Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving brings back wonderful, enduring memories to me as I grew up in Penna. and was surrounded by the beauty of fall breaking into winter. Our Thanksgivings were very traditional, much like a Norman Rockwell picture. It was cold outside but very warm and cozy in our home. My mom was a great cook and she made Thanksgiving a special occasion. We sat around the table and it was set with her best china. Now I must add my mom and dad were very simple and modest people of modest means but along the way she had acquired some fine china - and the only time it came out was Thanksgiving and Christmas. We usually had a guest at the table, a neighbor or church member who was elderly and did not have family. The turkey was a presentation in itself. If came out on a platter whole and was carved at the table by my dad.
I love Thanksgiving not just because of the memories it invokes but also because of what it represents - a time of giving thanks to God for all He has done for us and for who He is. We should of course always be thankful and have a heart of gratitude but Thanksgiving is a time that the whole country for the most part acknowledges God's blessings on our country and land.
It is a great time to recommit to being a more grateful person in every area of life. Yes, there are a lot of worries and fears in our world today but there are so many more things to be grateful for on a daily basis. When I find myself getting negative - I start a gratitude journal - I become acutely aware of all the good things happening in my life during the day and write it down. If you do this for a few days you become aware of so many great and wonderful blessings that just everyday life brings to you.
I want to end this Thanksgiving blog with another nugget from my dad's writings:
It is the Simple and Gentler things in Life that
keeps us Contented and Sweet...and Success has its.......... place...but
the most Successful Accomplishment you will ever make...is if you can
look in the Mirror and not be ashamed of who that Person really is...Be a
Real Person...Compete yes...but Jesus said..."Blessed are the
Merciful"...not the Successful Only...
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever" Psalm 107:1
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING.......
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
More Wisdom
My dad wrote these thots in 1997 and was 77 years old. He left us to be with Jesus at the age of 85. If you had met him up until about a month before he was gone, you would have thought he was much younger. He had a zeal and passion for life made him seem younger. He had a computer and would type his "thots" on that computer on a regular basis.
This blog is called as my business name is " A Seed of Hope" Life Coaching. Well, my dad was the greatest Life Coach I ever knew and that was before anyone knew what a life coach was. He encouraged every person that came in contact with him. You would come to visit my mom and dad in their little modest home maybe feeling a little down or your self esteem a little bruised but by the time you left my mom and dad's house you felt like the most amazing person in the world that could accomplish anything. In the world we live in today we need more encourager's. Let's make a point to encourage and appreciate someone this week.
A few more nuggets:
ON BEING PRETENTIOUS
People don’t mean to be pretentious or acting overly important –
It’s just that they don’t want to go un-noticed - in the scheme of things we
all like and need attention from time to time.
IF ONLY
One said once, " if only I could live my life over again" You do have that chance. It is called Today. You have never had Today before so be and do all the things you wanted to do today. This very moment - it is yours to live - Don't let the past bury you - get going and do it - that is - whatever you wanted to do - do it now.
THRU IT ALL
I would not want to change anything that has happened to me - that has forced me to take stock of myself and change. There were surprises and disappointments that occurred - down through the long years that were both the worst thing that happened to me and the best thing that happened to me. I had to change my attitude and give up bitterness and anger that goes with unfulfilled expectation. That was the best thing to have to accept in a mature way something that would not change to suit me. At the same time it was the worst thing to have to go through it - but I survived it all and became a better person for it.
"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all he has made." Ps. 145:13
This blog is called as my business name is " A Seed of Hope" Life Coaching. Well, my dad was the greatest Life Coach I ever knew and that was before anyone knew what a life coach was. He encouraged every person that came in contact with him. You would come to visit my mom and dad in their little modest home maybe feeling a little down or your self esteem a little bruised but by the time you left my mom and dad's house you felt like the most amazing person in the world that could accomplish anything. In the world we live in today we need more encourager's. Let's make a point to encourage and appreciate someone this week.
A few more nuggets:
ON BEING PRETENTIOUS
People don’t mean to be pretentious or acting overly important –
It’s just that they don’t want to go un-noticed - in the scheme of things we
all like and need attention from time to time.
IF ONLY
One said once, " if only I could live my life over again" You do have that chance. It is called Today. You have never had Today before so be and do all the things you wanted to do today. This very moment - it is yours to live - Don't let the past bury you - get going and do it - that is - whatever you wanted to do - do it now.
THRU IT ALL
I would not want to change anything that has happened to me - that has forced me to take stock of myself and change. There were surprises and disappointments that occurred - down through the long years that were both the worst thing that happened to me and the best thing that happened to me. I had to change my attitude and give up bitterness and anger that goes with unfulfilled expectation. That was the best thing to have to accept in a mature way something that would not change to suit me. At the same time it was the worst thing to have to go through it - but I survived it all and became a better person for it.
"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all he has made." Ps. 145:13
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wisdom
It has been 3 1/2 years since my dad passed away. I still miss him more than ever, in fact I think I miss him more as time goes on. My dad by his own admission make many mistakes in his younger years. He was very controlling, had a quick temper and very impulsive. As he grew older, and this is one of the many reasons I am so proud of him, he made a choice to change. He chose to let go of control on a daily basis, he chose not be be angry and to give more thought to his actions. He didn't always succeed but he tried harder than anyone I have ever known.My dad faced many adversities and trials in his later years but he kept a positive attitude and looked at every situation and circumstance, no matter how devastating or challenging, as an opportunity to grow, to be an example to others and to trust God.
My dad was a poet, a writer and a philosopher and although he never published a book, he wrote many of his "thots", as he called them, down and left them for us to now receive his wisdom from.
I wish I had asked more questions, spent more time and written more of what my dad had in his heart while he was still here. (If you have a parent that is still with you , please take note of this) But I am thankful that he took the time to leave me and my family some of his ponderings that seem so much more insightful and wise than I ever realized when he was here.
I am going to share a few of these nuggets for a few weeks on this blog....so enjoy!
OLD AGE
Physically we are weaker. Spiritually we are stronger
MINISTRY
Requires the highest level of honesty
MOM AND DAD
No person can enjoy their successes without their Mom and dad,
being proud of them, always.
This is the number one inheritance we give our children
SACROSANCT
Other peoples lives, hopes, dreams, decisions, styles, methods and joy.
Unless you are invited in, by that particular, “person” – just buzz-off. You have no right to live your own life and their life too. No one is that smart, not even you.
HUMILITY
I Think, only a thot, that Humility is:
Acting like Jesus would act – in the same situation.
"The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" Romans 8:6
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
God's Provision
Today in my Beth Moore study she is talking about having peace while waiting for God's provision. She brought out a scripture that we are all so familiar with but I have never seen the little details she pointed out.
In John 6:5-13 it says,
5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
As we look at this scripture we notice a few things about God's Provision:
vs 5 - He already knows what needs to happen but wants to see if we really trust Him
vs 8 - He uses what we already have and multiplies it
vs 10, 11 - He wants us to rest in His provision, once we see the need and use what resources we have. He commanded them to "sit down" and "fed only those who did sit down"
vs 11 He gives us immeasurable more than we can ask or imagine. He gave them as much as they wanted.
So if there is a need you have ask yourself if you have "given" Him all you have to offer even if it is a little bit. Ask yourself if you a sitting down ina posture of trust and sitting quietly to receive it. If you are - get your baskets ready!
Matt. 6:8
Matt. 6:25 - 32
Romans 8:32
In John 6:5-13 it says,
5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
As we look at this scripture we notice a few things about God's Provision:
vs 5 - He already knows what needs to happen but wants to see if we really trust Him
vs 8 - He uses what we already have and multiplies it
vs 10, 11 - He wants us to rest in His provision, once we see the need and use what resources we have. He commanded them to "sit down" and "fed only those who did sit down"
vs 11 He gives us immeasurable more than we can ask or imagine. He gave them as much as they wanted.
So if there is a need you have ask yourself if you have "given" Him all you have to offer even if it is a little bit. Ask yourself if you a sitting down ina posture of trust and sitting quietly to receive it. If you are - get your baskets ready!
Matt. 6:8
Matt. 6:25 - 32
Romans 8:32
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Boundaries
The next three mistakes we make in setting boundaries are:
1. When we are doing things because of manipulation or guilt - 2 corithians 9:7 - The bible warns us dagainst giving to others "reluctantly or under compulsion. People with poor boundaries struggle with saying "no" to control, pressure and demands of others.
2. Stopping the sowing and reaping process in others lives - Galations 6:7-8 - sometimes people don't reap what they sow because someone else steps in and reaps the consequences for them. Understand that love is not always doing it for them but allowing others to learn from their mistakes.
3. When your motivation is wrong for doing something - sometimes because of our past our motivation for giving is not because we love, but fear of losing love, fulfilling our needs. if your giving is not leading to joy but to depression or resentment you need to examine your motives.
In ending this blog I did want to leave a scripture that I believe is very appropriate to all that has happened this week and more than likely will continue for months, possibly years.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
1. When we are doing things because of manipulation or guilt - 2 corithians 9:7 - The bible warns us dagainst giving to others "reluctantly or under compulsion. People with poor boundaries struggle with saying "no" to control, pressure and demands of others.
2. Stopping the sowing and reaping process in others lives - Galations 6:7-8 - sometimes people don't reap what they sow because someone else steps in and reaps the consequences for them. Understand that love is not always doing it for them but allowing others to learn from their mistakes.
3. When your motivation is wrong for doing something - sometimes because of our past our motivation for giving is not because we love, but fear of losing love, fulfilling our needs. if your giving is not leading to joy but to depression or resentment you need to examine your motives.
In ending this blog I did want to leave a scripture that I believe is very appropriate to all that has happened this week and more than likely will continue for months, possibly years.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
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