Inspirations!

[NorwayUnn]

The mousetrap was a good one. Thanks for sharing! May we all treat each other with genuine love, care and concern.

 

[ForHisGlory]

The mousetrap was a good one. Thanks for sharing! May we all treat each other with genuine love, care and concern.

Thank you hon... I have been collectiong things like this for the entire time I've been on the internet...(1994) and before that clippings from the newspaper...I have a photo album full, and now a "journal", I asked my hubby that should I leave the world before him, to please, print them out into a booklet, make copies, have them spiral bound and give them to my family...maybe then they'll listen.
Right now my "journal" is 157 pages...but it's not formatted...I was keeping a blog online, but it was hacked into, so I deleted it.
Hugs Hon
Tammy

 

[ForHisGlory]

Disappointments are usually hard to bear.

One minute life seems on track for what
we hope and dream.
The next moment our way is blocked.
How do we respond when faced with
the trials and disappointments of life?

​

We may convince ourselves that it is God's
will and continue to journey on our way.

We might send up a quick prayer
asking God for His help or blessing and then
move forward.

We could get what we want but would it be
within God's plan for us?

Another way we react to a blocked path ,
is to become emotionally upset. However,
then we face the danger of remaining
in our feelings. This could lead to our
replacing the Christ-centered perspective
we want with becoming self-centered.

Strong emotions can lead us to try to blame
someone for our disappointments.
Many times it is easier to blame the Lord then
to look at our lives and see what actually
is happening and why the disappointment
happened. Most times it is not the Lord that
let us down, but a human being.

Anger toward God can lead us to rebel
against God and His will for us.

The best action is to wait and trust in God.
When the Lord seems to block our way, we must
have faith in Him.Take time to assess
the situation, and pray for guidance.
By asking the Spirit to increase
our sensitivity to the events around us,
we will be able to notice the open windows.​

Thank God for His work on our
behalf, even at times when we don't
understand His ways.

Always remain faithful to what
God has called us to do.

Wait.
Trust.
Pray.
Obey.
Be thankful.​

All of our days can be good.​

 

[ForHisGlory]

"If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others." This statement was made by François Fénelon in the seventeenth century. When I read that statement in a book recently, it gripped my heart, and I knew it was something I needed to meditate on.

The apostle Paul stated that he pressed on toward the mark of perfection. I believe all those who truly love the Lord are compelled to do that. He is perfect, and our journey into Him compels us to be like Him. We want to do things the right way—the way that would be pleasing to Him.

Perhaps a good measuring stick of our perfection is how patient we are with the imperfections of others. When I am impatient with others because of their imperfections, if I take a moment and consider my own imperfections, I usually get patient again very quickly.

If you have an imperfection, don't be down on yourself. God will help you. If you are impatient with the imperfections of others, remember that only imperfection is intolerant of imperfection.

A Prayer for Today
God, we are determined to be tolerant of the imperfection of others, because we realize that we also have imperfections which You are perfecting in us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

[ForHisGlory]

If you want to experience God's best, it's going to take some hard work. In order to live the abundant life God has planned, we must be willing to stop acting on how we feel, and instead act on promises found in the Word of God. It's not easy to love people when they're not being nice. It's not easy just to overlook an insult. It's not easy to keep a good attitude and be patient when things aren't going your way. Sometimes it hurts to keep the flesh under, and sometimes it's uncomfortable.

The seeds you sow today will bring a harvest in the future. When you focus on the blessings that come from doing what is right in the Lord's sight, you will find strength to obey His Word. The Bible tells us that Jesus "focused on the joy that was set before Him" so He could endure the cross. Jesus knew the suffering He endured on your behalf would bring Him the joy of having a personal relationship with you–and you were worth the price!

A Prayer for Today
God, we will be strong today for You! There will be many tests along our faith journey and we intend to face them with a cheerful resolve. Though some days will be hard, keep our eyes on the prize, Lord—a life in eternity with You! In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

[ForHisGlory]

Every day you make literally hundreds of
choices, consciously, and unconsciously. One of
those choices is your attitude. What was your
attitude like when you woke up? What is it like now?

When you are aware of how your attitude affects your well
being, choices are so much easier to make. With this new
found knowledge, you can literally change whatever
you can dream of.

You deserve a great life, happiness and fulfillment.
Choose today to make it that way.​

 

[NorwayUnn]

to that, sis!

 

[MN John]

I believe highly in choosing your attitiude!

 

[ForHisGlory]

We have a wonderful salvation.
The Father THOUGHT it;
The blood BOUGHT it;
The Bible TAUGHT it;
The Spirit BROUGHT it;
The devil FOUGHT it;
Faith CAUGHT it;
And, I GOT it.
*********************

"Then Agrippa said unto Paul,'almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian'."
Acts. 26: 28.​

------------------
Each one of us are either totally lost or totally saved. We can know we are saved,
because the Spirit of the Lord bears witness with our spirits, that we are His children,
redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. His Word has told us "if we are in Christ, we are
new creatures." "Old things have passed away and behold, all things are new in Christ."

Christ is faithful and just to forgive those who come to Him with repentant hearts and to
cleanse them from all unrighteousness. We have such a loving Father, who cares for
us with a love that will never fail. His fountain of life flows from Immanuel's veins and is
waiting for whosoever will accept the crimson stream. There is only one way which leads to
home, and our choice on earth determines our eternal destination. Repentance and salvation
is the right choice one one should make, and today is the day of salvation.

There is an old song which asks the question of a sinner in regard to salvation, "O why
not tonight?" "Wilt thou be saved, then why not tonight?" God calls souls to repentance,
but the world, flesh, and devil discourages one from hearing His pleas for them to surrender
their hearts to Him. One cannot live for God one day and disregard Him the next, while serving
the things of the world. We must have a made up mind to make Jesus not only our Savior,
but Lord of our life.

The enemy of one's soul wants sinners to wait for "some more convenient hour, but
the truth is, there may never be another day or chance for a soul who turns down the call
of the Lord today." The words to the old song pleads with sinners not to let the night depart
without making a decision for the Lord. Good works will not save one, and regardless
of how good one may feel they are, to be 'almost saved is to be totally lost.'

Children of God get discouraged many times in life, but we all must remember that
the trials of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed hereafter. God knows every struggle, every trial, and Jesus is touched
by the feelings of our infirmities. We must keep on "keeping on for our Lord." Our
faith must be anchored in Christ Jesus, the "Solid Rock." When the going gets
tough, the tough run to Jesus.

Each day we pass by others who are lost and do not know our Savior. If the
Lord should call for them, they would not enter into heaven or share in His eternal
joys but would be eternally lost. Our mission is to go and tell others of the love and
saving grace of our Lord. We may never sail the seas or cross the oceans to reach souls,
but we can make a difference where we may be. One plants, one waters, and God gives
the increase. As we sow gospel seeds of truth, the Holy Spirit will see that God's Word is
watered and it will not return void. His Word will accomplish what He intends in His time
and way.

Let us be about the Father's business in this world and also take the Internet for the
Lord. As we share the love of Jesus with others, our prayer is that souls will come to
the Lord and know His salvation. There is no day like today to come home to the Father.
May our prayers reach across the oceans, even though we cannot physically be
there. There are souls perishing who need someone to stand in the gap. Missionaries
are teaching others about God through the power of the Holy Spirit. We have
a mission field also, and no matter how insignificant we may feel, there is something
we can do to make a difference. God does not ask for our ability, but sees our
availability and will equip us by His Spirit for service.

Share the love of God today and be blessed. "A word fitly spoken is like apples
of gold in pictures of silver." May our words glorify the One who gave His life that we
might live eternally. God is calling souls to be "totally saved and sold out to Him" today.
Prayer changes things and as we agree in prayer, God's Word can reach others for
His glory. When you reach out to Jesus, you'll always find He is reaching out to you.
There is a land of life just beyond the crystal sea. Hold on to the Lord, until the
day the Lord calls His children to walk on streets of gold, just inside the gates of pearl.

Blessings In Christ,
****************************************************

~THE CHOICE IS OURS~
​

Totally lost or totally saved
Which one are you as you walk life's way?
Totally in grace or totally out,
We must know we're redeemed, without any doubt.

Totally free or else bound in sin
The choice has been given to all men,
We must choose the Savior to be Lord of all
If we don't give Him our whole heart, we will surely fall.

Totally justified by God's amazing grace
The gift we received is for the whole human race,
One must totally receive Him, or his love they will reject,
Those who choose eternal life, Our Lord will never forsake.​

 

[ForHisGlory]

Luke 2: 49
******************
*I recently read a story about a young dentist who wanted to become a missionary but was rejected, because he had been diagnosed
with a bad heart.

The dentist would not be defeated and said, "If I can't go myself,
I'll make money and help send others." Dr. C. E. Welch kept his word.
He made grape juice, and sent missionaries to spread the gospel
message.

We may not be able to go but we can help send others if we
give to the work of the Lord so others can go. If we can't
go preach, we can pray so others can preach. If we cannot
evangelize, we can encourage so others can evangelize.
What we sow into the kingdom of the Lord will bless us
as we will reap rewards for faithfulness to God.

Jesus said, "I must be about My Father's business." We are
also to have a burden for the lost and be about our heavenly
Father's business. The Lord is in the soul saving business
and has the greatest plan of all to give one new life and hope
in Him. His eternal life is the greatest gift and we can have
a part in making God's plan for man known. God is not
looking for our ability, but our availability. We find that
little is much, when God is in it. He will use us for His glory
when we submit ourselves to Him and go forth in the strength
and power of His might.

Our prayer is for the Lord to inspire us that we might make
God's will our will, and perform our duties for the Lord with
delight, as we serve the Lord with gladness. What would we
do without Jesus? We really couldn't make it without the Lord.
He is our everything!

*************************

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST COMMERCIAL GRAPE JUICE

It's interesting to read about the Father of Dr. C. E. Welch, who was Dr. T. B. Welch.
Welch was a dentist. He believed that "unfermented wine" was scriptural and preferable for communion purposes to wine which contained alcohol. When he was delegated to provide the communion wine for his church he determined that it should be wine without alcohol. And so, in 1869, with the aid of his son, Dr. C. E. Welch, also a dentist, he pressed out by hand in the family kitchen, in Vineland, N. J., the first dozen bottles. Thus the Methodist Church in the little village of Vineland was the first church to use unfermented wine for communion. It was called "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine." The home kitchen continued
for several years to be the only factory. To Dr. T. B. Welch its possibilities were limited to its use as communion wine. Dr. C. E. Welch, the son, however, saw in it a wide range and made the first commercial grape juice. In its wealth of nutrition and ease of digestion he saw an aid to the hospital and physician, a boon to the sick and convalescent; and in its healthfulness and refreshing flavor he caught his first vision of "the national drink"--a dream which his courageous faith and tireless effort through the early trying years have made come true. Welch created the grape juice market by educating the people to drink grape juice.
He also blessed the work of missionaries by giving to support their ministries as the
Lord blessed him in his work.

**From American Memory--The Coolidge era and consumer economy--1921-1929.

88888888888888888888888888888888888888​

~WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT JESUS?~

Have you ever thought how life would be
if we didn't know the one who died on Calvary?
What would we do without our dearest Friend?
We'd have no hope or forgiveness of our sins.

What would we ever do
Without Christ to see us through?
Our life would have no hope
in sin and darkness we would grope.

Without the Comforter in our life
we'd be bound by sin and strife.
Without Christ and the love He gives,
We'd have no hope or reason to live.

We couldn't make it on our own
or know the way to our heavenly home.
All would be worthless and life would be in vain,
if we didn't know the power of his blessed Holy name.

We give thanks for Jesus, who willingly died
that we might be saved and have eternal life.
Because He lives, we can face each new tomorrow,
for He wipes away our tears and takes our sorrow.

What joy it is to know
we have one who loves us so.
We give thanks and praise
to the Shepherd of our valley, our hands we raise.

Forever we shall thank Him
and glorify His holy name,
without Jesus, we couldn't go on
with Christ in our lives, we'll never be alone.​

 

[ForHisGlory]

Handwriting on The Wall
By Author Unknown

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. Took his crayons and wrote on the wall
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again.

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
Where is your little brother right now?
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, I love Mommy, surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall​

​

 

[ForHisGlory]

"My Hand in God's"

Each morning when I wake I say,

"I place my hand in God's today;"

I know He'll walk close by my side

My every wandering step to guide.

He leads me with the tenderest care

When paths are dark and I despair---

No need for me to understand

If I but hold fast to His hand.

My hand in His! No surer way

to walk in safety through each day.

By His great bounty I am fed;

Warmed by His love, and comforted.

When at day's end I seek my rest

And realize how much I'm blessed,

My thanks pour out to Him; and then

I place my hand in God's again.
-- Florence Scripps Kellogg

 

[NorwayUnn]

how awesome it is to be in God's hands.

 

[ForHisGlory]

how awesome it is to be in God's hands.

Amen and Amen!!!

 

[ForHisGlory]

THE WONDER OF GOD

I am filled with wonder when I behold
A tiny, little bird in its nest.
My heart sings out in rapturous praise
To God who knows and loves me best.

Like the tiny, little bird,
I am sheltered in God's care;
He who knows when a sparrow falls
Watches over me everywhere.

I am filled with wonder when I behold
A glimmering, star-studded sky.
I am reminded of Him who calls the stars by name,
Who loves me and keeps me as the "apple of His eye."

Like the stars in the heavens,
I am one in a multitude;
Yet, He knows every hair on my head!
For such love, I am filled with gratitude.

I am filled with wonder when I behold
Blue sparkling waters and shimmering white sands.
He who "comprehended the dust of the earth
In a measure," holds even me in the hollow of His hand.

I am filled with wonder when I think that
He who "measured the waters in the hollow of His hands,
Meted out heaven with a span," never forgets me
For I'm "graven upon the palms of His hands!"

Written By:
Wanda Sherman
© 2001​

 

[ForHisGlory]

Today's Message:

"In the woods"
by Bob Perks

"When in the woods
and forest glades I wander..." *

I went to church today. Not a man-made building of brick and mortar.
Not a temple, mosque or synagogue. I simply wandered off the road I
planned on taking and headed down the path chosen for me this time.

I walked across the bridge and looked upon the water. Pausing for a moment
I suddenly felt overwhelmed and insignificant.

It was all bigger than I. Not just in size. Even the pebble in the brook appeared
more important.

How can that be? I am a chosen child of God. I have been given great powers
and a grand purpose in life.

A rock. The moss on the tree and the tiniest of fish swimming below suddenly
put me in my place.

Off in the distance I could hear water pouring into the brook. It called me like it knew
my name.

A bit uneasy and feeling out of place, I walked slowly toward the sound and turning
to my right I saw it.

A grand cathedral. A holy place...in the woods.

As if directing a movie, a documentary of sorts, starting where I stood,
my eyes panned across the water. Pausing for a moment, I captured images of
rushing water and followed the source. Upward, higher and higher, the image surrounded
now by green, lush, pillars, my eyes took in the grandeur of this perfect place
of solitude and peace.

The water honestly appeared to be pouring from the heavens.

Lost in the presence of God's creation, I, now disconnected from the worries, pain
and sadness of my day, felt as if I had been called home and did not know it.

"When I look down
from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
and feel the gentle breeze..." *

Tears, like the water fall before me, ran endlessly down my face.

Looking up I whispered "thank you, God."

"Then sings my soul
my savior God to thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art..." *

Looking around me, alone in the wood
I suddenly saw myself true
I lifted my hands right where I stood
and cried "God what would I do without you?"

Then the words of the song that played in my heart
began to rise with the breeze
In honor of all He created for me
I sang as I fell to my knees...

"Then I shall bow
in humble adoration
And there proclaim
my God how great thou art!

Then sings my soul
my savior God to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art!" *

Turning away was difficult, but I returned to my car and headed for home.
Not wanting to waste one morsel of inspiration I send this with speed and purpose
directly to you.

Do not fret about anything of this world. I found life upon awakening and God
"In the woods."

*From the song "How great thou Art"


"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks

 

[Tumbleweed64]

<FONT face=Verdana,Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

 

[ForHisGlory]

Embroidering Your Life

When I was little, my mother used to sew a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "Child, you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side."

I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Child, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower, or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy.Then Mother would say to me, "My child, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."

Many times through the years I have looked up to heaven and said, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life."I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?"The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side." ~Author Known to God ​

 

[ForHisGlory]

Sharing with you - The Pickle Jar






The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.



I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.



Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.



Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back."



Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."



We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that."



The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed.



A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith.



The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.

[FONT=Comic Sans&#13;&#10; MS]

No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.[/FONT]



To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to."



The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms.



"She probably needs to be changed," she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.



She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.



This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as well. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.



Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.



God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

[FONT=Comic&#13;&#10; Sans MS]

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller[/FONT]



- Happy moments, praise God.
- Difficult moments, seek God.
- Quiet moments, worship God.
- Painful moments, trust God.
- Every moment, thank God.

 

[ForHisGlory]

Some people seem to start their day on the "wrong foot." They feel all right when they wake up, but as soon as something goes wrong, they lose their footing and walk with a "loser's limp" the rest of the day. Once they are off to a bad start, it seems they never catch up. If someone offends us early in the morning, our anger can keep us defensive all day. If we start the day rushing, it seems we never slow down. but today our feet can be firmly planted in God's Word. There will be no "bad day" when God's Word supports, strengthens, and directs.