It is Well

There is something about the outdoors that just opens my heart, clears my mind and expands my perspective. When I find myself overwhelmed, overworked or just plain worn out and weary, I always find my way to the shoreline. Whether I'm sitting in my car or walking along the road, something about the warm sun, soft breeze, the waves, the birds, it all calms my soul.

All these parts form together to create something so beautiful, a picture of all God is in my life and in my heart. The awe, the wonder, the grace, the order and the perfection. It all works together for our enjoyment, for our pleasure.

In the confine of my home, job or even church, life seems limited. In that moment all I know is what I can see.

But when I get out, when I get into the open air, the space He created, the water He spoke into existence, the waves that yield to His command, the birds He feeds, the flowers He clothed, the sun He spun into motion. It’s in that moment I am reminded that He is big, He is strong, He is limitlessness, He is God and He is mine.  

When I get out, out of my own comfortable space and familiar surroundings, it’s then that I see Him most, I feel Him closest and I hear Him clearest.

God, you are with me and because of that, it is well.

"How do you stay so positive?"

Somebody recently asked me, "How do you stay so positive?" It was such a sweet question because deep down, I felt like it was a compliment as well. Me? Positive? Thankful that my actions and attitude bring encouragement and discouragement, I said, three simple words. 

"It's a choice"

You see, I've realized something, if I choose I wait for something "good" to happen in order to be positive, I could be waiting a while. And even then, under the best of circumstances, they are fickle at best and who knows how long that moment will last. We've all had those days that start off well and by mid morning you're wondering how everything derail so quickly. 

Life happens, and things aren't always great, but I've decided in my own mind that I can't wait for a reason to be positive, I have to just do it. 

Choose to see the best in a situation. 

Choose to react with love and not lash out in anger. 

Choose to see my full life as a blessing and not a burden.

Choose to see your need as an opportunity to GROW rather than evidence of past or future failures. 

Most of all, choose to be grateful. I've heard it said "Gratitude is the best attitude" and quite honestly, I don't think it could be any more true. 

When you CHOOSE to be grateful you switch your attention from wanting to thanking, from frustrated to focused, from fickle to fixed. 

We live in a society where complaining is just "venting" and celebrating is bragging. 

That's fine for others, but for me I choose to stop complaining and start celebrating. 

Thank God I have a job to go to.

Thank God I have a daughter who gets into everything & turns my house upside down. 

Thank God I've been blessed with such an awesome husband, even if he leaves his shoes everywhere. 

Thank God I have clothing piled up into massive piles of laundry, so many others have nothing. 

Every moment presents a choice, what you decide is ultimately up to you. I guess there's no right or wrong but, I'll tell you this, since I switched my thinking from complaining to celebrating my life has been happier, fuller and more fulfilling then it ever was. 

Not because I have everything I want, or my life is absent of problems, but because I choose to live with my heart postured towards gratitude and rather than having a bad attitude. 

If you don't believe me, take a chance today. Make the CHOICE to see things differently. Make a CHOICE to remain positive in difficult  situations. 

I've heard it said that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of what you make of it. 

What will you make of your life? 

The choice is yours. 

Boundaries

The thing about boundaries is that before they can be respected, the have to be established. 

Sometimes you have to stop, think and draw the line. If you don't, who will? 

Ladies, as the heart of your household, it's important that you set limitations, especially relationally and emotionally. Men, as the protector and provider of your household, you too should strive for boundaries. Whether it be physical, financial or spiritual, boundaries are healthy and necessary. 

Life without boundaries is chaotic. A selfish person will make you feel badly for the boundaries you have in place, a wise person will honor and admire them. 

I'll probably blog about this in more depth over the next coming weeks, until then, what are your thoughts on boundaries? Do you set them? Do you respect them?