"Insert Title Here"

Ok, I can admit it...I am a big kid at heart! I absolutely LOVE watching cartoons - especially those that are aired on PBS Kids!!!! You should see me in the mornings as I prepare for work (comical), it is a must to change the channel from the morning news - after hearing the local weather - to watch "Arthur." I adore that aardvark and his little sister D.W.

Looking for my outfit while singing the theme song...."so I say hey, what a wonderful kind of day..."(admit it - some of you sang along with me, lol), I often rush back in the room from my closet to make sure I didn't miss seeing or hearing the title. Have you ever done that? Do you notice how the title of the show often prepares you for what you are about to see unfold in the story? If you missed the title, do you sit back and wonder what exactly the story is all about? What about in your personal life, have you missed the title of where you are and know the reason why you are currently there?

The busyness of life can often have you lose sight of where you are and why you have been placed there. Since DVR is not applicable to every day realities, take some time out today to find out what your title would be for this point in time. There is a time for everything and most of the time there is a lesson to be gleaned from the story - including yours. Once you have discovered where you are, "insert your title!"

For further reading, check out:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8;17

Chocolate Milk Anyone?

Grocery shopping with my nieces is one of the things I treasure of leisurely weekends. At ages three and six, they are so lively and see the best in everything. With their imagination a boring trip to the grocery store can turn into a catwalk down the frozen food aisle! They both know they have my heart strings and since I do not have kids of my own, they have the run of the house. LOL

Last Saturday was no exception – I’m sure you know it is a reason for the title. My two girls really noticed the tasty treats I placed in the cart. Needless to say the oohs and aahs ensued. They wanted to come over auntie’s house now for sure. With the “Nintendo Wii” and cookies – it is on!

The three year old decided she wanted to let me know just how much she liked the food I placed in the cart. When eggs went in, she said, “Ooh I like eggs.” Ice cream, “I like ice cream.” With grapes, “I like grapes.” By the time I came to the diary case and picked up the chocolate milk she wanted to make a bargain. She first wanted to see what type of chocolate milk I picked up to see how to approach the table. When she saw that I selected a small case with four bottles, she then slid in and dropped the hints, “I LOVE chocolate milk.” I begin to smile because I knew where it was going. She continued, “May I have one for grandma’s house?” Of course I said yes, but I told her you must remind me when I get to the house so you can take one with you.

Well would you know it, when we all arrived to my house later that evening, I begin place the bags on the kitchen counter and she waited until I placed everything in its proper place then she said, “Are you going to drink your chocolate milk now? I’ll share mines with you.” (She said mines, so cute!) So that day my little Kiah received two bottles of chocolate milk instead of just one, all because of how sweetly she reminded me not to forget my promise.

Since Thanksgiving is reflective on giving thanks and spending time with your loved ones, it is important to reflect on just how much you have given of yourself and how much more you can do. Not in selfishness, but out of love and wanting. Take the time this week to mediate on some of the promises you have made. Did you share your chocolate milk? If not, how can you change that?

If there is something you do to change the no into a yes, go for it! Don’t forget, cookies thrown in may help sweeten the deal.

Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

For further reading, check out:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

Psalm 119:9

Matthew 5:33-37

Lip Service...

Don’t you hate when you are having a conversation with someone whether on the phone or in person and they show you with their responses that they weren’t paying attention? This drives me crazy!!!! And my own mother does this to me on a regular basis when we are talking on the phone (ok mom give me a head start before you get me!). When she is watching her programs like: Press Your Luck, The Golden Girls, Seinfeld, or even Lingo, my mom half listens and her responses match the attention she is paying me. LOL, I often ask, “Mom are you listening.” She typically responds, “Oh yeah I heard you. “ We both know that isn’t true based on her answers sometimes. I could be talking about how cold it was outside and she’ll say something about she saw the dog down the street. Clearly we are two separate pages here.

Now usually I don’t take this to heart because it is my mom and she knows when I need her in reality. But all the same, sometimes if you just wanted that person to really be there at that moment when they are watching their favorite program or “zoned out” it can be a bit hurtful and you will walk away feeling neglected...so I ask you today, did you just provide lip service today? This lip service could be just saying a short prayer with no regard to what God wants to say back to you in return. Yelling at your kids or calling their names in the middle of a conversation. Half-listening to someone and applying the appropriate, uh-huhs and okays just to make it seem like you were fully attentive. Or what about visiting a website to play a game while at work and launch the decoy excel sheet to throw your boss off the non-working trail?

If you take a call today, are clocked in at the office, or doing another task that requires your full attention, focus on having your mouth and your heart all in. Be willing to listen and commit to the task at hand, because remember you will be on the receiving end at one time or another and you don’t want to feel like your needs aren’t being met. My challenge to you today is to review some of the things that that required your attention during the week and see how you handled it. You might be surprised of what you discover about yourself.

For further reading, check out:

Isaiah 29:13

Ephesians 6:6-8

Lights On or Off?

Friday I was reading an article online about something that really took me off guard. The Washington Post reported that since Highland Park, Michigan could no longer afford to pay the $4 million dollar electric bill due, the city officials opted to turn off a total of 1,000 streetlights – immediately. If this wasn’t bad enough, the directive didn’t just stop with the power being turned off. Oh no, the story continues. Not only did the lights shut down in this high crime ridden area, but city employees proceeded to rip out the poles, bulbs, wiring, and everything else that aided the system to provide light. So now when night falls, it is pitched black unless light flows from the neighborhood homes or one of the very few remaining streetlights standing at the end of the block. In lieu of this situation, I want to pose this question to you today, “is your day or life situations really that bad?”

In our cases, the darkness we allow into our lives doesn’t come from night fall or the lack of physical light sources in our neighborhood or homes. The darkness we experience often mirrors back as a reflection from within. How? With our personal attitudes, outlooks, and every day interactions (whether it is with close girlfriends, acquaintances, co-workers, or similar individuals). We dictate how our day will go and also exhibit our REAL attitudes with our reactions to situations that “pop up.” Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to give the impression that every day is bucket of sun drops and perfectly poised roses, because we all know differently. What I am saying is that making an effort to see and walk in the light instead of being grumpy and bitter in the darkness makes the difference in how others perceive you and also shifts your worst day into a good one.

So tell me, how have you responded today? Did you provide the latest gossip this week? Decide to gripe about your job, your weekend, your boyfriend, co-worker, or the like? Or did you actually have a positive and warm conversation? Did you turn on the lights or remain in darkness? This week become mindful of your heart attitude and thoughts throughout the day. Ladies, I mean really challenge yourselves to see only the best throughout the day, even if it feels like the day really sucks. Then come back and share your stories under this blog about what you have noticed during the week. I know you’re going to be surprised by how your week can turn around! “Let there be light!”

For further reading, check out:

John 3:19-21

Ephesians 4:29

Philippians 2:14

Philippians 4:8

The article can be found at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/unable-to-pay-4-million-electric-bill-michigan-city-turns-off-and-removes-many-streetlights/2011/11/03/gIQARqeCjM_story.html

Starting now?

Yesterday one of my best girlfriends and I were having one of our many marathon conversations - you know the kind that you just have so much to share and talk about it can last for hours! Well yesterday was that day for us and we talked about numerous things that we wanted to do and that should have been done and I thought wow how many other people are in this situation. We know our assignments or things that are on our plate to do, but we have yet to do them and in many cases to even start. So days, months, and years go by without having the consistency and stability of actually completing a task.

It’s just like this with one of my closets in my home, I think during the week I must clean this out because it looks like clothes just exploded in here. But by the time the weekend comes, I look at it and turn back around and shut the door. LOL, it’s just not going to happen! How often do you turn back around and shut the door on something that you are supposed to do?

We cannot stand back and look at others in envy and wonder why they have achieved a certain level of success or accomplishment in their lives and we haven’t embarked on our journey to take advantage of the opportunities we have been given. In life, we are all given the opportunities and chances, but it’s how we deal and prepare from them that makes things happen. As the scripture states, “faith without works is dead.” So put something into to action today! Take the challenge to sit down this week and reflect on things God has placed on your heart to do and see if you have met your goals. Whether it is in your spiritual walk, career, personal life, or all of the above, challenge yourself and see what God reveals to you. In the meantime, let me get back to getting the clutter out of my closet!


For further reading, check out:

* Ecclesiates 9:11

* James 2:14-26