Storm Clouds {Day 20}

Today I'm joining up with the folks over at Inspire Me Mondays where we post something positive to start off our work week. Since Monday is my least favorite day of the week, it's easy for me to be negative. But I've chosen for over a year now to find the good, the beautiful, the positive on Mondays. I hope you'll join me in doing the same!

This morning started off looking like it was going to be a nice day. The sunrise was beautiful, the sky a lovely light pink as the sun rose over the hills. (Not that I was up to see the sunrise, but I did see the effects it left.)

But soon those pink skies let way to dark storm clouds. The rain came off and on throughout the day. Not a downpour but a steady, drizzly rain. It disappeared for a while, giving way to a clear night sky with a few storm clouds on the horizon.

This evening on my drive home, the skies lit up with lightning, indicating another storm was on it's way. Along with the lightning I witnessed the brightest, most beautiful falling star!

It's days like today that remind me that there is still joy to be found in the midst of the storm.

For the past 20 days I've been writing every single day for the #write31days challenge. My posts always hold a hint of what I'm going through in life, but never do they divulge the whole story. Maybe one day. But for now, it's enough to know that life is stormy.

But there's joy in the middle of it all.

There's hope and peace and light and love.

Whatever life throws, it's going to be OK. Like the quote says below, "it may be stormy now, but it never rains forever."

Photo credit: My Dear Valentine

When your life is stormy, what gives you hope to keep going?

This is Day 20 of my 31 Days of Simply Writing series. If you're just joining me, feel free to go back and read from the beginning! Also, if you like what you read and don't want to miss another post, please subscribe to my blog to have them delivered straight to your inbox. Thanks for reading! :)

Happy & Blessed {Day 6}

Photo Credit: Mike Foster of POTSC

Mondays suck.

That was my mantra for years while I wrote post after post for the Manic Monday Challenge. Truthfully, I still hate Mondays. But I've learned to find the positive in them. There's always something beautiful and good lurking around the corner. You just have to look for it.

Today while I was wasting time online at lunch, I stumbled across the above image from Mike Foster of POTSC (People of the Second Chance) on Instagram. THIS is what I want my Monday Mantra to be!

It's Monday.

I'm happy.

I'm blessed.

God is going to do amazing things this week.

You know what? It's so true. Yes, it's Monday, and Monday's suck. BUT...

While I'm not 100% of the time happy-go-lucky, for the most part, I'm happy. 

Even in the darkest of days, when I don't even want to crawl out of bed or open my eyes, I'm blessed.

And though I have no idea what God's got up His sleeve, I know He's going to do amazing things this week!

If I think about it, God's already done so much today! I'm still breathing. Still have a job. My husband and I are still together and haven't had a fight yet today. My mind is still able to process things logically and creatively, so much so that my fingers are able to tap out these words on a keyboard so that all you lovely folks can read these words!

His mercies are new every morning, and I'm so so so grateful.

Mondays and I may not get along, but today I embrace the truth that "I'm happy. I'm blessed. God is going to do amazing things this week."

Amen?

AMEN.

How was your Monday? If you hate Mondays as much as I do, what do you do to find the good/beautiful/positive/etc things about the day?

For the whole month of October I'm joining up with hundreds of others who are writing every single day on a specific topic! Head on over HERE to read through some amazing posts. You won't regret it, I promise. :)

Choosing To Be Fruity

In case you haven't noticed, I took a little break from blogging the past couple of weeks. Not for any real reason except that I chose not to blog. I chose to do something else on Monday nights. Nothing exciting, just something different.

The past two weeks have really given me time to think and reflect. This past week especially as I've had a lot of alone time. 

While I've had no grand revelations or anything of the sort, the time alone has been good for me. It has given me opportunity to do things I've not done in a while or at all. For instance, inviting my mom over for dinner and spending quality time with her. Or like making Indian food for dinner this evening.

The time alone has given me plenty to think about, especially about my choices. A lot about what I write about in these "Manic Monday" posts is about choosing to find the good and positive things around us on Mondays (or any day, really). For the most part, I follow my own advice - I consistently try to see the beauty that surrounds me.

But there is more to choice than simply finding the beautiful in life.

The Bible describes what the life of a spirit-filled Jesus follower looks like in several different passages. Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives the picture of one who loves, is kind, gentle, patient, faithful, good. Someone who doesn't get easily angered or keep a long list of wrongs.

This person should be consistently choosing to be...

selfless

kind

patient

gentle

faithful

good

All things (and more) I've failed to choose over and over again. Especially in the relationships that matter most to me. 

And that makes me sad.

Yet I want this realization to make me more than sad! I want my heart to be broken so that I no longer continue making selfish choices. I want the Holy Spirit to fill me so full of Him that I ooze patience, kindness, and goodness. That love is the center of all that I am.

Funny thing is, I have to choose to allow the Holy Spirit to work in me. Each and every day as situations arise, it's my choice how I'll respond. Just as fruit cannot grow without first being planted, then watered, and even pruned, neither can I produce the fruit of the Spirit until I've been planted and given the ability to grow.

So today I choose to once again allow the Holy Spirit to work in me. To respond with kindness and goodness rather than anger. To be patient even when my patience is running thin. To forgive and forget, or at least, not throw it back in someone's face.

Do you think allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life is a choice? If so, how has He been working in your life lately? 

Tragedy into Triumph

Mondays suck. 

Today is no different. 

Work was crazy busy. 

My husband is sick but he's on the mend. 

Then there's the awful devastation in Oklahoma that's all over the news. 

Pain and suffering in the world makes my heart ache. It causes me to doubt and question. My mind reels at the possibility that a good God allows so much evil in this world. 

Despite the doubt, beyond the questions, there is hope. 

Hope that God is there, His own heart aching with the families in Oklahoma. As they grieve and mourn, so does He. 

Hope that when they pray for comfort and strength, He offers Himself. 

Hope that He will turn tragedy into triumph. 

Hope that someday soon, He will make something beautiful out of the rubble. 

On this terrible Monday, my heart and prayers go out to the families in Oklahoma. Will you join me?

Monday Motivation

Mondays suck.

We all know it.

And no one is truly ever happy about it.

But let's not dwell on it. Let's not allow one crappy day to ruin the rest of the week for us. In fact, let's change our thoughts and not allow the fact that it's Monday ruin the entire day for us.

Yes, it really can be that simple. If we allow it.

It's all about perspective. 

You and I, we have the ability to change things.

This evening I stumbled across this quote and I want to share it with you. It's so simple but so true. And it's what I've been trying to remind myself this past year as I've embraced each and every "manic Monday."

Photo found at Monday Morning Motivation

What do you do on Monday mornings to make the day better?

Bless the Lord

Hello Monday.

In my part of the world, it's been a dreary day. The clouds have kept the sun in hiding and have caused raindrops to fall from the sky instead. Not to mention the temperature took a bit of a drop. Nothing drastic, but enough to make it a bit chilly.

Nevertheless, today I'm reminded of something my mentor from years ago used to say. The psalmist would often say in scripture, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul." Deonn would say to me that what the psalmist was really doing was saying, "Soul, bless the Lord!" You see, the psalmist went through a lot of crap in his time. He was hated by the king who often tried to kill him, so he had to hide out in caves and stuff. His soul went through dark, troubling times. My guess is that he didn't feel like blessing the Lord. Cursing him, on the other hand, may have been a better fit. Rather than doing so, he commanded his soul to bless the Lord. 

Life's circumstances make me want to cuss. And sometimes I do. From my inability to pay the electric bill because I just don't quite have enough that week or the constant arguments my husband and I seem to find ourselves in. No way I'm blessing the Lord. Much like the psalmist, sometimes I have to tell myself to find the blessing in the midst of the darkness. 

Even when I don't feel like it, the choice is clear - bless the Lord. You know why? Because sometimes blessing comes through raindrops. (Yeah, I just stole a lyric from a song I don't even really like. But there's truth to it!) 

I've said it once and I'll continue to say it. It is your choice - my choice - to find the good, the beautiful, the positive things in life. Even in the midst of the darkest day of your life, there is something good to be found.

Have you ever had to tell your soul, "bless the Lord"?

It's Your Choice

Mondays are hard. 

For me (and probably you as well) it's the hardest day to get out of bed. It's a struggle to get back in the swing of things at work. No doubt it feels like the longest day of the week. 

Mondays just feel like one giant muddy dark pit where all I can do is stare towards the sky, wondering how to get to the light. As I struggle to climb out of the pit, my arms and legs tire quickly and my breathing becomes labored. A couple of times it seems I'm making progress only to slip on some mud and slide back to the bottom.

Thankfully, Mondays aren't completely hopeless. Once I finally find a way to climb out of the pit, Mondays usually turns out to be a pretty decent days. Especially when I remember that it is my choice as to how I'm going to respond to my circumstances.

Do I always make the right choice? Heck no. There are some Mondays (and other days as well) where I forget that it's my choice as to how I'm going to respond. Many times I get caught up in the drama of it all and choose to argue with my husband, or complain about having to clean the house yet again, or pay bills, or whatever it is that day that sets me off. There are too many times where I forget that there are many other, more positive, ways to respond to the crap life throws at me.

I can choose to be kind rather than hateful.

I can choose to be grateful rather than complain.

I can choose to be positive rather than negative.

I can choose to find the good, beautiful things throughout the day and focus on them.

Like this image I captured right after leaving my office this afternoon. When I took a moment to breathe, to look at God's beautiful creation, all the tension from the day slipped away and my spirit was filled with peace. My circumstances didn't necessarily change, but my attitude and focus changed.

Today, let me encourage you to make a different choice. Choose to change your attitude and focus from the things that will bring you down. Instead, focus on the good, the beautiful, the positive things in your life. Trust me, it's not easy, but it will make a difference in your day.

How can I pray for you today as you seek to make a more positive choice?

Hope Is Not Crazy

Mondays have never been my favorite day. This is no surprise to anyone who reads my blog. But when I woke up this morning, I wanted it to be different. I wanted to appreciate the day, all day long. I wanted to find the beautiful, the good and positive things about my little piece of the world, and share them with you.

But three quarters through the day at work I heard about the tragedy of the Boston marathon. And my heart was deeply saddened. My heart breaks for the families who are grieving the loss of a loved one tonight, and the families of the injured who have such a long journey of healing ahead of them.

My heart is angered at the thought of another senseless tragedy that has taken place. I'm angered by the way folks turn tragedies such as this one into just another point in their political or religious agenda. Even as I type these words, I think to myself, should I even add to the noise?

In spite of today's tragedy, there is still much good and beautiful in the world. Oh, it's harder to see on days like today. But as we wipe away the tears and look around, we'll find it. As we cling to each other and join hands and hearts in prayer, we'll see that even though the world is a broken, messy place, there is still hope.

Will you join me in holding on to hope in the midst of tragedy?

Photo by Laine

Beautiful Things

Oh, Monday.

You could have been a little kinder, gentler.

Then again, I blame Sunday. 

Sunday wasn't very nice to me, so I suppose you were just following in her footsteps.

Nevertheless, I'm choosing to find the beautiful.

One good thing came from yesterday - the remembering of a long-ago promise. An ongoing promise of making something beautiful out of the ashes of life. A promise of hope, of redemption.

Remembering God's promise to me is the only thing that has kept me going today. The only thing that could ignite a spark of hope into an otherwise hopeless situation.

As I remember this promise, I also remember that He makes all things new. He takes what has long-ago been thrown away, set out for trash, burned up, and makes it into something new.

Thank God.

          Thank God He makes beautiful things.

                    Thank God He makes all things new.

What are you thankful for today?

A Fresh Start

Today is Monday.

And April Fool's Day.

This morning it snowed, briefly, and I tweeted about it. The first person to respond to my tweet didn't believe me. Of course they thought I was trying to fool everyone. And I don't blame them.

But hear me out on this next thought. Don't dismiss it as foolish simply because of what day it is.

What if Monday's weren't a day to dread but rather a time for a fresh start?

Seriously.

You know you've thought about it at least once.

How many times have you heard these statements:

I'll start dieting on Monday.

I'll start working out on Monday.

Yeah, I'll do that on Monday

I've said "I'll do fill in the blank here on Monday" so many times.

So today I thought to myself, why not? Why can't Monday be a fresh start?

There are many reason why it might not be a good day for fresh starts. But think about it for a minute. Monday is the first day of the week. It's the first, and perhaps best, day for new beginnings. For starting over. Fresh.

I need a fresh start today. Especially now as my husband and I are fighting. Throwing hurtful words at one another, hoping to ease our own pain but really creating more.

My prayer, my hope, is that God would create in me a new heart. One that would follow desperately after Him, so much so that the childish things of this world would fade from view. That my own selfish desires would cease so that He could fill my heart with His desires.

Do you need a fresh start today?

Case of the Mondays

 

Oh, Monday. 

You tried hard to win today. To beat me down and wear me out.

And I was not alone. So many of you felt the same.

It seems we all had a case of the Mondays.

Even so, Monday did NOT win.

Not because it wasn't a truly manic Monday. Trust me, it was. There were moments today where I really felt like I was going to lose my mind. Like I tweeted earlier today, who knew that learning a new phone system could throw a whole office into a tizzy? After losing the third or fourth call while trying make a transfer, I wanted to give up. It would have been so easy. Especially after finding out my mama's blood pressure is high and my nana might have pneumonia.

But I refuse to let these manic Mondays win. I've said it once and I'll say it again - finding the good in the midst of a crappy day is a CHOICE. And there is almost always something good/positive/beautiful that can be found even in the worst of days.

For me, the good was found in the camaraderie between myself and my co-workers as we struggled and learned together. The laughter found in the midst of the craziness. And the thing that made it the best day? Coming home to dinner cooked and ready to eat courtesy of my husband. :)

What do you do when you have a case of the Mondays?

Motivational Monday

It's Monday.

And it's raining.

For most, those two make a lousy combination.

For me, it wasn't too bad.

Work was steady, making the day go by quickly.

The weather may be rainy, but it really didn't effect me negatively.

So today has been a pretty decent day. For me.

How has it been for you?

Early this morning a friend tweeted me saying, "I need some Monday motivation." I tweeted her back, encouraging her to think positively and to remember that there's always something beautiful just waiting to be found.

Her tweet got me thinking about motivation. Motivation is one of those things that seem to elude me. I never seem to have it. Yet I long to find motivation.

The motivation to write.

To work out.

To eat healthy.

To serve more.

After thinking about it today, here's my conclusion. If you want motivation, you have to create it. Motivation is similar to turning a manic Monday into a beautiful one. You have to choose it. It doesn't just appear out of thin air. Motivation is simply a choice.

So, today I choose. I choose to create the motivation I need to do the things I want to do.

I choose to create the motivation I need to write. To work out. To eat healthy. To serve more.

And I encourage you to do the same.

Are you lacking motivation? What do you do to find it?

Forget About It

Want to have a good Monday?

Forget about it.

No, really.

Forget about it!

Today I completely forgot that it was Monday.

All day long I thought it was Tuesday.

It was a busy, crazy kind of day. But not once did I realize it was Monday until close to 5 'o clock.

And it really made my day better!

So, next time you want to have a good Monday, forget that it is Monday. Don't even think about what day it is. Enjoy the day for what it is. Good, crazy, manic. Enjoy the madness.

Have you ever forgotten that it's Monday? What'd you do to celebrate?

Monday Strikes Again

Monday + Head Cold = BAD DAY

After a fantastic weekend at the Justice Conference in Philadelphia, it was hard to go back to work today. Let's face it, I love my job, but I would LOVE IT if God would provide some way or another for me to do outreach stuff 24/7. It's my heart & soul. Until then, I'll carry on and be the best, most kindest receptionist/administrative assistant to the best boss(es) in the world. ;)

Not to mention this pesky little head cold that managed to find me this weekend. (Thank God you can't see me right now. I have tissues jammed in my nose to catch all the snot trying to escape.)

On the bright side, today was a beautiful sunny day outside. I thoroughly enjoyed the bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds.

And did I mention what a wonderful weekend I had in Philly? It was jam-packed full of social justice goodness, networking with some new friends and awesome organizations, and getting to know my friend Kelly A LOT better.

Speaking of the conference, there's so much to unpack from what I heard this weekend. There's so much I need to process and wrap my head around, and things I would eventually like to share with you. For today, I want to leave you with this one thought - the theme that ran through the weekend:

Just because we can't fix the world doesn't mean we can't change it. 

-Ken Wystma

P.S. I was on cold meds when I wrote this post, just in case it makes no sense to you. ;)

Not So Manic Monday

Ah, Monday.

We meet again.

Thanks for giving me a break today. From the start, you were slow and sure. There was nothing crazy about you.

Thank you.

Every now and again a girl just needs a break from the mania. A day just to be enjoyed and treasured.

And today was a joy.

Work was slow.

My evening peaceful.

The highlight was talking to my "lil sis." This kid is amazing & doesn't even know what a gift she truly is.

As I lay my head down to rest, my heart is full. There is much to be thankful for in my life.

How was your day? What are you thankful for?

How to Respond to Manic Mondays

Hello Monday.

From the moment the office opened, it was a crazy day.

The phones rang non-stop.

The waiting room flooded with customers.

The work seemed never-ending.

And it was such a beautiful day!

Wait. What?

How can a crazy-busy Monday be beautiful?

In case you forgot, this is how Monday's can be beautiful.

This morning as I was readying myself for the day, I was reminded of a phrase I heard frequently as my days as a missionary - "walk in the opposite spirit." Most of the time this was said in terms of how to respond to others. But today I applied it the spirit of the day. 

What do I mean?

Mondays suck.

It's like Monday constantly has a bad attitude.

And it's my choice how I'm going to respond to it.

Do I respond with the same bad attitude?

Or do I walk in the opposite spirit?

Today I chose the latter. I chose to have a good attitude. 

I chose to find the beautiful.

My beautiful day included a gorgeous spring-like day, some one-on-one time with my mama, and breakfast for dinner with my husband.

How did you respond to this manic Monday?

What A Soul Needs

Today, as most Mondays do, lived up to its name. It was crazy and chaotic. Manic in every sense of the word.

The phone rang off the hook.

Email flooded my inbox.

Customers poured into the waiting area, sometimes two or three at a time.

Yet there was such a peace about today. Not once was I anxious or overwhelmed with my responsibilities or the never-ending pile of things to do.

Towards the end of the day, with maybe only an hour to go, the snow began to fall. Each flake drifted towards the ground, gathering together there to create a thick blanket.

I've noticed something about snow. When it snows a hush falls over the land. It is not loud and boisterous like rain storms. It doesn't just leave a giant mess of wet, muddy puddles. Snowfall is gentle, quiet, peaceful. It leaves a beautiful mark on the world first. Only when it melts does it uncover the messiness. (But let's not talk about that right now!)

Peace is what my soul needs.

And that is what I shall focus on today.

What does your soul need today?

Will You Join the Challenge?

It's Monday. Again.

Today was dark, cloudy, gloomy, full of rain. It reminded me of another wet & wild Monday.

But every cloud has a silver lining, right?

This morning I sent out my typical Manic Monday Challenge tweet encouraging folks to find the good and positive things to focus on throughout the day. As always, I challenged them to tweet, blog, or share their good thing on Facebook. Most of the time this challenge seems to go unread or unanswered, but today was different. Several of my friends joined me in the challenge & tweeted about the good things they focused on today.

Kristyn tweeted that she was being encouraged through the #JustOne2013 online conference and was looking forward to hanging out with the refresHER ladies this evening.

Jes tweeted that she was looking forward to spending time with her parents and husband in Florida this week. (I'm a wee bit jealous she's going to be in sunny FL for a whole week without me!)

Kelly tweeted that her good thing for the day is Hope Clinic, a free medical clinic that meets the medical needs of low-income folks in our community.

Those tweets absolutely made my day!

Another thing that made my day was the anticipation of what's to come this week. In response to another friends tweet this morning, I realized that it's the little things that sometimes really do make my day. This week it's the joy of receiving a second chance, of engaging with my online writing community, and of getting my car back from the shop.

In the midst of the struggles, the hardships, the hopelessness and despair, there are so many good things that can easily be overlooked or missed entirely. But by slowing down and intentionally reflecting on our lives, or even one short 24 hours, the good things become clearer. 

Every single Monday I purposely seek out the good things in life for the sole purpose of reminding myself that life is good. That despite the crap that is happening in my life, God puts little blessings in my life. Blogging about my "manic Monday" is simply a way to log those blesses so that one day I can look back and remind myself of the good. It also helps keep me accountable, and forces me to slow down and reflect.

Will you, like my friends did today, considering joining me in the Manic Monday Challenge? It's simple. If you're a blogger, grab the Manic Monday badge in the side bar on the right and start posting on Mondays about those good things in your life. If you don't blog but are on Facebook or Twitter, update your status or send out a tweet using the hashtag #ManicMondayChallenge.

So tell me, what good thing did you focus on today?

A Day to Dream

Yep, it's Monday. It's been a crazy, manic day.

But today's not just another Monday.

It's a day to show love and extend grace.

It's a day to hope, to dream.

Today we celebrate and remember the man whose iconic speech inspired change in a nation. We also celebrate a man whose election to the position as President of the United States has changed the face of a nation.

On this Monday, we look forward with hopeful anticipation of what is to come.

What is yet to come?

I have no idea.

But I hope it's better and brighter than today.

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., on this manic Monday and all that will surely come, "Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream."

I have a dream...

...that the hungry will be fed.

...that the thirsty will be given drink.

...that the naked will be clothed.

...that the orphaned will find a forever family.

...that the prisoner will find true freedom.

...that the slaves will be set free.

...that the sick will be healed.

...that the hopeless will find hope.

...that the lost will be found. 

What are your dreams?

Why Focus on the Good?

It's Monday.

And I have a massive headache that just won't go away.

But that's OK.

Today, as with every Monday, I choose to focus on the good things and blog about it. 

Why?

• There's already enough negative stuff out there in the world. Why fill my mind & heart with more negativity?

• The Bible tells me to. Really, it does. Check out what Philippians 4:8 says: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

• Blogging about choosing the good on Mondays keeps me accountable to myself. It reminds me that even in the midst of the negative, the crazy, the mania, there is always something good, or beautiful, out there. I just have to look for it.

So, today, I'm focusing on the good - a quiet night at home with my husband & "kids," watching The Biggest Loser, and celebrating two wins today (I was the first place winner over at Marla Taviano's blog! And my friend Nikki won my giveaway today, and I'm happy for her.)

Tell me, what good thing are you focusing on today?