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Sunday Worship
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
10:45 a.m.
Wednesday Brown Bag Bible Study
12:00 noon
Thursday Choir Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
Saturday AA
8:00 pm.
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Guide to Living
Take Time To:
Pray: It is the source of lasting love.
Be Thankful: For a new dawn and His continued Love and Blessings.
Be Compassionate: It is acknowledgement of our own weaknesses.
Love and Be Loved: It is God's most precious gift - share it.
Be Kind to Others: It is the greatest of Love—Charity. (Corinthians 13)
Laugh: It is the music of the soul.
Smile: It is the sun that brightens the day.
Sing: A merry heart singeth and the soul is at rest.
Be Friendly: It is the road to companionship and happiness.
Weep: Tears heals the heart and soul of grief and sorrow.
Work: It is the price of success.
Play: It is the secret to eternal youth.
Think: It is a source of power and knowledge.
Read: It is the key to knowledge and wisdom.
Dream: It is the inspiration that leads to success.
Be Courteous: It is the true measure of character.
Say Please and Thank You: They open doors of opportunity.
Look Around You: Life is too short to be selfish.
Be Content: It is the secret to a satisfied life.
Listen: To those wiser than ourselves. To the songs of nature. To the whisper of the wind for it is the Breath of God bestowing His love upon mankind.
Observe True Beauty: The beauty of all nature and the gentle hand of a mother's love for they are the essence of all beauty in life, as nature and motherhood are one and same in the eye's of God.
Found on the website of Living Word Lutheran Church,
Barlett, Tennessee.
For previous Pastor's Pages:
Lamplighter Archives
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Pastor's Page— May 2005
An attitude of gratitude
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
—Johnson Oatman Jr.
Did you start today by counting your blessings, or do you save that exercise for Thanksgiving? If you didn't, then take a moment now to think of all the good things in your life.
It's easy to be grateful for the good things in our lives; the challenge is to be grateful, accepting, and loving of ALL that occurs in our lives. Discover the power in being grateful even for troubles. When you accept your life, exactly as it is, and are grateful for ALL the opportunities to learn and grow, you can release the fear and anxiety that separate you from God.
Count your Blessings
Make a list of all of the things you
are grateful for, even the challenges. Don’t forget your friendships and family, the floor that holds you up, the warm bed that comforts you at night, and the phone or computer that enables you to stay connected with the important people in your life.
- If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and place to sleep… you are richer than 75% of this world.
- If you woke up this morning with more health than illness… you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week.
- If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation… you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
- If you can attend church without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death… you are fortunate; more than 3 billion people in the world cannot.
- If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace… you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
- If you can read this message… you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
When you've completed your blessings lists, pray “God grant me the grace to live with gratitude.” Make an attitude of gratitude your approach to living. You'll be so very grateful that you did!
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.
—Author unknown
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