GOOD to be Reminded!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Today's Special: Discouragement
Menu for today reads: "Today's Special: Discouragement"
Me: (Yuk!) "Discouragement, again! Really?!"
"One spoon full is tough enough to swallow, but breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Yesterday, today, and a heaping pile in the warmer for tomorrow?!"
* Root word of discouragement is... Courage: facing difficulty with bravery.
(Hmmm, did you notice that it does not state, "the absence of difficulty"?)
* Merriam-Webster defines dis·cour·age:
: to make (someone) less determined, hopeful, or confident
: to make (something) less likely to happen
: to try to make people not want to do (something)
* Merriam-Webster defines dis·cour·age:
: to make (someone) less determined, hopeful, or confident
: to make (something) less likely to happen
: to try to make people not want to do (something)
Me: "How about some fresh fruit? Uh, would you have any love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control?"
gentleness and self-control?"
Throw out "discouragement"; Refuse to serve or eat it.
Serve a fresh plate of ENCOURAGEMENT from you kitchen today.
SPEAK LIFE! "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue..." Proverbs 18:21
..............
I am reminded of when the people of Jericho only had HEARD about Joshua and the Israelites, servants of the Most High God. Before God's people march around Jericho and the walls came tumbling down...
Read how the words they had heard impacted them:
Joshua 2 Rahab Hides the Spies
Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
There is power in words. Speak Life.
GOOD to be reminded!
Monday, March 10, 2014
GOOD to be Reminded! I'm not grouchy by nature. It takes constant effort.
Translation: being grouchy is ... a choice.
Good to be reminded.
"Ouch!" There is so much raw truth in Maxine’s constant irreverent quips about life which are always highlighted by her crabby character. Unfortunately, her off the cuff quirky commits are usually followed by her unleashed thoughts on inappropriate topics. I intentionally avoid Maxine. I just never know what she is going to say next.
She obviously has never read the scripture Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Or, Proverbs 10:19, "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise." Hmmm, maybe she has read it and simply chooses to ignore it's instruction.
Guard your thoughts,
They become your words.
Guard your words,
They become your actions.
Guard your actions,
They become your habits.
Guard your habits,
They become your character.
Guard your character
for it will become your destiny.
Maxine reminds me so much of my own Grandmother, Levella Hamilton, my Daddy's mom. No, "Mawmaw" was not a crabby lady. Just the complete opposite. She was fun. A better description would be FUNNY. And, It really did't matter if anyone else in the room thought her comment was funny or not, she was going to roll over laughing herself. You just couldn't help laughing at her laughing at her own rascally remark. You never knew what she was going to say and I can guarantee she would make me laugh out load when I knew I should not.
Do you remember that TV commercial years ago, "WHERE'S THE BEEF?!"? Take a good look at the lady below on the right. And, be sure to take note of the one in shock in the middle, too.
Well, now imagine going to church on a Sunday morning with my family. The big red LTD is loaded with Daddy, Momma, three kids, Mawmaw (and you). First stop in route Daddy brings us to our Sunday morning big breakfast treat, McD's. :) We arrive at church. Coke, popcorn, donuts, family, and friends all greet us in the fellowship hall. Then, the whole family waddles in like ducks in a row to our pews. Service begins with prelude music and announcements, the choir makes their grand entrance, the entire church is singing hymns of praise, then the totally unexpected happens.
Mawmaw leans over and loudly whispers, "Look! "Where's the Beef" Lady is singing in our choir!!" Huh? What did you say? (Now Mawmaw is pointing through the couple in the next pew to the choir loft, right side) "Over there. There she is!" My sister Debbie and I finally make since of what Mawmaw just said, we make the mistake at looking at each other, and we both loose it. [Momma is sitting a few family members down the pew and gives all three of us the evil eye as to say without saying, "You three know better to be laughing, much less hysterically, during hymn singing. We know we were in trouble as soon as service ends, Mawmaw included...]. Debbie and I have song books hiding our own face and trying our best to not LOL. It just wasn't working too well.
My Aunt Lajuan is one pew behind curiously trying to figure out what is soooo funny. Mawmaw is all too anxious to share the news, Ignoring our attempts to hush her. Aunt Lajuan's reply, the same as ours,
Lajuan: (puzzled) Huh? What'd you say?
Mawmaw: (Still tickled trying to speak) "Look! "Where's the Beef" Lady is singing in our choir!!"
Lajuan: (not believing what she just heard) Where?
Mawmaw: (pointing): "In the choir!"
Lajuan: "Oh, My! It does look like her!"
Debbie, me, and Momma: (Struggling NOT to look at Mawmaw gawking nor look to the right side of the choir loft, just about choke to death trying to swallow our giggles!)
Bro. Randall did make it to the end of his sermon without calling us all down from the pulpit. I don't actually recall, but I am sure Mawmaw told him about the celebrity in the choir loft. I can hear him respectfully reply, "Hmm. Really? Interesting." No, I don't recall the message that day. But, I will laugh just as hard as if it just happened yesterday. Mawmaw could not wait for the Sundays that followed to see "Where's the Beef" Lady singing in our choir!!"
Note: Look at the picture, again. Growing up I thought the "Where's the Beef" Lady (on the phone) favored my own FUNNY Mawmaw Hamilton (Daddy's mom) always bringing laughter into our home. Mawmaw could have played her role just as well. The lady (holding her mouth in shock) reminds me so much of "Saint of saints" Granny Faye Landry (Momma's mom).
SUCH GRAND MEMORIES. I am abundantly blessed to have both characters so involved in my life.
Which character do you think is most like you?
[] Funny "Where's the Beef" Lady
[] "Saint of saints"
[] Clueless
[] Crabby Maxine
Would others agree?
"I'm not grouchy by nature. It takes constant effort." Being grouchy is ... a choice. Choose your words and character carefully.
GOOD to be Reminded!
Pamela
p.s. Do you have people that bring laughter into your own life? Do you Know a saint that is a prayer warrior that intentionally encourages you? Are you remembering a particular funny or awkward story? Share it with us! And, be sure to share it with your family.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
"LIKE!" Facebook.com/GOODtobeReminded
Hello! We have created a new facebook page to keep in touch with you ...
God's best,
Pamela
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
True or False? It takes 18 tons of pressure on a piano's strings for it to be tuned.
- That the average medium size piano has about 230 strings,
- each string having about 165 pounds of tension,
with the combined pull of all strings equaling approximately eighteen tons! *Uh, that's 37,950 pounds of tension! - The total string tension in a concert grand is close to Thirty Tons! *60,000 pounds of tension! (source: www.pianoworld.com/facts) my note written in red italics
So, actually ... it depends on the piano. It is TONS of pressure no matter what size of piano you are. Eighteen tons of pressure is applied on a "average medium size" piano.
"God will tune you to perfect harmony with heaven's theme if you will withstand the strain." "May we fear attempting to remove ourselves from the hands of His loving discipline due to our discouragement and doubt." ~ L.B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, daily devotional
Reflecting back, I have described my own life struggles to cause TONS of pressure and tension. However, when I think about all that pressure applied to very thin strings which is endured by a piano to enable the musician to orchestrate a symphony of songs and realizing an elephant weighs about two-tons, my pressures just got lighter. In my personal stretch of faith, I am still learning to surrender to the pressure of being tuned by God.
Yesterday, March 3rd, a precious friend celebrated another birthday in heaven.
Lettie Burd Cowman (March 3, 1870 – April 17, 1960) I treasure the letters she penned and left behind. 365 to be exact. Each exposing notes of wisdom and tidbits from various sermons, readings, writings, and poetry she had collected over the years along with personal struggles and triumphs that equipped her to press on. Oh, what encouragement each letter is to me! Lettie B. Cowman was the wife of Rev. Charles Cowman, founder of the Oriental Missionary Society. This organization was founded by Rev. Cowman for the purpose of evangelizing and setting up native ministries in Japan, Korea, China, and Formosa. They served as missionaries for 20 years.
For almost 26 years now, each morning my husband Darry and I pull out a letter from Lettie written for today. Each letter is always so perfectly fitting for our moment. I am amazed that someone I have not yet met face to face cared enough to leave letters to strengthen my personal daily walk and remind me of Jesus' unconditional love.
Yesterday, March 3rd, a precious friend celebrated another birthday in heaven.
Lettie Burd Cowman (March 3, 1870 – April 17, 1960) I treasure the letters she penned and left behind. 365 to be exact. Each exposing notes of wisdom and tidbits from various sermons, readings, writings, and poetry she had collected over the years along with personal struggles and triumphs that equipped her to press on. Oh, what encouragement each letter is to me! Lettie B. Cowman was the wife of Rev. Charles Cowman, founder of the Oriental Missionary Society. This organization was founded by Rev. Cowman for the purpose of evangelizing and setting up native ministries in Japan, Korea, China, and Formosa. They served as missionaries for 20 years.
For almost 26 years now, each morning my husband Darry and I pull out a letter from Lettie written for today. Each letter is always so perfectly fitting for our moment. I am amazed that someone I have not yet met face to face cared enough to leave letters to strengthen my personal daily walk and remind me of Jesus' unconditional love.
Real life gives us so many reasons for giving up. I am writing this note to encourage you, when the pressure seems more than you can stand - throw on the praise music and just stand.
- "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
GOOD to be reminded!
God's best,
Pamela
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