Cherith:
It must have been so beautifully clear :
The little brook by which the Prophet dwelt .
Its gentle bable drew the ravens near
The sparkling brink , and when Elijah knelt
To cup the water for his thirst , there dropped
From golden beaks the bread that God had sent :
Metallic feathered birds that never stopped
Their ministry until the brook was spent .
I like to think of those brief hours of peace
For one man shut away the while with God :
A God who had the power to bid rains cease ,
To stay the dew from drenching the parched sod .
A man content with neither script nor book
In God’s companionship beside a brook .
Jan Bagwell
One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us trend to put off living . We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon – instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Be of Good Cheer
Be of Good Cheer
Cheerful thoughts like sunbeams
lighten up the darkest fears
For when the heart is happy
there’s just no time for tears .
For the nature of our attitude
toward circumstantial things
Determines our acceptance
of the problems that life brings ,
And since fear and dread and worry
Can not help in any way ,
It’s much healthier and happier
to be cheerful every day .
For when the heart is cheerful
it cannot be filled with fear ,
And without fear the way ahead
seems more distant and clear .
And we realize there’s nothing
we need ever face alone ,
For our heavenly Father loves us
and our problems are His own
Jan Bagwell
“My presence will go with you ,and I will give you rest .”
Exodus 33:14
Cheerful thoughts like sunbeams
lighten up the darkest fears
For when the heart is happy
there’s just no time for tears .
For the nature of our attitude
toward circumstantial things
Determines our acceptance
of the problems that life brings ,
And since fear and dread and worry
Can not help in any way ,
It’s much healthier and happier
to be cheerful every day .
For when the heart is cheerful
it cannot be filled with fear ,
And without fear the way ahead
seems more distant and clear .
And we realize there’s nothing
we need ever face alone ,
For our heavenly Father loves us
and our problems are His own
Jan Bagwell
“My presence will go with you ,and I will give you rest .”
Exodus 33:14
Thursday, September 10, 2009
As I've Walked Thru Life
As I’ve Walked Thru Life
I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life .
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words .It may be the last time you see them .
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do no matter how we feel .
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you .
I’ve learned that heros are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences
I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up .
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow ‘even over the longest distance .
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have .
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less top do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated .
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is , they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that .
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others , sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are , but we are responsible for who we become .
I’ve learned that just because two people argue ,it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue ,it doesn’t mean they do .
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change .
I’ve learned tht two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different .
I learned that even when you think you have no more to give ,when a friend cries out to you ,you will find the strength to help
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being .
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from too soon .
I’ve learned that family and friends are what make us who we are today ,and without them we would never be complete .
I learned to led God be God even when I think I know all the answers
Thank you My Blessed Friends for allowing me to email you everday !
GOD BLESS
Jan Bagwel
I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life .
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words .It may be the last time you see them .
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do no matter how we feel .
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you .
I’ve learned that heros are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences
I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up .
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow ‘even over the longest distance .
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have .
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less top do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated .
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is , they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that .
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others , sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are , but we are responsible for who we become .
I’ve learned that just because two people argue ,it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue ,it doesn’t mean they do .
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change .
I’ve learned tht two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different .
I learned that even when you think you have no more to give ,when a friend cries out to you ,you will find the strength to help
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being .
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from too soon .
I’ve learned that family and friends are what make us who we are today ,and without them we would never be complete .
I learned to led God be God even when I think I know all the answers
Thank you My Blessed Friends for allowing me to email you everday !
GOD BLESS
Jan Bagwel
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Lesson of the Paperclip
The Lesson of the Paperclip
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
The ingenious little device known as the paperclip has been in use for well over 100 years. Unlike so many items of “old technology,” there’s no retirement in sight for the tool that most of us use to keep our important papers together. I read an article recently from the archives of Time magazine, from the July 17, 1958 issue to be exact, that revealed results from a Lloyd’s Bank survey on the fate of 100,000 paperclips. (It must have been a slow time in the banking business!) The survey yielded the following information: Out of 100,000 paperclips, 25,000 fell to the floor and were swept away, 19,413 were used as chips in card-games, 14,163 were twisted or broken during phone conversations, 7,200 were used as temporary replacements for broken buttons, snaps or zippers, 5,434 were used as toothpicks or ear cleaners, 5,308 were used to clean fingernails, 3,916 were used as pipe cleaners, leaving only 20,000 paper clips which served their proper function. It stinks to be a paperclip, if you ask me!
How wasteful that 80% of paperclips are never utilized for their intended purpose. It also seems to me that people are a lot like paperclips! Just as the creator designed the paperclip for a specific purpose (Johan Vaaler, 1899), God has created each one of us purposely, to fulfill His own design. Today’s Scripture passage speaks to the heart of that issue: “we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Still, like the paperclip, far too many people do not fulfill the purpose for which they were created. How tragic! But it doesn’t have to be this way!
We fulfill the purpose of our Creator when we live according to the principle Jesus states in Matthew 10:39, which reads. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We truly become all that God intends for us to be when we decide to make following Jesus our top priority. Today, may the “lesson of the paperclip” motivate you to live your life as God designed you to live!
God Bless
Janbagwell
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
The ingenious little device known as the paperclip has been in use for well over 100 years. Unlike so many items of “old technology,” there’s no retirement in sight for the tool that most of us use to keep our important papers together. I read an article recently from the archives of Time magazine, from the July 17, 1958 issue to be exact, that revealed results from a Lloyd’s Bank survey on the fate of 100,000 paperclips. (It must have been a slow time in the banking business!) The survey yielded the following information: Out of 100,000 paperclips, 25,000 fell to the floor and were swept away, 19,413 were used as chips in card-games, 14,163 were twisted or broken during phone conversations, 7,200 were used as temporary replacements for broken buttons, snaps or zippers, 5,434 were used as toothpicks or ear cleaners, 5,308 were used to clean fingernails, 3,916 were used as pipe cleaners, leaving only 20,000 paper clips which served their proper function. It stinks to be a paperclip, if you ask me!
How wasteful that 80% of paperclips are never utilized for their intended purpose. It also seems to me that people are a lot like paperclips! Just as the creator designed the paperclip for a specific purpose (Johan Vaaler, 1899), God has created each one of us purposely, to fulfill His own design. Today’s Scripture passage speaks to the heart of that issue: “we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Still, like the paperclip, far too many people do not fulfill the purpose for which they were created. How tragic! But it doesn’t have to be this way!
We fulfill the purpose of our Creator when we live according to the principle Jesus states in Matthew 10:39, which reads. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We truly become all that God intends for us to be when we decide to make following Jesus our top priority. Today, may the “lesson of the paperclip” motivate you to live your life as God designed you to live!
God Bless
Janbagwell
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
subject: Jesus Loves Me Senior Version
Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going To church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of it's senior Pastors who had been retired many years...
He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to Ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium.
Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor
Asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.
The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this song .........
"Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, we are weak but he is strong..... Yes, Jesus loves me... The Bible tells me so."
When he finished, the church was quiet.
You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that its was the adults who
Chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course)
During a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I Could see they knew it the best."
Senior version of Jesus Loves Me Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version
of "Jesus Loves Me". It is quite cute, so read,sing and enjoy:"
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though My sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME...YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go On Through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun. Let me Serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling Me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love Him every day.
God Bless Us All!!!
Jan Bagwell , [thank you readers for letting me call you friend !!]
Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going To church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of it's senior Pastors who had been retired many years...
He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to Ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium.
Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor
Asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.
The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this song .........
"Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, we are weak but he is strong..... Yes, Jesus loves me... The Bible tells me so."
When he finished, the church was quiet.
You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that its was the adults who
Chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course)
During a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I Could see they knew it the best."
Senior version of Jesus Loves Me Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version
of "Jesus Loves Me". It is quite cute, so read,sing and enjoy:"
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though My sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME...YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go On Through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun. Let me Serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling Me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love Him every day.
God Bless Us All!!!
Jan Bagwell , [thank you readers for letting me call you friend !!]
Monday, September 7, 2009
36 CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS
Thought: "Love is giving someone the ability to hurt you, but trusting them not to!"
An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to others who are capable.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to others who are capable.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Isisal 58:8-11
8.Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9.Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10.and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11.The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Hey Jan…I have a special prayer request….three weeks ago, there was a car accident here…it was three teenagers…two seventeen year old boys and a fourteen year old girl….the girl was killed, and the two boys are still in the hospital….JJ Jarvis was in the back seat….He's awake and alert, but still in bad shape…The boy who was driving was Jarrett Carland….He's one of our youth at Skyland Church, and his mom, Elana is the church pianist…Jarrett still hasn't woke up…They're transferring him from Mission Hospital here in Asheville, to Shepherds Rehab in Atlanta today…..Please keep this boy and his family and the other families involved in your prayers….Jarrett is such a wonderful young man…always sitting right there in church with the other youth…He was driving his mom's explorer and dropped off on the right side of the road, and when he steered back onto the road, he overcorrected and hit a tree on the other side……There's a web site….called…caringbridge.com….when you go into it, just type the name jarrettcarland and you can read the journals and guest book and updates, and even send notes of prayer to Elana…..Thanks, Jan….I hope you have a wonderful weekend…
9.Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10.and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11.The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Hey Jan…I have a special prayer request….three weeks ago, there was a car accident here…it was three teenagers…two seventeen year old boys and a fourteen year old girl….the girl was killed, and the two boys are still in the hospital….JJ Jarvis was in the back seat….He's awake and alert, but still in bad shape…The boy who was driving was Jarrett Carland….He's one of our youth at Skyland Church, and his mom, Elana is the church pianist…Jarrett still hasn't woke up…They're transferring him from Mission Hospital here in Asheville, to Shepherds Rehab in Atlanta today…..Please keep this boy and his family and the other families involved in your prayers….Jarrett is such a wonderful young man…always sitting right there in church with the other youth…He was driving his mom's explorer and dropped off on the right side of the road, and when he steered back onto the road, he overcorrected and hit a tree on the other side……There's a web site….called…caringbridge.com….when you go into it, just type the name jarrettcarland and you can read the journals and guest book and updates, and even send notes of prayer to Elana…..Thanks, Jan….I hope you have a wonderful weekend…
Healing { the word of the Lord ]
8.Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9.Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10.and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11.The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
9.Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10.and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11.The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
