DONT GIVE UP, YOU"RE ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE

We have all been shocked and saddened by the untimely death of an amazing actor Robin Williams.  I enjoyed his humor whether in a movie or in comedy.  When I read of Robin Williams suicide and also knowing he had the start of Parkinson's disease, the thought once again resounded in my mind, how important it is for people being diagnosed with a progressive disease/disability so urgently and seriously need a life coach in their lives.

When looking back a few years....my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  No one in the family really new what to expect, or do or react.  No one thought to ask "grampa" how he felt, how he was coping etc, and let me tell you, my father could walk many more a mile than any young person.  As a family we would get annoyed or frustrated with him when we got a call from the nearest Shopping Mall to request someone come fetch him, he is in "freeze" mode.   I remember a day when some Pastor prayed over my dad for healing and how he sincerely believed he was healed.  BUT, today I know that was not a healing of the body, it was a healing of the soul, being set free in his spirit.  How stupid and foolish as humans, as families are we not, to realise its not about US, and how we are now being forced to care for the person in our lives with the disease/disability or how embarrassed we feel when the person stumbles or drools while eating, or wets themselves because muscles are not functioning as they should any longer, and what would our friends think.

Have you ever stopped to think how your loved one feels with his/her disease/disability?
How do you feel about your disease/disability?
As a carer, how do you feel, how does this affect you?
and the most important question I ask you........
What are you doing to accept, cope and live with the situation you find yourselves in?

When depression hits us....
When we cry for no reason.....
When we are angry, irritated, frustrated......
                        Please get help, find someone you can share this with.

As my picture at the top of the page says....when life is difficult, feels senseless, nothing seems to go right....dont give up.

Matthew 11:28-30 says:    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest............ you will find rest for your souls. 

Besides God's Love, Grace and Mercy, we also need to bring our side, find a Life Coach who understands disabilities and start afresh in your life.  A new perspective to living day by day.

I encourage you, Life is not over yet!

Be comforted, encouraged and blessed.

 

Stand UP for yourself

For TOO LONG you have allowed the past to affect you!
For TOO LONG you have taken personally what others say about you!
For TOO LONG you have stood on the sidelines watching others thrive!
For TOO MANY NIGHTS you have gone to bed worrying about what may be.
For TOO LONG you have held a fear in your heart.
For TOO LONG you have settled for second best!!

NOW is the time to awaken!
NOW is the time to shine!
NOW is the time to ACCEPT that you are DIVINE!!

This is my message for you - allow it to touch the deepest parts of your being - to help you awaken to the truth - that you do deserve to live a GREAT life - and whatever that means for you!

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.....

NO THOUGHT IS HARMLESS, NO ATTITUDE CAN BE HIDDEN!

Isnt it amazing to know, God listens to us, loves us, understand us and i'm sure in an uncanny way He smiles down on us when we doubt or worry or have a fear of something.  I have just received my recent newsletter from Dr Caroline Leaf, it really inspired me and .......heck, why not share this with you, be inspired and be blessed by the caption from Dr Leaf.

NO THOUGHT IS HARMLESS, NO ATTITUDE CAN BE HIDDEN!
Written by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Thoughts are real - they occupy mental real estate. Every thought has a “heart” - the intention of that thought. God looks at this ‘heart’ (Jeremiah 17:10).
When we are not using our minds (intellect, will and emotions) to listen to what the Holy Spirit lays down in the depths of our spirit, then we will be listening to the lies of the enemy.
Whatever we listen to, we will think about and whatever we think about grows into a physical thought with this ‘heart’ being reflected as our attitude. People pick up on our attitudes - the intent of the thought - not the detail of the thought.
The brain is designed with various structures that facilitate this to happen. So...reflecting our ‘hearts’ is how God designed us.

How precious is your kindness o God!
Be blessed.......

OooOhhh! Those jolly gremlins

So often when we are faced with our disability gremlins in our life, its very difficult to always identify who or what that gremlin is, and believe it or not, there is no shame in identifying that gremlin.

Even though I share thoughts in my blog, I too am faced with gremlins that either mess with my head, my emotions or physically.

This week has been one of those "mess with my head" moments. As mentioned in previous blogs, my progressive disease (essential tremors) has me really frustrated.  I cant live out my life or creative ways as I have before, thinking is becoming challenging...eg. what on earth to prepare for lunch or supper.  Its easier to just grab a weetbix or a slice of toast, but thats no healthy eating for both myself or my athlete son.
Then..there is the exhaustion I experience and would rather continue sleeping, (12hrs + per day),  then I don't have to cook, or keep a cheery smile, or be frustrated because I just cant get down to doing something constructive or stimulating
Yes, what im saying is, i'm struggling too.

What I have discovered is that when I can name that gremlin out loud, talk about how i'm feeling that particular day because of my gremlin, its easier to just to manage for that day, and the next time it happens it becomes easier to deal with.

And yes, once we are diagnosed with a disease, we also go thru a mourning period, and this is where our gremlins love to raise their heads.

So this week I name my gremlin.....Depression.   Im going to learn to manage you.

Whatever thoughts you are choosing today, keep the ones that brings you peace, and release what brings you suffering.  Doing so you know that happiness is just a thought away

 What will you do today different from what you did yesterday that will help you to get closer to managing your life ? Are you going to read empowering books or network with people that will cheer you up ?

May you find encouragement in knowing, you are are not alone, all we need to learn is how to use the gifts God has given us to walk humbly with Him, joyfully..


Greetings and be blessed...

Learn to become grounded

A few days after writing my last blog, I received a monthly news letter from a Dr Dave Moseman, who lives in Minneapolis, he was diagnosed with a type of eye disease and can no longer practice, ...I enjoy his newsletters.  Anyway, after reading the latest one, 4 words really stood out for me, practically knocking me off my chair.   LEARN TO BECOME GROUNDED.

I want to share some excerpts with you...and highlighted words that really shout out to my inner being...

When we find ourselves stopped by a disability we become lost in the Wilderness. Yet we need to calm down and become aware of our surroundings.  Our surroundings nurturer us constantly, but in our busy lives it gets overshadowed.

While we are mourning for what we have lost, our dreams, our self-image, our identity, we need to be loved. Our impulse is to crawl into our shells and hide. Pulling back and taking a pause in our busy life plans is necessary, we also need to get in touch with what is our true essence.

There is a voice with us always. In our busy lives we rush to and fro and only listen to that voice that says do this and that. When we can no longer do this and that, we have the opportunity to listen to the quieter voices in our lives, the ones that come from our core.  Become silent and listen to Gods Spirit, His Voice speaking to our soul.

As we listen for the quiet core messages we find other things too. We discover that we are not alone. We feel things, too.
We find the caresses that abound. Those soothing caresses come in the gentle sound of rain, or wind in the trees. They come from the concerns of friends and family. Suddenly we find we are loved not for what we can do, but for ourselves.
If we relax and open up, we can feel the sun. If we but open our eyes we can see what is around us. The splendor of a cold winter’s day, the shimmering green or summer leaves. Life goes on in its rhythm of contraction and renewal.
With the onset of disability, we have entered a time of contraction. Like the World in winter we must hibernate and prepare for the renewal to follow.  In the winter snow we see tracks of animals scurrying about. Few are around to be seen.
Most animals birth their young in the spring. So too, we will be reborn when our spring comes.

When I entered my Winter of Disability, I got in touch with Spiritual things I had put aside for my career. I read and studied the book of Job. I read Herbert Kurshner’s book “On why Bad things happen to Good People”.
For me the message of Job was to let go and let God hear my pains, to let God respond to my pains. In those moments of surrender I felt caressed and not alone, I found opportunity and freedom.
When you find yourself stopped by disability, use it as an opportunity to return to your core, Pray, Journal, meditate. Become grounded in what you have walked away from in your formerly busy life.  Find who you have really been, consult family and friends, about who they think you are.  Start a new Chapter in your life

I ask you to reflect on these questions.

• When have you needed to pause and reflect?
• How have you been able to get back in touch with yourself?
• Share your brokenness with those you love and trust.

May you too be touched by these thoughts of Dr Moseman, if you know of someone needing encouragement in the disability they are facing...please share this.

Be blessed

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....