Boldly Face Tomorrow

January 4, 2012 By 8 Comments

Trials WILL come; it’s just a matter of when.

Tears WILL fall; it’s just a matter of how long.

Your Heart will break; it’s just a matter of how many pieces.

 

I understand this isn’t spreading joy, but it IS truth.

We can boldly face another day with a little preparation; after all, it is just a matter of time before we face storms and trials.

I believe I can say for certain that each one of us will face the following things:

 

Uncertainty:

You don’t know what you’ll be facing.  You don’t know what situations will arise that are beyond your control.  You don’t know about job issues, medical bills and other things.  You don’t know what you’ll be facing.  Choose to focus on the facts, not the uncertainty.  Look at the facts and allow that to help give you direction.  Sometimes all it takes is looking at things from a different view point.  Don’t allow your emotions to drive you.  Emotions are a tricky beast and can have our minds full of fear and doubt.  Even when facing uncertainty, choose to maintain a good attitude while fixing what you can and working around the rest.

 

Disappointment:

I wish that you didn’t have to face disappointments, but the truth is that you WILL face it.  Prepare for it in advance by looking for the good in the disappointment.  It’s an old saying, but still rings true today, look for the silver lining.  It’s always easier to see the negative, but if we teach ourselves to see the positive, it will get easier to find through each disappointment.  I’m not telling you to ignore your hardships, I’m simply instructing you to look beyond them at what treasure may be forming because of the hardship.

The positive things are there, you have to look for them!

 

Fear:

Fear will consume us. You’ll be so afraid to do anything, to make decisions or even just take the next step if you are not aware of just how consuming fear is.  Set your fears aside and focus on the truth of what is going on.  The truth is that YOU are strong and you will make it through this.  The truth is that you have people that care about you and will help you through it.  Focus on the truth!  Find the resources that are available and see if those will lead to more resources.   As things start to fall into place, you’ll notice the fears subsiding.  Let me encourage you to step out into the unknown.  When you do, you’ll feel the courage coursing through you and that will give you the ability to take the next step, and the next one and the next one.

 

Difficulties:

When you are facing difficulties, you don’t have to face them alone.  There are people who have been where you are and they are willing to walk with you.  There are people who have been where you are going, they will help you out!

When we face difficulties, we clam up and withdraw and then try and face them alone.  This is the time that we need to reach out so that we don’t have to battle the depression alone.    Find a friend to share your fears and difficulties with and divide the pain and in doing this, you will also double the joy you share.

When you are facing difficulties that lead to depression, may I suggest you pour yourself into “others.”  Regardless of the finances, we can all make a difference for others and that act alone will help bring deep down joy that no one or nothing can steal from you.

Here are 50 Ways to make a difference without spending a penny.  YOU can make a difference!

 

Sorrow:

Facing sorrow is not easy.  When someone is struggling, spend time with them, chat with them until they laugh.  It doesn’t take a special talent, lots of money or gifts galore.  It only takes a willing heart.  Be sensitive to others when sorrows arise.  Don’t assume someone should be over the grief they are going through.  Don’t assume someone shouldn’t be hurting “over that situation.”  We all deal with grief, pain and sorrow differently.  Be sensitive and kind to those facing sorrow.  If you are in the midst of sorrow or grief, know that it’s ok.  There is no right way to grieve.  Sometimes writing out your feelings – the good, bad and ugly is a way of releasing them.  Sometimes, it’s a matter of sharing them verbally or counseling.  Some may even need medical help.  Whatever your means of facing your sorrow, remember YOU have friends and family that will help you face them.  Don’t withdraw and try to go it alone.  That’s what WE are here for.

Regret:

This is the ONE thing we can choose NOT to face.  Regret.  Regret will break us.  The guilt of regret will weigh our hearts down and beat us.

We all have made bad decisions.

We can learn from our bad choices, we can decide that yes… I did “that” but I will NOT allow myself to be in that situation again.  Don’t let regret keep you from boldly making a change in your life.  Don’t let guilt keep you down when you are capable of doing so much for you and your family.  Don’t let regret win.  You are strong enough to use it, learn from it and then beat it.

Think about this:

If we are living in the past and worried about the future, how can we be effective today?

 

It’s simple – - – We can’t.  Choose NOT to regret.  Put those past mistakes to good use by learning from them and sharing what you’ve learned with others.

 

Emptiness:

There are times that you’ll feel empty, alone and like you don’t matter.  It’s going to happen, it is just a matter of when.  When you face this, once again I have to insist that you go on fact instead of feelings. Feelings are so tricky and emotional roller coasters are not very fun.

Here are the facts:

  • YOU Matter – Not only do you matter, but you matter a LOT.  You are the world to someone!
  • YOU Make a difference – in so many ways.  You feel as though you do nothing special and you are nothing special, but THAT is what MAKES you special.  No one can make a difference like YOU do.  NO one!
  • YOU will make if past this – and when you do, you’ll soar to new heights that you didn’t even know existed.

Use this time of empty feelings to focus on making a difference for others instead of dwelling on how you feel.  It can be as little as giving your children their favorite cereal for dinner, coloring with them in their coloring books.  It could be something like telling an older friend thank you for helping to shape our world into what it is today and taking some time to hear how they did it.  It could be something like extending patience to the cashier that is experiencing one rude customer after another.  Take your mind off of the emptiness that is flooding your heart and place your focus on those around you.  You’ll soon find the emptiness filling up with amazing JOY.

 

Overwhelmed:

Even the calmest person I know will face times when they are overwhelmed.  It’s at this point that you simply can’t afford to feel guilty for stopping and doing something for yourself.

STOP right here, pull yourself away from everything for a little bit.  Go outside, stretch and take 5 minutes to soak up the outdoors.  When you can, take an some additional time to just step away from all that is pulling at you.

If you have young children, it may need to be for 15-30 minutes after they’ve gone to bed, but STOP and do something for yourself.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just needs to be done and done without guilt.

Read

Write in your journal

Gaze out the window

Listen to the sound of the rain

Take a nap on the couch – set a timer so you don’t over sleep.

If you don’t pull yourself out of the situation for a little bit, it will only get worse.

 

How are you boldly facing tomorrow?  What other tips would you share with others?

 

To Hear an audio version of this, please click below:

 

 

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Jesus in the Present Tense

April 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I have always loved many of the books by Warren Wiersbe and Jesus in the Present Tense is no different.  This book focuses on the “I AM” statements of Jesus, thus reminding us that not only was He the Way, the Truth and the Life back then, BUT – He IS also those things now.

Many of us tend to think how awesome it would have been to live back then and see Jesus perform miracles up close and personal.  Many of us read passages and marvel at how amazing it would have been to walk with Jesus back then.  This book reminds me that HE IS all of that today. I am walking with Him today.  Miracles abound…..today.

Today – being the operative word here.  Wiersbe encourages us to cling to these statements as we rid ourselves of the fear that we may hold for the future, the regrets of the past and to boldly live right here, right now – in the present.  Wiersbe helps us to focus on “who HE is, what HE can do for us and what we can become through Him.”

One of the things I love about this book is that with each I AM statement, Wiersbe gives us many verses to coincide with each statement.  In doing so Wiersbe allows us an opportunity to dig deeper into each of these topics, giving us the choice to make it an awesome study or to simply enjoy the book. 

The narrator, Maurice England is wonderful at reading the book.  It is easy to listen to and if you are not in a position to follow along with the many passages of Scripture, you can always come back or jot them down.

Overall, this book is an excellent reminder of the amazing One who was, and is and is to come.

Some Favorite Quotes from the book:


  • We glory in the past, but never grow in the present
  • Past history – present reality – future certainity all unite today in Jesus Christ – the Great I am

I’d like to thank Christian Audio for the complimentary copy of this book through their Reviewers’ program.  Follow Christian Audio on Twitter here. Check their site each month for a free audio book download.  Good stuff there!

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Assumptions

November 24, 2010 By 13 Comments

It started with the book The Shape of Mercy and the main character assuming that someone was hired help by the way he was dressed when he was actually a friend of the family.  The book is about the Salem Witch Trials and all of the horrible assumptions there.

Next I hear it.  You’ve heard it and maybe even said it before.  “Well, you know how those people are.”  Oh, really?  Do I?  I literally shake my head and say, no…no I do not.

Assumptions are nasty things.  With the exception of when your son calls and says something like “Do you know I have the most beautiful Mom in the entire world?” By all means, assume he wants something and reply with “No, tell me how beautiful she really is.” And then smile and sit back and take in the wonderful words that are being said about you at that very moment.

If it’s not this situation, then assuming can be very harmful, dangerous and just plain wrong.  I honestly try and not assume things about people based on where they live, how they dress, what size they are or what kind of vehicle they drive.  When I meet someone, I immediately start looking at how their heart sees things.  I want to see things through their eyes, but again, I do not assume to know or understand how or why they see things the way they do. I try to live by this and make it a rule. I don’t assume things about people based on surroundings.

Many people assume that just because someone says they are a Christian that they truly are.  Unfortunately many people speak the language, but don’t walk the talk and this is very misleading. Others think that if a non-believer asks questions that they simply want to debate. Again, this is not always a correct assumption.  Many people that ask questions are simply seeking the truth and shame on us for not giving it without assuming they want an argument.

I could go on and on here.  So many assumptions are made about people based on their size, place of employment and such.  Why do we do this?  Why do we assume things without taking the time to see things through the eyes of others or even try to understand where people are coming from?

We’ve all had our moments where things were better, where we looked better, felt better, dressed better. We’ve all had moments where we were proud to be who we are and held our head high.  The opposite is true, we’ve all had our moments where the worst part of our being has shown through and we’d love to take it back and undo the damage we’ve done, but we can’t.  We would love to go back in time and change many moments in our life that were less than pleasant.  All of these moments are shared by each and every one of us and yet we still make horrible assumptions.

Have you caught yourself assuming the worst about people or even the best about people?  Do you assume that what you see at first glance is all that there is?  Do you assume that there is no need to look further for facts because you know all the facts you need to know?

Am I assuming that everyone assumes way too much?  If I am assuming, is my assumption wrong? Assuming you will answer me in the comment section, will you have the courage to speak the truth about assumptions?

{{HUGS}} yall

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Session 8 – Bible in 90 Days

July 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

We just finished up Proverbs!  Wise words to live by.  I hope you enjoyed it and applied it where applicable.  Some of them deal with our faith – “Trust in the LORD”, some of them deal with our actions. They all speak to the heart and make us wiser for it.  As you read, keep in mind there are 4 types of proverbs:

  1. Synonymous – the second line repeats the first line in a little different way
  2. Antithetical – the second line is contrary to the first line
  3. Synthertic – the second line adds to the idea of the first line
  4. Comparative – a truth is explained relative to some experience or something in nature

This Week’s Reading Schedule:

  • Day 50 – Isaiah 14:1 – Isaiah 28:29
  • Day 51 – Isaiah 29:1 – Isaiah 41:18
  • Day 52 – Isaiah 41:19 – Isaiah 52:12
  • Day 53 – Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 66:18
  • Day 54 – Isaiah 66:19 – Jeremiah 10:13
  • Day 55 – Jeremiah 10:14 – Jeremiah 23:8
  • Day 56 – Jeremiah 23:9 – Jeremiah 33:22

Did you memorize a Psalm? Share that if you did.  I love Ps. 46. Many know Ps 23.  They are all awesome to hide in our heart.

Are you caught up on reading?  If not, don’t sweat it.  I’m on target with listening, (I listen while I work) but this weekend….I have got to get some major catching up done on the reading. 

Click here to Listen to the Bible as you read it.

This Weeks Study Guide. There is good stuff here, don’t pass this by!

Here is the audio lesson . (You’ll need to log in!)

Please listen the lessons. I have the dvd’s but can’t post them here…copyright rules. We can discuss what you heard here as well. Listen while you cook, clean or are just taking time to enjoy this journey. I hope you’ll take advantage of this free resource. Listen towards the end of the 7 day time frame, as THIS would be what we would be watching/discussing if we were to be meeting weekly.

If you are seeing this for the first time, we started on June 1st, but you can start right now, just go to Session 1 and begin. Here is the main information page as well.

Filed Under: Bible In 90 Days, challenge, choices, encouraging, goals, happiness, passion, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Shack

March 16, 2010 By 10 Comments

When I started reading The Shack in September 2009, it was towards the end of a long battle.  Even though I was strong for my family & I trusted and relied on the strength of the Lord and prayers from friends and family, a great sadness enveloped me.  My family had literally been through one of the most grievous years I can remember.  We battled doctors on behalf of my daughter Meg who could no longer digest solid food, wondered & prayed about employment for my husband Steve and left my only son at college – 15 hours away.  I picked up The Shack and read the first chapter. My heart was pounding, the tears were forming as I felt Mack’s pain and the terror of his dreams.  I think to myself, there is no way I’ll ever be at a point where I can finish this book; I, too, was having nightmares so terrible that I desperately tried not to sleep. Just as the great sadness consumed Mack, it consumed me.  I closed the book, wondering if I’d ever finish it.

I’m happy to say that I did have the courage to pick it up and continue reading it.  This fictional book describes pain, anguish and fear in such detail that you can feel the pain gripping your heart, then, it does something wonderful.  It takes you through the healing process.

The author, William Paul Young, does a wonderful job with having the characters asking questions we would typically ask, expressing doubt, anger and fear.  He then reminds us that it’s of our own free will that develop our relationship with our heavenly Father.

For a fictional book, there were many passages that were full of amazing truth.

“Faith does not grow in the house of certainty”

“Don’t ever discount the wonder of your tears.  They can be healing waters and a stream of joy.  Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak.”

This book has been a source of controversy over doctrinal issues.  I suggest you read it, pulling out the powerful truths that are throughout the book while simply enjoying it –  not judging it based on doctrine, not judging at all.  Let your heart feel the emotions that Mack is feeling as he is working his way through grief and pain, dealing with the issues of forgiveness and struggling to keep it all together for his family.  Sooner or later, you’ll have your own great sadness to deal with, and you’ll remember – God is there, through everything…even when you feel He isn’t.

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The Peaceful Little Things

January 10, 2010 By 11 Comments
Photo taken by Princess Meg

Taken from - "Things That Make Megan's Day"

The little peaceful things!

I love little thing.  I truly do.  Stick around long enough and you’ll probably tire of hearing me say such, but it’s the truth.  I have no idea who said it, but I saw this quote and instantly fell in love with it.

 It’s the little things that make life BIG!

 

I’ve not been feeling well for a few days, so I’ve been forced to enjoy some of the more peaceful little things in life.  I’m feeling better and but wanted to reflect on some of these little things that I’ve enjoyed these past few days.

Pandora – Love this internet radio.  Anything I want. My favorite is the “Oldies but Goodies” but so many amazing songs, right at my fingertips.  I love music! Praise and Worship, Sappy Love Songs, the Pop Singers from 80, 90 ‘s – such a wide variety of music makes me smile. Ohh… How about the One Hit wonders? We all have our favorite one of those, right?

Sleep – I normally do not take naps because they leave me feeling worse than when I went to sleep. Not true these past few days.  Here is how it looked for me. Do a few things, sleep a few hours. Get up, repeat. Been there? Oh, I’m sure you have been.   I know many people who are power nappers and swear by them.  Please, share how you fall asleep quickly enough to sleep and awaken feeling rested after only 20 minutes! 

Iced Tea – Refreshing, simple – Unsweetened, nothing added to it, iced tea.  Normally coffee is my beverage of choice, but these past few days tea has been my constant companion. The colder, the better.  When the heat is on, you should try it. 

Audio Books – Are these not the best? Other than the fact that I would love to be the voice of an audio book one day when I grow up, I love listening to them.  I love that I can find free ones as well as cheap ones.  I down load a free audio book each month at Christian Audio.  You check out like normal and put in the code and its free!  Where do you find free audio books? What is your favorite?  Have you downloaded older books?

Hand held games – It’s true. I have my very own Game Boy SP, royal blue. I received it for an anniversary present several years ago! I normally carry it in my purse, but will have to charge it before returning it.  I currently hold the 1st and 3rd place highest score in Kirby’s Pinball.  The kids lost many of my games over the years, so I’m always on the look out for some of the older game boy games. Love them. 

Sleeping on the Couch – I don’t know if it’s the fact that there is a “back” to the couch or what it is, but I love sleeping on the couch. Maybe I could take naps on the couch and enjoy this simple pleasure a little more often?

Extra Warm Blankets – I Had an issue with getting and staying warm, so piled on the blankets. I love snuggly, warm, extra soft blankets. I’d pull them up close to my chin and just drift off.

Soup – The winter time is wonderful for soup and sandwich meals, at least around my house! Once I could finally keep something down, extra hot egg drop soup was the meal of the day.  The warmth from the inside out is amazing.  Soup, simple, easy and delicious! 

Boy, looking back at this list, I need to make sure I add some peaceful little things to my day more often.  Not only are they peaceful, but fun, comforting and they bring great joy to me! It truly is the little things that make life big! These are just a few of the peaceful little things I enjoy. 

What are the little things that are big in your life? 

What peaceful little things DO you add to your day?

What peaceful little things do you NEED to add to your day?

Filed Under: choices, difficulties, fun, happiness, motivation, simple, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Seriously Fun Stuff – Seriously!

July 6, 2009 By 2 Comments

Megan is my proofreader. She reads everything I type. She matter of factly asked me the other day if I ever wrote anything fun? Truthfully, I had started this post and just never come back to it. We love fun! We are the most playful, silly people we know. Fun brings so much joy…don’t you think?

I love to laugh, to be silly, to play and have fun.

So with that…I hope you enjoy this fun post…seriously!

Oh, I simply love fun, cute, adorable silly things. Really, I do. I know that will come as a surprise to anyone that knows me, but it is the TRUTH!

Here is my all time favorite from Hoops and Yoyo – you just gotta watch it. Visit Hallmark to send it as an e-card. This is how I am before I have my coffee!

Those guys are the cutest. Many stores have their cards. You should send one to someone…just for the fun of it.

 

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The Procrastinator:

 


1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
4. I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.
5. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
6. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
7. I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though infinitely small, is not exactly zero.
8. If at first I don’t succeed, there is always next year.
9. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
10. I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.
11. I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.
12. I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan.
13. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration!

 

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Did you guys know I LOVE Chuck Norris? Well, I do and one of these days someone that loves me (or gets tired of me whining about it) will get me to him! But, until that happens – here are my favorite Chuck Norris Facts:

10. The first rule of Chuck Norris is: You do not talk about Chuck Norris.
9. Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
8. Chuck Norris uses a nightlight. Not because he is afraid of the dark, but because the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.
7. Chuck Norris owns a large private estate in the middle of the Atlantic. We know it as the Bermuda Triangle. Chuck Norris does not tolerate trespassers.
6. Before he forgot a gift for Chuck Norris, Santa Claus was real. (oh..I love Santa)
5. Chuck Norris can find the needle in the haystack.
4. The true definition of Pi is Chuck Norris.
3. The chief export of Chuck Norris is Pain.
2. Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

And my number 1 all time very favoritest Chuck Norris fact in the whole wide world is:

1. When the boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris!

These are just a few fun things that I hope you have enjoyed.

What are some of your favorite Chuck Norris facts? Leave them in the comments! I loooove reading them!

What fun things bring you joy?

Please share them with us…as it is truly the little things that make life BIG!

Photo: Megan…jumping on some bed from some vacation we had.

***note… when I wrote this in july of 2009 i had NOOOO idea that in less than a year, I’d actually meet Chuck Norris!! dreams to come true!! i love fun stuff!

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