Wanna trade favors?

Yep, trading favors is nothing new to us.  I think, im one of those traders at home, ...:"if you wash the dishes tonight I will cook...deal?"  or  "please go with me to the mall, I will buy you a milkshake!"
then, we trade favors at weddings, baby showers and.....yes even with God.

However, the favor I am referring to is as follows.....:
We do not need to negotiate favors from God, somewhere along the line what we negotiate with God is either going to be forgotten by ourselves or our attitude will change (for the good or bad) and if its bad its actually our suppressed sense of guilt toward God, because, remember, He is true to his word, we as humans are not, we fail often.
Being educated or ignorant of God’s word doesn’t have anything to do with God fulfilling His promises.
“You will obtain” meaning, He will do it regardless of what we do or do not understand. However, when we do grasp the concept of God’s mercy, it draws us even closer to Him.  No longer do we seek His blessings, but we seek Him because of Who He is not because of what He can do.

“Blessed (with mercy, favor) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 NKJV)

God wants to give us His daily favor, but if we don’t ask Him or spend time in His Word, in prayer or believe it, we won’t receive it.  Mercy and favor from God was made ours the moment we first believed.

So, do YOU want to trade favor today?  Lets do it with the right attitude, seeking approval in a manner that is way beyond what is usual by showing and leaning toward that which would only uplift us in our emotions, and in our spirit, not because we have an Agenda.

fa·vorˈfāvər/Submit
noun1. an attitude of approval or liking.
2.  an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual.
verb:
3. feel or show approval or preference
synonyms: prefer, lean toward, opt for, tend toward, be in favor of;

Im going to trade a favour with you....how about YOU pray for people in similar situations as yourself, as myself, that God would uplift their spirits and fill it with Joy.  And, once you have done so, share this with friends and family.

Greetings.....

The Power of a Smile

Think about this for a moment.  How important is a smile to you?  How does it make you feel, to smile, to be smiled at?   For me, a smile can turn the day around. The Power of a Smile can instantly transform a frown or bring sunshine to a gray day. Yet how often do we take "the opportunity to smile" for granted?  Again, for me, I know I do.

When I was still working, I had a pic of a jester printed and stuck on the wall that said SMILE.  As you entered my office that was the first thing one saw, and no matter how down, stressed, frustrated or anxious a university student was, when they left my office they always left smiling, and, they quickly learnt never to enter the office without a smile.  I recently received an email from a graduate student, saying how she misses being encouraged with a smile, that this became the one thing she looked forward to when returning to student residence, know her spirits will be lifted.  

Sharing this with you has me smiling with memories, it makes one feel that nothing was in vain, that someone's heart was reached.

How often now, as we find ourselves in some or other frustrating health or physically challenging situation, do we smile....even randomly?  Are we so focussed on our own issues that we cant just smile at a stranger, at something funny and let the Power of our Smile affect those we come in contact with.

I challenge you today, next time you feel downhearted, frustrated or challenged by your health situation...dig out those pictures that make you smile, think back to moments that made you laugh and smile....as you walk about in a shopping mall, make eye contact with someone really looking down and SMILE....just smile for the sake of smiling...you will love how it makes you feel, and you will smile more when you see the reaction on peoples' faces.

A smile is a powerful tool, you can even break ice with it

Why is a smile important to you?

Makeover Madness

I dont know about you, but usually at the start of each new year people dream up these fancy resolutions that they wish to do or change in there lives, maybe they did take stock of last years errors or feel they need a change within themselves.....well, I am not the type of person to start with these fanciful resolutions, but I definitely do stock taking and am most grateful for all the blessings in my life and ask God to help me to bless others in my journey for the new year.

So, 2014 has not been any different, yet it has been different too.  As I am now officially on a disability pension I decreed 2014 to be "my year" a year where I would like to do things for me myself and I, (not in a selfish way) but putting me first instead of second, needing to fill my emotional, spiritual and physical tank.  Doing a total makeover.

So, taking the bull by the horns, the first "physical" action is doing a makeover of my bathroom and kitchen, making it user friendly for later in my life...a walk in shower, no more bath, a kitchen to last a life time. I am soooo excited I can burst by the seems.

But in reflecting on all this, I can not help but also look at the spiritual aspects, this being my "spiritual" action.  There is a time in our life when God says fine lads...time for a makeover.  Sometimes He brings us to a point in our life where we need to sit back, look and listen and then we need to rest a bit in His presence and truth, to gather the energy we need to enjoy the makeover.  While all this takes place I will enjoy having my emotional cup filled and may it over flow joyfully.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Psalm 127:1-2
Father, build our house. Father, watch over our city. Father, give us sweet sleep, true rest and surpassing peace as we seek you, find you, and trust in you alone. Amen.

May you be blessed...and in being blessed share your blessing with another

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