Are You Negative?

Today during Rodney's sermon we read scriptures about Andrew and Philip. The text was about Jesus feeding the 5000. Philip could only see the reasons why these people couldn't be fed and Andrew found Jesus a way to get it done.

One disciple was negative and not very helpful, one was positive and, very much, helpful. Do you know people who are negative like Philip? Me too. Hey, sometimes I feel that way, myself. It makes for a very sad day when I am.  All I can do is feel grouchy and sorry for myself.

When we are being so negative we tend to miss all the blessings we have around us. We don't see the beauty in the world. We don't see how wonderful our families are. We don't see how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends. We don't see that God has given us so much. All we see is that others have more than us. That even though they may not even believe in Christ, they seem to be doing so much better than we think we are doing.

In the scriptures we can read that the author of Psalm 73 seemed to feel just like us........


Psalm 73:1The Message (MSG)

73 1-5 No doubt about it! God is good—
good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.



 The author realized that he almost missed all of what God had given to him.
He realized that his focus was on the wrong thing. He realized that he was being far from positive.
How sad it is that we can be just like him. We waste so much time and effort looking away from the good around us. Looking away from the miracles God gives to us everyday.

Let's all of us try working at staying positive this week.

I bet our days will go so much better if we keep our eyes turned toward all the goodness of God. I know that we will definitely have better days. Maybe we will even be surprised at all the wonderful things we find in this world. Maybe we will be surprised at the energy we have because we are not wasting it worrying about what we cannot do anything about.

People will see smiles on our faces and not frowns. They will see God shining through. Then, just maybe, they will want the same smile on their faces too!


Here's to a great week!!!


Blessings

 

I know the plans!

We have been going through a study about blessings, at church, on Sunday evenings. I have received such a blessing, myself, getting to be the facilitator in the class. I love hearing the stories about family from the attenders. Especially from the more mature gentlemen. The sacrifices made by their parents to make sure their children had a better life than the life they led, during the depression, is so inspiring. 

In this class we have been reminded that all of us need blessings from the ones we love and the ones we love need to hear blessings from us.  These positive words of love and encouragement help make it easier as we move forward in this life. They give us courage, confidence and the knowledge that there is someone who believes in us.



No matter what your circumstances with your family did you know that there is someone who is waiting to give us more than just words of love. He wants to help us find our way in this life. God wants us to know that our future is bright because He has already made some pretty wonderful plans for us ........ 



Jeremiah 29:11

Common English Bible (CEB)

11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.

It has always amazed me how much we are loved by our God. I guess it shouldn't, because we were made so that we could spend our days with Him.

He certainly has our future as His first priority. He also is here to make sure that we have the tools we need to help us get to these wonderful plans....

Philippians 4:19-20

The Message (MSG)

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.

So we, as Christians, can know, without a doubt, that our lives and our future will be full of promise. With the thought of this I certainly feel ready to face this world and all that comes from living here, don't you?

With this confidence and the peace that comes because of it, we most certainly will want to help our loved ones feel this same confidence. God supplies the person in our lives who gives us our blessing, so maybe He is supplying their blessing through you!

Don't miss the chance to help your family and friends to feel as secure as you know you are!!


Blessings to you Dear Friends!!!

One of those days!

One of those days...

Well ladies I don't usually post everyday but this morning has been one of those days, already, and I just needed to tell you about it.

Last night something happened with all the wind and we lost power. It woke us up enough that I set the alarm on Rodney's phone (or so I thought) so that I would still be able to get up on time to get Riley on the bus. Well, you can guess it, I forgot to tell the phone yes, I did want the alarm on. So of course I woke up late. The bus would be there in 5 minutes. I got Riley up and started him on his way to getting dressed.

This is spirit week at his school and today was Nerd day. Luckily I had already put some white tape on his glasses so all we had to do to finish his outfit was to put some pins in the front pocket of his button down shirt. I must have slept fretfully after the power went off because my hair looked like I had stood on my head all night. I got Riley sat down to eat breakfast and was just trying to smooth down my hair as the bus pulled up. 

There is a rule that they cannot eat on the bus and my Riley takes food very seriously so I went out to the bus and told the driver I would run him to school. My car needed gas and this would be a good time to get some. We live 15 miles from his school so I figured I had plenty enough gas to get that done.

It was still dark and still raining as we set off.  I looked down at my gas gauge half way there, and realized I may have figured wrong so I reached around behind my seat to get my phone out of my purse, just in case I needed to call Rodney. Guess what. My purse and phone were still back at the house. I had gotten the car out of the garage and ran in to get Riley but forgot to pick up my purse. I didn't let on too much because I didn't want to upset Riley any more than a change in his routine already had, so we went ahead and drove to school.

I ran him into the school, still looking like I had slept on my head, OH WELL, and started back for home, with the fear that I may be walking soon, without an ID and looking like a crazy woman. Now this is when I realized I was taking all this stress on myself and had not even prayed for help.

I stopped at a stop sign and said a little prayer. To my amazement my gas gauge came up a little. Not tons, because I really didn't deserve it to. I usually don't let my gas get so low but for some reason had this time. Anyway, a peace came over me and this sweet song came on the CD about how God will lead you home. No lie!!!  Ladies, God is so amazing. He was probably laughing but He knew I needed that little extra help and He gave it!!

Matthew chapter 6 came to mind as I was heading home, now in daylight, not the dark and the rain. Parts of it talk about how we are not to worry about anything. I started laughing and apologizing to our heavenly Father for all the fretting, worrying and stewing.

I hope your day goes smooth but if it doesn't, don't do what I did, ask for help before you fret!!

Blessings!!!