Be An Instrument Of Peace

By Kay Heitsch

I love St. Frances of Assisi's prayer for peace. He asks the Lord to "make me an instrument of Your peace." What a great way to begin a prayer.

Imagine how our daily lives would differ if we asked the Lord to make us instruments of His peace. There would undoubtedly be less stress, jealousy, greed, and hatred.

Our Bible verse says. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with everyone. Romans 12:18 ESV

This verse says, if possible, to live peaceably with all as long as it depends on you. Some people are not interested in living in peace with us. But we can do our part to be peacemakers.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Positive Expectations

By Kay Heitsch

HOPE H-have O-only P-positive E-expectations ~ Daily Motivator Quotes ~

I know God is working in our lives. When we know this, we expect something good to happen, and we have hope in God.

Our Bible verse says. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

When we trust in God through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will overflow with joy and peace. We hope in Him, and we can expect something good to happen.

HOPE H-have O-only P-positive E-expectations

Be Confident In God

By Kay Heitsch

Are you God-expectant? Expecting to see God move in your life. God Expectant Quotes

God is looking and longing for someone, waiting for Him to be good to them. God wants to be good to you, but you must expect Him to move in your life.

For years, I've thought about how great it would be to live on a lake so our kids could come and have fun at the lake.

This year, Bill's cousins bought a guest house on a lake and invited the kids to stay for the summer vacation.

While watching Joel on TV today, I thought about my secret desire. I saw God's goodness being fulfilled through these wonderful, caring people.

Expect to see God's goodness in your lives. He always works behind the scenes, even when we don't know it.

Our Bible verse says. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 NIV

If we want to live the life that Jesus died to give us, we must be confident and expect to see God's goodness in our lives. Let's keep our eyes open and expect the best.

Are you God-expectant? Expecting to see God move in your life.

Timing and Plan

By Kay Heitsch

What God has for you is for you. Trust His timing. Trust His plan. ~ Inspirational Quotes

Knowing God has a good plan for my life, I feel a sense of peace. His plan for each one of us is unique. We must trust His plan and also His timing.

Our Bible verse says. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Knowing that the LORD has good plans for our lives is reassuring. His plans will give us hope and a future.

What God has for you is for you. Trust His timing.

Traditions

By Kay Heitsch

This Christmas, we shared some new and old traditions with our family.

We went to the Catholic church for Christmas Eve Mass. Our grandsons Noah and Eli had their first communion. Christmas Eve Mass at the Catholic church was new to Bill and me, but this was their tradition for our daughter-in-law, Veronica, and son-in-law, Joe.

After the mass, we returned to our son, Brandon, and Veronica's house and shared a Polish Christmas Eve meal with Veronica's family. We were able to experience a lot of new foods. There were 16 of us all around the table.

I took our traditional Christmas treats that the kids look forward to every year. I started to think about this and noticed that the recipes were from several family members, many of whom have passed on.

We gathered back at Brandon and Veronica's for a Christmas Brunch and opened our gifts on Christmas morning. We had a fun time.

It's nice to have traditions to hold on to, and it's also nice to experience new ones too.

Hold Tightly

By Kay Heitsch

Even in the chaos of everyday life, moments of gratitude remind us to hold on to good things. ~ Hold On To What Is Good Quotes ~

There are many ups and downs in our everyday lives. Remembering the good things and focusing on what we are grateful for is essential.

Our Bible verse says. Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Romans 12:9 NLT

With God's help, we can love others and hold tightly to what is good no matter what life brings.

Even in the chaos of everyday life, moments of gratitude remind us to hold on to good things.

Where Would I Be?

By Kay Heitsch

Put God's word into practice. ~ Don't Just Listen Quotes ~

I often wonder where I would be had I not started studying the Bible and learning a better way to live. Life can be challenging, and learning how to navigate it has helped me greatly.

Now, I know I have an option for handling situations by doing it God's way. I don't always follow the Bible's example, but I have a choice. Before, I didn't know God had a better way.

Our Bible verse says. Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. James 1:22

If we want the life Jesus died to give us, we must put His Word into practice. We are only hurting ourselves when we don't.

Put God's word into practice.

Slow Down and Look Back

By Kay Heitsch

Slow down. Look back and consider God's goodness. ~ Yes, God Is Faithful Quotes ~

In the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it's essential to slow down, look back, and remember everything God has done for us.

Our Bible verse says. I will remember Your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders You did in the past. Psalm 77:11 GNT

When we slow down and look back, we will remember the many things the LORD has done for us. Remembering God's faithfulness will help us through our most challenging times.

Slow down. Look back and consider God's goodness.

Be The Reason

By Kay Heitsch

Be the reason someone feels welcome, seen, valued, loved, and supported. ~ Be The Reason Quotes ~

It is essential to me that people feel welcome and comfortable around me. One of the best compliments I have ever received is that I have made someone feel welcome.

I have wondered why this is so important to me and have given it some thought. It comes from people not being friendly or welcoming to me. I did not like that feeling, so I tried to ensure others wouldn't feel that about me.

Our Bible verse says. Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 NIV

I had not considered it like this, but it brings praise to God when we accept one another.

Be the reason someone feels welcome, seen, valued, loved, and supported.

Snow and Peace

By Kay Heitsch

Falling snow brings peace like no other. ~ Snow and Peace Quotes

I was out shoveling bright and early this morning. There is something about falling snow that gives me peace. I love the stillness, sparkle, and sense of peace it brings.

Our Bible verse says, Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV

This verse reminds me to stay peaceful and not be troubled or afraid. I repeat it often when I start to feel stressed. Watching the snowfall also gives me peace.

Falling snow brings peace like no other.

Our Greatest Freedom

By Kay Heitsch

Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude. ~ Viktor Frankl ~

It is freedom to choose our attitude instead of allowing our emotions to run our lives.

I heard a message last week about Jesus' attitude toward his betrayal situation. Jesus' disciples wanted to fight these men who came to arrest Him. But Jesus said, "Don't you know that I could call on my Father for help, and at once, He would send Me more than twelve armies of angels?" Matthew 26:53

Jesus had a choice about what kind of attitude He would have to handle this situation. He said I could... but He chose not to. He could have followed His emotions, but He chose the right attitude.

Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.

1 Corinthians 13 - Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny balls but do not have love, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not have love, I’m just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, Carol in the nursing home, and give all I have to charity but do not have love, it will profit me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend many holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love does not envy another home with coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love does not give only to those who can offer in return but rejoices in giving to those who cannot. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.

Toys will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Christmas Prayer

By Kay Heitsch

We spotted the porch light as we slowly drove down the street on that cold December evening. "This must be the house." I told our "Positive Teens In Action" group.

We pulled up in front of an older home with the porch light glowing. We gathered our songbooks, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door. We heard a faint voice from inside say, "Come on in. The door is open." We opened the door.

An older woman with a big smile sat in a rocking chair. "I've been expecting you," she said weakly. Ruth was one of our Meals On Wheels stops I had arranged, along with the usual church members who enjoyed carolers.

We handed Ruth the basket of goodies the teens had assembled earlier that evening. Then I asked Ruth what carols she would like to hear. Ruth's face was beaming as she joined in, singing each song.

As we hugged Ruth goodbye, she said to me, tears glistening in her eyes, "The day you called, I was still in bed. I had just finished praying. I asked God if it would be possible to have some Christmas Carolers come to my home and sing this year. Thank you for being the answer to my Christmas prayer."

Wow, what an incredible experience to have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's Christmas prayer.

Please Give Me A Sign

By Kay Heitsch

Years ago, I had a special friend named Judy. We used to walk in our neighborhood almost every day. We shared our lives together, and the following story is one she shared with me.

Judy had three teenage daughters. They were very active in sports. Judy and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Tony, would attend their sporting events. Although they did not sit together.

Judy walked to the gym door one night to leave after one of the basketball games. She looked out the door and saw that it was raining hard, and her umbrella was in the van. Judy started to walk to her van without her umbrella. The rain was cold, and as it hit her face, she pulled her coat around herself, trying to stay warm.

Suddenly, a car whizzed, splashing water from a puddle all over her. She looked up and saw that the driver was Tony. He never even stopped to offer her a lift to her car. Thoughts of the past came to her mind. How well she remembered Tony picking her up at the gym door. She remembered their high school years when they were sweethearts. How had it come to this?

When Judy finally reached the van, she looked at the gas gauge. She could see she was low on gas—not lower than Judy felt that night. She felt unloved. Then she prayed, "Lord, do You love me? If You still love me, please give me a sign."

Judy left the parking lot and headed for the nearest gas station. She pulled up to the gas pump. She looked down as she opened the van door and put her foot on the ground to get out. There on the dirty, wet pavement was a beautiful pink rosary. Judy picked the rosary up and held it to her chest. Here was her "sign" that the Lord did care and loved her.

Judy shared this remarkable story with me the next day when we walked. I was awestruck by how the Lord used this rosary to express His love for her.

Judy was Catholic, and I was Protestant. This experience taught me that God knows each of us personally. He knew a rosary would comfort Judy when she needed it most.

God gave her a "sign" and used a rosary to do it, a "sign" that she would recognize. The Bible says For the Father knows what you need before you ask. Matthew 6:8

God certainly knows how to show us His love when we need it.

Be Empowered By Your Past

By Kay Heitsch

Your past does not define you; it prepares you for your future. ~Inspirational Wisdom Quotes ~

Our past can teach us lessons and empower us to fulfill God's call on our lives. But to do this, we need to be determined and confident.

We must be determined not to let the negative things that people have said or done to us discourage us. We must use these things to empower and prepare us for the future.

Our Bible verse says. Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God, am with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 GNT

We must remember to be determined and confident in our ability to fulfill God's call on our lives. We can do this with God's help because He is always with us.

Your past does not define you; it prepares you for your future.

God Takes It Personally

By Kay Heitsch

Many years ago, when I was sixteen, I attended a Christian boarding school. They had many rules and regulations, and as a typical 16-year-old, I didn't always abide by them. One rule was that we could not go off campus without permission. However, I did and was expelled from school.

To make a long story short, I was enrolled in another Christian boarding school out of the state. I was on a break, and my roommate from the school I had been expelled from asked if I could come and spend the weekend with her. I told her to ask permission and that I would visit. She did, so my mom dropped me off at the school.

Fortunately, I had friends who did not attend this school. One of them, Vicki, picked me up, and I spent the weekend with her.

This sad incident came to my mind when I thought of today's Bible verse. "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!' Matthew 25:40 NLT

I just thought of this verse today. God takes the way we are treated personally. When people treat us unfairly or unkindly, God takes it personally. We need to be careful how we treat others, too.

How we treat others is how we treat God. People are God's creation. ~ Inspirational Quotes ~

Don't Put Up With Nonsense

By Kay Heitsch

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. ~ Willie Nelson Quote ~

If we want to have a positive life, we need to consider our thoughts. The devil will do his best to make us feel bad about ourselves. There are many ways to stop this, but one of the best ways is to fill our minds with positive thoughts.

Our Bible verse says. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

There you have it! We can use this verse to stop tolerating the devil's nonsense. Whatever is excellent and praiseworthy, we can and must consider it if we want the life that Jesus died to give us.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.