One Month to Live - Today is a New Day

The day Chicken Little (Zach Braff) tried to warn everybody the sky was falling, his world began falling apart. The worst blow of all, was that his own father didn’t believe him. In fact, his father was just plain embarrassed by him. But, today is a new day, and Chicken Little has a plan to erase that defining moment from the minds of the townspeople, or townsanimals, and to make his dad proud of him.




I had planned to talk about all of the disciplines that I failed to acheive yesterday:

• Missed the 6am meeting with God - didn't get to him till 10am (unless you count all of the praying in between to get the kids to school on time, that the dog doesn't pee on the floor again or that my youndest son could avoid any injuries until at least noon!)


• Missed the 7am Appointment with my Walking Shoes


• Avoided the 8am Meeting with the Laundry

You can see where my day was headed...

But this morning, as I drove my son to the babysitter, he said,"Today is a New Day Mom!"



My son is a big fan of Chicken Little and even though it was a line he had learned from a movie, it was used in perfect context! Today is a new day!



So here are the things we did accomplish yesterday:

Returned a homemade canning jar to my neighbor, and said," Thank you!"

Took back the chainsaw our friend let us use during the recent storm and took the time to chat.

Went grocery shopping with our kids and enjoyed a game of football in the toy isle with friends we met there.

Bought extra items to make a potpie for a neighbor suffering.

Helped my daugther go to sleep on her own for the first time.

Watched my husband fall asleep in the chair with my son.

Kissed my oldest son goodnight and having him tell me, "It was a good day Mom!"

I ended my evening to the peace of the pitter patter of the rain.

The Sound of the Rain

AMEN!

Challenge #1 Connect With God

This was our attempt last night to connect with God:

ROAD CLOSED?

To those of you who are not familar with Mt. Jeez, it is one of the most amazing places to view the valley. (See Picture Below) We have spent many evenings on this "mount" to absorb the beauty of God. I found it funny that my first attempt to connect with God was "CLOSED". Interesting way to start this journey.

Mt. Jeez

PS We didn't give up. We spent the rest of the night at a great playground watching and playing with our three children. We also met another of God's miracles. A 5 year old boy that had died twice before the end of his first hour! Not month, not day but hour...

One Month to Live Challenge

Dear Friends,

I have accepted the One Month to Live Challenge

30 days to COMPLETE MY DASH (-)

July 8, 1973 - October 28, 2008

Priciples of the One Month to Live Challenge

#1 Live Passionately

How to:

#1 Develop My List of Values

#2 Reduce this list to the Values that are most important.

#3 Select the top 3 to focus on

This principle reminds reminds me of a process I shared with you earlier. The Jewish people have created Ethical wills for centuries. These are not the list of stuff to be given, put the list of values to be developed. These are the puzzle pieces that we should be leaving for each generation.

Here are my 3 top items:

1. Love Life - the Gift God has given me.

2. Live My Disciplines - the Law the Holy Spirit has placed in my heart and mind.

3. Share my Hope - The Great Commandment to take the Love of God to All Nations!

As you all know I recently started writing my book and this challenge is a "God-fit" to help me finish it!

Time to get my joy off the bus! I'll talk to you all soon!

If you would like to join me in this Challenge here are the details:

www.crossroadswired.com

The Book - Update

The books shell has made it from the paper to the computer. YEAH!
This is my win for the day!

I'll keep you all updated...

Off to prepare for Celebrate Recovery...Amazing People, Amazing Ministry...Amazing Grace!

Exciting News: There is a Book in the Works!

O.K. I have thought about it, prayed about it, talked about it and finally STARTED DOING IT!

I created the book structure in about an hour last night and started filling in the blanks today.

I am here by announcing, to all of you, the request that you hold me ACCOUNTABLE to completing this!

Thebook is about my belief and experience Loving Life, Living My Disciplines and Sharing Hope.

After I became very sick 2 1/2 years ago, I had to start life over. Many of the "actions" I did in life that were automatic, I had to relearn. I went from being well oiled and supercharged to a crash victim.

I have found help and hope along the recovery path, BUT I also discovered road blocks and ignorance.

As I have reviewed lessons learned and shared experiences with others, I realize that these discoveries are meant to be shared. So, I guess you would say I have become an advocate for Living Life.

I believe by telling not just WHAT happened but HOW I operate through life, people will have a guide to follow during the rough times or a bridge to fill the gaps when things sneak up.

If you read my last post...these are my contributions my family's puzzle.

Where did the 87 Years Go?

As I was sipping my tea this morning with my son, I looked over and saw the mug he was using "Lee" was on the cup. Lee or Leone, is my grandmother.

( A wonderfully amazing woman: Tuff as nails with a heart as warm as melting tire rubber.)

I suggested to my son, we call "Great-Gamma"!

As we spoke, Gramma of course mentioned how time seems to fly. As she spoke to my 3 year old on the phone, she could hear him say "wuv you". Something that did not happen just a short time ago. I could see him kiss the phone and could hear the lips smackin' on the other end.

That's your youngest? "Where have the years gone?" Gramma asked.

Gramma, who is now 87, no longer remembers all dates, but does reference the family Bible often for details. She is the oldest and most experienced living member of my family. She has seen the first radio (when she was in first grade), first TV, first computer and the first cellphone. She survived wars, depression and seeing men land on the moon. Gramma has survived generations of births, marriages, divorces and deaths.

And she wonders... Where have the 87 years gone?

I can tell, you they have gone to everyone my Grandmother has ever met.

NEVER a selfish woman, Gramma has spent most of her life serving others. It is hard to remember all the details of your life when you are constantly focused on others.

I love listening to my Gramma share her experiences, but more importantly her life lessons.

The Jewish faith does this in a method called a Moral or Ethical Wills for centuries. These were not the "stuff" that is left behind, but the "How To Live" instructions. The morals and ethics to live by and pass on. These were the non-negotiables in life.

Why let your years go anywhere? Could you imaging having a generational history lesson to clue you in to the "The How To's of Life". (Talk about listening to your elders?)

Would the "Life lessons: Victories and Defeats and how to survive both" have benefited you? Circumstances change but coping strategies don't!

What are you leaving for your family to pass on. Does it make sense to throw all the pieces back into the puzzle box before the puzzle is complete?

Pass on your portion and let your loved one's continue until God puts in the final piece!

I Love You Gramma!

What do we most want people to know about mental illness?”

“What do we most want people
to know about mental illness?”

This question was posed by my dear friend MaryKay Pierce. MaryKay is the Director for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Richland County Ohio. (419-522-6264 mpierce5@neo.rr.com)

Here is my response:

Mental Illness is a verifiable physical condition!

People who suffer from these conditions need that same help accepting and recovering from their diagnosis as any other diagnosis. (Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes)
They also need HOPE!

HOPE that change is on the horizon:
Change in a society that FEARS them because of a word written on a document, Bi-Polar, Schizophrenic, Depression.
Change in a society from ignorance to education.
Change in a society from myths to seeking truth.
Change in a society away from condemnation to compassion.

A change from a society to a COMMUNITY!




These ideas sprouted from my morning devotional (Purposedrivelife.com) but these thoughts are not strickly Christian or dismissable because you may not share the same faith.
***Please do not let the quoting of scripture dissuaid you from reading. Wouldn't you have me identify my verifiyable source rather than tell you these are my ideas???In any other writing you quote your source, this is just one of mine.


2007/08/23

Helping Each Other
Through Change
by Rick Warren

“I hope you will be patient with me ….” (2 Corinthians 11:1a, NLT)

In order to manage change, you must remember four things –

Love each other

The first mistake most people make during change is to focus on what they’ve lost, instead of what has been gained – and that creates fear. The antidote to fear is love: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ….” (1 John 4:18 NKJ)

It’s impossible for love and fear to exist in the same environment – If we’ll focus on loving each other, then we’ll break out of the self-centeredness that often emerges during change. The love that conquers fear involves thinking about others instead of focusing on your own needs – and the more you love, the less you fear.

Listen to each other

During transition, we must be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry ….” (James 1:19 NIV) If we get the first two right (quick listening, slow speaking), then the third (slow anger) will become automatic. It reflects the concept of “seeking to understand” before trying “to be understood.”

“Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.” (James 1:19 MSG)

Level with each other

We must speak the truth in love to each other if we’re going to walk together through change. It is human nature to avoid confronting someone directly, but then we fall into problems – even gossip – by talking to other people about the person we need to confront.

We can’t get close to each other until we deal honestly with our fundamental differences. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)

Liberate each other

Finally, we need to show each other grace – “cut each other some slack” – during transition. Liberating each other means letting go and treating someone else the same way Jesus treats you. In other words, we shouldn’t lean into legalism or lording mistakes over others. People will make mistakes, and our response should be to recognize that these things will happen. The goal is not to make those who make mistakes feel bad, but rather to let them get over it and move on.

A Letter To God - The Stay At Home Father

Dear Dad,

I left church this morning exciting to find time to write to you.

• NOT because this week had been perfect.
• NOT because I was feeling amazing and was sticking as closely to my food intake as I should.
• NOT because I excercised everyday this week with remarkable results to share.

Simply because I wanted to thank you.

Thank you for not being bound by my wordly thoughts and limited understanding of you.

You are not bound by TIME! You are the "stay at home" father of an only child. I can talk to you anytime of the day or night , for as long as I want, about whatever I want! And like an amazing, perfect father; you listen, are attentive, and responsive.

Responsive??? Like external voices? No. (I do not hear your audible voice! My simple mind could not absorb that! I would be so entranced by your voice I'd miss your message.)

The response is a deep internal understanding, not a verbal yes or no, or "heart-knowledge" or "brain-knowledge", but a soulfull "gut-level" response.

• Sometimes it is reassuring and affirming, that gentle nod from Dad that I've done good, I'm are using my head, and are on the right path.
  
• Sometimes, it is reprimanding and counseling. I know better and need to change course.
  
• Othertimes, when I really want to hear you, when I can't trust myself or you enough to be patient and wait - the response is missing. OK never missing, but man can you take time! I feel sometimes, because you are not bound by time, you forget that I am really bad about binsing myself by this wordly time. A minute...a day...a month - I get impatient! Not because you are not answering, but because I am not taking the time to listen! REALLY listen.

So Dad,

Here I am. I'm listening. I'm taking a breath to let you talk...and I am making the time for you!

I Love You!
Me

Co-Pilot NOT Auto-Pilot

I have added a new additional to my daily devotional - it is http://www.churchrequel.com/
This BLOG is by the Executive Pastor at my church CROSSROADS in Lexington Ohio.
I enjoy his weekly mind dumps!

Here is my comment to him this morning:

Mark,

Thank you again for sharing the mind dump. I have a less kind word for my purging of thoughts - "mind vomit" - I find it very therapeutic.

Here is your comment I would like to speak to:

"I can't relax on medication, diet, or exercise. I want to live for a long time. I want to enjoy family. I want to work for another 20 years. Please, God." - Mark

I was told last week that I have permanent structural damage to my upper and lower spine - this means weight loss is no longer an option, eating well is no longer an option, giving up the couch for a straight back chair is mandatory and sleeping on my back is permanent (with one very tiny pillow). But I am giving it to God - like you I have a lot of life to live for! My God, my family, my friends and myself. I know that I am not disciplined to do this on my own - but I do know that through God all things are possible! - Kym

It is important that I expand on - "through God all things are possible"

This does not me that I do not have a part or responsibility to what happens to me!
I recently spoke with someone who said,"You do the thinking for me, so I don't make the mistakes." This person is waiting for God to move a rock! We are not rocks.
God gave us minds and free will with the hope and expectations we will use them.

When things get difficult or we have made mistakes, we can't just go on "auto-pilot". God wants us on "Co-Pilot"! He wants us on Co-pilot all the time, that when when times get turbulent, co-pilot mode will be natural.

In many cases, we know what needs to be done or we know who to ask for help! The problem is that we let different things "freeze up the controls":

FEAR, PROCRASTINATION, DOUBT, IGNORANCE

None of these dark clouds are of God!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

Know that you can always speak to the Pilot directly! He has given you a manual to fly! Read it, understand it, digest it, so when calamity strikes you can land safely.

Buckle Up and Enjoy the Flight!