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!

Holy Spirit: Our Teacher

 

Recently I read a poignant story told by a vet whose name is Robin Downing.  Robin relates a time when a family came to her with their ten-year-old dog, Belker.  After running several tests, Dr. Downing determined that the dog was in advanced stages of cancer.  The family decided to let the doctor perform the euthanasia procedure rather than have the old dog continue to suffer.  They said that they wanted their four-year-old son to be part of the event and that it should occur at their home.  On the day of the procedure, Dr. Downing had her doubts about a four-year-old participating, but was amazed at how calmly and peacefully young Shane handled it when his beloved dog slipped quietly away.  As they sat together, one of the adults remarked they thought it sad that animals’ lives are so much shorter than human lives.  Shane responded that he knew why.  When asked for his thoughts on the matter, he came up with a very comforting explanation.  He said simply, “Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life- like loving everybody and being nice, right?  Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

When Jesus was on the earth, He was the Great Teacher.  He spent three years mentoring his disciples, showing them the life God wants us all to live,and  beginning to implant in them the skills needed to start His church.  We no longer have Jesus in person on this earth, but He left us Holy Spirit as our Teacher.  When Shane spoke about the need for people to learn to live a good life, I was reminded of this role of our Counselor.  In John 16, Jesus says of Holy Spirit, “⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”  Later in the same chapter,  Christ tells us that “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”

You know that still, small voice we usually call our conscience?  Often, that is Holy Spirit prompting us to make a Godly choice.  And have you ever read a passage in the Bible that you know for a fact you have read many times before, but this time, the words almost jump off the pages at you with a new insight or a fresh perspective that speaks perfectly into your life at that moment?  That, also is Holy Spirit.  When we let Him speak into our lives, when we stop our busy endeavors long enough to really listen, it is so amazing and comforting to hear what He has to say to us.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Take the time today to be still in His presence.  It isn’t easy for most people and is something I struggle with- turning my thoughts off, stopping my activity clock and waiting on Him.  But when I manage to do just that, I never regret it as He reveals something amazing to me in the resulting quiet.

Be Still

 

Today’s posting is a repost from Girlfriends in God- but fellas, the message is for all:)  The lesson is partly from my very favorite Scripture (probably because I have to be reminded so often to do this):  Psalm 46:10a, “Be still and know that I am God.”  So grab your coffee and spend some time learning about being still with Him!

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Be Still- by Sharon Jaynes

One January morning, I asked God, “What do You really want from me?”

I had just finished a big writing project and was ready to tackle the next big thing for God. I snuggled in my favorite den chair with a steamy cup of coffee and my well-worn Bible to spend some alone time with my Heavenly Father. I read a few verses and said my prayer. Check. Check. When I started to get up, I felt God’s invisible strong hand holding me back. He wasn’t finished. Be still and know that I am God, He seemed to say. Cease striving.

Suddenly, I saw myself with the disciples caught on the stormy Sea of Galilee. As I pondered the past twenty-five years of my life, I saw myself reeling in the waves of ceaseless activity. A squall of busyness raging around me—and in me. Reeling from one foamy crest of work and deadlines to the next and hanging on for dear life. In my mind’s eye, the fellow passengers were not the motley crew of the first century disciples, but women from every walk, trying to steady themselves in the turbulent waters of life. Perhaps you were in the boat with me.

“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” they asked. “Help us!”

Then I sensed Jesus speaking to me just as He had spoken to the raucous wind and waves, “Quiet! Be still! Settle down!”

So I sat.

After a few moments, I realized I didn’t really know how to be quiet and settle down. I had never mastered the full idea of “be still and know.” I knew that God was God. It was the “be still” part that stumped me.

Sitting still was not in my nature, and perhaps it was my nature God was trying to tame. My “nature” or natural bent of working for God was standing in the way of my worship of and communion with God. My daily routine of sanctioned quiet times was getting in the way of the divine romance in which He wanted me to engage.

Does it surprise you that I could say such words? Oh friend, I am nothing if I am not honest. I have that glory ache, the longing to experience God’s presence and working in my life, just like you. Sometimes I can get so busy doing, doing, doing, that God’s gentle whisper drawing me closer is drowned out by the noises of my own making.

How sad to admit, that sometimes when God extends his hand to invite me onto the dance floor of life, my dance card is already full. Many nights I lean over to turn out the bedside lamp, collapse in exhaustion, and sigh, “maybe tomorrow, Lord.”

I don’t think “be still and know” comes naturally to any of us. Aren’t we taught to get moving? “Keep your eye on the ball.”  “Focus on the target.”  “If you don’t’ know where you are going, you probably won’t get there.” Motivational phrases for sure. But this was God talking, and He had a different message. While the world prods, “Don’t just stand there, do something!” God was telling me quite the opposite. “Don’t just do something, stand there.”

Now He had my attention. So I stayed put.

“OK God,” I asked, “What do You really want from me?

He surprised me. He often does, when I take the time to listen. Acts 17:28 came to mind. I believe He put it there. In Him we live and move and have our being. Learn what that means, He seemed to say. I opened my Bible again and read the words, pondering each phrase individually.

In Him.

We live.

And move.

And have our being.

I sensed God speaking to my heart. That’s where you will find the secret to satisfy that glory ache. That’s the answer you are searching for. That’s where you will find what your sisters hunger for. You’ve been asking the wrong question. It’s not what I want from you. It’s what I want for you. And in this one little verse, you’ll find the key—not just for yourself, but also for others in the boat with you. This will calm the squall of your frantic heart.

God startled me that morning. I was expecting Him to give me a new assignment—something to do for Him.

Another project to complete.

Another study to devour.

Another cause to support.

But He surprised me. It was none of the above. It was one verse. In Him we live and move and have our being.

I wondered, could this be the key to unlock the door behind which the salve to satisfy that glory ache was hidden? The door upon which I had been knocking far too long? I was excited to accept God’s invitation as He extended His hand for mine.

Today, I encourage you to take it too.

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Have a blessed day!

You Don’t have to Tell Me Twice

You Don’t Have to Tell Me Twice- author unknown
An early April snow had caught us by surprise here in the mountains of my home. Flowers that had just popped out of the ground a week before were now drowning in a sea of white. It felt like someone had turned back the clock two months. Slowly it grew warm enough for the snow to begin to melt in the late afternoon but soon the temperatures dipped again as the cold, evening air turned the melted snow into ice.

Early the next morning I walked out to my cars. I needed to take my sons to school and then had a 30 mile round trip to make after that. I wondered which car to take. My little one had the better gas mileage, but the tires on my bigger one were less worn. Just as I took a step towards my little car, however, my foot slipped on a patch of black ice and I felt my body hitting the driveway. I got up slowly and smiled. “You don’t have to tell me twice God!”, I said before heading over to start the car with the better tires. After dropping off my boys at school I made the round trip safely. I felt my car hit patches of black ice several times, but each time the tires gripped and adjusted well. I found myself laughing and grinning even with my still sore left hip and shoulder. I was happy I had followed God’s guidance and I felt loved and watched over.

God’s loving guidance comes in many ways. You can hear its gentle whisper in your heart. You can listen to it come out in the touching lyrics of a beautiful song. You can see it in the wise passage of a book. You can notice it in an overheard scrap of conversation. You can feel it in the quietness of nature. You can even get it when you fall to the pavement of your driveway. However it comes to you, though, don’t turn away from it. Don’t make God have to tell you twice. Listen to Him the first time. Trust Him, love Him, and follow Him. He will take you to ever greater love, joy, and learning. He will keep you safe and lead you home.
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Have you ever wished that God would simply walk in your front door, pull up a chair and ask for coffee so you could sit and have a chat with Him? I remember a very dark time in my life about seven years ago when I wished just that. The week before Easter, one of my favorite times of the year, my husband told me he wanted a divorce. I was so crushed that I knew I couldn’t even be around people that weekend as they celebrated Easter. A good friend offered me the use of her condo right on a gorgeous lake a few hours away, so I tearfully made the trek after work on Friday. I prayed as I drove, asking God where He was and why He hadn’t helped me save this marriage- He knew how hard I had tried. I cried at Him to speak to me, to make His presence known so I would know He hadn’t abandoned me also.

As I drove, I pulled out a CD I had purchased several months before- I had forgotten all about it and hadn’t even opened it yet. It was by Selah, a group new to me, and I was mesmerized by the messages in their songs. I had never before heard the feature song, You Raise Me Up-yes, the one made famous by Josh Groban. In the midst of the lyrics, God spoke to me so strongly that I had to pull over to the side of the road for many minutes. If you know the song, you may know the words that pierced my heart at that moment.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

Through those words, I felt very strongly that God was telling me that He was indeed with me, He had indeed come to sit awhile with me and that I just needed to be still to feel His presence. I was reminded then of one of my famous verses, found in Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be still and know that I am God.” I don’t know about you, but being still is not very easy for me. I tend to live life rushing from thing to thing and cramming every minute as full as I can. I need to constantly remind myself of the importance of being still occassionally. That weekend at the lake was a time of stillness and blessed healing for me, just what I needed at that moment in my life.

Elijah learned a big lesson about being still that is related to us in I Kings 19:11-13:
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Elijah realized that the whisper was his God.

I think, like Elijah did, that many of us tend to expect God to speak to us in mighty ways, loudly and forcefully as in the wind or the earthquake. After all, He is a mighty God. But, I have found that most of the time, He speaks to me quietly, softly, gently. Whether He is speaking words of discipline or of comfort, He almost always does so in that quiet, still voice. So easy to overlook if we continue to expect the big and loud, so amazing when we are still enough to hear.

Take some time to be still today and be blessed.