Joy in the Morning
 
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.        Hebrews 13s:16
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Hello Blessed Friend,
            I pray that you woke this morning with a song in your heart and that the bluebird of happiness appears to rest upon your shoulder.  Go ahead, check it out.  That bird is there if you choose to see it.  I have learned over many years that even in times of stress, there is always something for which to be grateful.  You have enough.  Enough love.  Enough energy. Enough space.   Enough stuff.   In fact, you have just the right amount for today—enough to share.  Don’t think so?  Listen to the words of Jesus found in Luke 6:30, “Give and it shall be given unto you:  good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give to you.  For with the same measure that you give, it shall be measured out to you in return.”
            Friends, all too often I see people grabbing for more.  More stuff.  More electronics.  More money.  Bigger homes.   And as I see it, that stuff won’t fill your heart.   Stop this moment and ask yourself this question, “When is enough, enough?”  Also think about, “What can I share? What can I give away?”  Jim and I have never lived in a mansion, but we have opened our door to foster children, a homeless woman from Poland, a cousin with 2 kids, and numerous friends of our sons who were in transition and needed a place to roost.  There is always room at our inn.  No one is ever turned away.  And we have been abundantly blessed.  We have always received much more than we gave.  God is true to His promises.  If you want to be abundantly blessed, share what you currently possess.  Your heart will be bursting full, to the full and overflowing with love.  Give it a try this week.
                                    Sharing God’s wonderful secret to a full and satisfying life.                                                                                                                                  Linda

​Joy in the Morning
 
Hello Brave Prayerful Friend,
            The prayer that I send you last week can be life-changing if you sincerely pray the words and let them find a home in your heart:
Dear God,
Where would you have me go,
What would you have me do,                                                                                                                                 what would you have me say and to whom?
 
            It takes great courage to utter this prayer.   Are you sincerely ready to go where God would have you go?  A friend of mine prayed this prayer and ended up in the Dominican living amongst the poorest of the poor.  Another friend found herself in the Middle East ministering to Muslims.  Samuel said, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Who shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then I said, Here I am.  Send me” (I Samuel 3:4).  You might not end up in the Middle East.  You might be sent to the office to be a light to a bickering staff.  You might be sent to a volunteer position which requires you to stretch beyond your comfort zone.  Are you listening when you pray?
 
            Lord, “what would you have me say?”  Oh, no!  Don’t ask me to confront that person.  Don’t ask me to call that neighbor—not the alcoholic one.  Not the dying one.  “Give me an easier assignment,” please Lord.  It is not easy to be a disciple.  But the reward, oh, the reward of knowing that you are a soldier of the cross willing to do battle for the Lord.  Perhaps even in your own home, there is a battle raging that you are called to bring to a peaceful conclusion.  Not an easy task.  But you are brave.  Listen for the voice.  And be willing to answer, “Here I am, Lord, Send me.”
                                                           
                                                            Serving Christ together, 
                                                                                                Linda