~ Happy Diary ~

~ A Blessings Journal ~

Have you ever kept a journal? I am sure many of you have had journals over the years! Years ago I was going through some hard times and my mom suggested we start a ,"Happy Diary"~ She said that through the day each of us would look for happy things that happened that day ( blessings). I did not think this was going to work and I did not think this would help the pain I was going through, but I said I'd give it a try and we both began our journals. Each day it was one of the first things I would start to think about ~ I began looking for things throughout the day that I could write down in my journal. It was hard at first to find anything, so I started by writing things like I was happy for having clean water for showers and for meals (since so many go without). The next few weeks turned into months and my mom and I would share some of our blessings before going to bed each night. It became something that changed my life as I started to see God's blessings in each day ~Things that I would take for granted, small things, large things, and very unexpected blessings. From time to time I would flip back through the pages and it would once again make me smile. My focus soon shifted and I started seeing my blessings and the good things. This helped get me though some hard times and focus on what the Lord had done for me. I hope you will give this a try. It was so much fun to do this with my mom when I was young and it gave me something to look forward to during the day ( that we would be sharing our blessings with each other that night). Give it a try ~ I hope it encourages you like it did for me!!

~ Working As For The Lord ~

"...Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah)..." - Colossians 3: 23-24Living by this principle would make a big difference in how we perform at our jobs, or even in the menial tasks around home. Many years ago someone told me a story of a qualified builder that once built houses, ended up building bus stops when he was older. He did this joyfully. It didn’t seem to bother him – he just loved Jesus. It’s all a matter of ‘attitude’.I must admit I struggled with this when I was working. I was in a job I didn’t enjoy for just over 10 years. Each year seemed to get worse. Looking back I realized my attitude was not good towards my job, and I became bitter while I was there. It became a dread each day. No matter what we are doing, we need to remember it is really for the Lord. Even in the secular sector, we are witnesses for Him, so everything we do is for Him.We need to work as if it’s for the LordFor it’s from the Lord we receive our rewardBy M.S.Lowndes

Devotionals © Heavens Inspirations 2003-2007

I found this devotional today after giving this verse a lot of thought because of some things I have been faced with lately. My daughter and I were just talking about this scripture the other day and how when we are faced with work that is hard, we need to remember that we are really doing the work for Christ and that helps the situation. Today a friend mentioned that her daughter is having a hard time at her work and her daughter is handling this situation with such grace and I know it pleases the Lord. Again, the Lord brought this scripture to my mind and this young woman was an encouragement to me. I need to stop fretting over my hard situation and remember each and every day that when I begin this task, it is really the Lord that I am working for. This helps me so much to keep this in my mind and close to my heart. I hope this has also been a blessing to you in what you might be facing.

Amanda, thank you for all that you have done for me this summer. You have been a major help and a blessing!! Grandma and I love and appreciate you SO much!!

~ Queen Esther ~

Esther came from a Jewish background and was sent with other eligible women to the king's palace and was under the care of Hegai. There the women went through many months of beauty treatments before they were brought to King Xerxes. Esther eventually won the favor of the king and was made queen. King Xerxes was not aware that Queen Esther came from a Jewish heritage until the day came when all Jews were to be killed. It was law at that time that Queen Esther was not permitted to go before the king unless he had summoned for her, but Mordecai (her uncle) told Esther that she needed to go before the king and plead with him for her people. Queen Esther had a choice to make. She decided to do something that was very hard and very dangerous. She was risking her life, but she did what was right and went before the king. You will have to go to the book of Esther to find out what happens next. This book is full of wisdom and each time I read about Esther I am encouraged and blessed. To me, Esther is a hero and we all can learn a lot from her.

~ Secret Giving ~

Do you enjoy doing for others? Have you ever thought of how little things that you do for another can brighten their day? I have had people in my life that are truly, "givers" ~ They enjoy doing for others and their thoughtfulness has blessed me over and over and has helped me through some hard times. Today, think about someone you can bless with your thoughtfulness. Maybe it is in the form of a phone call, a note or card, sending a little gift,praying for them, or deciding that you are going to be their secret giver. A secret giver is someone that gives quietly, without the person knowing. It can be a lot of fun to mail or drop off special surprises to their door and send special little notes and cards through the mail. It is fun to make someone's day a little brighter and you (the secret giver) will be blessed, too.

~ Ramshackle Rose ~

~ Ramshackle Rose by Cathy Marie Hake ~
This is a wonderful summer read about a secret giver in a wonderful town. The people in the town are finding secret gifts with their name on it and don't know who the secret giver is. There is a lot to this story and it is such a sweet book!! You can Google this book or find it at http://www.heartsongpresents.com/ (A wonderful Christian book club/ publisher with books that are rated " G") It might also be on Ebay!! Hope you'll enjoy one of my favorites!!

~ More on secret giving soon!! ~

~ Acts of Kindness ~

I want to thank all of you for your sweet e-mails, cards, and gifts during this past month. Thanks to all of you that have continually stayed by my side, encouraging me and sharing special verses with me. You will never know how much your acts of kindness has meant to me and my family!!

I hope you all enjoy this special treat ~It is VERY yummy and our family loves it!!
~Puppy Chow~
9 cups rice crispy cereal (squares)
1/2 cup Peanut butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
In a saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate; add the P.B and mix well until smooth. Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated. Pour powered sugar into large pan or plastic bag and add coated cereal and shake until well mixed. Store in airtight container.

~ You Are Not Alone ~

My father recently passed away and my brother and I had the honor to be by his side as he was dying. I will never forget my dad's courage and how much he loved us and was concerned for all of us all the way to the end. He never complained all the years he suffered with Parkinsons and Multiple Systems Atrophy (like Lou Gehrig's). My dad is in heaven now and I know this because he asked Christ to come and live in his heart and to be his Savior. I am so glad that I will see him again and that he is free from his pain!!
Jesus loves you and longs for His lost sheep!! Jesus says," I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25
~Lately I have had periods where I feel sad because I no longer have a father, but I do!! My dad is still alive ~in heaven and I have my heavenly Father who never leaves me and has been such a comfort to me!! Please do not wait to ask Jesus into your heart!! Jesus loves you so very much and He died on the cross to save you from your sins, so that everyone that believes in Him can have eternal life!! It does not matter what sins you have committed in your past, the Lord will forgive you. He loves you and died for YOU!! John 3 :16.
If you want to follow Christ and accept Him as your Savior then you need to be born again!!
1~ BELIEVE- ( John11:25,26,40) Believe that God loves you and that He died for your sins and that He rose from the dead and that He will forgive all sin if you ask Him.
2~ Recognize - that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6) No one is free from sin. We are born with a sinful nature. Unless you believe you're a sinner, you cannot be born again.
3~ Repent-(Matthew 4:17) You must be truly sorry for your sins and have a sincere desire to be free of them.
4~ Pray- (1 John 1:9, Psalms 51:2-5) Confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to come into your heart and make you a new person. Promise Him that you will serve Him the rest of your life.
~~If you have done this, you can be assured that your sins are forgiven and that you are a child of God. You will want to start reading the Bible and find a Bible believing church. The Christian life is not always rosey; it can, and will be at times, a battlefield. As a Christian you will face difficult temptations, but the Lord has promised that we can have victory because of the shed blood of Jesus!!