Good day to 'talk about' labor and laborers.

Bible Commentary:  "Jesus looked at the crowds following Him and referred to them as a field ripe for the harvest. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone will show them the way. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using US. Be prepared for God to use you and me to show another person the way to Him."

****

"Ninety-two-year-old Johnny Barnes stands on the edge of a roundabout in Hamilton, Bermuda, and he waves at people as they drive past. He's not asking for money or begging for goods. He's making people happy. 'I love you!' he shouts. 'I'll love you forever!' "And they love him! Bermudans call him Mr. Happy Man. They route their morning commute to see him. If Johnny's not standing in his spot, people call the radio station to check on him. "Johnny's philosophy is simple. 'We human beings gotta learn how to love one another. One of the greatest joys that can come to an individual is when you're doing something and helping others.' "Wouldn't you love to meet a person like him? Or better still, wouldn't you love to be like him?" *** There was a note at the bottom of Lucado's thoughts:  "Johnny Barnes passed away on July 9, 2016 at the age of 93. My thought:  Johnny said he'd love people forever. And I am sure he meant every word he'd shout. But today is a good day for us to left our eyes. And look at God who stands at the 'roundabouts' of our lives and shouts 'I love you! I'll love you forever!' He's the only one who can make that claim. Mean it. And carry it out!

 

A good reminder from Anne Graham Lotz:

~ Colossians 3:17 NKJV

"What task has God assigned you? Has He assigned you to:

~ establish a home,

~ strength a marriage,

~ lead a family,

~ serve a church,

~ teach a classroom,

~ or comfort in a sick room?

"Check your attitude toward the assignment. Do you grumble and complain about it? Do you neglect and ignore it? Do you resent and reject it? Or do you enjoy fulfilling it as your service unto the Lord? God wants you and me to enjoy our service to Him, whatever it may be. And He also wants us to discuss each detail with Him as we do the work. One of His pleasures, as well as ours, is the joy of working together as we complete the task. Often, the more difficult the task, the greater the joy because it enables us to see the power of God and just  what He can do in and through and for us."

***

Churchill was a 'man for our time' during World War II:

Bible Commentary:"The psalm writer was asking God to revive his people. God is capable of reviving both churches and individuals. He can pour out His love on us, bringing us back to loving Him. If we need renewal in our churches, families, or our personal lives, we need to ask God to give us a fresh touch of His love and kindness."

****

Aah! Clean!

Until I shuttled various furniture pieces back to their correct spots! When I moved a small, drop-leaf table, I dumped my flowering African violet. A favorite of mine and guests visiting my farmhouse kitchen. Dirt went flying. A small chip on the ceramic pot. Six leaves unconnected from the pretty plant.

As I was on my knees, re-doing the 'tragedy', I didn't like what had happened. Could it be repaired successfully?

But my mind flipped to our neighbors in the Bahamas. My little spill, paled in comparison to their lives which have been totally destroyed in so many ways.

As I picked up the pieces, scooped up some dirt, and re-washed a corner of the floor, I said a brief prayer for them.

My upright plant looks good. The chip is hidden by a green leaf. The floor is back to normal!

But a good day to pray for our friends in the Bahamas:

The recap is on the news this morning. A sister of someone who lost her brother said, "This was not a tragedy. A tragedy is what happens in a hurricane. This was a massacre." Innocent people were killed; hundreds of them. Firefighters and first responders rushed into those buildings, while victims were working to get out. Lots of heroes. Some survived; some didn't. It was an attack of evil proportions.

This is Anne Graham Lotz's inspirational email in my inbox this morning:

~ Psalm 23:4 NIV

"Trusting God to accomplish His primary purpose through our pain was eloquently expressed by the widow of Todd Beamer. Todd was a passenger on the fateful United Flight 93 when it was hijacked by suicide bombers on September 11, 2001. He and other passengers overpowered the hijackers, thwarting their use of the plane as a flying missile apparently aimed at the very heart of Washington, D.C. But the passengers were unable to prevent the plane from a nosedive crash into a vacant field in Pennsylvania, so September 11, 2001, was the date of Todd Beamer's entrance into heaven.

"Lisa Beamer gave us a snapshot of her faith that is being developed through suffering when she told an interviewer, 'God says, 'I knew on September 10, and I could have stopped it, but I have a plan for greater good than you can ever imagine.' I don't know God's plan, and honestly right now, I don't like it very much. But I trust that He is true to His promise in Romans 8:28 (working all things together for good).'

"Thank you, Lisa, for trusting God when you don't understand why!"

***

Lead in to this three-chapter book says, "Habakkuk saw a dying world, and it broke his heart. Why is there evil in the world? Why do the wicked seem to be winning? He boldly and confidently took his complaints directly to God. And God answered him with an avalanche of proof and predictions."

Bible Commentary: "Evil seems to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, Christians often feel angry and discouraged as they see what goes on. Habakkuk complained vigorously to God about it. God's answer to him is the same answer he would give us. 'Be patient! God will work out his plans.' It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. As God told Habakkuk, 'Don't despair.' To trust God fully means to trust him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do."

****

"Grow strong in your weakness. Some of my children I've gifted with abundant strength and stamina. Others, like you, have received the humble gift of frailty.

"Your fragility is not a punishment, nor does it indicate lack of faith. On the contrary, weak ones like you must live by faith, depending on Me to get you through the day. I am developing your ability to trust Me, to lean on Me, rather than on your understanding. Your natural preference is to plan out your day, knowing what will happen when. My preference is for you to depend on Me continually, trusting Me to guide you and strengthen you as needed.

"This is how you grow strong in your weakness."

***

God and the Bible has good news for our futures:

Bible Commentary:  "The bodies we receive when we are raised from the dead will be like Christ's resurrected body. We will still have our own personalities and individualities, but these will be perfected through Christ's work. The Bible does not say what our resurrected bodies will be able to do, but we know they will be perfect, without sickness or disease.

****

I receive daily inspirational messages from Max Lucado. Some I enjoy more than others; all of them are good. Lately the writings are taken from his book, newer one I think, titled "How Happiness Happens - Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment, and Unmet Expectations". Who could like a book like that! 

Here is one from a day or two ago:

"Every person needs to hear a 'wonderful'. Here is why. Companies spend billions of dollars to convince us that we are chubby, smelly, ugly, and out-of-date. Inadequacy indwells a billion hearts.

"Would you distribute encouragement? Will you make some happiness happen? Will you remind humanity that we are made in God's image? That we are chosen, destined, and loved?

"Start by listening intently. Ask someone to tell you his or her, story. Give the rarest of gifts -- your full attention.

"Praise abundantly. Biblical encouragement is no casual, kind word but rather a premeditated resolve to lift the spirit of another person. Everyone needs a cheerleader.

"Give the gift that God loves to give -- the gift of encouragement. This is how happiness happens."

****

 

*

Bible Commentary:  "Jesus had tried to slip quietly away from the crowds, but they found out where he was going and followed him. Instead of showing impatience at this interruption, Jesus welcomed the people and ministered to their needs. How do we see people who interrupt our schedules? As nuisances? Or as the reason for our lives? Ministry?

"The Kingdom of God was a focal point of Jesus' teaching. He explained that it was not just a future Kingdom; it was among them, embodied in him, the Messiah. Even though the Kingdom will not be complete until Jesus comes again, we do not have to wait to taste it. The Kingdom of God begins in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. It is as present with us today as it was in the Judeans two thousand years ago."

******

Some thoughts from a perpetual flip calendar "Touched by an Angel:  Everlasting Love":

So why were we there? Love. Care. Letting him know that he matters to us.

That is what God and His 'people' do for us!

Hebrews 12, verse 1 says, "Since we have such a large crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands.." The Bible commentary says in part:  "The 'huge crowd' is composed of the people described in the previous chapter (all kinds of people we read about in the Bible). Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us.We do not struggle alone and we are not the first to struggle with problems in our lives. Others have run the race and won and their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have!"

So today is a good day to 'walk down the street' in the 'parade of life'. Ready! Set! Go! Know that you and I are loved and cared for. Matter to others! 

Don't forget to smile and wave. Like Noah! The 'crowd' is watching!

"There is a way the world should be run. And when others behave in ways we don't like, we call that a pet peeve. Not a colossal divide or a legal violation..........just a pet peeve. You know, joy is such a precious commodity. Why squander it on quibble?

"The phrases we use regarding our pet peeves reveal the person who actually suffers. He 'gets under my skin' or 'get on my nerves', or she is such a 'pain in my neck'. Whose skin, nerves, and neck? Ours! Who suffers? We do! Every pet peeve writes a check on our joy account.

"For this reason the apostle Paul said, 'Be patient, bearing with one another in love' (Ephesians 4:2). The patient person sees all the peculiarities of the world. But rather than react, he bears with them. This is how happiness happens."

~ By Max Lucado ** (My personal note: Like lots of things, to do this, we will probably have to ask God to help us!)

 

So today is a good day to 'walk down the street' in the 'parade of life'. Ready! Set! Go! Know that you and I are loved and cared for. We matter to others!

Don't forget to smile and wave. Like Noah! The 'crowd' is watching!

A good day to celebrate and remember. Jim was a loving, kind and caring man. He took good care of me, Jamie, and Merry! He was a good husband, dad, and friend to many, including me.

I can remember riding around Rochester, Minnesota after Merry was born. Doctors had discovered a birth defect which required surgery. We couldn't be in the unit except certain hours. I recall saying to Jim, "When you say 'I do', you never know what you might have to do together!" He had been diagnosed with a chronic back condition, I had had two difficult (but not impossible pregnancies) and then the medical problems with Merry. I had just turned 28.

We didn't know that ahead were heart problems for Jim needing lots of medical attention; a few more problems for Merry; a fatal car accident for her; and just the rough and tumble things which come into people's lives.

But God is good. He helps us with everything. Day by day. I wouldn't want to try it without Him. In spite of my 'list'. He made everything 'doable'. A heart diagnosis for Jim at 34, but God gave us 40 more years of time together. Some of it with medical work, but many to most ones 'good'. Merry wasn't 'special needs'. She was pretty 'normal' for all of her 26 years.

And when 'loss' comes, God is there. More real than anything imaginable.I read a short Psalm; #111 this morning. In the margin, it says, "Psalms 111 - 116 are called hallelujah psalms. 'Hallelujah' means 'praise the Lord' They express uplifting and optimistic tones.

So this is another 'praise God' day! Like they all can be if we choose. God is always bigger than any problem or good thing which can happen to us. Looking ahead what does the future look like? I don't know but I know that He is there and will always be there!! He is worthy of our praises!

. 

Yesterday's repeat:

Today is Friday, September 27. This is the day Jim and I were married in 1969, so this would have been #50!

A good day to celebrate and remember. Jim was a loving, kind, and caring man. He took good care of me, Jamie, and Merry! He was a good husband, dad, and friend to many, including me.

A paragraph from a recent email by Kathy Branzell who heads the National Day of Prayer Task Force:

"In the hours, days, or seasons of life when you don't feel like blessing Him, take a few minutes to remind your heart of His faithfulness and His 'benefits', as Psalms 103 prompts us to remember and recite them. Tell your soul that God has forgiven you, has healed you from many illnesses and redeemed your life. Your unchangeable condition is that He wraps you in His arms and crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion even in the most hurtful and hardest of circumstances. Continue reading through this Psalm and others, to add praise to your prayers through your days and let the overflow of your heart fill you conversations with others. Let the world hear you bless God in every circumstance, as a testimony of His power and love in your life."

**

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