"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, Silver white Winters that melt into Springs, These are a few of my favorite things" (1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein)
What things bring joy to you? Is it the favorite "things" you've stored up for yourself, like houses and furniture, Coach purses or hot cars? Maybe the parties you attend or friends you spend time with? I know...it's your job because you've worked so hard to climb the ladder? Are these your favorite things?
This morning my favorite things are a hot cup of tea on a very chilly morning, a soft blanket and the quietness of a still darkened house, while gazing at Christmas lights across the way - those hours right before the dawn. A time when I can be with my Lord and know that He has my best interests in mind, even on days when I'm brutal with myself.
Favorite things come in all shapes and sizes. Some favorite things are memories of days gone by. Days of laughter and giddiness - days of "sunshine and roses." Most of the time favorite things aren't tangible at all(unless you have a well-loved stuffed animal that you've kept all of these years!)
I'm reminded that my most favorite things are the voice of a school teacher who said, "great job"; the words of commitment whispered at my wedding; the coo of a new born baby; the gentle assurance that my God always loves me and always has my back.
This morning in the quiet of my house, I can clearly hear the words of my Lord in Psalms 119:103 which says, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." Come to think of it, God's Word is my favorite thing. His word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. His word is sweet. His word instructs and disciplines. His word is full of promises and is always true. His word tells me what my future will be. His word never fails me or disappoints me. His word guards my heart and encourages me to go on in the midst of trials.
Spend some time today thinking about your favorite things - I think you'll find that they are not things made by the hands of man, but things that flow from the heart of God.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Where Have You Been EncourageMeNews?
Whew - the past year has blown by! Can it possibly be that I have not added one post to this blog in almost a year? What could have gotten in the way of my passion for writing? What has gotten in the way of your passion or life's call?
What were you doing last year at this time? Were you getting your house ready for the holidays or were you packing your bags to visit family? Are you still wanting to loose those same unwanted pounds, or working in the same dead-end job? Maybe the next few days is a good time for some good 'ole personal reflection. I realize more and more lately that I act as though I have all of the time in the world. I keep spinning the same thoughts and doing the same things over and over again - only to keep getting the same results. I constantly find myself doing things the way everyone else wants me to do them and slowly, slowly I loose my ability to express myself creatively.
Jesus created me to be unique, not a robot that answers to the beckoning call of others. Yes, we are to serve others, but not at the loss of our own identity.
Right now, I don't know whether I'll be employed by the company I've worked for my entire career - close to 40 years. My job is to be eliminated effective Dec. 13. Will I have a new job with my steady employer? Or, is this a time in life that I'll need to be making some major changes? I'm really not sure. Only God knows the answer.
Today I will not worry, but reflect on who God has created me to be - today, I will be thankful that He knows my future. What will a year from now look like? I'm not sure - I just know that I want to be closer to the center of what and who God created me to be. Today, I will find encouragement in that!
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
What were you doing last year at this time? Were you getting your house ready for the holidays or were you packing your bags to visit family? Are you still wanting to loose those same unwanted pounds, or working in the same dead-end job? Maybe the next few days is a good time for some good 'ole personal reflection. I realize more and more lately that I act as though I have all of the time in the world. I keep spinning the same thoughts and doing the same things over and over again - only to keep getting the same results. I constantly find myself doing things the way everyone else wants me to do them and slowly, slowly I loose my ability to express myself creatively.
Jesus created me to be unique, not a robot that answers to the beckoning call of others. Yes, we are to serve others, but not at the loss of our own identity.
Right now, I don't know whether I'll be employed by the company I've worked for my entire career - close to 40 years. My job is to be eliminated effective Dec. 13. Will I have a new job with my steady employer? Or, is this a time in life that I'll need to be making some major changes? I'm really not sure. Only God knows the answer.
Today I will not worry, but reflect on who God has created me to be - today, I will be thankful that He knows my future. What will a year from now look like? I'm not sure - I just know that I want to be closer to the center of what and who God created me to be. Today, I will find encouragement in that!
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Your Gratitude Encourages Me!
Enjoy the introduction to this book, written by co-author Mac Anderson. And, by the way, Happy Thanksgiving!
An excerpt from
Learning to Dance in the Rain
by Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher
The date was July 16, 2008. It was late in the afternoon and I was sitting in my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I was scheduled to speak that evening for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). I was a little "down in the dumps." I hadn't gotten to exercise lately because of my traveling schedule and recently I'd experienced some mild bouts of vertigo (that inner ear condition that can cause the room to start spinning.) You got it...speaking and "spinning" are not good partners!
My keynote presentation was scheduled for 7:00 PM, but I had been invited to show up at 6:00 to see a performance they said I'd enjoy. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.
They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music.
He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic!
About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a 7-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim.
Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."
Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's He's also a part of the 214 member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero."
But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people."
When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps!
My life was ready to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. I needed a hero, and I found one for the ages. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that wonderful "attitude of gratitude."
I returned to Chicago and shared Patrick's story with my wife, my friends, and our team at Simple Truths. About two weeks later, I received a letter from a friend. He said, "Mac, I don't know who said it, but I think you'll love this quote."
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"
I thought...that's it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it's not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or, can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain?
It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word...gratitude, can change your attitude, thus, your life, forever. Sarah Breathnack said it best...
"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present....we experience heaven on earth."
An excerpt from
Learning to Dance in the Rain
by Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher
The date was July 16, 2008. It was late in the afternoon and I was sitting in my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I was scheduled to speak that evening for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). I was a little "down in the dumps." I hadn't gotten to exercise lately because of my traveling schedule and recently I'd experienced some mild bouts of vertigo (that inner ear condition that can cause the room to start spinning.) You got it...speaking and "spinning" are not good partners!
My keynote presentation was scheduled for 7:00 PM, but I had been invited to show up at 6:00 to see a performance they said I'd enjoy. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.
They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music.
He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic!
About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a 7-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim.
Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."
Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's He's also a part of the 214 member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero."
But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people."
When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps!
My life was ready to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. I needed a hero, and I found one for the ages. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that wonderful "attitude of gratitude."
I returned to Chicago and shared Patrick's story with my wife, my friends, and our team at Simple Truths. About two weeks later, I received a letter from a friend. He said, "Mac, I don't know who said it, but I think you'll love this quote."
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"
I thought...that's it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it's not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or, can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain?
It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word...gratitude, can change your attitude, thus, your life, forever. Sarah Breathnack said it best...
"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present....we experience heaven on earth."
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