Celebrate My Birthday - $5.40 or more!

On April 18, 2018, I'll be celebrating my 54th Birthday! This year, I'd really like to do something very special. My friend Jami is battling Lyme Disease. Her medical treatments are not covered by insurance so are very costly. To help her take a bite out of Lyme disease and her treatment costs, I'd like to ask for a donation of $5.40 or more! 

$5.40 isn't much. Just a specialty coffee drink, or a fast-food meal. But working together, we can make those $5.40 donations add up to make a difference for Jami! 

Please mail your donation to:
Rhonda Sawtelle
Attn: Jami's Battle
2048 Kings Xing SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880

If you have any questions, please email me at createpositive@att.net. 

Thank you so much for your donation and spreading the word. I'll be collecting donations through April 30, 2018. 

Thank you! 

Pray for Jami

Looking for some prayer warriors! 

My friend, Jami, has started a new series of medical treatments. This will be a long process and I'd like to get a team of people committed to praying for her. 

If you'd like to join me, please comment on the day(s) that you will pray for her. You can pick one a month (like on the 19th), or you can pick a day of the week (Wed), or pick several times (daily, 2x a week, etc). I'd like you to be specific. 

Please pray for the following:

JAMI—

1. Jami's spirit. Dealing with any chronic condition can be discouraging. When you don't feel well, the spirit needs extra support. Let’s be praying that Jami will be encouraged during the treatments. #GoJoy

2. Jami's treatments. That her body would accept the "army" that will help her heal. #GoArmy 

3. This prayer is a big one, almost seems impossible. BUT GOD! God has resources and means to provide. Let’s ask God to supply each and every need. (And if you want to donate, please do! The link is below.) #GoMoney

4. This prayer is all-encompassing. In Tune means that everything is working in harmony. That includes all aspects of life. Living with a chronic illness not only impacts the individual but the family and friends. Let’s pray that not only will Jami be “in tune”, but that God will bring peace and harmony to all those around her. #GoInTune

JAMI–

Joy

Army

Money

InTune 

Let’s go TEAM!

Here is the donation link: https://www.plumfund.com/medical-fund/help-jami-take-a-bite-out-of-lyme

Thanks Living: God's Perfect Timing

Thanks Living. 

I was just thinking back over the past few weeks about some of the blessings and I saw, once again, the truth about God's perfect timing. 

Back up several weeks ago, when I had the gate and fence replaced. What was to be a team effort, ended up with me paying for the entire job. That change of plans, delayed me in the next project which was buying screens for the lanai doors. 

Then I received a notice that it was time for my yearly termite inspection. Since the year wasn't actually up until April, 18, I figured it could wait a few more weeks. When I called to schedule the appointment, they said there was one available on March 25th. Ok, that would work, even though I was thinking in another week or two. 

This past week turned into a busy one for me, and a few times I started to call to reschedule the inspection, but each time, God interrupted me.

On Friday, the BugMan told me that I had some things in my attic—Surprise to me! And among those things were screen doors. 

On Easter Sunday, a friend and my brother, GRACIOUSLY got the screens out of the attic and worked VERY HARD to get them back in working shape and installed. 

I love how God made sure that I did not buy new screens, and the He let me know that screens were there, and even provided the help to install them. God's timing is perfect. 

Thanks Living. Thanking God for the blessing of His perfect timing, and the willingness of friends and family who go above and beyond to help me. 

God continues to take care of His Castle!

Thanks Living: For You

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Give thanks: to be grateful, actively to express gratitude

Always: at all times, always, ever

Making: to do

Mention: be mindful of, remind oneself actively (purposefully); actively bring to mind

Prayers: earnest prayer

For you. 

People impact our lives on a daily bases. Some frustrate us. Some encourage us. And some bless us beyond measure. And EACH one can be used by God to teach us something about Him and living a life pleasing to Him. 

For you.

First, we see from Paul's example, that we are to Give Thanks for others. Say Thank you to God for introducing us to others. Introducing us to those that encourage us and those that teach us. 

Lastly, Paul gives us the example of how we express our thanks to God, through prayer. And not just a "thank you God." and then forget it. Rather this is an EARNEST prayer. 

Earnest: serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely

Praying with intention and purpose. Making a point to thank God for each person that God introduces us to. 

For you.

Thanks Living is praying intentionally for each person God brings into our lives. Give thanks to God for each one, and pray intentionally for each person. That is not only the right thing to do, it's a blessing to uphold others before our great God! 

For you. 

Give thanks and pray intentionally for others—that is the right thing to do when living a life of Thanks Living! 

Proverbs 12:24-28 Encouragement from God!

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor. Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession. In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:24-28

Good word makes it glad.

Good: an agreeable, pleasant to the higher nature

Word: saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

Glad: cheer up, make joyful, be make merry

Choose his friends carefully.

Friend: companion, an associate, neighbor

Choose: the righteous searches out, and is a guide to, his friend

I think Proverbs 12:25 and 26 go hand in hand. A good word makes us glad; choose friends carefully. Friends are usually the ones that have a good word for us! It's important to have godly friends to help put things in perspective. 

Good, agreeable—but not just a word to make one feel good, or what a person "wants" to hear. Rather, this "good" is from the perspective of "higher nature", think of it as "encouragement from God." Now how cool is that? That you can be used to share encouragement from God! Now that is an awesome responsibility and privilege. 

As I look back, I can't say that "I chose my friends." Rather, God in His gracious and unique ways introduced me to people who became my friends. I'm so very thankful for those people in my life who encourage, sharpen, and help keep me thinking godly. 

If I want to share encouragement from God, and be a godly friend to others, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when I am fearing and respecting and loving God, I can then, be used share encouragement from God! 

Blessings Celebration: 15 Years

There are moments in time that are etched into our minds. One of those moments for me happened on October 25, 2000. I remember the dark green sofa on which I was reclining. I remember trying to get work done to meet a deadline, in spite of battling bronchitis. I remember the deep coughing and then a searing burning sharp intense pain. I remember rolling off the sofa onto the floor in pain. I remember trying to get up and realizing that it was just too painful to move. I remember....... 

Over the past 15 years, I remember the numerous tests, procedures, surgeries, visits to specialists and the chronic pain and headaches. 

I also remember the amazing and wonderful blessings that God has showered upon me over the past 15 years. WOW! When I stop to reflect on those blessing, I can't but celebrate God's goodness. 

A few weeks ago I read Psalm 21:1-3.

The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

I really like that phrase, "meet him with blessings of goodness." As I reflect back over the past 15 years on all the blessings of goodness that God has given me, I can't help but praise Him. 

A few highlights of the Blessings of Goodness that God has given over the past 15 years. 

• 1. Awesome Doctors.
• 2. A friend who gracious opened her home to me, so that I could live within 5 min of a Dr. who would see me twice a day for a few weeks. And she has continued to be an encouragement to me over the years. 
• 3. Spending time at my Sister's home following surgery and rehab. (God even made sure I was at the same rehab center that my sister would spend time at years later. That allowed me to know what my sister would be doing and experiencing.) 
• 4. A ride in the Good Year Blimp. (Yep, really!)
• 5. Introduction to an amazing FRIEND! And the friendship as grown stronger over the years. Truly a blessing from God. 
• 6. A pharmacy mistake that led to them paying for an expensive medication! (A total God thing!)
• 7. Contest wins..... oh so many! Some I enjoyed, some I passed along as gifts and some I was able to sell to help pay bills. Some of the highlights include: a bike, a HUGE grill, NASCAR grandstand tickets (which God changed to PIT Passes), tickets to a musical show, gift cards to restaurants, grocery stores, online shops, t-shirts, hats, autographed items... the list goes on and on!
• 8. Timing. God's timing is always perfect. From using geese to keep me from leaving (that delay kept me from an accident), or car repairs delaying a car purchase until the right one was ready. To me moving to Florida and getting settled-in so that I could be here to help my parents during my Mom's hospitalization. To leading me to a different vehicle as I'll be driving my parents around. God is always on time, never late! 
• 9. The Castle. I still am in awe that God made way to provide this awesome home for my parents and I. As I think through the details that God worked through and all that God taught me, all I can say is... "Thank you, Lord!" (Read about it here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html.)
• 10. And I can't forget Max, my parakeet. God gave him to me on April 2003 for my birthday. Max provided many laughs and silly companionship over the years. Max died on August 28, 2015 of a heart attack. I'm so thankful for all the fun memories I have of that silly little bird.

Meet him with Blessings of Goodness. 

I can honestly say, that God has met me with MANY blessings of goodness over the past 15 years. Very thankful for God's blessings of goodness! 

Proverbs 6:1-5: Be Careful

My son, if you become surety for your friend .....maybe this translation would be easier to understand:

My ·child be careful about giving a guarantee for ·somebody else’s loan, about promising to pay what someone else owes.

You ·might get trapped by what you say; you ·might be caught by ·your own words.. My ·child, if you have done this and are under your ·neighbor’s control, here is how to ·get free. Don’t be proud. Go to your ·neighbor and ·beg to be free from your promise. Don’t ·go to sleep or ·even rest your eyes, but ·free yourself like a ·deer running from ·a hunter, like a bird flying away from a ·trapper. Proverbs 6:1-5 EXB

I'd do ANYTHING for you. I'd help you ANYWAY that I can. How often have we said those words to someone? And if that person returns asking for help, what do we do? 

This is a warning... BE CAREFUL..you may get caught in a trap, "roped into something". You want to do the "right thing" but you need to guard yourself. Helping someone is not always the RIGHT thing to do. Don't let someone guilt you into doing something that you really should do. 

If you do find yourself in a situation, what do you do? Be humble. Realize that you did make a mistake. And work on correcting it. Don't ignore it. Address it. Take care of it. 

I think this warning is also for the "friend". We shouldn't ask someone to do something for us which first, we shouldn't be involved with, and second, if we can't do it ourselves—should we be doing it? 

How often do we find ourselves in situations where helping seems right, but actually causes the person we help to not learn and grow? Do we become enablers to someone's wrong decisions? Do we become enablers to someone who doesn't want to realize the consequences of his/her choices? 

And what is our motive for helping the friend? 

Should I give help? Yes or no, what is the right answer? Making the right choices begin when a heart is permeated with a deeps sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). Remember the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. And it take godly wisdom to know if helping someone is right or wrong. Be careful, a good warning for us all. 

Rock-solid Friendships

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 16. Here is what I learned.

The beauty of faith-filled people encompasses me. They are true, and my heart is thrilled beyond measure. Psalm 16:3 (VOICE)

As for the godly (the saints) who are in the land, they are the excellent, the noble, and the glorious, in whom is all my delight. Psalm 16:3 (AMP)

And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make! Psalm 16:3 (MSG)

This verse is probably to be regarded as a further statement of the evidence of the attachment of the psalmist to God. In the previous verse, according to the interpretation proposed, he states that his happiness - his all was centered in God. He had no hope of anything except in him; none beyond him; none besides him.

In this verse he states, as a further proof of his attachment to him, that he regarded with deep affection the saints of God; that he found his happiness, not in the society of the wicked, but in the friendship of the excellent of the earth. The verse may be thus rendered: "As to the saints in the earth (or in respect to the saints in the earth), and to the excellent, all my delight is in them." In the former verse he had stated that, as to God, or in respect to God, he had no source of blessing, no hope, no joy, beyond him, or independent of him; in this verse he says that in respect to the saints - the excellent of the earth - all his delight was in them. Thus he was conscious of true attachment to God and to his people. Thus he had what must ever be essentially the evidence of true piety - a feeling that God is all in all, and real love for those who are his; a feeling that there is nothing beyond God, or without God, that can meet the wants of the soul, and a sincere affection for all who are his friends on earth. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It would seem logical, that if I enjoy God’s company, that I’d enjoy the company of those who love God. I think of my friends, we may not have a lot of common interests, but the one thing we do have in common is our love for God. That single bond is greater and stronger than liking the same sports team, or liking the same hobby. For loving God is the foundation for life and sets the standards for living. 

True friendship is grounded in each individuals love for God. The more each person loves God and aims to accomplish God’s will, the friendship is stronger and more enjoyable. 

To create a positive day, I first must make sure my relationship with God is right and strong, then I can enjoy rock-solid friendships that have God as the foundation. 

Leave the Driving to Him—I’m Just Along for the Ride!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 67. Here is what I learned.

The ·nations [peoples] should be glad and sing because you judge people fairly. You ·guide [lead] all the ·nations [peoples] on earth. ·Selah Psalm 67:4 (EXB)

May all nations celebrate together, singing joy-filled songs of praise to You because You judge the people fairly and give guidance to all the nations of the earth. Psalm 67:4 (VOICE)

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 67:4 (AMP)

Guide: to lead, direct, to transport.

God will guide, lead, transport me in accordance to His will and purpose. As I read this verse, I thought, I’m along for the ride! God will do the “driving” so to speak. I just have to be willing to join Him and allow Him to lead and transport me! 

God has given me an amazing friend, who graciously and willing drives me to my doctors’ appointments and surgeries. When we go to a  new office, we have a choice. We can just drive around and hope we find the office, or we can print out the directions and maps and then know where we are headed and arrive at our destination. Really, my part is easy, I just read the directions, and recline back and relax. My friend, navigates the traffic, the road construction, detours, etc. But I have learned to trust my friend. I know that she will get us to our destination. 

The same can be true in life. If I allow God to guide, transport, “drive” me, then I can relax knowing full-well that He will get me to the destination He has chosen. However, many times I find myself wanting to do one of two things, 1) jump out and go my own way, or 2) move over into the driver's seat. However, either of those two choices will result in many delays, detours, and perhaps even heartache and/or misery. 

To create a positive day, I simply have to join God and leave the driving to Him—I’m just along for the ride!

Blessings Celebration Day!

Just wanted to let you know about my Blessings Celebration! I started the day thanking God for His goodness and all the blessings He has sent and continues to send my way. Then I spent time writing notes and emailing people to let them know that they are blessing in my life. I also was able to attend 100 Years of Broadway at Paramount Theater in Aurora, IL.

 When I arrived at the show, I learned that I was given complimentary tickets! The staff wanted to me enjoy my Blessings Celebration!! How cool!! The show was very good. The performers had all worked and sung on many stages, including Broadway. There was a good mix of songs from a variety of shows. And the performers could sing! The Ushers were all so kind. Since, I had to stand during the entire show the Ushers wanted to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. At intermission, one Usher even got me a "booster seat" so I could rest my foot on it. It was just what I needed to make standing easier. After the show I was able to get the performers autographs on the program. To top it all off I was given a CD of the singer I enjoyed most!

Most of you will ask, isn't your pain level high? Yes, it's unbearable. But in a few days..okay it will be more like a week or two....my pain level will settle back down. But the fun I had today will live on in my memory. Each time I listen to the CD, or think of today, I'll smile. I'll think of how God continues to bless me....even by allowing me to attend the show for FREE! That was an AWESOME blessing!!
So, the next year is about to begin......and I'm looking forward to counting all the blessings God has in store for me!!

Fear: Run and hide or Live?

July 4th was noisy around here! Neighbors started setting off fireworks around 5 pm and they lasted until after midnight. With each loud "BOOM" Max would fly around the room and land back on his perch. He then flew over an sat on me, thinking I'd stop the noises. That worked out fine, until I jumped at some of the "BOOMS"! When I jumped, Max would take off flying again. Around 7 pm, I put Max in his night cage and covered it. Max quickly settled down. At least with each "BOOM" he didn't fly around. He just hid in the darkest corner of his cage. Since Max liked it better in his cage, I left him there and returned to the living room to watch TV. It didn't take long for Max to start achooing. (He says "achoo" when he wants me.) I went back to the bedroom to check on him. Max realized he had to make a decision....be alone and feel safe in his cage, or be with me and endure the loud "BOOMS". Max decided he'd rather sit on my shoulder then hide in his cage. So out he came.
He sat on my shoulder waiting for the loud "BOOMS". He soon realized that although loud, they didn't hurt him. Instead of flying around, he would just move closer to my head. He spent the rest of the night snuggled next to my ear.
The entire evening showed me what fear can make us do. Fear is a strange thing. It can make us act irrational or even crawl into our beds and hide. And often we are afraid of is simply noise. Once we let one fear rule our lives, fear becomes more powerful, and we miss many blessings life brings.
Not sure about you, but I don't want to spend my life hiding under a cover. I'd rather spend it enjoying life. So the next time fear starts making noise, I plan to continue on with my life. If the fear seems "too loud", I'll ask a friend to help me overcome it, but I won't hide!
Fear is a negative, and I only want the Positive in my life!

"God hasn't given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7