Be Careful How You Think

I've posted here previously about negative thoughts and how they can be harmful to you.  No matter how many times I remind myself to stop with the negative thoughts and worry, they still seem to creep back up on me. 

Yesterday's Daily Hope with Rick Warren was about "Influential Thoughts" and how our thoughts influence our lives.  Despite all my Bible studies and absolute love of Proverbs, I somehow missed this little verse...

"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts".  Proverbs 4:23

Here's some snips from "Influential Thoughts" with some added insights from me...

"It's not what happens to me that matters as much as how I choose to see it." - This is certainly no joke.  With all the changes in my life, I find that I am much more at ease when I look at the changes as an opportunity rather a roadblock.  So I'm going through a divorce - well now I can do those things that I never got to do while I was married like go to the 9/12 March on Washington or the Restoring America Rally in DC.  Diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes? - Hey there's my excuse to start eating healthy and getting in daily exercise.  It's much healthier than stewing in your own bitter juices at the hand life has dealt you.

"Your beliefs influence your behavior" - If I believe that life is handing me a big old crap burger, then I'm gonna act like someone holding a big old crap burger.  If I believe that God is in control and nothing happens without a reason, then I am free to let go of the worry and focus on the positive.  It's much easier to laugh when you're not drowning in worry.

"You self-talk influences your self-esteem" - If there were physical signs from mentally "beating yourself up", I would be just one big old massive walking bruise.  I know that I am hypercritical of myself and a thousand times more critical than I would be to a friend.  I'm sure you've felt this before.  Why do we treat others better than we treat ourselves? We hurt ourselves worse than any living being could ever damage us.

Remember there are several tricks to stopping the negative chatter in your head - anything from yelling "shut up" to proclaiming "get thee behind me Satan" to popping yourself with a strategically placed rubber band to distract your thinking.  But I think that memorizing certain Bible verses is the best way to focus your thoughts - not only does it open your heart to God but it closes the door on Satan.  Reciting or reading the Bible is to Satan what water is to the Wicked Witch of the West.  It's just that we forget and let the flying monkeys take over our mind.

So find you a Bible verse that touches your heart and reminds you of how much God loves you. Post it everywhere and commit it to memory.  Let it be your Kevlar vest against Satan.

My Hut is on Fire!! - A Better Way to Look at Trials & Tribulations

I try my best to remain upbeat and remember that God has a plan for everything but dang - sometimes it is really hard to do.  With so much going on in my life right now, a friend sent this story to me.  It really hit me in the heart and I hope it does the same for you...

My Hut is on Fire!
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.  He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.  Every day he scanned the horizon for help but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.  One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky.  He felt the worst had happened and everything was lost.  He was stunned with disbelief, grief and anger.  He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!  It had come to rescue him.  "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.  "We saw your smoke signal", they replied.

The Moral of this Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.  Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground.  It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

My New Motto and The Thought For The Day

I came across this the other night and thought just how perfectly this latin phrase fit me at this stage in my life.  So here is the "Thought for the Day"...

De inimico no loquaris male, sed cogites.

Translated it means "Do not wish ill for your enemy, plan it".


DISCLAIMER - This is not an attempt to disparage or denigrate anyone. Nor is it a threat - implied or implicit - to anyone especially TheColdOne. Don't want anyone to get their panties in a wad.

Thought For The Day

Have a lot going on right now and finding time to blog is in short supply.  So I'm gonna fall back on a tried and true idea - post simple thoughts, quotes, bible verses for the day.  Here is today's installment...

"Integrity is like virginity.  Once you give it up, it's gone for good."  - Proverbs 11:3

I LOVE reading Proverbs - great insights and amazingly still pertinent in these times.

On a personal note - please keep me in your prayers. There are some significant and life-changing things going on right now that I really need guidance on and support for.  When I can share more about this, I will but for now please get those prayers flowing up.

May God Bless You!

A Funny To Start the Long Weekend... Why Women Over 50 Are Better

As one who is less than 12 months away from the big 5-0 and finding myself thrust back into the singles scene, I can truly appreciate this bit of funniness from Andy Rooney. Oh and the last line is now my new motto - especially after my own personal experience with TheColdOne and his "little sausage"...

A woman over 50 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 50 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 50 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 50.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 50 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest.. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 50 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 50, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow shorts making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?' Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

Have a safe and fun Independence Day and remember to thank a soldier for upholding all our freedoms!

A Cure for The Latest Pity Party

We all have "pity parties" from time to time especially when we are going through those life changing moments.  But this video reminds me of just how much I have to be grateful for and why I have no excuse for a pity party.

When Your Faith is Sagging...

Let's face it - no matter how hard we try there are times where our faith just seems to sag a bit.  It could be personal problems, financial issues, health issues, whatever.  The most important thing is to get yourself back on track quickly and don't let Satan get a toehold into your life.  You know he just loves to find that little chink in your armor and keep digging at it until there is enough room to wiggle through it and occupy a space in your heart.

One of the best ways to combat a faith crisis was a recommendation by Beth Moore (my favorite author).  She recommended to commit the following to memory and say it repeatedly especially when you feel that little tickle from temptation...

God is who He says He is

God can do what He says He can do

I am who God says I am

I can do all things through Christ

God's word is alive and active in me

Just 5 little lines but there is a lot of power in those few lines.  I wrote the words down on note cards and posted them in various places around my house where I would see them.  I also entered them into my blackberry in the notepad and saved it to my main screen so I can access it easily.  Whenever I am struggling - no matter what it is - I repeat the statements over and over and it really helps me regain my focus.  This was one of my "To Do's" during Lent and it really was a blessing since my uncle died and there were other family issues during that time.

Another thing that served as a reminder to me was a bracelet I bought last year.  It was a simple bracelet with the word "Believe" engraved all around it.  Whenever I started doubting myself or my faith, all I had to do was look down at my wrist and remember to "believe".  Don't go out and spend money for something especially now when money is tight.  You can get a purple ribbon (any color will do) or make one of those braided thread bracelets.  Whatever it takes to remind you that there is a higher purpose working in your life that loves you unconditionally.

God Bless You.