1 Cup, 2 Cups, 3 Cups, Oh My!

This morning, I noticed how I always pick up the same cup in spite of the fact that I have seven more cups hanging on a coffee cup tree.  What's our tendency to collect so many things that we really don't need?

Photo courtesy of:  www.creditscore.net

When we look to "things" as distractions, we tend to get carried away with them, wouldn't you say?

"My soul, wait in silence for God alone, because my hope comes from him" (Psalm 62:6).

God can handle every care, trouble, worry, and situation.  "Wait in silence for God alone," David tells us through the ripples of time.  Remember David?  He was King of Israel, yet he also dove into some ugly waters for committing adultery and then killing one of his generals.  Now, I don't think today that you're lumbering through type of muddy waters, but I'm sure, like me, you've got a few heavy things going on in your life.  The answer?

"I pray from my soul, God, for you to guide me with your answers.  Amen."

I like taking a little Bible verse, rewording it, and then saying it into the air so I can hear the prayer.  Then, I wait ... and God and time have a wonderful way of fixing off-kilter things in my life.

Be God-inspired today, and I'll post another day.  Meanwhile, submit your email address on this blog and get an inspirational, encouraging post from me a couple times a week.

Bye for today,

J.P. Osterman

If you'd like more inspirationals and encouragement, you find my book, God Designed: 366 Days of Inspiration at www.CreateSpace.com/5787841 .

Remembering Our Challenger Astronauts

You took your courage to the sky, leaving us way too soon.

We'll remember you always: Francis, Michael, Ronald, Ellison, Judith, Gregory, and Christa...

photo courtesy of:  www.spacesafetymagazine.com

"When my cares within me are many, your comforts cheer me up" 

(Psalm 94:19)

We can still find God and inspiration even in the shedding of our tears.  Today, we remember the brave heroes who died so that science could learn hard lessons.

God, your comfort sustains us, and only then can we regain our strength to move forward with our lives, amen.

Bye for today, and have a God-inspired day.

J.P. Osterman

An entrepreneur's guide to winning at failure

I thought you'd like this inspirational article!  Enjoy

An entrepreneur's guide to winning at failure

How to Forgive?

You've gotten cuts, scrapes, or burns, right?  After a few days, they heal, right?

Emotional cuts, scrapes, and burns aren't the same.  And the people who do us harm sometimes leave, never seeming to pay the price.  What are we left with?  Cuts, scrapes, and burns!  What's the answer?

photo courtesy of: soulseeds.com

Whenever I get stuck in the steam bath of wrongs done to me in the past, I get stomach aches, headaches, and my mind won't stop spinning.  Meanwhile, the people I'm "thinking" about and what they "did" to me aren't even considering me.  They've moved on.  They're long gone.  So, it's time to move on from the hurt, right?  How?  That's why I selected the above quote.  It's an intervention tool I use to unstick my thoughts from the glue of the past and move forward with my day.  "Forgive them, even if they aren't sorry for what they've done [or are doing] to me, God, amen."  Remember the Lord's Prayer?  "Forgive us our sins," Jesus begins, "as we forgive those who sin against us."  With these words, forgiveness becomes a shield, protecting us from ourselves.  If we continue to ponder our hurts and those who have wounded us, we're really only hurting ourselves in the long run.  It then becomes an internal war, right?  

"Take up every piece of war equipment God provides," Paul says in Ephesians 6:12-13.

So, forgive!  Forgiveness is your war equipment.  Use it, and move on.

And have a God-inspired day today.  Until next time...

J.P. Osterman

You can read daily devotionals and receive daily encouragement in my book, God Designed: 360 Days of Inspiration.

Here's a Dose of Faith

Photo courtesy of:  ibelieve.com

In the smallest and largest things you do, and in the smallest of problems and grandest of fears ... He's with you.

“See! This is our God!

We waited for him to save us.

This is Adonai.  We put our hope in him.

We are full of joy, so glad he saved us” (Isaiah 25:9)!

Have a God-inspired day today,

J.P. Osterman

"Saditude" to Gratitude ... Yes, it's a new word I've coined. Check it out!

courtesy of:  mojitomother.com

We can let our circumstances dominate our lives and moods, or we can ask God to help us make a change.  How?

"Brothers and Sisters, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy," the Apostle Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8. 

Paul has a point.  Have you ever noticed, that when you act differently from how you feel, change naturally occurs?  It's in our DNA to change with our actions.  So if you're having an "off kilter" day, just reboot with a kind word or act to someone around you.  See the change!

Bye for today, and be God inspired.

J.P. Osterman

Can you tell me the full moon names? | EarthSky.org

Can you tell me the full moon names? | EarthSky.org: For both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the full moons have names corresponding to the calendar months or the seasons of the year.

Want Change in the World?

courtesy of www.likesuccess.com

God said it Himself:  "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12)

Today, I began singing the song, "You Gotta Friend in Me," to my little dog.  Strange how when we don't feel like we have friends we turn to our wonderful loving pets.  Even in nature we can encounter little wonders that we can pass on to others around us.  What makes the world a better place?  Treating others the way I would like them to treat me.  Can you relate?

Have a God-inspired great day!

J.P. Osterman

Don't give up.

photo courtesy of:  www.quotesblog.net

"Follow the Holy One who called you, become holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16).

We don't always do the right thing, but we can change.  Give God a chance.  Examine the evidence for God.  You're smart.  You can find Him.  Just search for Him.  It's that easy.  No!  Just ask Him.

Be God inspired today.

J.P. Osterman

Persevere

Feeling like giving up?

photo courtesy of:  www.smartpassiveincome.com

Never give up because you are valuable ... to God!

"I am establishing my covenant between me and you, along with your descendants ... as an everlasting covenant, to be God for you" (Genesis 17:7).

Give God a chance.

What do you have to lose?

I hope you find God's inspiration for you today.

J.P. Osterman