Tag: hymns

Golden Nuggets

** “A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson
** Some people don’t have time to chew or may have difficulty chewing salads. A chopped salad could be an answer.
** Jesus transformed ordinary water into fine wine. Today, He transforms sinners into saints.

*** Nugget 1  Humor Time

What’s the best way to get your kids’ attention?
Sit down and look comfortable.

Favorite Hymns for……..
Gossips: “I Love to Tell the Story”
Formally attired men: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
Lost drivers: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
Clock watchers: “Moment by Moment”
Moms on the first day of school: “Peace, Blessed Peace”

The doctor told Uncle Fudd that if he ran five miles a day for 300 days, he would lose 75 pounds. At the end of 300 days, Uncle Fudd called the doctor to report he had lost the weight, but he had a problem.
“What’s the problem?” asked the doctor.
“I’m 1,500 miles from home.”
~H. B. McClung

What did the horse say when it collapsed?
“Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyup!”

*** Nugget 2 Chopped Salads
We’re told by health professionals to eat more fruits and vegetables. I don’t think most people have a problem getting in more fruit, but it’s a different story when it comes to raw or lightly cooked veggies. If only raw veggies tasted as good as raw fruit! It’s so easy to pick up an apple and eat it. I don’t really want to pick up a big piece of raw broccoli and bite into it. Nevertheless, I’m encouraged to get those veggies in. I usually eat blended salads. I throw any raw veggies that I have in the fridge into my blender. I add some water, blend and eat with a spoon or drink it. It depends on the consistency.

It can take a long time to chew a big salad, especially if it contains hard veggies such as broccoli and carrots. Some people may not be able to chew well. A chopped salad could be one answer. Chopping the salad into small pieces gives you a head start on chewing.
How to make a chopped salad: try this Hallelujah Acres recipe.
Ingredients
1 head Romaine lettuce, heart only, washed, cut in chunks
1 ¾ cups broccoli florets, cut in chunks
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 radishes, cut in half
2 large carrots, peeled, cut in chunks
¼ cup walnuts
¼ cup pecans
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1.5 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice

Directions
1. Place all items in a food processor with the “S” blade. Place Romaine lettuce in last. All the Romaine lettuce will not go in the processing container in the beginning.
2. Process very briefly.
3. Add remaining lettuce and briefly process until mixture is chopped fine, yet still crunchy.
4. Pulsing the machine may give best results, so the perfect texture is achieved.

Use your imagination. Be sure to add lots of color and texture. More colors mean more diverse nutrients. Instead of using only iceberg, try mixing in darker greens like kale, chard, spinach, and red leaf lettuce. The possibilities are endless: cucumbers, red onions, nuts, seeds, protein, berries, etc.  If you don’t have a food processor, just learn the techniques of fast chopping.😊 Include chopped salads in your 2023 DoBetter Challenge. I hope you’re still trying to do better. Set a goal to get them in.  Enjoy and have fun!

*** Nugget 3  Serving the Better Wine
John 2:1-11, NRSV
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. 9 When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus, his mother Mary, and the disciples attended a wedding at Cana. Well into the festivities, the wine ran out. Mary asked Jesus to attend to the issue. After they exchanged a few words, he did as she asked. He instructed the servants to fill up some jars with water. When they drew from the jars the water had been transformed into wine. This wine was better than the wine that had been served at the beginning of the feast. This was Jesus’s first miracle and because of this act, the disciples believed in him.

Jesus transformed plain, ordinary water into fine wine. The miracle and the wine were amazing. What’s also amazing is that Jesus transformed the lives of men & women throughout the Bible. Today he takes people like us – and transforms us from sinners to saints. He can transform our lives from plain and ordinary to wonderful and unbelievable. We are the miracles that people can see. Let us be determined to let Jesus transform us on a continual basis so that others may choose to believe and trust in him.

God Made Something Beautiful out of My Life
(James Cleveland)
Chorus: He took me and made something beautiful out of my life.
He took a wretch, wretch like me, showed me love and concern.
And by His grace He made my life a new and better one.
I owe Him my all, I cannot let Him down.
Cause He’s the one who made something beautiful out of my life.
I thank Him for making something beautiful out of my life.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  If you wait, it could be too late. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting live (John 3:16).
If you have already accepted Him, He wants you to get to know Him even better.

Bye for now. Thanks for visiting.
Don’t forget to click the Follow button.
The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.

Sources:
https://www.funnyeditor.com/joke/whats-the-best-way-to-get-your-kids-attention
Mitchell, P. (2013). Hey! Christians Have a Sense of Humor, Too! Colorado Springs, CO: Product Concept Mfg., Inc.
https://funnyeditor.com/joke/what-did-the-horse-say-when-it-collapsed
https://www.veggieinspired.com/raw-veggie-chopped-salad/https://myhdiet.com/blogs/recipes/micro-chopped-salad?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_klaviyo_id=01G8X9K43SRJDA8PDPX72BN5C3&_kx=qRYE8Yp69BujbSHYR3gyZNENuL2SpnS2cXQvj_GxsCE%3D.Umv4Kx
free wine clip art – Clip Art Library (clipart-library.com)





Cheerful Tidbits

Have you smiled today? How’s your memory? Need to hear a hymn?

These mental, physical, and spiritual tidbits are here to encourage, enlighten, motivate you, and/or simply make you smile. Enjoy!

Tidbit #1                                            Humor time

Church Gossip:  Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointedBlog 2a 2020 arbiter of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose in the other members’ private lives. Church members were unappreciative of her activities but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon.

She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away. He didn’t explain, defend or deny; he said nothing.

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred’s house… and left it there all night!                    

Actual Announcements from Church Bulletins
–Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Don’t forget your husbands.”

–The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

–Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Visit:  A preacher visits an elderly woman from his congregation. As he sits on the couch he notices a large bowl of peanuts on the coffee table. “Mind if I have a few?” he asks.

“No, not at all!” the woman replied.

They chat for an hour and as the preacher stands to leave, he realizes that instead of eating just a few peanuts, he emptied most of the bowl. “I’m terribly sorry for eating all your peanuts, I really just meant to eat a few.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” the woman says. “Ever since I lost my teeth all I can do is suck the chocolate off them.”
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Tidbit #2
The hymn At the Cross was published in 1707.  It has definitely stood the test time.  It was written by Isaac Watts who wrote over 600 hymns during his lifetime, including Joy to the World. The main subject of the hymn is salvation.  The scripture verses – 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (KJV).
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Click on the video link https://youtu.be/vvkUN4u4tMc to hear the oral presentation of this blog and my rendition of At the Cross.
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Blog 2b 2020

Tidbit #3
How’s your memory?
A strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain. Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or a senior, there are many things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance.

One way to improve your memory is to give your brain a workout. You need to do brain training just like you need to do strength training.  Here are 4 things to consider when choosing a brain boosting activity.

  1. Choose an activity that is unfamiliar and teaches you something new. Let it take you out of your comfort zone.  It shouldn’t be something that you’re already good at. To strengthen the brain, you need to keep learning and developing new skills.

  2. The activity should be challenging and demand your full and close attention. It’s not enough that the activity was challenging at one point. It must still be something that requires mental effort. For example, learning to play a challenging new piece of music counts. Playing a difficult piece you’ve already memorized does not.

  3. Look for an activity that allows you to start at an easy level and work your way up as your skills improve —always pushing the envelope so you continue to stretch your capabilities. When a previously difficult level starts to feel comfortable, that means it’s time to tackle the next level of performance.

  4. Choose an activity that’s challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding. Rewards support the brain’s learning process. The more interested and engaged you are in the activity, the more likely you’ll continue doing it and the greater the benefits you’ll experience.   

Right now is the perfect time to do something you haven’t had the time to do, like learning how to play a musical instrument, take a cooking class, learn how to crochet, play chess, learn a foreign language, or master your golf swing.

— Test your recall. Make a list — of grocery items, things to do, or anything else that comes to mind — and memorize it.  An hour or so later, see how many items you can recall.  Make items on the list as challenging as possible for the greatest mental stimulation.blog 2 memory

— Do math in your head. Figure out problems without using a pencil, paper, or computer; you can make this more difficult — and athletic — by walking at the same time.

Any of these activities may help you improve your memory, as long as they keep you challenged and engaged.  Let’s get started!

The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.  It doesn’t replace your doctor’s orders.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, get to know Him even better.

If you do not know Him, accepting Him as your Savior will be one of the wisest decisions you will ever make.  He’ll give you strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  He’ll be faithful.  You may change on Him, but He’ll never change on you!

Bye for now.  Feel free to share any tips or positive thoughts.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

RESOURCES:
https://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/05/Aug/gossip.html
http://swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Religious.htm
http://swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Religious.htm
https://www.animatedimages.org/cat-laughing-1309.ht
https://www.greatchristianhymns.com/at-the-cross.html
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2%3A5-6&version=KJV
https://www.pinterest.se/pin/328481366545003612/
https://www.pinterest.se/pin/214906213459293354/

 

Yes I Can

Let’s get started on the DO better! Challenge, so that we can better fulfill our destinies and enjoy all the plans God has for us on this earth. You only have one body – so look after it. Do better in February than you did in January!

Humor Time
Have Faith My Child

For the umpteenth time Mrs. Youngston came to her pastor to tell him, “I’m so scared! Joe says he’s going to kill me if I continue to come to your church.”

“Yes, yes, my child,” replied the pastor, more than a little tired of hearing this over and over. “I will continue to pray for you, Mrs. Youngston. Have faith – the Lord will watch over you.”

“Oh yes, he has kept me safe thus far, only…..”

“Only what, my child?”

“Well, now he says if I keep coming to your church, he’s going to kill YOU!”

“Well, now,” said the pastor, “Perhaps it’s time to check out that little church on the other side of town.”

Going Out

A couple was going out for the evening. The last thing they did was to put the cat out.

The taxi arrived, and as the couple walked out of the house, the cat shoots back in. So the husband goes back inside to chase it out.

The wife, not wanting it known that the house would be empty, explained to the taxi driver “He’s just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother.”

A few minutes later, the husband got into the taxi and said, “Sorry I took so long, the stupid thing was hiding under the bed and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out!”

What would you like them say?

Three buddies die in a car crash, and they go to heaven to an
orientation.

They are all asked, “When you are in your casket and friends and
family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you? The first guy says, “I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man.”

The second guy says, “I would like to hear that I was a wonderful
husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”

The last guy replies, “I would like to hear them say, “Look! He’s moving!”
laughing face

Nutrition

The best vitamin for a Christian is B1.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn published in 1887 with music by Anthony J. Showalter and lyrics by Showalter and Elisha Hoffman.  Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in the Book of Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms….”

Hope this video blesses you.

The 2018 DO Better! Challenge

Faith confession: Yes I can! I believe I can so I will Do Better!  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

This challenge came about in Dec. 2015.  One night in choir rehearsal  I asked, “How many of you have healthy lifestyle habits that you know you need to pick up or put down – you don’t have to go home and pray about it- you just know you need to do it?” Everybody raised their hands.  I said, “I want to challenge you to pick a goal for the next 30 days.  They picked a goal and the Do Better challenge began the next day.

Every week after rehearsal we met and gave a report.  It was based on the honor system.  I asked,” Did you meet your goal?”  There were only 2 possible answers – Yes or No.  Why is it that you have to almost fight people for an answer to a yes or no question?  If you did not complete your goal for that week, the answer is No.

We would then share about our successes and failures.  We encouraged each other.  This is why you should invite others to join you –for accountability and support.  Every month we added another individual goal.

Each goal rolls over.  You don’t do one for a week or a month and stop doing it the next week or month.  You add a new goal every month and continue with the previous one.  That’s how it becomes a lifestyle change or habit.   The challenge is flexible.  You may want to add a new goal every week for nine weeks.  You decide.

Our challenge lasted 13 months.  We started off with 9 participants.  Two of them dropped out.  At the end of Jan. 2017, we had adopted 13 healthy lifestyle habits.

The goal of the DO Better! Challenge is to help you develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.  It’s never too early or too late to begin living healthier.  Any healthy lifestyle change is better than none at all.  This is not a weight loss challenge.  You may shed some pounds but it will depend on the goals that you choose.

It’s very unlikely that you will live to be 100, 120, or older.  Even if you do live to be 103 wouldn’t you like to be a spry, feeling good 103 – still doing some kind of work for God?  I’m not striving or praying to live to be 103.  I’ve often shared that my goal is not to live longer.  My goal is to improve the quality of my life.  I don’t want to be old, in pain, on medication, and hardly able to get around.  I want to be spry, able to dress myself and drive myself around for as long as possible.

Research shows that if you’re going to be successful at almost anything in life, the very first choice to make is to set some goals.  Remember, your goal must be measurable.  For example, if you choose exercise, how many days and how many minutes will you do it?  If you choose to stop drinking so many sodas, how many will you drink each day or each week?

The following are a list of possible goals.  Conduct your own research.  Discover why and how adopting some of these goals may help you become and remain fit for the Master’s use – for the rest of your life.

Here are 4 possible goals for February:

  1. No fried foods days (ex. no fried foods 4 days a week).  Fried foods can increase your fat, calorie and salt intake.  You won’t find a lot of nutrients in fried foods.  Eating a lot of fried foods can have negative effects on your health.
  2. Meatless days (ex. No meat at all, no chicken, no red meat, no pork).  Health experts suggest that most Americans eat way too much protein.  Excessive protein intake can also have negative effects on your health. There could be an association between red and processed meats and cancer and inflammation.
  3. Junkless days (candy, cake, etc. and/or chips, cheese puffs, etc.).  The word junk implies that something is extra and useless. We usually want to get rid of junk not accumulate it.  Junk food can contribute to depression, fatigue, obesity and other ailments. They have lots of calories and very little nutritional value.
  4. Improve sleep habits (ex. Avoid heavy and/or large meals within a couple hours of bedtime. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night).  The amount of sleep you get or don’t get can affect your health, mood and weight. Studies have found a link between insufficient sleep and health problems, such as diabetes and heart attacks.  Sleep also helps fight some of the fallouts of stress.

Let’s get started on the DO better! Challenge, so that we can better fulfill our destinies and enjoy all the plans God has for us on this earth.  You only have one body – so look after it.  Do better in February than you did in January!

One of my goals during 2017 was to eat less meat.  I did really well with this goal until Thanksgiving.   After then I jumped off the wagon.  I didn’t fall off, I jumped off.  I ate way too much meat.

I’m getting back on the wagon.  My goal for February: a) Can have meat (red, turkey, chicken, etc) only two days a week.  b) Can have salmon or other fish two days a week.

Feel free to share what goals you (and hopefully a friend, family member, or co-worker) set for Feb. and how you plan to achieve them.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to view the video and read all the nuggets.

 

Bye for now.

 

Sources:

http://jokes.christiansunite.com/Faith/Out_Of_Gas.shtml

http://www.broadcaster.org.uk/section2/jokes/parentingjokes.html

http://www.christian-jokes.net/Jokes/Heaven-and-Hell-Jokes/31-What-would-you-like-them-say.aspx

http:// www.jokesclean.com/ChristianJokes/HolyOneLiners.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_on_the_Everlasting_Arms