Devotion: God is Our Source

"a kind word cheers him up." ~ Proverbs 12:25

As I was thinking on kindness, I remembered a certain rubber stamping website I visit frequently in which members enjoy surprising others with RAKS (random acts of kindness). RAKS usually contain a beautifully decorated card and sometimes, small gifts such as sample-sized artist supplies. It gives the RAK-giver joy to share a bit of cheer with someone. It's kinda like sharing a cup of cold water with the thirsty (Mt. 10:42). I know as I've been on the receiving end a time or two!

Prayer: Daddy, I need your help today. I don't come by kindness naturally and I know you delight in it. When I moan and groan about the "exercise clothes" I must put on to follow you, gently remind me that I'm yours, dearly loved. Season my words today with kindness to make them a reflection of you. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Today's Tip:

“Lighthearted color and upbeat, positive imagery emphasize the supportive writing of the Religious card.” ~ Eva Szela.

Veggies & Fruits

I found a couple of poems that I believe Bob the Tomato would like!

Tutti-Frutti Lovesong,

by Mary Grace Dembeck.

You are my darling CUMQUAT,

Oh, you're my PEACHy pie,

I think you are the BERRIES,

The APPLE of my eye.

Don't make me MELON-choly,

Please be my HONEY DEW,

'Cause oh, my sweet PAPAYA,

I'm BANANAS over you!

I would be oh, so GRAPEful

If you'd just say you care,

For it takes two to MANGO,

And we're a PEACHy PEAR.

Oh, ORANGE you a little

COCONUTS for me too?

Please say you'll be mon CHERRY,

I'm so GUAVA over you.

Or:

Do you carrot all for me?

My heart beets for you,

With your turnip nose,

And your radish nose.

You are a peach,

If we cantaloupe,

Lettuce marry—

Weed make a swell pear.

I was given a small autograph book for Christmas one year as a young person. I became fascinated with autograph verses such as the short one above. Here's a bunch more -- Autograph Book Verses. 

Mary Engelbreit Style Hallways

In my last article on Bulletin Boards, I showed a few of my favorite bulletin board ideas that I used at church. Another time I decorated the children's classroom hallways in Mary Engelbreit style. I enlarged an open font in my word processor and printed the letters out about the size of an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper, cut them out and attached them to black sheets of cardstock, trimmed them in checkerboard and sticky gummed them to the walls. I also had an old calendar that I took apart and used the ME pictures as posters all along the walls as well as "dots" of black paper (see photo). For each doorway, I also stamped a 8.5" x 11" inch classroom ID tag to post next to each door.