Friday, August 31, 2012

Friendship....

Friendship..........ahhh........what wonderful people I have in my life - how about YOU?  There are old friends, new friends, long lost friends, close friends, antagonistic friends and dear, sweet friends!  They come in all flavors, shapes and sizes!!!

Have you ever looked up the definition of friend?  A person one knows, likes, trusts....a favored companion, comrade.....one who supports a group or cause........do you have a friend like that in your life?  I hope so!  If not, can YOU be one to another person this week???

Friends bring so much into our lives:  Joy, laughter, fun, sharing, compassion, honesty, durability, companionship, warmth, comfort, and confidence.  Don't you just feel better around some of your friends?  Does your life light up when you have coffee with a friend or meet them for lunch for their birthday? 

WOW - what joy transcends between friends who have known each other for a decade or two or perhaps four!!!  Look back over your life - who has been there for you through thick and thin?  Is there a friend you KNOW you can always count on?  Someone who supports you, loves you despite any flaw or shortcoming you may have?

I have heard the saying many times:  "You may only be one person in this world, but you may be the world to one person!"  Think about that for a moment..........you may mean the world to someone that you don't even realize how much you mean to them.......stay alert for those messages from someone close to you!

Have you said thank you to that friend that drove you to your last doctor appointment or sat with you in the waiting room when you were concerned about your health?  When was the last time you wrote a note to someone who made a difference in your life?  Old or new, they need to know how much they mean to you!

Consider sending an real note to someone you haven't spoken to in a long, long time......tell them how much they mean to you!  Or, try the eCards available online, too!  There are so many resources to reach out to those we love and cherish.......NOW is the time!  Don't delay..........you never know when you might not be able to tell them again how much they mean to you!  And, besides, it is just plain fun to reconnect with someone whose company you enjoy! 

Go ahead..........make the call.........send the note.........write that email!!!  You will receive a gift as well.........the gift of their presence!!!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Unswervingly..........hold onto hope!

Have you ever thought of holding onto something unswervingly??? 

Well, if not, think about this:  Have you ever turned aside from a specific course of action - on purpose or by accident?  This could be in your job, your family life, or a relationship!  If the turn happened unexpectedly, perhaps you were meant to take a new path and did not realize it!  If you planned this new course of action or adventure - good for you!

Think about the definition of swerve....to turn abruptly from a straight course. 
Is there a path you have stayed on for a long, long time and will not deviate from?  Yes, there are certain things in this life that do become routine and/or necessary and we may not need or want to change - that is a good thing!  But, what if you have created a path with NO turns are even possible or probable?  Or at least not abruptly??? (Ha! Ha!)  Is that the right course of action for you? It may be time for some analysis or reflection.

On the opposite side of the coin, has there been a time in your life when all of a sudden, you DO turn abruptly from a path that you have always chosen?  Was this turn expected and planned or did it come out of the blue??  And, how did this change affect you and your life?  Positive, I hope, but if not, perhaps it was a needed change.  Or, is there a change about to come in your life?  Open your heart to the possibility!

Sometimes, holding onto something comfortable, familiar, or certain becomes a pattern that we develop without consciously realizing it.  When was the last time you went OUT of your comfort zone?  Turned abruptly in a positive way?
If it has been awhile, consider going down a new path!

Now, back to unswervingly............have you ever heard the saying:
"Let us hold unswervingly onto the hope we profess....." (And yes, it has a spiritual basis behind the saying......)

What is HOPE?  Hope is a desire and/or confidence  of fulfillment.  Hope against hope........to persist in something that goes against the odds....hope is a ground for expectation......something that is desired or that which is hoped for........hope is that in which one places one's confidence.

One lovely definition was given by Emily Dickinson:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all!"  This saying has brought me and many people comfort during very painful or uncertain times in their lives....write it down, say it out loud and allow it sink into your soul..........it is a beautiful sentiment!

Do you feel hopeful at certain times in your life?  Does music help you to feel hopeful???  Music without words is one way of feeling something so deeply for me - what about you? 

What do YOU hope for?  Believe in?  What are you confident that you will receive?  Do you hold unswervingly onto your faith?  Love?  Joy?  Good will? 

What is it that you hold onto unswervingly????  NO turning back from???
Think about it - it is a great thought for reflection!!!

And, finally, if you want to look up the reference in the Bible it is found in Hebrews 10:23 - enjoy and hold on UNSWERVINGLY!!!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Rainbows after the rain......

Ahh.........Rainbows after the rain are certainly beautiful to catch a view of....peaceful, serene, glorious!

What is a rainbow?  A spectral arc of seven beautiful colors appearing in the sky opposite of the sun.....a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in the drops of rain or mist.........a display of God's incredible imagination and beauty!!!  Given just for us to view..........

Consider the splendor of colors:  red, orange, yellow, emerald green, aqua blue, indigo blue and violet........which is YOUR favorite color?  Which color makes you feel wonderful, alive, joyful???  Think about it!

What makes each of us reflect a specific color in our lives???  Have you ever thought about your wardrobe and if you choose specific hues time and again?  Or, what about the decor of your home?  Is there a theme that permiates your sacred space?

Do you reflect the color of God's love to others?  Does your friendship "disperse" throughout your corner of the world?  Is joy a display of raindrops or mist that splashes over to others in your life? 

How can your favorite "color" be used to reach out to those who may be hurting or lonely?  Can you spread a little cheer and color by sharing yourself with someone in need?  Flowers from your front yard or garden are always endearing! Or, how about a bow wrapped around a plate of homemade cookies or bread?

Think about someone in your life whose "color" has infused some joy in your life!  What was it that made them so special?  Was it that they represented the first colors of spring such as yellow and lavendar, or was it the burst of autumn in reds and oranges that drew you to them? 

Or, was it something in your life that brought back fond memories such as the fragrant smell of green grass being cut in summers past?  Or, sharing a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day?  Remember watching the clouds roll by as a little kid while laying in the grass?  And, don't forget the incredible shades of blue in a sky that doesn't have a cloud in it!

We have the gift of so many colors in our lives.......cherish them!  Watch for them!  Incorporate them into your soul and share them with someone you love!

A rainbow in the sky reminds us that God keeps His promises!!!
You are loved............go and enjoy the colors of your life!!!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Rain.......

Rain........beautiful rain!!!  Water condensed from atmospheric vapor, falling to earth in drops!
It has been almost 3 months since Kansas has seen any steady rain for longer than 20 minutes.........ahhh..........the moisture and wet drops fill my heart and soul with JOY!  

Have you ever smelled rain?  If not, next time it rains go outside on your porch or deck or driveway and smell the rain.......it is heavenly!!!!  

Years ago, there was an email sent around several times about a premature baby who almost doesn't make it, then years later after the crisis is over, this baby who is now 5, 6, 7 or 8 years old smells the rain and runs to her mother and says:  "Mommy, do you smell it?  Do you smell Him???"  The mother sits her child down and says, "What do you mean, can I smell the rain?"  The little girl replies, "it smells just like Him - the one who held me when I was born........it's Him!"  The mother sits back and realizes how God held her little girl in those infancy stages when she almost did not make it.........wow!  What a gift her little girl is today and what a gift from that little one to tell her about God!

Rain, beautiful rain........keep on coming today!  Drop away, Lord, drop away!!!

Can you smell it?  Can you smell Him???  The fragrance is ever so sweet........enjoy!!!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Releasing old emotions.....

RELEASING OLD EMOTIONS..............hmmm........that is a tough thing to do!  So many emotions fill me today as someone I love is extremely upset with me and won't allow the healing balm of forgivenss pave the way to say he is sorry or accept my apology.........I am very sad at losing such a person in my life because he has choosen to end the relationship.

It is amazing to me how the human ego and/or pride reign in situations between family members who love each other dearly, yet can be the hardest to get along with!  How do you mend a broken relationship from one side?  Making amends is not very likely, however, I plan on continuing to offer forgiveness from my side and pray that God's love, mercy and grace will be triumphant!

"Be still and know that I am God," says Psalm 46......I am still, and do know that God's Comforting, Almighy, Loving and Majestic Hand holds me close as I heal from this rift...............CALM.  Yes, Lord!

If you are experiencing a rift with someone you love, hold fast to God's Word.  God has a plan of redemption for all of us and so it is between brother and sister..........it may take a week, a month, a year, but that love that permeates my heart will win out - I am sure of it as God's Word tells me so on every page of Scripture.....

Be blessed as you await the Prodigal Son coming home to you.  I know I will!