Flowers for Me

The other day I had a thought (as I often do) and I wanted to send myself flowers.  

Not flowers from a florist (although that would be nice) but flowers sent to my MIND!

A beautiful bouquet of lovely, fragrant.... flowers.

Ummmmm I thought, what would I like.  I thought of various bouquets but came up with choosing Hydrangea.  Why, I don't know.  

But just filling my "mind" "thoughts  "BRAIN!" with flowers was a powerful  thing.  Suddenly I invoke wonderful feeling that sent a message through out my body.  So, lovely!  

It's true that we live in a world that is bombarded with negative, ugly words being flung on us.  Yes, from the news on TV, things we hear while at a restaurant or shopping.  At work, on the phone.... we are bombarded in our minds with other peoples WORDS.

So, I think sending a lovely bouquet of flowers into the portals of my mind is wonderful!

I had to google just now the "meaning" associated with the flowers I choose.  There is a deep understanding I have in the symbolism of things we choose.  

So, pick a flower to send to yourself!  Enjoy!
 

Meaning of Hydrangea   

  

Japanese Legend

According to a Japanese legend, a proud emperor used a bouquet of hydrangeas as an apology to the family of a girl with whom he was in love. Ever after, the flowers have served as a representation of heartfelt feelings, whether of joy or sadness, says the website Flower-Choice.com.

The Language of Flowers

Although one meaning of the hydrangea in the Victorian language of flowers was that of coldness and heartlessness, the flower could also say "thank you for understanding."

Negative Connotations

Hydrangea can also have other, less flattering meanings. Perhaps because of its showy beauty, it is sometimes thought to symbolize boastfulness and vanity.

The hydrangea has magical properties as well. According to folklore, if a witch put a curse on an unlucky man or woman the hydrangea could be used to break the curse.

Hummmm?????  I wonder why I picked Hydrangea's.  Oh, well I made me pleasantly happy sending my Brain these flowers.

Salute!  

My Prayer

The other morning as I woke and stretch my mouth to form a big smile and then began my attempted  "habit" to speak Thanksgiving to the Lord for being alive, 

This verse came to me and I began to quote: 

                                Psalms 23 (memorized in Sunday School as a little girl).

As I laid in bed thinking a bout the words, I became curious about the meaning behind a prayer that calls my Lord (Jesus) my Shepherd.  I was most curious about the Rod and Staff.

Later, I had the chance to google  "Rod and Staff".  What I read touched my heart.

I've said before in my blogs that I'm very visual and I learn by "stories" (like parables in the bible).

The following is Psalms 23 and then some excerpts from what I found the Shepherd's duties in caring for His Sheep.  Even know I don't think that the word "duty" and "caring" belong in the same sentence.  At least not when it's calling Jesus the Shepard.  The proof of His love is in his willingness to Die for our sins.  (a brutal death).

Since I found this truth about the Shepherd guarding, guiding and caring for his sheep, I have found a deeper peace in the face of concerns, worries or challenges.

I pray you hear and then take into your heart this same truth.  

We have a Shepherd that is watching over us.  Stop thinking (talking to me) that I'm in control of my situations. 

 I'm only in control of my choices!! 

I choose to LISTEN to my Shepherds Voice

I choose to allow my Shepherd to lead me

I choose to not be anxious since HE is PROTECTING ME, Guiding me, Leading me..... Providing for me.

I Trust my Shepherd

When a disturbing thought (worry, anxiety, concern) comes into my head I then picture I'm in a beautiful Green pasture.  There beside me is my Savior (Shepherd).  The sky is blue... the breeze is soft and I am at peace.

Salute!  To your health and wellness too

Psalm 23

 ¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 ²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 ³He restoreth my soul: 

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 ⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil: 

for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 ⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

found at: www.antipas.org
When the shepherd is afield with his flock in the high country, it is customary for him to carry a minimum of equipment. This was especially true in olden times where the sheepmen did not have the benefit of mechanized equipment to transport camp supplies across the rough country.


The rod was what he relied on to safeguard both himself and his flock in danger. And it was, furthermore, the instrument he used to discipline and correct any wayward sheep that insisted on wandering away.

...an interesting sidelight on the word "rod" ... the slang term "rod" has been applied to hand-guns such as pistols and revolvers which were carried by cowboys, and other western rangement. The connotation is exactly the same as that used in this Psalm.


We turn now to discuss and consider the shepherd's staff. In a sense, the staff, more than any other item of his personal equipment, identifies the shepherd as a shepherd. No one in any other profession carries a shepherd's staff. It is uniquely an instrument used for the care and management of sheep -- and only sheep. It will not do for cattle, horses or hogs. It is designed, shaped and adapted especially to the needs of sheep.

The staff is essentially a symbol of the concern, the compassion that a shepherd has for his charges. No other single word can better describe its function on behalf of the flock than that it is for their "comfort."


...the staff is used by the shepherd to reach out and catch individual sheep, young or old, and draw them close to himself for intimate examination. The staff is very useful this way for the shy and timid sheep normally tend to keep at a distance from the shepherd.

The staff is also used for guiding sheep. Again and again I have seen a shepherd use his staff to guide his sheep gently into a new path or through some gate or along dangerous, difficult routes. He does not use it actually to beat the beast. Rather, the tip of the long slender stick is laid gently against the animal's side and the pressure applied guides the sheep in the way the owner wants it to go. Thus the sheep is reassured of its proper path.

Being stubborn creatures sheep often get into the most ridiculous and preposterous dilemmas. I have seen my own sheep, greedy for one more mouthful of green grass, climb down steep cliffs where they slipped and fell into the sea. Only my long shepherd's staff could lift them out of the water back onto solid ground.

A Dog Returns to its Vomit OR Fail when you lost your balance and Fell

Side NOTE:

While writing this blog I started with "a dog returns to its vomit" but then saw the other truth that was being laid before me about balance; fell / fail

so I've kept them both since they came to my mind

From  Rudyard Kipling poem 

The dog returns to its vomit  

'The Gods of the Copybook Headings'

This was taken from the Bible verses

Proverbs 26  

¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

2 Peter 2  

²² Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, 

"A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

It occurred to me last week these scriptures, as I "fell" down by not doing what I knew is right (not exercising and eating some unhealthy foods).
 Thank God, I didn't fall completely. Most of the time I ate healthy.

Ahhh, I used the   word "fell" - a key to truth.

Funny how the words  fell and fail sound the same. 


  African Proverbs                
 "Do not look where you fell but where you  slipped" 
 Charles F. Kettering             
" Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail"

You fall when you are not balanced.

You are only truly balanced when you up hold up all three entities of Self:
                                     Body, Mind and Spirit.

I found myself in an environment  that I for the past 2 decades have enjoyed once a year.  It includes playing, eating and relaxing.  All good things except when they are met with poor choices.   Let me get to the punch line:  I ate some "crap".  There I said it.  Some Potato chips and a hot dog....

Now, you say "so what".   Once in a while that's ok.
Ahhh, but I also had some Cake too !
But  again you say,  "ah, so what"  "what's a little cake once in a while".

You just don't GET IT!

If you are a recovering Alcoholic or Cigarette smoker, do you think you can have just ONE?

BAD, is BAD, is BAD.  Returning to your folly!  Like a Dog returns to its vomit.

Again, you may say that's going overboard.  Is it?  Let me ask you this:  What is your Cholesterol Levels?  What is your Blood Sugar readings?  What is your BMI?
Can you Run an mile?   Are you on maintenance medications for your blood pressure or thyroid? How's your Bowels?  Those who are in amazing shape in their 50's that can say they're in Great Shape probably, just probably do not eat Chips, Hot Dogs and Cake.

Ok, I'm exaggerating.  But truly.   GET it together in your Mind.  What are you doing about your health?

Amazing how those (nay Sayers) will say "what's wrong with just one cookie"
"I splurge on a frozen yogurt"  "are you really going to give up food you enjoy?"

Romans 8

⁸Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

¹³For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 

For me (maybe not you)  I see a direct correlation between food and God.

Crazy isn't it!  

Food that doesn't bring health to my body is not a healthy Choice.

I'm not saying eating cheesecake is a sin but if you can't say NO to a piece of cheesecake knowing it's not a healthy choice than it's a close to sin as you can get.   What if I said it's ok to have one night of sex with a stranger once in a while. Or ok to steal once in a while.  

I know that eating cake isn't breaking one of the 10 commandments, but.

If you have health issues... and being over weight IS A HEALTH RISK. Then eating fatty, sugar laden foods is a sin for YOU.  You have NO business eating a bag of M&M's once in a while.  Trust me, if your over weight it's not because you eat some sweets once in a while, is it?

Point is I found in this past year that I'm controlled by my desires to please ME with food.  Food is my method of soothing my disappointments, unhappiness... discontent, frustrations.  

Eating unhealthy foods or TOO much foods (healthy or not healthy) is  a symptom of an unbalanced life.  

  

This is my battle.  Self Will?  Self Discipline?  Self Self Self.   

My failure is that I have attempted to deny myself food that I find brings me pleasure. AH HA!  that is the KEY.  My pleasure should be in my relationships.

My pleasure should be in things that bring me life, joy and HEALTH!

I want to be at a place where Strawberry pie brings me NO PLEASURE because it it FULL of Refined Sugar laden in a White processed flour crust that was mixed with "Crisco"!  

I want my pleasure to be food's that meet my need not my lust.  Like a Bowl of Juicy Red Strawberries.  Knowing their natural sweetness is a blessing to my body since their rich in vitamins and nutrients that feed my body.

Don't you get it!   It's not about a DIET.  It's not about denying yourself foods that you "like". Not about counting carbs and calories...

It's about balancing my MIND (what I know is healthy for me) and my Spirit (denying those things that are harmful to my body) and my Body (feeding my body life giving foods). 

BALANCE!  

Go ahead and try it again.  Some crazy diet where you count Carbs, or Sugars, or Fat's.  Some crazy diet that promises lose 21 pounds in 21 days.  Some crazy diet that never addresses the real issues of why YOUR FAT.  Millions of books about how to lose weight. Hundreds of choices how to lose weight.  THEN, I ask WHY ARE People fat?

I'll tell you (can you hear me screaming)

                     Your fat because you have NO balance in your life. Amen

Go ahead start a " the latest new diet"

I truly believe those that keep their weight off did it because they found something deeper than a diet.  

Again,

I "fell" during this vacation week because I didn't balance my day.  I didn't keep my chosen routine. 

I had some Unhappiness at moments due to a situation I can't change. 

Also, I've seen in certain social settings I'm vulnerable.

Making Life Style Changes takes practice.

When you fall down - GET UP, brush yourself off and Get up and back on the Road.

I know, that I know that I know what I need to do to keep balanced.

Wake every morning and "plaster a big Smile on my face"

Wake every morning acknowledging my Creator and speaking those words of 

    faith and thanksgiving to Him.

Wake every morning giving my Day to serving Him not Me.

Journalize or Blog every morning - speaking truth that is ROOTED in the Word of 

     God.

Stretching and exercising every day my BODY, my MIND and my SPIRIT!
Choose FOOD that are LIFE giving!  Water myself! HA HA 

I have to keep in mind I have a "sinful nature"  a curse from the Garden of Eden.   

             

I have to choose every day to be controlled by HIS SPIRIT.  

I have to choose everyday whom I will serve.

I have to choose everyday to think about what I'm Thinking:     

Philippians 4:8  

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I have to consciously CHOOSE today my choices on how to spend my time, what to feed my body and what I'm thinking.

I don't want to return to what I threw up, gave up.... purged myself of...
  ran away from.


  I want to  

focus on  where  I "slipped" not where I fell (fail)  

              

  BALANCE  take focus and strength  

                  My   focus        is in HIM 

                 My  strength  is in HIM

Salute!  To your health and wellness

  

    

   

A storm is on the horizon

When you hear the warning's and see the dark horizon.. feel the air change around you... when you can almost smell danger around the corner


         It's hit all 5 senses and dahhhh?
                      what else do you need before you prepare for the storm.


Maybe there has been too many times when the weather reported a "big storm coming" and then only a few sprinkles hit.


Maybe you're walking on faith that you'll be protected and safe.


Maybe you're just stupid and have been lucky in the past.


PREPARE


Prepare your heart, your mind and your world.  


Live in the moment, but take action.  This time maybe you won't be so lucky.


If it doesn't hit... it'll be a great relief 


PREPARE


Salute!

Detox Yourself

I had wrote  (few blogs ago) 
about how we every morning pick up our bag  and get back on the road.


Two thoughts on this. 


First is the "bag".  Yes, we ALL have bag(s) to carry.  (unless your Christ)
What is in your bag?  Before you quickly answer think: You and I need to go to the Lord and have him stand looking in to what's in the bag(s) with us.  
Time for real honesty when we're held accountable.    


Our culture is so taken up with "detoxing" our bodies.  How about "detoxing" our minds and spirits.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  DETOXING TIME!


If you think of Love, Joy, Peace, Forgiveness, honesty, thoughtfulness, kindness, giving, sacrificing... la la la  as Flowers 
I'd pick:  Roses for Love, 
                 Daisies for Joy, 
                 maybe Lilacs for Peace
                 Etc 


Then if you think of Fear, hate, un-forgiveness, bitterness, resentment, retaliation as disgusting smelling stuff 
I'd pick:  Fear as onions
                 Hate as rotting meat
                 Un-forgiveness as the smelly socks from a basketball player with 
                      foot fungus (yikes!)
                Etc....


Seriously, no joke.  It's true!  
Take a look in your bag(s).  The one you carry every day.   How is it you don't smell what's happening inside the bag.  Do you really think those you walk next to on the road don't get a whiff of what's happening in the bag?  Or like most of us (me included) we attempt to just cover up any smell of anger, resentment or un-forgiveness with an ARTIFICIAL perfumed spray (faking that we're ok inside)  


 Sad but true - we all carry baggage.  
Sad but true, sometimes we're so use to the smell of our bag that we don't notice it.  Hey, I know.... it's like the story of the college students that stuck an old fish in one of the dorm rooms as a trick.  The Students  sleeping in the room never noticed the stench  that they slept with all night long until they left the room in the morning and  then returned.  TRUE!  

I just love the fact that Jesus told stories (parables) to help people understand God's truth.

I'm very visual in my learning and when I hear a story or see a picture, I the "get it".

Then think about "ORGANIC".  Yes, food's that are Organic (Free of pesticides and chemicals).   How about putting "organic thoughts" into our minds and spirits.

Just a thought! 

The journey I've been on is all about "finding health and wellness".  

The signs on my road have been illuminated as I've been seeking GOD TO HELP ME!  The signs have said 

"hey you there..... pay attention to your mind and soul too!" 

I've heard this again and again: 

"If you spent more time on the health of your mind and spirit... 

YOUR BODY 

will become healthy too!"

Ephesians 4:31-32  

³¹GET RID of all bitterness, rage and anger,

 brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, 

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you

"GET RID".... easy to say, not so easy to do.  That is when attempt to do it with your own strength.  Only the Christ in use can just "get rid" of these emotions.  We have to first make the choice to "get rid" of them... then draw strength from the Lord.  We are of sinful nature.  A lot of times we CHOOSE to harbor, hang on to.... Keep these emotions in our bag!  Why, because we feel justified to be angry, bitter.... etc.  

We may use the excuse... they (the person it's directed to) doesn't deserve anything less than my anger.  They don't deserve my forgiveness.  

Ahhhh, time to detox.  All those toxic emotions really only STINK UP YOUR BAG!  In fact they turn into a rotting garbage that then starts to ROT your beautiful flowers.

(another story example... I think I need a felt board like we had in Sunday school... oooh ya, I like that idea)

Your emotions  are like a bowl of fruit.  When one piece of fruit begins to rot... the good fruit around it also begin to rot from the contact with the bad piece.

Ok, Picture taken, shown and done with.  

Oh won't you open up your bag and take a good look inside.  Take out the articles one by one.  Exam them before you put them back inside.  The stuff (thoughts/emotions) that are toxic... place them before the Lord and ask God for the strength to "Get Rid" of them. 

                                              Toxic thoughts ARE MAKING YOU SICK! 

For your Mind and Spirit choose to:

       Detox your Mind and Spirit and choose Organic thoughts     

Your BODY is a reflection of your Mind and Spirit!

Salute!  To your health and wellness

Something wonderful Happened

Psalm 63: 1-5

                                A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

¹ O God, you are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

When you arrive at the destination  where you are more consumed with what you'll feed your spirit than what you feed your face.... you will FIND what ALL men seek.  Love, Peace, Joy.... freedom to live as God Created Man to live.   Everyday we pack up our "baggage" and step onto a road WE choose.  We may think we know where we are headed but clearly we make choices to choose roads that do not lead us the destination we say we are seeking.  We get distracted and turn corners, make U Turns.... Ignore the Signs on the road that say, Stop, Yield, One way..... This way to the Emerald City! (hahaha)

This morning I looked back at the very first Blog I wrote APRIL 2009.  Then I read that January 1st 2009  is when I started my 21 Day's to Health and Wellness.  Here I am today, still needing to make the right choices BUT the WAR inside myself that I had experienced most of my life has been WON!  

Yes, there are some small fights BUT NOT A WAR.  And as David said as he stood before the Giant with only a sling shot and 5 small pebbles.  That was after Saul gave David his own armor. David could hardly move. But, he didn't need  the "carnal way" to fight the enemy. No, HE just needed his Faith in GOD.. HE just needed to believe in His Savior.  BUT, HE had to take action!  Surely, God could have taken a lighting bolt to kill the Giant.  But God shows us through this Powerful Story that the youngest, smallest man stood up to a Giant when HE was obedient and followed the Lords directions. It only took FAITH to have the courage to TAKE action and kill the Giant.  

I have learned that I need to take Action, 

drawing direction, strength and courage 

from the Word of God and My Relationship the My Savior

The Lord has revealed to me during this Quest, Journey... whatever you want to call it... so many Truths about my LIFE.

If I could sum up the foundation of what I have learned about what I've been chasing all these years,

 it would be this scripture verse Psalms 63: 1-5 

 HE is My God... HE is My Creator.  When I read my instruction manual, when I review how I was made and for the purpose I was made.... IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

I've been fooled just like EVE all those years.  Seeking to be my OWN God.  Trying to do it MY WAY. Forgetting or maybe wanting to ignore the call of my Savior to let HIM meet me and present to me ALL that will satisfy my Soul.

Everyday I now choose to NOT BITE THE APPLE (figuratively of course).  I walk through the Garden seeking HIM who created me. 

 And Oh, the Joy that floods my SOUL.  

Something  wonderful Happened and Know I know

HE TOUCHED ME and made me WHOLE! 

 (wonderful Hymn by Audrey Myers)

Salute!  To your Health and Wellness