On a
good day, enjoy yourself;
On a bad day, examine your
conscience.
God arranges for both kinds of
days
So that we won’t take anything
for granted. Ecclesiastes 7:14
Alexander and the Terrible,
Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a popular children’s book by Judith Viorst.
Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day
when he woke up with gum in his hair. And it got worse . . .
Recently I had that kind of day. It began with a
phone call to my son. He’d been fired from a job he loved two months prior. I
encourage him to trust God. His frustration broke my heart and after I hung up
the phone, I was in tears as I poured out my heart to God.
Later, I paid a bill with my last check. For the
rest of the day I looked for the box of checks I knew I had, and I prayed for
God to help me find it. I searched everywhere. My shredder also stopped
working. I was frustrated. I took a break and sat for a while.
By the end of the day, I ordered new checks only to
find the box of checks. I also discovered the shredder wasn’t broken, but only
overheated.
Have you ever had a terrible, horrible, no good,
very bad day?'
God gives us both good and bad days. How do we plan
to handle them?
Father,
You’ve blessed me with so many very good days, and I am
grateful. Help me live for You and be grateful during the few bad days as well.
Amen.
B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and
speaker. Her books include a contemporary novel, Gillian’s Heart; a historical novel Lily; Sweet Charity; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story;
and coauthor of a children’s devotional My
Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000
copies sold.
As a contributing writer, publications consist of Writer’s Handbook 2000, The Writer, and The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a
Healthy Home, Wolgemuth& Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.—consistently on
Bookstore Journal’s Best-selling Christian Books List from November 1990 -
February 1991, and voted the 10 Best Books for 1990 by Today’s Christian Woman.
Magazines, devotional booklets, curriculum and newspaper
publishers include Focus on the Family,
Woman’s World, The Quiet Hour, Pathways to
God, Devotions, Harcourt Brace,
WordAction, Gospel Publishing and Times Standard (newspaper).
She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College,
Roseburg, OR and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft
Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life,
but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion
questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published
book.
Memberships: ACFW and Oregon Christian Writers (OCW).
She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm
scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea.
