Friends

This was my devotional email tonight from Meet me in the Meadow by Roy Lessin, (DaySpring). As I read it, my heart overflowed with thanks to God for His gift of Christian Friends.

Here are some very special thoughts written by Pastor Howie Moss that share the meaning a Christian friendship can bring into your life.

F – Faithful – as a friend, you model faithfulness to our Lord and to me. For this I am blessed.

R – Responsible – as a friend, you hold yourself responsible to our relationship and in so doing held me responsible to our Lord.

I – Insightful – as a friend, you provide a perspective on life that I otherwise would have never been aware of.  By this you have opened my eyes to see our Lord’s nature in many wondrous ways.

E – Enjoyable – as a friend, you make the journey of this life so much more enjoyable.  The laughter and simplicity of friendship you bring to my life has given me a heart that can smile, even in the midst of difficulty.

N – Natural – as a friend, you strongly influence me to understand the worth of just being who I am…The importance of being who and what God created me to be and not what man expects me to be.

D – Desirable – as a friend, you continuously point me to the Cross.  Challenging me to compare myself, not to others, but to the Cross.  This has put a fire of desire in me to live for Jesus, love like Jesus, learn from Jesus, and lean on Jesus. Thus, your friendship to me is very desirable because it brings me closer to our Lord.

A Christian Friend is great at helping you turn from negative to positive! A friend's kind word, a hearty laugh, or even a look can help you change your attitude from "poor me" to "I'm RICH!". And it goes both ways! As you create your positive day, you encourage your friend!

Take a moment and let your Friends
know what they mean to you.

Another Unexpected Blessing!

Today, I went to Select Comfort to order my Sleep Number mattress for the new Daybed. The salesman, Chris, was very helpful in explaining the differences between the two I was considering. After I got the pricing, I left for a while to think about which mattress would provide the most comfort.

Upon returning, Chris mentioned that if I bought the P5, I'd also get a free blanket! That was just icing on the cake....because that was the one I had chosen. As Chris was writing up the order and verifying my information, I handed him one of my business cards. On the top of my cards it has the Create a Positive Day logo matching this blog. As he looked at the card.... he realized he had seen that before. He then said, "this is an inspirational blog....isn't it?" I said "yes". While surfing the internet, he had come across my blog and enjoyed reading it. I though it was so COOL that God brought us together so that we could meet! Another unexpected blessing from God!

Create a Positive Day! That means more to me today than yesterday. I was reminded again that I have a responsibility to honor God in my life and in my writings. People are watching me and reading what I write—many of whom I'll never meet face to face. I have a responsibility to make sure that all aspects of my life honor God. Create a positive day is more than a logo or slogan... it is my way of life.

And the only way to truly

create a positive day,

is to be living my life honoring God. 

Time Delay

I was watching a show on the English Monarchy. The tradition and pomp and circumstance fascinate me. The attention to details are passed down from generation to generation.

But something that was said last night, struck me. The Queen's birthday is in April. But they celebrate it in JUNE! Why? Because the weather is better! 

If you want a celebration in June... then have one. Why should the Queen have to wait 2 months to celebrate her birthday? The birthday celebration, an all day celebration, was planned out to the second. The Queen even watched some on TV since she couldn't be in two places at once.

Of course, I started thinking about TIME DELAY. Do I delay things because I think later will be better? Or do I delay things... just because I don't want to do them—NOW? Yes, there are times when a delay doesn't really make any difference. But some things need to be done in a timely manner. Often delays can make matters worse. 

How do I know if a delay is a good thing? I think it would go to my motivation. Am I delaying because I'm being lazy and just don't want to do something? Am I delaying because it would involve giving up something I like (but may not be good)? Why am I delaying? 

If my motivation is right, I have to consider how it effects those around me. Is the delay is being inconsiderate? Does it cause others to rearrange their schedules? 

Delays don't just apply to events. It can also be applied to my spiritual life. As God works in my life, and shows me areas which I need to change... delaying won't help at all! Yet, Satan can give great reasons for delaying making the change in my life. 

I've been evaluating the TV shows I've been watching. Some, I've watched for years and have gotten caught up in the story lines. Yet, when I take time to really look at the show and what it portrays, the shows are openly promoting more and more sin. No, I'm not "doing the sin", but if the sin image is in my mind.... it's more apt to become something which I think about. And that is JUST as sinful as if I did the actual sin. 

It was easy to stop watching the "newer shows" which portray sinful story lines. I wasn't as invested in the show. But I've been delaying turning off the older shows... "maybe tonight's show won't show 'abc'." Yet, of course they do. The writers of the shows aren't Christians and their values aren't what mine should be.

DELAY. If the delay is causing me to sin, then the delay is WRONG and harmful.

 I need to learn

that putting something off 

for 2 months

"when the weather is better",

won't cut it with God.

He calls sin—sin. It's an abomination to Him. It needs to be dealt with immediately. 

If I want to create a true positive day, I need to make sure that what I'm reading, listening to, and watching, are pleasing to God. The more good I put into my mind, the more 'good things' I have to think about. Each day I STOP delaying turning off the sinful images, songs, or talk, I'm making positive changes and obeying God.

EACH day I OBEY God—

is an EXTREME Positive day!

Unexpected Blessings!

God once again surprised me with a wonderful blessing... and helped out my friends along the way! 

The Plan: Rent a trailer, pack it, then park it in the far back of the apartment complex parking lot until it's time to unload it all. 

What really has happened.... SO FAR!

On Thursday, I called to make reservations for the trailer. The first place I called informed me of the price (a bit higher than I had planned) and that I should look into a "pod" type arrangement. After researching the "pod" route, I called another trailer place to set the reservation. The pod was a higher price. I wanted a Sunday afternoon pickup....not at this place...so I called several others...still no Sunday. I went ahead and made the reservation with a Saturday evening pickup and the next Saturday drop off.... the total cost would be almost $200 depending on the size of trailer they could get me....I'd save $50 if they couldn't supply the larger size I reserved. 

On Friday, I ordered my Daybed to be delivered on Tuesday, May 25! Very excited. After dealing with all the paper work... I was tired but really needed a few things at the store. Should I stop? Or should I just go on home... STOP! So I stopped and went in.. as I entered I met a lady who works in the office of my apartment. We chatted for a few minutes and she asked about the progress on my 'non-move'. She then mentioned that the apartment parking lot is being resurfaced that week..... WHAT??? That means I'll have to move the trailer several times..... or find another place to park it for the week. (This was not what I had planned!)

I finished my shopping and arrived home to quickly email my friend to explain the change in parking plans and figure out plan B. It was decided we'd park it in her driveway... and they'd maneuver around the trailer for a week... not the best... but it would work. Plan C was to see if my church would allow me to park it there..

My friend also asked if I could somehow get a Sunday pickup....since she and her family had some special plans on Saturday. I said I'd try again... but my attempts so far had failed. 

On Sunday..... my friend called to share some news with me. She was thinking about the trailer and then thought of a guy at church. This gentleman has 2 trailers. He is NOT ONLY letting me use the large trailer for the week FREE!!! He is also letting me park it on his barn/garage! A very secure place! And to top it all off... my friends can pick up the trailer after church on Sunday! 

Recap:

The right size trailer.

 A Sunday pickup.

A SECURE parking place.

AND all for FREE!

This is all so cool... but the Sunday pick up and the parking issue are double blessings... they help me... but more so help my friends who are helping me! God made sure He cared for them in all this too!

I love it when God

takes care of the details!

When I look at ALL the details which God considered in His plan.... I'm overwhelmed. Any ONE of the details would have been a blessing. But God took care of EACH detail. Each day God takes care of details...some which I'll never even know about. Others, such as this are so evident... that all I can do is PRAISE God. Creating a positive day each day is all about seeing how God is working in and through me.

 When God is working in your life....

each day has a positive outcome.