A Slice of Joy on the Side

What have you created for yourself today? I believe we create our own days despite our circumstances, not that circumstances create our day. I know there are difficult situations... death, sickness, financial upheaval, emotional distress and other earth shattering events that catapult your whole life into a place where there seems to be only darkness. I don't mean to make light of these situations; my admonition however is that even in the most difficult of situations.. we have to find our slice of joy in the midst of turmoil.

I've found quite often that people, on the outside looking in, believe nothing bothers me. That could not be further from the truth. A lot of things bother me... stress at work, a demanding job, worrying about money... many things. But I have learned and continue to re-learn that many of the things I worry about I have no ability to control. Since I can't control them, why exactly should I worrying about them?

The Bible says, that the Most High is well aware of what we need (Matthew 6). We make things so difficult and we say we are believers. Sometimes, finding joy is living like we believe and allowing the Most High to handle those things that we cannot handle. Sometimes, when I find myself overwhelmed, I walk away from what is causing me stress and just begin to talk to God about them. Like he is standing there in front of me and hearing everything I have to say. In my life, I believe he is... and when I am done... I thank him for the things that are going right.... the blessings I do have... This puts things into perspective and allows me to find that slice of joy on the side of a trying day.

I challenge you to develop an attitude of gratefulness so that you may find Your slice of joy. A little perspective goes a long way in being a better you! It takes the mind off of circumstances that can make us temporarily happy, into the eternal realm of God ordained gratefulness that gives our lives joy.

Disappoinment... An Appointment with Purpose

Whenever I find myself with a broken heart, it causes me to take inventory of a few things. 1. What were my real motives for my actions? 2. Had my expectations been voiced? 3. Were those expectations realistic? 4. Was I acting according to my true character and my God given purpose?

We all hate to deal with disappointment. It causes some of us to completely fall off the course and head into spirals of destructive behavior. Some of us lash out and try to take it out on others. No matter how we deal with disappointment, it is going to happen. Some disappointments inconvenience you.. still others cause your very foundations and beliefs to be questioned.

How do you deal with your disappointments? I am introspective in disappointments because I believe the pain I feel should teach me something. Not only about the character of the person who has disappointed me, but also about myself. It is also my sincere belief that disappointment is the fire of the kiln in the potter's house. The outside force that causes our impurities to come to surface, such as impure motives, poor communication, disillusionment and being off purpose. I believe some get a wide road to travel, but I have found that God does not deal with me in that way, that is not the nature of our relationship. HE is quick to show me just when I have traveled too off course, and many times disappointment is the sting that brings me back to the center of the road.

I challenge you to see your disappointments in a new light. Not as a punishment, but more as a divine appointment with the Supreme Life Coach to help you achieve your purpose. See the hurt as a chance to see where you need growth or healing. Let your disappointment teach you about you.

The Bitter With the Sweet

Since the first of November, I've been calling November 2008, "Sweet November". I was receiving all kinds of beautiful news that made my heart fill with joy for my friends and for the direction of my life. I am not ashamed to say that I am wary of extreme emotions. In fact, that level of excitement about life is something I do with caution, because I am accustomed to disappointment. Whenever too many good things happen at one time, I often look for the hammer to come... the other shoe to drop.

As I grow older, I realize that life has it's ups and downs. I've also learned that no period of down lasts too long and even in times where things are not going according to my plan, I can find things to smile about. I can find a song to sing to bring back the sunshine. So I am learning, even in the midst of "Sweet November" to enjoy my highs with childlike abandon and to learn that sometimes, there is some bitter mixed in with your sweet. Basic lesson huh? I know that on an intellectual level, but I realized that emotional I am consistently unprepared for life's upsets while I'm enjoying my sweet.

Today, I gave myself permission to continue to enjoy my sweet, even though disappointment nearly derailed my happy party. I am fully invested in a life of joy that surpasses temporary set backs. I realize how hesitant I've been to fully invest in joy because of my fear of sorrow. I want a better life than that for me. I am wearied of worrying about what will happen next and when the next disappointment will hit me. I commit to enjoying my sweet.

The Bit Characters

You know.. how in a movie, you see your hero/heroine and their immediate surroundings? The characters you are introduced to are there purely as plot points and you only see the other characters as they are needed to push the story along. When their part in the movie is over, that's their last scene, and those people go to the SAG office to find a new job. I was pondering this idea because I watch mostly the same movies over and over and I find myself saying (to myself of course) "Oh, that's her/his last scene" The director has the sense to know when that person's part in the story is over.

Do you know when a person's part in your story is over? So often we suffer in relationships because we are trying to keep track of the "bit characters" people who's part in our plot are over. This can show up in the form of unforgiveness... when we hold grudges for past wrongs and don't allow forgiveness or healing to come into our lives. That person has moved on.. remarried.. started a new life or in some cases died, yet we still carry the stain of the hurt they caused into our current lives, blocking the greatness that could be happening now over the pain that happened then.

We need to look at the credits in our lives... take a look at the cast of characters we allow to affect our plot and make some casting changes. Some characters really need to be cut off.

Know when to let go.