Thought of the Day-May 29th, 2009

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

"Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

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 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 rest.
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 down thoughts and inspirations.
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 not yourself 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)

Thought of the Day-May 28th, 2009

In 2007 I received this from a friend and I felt that it is a good reminder for today. I don't know who wrote it, but I do know it is from God to you....

Ten Guidelines From God

Effective Immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines

1. QUIT WORRYING: Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST: Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME: Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster ? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE: Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME: I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH: I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continu e to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE: You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT: I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND: Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all.. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.


10. LOVE YOURSELF: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget......

Thought of the Day-May 27th, 2009

So I am back to the rat race. It has been a great vacation, but things are quite busy getting back to the office. My brother Andre' the last of the Robinson's graduated on May 21st. I was so excited, the anticipation, then sometimes you just have to see it to believe it. So he did graduate....

The journey for him has only just begun and he like many of his classmates don't have a clue as to what lies ahead. In thinking about my brother and other young graduates I think about investing, what is it that I can contribute, input, impart that will help them not to stumble on the same potholes of life.

So todays Blog is dedicated to your words of wisdom... Please leave a comment with your suggestions.

My suggestion to my brother and other graduates is to use credit wisely, that if you can't pay for it, don't get it. Credit is so important to ones future, where one will live and how one will live, so it is vital that it is used wisely.

Comments please....

Thought of the Day-May 26th, 2009

Leave the Way Open-Joel Olsteen Ministries
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord"(Romans 12:19, AMP).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
We all go through situations where we’re not being treated fairly. Maybe somebody is talking behind your back or trying to make you look bad, maybe you were overlooked for a promotion or cheated in a business deal. When we’re being mistreated, the natural thing is to try to defend ourselves and set the record straight. Human nature wants to get even and get revenge. But the scripture says, “Vengeance is Mine… says the Lord.” That means God wants to make your wrongs right. He wants to pay you back for every unfair thing that has happened. He is a God of justice.

Notice what today’s scripture says: you can either avenge yourself or you can let God be your avenger, but you can’t have it both ways. If you take matters into your own hands, then God is going to step back and say, “Go ahead, do it your way. Looks like you don’t need My help.” But on the other hand, if we choose to stay on the high road and say, “No, I’m going to let God be my avenger and trust God to bring justice into my life”, then you are leaving the way open for God to move mightily on your behalf!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You asking that You be my vindicator. I choose to release all those who have hurt me and every wrong done to me. Fill me with your peace and love. I trust that You are working on my behalf, and I look for Your goodness in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Thought of the day-May 22, 2009

Good morning all! I am filling in for Angela this morning while she is away celebrating a graduation.

Today's verse is from Galatians, as I have recently been studying and memorizing from this book and have been encouraged by it in many ways.

Galatians 6: 9-10.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."


This verse has always been difficult to follow because I very easily become weary in doing good. When other don't recognize the good things I do, or when someone hurts me and I want to hurt them back, it is hard to follow the words of Paul in his letter to the Galatians. But God has called me continue doing good and promises that he will recognize my choice to do what is right.

Today, my hope is that the words of Paul will encourage you to continue doing good even when it is difficult. And I pray that you will see the harvest of not giving up.

~Ally L.

Though of the Day-May 21st, 2009

William Shakespeare said:

... Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,

that looks on tempests and is never shaken.

My husband and I live next to an older couple. Quite ironically that I have ties to the neighbor from my home town, I know his younger siblings, I recognized his face, but don't remember him because of our age difference. Anyway we (my husband and I) have been learning things bit by bit from our neighbor. Church, that's what I call him, as his last name is Churchill. Anyway Church has been teaching us landscaping tricks to make our lawn look picture perfect.

Now for weeks we had admired the look, the feel, the beauty of their lawn. My husband and I would talk about it daily of how we too wanted our lawn to look that way. I went over one evening after work and I told Mrs. Church, I have got to know what it is you did to get your lawn to look so picture perfect. Mrs. Church called Church to the room so he could begin to tell me what he did to nuture his lawn. He went into detail about how the lawn companies had just come out weeks before and treated lawns in the area. He said that is how he knew it was time to treat his as well. Church told me what to buy, I bought the item, then I went to tell Church that I had the goods, then he showed me (did not do it for me) how to apply it properly to my yard.

There were several steps, we had to treat the lawn, then we had to either water it, or pray for rain, we watered a little here and there, but mostly prayed for rain. Being that it was April we were guaranteed April showers. As I was a doubter I must mention that we only treated the front yard to see what would happen. Not even a week later we were treating the back yard because we wanted it to look as nice as the front yard.

So I was saying all this to comment on the landscaping took hard work, it took nurturing, it took time and it took both of us working together. It took my talking to Church to find out what he did, then I applied the substance to the yard, my husband applied the landscaping bricks and watered, then cut the yard in the right timing.

Marriage is much like the process that we went through with our yard. We researched what information we needed to be successful. We then applied that information, along with hard work, and continue to nuture the area, there is upkeep that must be done. Living and sharing your life with another individual brings about change, change in you, change in the environment and change in the other person. In order for you to have that internal strength that shows on the outside as a picture perfect reflection of Christ in you, you must nuture your marriage. It takes work, it requires upkeep, you both have to bring to the table your best.

I encourage you this day to research, to apply what you learn, to then nuture that area, finally maintain your marriage with daily upkeep.

Thought of the Day-May 20th, 2009

Today we will walk in Love...

If we love one another; God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12

As I look back over my life of 37 years, I think about love. Love has followed me and love has carried me in many ways. The childhood love that I had for Father figures that betrayed me, to the awesome love of a Heavenly Father that provided provision and protection. If it weren't for God loving me so, I don't even want to think where I might be. I thank him for his protection and direction, because so many people that I grew up with had to endure storms without knowing their purpose. I have had my storms as well, but I have always pressed forward, I was always able to see the sun (son).

When you grow up in a community where you are in the group that does not have much money, but always had what you needed, people poked fun at you. People would point out any imperfections that they could see, your hair is not long enough, your clothes aren't from the finest stores and you are awkwardly tall and skinny. My name is not olive oil, nor the jolly green giant, but they called me that anyway. When the streets treat you so mean, you retreat into yourself, you feel self-conscience. Where do you turn? Do you try to fit in? You're already on the outside. So you turn to church to positive moments in your life and you find your freedom, you find love...

In my life because of my childhood I have had difficulty fitting in, showing love, sometimes looking for love in all the wrong places. What saved me? The love of Christ. No... Yes really... Reading in his word how relationships are suppose to be, fitting in with him and being told that you are somebody special because God loves you. Finding forgiveness and peace with my past. And not for one moment would I trade any experience, be it bad, be it good. Why? Because that changes Angela, my nature, my personality, my character and I am not willing to risk losing Angela.

Not all people are easy to love. But if god lives in us, we must show love. I think about my daughter, she makes it very difficult to love her. When we focus on loving the person, and hating the sin/behavior then it changes things. We are able to love without enabling the behavior. Loving her is going to make me into the Mature Woman that I am called to be, an example to her, myself and other women.

A closing prayer by Frederick Meyer seems to sum up today's thought.

Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my-story with you.

Forgive us if this day if we have done or said anything

to increase the pain of the world.

Pardon the judgemental attitude, the unkind word,

the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed,

the failure to show sympathy

and kindly help where we had the opportunity,

but missed it.

Amen