SPIRITUAL SUNDAY- MORE DEVINE MOMENTS

JOY

My Questions for God

If God promises me joy, does that mean I'll always be happy? What if I don't feel happy?

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A Moment with God

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice!. . .I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4: 4,12

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2

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God does not promise constant happiness. In fact, the Bible assures us that problems will come because of the fallen world in which we live. But God does promise lasting joy is possible despite your problems because you know that God is with you to help you though them and that someday He will take them all away. You can have lasting joy even when you have temporary unhappiness. This is what it means to live with an eternal perspective. Those who discover this secret to joy never let problems get the best of them because they can see that a problem is just another opportunity to learn, grow stronger, and ultimately be more successful. This also inspires those they lead to find ways to overcome problems rather than be discouraged by them. Joy can change everyone's perspective on problems that interfere with happiness. When that happens, it can truly be a divine moment!

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Divine Promise

THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP WILL BE RADIANT WITH JOY; NO SHADOW OF SHAME WILL DARKEN THEIR FACES. . . .TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD. OH, THE JOYS OF THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM! Psalm 34: 5, 8 NLT

It is the last day of January and I am looking forward to Spring! Thank you to sister Charlotte and sister Ginger for gathering so many of us in one place to worship, share and bless each other. To see more Spiritual Sunday posts go HERE.

SHINE YOUR SINK - REALLY!

What you will need: household bleach, steel wool pads, (if you have a porcelain sink use baking soda instead of steel wool), window cleaner and lemon oil or olive oil.

First you will need to fill your sink with HOT water to the rim. Pour 1 cup bleach into the hot water and let it sit for 1 hour. Then, pull the plug with a pair of tongs, if you don't have tongs, take some of the water out taking care not to get bleach water on your clothes and reach in with your hand to pull the plug. Rinse well.

Rinse your sink well!!! This is a very important step as combining bleach with any product containing ammonia can cause dangerous gases to form which can be very harmful.

Use some baking soda and scrub sink. Again, rinse well!! Then use window cleaner to brighten and use a tiny bit of lemon oil or olive oil to shine and protect the surface.

FOR STAINLESS STEEL SINKS:

After soaking in bleach, rinse well and use any steel wool product (I used S.O.S. pads) to shine and buff your sink. I know, I know the sink manufacturer will tell you this is a no no and on brand new sinks I would agree...but my sink is going on 13 years old and has many scratches that the steel wool pads can buff out and make the finish look "almost new" again!

Then use the windex (again after rinsing well) to shine the sink. For the last step, use lemon oil or olive oil (I didn't have lemon oil) - just a spot on a dry cloth or paper towel will do - and you will be amazed how your sink looks! This really doesn't take a whole lot of energy and only about 1 1/2 hours total with the 1 hour bleaching process.

TA DA! Look at that sink gleam!

But I have to fess up and say that this was not my idea...I found it at http://www.thenester.com/ and she got it from http://www.flylady.net/ but anywhichway I found it - it is a great idea and very easy to do. Now that you have this shiny new-looking sink you will become just as obsessed with keeping it as d-r-y and shiny as I have! (grinning!) This is my first attempt at a tutorial and may very well be my last! Ha!

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

For Christmas, a dear friend gave me "Unshaken" by Francine Rivers, the story of Ruth. While it is a fictionalized version, Rivers remains true to the facts given in Scripture. Another book I received for Christmas is called "Know Your Bible" - All 66 Books Explained and Applied*. It includes "...brief surveys of all sixty-six Bible books. Each summarizes what that book is about -- always within the context of God's love and concern for people."

Here is what it says concerning the book of Ruth:

AUTHOR
Not stated, some suggest Samuel.

DATE
Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David (who reigned approximately 1010 -970BC), probably lived around 1100 BC.

IN TEN WORDS OR LESS
Loyal daughter-in-law pictures God's faithfulness, love, and care.

DETAILS, PLEASE
Ruth, a Gentile woman, marries into a Jewish family. When all of the men of the family die, Ruth shows loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, staying with her and scavenging food to keep them alive. As Ruth gleans barley in a field of the wealthy Boaz, he takes an interest in her and orders his workers to watch over her. Naomi recognizes Boaz as her late husband's relative and encourages Ruth to pursue him as a "kinsman redeemer," one who weds a relative's widow to continue a family line. Boaz marries Ruth, starting a prominent family.

QUOTABLE
Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. (1:16)

UNIQUE AND UNUSUAL
Ruth, from the pagan land of Moab, married a Jewish man and became the great-grandmother of Israel's greatest king, David - - and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

SO WHAT?
We can trust God to provide what we need, when we need it - - and to work out our lives in ways that are better than we ever imagined.

*"From Know Your Bible, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission."

I am so blessed by the friends who nurture me and care for me and I am blessed to be part of the Spiritual Sunday community and all the people who post every Sunday their thoughts, prayers and songs. Thank you to Sister Charlotte and Sister Ginger who bring us all together. To see more Spiritual Sunday posts go HERE

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another.

-William Law

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The function of prayer is to set God at the center of attention.

-Albert Edward Day

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Prayer is the world in tune.

-Henry Vaughan

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THREE THINGS

I know three things must always be

To keep a nation strong and free:

One is a hearthstone bright and dear

With busy, happy loved ones near;

One is a ready heart and hand

To love and serve and keep the land;

One is a worn and beaten way

To where the people go to pray.

So long as these are kept alive,

Nation and people will survive;

God, keep them always, everywhere --

The home, the heart, the place of prayer.

-Author unknown

These thoughts on prayer are from a book called "Words of Life" published by Harper & Row in 1966, edited by Charles L. Wallis.

To see more Spiritual Sunday posts hosted by Sister Charlotte and Sister Ginger go HERE.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY - THE CARDS AND ANSWERED PRAYER

It was just two Christmas cards a few days before Christmas, unexpected, yet treasured. Sometimes God answers prayers in the most ordinary ways. When I saw the return address on the cards, my breath caught in my throat...Paradise Manor it said...my parents are in the same nursing facility in another state and have been since 2004. Both need specialized care as Mother is 88 and has Parkinson's and Dad is 89 and has Alzheimer's.

I pray for them every day and my prayer is always the same, "Lord, please Bless and keep Mother and Dad and let the people who care for them be gentle and kind."

Well, without some kind soul taking the time to bring in the cards, helping Mom and Dad sign them, finding my address on Mom's bulletin board (I send a card every week), writing out the address, paying the postage and mailing the cards, there isn't anyway my parents could have sent anything!

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

-1 John 5:14-15, NJKV

Oh, did I mention two cards? The second card Dad wanted sent to his brother, Bill. My Uncle Bill passed away about 15 years ago. That's when the tears started...

Thank you to Charlotte and Ginger for allowing us to gather here for our Spiritual Sunday posts.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

THINKING POSITIVE THOUGHTS

Think of the things that make you happy,

Not the things that make you sad;

Think of the fine and true in man-

kind,

Not its sordid side and bad;

Think of the blessings that

surround you,

Not the ones that are denied;

Think of the virtues of your friend-

ships,

Not the weak and faulty side.

Think of the gains you've made in

business,

Not the losses you've incurred;

Think of the good of you that's

spoken,

Not some cruel, hostile word;

Think of the days of health and

pleasure,

Not the days of woe and pain;

Think of the days alive with sun-

shine,

Not the dismal days of rain.

Think of the hopes that lie before

you,

Not the waste that lies behind;

Think of the treasures you have

gathered,

Not the ones you've failed to

find;

Think of the service you may

render,

Not of serving self alone;

Think of the happiness of others,

And in this you'll find your own!

-Robert E. Farley

Here we are in 2010, another year is before us! I resolve to think positive thoughts - how about you?

Thank you to our gracious hosts of Spiritual Sunday, Charlotte and Ginger and to see more Spiritual Sunday posts please go HERE.