365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

The Belmont Stakes was run today and many people including me, favored CALIFORNIA CHROME to win. We of course were disappointed about CALIFORNIA CHROME finishing 4th and not taking the Triple Crown. It may seem a bit odd to use a horse for the focus of my One Word Journey today but, indeed its not! We all love an "Under Dog" story. After all the Bible says the 1st shall be last and the last shall be 1st (Matthew 20:16), which of course, has not one thing to do with horse racing. Like me, I believe most people were not thinking about the money involved. I don't make bets. We wanted a Cinderella Story...we wanted CALIFORNIA CHROME to go down in history as the little horse that could...that almost nobody believed in. Sure, CALIFORNIA CHROME didn't win the Belmont Stakes but I believe he still has a great story. He did what many of the upper echelon horses could not achieve...he won 2/3 of a magnificent series of races. In my opinion...that "ain't" half bad! Although we may not finish first in every race we run in this life...our Heavenly Father still sees those who are called by His name as champions! The point is  to give it our all, if we stubble and fall, get up...if we stray off the narrow path, with God's help...find it again...like the Bible says...keep pressing...or like my Pastor used to say way back in the day..."keep on keeping on!" Like CALIFORNIA CHROME, we all have the heart of a champion inside of us when we are born again. Keep on believing that and 2/3 of your battle is won. Like Joyce Meyer says, "You may not have had a great start, but you can have a great finish!"

365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

(6.6.2014 posted @12 midnight)

Learning to think DIFFERENTLY is challenging. My mind is full of knowledge since I began my One Word Journey, but to live by that knowledge takes work. For mean the act of thinking DIFFERENTLY means I need to live by what I know and not what I feel. My emotions have basically ruled me for the past few years. No More!!!! I am going to learn to think DIFFERENTLY, with God's help. It is my prayer. At the end of my 365 Word Journey, I won't by any means be perfect and that's okay because as Joyce says..."I'm Okay And I'm On My Way!" I am so much better at thinking DIFFERENTLY in the daytime but at night time I find myself wondering where did all my gusto go? I really am going to use Post It Notes or make my own little encouragement cards. I will get there...in six months...or less...I will look at life DIFFERENTLY and I will think DIFFERENTLY, and I will feel DIFFERENTLY about a lot of things. Do you think you should be thinking DIFFERENTLY?

365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

We all know that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Most of the time we (I) may not quite understand that because it seems obvious if I give you a gift then the person on the receiving end should be overjoyed. I have given gifts to people who were unappreciative...that was no fun. I stopped GIVING them gifts...maybe not the correct thing to do but that was long ago before I knew better. The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver, I am not sure what the receiver is supposed to do besides be grateful...smiles. GIVING someone anything when you hear them complain about everything that is given to them is not always easy. If God speaks to us (me) about GIVING then that is what we (I) am to do. GIVING when you have a lot of something is easy, but what if you don't, or worse, what if it is your favorite thing? I don't know if "Give till it hurts" is in the Bible but I have heard it a lot. When we are GIVING to someone who has a need, whether it is monetary, encouragement, a ride to work or the market, even a hug...when we are GIVING someone what they need to add enjoyment to their day, that is when we learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The Mother who raised me taught me an important lesson, that as an only child, I consider very important. Simply...Not to be selfish! Today I remember and reflect on that valuable lesson. The pure joy of GIVING has given me much happiness this week. I am sure God is smiling too. 

365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

This morning, watching Joyce Meyer, I learned a lot about IDLE words. I had heard this teaching before and being that it is Viewers Choice Week, I guess I wasn't the only one who needed to hear it again. I am reading "Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits," I am of course stuck in the 1st few pages because there is a lot to think about. One thing about the books written by Joyce Meyer...they all require action! One of the chapters (I don't know which one because I have not read that far yet) is the habit of thinking right and speaking right. Proverbs 18:20-21 says (20) From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; (21) The tongue has the power of life and death. (NIV) Our IDLE words can not only cut others like a two edged sword, but we can also cripple ourselves and undermine our own prayers. I am learning to speak what I know...what God's word says...and not what I feel. In any given day I may feel a hundred different emotions. I also do not have to let what comes into my head, come out of my mouth. JM Ministries showed a hypothetical reenactment after the teaching that showed a mother interacting with her sons, her husband, and everyday life. She was becoming very overwhelmed as we often do. her solution was to put Post It Notes with scriptures and correct words on them. Like her, i might have needed an amazing amount of Post Its so I began making a list. Beware of your IDLE words, begin with those you speak to and about yourself. If no one encourages you, encourage yourself and life yourself up! This is what the word calls "The Power Of Positive Thinking." Ripped straight out of the Bible...this is Godly Thinking!

365 DAYS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

Today was a wonderful day! I met the most amazing BIRD today...yes B.I.R.D. A lady who works at Pet Supermarket had a BIRD on her shoulder. None of the usual associates were in and unfortunately my store is not her regular location...awww...too bad because Togo (?) was a highly trained little BIRD. Turns out he goes everywhere with his "mum," even to work. He had a command so that I could pet him (he crouches down in mums hand) and a command when he can get up and go back to mums shoulder, and even one to turn around and face front! God cares for the sparrows (Matthew 10:31). Yes God cares for something even as small as a BIRD (and smaller creatures as well) but how much more He cares for us. We are the apple of Gods eye! I met many people who were special today as well. It is great to know that the world does still have "Goodness" in it. When we watch the news it seems all doom and gloom. A beautiful lesson learned by the cutest BIRD...what a blessing! Today was a wonderful day!

IN HONOR OF FEATHER BABIES EVERYWHERE!

365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

What a wonderful day this 2nd day of June is! The weather report predicted cloudy to mostly cloudy for today. I have had pure sunshine since mid morning! Sunshine makes me HAPPY, although due to the severe drought conditions and fires out west and in Alaska, I am also embracing the rain. I always say it doesn't take much to make me HAPPY and it doesn't. However clinical depression has nothing to do with being HAPPY. I am reading the most wonderful little book called "365 Ways To Live HAPPY...Simple Ways To Find Joy Every Day." I have had it 3-4 years and never have read beyond the first couple pages, still I count this little book as one of my favs and I do intend to read it cover to cover eventually. Its one of those books you have to ponder on as you are reading and go back a page or two and ponder some more. The joy of the Lord is my strength...I just need the HAPPY look that's on my face to work its way inside just a bit more. I am working on that during this 365 word journey. June is a month I always work extra hard on being HAPPY. Doesn't always work, but each year at least I have renewed hope...smiles. Actually in June I work hard to have fun and that is what doesn't always work out, and so I am not HAPPY about that. This month I am cultivating HAPPY seeds and I expecting a great harvest in the next 212 days...smiles :- ) :- ) ;- )

365 WORDS...ONE WORD AT A TIME...JUNE IS IN FULL BLOOM!

Wow can you image that it is JUNE already? First of all I give thanks to God that I am even alive to see it! Seems so many people are not. Everyday is a blessing! The "experts" say that it takes between 21-28 days to form a new habit or get rid of an old one. Well its JUNE so I am way over the hump! Smiles. I am persevering, I am steadfast, best of all I am learning so much! June brings new words, new adventures, and new blessings on my one word journey. JUNE 1st is 152 days into the year...not quite the halfway point of the year but it is by calendar month. Here we go off into JUNE on another leg of this journey...stay blessed and I hope that you will continue with me for the remaining 213 days.

Did I mention JUNE is my favorite month?

~wink wink~