10 Rules For a Happy Day

10 Rules for a Happy Day- Author Unknown

I hope you enjoy these 10 rules for a happy day.  What a great philosophy of life. If we all lived by these rules, what a different world this would be! (Today I am going to break the format I usually use with this blog. Rather than add my thoughts at the end of the unknown author’s entry, I am going to interject Bible verses that came to my mind while reading the rules.)

10 RULES FOR A HAPPY DAY- Author Unknown

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind… I will not respond in a like manner. (Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.)

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY “ENEMY:”
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask GOD to bless that individual. I understand the “enemy” could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger. (Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you)

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. (Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.)

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. (Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.)

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way. (Forgiveness can be very hard, but here is the verse that helps me when it is the hardest: Romans 12:20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Maybe it is the thought of the burning coals on his head that helps the most, even if they are burning coals of kindness:)

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL DO IT SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another. (Matthew 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing)

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule – “Do unto others as I would have them do unto me” – with everyone I encounter. (Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.)

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life. (I Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.)

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank GOD for my body. (I Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.)

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to GOD’s voice!!! (Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God)

“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8

Have a blessed day!

Anyway

 

Anyway-Mother Theresa

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People need help, but may attack you if you try to help them.
Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

************************************************************************************************************

I remember an activity in one of my college classes in which we were asked to write about a famous person we would like to meet, or would have liked to meet if they were already gone from this world.  While I don’t remember who I said back so many years ago, I know that Mother Theresa would be at the top of my list now.  I admire her so much for her lifestyle of service to others.  The quotes above are credited to her in some sources and as ‘unknown author’ in others.  Either way, they sound like her life philosophy to me.

The Bible tells us often that we are to treat others well despite how they treat us.  No, we aren’t to be doormats for being treated badly, but we aren’t to respond to them poorly even if they are treating us badly.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”  Later in Matthew, in the 25th chapter, Jesus basically tells us that when we are kind to others, it is the same as being kind to him.  I try to remember those passages when I am around someone who is ‘rubbing me the wrong way.’  I don’t always succeed in responding the way I should, but I am getting better at it:)

Have a wonderful week- my hope is that we don’t have any opportunities to fine tune the skill of responding to prickly people with kindness and compassion, but if we do run into a few thorns this week, let’s remember that it is a golden opportunity to practice the Golden Rule!

Have a blessed day!

Give One Hundred Percent

 

Give One Hundred Percent- Author Unknown

A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her.

The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed. The boy kept the biggest and the most beautiful marble aside and gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised.

That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldn’t sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble.

Moral of the story:

If you don’t give your hundred percent in a relationship, you’ll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her hundred percent..

*************************************************************************************************************

This story sums up two of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship, doesn’t it?    First, there is the Golden Rule,  found in Matthew 7:12:  “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Had the little boy in the story followed this rule, he would have slept as soundly as did the little girl.  When each partner of the relationship puts the other first, both have their needs met.

The second critical aspect of a relationship is trust.  In Proverbs 17:17. we are told that “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”  To me, someone who loves at all times is someone who can be trusted.

Having healthy relationships makes life wonderful and brings light and color into our worlds.  The amazing and wonderful thing is that God brings those two traits into His relationships with us and can always be counted on to show them to us, even when we fail Him!

Remember His unfailing love and have a blessed day!

Burnt Biscuits

Burned Biscuits – Author Unknown

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing…never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said, “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides–a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!”

As I’ve grown older, I’ve thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that’s my prayer for you today…that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He’s the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! “Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket–keep it in your own.” So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine. And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life–I just did! Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

“Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil–it has no point.”

***********************************************************************

“A little burned biscuit never hurt anyone.”  What a great response that was to what would have been in many homes the beginning of a nightly war.  This man’s response was so compassionate and a wonderful lesson for his child.  Rather than belittling his wife for her error, complaining or refusing to eat, he affirmed her in a very loving way.  Realizing that she was exhausted from a difficult day, he lovingly ate the burnt biscuits as if they were the best in the world.

So often I see the opposite in relationships.  While out recently I observed a man relaying a story to a group of friends.  He seldom finished a sentence without his wife correcting him.  ‘No, it was a Tuesday, not a Wednesday.’  ‘Honey, you know it was red, not green.’  And so on.  Not an easy thing to witness, I can only imagine how it made him, or his friends, feel.

In our interactions with others, let us always remember the Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matthew 7:12)  Imagine a world in which everyone followed this rule!  Compassion would rule, ridicule would die.  Hearts would not need to heal because they wouldn’t be broken in the first place.  Maybe the world won’t be that way this side of the Rapture, but I can do my part in making it a better place in my own small way!  And really, with all the grace God extends me on even my worst days, how can I do less for others?

Have a blessed day!

The Burning House

 

The Burning House-  Author unknown

A couple, who we shall call John and Mary, had a nice home and two lovely children, a boy and a girl. John had a good job and had just been asked to go on a business trip to another city and would be gone for several days. It was decided that Mary needed an outing and would go along too. They hired a reliable woman to care for the children and made the trip, returning home a little earlier than they had planned.

As they drove into their hometown feeling glad to be back, they noticed smoke, and they went off their usual route to see what it was. They found a home in flames. Mary said, “Oh well it isn’t our fire, let’s go home.”

But John drove closer and exclaimed, “That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant. He wouldn’t be off work yet, maybe there is something we could do.” “It has nothing to do with us.” Protested Mary. “You have your good clothes on lets not get any closer.”

But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror-stricken to see the whole house in flames. A woman on the lawn was in hysterics screaming, “The children! Get the children!” John grabbed her by the shoulder saying, “Get a hold of yourself and tell us where the children are!” “In the basement,” sobbed the woman, “down the hall and to the left.”

In spite of Mary’s protests John grabbed the water hose and soaked his clothes, put his wet handkerchief on his head and bolted for the basement which was full of smoke and scorching hot. He found the door and grabbed two children, holding one under each arm like the football player he was. As he left he could hear some more whimpering. He delivered the two badly frightened and nearly suffocated children into waiting arms and filled his lungs with fresh air and started back asking how many more children were down there. They told him two more and Mary grabbed his arm and screamed, “John! Don’t go back! It’s suicide! That house will cave in any second!”

But he shook her off and went back by feeling his way down the smoke-filled hallway and into the room. It seemed an eternity before he found both children and started back. They were all three coughing and he stooped low to get what available air he could. As he stumbled up the endless steps the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely familiar about the little bodies clinging to him, and at last when they came out into the sunlight and fresh air, he found that he had just rescued his own children.

The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Wow! Does this story give new meaning to the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12. I’m sure you know it. It says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” We’ve looked at this topic before in this blog, but it is a powerful one and well worth addressing again. Just think how Mary would have felt if she convinced John not to go back into the burning building. I doubt if she would have ever been able to forgive herself for the deaths of their children. I can only imagine how guilty she felt even when they were safe, knowing that she had almost done so.

We seldom know beforehand the consequences of our actions, do we?  John certainly did not know that, in taking a compassionate action by risking his life for children he didn’t know, he was actually saving his own children.  Often we may never know the results of our actions, but I like to think that even something as simple as a smile or kind word can have monumental positive impact on the life of that person.

Once again, just imagine a world in which every single person treated everyone the way they wished to be treated. A world in which there was no rudeness, no backstabbing, no violence, no betrayals, no emotional pain. Quite a picture, isn’t it? One day we won’t have to imagine that, because that is what Heaven will be like! What a wonderful world that will be!

Have a blessed day!

Anyway

Anyway-Mother Theresa

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People need help, but may attack you if you try to help them.
Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

************************************************************************************************

I remember an activity in one of my college classes in which we were asked to write about a famous person we would like to meet, or would have liked to meet if they were already gone from this world.  While I don’t remember who I said back so many years ago, I know that Mother Theresa would be at the top of my list now.  I admire her so much for her lifestyle of service to others.  The quotes above are credited to her in some sources and as ‘unknown author’ in others.  Either way, they sound like her life philosophy to me.

The Bible tells us often that we are to treat others well despite how they treat us.  No, we aren’t to be doormats for being treated badly, but we aren’t to respond to them poorly even if they are treating us badly.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”  Later in Matthew, in the 25th chapter, Jesus basically tells us that when we are kind to others, it is the same as being kind to him.  I try to remember those passages when I am around someone who is ‘rubbing me the wrong way.’  I don’t always succeed in responding the way I should, but I am getting better at it:)

Have a wonderful week- my hope is that we don’t have any opportunities to fine tune the skill of responding to prickly people with kindness and compassion, but if we do run into a few thorns this week, let’s remember that it is a golden opportunity to practice the Golden Rule!

The Burning House

The Burning House Author unknown

A couple, who we shall call John and Mary, had a nice home and two lovely children, a boy and a girl. John had a good job and had just been asked to go on a business trip to another city and would be gone for several days. It was decided that Mary needed an outing and would go along too. They hired a reliable woman to care for the children and made the trip, returning home a little earlier than they had planned.

As they drove into their hometown feeling glad to be back, they noticed smoke, and they went off their usual route to see what it was. They found a home in flames. Mary said, “Oh well it isn’t our fire, let’s go home.”

But John drove closer and exclaimed, “That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant. He wouldn’t be off work yet, maybe there is something we could do.” “It has nothing to do with us.” Protested Mary. “You have your good clothes on lets not get any closer.”

But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror-stricken to see the whole house in flames. A woman on the lawn was in hysterics screaming, “The children! Get the children!” John grabbed her by the shoulder saying, “Get a hold of yourself and tell us where the children are!” “In the basement,” sobbed the woman, “down the hall and to the left.”

In spite of Mary’s protests John grabbed the water hose and soaked his clothes, put his wet handkerchief on his head and bolted for the basement which was full of smoke and scorching hot. He found the door and grabbed two children, holding one under each arm like the football player he was. As he left he could hear some more whimpering. He delivered the two badly frightened and nearly suffocated children into waiting arms and filled his lungs with fresh air and started back asking how many more children were down there. They told him two more and Mary grabbed his arm and screamed, “John! Don’t go back! It’s suicide! That house will cave in any second!”

But he shook her off and went back by feeling his way down the smoke-filled hallway and into the room. It seemed an eternity before he found both children and started back. They were all three coughing and he stooped low to get what available air he could. As he stumbled up the endless steps the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely familiar about the little bodies clinging to him, and at last when they came out into the sunlight and fresh air, he found that he had just rescued his own children.

The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Wow! Does this story give new meaning to the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12. I’m sure you know it. It says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” We’ve looked at this topic before in this blog, but it is a powerful one and well worth addressing again. Just think how Mary would have felt if she convinced John not to go back into the burning building. I doubt if she would have ever been able to forgive herself for the deaths of their children. I can only imagine how guilty she felt even when they were safe, knowing that she had almost done so.

Once again, just imagine a world in which every single person treated everyone the way they wished to be treated. A world in which there was no rudeness, no backstabbing, no violence, no betrayals, no emotional pain. Quite a picture, isn’t it? One day we won’t have to imagine that, because that is what Heaven will be like! What a wonderful world that will be!

Have a blessed day!