tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69769985837273704322011-11-27T15:24:16.178-08:00A source for you to get your daily readings and inspiration from various word sources. I pray this blog will be an encouragement to you.Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-24388531814145919882010-02-24T23:34:00.000-08:002010-02-24T23:41:19.370-08:00

There is a very basic courtesy that should apply in all human relations--taking the time to thank people who help us. My friend Mike Somdal is a specialist at this. One reason he is so successful in business is that he has mastered the fine art of making people feel good by thanking them regularly. Often he will call customers simply to thank them again for the order they placed last week or for

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-20851356435551723622010-02-24T23:32:00.000-08:002010-02-24T23:34:35.103-08:00

A nurse ushered me into my grandma's room. Lying in the hospital bed, she looked so small. Her eyes were closed. I sat down quietly. I was on my way to seminary and full of self-doubt. I had just given up a full scholarship to medical school, and everyone thought I was making a mistake. I desperately wanted Grandma's advice, but the nurse had warned me that she didn't have much strength left.

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-79999380409521485392010-02-21T18:13:00.001-08:002010-02-21T18:17:09.494-08:00

I am sorry all of you who follow my blog, I have not been posting for awhile as my work has been extra busy, right now our missionary team is focusing on disaster relief in Haiti and as such need all of your prayers and support.Here is some beautiful word I read the other day.Our friend Thomas is a keen gardener, and it is always a great joy to walk around his garden. Recently, I was admiring

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-28424551604266234992009-07-06T17:18:00.000-07:002009-07-06T17:25:59.417-07:00

By Angela Melinda, RomaniaMy family lives in a small town where everyone knows each other, at least by sight. My best friend and I were the town's only hippies, considered crazy because we always tried to be different, no matter what people thought. When I received Jesus as my Savior, I changed. All I wanted to do was serve Jesus by telling other people how they could have His love too. I took

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-41670172629393950372009-06-24T14:01:00.000-07:002009-06-24T14:03:50.446-07:00

1. Mr. Moody once told a story which illustrated the only sure plan of getting rid of jealousy. "There were two businessmen--merchants--and there was great rivalry between them, a great deal of bitter feeling. One of them became a Christian. He went to his minister and said: "'I am still jealous of that man, and I do not know how to overcome it.' "'Well,' he said, 'if a man comes into your store

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It was late in the season. The Kings led the series two to one, and game four against the Lakers was today at 3:30. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Some people said I should watch the WNBA (women's professional basketball) or the Home Shopping Network, but I had always been a tomboy. I made tree houses, not quilts. Basketball came naturally. I was busy. I was always busy, but today my sister

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-25216391606660412712009-06-14T22:25:00.000-07:002009-06-14T22:29:01.954-07:00

We build our lives year by year, day by day, moment by moment. The start of a new year is a good time to ask ourselves how the construction is progressing. * * *Building a Life An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and he told his boss of his plans to leave and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-45185511941683989692009-06-13T14:44:00.000-07:002009-06-15T19:11:29.268-07:00

A Still Small Voice: Rescued by God at the last minuteBy Dale Hurd, CBN News There are so many stories of God's hand at work amidst the horror of the World Trade Center attack. This is the miraculous story of how God preserved the life of one woman who listened to the Holy Spirit's voice. NEW YORK CITY - As two hijacked planes were heading on a collision course with the World Trade Towers, one

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Love takes time. It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing, and crying.Love doesn’t promise instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.Love means believing in someone, in something; it presupposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.Love is on a constant

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-5146252293662843382009-06-10T09:33:00.000-07:002009-06-10T09:42:03.934-07:00

It is a great matter to know just how to rest--how to be quiet when all around seems tumultuous. We irritate and excite our souls about the coming emergency, and we approach it with worn and feverish spirits, and so mar our Master's purpose and work.When the crisis comes, He will tell me what to do. The orders are not given until the appointed day. Why should I fume and fret and worry as to what

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-21646930396505057892009-06-07T20:12:00.000-07:002009-06-07T20:25:49.373-07:00

Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day. -Helen Steiner Rice By Richard Mathison Because Nicolosa Donlucas had 50 cents, hands for work, and a heart for love, 103 poor Mexicans celebrated Christmas back in 1959 when this story took place.Nicolosa, a tiny, work-worn cleaning lady at the Plaza Community Center in Los Angeles, earned $90 a month. She spoke no English, but

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"Make Me Like Joe!"By Tony Campolo (from Everything You've Heard Is Wrong)Joe was a drunk who was miraculously converted at a Bowery mission. Prior to his conversion, he had gained the reputation of being a dirty wino for whom there was no hope, only a miserable existence in the ghetto. But following his conversion to a new life with God, everything changed. Joe became the most caring person that

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You will find,As you look back upon your lifeThat the moments that stand out, The moments when you have really lived, Are the moments when you have done things In the spirit of love. -Henry Drummond* * *Lunch with God There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cookies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-83346548097629578992009-06-04T10:28:00.000-07:002009-06-04T10:35:49.277-07:00

The author of this story is unknown, so we have no way of knowing if it actually occurred. However, it is still a vivid illustration of a truth that can sometimes be hard to grasp.Years ago, while an American named David Morse was living and working in India, he met and became friends with a pearl diver, Rambhau. Morse spent many evenings in Rambhau’s cabin, reading to him from the Bible and

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Remember that even in the darkest hour Jesus is right there beside you, holding your hand, and He's not going to let go. This is a beautiful poem that I found really touching.The Sparrow I'm only a little sparrow, A bird of low degree; My life is of little value, But the dear Lord cares for me. I know there are many sparrows-- All over the world they are found; But our heavenly Father

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-12131972048467372192009-06-02T11:15:00.000-07:002009-06-02T11:28:20.666-07:00

By Barbara Johnson (Splashes of Joy in the Cesspools of Life)Think of a gardener irrigating his garden. He is able to channel life-giving water to all areas except to one little dying plant way over in the corner. The gardener knows that if he had just one more piece of pipe he could run it over to that wilting plant and transform it with new life. So it is with the Master Gardener. Because He

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-58349475083851421492009-06-01T08:27:00.000-07:002009-06-01T08:40:16.070-07:00

Prominent Americans share the passages that have inspired and guided them. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Jimmy Carter, President, 1976-1980. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Deborah Norville, television journalist This is the day which the Lord

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How Anger Wrecks Your Body (ABCNews.com) Dr. Redford Williams of Duke University and author of the book, Anger Kills, says mounting research shows that the stress hormone cortisol that fuels your anger can literally tear your blood vessels. “It’s actually causing little nicks and tears in the inner lining of the arteries that feed our heart,” Williams said. “If the anger continues day in and day

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-4002344210179621102009-05-28T10:45:00.000-07:002009-05-29T08:34:09.806-07:00

Marcia, age four, was my Sunday morning commitment. Only by picking her up at her foster home before the worship service could I ensure her attending the church school that followed. Today Marcia had exhausted my surprise bag of coloring books and puzzles in the first seven minutes. Even the candy failed to hold her attention for more than thirty seconds. I took Marcia's piquant face between my

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"Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:25-26 NKJ)Not long ago John and Georgina Brown celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. On the day before, John talked to me about the lessons he'd

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By Lilia Potters My father and mother returned from visiting a sick friend and his wife one night, my mother’s face tearstained and my father somber. Yet they glowed as they gathered us four kids around them to tell us what had happened.Corrie had called my mom earlier and asked if she and Dad could come and see her that evening. The condition of her husband Chris, who had skin cancer, was

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By Tomoko Matsuoka, JapanThe air was heavy with unshed rain as I made my way to the hub of our town. I silently berated myself for not bringing an umbrella as I glanced at the clouds that hung low and filled the gray sky. It seemed that in a minute or two the heavens would burst open, but two minutes came and went. I went here and there, taking care of my business, then turned homeward.It was at

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-17367539290284574882009-05-23T16:59:00.000-07:002009-05-23T17:03:05.735-07:00

Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true. -Honoré de BalzacCharles and Carla Coonradt tell the story of an immense, 19,000-pound whale, Shama, that is taught in Sea World, Florida, to jump 22 feet out of the water and perform tricks. How do you suppose they teach the whale to do that? A typical managerial approach would be to mount a rope at 22 feet high out of the

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-31669838046315162802009-05-14T13:12:00.000-07:002009-05-14T13:23:33.519-07:00

What Really Matters Carl was driving to work one morning when he bumped fenders with another motorist. Both cars stopped, and the woman driving the other car got out to survey the damage. She was distraught. It was her fault, she admitted, and hers was a new car-less than two days from the showroom. She dreaded facing her husband. Carl was sympathetic, but he had to pursue the exchange of license

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-68375261755657393442009-05-13T15:48:00.000-07:002009-05-13T15:53:02.012-07:00

In ninth grade, there was one teacher who stood out to me more than all the rest. We called him Uncle Jo. Uncle Jo was a funny guy, aging in years but a kid at heart. He made those boring history books seem exceptionally fun and put the sparkle into everything about life. Uncle Jo cared for a boy named Mikey whom we called “the special child.” Mikey was indeed special, for he was handicapped with

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“You really should stop dealing drugs now that you have become a Christian,” said prisoner Graham to one of his fellow inmates who is currently serving a life sentence. Graham, is one of many prisoners in England serving life sentences for murder who have recently been saved in jail. “Never!” answered the newly-saved prisoner. “How can I earn money here in prison otherwise?” That day, Graham not

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-72040118381900071832009-05-11T08:11:00.000-07:002009-05-11T08:16:28.602-07:00

By Mrs. Charles Cowman One night during a terrible storm, a man walked along the shore of the sea. The clouds hung low overhead. The wind howled. Thunder roared. Lightning flashed and the rain poured down in torrents. The man pulled his overcoat closer around him, bent his body to the wind and hurried home. A little bird lost in the storm sought shelter under his coat; he took it in his hand,

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Your AngelA baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?""Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-54425702141157228442009-05-09T15:53:00.000-07:002009-05-09T15:57:56.024-07:00

A special message from Jesus:Do not think that you know best, for the mind of man is not greater than the mind of God. That which seems logical to your mind does not necessarily mean that it is the way of God. For My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. It is in the acceptance of My Word, in the acceptance of faith, where there is peace and where there is rest in

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-81084418247260570932009-05-09T07:19:00.000-07:002009-05-09T07:23:14.158-07:00

The Eye of FaithBy Ron RhodesIt was a Wednesday afternoon. Shrouded in a dense fog, a large steamer edged slowly forward off the coast of Newfoundland, its foghorn crying out somber notes of warning. The captain, nearing exhaustion from lack of sleep, was startled by a gentle tap on his shoulder. He fumed and found himself face to face with an old man in his late seventies.The old man said, “

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Give a “Rose”My friend Bruce was a welfare officer. One summer day he cut an armful of roses from his garden and took them to a deprived area. He gave some to a blind lady who smelled them eagerly. “Such a change from the smells around here!” she exclaimed.Bruce’s last visit was to what is nowadays called a problem family. The eldest girl was on two years’ probation. She stared sullenly when

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-80699563020240426612009-05-07T06:17:00.000-07:002009-05-07T06:21:35.781-07:00

Discovering LoveBy Nyx Martinez This is for all the loveless and lonely on Valentine’s Day-and we have all been there at sometime-having received no roses or heart-shaped box of chocolates or sentimental cards. You know the feeling, and it is a drab one. While couples around you stroll hand in hand, you stand alone watching the clouds in the sky gather and turn gray, while a tear forms in your

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-55845080869321957172009-05-04T20:11:00.000-07:002009-05-05T08:20:50.370-07:00

(From an essay by Dick Innes, Narramore Christian Foundation, entitled "The Power of Belief") "Down the streets of Portsmouth [England] more than a hundred years ago," said Lt. General Ira C. Eaker in a speech given some time ago, "walked a sailor with one arm, one eye, and a persistent state of nerves, unable to tread a ship's deck without being seasick. Indeed, he would probably have been in a

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-53182103554570623112009-05-04T07:22:00.000-07:002009-05-04T07:25:35.379-07:00

Tess was a precocious eight-year-old when she heard her mom and dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex the following month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's bills and the house. Only very costly surgery could save Andrew now, and it was looking like

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-1223999077678008682009-05-03T07:10:00.000-07:002009-05-03T07:17:55.405-07:00

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.--Martin Luther* * *Hope EternalBy Ardis WhitmanHope is the mechanism that keeps the human race tenaciously alive and dreaming, planning, building. Hope is not the opposite of realism. It is the opposite of cynicism and despair. The best of humanity has always hoped when there was no way, lived what was unlivable, and managed to build when

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Faith is not just hoping, believing or somewhat expecting, but faith is knowing--absolutely knowing! Faith has lost its meaning to us today. Today the word "faith" means kind of a hazy, vague belief of some kind in something or other. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for" and the word translated "substance" in this verse is the Greek word "hupostasis". When the New

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-19758826307710771712009-05-01T21:49:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:06:50.002-07:00

If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain;If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain,Or help one fainting robinInto his nest again,I shall not live in vain. --Emily Dickinson Young Mrs. Benson had been so miserable! Her husband was away on a "refresher course," sent by his firm, and for the first time in her married life she had been left in the house on her own. My

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-81744657583895304052009-04-29T18:31:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:33:42.216-07:00

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.--Sir Winston ChurchillElla Wheeler Wilcox gives us some wise counsel in her poem "Optimism": Talk happiness. The world is sad enough Without your woes. No path is wholly rough; Look for the places that are smooth and clear, And speak of those, to rest the weary ear Of those so hurt by continuous

Jason Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233983553093947034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976998583727370432.post-91314407195079380992009-04-29T07:12:00.000-07:002009-04-29T07:16:56.912-07:00

The place where we find the guidance of the Lord is in the Secret Place of prayer, and we've called your attention a number of times to Matthew 6:6,"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee." -- We have talked about the place of prayer being a place of

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An oyster on the ocean floor opened wide its shell to let the water pass over it. As the water flushed through, its gills picked out food, sending it to its stomach. Suddenly a large fish nearby stirred up a cloud of sand and silt with a flip of its tail. Sand! Oh, how the oyster disliked sand. It was so rough and made life so unpleasant and uncomfortable and was such a bother whenever any got

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