Learning Lessons

We can all learn lessons from playing
or watching a sport on Television.

I have heard opinions from some it

doesn't matter what the score is if

your team is shutout. Other words

what is the difference losing 1-0

or 10-0.  

I think there is a difference in those

two scores. The 1-0 game you had

a chance to win though the other

team was just a little better. In the

10-0 game you had no chance.

I believe you can learn something

from the 1-0 game. If it is baseball

you can learn about a better job 

against the same pitcher next time

or how you can score runs when 

you are having trouble with hits or 

scoring. The 10-0 game you just 

say it was one of these days. 

Teams will look at video to see

what they can do better next time

when they lose or even if they win.

Watching a game we may learn 

what the players could do better

as well.

I figure at the very least we can 

learn life lessons. We can do the

same at the end of the day. What

could we have done to make the

day better than it was and go out

the next day and try it. Go Us!

Amen!

Up Early

My brother doesn't like waking up
early on the weekend. I have to say
it is a tough thing to do.

I am sure most people wake up on

Saturday as they do during the work

week. The key do you go back to 

sleep.

I have gotten up early for years so

stay the same for me. Good time

to get some things done before the

day begins.

I do my writing early in the morning

and I am able to think and pray before

going out.

The weather continues to be really

nice this week. On Thursday I bought

a new jacket for the spring and summer.

Being positive and grateful are to thinks

to work on early in the morning too.

Whatever you do today be blessed.

Amen!

Lost Phone

On Thursday I lost my phone so I
had to get a new replacement.

The new phone is better than the

old phone and it isn't really costing

me anymore on how I updated my

account.

What I don't like is wasting time

especially it is my own fault. I was

talking to a gal with two small

children then I showed her picture

of my grandniece Ellie on the

phone screen. That was the last

I know about having the phone.

When I got home I realized the

phone wasn't in my coat pocket

and not in the car. I borrowed my

roommate's phone to call to see

if I could hear it and no success.

I went back to the store first seeing

if it is in the parking lot where I

had parked. Not there so went into

the store to lost and phone. There

was a similar phone but not mine.

I went and got another phone as

a replacement. I don't have insurance

however it was OK. They ask if I

wanted to add insurance on the account.

I said no. I just have to be sure that

I don't lose this one in the next year

or at least six months.

Make me wonder about hearing from

God. Not a big wonder but I can hear

about what is happening in others live

and give them their original design or

what is called here their life purpose.

There might be a time I will find out

about the lost phone or God wanted 

to bless me with a new phone and how

to deal with frustration along with 

wasting time. 

I am sure I am not the only one in

this whole world who deals with

frustration in this way. So how do

you deal with frustration. I hope 

better than I do. I hope you are

encouraged today. Amen!

Spring Weather

The last couple days we have had good
spring weather, however, we will see
even high temperatures over the next
week here in Western Washington.

We are expecting temperatures in the

low 70s. I don't think there is not a

more beautiful place in the world

when it is like this. The problem

it isn't like this during the winter.

Everyone's attitude changes when

we have this weather that is for sure.

At the coffee shop a lot of people 

will be able to sit outside.

The schools are on break this week

so made the perfect time for that too.

With covid I am sure families are not

traveling like they are used to. May

go somewhere in the state.

I will pray that God will provide you

with his blessings along with the love

he has for you. Amen!

                                  An older picture but shows what it is like

                                  when we have sunny weather. 

Day By Day

Every day we live our life of purpose. It
is who we are. It is the reason we live and
have our being.

We share our gifts to others. I find it is

important that we encourage others, even

if it isn't our primary gift. 

One word of encourage to another can 

change their life forever. All the gifts

we have is to encourage others.

How I encourage others most likely 

different than how you encourage,

however, the point is we do it.

So today find even one person to 

encourage. I hope your gifts will

be a part of it. The person you give

encouragement will remember you

forever. Thanks and Amen!

Frustration

I don't know about you, however, I don't
like being frustrated. This happened to me
yesterday and this morning.

I gave a gift card to a friend. They message

me the card had already was redeemed. I 

found out to get customer service or support

you have to do it on line. 

I got hold of a so called "expert" however,

they not only couldn't solve the issue they

couldn't even help me. 

I did not have an account which I didn't

want to have, however, I had to create

account anyway. 

Other words I had to an account up. They

don't have a phone number to call at all.

I submitted the code which came back it

cannot be redeemed so I had to submit

an order through support along with a

photo of the card.

Something that should have only taken a

 few minutes to resolve took a couple hours.

 No longer going to purchase another of that

  gift card. I am sure you understand. I just 

hope to get a refund.

I wonder they realize their system how do

they expect to get new customers especially

if they can't activate a card the first time

try.

Now I go on with my day having faith 

everything will work out. Again no use

of that gift card company. Thanks for 

reading my frustration. I am sure everyone

has gone through this on several occasions.

Beginning of another week

I woke up this morning feeling I need to
make a change in my life. Actually God
was going to make the change in my life.

We all have issues in our lives that can

actually be changed especially when they

are reveled to us. In my case, I said I would

never get heavy like others I have seen. 

Turned out I have primarily because of 

my heart. 

Often we all put curses in our lives whether

how we are or can be. In this case I came

against the curse of obesity. Now I will do

what I can and leave the rest to God.

I know this isn't the only curse I have put

on myself like we all experienced so I look

for more revelation in this area. I ask you do

the same as well. Our lives can change when

we take off curses willing or not willing we

made. A major thing is to forgive yourself 

for doing so. Amen! 

Standing on our identity

I was thinking about one of my friends
mentioning on social media not trusting
God like we should. Not giving our life

over to him.

There are several reasons for that among

them is our identity. We don't know our 

identity in Christ or in ourselves. 

I have to say most people care about

what other people think about them.

It goes all the way back when we were

kids trying to figure all things out. It was

important to be liked by others and if we

not popular with the other kids made it

really difficult.

So this is why important to know our

own identity and the love God has for 

us. We should realize it really isn't that

important what other people think about

us as much as what God thinks of us and

he thinks of us a whole lot.

Let's take today and think about that. What

should be important to us. In our nature we

do care what others think so we have to 

change around believing what God thinks

about us. Amen!

Remembering Camp Fires

This morning came to my mind how much
going to the coffee shop reminds me of
camp fires.

The guys I chat with at the coffee shop

tell stories of the past or current affairs.

Made me think of sitting by the camp fires.

Most of the camp fires I was involved in

was as a youth in boy scouts. Every 

summer for four years we would go on

a 50 mile hike in the Olympic Mountains.

Each August we would be out hiking for

about ten days. 

We hiked a different trail each year. We

had two extra days for hiking jut in case

it rained which it usually did. Those days

we would spend in a cabin or have covering

where would not get rain on us. We would

spend the day playing cards after and between

meals. 

Depending on how much it was raining often

a few of us would go down to the river to see

if we could see any fish. Most of these days

where we rested away from the rain we would

not see anyone coming by on the trail.

During meals we would sit by the camp fire

hearing stories from the adults about their

experiences hiking. These stories would make

us laugh. Now I hear similar stories at the

coffee shop. What a great way to spend time.

Get On Board

Early every morning a train goes by that I
can hear if I am awake that is. I happened
to hear it this morning. A train does go
several times a day, however, early morning
is when I really hear it. Not really loud at
least for me.

This reminded me that God's train comes

along every day several times asking people

to get on board. I know it isn't scriptural 

based in the Bible but a good med fore. 

One of our purposes is let people know 

about Jesus Christ. He loves us and is

here available for us any time of the day.

They should get on board today. We are

never promised another day besides today.

Our job is not to cram it down their throat

but to let them know Jesus is available

right now for them regardless what is 

going on in their lives. Jesus has the  ticket

take it from him and your life will change.

Amen!

April Showers

We have all heard "April Showers bring
May flowers".

So far here in Western Washington we

haven't had a lot of rain the first week

of April. In fact less than an half of

inch. Of course  that can change.

I always look forward to May; in

particular because my birthday is

in May. Of course, the older you

get don't want count birthdays any

longer or May can take it's time to

get here.

The older we get health issues do

creep in. Last night at a church

home meeting a gentlemen having

health issues said his days are 

numbered. H doesn't think he

has much time left. We told him

all our days are numbered. We

just don't  know when the number

ends. 

Life as we know brings struggles

the point is how do with deal with

it all. I figure I was blessed surviving

a fire when I was four years old

every day now is a blessing. My

time like everyone else's will end

however, enjoy each day and be

a blessing to others. All we can

do for sure. 

The April showers may come but

let's be the May flowers to others.

Amen!

Wake Up With Motivation

When we wake up in the morning our main
motivation is making money. It is how the
world works we have to use money to do
anything.

Another motivation is helping others or in

Christian terms our ministry. Most of our

gifts will deal with making money and 

helping others. Your job likely is or was

something that motivated you with your

talent and gifting. This works with both

work and helping others.

So if you are still trying to figure out 

your life purpose well the answer is

probably your work and what you do

to help others. Yes our ministry is 

helping others to. 

I know my primary gifting is to encourage

others with humor thrown in. I enjoy

using humor whenever I can. Humor

will make people feel better and make

them feel comfortable as well. 

So whether at work or play let your

gifting be working at all times. Actually

I am sure it is working right now even

if you do not realize it because it is You!

How To Start The Day

I figure to start the day we should begin
with examining ourselves. What I am
mean is how are we going to improve
our lives and be a better person.

I know there are those out here who say

or at least that others are judging them.

I am not sure that is happening or not

and if they are judging you what difference

does it make.

Being judged by someone are they a friend

or someone you seen once in a while at the

coffee shop.  

A friend judging you may not be a bad thing.

The importance are they judging you with

love and wanting you to be a better person.

Maybe they see flaws in you that you don't

see or don't want to acknowledge. This could

be a good thing. 

A friend judging you with the wrong motive

then maybe you should be looking for a new

friend.

I am sure there are those who judge me on a

regular basis but I don't really know them at 

all. Maybe they don't like me because of my

hair or what clothes I wear or something totally

different. I figure I won't please everyone.

So let's get back to examining ourselves. There

are things we can do to improve us. It could be

what we wear or how we act. Important thing

are you living as yourself or trying to be someone

others will like. I would go for the first. The 

point is not everyone is going to like us. 

Anyway that is today's encourage for us all to

hear and let's see how it goes today then tomorrow

we examine ourselves on how it went. Amen!