Here Comes Christmas & the New Year

Well, what do you know !  It’s been another year !

     Time to celebrate, so give a smile and a cheer !  

Of course, we thank God as our blessings we count.

Such help He has given — every day a great amount. 

It was the Lord’s doing to sell our PV place. 

    With no ads, no For Sale sign, it was amazing.

We hadn’t even put it up for sale — 

It sold so quickly; God’s the one we are praising.

     

We’ve rented a townhouse in Cottonwood that’s nice.  

                 Robert &Lori gave good help and advice.

            Downsizing, rearranging has been a new chore;

            We’re thankful for the Lord’s direction so much more. 

Growing older is something really new — 

     it seems to happen to us !   How about you ?

Write down things you recall from your past;

Save those memories from your brain at last.

Count your blessings, can you still sing that song ?

     Appreciate those good days all year long ! 

Let’s try to keep on keeping in touch,

Don and I care about YOU so much. 

Yes, anticipate challenges you’ll face,

     Call them Opportunities to grow in grace.

We thank God for His love and care;

We ask Him to bless YOU in our daily prayer.  

So enjoy Christmas — and in the Bible you’ll read

     Jesus came to be our Savior, so heed  !

Who knows how much longer we’ll live here,

When Heaven’s our home, goodbye to fear ! 

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

WHAT DOES IT TAKE ?

What does it take to make you happy ?

   What does it take to make you blue ?

Is there anything special today

   that you should plan to do ? 

Right now — right now — count your blessings !

   Your Heavenly Father loves you.

Your life reflects your response to Him;

   Ask Him what is best now to do.

Somebody may observe you,

   seeing what you are doing today;

Would your example be helpful,

   like what you do ?  or what you say ?

Someone might come to mind today, 

   someone from a long time ago.

Maybe it’s your opportunity ?

   Pray, even if details you don’t know.

Weather predicted to turn bad,

   Oh, such boring news to hear;

What can our politicians do?

   Well, pray for them:  isn’t that clear ? 

And ask the LORD for good health, 

   energy, and His protection;

Keep on going with a smile !

   Read the Bible for His directions. 

                 + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

My Prayer for Blessing

Heavenly Father,  You are mighty, holy, awesome,

   so I humbly come now to seek Your blessing,

      so I ask: show me, teach me, help me.  

You placed me here at this time

   so I could know how much I need You,

      so I could open my heart to receive Your love.

You have shown me my weakness and failures

   so I can own up to my need for Your grace,

      so I will honestly confess my sins.

You allowed me to experience conditions of life

   so I can recognize frustration, confusion, discouragement,

      so I can rebuke the enemy of my souls who tempts me.

You bring circumstances to teach me

  so I see I lack confidence, strength, determination,

      so I see I lack wisdom for what to say and what to do.

You have a plan and a purpose for me

   so I can survive the tough times ahead,

      so I can learn to trust and obey You.

You have a wonderful Forever for me in Heaven

   so I can be with Jesus my Savior,

      so I can thank You in person for salvation.  

Heavenly Father,  You are mighty, holy, awesome,

   so I gratefully now declare Your blessing upon me,
       thank You for Your wonderful love, forgiveness, and blessings. 

                                      AMEN.

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

                       We’ve arrived at Thanksgiving Day,

but any day will do!

    Celebrate your blessings,

and the struggles you got through.

                     Recognize the lessons  

your challenges taught to you. 

Be thankful for God’s love

                                 and today you tell Him, too! 

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Eleven Ways YOU Can Share Your Faith

Here’s a way to share your faith.  It’s not hard to do, and  it can be a wonderful blessing for people in your life.  

AN EASY BEGINNING

1. Look for people you could encourage with a written note.  This could be anyone the Lord brings to mind.  
2. Write a personalized “blessing” for someone, sending it as a birthday, anniversary, or congratulations card.  

Write like you’re talking to this person.  Avoid cliché; make this like a warm, caring conversation.  Handwritten is very nice, but you might feel like writing more if you can do it on the computer. It’s following through with the idea that counts.  

A LITTLE BIGGER CHALLENGE

Jot down a basic outline on one of these topics: 

1. Tell how you came to faith in Jesus. 
2. Tell about a recent little lesson in faith that God has taught you. 
3. Tell the story of a big challenge or problem you’ve conquered in your life.

Write to share this with your children, and perhaps other close relatives. After you’ve done the first draft, let the writing “sit” for several days.  Then go back and see what improvements you can make.  Write like you’re talking to someone, but also include pertinent facts and descriptions that help your reader to visualize the situation.  

    Ask yourself: is it bragging or complaining?  Or, does it let God’s love and joy shine through? 

THE GIFT ONLY YOU CAN GIVE  (Yes, there's a little more to read...)

Learning Now & Looking Ahead

Learning from yesterday’s troubles

I know there’s more to do;

I’m being trained to trust the LORD,

and He will see me through.

Praying for the LORD’s directions,

thankful for His blessings, too;

Looking ahead with confidence

now I’m planning what to do.  

: )     

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Did YOU Pray for the Politician?

Just before you drifted off to sleep last night . . . 

You probably did pray for your spouse, your kids, your siblings.

Maybe you mentioned some neighbor or friend in your prayer. 

Did you pray for that politician?  Some movie star?  The television reporter? 

That really bad guy they featured in the evening news?

Mention one of our nation’s armed forces — of course you care! 

Here’s an idea for all you caring people who do pray

and of course, our Heavenly Father knows. . . 

Whatever famous person comes to mind, pray for them too.

Nothing fancy, just short and to the point in your bedtime prayer.  

They need God’s blessing tomorrow,

and maybe that assignment comes to you?  

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

You Are a Special Person

        Our new 16 page booklet is completed.  "You Are a Special Person" is #87 in our list of booklets, compiling some articles, stories, and poems to encourage, challenge, and bless each reader.  Look down the list on right hand side on this home page and find "Booklets Published" info. 

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

Helpful Strategy

      Our latest booklet is finished.  "Helpful Strategy:  Take a New Look at YOUR Plan!  YOUR Progress!"  It's number 85, and all of our booklets are FREE.  Just email to edprha and put in the @ and add gmail with the dot and com.  It's a handy half-page size, 12 pages long, with some articles, and a few poems. We think it's food for thought.  You will enjoy that challenge. 

What Shall I Pray About Today?

A - Acknowledge the Lord and give Him thanks, first of all. 

B - Blessings for my family

C - Changes to my schedule today

D - Decisions I have to make this week 

E - Energy and good health for myself

F - Forgiving someone who’s still being difficult

G - Giving to others: who and when and how much?

H - How to help somebody the Lord brings to my attention

I - Illness to be healed in people I know

Encouragement! EnCOURAGEment!

Encouragement is more than a pat on the back,

It’s not just a friendly smile or nod,

Not only some words spoken or written:

It’s a powerful blessing from God.

You can grow in encouragement, speak it to yourself;

Enable it by what you believe!

Find the strength in God, know what His Word promises:

Courage for hard times and testings:  this receive.

In the challenge of life your example can count; 

Look around and you can see

Others need encouragement, too — this you can do;

Pray for them to be set free. 

When you’ve invited Jesus to be your Best Friend

God’s Holy Spirit empowers you,

Now you can experience real faith, hope, and joy,

Encouragement, and EnCOURAGEment, too!

                      + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

“Encourage” is found 14 times in the Old Testament, 13 times in the New Testament, New King James Version.  “Encouragement” is found 6 times; “courage” is found 28 times in the Bible.    Look up words at www.biblegateway.com 

“Be strong and of good courage, 

do not fear nor be afraid of them; 

for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. 

He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 

 Deuteronomy 31:6

Did You Hear This Song?

Have you heard any 12 year-old kid sing a solo in church recently?  When I sang there was no applause, no standing ovation, no hugs at the door.  I don’t remember any compliments, either, although there might have been.  But I will not forget the words of that tremendous song.  

I hope hearing those words was a blessing to everyone that day, and I’m sure that over the years many singers have lent their voices to share the words and melody of “The Love of God.”  

The writer of two of the verses and the chorus was Frederick M. Lehman in 1917.  http://www.tanbible.com/tol_sng/sng_theloveofgod.htm   He writes about that mysterious third verse as being written nearly one thousand years earlier by a Jewish songwriter.  The website says that the 3^rd stanza had been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum. Does that ever stretch the mind to try to comprehend!

Listen to the song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEi463LcxxA   Maybe you’ve heard other singers perform this song.  Did it speak to your heart?  Have you considered the love of God?

Since it was 67 years ago when I sang that first solo I’m sure that now my voice cannot do it justice.  But the words are in my heart, and what I now share with other people are words I write,  not sung with a sweet soprano voice in a church in Phoenix, Arizona.  

'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."

Blessings for Believers

Assurance of salvation

Boldness to become the Me that He says I can be

Courage to call myself a Christian 

Discovering life’s purpose 

Enthusiasm for every new day

Forgiveness for every sin

Gratitude for every blessing

My Morning Conversation With God

Good morning, Lord.

Thank You for letting me see the light of another day.  

God, You are awesome and I am amazed at Your greatness.

I praise You for Your mercy and love.

Your Word says I can come boldly into Your presence, so I do.

I come in faith and obedience.  I come with great expectation.

I speak health to my body . . . 

Roots Are Needed for Life & Strength

Working in the garden, planting . . . or pulling weeds?
Here's something to consider . . . 
        
        Roots, not seen -- but so necessary,
        The life link for flowers, crops, trees;
        I know I need to be rooted in Christ,
        That’s the only way my life will please.

        LORD, root me wide and root me deep   
        in our relationship’s inner place;
        I give all glory to God as I dwell 
        secure from life’s storms, safe in His grace.

        Others are looking for substance and food,
        I want the fruits of the Spirit growing;
        What a blessing to others and to me
        When my love for Jesus is showing. 

Oh, JOY !!!

Joy is a short word that says a lot.  Say it, feel it,  anticipate it, be thankful for it. Have you said it lately?  

     Consider it as an exclamation like “Joy to the world, the LORD has come.”     

     Consider it as a prayer like, “Heavenly Father, I’m running out of joy.  Fill me up with your genuine joy.”  

     Consider it as a question, “What brings you the most joy?”  

     Consider it as an explanation, “There’s a fake joy while drinking too much."    
     The real joy can come to your mind when you decide to do what you know is good, and you follow through.  

     Here’s how others say “Joy.”  

Radost = Czech

Vreugde = Dutch

Kagalakan =  Filipino 

Joie =  French

Freude = German

Xapå,  =  Greek

Gioia   =  Italian 

Radość =  Polish  

Джой  = Russian

Alegría  =  Spanish

Glädje  = Swedish 

Sevinç  = Turkish

Джой  = Ukranian

Xursandchilik   = Uzbek

     Look at that Google Translate feature, Select Languages, at the top of this blog.  That's how I found "joy" in lots of languages. There are a lot more languages that I didn’t copy here.  Look them up yourself and be amazed. 

     And if you look up "joy" at www.biblegateway.com you can find many different Bible translations in other languages, as well as over 50 English language translations. 
     Joy is a blessing from God.  You need it, we all need joy.  Find out more about "joy" and you'll be happy today…..and the rest of your life!

by Elaine Hardt ©2014

A Christmas Prayer

Turning aside from an overdose of Christmas, trading that frustration for meditation, and coming to a quiet place of prayer. . . 

Heavenly Father,

You are the Designer and Maker of All there is,

How awesome that You also made the way

for me to approach You in prayer. 

I come in humility and honesty.

Today I’m occupied with Christmas

traditions and expressions of family,

mingled with the excessive, the noisy,

the beautiful and the tacky,

the demands and opportunity.

All the trinkets and toys and earthly treasure

snare my mind with thoughts of pleasure;

show me the way through the unnecessary,

the way to what is true,  and what pleases You. 

What It Means to Pray

•  a blessing for you

•  a blessing for the one you pray for

•  a stirring of compassion

•  a conversation with your Heaveny Father

•  an opportunity to bring help