Blessings from A to Z

Most of you who read my blog posts know of my bedtime routine. As I climb into bed each night, I say thank-you prayers. I start, these past 14 years, with thanks for this old but blessed mobile home I live in and the community in which it sits. Then I move on to thanks for the day's blessings. 

Sometimes, when things are tough, that can be as simple as a thank you for hot and cold running water in the house, for the working washer and dryer in the house (recalling all the years in apartments when I trudged to laundry rooms with change purses filled with coins), and even the bed I will sleep in that night.

Sometimes it can seem rather routine. Then I become concerned that I might begin taking things for granted.

Well, I somehow ended up with a sample edition of Guideposts' "Mornings with Jesus" devotions for March and April of this year. Because it contains two months' worth of devotions, I read it anew every two months. Some months, something will catch my attention strongly, even though I seem to have just brushed it off the last time I read the devotion.

The one that comes to mind now is related to my bedtime routine. Apparently a lot of folks do this.

One devotion writer, Sharon Hinck, told of how she uses the alphabet to work her way through her blessings each day and night.

What a great idea. I'm going to do that, myself. Let's see. Today is the 16th. That's the letter "P". So tonight, after the more obvious blessings of the day, I can check my life for those beginning with the letter "P". That's great - there's pet (my kitty, Silkie), there's petting my pet (the comfort of brushing her every night - our special time together), and prayer (for the comfort that prayer brings to me), for the excitement I feel over the sharp photos of the planet Pluto (I never thought, as a young girl, I'd ever see this day), and, a biggie, for the peace within my heart tonight! And that's just a few - I love this way of reminding myself of my blessings! 

Some letters will be a challenge, but I welcome that. Can't wait.

Sweet Lord Jesus, you know I can always find something to be thankful for each night when we talk. But once in a while, I am tired or stressed and my finite mind isn't as sharp as it might be. Bless the writer of that devotional for sharing it with the world. And thank you for calling my attention to it, that I might draw on its memory when I need to do so.  

Four Word Prayer for Calming Anxiety

Today I found a short but wonderful article in my emails from Guideposts. It was about a "four word prayer" to "calm anxiety." With an intro like that, you can be sure I clicked on it right away.

I was not disappointed. In fact, I'm sharing the link with you here. This one's a keeper

Father in heaven, thank you for this and for the modern technology which enables me to share it with your other beloved children. Help me, please, to remember it each and every time I need to do so.

In God's Hands - a Good Place to Be

Normally I do not post one of my favorite inspirational quotes from my daily email from Guideposts too closely to one another. I prefer to do only one a week, if that. Tonight, though, this one fits my mood.

Last night, I posted about a special prayer I sent up for a friend of mine, a neighbor. Today, God answered that prayer, in spades. I am so happy for my neighbor and the relief from his worries over this.

Answered prayers, especially when answered the way we hope they will be, are so heart-warming. The Guideposts quote that I ran into which seems to fit my mood tonight, is this one:

"The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts! The safest place to be is in someone's prayers! And the best place to be is in God's hands!" - Guideposts reader Marilyn Austin, Pensacola, Florida

Isn't that a wonderful quote? First of all, she's right about it being nice to be in someone's thoughts. She's right, too, about being in someone's prayers. And she is so very right about being in God's hands.

Dear Father, thank you for taking care of us, always, and thank you for those who care about us enough to pray for us. Please bless abundantly anyone who has done this for us, even if we are not aware of it.

Difficult Roads Lead to Beautiful Views

Once again, I feel I must share one of the daily inspirational quotes I receive by email from Guideposts.org

Today's is one that I know will help me find peace on those difficult days we all have.

Here it is:

"May you remember that though the roads we take can sometimes be difficult, those are often the ones that lead to the most beautiful views." - Doris Dillon, Guideposts reader, Randleman, North Carolina

Isn't that a wonderful way of putting it? And, isn't it an easy attitude-adjuster to use?

If you want to see some others I've shared here, just do a search under my heading, Prayer, for "Guideposts," or look along my right sidebar for the Guideposts label.

Father, thank you so much for those who generously share their thoughts with us.

Keeping the Lord's Day Holy - Part 2

Yesterday, I shared how I managed to focus most of Sunday on the Lord. Last night I began a short list of other ways I can do that, no matter what the world has tossed my way that day. I've decided to make a real effort to give as much of one day a week as I can to him.

Tonight, I'll share three more ideas that I will be trying, depending on my obligations and life issues each week.

I do a lot of charity crafting. I realize now that the day I set aside for God is the perfect day to work on projects for his needy children. What better way to focus on him as I try to do his work? In addition, whenever I do any of my crafting projects, I always say a prayer I wrote for my Busy Person's Prayer Book -

Handcrafter's Prayer
Heavenly Father up above
Bless this work I craft with love
Whether it's sold or given away
Bless the one to whom it finds its way
by Evelyn Shamay Mayfield

Another way I can focus on him on his day is what I call a "marathon TV preacher" day. I did this once back in CA. When I do this, I turn on the TV and watch every TV preacher that comes onto my stations that morning, or afternoon, or whenever I can find the time. It doesn't matter what denomination or faith they belong to. I have found more similarities than differences in these ministers. I have found new favorites and also decided on some that I will never watch again. It is eye opening, and it makes me concentrate on his word and how we interpret it.

Yet another method is to search the web for volunteer or charity ideas suitable to my own limits and abilities. If you are reading this, you have internet access. You might not do crafts, as I do. But there are many websites on which prayer groups gather. You can visit Guideposts or other sites. Browse the prayer requests from their readers and pray for those in need. Add your own requests. This is an excellent way to focus on God. True, you cannot spend the whole day in cyberspace, but you can visit off and on throughout the day, whenever you need another boost.

I have three more ideas I'll share tomorrow. One is for those who must work on the Lord's day, or for those who find that their obligations keep them occupied on life's issues.

I plan to save this somewhere so that I do not forget to take my own advice. I'm the one who finds that life sometimes gets in the way of giving my heart and time to the one who gave me life.

Father, thank you for these insights and help me to remember them when I need to so that I can give one day out of my week for thoughts of you.

Worrying about Worry - Prayer is the Answer

I had planned to write about something else today, but for some reason, "worry" and "prayer" kept coming back to my mind. Then I saw an email from Guideposts. I have signed for a few of their regular inspirational emails. I have always loved Norman Vincent Peale's attitude.

Today, one verse in their Power of Prayer email caught my eye:
Let not your heart be troubled. John 14:1

I clicked a link in that email and was led to a page that I have to share with you. I'm sure that on this page, each of you will find at least one thought to help you through whatever troubles you are currently worried about.

Mostly, I wrote this one for me, too, today. Our household might finally be on a smoother financial path, but the way is still rocky and I stumble and fall when I worry. I do have faith, but I also fret.

When I worry, I freeze and then I get nothing accomplished. Prayer is my answer, my solution. When I pray, I am taking action. Whether my prayer is answered in the way I hope, or whether God just tells me to relax while he works on the issue, at least I have moved along. Moving along is what I am aiming for.

Dearest Lord, thank you for all the people in the world who, like me, believe in you and trust in you. Together, we prove that there is hope in our world and hope for our world. Meanwhile, help me to remember that I am not alone in my troubles and that mine are not the worst. Bless us all, those who believe in you, and especially those who do not.

Guideposts Quote 7/10/11 - The Lord Helps Those Who...

I have always lived by the saying I heard all my life about the Lord helping those who help themselves. I love that way of thinking. It keeps me from being really lazy and expecting God to do it all for me.

Because of this, I also love it when I see others phrase it in more modern terms. One example was the daily inspirational quote I get in my emails from Guideposts. The one that recently caught my eye, related to the thought above, was sent on July 10th. I had to share it with you all.

"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
—Frances Gourley, Guideposts reader from Goldsboro, North Carolina"

Now, isn't that another great way of keeping this idea and principle in mind? I can easily remember this one. I hope you can, too.

Father, thank you for the inspirational words your people share with each other, and thank you for the ears and eyes you gifted to me so that I am able to receive them. Bless the author of those words we have just read.

Chain Stitch of Life

Several times, in the past few months, I have shared one of the inspirational quotes I receive in a daily email from Guideposts online. Usually, I run these under the Prayer heading.

However, today, the quote fits Crafts, as well. I thought I'd share this with all of you and will tag it that way.

I hope it fits into your life as well as I know it will fit into my own...I really love this one and for any crocheter out there, you know exactly how to apply this to your life.

I will probably take the time to see if the author has a presence online. If I find her, I'll share it with you. She sounds like someone we should get to know.

"Life is like a long chain stitch. If you don't take time to tie off all the loose ends, it can easily come unraveled. —Barbara Stockdill, Guideposts reader, Caldwell, Idaho"

God's Timing

I woke up this morning, feeling overwhelmed. Tigger, the 14 yr old gray Bengal tabby who owns us, woke me at 4 am and I was not in the mood to even speak nicely to him. I scooped some canned cat food into a dish, told him to eat and tried to get another hour before "really" getting up. It didn't work.

Anyhow, at 5:15 am, I gave up, got up, and began mumbling about what a bad day this was going to be. I was already worn out, trying to keep everything on my list in order, and trying to plan how to do it all in a sensible, non-panic-mode way. Opened the back door to let Tigger sit on the back steps before our hot, hot day begins. Fired up the PC and checked the emails.

There it was - exactly what I needed this morning. My emailed Guideposts Inspirational Quote for the day. Nothing could have been more on target than this one, right now, for me, this morning. I'll share it with you now.

"I have learned that faith is having the patience to wait, knowing that all things will be done in God's time. I only wish I owned one of his watches." —Kathy Buckley, comedienne

How perfectly said is that? I've seen and heard it said many ways. For some reason, all those other times were buried in my subconscious and God seems to have known I needed a version of this thought at this moment, and sent it my way, with the help of Guideposts.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that all too often, I am impatient. Forgive me, strengthen me, be with me this day, as always.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

A little while back, I posted at least three times, about one of my favorite daily email doses of inspiration from Guidepost magazine's website.

One was a Jimmy Carter quote, one of my favorites, with a touch of humor and a ton of truth, Cute Quote, How God Answers Prayers. Another was about negative feelings and how to deal with them, in Jesus and Us. And most recently, I wrote about the importance of Setting a Good Example. All of these are great quotes and I find them easy to keep in mind.

Last night, before I went to bed, I found another in my "inbox." This one, too, is a real keeper and reflects my own sentiments exactly:
"God will move mountains if you bring the shovel." —Pat Irving, Guideposts reader, Lexington, Virginia

I had to share this, one, too, and hope it touches a heart or two in the same way it touched mine. I have always believed in that saying that God helps those who help themselves, and it helps to know others feel the same way, as in this quote.

Thank you, Lord, for these words of wisdom and bless those who share them with us.

Setting a Good Example

Tonight's post is short but to the point. I have often felt that the biggest sin is to do something wrong and which might cause others to follow my bad example. My fave new e-newsletter, offering daily inspirational quotes, from Guideposts' website, delivered one on the 13th that I only just opened today. This one, for me, is a keeper. I'll share it...

"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you.
—sign in a country store in Westminster, Maryland"

Dear Lord, thank you for this gentle reminder of something I should always bear in mind.

Jesus and Us

Back on March 4, I posted about an inspirational quote I found through Guideposts. On their site, you can sign up for a daily email with a new inspirational quote each day.

Yesterday, I received another one that I just had to share with you.

"It is so encouraging to know that Jesus experienced every negative emotion we go through. He also defeated them all, which gives us hope and confidence to do the same."
—Creflo Dollar, pastor and author

I love this one. I have often felt the same way. I love how God sent Jesus to live as we do. Even back then, people around him, his own disciples, experienced jealousy, pride, greed, envy - and he tried to guide them. As a babe, he was taken to a strange land to flee those who would kill him. As he matured, he saw and felt compassion for the bridegroom at Cana. He felt anger at the moneychangers in the Temple. He felt sorrow when his friends and followers fell asleep when he needed their moral support. He worried over the world to come at the Mount of Olives. And he suffered unbearable torment and pain during his Passion and death.

Most of us will never have to endure the worst that he went through. But even during our worst times, we can feel comfort going to him for support and help, because we know that he knows what it is all about. No earthly friend or loved one can know us and support us as thoroughly as he can.

Dear Jesus, thank you for living as we do, for suffering as we do, for loving as we do; help us when we need it the most.

Cute Quote - How God Answers Prayers

I downloaded a free e-book from the Guideposts website (click here) titled "Inspirational Quotes about Life, Love, Faith and Hope." This is a public quote but it is one of many really great quotes in this collection. Anyhow, here it is:

“God always answers prayers. Sometimes it’s ‘yes.’ Sometimes the answer is ‘no.’ Sometimes it’s ‘you gotta be kidding.’”—Jimmy Carter, former U.S. President

What I love about this is that it makes me realize I am not alone in recognizing that because we are made in God's own image, we must get a lot of our traits directly from him. I believe our love of music and song, our unending capacity to forgive and to love, and our sense of humor all come from him, in his image.

The music and song I feel confident are in his image because of how often in the Bible we see mention of the angels of the heavenly choir, and how often hymns of glory are detailed, and so many more instances.

The unending forgiveness and unending capacity to love is shown in how often he forgives us and how often we ourselves are surprised when we can forgive others or feel love for those who others consider unlovable.

And our sense of humor must come from him, too. The Lord mentions making the enemy a laughingstock in Ezekiel 22:4 and making the enemy drunk and full of laughter and causing them to sleep and not awake in Jeremiah 51:39. One translation of the Beatitudes has those who weep ultimately laugh in Luke 6:21. But even without these references, laughter is not found in the lower animals, but only in those of us with a soul, a precious gift from God.

Yes, I truly believe our Heavenly Father is the prime source of our sense of humor.

Father, thank you for all your gifts, for all that we inherit from you just by being your children, and please accept our joy in accepting these gifts.

Prayer-Power Multiplied by Many

If one prayer for a need is good and is heard, then it is easy to assume that if many people pray for that same need, it is even better. That is the power of prayer-chains, prayer groups, and prayer-request websites. The number of prayer-request websites is amazing. Search for them with words like “prayer” or “prayer requests.”
Do ordinary people post their requests on these sites? I have, in the past, and I am very ordinary. Sometimes, troubles hit me and I worry that my own little prayer might not be strong enough or good enough. Once or twice a year, I visit one of these sites and post a prayer. If you are afraid someone will see your name and you don’t want personal issues made public, you can always get a different email address just for that purpose.
I gain from these visits for two reasons. I love to think about all those people praying for me at once. And, I read the other requests and somehow my own worries do not seem quite as bad as those of others. I also begin to feel less alone. Even though I know God is always with me, I am human and sometimes feel alone in my worries. Asking for prayer at one of these sites gives me the feeling that I am no longer alone with that worry.
Some sites are connected to well-known ministries: Guideposts publications, Crystal Cathedral, and others. Here are a few:
http://www.dailyguideposts.com/Prayer/request_prayer.asp
http://www.crystalcathedral.org/prayer2/prayer/index.php
http://www.upperroom.org/Prayer_Center
http://www.prayerrequestsite.com
http://www.beliefnet.com
http://www.2prayer.com
Be aware that some of these sites may ask to you register, free of charge, and you may get emails from them afterwards. That is not a problem. Somewhere in the email there will be a place for you to “opt out” or “unsubscribe.” To me, that is not enough of a drawback to keep me from seeking the help of others - for me, it is a good thing.