Reblog: Use what you have

Published on September 10, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

Use what you have

By Patricia Hardee (Reblogged from CSMonitor.com)

In an interior design magazine, an advertisement caught my eye: “USE WHAT YOU HAVE. No big deal. Take the terror out of decorating. Talented professional can help you. No job too small or too large. References. Immediate results.”

It was designer Lauri Ward’s ad about using what people already have as a foundation to renew their home décor. For many people, her good idea revolutionized the interior design business. Rearranging for immediate and improved use what is already ours made such good sense, and I thought, That’s an essential principle that Jesus taught.

Speaking of what is already ours through God’s law of abundance, Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24, New International Version [NIV])…Read more

Reblog: Bright light from senior workers

Published on September 4, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

Bright light from senior workers

By Barbara Vining (Reblogged from CSMonitor.com)

It’s encouraging to know that age is not a barrier to progress.

I learned that lesson early from a neighbor – a childhood friend’s father, Mr. Fierke. We were still in high school when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 at General Mills, where he managed the flour division. Without hesitation, he enrolled in a six-month training course to become a stockbroker, after which he began a 23-year career with a well-known brokerage firm. After that, he continued to live an active life.

In recent times, age has become less and less a factor in deciding when one should retire – or whether one should retire at all. It’s quite common for individuals to want – or need – to continue working during their senior years. Many businesses are actually wooing senior workers, and mandatory retirement ages have been disappearing from the horizon. Employers are valuing seniors for their maturity, dependability, and experience – and, I also think, for the inspiration their example can bring to the workplace.

Mr. Fierke’s example certainly inspired me, as well as many others, I’m sure… Read more

Reblog: Only Love’s atmosphere

Published on August 28, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

When this writer saw a tornado, she quickly prayed. She realized the political turmoil in her neighborhood was affecting the whole atmosphere. Prayer brought a resolution to the political problems and to the weather.

Only Love’s atmosphere

Prayer can bring calm to a storm – and even to political campaigns.

By Jane Hickson

Late one afternoon, my granddaughter and I decided to make a quick trip to the pet store. It was closing shortly, but we had just enough time to drive there and make our purchase. Not far from home, stopped at a red light, I looked up. There in the sky, hovering over the pet store, was a funnel cloud – something I had never seen before, except in photos and on TV. I remembered someone saying earlier in the afternoon that there were tornadoes in the area, and that much damage had been done in several other places.

I reached out to God for an answer as to what to do. Then, I suddenly remembered that we were nearing the day to vote for governor of our state, and that this funnel cloud was directly over the home town of one of the candidates.

The campaign had been filled with political mudslinging, criticisms, accusations, and much condemnation hurled at one another. In fact, it was not unusual to be out in public and to overhear a stranger comment on how confusing it was to know how to vote, or to say there was no good choice of candidate. Neither candidate seemed very desirable.

I began to pray – about both the tornado and the negative political campaign…Read more