HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!! To all the men and women who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces... Thank You for all that you do to protect our country. AND... to their families who also sacrifice so that their loved one can go to great lengths to defend our freedom... Thank you TOO! Today is the day to stop and remember our soldiers, but I hope that they feel appreciated everyday.
On another note.... I want to share a great meditation I read this morning about our attitudes.
Enthusiasm doesn't just happen to us. It's an attitude that is either fostered or hindered by our decisions about what we'll bring to our experiences -- from the most mundane to the momentous. This is true either throughout the day at hand or throughout our life. Deciding to be enthusiastic for a project comes easily when we've made up our mind to simply enjoy being alive.
Gratitude for our many blessings even further heightens our enthusiasm for living. We all know people who are bored with their jobs, who withdraw from social involvement. Most of these people have lost touch with their fundamental sense of gratitude for what life has given them.
The power to enjoy life fully, to bring enthusiasm to whatever we do, is within our grasp. In face, it's within our own mind.
I'll be as enthusiastic as I am grateful today.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day!!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tickets for Bluebird Show...
Tickets are now available for our Bluebird Show next Tues. night, May 31st at 6pm. I'll be in-the-round with 3 other great singer/songwriters... Tonja Rose, Adam Wheeler, & Jeremy Bussey! Ya'll come out! Go to www.bluebirdcafe.com for reservations! Admission is free, but there is a $7 per person food/drink charge. Love ya'll!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
We can become anybody.....
I read this in my morning devotional today and wanted to share. I think personal responsibility is getting rare in this world.
"We can become anybody..... nothing forces us to remain what we are."
How often during the day do we take a moment of quiet and assess our actions, taking measure of how close we've come to attaining the standard of behavior we would prefer from ourselves? And if we didn't live up to this standard? It's easy to blame others for how we responded to different circumstances; however, we are learning that full responsibility for who we are and how we act rests at our doorstep.
We may be thrilled when we first realize the power and breadth of our personal responsibility, or we may be fearful. No matter how hesitant we are initially, in time we can grow into the freedom God has given us and become grateful that we're in charge of our own development.
God offers all of us guidance for a life of purpose that can bring us comfort and joy.
TODAY I will accept God's guidance as I take on the exciting challenge of being in charge of my attitudes and behavior.
"We can become anybody..... nothing forces us to remain what we are."
How often during the day do we take a moment of quiet and assess our actions, taking measure of how close we've come to attaining the standard of behavior we would prefer from ourselves? And if we didn't live up to this standard? It's easy to blame others for how we responded to different circumstances; however, we are learning that full responsibility for who we are and how we act rests at our doorstep.
We may be thrilled when we first realize the power and breadth of our personal responsibility, or we may be fearful. No matter how hesitant we are initially, in time we can grow into the freedom God has given us and become grateful that we're in charge of our own development.
God offers all of us guidance for a life of purpose that can bring us comfort and joy.
TODAY I will accept God's guidance as I take on the exciting challenge of being in charge of my attitudes and behavior.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Arguing...
I admit it. I like to be right. And if someone makes a statement that I know is wrong, I have to fight the urge to go to great lengths to prove them wrong.
I recently heard someone say, "Do I want to be right?... or do I want to be happy?"... learning how to let some things go is important in getting along in this world without having a very bumpy ride. No one wants to be around a "know-it-all". And who wants to hang out with someone who is constantly challenging their beliefs and thoughts, arguing with everything they say, making them feel inadequate, insecure, or unintelligent.
"The gratification that results from winning a quarrel with another person is short term and isn't worth the residue of shame it leaves." -- OUCH. That one stings, but it's so true. Especially if you are arguing with someone you love. That moment of "Ah-hah! See? I gotcha! I'm RIGHT, aren't I?!?!" feels good for maybe a short second, until you see the hurt and embarrassment in the eyes of your loved one. Then you sorta feel like a bully. That feeling of "winning" goes away very quickly, and then it feels like you both just lost something.
Proverbs 17:14 - "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."
Certain things are easier for me to let go of than others. But man, there are some issues that I will easily get pulled into an all out FIGHT about if I'm not careful. So help me out friends... what's the best way that you have found to handle a situation that could possibly turn into an all out fight if you're not careful.
Do you bite your tongue?... keeping your opinions to yourself while the other one spurts out something you believe isn't true?
Do you change the subject?... hoping you can find something you both agree on?
Do you just walk away?.... completely ignoring the situation?
Or do you have some awesome advice on how to express your opinion, lovingly, without making the other one feel attacked?
I'm dying to hear your thoughts on this one.... I almost got into an all-out brawl one morning at church over the stupid Royal Wedding. Hello?!?! What is WRONG with that picture???
I need help.... Sigh...
Hope you all have a great week... no fighting now, ya hear? :-)
I recently heard someone say, "Do I want to be right?... or do I want to be happy?"... learning how to let some things go is important in getting along in this world without having a very bumpy ride. No one wants to be around a "know-it-all". And who wants to hang out with someone who is constantly challenging their beliefs and thoughts, arguing with everything they say, making them feel inadequate, insecure, or unintelligent.
"The gratification that results from winning a quarrel with another person is short term and isn't worth the residue of shame it leaves." -- OUCH. That one stings, but it's so true. Especially if you are arguing with someone you love. That moment of "Ah-hah! See? I gotcha! I'm RIGHT, aren't I?!?!" feels good for maybe a short second, until you see the hurt and embarrassment in the eyes of your loved one. Then you sorta feel like a bully. That feeling of "winning" goes away very quickly, and then it feels like you both just lost something.
Proverbs 17:14 - "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."
Certain things are easier for me to let go of than others. But man, there are some issues that I will easily get pulled into an all out FIGHT about if I'm not careful. So help me out friends... what's the best way that you have found to handle a situation that could possibly turn into an all out fight if you're not careful.
Do you bite your tongue?... keeping your opinions to yourself while the other one spurts out something you believe isn't true?
Do you change the subject?... hoping you can find something you both agree on?
Do you just walk away?.... completely ignoring the situation?
Or do you have some awesome advice on how to express your opinion, lovingly, without making the other one feel attacked?
I'm dying to hear your thoughts on this one.... I almost got into an all-out brawl one morning at church over the stupid Royal Wedding. Hello?!?! What is WRONG with that picture???
I need help.... Sigh...
Hope you all have a great week... no fighting now, ya hear? :-)
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