Yesterday we thought about making ordinary tomorrow into extraordinary Saturday by asking God to give us His idea for changing the flavor of the day.
So here we are, at dawn, anticipating an extraordinary day.
It seems His answer for me is to stay in the day, looking for at least 10 things to treasure.
Well, staying in the day is hard enough because my mind can race to next week's to-do list with amazing alacrity. That will call for mind-strength, rerouting my zip-lining thoughts to stay in the present.
Things to treasure? That might be a bit easier because I have begun to focus on thankfulness, starting with early morning energy with which to meet God, family to love and pray for, hot showers, mobility, a community to share life with, and the list goes on. But maybe, since the treasure idea seemed specific, I'll look beyond my usual list and try to see new treasure.
Whatever time your day begins, I wish you an ordinary-transformed-into-extraordinary Saturday.
31 March 2012
30 March 2012
Flavor of the Day
You know how ice cream shops sometimes advertise the "Flavor of the Day."
I think we might turn that around and consider that each day has its own flavor.
Maybe you have had a day recently that had the flavor of magnificent. Oh, I hope so. That is perhaps the best flavor. Or, sadly, you may have tasted troubling, for that is certainly a flavor we all know and dread.
Then there's ordinary. The everydays that seem to roll on, one after the other, and you look back and wonder what it is all adding up to...until you realize...that the flavor of ordinary can be transformed into a new flavor of the day: extraordinary.
How might we change ordinary into extraordinary? Lend a helping hand that surprises someone, complete a do-it-yourself fun project that you have been putting off, make yourself sit through an entire sunset, skip a meal and feel the vigor of hunger and the victory of self-denial.
Plan today to make ordinary tomorrow into extraordinary Saturday. Ask God to give you an idea, His idea, for changing the flavor and anticipate the outcome.
Just think--in 24 hours, you could be tasting extraordinary.
Planning tomorrow makes even ordinary today exciting.
I think we might turn that around and consider that each day has its own flavor.
Maybe you have had a day recently that had the flavor of magnificent. Oh, I hope so. That is perhaps the best flavor. Or, sadly, you may have tasted troubling, for that is certainly a flavor we all know and dread.
Then there's ordinary. The everydays that seem to roll on, one after the other, and you look back and wonder what it is all adding up to...until you realize...that the flavor of ordinary can be transformed into a new flavor of the day: extraordinary.
How might we change ordinary into extraordinary? Lend a helping hand that surprises someone, complete a do-it-yourself fun project that you have been putting off, make yourself sit through an entire sunset, skip a meal and feel the vigor of hunger and the victory of self-denial.
Plan today to make ordinary tomorrow into extraordinary Saturday. Ask God to give you an idea, His idea, for changing the flavor and anticipate the outcome.
Just think--in 24 hours, you could be tasting extraordinary.
Planning tomorrow makes even ordinary today exciting.
29 March 2012
Thoughts and Snickers
What in the world could thoughts and Snickers bars have in common?
They are both good things that could run amuck.
Let's start with the obvious: an occasional Snickers bar is a treat, while an addiction to them is harmful to our health. If I can't say no to a Snickers bar when occasional becomes daily, then my relationship with Snickers has run amuck--I have lost my self-control. How do I turn this around?
Perhaps my next step is to create a protocol or strategy to regain my self-control. If that daily dependence is an energy pick-me-up, then maybe I decide that for today, I pack a healthy energy snack and pray for the strength to say no through that critical period. Then, one day down, I tackle the next day with planning and prayer. Victories of self-control come through "tortoise" training--slow, plodding, one step at a time.
What if we can have a similar relationship with our thoughts? Perhaps you have some thoughts on a painful issue that seem to keep running in circles on the track of your mind. Are you forever stuck in this hurtful mode or do you have the power to exit?
Is there a protocol or strategy to regain self-control over my thoughts? Just as my way of overcoming a Snickers dependence may differ from yours, people can succeed at thought management in a variety of ways. Here are tips to get you started:
1. Write out the pain in detail. Go to Write Where It Hurts for excellent writing tools and support.
2. When you realize your mind is trying to immerse itself in the painful mode, look at a clock and give yourself 5 (five) more minutes to think about the issue and then purposefully think elsewhere. You may have to do this a number of times per day in the beginning. Painful thought "addiction" takes effort to break.
3. See yourself as a new person separate from that person who gets immersed in the pain. Look in a mirror and introduce yourself to the new self that is managing his/her thoughts. "Mary, meet the new Mary who doesn't have to revisit the pool of pain." Again, do this as many times a day as you need to in order to get the traction of self-control.
Who knew that thoughts and Snickers had anything in common? Perhaps God does, because He knows that every day on earth for us is a struggle with self-control. He lends help if we ask, so perhaps the best tip of all goes something like this: Lord, you know how this pain (or this Snickers bar) is ruling my life. I give you my problem and ask for your help in regaining my self-control. Help me take one day at a time and share the victory with You.
Here's to occasional Snickers and more pain-free minds.
They are both good things that could run amuck.
Let's start with the obvious: an occasional Snickers bar is a treat, while an addiction to them is harmful to our health. If I can't say no to a Snickers bar when occasional becomes daily, then my relationship with Snickers has run amuck--I have lost my self-control. How do I turn this around?
Perhaps my next step is to create a protocol or strategy to regain my self-control. If that daily dependence is an energy pick-me-up, then maybe I decide that for today, I pack a healthy energy snack and pray for the strength to say no through that critical period. Then, one day down, I tackle the next day with planning and prayer. Victories of self-control come through "tortoise" training--slow, plodding, one step at a time.
What if we can have a similar relationship with our thoughts? Perhaps you have some thoughts on a painful issue that seem to keep running in circles on the track of your mind. Are you forever stuck in this hurtful mode or do you have the power to exit?
Is there a protocol or strategy to regain self-control over my thoughts? Just as my way of overcoming a Snickers dependence may differ from yours, people can succeed at thought management in a variety of ways. Here are tips to get you started:
1. Write out the pain in detail. Go to Write Where It Hurts for excellent writing tools and support.
2. When you realize your mind is trying to immerse itself in the painful mode, look at a clock and give yourself 5 (five) more minutes to think about the issue and then purposefully think elsewhere. You may have to do this a number of times per day in the beginning. Painful thought "addiction" takes effort to break.
3. See yourself as a new person separate from that person who gets immersed in the pain. Look in a mirror and introduce yourself to the new self that is managing his/her thoughts. "Mary, meet the new Mary who doesn't have to revisit the pool of pain." Again, do this as many times a day as you need to in order to get the traction of self-control.
Who knew that thoughts and Snickers had anything in common? Perhaps God does, because He knows that every day on earth for us is a struggle with self-control. He lends help if we ask, so perhaps the best tip of all goes something like this: Lord, you know how this pain (or this Snickers bar) is ruling my life. I give you my problem and ask for your help in regaining my self-control. Help me take one day at a time and share the victory with You.
Here's to occasional Snickers and more pain-free minds.
28 March 2012
Someone's Future Hope
You are someone's future hope...today.
I heard from a beautiful young lady when we were talking about phrasing a few days ago. She was one of my youngest daughter's best friends, bubbly and outgoing, and I remember smiling more when I was around her.
The years were hard on her soul. She almost learned to mask that gift of laughter but she gave God just enough room to prevail. She wrote that the phrases God has recently given her are "be yourself" and "acceptance is not important." Now a young wife and mom, my friend uses her gift to brighten others.
But for today, she is my future hope. The phrase "acceptance is not required" gives me just enough encouragement to continue the roads I walk that are sometimes met with resistance and pushback.
Because, at the end of the day, though I am not an employed teacher, I teach. And the students in my circle of influence do not always buy what I am selling, even if I feel so sure that my words are for them. I learn, and then I teach. It is a beautiful circle of love that God created.
My young friend noted that, in considering her phrase about acceptance, that even God's Son was not accepted in many circles, and remains so even to this day.
I hope her phrase could be your hope today as well. Don't give up your difficult journey. Stay the course. Someone's future hope may be listening to your every word.
Learn. Then teach. Then learn some more. God will put you on someone's radar and you will be their future hope...today.
Thanks, my young friend, for your wisdom and your journey.
I heard from a beautiful young lady when we were talking about phrasing a few days ago. She was one of my youngest daughter's best friends, bubbly and outgoing, and I remember smiling more when I was around her.
The years were hard on her soul. She almost learned to mask that gift of laughter but she gave God just enough room to prevail. She wrote that the phrases God has recently given her are "be yourself" and "acceptance is not important." Now a young wife and mom, my friend uses her gift to brighten others.
But for today, she is my future hope. The phrase "acceptance is not required" gives me just enough encouragement to continue the roads I walk that are sometimes met with resistance and pushback.
Because, at the end of the day, though I am not an employed teacher, I teach. And the students in my circle of influence do not always buy what I am selling, even if I feel so sure that my words are for them. I learn, and then I teach. It is a beautiful circle of love that God created.
My young friend noted that, in considering her phrase about acceptance, that even God's Son was not accepted in many circles, and remains so even to this day.
I hope her phrase could be your hope today as well. Don't give up your difficult journey. Stay the course. Someone's future hope may be listening to your every word.
Learn. Then teach. Then learn some more. God will put you on someone's radar and you will be their future hope...today.
Thanks, my young friend, for your wisdom and your journey.
27 March 2012
The Contractor
You're the contractor.
You are building a spiritual house, the kind that will protect you when the winds of life buffet you.
Every moment you have serious pondering time with God, focusing on Him through reading, listening, praying, alone or with others, you lay a brick in the foundation.
You read about how unconditional His love is, no matter where you've been? That's a brick, a big brick. You see Him answer a fervent prayer of your heart that no one else knows about? That's another brick that can lead to a flurry of building because you are so motivated.
But oh, you mainly check in with Him on Sundays?
Your house may be a slow-go. One brick a week would hardly a difference make.
But then again, you're the contractor. You can build it any way you want.
I'm just sayin'...
You are building a spiritual house, the kind that will protect you when the winds of life buffet you.
Every moment you have serious pondering time with God, focusing on Him through reading, listening, praying, alone or with others, you lay a brick in the foundation.
You read about how unconditional His love is, no matter where you've been? That's a brick, a big brick. You see Him answer a fervent prayer of your heart that no one else knows about? That's another brick that can lead to a flurry of building because you are so motivated.
But oh, you mainly check in with Him on Sundays?
Your house may be a slow-go. One brick a week would hardly a difference make.
But then again, you're the contractor. You can build it any way you want.
I'm just sayin'...
26 March 2012
Phrasing--Part 2
Yesterday's post on phrasing prompted others to share the phrases they hear:
Be patient
Speaking out of turn
Keep walking
Calm down
My friend, helping her brother through a particularly hard hospital event, was agonizing with God on next steps. She said she literally saw the word: PATIENCE.
I was reminded in yesterday's church service of a phrase I heard long ago. Our service began with a video testimony of a member's dark time: in the midst of a high-risk second pregnancy in which doctors suggested something may be quite wrong with her unborn daughter, she found out her husband was having an affair. Her "merry" faith that had been her prop could not make sense as she was shaken to the core. She was introduced to a deeper, more faithful God that carried her through to today's strengthened marriage and healthy nine-year-old daughter. We heard moving words on our images of God and ended with the story of the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. It was a morning of being broken in the wisdom of God and I remembered my phrase from an experience long ago:
Melt your heart
If I could hope anything for your Monday, it would be this: that you would have a moment now to listen to the the story of the hymn and know that God may have a phrase for you that would soften the blows of life and renew and expand your image of who He is.
To a deep and truer week with God...
Be patient
Speaking out of turn
Keep walking
Calm down
My friend, helping her brother through a particularly hard hospital event, was agonizing with God on next steps. She said she literally saw the word: PATIENCE.
I was reminded in yesterday's church service of a phrase I heard long ago. Our service began with a video testimony of a member's dark time: in the midst of a high-risk second pregnancy in which doctors suggested something may be quite wrong with her unborn daughter, she found out her husband was having an affair. Her "merry" faith that had been her prop could not make sense as she was shaken to the core. She was introduced to a deeper, more faithful God that carried her through to today's strengthened marriage and healthy nine-year-old daughter. We heard moving words on our images of God and ended with the story of the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. It was a morning of being broken in the wisdom of God and I remembered my phrase from an experience long ago:
Melt your heart
If I could hope anything for your Monday, it would be this: that you would have a moment now to listen to the the story of the hymn and know that God may have a phrase for you that would soften the blows of life and renew and expand your image of who He is.
To a deep and truer week with God...
25 March 2012
Phrasing
I'm pretty sure one of God's tools to help us is phrasing.
That is, He takes a giant slice of wisdom, delivers it in a punch of several words, and leaves us to make it operational.
Like the time I stepped out on my deck and waited on God to answer this question, "Why are some Christ-followers (particularly women) so anxious and overmedicated, while others, under even more adverse circumstances, so light and free?"
Feed your strength.
Phrase delivered. Operational ongoing.
I think He delivered another phrase recently, in my early morning lament about yesterday's eating, that is, every yesterday. My choices, in morning's light, always leave something to be desired.
Eating restriction.
Phrase delivered. Operational stalled but trying, trying.
Does it help to have a phrase? I think so. If it is His giant slice of wisdom, the very words have power, His Power. And who doesn't need that?
So here's to my effort for today...at eating restriction.
Has He given you a phrase?
That is, He takes a giant slice of wisdom, delivers it in a punch of several words, and leaves us to make it operational.
Like the time I stepped out on my deck and waited on God to answer this question, "Why are some Christ-followers (particularly women) so anxious and overmedicated, while others, under even more adverse circumstances, so light and free?"
Feed your strength.
Phrase delivered. Operational ongoing.
I think He delivered another phrase recently, in my early morning lament about yesterday's eating, that is, every yesterday. My choices, in morning's light, always leave something to be desired.
Eating restriction.
Phrase delivered. Operational stalled but trying, trying.
Does it help to have a phrase? I think so. If it is His giant slice of wisdom, the very words have power, His Power. And who doesn't need that?
So here's to my effort for today...at eating restriction.
Has He given you a phrase?
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