Practice what you preach...

The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice

                                  we give to others.

                                                Author Unknown

Wow, it's been a while since I posted anything. Just want to tell you it has really been an interesting and fun filled month! To start, our sweet new grand daughter arrived. Aria Jordan is beautiful and healthy. We now have five grand daughters, from 17 years old to newborn! All of them precious and unique!

Secondly, I did something a bit crazy. I had been sharing with you and many other people about the things I had been practicing that had changed my life in a great way. Those things being, spending specific time alone with God, reading, having extreme gratitude, meditating, praying, affirmations, loving myself and exercising. Well in that, I began to receive little remarks or even looks from some who seemed to think I had lost it. Lost what? My sanity, my salvation, my mind? I don’t know, maybe all of the above.

Why did I care? I don’t know, why do we care what others think? Most of us say we don’t care, but deep down on some mysterious level........we do! So as I thought about the doubt and unbelief of others (my first mistake) I decided I needed to do an experiment.

(experiment= an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law)

Wow, that is exactly what I intended to do.....prove to myself and others that what I was doing was truly working in my life. So I interrupted my daily routine, cold turkey you might say. I stopped meditating and saying my affirmations completely. I didn’t stop excercising completely, but I began skipping days at the gym. I still talked to God and acknowledged His presence, but my daily appointment with Him was out. I tried not to be grateful everyday and that was difficult.

So I had my “controlled conditions” and proceeded for 2 and a half weeks in this experiment. Things began to go down hill from day one! I immediately began to see changes in my attitude and my life! I was impatient, especially with myself. Fear and doubt came over me in the most insignificant circumstances! I started focusing on the lack....the lack of finances, time, understanding. So of course all of those things began to grow and expand into complete problems. (What we focus on, what we worship we become.)

It all went from bad to worse in a very short period of time. What took me months to perfect and create as a good habit, took only days to come crashing down around my feet! It was an amazing thing and my experiment was a success! All the wonderful things I had been sharing that would enhance and make your life better, really worked and I proved it. Practice what you preach is a great “phrase” to prove to yourself.

I have to be honest and tell you, it has been somewhat difficult to resume my daily rituals. But I’m confident that soon they will again be second nature for me. Being aware, being present is a concept I am continually learning and want to master, if that is possible. That begins with what I do everyday. The daily habits that I have shared with you and others will change your life. We are all different and our daily rituals will also be different. But God is within each one of us and His intense love for us leads, as we ask Him for direction. We have not because we ask not, so ask.

We don't ever need others to tell us how "bad" we are...

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns.”

George Eliot

It’s October.....fall...autumn...turning of the leaves...cooler weather...however you describe this time of year, October is one of my favorite months. It is a great time of the year to stop and think about how this year has turned out so far and evaluate where you are. How are you feeling? Have you seen some of your goals manifest, do you see positive changes, or are things as they were a year ago?

We can help ourselves walk in our truth, when we can gently assess where we are today. Not beating ourselves up or in judgement, but looking into the mirror of life and being honest with ourselves. Harsh judgement in our own life can be a debilitating position, but so can lack of honesty. We don’t ever need others to tell us how "bad" we are, unfortunately most of us can do that quite well. But I am here to tell you that can change...truly...it is a matter of learning how much God loves you and learning how to love yourself! An affirmation that has helped me learn this is, “I am made in God’s image and I love Him and me!” I say that everyday, several times a day.

We want to see ourselves as God sees us, through unconditional love, mercy and grace. When we are honest, through love, we can begin to deter the self sabotage that most of us have allowed to stop us in our divine purpose. We have the power within ourselves to make a choice to love ourselves. No one else can do that for us, and I can tell you it is life changing.

Two major things I have learned and have applied to my own life in the last year...

1. to have extreme gratitude daily

2. to love myself

If you practice these two things and make them a part of your life, your life will change in a very positive way. I promise!

You can experience enormous changes in your life...

The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.

Charles R. Swindoll

What we think and what we believe is what we create in life. Someone said, “Everything hinges on how we think, and how we think determines how we act.” Living in the moment, being truly aware of what you are allowing your mind to focus on is critical to creating the life you desire. This is what living life on purpose means, instead of letting life (circumstances, other people, your finances) determine how you live your life! The scriptures say in Proverbs, “as a man thinketh, so is he...” This is not new, this is from the Source of all life, our Father God instructing us about our thought life thousands of years ago.

God has always spoken about the battle that happens in our minds, and has also shared the path for us to follow, which is transforming our minds. The Apostle Paul said, “...brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is kind and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]”.

Our thoughts and what we focus on we become. It’s like taking care of your body - you have to exercise, eat good nutritious food, get plenty of rest … everyday. Not once or twice a week, but constantly nurturing your temple! “Taking every thought captive” is an every moment, everyday exercise. It is being mindful of the thoughts you entertain, you reject, and you ultimately believe. You can experience enormous changes in your life, just by becoming aware of your thoughts. You can choose to stop the negative and replace them with the positive. You can expel thoughts of  fear that sabotage you and create thoughts of love that restore you. Walking away from a need to control, to judge, to be bitter, to be angry. And also avoiding the strife of manipulation.

I have an insatiable desire to move forward and create a new life! A life in which God is leading and I am merely discerning His direction minute by minute. Beginning with the way I think and changing those thoughts that do not keep me in line with my Creator! That desire is for a life of bliss! A life of love! A life of gratitude!

I needed to focus on getting healthy...

A closer walk with God means

narrowing the gap between our thoughts and God’s thoughts.

Marianne Williamson

So as I continued on my journey toward healing, I was confronted with many issues I had been denying and ignoring. I had to take a realistic look at myself in the mirror and what I saw was not the image God had created me to be. But a wounded, unhappy, unhealthy soul looked back at me. A woman who had once known great joy and peace, had become lifeless and empty. My eyes were no longer bright, reflecting the enthusiasm they once did, but dim and obscure. I saw before me a broken woman who was in need of a serious transformation....spirit, soul and body.

So in January of 2011, while attending a local women’s business group, I was encouraged to set some goals. Since I really did want to take my life back, I decided to make my little list. Being one who didn’t like setting goals and making resolutions, I did write them all down in a nice new  journal, but quickly tucked them away far from sight. By March I was desperately ready for change and knew it was time. I dug out my journal of goals and began to ask God to help me do the right thing; as I knew it was not going to be an easy task.

I began by making several appointments I had put off, you know the dreaded mammogram, pap and doctor visits. The boobs and pap were fine but as I had expected the lab reports were not so fine. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and “headed for a stroke or heart attack” the doctor said. I had also gained 25 ugly pounds in those 2 years of sad denial and that alone was upsetting. But add all of it up and that was a great recipe for depression!

I knew the changes would have to begin right away and they would have to be lifestyle changes, not quick fixes. I had been on several diets the last three decades and had lost hundreds of pounds, but had never kept it off. I decided this time would have to be different. This time I needed to focus on getting healthy, not dieting.

I also knew in order to get healthy I would have to treat the “whole” me...spirit, soul and body. The first things I did were simple enough. I quit all fast food (no more drive-throughs), I gave up my whipped cream covered Mocha Frappachinos, I joined a local ladies gym, and I found a great psychotherapist. Yes, a psychotherapist. I realized my mind and emotions would have to be healed in order for me to accomplish all the goals I had intended to reach.

The things I did next were not so simple. I recognized the need to return to God with a new intimacy. It was sort of a “mending” of my relationship with Him. I felt He had abandoned me in some ways, but at the same time I felt the presence of His Spirit always within me. So the complexity of it all began to surface. I never doubted His love for me, but I did question the purpose of all the pain He had allowed.

I read, studied and prayed. Then read, studied and prayed some more. I studied about our thoughts and how are minds work. I had always believed “what we worship, we become”... but I had drifted away from practicing all the great things I had preached. I started to be aware again of the way I was thinking and what I was saying. I also began to meditate daily and write my own affirmations. I remembered things I had known before the foundation of the earth.

God requires so little of us yet wants us to surrender everything. He wants the best for us, and for us to prosper and be in health. His plans for us are for peace and to give us hope.

Love is more than a word or a feeling...

I gave in and admitted God was God.

C.S. Lewis

I love God so much and thank Him daily for His grace. I would not be where I am today without it and without the revelation He gave me about how much He loves all of us!

Love is not a doctrine, a teaching or a fleeting “move” the church seems to go through periodically. Love is God, God is Love! Love is committment, love is compassion, love is more than a word or a feeling. Love can never truly be defined! But when you know how much you are loved by God...it is life changing.

And all you have to do is look around, become aware of everything around you to realize how much love is flowing and available to us! We are only a decision away from living there...in that love.  It only takes a moment to decide what we want to focus on today...love or fear?

“We love you God and we choose right now to focus on your love and the love all around us! Thank you God for your grace and the revelation of your intense love for us. Amen and so be it!”

The truth will eventually manifest...

“Death is not the greatest loss in life.

The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”

Norman Cousins

September 2009 was a death of what I had known and loved for over 25 years. It was a loss of deep relationships, friendships, dreams, and of a lifestyle. Death brings sorrow no matter the extent of the loss. Grief affects all of us in very different ways. How do you deal with grief?

I cried for awhile. I wept. I wept deeply. Then I stepped into denial mode and decided to become super woman and stop crying. Unfortunately my mantra back then was “get over it”. So that strong willed control freak inside me, rose up and decided to ignore all my feelings of pain, anger, loss, hurt and weakness. I took revenge on the circumstance that had tripped me up by starting a counseling business. An “I’ll show you” attitude overtook my sanity I think! I justified my decision of course, with, I’m called to encourage and help people. This will help me get through my “stuff”!! You know, the ‘if you need healing pray for someone else’s healing’ theory. Can I just tell you, that theory doesn’t work when you are overwhelmed with grief and feelings of betrayal.

I look back now and say to myself...“What were you thinking?” I wasn’t! I was doing! And doing, and doing anything I could to not think. Not think about the pain, anger, loss, hurt and weakness. And yes, even the hate I was feeling! I remember one day breaking down in anguish (which was something I rarely did). I called a friend and when she said hello I began to weep. The cry came from a deep place inside me. I didn’t even recognize myself. But as soon as I said the word hate and expressed that I was feeling that...that “word” that no one was supposed to feel, or at least you weren’t ever supposed to admit it! As soon as I said it out loud I felt a burden lift off of me that was tangible and quite amazing.

So needless to say I told my few clients I was counseling, I was going to take a break and take care of some of my own issues. I realized at that point how I had covered up all my true feelings and had denied their existence all together. When that happens we cannot move forward, we are stuck and no matter what we “say”…the truth will eventually manifest in some crazy way to get our attention.

God is so loving and faithful even when we are not. When we let God out of that box we have created for Him and out of the four walls of the church building, He will show us things far above what we can dare to think or even imagine. All we have to do is become aware of God’s power, His Spirit and His love. He will do the rest!

I pray you will begin to recognize all the small and large miracles God has for you everyday. Begin to stop and say Thanks...you will be so amazed with the results.

From stress to bliss...

Bliss...supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment; the joy of heaven; paradise; a cause of great joy or happiness.

Blissful...full of joy and felicity; happy in the highest degree.

I love words. I love this word. Bliss. Utter joy! Doesn’t that definition just do something inside you when you read it? Blissful thinking is attainable and it is attainable now! That is one of the reasons I decided to create this blog. I want to share with women that we can have the life we desire, and that life begins with our thinking! Most of us believe “thoughts are things” - so what things do you want to create in your life? Good things, great things, supernatural things? At this point in my life I’m going for supernatural things!

I hope to share with you tools I have found and applied in my life that have helped me change my thoughts from fear to love, from confusion to awareness, from stress to bliss......yes bliss!

Another reason I decided to create a blog was because I have a dear friend, Vanessa, who has an incredible blog. And every time I go and read her blog, I am inspired and leave there thinking ... “I would love to inspire, build up, nurture and encourage women online.” So there you go....hope I can touch at least one life through this!

I’m 55 years old, married for 38 years, have 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, and 4 wonderful granddaughters....and another on the way! Been through all the trials and tribulations that women go through. The good, the bad and the ugly!

The last few years have been an incredible  journey of self-discovery and purpose finding. After serving as a minister in 2 Christian churches for over 25 years, it ended overnight! Unfortunately, everything that I had considered my “identity” was gone. Where does that leave a person? What does that do to a middle-aged woman’s self-esteem? Well, for one thing I gained a whopping 25 pounds, on top of an already overweight, unhealthy body. Life has a way of doing things we don’t understand and at times we are usually not ready for. As God being the Source of all life, let me rephrase that...GOD has a way of doing things we don’t understand and at times we are usually not ready for!

This journey included many days of unforgiveness, depression, sorrow, bitterness and yes......even hate.