My List For Today

    Here is today. Once it was 24 hours but now it is only 13 hours. So quickly almost one half of my day is gone.  And where did I put my list of all I have to do today?  Oh, there it is on the table over there. Glad I found it.  Now can I see what I have done and what I have yet to do today. This is the only way I can stay on top of all the things I need to do. It seems I have so very much to do every day.
    Humm. I wonder if my Heavenly Father has a list of things for me to do today. I think I need to ask him to be sure. I do want to do what he wants me to and be sure I'm doing the right things.  Yes, tomorrow morning I'll ask. No, that's too late. I make my list the night before so I should ask him for his list for me at the same time. Then I can put them together and prioritize them. On the other hand, I know his list for things for me to do should come first.  Ok, this should make my days better. He knows what is best for me so he will add his purpose and joy to my day--no, to my days.
    This is great. Thank you Father for helping me see this.  I don't know why I'm so slow but this is the right way to spend my days . Thank you for your list for me and to know you are going with me to do all these things.  This changes my whole outlook.  It will make each day special because you are right here with me.  Wow!

A Unusual and Blessed Evening

        Have you ever felt like you were up on cloud nine?  When you have really been blessed your spirits do wonderful things for you. How did I have such a fantastic evening?  The answer is easy. The Lord gave me special friends and many came over tonight to give me hugs and blessings on my new adventure. What special encouragers they are.
       It all happened this way.  My sons feel at my "tender" age it is time for me to be close to one of them. My choices are Chicago, Houston, or Phoenix.  On September 15th they asked for my choice and  on September 17th I settled on Phoenix.  They also want me to be there before the snow falls in Indiana.  So a plan was made and I am leaving my friends here in Indiana and moving to Sun City West in Arizona November 15th.
      Tonight several of us were having dinner together and we ended up with a bit of singing, some prayers, and lots of hugs.  I was offered seven places to stay when I come back to visit. What a blessed time.
I also told them that I feel like Abraham must have felt as recorded in the 12th chapter of Genesis when the Lord told him to leave his home in Haran, the place where he had always lived, and go to the land of  Canaan. Of course it is much easier  for me as there are good roads, and good places to stay all night, and even McDonald's and Wendy's available along the way. I can stay in touch with my friends with all this modern technology now too. Yet it really feels like a new adventure and I do like adventures.
      Yes, it has been a blessed evening and I praise the Lord for all the support and love that filled the room tonight.  Wow!  Now I will go forward with eyes wide open looking for the new adventure the Lord has ready for me.

What A Nice Surprise

              Isn't it wonderful when you get a nice surprise. I was in Hallmark Card shop looking at Thank You notes when a man came over looking for some special ones.  As a clerk came to help him, he said he needed three of those pretty ones with the purple flowers on them.

               "My wife just died six weeks ago and she told me to send a note of thanks to everyone that helped her," he said. "I know she would like those especially."  This caused me to inquire a bit about the grief journey he is on. "I never thought it would be like this," he replied. I certainly understood as I have been down that road. From my own grief experience I now desire to help anyone going through it too. 

               I have a book, actually a journal for widows called Hope for Today and Tomorrow. Now was the time to tell him about a book for widowers. My friend, Nyle Kardatzke just published, Widow-Man. That was what he wanted. He immediately wanted to know where he could get one.

              "I'm sorry I don't have one but here is my card and I can get one for you, or better yet, you can get one on Amazon," I told him.

              We had further discussion about dealing with the loss of your loved one and then I went on over to pick out some birthday cards.  Suddenly he came to me and handed me a note, or at least that was what I thought it was and then he left. Looking at the note in my hand I discovered it wasn't a note at all but a $20 gift card. Evidently he was so appreciative of our conversation that he wanted to thank me.  I was and still am amazed that a perfect stranger would appreciate our conversation and the understanding and sympathy I gave him and give me a gift. What a blessing.  And more than that, what an example of giving a blessing to a stranger. Obviously he was following the scripture we have often heard, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

              Each day is new and unknown. Let's go forward with joy and anticipation looking as to whom we can help. Isn't it interesting how the Lord is with us all the time and has his special plans for you and for me. Takes us back to Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"  What a loving, wonderful, Almighty God we have that cares for you and me all the time and "orders our steps and prepares the way that we may serve him this whole day."

Your Answer on Retiring

Here's your answer.

How to Retire From Ministry

Here's my book number 7.  

How To Retire From Ministry

Ending with Peace

Donna S Thomas

Tomorrow you can read inside 

Better Than a Cell Phone

Better Than a Cell Phone

I was in the car heading out on a trip and realized I had forgotten my cell phone. Wow! I can't go without it. I'd be lost. It tells me what route to take, and it is my security blanket if I run into trouble. Besides, with it I am always available to get messages and stay in touch. It's important to me and gives me comfort. I do have to recharge it at night and be sure it is turned on. I have learned to depend on it and feel secure because I have it with me.

Amazing. This is the kind of relationship I have all the time with my Heavenly Father. Yes, some similarities. Sure I have to recharge at night but I'm the one that has to recharge, not God. Yes, I have to remember he goes with me everywhere and be sure not to leave him behind. How wonderful. My Heavenly father is always with me, directing me, sending messages my way, always available. Besides he walks besides me or in the car I can say it sits beside me there. Why? Because he cares for me. I am his child and he has his plans for my life. I just have to take him with me and get my directions from him.

Sure, we can't get along without our cell phone.  And we certainly can't be blessed and have direction for our life without our Heavenly Father.  How wonderful he is always with us.

What A Surprise.

It not Christmas now but this is an interesting story anyway.  I was at my son's house in Texas. It was Christmas morning and the whole family was hurrying to find their place by the Christmas tree. Christmas presents are always special.  Sometimes those packages have expected gifts and other times they hold surprises. One was really unusual as it had four long legs and looked like a deer, even with antlers. It certainly took a lot of imagination and skill to wrap a gift like that. Santa had surely come.

               My first gift was from Nicole.  Opening it up I discovered there was only a small card in the bottom.  It was wrapped too.  What would this be?  Pulling it out I found a $25 gift card to Abuelos. Great surprise. I didn't know she knew that I liked to eat there.  

              Nicole brought me my next present Peeling off the wrapping and opening it I discovered another $25 gift card from Abuelos.  Fantastic.  I can take a friend with me when I get back home. We can go there for a treat.  I really like Mexican food.

              Marty brought me my third present which was a box about two feet long.  Tearing it open I saw two $25 Abuelos gift cards.  This is getting interesting.  They obviously know Abuelos is my favorite restaurant and that I have gone to the one in my city many times in these past ten years.  Humm.  This adds up to $100. Wow! Well actually when they had come to visit me, I have taken them to Abuelos so they knew I liked that place.

              Nicole brings me another beautiful present.  I've never had a Christmas like this before.  Tearing this one open I found two more $25 gift cards.  At this rate I can take my friends to Abuelos and have a wonderful time.

              Now Morgan moves to the Christmas tree and picks up this gift that looks like a deer. I carefully open it and guess what I found, two more $25 gift cards.  Looking at these precious gifts from my family it was easy to see they had purposely planned to give me something I would really like and would certainly enjoy. It was easy to add these up and see that they totaled $200.  Wow!  I can really have a great time going to Abuelos when I get home and every time I go enjoy again the love my family shared with me with these special Christmas gifts. 

              Yes it really was a big surprise. I never had a Christmas like this before. Isn't it wonderful when your family does something special for you?  Now all my gift cards are used but that doesn't matter. This was a gift I will certainly remember.

             

                  

A Question

A Question

I have a question now for you. It certainly gets your attention and makes you think. I didn't think it up or plan it either so I'm giving the Lord credit for putting it in my mind. It's one you want to answer yourself and then you can easily use it for others. Want to know what it is? It is simply six words, "what is your purpose in life?"

Today I was at my doctors office and I asked him that question. It certainly got his attention. He stopped what he was doing, looked at me, and said, "That's a great question. I like that. My purpose is to help people and enable them to have a good life. I know I can do this because the Lord has placed me here. I also want to live a good life and be a good father to my children. Yes, that's my purpose and I want to do what the Lord has in store for me." He went on to say nobody had ever asked him that question before.

So now I am asking YOU that question. What is your purpose in life? so you have fifty or twenty years ahead, what do you want to do during that time? Get your pen and paper and write it down. You can't start this any younger and you do have a future ahead. Make it worthy. Be a blessing. See what you can do with the Lord's help and guidance. Why not? You only travel this road once and this is your time. He did tell us in Jeremiah 29:11 "I have my plans for you,..." and in Isaiah 31:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'"

Okay, what is your purpose in life?

New Words In Our World

My dictionary is must be old.  It was published in 2001 (is that really old?) and there are words I can't find in it.  I looked for the word blog.  Not there.  So what does it really mean?  How about the word Twitter?  Not there either nor is facebook.  Try skype.  Humm.  If you don't believe our world is changing just go to your dictionary. Now let's start a contest to see how many new words a person can find.  How about you?  What are some new words that you see and use from time to time. Send them to me and let's see how many we can think of. We'll make a list and see what we can come up with.  OK?

What are you worth?

     The stock market went up 6% today.  That makes a lot of people happy.  Now they have more money and they didn't have to work for it.  It just happened. I am worth more today than I was yesterday.  That makes me feel good.
      So here's another thought, did my personal worth with God go up today too?  How do I make it go up and not have it go down?  Does production count?  Ok Lord, let me count what I have done for you.  Let's see. I was really nice to that waiter at the restaurant today at noon.  I even asked him if he went to church. When he told me he didn't have one, I suggested one close by.  Does that count?
      My friend next door lost her husband recently so I went over to hug her and let he know I care for her. And while I was checking my income tax and working on that I figured out what my tithe to the church should really be.  It hasn't been  quite enough but I'll make it up in the next month  or so.
Maybe I should make a list of what I should do to make me worth more to The Lord.
      Wait a minute.  Is that you Lord talking to me?  You are saying I am your child and you will always love me and never forsake me. Hebrews 13:5  I am even to call you "Abba" father because of your special love to me?  Galations 4:6  "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his  righteousness and  all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33
Wow!  What a blessing!!  The creator of the universe tells me to call him "Abba Father.  Wow!

How About This?

This is the day the Lord has for me,

This is the day for me to serve thee,

Order my steps and prepare the way,

That I may serve you this whole day.

    (sing it or pray it)

Which is better, Today or Tomorrow?

Here I am in Indiana and this winter (2014) is the coldest and snowiest yet. Everybody, including me it looking forward to tomorrow.  Surely that will be better weather.  Hope, expectation, desire are all strong in my heart and soul.  So what should I do today?  Just endure.  Nothing important.  Just get through this day, this season.
Hummm.  Do I do this with all of life looking for a brighter better tomorrow instead of using the time and opportunities of today?  Am I waiting for the sun to shine and the flowers to bloom before doing anything constructive?  I don't think this is what The Lord wants of me.  If I have today, and I do,  how can I best use it for the purposes The Lord has for me.
Let's see.  Did Jesus say, therefore go and make disciples when the weather is better.  Or when it is convenient? or when you have time? As I read Matthew 28:20 it simply says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations."  Rather direct, wouldn't you say?  The easiest part of this now is that the nations have come to us and we don't have to go halfway around the world.  Down the street are Hindu's, Hispanics, Muslims, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesians, and all other countries.
Ok Lord,  I hear you and I will go. Will you go with me?  What did you say? Oh you said, "Do not be afraid." John 14:27  "I will never leave you or forsake you."? Hebrews 13:5.  Ok Lord.  Here I am.  I know I can trust you so let's get started.  I am ready.  Let me get my coat and keys.