New Years Revolutions, anyone?  I don't know about you, but resolutions just don't seem to work for me!

There are (at least) two ways of approaching change. One is, resolve to ... rebel.   Find something undesirable and "rebel" against it.  Commit your energy to fighting it.  Focus on IT until you get IT under control!

Then there is the Revolution.  The Revolution begins when the rebellion wanes and runs out of steam.  You could say that the rebellion prepares you for the Revolution, but sometimes you just need time to reboot and renew.  Then, begin again with new resolve.

Find the right motives.  Are your reasons for doing something emotional?  Emotions change.  Find solid motives, backed by core values and convictions.  This usually leads me to my Creator and His manual, the Bible.

To understand the word Revolution, we go to it's base: to Revolve.  Like the earth revolves around the sun, our focus should be on our Creator, not the behavior itself.  Focusing on the behavior alone tends to discourage us.  We bemoan the fact that we can't do something we want to do.  Then we feel guilty and punish ourselves when we do it anyway.... loosing confidence, all the while.  We need to forgive ourselves and move on.

Put your eyes on God.  He knows you better than you know yourself.  He knows you have failed, but His way is NOT to condemn.  We condemn ourselves and others but HE DOES NOT.  How did He handle, handling our failures?  He sent His Son Jesus down to earth.  He took on human flesh and the sin which controls us and sacrificed His own life for ours.  He took our failures upon Himself.  That's how he handled it.  That sounds like love to me.  How about you?

So, listen for that still, small voice.  Shut out the angry, condemning sounds.  Hear God say:

 
Romans 8:1   "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"

Philippians 4:13    "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Psalm 139:14    "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

You say these things too.  He wants you to agree with Him .... above all others.  So, begin this new year right.  Focus on your Trainer and your Life Coach, God.   He knows you better, yet has more faith in you, than you have in yourself.   Don't be disagreeable.  Just agree with Him and say what He says.  Then move forward and help others along the way! 

What has impressed me the most about the Inauguration process so far is the two soldiers standing, guarding the entrance to the white house where the Obamas met the Trumps.

They (the soldiers) didn't have a chance to decline that mission, just as they don't have a chance to pick and choose demployment. They are there for us and will place their own lives before ours any day.

Thank God for our American soldiers.

I think about our military ....

Combat soldiers fighting side by side, each has the other's back. They go through a hellish boot camp process together where labels no longer stick. They are a part of one unit and learn, come hell or high water, they need to make it through together.  A Soldier recognizes that there is one enemy who desires to take them all out.

I was raised in a Republican family and although I can identify more with that administration, my vote is not reserved for any one party. I feel that both sides represent each other wrongly making false judgements and accusations against each other often.

 I know that we live in a land which is supposed to be, "Of The People" and "By The People" but I think we are now in need of a new clause, which would be best described as:  

In Spite Of The People....

Lead by default if you have to.

Sometimes default lies in the fact that there is no other leadership available.

Sometimes, it means that someone else is more qualified to lead.

Sometimes it means that not everything is "default" of someone else.

Recognizing that simple amazing fact and acting on it, is the greatest act of leadership possible!

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; She can laugh at the days to come ...."

 Next time I can't find the right thing to wear, I will just have to remember that time spent with my Creator does more towards preparing me for my day ahead than an overstuffed closet full of clothes."

Discipline Done Right ....

When I was little, I used to get spankings. I deserved them, mind you! Mom didn't use a whip or spiked belt, just a ruler which she kept over the pantry door. I didn't like it at the time and didn't believe it when she would say,

"I do this because I love you ...."

I didn't grasp that concept until later. Later, when she was giving up her home and furniture, the only item I really cared about was a rocking chair. The one she used to sit and hold me in, after the spankings, when she would always hold me close and say that dreaded sentence,

"I do this because I love you."

I always knew my Mother loved me and that old rocker has held some of my most precious childhood memories!  Love you Mom! In my eyes and in my heart, you definitely got discipline right.

Just thinking .... why does a JOY RIDE by definition, have to be taken dangerously or in a stolen car context? There is little to be joyful for, when it's all said and done and The Piper shows up for payment.

Give me REAL JOY. Sometimes it goes underground to support what I cannot see but it does not take off when I need it the most.

Love that old poster I had on my wall in college. It read:

"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in God, even when He is silent.

You all have a great day!"

Remembering My Friend Bella

Well, I was going to say that falling angel tears froze and became snowflakes but it seems, it was our loss instead of theirs.

Memories can be like rain drops and snow flakes though. Moisture comes down from heaven onto the earth. The sun shines and those little drops of water rise and form new clouds.

These new clouds send back rain onto thirsty land. Sometimes, they delight us with special snowflakes, each one different and unique .....