SELF-MEDICATE!

Choose joy and laughter today...for a merry heart does good like a medicine.


Medicate yourself with it...don't let your spirit get dried up. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance AND has a continual feast.

Enjoy some laughter...release those endorphins to elevate you...feel encouraged...be enthusiastic with a good attitude. Be a tree of life...heal yourself and others in your world through your own words today.

Expect!

Expect?  Yes...just expect.
Let the atmosphere around you today be filled with expectancy.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't mean to go out and get pregnant in the literal sense! (haha)
...but expect good things to happen to you...and for you today.

...expect LOVE...expect BLESSINGS...expect favor and good connections.
I've heard that expectancy and anticipation is a breeding ground for miracles.
So, keep your eyes open...

Believe for things to keep shining brighter and brighter for you and in you.
Let your light shine...and let it reveal the next part of the path that lies ahead..and wherever the road takes a turn, everything will still be alright.  Let your mind be transformed and renewed.



So, what do you want to expect?  I say, let's expect the best!  ..and see what happens.
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...whether you feel deserving, worthy, or not, it looks like God wants us to EXPECT good things, too.

...Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us ALL—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

ADDED YEARS!

Guys, you have got to look at this man...he's 109 years old and is still very active, including walking, speaking, interviews and writing books! ..what!?  That's awesome.
It really encourages me to put on my tennies each day and do SOMETHING! (haha)

I came across a video that a friend of mine shared on Facebook about him and wanted to share a link to HIS PAGE (where he blogs!!)  His name is Bernando LaPallo:  He just put out a book at 108 years old!!  That should give all of us writers and dreamers great encouragement...c'mon.
http://www.agelesslivemorestore.com/

This is also interesting because right after I saw his video, I opened my devotional to today's date and the title is "ADDED YEARS!"...no way! ..but, yes way.

Here are a few sentences drawn from the page;
Skillful and godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.  LENGTH OF DAYS is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor" - Proverbs 3:15,16
"Hear my son and receive my sayings, and THE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE WILL BE MANY"- Proverbs 4:10

...and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For by me your DAYS WILL BE MULTIPLIED, and YEARS OF LIFE WILL BE ADDED TO YOU" - Proverbs 9:10,11

Today I will realize the importance of this day and will invest myself in it totally.  Every day of my life is important and special and significant.  I will not take the gift of this day for granted.

Today I will make the decision to be satisfied with my life as it is.  "With LONG LIFE I will SATISFY him, and show him my salvation" (Psalm 91:16).  There is great confidence that comes from a life of contentment without complacency, so I will walk in that confidence by an act of my will.  Life is good!  God is good!  Today is good!

Today I will celebrate all that life has to offer, acknowledging in all my ways the God Who adds years to mine.
(the above taken from A Year In The Now, by bishop Jim Swilley, Church in the Now)
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To this I would like to add my amen!  I for one would like a long life, full of days, my eyes not growing dim or my strenth removed.  Anyone else up for that?

I also heard of another man of 100 years who was asked what his main secret is: ..his first response was..."be happy".

Lose Your Fear of Rest

Ok guys, the past day or two for me has been quite unbalanced.  I don't know about you but sometimes I don't want to rest because I think that there is so much that I either need to do or want to get done, and I keep going even without much rest...to the wearing out of my body, as well as my mind.  Anyone hearing me?
So I saw the following paragraphs that I believe are by Howard Thurman, about the value of rest...the cessation that we all need...and I agree.  Anyone else just need to be still...quiet...pause...ponder? ..rest?
Peace is in the midst of it...let's give it a try, eh?
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We must find sources of strength and renewal for our own spirits, lest we perish. There is a widespread recognition of the need for refreshment of the mind and the heart. It is very much in order to make certain concrete suggestions in this regard. First, we must learn to be quiet, to settle down in one spot for a spell. Sometime during each day, everything should stop and the art of being still must be practiced. For some temperaments, it will not be easy because the entire nervous system and body have been geared over the years to activity, to overt and tense functions. Nevertheless, the art of being still must be practiced until development and habit are sure ...
Such periods may be snatched from the greedy demands of ones day's work. They may be islanded in a sea of other human beings; they may come only at the end of the day, or in the quiet hush of the early morning. We must, each one of us, find his own time and develop his own peculiar art of being quiet.

We must lose our fear of rest.

There are some of us who keep up our morale by being always busy. We have made a fetish of fevered action. We build up our own sense of security by trying to provide a relentless, advantageous contract between ourselves and others by the fevered, intense activities in which we are engaged. Actually, such people are afraid of quiet. Again, most activities become a substitute for the hard-won core of purpose and direction. The time will come when all activities are depressing and heavy, and the dreaded question, "What's the use?" will have to be faced and dealt with. The first step in the discovery of sources of strength and renewal is to develop the art of being still, physical and mental cessation from churning. That is not all, but it is the point at which we begin.
-Howard Thurman

community

I've been thinking a lot this past hour about "community". What does that word really mean to YOU?

"A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living”
-Rudolf Steiner quotes

It's in you

Everything you need already lies within you.

Follow your God-given instinct...you know who you are.
You don't need someone else telling you what they think you should do. Follow your gut...the still small voice.

Never give up on your dreams, even if they don't come true.
Protect them, they are yours. Go consistently in the direction that you want to go.

Bright Sunshiny Day!

Many of you are happy that the rain is over...me too, and especially if you live somewhere like Nashville.  May the waters calm back down to normal.

I'm thinking how the rain and the dark clouds are necessary, however, it feels so good to see the sun and come back out of the house.  In the words of Johnny Nash' song I'd like to say, "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...it's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day"  Enjoy this video and lyrics...I also have it on the playlist, #33.


I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin but blue skies
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(I agree, the veil of rain has been lifted, the dark clouds have passed by...it's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day.)

There may be a storm going on in your life right now, but I encourage you to see the blue sky beyond the veil. God bless you today.

Bright eyes cheer the heart... (Proverbs 15:30)

(My son Zachary with his very first DOUBLE SCOOP at SCOOPS ice cream shop, definitely has bright eyes, and this picture cheers my heart. Covington, Georgia, April 30, 2010)




Stressed spelled backwards is desserts.






“May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.” - an Irish blessing

Maintain a Merry Heart!

He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)

May you have a positive outlook today, and see your glass as half full.
Expect things to turn around for the better!

I pray that you advance on the road to accomplishing your impossible dream, regardless of the tiny vision and empty words of the little people living in the small world. You have been called to greatness, so dream grand dreams and think high thoughts! (I adapted this from Jim Swilley, A Year In The Now)

Also from the same book I say to you:
...that you find the supernatural strength to keep going, even when mental and spiritual fatigue work against you. Press in and press on, because your vision is increasing in spite of your setbacks, and you must run with it to read it clearly. Your merry heart will even move you beyond physical fatigue, satisfying your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's!

Thrive in the midst of trouble.
Your attitude will affect your altitude as you rise to the optimum level - the sky is the limit!

Maintain a merry heart today!

Don't be afraid...to be yourself!

It seems like I've been hearing and seeing a lot today about being yourself...letting the real you come out, and not being afraid of that...a way that will most fully connect with others too...with no pretense.

Dangerous? Possibly.
I would say that it draws you closer to developing your dreams and destiny!

Keep On Smiling!

"Count it all joy," even when I have to deal with negative situations in my life, because the power of supernatural joy always causes me to win!

My merry heart will do me good like a medicine and will enable me to partake of a continual feast today.

Today I will not be worried or anxious; I will not be fearful and depressed. I know that, regardless of what things may look like right now (in the natural), I actually have a great life and can afford to let myself be happy. I can smile, laugh, sing, and be absolutely positive in my attitude . . . and because I can, I will!

Today I will not be in denial of whatever trials I may have to deal with, but I will endure every cross for the joy that is set before me. I can declare the end from the beginning, and call those things that are not as though they are. In my heart I know that everything is going to be all right.

Today I will do something to help me maintain a high level of joy . . . take a walk . . . get some fresh air . . . laugh with a friend . . . sing a song . . . accept a compliment . . . help somebody . . . be a blessing . . . get some exercise . . . eat something delicious . . . do something fun . . . be good to myself . . . let go of a grudge . . . learn something new . . . play . . . change my thinking.

Today I will expect the best, but will find satisfaction with what I have now. I will be content, without becoming complacent.

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.- Andy Warhol

Today I will be strengthened by joy, even in the midst of a fiery trial. I will speak words of life, be proactive in every situation, keep a good attitude, and will, basically, just have a great day.

I took most of the above, with a few edits, from "A Year In The Now", by Jim Swilley

Found this fun sounding video while actually looking for something else:

Live Liberated!

Be free...let yesterday go...joy comes to you...see the light at the end of the tunnel...be optimistic in your thinking...great things await...don't be afraid where the day takes you...wellcome all possibilities...a new opportunity lies around the corner...it's a new day...everything is different...live the liberated life today!

(pause the playlist...the last half of this really builds well with the music)



Today I will not be overcome by sorrow, because weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning.

Today the Bright and Morning Star shines on me-and through me. It's a new day and everything is different in my world than it was before.

I demonstrate that His mercies are new this morning by my determination to live the liberated life today.

(above quotes taken from A Year In The Now, Jim Swilley)

You Have A Dream!

I have a dream...YOU have a dream!

What is it?

Dreams need "action" behind them to come true, so I would suggest writing it/them down.  Brings to mind the biblical phrase, "...write down the vision and make it plain."

Like "faith without works is dead", so dreams without action seem to be only fantasies.  I thank a blogger named Ebony for that thought.

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


No one can take your dream away from you, because they did not give it to you.
 
Be a good steward of your gift...your "uniqueness".  The dream that God puts in your heart is "bigger" than you, and there is something "bigger" than your 9 to 5!
 
Follow your dream to the point that it ultimately becomes one with you.
 
Remember that  you are God's "dream" come true and that we're all the product of something God said, something God dreamt- Jim Swilley

“Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing, love ends when you stop caring, friendship ends when you stop sharing... so share this with whom ever you consider a friend.”



I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
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(Also, don't forget to listen to Dream Weaver, #41 on the playlist by Gary Wright)