Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #13

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

Much of yesterday here in St. Louis on into the late night hours there was a lot of water being dumped down on us, especially last night. At one point yesterday evening the rain was coming down so heavily it was as if dump trucks of water were being simultaneously emptied from the sky; the impact of the rain was so loud. For those of you that live here, did you suffer any loss…flooding…damage? If not, then this is another opportunity for you to not take for granted that when it rains heavily you won’t suffer loss. In no way am I wanting to you become more conscious of all the things that could go wrong in life. My hope is to encourage you to be more thankful for the blessings that surround you on a daily basis. Depending on what part of the world you live in, rain is just a norm. Sometimes we get more rain than usual and we just go on about our way when we find it’s all over and we still have all our belongings intact. If you did suffer some damage or loss due to the heavy rain I hope that provision will be granted you for whatever your needs may now be. However, you are reading this so that means you still have your life. That’s never a guarantee. Remember the story of the mom with her 2 kids being swept away in a house during a Texas flood in May 2015, while her husband had to helplessly witness it? We experience blessings every single day of our lives. Regardless of everything you see negative and the things you may lack, there is an undeniable fact that things could be so much worst. So, this is day 13 of finding ways to be thankful on purpose. How is your heart doing?

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #12

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

Mental stability. As you prepared or you are yet preparing for your day what is your frame of mind? Are you panicking about anything? Are you experiencing overwhelming fear about leaving your home? What about fear of what could happen when you get in your car to drive? Experiencing any overwhelming fear of losing your job or not being able to make ends meet? When you get in social settings do you feel socially paralyzed? Do all of these fears and feelings seem ridiculous to you? If so, don’t think it’s so ridiculous but be grateful that you’ve been blessed with a mind that is not overcome by the anxieties that many suffer on a daily basis. The medical profession has a hard time trying to decipher this thing that tends to mentally cripple so many people. When I was growing up, outside of my immediate family no one knew that I suffered greatly with eating in social settings. There was never the thought of seeking any professional help but it was very real for me. The medical environment lumps this under Social Anxiety Disorders. It was as if I was paralyzed whenever I went in a restaurant or at any gathering where there was food involved. I could not eat in front of people. And if I was out at a restaurant I tried my best to get the seat where my back faced others in the restaurant. One time it was so bad that I went to a banquet with family and seemingly had no appetite until I got home and wanted the chicken my mom had taken off my plate and wrapped up. I can laugh at that now but that was a very hard time for me. Even now, unrelated to food, at times I have somewhat of a challenge just being in settings where I don’t know anyone. But it’s never been in a way that causes me to be overwhelmed (how else could I have gone on a 7 day cruise 2 years in a row all by myself. J) With all that I can say I’ve never been in a mental state where it affected my heart rate or my ability to physically function. For many this is a very, VERY serious issue.

If you do not suffer with any anxiety or other mental disorders be overly grateful to God for the stability of your mind. Don’t take it for granted. And if you are suffering with this condition I’m going to do something for you I haven’t done in the past 11 days on this journey of purposeful thankfulness. Will you allow me to pray with you? Just repeat this: Dear God, you know the challenges that I have faced and I’m asking You in this moment to please have mercy on me. I confess right now according to II Timothy 1:7 that You have given me a mind that is calm, well-balanced, disciplined and under control. To You I surrender my life and anything in my life that is keeping me from seeing the manifestation of this freedom in my life right now. Help me God to surrender my thoughts right now regarding what all this means to surrender my life to You and just trust You. I’ve tried everything so here I am in faith speaking these words to You. I ask that You please honor my faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen. If you’ve sincerely prayed all that in faith hold on to it and talk to someone you trust and have seen live their life on this faith. And if you are taking any medication by all means go back to your doctor before you just decide to stop taking anything. BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE get around Godly, faith-filled people and know for yourself what God is speaking to you. Remain thankful and have a blessed day.

 

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #11

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

If you’ve never lived in the country or elsewhere, you probably have no experience with having to search for wood for a wood burning stove so that you could prepare food. And more than likely you’ve never had to experience keeping food packed on ice or rubbing down raw meats with salt to keep them preserved. My mother was raised a country girl and it’s quite fascinating to hear some of the things they had to do to preserve and prepare food. And though it sounds fascinating, in my world it would not be so fascinating to have to do any of those things. I’ve become too accustomed to the conveniences of gas and electric stoves and a refrigerator. Can you imagine being without either of these things? Imagine the financial strain over time of having no choice but to eat out at restaurants (unless you’re incredibly wealthy). Recently, I had 2 coworkers who were getting their kitchens remodeled; one of them I know resorted to using the barbeque pit to prepare food (thank goodness it was during the warm months). So, you do have some options but if we’re honest we’re used to not having our conveniences disturbed. Well, shouldn’t we take more time everyday to think about all of our conveniences instead of just wanting more?

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #10

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

Sense of smell. Earlier this year in January I was standing in gasoline pumping gas and did not know it; I thought it was water from the rain.  Due to a chronic sinus condition (didn't know it was chronic until this incident) I couldn't smell the gasoline. The gas attendant noticed me and ran out to tell me. But it was too late of course to stop. He had to be attentively watching me because he ran back out when I was getting in my car to push me out without me starting my ignition. I was totally clueless. But God....  I can't tell you how many times I've been clueless about the danger I've been in. Who needs street smarts when you know The One who made the makers of the streets. J But I have to tell you that it was not until this incident that I quickly came to realize the true value of being able to do something as simple as smell. Come to think, it’s not so simple when your body refuses to do it and you are forced to go to a doctor to find out what’s going on. How "quickly" we forget God's faithfulness to those of us who though may fail at times choose to faithfully follow His plans. What do you need to remember today?

Press Release -- 2nd Annual All Write Now! Writers' Conference

Press Release -- 2nd Annual All Write Now! Writers' Conference



Yours truly is mentioned in the winnings for poetry!

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #9

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

What would it be like to be in a body where you could think, you were aware of everything going on around you, and you had all of the normal inner emotions—all of this—just as you do right now but you could not communicate any of it to anyone? You’d be trapped in a body that no doubt goes through a lot of mental frustration. Let’s say you could verbalize everything but your body doesn’t allow you to hug anyone or just get up and go for a walk (something you probably dread doing when it comes to exercise). For me, I still think I would feel trapped along with a lot of other emotions. I can only imagine that there are many quadriplegics, those with autism, and others with all kinds of physical and mental disabilities that have experienced more than what I can even capture in words here on this page. I marvel at the story of people like Nick Vujicic who seem to live a more fulfilled AND GRATEFUL life than many of us who have all of our physical capabilities. We complain about the distance of a parking spot. Some of us shun those closest to us just wanting to give us a hug (you might be saying I’m just not the touchy, feely type). Imagine being just one day without those arms. Some of us take for granted that people just intuitively know what we want or what we need. Imagine just one day being in a body where you had to trust that people could do that very thing for you. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. Let’s stop taking for granted that having the body we have (even with its shortcomings) is just automatic, because for many it’s not. And let’s “purposely” take care of our bodies every day.

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #8

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you don’t know what this is all about.

It’s a warm summer day and though Raymone enjoyed having some sunlight and hanging out with his buddies in the streets now he just wants to go somewhere and rest. So, with his big duffle bag thrown back across his back he searches for the closest nearby overpass. Looking for the nearest wall under the overpass, he lets the loaded bag drop to the ground as he presses his back against the wall and slowly glides down in relief for finding a shaded spot that no one had yet claimed. He proceeds in rummaging through his bag trying not to look up at the cars that were now sitting at the stop light only a few feet from him. It was not the cars that bothered him, but the proud eyes of pity staring at him from behind the steering wheels of those cars….

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Renee thought highly of her friend Omar for giving of the little money he had by purchasing items to prepare sandwiches and giving of his time to go downtown and give them to people on the streets and in the park. So, it made her want to do something besides the ways she had already been giving to people in need. Well, winter was just starting to set in so Omar suggested that she purchase just a few blankets if she could and he’d go with her and distribute them to people they found on the streets. So, Renee went on an online web search to find some blankets to purchase at a reasonable price. She found just what she needed at Kmart, so she ordered them. The following day after work she went to Kmart and picked up her order. Though she wished she could have purchased more, she felt so good carrying those 5 blankets back to her car, knowing she was going to make just a little bit of a difference to someone on the street…..

What if you or I were Raymone all summer long or one of those people during the cold months that Renee and Omar were giving blankets to just so we could have some warmth? Not everyone is sleeping on the streets because they did something to be there or because they are lazy. Not everyone mismanaged their funds. Things happen. Ask yourself, “What would I do if I had no place to go home to tonight?” What would you do if you had no place to call home at any time of the day???

Note: The short stories above though partially true to real life events are absolutely a product of my brain and in no way signify real names. J