Archive for the ‘Become a Better You’ Category
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Happy Sunday, everyone! What a glorious day. It sure beat out the dark and dismal cold and snowy days of our previous weekends. So, what’s with the title, you ask? It is one of my favorite hymns, and it has been running through my head since church this morning.
“I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free. For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.” You see I am always looking for how God wants to use me to bring more to his saving grace and to make a difference in someone’s life. I don’t believe in coincidences, so when I have a wonderful and positive encounter with a stranger, I know that God is using me. I know that if we keep trusting in him and singing His songs, others will catch on.
If you ever have a moment when you feel like GOD can’t use YOU, just remember that Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was afraid, Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was prostitute, Job went bankrupt, Peter denied Crist, the Disciples fell asleep while praying, and Lazarus was dead! So, no more excuses; God will use you to your full potential if you let him. Afterall, you are not the message, just the messenger.
I am a birdwatcher, a birder, whatever the term should be. I sing because I am a happy birdwatcher when the sparrows are singing at the bird feeders in my backyard. God Bless!
Touch Of Blue
“The bluebird carries the sky on his back”. Henry David Thoreau
It was a gray mornning, I tried to find blue skies, and they just weren’t there. The temperatures are rising though and the enormous piles of snow are disappearing leaving in their wake a glimpse of green grass.
As I peered out the sliding glass door watching the starlings decimate a new suet cake in the suet feeder, I was dreaming of the blue skies of spring, and how it is time to get out some the decorative bird houses that have been stored inside for the winter. Then, out of nowhere came two eastern bluebirds. They landed on the mealworm feeder, and I couldn’t help but be brought from my dreams to the reality of Thoreau’s words. There was the blue sky that I had been looking for so desperately. It was carried on the backs of the two little bluebirds. It became a ray of sunshine that set the tone for my entire day.
Hope you are having a great day!
Building Nests In Your Hair
You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. Chinese Proverb
Chinese proverbs are filled with profound wisdom. This one churned up memories of when the birds of sorrow found their way into my life. Do you let them build nests in your hair? They played havoc with my mood, my productivity, my relationships, my job - every aspect of my life.
Are you letting the birds of sorrow spread dark clouds on your day - your life? Wanna know what my anticdote is? Gratitude. I think of everything I can for which I am grateful. I name them, and thank God for them. Then I play music - happy music. I take the controls and choose my mood.
Try it - it works when you focus on the good and the positive - the good and positive are the outcome!!
Try birdwatching. Grab the binoculars and go for a walk. Listen to there glorious and happy songs of the birds. Choose your mood for the day and make it a happy one.
Had To Laugh At This
“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” - Robert Lynd
Why did I have to laugh, you ask? The birds aren’t doing much building right now - not yet, but they are being very enterprising. It has been snowing here all day, and they have been digging dilligently all day at the window bird feeder to remove the snow and at the platform feeder to get down under the snow to get to their food.
Seems, that once they find their food source, they just keep on coming back. However, I will not agree on this day that they have left the landscape as it was - just not so at all!
Spread Your Wings
“He who has imagination without learning, has wings and no feet.” Joseph Joubert
Imagination: Webster defines it as, “the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality; creative ability and the creation of the mind”.
I have used the quote and the definition before because I think it is imperative that we all allow the God-given creativity to run rampid. Did you ever let your imagination go a little wild - let the creative juices flow? I think we all have. It’s when we have the vision and don’t follow through that we crash and burn. The wings spread wide, we take off, and then at the first sign of turbulence come tumbling down.
We have a couple of choices after the crash. I choose to pick myself off, brush myself off and spread those wings again, taking with me the lessons learned from the previous failures. The alternative, well, I won’t even go there right now, as I am imagining a week filled with challenges and new beginnings, a wonderful walk in the woods with my binoculars, a trip to the ice rink with my grandchildren where I will see some bird species that don’t regularly visit my hopper bird feeder, and a glorious day on Thursday and Friday even though there is a snow storm in the forecast- spread those wings!!
It Is All In The Way We Perceive It
The news headlines still seem focused on the economy. It is so easy for all of us to lose sight of some the promises that have been made to us. Yesterday, when it all seemed to be caving in on me, and I needed the solace of His Word, I received this passage in an email. It was if it dropped in on the wings of an eagle:
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life– whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:25-33
Today, as I watched the cardinals feeding at the platform feeder at daybreak, I counted my many blessings and said thanks. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Mirrors Of The Mind
How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrows of the mind. They reflect thinking. David J. Schwartz, Trainer & Author
Have you looked at the All-weather bird feeder yet? It is available in both 4 and 6 quart. As bird feeders go, it is super at this time of year because of the large capacity. It functions as a tube bird feeder, but it does not require frequent filling.
And, it can satisfy a lot of your backyard friends in one sitting.
Inspiration
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Lanston Hughes
What an awesome thought. And the best part is we can choose to hold on to them. So next chance you get, grab your binoculars and focus on the birds in flight around you, and follow them into your dreams.
Just A Thought
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” Charles Swindoll, Author & Pastor
So, with that thought, choose to make it a joyful weekend. Take a walk in the park, the woods or just around the block. Fill all of you bird feeders and don’t forget to check the suet supply and the water in the heated bird bath.
Have an awesome weekend!
Counting My Blessings Again
Where does the news media get the stuff they report, anyway? I sometimes think they are living on another planet. They are doing their jobs, I guess. I just wonder how long it will take them to get it right. They keep telling us that the econmy is improving. Can’t prove that by me. I spent time over the holidays serving meals to a room full of 164 people who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. They still don’t. The holidays are over and their nightmare is still happening. More than half of the 160 people we fed didn’t know where they were going to sleep that night. Some of them were families with children.
Last year we served 81 people. That means the numbers have more than doubled in 12 months - but wait, the economy is improving - isn’t it? Actually, we are feeding them again next week and I am told that there will be 181 people. That is a 10% increase in less than one month.
I have not found new full time employment, so next year, I could even be one of them. I doubt it, but I bet not too many of them expected to be where they are either. I am sitting in my heated great room with my laptop on my lap feeling quite grateful, counting my blessings with worries? Yes, but I do know where my next meal will come from.
My fine feathered friends are well fed right now too. For how long, I cannot tell you. I am doing this one day at a time. But I was thanked royally this afternoon by two house finches who were looking through the window as they enjoyed their feast at the window bird feeder. Yes, I am counting my blessings again. I hope you do every day too. There are indeed a growing number of our friends and neighbors who have some challenges to get through yet before taking on an attitude of gratitude. Thank you, Lord.