PAY ATTENTION NOW . . . !

Fire ! Flood !  Earthquake ! Avalanche ! Snowstorm !  

Tornado ! Hail ! Volcano !  Lightning ! Thunderstorm ! 

Cyclone ! Blizzard ! 

PAY ATTENTION:  Every day the news reports some big, bad storms somewhere in the world. It’s shocking to hear all the troubles hitting the world and so many people affected by these events.

PRAY:  With serious concern for all those people in those areas we should pray for them, of course.  Pray for the first responders, pray for those attempting to rescue, pray for news media people going there to report to us.

PLAN FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY:  What can you do today to prepare for any of these serious events?  Do you have some cash on hand?  Got enough gas in your car to drive away from the area?  Got a cell phone to help keep in touch?  Got some change of clothes in your car, also some water and some nutrition bars?  What else would be helpful for you in some serious event?

PRAY ABOUT THIS, TOO:  Give some thought about this, too.  You can pray for people to turn to God, to repent, to be ready to die if bad stuff is happening to them. Pray for their relatives who will be forced to handle serious events, sad emotions.

HERE’S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU NOW.  What’s your own attitude in all of this living and dying?  If something so drastic happens to you are you ready to die?  Have you thought about God, about judgment, about eternal life? Got your plans made?  

THIS CAN BE AN IMPORTANT TIME TO MAKE BIG DECISIONS.

Right now . . .  before other stuff catches your attention . . . your response is so important. You are important to yourself, important to your family, probably to your friends, too. Consider your own eternity.  The Bible tells us that Almighty God created this world and the people, and you, too.  Your own response to His love is a great big decision that you can settle today.  

SO, DON’T PUT IT OFF.  Your choice means everything to YOU. Own up to what you did that wasn’t good, and own up to your need for forgiveness.  Own up to your appreciation for Jesus dying for your sins.  Own up to your response to a new view of life and death and eternity.  At  www.biblegateway.com do a word search and learn more about it. This is a huge opportunity for YOU right now.   

                                                * * * 

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

Danger at Zuckerberg's Island

Not all vacations bring as much risk or adventure as this one.  Rita related the danger to the Thursday Friendship Group. This is what she said:  

“After enduring a month of higher-than-normal scorching temperatures in Phoenix my husband, Dan, and I were off in search of cooler climates. Our brand new brown and white Ford pickup was only three weeks old, but everything was going well so far.  

We believe in starting off each day with a prayer that God will keep us safe and show us His hand at work in our lives.  And on the trip we'd conclude,  “We're yours and this truck is yours, and Your Word says in all things You work for the good of those who love You.” 

My main goal was to get to Seattle and hug Nick and Jill, my two grandchildren.  And that we did.  With our son Patrick and daughter-in-law Chrissy we saw the tourist attractions for several days. But Dan had always wanted to cross the border to say he'd been there. 

Our little jaunt  to Canada would be a scenic drive along the shores of Kootenay Lake,  taking in the grandeur of the lofty snow-topped mountains.  Armed with helpful brochures from the border crossing guard we were eager to sample this little corner of a “foreign nation.”

But before the day was over we'd be stalked by a sandy-haired stranger,   our lives and property in danger.

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 

What a Relief!

        Keeping up with the TV news and the Internet postings is a challenge and a chore!  Discussing some of the related issues of what's going on in the nation and the world, we take a look at some really good reasons to exclaim, "What a relief!"
        This is the title of our latest booklet and we give all of our booklets away for free.  Drop us a line and let us mail one to you.  You'll find some info and commentary that you can share with your kids, your friends, your relatives, etc.
        Look at the list of all our booklets which I keep updating, Booklets I've Been Writing.  Maybe you'll find something else that interests you.  

Today's News Is About Terrible Things -- So What?

       Today’s news programs were “normal.” From TV reports to Internet sites there wasn’t any “good” news around the world. Interviews involved picking out a few comments to argue about vehemently for a short time. 

        How do you and I respond?  

1. Turn off the news and avoid thinking about it?  Emotionally and intellectually deny the powerful, horrible truth of what’s going on?

2. Or, give at least one news report a quick listen so we can act like we’re keeping up with the various situations; we’re not careless or stupid?

3. Or, immerse ourselves in all the details we can find in print and on-line?  This way we can show up all the people we might talk with?  We know more facts and opinions of famous people?

       What’s our motive?  Do we have a plan, a goal? Or, is watching the news just a habit that launches the day?

       Does it really matter?  Does what I choose, what I do make any difference in the “big picture” of life? 

         As people who care what’s going on many of us miss our “assignment.”  We are to pray for the misled people to awaken to the truth of good and evil. Pray for the “bad” people to repent of their sins and to hear the good news of the truth of God’s Word.  Judgment from God brings them troubles which are meant to emphasize their need of God:  repent before they die and face eternal consequences.     

        Here’s a few Bible verses to get you started in this calling, 
this challenge to pray for others: 

The Evening News and YOU

Several friends recently confided to me that they don’t watch the evening news on TV anymore. I agreed that the news reports are mostly no fun, and watching for an hour and a half at supper time interferes with family conversation.  

    We don’t need to listen or watch the news all day long, but we do need to know what’s happening.  To prudently prepare we need to be properly informed. Honestly, we cannot ignore or deny the problems of our town, our nation, and the world. 

    We can pray.  No, God does not need our ideas.  We don’t tell Him what He doesn’t know.  But praying right then acknowledges the seriousness of the situations, while it lifts our burden of worry, fear, or anger. 

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. 

Appointment at Ground Zero

         Late in 2001 our friends, Hylan and his wife Rita visited friends in Pennsylvania, then drove to Manhattan to see Ground Zero. He relates they were moved to tears at the staggering size of the destruction. As he was parking the car he asked a stranger if he knew of a good observation spot. He said there really wasn’t any good place, but his apartment would afford a view from the 32nd floor. “We checked each other out,” Hylan says, then took him up on the offer.
        They entered his apartment and walked over to the window overlooking the Hudson River to the left and Ground Zero to the right. It was a commanding view. Then Hylan noticed on the windowsill a “house blessing” in Hebrew. He asked the man if he was Jewish, and he was.
        “Our conversation became rather personal and intimate,” Hylan says. The man told of his life in 2001. His six year-old daughter died of an unknown illness. His wife left him one day before their tenth anniversary. He had cancer with accompanying radiation and chemotherapy.
        Then came 9-11. The man showed them his home video of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center. He hadn’t shown it to anyone.

Are You Building YOUR Ark?

        Most of us know the Bible story of Noah; how God told him to prepare for coming disaster and how he obeyed. How many people today are “building their ark” for their families?
        Steve jumped into the discussion at Friendship Circle last week. At first, the others frowned, but before he wound up his warnings heads were nodding in agreement.
        “No,” he began. “I’m not just suggesting some symbolism for the sake of hearing my own voice.

Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Israel, Iran, (etc.)

Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Israel, Iran, etc.
Political disasters and war,
Japan's earthquakes and tsunami,
Flooding in the U.S. and more!

World-wide trouble and uncertainties,
Some people want to run and hide;
Others are consumed with worry,
Their aspirations and dreams have died.

Financial collapse, dishonesty,
Fearful investor and debtor;
Is there any reason for hope
that the future could be any better?