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! 

Taking care of details!

I LOVE God's attention to details!

In Sept 2009, I got my internet connection. They had a lot of trouble when they first connected it, since our door buzzers use the phone lines. But after several tries and visits, they got it all working. 
Yesterday, my internet went out. I rebooted everything, but still no connection. I called the company and they said, "Looks like a problem on the line. We'll send a tech out ASAP." 

The Tech came today. He tested everything and asked me a few questions. He then said, "They did tell you that this visit may cost you, right?" I said, "yes, depending on what's wrong..... so, how much will it cost me?" 

"It would be $100.00, but since they gave you the WRONG equipment in 2009, I'm going to give you the correct equipment at NO charge! Come to find out the equipment they gave me is only if you have internet, TV, and phone. I only have internet and phone. 

So, thankful that God knew in 2009..... that when the equipment needed to be replaced in 2014... I wouldn't have an extra $100.00.... so God made sure that He arranged it so I wouldn't be charged.

Talk about taking care of details!
He's so awesome!!

Misplaced Trust

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 146. Here is what I learned.

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3 (AMP)

Do not put your ·trust [confidence] in princes or other people, who cannot ·save you [give you victory]. Psalm 146:3 (EXB)

Do not put your trust in the rulers of this world—kings and princes. Do not expect any rescue from mortal men. Psalm 146:3 (VOICE)

Yesterday, I held an “Apartment Sale”. I spent the last 2 weeks preparing for the sale. Pricing the items, organizing the clothes, posting signs, etc. I was SURE I’d make “LOTS” of money to help me pay some bills. I mean, this was the perfect way to earn some money! But I only sold 2 things and the first person bought the items BEFORE the sale day, the other person bought a set of storage units, and she was at the sale to help me with the sale. 

So, actually, no one came to the sale. I was frustrated. I thought for sure this was a great way to get some money. But then this morning I read Psalm 146:3...... Do not put your trust in other people.... for there is no help! 

God is NOT limited to a 2 hour window of selling items. God is more creative than an “apartment sale” to supply my needs. I have to remember that God is wiser and has unlimited ways to care for me. 

Do not trust in other people...... for the supplier of my needs. I’m to trust in God ONLY! For only God knows my needs and can supply exactly what I need at the time needed. 

So, what a bout the “Apartment Sale”? I do believe that God would have me do what I can to sell the items. So, I’ll try a few more times. But even if I don’t sell anything else, I know that God can and will supply my needs, for my hope and trust is not in other people. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure I don’t have misplaced trust—people cannot help me—God is the only true and honest source of help. 

True Success

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 90. Here is what I learned.

And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it. Psalm 90:17 (AMP)

And then let the beauty and grace of the Lord—our God—rest upon us and bring success to all we do;  yes, bring success to all we do! Psalm 90:17 (VOICE)

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." Even upon us who must not see thy glory in the land of Canaan; it shall suffice us if in our characters the holiness of God is reflected, and if over all our camp the lovely excellences of our God shall cast a sacred beauty. Sanctification should be the daily object of our petitions. The Treasury of David

There are many books available that teach the way to success. And since we all want to be successful, those books sell. But what is true success? Is it having money? Is it having reached a certain level at a company? How do you measure success? 

If success is based on money, than I’m not successful. If success is based on promotions at work, than I am not successful. If success is based on owning a house, or having certain possessions, than I am not successful. 

Thankfully, true success is not based on material things. Rather true success is based on fulfilling the work God has planned for me. If I reflect God’s glory and allow God’s mercy to shine through me, that is success! 

On April 9, 2013, I wrote “Make My Boss Look Good!”.

My responsibility is to first and foremost give God the glory due Him. Secondly, share His love with those around me. And lastly, make sure that I’m willing to do any job that God assigns me—whether or not I “like it”. 

Each and every job that God assigns me has a specific purpose to accomplish His will and plan. I need to remember that I can’t pick and choose which jobs I want to do and which ones to ignore. Some are more pleasant than others, but each task is required to assure that God’s plan is fulfilled in it’s entirety.

The key to true success is making sure that I am reflecting God each day in all that I do, for only when I’m reflecting God, can I create a positive and successful day! 

God's Gift of Laughter!

But let me run loose and free,  

celebrating God’s great work, 

every bone in my body laughing, singing,

“God, there’s no one like you."

 Psalm 35:9, 10 (MSG)

Today did not go as I had planned.
However, it was not a surprise to God.
And He knew that I'd needed a special blessing today!

Today, during a treatment for my pain, we hit a nerve, literally, and it flared up my sciatic pain quite severely. We changed treatments to help settle down the flare. This is not what I had planned for today. I was trying to keep my pain level as low as possible, so that I would be the "best I can be" for Sunday's activity.
However, we did learn something today when we "hit the nerve", it allowed us to pinpoint where a majority of my pain is generating. And that could prove to be very helpful for the treatment I'm receiving on Monday. God's timing is perfect. 

Although, I was "pleased" with the new information, that didn't help with the intense pain. I arrived home, checking my mail as I made my way to my apartment. I tossed the mail on the shelf, the mail would wait until later... looked like junk mail anyway. As I lay on the Daybed trying my tricks to lower my pain, I had to stop and take comfort that this was not a surprise to God. After resting for a bit, I got up and decided to read through the mail. Opened one envelope and found a check for $14.22. At first, I thought it was junk....then I read the letter and started laughing! 

God knew that I needed a GOOD LAUGH today! And I had to stop and think of God's great sense of humor. The check is LEGITIMATE. Come to learn, a company was reviewing what I had paid for my pain medications and I had overpaid. But what I thought was so funny was the DATE I had overpaid the $14.22....was November 27, 2007... YES, FIVE years ago!! 

I laughed. God continues to supply my needs in the MOST creative ways. And once again, I was reminded that God is not limited by TIME! On a day I was feeling a bit low, God knew that I needed to laugh. So, He sent me a gift via a FIVE year old overpayment. God does have a great sense of humor!

Creating a positive day can be done even on the "not so good days" when I take the time to accept God's blessings...especially when He sends them in very creative and unconventional ways!

Broke My Bank..literally!

This morning, I broke my bank. It was a bank I've used for 34 years; a glass elephant. I used the bank for my loose change. When it was full, I'd take the coins to my bank and use the money for fun stuff. Over the years, the money has bought me many things.. and even gifts for others. But as I started thinking about what I actually bought with the money...to be honest, I couldn't remember a single thing!! Wow! I saved money for 34 years, and don't remember what I bought with it.

That reminded me of Matthew 6:20, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Am I storing up treasure in heaven? The next verse reads: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is my treasure and where is my heart?

I'm going to get a new bank, and continue storing up my loose change. But I hope the next 34 years, I spend the money on something worthwhile enough that I remember it. And I'm going to work harder at storing up treasure in heaven...that's something I'll remember for ETERNITY!

More important than creating a positive day, is creating a day in which I glorify God. As I go about my day, I should be serving God through my actions and attitude. Keeping my heart focused on God and living for Him will put a positive spin on any day!

What do I value?

What do I value? What is important to me? What matters? If something is important to me, then I make it a priority. If it's a priority, I do what's necessary to make it possible. If something is NOT really important to me than I don't spend energy, time or money on it. This is true for things and relationships.
If I value someone and consider them a friend, I'm willing to make them a priority. I will turn off the TV when he/she calls so I can listen and hear what he/she is saying. I schedule time on the calendar to get together with him/her. Some relationships I value more, so I spend more effort and time to develop that relationship. Some relationships aren't really as important to me, so I spend less time with him or her.
I have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How I use those hours is a window of what's important to me. Do I take a few minutes to send a note to a friend? Do I spend a few minutes to call someone to say 'hi"? Or do I spend that time watching the TV or surfing the web for strange and unimportant sites?
Often I hear, "I don't have time." We all have the same amount of time. We each make daily choices on how we spend that time. Even at work, choices are made as to which project or person will get how much time and attention. The more time we allot to a particular project, the more attention we spend on it.
I want to strive to spend each hour of each day wisely. Just as I want to make wise choices with my money, I want to make wise choices with my time and energy. Making wise investments now, will enrich my life for years to come.

Creating a positive day for myself, is often done by creating a positive day for someone else. Maybe it's sending a card to calling to say "hi, I care". Creating a positive day is a wise investment!

This is not my plan!

I forget that I don't always know what's best. God has a plan for my life. His plan includes the "big picture" items as well as the little tiny details. This past week my laptop has been giving me problems. I thought it was fixed after spending 4+ hours at the Apple Store. Nope. I've uninstalled/reinstalled/updated programs multiple times. Still not working correctly.
The next fix.....buy upgrades for my programs....that's only $700-$1200! That's out of my range right now....But then I remember....God is not limited.
He has a plan for my life. And with that plan, He will supply everything I need to carry out that plan. If He thinks my laptop is part of His plan, then He will take care of it. Even though my computer failing is not part of my plan, since it is part of God's....I'll relax....continue doing what I can do and allow God to carry out His plan.

Allowing God to carry out His plans makes any day more positive. Getting frustrated over something I can't change, just ruins my day. Relaxing and letting God do His work and take care of things, is much more enjoyable!