Think About It

I enjoy taking pictures of nature and BC (before caregiving) I used to enjoy hiking. One of the things I liked so much about being out in the wilderness area was when nature would surprise me with a burst of color. It was always amazing to me how I'd be in the deep woods miles from anything, maybe even climbing a relatively rough terrain scattered with rocks and out of nowhere would pop up the daintiest little flowers. It always made me smile.

This morning when I was looking for some sort of picture to put here I had my choice between just 2 or 3 I'd taken from my small backyard. Then I had this thought, none of these flowers are there - not one of them exists today. It almost made me sad to think that they are just here for a short time and then they faded away. it can seem like our whole lives are that way at times.

Honestly, sometimes I feel really cheated by life. It can seem like I had several spots in my life where there were colorful bursts only to be denied my hopes and dreams. If I do not control my mind it can lead to depression and distress. I wonder if that is how Paul felt while he was sitting in prison writing Philippians 4:8. He told the believers to think about things that are:

true

honorable

just

pure 

lovely

of a good report

Well, I must admit, my mind wanders a bit from these kinds of thoughts. Okay, so it wanders a long ways away from these types of thoughts. Like the flowers, it can be there - and then gone. Paul is one who understood adversity - yet he instructs us to control our minds and keep them on good things. He had to understand how difficult that was sitting in his prison cell separated and isolated similar to us.

I first learned this verse as a little girl in Missionettes. It was along about the same time we were learning to embroider (because that's what girls were supposed to do). I was concentrating so hard because I found it a very difficult task, that I embroidered my hooped material to my skirt. Of course I didn't know it until I stood up! lol Such a fun memory now although I thought my world had ended that afternoon! 

Over the years I ended up teaching this scripture to my children and in a variety of church settings. And I have to say it still takes work - especially some days. But it is so worth it and makes our day and our attitude go so much better when we train our mind to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and of a good report.

Today I will purposefully keep my mind on things that are good. When my thoughts begin to wander and doubts try to take over I will crowd them out with honorable, pure thoughts. I will keep my mind on Him today with intention. Will you join me?

Practicing Thankfulness

It's funny how people who honestly don't know can think that because we are home all day things don't get busy or hectic for the caregiver! It's like they expect that since we are home all day we don't have a thing to do! lol! Ever heard that one?

 The truth is that it can go from slow to hectic in the matter of a couple of seconds! (..or less! lol!) Let one little thing on our daily schedule get out of sync and BAM! It's like the familiar picture of the dominoes once the chain reaction starts... and it only escalates from there...or is that a limited thing - does it only happen to me?

 Sometimes what makes my day so hectic is actually a blessing. That's when it's important to take time to be thankful for the blessing and not let the hectic scene have our attention...instead of complaining to God about all the things I need to get done before going to bed at night - I'm learning to stop and change my perspective into a thankfulness for the blessing.

 Psalms 100:4 says that giving thanks is exactly how we are to enter His gates...and Psalm 95:2 tells us to come before Him with thanksgiving...and Paul told the Philippians to make all your requests known to Him with thanksgiving. I am thinking that there should be no requests without some sort of giving of thanks...giving thanks prepares our heart for His next provision...so today - Let us simply give Him thanks!!