The Difference Between God's Voice and Satan's Voice

Since my blog is my personal thoughts and record of things I want to remember I have to post something I just read in the Baptist Trumpet dated October 18, 2023 by Susie Edgar. She wrote what an elderly lady once told her in answer to a question she posed. "How do you know when you receive a word that it's from God or from Satan?" The reply was simple!
     God's Voice: stills you, leads you, reassures you, enlightens you, encourages you, comforts you, calms you, and convicts you. 
     Satan's Voice: rushes you, pushes you, frightens you, confuses you, discourages you, worries you, obsesses you, and condemns you. 

Habits

      A recent article in the Baptist Trumpet regarding habits provided several quotes which I found interesting.  I post them as follows to help me remember the importance of establishing good habits.  

"Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shapes your habits."  
"Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become." 

                            James Clear 

"The habits you do on a daily basis create the person you are." 

"If you want to change your future you must change your present, and you change your present by changing your habits." 
"In order to see godliness, there has to be dailyness."  
"Dailyness is where the sacred meets the routine." 

                            Robby Galaty 

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten." 
                            Baptist Trumpet writer wrote "as quoted by many"

In an effort to improve my habits, I will strive to : 

    H ave daily quality talks with God

    A dopt more friendships and A void those who pull me down 

    B ridle the tongue

    I mprove listening skills

    T hink positive thoughts---Be Thankful in all things

    S eek God's will in daily actions

The Bucket List

      The Bucket List is a good movie about two terminally ill men on a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before “kicking the bucket.” Initially the list is about self-gratification, but it quickly turns into friendship as they mark off the adventures on their list.
     During the trip there are some profound statements. One asks the other two questions:
  1.“Have you found joy in your life?
  2. Has your life brought joy to others?”
     In the end, one said about the other, “The last months of Carter’s life were the best months of mine.”
     I am, thankfully, not terminally ill, and it was not watching the movie that really got me to thinking about making a “bucket list”. It was reading an article written by Travis Plumlee in the Baptist Trumpet about “Little Things Mean A Lot.” His article is not about a “bucket list” or a wish list of things to accomplish for self, rather it is about things we can do every day which are meaningful for others.
     As I think about “Little Things Mean A Lot” while relaxing here in A Friendly Shade, I realize that to be truly remembered, it will be for something we do for others, not something we accomplish for self. That is truly how we will make our lives bring joy to others.
     To quote Travis Plumlee, “Doing little things for someone else in your family is like putting oil in the motor; it just helps things run smoother and keeps the engine going….One thoughtful act, every couple of days, over several years can really add up to be a blessing to the receiver.” He also referenced Ephesians 4:32 “Be ye kind one to another…”
     Maybe there should be a sequel, Bucket List II, made about two terminally ill men who set out to see how many faces they can put a smile on before they “kick the bucket.”
     On second thought, what if we become the main actors and actresses and create our own memorable “bucket list?”