What Treasures I Hold!

What Treasures I Hold!

In the course of our lives we have acquired experiences through relationships, old and new, that have nurtured, cultivated and developed us.

We’ve learned technical, motor, and social skills and hold on to a sea of information that is
valuable and, at times, seem to be of no use.

The most intricate insignificant snippets of our past have taken a part in shaping our present being. Nothing is ever wasted.

In our lives we face situations that call for us to reach into our past and pull out something meaningful and insightful. Uncertain or troubling times lead us to test the depth of our faith in God. Our religious beliefs and our own personal history brings a certain calm and comfort allowing us to move forward assured, confident, carefree, and poised to help ourselves and others.

We have built layers of love, feelings, opinions, emotions, ideas, inspirations, faithfulness, hope, trust, conviction, devotion, loyalty, beliefs, confidence and fears.

Through this sea of sensations and passions we are pulled in and out of the high and low tides of our lives. We may face turbulent times, tumble or get caught in a rip tide, but with faith in the plans that God rests on our hearts and in the gifts and skills we possess, we are led to a more fulfilling depth of our spirit. Together with the lessons learned and the practice of the new ideas and goals we set our sights on, we are able to swim or float to a safe haven.

The current may take you, but be at peace and feel secure in your own vessel. Continue to reinforce and build on the foundation of its original design. Inventive ways should never stop for the world keeps changing and your heart must rise above and continue to grow in love.

Everyday will not be over-the-top thrilling, moving and electrifying. Some days will be uneventful, calm and tranquil. Enjoy the most menial of events, experiences, conversations, and observations for they all play a part in the treasures you embrace today or for those yet to come.

What treasures you hold in your heart may encompass an array of beautiful sparkling deep rich colored jewels that are titanic in size or they may be a pool of the tiniest smoothest perfect pure white pearls in the chest.

Whatever word, phrase, scripture, memory, picture, or feeling you find worthwhile, meaningful, and valuable, hold on to it, and keep it safe in the protective cove of your heart.

Recall often the wondrous works of God and His miraculous creation of you. Include simple things and pure thoughts; make them readily accessible and sweetly on the tip of your tongue, so that you will be prepared for that one surprising unassuming day where your recollection and reminiscence of joyful, certain and uncomplicated times will keep you afloat and buoyant in the midst of your storms.

One’s treasure is only valuable to the one who looks after the gems in their heart. Cultivate it so it will stay and hover like an aura of an angel’s crown, ready to share its lovely light and unveil itself at any vulnerable moment or obscure place to offer holy and sound direction as you travel through your uncertain channel, path or route.

Allow your inner faith, hope, and love to work in sync with your past, good and bad, significant or not, to be your guardian angel and perceptive guide that will lead your ship out of harm’s way back into the harbor, and through the inlet, where you will return safely and dock from the voyages of your life.

Through your faith and trust in God and with the strength of your own persuasion you’ll humbly proclaim, “Oh dear Lord, what treasures I hold!



Inspired by Matthew 13:52

Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

So strengthen your drooping hands
and your weak knees. Make straight
paths for your feet, that what is lame
may not be dislocated but healed.
-Hebrews 13:12


If we live good lives, the times are also good.
As we are, such are the times.
-Saint Augustine


Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you.
-Matthew 7:7


Hope is like a road in the country;
there was never a road, but when
many people walk on it, the road
comes into existence.
-Lin Yutang


Do not worry about tomorrow;
tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
-Matthew 6:34


Opportunities multiply as they are
seized; they die when neglected.
Life is a long line of opportunities.
-John Wicker



Your father knows what you need
before you ask him.
-Matthew 6:8


The principle of life is that life
responds by corresponding;
your life becomes the thing
that you have decided it shall be.
-Raymond Charles Barker

POSITIVE QUOTES

POSITIVE QUOTES

Positive Quotes

One of the secrets of a long and
fruitful life is to forgive everybody
everything every night before
you go to bed.
-Anon



We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?
-Marcus Annaeus Seneca

I think, what has this day brought me, and what have I given it?
-Henry Moore


Every night before I turnout the lights to sleep, I ask myself this question: Have I done everything that I can . . . Have I done enough?
-Lyndon B. Johnson

The camel, at the close of day,
kneels down upon the sandy plain
to have his burden lifted off
and rest again.

When daylight draweth to a close,
And let thy Master lift the load
And grant repose.
-Anon

Shed, as you do your garments, your daily sins,
whether of omission or commission,
and you will wake a free man,
with a new life.
-Sir William Osler


It is a common experience that
a problem difficult at night is
resolved in the morning after
the commitee of sleep has
worked on it.
-John Steinbeck

Fruits Of Your Labor Never Tasted So Good!

Fruits of your labor never tasted so good!

Good successful relationships and triumphant personal aspirations require persistence, consistence, and often tough and rigid earnest work. Our finer ambitions may also take some time to come to fruition. It’s rare to say that first-class, good quality, respectable, decent and moral things happens overnight.

Our desires, hopes, and dreams take more effort than that of just one’s self. We might need a group, band, panel, squad, lineup, a bunch or a party to get the job done.

Parents work with their children throughout a child’s adolescence to provide lasting life qualities, where the positive end result would be to teach God loving attributes, self-worth, honorable and honest characteristics, trustworthiness, and distinctive traits that make one capable of love of others and self.

A growing bank account requires a combination of an investor with money, time to bear interest and a bank to hold the funds.

It is a team effort for employers and employees to work together to provide a service to a customer and together they attain targeted goals whether it be a production quota, a filing with the court, a hot meal for seniors, or an oil change.

A coach and assistants work together with team players over the course of the season and/or year to strategize for winning games.

In a competition of tug of war each team uses their strength and endurance that has been acquired over time to work toward a victory.

A gardener consistently cares for a garden with water and food, and trims the dead branches from plants, flowers and fruit trees so that they will grow, yield more blooms and bear more fruit.

To successfully reach a goal, provide good service, or increase in faith, we must honestly look to ourselves and see where we have become dead. None are blind, for all have a holy heart that feels and sees.

The combination of minds in sync, strengths of many individuals, faith and talent on various levels, and love of scores of hearts ensure that a harmonious collaboration will carry them not only to their ultimate goal, but to a level beyond hope, probability, anticipation and sometimes even belief.

Jesus reminds us that apart from him we can do nothing. He came to remove our dead branches. We have already been cleansed by the words he has spoken. If you have suffered through a drought, or perhaps your shears have become dull, fill your bucket with water and sharpen your tools so that your garden may flourish once again.

In prayer everyday, as one, unite and elevate your heart and mind to the heights of God, so that your basket may always be overflowing with sweet abundant fruit and your delicate glass vase will be impeccably arranged with an array of beautiful flowers for eternity.

Fruits of your labor never tasted so good! Enjoy your harvest!


John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Proverbs

Let another praise you – not your own mouth; someone else – not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2


The Lord loves the pure of heart; the man of winning speech has the King for his friend.
Proverbs 22:11


When the just prevail, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2


The fool gives vent to all his anger; but by biding his time, the wise man calms it. Proverbs 29:11


The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.
Proverbs 29:25


My son, if your heart be wise, my own heart also will rejoice; and my inmost being will exult, when your lips speak what is right. Proverbs 23:16

Go On With Your Bad Self!

Go on with your bad self!

“Smash*%#@, crack*%#@, ughhh”, she sighed, “great that’s all I need. Where are my keys,” she said between two pursed lips. She scurried to the broom closet and hastily pulled out the broom and dust pan, dashed back to where her favorite vase was now in pieces on the floor. Angered by the incident, not necessarily by her own negligence, she swept the broken fragments of sharp glass much too quickly and knew in the days to come she wouldn’t be running around barefoot.

Although she should have, she did not have enough time to run a wet mop over the area. She immediately darted to the next room and swiftly picked up her purse one last time in search of the blasted keys. From the rushed motion she dropped her sweater to the floor and there they were, the keys, sitting on the chair all along.

Livid, she tossed them into her purse, abruptly grabbed her tote, sweater, lunch, and reading material for the train and hoped that she didn’t forget anything. Her blood pressure was up, she could feel it, her heart was racing and her ears felt hot. She was up way too late last night and she could just kick herself for missing her alarm. She didn’t have time to press her blouse or drink a cup of coffee like she had intended. “Whatever”, she said to her reflection in the mirror that showed the dark circles under her eyes. Note to self, “I need a new concealer”.

Fumbling to get her keys out of her purse, she dropped a borrowed magazine and ripped the cover as she madly swept it up from the driveway. “Nothing is going right this morning, I am so not looking forward to today”, she mumbled as she pulled out of the driveway without giving her car time to warm up. The cold car hesitated as she accelerated hard trying to catch up with her hot pace.

Finally she yielded abruptly on to the freeway and was now on the butt of an annoying SUV. She had missed several opportunities to move over one more lane and each time she felt a wave of rage flare up inside her. She was irritated by its slow snail’s pace and it made her angry that this huge truck needlessly possessed power. Frantically looking for the next open break of cars to make the switch in lanes and failing at her next feeble attempt to put a little more distance between her and the SUV in front of her, she was forced to once again remain where she was, stuck. “That’s it”, she protested, “I’m going for it!”

Boom%*#@, crunch^*@#, crack^%#@, screech^%#@, bam%#@! Startled out of her own war zone, she could see ahead of her a few cars length away an out of control car sliding across the lanes of highway filled with morning commuters. This vehicle ferociously cleared all moving in its path. She hit her brakes hard and held tight on to her steering wheel and prayed to God that she’d stop without incident. Moments later she was sitting in the lane to her right with her car now facing the oncoming traffic that had miraculously stopped.

Wow, what would you do next? Imagine that it’s you, sitting in that car. You are stopped now in traffic, with your heart in your mouth, your legs shaking uncontrollably and you realize that there is no injury to you or your car. You take a deep breath and when you’ve regained your composure you:

· Want to yell at the idiot that moved about the freeway causing chaos and are ready to ream him because he was obviously the cause of this stupid mess, or

· Thank God that he spared your life and think about how misplacing your keys and the slow SUV were your blessings from above.

Bad attitudes and ghastly behavior seem to attract more of the same. It’s like the domino effect, you drop the first tile and it systematically knocks everything down in its path.

Sometimes it seems that if the day starts off bad, the whole day proceeds along the same lines. Negative comments commence and a pessimistic attitude almost always builds and follows. You come home at the end of the day and say, “I am so glad that this day is over! What else can happen to me today?”

Positive attitudes and grateful behavior seem to attract well, more of the same. It’s like a magnet, you put good feelings out there and you get good back. When positive attitudes are abundant everything around you seems to be operating on a superior level. If we have a happy disposition we will impart gladness, delight, and joy and it would reverberate more of the same.
Let’s go for broke here, what do you say! Rather, put on your face of holiness and outstanding faith. Take pride in being a cut above and you’ll attract the divine, righteous and blessed. Pure of heart will come, virtuous will stand out, the devout will be called sanctified.

Today, turn your attitude into a pious one. Since friends and family always want to imitate someone, give them something to talk about and aspire to. Its okay if others talk about you and your friends who act like you. They may toss around comments like look at those self-righteous people with that holier-than-thou attitude. Who do those goody-goody two shoe so-and-sos think they are? You’ve been called worse than “something good”, you can handle this!

With the grace of God, what may start out as an attack, envy or resentfulness, can turn into pure desire, hope and eagerness. Be patient, they’ll have to come along at some point, evil doesn’t win out when God’s in charge.

The more someone talks, the more attention the good acts of Jesus gets. Turn your slightly less than perfect attitude in a great attitude ASAP. Don’t let negativity get you down or keep you down. When faced with adversity fight for what’s right, you’ll know what to you, you’ll feel it in your heart. God is sure to be smiling down on you. He’s got your back, and he knows you’ll touch some cohorts and inspire good converters along the way.

Who knew, you’re a leader! Go on with your bad self!

Self-Acceptance and Humor - Positive Quotes

You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.
-Ethel Barrymore

It's okay if you mess up. You should give yourself a break.
-Billy Joel

It is a sign of strength, not of weakness, to admit that you don't know all the answers.
-John P. Lougbrane

Your problem is you're . . . too busy holding onto your unworthiness.
-Ram Dass

I Give You My Word!

I give you my word!

I’ll be there, I give ya my word,” Mr. Paul called out. Why are they so hot on gett’n me back here tonight, he muttered. I don’t even have a child or grandchild who attends this school. I work Monday through Friday 7-7, that’s more than the 6 hours they pay me for. My job is to fix things when their broken, but I stay around and help the teachers move things from room to room, I paint the walls that are scuffed, and I help the fella in the cafeteria unload his van in the morning and they want me to come back tonight for some silly school thing.

Mr. Paul arrived at school the next morning and noticed how the teachers seemed to be, well, not friendly. They weren’t saying hello in the usual manner. They kind of look disappointed or sad, he thought. Hmmm, I wonder if someth’n happened to one of them.

The lunch bell rang and the children came rushing out of their class rooms and the hallways were filled with excitement. I wonder if that fire truck is back again for that safety thing. Hhhmm, he thought, they usually tell me about such things.

Paul noticed how the play yard seemed empty. That’s not usual, he thought. Usually there’s lot of children outside eat’n lunch. Oh right, he recalled, it’s Wednesday, they’re hav’n pizza. Paul walked on over to the cafeteria hall to get his lunch. He liked pizza as much as the children. He reached the back entrance of the hall and thought it odd that the door was closed, but he was distracted when he saw little Billy sit’n on the asphalt with his head hung low. “What’s going on Billy, why are ya sit’n back here by yerself”, Paul asked with concern and with a bit of knowing. “I don’t have any lunch money today”, Billy replied sadly. “Don’t fret young man, I just happ’n to have just enough money in my pocket to buy ya pizza. Now ya take this and go and get yerself some lunch.” Gee thanks Mr. Paul, “I’ll pay ya back, I give ya my word”. Mr. Paul smiled, he knew Billy would pay him back, he always did. Billy called back to Mr. Paul as he ran off ahead, “it’s mighty hot out today Mr. Paul, ya probably shouldn’t eat lunch in yer truck. Oh, that there door is locked, you’ll have to go in through the front”. Well that’s the oddest thing, Mr. Paul thought, that there door is never locked.

Mr. Paul circled the building and reached the front door. All the doors were closed, strange he thought, wonder what’s go’n on. Maybe they turned the air conditioning on.

He opened the door and was startled to see a group of children all gathered around the door, and what was more alarming is that they shouted “surprise”! “Surprise”, Mr. Paul murmured with uncertainty. He quickly looked behind him to see whose surprise he had come between, perhaps it was the principal or a teacher who had walked up behind him. To his amazement, no one was there. He turned to face the children again, and they shouted “happy birthday Mr. Paul”. “Happy birthday”, he muttered puzzled. Just then his eyes caught sight of the colorful balloons he helped to blow up the day before. He saw the remains of what was a huge birthday cake and a hand painted birthday banner. The easel that he brought from the storage room was no longer empty, and now it revealed the reason for the insistence of his attendance. This giant poster size collage was filled with pictures of him do’n tasks around the school and other pictures of the children and teachers. That silly gather’n last night he realized had been for him.

Little Billy came forward and spoke first, “Mr. Paul, we were here last night wait’n on ya, but ya didn’t cum. I told them there must be some good reason that ya didn’t show up. The teachers were mighty upset, but I told them not to be. I told them how nice ya were cuz ya would loan me money when my mom didn’t have any and ya always made me give my word that I would pay ya back. Yer are a nice man, Mr. Paul. Lot of my friends said real nice things about ya and then we asked if we could have some cake. When ya didn’t show we decided to sit me outside the cafeteria at lunch today and lock the door, cuz we knew ya’d come to get yer pizza, being it’s yer favorite. I had to play act that I didn’t have any money, so that I could run ahead and tell the others that yer were coming. Here’s yer money Mr. Paul, I’m giving it back now, I gave ya my word”, he said smiling. “We’re sorry that ya couldn’t make it to yer party, Mr. Paul, but we had a nice one for ya."

Mr. Paul’s heart felt like it had been stomped on and his eyes were welled up with tears. He didn’t know how he could have disappointed so many people. He was there for them everyday and just never thought . . . What he finally realized was that he was important to them and that he mattered. They went outta of their way to say I care and to say thank ya for all that ya do. He didn’t know that feeling, his family was estranged, and they don’t talk to him anymore.

Mr. Paul, took a good look at the sea of young eyes that looked up to him, and he said, “I am sure sorry that I didn’t make it to the special party ya all prepared for me. I didn’t know ya had this all planned, but that’s no excuse. I gave ya my word and I should have lived up to that. Thank ya all, this is the best birthday I ever had.”

The phrases “I give you my word”, “I’ll be there”, or I’ll take of care of it”, should never be used if you don’t mean it. When we are asked to do something, to show up somewhere, or to be a part of something, we need to realize that people are counting on us.

Do you get the assignment for the desert because you are always late? Have the invitations ceased because you stopped showing up? Do you hold grudges over things in the past? Are you not able to forgive and move on?

The teachers in the story seemed to hold a grudge. They were upset that Mr. Paul disappointed them and the children. These grown ups are supposed to be the example for the students in the school. However, in this case, the children are setting the example for all.

Ask God to make your heart more like a child. The ease of their forgiveness, their lack of fear of rejection, and their tender loving hearts are qualities worth mimicking.

Offer to help someone when you would otherwise not and follow through. Be early to a gathering and bring a main course dish. Make positive talk about you the norm and take yourself out of the butt of jokes.

Are you someone you would want to be friends with?

Ask God to show you what there is about your life that takes from the value of your words and makes you less accountable, trustworthy and convincing.


You are special, worthy of friendships and of love. We could all use a little tweaking here and there. It’s all good, and so are you, God gave us his word!




Inspired by Matthew 12:46-50

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Inspirational Thoughts

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

-Eleanor Roosevelt, American diplomat, author, First Lady (1884-1962).


What a man accomplishes in a day depends upon the way in which he approaches his tasks. When we accept tough jobs as a challenge to our ability and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen.

-Arland Gilbert


When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

-Sydney Smith



You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

-Ruth Smeltzer



I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now.

-William Penn

Recipe of Love

Recipe of Love

Today we are called for a deeper sense of relationship with our families. We connect with one another by spending time praying, talking, playing, and eating together. It is through these activities that we engage in interesting and life changing conversations that allow us to look into a door that would otherwise be closed.

By spending time together we learn about each others’ responses to daily situations, trials, tribulations, views on politics, world news, music, personal desires for our lives, experiences, moods and habits.

If we hope for a closer relationship we would not sit alone in different rooms with the doors shut nor would we talk down or talk about each other. The seal around the door and a guard around our hearts give the illusion that company is not welcome.

Today we have the opportunity to examine our lives, open our hearts, and to make changes that would allow us to grow closer. It is by these important intimate everyday encounters that we grow close enough to marry, to raise children, have life long friendships and enjoy relationships with our parents.

We not only need close relationships with people, God compels us to have a relationship with His Son Jesus. The friendship you will experience with Jesus will exceed all your expectations and will be a rewarding relationship you will hold with the highest esteem. He offers His unconditional love that would compare to no other and promises to take care of you and all your worries and needs.

Choose to be connected to Jesus and respond to His love through your faith and prayer. Put aside quiet time to allow your thoughts to become centered around Him. Through this special spiritual relationship with Jesus you will see your finest days and it will hold up over time and will overcome obstacles and enemies.

We are a society and world of different individuals and no single person is the same. We have our personal calendars filled with work and obligations that cram our days. Therefore, each of us will give different allotments of time, prayer, and devotional silence that will allow Jesus into our presence and cause inner calmness to rise as we allow His love to fill us.

There are many ways we can show love to God, Jesus, and each other, which makes life fulfilling, interesting and rewarding. Experiment with a free heart and learn what works best for you.

A rewarding relationship with Jesus is like a successful recipe. Use fitting ingredients of love, patience, kindness, trust, and forgiveness, along with good pinches and dashes of time, consistence, persistence, and unyielding faith, and you will always be among the gold medal winners.

Today create your own recipe of love!

The Same Old Daily Grind

The Same Old Daily Grind

Why is it when Friday comes we shout “TGIF”! Why don’t we say TGIM, TGIT, TGIW, yah dah, yah dah, yah dah. What is it that is so special about the weekend?

We’ve turned the weekend into some sort of “closure party” to magically wipe out a valuable part of our life. The week’s end seems to be the only part of living that allows us a bit of enthusiasm, zeal, interest, and hope for leisure and pleasurable time.

What do we do with “our time off”? Weekends for most are not designated for fun. We use our days to run errands, catch up on paying bills, grocery shopping, and washing our cars and clothes. So where is the break? Where did our enthusiasm go? Monday rolls around and we are back to the same old daily grind.

Out with the old and in with the new! That routine from the past is stale and outdated. No, you are not waiting until New Year’s to make a resolution or spring to clean out your cluttered life. There is no time like the present.

Everyday, give yourself a love offering. In the Old Testament people gave God innocent animals for blood sacrifices. This sounds pretty gruesome, I know. The great news is that we are living through a New Testament time. Jesus made sure of that, so we are happy, happy, happy. There is a point and a rainbow, I promise. God told Moses that blood represents life. Give God room to do new things for you, and be born again.

Gone are the days that you view your week or your life as finished, concluded or ended. God said “new life” and that’s what you will have.

Set in motion and embark on activities that will give you a break from the same ole, same ole. Start the ball rolling on a Monday, not a Friday. Get creative with ideas about what will break up your week with something enjoyable and fun. Go to the movies on a Tuesday, have dinner with a friend on Wednesday, browse in a book store on Monday.

Take your breaks at work, make it mandatory. Step outside and get some sunshine, it will perk you up and break up your day and improve y-o-u-r attitude.

Don’t feel stuck where you are at. Be open to change around the office, school, and in your personal life. A sour attitude could be keeping you from experiencing new opportunities.
Connect with a bible study group, join a choir, take piano lessons or what about dancing lessons (yippee!!! ). Try something you’ve been thinking about for y-e-a-r-s (oh, how about exercise? Curves anyone?). At lunch take a short walk then find a pleasant place to sit and eat your lunch under a thriving tree or a pretty courtyard. Bring a book you’ve been looking forward to reading or write a note to a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Kick off your new lifestyle today and look forward to everyday of the week.

Our minds respond positively to happy thoughts. Keep freshness in your life and move it ahead by filling in those blank spots on your calendar (or cell phone calendar, whatever works) with things to look forward to.

You are in charge of your agenda and it’s time you rearrange that uninviting schedule and get with the program. It’s time to feel allured, called, urged, alive, perky, and young at heart. Allow your faith-filled attitude to shine brighter than the day.

Life was not designed to work, we are to work at enjoying our life!




Inspired by Mark 3:27
“Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day. Use it for prayer, rest and rejuvenation and not weighed down by encumbrances of life.

My personal inspirational quote

This is not a job, I’m working for the Lord!

It’s Going To Be A Long One!

It’s Going To Be A Long One!

I was out for a very early morning walk (again, I know – it’s what I do) and I saw a woman fumbling with her keys and she dropped them. I teased her and said, “wake up”! She responded “no kidding”. She chuckled, “it’s going to be a long one”!

It made me think about our attitudes toward our days. We ought to be getting a good night’s sleep and when we rise, our bodies and our minds ideally should be rested and have new found energy to steer our day with optimism.

The very first words that leave our mouths after rest should be positive, upbeat, and optimistic. Those first utterances and attitude truly set the tone for our day.

Have you ever been excited about waiting for news about the results of winning a contest or an award, a refund, being accepted to college, or passing the bar? Do you recall the anticipation of waiting for the news about a job, the close of escrow, or the answer to a marriage proposal?

It’s exciting to have a heart full of life, vivacious and buzzing with enthusiasm and adrenaline. Because of our good cheer, many things that would otherwise bother us, irritate, infuriate, and get on our nerves have dissipated because our eyes and our hearts have bigger and better things in our horizon.

Make a key change today and head toward living a life filled with anticipation. Switch gears and make life easier to maneuver through. Gather a few phrases that make you feel alive and animated. Explore new ways to continue this feeling throughout your day. Model yourself after someone you admire. There are people around us who seem to always be driven by happiness. Take a moment and watch how they navigate through their day.

The great news you had been waiting for all day long comes at night right as you turn the covers back on your bed. You smile, relish in the moment, and feel thankful for all that you have. You breathe deep and thank God for your blessings. As you close your eyes, you will have peace as you sleep, for tomorrow you will receive the rewards of today.

Everyday enjoy people and the moments you have together, let go of your strife and allow God to carry your burdens. Look forward to a simple uncomplicated day.

Put the top down on your convertible or roll down all the windows and let the gentle wind blow away all that obstructs your happiness. Enjoy the beauty of the gift of today. It’s going to be a long f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s one filled with anticipation of joy and peace that you’ll take pleasure in. Have a g-r-e-a-t ride!


Inspired by Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

BORING DAYS - NEVER!!!

Somebody's boring me, I think it's me.
-Dylan Thomas

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Being bored is an insult to one's self.
-Jules Renard

That man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of a life.
-Euripides

Bordom is simply a lack of imagination.
-Julie O. Smith


This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad.
-Ps. 118:24


The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness. People who wait around for life to supply their satisfaction ususally find boredom instead.
-Dr. William Menninger


Average Days

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.
-Mary Jean Iron

Can I Get A Witness!

Can I Get A Witness!

“Can I get a witness”, he shouted with his hands raised up high. “Someone must have seen something! Anything! “Somebody please come forward.” He closed his eyes in defeat, “I know someone here sees me”, he said in exasperation. Many had been present, young and old. He was familiar with their fixed eyes, eyes of disbelief, distrust, conjecture, speculation, uncertainty and conviction. There were many hearts, good hearts, brave, fragile, resentful, wary, and scared, but none reacted.

He saw the young and their compassionate eyes. He felt their desire to come to him. He could hear little voices pleading with their mommies and daddies, “the man wants help”. He raised his head and turned toward a mature harsh voice that scolded a child, and then he saw the young being pulled by the hand and led away. All hope was gone, “little children” he thought, “would have come forward”. He was alone without a willing soul to validate the existence of a stranger.
People kept their distance. “Please, can I get a witness to my life before I die? Would you come and pray with me”, he asked for what he believed would be the last time. There was no one who was willing to say, “yes, I was there, you existed.

“Dear Lord,” he whimpered, “forgive them for they know not what they do, there was no one who would come forward in my time of need, no one to hold my hand and pray with me while I waited for you”, he said resolutely.

He continued with declarations, confessions, and through his prayer he felt his pain, sorrow, rejection, loneliness and abandonment begin to lighten and then diminish.

Jesus Christ, son of God, I was your witness. I stood on street corners and proclaimed your name and goodness. I prayed daily for others and asked for your mercy. People mocked me for loving you, stared because of where I lived and because I knew you, ridiculed me for lack of a bath and dirty clothes. Lord, the more we have the less we are. I’ve been happy with the shade of Your trees and have been sheltered by cardboard walls to protect me until You called me home. I did not bother anyone. I simply asked aloud to all to believe in You. I stole from no one. I did not beg, however, there were few generous people who gave to me. I lived with You in my heart and it is filled with joyful faith.

Oh my Lord, my God, I feel you now. I know my time is near. Today, I believe you will call me home. I know You were my witness. God, through Your Son Jesus, You showed me how much You love me. By my faith in You, I remained strong knowing that you believed my life mattered.” He closed his eyes and perished.

We have all been guilty of running away from situations that we are weary about. Sometimes we stay clear of things we know would be right, but fear holds us back. We shy away from people who are marked “weird” or “odd” by society. What’s even more alarming is that we can even shy away from our own family and friends who we call normal.

Aren’t we interesting, us human beings. We are silent in elevators when we are just inches from each other. At the check out stand at the market we can completely ignore the person in front of or behind us. As we arrive and depart from church we avoid eye contact with other believers. If you think about it, we can ignore people all day long. My point is that we CHOOSE to do what we do.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I went for an early walk, it was about 7:00 a.m. I could already hear the neighborhood awakening. I walked alone as usual to enjoy the glory of a new day. I held my rosary, my daily prayer book and engaged myself in prayer and meditation.

As vehicles passed me I stopped to look up and I waved. I noticed that the overwhelming majority of people I saw this morning did not waive back. Persistent as I am, I continued to waive, and more obvious now. I was pretty hard to miss. It was a great big happy wave! (not so big that I would embarrass let’s say my children, but big enough to be noticed and not ignored) “No one was going to ignore me”, I thought. Ignore, they did! I was straight out let down. To think that people would blatantly ignore another human being was beyond me.

As I turned the bend in the road, a jogger was running toward me on the same side of the street. She looked to be an experienced jogger with a stride that was consistent and energetic, happy I thought she must be with all that adrenaline running through her. I know she saw me, we were just 2 houses away from each other. She took a quick glance over her left shoulder, decided it was clear, and proceeded to jump off the sidewalk that we shared, and trotted across the street to the other side and continued with her jog without a hint of recognition that I was near. I started to feel anger rise within me, and as I did my view of the world began to turn ugly. I stopped myself when I realized that the attitude I was forming was making me feel bad. Right then, I decided, “I refuse to allow others to make me feel bad.” I also refused to cut them some slack. I would continue on as I always did and WAVE TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS. I would conquer some (even if it was just one this morning), they didn’t stand a chance with me today.
I approached the bottom of the hill about to turn the corner when I saw a gentleman who I would guess was in his seventies. I smiled and waived (my regular routine), “How are you doing my neighbor”, I said brightly. He look at me, now standing still on the opposite corner, with his hands in his pockets, and looking right at me and responded, “I’m doing great my neighbor, how are you”, he responded with a nice smile. “Yes”, I thought, “I got one”! We exchanged a few words about the beautiful morning and I continued on my walk feeling hopeful again. I crossed paths with a few more individuals who were wearing their “blind eyes” this morning. Then I saw the cutest little fluffy white dog with its head out the window of an SUV, being escorted by two women. I waved at them cheerfully, they slowed their SUV almost to a halt, looked right at me as if trying to recognize me, and when they realized they didn’t know me, they turned away and just ignore my greeting (no, the dog didn’t bark either). “What a sad situation”, I thought, but it was not going to spoil my good mood or morning.

I rounded the top of the hill and began to walk down when I saw a woman who was working in her garden. This gal has the most incredible flower bed. It is so colorful and beautiful and I admire it each time I pass it. I called out to her “good morning neighbor”! She looked up and responded kindly, “good morning”. I continued, “you have the most incredible garden, I enjoy it each time I pass.” “Well thank you”, she replied smiling. “There are parts of it that are dying because of the heat lately”, she replied still bent over pruning the shrubs but still turning to look at me as we engaged in conversation. “Well”, I said, “it’s still beautiful. You must tend to it with love. Thank you for all of us who get to enjoy it”. She stood up now, seeming to be moved by what she just heard. She looked at me and smiled and shook her head with a mix of surprise and gratefulness, “thank you so much; that makes me feel good. You have a great day”, she finished. “You have a blessed day”, I responded and was on my way.

T-h-a-t’s what I’m talking about. Two people connecting even if it is for just a moment or two. We were able to make eye contact, exchange nice greetings and what was ever more special in this case is that I was able to compliment her, a stranger, on something she valued for herself and the compliment lead to being able to validate that the fact that her efforts were recognized and enjoyed by others.

This world, our world, was designed for us to co-exist. We are called to continue with what God started. Everything begins and ends with God, and God is love.

Pope John Paul II shared a message at the 1966 World Missions Day, “Today Christ asks the baptized: “Are you my witnesses?” And each one is invited to question himself sincerely: “Do I live a strong, serene, and joyful faith, or do I portray the image of a Christian life that is flagging, marred by compromises and easy conformity?”

CHOOSE to be strong and to live a peaceful life. CHOOSE to be joyful and bold about your beliefs. CHOOSE to be generous and compassionate. CHOOSE to be a witness to what God created for us and to carry it on by example throughout your life. Change begins with you. You are the core of your household and a living an example to those you live with and those you communicate with daily. Don’t give people any slack. Be a persistent leader. God made you capable of great things, go out today and be pleasing to God. CAN I GET A WITNESS! YES! I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. GOD LOVE YOU.

“Can I get a witness”, he shouted with his hands raised up high. “Someone must have seen something! Anything! “Somebody please come forward.” He closed his eyes in joy. “I’m here, someone said with excitement. I’m here, I’m, here, I’m here, they echoed. “I am your witness.” Many had been present, young and old. He was familiar with their faith filled eyes, eyes of belief, trust, honesty, truth, certainty and genuineness. There were many hearts, good hearts, brave, soft, loving, joyful, and hopeful, and all reacted.

He saw the young and their compassionate eyes. He felt their desire to come to him. He could hear little young voices conversing with their mommies and daddies, “the man wants help, I’m going”. He raised his head and turned toward a mature soft voice that comforted her child, and then he saw a young boy being prodded and gently pushed forward with loving hands, allowed to come to me. The hope was overwhelming, “little children” he thought, “always come forward first”. He was amidst a crowd willing to validate the existence of a stranger.

People stood shoulder to shoulder and were as close as they could be. “Please, can I get a witness to my life before I die? Would you come and pray with me”, he asked for what he believed, this time, would be the last time. All were willing to say, “yes, I was there, you existed”.

“Dear Lord,” he shouted with joy, “have mercy on us, for those who do Your will, for all who came forward in my time of need, all willing to hold my hand and pray with me while I waited for you”, he said resolutely.

He continued with declarations, confessions, and through his prayer he felt joy, exhilaration, hope, trust, and faith brighter than any day he could remember.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, we are your witnesses. We stood on street corners and proclaimed your name and goodness. We prayed daily for others and asked for your mercy. People loved us for loving you, smiled because we helped each other and because we know you, none among us are needy, because we all share our riches and all that we have and no one goes without. Lord, the more we have the more we share. We’ve been happy with the shade of Your trees and all have sufficient homes to protect us until You call us home. We live with You in our hearts and they are filled with joyful faith.

Oh my Lord, my God, I feel you now. I know my time is near. Today, I believe you will call me home. I know You were my witness too. God, through Your Son Jesus, You showed me how much You love me. By my faith in You, I remained strong knowing that you believed my life mattered.” He closed his eyes content knowing that God would now take his spirit.

A world changed. What place will you live in? And who will you be?

POSITIVE QUOTATIONS

You don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too.
-Albert Schweitzer

A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.
-Richard Whately

Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.
-John MacNaughton

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.
-Marcus Annaeus Seneca

I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, let me do it now ---as I shall not pass this way again.
-William Penn

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter

We work to provide a roof over our heads and put food on the table. Imagine having no money. That would mean no place to sleep, eat or relax.

Jesus asked the disciples to leave home, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Can you imagine leaving your loved ones, belongings, money, clothes, and all the comforts of home? Jesus’ specific instructions were to “not” take gold, silver, clothes or even an extra pair of sandals on their journey. He also instructed them to go only to the lost sheep of Israel.

The apostles traveled from place to place to teach about love and peace. They were also instructed to leave where they were not welcomed. Do you think they worried about rejection? What concerns would they have had regarding food and a place to sleep at night?

It’s incredible to think that the Apostles were counting on the conversion and faith of strangers. Imagine how Jesus might have spoken to them. His words had to have been so compelling and moving it was beyond all common sense and understanding. They witnessed the purity of Jesus’ heart and His faith in His Father and saw that He was able to overcome all evil. These men, the apostles, left everything to become spokesmen for one man who came to show the world that life as they knew it on earth would change and that there was a heavenly place of perfection not of this world waiting for them.

The disciples had to have searched their soul deeply to stir a faith so strong. They had to have experienced a love so intense that it conquered all. They must have been touched with such a powerful force to cause them to become obedient to the point of selflessness. They were not perfect. However, isn’t it incredible to know that we have a merciful God who can forgive us anything and still allow us to do incredible works and pray for help in Jesus’ name.

The disciples followed Christ with faith, love and obedience. They believed in His promise of eternal life. They accepted the fact that they were guaranteed to be ridiculed, persecuted and would suffer the hatred of others. They trusted Jesus and went on to teach, having faith that the Spirit of God would lead the way and they went on to imitate Jesus. These apostles were the first leaders of our church and preserved God’s teachings that are recorded in our bibles.

Today you have the opportunity to examine your heart, soul and faith and chose to become a more visible follower of Christ. Lead by example, live by the commandments, and study the beatitudes. When you read your bible you will learn how to reconcile rather than be angry. It will be clear that cursing is an insult to God. If you obey God’s commandments and teach these commandments you will be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. There is scripture that educates about gossiping, adultery, divorce, retaliation, enemies, giving, praying, fasting, money, idols, tattoos, judging; the teachings are too many to list. There are so many habits that we’ve formed that have become our “normal”. Let us begin by becoming aware of our actions, responses and words, and make all that we do “pleasing to God”.

Permit yourself to expect God’s blessings everyday. Allow His love and power to take over all aspects of your life. Get stirred up over God’s love for you as you come to the realization that you are part of His incredible and supreme design and plan. He has created this earth which supplies us with food and water, and He has given us each other so that we may not be alone.
Since original sin has set the tone for all generations, we are to labor for our food (remember it was once available to us “for free” in the Garden of Eden). Our labor can include physical labor in warehouses, harvesting crops, years spent obtaining an education, working past greed, unfair competition, pettiness, not to mention endless hours over decades of time devoted to our businesses, employers, and households so that we may obtain our pay to sustain ourselves in this life.

You are up against evil thoughts, behavior, and attitudes. We all are. We all can change. Will it be easy? Maybe not. Will the change be worth it? Wouldn’t you say it’s worth eternity of heaven!

Jesus does not ask us to leave everything we have, rather, he simply asks us to love with our “heart and soul” and serve one another. It does not matter that we are rich, well off, comfortable or poor. Jesus simply asks us to help our neighbor, share what we have, work together for peace and to make our time here on earth worthwhile.

How’s your heart today? Is it happy, sad, joyful, playful, tender, or emotional? It’s normal to feel an array of emotions many times a day. You’ll work through the spectrum of emotions, you always do. However, we are reminded that we cannot manage our lives all alone, the fixes, solutions, and miraculous ways that move us forward through our lives are all through the Will of God.

You have a beautiful heart. God asks you to share its life with others. Start with “Labors of Love”. Labors of love can change a person, life, community and world. This is a staple for life. Work with your heart and hands in unison to bring about harmony and enthusiasm. Strive to please someone beyond expectations so as to leave a person with one’s heart in one’s mouth caused by immense excitement. As if falling in love, care for others so deeply that it causes an electrifying feeling right to the core. Seek out those in need, and help to ease distressed hearts, and put them at rest so that they may be relieved of doubts, fears, and worries. Set your heart on one who needs the most. Love completely, intensely, earnestly, thoroughly and fully.

Use your gifts to raise spirits and respond kindly to shortcomings and faults of others. A sympathetic and passionate heart will be the victor. Offer a hand without airs to bring courage to a frightened soul. If physical and emotional acts won’t suffice, then stop and go to a quiet place and pray for others.

Did you know that we are called “Ambassadors for Christ”. What a fabulous title. What a beautiful way to live. All God asks is that we honor Him in all that we do. Our payment for a job well done comes in blessings throughout our days and the promise of eternal life.

The bible says “laborers deserve their food”. Can you imagine the rewards that come through “Labors of Love”. Jesus gave His life for us so that we may have eternal life (wow, what a “labor of love”!). Today you as you continue on your journey you will be abundantly blessed and your table will be overflowing with food!!

You were born to be a leader!

You were born to be a leader! Who me? YES YOU!!!

Self examination will lead us to knowledge of ourselves. Take some time, go to a quiet place, look back over your day, and note what you become aware of about yourself.

If you think about it, we naturally have been an example by our actions in ordinary things and in what seems like ordinary ways. We all have many times guided someone by holding their hand through a crisis, or literally holding their hand perhaps to cross a street. We have given hugs, kissed tears away, and listened to a friend who needed someone to talk to.

Think about the things you already do. Then stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. You might find yourself sharing an idea with your employer or co-worker that will help things work more smoothly and save the company time. Perhaps you’ll find a new and improved way to run your household. You can finally join the church choir or a committee to help the people in your parish. You could become an expert at cutting coupons and corners to save money and celebrate when your family begins to do the same. You might listen and offer suggestions as your mother or father express concerns about their future on their limited income.

To be a leader does not mean we need to head a billion dollar business or empire. We could be financially at the lowest point of our fiscal lives and be an outstanding leader. Don’t scrutinize every detail and every move you make. Take a general overview of your habits. Be hontest with yourself. Some habits you’ll find can use some revamping; while other habits are great ones and produce good fruit. You'll know when it's right because your heart will concur.

Be an encouraging example while you attend to your household, carpool, classroom, job, family and friends. The new changes you make will cause a definite positive reaction among family, friends, and peers. Your new way will cause quite a stir. You’ll get attention because your actions were honorable, praiseworthy, set a higher standard, out of the norm but definitely refreshing and sorely needed in this world of chaos. Enjoy the new found interest of others, encourage them to be doers and by example, teach others to remain humble, because the pat on the back and the reward for a job well done is an act worthy of imitation.

To be a leader it is not necessary to head a public office or social group. Common sense, confidence, and stepping outside of your protective walls will take you to wonderful places.
“Go first”, what the heck! Don't wait to be led! How can you go wrong with God on your side. He gave us an incredible mind, and it was designed to work in harmony with our hearts. Listen to your heart and witness great works and gifts being shared as love will prove it's best.

Go through your day touching people, helping circumstances, changing lives by your good example. God knows what you are capable of. He believes that you can show the way to others, it’s time for you to believe in you. “You are a leader”.

Who's in charge? Not I.

Who’s in charge? Not I.

We think we can handle life and it’s nuisances all by ourselves. The truth is God doesn’t want you to. So why bother? We have a leader, our God is in charge! Be confident, us little sheep have a shepherd. Allow God to move mountains for you and watch his wondrous miracles dance around you!

Today Is A Perfect "10"!

Today is a perfect “10”!!

Make everyday a perfect “10”. Gone are the days that feel like just a “2” or okay at a “5”.
Seek God always as only He can lift you up at any step of the way, at any time, place or circumstance.

Jacob had a dream of a ladder that reached to heaven, and he saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it. When he awoke from his sleep he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place –and I did not know it! Genesis 28:10-17.

Through your up’s and down’s, stay straight on your path and remain confident in KNOWING GOD is always with you. Trust and faith will turn your low days into “10’s”.

Stay on your personal ladder with the Angels and you’ll find God is with you every step of the way, right to the top!

LORD BLESS MY HANDS

Lord bless my hands
So that they may define
Who I am

Help me to be conscious
Of doing for others
And not for myself

Open my eyes to your ways
So that I might imitate
And bring You honor.

Thank You dear Lord
For all Your gifts
Still unknown to me

I receive Your blessings
Knowing I am capable
Of all that You ask of me.

Amen.

Praise, Praise, Praise! You Are Amazing!

Praise, Praise, Praise! You are amazing!

Have you ever been praised by a friend or co-worker, and your family members dismissed their compliments? “She is so giving, with a heart of gold, a true blessing to all of us!” A family member responds, “Are you talking about my daughter and their sister?” She is weak, sensitive and has no real drive”. “You are fortunate Mr. Jones, your wife is so beautiful and a joy to all who meet her”. “What do you mean”, he thinks, “she does nothing special and her looks are ordinary”. “Sir, your son has an amazing spirit and a great love for God. You must cultivate his faith so that he may grow in his love for Christ, perhaps seek a life in priesthood, and be an example to us all.” Father’s response, “Father, I do not know what you are talking about, my son, just a teenager, is not even average, he stays in his room, only wants to read, he helps the old folks in our neighborhood, teaches little children, and does not speak much in the house, you must be talking about another boy”.

Did you know that Jesus taught in the synagogue and astounded many by His wisdom. The people knew that great deeds and power were with Him. However, they said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” They took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them,

“Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown,
and among their own kin, and in their own house.”

Jesus could not do his great works among his own, because the people undervalued Him, were too close and were blinded by their own opinions and ideas about his life and worth!

All of us are special and we possess wonderful gifts we often call talents. We think our talent must be something so substantial that it should impress large audiences. We might even believe that talents are only those that could make us famous or rich.

The gifts that we possess may not necessarily be larger than life. Although we might envy someone who can sing like Celine Dion or Barbara Streisand or, we may badly imitate Michael Jackson’s moon dance and be laughed at for trying, we can mistakenly rate gifts according to the biggest in the eyes of the world.

Our gifts do not come from man, but from God. We may have a knack for writing, telling jokes, fixing computers, a head for numbers, or organizational skills. One might have extreme patience to work with the handicapped or compassion to work with the physically abused.

You might be the next Emeril, the next Mark Phelps, the next Mother Theresa, or the next Pope. You could be the neighborhood’s best shoe shiner, dog trainer, housekeeper, painter, landscaper, produce man, or hairstylist.

Be proud of what you do. There is nothing too menial, miniscule, or insignificant about your contribution to a work, home, community, country or world.

All things require skills, time, and effort by one or many to get a job done. Honor God for the gifts He’s given you. Take time to praise Him, praise others, and always work with passion and love in your heart. With a gift from the heart, it can only be glorified by God and will be received in the spirit for which it will be intended, "a gift to others".

Put your hands out in front of you and examine them. Think about the incredible intricacies of their structure; the bones, ligaments, nails, and creases. Now look at the scars, years, stories, places, experiences, and the time they have left to lend a hand, to create, and to bless.

Look around, you don’t have to go far to find gifts in others. Something simple, innocent or common can be the greatest gift. Look beyond the faults of yourself, your loved ones, friends and the world; the Lord knows we all have them and he looks beyond yours and loves you more than ever.

Praise all and you will quickly see how negativity fades. The more we praise, the closer we get to living like Jesus.

Pray with me:

LORD BLESS MY HANDS

Lord bless my hands
So that they may define
Who I am

Help me to be conscious
Of doing for others
And not for myself

Open my eyes to your ways
So that I might imitate
And bring You honor.

Thank You dear Lord
For all Your gifts
Still unknown to me

I receive Your blessings
Knowing I am capable
Of all that You ask of me.

Amen.

It's Time To Wake Up!!

It’s time to wake up!

“R-i-i-n-n-n-g-g, r-i-i-n-n-n-g-g”, the alarm clock shrieked. “Ugh”, you grunt. “It’s time to get uuuuupp. I doon’t want tooouuuuoo”, you moan with mild force as you squeeze the words out of your throat rather than a breath from your lungs. “I just want to sleheheheepp!” You lie there, with your eyes closed, pleading to . . . no one. . “Just a few minutes more”.

“Wow”, you murmur through a clouded mind, “these forty winks are more restful than the whole night’s sleep”. Suddenly, an intensifying feeling comes over you. As though traveling through a quick time warp you feel as though a huge chunk of time has zipped passed you. Your body spasms, as your “mind time clock” produces an earsplitting ring inside your sleepy head. You are jolted out of your trance, and spring up like a jack-in-the-box that’s reached its last tight tension-filled turn, and boom#@!*&^ - that triggered the lurch that almost pulled your back out.
With blurred vision, you obscurely look at the clock and realize that only minutes have passed. As your body relaxes, you quickly become tranquil and are tempted to lie down once more. Fighting the reality all the way and knowing yourself all too well, you briskly toss the blanket off your warm body and it lands heavily on the person who was sleeping peacefully next to you (okay you could be alone-there are worse things in life-oh, I’m sorry, you like it that way, yeah right . . .). You clumsily walk toward the bathroom with your equilibrium still off and eyes half closed, turning your feet in toward the center of your torso, one foot in front of the other trying to gain balance from your intoxicating doze. You reach the vanity and in an attempt to place both hands on the counter top your wrists roll clumsily and land palms up, causing them to bear unnecessary weight. You then give in to a rounded back and let your heavy head hang for a nanosecond (any Mork & Mindy fans?).

You pull it together and gather the strength to lift your head and look up into the mirror and see . . . a version of you. “Not bad,” you think examining yourself, turning your head side to side. “Only a few locks of hair out of place” (of course you would never admit to having that special-do, with a diagonal parting of the hair and interesting lifts, flat planes and Mohawks that could never be duplicated with mousse and hair-freeze). You’ve got slightly swollen eye lids, a crease or two on the side of your cheeks, and lightly pursed lips that complete the niggling your started since the first sound of the morning’s alarm (question: first time for you or perhaps a regular break of day routine?).

Is this funny? Yes. I think it’s something we can all relate to. Is this the way to feel after a night’s rest? No.

Webster’s Dictionary definition of rest (“Webster” is my close friend this week) is: peace, ease, and refreshment as produced by sleep. Other definition: relief from anything distressing, disturbing, annoying, tiring, peace of mind; mental and emotional calm; tranquility.
Wake up people! It’s a new day. The day you proclaim to be rested, refreshed, awakened, alive and ready to live!

I am reminded of the lyrics of a beautiful hymn that is often sung in church, “Be not afraid, I go before you always, come, follow me, and I will give you rest”. Isn’t God good! He wants you to rest. He wants you to give him all your troubles. Why don’t you. Do it right now. Give it all to him. Let go of all that went wrong yesterday. Let go of everything you’re not looking forward to today. Today’s a new day and you WILL ENJOY IT!!

Now, let’s dedicate some time get acquainted with “rest”.

Genesis 2:1 “Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.” So, don’t do it, don’t work on Sunday. Don’t work on the house, don’t work on the yard, don’t pay the bills, don’t work on yourself, just enjoy the day! Visit your family and friends. Take a brisk walk in the morning while the air is still cool. Read two pages from an inspirational book that will set an encouraging tone for the day. Do take time and devote it to God. It would please Him immensely! Start the morning off with your seat at church. Okay, sometimes the priests, deacons, preachers, and/or reverends might be a little hard to, well, understand. Cut them a little slack. Perhaps they have not perfected your cool way of speaking and communicating, everyone’s not perfect. However, they have dedicated their lives to Christ and, well, to you. So tolerate their accent, get past their odd, rather, different way of “splaining” things. The message is what’s important. Follow along with the readings, get what you can out of it. You might try writing down the scripture cites and read them again at home. It’s okay to invest a little more time; this great message will carry you through the week (you might try to attend church at a different hour or try out a different church-that actually is kind of fun and adventurous).

Moses was to lead the Israelites through the desert and asked the Lord to be with him. The Lord said to Moses, “I myself will go along to give you rest”. Exodus 34:14. Come on, really, who wants to do anything alone. It’s always better to do things with someone, especially someone you can trust. You can trust in God. He doesn’t want you to work hard. He doesn’t want you to stay where you are at. He wants you to advance, to prosper. Yeah, so we’ll go through trying times, we can’t avoid it. Moses and his friends were to take a few days journey and wound up being lost for 40 years (because of their disobedience to God) just trying to find their new home. But hey, the good news, God will be with you every step of the way until you get it. So, come on troubles, hit me with your best shot!

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 12:28. Okay, yes you have to work and you’ve got great responsibilities. Who doesn’t? You don’t like it? Why what bothers you about it? Is there a co-worker you don’t like? Are your relatives too much in your business? Too many questions? Do they have a few hang ups? Too quiet? Too . . . . what? Well, hello, reality check, we’ve all got idiosyncrasies. Look, this guy or gal may not have had the best people around them growing up. Maybe this person has been burned one too many times. Perhaps through out this guy’s life he’s been ignored. What’s it going to hurt for you to pay a little attention to the man (or woman, I’m not being “a hater”). Ask some questions about his life. Have some compassion. Buy the guy lunch. Do something nice for him to make him smile, make him feel cared about. Stop judging and start being meek and humble of heart. It worked for Jesus, why not for you!!!

Okay, these parables and quotes from “The Bible” may not necessarily be familiar to you, however, the words are powerful (Yippee!! Doesn’t it make you want to open up your beautiful book – you will!). Oooh, I’m so excited for you!

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil (to prepare Him for his death) and dried His feet with her hair (you’ll have to read the story, it’s so moving). Jesus loved his friend Lazarus and went to see him. Jesus said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4. Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” But Jesus was talking about his death (resurrection – heaven), while they thought that He meant ordinary sleep.

Jesus stayed with his friend for two days and then told his Disciples that they would return to Judea. The Disciples reminded Him that the Jews were trying to stone Him in Judea and advised him not to return, and Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

What is the light the shines in you? I’m not talking about a talent (however, gifts should not be ignored and definitely shared). What makes you who you are? Who are we imitating? Each other? Okay, here’s an eye opener: We are not our best example (sorry, I know the truth hurts doesn’t it? I know, I thought I was a good model too.) Jesus came so that we would know how to behave. I’ve only lived for 50 years and I have yet to come across anyone who comes close to living a life like Jesus did.

So what does that mean, well, we all have the same opportunity to be His best imitator. You know how we mortals are, always wanting to be like someone else. We’ll just skip all the non-sense and get right to the crux of the matter, Jesus is our guy! He’s the Man! The one we shall imitate. Man, woman or child – we choose Jesus! Yes, I knew you were smart.
Don’t you feel great!!!! Now, you are a new person, with a new attitude. This is wonderful, seeing all this change. I didn’t think there would be so many of you excited about transformation!!! And you thought you were living before, huh!!!

This is a new day, unlike all other past days. When the morning comes and your alarm sounds you will know joy like never before.

It is God’s desire that we all enjoy and are happy on this earth that he created. That we would be free from troubles and he specifically asks us to cast all our cares upon Him.

At night, when you are ready to rest your body from your day, I’d imagine that it would be God’s hope that you:

Enjoyed the time you had with others at work, at home and at play. That you were able to see beyond everyone’s faults, as God sees you beyond yours. That you were able to use the gifts that God gave you to help others, assist an employer fulfill a dream, bring a smile to another’s face, and to feel the satisfaction that comes from thinking of others rather than yourself. That you were able to prepare a meal with love, or receive and appreciate the time and labor for a meal prepared for you. That you would come out of your protective “self” and share your money (yes, that’s what I said, share it if you’ve got some to spare), time, energy and life with others. Hey people, we can’t take it with us. God does provide! He’d hope that you may find reward during your day and recall the moment that you brought warmth to a life, a family, a smile to someone’s face, laughter to a lonely person or place, or shared a warm meal with someone who feels deserted or secluded. God will bless you because you were patient, kind, and loving to those who have not found their way just yet.

You’ll see that when you’ve given what you think is “your all” or your “last dollar”, you’ll always receive more. God’s got some in reserve for you baby. He’s got your back!

Yes, believe that when you lay your head down to rest at night, your body will rebuild and refuel itself, and in your dreams you’ll recall the day’s good works and sleep soundly.
When the alarm sounds in the morning, you will feel confident that while you slept God was working on a great plan for you.

I pray that you hear the beautiful bells, harps and chimes that play a heavenly song to arouse you from a rest that only God’s light can provide. Live in his light, follow it throughout your day and life. There is no fear when the sun goes down, because God protects those who praise Him, who live for Him, and He blesses those who are a blessing to others.

I’m happy you that you will be awakening rested and ready. While you are here making God’s earthly creation a better place, He is above, out of sight, hard at work, preserving your Heaven. “Do not be afraid, I’ll go before you always. Come follow me, and I will give you rest.”

Don’t you just love being a child of God!

Show Me The Love!

“I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow”. . . What beautiful lyrics. What a great way to live, always giving more in the present, and expecting great things in the future.

Love the people in your life with that kind of passion. Actions speak louder than words, show them how you care. Make a special meal for someone, use your best dishes, pick a flower from your garden, perhaps light a candle. Use a heart cookie cutter on the next PB&J sandwich you make. Buy a small gift for grandma “just because”. Wrap a pretty ribbon around some of your favorite inspirational books and pass them on to someone who would enjoy them. The ideas are endless, so is love!!!

Have a blessed day!

Let's get stirred up! Peaceful Mornings

Let’s get stirred up!

We are experts at ignoring ourselves. We fill the hours of our days with things that divert our attention away from us. We work because we have to pay the bills (because what are the odds of winning the lotto). We are in school to obtain a degree. We care for our children, spouses, parents or grandparents who are ill or elderly. We are raising a family and arrange for a multitude of activities to keep them well-rounded (it would be inhumane to have a child who couldn’t throw a baseball from first to second base properly while simultaneously playing basketball, soccer, learning karate, taking part in ballet and art lessons and attending a learning center for improvement of school work). We are working on a relationship, and sometimes it can be draining (don’t forget now, we could be the one who is draining the other by our chop chop attitude). We cope with family or friends who seem to attract drama (because we all know it’s not you). And if that is not enough, we fill our days with long lists of things to do, as if we didn’t already have enough stress.

At the end of our day we plop ourselves in front of the television as a happy reward from all things done or left undone. We even go so far as to immerse ourselves into television trials, car chases, and reality shows. We engross ourselves into the lives of others such as music artists, big screen celebrities, and television personalities. We watch and form opinions over the media’s daily display of their lives until every last ugly detail is dug up and exhausted.

But do the problems of the world, the fictional storylines in a movie, the laughs we have over a sitcom or a late night talk show host that takes digs at the day’s “people in the news” really make us happy.

We have all heard that anything worth having takes self-sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy the attainment of the end product. We may have saved for a new book, music cd, cell phone, car, house, vacation, school trip, new church building, funeral expense for the future or for the unexpected loss of a loved one. We may have worked overtime, skipping some really cool parties to save money, shared meals, ate from the fridge rather than a restaurant, shopped at the dollar store, saved recyclable containers, stopped buying clothes, cutting our own hair (oh well, the rest of the world must suffer while you scrimp), a garage sale, car wash, and even sold candy. It felt good once we attained those things (of course that is after we griped about it as we went through the process). Self satisfaction is a wonderful thing, wouldn’t you agree?

How long did it make us feel good? Perhaps until we found something else that we wanted or something else that we were forced to do. Sometimes we find ourselves wanting things we don’t need. We want things we can’t afford. We will even go into debt just to obtain our latest desires (boo hoo, our subconscious is the constant victim of advertising). What is it that we are searching for? What are we lacking? I imagine you’ve heard money can’t buy happiness, love or friends. Well, some might argue that they have, but what happens when the money runs out? What is left? Where are the friends? Where is that person that said they once loved you. We are once again back to self.

Let’s get stirred up! Challenge ourselves. Rather, challenge our unconscious-selves. Let’s find out who we are behind our tasks, behind our money, behind our mouths. Allow ourselves to explore the side that is buried beneath layers of “stuff” (or junk, I’m not sure). It will be truly a remarkable day and experience when we discover our true-selves once stripped of our unconscious protection, “our lives”.

Your unconscious self is your spiritual self. Uh oh, don’t let that scare you off. I know spirit has gotten a bad wrap. Well, I am not speaking about bad spirits left behind in a home where a person may have died nor am I talking about being over-the-top “a spiritual person” (however, loving God beyond anything on earth is not a negative thing, rather it has immense blessings attached to it – other story, some other time). I’m talking about how you feel inside. Webster’s Dictionary definition of spirit: breath, courage, vigor, the soul, life. Another definition: the thinking, motivating, feeling part of man, often as distinguished from the body, mind, intelligence. Another: life, will, consciousness, thought, regarded as separate from the body. Once aware of one’s spiritual-self life is stirred to an extraordinary elevated level.

In the midst of the wild pace of life stop for some sorely needed “down-time”. Make a decision to allot for the most important activity of the day, “me-time”. Enjoy the quiet. Take distinctive steps away from the hustle and bustle of a noise-filled life.

Try this. It will not cost you a dime. You can go dressed any which way you like. You won’t have to do your hair or even take a shower (yikes, it’s okay, you’ll be by yourself). No gas in the car required. You won’t have to cart around a heavy purse, tote bag, sports bag, or wallet. All that will be required is an itsie, bitsie, teenie, weenie, bit of time.

Before you read on remember: anything worth having will require some self-sacrifice. Enjoy the experience.

Stand outside your home at dawn when the sun is just beginning to rise, when the brisk morning air is a perfect mix of warmth and cool morning dew. Close your eyes for a moment while breathing in and out slowly. Listen as the birds sporadically chirp in layers as if waking the world person by person, house by house with a sonnet. Open your eyes and begin to walk through your neighborhood and as you pass the neighbors’ homes look closely at their landscaping, at the vibrant diverse colors that somehow work together perfectly. Watch how the flowers that were closed as if sleeping start to open as they wake to the first hints of the morning sun. Witness the humming birds feeding off of sweet flowers and the ants as they start their morning parade. Take in the incredible sight of the water drops that are holding on to grass blades sparkling from the first morning rays. Watch with wonder as birds swoop and glide from tree to tree as they move through their morning rituals. Smell the sweet aroma of honey suckle shrubs and vines that fills the brisk morning air like perfume. So early and perfect is the time that the darkness from the night harmonizes with the first light of day creating a perfect non-descript heart warming color. Then finally turn to yourself. Commence a heartfelt prayer to your Creator giving thanks as you awaken your mind and body to His works. Be awed by the miraculous body that was formed for your existence. Behold your breath as it moves through your air passages to your lungs, become aware of your blood as it pushes through your perfect limbs and vital organs that gives you life, and detect the pulse points on the sides of your neck, on your head, your wrists. Imagine your soul and the vigor and life that it possesses; sense the serene feeling that allows it’s existence without clutter or distraction. Feel the motivation that is stirred up from the feeling of purity of mind. Clutch the ignition of your faith that comes from simply knowing you are loved by God. There is not a more perfect time in your day when you get into “self”.

You are now aware of your spiritual-self and your life is roused to an extraordinary elevated plane. Have you ever experienced such a wonderful moment in time, as being completely aware of what it’s like to be “you”.

Stay with me now. Don’t be too disappointed about what is to come because you can change the outcome. Are you ready? Let do it.

As the sun starts to warm the earth and touches the plants, flowers and our bodies, things start to change. The sound of the birds’ sonnets that were light with beautiful verses and rhyme are now musical and is slowly becoming more intense, and finally reaching a crescendo to match the height of the bright morning sun.

The human aspects of the world are coming to and the peace slowly is fading from it’s intimate place. Metal garage doors begin to open, cars move about the street as people head to work and school. They do not notice you pass and you hear the hurried and harsh first conversations of families as they rush to their morning destinations. The illumination of the solar lights that kept a comforting protection for the home during the darkness has now turn out and the beauty of this earth has begun to fade away. Other walkers are moving about the neighborhood keeping their stride and to their side of the street, joggers pass without even a glance at you. How quickly beauty turns to dreariness.

We have an opportunity, rather, a responsibility to keep what the Lord has given us and hold it in it’s highest esteem. We can preserve and carry this wonderful feeling of our spiritual self throughout our day and lives. Change begins with us. Make every minute of everyday like the perfect morning. Acknowledge people, wave, greet, smile, help and forgive them. Stop and smell the roses, touch their delicate skins and enjoy the splendor of the beautiful colors and aromas.

An awareness of God and his creation kindles an internal love. Love brings on a thankful attitude, which blossoms into a grateful feeling. A grateful feeling will bud an enlightened spirit. An enlightened spirit will develop a helpful disposition. A helpful disposition will heed a positive reaction. A positive reaction will spark a genuine smile. A genuine smile will stir up a warm heart. A warm heart will attract other cool, tepid, and tender hearts. Now filled with compassion, hearts will work and win against resistance. Resistance will surrender as it loses its force. Lack of force means less agitation. A shortage of agitation eradicates pettiness. The disappearance of pettiness causes us to see the good in others. The good in others becomes a desirable quality. A desirable quality develops into good values. Good values cause a longing for good morals. Good morals lead to elevation of faith driven thoughts. Faith driven thoughts cause a stirring of spirit. A stirred up spirit causes God to notice.

God notices you. God blesses you. Your life will never be the same. This, my friends, is your life having run full circle. You are now part of positive change.

Hallelujah!