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.....

Ways to a positive Wellbeing

Its been just over a year that I have been home since breaking my leg and then diagnosed with Essential Tremors;
It has been just over a year that I have had to make sense of a lot of emotional, physical and spiritual issues in my life;
It has been just over a year now that I have had to reflect and learn that,  in order to survive within myself, daily, I would have to focus on my well being. 

  

What is important to realise, when we give from within, enjoy doing, embrace new or exciting experiences, motivate and encourage others and importantly appreciate the smallest things in life...like hearing the birds tweeting as dawn breaks (and yes you still awake and haven't slept a wink)...that life is great.

Daily we need to realise that,  even though God directs the path we travel, we as humans are also the masters and mistresses of our lives...in other words, we can huddle in a corner and play the pity party game or we can wake up each day and enjoy the beauty and wonder that each day brings.

Grasp each moment with the wonder that only life can bring.

Be blessed....

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?

Chatting to my son some 3979ft above sea level, flying at 800kph and 7143km away from Berlin this evening, gave me a new (although known) perspective to how remarkable life and technology is, high in the air chatting to me and watching the soccer world cup match on tv....amazing!

This got me looking at myself with refreshed eyes.

What could I claim as my identity now that my "shakes" (essential  tremors) has toppled me from my self-assured  perch?

I have let go of expectations. I no longer judge "success"--for myself or others--by what people do, but rather by who they are. I am more accepting of their flaws and of my own. My focus is on being rather than doing, on surrendering rather than controlling, on treasuring sweet moments here and now, rather than striving to scale the top of table mountain in record time.

Now, when people ask me what I do, I say, "I am JOY champion!" 

My "shake" has opened my eyes to the true meaning of life.

I just pray and ask the Lord to "give me oil in my Lamp" daily, and keep me filled with joy, hope, peace, understanding, wisdom .....  and lots of faith.

 Greetings to you....