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

What makes you smile?

I was reading a comic and started laughing. Later in the day, I thought of that comic again, and couldn't help but smile. This got me thinking. What makes me smile? Some days it doesn't take much. A funny comic, a joke, an email or note from a friend, a TV show, or Max doing something cute.
No matter what makes me smile or laugh, I always feel better afterward. If I laugh early in the day, it seems I laugh at more things throughout the day. I guess because I enjoyed laughing so much, I'm looking for things to make me laugh, so I can enjoy laughing again! Sounds silly, but it's true! Laughing in the morning, puts me in a "laughing frame of mind".
Different things make each of us smile, but we all smile at something. What would happen if instead of passing along the gossip and negative news at the water cooler and through emails, we passed along smiles and laughter? Think for a moment how you feel after you laugh or smile. Now think of giving that same feeling to others. If we all felt that good, the people with whom we interact would be happy, and kinder.
So the next time you smile or laugh, pass it on! Creating a positive day...is done one smile at a time!

To get you started:
A little girl while holding her stomach, approached her Mom saying, "Mommy my stomach hurts." Her Mom replied, "That's because it's empty, you have to put something into it!"
Later that day when the Pastor came over for dinner. The Pastor started to feel bad, holding his head, he said, "I have a terrible headache!" The little girl looked up at the Pastor giving her sweetest smile that only a child can give. Then she said, "Your head hurts, because it's empty. You have to put something in it!"

If you smiled, you've just started creating a positive day!

The Stars in my Life

The past few days, the news highlighted the deaths of two celebrities. People are lined up around former homes, various theaters, etc. During one news show, on person interviewed said "I wanted to meet him in person. He was like family to me". What? How can someone you've never met be "family"?
Personally, I'm not caught up with the movie stars, actors, singers, etc. I don't even know the names of actors who play the characters I watch on TV. I've never been "star struck". Yet, as millions of people spend time mourning the death of both these "stars", it got me thinking: Who are the real "stars" in my life?
Who are the people who have impacted my life....PERSONALLY? Who are the people with whom I interact, talk, laugh, and cry? Who are the "stars" who I care about and who care about me? As I started listing the "stars" in my life....I am blessed!
But it shouldn't stop there. Knowing that people in my life have blessed me, is only half. I need to let them know! Maybe knowing that they are "stars" in my life, will encourage them. Maybe it will get them thinking about the "stars" in their lives. We are all quick to share when someone does something wrong, or hurts us. But when they have a positive impact, we neglect to share that news.
Take a few moments and send an email, or make a phone call, or better yet, send a note to let someone know that they are a "star" and have a positive impact in your life. Those few moments will do two things: 1. Make you realize how blessed you are 2. Let others know they are a blessing.
Be positive. Share the positive. Multiply the positive!

Max's Greeting!

Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment, then had to stop at a few stores, and finished at Walgreens to get my meds and milk. It was HOT out, a heat index of 100! After being out and about for a few hours my pain level was way too high, so I was glad to get home. I opened the door and was greeted with chirps from Max. He continued chirping as I put away the milk and other stuff. I finally was able to crash on the sofa. Max immediately flew to my shoulder and said, "happy, happy, happy". I laughed and said, "I was happy I was home too!" It was a very cute way to end a hectic day and start relaxing.

Each day, no matter how painful or "bad" the day seems, there is always something positive to be found. Keep creating a positive day--it's so worth it!

Remembering can be Positive!

I was sending an email to some friends with an update about my sister (she's battling cancer). In it I mentioned that my sister and b-i-l may need to move to a new home with no steps. Knowing that it's not a sellers market right now, it looks humanly impossible. However, I remembered something that happened to my family back when I was just out of the 6th grade. Here's that story:

We had taken Lori to college in PA and we were on our way back home to Florida. To make a long story short, my parents both got jobs in PA and we needed a house. We had to return to Florida, pack up our house and move to PA. Dad, Mom, and I stopped at a Realtor to see about getting a house. Dad said we needed the house within an day or two. The Realtor said that you'd need at least 60 days, maybe 30 to buy the house. We walked out of the office and stopped at a 7/11 type store, bought a lunch and newspaper. Dad saw an auction and house for sale. Dad called and we met the family. After looking over the house, Dad offered to buy the house and the contents. The family was thrilled not having to go through the auction. That same day we signed the papers. God had given us a house (and the contents!) in ONE day!!

Through the years, when we need something that seems impossible, we say "if God gave us a house in ONE day....He can do.......whatever." And it's true. So, if my b-i-l needs to move to a house without steps, God can supply not only the new place, but a buyer for the old place.

I have to continually remind myself not to limit God. He is able to do above and beyond which we can think. He has no limits. He can take care of whatever...........God can do anything!!!

Sometimes remembering past miracles God has done is a very positive thing to do. God wants us to remember. Yet, we all forget the wonderful things God has done, as we get caught up in the trappings of our current situation.

Take a moment today to reflect on some of the wonderful things God has done for you. Stop and remember. And before you get back to your busy schedule, take a moment to thank God. That's the least we can do, for all He's done for us.

Stop and remember and thank God.....that will help you create a positive day.....I'm sure of it!