Good Morning,
We wish we could thank each of you in person for the love, prayers, support, and for just being there for us. There is no way we could do that, so let me say – THANK YOU and God bless each of you for your kindness. Words could never express the appreciation we have for you all. You are family and we thank God for each of you that are a part of our lives.
In my reading today from The Sower, I want to share this:
Looking Good!
What is in our hearts is there because we allow it to come in and find a home. And whatever is in our hearts will profoundly affect our lives and control our destiny. It is there because we want it there and has a direct impact on our lives.
*Within three verses Solomon describes three different kinds of hearts and the effect they have on our lives. “A happy heart” makes a “cheerful face.” No matter what is going on in the life of a person who has a “happy heart” we see a “cheerful face” that automatically brings a ray of sunshine into our lives. Their “inside” may be filled with clouds and rain, sickness and suffering, but their hope in God’s goodness and grace will not suppress the happiness He brings into their lives.
*People with “discerning hearts” are known for the knowledge they possess. They are driven by a desire to know and to share what they understand because they realize that knowledge is a gift from God to help others. It is not to be hoarded in our heads but to be given away as freely as it was received.
*A “cheerful heart” is found in one who chooses to take control of life rather than to have life control them. It’s taking every gift God gives us and using it as a reason to have a celebration with Him as the “guest” of honor. A “cheerful heart” flows from an attitude of joy and peace because God is “in here” and He will never leave me nor forsake me. His being “in here” is a cause for a joy that can be seen “out there” and brings His blessings to others.
Prayer: Father, do something special within each of us that will bring joy to our hearts and smiles to others! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Once you lick the frosting off a cupcake it becomes a muffin and muffins are healthy; You’re welcome.
Scripture for Today:
Proverbs 15:13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls. You are such a blessing to us. Your support, on every level, makes all the difference, so, again, Thank You.
From my reading today, I want to share this.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
There’s a phrase used in churches that I really love: "We are better together." Better together is a fantastic slogan. It simply means that when other people are in our lives, we’ll thrive. It’s a great idea (and biblical)! I praise God for each of you that God put you into my life.
Better together also means that God has created and called us into relationships. Not only has He summoned us into a personal relationship with Himself, but He invites us to have significant relationships with other humans. Apart from entering into those kinds of deep, real relationships, we cannot live the lives of abundance that God intended. But when we do have real, connecting relationships in our lives, we can: Know and be known; love and be loved; celebrate and be celebrated; and serve and be served... that’s God’s invitation to us today. Isn't that what you really want?
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes all the difference, so again, Thank You. We have heard from several and are privileged to pray with you and for your needs.
In my reading today in my archives, I want to share the following:
Frank visited a farmer to talk to him about Christ.
"I wouldn't come to church up there," the farmer said. "I know old Bill who claims to be a Christian and his sister Clara who claims to be a Christian and they don't live any differently from me. I'm as good as they are."
Everywhere the farmer went he was in the habit of talking about the hypocrites he knew in that Church. Months passed and Frank went to see the farmer again.
"I want to buy a hog", he said.
The farmer showed all his best hogs to him. Then they came to the runt.
"I believe I will take that one," Frank said.
The farmer replied, "BUT you don't want that one. He's the runt of the litter."
"I sure do," Frank replied.
So they loaded the runt in the truck.
"Now," Frank said, "what if I take this pig here from your farm and ride all over this area telling folks that this is the kind of hogs you raise?"
"That's not fair!" the farmer exclaimed. "I have some nice hogs and you want to show people that runt?!"
Frank replied, "If it's fair for the church it's fair for the farm!"
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls; what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes all the difference, so again, Thank You.
We hope you all have a Happy New Year!
STARTING NEW
by The Sower
My father came from Italy. Often he would fascinate me with stories of their celebrations and holidays. One event stands out – New Year. They would begin each year with fireworks and noise making, hugging and dancing, shouting and well-wishing.
But that was not all. Believing that they should get rid of the old and take on the new, they would go through their drawers and closets and look for worn-out clothing, old dishes and furniture – whatever needed to be replaced. They would only keep what had value to them.
Perhaps it would do us good to go through our lives and take an inventory. We may find that we are harboring hatred and hostilities, harmful habits and hurts. Perhaps we would find some shortcomings and sins, false pride and forgotten promises. We may discover that there have been some days without prayer and Scripture reading, worship and witnessing.
The Bible advises us to “Throw off your old nature…be a new and different person, holy and good.”
We do not have to wait for a new year to do this. We can do it now!
Prayer: Father, we confess with sorrow, shame and sadness our sins. We ask that You would cleanse and consecrate us for Your service. Help us to throw off our faults and failures and replace them with Your values and virtues. Give us victory through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:20-24 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes all the difference, so again, Thank You.
In my reading today, from the Sower, I would like to share with you:
GIVING OTHERS A CHOICE
A mother gave her son two beautiful apples, but one was larger and shinier than the other. Placing them in his hands, and wishing to teach him about sharing, she instructed him to “Give your little sister her choice.”
A short time later, she noticed that he had kept the bigger one for himself. So, she asked, “Why didn’t you give your sister her choice?”
“I did,” came the reply. “I gave her the choice of the little one or none at all. And she took the little one.”
There is a lot of selfishness even in the smallest of us. Size has little to do with whether or not we are self-centered or God-centered. It is easy to save rather than to share, to get rather than to give, to hoard rather than to help, to protect rather than to promote.
Paul reminds us that “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Prayer: Help me, Heavenly Father, to realize that the needs of others are an opportunity for me to give to them as You have given to me. May I be sensitive to others who are without the necessities of life, and share with them out of the abundance You have given me–especially Your salvation. In Your Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:1-8 "....not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes all the difference, so again, Thank You.
From my reading today, I want to share this.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
By Leslie Snyder
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. –1 John 3:18
The early church father, St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” The following story communicates how actions often communicate more than words.
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening and the pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and sat down. The pastor made himself at home, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some time, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
Today, spend a few moments considering what your life communicates to others.
GOING DEEPER:
Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet to a lost and dying world. In any relationship, our actions speak louder than words. How can you visibly share the gospel with someone today?
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
Good Morning,
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes all the difference, so again Thank You.
In my reading today I want to share this from The Sower.
THE WHISTLER AND HIS WIFE
A new preacher came to town. Each day as he passed one particular home on his walk to the post office, he heard a man whistling happily and loudly.
Day after day he heard the whistler. He became so fascinated with the sounds that he decided to discover where they came from. One morning the preacher opened the gate quietly and looked inside. Hearing the gate creak, “the whistler” approached the preacher asking him to come inside.
“Why do you whistle so loudly when you work?” asked the preacher.
“My wife’s a cripple,” he answered, “and she is also blind. I want her to know as she sits alone on the porch that I’m always close by and thinking about her. When she hears me whistling, she knows I’m not only nearby but available.”
Our Lord is just like “the whistler” – always nearby and available. Although we may not hear Him or see Him, He is always present in our world. However, we must trust “Him with our worries and cares, for He is always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us.”
Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for always being nearby, for always watching over us and protecting us, and meeting our every need. May we always sense Your presence in our lives and Your love that surrounds us. In Your Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: 1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don
