Thoughts to Action

 

"Day by day, what you choose,

what you think and what you do

is who you become.”

~ Heraclitus

 

 

“Knowledge isn’t power

until it’s applied.”

~ Dale Carnegie

 

 

“Going to practice is the most

minimal thing you can do.

EVERYONE goes to practice.

Champions are great because of

what they do outside of practice.”

~ Coach Julie Reed

 

 

Kindness is free.

Sprinkle that stuff

everywhere!

~ Unknown

 

 

“If it is not right do not do it;

if it is not true do not say it.”

~ Marcus Aurelius

 

 

Do good because it matters,

not because it gets noticed.

~ Unknown

 

 

A beautiful day begins with

a beautiful mind,

a peaceful soul,

and a grateful heart.

~ Unknown

 

 

“A man sees in the world

what he carries in his heart.”

~ Goethe

 

 

Love needs action.

Trust needs proof.

Sorry needs change.

~ Unknown

 

 

“Act as if what you do

makes a difference.

It does.”

~ William James

 

 

It costs $0.00 to treat

someone with respect.

~ Arshad Ali

 

 

“MORNING IS GOD’S WAY OF

SAYING ONE MORE TIME,

GO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

TOUCH A HEART,

ENCOURAGE A MIND,

INSPIRE A SOUL AND

ENJOY THE DAY.”

~ Mufti Mink

 

 

May our thoughts lead to doing what is right and good.

 

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

 

Taking Time to be Kind

 

Carolyn Jump’s dad was sitting in his favorite chair, looking out the front window of his home in Grant County, Kentucky.  He noticed that a white car pulled up to his mailbox, put something in, and then drove away.  Upon investigation, he found his wallet he had lost over a month ago in the Boone County parking lot.  The wallet still had the $140 cash, as well as all the credit and gift cards.  The finder made the time and effort to return the wallet, without seeking a reward or recognition.

Cindy Clausen drives Bus #50 for the school district.  She recently took the time to type a letter to Jorge and Leonor about their children.  Annaliese and Jorge have been supportive and compassionate to a little boy, Jackson, who also rides their bus.  They ask that he get to sit with them.  It is difficult for Jackson to walk and sometimes he is sad when he gets on the bus.  When he sees Annaliese and Jorge, he begins to smile.  Clausen mentioned, “Today Annaliese looked from around her seat and said, ‘come on Jackson, you can do it’ and when we arrived at school Jorge took it upon himself to carry out his backpack!  I know you know how wonderful your children are, but I wanted you to know it shows!” 

 

They had stopped to get gas for the car when Mike noticed two young boys waiting to add gas to their lawn mower.  He motioned for them to come over and filled the mower with gas.  Mike then handed the boys cash to buy ice cream and money with instructions to mow an elderly person’s yard for free.  His wife responded, “He would never make a post about what he did because that’s not who he is or why he did it…but I just want to remind everyone that there is still so much good in this world.”

 

Tita Holliday and her 13-year-old granddaughter were shopping.  As they were about to enter the store, her granddaughter noticed a family with two small children by a sign asking for help.  She quietly handed the people some money and then went into the store with her grandmother.  Tita commented, “Absolutely love her heart.”

 

Bridget Stevens and her two sons arrived home in the Pittsburg-area to a freezing 50 degrees inside their house.  She was able to text her husband, Bobby, who is deployed overseas.  She tried everything suggested, but could not get the furnace started so she placed a call to Betlyn Heating and Cooling in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.  The owner, Paul Betlyn, answered the call.  He gave a few more suggestions of things to try and when none worked, Paul said he was on his way over, even though it was now after hours.  While chatting, Paul found out that Bobby, the husband/father, was serving in the military and stationed overseas.  Betlyn was able to fix the furnace.  On the bill, there was a $1 charge.  Paul had also written a note to thank her husband for his service.  He quickly said that the $1 was a joke and there would be no charge.  Betlyn stated, “I’m not the hero here.  The deployed, they’re the heroes.”

 

May we all be intentional about taking time to be kind this week.

 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 Thessalonians 5:11

Difference Makers

 

Dolly Parton announced that she is donating $1 million to the relief efforts, from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, to “Her Tennessee.”  Her businesses are also making an additional $1 million contribution.

Sarah Taylor reported that 2,000 people had been located at a church in Candler, North Carolina.  They hadn’t eaten in 6 days.  Will Adkins made several helicopter trips to deliver food and supplies.

 

Walmart has donated $10 million for the Hurricane Helene victims.  They also have workers from 3,858 stores filling trucks to deliver needed supplies.

 

Texans on Missions, formerly Texas Baptist Men, left Monday morning, to take supplies and teams to help with cleanup work from heavy flooding in Northeastern Tennessee and North Carolina. 

 

Carolyn Scruggs is from Brevard, North Carolina.  The people at Tractor Supply have loaded a 24’ stock trailer with food for livestock and pets, work gloves, tarps, batteries, shovels, brooms, and other equipment.  They stopped at the Food Lion, in Cleveland, North Carolina, to add food and additional supplies that people brought to donate.  The mule team was able to load and take food and supplies to the people in Black Mountain.  They were able to check on several of the people who were trapped in the area around Swannanoa.  Scruggs stated, “The devastation in the mountains has broken all of our hearts, but we are thankful that even in this sadness, we see God working through so many wonderful people.  We will continue to praise HIM.”

 

Keri Selph, of Selph Farms, has set up distribution points for farmers who are donating hay to the farmers in North Carolina who are the most in need.  People are donating money, to help with the cost of fuel, so the hay is free to the farmers.  There are also farmers in North Florida and South Georgia willing to give and deliver hay.

 

Thursday morning, Paul Lambert and Jason Hall, from Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, headed to Boone, North Carolina, to help with disaster response.  They are pulling a UHAUL full of supplies, that church members gave, to meet the requests of churches in the area.

 

Alabama has opened 21 state parks for people who are evacuating from Hurricane Milton.

 

The owners of King’s Arrow Ranch, in Lumberton, Mississippi, have opened their ranch for people who need to evacuate from Hurricane Milton.  They are also generously offering their pastures and stables for animals, livestock, and horses.  The place can sleep 300 and has 80 RV sites available.  King’s Arrow Ranch owners are offering all of the accommodations for free.

 

May we too seize opportunities to be difference makers for God’s glory and the good of others.

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16