Perspective

(by S. Jaynes)

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 188:24 NIV)

It was just a quick check-up at the doctor’s office…or at least that’s what it was supposed to be. My “to-do-list” resembled a mile-long scroll and several deadlines loomed like a thunder cloud ready to burst. But, the appointment would take just a few minutes. Just enough time to catch my breath.

“Good morning Mrs. Jaynes,” the cheery receptionist greeted. “May I see your insurance card please?”

We went through the regular check-in procedure and then I settled in a comfy chair with a magazine that I would not have normally read. I knew I wouldn’t have time to read a full-length article…since this was just a quick visit. My, oh my, the trouble those Hollywood folks get into.

Ten minutes turned into fifteen turned into twenty turned into thirty. My to-do list began growing heavier and heavier in my mind.

“Excuse me,” I interrupted the receptionist. “My appointment was thirty-minutes ago. Did they forget me?”

“I’m so sorry,” she reassured me. “I’ll check on it right away.”

In just a few moments, a nurse appeared at the door. “Mrs. Jaynes, come right this way.”

My second stop was into a stark treatment room with more magazines. “Oh well, let’s see what Brittany did last year,” I mumbled to myself. At least I was in the room. That was good.

The clock continued to tick. With each passing minute my frustration grew. “I’m glad he’s not checking my blood pressure,” I grumbled to no one in particular.

Fifty minutes after I had walked into the office for my quick five-minute check, the doctor himself walked into my room. My to-do list was magnified in my mind. My time was important too, you know. I didn’t have time to sit around and read out-dated gossip magazines!

The doctor was actually a friend of mine, but I was feeling less than friendly. Ice Sculpture is a description that comes to mind when I think of my probable appearance.

“Hi Sharon,” he began. “I’m sorry you have had to wait so long. I have been with a patient and had to tell her that she has terminal cancer. It took longer than I thought.”

Suddenly, my icy countenance began to melt into a puddle on the shiny tile floor and tears pooled in my eyes. I was upset about not checking insignificant frivolous errands off my to-do list and the woman in the next room was pondering how she was going to spend her last days on earth. I envisioned her walking to her car and coming up with a brand new to-do list for her day.

#1 Live well
#2 Love well

Yes, I did have a check-up that day. God was the doctor and He looked into my heart to see that my perspective on life needed surgery. What’s really important? My silly list of errands? No. What should be at the top of my to-do list today and every day is:
#1 Live well.
#2 Love well.
Celebrate each day as an incredible gift from God.

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hey girls,
yep, i confess i am list maker...(if i dont write it down i'll likely forget it) and there are too many times i feel so far behind... i feel like i could take a month off work and still not be caught up... so this devotional did stick out to me; I especially liked the last few sentances...
blessings :)

Complete Rainbow

How often do you see a rainbow? Normally, I don't see them that often, I'm thinking normally... maybe one or two per year....? but.... in the past month I have seen at least 5 rainbows (possibly 6?), with 4 of them being full rainbows stretching from horizon to horizon!! They seemed enormous and beautiful; they absorbed my attention. I've only ever seen a complete full rainbow once before in my life, so seeing 4 of them this past month has been quite surprising! And each time I have seen these rainbows, it has been very grey, cloudy, and rainy outside in all directions.... I can't really tell where the sunlight is coming from to make the rainbow. It has been a surprise blessing every time. I take it as a comfort and a reminder of God's promises, nearness, and faithfulness to us. I didn't take the pictures above, but when I searched online it was the closest thing I could find to what I've been seeing because it looks kind of cloudy. I saw the fourth full rainbow tonight on the way home from work, so I decided maybe it was time to post about it....

Here's a devotional from Rebecca Barlow Jordan:
COVENANT MAKER
"I have set my rainbow in the clouds,and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Genesis 9:13

FROM THE FATHER'S HEART
My child, I am in the promise-making business. You need never wonder about whether I will keep My word. Just like the visual reminder, a rainbow, that I gave to let you know the world would never again be destroyed by flood, I have given you countless promises in My Word. Test them, and see if I will not pour out on you immeasurable blessings when you seek to know Me intimately and trust in Me. My covenant with you is sealed in blood forever.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Your rainbow was only the beginning of covenant signs between You and Your people, Lord. You are the covenant maker, the originator of all blessings and promises. Your Word has never lost its power. Each day is a rainbow, a personal promise from You, Lord. --(by Rebecca Barlow Jordan)
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Psalm 89:5
The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
I Cor. 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
I Chr. 16:1
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,and let them say among the nations, The Lord reigns!
Psalm 8:1
O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your glory above the heavens.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork
Psalm 36:5
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds
Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

blessings girlies :)

Psalm 118:1-9

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."
Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever."
In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Peace for Anxious Days

(a devotional from Max Lucado)
When my daughters were two, five, and seven—I wowed them with a miracle. I told them the story of Moses and the manna and invited them to follow me on a wilderness trek through the house.
“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”
We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.
“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”
Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?
Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”
Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”
When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.
My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.

God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar.
Did he know their itinerary?
Did he know they would grow hungry?
Yes and yes.
And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.
And what about you?
God knows what you need and where you’ll be.
Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans?

Trust him.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).

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Blessings girlies!

The Heavens Declare - Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
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Blessings~

National Day of Prayer

Compiled here are some items pertaining to May 3, our National Day of Prayer:
"I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life ." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

We are to pray for those in authority over us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National days of prayer are nothing new in the United States. The first call to prayer came in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming the nation. In 1952, President Truman signed a joint resolution by Congress declaring an annual national day of prayer. Then, in 1988, the Truman law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently establishing the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer.
Our country has been uniting in prayer on that day ever since. Now, with the nation as divided as ever about the war in Iraq and with transitions of power fully underway in Congress, the President, our leaders and every man and woman in uniform need God’s guidance like never before. You can pray His presence into their lives with your participation in the National Day of Prayer through The Presidential Prayer Team Online Prayer Rally on Thursday, May 3.
You will partner throughout the day with Christians across the nation in this great, continuous prayer meeting for our President, leaders and troops. Unified prayer is powerful, “for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
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National Day of Prayer, 2007 -A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
A prayerful spirit has always been an important part of our national character, and it is a force that has guided the American people, given us strength, and sustained us in moments of joy and in times of challenge. On this National Day of Prayer, we acknowledge God's grace and ask for His continued guidance in the life of our Nation.
Americans of many faiths and traditions share a common belief that God hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to those who seek Him. Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, in towns all across America, in houses of worship from every faith, Americans have joined together to pray for the lives that were lost and for their families, friends, and loved ones. We hold the victims in our hearts and pray for those who suffer and grieve. There is a power in these prayers, and we can find comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God.
At this important time in our history, we also pray for the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families. We pray for their safety, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace we all seek.
The Congress, by Public Law 100 307, as amended, has called on our Nation to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to respect the freedom of religion by recognizing each year a "National Day of Prayer."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2007, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance, comfort, and protection. I invite all Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH
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Dobson Stresses Unity, Repentance for Day of Prayer Observance
OneNewsNow.com reports that the chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer is urging people observing Thursday's event to follow the example of King David when they seek "divine help." Shirley Dobson said the aid of prayer is the only way to heal a culture wracked with violence and anxiety. The National Day of Prayer has been a part of American history since the Continental Congress of 1775. In 1988, Ronald Reagan declared that the first Thursday of May would be a National Day of Prayer. Mrs. Dobson's take is that the NDop is a day for Americans of all faiths to "drop their denominational tags and racial and cultural differences" and unite in prayer. Dobson expects some 50,000 prayer gatherings to take place on Thursday, focusing on unity and repentance of sin.
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Three Minutes of Silence
As part of our preparation for the National Day of Prayer, it is vital that each of us takes some time to ready our heart so that we might approach God's throne of grace unhindered by sin. After all, if we are to seek the Lord's forgiveness and blessing upon our nation, we must begin with personal repentance. Only as we come before Him with broken and contrite spirits will our petitions on behalf of America prove powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Therefore, we are calling on everyone who will be leading a time of intercession on May 3rd to set aside three minutes for silent group reflection prior to commencing with your prayer observance. During that period, we request that you ask those in attendance to humbly and expectantly come before our Heavenly Father, asking Him to cleanse all unrighteousness and restore us to Himself. David intimately understood the importance of acknowledging our individual and corporate sin, and we believe his words recorded in Psalm 139:23-24 demonstrate our desperate need for the Lord's purifying, redemptive power: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." May we make David's cry our own. Then, as we participate in this year's NDP events, we can lift up holy hands to our God, confident that He will hear our pleas for His mercy and bring healing to this land.
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2007 Prayer for Our Nation -Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.
In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant
. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound
. . . our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation,
under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray,
Amen.
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Suggestions as you pray for our leaders in government office:
For their family
For safety and protection
For wise mentors who can hold them accountable
For wisdom and guidance in making decisions
For courage in the face of adversity
For integrity and righteousness.
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Blackaby Ministries International is proud to stand with the National Day of Prayer in support of the brave men and women serving our nation at home and overseas. Join us as we pray for America's armed forces and the families who stand behind them. We believe when people are placing their lives daily in the face of danger that we need to do all we can to bring them assurance that God is watching over them and that they can have courage and peace in their difficult circumstances.
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National Observance - Webcast -Washington D.C.
Join with us as we celebrate America's 56th annual National Day of Prayer from our nation's capitol. The National Observance will take place Thursday, May 3rd, and a segment will be broadcast live. This webcast will enable you to join the prayer event already in progress. Broadcasting will begin at 1:16 p.m. (Eastern) and conclude at 2:03 p.m.
Presenters include:
Charles Billingsley (Praise and Worship)
Dr. James Dobson
Dr. Charles Swindoll
Signature Sound
click to go to the NDofP page for webcasting instructions
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to hear Dr Charles Swindoll Radio Message on the National day of Prayer:
click here
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Most of this content has come from the US National Day of Prayer website. There are also many more articles and materiatls to be found there. For much more information, here is the link to the National Day of Prayer website