It is 5:45 a.m. and I am looking out the window at a clear blue sky, watching the trees sway in the morning breeze, listening to a pot of coffee brewing as the rest of the house sleeps and enjoying the peace that can only be found in the early hours or late at night as the world sleeps. Once I start sipping that 1st cup of coffee I can say this could possibly just turn out to be the perfect day. When I started writing this I was thinking it is Sunday – that’s what vacations can do to you! I just heard the garbage truck . . . it’s NOT Sunday! Sorry for all of you who are heading off to work . . . I’m enjoying a peaceful morning that feels like I got a Sunday do-over!
Today is a VERY special day! Today my incredible, beautiful, amazing granddaughter turned 4! I cannot believe that it has been that many years since I held her newborn self just a few minutes after she came into this world. Happy Birthday Miss B! You are truly a blessing to everyone fortunate enough to spend time with you, or to be graced with your beautiful smile.
Verse of the Day
July 2, 2018
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
—Jeremiah 17:9-10
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Jesus told us that what is in our heart ultimately works its way out into our public life. The great wise man of Proverbs told us to guard our heart because it is the well spring of our life. Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our heart. At Heartlight, we want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our heart. Invite the Lord into what you do and think and read and watch and hear. Ask him to remove deceit and help you see if what you are doing is really worthy of your time and interest.
www.verseoftheday.com
Food for Thought
Human nature is an odd thing, isn’t it? Some people are inherently nice, especially in front of others, but other people are petty and mean. Yesterday we stopped at a little diner to get a bite to eat. We had never been there before, so it seemed like a great time to give it a try. It was run by an older lady (which is all relative since all of us are getting older by the day, right?) She was nagging her employees, also older ladies, griping about them not doing this right, or that right, basically threatening their jobs, all in a whining, high pitched (though I suppose she can’t help how her speaking voice sounds) drawl, then backhandedly saying “I’m just kiddin y’all.” Um, no. Making others feel stupid or chastised in front of someone else is not just kidding, especially when those other people are your customers and co-workers! We had already ordered, so we stayed, but in hindsight, I wish we had canceled our order and told her that we wouldn’t stay where others were being treated poorly. The regular customers that were there didn’t sound like they took notice – so maybe it was just her way. It’s rather like firing someone in front of their peers when they really hadn’t done anything wrong – which I did see within the last couple of years – it just shouldn’t be done. Honorable and decent people wouldn’t do that – but as I know very clearly – some people just don’t have any honor, and they certainly aren’t decent. It takes all kinds, I suppose.
I Forgot Day – How many of us, especially as parents, have heard our kids say, “I forgot”, after we’ve instructed them to do something? Did you do your homework? I forgot. Did you clean your room? I forgot. Did you brush your teeth? I forgot. You get the picture. It was like endless loop replay . . . day after day. Turns out there’s a day just for the sort of folks who use the “I forgot” as a solution to all the things they didn’t do that they were supposed to. I’m not saying that sometimes we don’t legitimately forget something, but to say it all the time turns it into just another excuse. For today though – you’re allowed. If there’s something you just need to forget today – a bad day, someone saying something to hurt your feelings, an errand that won’t hurt anything to “forget” until tomorrow . . . go ahead and forget! Just for today though. I don’t suggest using this as an excuse for something important today . . . like showing up for work on time or getting married. You know – important stuff like that! And just so you know . . . I Forget Day is closely related to I’m Sorry Day. They sort of go hand in hand – depending on what it is you are forgetting.
Made in the USA Day – I wrote about this one over the last few years when our economy was being flushed down the toilet by an administration that cared not one little bit about the American people but cared a great deal about bowing and scraping to the rest of the world. U.S. companies were fleeing for foreign shores in droves because the taxes to do business here were just to high. Many people had lost their jobs, had their hours reduced, and many unable to continue to pay their house payments. Now we have a President who is NOT a bowing, scraping politician, but a leader in business. He knows how to fix the poor business practices of a government that is circling the drain and has systematically begun to turn things around. As a result, businesses are booming, there is less unemployment in our nation now than there has ever been, U.S. businesses are returning to our shores and we truly are becoming once again the great nation we were for so many decades. This, more than ever, is the time to buy products made in the U.S.A., to support the growth of our own businesses and help the American business owner and workers continue this trend of prosperity. It is truly a great thing for every single one of us who live here and love our country so much. Look for the Made in the USA label in your products and make a solid effort and supporting our own economy, rather than the economies of foreign nations. America First! This company has pages of items made right here, within our own borders, by our own people. Here’s a link to a list of companies to get you started.
World UFO Day – Wouldn’t it be nice if world leaders would just admit that UFO’s really exist? Of course, that would mean they’d have to stop hiding facts from the public and honestly, I’m not sure they are capable of such a thing. When it comes to UFO’s though, I believe. Not to seems a little egotistical. Think about it. God created an entire universe made up of many, many galaxies – too many to count. Why would He limit Himself – being God – to only one teeny, tiny planet of inhabitants? Just because not many people have seen them . . . or have they? . . . doesn’t mean they aren’t out there. Today’s date was chosen for this celebration because it is the date of the Roswell Incident, an historical even leading to wide speculation and belief that aliens have visited us. Do you know much about that? Most of us have heard it at least mentioned in movies. On July 2, 1947 Mac Brazel, a rancher NW of Roswell, New Mexico found wreckage of a metallic object on his ranch. The wreckage and the metal it was made of was strange. He contacted military authorities who investigated and removed the object. The first military reports referred to a mysterious Unidentified Flying Object. These reports were later rescinded, leading to widespread speculation and claims of a massive government cover-up of the discovery of UFOs from outer space. It also sparked fear of a UFO invasion and rumors of other incidents. That speculation is alive and well today. The secrecy from the government agencies just fuels all of the stories and makes them grow and evolve into ever bigger stories. Have you seen anything in the night sky?
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Anisette Day – What is Anisette? It is a liqueur that is flavored by the aniseed – that star shaped spice that tastes something like licorice. When the aniseed and a sugar syrup are distilled together they create this liqueur that is very popular in Spain, Italy, Portugal and France. Personally, I don’t enjoy the flavor of licorice – so I don’t drink or use Anisette – I know many people do like it though, so a good warning would be to those folks would be that you should not drink it straight as its alcoholic content is high and can cause irritation to the throat. If it is mixed with coffee, other alcohols or water, it can bring a sweet flavor out in those beverages and enhance them. If you aren’t a drinker, you can always make Anisette cookies. People, like my hubby, who love black jelly beans (BLECH) will likely enjoy the flavor of Anisette. It’s funny though, it may taste like licorice, but it doesn’t actually have any in it! Here’s a keto / low-carb anisette cookie you may want to try. I haven’t made these, but I have made a few things from this website, so I’m confident that this blogger knows what she is talking about. Send me pictures if you make some! I’d like to know what you think! https://ketodietapp.com/Blog/lchf/keto-glazed-anise-holiday-cookies
Ahhh, coffee is done. Hubby has joined me in the morning quiet ad we are sipping our coffee, petting the dog and soaking in the moment. Sunday morning awesomeness! God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.