Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day is a greeting that many will hear.

I would like to thank all those who have served in the armed forces, for all those who were unable to join the military, and have made a difference volunteering and doing something on behalf of others. You are remembered; your choices have made differences, and your actions are appreciated. Thank you!!!!!

Blessed Memorial Day -- as this day is celebrated, most everyone has a long weekend. Picnics are planned, sleep late, travel and move about with ease and most importantly with Freedom. Unless on the lamb and running away from, over the shoulder we do not need to pay attention to.

We as Americans can walk forward, walk toward something, or have the freedom to say, maybe I will turn around to finish something not previously done.

That might be the largest challenge as Americans that we do have - the ability to choose to make a choice. Our lives are the outcome, typically, of our choices. Sometimes our choices are dependent on circumstances that occur. Someone goes through a red light, their choice affects our circumstances. Someone picks up a gun and robs us, their choice affects our circumstances.

And, then our choices continue -- do we choose fear or freedom. Our life is full of choices.

Caution: When making a choice - your choice may have an effect on others. When making a choice perhaps think Freedom for yourself and for others. You have the freedom to drive fast others have the freedom to drive slower. You have the freedom to run others have the freedom to walk or ride in a wheelchair or hobble on crutches. Allowing for your freedom and allow for others to have their freedom. America is the land of choices -- God Bless America!!!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy Easter

Good Friday has passed and Easter is on its way. Easter is full of celebration, and meaning, traditions and love, and new beginnings all around us as it occurs in the season of Spring.

This is the season in the Christian calendar that Jesus is tortured and dies as a man, through our sins. Our sins separate us from God, as they also did with Jesus.

Easter affords us the opportunity to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, which also represents the death of our lives with sin.

Our new life continues to offer new opportunities away from sin. I am doing something new this year, for me. I am singing in our church choir for the Easter services. During a practice session this past week, a choir member mentioned forgiveness and the challenges that humans have with it. She asked how many more lashes did Jesus need to take. Did Jesus need to take 3 more lashes or, perhaps 6, before we can take the steps to forgive. Or perhaps 10 more lashes for us to change another habit or release another negative or sinful thought.

Easter is a season of new beginnings. As we turn our lives over to God, He will forgive us and give us strength.

Happy Easter, happy new day.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Accustomed To Equals What Expect and Allow

Good Morning. It has been some time since I last posted A-Tidbit.

As I have a day job and then all the things that make up a life and living that life have taken precedence. God continues to speak to me and I with Him, and today the words in the title arrived over and over.

What we are accustomed to will be what we allow and what we expect in our lives with ourselves and others.

If we get accustomed to lots of salt on our food, we expect it; then we take steps to ensure we get what we are accustomed to and expect. If not enough salt, we add more.

When we are accustomed to and allow others to treat us badly, that is what typically happens. As when it happens, it is expected and therefore many times we do not turn away from that person or experience.

Occasionally that person is ourselves. When we expect nothing more, we allow less than what is optimal.

This can happen within many of the environments that comprise our lives, and with some large, and very visible and obvious to others minute and miniscule.

Suggestion: Allow what you want rather than what you are accustomed to. Allow yourself to begin, to try, to take a step. Allow yourself to listen to God, or perhaps to listen for God.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Love is......

Happy Saturday, today. Happy Sunday, tomorrow. Happy Monday and Happy Tuesday, which happens to be February 14, 2012 - St. Valentine's Day.

Each day, not just Tuesday, is perfect for love.

I make this wish for all - Happy Valentine's Day and best wishes for adding much love in all of our days before and each day after Tuesday.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year - It lays out before us, 2012,

as an open palette, a book with empty pages. Many have made New Year's Resolutions, many have gone back to work and many, like myself, head back tomorrow. My thoughts a few minutes ago touched upon the possible vastness, the choices to make, the myriad of possibilities and many opportunities that lay within the days that will unfold in 2012.

Suggestion: I have decided to live each day to it's best, it's fullest. Not living it as it is my last. Not knowing if tomorrow will come; yet, being open to it being there. Making choices today to allow tomorrow to grow and prosper and be better than today.

Happy New Year EVERYONE!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Merry Christmas - Happy New Year - Happy Holidays

Love, Love, and Love --- This thought came to me again recently. I would so truly love to have this feeling every day about everything; however, I am human as we all are who are reading this.

I was driving from the local train station parking lot recently, feeling frustrated at this city's parking lot traffic jam. And, compared to many cities of its size and larger, it more aptly would be described as a traffic snarl. Within minutes the car was untangled and back on the streets as I was heeding to traffic lights, merging lanes and what I considered more normal challenges, obstacles and scenarios. For what amounted to only a couple minutes, I was very unloving, and feeling very unloved.

And, this was just before Christmas. Missed wishing you all a Merry Christmas - so I do that now within the holiday season still. Sincere best wishes for a very Happy New Year and truly delightful Holiday Season, with hopes that it will continue and last the whole year long.

It likely won't, as we begin again the year 2012 and the day to day minutia that begins to take over that can get me, at least, so involved and so distracted from that love feeling, that love response.

Suggestion: For me and others who may have a similar challenge. Keep that word in front of me at all times. Begin the day with it - have lunch with it - and before get in the car, repeat it multiple times. Then treat it like the verb that it is. Act upon it each and every day. With myself and with others.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Needs -- are they, and maybe so

Is a new microwave needed? That question will be answered eventually, as it sounded like a jet plane this morning. My first thought was to add that to my days agenda. Time to get a new microwave. Then I thought, what would life be like without it.

This can happen with just about anything. Relationships can fade away - something like this blog. A Tidbit blogs don't appear on schedule, they happen as God provides a thought.

When a friendship or a relationship changes from "normal" or friendships takes on a different time frame. Do you walk away or check in periodically to see what is really happening. Another possibility is to panic and react immediately.

Patience continues to be a learning experience for me. It was sweet to hear the kettle whistle this morning with water ready for foo foo coffee. Also, understand it can reheat food, thaw food and some people cook with them. For me, it may simply mean one less object needing to be cleaned.

Suggestion: Nice time of year to check in with what we need, truly need. Unlike things that have become a habit. It may take re-evaluating the steps for getting up and all steps until ready to leave for work. Those habits that we fall into. Going to begin creating a list of true needs this weekend. As I've blogged before a lot can happen within the two minutes that it takes to heat water in the microwave. A whistle or a buzzer - interesting thought.