THE BEST THINGS TO GIVE

The best things to give:






To your friend --- loyalty


To your enemy --- forgiveness


To your boss --- service


To a child --- a good example


To your parents --- gratitude and devotion


To your wedded mate --- love and faithfulness


To all men --- charity


To God --- your life

Author Unknown

Find more inspirational words, pictures, music, and thoughts at Spiritual Sundays.

CURSE GOD AND DIE!

This weekend, I wanted to do something for Spiritual Sundays on this blog. I have 4 different daily devotional applications on my phone and one of them this morning struck me as something I should share with my blog friends and visitors. I'm so painfully aware of how easy it is to give up when life seems to have taken everything good away and there is nothing left but misery and hopelessness. Jesus tells us about this in the Gospel of St. John: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." NIV

This devotion is taken from the devotion called Today. It was written by Norm Prenger. I pray that the Lord will speak to you through His Holy Spirit so that you may be comforted, encouraged, and able to do likewise to those who may need it. God bless, Dr. Bobbi

CURSE GOD AND DIE

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:9


My heart goes out to Job’s wife. She lost so much—beautiful sons and daughters, a substantial lifestyle, her security and dignity. Now her husband was covered in terrible sores and mumbling praises to God with ash-covered lips. Job’s own skin had become for her a living canvas depicting life’s cruelty and religion’s futility. Something inside of her snapped.


She is not alone. It’s ironic, but many folks drift away from faith in God for one of two reasons: life can be either too pleasant or too painful. Both ways of experiencing life can lead us to forget our Creator. A life of ease can lead to laziness, and a life of pain can lead to bitter despair. Satan is happy when we experience either outcome.


The gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t promise a life of ease. It’s not some sort of spiritual painkiller to take away suffering. In fact, to embrace the truth can mean embracing even more pain—for Jesus’ sake. Leaving behind lives that are built around sin and selfishness will feel like dying. But death won’t have the last word.


Dear woman, look again at your husband, Job. See in his suffering a hint of the coming suffering of your Savior. See in Job’s faithfulness to God, despite so much suffering, an expression of the integrity of faith to which we are all called. All is not lost, and all can be forgiven.


Prayer


Lord, forgive us when we give in to despair. We trust the One who endured the cross for love’s better day. With him, may we let it all go into our Father’s hands. Amen.




Norm Prenger

http://thisistoday.com/archives/curses-into-blessings-2011-01-08/

Galatians 2:20

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE

Yesterday morning was one of those normal mornings. After my 3rd cup of coffee I gathered myself together and trotted off to the shower.

Let me backtrack just a bit. Over the weekend I had put together several Daily Grace devotions and one of them was using the scripture from Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." In the devotion I talked about how this day is a gift and there are many who did not receive the gift of today. Because we have the gift of today, we can experience many new things and watch the wonderful working of God. That is certainly something to be happy about.

Back to my shower story: As I was stepping out of the shower I looked at myself in the huge wall sized mirror that hangs over my vanity. As usual, my initial response is "ugh." Looking at my 60 year old body sort of does something to the female ego inside me and it isn't good.

But something was different this day as I looked at my time worn body. I began to feel greatful that I was healthy. I can walk, get in the floor with the grandchildren, use both my hands and arms. All five senses work and I have fairly good use of my brain and thought processes. Most of all, I have the Lord to guide me and protect me.

After thinking these things, which took only a few moments, I began to thank the Lord for that 60 year old body I was looking at in the mirror. I had been putting down this body for so long because it didn't look like the body it did 40 years ago. The Lord brought the devotion from Psalm to my mind and instead of saying, "Ugh!" I spoke out loud, "This is the body that Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad with it."

I can't begin to describe the burden that lifted off me and the blessing and joy I felt as I realized what a gift I have. No, I'm not going to be seeking a chance to be America's next top model, but I'm going to give what I have back to the Lord in service and rejoice in what He has given to me.

ABBA FATHER

It is so amazing that words written so long ago are totally full of same meaning as when they were written. This is an old, old hymn, one I never knew, but the words are as familiar to my heart as ever. Singing of His marvelous grace and mercy that He would love so much to save even me. And He would clothe me in splendor and seat me at His banquet table to dine wtih him. And then I will be singing praises to Him for eternity. God bless you as you read these words that never lose their power.

ABBA, FATHER! WE APPROACH THEE




“Abba, Father!” We approach Thee



In our Savior’s precious Name;


We, Thy children, here assembled,


Now Thy promised blessing claim;


From our sins His blood hath washed us,


’Tis through Him our souls draw nigh,


And Thy Spirit, too, hath taught us,


“Abba, Father,” thus to cry.






Once as prodigals we wandered


In our folly far from Thee,


But Thy grace, o’er sin abounding,


Rescued us from misery;


Thou Thy prodigals hast pardoned,


Kissed us with a Father’s love,


Spread the festive board, and called us,


E’er to dwell with Thee above.






Clothed in garments of salvation,


At Thy table is our place,


We rejoice, and Thou rejoicest,


In the riches of Thy grace;


“It is meet,” we hear Thee saying,


“We should merry and be glad,


I have found My once lost children,


Now they live who once were dead.”






“Abba, Father!” all adore Thee,


All rejoice in Heav’n above,


While in us they learn the wonders


Of Thy wisdom, grace, and love;


Soon before Thy throne assembled,


All Thy children shall proclaim,


“Glory, everlasting glory,


Be to God and to the Lamb!”


                     James G. Deck 1841

Noah's Ark Baby Afghan



Among other things I have been an avid crocheter for 35 years. This is one of my latest projects. It is a single crochet baby afghan with the Noah's Ark theme. It was fun doing this afghan for my little granson who was born on July 3rd this year.

My biggest challenge with crocheting is that I am left handed. It took me forever to learn to even chain. All my "teachers" were right handed and the directions are all for right handed people. I finally had my sister-in-law sit across from me and I just mirrored what she did. I caught on almost instantly and I just took off from there. While all you right handers are crocheting from right to left, I'm going from left to right. It all works out in the end.

My next project after I finish 5 tie blankets, is crocheting a rug from old T-shirts. If you want to know how to do that here is the web site to show you how.  http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39345/how-to-crochet-a-rug-out-of-t-shirts

After working 11-12 hours a day at my clinic, this is a great way to relax and still be productive. I'd love to connect with blogs of others who have some crafty ideas. God bless you all,

Joyful Parenting

  My niece, Tara McClanahan, has a web site dedicated to Christian Parenting. Here is a great article she wrote concerning ridding your home of toxic negativity and filling it with the joy of the Lord.
 
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/10-point-manifesto-of-joyful-parenting-free-printable/

You can visit Tara's site at: http://taramcclenahan.com/

STANDING ON THE PROMISES

"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Galatians 3:14

"The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient wtih you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

"Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:21

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4

God bless you as you visit the wonderful praise and worship sites through Spiritual Sundays.