Just A Pleasant Place

[Judy Harder]

Wash Day...........
Now, this is really a cute one. . ... .and
I've not seen it before, either!! That is
Getting to be a rarity!!!

Monday WashDay
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.

Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.

Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may find eternal happiness for myself and  all others
Those in need of love.

Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.

[Judy Harder]

If one day you feel like crying,
call me.
I dont promise that I will make you laugh,
but I can cry with you.
If one day you want to run away,
dont be afraid to call me.
I dont promise to ask you to stop,
but I can run with you.
If one day you dont want to listen to anyone,
call me.
I promise to be there for you, but also promise to remain quiet.
But one day if you call,
and there is no anwser,
come fast to see me.....perrhaps I need you!

[Catwoman]

Judy, I really like that last one...You find the neatest stuff! 

[Judy Harder]

God is always in control


A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on
Sept 11th, 2003, TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001..   His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:

A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to
have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her
sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my
wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud
pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire.  I replaced the
tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very
upset, we drove home.  I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. 
He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed
the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak.  My father also had more
news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can just sit by
for; I have to do something..' I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'Take good care of my grandchild. Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he
died while helping in the rescue effort. the joy, that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered, quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself.  I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away.  My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say good-bye.  Then something happened.  About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door.   I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone..  I opened the door to a couple with a small child.
The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews.  I
told him it was.  He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the
chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center
and had been caught inside after the attack.  She was pregnant and had
been caught under debris.  He then explained that my father had been the
one to find his wife and free her.  My eyes welled up with tears as I thought
of my father giving his life for people like this.   He then said,
'There is something else you need to know.'  His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ.  I began sobbing at the news.  Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves.  When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of the man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live. 
This story should help us to realize: God is always in control.  We may
not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of
heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control. Please take time to share this amazing story.  You may never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.  Read Psalm 136:1

[Judy Harder]

Wisdom

These are good. I especially like the one that says "He who angers you, controls you".

Think about it.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead.. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period. Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts!'

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot -  swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:   1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

[Judy Harder]

"Thine is the Kingdom..."
by Max Lucado

There are certain mountains only God can climb. Ascend them and you'll end up bruised and embarrassed. Stay away from them and you'll sidestep a lot of stress. These mountains are described in the final phrase of the Lord's prayer, "Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." A trio of peaks mantled by the clouds. Admire them, applaud them, but don't climb them.

It's not that you aren't welcome to try, it's just that you aren't able. The pronoun is thine, not mine; thine is the kingdom, not mine is the kingdom. If the word Savior is in your job description, it's because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren't made to climb.

Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren't able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don't bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day ... which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.

You were not made to run a kingdom, nor are you expected to be all-powerful. And you certainly can't handle all the glory. Mount Applause is the most seductive of the three peaks. The higher you climb the more people applaud, but the thinner the air becomes. More than one person has stood at the top and shouted, "Mine is the glory!" only to lose their balance and fall.

"Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." What protection this final phrase affords. As you confess that God is in charge, you admit that you aren't. As you proclaim that God has power, you admit that you don't. And as you give God all the applause, there is none left to dizzy your brain.   

From
The Great House of God
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado

[Judy Harder]

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and
four-year old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred,
and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's
shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.
Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son..
'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner..
There, Grandfather ate alone
while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner..
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two,
his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction,
sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him
were sharp admonitions when he dropped  a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed
his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?'
Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama
to eat your food in when I grow up.
' The four-year-old smiled and  went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless.
Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.
Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand
and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days
he ate every meal with the family.
And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer
when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens,
how bad it seems today, life does go on,
and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person
by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage,
and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship
with your parents,
you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living'
is not the same thing as making a 'life...'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life
with a catcher's mitt on both hands.
You need to be able to throw something back

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends,
the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you

I've learned that whenever I decide something
with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug,
or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about.
I just did.

[Judy Harder]

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'     
This verse puzzled a group in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.   

  One of them offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.       

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where  the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.   

  The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'   She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.   

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire... If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

  The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'   

  If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

! Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them.

  And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.'

[Judy Harder]

The Holy Alphabet... This is Beautiful

Whoever came up with this one must have had some Divine guidance!

A lthough things are not perfect

B ecause of trial or pain

C ontinue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

F ierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

I magine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

K eep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

P raise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

R edeem the time at hand

S tart every day with worship

To "thank" is a command

U ntil we see Him coming

V ictorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

Xalting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!




"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!"  The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is

the distance between your knees and the floor.

The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.

Love and peace be with you forever,  Amen.




P S: GOD LOVES YOU........PASS THE WORD ON TO MORE FRIENDS AND ASK

THEM TO CONTINUE TELLING OTHERS THAT GOD LOVES THEM TOO!  JUST THINK OF HOW

MANY PEOPLE THAT COULD BE REACHED OUT TO AND BLESSED WITH THESE WORDS.

[Judy Harder]

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'     
This verse puzzled a group in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.   

  One of them offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.       

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where  the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.   

  The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'   She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.   

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire... If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

  The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'   

  If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

! Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them.

  And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.'