LIVE your LIFE

dear beautiful YOU ...
This is YOUR life (your very own life)!
Get to know YOUR soul, dance YOUR dance, sing YOUR song, take charge of YOUR story, love YOUR day, let YOUR heavy stuff go, embrace YOUR blessings, kiss YOUR beloveds, thank YOUR everything, see YOUR plate, stand in YOUR power, forgive YOUR mistakes, drain YOUR secrets of their poison, heal YOUR pain, find YOUR tribe, rest YOUR body, share YOUR talents, practice YOUR passions, find YOUR bliss ...

LIVE YOUR LIFE
LOVE YOUR LIFE ... because the best years of your life will happen as soon as you open YOUR hands to YOUR happiness all by TRUSTING YOUR MAKER.
Trusting ... it's hard and yet easy. All for today ...

routines .. we all have them for EVERYTHING ~ or at least we should

Routines .. for work, for the weekend, for personal things ... for EVERYTHING!! I personally like to brush my teeth before getting into the shower. Why? I dunno know .. just because. I shave my legs EVERY DAY (included that info for Jillien). Why? I dunno know. Studies show that we thrive with routine. It makes us more productive, more organized, more everything. And routines, change. As we age, as we add members into our families, as we move into different apartments, homes etc. What routines do you have? What routines do you want to have? What do you think about routines? and what are some of your more 'successful' ones?  I personally have a to do list DAILY. If it doesn't get done today, it goes onto tomorrow's ToDo. Well, it's Monday .. and I'm off to begin my routines. Happy week everyone ...

And if We Don’t Practice Gratitude?
 On the other hand, research shows that youth who are ungrateful are “less satisfied with their lives and are more apt to be aggressive and engage in risk-taking behaviors, such as early or frequent promiscuous activities, substance use, poor eating habits, physical inactivity, and poor academic performance.” Why does gratitude do all of this — how can it, really? Because we were made to live in gratitude to God, giving glory to God. “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those we know they are sinners” (Mark 2:17). I was reminded of my problem. Sure, I’m broken; we all are. But I lose sight of that sometimes in the glow of praise and achievements and an inflated sense of self. Then a flawed character comes along to remind me to let Him shine through the broken places of my life. And it's hard for I want to 'demand' respect and gratitude ~ and honestly, it ain't ever happenin'. Will that stubbornness ever be channeled correctly. Or even a simple honest-to-goodness apology? I don't think it will ... Uggh ~ huge sigh!! Again, I'm tired ~ I know where to go for rest, yet I don't. I'm overwhelmed ~ I know what to do to untangled the mess, yet I don't. I do what I don't wanna do and know what I need to do ~ yet I don't. To be GRATEFUL ...

Hello ~~ Hello ....

Hello 2013, Hello April, Hello blogworld. I've been absent waaaaay to long ~ my heartfelt apologies. I've been encouraged to blog again, so I start over. My biggest motivation is ~ I learned that at the end of the year ~ these posts can be printed and put into a book ~ well, hello, I'm a bookAholic!! Hello to all of you. With all that's been happening this week, my heart is heavy. Have a new computer, learning a new language etc. is all apart of my world NOW. So, here goes. My word for 2013 is "peace" .. peace with myself, peace with my family, peace with issues, peace with my environment ~ peace ... not of the world but God's peace, that surpasses all. I'm on my journey ... here in Florida, hoping to meet women my age and do life with ... to continue growing and learning. So ... Hello ~ Hello

2 ears ...

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15 NIV What causes us to sin and how to cure it? Bitterness was only one of three areas on which I'd like to focus on at the moment (because I'm a bit overwhelmed now!). For BITTERNESS is the one that touched my heart deeply. I had to look within to see what was causing my anger and critical spirit. Why was I not trusting that God's plan is best? Sin is what you do when you don't believe God's plan is adequate or best, is what I heard ringing in my ears. The cure for the sin sickened heart is THANKSGIVING, was emphasized. In Ephesians 5:3-4 we learn, that Paul told us the way to not sin is to give thanks instead. Also Psalm 103:2; Jeremiah 31:14; and Psalm 107:8. So I list my thankfulness within my heart and brain! These last six months I have allowed bitterness to grab hold of my heart. I knew the Lord was speaking to me but little did I know that He would call on me today to let go of the hurt and pain and focus on the joys. When conversations were misunderstood today or when hurtful words were hurled into the air, I recalled this THANKSGIVING and asked for the Holy Spirit's help. I'd love to tell you I passed with excellent obedience and flying colors but that would be the biggest lie ever. I failed miserably and will probably fail again. However, the Lord nudges me "dear child O' mine, I created you and with My help and My love this will be conquered also." (big sigh) Okay Lord, tomorrow ... My heart and brain reflects upon all the blessings (so many to recount!!) for God is good to me, even in my failings. Noting that tomorrow God's grace will light my way and with Him I can do all things (Phil. 4:13). 2 ears ... to help me listen twice as much and definately MORE than my mouth moves!!

Floor E Da = Florida

Well, we are here. On the other coast now. Unpacked, doing life, found a great church, go to the library weekly with baby, ... and life goes on in Floor E Da!! Had to put a few things in storage and haven't even touched all of THAT stuff yet. Sooooooo much to do and ... you know how it goes relocating. Different location, different dynamics ... and I remind myself to B R E A T H E

God's unmerited favor = GRACE

Grace is an amazing gift from God.
We can’t save ourselves or make us worthy of God. But God.
He arranged everything so that we can just receive his grace by faith in Jesus and be made right with him. Grace truly is God’s unmerited favor for all who are ready to receive it.
You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives. (Eph. 2:8-10, CEB)
Today I’ve been reminded that we need to receive grace daily.
Not just for our eternal salvation. But for our daily needs.
We can’t earn salvation but we can reject it.
The same way we can’t earn God’s daily help but we can reject it!
Let’s not put God’s grace in vain!
Let’s receive what God wants to give to us!
How do we do that?
Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help. (Hebr. 4:16, CEB)

The same way we live in grace. By drawing near to God. By receiving grace upon grace.
By interacting with God. By asking and receiving help. By lifting up our gaze from ourselves and our problems to Jesus. By asking the Holy Spirit fill us and show us how to go about our lives.
By living out loud our faith in Jesus.

Dear Gracious God, Giver of all good gifts ~
Give us not only our daily bread but also our daily grace!
In Jesus’ name, Amen

psssssssssst ~ I know I am preaching to myself!! It's always me that seems to be slow in the go. KWIM?