I truly am starting to believe that God wants me to be happy all the time. Not just some of the time, but all of the time. I understand that may sound really bizarre but if you could put yourself in my shoes you would see precisely what I am talking about.
It's as if he knows what is important to me, what makes me feel good, inspired, enlightened, uplifted and places those experiences/adventures before me. He makes them possible.
This weekend was supposed to be dismal weatherwise at best. It was to rain, storm, then rain some more and perhaps some hail thrown in for good measure.
My plan was to go to visit my co-adventurer Saturday and spend the day out on a lake fishing. Well, you can't fish if it's storming. We talked on the phone early that morning and decided I would still make the 75 mile trip and we would plan to do other things since the weather forecast was not looking so fantastic.
I swear not even 15 miles out of Duluth, the sky turned this pretty shade of peach and I could see the sun poking from behind the thick cloud cover. By the time I got to my friend's house the sun was shining and there was no rain in sight. We quickly packed the boat, drove to the lake and proceeded to have a miraculous day of fishing.
It's like He knows what I need then provides it. This past week at work I networked with some big names at my hospital and because of my new attitude of gratitude I will probably be in a new position within the next 3 months. None of that happens on accident. It happens because I am making changes in my life through allowing him to walk with me daily, and feeling gracious for all my daily blessings.
I think my attitude of gratitude not only helps me to recognize my daily blessings but seems to allow the blessings to pour over me on a very regular basis. In all honesty, it would have been okay if our fishing trip had been postponed, but thanks to some prayer, positive thinking and Him I not only got one day of fishing, but two as we went back again today!!
I am not sure I'll get the reference exactly right but I know that when Jesus was talking to the fishermen he told them they could fish that day and eat for that day or follow him and never go hungry or lack for anything. It is absolutely true, I lack for nothing thanks to Him and allowing his presence to be recognized in my daily life.
I am so blessed for a home, job, food on my table, a car, friends, family, clothing, my health....my entire life...good and bad for it makes me what I am today.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Awestruck
I am always pleased when things going on in my life somehow tie together with the sermon I hear at church on Sunday morning. Today was yet another one of those moments.
Yesterday while hiking out at Copper Falls - Wisconsin State Park I commented to my co-adventurer how I never grow tired of seeing the green of the pine needles, the smell of the woods, the roar of the waterfalls, the sheer memsmerizing beauty of all of nature.
Every single time I am out in nature, it is as if I am taking it all in for the very first time. Sometimes it makes me catch my breath. Or I'll get this lump in my throat because I know if I thought about it for one second more I'd probably be brought to tears. I am so taken by what God has created and allowed me to witness with a heightened awareness.
Today's sermon talked about how we don't always see Jesus but he is always around us. He is indeed! I saw him yesterday on the hiking trail...I felt him last night as I drove home and witnessed many, many deer who thankfully decided not to cross my car path....I hear him in the birds chirping, children's laughter and on and on.
It is very easy to have a blind spot in our life and not even realize it. I am so blessed my vision has been corrected. I realize I am not perfect, far, far from it. I am grateful though to have a higher sense of awareness about the things I once turned a "blind eye" to or didn't really care enough to notice.
It is easy to take the paved smooth path of least resistance. I choose the thorny, overgrown, sometimes woodtick laden path....because there is so much more to see there and so much more to experience and feel.
Open your eyes to everything...you will not be disappointed.
Yesterday while hiking out at Copper Falls - Wisconsin State Park I commented to my co-adventurer how I never grow tired of seeing the green of the pine needles, the smell of the woods, the roar of the waterfalls, the sheer memsmerizing beauty of all of nature.
Every single time I am out in nature, it is as if I am taking it all in for the very first time. Sometimes it makes me catch my breath. Or I'll get this lump in my throat because I know if I thought about it for one second more I'd probably be brought to tears. I am so taken by what God has created and allowed me to witness with a heightened awareness.
Today's sermon talked about how we don't always see Jesus but he is always around us. He is indeed! I saw him yesterday on the hiking trail...I felt him last night as I drove home and witnessed many, many deer who thankfully decided not to cross my car path....I hear him in the birds chirping, children's laughter and on and on.
It is very easy to have a blind spot in our life and not even realize it. I am so blessed my vision has been corrected. I realize I am not perfect, far, far from it. I am grateful though to have a higher sense of awareness about the things I once turned a "blind eye" to or didn't really care enough to notice.
It is easy to take the paved smooth path of least resistance. I choose the thorny, overgrown, sometimes woodtick laden path....because there is so much more to see there and so much more to experience and feel.
Open your eyes to everything...you will not be disappointed.
Friday, May 6, 2011
You'll Never Have This Moment Again
Today is a very brief window in our life, make the very most of what today is offering you.
If you feel like life has nothing to offer, you need to change your perception immediately. Every single moment should be SEIZED for the opportunity it presents you and SQUEEZED by you as if are sucking the very last whatever out of that moment.
Today while I was walking downtown I passed a shop that smelled divine. Literally the scent wafting out the door took me back to one of my favorite shops in Kalamazoo, MI called Terrapin. It has this earthy, patchouli scented something about it that spoke to me and made me nastalgic for that special place.
I could have kept walking and just thought about the store back in Michigan or I could have went in and embraced the moment.
I chose the second option. I walked through the front door with a huge smile on my face. I breathed in the intoxicating aromas and felt my soul and spirits lift. I don't have extra money to spend frivolously, however, I found a bumper sticker that made me laugh right out loud. I knew in an instant I just had to have it!
I SEIZED and SQUEEZED the moment. I immediately put the sticker on my car Sterling and it will continue to give me great joy in the months to come.
It may sound like a little thing, but embracing every opportunity before you opens your heart up to such immense joy. There are so many great people, places, sounds, just STUFF that is waiting out there for you to discover and make your very own.
I am no longer waiting for happiness or joy to find me. I am making my own joy....and am truly happy in my heart!!
Deepest Blessings!
If you feel like life has nothing to offer, you need to change your perception immediately. Every single moment should be SEIZED for the opportunity it presents you and SQUEEZED by you as if are sucking the very last whatever out of that moment.
Today while I was walking downtown I passed a shop that smelled divine. Literally the scent wafting out the door took me back to one of my favorite shops in Kalamazoo, MI called Terrapin. It has this earthy, patchouli scented something about it that spoke to me and made me nastalgic for that special place.
I could have kept walking and just thought about the store back in Michigan or I could have went in and embraced the moment.
I chose the second option. I walked through the front door with a huge smile on my face. I breathed in the intoxicating aromas and felt my soul and spirits lift. I don't have extra money to spend frivolously, however, I found a bumper sticker that made me laugh right out loud. I knew in an instant I just had to have it!
I SEIZED and SQUEEZED the moment. I immediately put the sticker on my car Sterling and it will continue to give me great joy in the months to come.
It may sound like a little thing, but embracing every opportunity before you opens your heart up to such immense joy. There are so many great people, places, sounds, just STUFF that is waiting out there for you to discover and make your very own.
I am no longer waiting for happiness or joy to find me. I am making my own joy....and am truly happy in my heart!!
Deepest Blessings!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Find Your Wings
“When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.” – Patrick Overton
I absolutely love this quotation and the feelings it invokes in me. For a very long time I never allowed myself to go to the "edge" of anything. It was safer and much more comfortable to stay with what I knew. I doubted myself and I had little belief in anything else being there for me should I aimlessly have wandered into the great unknown. I didn't trust me, and I had zero faith in anyone or anything else.
The beauty and joy I experience now is that I SEARCH for the EDGE. I am constantly pushing the limits of my comfortableness. When I say I am pushing the limits, I specifically mean I am trying to open my mind and heart and spirit to ALL the possibilities in life. I am seeing the world with brand new eyes and taking it all in and embracing the sheer magnitude of my daily existence.
What I like most is that every single time I have stepped out to the very outermost part of that scary ledge.....I have not been afraid. For in my heart I know I have the determination, perseverance, charisma and FAITH and I can do anything I set my mind to. Above all I have total faith that God is going before me and ensuring my footing on the path and will never let me falter.
I absolutely love this quotation and the feelings it invokes in me. For a very long time I never allowed myself to go to the "edge" of anything. It was safer and much more comfortable to stay with what I knew. I doubted myself and I had little belief in anything else being there for me should I aimlessly have wandered into the great unknown. I didn't trust me, and I had zero faith in anyone or anything else.
The beauty and joy I experience now is that I SEARCH for the EDGE. I am constantly pushing the limits of my comfortableness. When I say I am pushing the limits, I specifically mean I am trying to open my mind and heart and spirit to ALL the possibilities in life. I am seeing the world with brand new eyes and taking it all in and embracing the sheer magnitude of my daily existence.
What I like most is that every single time I have stepped out to the very outermost part of that scary ledge.....I have not been afraid. For in my heart I know I have the determination, perseverance, charisma and FAITH and I can do anything I set my mind to. Above all I have total faith that God is going before me and ensuring my footing on the path and will never let me falter.
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