instantly turn out swell;

But there are lessons to be learned

And you can choose to live life well.

 By Elaine Hardt    2014

One Stranger to Another

   Clad in a thin, red-flannel shirt and well-worn jeans the stranger looked like he’d fit right in with the regulars at Mom’s Café.  Marcie, scanning his tanned face and tired blue eyes asked, “Can I seat you at the counter or would you like that booth back in the corner?”

   The man gestured towards the back and was soon sitting alone with a steaming cup of coffee.  Apparently he didn’t want to fit right in.  

   During the next hour Marcie checked on him several times, but he was a man of few words.  He nursed another cup of coffee thoughtfully.

   Against the radio’s background music and the muted conversation of customers in front the man looked up as Marcie came over again, carrying a tray.

   “The cook sends over a complimentary cup of the soup he’s making for lunch.  See if he’s got the seasoning right or not.” She added with a smile, “Back in a little bit.” 

   Soon the place had nearly cleared out, breakfast concluded and the work day begun in the small farming town. Seemingly, everyone had something to do, except for the man in the back booth. 

   Marcie glided across the floor with the ever-present coffee carafe. “How was the soup?”  She filled the empty cup.  “We’re a friendly town…”

    “Good.  Thanks.  As a matter of fact, I’m just traveling through and ….”

   “Do you have a minute?” here Marcie allowed the briefest pause before plunging ahead, “You remind me of a very nice man, and I hope you don’t mind if I chat before things get busy in here again.”

   “Why, thank you, young lady.  As a matter of fact, maybe some talk of the crops or weather will take my mind off what’s been stewing on the back burner.”

You Will Remember This

There’s no waiting in line, like at the bank or café;

Your Father in Heaven hears you instantly when you pray.

Of course, He already knows what’s going on with you;

You’re to trust and obey Him — be alert, brave, and calm, too.

And, there’s something you are thankful for today?

Put your gratitude and love for Him into words you say. 

Let this be a reminder when you’re standing in line,

Prayer is not a list of words or reciting a rhyme! 

By Elaine Hardt ©2014

Your Prayer: Good, Better or BEST ???

Someone speaks up, or emails you, or posts something on their Facebook page.  You are concerned.  What to do?  Pray.

* Here’s an Iffy way to pray.  Just say, “I’m praying for you.”  (Hopefully you remember at bedtime to mention that person’s issue in your quickie prayer.)

* Here’s a Good way to pray.  Say, “Drop me a line when you’ve got more time.  I will pray about that tonight.”  (Written down means the person puts in a few more words so you have a couple of specifics to mention when you do that goodnight prayer to God.)

* Here’s a Better way to pray. Say, “Let’s pray right now. Dear Father, there’s a need now for . . .“  And you pray out loud with that person right then, right there.

* Here’s an Even Better way to pray.  (First, you do pray that Better way, right at that time with a few audible words, to the point, not dragging on and on, and close with a smile, assuring that person that you do believe God hears and answers prayer.)  
        And, then . . . 

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.

An Easy Way to Keep Up With - - -

        Here's an easy way to keep up with the latest posted here — and on your other favorite Internet sites, too — read about NetNewsWire for info for Mac computer:  http://www.techspot.com/downloads/2524-netnewswire-for-mac.html   Got a PC: read this: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-rss-reader-aggregator.htm

Looking Ahead, Planning Ahead

Looking ahead, planning ahead, setting my goal,

Preparing for the future of my body and my soul.

Finding the facts, using logic, deciding what to do,

I know I certainly need to find out what’s true. 

One day I’ll stand before the LORD in eternity;
Life: what a challenge, what an opportunity!