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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2017)
10 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 One simple way to increase your joy I love God’s Word because it is our instruction manual for life. In fact, there is an answer for every problem we face in the Bible, including how to make a bad day better...and increase our joy every single day. For example, if you’re hav- ing a bad day, one of the worst things you can do is to keep thinking about yourself and all of your own problems. It only makes things worse. The best thing you can do is get your mind off yourself and help someone else. The apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (NIV). So, if I’m having a bad day, this Scripture tells me I can be happier by simply getting myself off my mind and help- ing someone else. Helping others isn’t some- thing you may feel like doing-it requires a decision, especially when you’re concerned about a problem or just feeling down. But making a choice to be good to others has the power to help you and them. It’s actually amazing how just a few words of encourage- ment can change someone’s entire day. Sometimes it can even change their life. It can be as simple as picking up the phone and calling a friend who’s been going through a rough time, letting them know you’re thinking about them and praying for their situation. Or maybe you can send someone a text mes- sage to let them know how valuable they are and how much you care. If you’re wondering, “How does helping someone else make me happier?” then just think about Christmas morning. You’ve spent time shopping for gifts, spending your money and sacrificing financially. You’ve also wrapped them and placed them under the tree for your kids or relatives. And now it’s finally time to open them. Sure, it’s fun to receive a gift and open it; however, the best part is watching others open their gifts. Why? Because you have sacrificed, spent your time and money and really invested something into this. So, as you watch them open and enjoy what you did for them, great joy is released in your life. I recently read a tremendous story on this topic about William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army. It was Christmas Eve, 1910, and due to sickness, he wasn’t going to be able to attend the organiza- tion’s annual convention. He had become an invalid, and his eyesight was failing. Normally, Booth would speak to the workers and share an encouraging message with these men and women who had spent long hours in service dur- ing the Christmas season. But this year, knowing he couldn’t attend, he decided to send a message by telegram that could be read to all those in atten- dance. Booth searched his heart and mind and reviewed his years of ministry, looking for a message that would summarize his life and the mission of The Salvation Army. He wanted to compose a speech that would encourage these men and women. That night, when the thou- sands of delegates met, the moderator shared the news that William Booth would not be present due to his failing health. They were naturally dis- appointed; however, he con- veyed that Booth had sent something he wanted to share with them in his absence. The moderator opened the telegram, then read William Booth’s one-word message: “Others.” This story really speaks to me. It’s so easy to always focus on ourselves — what we want and what we think. But we often have it backward. Remember Acts 20:35: God is saying when we make others our priority, then everything else will fall into place ... and we will end up incredibly happy. Here’s another scripture that says it well: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 NIV). God’s Word clearly shows us that when we have a need in our own life, helping others is one of the most powerful things we can do. Are you going through a dif- ficult time? Are you waiting for a breakthrough in a certain area? If so, Psalm 37:3 has the answer for every problem you will face: “Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed” (AMPC). The bottom line here is: Trust God and do good. Because when you place your trust and hope in the Lord and commit yourself to helping oth- ers and taking care of their problems, you open the door for God to do incredible things in your own life. Would you like to make every day better? Would you like to find joy even in the midst of difficult times? Then begin taking just a few minutes every day to think about what you can do to help someone else. You’ll find that when you make others your focus, God’s blessings will always come back to you. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. For more information, visit www. joycemeyer.org. City seeks advisory committee members The City of Florence has recently established a short- term ad-hoc committee called the Housing and Economic Opportunities Committee. This group will be a working committee charged with com- pleting the Buildable Lands Inventory and Housing and Economic Opportunities Analysis. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council and staff in matters pertaining to affordable and workforce housing as well as economic development and job creation. The committee will review work products and provide rec- ommendations on key project issues and decisions, providing guidance on scenarios and pol- icy options and guiding stake- holder and community engage- ment strategies. The committee will meet at approximately four meetings over the course of six months and will also be responsible for FUUF to discuss Palliative care On Sunday, April 30, at the Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship from 10 to 11 a.m., Dr. Stephen Kerner and Donna Becker, medical social worker, will be speaking about the Palliative Care program in Florence. Starting a Palliative Care program in Florence has been a dream of Dr. Kerner’s for many years. The program has had a number of successes thus far, even though the program is just beginning. The program has the potential to serve many med- ically frail people in the Florence community. The ultimate goal of the Peace Harbor Palliative Care program is to enhance comfort and to improve the quality of life for people who have a life- limiting illness. This presentation will include information about why Palliative Care is so important in our society and in this com- munity. Specifics about the Peace Harbor Palliative Care program will be reviewed including the objectives and goals, the patients served, the services provided, and the pro- gram’s successes and chal- lenges. The UU Fellowship is locat- ed at 87738 Highway 101 at Heceta Beach Road and is wheelchair accessible. Each service concludes with refreshments and a dialogue cir- cle to explore the questions that come up during that service. Every Sunday evening at 5:30, Jim Tubesing leads Peaceful Meditations at the Fellowship Hall. For more information call 541-997-2840 Mapleton Foundation seeks grant applicants The Mapleton Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations for community projects with- in the Mapleton School District boundaries. The applications should demonstrate how the funding would educationally, cultur- ally, physically or civically improve the students or resi- dents of the area. Applicants must be a not for profit organization. Funds will not be awarded to individuals or operating expenses. Grant applications can be obtained at the Mapleton Post Office, Siuslaw Public Library in Mapleton or by calling Kathy West at 541- 268-4665. MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY! For online or phone orders use coupon code: momluvsfl orenceinbloom 15% OFF YOUR ORDER Excluding Delivery Charges Offer valid April 24-May 20 www.fl orenceinbloom.com Florence In Bloom Full Service Flower Shop 1234 Rhododendron Dr., Florence 541-997-5391 • 800-914 -2305 research and community out- reach in between meetings. Applications are available at Florence City Hall and can be downloaded from the City's websiteat www.ci.florence.or .us. For more information, call City Recorder Kelli Weese at 541-997-3437. Spirituali-Tea to feature discussion of flowers On Monday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m., at 875 Seventh St., everyone is invited to join a group of friends from varied spiritual paths to discuss flowers. The writings of the Baha’i Faith say: “Consider the flowers of a garden. Though differing in kind, color, form, and shape, yet ... this diversi- ty increaseth their charm, and addeth unto their beauty ... “Diversity of hues, form and shape, enricheth and ador- neth the garden, and height- eneth the effect thereof. “In like manner, when divers shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beau- ty and glory of human perfec- tion will be revealed....” The gathering will end at 8 p.m.with prayers for the requests left in the Prayer Pole in the garden of the Florence Playhouse and those shared by the group. For more information, call 541-590-0779 or email JamesHeintz@gmail.com 2285 Highway 101 • Florence, OR 97439 (541) 997-8866 45% OFF Implants NOW FREE CONSULTATION See the DentureMaster’s difference, we do it all right here! Dr. James Ridley,DDS 206 Nopal Street Florence, OR 97439 CALL NOW 541-997-6226
