Number Your Days

Each time a senseless tragedy occurs as it did this week, we are reminded that we never know when our days here on earth will be over. I know people who were going to see the Batman movie that night had no idea it could be their last night on earth. For many people, it was their last night. In light of that, I chose to share a short devotion by Joel Osteen in his little book called Your Best Life Begins Each Morning.

"So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12 NKJV

OUR TIME HERE ON EARTH Is so short. What a shame it would be to allow something that happened in the past to ruin one more day. If you get stuck in a traffic jam, which you can't undo, know that God is still in control. If somebody offends you, your attitude should be. I'm not going to let it sour the rest of my day. No, I'm traveling light; I'm not going to carry any extra burdens.

        I've made up my mind to do my best to enjoy every single day. I may make mistakes, things may not always go my way, I may  be disappointed at times, but I've made a decision that I'm not going to allow what does or doesn't happen to me steal my joy and keep me from God's abundant life. - Joel Osteen

As important as it may be to not let anything or anyone steal or joy, there is something that is far more important. How we spend our time here on earth will affect where we spend eternity. Our years here on earth are at best very very short. And eternity is ― well, FOREVER. Most of us spend way too much time figuring out ways to make our life here more pleasant and too little time thinking about and planning for eternity. .... Just something to think about. ... Seriously ...

If you have not visited Spiritual Sundays, I hope you will go there and discover links to many inspirational posts. 

You can click HERE to go there.

54 YEARS

Here we are — 54 years ago. Of course there have been ups and downs as in any marriage or in any relationship for that matter. But we are growing old together and I think we're just about there (old).  Thank you, God, and thank you Clif for a great 54 years. Our kids took us to Hawaii to celebrate our 50th. Our daughter says they are talking about taking us back for our 60th. Wow, I like that idea. Besides blessing us with each other, God has blessed us with a wonderful daughter and  a wonderful son. In fact, we have been blessed in so many ways that I couldn't even begin to count them.

I'm glad God instituted marriage. Here are a few scriptures on that subject. 

1. Genesis 2:24
   That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
   Genesis 2:23-25 (in Context) Genesis 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Matthew 19:5
   and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ?
   Matthew 19:4-6 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Mark 10:7
   ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
   Mark 10:6-8 (in Context) Mark 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Ephesians 5:31
   “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
   Ephesians 5:30-32 (in Context) Ephesians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

You really cannot improve on God's plan although people do keep trying to change it. 

I posted the following video/book a couple of years ago but thought I'd share it again. 

God Bless America?

Patriotism is being displayed in the United States this week as flags will be flying all over the place in celebration of our independence. Americans have been celebrating since way back in 1776. There are some in our country now though, who think we should not honor this day, or the flag. Seems it is getting more popular with the PC crowd (and I don't mean personal computer) to want to do away with any displays of allegiance to America. Who would have ever thought that saying the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools would ever be challenged? They managed to take the Bible and God out of our public schools. Next it will probably be against the law to display the American flag in our classrooms. After all, it might offend somebody. Well, I know someone who is terribly offended, and the liberal left couldn't care less. That someone is me. I am offended that in order to keep from offending one person that thousands, and probably millions, like me are offended.

Back to the title of this post. My opinion is that God has blessed America like He has blessed no other country in the history of the world. He has blessed America because it was founded on the principles found in His book. He was acknowledged in our government. He was acknowledged in our schools, in our homes and in our churches and synagogues. In God We Trust has been our national motto. Now I'm wondering, "Is God withdrawing his blessings from America?" I was impressed with the response that Billy Graham's daughter Anne Lotz made after 9/11. When asked why she thinks God would allow something like this to happen, Lotz replied, "I say God is also angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we're sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it." I certainly agree with her. I hope America wakes up before it's too late. If we want God to bless America, America had better start blessing God.