God's good gifts -- not just at Christmas

As I've struggled to feel "the Christmas spirit" this year, I've had to remind myself that God's good and perfect gifts -- to us and through us -- aren't limited to specific days on a calendar. That gives me so much hope. Great is God's love and faithfulness. 

These Scriptures and thoughts from Craig Denison's first15.org really helped me focus. 

 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

Every morning with God can be like Christmas morning. From the moment our eyes open we have an opportunity to know a love that surpasses any gift we've been given. From the time our feet hit the ground we can experience perfect, pleasing plans the Lord has laid before us. 

Every moment in our day is a chance to receive more and more grace, more and more love. Every encounter with a person is a chance to see God move and work through us and through them. Every task given us is a chance to experience the anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Even in trial and tribulations we are given an opportunity to experience a heavenly, eternal peace that transcends our circumstances. Even in pain and loss we are given a chance to experience the loving, compassionate heart of our Father that gets low with us and meets us where we are. 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Attitude of gratitude, one moment at a time

Grateful. Attitude of gratitude, one moment at a time. Played out at home, at work, at choir and then A 12-step meeting.  

One day at a time. Even in December. Even as many things on my list didn't get done today or this week. 

I am grateful for what occurred, and hopeful for what lies ahead. Grateful to God. 

And so it goes :)

Indeed!!! The saga of this year's #Healthy65 Challenge continues. 

I had tweaked my previous "That's the Spirit" post to meet a #Healthy65 newsroom blog deadline Friday.  But I finished a little later in the day than they expected, so mine won't run until at least Monday. And, amazingly, I am OK with that. Here was the update, subject to more revisions!!

Who knew?

Who knew it would be so easy? All I had to do was set a goal. 

And suddenly I had two days with a positive attitude, without complaining, whining or negativity (aside from some morning sounds that may have seemed like moans or groans as I was stretching before and as I got out of bed). 

My #Healthy65 Challenge/goal is to abstain from complaining and whining at least two days a week for 65 days.

After accomplishing that in the first two days of the first week, I realized I could break into negativity again for a while if I wanted to. But I didn’t want to. I really would like this more positive attitude to become a habit. 

Now, it’s Friday, and I’m on my fifth day of what to me seems a noticeably better attitude. 

What is different? Clearly, one thing is the awareness. Another is the motivation: I want to achieve my goal. A third thing likely is simply that it's new. 

Oh, and there’s this: I have a plan. Instead of whining and pointing out the negative when things go wrong, my plan is to say something positive or say nothing at all. On Monday and Tuesday, and many times since, when typically I would have whined or complained, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed – at home, at work and along the way.

I am amazed. This feels much more peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep it up. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

The Healthy 65 Challenge is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the year. This year, we started Monday and will end Feb. 2. It’s an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went  beyond  the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant chewing of gum.  I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there.

That gives me hope that this year’s challenge also might bring about lasting change. These first few days notwithstanding, I don't think it will be easy. It will take some one-day/moment-at-time trust in God that I've never been able to sustain. I'm just glad that, for today, it seems possible.

Who knew?

Who knew it would be so easy? All I had to do was set a goal. 

And suddenly I had two days with a positive attitude, without complaining, whining or negativity (aside from some morning sounds that may have seemed like moans or groans as I was stretching before and as I got out of bed). 

My #Healthy65 Challenge/goal is to abstain from complaining and whining at least two days a week for 65 days.

After accomplishing that in the first two days of the first week, I realized I could break into negativity again for a while if I wanted to. But I didn’t want to. I really would like this more positive attitude to become a habit. 

What is different? Clearly, one thing is the awareness. Another is the motivation: I want to achieve my goal. A third thing likely is simply that it's new. 

Oh, and there’s this: I have a plan. Instead of whining and pointing out the negative when things go wrong, my plan is to say something positive or say nothing at all. On Monday and Tuesday, when typically I would have whined or complained, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed – at home, at work and along the way.

I am amazed. This feels much more peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep it up. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

The Healthy 65 Challenge is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the year. This year, we started Monday and will end Feb. 2. It’s an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went  beyond  the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant chewing of gum.  I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there.

That gives me hope that this year’s challenge also might bring about lasting change. These first few days notwithstanding, I don't think it will be easy. It will take some one-day/moment-at-time trust in God that I've never been able to sustain. I'm just glad that, for today, it seems possible.

Gratitude and Thanks-living

I really wanted to end November with a long gratitude list. So, I'm starting a post once again, for the time stamp. 

But maybe it isn't even necessary to write a blog post. What was that concept I liked so much in past years? Thanks-living. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to write it out. I, with help from my husband, have been doing more to put living first, in an attitude of gratitude and actions of love and compassion. 

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
—Lamentations 3:22–26

A positively #Healthy65 start

Today, I started my latest Healthy 65 Challenge. This is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the next year. This time, it actually will end Ground Hog Day, Feb 2. It's an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went beyond the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant gum consumption. I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there. (It just occurred to me that Julianna says one thing she likes about 65 days is that it should be long enough to establish a new habit. But for me and my gum chewing, I'm very aware that reduced gum-chewing did not become a habit for me, and if I didn't keep daily track, I'm pretty sure I'd quickly be back to the super excessive amount. Seems crazy but I know it's true.)

Anyway, I wasn't sure I would participate this year. I couldn't think of a worthy physical challenge I wanted to take on.  But then a healthy behavior came to mind. So my #Healthy65 Challenge is to abstain from complaining. I want to quit whining and pointing out the negative. I want to say something positive or say nothing at all. And I want to somehow do this without denying or stuffing my feelings. 

Between Wednesday, when I came up with my goal, and Sunday, I was having second thoughts and even took comfort in knowing I didn't have to be perfect. If my goal is just one or two days a week, it wouldn't even have to be the first day. But of course, I did want a strong start. So I figured I might as well try.  

And now it's 9:45 pm, and I have succeeded so far. It seems every time I normally would have complained or whined, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed. After all, it is Monday, and I work a full-time job. Anyone who knows me knows what I am talking about. 

I am amazed. It felt very peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep this up. I really liked the result today. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

Purging the system

On Monday, I'm starting a 65-day challenge in which I hope to abstain from complaining. I want to quit whining and pointing out the negative. I want to say something positive or say nothing at all. And I want to somehow do this without denying or stuffing my feelings. 

The minimum challenge is to do this at least two days each week during this 65-day period. Now I'm wondering if a goal of one day per week is more realistic. But since I attempt to approach all goals with a progress-not-perfection attitude, I'll go ahead and strive for two -- even as I also hope to achieve more!!!

I had hoped to use the time since I came up with this challenge Wednesday to purge some of the negativity I know I have in me. Here it is Sunday and I still haven't. Will I now??

Weather -- I hate cold conditions, and even more when it's icy or snowy. 

Cantata -- I love our church choir director (who happened to mention this in his own blog),  and the first three cantatas by Pepper Choplin were amazing. But I just cannot get into this one. Still trying. Hopefully. Writing this will keep me from voicing frustration. 

Hair -- I have reasons for wanting to let it grow. I have no clues how to style it. 

What to wear -- neverending anxiety for some unexplainable reason. 

Work -- too few people to do what's expected, and now some of those are off, trying to use the rest of their vacation before year's end. 

Christmas -- expectations vs. reality.

Balance -- marriage, other relationships, work, personal boundaries. 

Of course, the better approach than trying to get out all of the negativity is to start now with focusing on the positive instead. Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude. As I've written before, even when I complain, I usually come around to gratitude. But sometimes the damage is already done, whether that be fouling someone else's mood or just wasting time. 

Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey.