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. 

At Just the Right Time at the Hospital

        The hospital waiting room was busy all day, but now at 10 p.m. it was quiet and nearly empty.  At opposite ends of the room two men were sitting, both with some kind of smartphone or that sort of an internet device.  At the Welcome receptionist desk an older woman was on the phone.

The younger man stretched and stood up.  He crossed the room to where the other man was sitting.  “Excuse me, got a minute to talk?”

Gerald looked up with a sad look on his face.  He nodded, so Randy introduced himself.  Gerald noticed the name tag this stranger had on his shirt,  “Listening and Praying.” 

Randy explained, “I’m a volunteer here at Good Samaritan Hospital for the night shift on Mondays, and I walk the halls and pray for who’s in each room.  Don’t know what ails him or her, but I pray God’s love and God’s healing for each one.”

“Well, I’m a working man and I’m usually at home snoring.  But Betta had a seizure, so she’s in there, and I’m out here.”  

“OK if I pray for her healing and for your peace of mind?”

“Sure, but I guess I should own up:  I don’t know about God.  Never found out enough to believe.”

“Any particular irritation?”

“Nah,” was Gerald’s reply. 

  A long silence followed, then Randy spoke in a kindly tone of voice,

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

Not Going to Give Up, Are You?

Is life worth living?  I’d say YES. 

And these ideas I’d like to share: 

Hold on, fight on, keep on;

Though troubles may seem hard to bear.  

When things look so unsettled

analyze, be practical and prepare;

Now’s the time to get tough,

Stand tall -- of course you can -- you care!  

Others are watching to see what you do,

In your life someone else does care;

Don’t quit, don’t check yourself out,

Ask for wisdom and help in prayer!  

Believe it or not, God loves you,

And He is the one to please;

There’s peace of mind awaiting you

Talking to Him down on your knees.

You have more potential than you thought,

Toss aside those perplexities;

Put on determination so you can 

Find opportunities

                     + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2011

Maybe, Probably, Certainly

  Is it “Yes,” or is it “No”?

Is it “Later,” or is it “Now”?

Finding the right answers,

the LORD will show you how.

Challenges will come every day!

Do not complain and do not shirk;

You’re growing older and wiser,

Good decisions help do the work.

Lots of things allow a little time

to think, and plan and do —

achieve success, find happiness. 

Other things say, “Hurry!” to you. 

Start first thing in the morning

to anticipate your day;

Read the Bible, make your lists,

and, of course, you’ll want to pray.

Yes, you’ll learn lessons from mistakes —

it’s the sensible thing to do;

But, what a relief in the evening

to know that God has blessed you. 

            
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.

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By Elaine Hardt ©2016

My Friend Is Gone

She died.  She’s gone. My friend is dead.

My thoughts came tumbling out of my head

“I didn’t tell her . . . “

“I didn’t ask her . . . “

“Did she know . . . “

“Was she ready to go?”

I didn’t expect it, but my friend is dead,

What could I — should I — have said?

Thinking about her, thinking about me

I open the Bible today to see.

Oh, LORD I need to be obeying You;

Tell me every day what to say and do.

For all of us life will one day end,

Now is the time to receive Jesus as friend.

Confess your sins honestly,

When you die you want in Heaven to be! 

I hope my friend is certainly There;

I’m learning now my faith to share.  

                                             By Elaine Hardt ©2016