HANDLING LONELINESS By Jackie M. Johnson

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted" (Psalm 25:16, NIV).

Do you know someone who is recently widowed, divorced, or homebound with an illness? Do you know anyone who is new in town, or who travels frequently on business?

Perhaps you know someone in prison, in the military or in a nursing home.

These are just some of the people in life that may experience loneliness in one form or another. But you don't have to be by yourself in order to be lonely. Many people feel alone in the middle of a crowd because inside they feel inferior or rejected. Some people feel misunderstood or unwanted so they isolate themselves; they are afraid of getting hurt by others. While they silently keep to themselves, deep inside they are longing for interaction with another.

Does this sound like anyone you know? Some people try to fill up the empty places in their heart by overeating, drinking excessively or other addictive behaviors.

True, only God can fill our emptiness with himself, but we need human contact, too. Perhaps you've heard the story about the little boy whose Father told him that God loves him and the boy replied, "But Daddy, sometimes I need someone with skin on."

Sometimes we learn the most important life lessons during an empty, silent time. Traits like patience and submission give us character and strengthen our faith as we learn to trust God for his provision.

Jesus took time to go to the lonely places and pray. Perhaps one of his loneliest times was when he prayed alone in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was betrayed. Or, when he was hanging from a wooden cross. The One who knows true loneliness is indeed our True Companion.

How can you be "someone with skin on" to a lonely person today? How can you hold out hope and reach out a person in need?

Someone in your neighborhood, church, community or even circle of friends needs your warmth, encouragement and listening ear. Lord, teach us to trust You during the lonely times in out lives. Be our True Companion and help us to reach out to others who may need a friend.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Author Unknown

"My father didn't like kids, he'd rather be alone doing his things. We were a nuisance to him! Now my teenagers are rebellious. Suddenly, I realize why my wife has complained all these years that I have neglected my own kids."

This father was distraught with his belated discovery. "Like Father, Like Son" is the proverb that came to mind. Is it a curse or a blessing?

Children will, in some way, duplicate their parents, especially in those areas of life where they were not formally taught--like parenting skills, how we react to marital frustration, family responsibilities, and even how to have fun.

As children, we also unconsciously imitate our parents: their values, hospitality, respect for each other, and their love for the Lord.

Moises pointed out how important each parent's role is in conveying who God is to his or her child.

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them
to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:7-9

Our kids learn from us, even if we don't want them to. Can they learn about God from me? As children, we may have to unlearn the negative examples we have adopted unconsciously. Are there things I learned from them that stop me from fully appreciating who God is?

THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Marion Smith

For years I have had a saying which I tell my family. Whenever they compliment my cooking, sewing abilities , gardening skills or thoughtful deeds, I always say, "well, you know it is special because it was made (or done) with love." This is true- the special added secret ingredient to make anything more exceptional is to add an extra dash of love to it.We should remember to say a quick prayer for the recipient, a prayer of thanks for God given talents or praise to the Lord for the desire to do this special thing . Counting our blessings never hurts!

Likewise, our loving heavenly Father has added this "special ingredient" when He made you and when He made me. He made us in His likeness, with a special measure of love. It never ceases to amaze me that the God of the universe- the One who created everything has added this beautiful "secret ingredient" into the lives of His children. How blessed we are! Let's remember to thank Him today!

GROW UP! by Melanie Schurr

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways." 1 Corinthians 13:10

When my children were younger, while my husband and I gave them various chores to do around the house so they would learn responsibility, we understood that their abilities could only go so far. However, when they became teens, I expected more from our children because I knew their level of maturity had increased.

Now that Aaron and Lindsey are now nineteen and twenty, their dad and I hold them to greater accountability.

So too does our Heavenly Father understand that, with the passing of time, should also come an increase in learning, wisdom and knowledge, for man cannot stay a babe forever.

Unfortunately, some of us may grow in body and years, yet there is little change in maturity of mind. I am sure we all may know someone who makes the same mistakes year in and year out, blaming their misfortunes on others, and refusing to take responsibility for their own actions and behaviors.

My dear friends, today is the day to grow up and set aside that part of us whose immaturity is keeping us away from God and godliness.

DON'T FORGET TO SMILE Author Unknown

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drove up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my picture.

May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

And don't forget to SMILE!