As I am cleaning house and tending to my patio garden this morning, today’s post hit me. Why? I was thinking how much time it takes to take care of just ME & my 1 bedroom apartment, while working full time. Then I thought back to when I was raising my girls,working full time (and many times) extra side jobs, wondering How did I do all this? We went places and did things, I cleaned, cooked, shared some Love and even had a husband (or man) in the mix. And ladies we all know Men need attention. I even went out dancing at least twice a month & made it a point to go walking at least every other day 3-5 miles! The thought of  going out dancing and coming in late sounds impossible now on top of a 40 hr work week. I even looked back just a few years ago at how I was working 2 jobs and caregiving for my parents, wondering How did I do that? Cause now working a 40 hr week, cleaning, cooking, & sharing the love with family and friends while trying to fit in a few activities seems to be A lot.  And I don’t have a husband now to clean up after. Yet Still here I am, the day quickly ticking by, oh so quickly, and I am wondering how I am going to fit in getting just ” My ” stuff done to keep my home and myself cared for ?

I definitely want to say; working Moms, “single Dads”, and Wives remember to give yourselves a pat on the back during this season of your life. I am Not saying it is not hard work if you are a stay at home Mom or wife because that is a full time job in and of itself. And that is the Point…taking care of the home, family, extended family, and Yourself is a lot of work! So to add in the full time job just amazes me how God provides just the right amount of energy and tenacity to get it all done.

All that said I gotta sign off now and get back to my list of stuff to get done. LOL  As I am working along I will be praying for Everyone to remember How amazing God is and YOU are as you do all the things you need to do throughout each day. I pray each family grows to appreciate one another and in that appreciation everyone pitches in so not one carries more load than another in the household. And I ask, Please pray for me that I gain a little more of that energy from days gone by, cause I really want to fit back in at least 30 mins a day of exercise. Something I know boosts your metabolism and gives you energy…not to mention better health. But, dog where do I fit that in? Cause I am tired at the end of the day after work & then do all the stuff that needs done before I hit the hay.  I did it before and I just have to remember how I did that! LOL Please feel free to comment back with any tips on how to accomplish adding in this one more thing. smile  Cause I refuse to accept, in this later season of life, that I can’t do some tweeks to my time management and fit in this one more very positive thing.  Wish me luck and I will be praying for all of you too cause I can’t imagine that some of you don’t need some energy prayers too!

Hugs and Have a Blessed Day!

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. In the day to day, do you notice who these contributors are?

Today is a day, we the working people, celebrate our hard work and our contribution to our society. This is something many of us don’t really think about or honor much. This day is a Really important day to be Honored and Celebrated. We need to heighten our senses in what each and every job provides in our communities & show some Love to our fellow workers on this day. Be sure to at least say “Thank You” to those who serve you in their job. And in your job, “be that best that you can be” and an appreciation harvest will come your way too. (love that saying, “Be the best that you can BE”) Did you know there are 71 verses in the bible about working? http://www.openbible.info/topics/hard_work    A few of my fav are?  Genesis 2: 16 ” The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Proverbs 16:3 ” Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. ” Proverbs 6: 6-8 “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest ”  Galatians 6:9 ” And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ”  James 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”

Notice in my 1st verse choice it is clear God created us to take care of ( work ) planet Earth and keep it… care for it, live with & on it which takes work. All things take Care and Work, even Faith or they will be Dead. (in some form and fashion if not literally) Yes, it is due to our work & the work of our neighbors we have food, water, cars, TV’s, fun places to go, music, Relationships (yes, relationships…good ones take working Love to stay alive), & my list can go on and on and 0n. Ponder that.

I close with these areas of service, I believe we definitely need to give more Thanks and appreciation to:

The Cleaning industry…janitors & maids. Trash Pick up. Truck/airlines/buses/ trains/ Delivery Drivers, CNA’s at our hospitals and I know that list goes on but for now Just think on these and be surprised at the awareness it will open within you. How would your neighborhood be without  the Trash Pick Up?  Yuck ! And now think about doing that job, smelling the trash, literally picking it up at times the truck can’t all day long. Keep an eye out for your trash pick up and take them a batch of nice smelling cookies or bagels or something & say Thank You. Janitors and Maids: Just imagine if no-one came and cleaned your place of employment or the hotel you stayed in this weekend…  again Yuck & without the wonderful maids job you would be “working” on your vacation hmmmm, think about how important that job of Labor is, I don’t want to clean bathrooms and change beds for everyone on my vacation. ..so Tip the Maid ! Maybe get her a massage gift card cause their bodies have got to ache at the end of the day. The Transportation/Delivery World: Boy! when I think of this one I can see how Our life existence could come to a halt without these Jobs! Just think – our Food, medicines, office supplies, gasoline to the gas station so we can drive our cars to work, computer deliveries/repairs, transportation workers that take many working people to their jobs! Do you ever consider bringing a little gift to the bus driver or tip the airline steward…they are serving you drinks after all.  Or stop in a truck stop and by a trucker a meal or just walk up to the trucker/ and say THANK YOU! CNA’s at our hospitals – Boy what a job that is…bathing people, cleaning up throw up, you get my drift. When caring for my parents the last year of their lives I really came to know what a Blessing these jobs of service provide and what Angels the CNA’s can BE. What a job for such low pay and so many are doing that job with a smile. We definitely need to THANK them any chance we get. Here are some ideas: get with out local hospitals and nursing homes and do appreciation days for the CNA’s or gift cards. We acknowledge the Nurses a lot but, the CNA gets left behind a bit to often. It’s great to focus on the patients but, we need to honor and give Kudos to the staff who are caring for those patients. What a great idea just struck me…Take a little time (like 2 hrs) on Labor Day & go lend a hand to the service workers, cause these jobs don’t get the day off.  Visit a patient, pick up the room while you visit, or take the patient outside for some air. This helps the CNA more than you realize, it keeps the patient busy and off their buzzer ringing for the CNA to come do this and that.  Don’t have time to spare, take a gift that will aid in the service worker getting a bit of fun and relaxation on Labor. Like a basket of goodies for the break room or have Starbucks coffee and tea with bagels delivered on each shift. (bet if you approach Starbucks they might even give a discount to the cause)  There is another worker that we need to show more Love, the customer service workers at our Restaurants/Fast Food, Stores, Drs. office front desk and phone reps…again not such high paid jobs typically but, where would our communities be without their “working” at their job?  Wouldn’t hurt to give a gift card to them sometimes too and at least acknowledge them when we are in front of them. Say something pleasant, Put your Phone down!, stop complaining they aren’t friendly (do you pay attention to how many people are rude to these positions?) Instead of complaining, Be nice and you will be surprised at what kind Words & thankfulness can do to a persons energy when interacting with you.

So, there ya have it…. My employer CHMB has a ” You are a Star” appreciation entry to show appreciation to our fellow employees for work they do that affects our daily job. This Thank you entry put that person in a Raffle drawing & then staff person not only gets an email letting them know they are appreciated and why…they have potential to win a prize. So, let’s follow that lead and get out there & show some ” Your are Appreciated” Thankfulness on Labor Day to those working neighbors who serve you providing many of your needs.  Think about it…if this caught on, no matter what the job is, we would likely All end up with someone showing appreciation in every job out there (including yours) smile. We would all be more encouraged and I can say with confidence there would be a lot more smiles and work would be less stressful.

Yikes the heat has arrived. Hopefully, it is not long lived but, while it is here I thought it a good time to share some tips on Keeping Cool. Relax by the pool and read a book…not your laptop which generates heat but a nice book. Another good thing about books: you don’t have to worry about them getting wet, so don’t take your fav…just take a good paperback.

By Noon: Keep the blinds and curtains closed, you can reduce the heat by 45%!  Not using your AC, here is a desert tip: When the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, hang a damp sheet in an open window. Incoming breezes are cooled by the evaporating water. Put a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan & have a seat … ahhhhh refreshing. I personally love this one: Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and when the going gets hot, give yourself a good squirt. This is a great one to take down by the pool, to the lake, or to the beach too.  Put a wet wash cloth in the freezer, once cold put it on the back of your neck…WoW does that cool your body down. Let your computer take a nap. Set it to go into low-power “sleep” mode if you are away from it for more than 10 minutes and it will give off less heat. When you’re finished for the day, shut the machine down completely. Despite what some IT guy may have told you years ago, properly shutting down and restarting modern-day computers won’t put undue strain on the hardware.

Eat lightly and Swig often: To replace the moisture that you lose as you perspire, be sure to drink. As you lose water to dehydration, your body temperature rises, so replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine, or lots of sugar, which are dehydrating. If you know you are going out in the heat, put a bottle of water in the freezer half full the night before, then you can keep cold water with you for your outing the next day.  “Also opt for hydrating foods,” says Deena Kastor, a marathon runner and an Olympic bronze medalist. “Try a smoothie for lunch, and add more fruits and vegetables to all your meals. Watermelon has the greatest water content of any food out there.”

Oh, and if you are a plant and/or pet lover, don’t hibernate indoors forgetting to keep your plates/pets hydrated too.

Well, that’s it for me, I have to go load my little lunch bag with my frozen water and some cold plums so I can go enjoy some good music in the park.  Have a great day!

While “We” may have to accept the things we cannot change, it does not mean “things can’t change and Don’t change”, including people. As Jesus said in Matt.19:24-27, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When His disciples heard it, astonished they asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ Jesus responded saying, “With men this is impossible, but with God All things are possible.”   So, see All can be saved.

Now, the questions are; ” Do you believe Jesus words” with God ALL things are Possible” ? Or because you have tried and tried to change a person or hoped they would change and haven’t yet, do you believe the statement,  “we have to accept the things we cannot change”? More and more I hear ” it is what it is and that is just how they are, there is no changing them, you just have to accept the things you cannot change.”  I have caught myself saying & feeling that way too. Which is really kinda crazy for me, as I KNOW a person can change. I AM a person who God changed. How many of you have you formed opinions, cast stones, and walked away? Here are a few other questions; ” Have there ever been times in life that you made wrong choices or lived a lifestyle that was not “acceptable” as far as society goes?” What were you doing as a teens and/or in your early 20’s – maybe even older? If you were anything like me, I REALLY made some Bad choices. On that note, let me stop and give some praise. ” I Praise God there were those that Believed “with God All things are possible”! And that didn’t give up on me and maintained hope that Love heals and changes even the impossible things of man. I am so Grateful that even when many in the world saw me as an outcast, He kept His promises just as revealed in this verse. Jeremiah 30:17  “I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion(renee), for whom no one cares!’  And trust me there were plenty who voiced that ” for whom no one cares”..ok,let’s get back on track and tell you why am I on this today?  I was having a conversation in which judgment has been made on a young woman based on the choices she has made over the last 7 plus years of her life. Granted many of those choices were very sad for her and down right hurtful to those around her. Especially her little boy, who being a Loving child loves her anyway. Praise God. Now in her mid 20’s it appears “maybe” she is trying to make some new choices that can have the potential to bear “good things”. Problem is, her bad choices have such a presence, that all many can see are the weeds in her inner and outer garden and since it is an Ugly garden the response seems to be; “she is to far gone, she will not change, so accept it and Leave her Alone.”  (leave Her Alone, an awful route to take when dealing with a troubled young person). The belief is she is up to something and her motives could not possibly be she is trying to change for the better. Track history has made it’s judgment and is standing firm….No chance that ” with God change is possible.”  This conversation & the fact I just finished reading the book, “The Shack” well it really struck a cord. (in the shack God brings to the key persons attention how everyday we are busy passing judgment on others & More than we even realize this puts us in bondage and those we interact with.) What’s really awful, God opened my eyes that I stand guilty of this myself where she is concerned. In past discussions about this young woman, I too passed judgment and took the attitude, accept that she will Not change leave her Alone. OUCH!! she is so much like I was. Today I come with a sad heart that I took that route. And a glad heart that I was strongly reminded of how I of all people,  know better. That “By Experience” I Know Change, even when a person is at their worst, is Possible. As a teen and woman in my 20’s, I was a total “screw up” , a lying, cheating, drug addicted, hard hearted angry young woman. Again , I must give Praise that God stepped in with His Angels and those He hand picked to show me some Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness and it was in ALL that “Love” the transformation of both my inner and outer garden Did transform. And Praise God He is still sending His Love thru this young woman, so I can see the new kinds of weeds popping up in my inner  garden. Ones of judgment, which were part of the damage in the first place in my teens & for years just kept burying me deeper in a hole. Oh My, God; I almost became the judgmental holier than thou person that created the angry young Me. While overall I AM as my name means, “Reborn” in Him, I am making much better choices in many areas, I do have ears to hear and eyes to see, and am SOOOOO Grateful for it All. But, look! just like that, I almost got bound up in the oh so painful damaging views and attitudes of “Judgment” instead of showing His Love…like the so much Love He has given to me. Oh, I am so thankful for all those who Chose to Trust In His Promises, who Believed “with Him all things are possible”, who prayed for me and allowed Him to show them The Way to deal with me… I am so grateful they Listened to what & how He was telling them to Love me and give me Grace, Forgiveness, Mercy, and Comfort. For 3 days now it has been brought  to my remembrance, We must never forget the many circumstances that create the angry & hurtful person that we are passing judgment on. And that it is thru New circumstances wrapped in LOVE that change can heal that person too, just like it did you. So, today I pray for those of us that have gotten caught in fear, pain, and/or the holier than thou attitude. Know these are Not a good choices either. Remember why and who helped you make it thru & show that Love & Be that person. Don’t let Self righteousness, fear or hurt take you on a journey where you forget where “you” came from, how “You” got there, & that you too have not always been perfect either….Keep in mind His words, As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one – Romans 3:10.  It is amazing to me how & who the Holy Spirit used to reveal a bad road I was taking and stopped me so I don’t continue to cast my stones. Wow, in this moment God brings this verse to mind:   John 8:7  “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone .” 

I see how easy it is to still (at 60 years old)  “get a little to big for my britches”, how we tend to have momentary lapses of where we came from or how it felt when we were the one “cast out”. And how instead of throwing stones we need to be more like my BFF, our Brother, Jesus & instead Be as He is LOVE.. ” showing His Love just as He has showed us so much Love…even when He surely could have justifiably cast stones”  I see how easy it is for words like we have to accept the thing “we” can’t change to mislead us if we aren’t careful. True “We” may not be able to change someone or even some things But, “with God “‘s help and guidance “all things are possible” (even what appears to be impossible) On that note, without mentioning names, I sign off today asking for prayer for ” the young lady” of whom I speak of in this post. Pray that God brings all the right people and Angels to Love & aid in the transformation of her inner garden. Her little boy needs that, her family needs that…SHE Needs that.  Pray for all those who were hurt by her, cause right now they All really need some healing and they need to remember to Trust that “ with God all things are possible”.  I mean, Really, Wouldn’t it be awesome to once again watch Love and all it’s attributes, prevail and  bear a good harvest?

Love and Peace to all.

1st let’s address what is Light?  It is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; illumination; a form of electromagnetic radiant energy; a brightness; something having little weight.  These definitions manifest in various forms. As always I like to reveal some verses describing the meaning of the Words I share. In reference to LIGHT in His Word I find these are most appropriate for todays post. Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light  1 John 1:5 says, “God is Light; in Him there is no darkness”  Ephes 5:14 “for it is Light that makes everything visible “….. As always it is to your benefit to read the verses surrounding my choices…in doing so Much more Light will be revealed. Smile

2nd let’s literally look at some benefits of Light? Both physically and spiritually. 1.) the LIght of the sun/ SON boosts Serotonin..read that again then read the verses again. Both do Literally boosts and enhance your Mood. Researchers from the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne found that levels of serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, sleep, memory, and mood—are lower during the winter than the summer. ( it has also been proven those who spend time in the Word sleep better and have a better attitude about life. Ask anyone who reads or listens to even 10 mins a day of His Word) The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University conducted a study proving Stress and Pain are reduced with Daily Sunlight. They found that patients who were placed in bright rooms reported less perceived stress and took less medication per hour than patients in dim rooms. This study also suggests that even indirect exposure to sunlight (i.e. through a window) can improve one’s mood & lesson their pain.  Now back to the LIGHT of the SON, Yeshua, it has also been proven the Light of His Word lessons Stress and Pain. How? Yeshua’s walk of Love itself brings Light to the darkness within which in turn makes your burdens “have less weight” (becoming Light). A brighter Attitude lessens the pains both within and without. I am happy to testify both Spiritually and Physically of the “natural” healing of the Light of His Love and His Word. Check out my little book, “Somewhere in Between” and it will reveal the benefits of His Light in my times of darkness. And here is a site with a great testimony of a woman in New York with painful tumors on the nerves of her feet who decided to seek the Light of the SON’s healing Love in place of surgery : http://www.rdohealingministry.org/testimonials/   These testimonies reveal the Truth in the verse of John 1:4 “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His Life brought light to everyone.”  However, like Everything Else, both the sun and the SON should Be Enjoyed in Moderation. Excessiveness with either destroys the benefits of the Light.  You say, “what? Moderation of the SON?”  Yes, Yeshua and His Word taken to excessiveness no longer edifies, no longer operates in the benefits of it’s Light & Love but, instead becomes the Bondage of the distortion of Man (taking the Word out of context) closing the door on His Light & once again creating darkness both within and without here on Earth. If you read further in Genesis you will see how in God’s creation there is both Darkness and Light and both do serve a purpose in the operations of His Universe. In the moderation of darkness there is a time of Rest.  Plus, in His creation & in the discoveries of Science it is made clear we Can’t have one without the other! There is a positive and negative energy flow within ALL life and one needs the other to perform at there optimum strength. It is in moderation and time spent in both the darkness and the Light, all things Grow and burst forth into the Light producing a good harvest. smile  Darkness is like Weeds it can choke you out or serve a purpose. In our outer gardens it is proven weeds have their good side. Under controlled circumstances, a number of beneficial weeds can greatly benefit our gardens. They hold top-soil, pull up water and nutrients, provide food, help control insects and more. In our inner gardens the weeds of Life situations can either bury us in the darkness OR under “controlled circumstances” those weed situations can make us strong as we work our way Thru pulling them out that we to might provide an abundant harvest amoung those we Love. Example: Grieving the loss of someone/something, this weed can be beneficial as we go thru a releasing process.. Or allowing ourselves to embrace the blues and goThru them that we might become aware of what we need to weed out so that the good seed within might burst forth and enjoy the Light of Love to its fullest. Do you see the importance of moderation?  It is not healthy to clear cut the garden leaving no support in His grand design. Can you see how both Science and His Word operate as One? Only mankind divides the two and all to often take things to excess avoiding & destroying that which can and Will make us stronger. It is not “natural” to live Life hidden in the darkness or in to much light. It was Not God’s intention in the Beginning & it still isn’t.

Read Genesis 1: 1-31 for the full picture of how Science (nature) and His Word work together as One. Right off the bat it reveals how Light and Darkness are necessary. The Creation of the World : ” In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God (Love)was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night…..”  Clearly if darkness was to be totally eliminated He would have wiped it out “in the beginning”.  You see how Light was necessary to balance the extremes of Darkness? in the extreme, darkness creates a lack of growth, chaos, despair, & ultimately death. Yet in moderation: The earth, including mankind, still enjoy some of the benefits of its infancy in creation. In God’s creation, nature and it’s storms, rain, and darkness purify the earth. And check out this scientific article reveals how Darkness benefits our health  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117447  As this reveals it turns out we need darkness to make our immune systems work. Scientists have now discovered that only when it’s really dark can your body produce the hormone called melatonin. Melatonin fights diseases, including breast and prostate cancer.  Do you see HOW SMART GOD IS? He created a Natural healing in His original design of earth. At the same time notice how scientists are just getting it. LOL  This isn’t new news…it was revealed ‘in he beginning”…. Boy can Man be slow on the uptake – hard headed is what I always say. Don’t get me wrong, at times I am one who is double hard headed!! Praise God I can also testify, as I go thru my seasons I continually grow, finally get it, and do have my times I too burst forth in His Light bringing a good message which reaps good harvest. (just as He promised.) So, today I give thanks to Science and the sharing of knowledge by our scientists & at the same time I give heartfelt thanks to Jesus (Yeshua) who continually guides me in The Way to operate in both the darkness and the Light that I might gain the best of both. I sign off saying this: Whether we want to admit it or Not, the Truth is; God is the Master Gardner & Master Scientist who created the Light and IS the Light in which both darkness and Light manifest the Best of all things right here on this ole Earth.

Now having gained some Light from the Word of the SON, it’s time I head out by the pool and get the beneficial Vitamin D gained from the Light of the Planet, Sun. May you all enjoy the sharing of these words and may your day be filled with….

Peace and Love!

” Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” And keep in mind,  2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ ( In Love ) , he is a new creature:          old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Love and care for the gift He has created…YOU !

So how do we become new? Here are a few tips to get you started.

1.) Begin your day in Gratefulness. Take the 1st 10 mins and Pray or read some form of HIs Word..which means words of       Love and encouragement..uplifting edifying Words…not negative thoughts. Check out the little book ” Jesus Calling”

2.) Tell yourself ” Today is a new day, I WILL rejoice and be Glad in it”  – maybe read a segment of “As a Man Thinketh”

3.) Have “something” for breakfast. and that doesn’t mean just a cup of coffee..whether you are a breakfast eater of not – Your BODY & MIND need the nourishment to start your day and carry you till lunch. Try a shake or toast w/jam & peanut butter.

4.) Take at least a 30 min. Lunch! Step away from your work! Meditate and Pray while you eat,Take a walk, read a good book.

5.) When you clock out from work…leave it ! It will still be there tomorrow to consume your mind.

6.) Listen to some good music while you create a healthy dinner. (Before 8 pm)

7.) Cleanse your body, brush your teeth, then nourish your body with some relaxing lotion or oil before you go to bed

8.) Gear down with relaxing music or a funny sit com so you go to sleep with “good things” on your mind.

9.) Trouble getting to sleep try some relaxing tea or Emergen Zzzzzz in your water.

10.) Don’t forget to have a chat with Jesus before you retire..unloading your burdens will aid in a good rest.

If you can chat online daily, text, watch TV, & talk on the phone “Daily” ..You CAN Love and Care for yourself Daily..just put the Phone down & stop talking! You will be amazed at the extra time you have for yourself..

Said in Much love to myself, my friends, and my neighbors. Hugs.

Today I come to discuss Stress. Allowing the cares of Life to deplete us of LIFE – to suck us dry. Our spirit and bodies respond to an overload of things of the world. Of not enough time with God in His Love, of not enough Love of self, and a lack of Love shared with thy neighbor. Getting caught up in the world alone lends to: Headaches, tension from the neck down, sinus troubles (which run all thru your body), tummy upsets, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on…ultimately leading to life threating diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, studies are revealing stress is a major player even with cancer. We were not designed/created to function Alone. Our bodies require Love and care as it is with all things on Earth; plants, pets, cars, homes, the earth, lakes, oceans, and so on and so on…Think about it a house sits empty for years..it rots & ultimately falls apart, the garden left unattended will be consumed by weeds, choked out & die Unless, caught in time to be restored.

It is the same with our minds and bodies; without Renewal and Rest we will be consumed by the stressors (weeds of life) choked out and yes we too can die before our time. So I say take heed of the words in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ”  What is the perfect will of God?  Walking with Him in the way of Love..not only toward Him and others but, of yourself. Because How can you love and serve others if you yourself are falling apart?

All this said, that brings me to the ” Dancin’ thru Life”. A dear friend was saying how stressed she was & how by mid week a pain was running from the base of her head, down her neck and arm..she thought she was having a heart attack..but, No…it is stress from life’s overload. She & I are criminals of biting off more than we can chew which leads to ignoring the screams of our own spirit and body. We aren’t big on yoga, going to the gym, and such but, instead prefer time away from it all to Rest and Restore. While talking we both commented on how we have strayed away from caring for our own selves. How we need to become more Active and not just sit at a computer all day. (Our day is consumed by working on a computer) We chatted about a couple of things and went on back to work. My friends face did not look like our discussion struck any cords. For me, it got the wheels turning. One thing I have learned in life is when I clock out of work…I am OFF. I literally tell myself, You are OFF.. It is now My Time. My time to do things for me, for those I love, and to care for the blessings of “things” given to me by God, such as my patio garden. My consciousness still caught in our conversation made me aware of things I do to Relax and Renew that I take for granted. Like turning on music while I putz around the house and cook my dinner. All the while, dancing, whirling, and twirling around, which most of the time, creates some really good laughs at myself too. That same day another friend posted a video of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers & I proceeded to try to dance along…talk about a WORK OUT! & a boat load of laughs as I stumble stepped along. Then I decided to find a dance video online..so if you really want to engage in some fun dance exercise check this out:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRqMnMdMv3s   Once dinner was completed I sat myself down to renew my mind in His Word & share my day with my BFF Yeshua. You see Jesus is not only my BFF, He is family, has a great listening ear and as I always say,” He is on time all the time” revealing the Light of Life in His Word. He reminds me of how to keep my armour on so the weeds of the world don’t choke me out. Last but, not least I have learned to do some body maintenance before I retire: wash the grime of the day off in a nice hot bath or shower then oil up with some relaxing Lavender. And If the day has been extra stressful I indulge in some Sleepy time tea or add a half packet of Emergen zzzzzz to a 6 oz glass of water 1/2 hr before I retire. Then top off the day with more music..only this time it is meditative music..sounds of nature or waves and off I go for my 6 – 7 hrs of sleep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5OcA_0VZq8

Oh and I almost forgot.. Don’t you forget to step away and Take at least a 30 min. Lunch..Here is a great site for guided meditations to listen to at lunch. http://www.fragrantheart.com/cms/free-audio-meditations. It sure does help to take some deep breaths and let my mind rest as listen to some uplifting words of encouragement. Yep, these are some of the ways to keep yourself in His Light of Life while constantly growing in His Love.

Take care and I pray you enjoy the Dance(s) of Life.

Today, I have two things I would like share..at first I thought them totally different topics & how would I share them both without writing two separate posts…I was torn by the 2. I was thinking ” what to do..what to do? ”  Then I hear this still small voice say, ” It is the Sabbath, come to me. ”  What do ya say to that but, ” Ok. ”  As I sat down & spent some time in the reading of His Word, it was revealed to me how the 2 were not so different and they Can become One. (as are all things)

On FB, I posted a picture of myself on my B’day. I commented how I needed to exercise my face. This thought continued on into…”more than my face ” . How I need to practice what I preach and tend to my whole body too! So there’s Topic #1.  The other was revealed in Romans 3. The Words written in this chapter are talkin’ bout the Law & Works. Whether the Law is of non effect or do you, in your walking by Faith, by nature operate in the “works” of the law?

Lo and behold, my double chin and walking in the Faith of the law called me to “work” it out to find out!  And my research began…this is how the 2 became One. I pulled up the verse in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ” Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body “    What does this speak to you?

To me it says, to walk with God ” in t-His house” I must have a some respect & be One with the rules of “His” house.  Let me wander a moment & testify: I can not lie, His Way is the Best Way — try it — you will see…it will feel like a roller coaster in the beginning…a Wild Ride. In one breath you experience the emotion, “Life is Fun” and my hair is blowin’ in the breeze…But then,  “sometimes”, Life will still take you for a walk down Misery Lane. Never fear, listen as you walk – these time He has something to show you…you will see how that mess becomes a message. Have Faith and Believe the words of Luke 12: 22 s “ I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, or what you will put on…..”                Notice what it does Not say, ” no worries just keep trippin’ along and as in days of Old, I will rain down every need down from the heavens”.. (As you know He can do that, but, that would not be to your edification)…it Says, “don’t be anxious about “things” in your life…? Think about when you are anxious and out of sorts…what do you do?  All too many of us              ” comfort eat ! ” (not sure who came up with that..ultimately most of us don’t end up feeling “comforted”  Can’t you see, without the law of moderation, where do you think you will end up? I can tell you – with me on Double Chin Lane. Smile

So, on that note: how can anyone say the “law” no longer applies. It takes Faith to work in the righteousness of the Law. Faith is required in both times of Old and Now in this Moment.. so, to have Faith is ” doing ” something. You are Not just be a “duh whatever” person. To develop & grow in His character Striving & Driven to Be All that is within us – To Be All that we can Be will take some “work” & obedience. Which implies there is some fashion of Law, wouldn’t you say?  Without the Law there is nothing to be Obedient to. And Without the Law Life itself runs amuck & things fall apart even buildings…slowly but surely “Becoming” a hot mess & it Does take Work to Revive a hot mess. Read the Bible, there is story after story of mankind living without the law and/or distorting the law to their own liking…which only results in “lawlessness” which equals ‘a hot mess”. As Romans 3:31 says, ” Do we then make Void the law through faith? Certainly Not, yea we establish the law ”  How do we do this? by Living “in this house” by the laws of our Faith. So you see, In this area of my body, I’ve gone astray.             I can not have this!! I am at the beginning of my journey into my “Golden Years”.

It is ” My Time” to Shine…my time to Live Life.. it’s my time for ” ME + JC “.     

OK I am almost finished as this post as it has given rest to my anxious mind. I thank You Lord for bringing 2 into One by the remembrance that ” I am not my own ” that the Spirit of You is in Me, we are One..so therefore, I am to glorify God in my body,” by taking care of what God gave me. To do this, I must be obedient in the “how to’s” found ” in the book”..that work when you work them.”

For me that means a workout ! Both without and within.

As we all know, it starts at the top…so, I’m off to exercise my Face to my favorite gospel song ” It’s My Time”  then back it up with Kelly Price song, “It’s My Time” so I can work it on down…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmBQOfKep3U          Wanna join me? Check out this website:  http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/544896/5-anti-ageing-facial-exercises-you-can-try-at-home.html & the night time recommended reading of Romans 3 & 4.       Shalom !

Today we celebrate our country, our independence & we should.  We are blessed with many Freedoms and Choices in our Daily walk of Life. Including the right to choose to follow Yeshua (Jesus) in The Way of God’s Plan in this Kingdom here on Earth. A way guiding us to have ” Life, Love, Joy ” on Earth as it is in Heaven.  The Way taught thru “Word(s)” & how they Create or Destroy. In this is revealed the Power within The Word(s). In words The Way to ” Oneness” with God and oneness with one another is revealed.. Unfortunately, many seem to have forgotten exactly what the foundation of America is. What we were founded on & that those foundations were strongly formed from the Foundations of God’s Word(s), which were revealed for ALL mankind that they might have Life, Joy, Mercy, and the Compassion found in Love. In truth, this country was founded on the new commandment given by Jesus in John 13:34 which is: ” that ye Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also Love one another”

Proof  of this is found in President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address stating the goal of The Way Life in America …..          Abraham Lincoln’s carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, was one of the greatest and most influential statements of national purpose. In just over two minutes, Lincoln reiterated the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence^[5] and proclaimed the Civil War as a struggle for the preservation of the Union sundered by the secession crisis,^[6] with “a new birth of freedom“^[7] that would bring true equality to ALL of its citizens.^[8] Lincoln also redefined the Civil War as a struggle not just for the Union, but also for the principle of human equality.^[5]Beginning with the now-iconic phrase “Four score and seven years ago”—referring to the Declaration of Independence, written at the start of the American Revolution in 1776—Lincoln examined the founding principles of the United States in the context of the Civil War, and memorialized the sacrifices of those who gave their lives at Gettysburg and extolled virtues for the listeners (and the nation) to ensure the survival of America’s representative democracy, that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

And further proof of the Way of Life for America is in the Declaration of Independence. Something I believe we could ALL stand to read over again now in 2015 – because from what I am seeing we are loosing site of What we are celebrating, of what this country is founded on and choosing instead to walk away from the Light of Life and Freedom these speak of and instead are going backward into the darkness of the dark ages to be led by greed, selfishness, & division – in other words  class separation, spiritual separation, and racism once again looming on the horizon. Time after time it has been proven…      “ a House divided can Not stand “  When will mankind learn?  It seems so clear when you read these 2 writings “if followed” we would be headed down the right track… Are we closing of our eyes and ears to be once again buried in the lies and bondage of slavery…and I am speaking of slavery on all levels for ALL people. Both literally and spiritually. So in this time of celebration of our God Blessed country, I believe it would serve us all well to read and embrace the Word(s) America was/is founded in. Below is a segment of the Declaration of Independence we are all celebrating…in it remember this is for ” all of God’s children” who choose to walk in the Love of human equality.  At the bottom of the page are sites with both the full Gettysburg Address and Declaration of Independence. Both well worth reading.

” We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…..

I for believe in His Word and believe it would be Greatly to America’s advantage to Read and Proclaim these well written and said speeches of our leaders ” in the beginnings” of the creation of the USA. Only this time…I say we LIVE it – don’t just say it.  From all I read the goal of the “new America” was the Love of the new commandment given by Jesus and what abundant harvest that Love would bring { if LIVED }  to ALL those sharing that Love and what it produces….in other words as stated in Haggai 2:9 – ” The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Yes, if we LIVE our daily lives in Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of Happiness (which is truly only found in Love) we would have Peace in America which we Love.

Have a Happy 4th of July and may it be filled with Love and the fruit thereof abound.

Full Declaration of Independence:  http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Gettysburg Address – it’s short so I decided I should end with this:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

Chatting with a friend today, we were saying how we would like to learn Tai Chi.  This got me thinking about the benefits of this age old practice. Behind this came the words of some “fundamental believers” who think arts such as this shouldn’t be practiced. This lead me to days post in the hopes it will bring the “truth to light”  And as always, my mission is to reveal how the Word & practices of old are still relevant today. What is Tai Chi ? Tai Chi : a type of martial art very well known for its defense techniques and health benefits. In today’s world this art has developed into an effective means of alleviating stress and anxiety – a form of ‘meditation in motion’ which promotes serenity and inner peace. Let’s break it down a bit further:       Chi is energy – the life giving, vital energy that unites body, mind and spirit. Chi has been likened to the yogic concept of prana and may also be thought of as Life Force. In the Word where does ” Life ” come from:  John 14 Yeshua says:                “I am the way and the truth and the Life”.  in this statement He is saying His Way of Life is The Way to Life. The fact that Yeshua interacted with All mankind as He traveled and He Did Meditate tells me He would have experienced various means of mind/body meditations in His lifetime. Tai Chi takes concentration to perform which is a form of Meditation as well as it’s added benefits of defense and toning & keeping the body fit. Still questioning Yeshua Meditating or participating in things to care for the body?  Check out Phil 4: 8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things ”  That said, Tai Chi is a pure & “true”  art form for the body and mind. The fruit of it proves this fact. As it says in Matthew: “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.”  In this verse,  I pray my point has been made clear:  Don’t knock it till you try it..the practice of Tai Chi is a bearer of Good Fruit which uplifts and edifies the Mind & the Body. Try it and see for yourself. Over 50 ?  this is a Great art for you. I have a DVD and have used it enough to know, It works you that is for sure but, with grace and ease not the rough & tough no pain no gain method . So today, I give Thanks for my conversation with my friend & invite all reading this post to join me as I break out my DVD and begin the practice of Tai Chi. Here’s a site where you can purchase a DVD’ for beginners/seniors – it even has a clip to watch.  http://www.taichiforseniorsvideo.com/gclid=CjwKEAjwtr6sBRDv7uzB492H9XISJADj6aqbY6gsAmHB4cs1k0PT_JCUxjth82XZUrrKJXefRF-9nhoCyrnw_wcB

Or you can try out this good 3 minute starter with my fav Tai Chi Master David Carradine…        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txnGD4rI2J0    This one is Fabulous for those who work on computers all day              You can do this one on your 10 minute break !

Keep an eye out in the fall….I am thinking once I get a good habit going we could meet at the beach and have our very own Tai Chi gathering. Smile   As we go forward in the week remember:  Col.1:10 – ” walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”   I have full confidence this practice is walking in a manner worthy of my Lord, Yeshua.  It is an art that bears good fruit for this body God created, relieves pain, opens and clears the mind, brings peace & Joy that I might “feel like” Praising Him each and everyday.

Ok…gotta go get started with David Carradine & look for his/my Tai Chi DVD that I know is somewhere in my Stuff !

Shalom