I AM

 I had a little extra time this morning so after I read my Jesus Calling I went on to the Bible verse  at the bottom of the reading.  It was Exodus - God talking to Moses and Moses asks basically, hey what is your name?

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

I always wondered - did Moses hear it wrong - was it Ian - maybe God did have a name - maybe it is Iam

I am not sure what God has sent me into this world for and that is part of my Lenten Journey this year. 

My journey is not about giving anything up, it is finding what God wants me to find. Did you find it yet?

Ash Wednesday 2026

Turn from evil, and do good, and dwell in the land for ever. For the Lord loves justice; he does not forsake his faithful ones. (Psalms 37:28–29) 

Turn from evil -- it could be a person, a group, or a bad habit. And do good.   There are so many people that need help from monetary to a simple smile.   For the Lord loves  justice, oh man I am not sure he is pleased with us right now - BUT remember he does not forsake, or forget his faithful ones.

I have been going through some issues lately.  One is a person I truly need to turn away from.   Plus some health issues that recently cropped up.  I think it is time for me to just stop, drop and pray.  

I need guidance and as I travel through Lent, I will take you along.

The great hope of Ash Wednesday is that God’s compassion does not fail.

Today is when we sit among the ashes of our life gone. Think of things we did wrong and how we are going to change our life around and do them right.

Today we stand and brushes off the ashes, brush or comb our hair, wash our face and move forward in the right path..  Searching scriptures that will help us on that personal journey.

For me:

Guidance for Dealing with Manipulative People

The Bible encourages believers to:

• Be discerning: Recognize flattery, deceit, and hidden motives (Proverbs 26:24-26, Proverbs 12:5).
• Maintain integrity: Live honestly and transparently, avoiding manipulation yourself (Proverbs 12:22, James 1:22).
• Set boundaries: Keep distance from those who cause divisions or lead others astray (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 15:33).
• Rely on God’s protection: Trust in God to deliver from deceit and evil (Psalm 91:1-2, Psalm 34:7).
  By understanding these verses, believers can navigate relationships with manipulative individuals wisely, protecting their hearts while responding with love and truth.

Amen

Debbie Downer or Lucy Liftup

It's no secret that I have been feeling down lately.  I would even venture to say that I am feeling depressed.  Not clinically, not a forever depression, but blue.  Like I like to tell my BFF, Cathy, that I have  "the old man sitting on the corner singing the blues kinda blue".

Most of it comes from my job  I am currently part time and that just doesn't help to pay the bills, which just makes me sad.  Then I search for a new job and I don't feel qualified for anything or maybe I should say I am scared to try.  Then when I do go to work I have 8 hours of work to do in 4.  I feel rushed, I have a lot of pressure to do it right but mistakes happen and that upsets me.

So when anything gets to be too much for me I turn to the Bible and God for help.  I looked up scriptures on depression, but next to it was discouragement and despair and I thought, yeah that's it.  I found Psalm 3:3
But You O Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.

The "lifter of my head".  I love that, I feel like I have been walking in despair with my head down, and although there are downers in life, there are also lifters.  So, who am I - a Debbie Downer or a Lucy Lifter.

I would say that most days I am trying to be a Lucy, but today I was a Debbie.  I let a crowd get to me, I let people talking to me and asking me questions unravel me.  I became a downer until someone pointed it out (Tammy) and showed me the positives in my negatives. 

Don't tell Parke

Let me give you a situation that has arisen here at home.  Two love birds are building a nest in a window I have above my back door.  I see new life and I am excited that they chose my door.(Lucy Liftup)  Parke on the other hand sees, in his words, "Two pigeons that are going to shit all over the back porch." (Debbie Downer) Parke has been constantly chasing them and destroyed there nests, but as I type this blog they are flying back and are building the nest again.  Every so often as I look up I see a feather here and there and I smile. 

Lastly let me share this from my Everyday Life Bible -

"When people disappoint us, God wants us, instead of becoming discouraged and depressed, to decide to lift up our heads and eyes and look at the possibilities, not the problems around us, trusting Him to lead us into an even better situation--because He has one for us."

No matter what, I have two choices 1) to quit 2) to keep on going.  If I keep on going I again have 2 choices - either to live in constant depression or to live in hope and joy.  Hope being the key word for me there.

Do I feel better now that I wrote it all down. No, it is a work in progress.  Baby steps.   But now I don't feel so alone.  Not quite as scared.  I have hope and I have God, the lifter of my head.

What I Learned on my Vacation - Part 2

Peace is a quiet heart.

Peace comes with your relationship with God.  Relationships with people can be anything but peaceful.

I hate to hear the phrase "Go in Peace" and you might think that odd, but let me tell you a story. I once knew a women who could push all my buttons.  She once was a friend, who held a position of some authority.  But she abused our friendship.  She would work me up to a frenzy, until I was so angry I could not handle it anymore.    Before I would get to the point of hitting her,  I would walk away and she would say - "go in peace" she knew that became an additional button to push on me.  Our relationship became anything but peaceful.  She was mentally abusive and cruel.  We need to get away from people like this.  I finally did.

Around God we have perfect peace.  The more we study and learn the more peaceful we can become.

Now let me tell you a funny story.

After my 3 days in Hershey at the Joyce Meyer Conference I came home with this great peace.  I came to work, which can me sometime be a tense and stressful place to work.  We have a co-worker who makes everyone angry with her lax work ethic.  She comes and goes when she pleases and the rest of us must work 8 to 5 and if you a few minutes late you hear about it.   So on my way to work I prayed to continue the peace I was feeling.  A funny thing happened.  First when the first incident happened I turned and calmly said; "You know I was thinking about this and if this causes so much unrest maybe we should go to the boss and tell him and if he doesn't do anything about it, so be it, but we would at least get it off our chest."   Later, when another incident happened and people were getting a little loud I said, "I won't let this bother me, if she wants to act that way, ok, but I am not going to act that way."

Around 3PM the girls in the office said "OKAY, THAT'S IT - NEXT YEAR YOU STAY HOME AND WE ARE GOING TO HERSHEY TO SEE JOYCE, YOU ARE JUST WAY TO CALM"

So, I have been sharing my thoughts with them and I think it has helped, just a little.  Little baby steps though are the best sometimes, to take.

Luke 5:16 - But He (Jesus) Himself withdrew (in retirement) to the wilderness and prayed.

You see, even Jesus made sure He had alone time.  He ministered to the people, but he also would step away to be alone and pray.  If Jesus could do this, then so can we.  And when I say ALONE, that is without your phone, facebook, TV or your tablet.  Intimate time with God leads to a peaceful mind.

Prayer:

Dear God - I find Peace in Loving you Oh God, I am ready to receive your Grace. Amen

The Daniel Plan - Detox - This was not the week to do it

What a time to start the detox plan of the program.  Let's see what I have gone through so far.  My mother's birthday and her choice to eat at - the Chinese Buffet.  Donut Day and having been given homemade fasnachts.  My group at church called Friendship Circle, where there was an over abundance of great food and a birthday cake that I bought for my mom.

Now if you know me, you know that my favorite food is store bought birthday cake.  I don't know why - probably the icing is my favorite thing.   But one thing I have to remember it's not about the food, it's about the fellowship.  We had great laughs last night, I had great Italian Veggie Soup made by Nancy - I had 2 bowls of it. So tasty.  I did have some noodles and a piece of sausage, but I ate turkey kielbasa with sauerkraut and let's just say that kind of cleaned out the system.  But I did have a piece of cake and a fasnacht later and I did have 3 pieces of candy at the meeting.  Oh well. Today is another day.

Luckily I read the wrong day in my devotional this morning entitled "Trust God One Day at a Time".  The Lord's Prayer says "give us our daily bread".  We are to trust God for today and not worry about tomorrow and at the same time I need to let go of yesterday.

AND YES, I am drinking a cup of coffee today.  Sorry - after a late night at church I needed a java jolt this morning to get started.  It is like the nectar of heaven to me this morning.  God made coffee beans for some reason right?  I did discover though that I do like a few teas out there.  My favorite so far is Egyptian Licorice Root by Yogi - it is sweet and curbs the cravings for sweets.  Maybe I should have taken that to Friendship Circle.  Oh well, today is another day - I brought all good food today for breakfast and lunch and tonight there is a Daniel Plan recipe made for supper.

So, I might not
loose a ton of weight this week, but with friends, fellowship and faith I am rich.  God gave me lots of blessing to count.  Take time to count yours.....may you run out of numbers.
God bless.

Getting back on Track

I was doing well on the Daniel Plan - then it snowed and I started to eat M & M's.  Like a bear fattening up before a winter's hibernation, I thought that M & M's would somehow help.  But they didn't.  I ended up gaining 4 of the 5 pounds back that I lost and started to feel blah again.

To my encouragement though, I received in the mail and by email a flyer from Hackman's that they will be doing a Daniel Plan meeting at Hackman's starting February 21st.  Yahoo, and I will be attending.

I did find a few interesting things along the way though, I found out that if I truly give up processed sugar and sugar substitutes that I sleep through the night.  I don't have to get up and go to the bathroom, like I have for years and it takes me about 3 days to get the sugar out of my system.  I learned to make recipes with quinoa, barley, lentils and buckwheat and I now drink my coffee black and love it.  If I miss soda I drink club soda with a little juice in it for flavor. 

So why the slip up, human nature, I didn't rely on God's power to help me through, instead I thought I could do it alone and failed.  So I started again yesterday with success and continue through today.  Tomorrow's the test - work is where I fail the most, stress does me in.  So I will make sure I pack enough healthy options tomorrow for lunch and snacks.  Got some pea pods yesterday - love my pea pods and hummus. 

Today I also realized something, during Pastor Mike's sermon.  He said, "Jesus came to chase away the darkness"  and I think I have been suffering from a little "darkness" called the winter blues or SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder-not a severe case but I feel like this has been the longest winter I ever experienced, and I think part of that is because of my legs.  I have Osteoarthritis in both knees.  My right leg which has always been the "bad leg" finally was doing pretty good after a series of shots.  So now my left left has decided to turn to the dark side and become the "bad leg"  hurting even worse than the other leg and after hurting it further on Saturday morning and crying lots Saturday afternoon I have come to the obvious conclusion that I need to loose weight.  Not to look good, not to be sexy, but to be able to walk. 

Well, as I write this - I see snow again.  I was out in the kitchen adding tons of fresh veggies to a pot roast and packed my pea pods for lunch.  For a snack I am having some nut crackers and for dessert tonight I am going to have an apple with maybe a little almond butter on it along with a cup of green tea.     I think when I get to heaven I am going to ask God why He couldn't of have made quinoa taste like chocolate.

John 1:    ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
 ***This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine!****   Shine on.

The Daniel Plan - 40 Days

Right before Christmas I got an email from God that said...Wait - you don't believe me?  Okay, so it wasn't directly from God - but it was from Hackman's, close enough.  Here is what happened.

Before Christmas I received a lovely Christmas card with a gift card in it for Hackman's.  My mind suddenly raced to the gifts that I wanted to get for other people at Hackman's but there was a note in the card that said, "make sure to spend it on yourself". Oh, alright.  Then the very next day the first email I received was from Hackman's about the new book from Rick Warren entitled, "The Daniel Plan", 40 days to a Healthier Life.  

So now you see what I mean by a email from God.  I have been trying over the years to get healthier, but I seem not to make much headway.  I joined Weight Watchers.  I had success about 30 years ago on the plan loosing almost all the weight getting down to 142 pounds only to gain it back. I rejoined about 10 years ago and lost 20 pounds and have kept it off, but got stuck.  So was this Divine Intervention?  Was this book going to be what I needed?

Rick Warren is a pastor, author, etc. who wrote the popular bestselling The Purpose Driven Life, which I enjoyed doing with my book club, so this immediately peaked my interest.  Also contributing to the Daniel Plan are Dr. Daniel Amen and Dr. Mark Hyman.  So I decided to go get the book.  I walked into Hackman's, I picked it up.  Looked at it.  Put it down.  I thought maybe this isn't the book for me.  I walked around, looking for something else and there was ANOTHER display with the book in the back of the store, looked at it again, flipped through the pages, put it down. BUT a nagging thought in my head said BUY THE BOOK DARN IT!   So I did.

Once I actually sat down and started to read the book I immediately liked it.  How can you not love a book that starts out,  Chapter 1, page 1 - "Wow! Everybody's Fat!  That was Rick Warren's thought as he baptized 827 adults by immersion, which meant lowering people under the water and then lifting them back up.  He realized that not only was his congregation carrying extra baggage but he thought "But I am fat too!"  and that's what led him to do this book.    Well darn it,  I am fat to.  My knee hurts, I have high blood pressure controlled with medication,  and I suffer from brain fog.  This book celebrates the 5 F's.  FAITH - FOOD - FITNESS - FOCUS and FRIENDS.

I  am going to share what I learn from the book and my challenges along with hopefully some successes.  I am starting slow, and I will share that  tomorrow if I get a chance to blog.  So far it has certainly opened my eyes.  One thing I know, I can't do this alone, and in life we never have to do it alone, we always have God.

Food for thought:

Proverbs 16:9 says:  "We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it." (MSG)  

40 Days of Lent - Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

Happy Easter

Today's Lenten and final thought is:

March 31 - Easter is the ultimate second chance.  Live anew!

Today, Pastor Mike's sermon started with a story about when he came to Salem.  John, the President of Consistory,  showed him the church, in the dark, without turning on the lights and then proceeded to tell him a ghost story.  The funny thing is that ghost story is mine.  A few years ago, the Monday after Easter I went into church to take care of the flowers.  When I walked in the Sanctuary I had walked to the front of the church and then turned and saw a women, dressed in green sitting in the pew in the back.  I can described to you details of what she was wearing.  I was alarmed I thought that this woman might of been confused, thought it was Sunday.  I had never seen her before.  When I quick turned back to talk to her, she was gone.  I went looking for her, even so much as to look under the pews, but she was gone.  She is now referred to as "The Lady in Green".

I don't know if she was a ghost or an angel, but I saw her and I believe.  Other people believe in her, even though they didn't see her.  We didn't see Jesus hang on the cross, nor did we see Him after the resurrection, but we believe! 

Pastor Mike says he sees God and Jesus everywhere, in people, in the congregation.  We carry on God's work and people can see that in us.

I see Jesus in the children and every so often something special happens that makes me believe all over again.  Today, it was a simple hug, from one of the children before he left.  It was full of love, joy and happiness.  That's the best kind of hug.  In that little unexpected moment I felt the Love of Jesus Christ and it was overwhelming.

CHRIST IS RISEN......CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!!!  This is not the
end, but just the beginning. 

40 days of Lent - If God B4 us

Well, we are winding down to the end of Lent - today is Maundy Thursday and today's Lenten thought is:

March 28 - The days before Easter are a good time to remember always that God is with you, within you, within you, behind you and before you.

Which brings us to the saying - If God be for us - who can be against us!  Which is from Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  And that says it all - I can't think of anything to add but have a great day!

40 days of Lent - cook?

Today's Lenten Thought

March 21 - Attempt to cook something you've never made before, whether it's basic like scrambled eggs or fancy, like--well, pick something from Julia Child.  Say grace before eating.

Not the day for me on this one.  I am home today make halupkies for Saturday's Craft Fair and Flea Market at Salem UCC, in Catasauqua.

It takes usually most of the day between rolling and cooking the trays - I just started around 9 and I thought I take this break and write today's blog.  The picture you see is the hamburger and rice mixer with the leaves of cabbage, next job is to roll them up.

Another reason I won't be making something different today is I will be weighing in at Weight Watchers later today - maybe after weigh in, lol!

Variety is nice, God gave us so much to work with, so many fruits and veggies, there is always something new to try, so this is not a bad thought, the timing is a little off though for me.

Have a great day - experiment - let me know how it goes, or save me some!!!

40 days of Lent - Idol worship

Today's Lenten Thought

Okay - I doubt you have a golden calf

March 18 - What do you spend so much time, energy, and money on that somebody else would think it's the God you worship?  Consider finding a symbol for it, taking it out back, and smashing it.

I don't think I do that with anything really - if you can think of something for me - let me know.  Most of my extra money and time goes into the Church, by helping out with things like the craft fair, flea market and Sunday School.  So I don't think they meant that. 

But I know people who do get obsessed with certain items and spend a lot of money on it.  Some people just worship money.     What ever causes you not to put God first could come in this category.

So if you have something that others might think you worship then try the above and start worshipping God instead.

40 day of Lent - Putting God first

They shouldn't throw the deep thought ones at me on the weekends...... 

Today's Lenten Thought

March 16 - When you give God priority everything else falls into place.  You'll become hopeful when before you were anxious.

It's all about putting God first.  In our thoughts, hearts and prayers. 

Proverbs says:

In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." - Proverbs 3:6 

 

I know I am guilty of not always putting God first because I become anxious and try to fix the problems on my own and then I remember to lean on Him more than myself.    I try to think  "God, I want to do this, but I can't do it without You."    He understands when we  make mistakes. So if you mess up, don't give in to discouragement and let it hold you back; confess it and keep going. He will give you grace to do what you need to do. One day at a time you and God together can do anything!

40 days of Lent - Goodbye

Today's Lenten thought took some pondering

March 9 - Say goodbye to someone you need to say goodbye to.  Whatever the circumstances, good or bad, remember that "goodbye" comes from "God be with you".

I read this first thing this morning but wasn't sure where to take this.  At this moment in time I don't think I have someone I need to say goodbye to, but over the years, there have been some.  Today I find some memories haunting.  I need to say goodbye to the people that still get under my skin even though they are long gone.

So that's why I resolve to do - say a final goodbye to those people and try not to let them in my thoughts anymore. 

I guess that's why we are to forgive and forget.   There is a song from South Pacific that goes "Gonna wash that man right out of my hair."  Well I have a few men and woman I need to wash out of mine. 

So I got to you go now and wash my hair.

PS - Sorry this is so late,  It has been a long day, Parke is in the hospital, he is doing fine, but please say a prayer for him. Thank you

40 days of Lent - I am beautiful!

You look MAHVELOUS DARLING!

Yup - today's Lenten Thought

March 5 - Look in the mirror and compliment yourself.  Yes, you'll feel silly. Do it anyway.

We got to love ourselves before we can love others, and this is a good way to start.  A compliment a day, keeps the blues away.

Here are some you can use:

You look wonderful today.
Love your hair
What a great smile
You are beautiful inside and out!
Aren't you looking chipper today!
My your are gorgeous
or my favorite
Hey you're awake

It may sound too simple to work, but the reality is that the more you think positive thoughts about yourself, the more you push out negative ones. And, the better you feel about yourself, the more resistant you are to self-doubt and also to the criticisms of others. 

It doesn’t matter what the compliment is. It’s the act itself that matters. When you give yourself a compliment, you are actively examining your strengths, which can increase both your self-esteem and self-confidence. Remember God didn't make junk, He made you, and you are perfect in His eyes! 

So come on - compliment yourself - you are beautiful and don't forget it!

40 Days of Lent - Overbooked?

Today's Lenten thought is a good one -

March 4 - Clear your calendar if you're over-scheduled, find one thing to cut out so you can have saner days.

Isn't this true for a lot of us.  I thought this weekend I would be relatively free, but as it worked out I didn't seem to have a free moment to myself all weekend long, except in the evenings to watch TV.  I can always tell when I don't spend enough time at home.  Petey T. Dog will sit on me and not budged.  This is a definite sign that I have been running in and out of the house too much for his liking.  Why are there so many errands to run?

This week, I am afraid, is a busy week - not as busy as some weeks but I have a few commitments booked already.  I will try to weed something out just to spend a little time at home, relaxing, praying or reading. 

Let's face it - even God rested on the 7th day, so why shouldn't we.

40 Days of Lent - Why worry?

Today's Lenten thought:

March 2  -  In the spirit of Easter, think of three old things your are going to stop worrying about and three new things you're going to look forward to instead.

hmmmmm

The three things that I am going to stop worrying about, I won't share.  That way if someone would ask me, "hey did you stop worrying about......" I might start worrying about it again.  LOL Actually I feel they are kind of private, so I will keep them that way. 


But I will share the three things I am looking forward to.

1)  Spring - it can't come soon enough.
2)  A trip to the shore - my favorite place.  Anywhere were land meets the sea.
3)  Reading the books in my book pile - especially the next three

Maybe these are not three big things, but I look forward to each of them.

My favorite scripture about worry is as follows:

Matthew 6:25-27  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

One time I was so worried about money that while I was driving to work  I was thinking, what if I don't have enough money for food.  Suddenly a pancake fell from the sky just missing the hood of my car. (True story! At first I thought, manna from heaven?) Then I saw a crow swoop down, pick it up, and carried it away.  There were so many nearby restaurants I figured he must of got it out of the trash somewhere and that's when I remembered this scripture.  Certainly if God could  provide pancakes to crows then I should not be worried where my next meal would be coming from.  I remember this story every time I worry too much.

So make you lists and throw out the worries and look forward to something exciting.

40 days of Lent - Are they crazy?



Yes, that really is a Maple Bacon Donut and no, I am not
really eating one.



WHAT - are they nutz!!!!!!!

Are they crazy - OMG- okay - just breathe,  breathe - here we go.

Today's Lenten Message

February 27 ---  (I shudder just to write this)  Give up caffeine, sugar or meat for today.  How did you body, mind and soul feel.

What - I can't have a bacon donut with large coffee this morning?  How will I exist?

Back in the day I use to say that I ran on Coffee and Candy. 

But seriously (I wrote the above yesterday when I read ahead) I prayerfully considered what to do.  So I decided to sleep on it and start the day with elimating all three and see which one I could stick with, lol!

Meat, of course, is the easiest - but it will depend on what I make for supper.  The frozen pizza I have has meatballs on it - so it might be easier to order Papa Johns and have it either plain or with a veggie on it.  Lunch is a white bean wheat berry salad and some roasted carrots so that's already meat free.

Next there was caffeine - on a good day I could do without but not today.  Last night I came down with a major headache, so I took Benedryl and was foggy minded this morning, and I didn't want to not have caffeine and get a caffeine headache later.  So I started the morning with the usual cup of joe, but on the drive in my headache returned, but it is still not as bad as last nights, so keeping my fingers cross on that.  The coffee at work is decaf anyway, so I am not having a huge amount of it.  I'll skip the Pepsi Max tonight.

Lastly, sugar....Oh how I love thee...so since this is the most difficult - I will try to do without it.  (Good luck Barbara, since you sit behind me -- around 3 I should be getting the heebie jeebies).  I almost blew it this morning when I got jelly out for my toast, then I remembered so I switched to some laughing cow cheese.  Since sugar is indeed my downfall I will let you know tomorrow how I did, and how I felt.

So if you had all of the above already, you might want to try this challenge on another day, if not try one for today and remember - you can do all things with God who strengthens you.

40 days of Lent - Moving the Mountain

Today's Lenten thought

February 25 - Jesus says even tiny faith can move mountains.  What are the "mountains" you could move with the faith your already have?

Whew - that's a tough one.   I got a lot of "mountains" I would like to move, but sometimes I don't feel that I have enough faith to move them.  Sometimes the faith is just the faith that I have in myself.  I believe that with God all things are possible, but I forget to include Him in my daily struggles, the little things I feel that I should not bother him with.

We all feel that sometimes we shouldn't be calling on God for the little things, or for our own shortcomings, but God doesn't mind.  He says to pray unceasingly so He knows and is ready to help with the "small stuff".

Todays Lenten thought is from the scripture in Matthew 17:20 - You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

A mustard seed is so tiny but yet Jesus said that this is enough to move a mountain.  Now that is an empowerment - I feel better already just knowing that.  How about you, are you ready to move your mountains?

40 days of Lent - When Silence wasn't Golden

So - I started my day with a call to the bff, Cathy - It went Hi Cathy - Hello - Whatcha doing? - Nothing - What's new? - Nothing - I remained silent.....listening..... and Cathy said - Are you still there?

So much for today's Lenten thought -

February 23 - Clear out the chatter.  Really listen to other people today.  Don't just wait for your turn to talk.  Life might get more interesting.

This is not something easy to do on a Saturday - I am home cleaning.  Cathy told me - I need to practice this on a work day.

Now, I can see Barbara, my co-worker, reading this - she is saying - Bev never listens.  It is true, I work like I drive, I never see or hear what ever is going around me.  Many people think I ignore them while I am driving.  The truth is - I DO NOT SEE  OR HEAR YOU.  You may be tooting your horn, but I have my radio on ....loud.   And you might be waving right at me.  But I am looking straight ahead as to where I am going.  You might be butt naked standing on the corner, but sorry - I didn't see you and you better get inside before you get arrested.  Thus, I am like this when I work - Barb can say something - and then she follows it with - "did you hear what I said" and my answer is  - "huh?"

So maybe this is my true challenge, not for just today but every day.  A true challenge for me because I don't listen - I have endless chatter going on in my head and that's why I blog, because I have to get some of it out.  So I have to try living outside my box, which is my thoughts, and open my ears and listen to others.  Listen to what is happening around me. 

My friends, please be patient, this will not happen overnight.  After a lifetime of talking,  learning a new trait like listening could take a while. I will pray on this and ask God for His help, because this challenge like any challenge requires help.  We are not in this world alone,  we always have God, our family and our friends; and to each one of them I  need to learn to listen.

40 Days of Lent - is the glass half full or half empty

Today's Lenten thought is going to be a challenging one for me because I woke up on the pessimistic side of the bed today.

February 22 - Clear out the pessisimism.  Someone said, "Some see the glass half empty, some see it half-full, I'm just glad to see the glass!"

Ha, this is a good one for me today.  But since I started to write it yesterday I knew some of the things that were suppose to help me clear the negative thoughts, so I practiced some of them on my way in to work- I think it helped my mood a bit.  But I can feel those underlying negative feelings just waiting to bubble back up - so I might have to read this a few times today.

You know - we all have our "ites".  Old Testament enemies always seem to have "ites" at the end like the Moabites and Hittities - We have poverties, husbandites, wifites, bossites and what ever else that might cause us to whine and feel like the world is against us-ites.  But we got to shake it off, we can't dwell in the abyss we call our mind.  We can't think all the bad thoughts and not the good.  Get over it as my good friend Cathy would say.

So - with that - lets talk about 10 ways to become more optimistic. 

1) Pray  - It should be the go to thing we do first in any situation - but especially to help get rid of the negative thoughts.  Ask for help with the problem, and then thank God for the good things.  When you start taking the focus off the negative you can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

2) Smile -  Of course, the first thing that came to my mind was the Lyrics to Smile - Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by if you smile through your fear and sorrow.  Smile and maybe tomorrow, you'll see the sun come shining through for you. A smile really does help change your mood and relieve stress.  It takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown!!!!

3) Surround yourself with positive people.   Sometimes not so easy to do.  But reach out to one of your positive friends, someone that will perk you up - DO NOT - I repeat DO NOT call a Debbie Downer

4)  Change the tone of your thoughts from negative to positive.  For example, instead of thinking We are going to have a hard time adjusting to our living situation, replace that with We will face some challenges in our living situation, but we will come up with solutions that we will both be happy with.

5)  Don’t play the victim. You create your life—take responsibility.  Even if our living situation becomes unbearable, there is always a way out. Think - you will always have the choice to make change happen, if need be.

6) Help someone else.  Take the focus away from you - Do something nice for another person.  Do something nice for a stranger.  Donate food to your area food bank or volunteer to take someone to the doctor.

7) Remember that no one is perfect and move forward from that.  If you are dwelling on your mistakes, don't.  Shake it off and move on.  Unless we have a time machine and can go back and change it, we can't.  It's like the old saying - don't cry over spilled milk.

8)  SING - Sing a song, sing it LOUD - Sing it STRONG - Sing of GOOD THINGS not bad.  Sing of HAPPY not sad.  Just sing, sing a song.  Need I really say more?

9)  Make a list of 5 things your are grateful for right now!  Being thankful for what you have can put a darn good prespective on your life.  Here is mine - right now.  Coffee, my friends, almost done with a book I am reading, I didn't have ants on my stove this morning and I have a job.

10) Read positive quotes, scriptures or even post happy cartoons on your computer, fridge, doors or mirrors as reminders.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened”  - Mark Twain

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”  - Ashley Smith

You know what - I feel more optimistic already!