Affirmation...

Have you given yourself an positive affirmation lately?  Asked yourself "What went right today?"  Or, said an "Oh My Gosh" or a "Praise the Lord" about something you accomplished recently?  If not, try it!!!

Affirmations are wonderful - they hit your heart right when you need them and make a dull day beautiful....affirmations are quick "pick-me-ups" you can add to your day to dispel fear, worry, anxiety or sometimes fatigue.  It can even cure morning sickness if you are pregnant (it did for me 18 years ago!!!).

Try doing this experiment every morning for the next week:  Pick five adjectives such as Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic, Great, Fabulous.  Then, repeat each word 5 times before you get out of bed in the morning.  That's right - before you hit the floor running!!!  Give yourself a few extra minutes to lay in bed and watch the colors come into your room ( a friend of mine gave me that idea) and while your are watching the day begin, say these 5 adjectives to yourself and just see if you don't start feeling better soon!!!

There are many reasons to use positive affirmations for yourself, your kids, your spouse, your friends, your co-workers, and every one you come in contact with each day!!! They add a little zest to your life, gives you a little lilt in your step, and puts a smile on your face!  Smiling can dispel a whole bunch of yucky things in life!  Do you remember the movie "Patch Adams" with Robin Williams for the 1980's?  If not, go rent it or check it out of the library - or call me - I still have the VCR version and watch it.  Patch experiments with saying "hello" and smiling at people on campus while he was going to medical school.  What he found was amazing:  It works!!!  People smile back!!!  And, while some people may think your nuts, it will also give their day a lift.  And, if they laugh and giggle at you for being goofy- so what???  Doesn't this crazy world of our need a little more fun and laughter?  I know my corner of the world does!!!

Yes, I know I am goofy, but try it!!!  Then, send me an email and tell me the results!  We may have to put it in my new book called:  "I thought it was a bowl...." -  more on that subject later!!!

Integrity....

Once again, I am puzzled by a word and the outcome in my life. What is the actual definition of integrity - how you ever looked it up?  Studied it?  Thought about how it applies to your life as well as how to live it?  As my 17 year old son begins to deal with unfair and unreasonable people in his life, I find myself in a quandry as to how to teach this value to him.  And, as I try to teach him what the true definition is, I find that while I have often thought of my self as a person with integrity - do I model it to him?  Does he see evidence of it in my life? 

So, the question becomes:  How does one live with integrity?  How can one adhere to a rigid code of values every moment of every day?  How in the world can one be of  a sound mind and completely do the right thing because it is the right thing to do?  Every time right and wrong are in question - how does one live it every time?  Wow!  That is a tall order in this crazy world!!!

Think of the highest honor one could bestow upon you.  Why would someone honor you?  Or, why would you honor another person, place or thing?  Is it because your actions are whole, right, and entirely honest?  Or is it because one displays a level of excellence that is unheard of in today's society?  Do you stand for courage?  Do you stand for honesty in all things?  How can one do that when compromise is so much a part of our world today?

What do you value?  What merits dignity to you?  What or who do you appreciate?  Treasure?  Hold dear?  What causes worthiness in a perosn's life? 

What or who is worthy to you?  Your life?  Your love?  This is a subject that is worth pondering.........lingering upon..........and truly finding the meaning of in your life. 

Ahhhh....yes, those rose-colored glasses are on again!!!  Perhaps if each of us truly demonstrated integrity in all of our affairs our world would be a much better place than it currently is - but, wait!
That IS what we are called to be as Christians........we are taught in the Scriptures to think about what is right, what is honorable, what is noble, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely, what is of good report, what is of virture, what is praiseworthy.  (Philippians 4:8-9).

We are to think about these things - what if we lived them as well?  Think about such things.  Then,
ask for the ability to live a life of integrity in all things.  Not some, not part, not most, but all.
God is waiting for us to ask so that he can be evident to all whom we come in contact with - every day, every moment.  Think about such things.

Hilarious moment...

Have you ever had one of those hilarious moments when you cannot stop laughing???  I just did!
I was in the middle of coloring my hair and between the stage of color and rinsing, I happened to look in the mirror and see the color dripping down my forehead and onto my ears!!! It was absolutely hilarious!!!  Boisterously funny!  It made me laugh so hard that I thought I was going to cry.....when was the last time you laughed at yourself???  A moment of merriment like this can cause us to relax, regroup and remind ourselves that sometimes we take life much too seriously!!  At least, I know that I do!

Try it today..........find something to laugh at with yourself, at yourself or for yourself!  Go find a cartoon that makes you giggle and share it with someone you know who is going through a rough stretch.  Stick your tongue out at someone in traffic who you really want to say or do something not so nice to......make funny faces in the mirror with your kids or grandkids........tell your neighbor a joke or share what happened this morning to me with someone else!  LAUGH!!! 

Life is to be enjoyed and God has given us a world full of reasons to smile, laugh, and stand in awe of in all creation!!!  Listen to the squirrels as they run after each other in the backyard.......watch the birds frolic to and fro from your bird feeder or fly through the sprinkler..........throw a toy for your dog in the back yard and see him/her laugh with their tails!!! That is how dogs smile - did you know that?  By wagging their tails!!!
Or, if you have a very noisy cat like I do, you can laugh at how annoyed I get with him meowing over and over and over.........yes, it is annoying, but what is he trying to tell me???  It may the wisdom of a sage trying to get my attention because I am always in a hurry.  Stop, breathe, laugh!!!

Find something in your day that is absolutely ludicrous and laugh!!!  That's right:  a big, belly laugh from your belly button!!!  Fill that heart and mind with things of joy - pure joy!!!

Children laugh hundreds of times a day, but you know what?  Adults rarely laugh!!!  Google the statistics and see what it says!  Then, look up the word hilarious and see what comes up!

Ask other people what makes them laugh........seek out people who love to laugh and join them!
Knock on the door of God's window and see what he shows you today!!!

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given to you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you!!!