What's This All About

Are you a thinker still ? 

Remember, you used to be . . . 

Give your brain some exercise

What new ideas can you see ?

A challenge a day

keeps boredom away !

Not every challenge is a happy one --

You will not like everything,

but you ARE a capable person.

So, see what today will bring. 
            + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

This is About M E

Making a difference, yes ? 

Taking a new look at what helps and what hinders ?

Who is looking at what I'm doing ?

Who is affected by what I'm doing ?

What influence do I have on others:     family ?        friends ? 

employees on my job ?     people I hear about ?

Which matters most ?            

Having something to brag about ? 

Considering the others in my life . . . 
                     am I trying to just show off ?       

What can I do to help the whole situation 
as soon as possible ? 

What do I want to do today  ? 

                                         * * * 

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

Will This Happen to YOU ?

The town newspaper is the Daily Catastrophe. What a brilliant, eye-catching title, 

yes ?  

Actually, it was renamed from the original Daily Caller when the new owners decided to drown the inhabitants there with more state and national news — not so much boring, daily info from around town.

         A quick review of the newspaper now shows lots of news:

    calamities             crisis                consequences    

           catastrophes          cataclysm         cyberbullying  

                       crime                  collusion         crisis

The editor, Patrick Plussig was so pleased to see the subscriptions double in the first two weeks he knew his idea was the right thing to do.  A small raise in the salary of each of the writers, as well as a tip of $20 to each of the delivery boys and girls was appreciated, also.  

So, picture this.  YOU, the reader, now can put your own take on it.  What do you want to read more about:  interesting trouble,  big-city crime very cleverly continuing, lots of movie-stars and TV personalities who are demonstrating immorality in an entertaining way,  foreigners that are fleeing their countries to come to the US and get paid better, get free health care and free college education ? 

One emphasis on legal fiddling around in the government seems to prod others who were marginally law-abiding to step up so they can get more of the attention their hearts desire.  

What can the normal, law-abiding, people do ?  Try to be a good example of behaving, like the Ten Commandments and other laws and regulations that appreciate the rights of all decent people ?  Go to an actual Bible-believing church,  vote for people with good records,  etc. ?

Even emails and online links pop up with some disgusting stuff. Kids in school play with their smart phones in their classroom.  Even ordering nice things on the Internet from a well-known company has “cookies” that are sold to unlikely companies.  Your name and email as well as your address and personal info are gleaned from your computer.

Yes, staying “quiet” might keep you from being too visible as one of those old-fashioned citizens who wants to do what is right all the time. So, can you believe and do what is actually good? What kind of a future do you want for yourself, your kids, your spouse, your relatives, your town?  

For Rhonda & Ralph Rosegood the answer was right.  Pray, keep on reading the Bible,  focus on doing what our Heavenly Father wants us all to do.  No matter what everybody else chooses to do.      

                                                   + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

YOUR WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES !

That Aggravation

  turns out to be a Test —

    which becomes a Challenge,

      that is an Opportunity.  

So, avoid that Anger,

  Examine that Situation —

    Start thinking of Possibilities,

      Acknowledge your Choice.

Question the Timing,

  Realize the Potential for good —

    Pray for God’s wisdom,

      Set a good Example for somebody. 

Make use of your wonderful Possibilities !

                S M I L E !

by Elaine Hardt  1-9-19 

A Problem is an Opportunity

Today will bring some problem . . . 

and a problem is an opportunity ! 

an opportunity to pray,

an opportunity to trust God,

an opportunity to learn,

an opportunity to respond,

an opportunity to share faith lessons 

by your example and

by your words. 

Keep your eyes open.  Be ready.

Watch for that problem today. 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

What To Focus on Today?

Careless or Careful?

Indifferent or Uncertain?

Ignoring or Informing?

What’s my attitude today?

Am I improving? 

Am I thinking it over?

Am I considerate?

Am I looking ahead today?

Your Busy Brain at Work

Your brain makes labels

for the challenges you had;

Was it an invitation to learn?

Did it turn out good or bad?

Did you appreciate this

learning opportunity?

Can you smile, at least inside,

these lessons that you see?

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: 

Looking Again at 9-11-01

Shocking, horrible, unprepared 

to face the truth behind the attacks

we saw the devastating crashes replayed over and over

on television, written in newspapers, magazines, posted on internet.

We look again back at 9-11

from our viewpoint of 2016. 

Now, new buildings have been erected there

and people want to forget the trauma

of such unexpected evil.  

We want to emphasize the rebuilding

and stepping up, starting anew, 

with pride in how we have survived these foreign attacks.

The terrible terrorists’ attacks of 9-11-01 

on the World Trade Center in Manhattan in New York City, 

and the Pentagon in Washington D.C,

and the crash in a Pennsylvania field

which killed 2,977 victims,

with 19 hijackers committing suicide in the assaults. 

Lots of details are outlined on the Internet.

If you have time to review: here are three pertinent sources:

http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-timeline   = detailed outline day by day — 

http://www.wanttoknow.info/911/9-11-facts   = has links to major media websites 

uncovering lots of 9-11 facts that were hidden, not broadly publicized — 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93  = more is described

So, how do you deal with this hideous, barbaric, hateful act? 

Hurry past and find something positive to come from it?

This was a huge wakeup call for America.

Pray for our nation to repent of sins and turn to God.

Worse, brutal events may be in our future.

Pray today . . . pray now.

•  by Elaine Hardt ©2016

Ten Good Things About Being Sick

1. Your brain gets to exercise, trying to figure it out with the details you already know.
2. You have something to compare with yesterday and last week.
3. You can get determined to get over it.
4. You might gather some facts and information from people.
5. You will hear what happened to others with these symptoms.
6. You will find out who is sympathetic.  
7. Your body switches gears from energetic to tired, so you have to see how to cope.
8. You bravely examine your feelings about possibility of getting sicker.
9. You very bravely think about dying.
10.   What’s missing here?  Write your idea. 

Got your idea written down?  Now, here’s the grand finale, at least for now.  This is a new opportunity for you to pray about your sickness.  

The bigger the problem

The bigger miracle you need;

Start praying boldly now,

See where the LORD will lead.

Yes, life is a challenge! 

In God you must believe,

And grow in faith today

So His blessings you’ll receive.

When your life’s days are over,

Heaven is where you want to go!  

Open up your Bible and

The truth about dying you’ll know. 

So, smile at everyone you see!

You can cheer up today!

Life is worth living because

Jesus shows us the way.

           + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

God's Grading System

Does God give tests?  Yes.  Testing will surely come.  Everyone will be tested.  

Will there be multiple choice tests?  Life is full of multiple choices.  There may be several wrong choices; there will always be one right one.

  

Is the Final going to be true/false?  No.  There’s no final test.  You will not have to recite the names of the books of the Bible, or recall any other facts.

So there are different tests? There is one Standardized test which applies to everyone;  and there are lots of Individualized tests which are personalized just for you.

What is this One Big Standardized test?  God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die for us, which takes away our failures and deficiencies. To decide to accept Him or not, that is the Biggest Test of all.  The sooner you pass that one, the better. 

Does what I do count?  There’s this deep-seated notion that Someone is watching and cares what we do.  People hope the good stuff counts.  They fervently hope that the bad stuff they do doesn’t get noticed at all.  Yes, what you do does count. 

Can I get extra credit? Good things you do help mold your character.  Even if others don’t notice what you do, God does. 

What about homework?  God does have homework for us!  Home is one of the most important locations in life.  Here is where we can learn patience, perseverance, goodness, and love.  Here is where we demonstrate our abilities.  

Are make-ups allowed?  After your days are up you will die and there is no second chance then.  To fail now is to miss out forever. 

Does God grade on the curve?  No.  He doesn’t compare you with anyone else.  There are definite consequences for ignoring and disobeying God. 

Will I graduate?  God wants every person in the world to “graduate” to Heaven after they’ve finished their lives on earth.  Heaven is better than a diploma. 

How am I doing, so far?  You have already either “passed” or “failed,” depending on whether or not you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Passing is not a matter of effort or achievement—it is your response of faith. After that, you can work to gain honors, and in fact, God Himself will help you do it.  He will give you a personal trainer, the Holy Spirit. 

Can’t I just do it my way?  He’s God and we’re not, so we do it His way. 

Is there a text book? Good question.  God does have a Book.  The Bible is totally unique.   Reading the Bible will definitely help.

What if I have more questions?  Good question.  Ask Him.  This is called prayer.  “Ask and it will be given to you.”   

* * *

by Elaine Hardt ©1996 

Passover 2016 has great meaning for each of us

       Our Jewish friends are celebrating the remembrance of their deliverance from slavery.  Both solemn and joyous, these days are Passover, called Pesach on our calendar. 

What do we learn from Passover?

1. We are surrounded by sin, unbelief, ungodly dictators.
2. We are slaves to a system that is big, strong, and bad.
3. The only way to freedom is obedience to God. 
4. Our personal belief and our trust in Almighty God gives us the way to demonstrate       our obedience.
5. Our obedience to God brings freedom and empowerment. 
6. Our acceptance of this truth brings a wonderful reality of true love, peace, joy from God that is not found anywhere else.  Eternal life with Him awaits us! 

Here’s a few interesting facts that go with these main points.

•   The Jewish people were living in an area of Egypt.  They were forced into slavery.
•   God called a man named Moses to lead them to freedom, to their own land.
•   God sent 12 plagues on Egypt, but each time Pharaoh rejected the call to free them.
•   Passover was the night to sacrifice a lamb, place a mark of its blood on the doorpost of each of their houses, and the people ready to leave Egypt.
•   On Passover the first child of every family died, unless the blood was on the doorpost.
•   God provided the way out and the protection they needed to cross the Red Sea on dry land, and journey to the Promised Land.

In Deuteronomy 6:20-25  Moses reminded them to obey God. 

Do You Remember? Write It Down

         “Exercise is good for your bod, but it’s also very good for your brain!” exclaimed Shane to the OK friends seated around the back booth at Sally’s Cafe. 

“So, it’s two plus two equals four?” laughed Luella.

“What I had in mind for today’s Table Talk was each person chime in with what comes to mind first.  Number 1:  What old-timey words do you recall from growing up?”

The gang jumped in.  

“Wash rags, dish rags, dust rags, snot rags!”

“The Five and Ten Cent store!”

“The Filling Station and the smiling guy that came out to put the gas in the car.”

“Midwife.  Ma said she went across to her Dad’s house and the midwife came to help get me born!” 

“Ozzy-cozzy.  That was what they called the out-house in the backyard.  No indoor plumbing for about five years on our farm.”

“You bug me!  Of course, we said that to the kids who were younger.”

What? A One Minute Prayer . . . Again?

A silly bedtime rhyme came to mind yesterday, “Good night, sleep tight; don’t let the bedbugs bite!”    Along with that childhood prayer,  “Now I lay me down to sleep,” it was a ritual for us little kids.

Lately there’s been a TV commercial about getting a new mattress because an older one might be infected with bedbugs, so no doubt that brought the rhyme to mind yesterday.

And today the big thought of how adults treat prayer as repeating memorized words, reciting them quickly without pause or consideration:  what did I just say to God?  Does the old prayer still mean something?  Am I just being careless, thinking that I did what I was supposed to do?  Do those words make me a believer, a Christian, a good guy?

Memorized prayers recited at home or at church can become useless when our minds are not paying attention.  Why do the leaders say those holy words to quickly?

While we might not be able to bring this problem to the attention of someone in charge, at least we can remedy it at home.  Are you going to pray the “Lord’s Prayer”? Speak slowly, pause between phrases and think about what you’re saying to God.  You are talking to your Maker, and He is listening.  Of course, He sees your attitude.

Now, what is it that you want to say to God?  Here is the “Lord’s Prayer” from the words of the Bible in Matthew 6:9-13  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13 

Here are eleven foreign language translations http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/lord_traditional_king_james.html  that also gives details of the phrases, the context, analysis line-by-line, and prayers for important occasions through the year.   

Ask yourself now, is it a “magic formula” ?  Does it keep us close to the LORD? Then take a few minutes to look up the two websites listed here.  

Afterwards ask yourself, what?  What do I want to tell my Creator?  Would this be a good time to confess my weakness, my shortcomings, my sins?  Would it be helpful to put into my own words something to express my faith, my admiration, my thankfulness?

So, is one minute enough today?

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

Of Course, You Can!

I think I can,

Of course, I can,

              I will.

* Considering . . . Announcing . . . Committing  

Preliminary position

Positive possibilities

Pleasing proclamation

* Tentative. . . Encouraged. . . Determined

A little reminder 

A little nudge

A little step in the right direction

* Pondering. . . Deciding. . . Pronouncing

Alert, so I will pray

Aware, so I will plan

Advancing, so I will proceed

* Cautious. . . Confident. . . Celebrating

Prayerfully with respect

Responding to reply

Pursuing the project

* Pray. . . Plan. . . Prepare

You think you can?

  You will?

  Of course, you can! 

                                                                       By Elaine Hardt ©2015

“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”    Philippians 4:13

“And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

              giving thanks to God the Father by Him.”     Colossians 3:17

Success Comes When - - -

Review the basics.
1. Life is full of choices for me to make.
2. In my own ability I cannot make all the right decisions or do all the right things.
3. God allows this so I will see that I need Him in my life.
4. If success was easy we wouldn’t have opportunity to learn.

Come into agreement with what God says.
1. God wants us to be saved, healed, victorious.
2. Jesus has already done it all. He has provided for salvation, healing, victory.
3. God invites us to boldly come and take what He offers.
4. I must personally accept Jesus as my Savior.
5. His Holy Spirit comes to live within us, enabling us to do what pleases Him.

Review what the Bible says about the devil.
1. The devil will lie and deceive us so he can destroy us.
2. He will make us miserable so our testimony is ineffective.
3. He has a legal right to attack us when we are in disobedience to God.

Pray for wisdom, and be obedient to do what God reveals.
1. He will give us direction when we ask.
2. We must listen and obey.

Yes, It's Ready

        Our newest booklet of encouragement is now ready.  "Good for You!" is number 76 and you'll find the entire list when you go to Labels at the side of this blog page and click on Booklets published.  These booklets are free. We make them on our own computer and printer with ClickBook from bluesquirrel.com. The topics could make for a good conversation at your next opportunity with family, friends, etc. 

I Want to be Happy

Happiness may be a choice,

Happiness may be a chore;

Sometimes it seems Happiness says, 

“You won’t see me anymore.”

Oh, Happiness please come back;

Oh, please come back to stay!

I was careless, it was my fault;

I really need you today.

So, thinking it over,

Considering its place,

Happiness is more than a

Little fake smile on my face.

Happiness comes from a peaceful

Trust in the LORD in my heart;

A prayer of welcoming Him

Gives Happiness its start.

Happiness knows: God sees and knows,

Taking me from trouble and strife;

Love and Joy come in with Faith.

Celebrating a new life. 

                                                              By Elaine Hardt ©2015

Valentine's Day Secret

Valentine's Day was going to be a sad day, an embarrassing day for Kate.  Bad enough they had just moved from Iowa all the way to a strange town called Phoenix.  Bad enough they were staying in a run-down motel on Saguaro Lane.  Kate was the “new girl” at school.

     Oh, the secretary in the office was nice.  She smiled as mom made out the papers, smiled as she walked the two of them to Room 3.  And both women smiled when Kate was handed over to the teacher as twenty-five students stared at the newcomer.

     With a free lunch ticket in her hand promising a meal to help settle her nervous stomach Kate was grateful for a loud bell calling for recess.  She sat alone as the students filed out the door in straight and quiet lines.  Shortly, the teacher returned and began the routine of settling the new third grader into the classroom.  

     Later, on the walk home after school Kate was alone with her thoughts and her big, new, blue notebook that held The List.  The teacher had softly explained that Friday was the Valentine Party.  The Valentine box would be opened, cookies and punch provided by some mother volunteers.  The List was the names of all the girls and boys in Room 3.  

     “Of course, you have been so busy moving and getting settled, none of the children will be expecting a Valentine from you.  Don’t worry about that, at all,” was what Mrs. Johnson said.