"Time is a fixed income and, as with any income, the real problem facing most of us is how to live successfully within our daily allotment.” Margaret B. Johnstone
I heard a woman who had recovered from a serious illness say she lives each day not pondering the day before or worrying about the next day. Each day was a blessing just to be alive and she was going to fill it with all that she could fit in. It made me rethink procrastinating. 'Someday' may never come. Her words inspired me and I went home and checked out my to-do list. The first thing I realized was, my list had been prioritized by what was the most urgent (which task had the nearest deadline) instead of the most important, I rewrote the list and then immediately tacked the item at the top of the list. Do you have a to-do list that plagues you; steeling your peace of mind? Is your 'Bucket List' not likely to ever see this light of day? What important task will you do today that will bring you both peace of mind and a sense of satisfaction? Lord, remind me how good it feels to accomplish something of worth, and help me become more disciplined. Amen “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Margaret B. Johnstone (1899-1968), an American author that published two books on how to care for people in their homes after suffering a stroke, and how to regain normal movement following a stroke.
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"When disappointment or tragedy or suffering strikes, we have a decision to make: will we turn away from God, or will we turn toward Him? Will we refuse His help, or will we seek it?” Billy GrahamAll my friends were getting married. I was a bridesmaid in two weddings that summer. The old saying, ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’ was hitting a little too close to home for me. I was about to break-up with the man I had been dating for four years, our relationship never having moved beyond good friends, when he surprised me with a proposal. I accepted. This decision began a stomach ache which lasted for several months.
As the wedding day approached, thanks to God's repeated roadblocks and sleepless nights, I began to realize I was stubbornly forcing my will onto the situation, expecting God to bless it. In my desire to be married I had been trying to ignore God. This was my turning point. Would I follow my desire to be a married woman, or would I believe God's will for my life was the best plan? Needless to say I called it off ten days before the wedding. Not surprisingly my stomach ache stopped and I slept for eight hours straight for the first time in months. I had peace—mentally, physically and spiritually—for the first time in a long time.
Lord, thank You for saving me from my own bad decisions and for helping me find my way back to peace of mind, body and soul. Amen
“Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: William Franklin “Billy” Graham (1918- ), an American evangelical Christian evangelist best known for leading over 400 crusades. He has preached the gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity. The Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) has also shared Christ through radio and television programs, magazines, newspaper columns, online discipleship program, and over 130 movies. Billy Graham retired in 2005 at the age of 87. "Failure is part of the process. It's an opportunity to start over again more wisely." Daymond JohnRejection. I hate the word. It’s without a doubt my greatest fear. Yet, I write. In the life of a writer—if you ever want to get published—the first, most important, lesson to learn is to face rejection. Stare it in the face, and move on. Once I was asked to turn in a story by the senior editor of a major magazine. He asked me to send it directly to his personal email. After a month of tweaking it a hundred times (not an exaggeration), I submitted it. Since it was a story about veterans I made sure to get it in by April so it might appear in the November issue…Veterans Day being November 11th. He acknowledged the receipt of my article but then I heard nothing. When the November issue came out I looked for the article thinking maybe they just forgot to notify me that they were going to publish it. But there, as big as life, was a veterans article by Elizabeth Dole on her organization that supports veterans' spouses. I tried to comfort myself with the idea that if I had to lose out, at least it was to a celebrity…a celebrity that had started a much needed organization. But it really wasn’t much comfort. All my rationalizing still spelled ‘rejection’ down deep where it eats at my insides. I wanted to cancel my subscription so I wouldn’t have to look at the magazine every month, but my husband enjoyed reading it. Given time I was eventually able to resume writing and submitting. Then out of nowhere I got an email from this editor. They were planning to publish my article in May for their Memorial Day issue. The sting of rejection melted into the warmth of acceptance. This was when I was reminded of the second most important lesson for writers: Patience. Putting aside the warmth for a minute, I revisited the wound of rejection. I had to remind myself that rejection is just part of the process...whether I were to get the second email or not. The scar tissue from my original wound made me stronger; with a greater resolve to believe in myself, to practice my craft, to boldly write, and courageously submit…to again love the life of a writer.
Note: Daymond John (1969- ), an American businessman, investor, television personality, author, consultant, and motivational speaker. He’s best known as the founder, president, and CEO of FUBU (For Us, By Us, a rapper clothing line), and regularly appears on the ABC reality series Shark Tank.
"I cannot ascertain the spiritual with my intellect. I can only do it by my own faith and spiritual faculties. I must think of God more with my heart than with my head.” Unknown“Why can’t he understand? The Bible is clear on the description of Jesus and how He saved us,” said my father. He was a new believer. He’d been reading his Bible and was sharing with me his burden for an old friend to come to know Jesus personally.
miracles, rising from the dead, ascending into heaven. It only makes sense when we view God as deity.
experience that His mercy, forgiveness, help in times of trouble, and comfort in times of sorrow seem to be more appealing to those who are searching for God, because they are more relateable attributes.
Do you have friends that challenge you to explain spiritual things? Are you trying to rationalize things in the spiritual realm? What will you say next time someone is interested in knowing more about your faith and beliefs? "We might all try minding our own business." C.S. Lewis (spoken by the professor in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Lewis’ children’s story The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. In a recently plotted BBC miniseries, Berkeley Square, one of the 1895 era characters said, “Mend what needs mending, and don’t cry over spilled milk.” In other words, fix what you can, but if not, forget it. The ‘mind your own business’ theme goes back much farther than Lewis. Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a prayer in the early 1930’s popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step groups. The Serenity Prayer begins with, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
My favorite would have to be Mother Goose. But to be honest I most often pray the excerpt from the Serenity Prayer, focusing on the third part, “...the wisdom to know the difference." And, when God shows me the difference and I succeed in making the choice to let go of things that don’t concern me….well, there you have it, I find I’m a happier person. Is there someone or something you are trying to control that is not really your business? Have you faithfully taken action on the things that only you can do? What steps will you take today to turn stress into serenity, and improve your happiness quotient? Lord, save me from the temptation of thinking I know just how to orchestrate someone else’s life, when really I’m still learning how to live my own life without regrets. Amen “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands,…so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” I Thessalonians 4:11-12 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, lay theologian, lecturer and Christian apologist. He held academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities (1925-63). Although most all of his published works (in four genres) are still in print, he is best known for The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain.
Schiller) (1759-1805), German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. Late in life Schiller co-authored Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems, with his friend Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Note: W.W. Bartley (unknown), British author, one of dozens of authors and poets who wrote children’s stories, nursery rhymes, poems, plays, and pantomimes around the theme of Mother Goose. Note: Epictetus (50-135 AD), Greek-speaking philosopher, born in Turkey but lived in Rome and Greece. His pupil, Arrian, published his Discourses and Enchiridion. He was best known for his philosophy that individuals are responsible for their own actions. |
WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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