copyright 6/15/2009
When I was young my mother spent a good
deal of time trying to teach me proper manners.
Table manners and attitude were important.
At that time people spent dinnertime together
at the table, discussing the days events
and enjoying one another. When we went
outside the home and had dinner with someone
else my mother wanted to be assured I could
know what was proper manners so that I could
present myself well wherever I went.
There is a distinct difference however in having
good table manners and being gracious. Sometimes
when people think they have it all right they tend
to look down on those who they think do not come
up to their standards.
The reason I am writing this is because I think there
is something Christians need to be reminded of.
You and I are not perfect!
Let me further explain:
My brethren, pay no servile regard to people
(show no prejudice, or partiality). Do not (attempt to)
hold and practice the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ
of glory together with snobbery!
For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands
are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid
apparel, and also a poor man in shabby clothes comes in.
And you pay special attention to the one who wears the
splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this
preferable seat! While you tell the poor man,
Stand there or sit there at the floor at my feet.
Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming
critics and judges with WRONG motives?
James 2:1-4
My dear friends, a church is a hospital, a place for wounded,
hurt, lost people who come as they are to God to worship
and gather before him to be healed and to learn of Christ
and grow in Him. If one comes and they do not dress
correctly, who are you to look at them with judgment?
So often I have seen people enter church and be
treated poorly. They would go up to someone and
be judged by their appearance, or by the way they
talk, or perhaps they didn't come up to the standards
of the people they talked to. And as soon as they
left the conversation people gossiped about them.
This should not be so!
What if someone has not attended church in a while
or been hurt, and they come in church and are
greeted with coldness, aloofness and judgment?
Will that draw them to God? Will they see the love
of Christ in you, or aloof snobbish people?
Who among us is perfect? What are you going to church for?
To feel better than others? To tell others how much better you are?
To put on a show? Are you not a sinner saved by grace?
Are we not to be a community of believers working together
for Christ, in his name for his glory? How can we work
together as team if we fault find with those around us?
It is impossible!
How can snobbery please God? It cannot!!
Let us go further. If indeed you fulfill the royal law in
accordance with the scripture, you shall love your
neighbor as yourself, you do well.
James 2:8
Can you love the poor person who comes in your church,
and maybe dresses poorly or speaks in slang or even
upsets you? Can you love them and pray for them,
or do you feel a need to set them straight every time you
see them? I am wondering who should take the liberty
of setting you straight then? If all of us had this attitude
of being better, the church would no longer be a place
to minister to people but a place of judgment and rebuke.
Jesus never taught this my friends. He never taught
us to be distant and judgmental and unkind. Certainly
we are to discern who is of him and who is not, but not
for the sake of looking down on them, but the sake of prayer.
The church is a hospital, not a courtroom. No one appointed
you or me judge or jury of other people's lives.
We are to minister to the needs of others, pray for them
when we see flaws, and then pray for our own flaws, that
God will forgive us and help us to be right before Him.
I am reminded of what Jesus said about the woman who
had been committing adultery and was about to be stoned.
Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.
Go out in this world and be a light for Christ.
Pray for the needs of those who are hurting, and lost
and unable to afford good clothes or food.
There for the grace of God... go you and I.
Be thankful for what you have and abundantly give
to those who do not have. In humility, love and kindness.
Never again spend time looking down on anyone.
It is not of God.
love always
millie
10 Little Christians
10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9
9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8
8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7
7 little Christians chirping like chicks
1 disliked music, then there were 6
6 little Christians seemed very much alive
but one lost his interest then there was 5
5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4
4 little Christians each busy as a bee
1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3
3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2
2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done
differed with each other, then there was 1
1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true
brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2
2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4
4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8
8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024
In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong either to the
building or to the wrecking crew!
- Author Unknown
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Clutter - How To Be Free of It
copyright Millie Plastaras 10/5/06
You will guard him and keep him in perfect
and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and
its character) is stayed on you, because he commits
himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Have you ever had problems keeping your home clean?
I mean things piled up to such a degree that you couldn't
decide where to start and you felt overwhelmed by
the task? Daily, you watch the piles around the house
grow and soon you feel powerless to make the house
orderly again.
Many of us do this with our minds. Little by little
mental clutter builds up in our hearts, minds,
and spirit, until our thinking is a cluttered mess
of rejection, the past, unforgiveness, broken
relationships, self hatred, and recriminations.
We just fill it with the most negative things possible,
until we become very depressed and feel like we
have no control over our thinking.
Well, at one time we did, but we surrendered that
control, little by little to the spirit of discontent.
We surrendered our freedom to the spirit of
unforgiveness. We held on to grudges and past
hurts as if they were treasures, putting them in
a non-hope chest and counting them daily until it
became a worry chest. We have spoken the
most negative things, until we have believed them
as gospel.
If you say you are worthless long enough,
if you say you are a failure long enough,
if you feel rejected long enough,
if you feel hopeless long enough,
soon you will buy into these lies,
they becomes a way of life, and you don't know
how to get rid of that mental clutter and free yourself.
My friends, this is not only a mental issue it is
a spiritual issue.
Many who are reading this tonite, are very troubled.
They feel despair, and often great hopelessness.
They hate that they feel it, but they feed it, and may not
realize that is what they do.
From the time they rise out of bed, they gather
the past in their arms and feed it, remembering,
rehashing, and beating themselves up over it.
They remember hurts and slights, and live them
over and over again, endlessly, powerlessly,
until they are defeated and weary, a victim
of their own thinking.
Is there any hope for this? Oh yes.
To live victoriously one must keep their eyes
on the goals ahead, and not the pain of the past.
If there never comes a place where you release
the past, forgive everyone in it, and find healing
in your own spirit, your life will be a constant battleground
for depression, despair and many other heavy things.
God wants us to be free of the past. He said
Cast your burdens upon me, for I care for you.
1 Peter 5:7.
When we cast our burdens, we throw them far
away from us.. and leave them there. This is a habit
we must form of letting them go. And each time
we feel ourselves picking up the negative thinking,
the unforgiveness, the depression, the victim thinking
we must run back to the throne of God and lay it at
his feet.
This is a habit anyone can form.
Athletes know how to focus and work hard at their
sport until they see victory.
Bodybuilders stay focused and work on their task
day after day relentlessly until they achieve their goal.
People who set goals, stay focused on them, work
towards them, do not allow defeat to be in their
vocabulary, and daily work towards these things
and will reach their goals!
It is a mental choice we make.
We choose to succeed or fail.
We choose to be a victor or a victim.
We choose to be happy or sad.
We choose to forgive or remember all hurts.
We choose to savor life, or regret it.
MY friends, those heavy feelings are not your friends.
They are destroying the fabric of your life, your
relationships, your hope, they are destroying
your thinking. Let them go. They are unimportant.
They are the weapons against your mind by the
dark powers of this world that want to paralyze your
thinking until you cannot enjoy your life.
Don't allow it. Fill your mind with hopeful things.
Fill your heart with a sense of duty, and set short
and long term goals to work towards.
Leave your burdens at Christ's feet, allow Him to Be
Lord and you be the child.. and leave those burdens
there.. You have things to do!
Paul knew what mental battles were, he faced
a lot of persecution and torment in his time,
and even physical problems he never overcame,
but in his letter to the Philippians he offered this sage
advice.
Be anxious for nothing (let it all go)
but in everything by prayer and supplication (pleading
before God) with thanksgiving (learn to be thankful),
let your requests be made known to God.
(pray often, fervently, tell God everything,
if you don't ask, he cannot answer).
And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all
understanding will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
God will guard your heart and mind, and bring you
peace.. now this is a promise you can cling to!!!
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy, meditate on these things!
Philippians 4:6-8
Friends, Paul was telling you to be a positive thinker!
He believed whatever you focused on what was
very important. So should you. Do you want
to be happy? Do you want to be set free from
the past? Do you want to enjoy life?
You have to change your focus
You have to change your goals
You have to change your thinking
You have to surrender the past,
You have to let God be God, and in control
and you have to go out and live life,
and take your thoughts captive one by one,
and replace them with the joy of the Lord
and the peace that passes all understanding.
It is a process. We clean out the clutter of our
mind, and fill it with clean, fresh new beginnings.
Praise God who makes this possible.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits
Psalm 68:19
(have you taken time to count your blessings)
Tonite, go to your heavenly Father, ask Him to
help you change your thinking patterns, ask Him
to forgive your sins, and help you forgive others,
and ask Him to help you clean the clutter in your
mind and spirit and to set you free from the past
and show you what He would have you do.
Ask Him to free you from the bondage that has
weighed your weary heart down. He promised
He would, if you will leave those burdens and
trust in His ability, not your own.
Life is short, choose your battles carefully,
and don't waste your mind, heart and time on despair
or one negative thing.
One final thing, if God can forgive you and me,
we must forgive ourselves, and move on from
our mistakes and past, for His glory and honor
to show in our lives like a light and beacon to
a lost and dying world.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Remember
Only one life, will soon be past
only what is done for Christ will last..
You will guard him and keep him in perfect
and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and
its character) is stayed on you, because he commits
himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Have you ever had problems keeping your home clean?
I mean things piled up to such a degree that you couldn't
decide where to start and you felt overwhelmed by
the task? Daily, you watch the piles around the house
grow and soon you feel powerless to make the house
orderly again.
Many of us do this with our minds. Little by little
mental clutter builds up in our hearts, minds,
and spirit, until our thinking is a cluttered mess
of rejection, the past, unforgiveness, broken
relationships, self hatred, and recriminations.
We just fill it with the most negative things possible,
until we become very depressed and feel like we
have no control over our thinking.
Well, at one time we did, but we surrendered that
control, little by little to the spirit of discontent.
We surrendered our freedom to the spirit of
unforgiveness. We held on to grudges and past
hurts as if they were treasures, putting them in
a non-hope chest and counting them daily until it
became a worry chest. We have spoken the
most negative things, until we have believed them
as gospel.
If you say you are worthless long enough,
if you say you are a failure long enough,
if you feel rejected long enough,
if you feel hopeless long enough,
soon you will buy into these lies,
they becomes a way of life, and you don't know
how to get rid of that mental clutter and free yourself.
My friends, this is not only a mental issue it is
a spiritual issue.
Many who are reading this tonite, are very troubled.
They feel despair, and often great hopelessness.
They hate that they feel it, but they feed it, and may not
realize that is what they do.
From the time they rise out of bed, they gather
the past in their arms and feed it, remembering,
rehashing, and beating themselves up over it.
They remember hurts and slights, and live them
over and over again, endlessly, powerlessly,
until they are defeated and weary, a victim
of their own thinking.
Is there any hope for this? Oh yes.
To live victoriously one must keep their eyes
on the goals ahead, and not the pain of the past.
If there never comes a place where you release
the past, forgive everyone in it, and find healing
in your own spirit, your life will be a constant battleground
for depression, despair and many other heavy things.
God wants us to be free of the past. He said
Cast your burdens upon me, for I care for you.
1 Peter 5:7.
When we cast our burdens, we throw them far
away from us.. and leave them there. This is a habit
we must form of letting them go. And each time
we feel ourselves picking up the negative thinking,
the unforgiveness, the depression, the victim thinking
we must run back to the throne of God and lay it at
his feet.
This is a habit anyone can form.
Athletes know how to focus and work hard at their
sport until they see victory.
Bodybuilders stay focused and work on their task
day after day relentlessly until they achieve their goal.
People who set goals, stay focused on them, work
towards them, do not allow defeat to be in their
vocabulary, and daily work towards these things
and will reach their goals!
It is a mental choice we make.
We choose to succeed or fail.
We choose to be a victor or a victim.
We choose to be happy or sad.
We choose to forgive or remember all hurts.
We choose to savor life, or regret it.
MY friends, those heavy feelings are not your friends.
They are destroying the fabric of your life, your
relationships, your hope, they are destroying
your thinking. Let them go. They are unimportant.
They are the weapons against your mind by the
dark powers of this world that want to paralyze your
thinking until you cannot enjoy your life.
Don't allow it. Fill your mind with hopeful things.
Fill your heart with a sense of duty, and set short
and long term goals to work towards.
Leave your burdens at Christ's feet, allow Him to Be
Lord and you be the child.. and leave those burdens
there.. You have things to do!
Paul knew what mental battles were, he faced
a lot of persecution and torment in his time,
and even physical problems he never overcame,
but in his letter to the Philippians he offered this sage
advice.
Be anxious for nothing (let it all go)
but in everything by prayer and supplication (pleading
before God) with thanksgiving (learn to be thankful),
let your requests be made known to God.
(pray often, fervently, tell God everything,
if you don't ask, he cannot answer).
And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all
understanding will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
God will guard your heart and mind, and bring you
peace.. now this is a promise you can cling to!!!
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy, meditate on these things!
Philippians 4:6-8
Friends, Paul was telling you to be a positive thinker!
He believed whatever you focused on what was
very important. So should you. Do you want
to be happy? Do you want to be set free from
the past? Do you want to enjoy life?
You have to change your focus
You have to change your goals
You have to change your thinking
You have to surrender the past,
You have to let God be God, and in control
and you have to go out and live life,
and take your thoughts captive one by one,
and replace them with the joy of the Lord
and the peace that passes all understanding.
It is a process. We clean out the clutter of our
mind, and fill it with clean, fresh new beginnings.
Praise God who makes this possible.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits
Psalm 68:19
(have you taken time to count your blessings)
Tonite, go to your heavenly Father, ask Him to
help you change your thinking patterns, ask Him
to forgive your sins, and help you forgive others,
and ask Him to help you clean the clutter in your
mind and spirit and to set you free from the past
and show you what He would have you do.
Ask Him to free you from the bondage that has
weighed your weary heart down. He promised
He would, if you will leave those burdens and
trust in His ability, not your own.
Life is short, choose your battles carefully,
and don't waste your mind, heart and time on despair
or one negative thing.
One final thing, if God can forgive you and me,
we must forgive ourselves, and move on from
our mistakes and past, for His glory and honor
to show in our lives like a light and beacon to
a lost and dying world.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Remember
Only one life, will soon be past
only what is done for Christ will last..
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Empty Hands, Renewed Heart
Good Morning Everyone,
I love drinking tea out of beautiful cups. Somehow it
makes the tea taste better, and makes it seem
like a happy little ceremony.
A interesting note about a cup of tea. Until it
is emptied you cannot refill it.
The same is true of our heart. Unless we give away
we have no room to refill it. If we cling to our love,
our possessions, our time, and our emotions.. they will
remain stuck within our heart, withering on the vine,
unused, unappreciated, uninspiring.
But if we open up our heart and reach out to others,
we find ourselves feeling better about ourselves. We will
see relationships blossoming around us, and we will find
we have room in our heart for the love of others.
Our heart is growing, and so are we spiritually and emotionally!
Maturing because we took time to give without thought
of receiving in return.
I think the same thing applies to suffering, burdens and
hardships. Until we have suffered or carried burdens, or lost
those we love, how can we understand the heartache of others?
Each thing we go through is a lesson, a growing time, even in
the hardest of things, we learn something valuable and true
and very fine for our hearts and spirit.
Only through hardship, suffering and burdens, and then
coming out on the other side of them do we understand
the struggles of others, feel empathy and reach out
to minister because we understand what people are
going through. What a gift!
Life is a investment. We only have this one. Empty your hands
out, give unto others, of your time, energy, emotions and love.
Make the investment of your life a testimony to Christ abiding in you.
love always
millie
ps.. please read the poem below.
Empty Hands
Author: Martha Snell Nicholson
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most:
Until I was empty-handed,
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth's highways, grieving,
In my rage and poverty,
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to me."
So I held my hands toward heaven
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches
Until they could hold no more.
And at last I comprehended,
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38
I love drinking tea out of beautiful cups. Somehow it
makes the tea taste better, and makes it seem
like a happy little ceremony.
A interesting note about a cup of tea. Until it
is emptied you cannot refill it.
The same is true of our heart. Unless we give away
we have no room to refill it. If we cling to our love,
our possessions, our time, and our emotions.. they will
remain stuck within our heart, withering on the vine,
unused, unappreciated, uninspiring.
But if we open up our heart and reach out to others,
we find ourselves feeling better about ourselves. We will
see relationships blossoming around us, and we will find
we have room in our heart for the love of others.
Our heart is growing, and so are we spiritually and emotionally!
Maturing because we took time to give without thought
of receiving in return.
I think the same thing applies to suffering, burdens and
hardships. Until we have suffered or carried burdens, or lost
those we love, how can we understand the heartache of others?
Each thing we go through is a lesson, a growing time, even in
the hardest of things, we learn something valuable and true
and very fine for our hearts and spirit.
Only through hardship, suffering and burdens, and then
coming out on the other side of them do we understand
the struggles of others, feel empathy and reach out
to minister because we understand what people are
going through. What a gift!
Life is a investment. We only have this one. Empty your hands
out, give unto others, of your time, energy, emotions and love.
Make the investment of your life a testimony to Christ abiding in you.
love always
millie
ps.. please read the poem below.
Empty Hands
Author: Martha Snell Nicholson
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most:
Until I was empty-handed,
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth's highways, grieving,
In my rage and poverty,
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to me."
So I held my hands toward heaven
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches
Until they could hold no more.
And at last I comprehended,
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38
Monday, June 08, 2009
Ways To Reduce Stress
Good Morning Everyone,
Have any of you ever felt stressed?
I think all of us experience this. Truly, life's
journey brings us all many common experiences.
If only we thought about that rather than focusing
on each other's differences. But that is a subject
for another day.
Today, I would love to help you refocus on how
to let go of what is disturbing you today, and find
joy in the day. Everyone you know has burdens,
heartaches, a past, and things to face. This being
said, some people really handle it better than others.
The secret? They have learned mental techniques
to not obsess over what is wrong, but to work past
their problems by facing what they can do something
about and working on it. And what they cannot do
something about they do not carry as a burden.
It is all about attitude. To me a attitude of gratitude
is very important. It is a new day, a new chance at
enjoying life, a day to set goals. Yesterday is past,
we don't need to carry it's worries or mistakes. Let
us live in today... and make it the very best we can.
If we did this everyday, we could look on our past
with much more peace, knowing we did the best
we could regardless of our circumstances.
Love
millie
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:17-19
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may ABOUND IN HOPE, through the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Christian Ways to Reduce Stress
Practice a little each day until you get them all. This is like an exercise program, begin gradually and work your way to number 36. But by all means remember that number 1.Pray daily will help you achieve the rest!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No, to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you, Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Have any of you ever felt stressed?
I think all of us experience this. Truly, life's
journey brings us all many common experiences.
If only we thought about that rather than focusing
on each other's differences. But that is a subject
for another day.
Today, I would love to help you refocus on how
to let go of what is disturbing you today, and find
joy in the day. Everyone you know has burdens,
heartaches, a past, and things to face. This being
said, some people really handle it better than others.
The secret? They have learned mental techniques
to not obsess over what is wrong, but to work past
their problems by facing what they can do something
about and working on it. And what they cannot do
something about they do not carry as a burden.
It is all about attitude. To me a attitude of gratitude
is very important. It is a new day, a new chance at
enjoying life, a day to set goals. Yesterday is past,
we don't need to carry it's worries or mistakes. Let
us live in today... and make it the very best we can.
If we did this everyday, we could look on our past
with much more peace, knowing we did the best
we could regardless of our circumstances.
Love
millie
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:17-19
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may ABOUND IN HOPE, through the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Christian Ways to Reduce Stress
Practice a little each day until you get them all. This is like an exercise program, begin gradually and work your way to number 36. But by all means remember that number 1.Pray daily will help you achieve the rest!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No, to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you, Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Never Alone
copyright Millie Plastaras 6/6/2009
Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering
and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress?
Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, for Thy sake we are put to death all
the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the
slaughter.
Yet amid all these things WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things impending and threatening nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation will be able to separate us from the love of
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39
My dear friends, if I took a poll today on how many of
you are lonely or how many of you are distressed,
my educated guess is that a majority of you are to
varying degrees. Although the world has a huge
population, there is a epidemic of loneliness now.
People even though surrounded by crowds,
feel alienated, un cared about and alone.
It seems unreasonable somehow. Perhaps the
technology we have that separates us rather than
causing us to meet together is part of it. We are
on computers for hours talking to people we do
not know.. may not meet, and cannot find often
any depth of relationship with.
We spend time texting, or on the phone, or watching
television, and these even though they can be with
others, are lonely activities.
My husband was talking about when he was growing up.
They had no electricity, no hot or cold running water,
no television and the radio was at the local store.
I asked him what did you all do in the evening. They
sat and talked to each other, played games and ate
meals and enjoyed the company of one another. Rich
relationships grow out of such times.
Yet here we are the most advanced civilization and
we feel lonely. Do you feel alienated from God?
My question to you then would be are you spending quality
time with him? He is a thought on the back burner of your
mind for emergencies? Is he some far off aloof God who
doesn't relate to you or care about your needs? Is he
some nebulous being who created the earth but is not personal?
My friend, if this is your belief you need to take time for prayer.
IN a quiet setting, just talking to God conversationally. Perhaps
in a garden setting. Tell him what is on your heart, what
you are going through, what you are feeling. Tell him the
good, the bad and the ugly. Sit in peace before Him. Often
sit in quietness, just resting in his presence. Find time
to read his word to encourage your heart, and be uplifted
out of your own despair into his light.
Be proactive! To have a friend one must be friendly.
To know God one must spend time seeking Him.
He is not far away, you are!
Loneliness is hard to bear. But the Bible assures us
we are never alone. He said He would be with us till the
end of the world, he would never leave us or forsake us.
Do you believe that? Do you know Him truly?
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!
1 Peter 5:7
Dearest Friends, I assure you, that God loves you and
cares about the details of your life, but you must seek Him
first, and not last. He must become a reality in your thinking
and life. Any relationship you have requires time, energy,
giving, and cooperation, communication and care.
How can we do less than our best for the master?
Love,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.
Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering
and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress?
Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, for Thy sake we are put to death all
the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the
slaughter.
Yet amid all these things WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things impending and threatening nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation will be able to separate us from the love of
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39
My dear friends, if I took a poll today on how many of
you are lonely or how many of you are distressed,
my educated guess is that a majority of you are to
varying degrees. Although the world has a huge
population, there is a epidemic of loneliness now.
People even though surrounded by crowds,
feel alienated, un cared about and alone.
It seems unreasonable somehow. Perhaps the
technology we have that separates us rather than
causing us to meet together is part of it. We are
on computers for hours talking to people we do
not know.. may not meet, and cannot find often
any depth of relationship with.
We spend time texting, or on the phone, or watching
television, and these even though they can be with
others, are lonely activities.
My husband was talking about when he was growing up.
They had no electricity, no hot or cold running water,
no television and the radio was at the local store.
I asked him what did you all do in the evening. They
sat and talked to each other, played games and ate
meals and enjoyed the company of one another. Rich
relationships grow out of such times.
Yet here we are the most advanced civilization and
we feel lonely. Do you feel alienated from God?
My question to you then would be are you spending quality
time with him? He is a thought on the back burner of your
mind for emergencies? Is he some far off aloof God who
doesn't relate to you or care about your needs? Is he
some nebulous being who created the earth but is not personal?
My friend, if this is your belief you need to take time for prayer.
IN a quiet setting, just talking to God conversationally. Perhaps
in a garden setting. Tell him what is on your heart, what
you are going through, what you are feeling. Tell him the
good, the bad and the ugly. Sit in peace before Him. Often
sit in quietness, just resting in his presence. Find time
to read his word to encourage your heart, and be uplifted
out of your own despair into his light.
Be proactive! To have a friend one must be friendly.
To know God one must spend time seeking Him.
He is not far away, you are!
Loneliness is hard to bear. But the Bible assures us
we are never alone. He said He would be with us till the
end of the world, he would never leave us or forsake us.
Do you believe that? Do you know Him truly?
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!
1 Peter 5:7
Dearest Friends, I assure you, that God loves you and
cares about the details of your life, but you must seek Him
first, and not last. He must become a reality in your thinking
and life. Any relationship you have requires time, energy,
giving, and cooperation, communication and care.
How can we do less than our best for the master?
Love,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Equipped for Life
Good Morning Everyone,
I wonder how many of you are gardener's out there?
It is a very fulfilling hobby or pastime, and something that
brings good results if tended, watered and cared for.
You would not see a gardener get in their garden daily
with a tea spoon and try to dig a hole for plants with that
equipment. Neither would you see them take a glass
of water and throw it on the garden once a week and think
that was sufficient. Wouldn't it be surprising to see a
gardener come out and yell, "I told you to grow, now get busy!"
and then walk back in their house and leave the garden
to tend itself?
My friends, whatever task we do, we need tools, we need
time and effort to accomplish it. Without the correct tools,
time and energy your project or task will most probably fail
and you will be unhappy with the results.
Did you know your spiritual life is the same? How can one refuse to
plant the word of God in their heart and expect it to produce
results in their spirit and thinking if they NEVER OPEN A BIBLE?
They make excuses, they are too busy, it is too hard to read,
they will get to it later. Yet the trials and troubles of life come
and wear them down and without that word of God to encourage
them they become overwhelmed with their circumstances.
Then those circumstances become the focus and the downfall
of the person, rather than focusing their heart and faith on God,
and His abilities and promises.
But the greater danger during these troubled times is that
people will be led astray easily. Someone will tell them what is
in the Bible, they will believe it.. and go down a path that is
fraught with error and possibly even spiritual death.
We must be informed and into the word of God to plant it
to grow in Christ, and to be wise in what is right before Him.
To me... you either love God enough to be obedient and have
a hunger for His word or you love yourself more.
You either put God first or yourself. Which will work best for you
eternally? My precious friend, what is more important in this
life than a relationship with Jesus Christ? We are born, we have
this one life to invest and then we enter eternity. Where will you
spend it, and how have you invested your time here?
Regardless of what you have done in the past, today is a new day,
make yourself right before God, get out your Bible and fill your
spirit with His Word and His Thinking so that you may please him
and walk right before him.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, My Strength and My Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
love always,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done for Christ will last!
***************************
The Soap That Works!
A pastor and a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker said, "what good is religion? Look at all the trouble and misery of the world! Still there, even after years--thousands of years--of teaching about goodness and truth and peace. Still there, after all the prayers and sermons and teachings. If religion is good and true, why should this be?"The pastor said nothing. They continued walking until he noticed a child playing in the gutter. Then the pastor said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster. Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!" The soap maker protested. "But, Pastor, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!" "Exactly!" replied the pastor.
I wonder how many of you are gardener's out there?
It is a very fulfilling hobby or pastime, and something that
brings good results if tended, watered and cared for.
You would not see a gardener get in their garden daily
with a tea spoon and try to dig a hole for plants with that
equipment. Neither would you see them take a glass
of water and throw it on the garden once a week and think
that was sufficient. Wouldn't it be surprising to see a
gardener come out and yell, "I told you to grow, now get busy!"
and then walk back in their house and leave the garden
to tend itself?
My friends, whatever task we do, we need tools, we need
time and effort to accomplish it. Without the correct tools,
time and energy your project or task will most probably fail
and you will be unhappy with the results.
Did you know your spiritual life is the same? How can one refuse to
plant the word of God in their heart and expect it to produce
results in their spirit and thinking if they NEVER OPEN A BIBLE?
They make excuses, they are too busy, it is too hard to read,
they will get to it later. Yet the trials and troubles of life come
and wear them down and without that word of God to encourage
them they become overwhelmed with their circumstances.
Then those circumstances become the focus and the downfall
of the person, rather than focusing their heart and faith on God,
and His abilities and promises.
But the greater danger during these troubled times is that
people will be led astray easily. Someone will tell them what is
in the Bible, they will believe it.. and go down a path that is
fraught with error and possibly even spiritual death.
We must be informed and into the word of God to plant it
to grow in Christ, and to be wise in what is right before Him.
To me... you either love God enough to be obedient and have
a hunger for His word or you love yourself more.
You either put God first or yourself. Which will work best for you
eternally? My precious friend, what is more important in this
life than a relationship with Jesus Christ? We are born, we have
this one life to invest and then we enter eternity. Where will you
spend it, and how have you invested your time here?
Regardless of what you have done in the past, today is a new day,
make yourself right before God, get out your Bible and fill your
spirit with His Word and His Thinking so that you may please him
and walk right before him.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, My Strength and My Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
love always,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done for Christ will last!
***************************
The Soap That Works!
A pastor and a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker said, "what good is religion? Look at all the trouble and misery of the world! Still there, even after years--thousands of years--of teaching about goodness and truth and peace. Still there, after all the prayers and sermons and teachings. If religion is good and true, why should this be?"The pastor said nothing. They continued walking until he noticed a child playing in the gutter. Then the pastor said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster. Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!" The soap maker protested. "But, Pastor, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!" "Exactly!" replied the pastor.
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