Joyfull Living

Words are powerful tools in our hands (or mouth!). Depending on our aim, we can make them arrows that can build up or tear down. They can impart wisdom or bring shame. They can deliver encouragement or deflate the spirit. Words can be a weapon or a healing balm. A welcome sound or a dreaded racket.  It is easy to remember words spoken by others into our lives. Some build us up and when we remember them, give us a warm feeling deep down in our hearts! They inspire us to become what those words spoke to us. Maybe we heard words that cut deep.  They too echo in our minds with a taunting cry and reminder of failure or mistakes. The voices we choose to listen to affect us greatly. We long to choose to remember the good words.  The Bible tells us that 'death and life are in the power of the tongue."  We cannot do anything about harmful words in the past, but we can begin today to choose to give words of life to those around us. Because words often seem to fly ou...

How often do you step on a scale? How does it make you feel?  That simple act of stepping on a scale can bring a vast range of emotions. Disappointment, despair, determination to get the scale moving can happen if the scale is moving up, elation and victory if the numbers creep down.  If you're not a regular weigh-er or are avoiding the scale, a step up may also be a wake up!  If that step up to the scale brings a number your not happy with,  here are a few tips to make the scale move down! 1. START NOW AND START SMALL You gained weight…it’s a bummer, but you can’t dwell on it, or pacify it with chocolate!  Move forward. Instead of saying “tomorrow will be the day I start", just begin. Once you start you are closer to finishing. Most people love that post workout high,the feeling of accomplishment and endorphin rush, but the toughest part is beginning a workout.  Apply the same philosophy to food and goal setting. Instead of focusing on the...

You know that a woman never runs out of make up!  Recently my foundation was running low.  Although an order was put in for more, it had not arrived yet and I was scraping the bottom and the sides to get what I could to use.  My life was feeling like that.  Routine, daily tasks, running on auto pilot. Work, church, home, so much to do but the same things done over and over. I was running on empty, just scraping the sides to get what was needed.   This weekend will be Mother's Day. Having lost my mother several years ago, it seems like a hump has to be crossed this time of the year. A time to acknowledge the pain of loss that is always there before turning the corner to thankfulness for her life and engaging in what she taught me. A recent devotion talked about a joyful mother. This was not me this week! The passage was from Psalms 34 and one I dearly love.  "They looked to Him and were radiant."   A joyful mother brightens the hom...

Do you need a detox? Years ago detox meant eliminating harmful effects from dangerous substances that were in our body in extreme circumstances. In today's culture, detox is a buzz word. It seems that everybody needs a detox...just ask Google! When people talk about body cleanses or detox diets, they talk about the dangers of “toxins” a lot, but usually in a very non-specific way: Toxins are potentially harmful substances we come into contact with every day — pesticides on your produce, pollutants in the air, unpronounceable ingredients in processed food, or heavy metals like mercury and arsenic in the soil, to name just a few. When you inhale, ingest, or absorb toxins, your liver and kidneys work to flush many of them out — and they’ve been doing this long before cleanses and detoxes came about. When we talk about detoxification, we’re not referring to difficult cleanses, painful purges or lengthy fasts. Instead, we mean bolstering your body’s own built-in de...

Have you ever heard of the Keto eating plan?  Don't say the "Keto Diet" because it is more than a few weeks of disciplined eating.  This plan is the foundation for a healthy eating lifestyle. In fact, when I would hear about it, I would automatically dismiss it when I heard the 'rules'...no bread, pasta, carbs or sugar.  Not something I was ready to give up! A volunteer at my workplace comes once a week. We noticed one week how nice and healthy her hair looked.  The next week, her hair was shiny and healthy and her skin truly glowed.  We asked her what she was doing to get these beautiful changes and she told us it was the addition of healthy fats in her diet that was responsible.  "Tell us more" we all said and she shared she has been on the Keto plan for a few weeks.  Right away new interest was sparked - a keto book appeared in the office, conversation began to revolve around this eating plan, new recipes came to the office, we wanted those be...

Have you ever talked to your plants? They say it is healthy for them when you talk to them. I've never been able to develop that habit of talking to them, but I do love them, water them and nurture them, but just don't verbalize it.   My gardening thumb could be classified as 'light green'.  Plants live under my care, but I have a long way to go!  But, there is one plant I excel at growing.  I don't even know the name of it, but on my front porch it enjoys just the right amount of light, water and fertilizer and it abounds.  It overflows each year and truly thrives. It is my favorite plant! During the winter care is taken to protect it from the cold. It is covered during nights when frost threatens.  Somehow this winter, even when covered, the frost bit it...deeply.  In the past once it is uncovered and the warmth of the sun returns, new growth springs forth quickly. As spring approached I eagerly waited for signs of life. The plant was...

April is designated as National Card and Letter Writing Month.  Who knew?  Since most of our communication is now done electronically, handwritten anything seems almost ancient.  But if you will turn your focus to a time you were on the receiving end, is there a special note or letter that was written by hand that you cherish?  For someone to hand write a note and mail it to us takes effort and reminds us that someone thinks we are worth that effort.  What if we could take a few extra minutes during special days and write our thoughts and well wishes to someone. What if our note was one of those chosen to be read and kept in a special place for years. Perhaps pulled out at various times and brought a smile and cheer to the heart. Surely that is some inspiration to be a blessing to someone.  It's not as difficult as it sounds... Picking an occasion, a birthday or anniversary is a great place to start.  Facebook makes this easy!!  L...