Encouraging YOU

     

Still living ?  You’ve got more to do ! 

Let these words here encourage you. . . 

Life is not an easy game we play;

There comes some surprises every day.

Unpredictable, it will come.

Problems ?  There will no doubt be some. 

Doing better = no easy chore,

But one idea comes, and then more !

Make a list: what can be done ?

Success could turn out to be fun !

Doing better ? You CAN learn how !

Think, pray, plan, you can start now. 

                     + + +

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

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

Achieving YOUR Goal

Advancing on Life’s Pathway,

    Making progress every day,

        Choosing what and how to say.

Yes, planning and praying, too,

    Working with my goal in view,

        Sharing ideas with you.

Asking logical questions,

    Considering suggestions,

        Reviewing rejections.

Working hard consistently,

    Saying more “Thank you” and “Please”

        Celebrating victories.

Glad I can do what I should,

    Goodbye, frowns, I’m doing good,

         My smile says I knew I would. 

Yes, every morning I pray,

     Thankful for this new day.

            and "God, please help me !"  I say.

                       ! ! ! 

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving Day

             ***Pray now for God's blessing. 

No accidents, no incidents,

no tickets, no troubles,

not even see an accident.

No big rainstorm,

no thunder and lightning, or hail,

no wind, no flooding on the roads.

No speeding,

no careless driving, you or anyone,

no drunks on streets or highways.

Good wisdom for everyone:

troopers, drivers, passengers,

truck drivers, motorcyclists.

No wrong way drivers,

No fussy passengers, young or old,

No unexpected delay going or coming home. 

May this important day be special:

a time to be thankful and verbal,

a time to appreciate each other. 
***Join all of us praying for a great day. 

                         + + + 

by Elaine Hardt © 2019

Bringing YOU Up-To-Date

So what’s it like to move in June ?

     is it fun, but necessary to do ? 

Well, looking back a few months now . . . 

     I wouldn’t recommend it to you.

First, there’s downsizing,  oh my,

     Who would have predicted this for me !

Who knew all our stuff would be so much !

     Try to box it up in three days and see !  

Well, then came those nice firemen movers,

     and off we went fifty-two miles away.

So nice to see the cute townhouse rental,

     We live in this small place today. 

Take a new look at the stuff over here,

      Some we may never really use,

Sell, donate, give to our kids and friends,

     Now the challenge is ours to choose.

So, our advice to you, our friends ?

     Don’t wait till your husband is eighty nine;

Think ahead, plan accordingly,

     Take time for fun, this suggestion is mine. 

Of course, we have much to be thankful for . . . 

     every day we talk to God in prayer;

and we pray for family, friends, and neighbors,

     not neglecting those politicians we share.

                      + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2019

“I will tell everyone about Your righteousness.
All day long I will proclaim Your saving power,
for I am overwhelmed by how much You have done for me.”

Psalm 71:15 NLT

Got An Idea for Tomorrow

        The staff of Beneficial Financial gathered in the conference room to meet the new manager from Arizona.  His opening remarks were:  “Here comes my next tomorrow.  Will it be a happy day, or maybe bring me sorrow?”

Some puzzled looks responded to that unexpected statement.  

No one spoke until he smiled and said, “You’re gong to add some words to this and they don’t have to rhyme.  The topic is ‘Here Comes Tomorrow.’”  Then he pointed to Sydney and waited.

“Sir, the idea that I’d add to your topic would be …….hmmmmm.  I know I’ll do my very best, because tomorrow will bring some kind of test.”

Smiles around the room provided the encouragement the rest of the staff needed.  

Chita waved to get attention, and she spoke up, “When I was a little kid, the very best is what I did.  But grownup and working, too, I find some stuff is harder to do.”

Grant was the next volunteer and his first comment was “Thanks, we don’t have to make everything rhyme.  That would take me a lot of time !”

If you were there for that Monday meeting what ideas could you contribute?

What does tomorrow mean to you? 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Thinking About Today

        What's the weather like?  What's on today's To Do list?  How 'ya feeling?
         Besides these questions you probably ask yourself every morning we take a look at the other events and possible challenges for the day in my latest booklet, "Thinking About Today."  It's another 12 page booklet printed on my own computer and printer, using www.bluesquirrel.com program.  This is booklet #101, and like all the rest in the list over there on this page's right side.  These booklets are free and your name is not sold or given to anybody.  Just email to let me know. 

by Elaine Hardt @2018

A Good Start for TODAY

It’ s another day,

so what do you say?

Yes, remember to pray.

Own up to problems you had,

what you did that was bad.

Mention what makes you sad. 

Own up to what you didn’t do:

struggles? a few? 

Confess what is true.

Life’s an adventure each day

You can improve, so what do you say?

Be grateful that you can pray.

And what are you thankful for?

Opportunities galore!

You can surely think of more.

God our Creator loves you!

The Bible says it’s true.

So, TODAY what are you going to do?

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Thinking About ?

Is your head full of facts

   and lots of hopes and dreams ?

Are you happy ?  Or overwhelmed

   with how today’s life seems ?

When awake or asleep

   are you busy sorting it out ?

Does this use up all your time ?

   So you want to pout ?

You wonder what will help ?

   All you need is a prayer — 

and honest talk with God

   since He IS with you there.

Own up to what you’re doing,

   (Yes, He already knows);

Ask for His guidance, too,

   Thankful for what His love shows.

Yes, you’ve been a sinner,

   Yes, the world is quite a mess.

It’s time to be a believer,

   It’s you God wants to bless.

Read what the Bible says;

   Life after death is true.

Now’s the time to find out

   what to believe, what to do.

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Plan? Prepare? Pray? ? ?

Cookie is concerned; she’s written to her list of friends saying, “No more negative emails.  I refuse to drown under this political stuff.”  Now Cookie has fewer email forwards to read.  So far, at least, she’s grateful to be just “left alone.” 

Curtis wants keep informed.  He probably spends too much time researching news sites on the Internet.  He listens to the a.m. news radio program and sits through an hour and a half of evening news on the TV.  There’s no smile on his face, these days.  Friends are quick to change the subject when he joins them at the coffee house.

What’s a normal person supposed to do?  Is it one extreme or the other?  Is there a middle-ground that would be mentally healthy and spiritually adequate?  

If Cookie doesn’t listen to anything she is short-changing herself.  Her prayer life will omit vital requests for her own spiritual growth and protection.  She won’t recognize God’s hand of provision in this area of life.

If Curtis doesn’t realize that God has something for him to learn about prayer and trust he’s going to miss wonderful peace of mind.  Blessings and miracles, large and small, completely escape his notice.  
Let's put the three words of this title in a useful direction:  1st = pray, 2 = plan, and 3 = prepare.   Take a quick look at the reasons I'm writing this . . . 

Attitude Adjustment

What’s your passion, what do you do well?

Do you dream that you can? 

An attitude can be improved

By a careful, thought-out plan;

Global Warming? Or ?

Yes, here comes winter

and Pixel is one happy dog!

A fur coat isn’t enough

when they go outside and jog.

So, planning ahead

Here’s the new winter suit;

Pixel seems satisfied

and does look very cute.  

Of course, Peter plans ahead,

and winter will be cold.

So, people, bundle up!

At least that’s what we’re told.

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

Worry? Fuss? Neglect? What YOU Can Do

        Today some bad news comes on the TV news or on social media or some Internet news site? Or, in the neighborhood or downtown?

        Are you accepting complacency?  Choosing to overlook problems?  That aggravation or that problem could be the nudge for you to try a new approach.  Don’t let yourself be buried under a negative snow slide of massive calamity.  

        Maybe there’s no easy way out, no quick fix?  So, go sit in the rocking chair?  What is a considerate person supposed to do?  Quit caring about anybody else? 

        For the careful, concerned person there is something that’s not complicated, not confusing, not time-consuming that you can do.  You don’t need to neglect what YOU can do. Shed your anxiety and save lots of time by not worrying. 

        Right there and then . . . 

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. 

Achieving Only 90% Perfection Today ???

          “Another day is ending, so how did you do?
          Did you achieve perfect perfection all day through?
          What!  Another day of missing that desired goal?
          Did half-hearted effort grind you down, take a toll?

          “This is your conscience nagging you — yes, YOU.
          So, ‘Nearly Perfect Person” what will you do? 
          Is there a lesson that you’ll seek to learn?
          Which direction will you decide to turn?”

          Aaaack!  I’ve just had another crazy dream!
          My achievements are less than they seem!
          Dear LORD I need Your wisdom on how to proceed;
          I see it’s Your input and blessing that I need.  

By Elaine Hardt ©2015

Looking Around & Looking Ahead

The LORD has something for you to do,

Maybe not the same, but probably new;

Challenges have been piling up, that’s true,

But perhaps that was a growing point for you.

Setting an example, Paul was steadfast, 

He believed the tough times could not last.

Others were blessed, as things got worse for him,

God gave strength when circumstances looked dim;

Finally, things got worse and then Paul died,

No doubt his friends and colleagues cried;

Sooner or later each of us arrives at death,

Where will we go after we take our last breath?

Pray today that your faith stands strong and true,

Pray that the LORD gives wonderful wisdom to you;

Deal With It

Face up to your Past,

Face up to your Now,

Face up to the Future,

You need to deal with it somehow.

Something you once heard,

Something you saw then,

Something puzzling,

You’re not sure what, you don’t know when.

Deal with situations,

Deal with memories,

Deal with new events,

Revise all your priorities.

Maybe in small steps,

Maybe start today?

Maybe good results?

Give it a try, what do you say?

God gave you this time,

God hears when you pray,

Trust and obey Him,

Then you can welcome your new day.  

By Elaine Hardt ©2015 

Take Another Look . . .

That problem may be . . . a Possibility!

That trouble may bring . . . Opportunity!

Take another look, consider what you say;

There could be a lesson to discover today.

Look back at that aggravation and that pain,

Look around at other situations again, 

Look ahead at what you might anticipate,

There may be factors you should investigate.

Take on the challenge, consider this a test,

Pray for wisdom and good judgment, and do your best; 

No need to feel defeated anymore,

You’ve got creative solutions to explore!

What do you think? 

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

Today is Your New Day

Your new day’s hopes and aspirations

May be shoved aside by complications,

Derailed by unexpected aggravations,

But, do what you can!

Persist with a plan!

Preparing for something ahead that’s unknown,

Thinking and working is how you have grown;

Remember: with the LORD you are never alone,

So, do what you can!

Persist with that plan!

Your observations and consideration, 

Improve this with generous inspiration;

Continue with your sincere dedication.

Today, do what you can!

Enjoy life, with your plan!                                         

Neither wisdom nor endurance grows on trees!   

Your example, some other person, somewhere sees;

The LORD is the one you want to honor and please. 

Today, do more! You can!

Enjoy life; make it your plan!   

By Elaine Hardt ©2014