Posts Tagged ‘attitude’

Am I Generous?

Friday, June 16th, 2017

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Many long years ago when my hubby was about to graduate from Bible college, a friend of a friend gave our family a generous gift of $500. Back then, money was tight. Seminary families are not living the high life if you’ve ever been curious. Matter of fact, to us…that $500 was more like $5000 to us in today’s money. It was a huge blessing and we were blown away by his generosity. He had no reason to gift us that money but he did and it taught me a huge lesson in generosity.

Give…. even if it costs you something.

For most of our married life we’ve been on a strict budget with our money. That’s probably normal for most folks living out the American dream. Still, we’ve tried to be generous with what God has given us. You’ve probably heard of or been the recipient by now of someone PAYING IT FORWARD. One of my daughter’s has this gift and loves to pay it forward every chance she gets. It’s a wonderful way to love on someone and show generosity for no reason at all other than your heart is over-flowing with kindness for those outside of yourself.

Being generous doesn’t always involve paying for someone’s coffee or hamburger in a drive-thru. We can be generous with our time, words, actions, attitudes and more.

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God reminded me this morning to be more generous in how I love the people He has put in my life. I pondered over it for a few minutes and came to the conclusion that I could use to be a little more giving when it comes to loving people. It’s easy to say you love someone when all is right in the relationship….but when you feel slighted or overhear a snarky comment it can be a challenge. Still, God expects us to love on in spite of how the other folks behave. Always. It’s important to remember to be a generous FORGIVER!

A good lesson for me who loves to love with abandon.

The truth of the matter is this — life is tough. Don’t make it harder on yourself or others when you can be a cushion of generosity. Love when it stings a little, give when it costs ya and spread generosity around like you’re a millionaire!

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Now go on, be generous! Give it all away!

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Posted in Royal Proclaimations | 285 Comments »

31 Days — Positive Attitude (Day 18)

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

"When your attitude isn't right….your heart isn't either"   

I came across this quote today and it hit me like a brick!  No wiser truth has been posted on Facebook in quite some time.  Every cruddy attitude begins somewhere.  It only makes sense that it originates deep in the heart.

That's why it's a good idea to do HEART CHECKS and do them often.  This helps us keep a healthy heartitude.  What's a heartitude?  I'm glad you asked.  Check out what Jesus has to say in Luke 6:43-45—>

 

“A healthy tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a poor tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes. A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” 

 

Heartitude is the condition of the heart in relation to the Spirit of God.

It's a fact, what slips out of our mouths comes directly from our heart.  But, I have good news.  God knows we're not perfect.  He knows all about our ability to cop a tude!  Why else would he be so insistent on us fleeing anything that misleads us?  His desire is for you and me to SEEK HIM in all ways.  It's important for us to keep that relationship fire burning.  I once had a friend who referred to her relationship with Christ as "keeping close to the fire!".  I think that's a great way to describe it.  When I'm far from HIM…I can feel it in everyway.  I might be able to hold my attitude in check for a while, but eventually it catches up with me.  Hence, my need to do a heartitude check.

So, tell me.  When you're having a bad day and your attitude is trying hard to match it….do you hang tough and resist the urge to be snappy?  Or do you fold and end up regretting your words & actions?  Just like the healthy tree bears good fruit, a healthy heart produces good too.  So, the big question today is…

How's your heart?

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Posted in 31 Days to a Positive Attitude, Royal Proclaimations | 51 Comments »

31 Days — Positive Attitude (Days 12, 13 & 14)

Saturday, October 13th, 2012

Ok, ok….I know.  I missed Day 12!  But I have some excellent excuses.  1) I was traveling the long journey back to Indiana from Texas.  If you've ever had to catch a very early morning flight in a town you're not familiar with, then you know how stressful that can be.  I had to be up at 4:20am and packed to begin the long race of a day!  2)  Internet and blogging are kind of tricky when you're in and out of airports.  Nothing was easy, so blogging took a back seat.  3)  It was also my birthday!  So, I gave myself a break (even though…traveling on an airplane isn't an actual break)!

I'm happy to be back home but I will forever miss that wonderful bed that I slept in while in Texas.  It was amazing!  This morning, I woke up with a krink in my neck!  Didn't have that in Texas!  Weird!

Since I arrived back home last night, I've done 9 loads of laundry, swept & mopped the floors, cleaned out the disgusting fridge, washed a ton of dishes, cleaned the bathroom toilet & sink, washed both dogs, cooked a few meals, dumped all the garbage, bought a fat cart full of groceries & put them away and watched my baby's scary Ghost Walk skit downtown!

Attitude shmattitude!  I'm on fire!

Oh and if you're wondering……no, no one offered to pitch in on any of those jobs!  

Life, is back to normal!   wink

It came to me today, you know…while I was doing my chores.  HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR ATTITUDE IN CHECK WHEN THE ONES AROUND YOU ARE HAVING A BAD ATTITUDE?

Apparently, there are some great ways to handle this.  Wanna know how?  Ok!

Don't take it personally.

Resist the urge to assume.

Act instead of react.

Keep yourself positive.

Ignore negative comments.

Point out the positive!

I've experienced firsthand the brunt of someone else's bad attitude.  I've jumped right in and tangoed where I didn't belong.  It never turns out pretty.  So, take my advice…even if you're really offended or crushed by someone else's jerky tude–don't fall for it!

Keep smiling, sister!  Keep on smiling!

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31 Days — Positive Attitude (Day 9)

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

WHAT I DO HAVE

I've been blessed to meet amazing people and experience wonderful places all throughout my life.  I can't complain.  But I do.

It's all part of that "glass half full" thinking.  Sometimes, I see the glass half empty. 

After a long morning of trying to make the internet here at my little cabin in the woods work….I got a little frustrated.

Then, I remembered—>that's one of the reasons why I'm here.  Duh!  My hubby, the IT dude has his work cut out for him.  He's been chasing wires & lines all morning (somewhere) here on this beautiful property.  My struggle to reach the outside world here at the main house is probably peanuts compared to what he's trying to accomplish.

Perspective.  I get it!

The big picture isn't usually what we imagine in our head, is it?  Instead of focusing on what I couldn't have this morning…..I should've focused on what I did.  I couldn't get the internet to cooperate but I did have a computer to type on (hello, Word).  I had no idea how to get the tv to come on and I'm pretty certain after I pushed every single button on the remote…neither will the Hageman's when they return but I had my pick of porches to sit on and enjoy.  I'm not sure who can live in a house that doesn't have ice and after this week, I'll let you know but I do have cold drinks in the fridge.  And seriously, APPLE iphone!  When I hit Publish on a post that I had to type on your tiny little touchy keys and you say FAILED, I'm of the thinking that you really mean it.  Not anymore, dude!  When I finally found I had internet service, I noticed Day 8 was posted 8 times on my blog!  8 times!  But I did have a post go through, right?

Attitude is all about perspective.  How I choose to see life's little troubles will be the attitude I portray to the world.  Same goes for you.  Keep your perspective in check when the darts of frustration shoot your way. 

“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
—Lou Holtz

 

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Posted in 31 Days to a Positive Attitude, Royal Proclaimations | 207 Comments »

Match Up

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Have you ever met someone that acted horribly only to find out later they were an "active" church member somewhere?  I have and it's very confusing.  Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about someone having a bad day or moment of stress and misbehaving.  I'm referring to someone who has a completely miserable or mean spirit.

Examples:

Unfriendly, coldish, never smiles and leaves you feeling awkward when you leave their presence.

I can still remember the day I found out a certain secretary (at a place where I worked too) was a God praising, hands in the air, eyes closed tight follower.  It literally stopped me in my worship'n tracks!  Every encounter I had ever had with her was ugly and rude (her part, not mine).  She acted like she hated me!  It left me feeling low and embarrassed each time I had to interact with her.  And here she was singing in the big church choir….loving the same God that I do.

Didn't match up.

In my long life as a Christian, I've fallen hard on my own sword of fleshly behavior.  I've misspoken, wounded with my words & actions, acted like a total idiot and completely embarrassed myself & those around me.  I've also recognized it as wrong and tried to make it right as quickly as possible.  I never want to misrepresent Christ because of my weak & human behavior but I have and probably will again.

It doesn' match up.

I've noticed how easy it is to sling scripture around and make ourselves look Christian-y.  But if our behavior doesn't match up with our words, do they really count?  I'm challenging myself and you today–if you are a believer/follower of Jesus Christ please live outloud for Him.  The world is full of meanness.  Why should the ones who profess to love in the name of Christ be jerks too?

Chew on that, friends and let me know…..do you agree?

 

Questions to ponder.

Do I act like a person who loves Jesus TO EVERYONE or just my closest friends/family?

Am I gentle with my words and kind with my actions?

Do I smile and speak when someone does the same to me?

Am I open to being helpful when approached by someone in need?

Do I make other's feel uncomfortable or am I warm & inviting?

 

BE HONEST.  I want to match up with the love the Father has poured out on me. Don't you?

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Posted in Royal Proclaimations | 18 Comments »

Peace Out

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

I’m trying not to be a drag! Today has been one of those joy sucking days! It seemed like everywhere I went I encountered some sort of trouble. I’m convinced that God is up to something in my life and satan is trying to distract me. Classic!

I loved my devotion reading tonight. It was all about attitude adjustment. What a slap of truth at the end of a rotten day. I had jumped completely into whining over my problems! So wimpy, I know!

Then I read about Sarai and Hagar. Sarai couldn’t have what she wanted. So she took things into her own hands. Then Hagar copped a tude over her ability to bare Abram’s child. Poor sport. Sarai gets miffed realizing she is barren and starts acting like a meany. Hagar decides to flee (something most of us do when it gets hot in the kitchen). The angel of the Lord tells her to go back and submit to her mistress. Blah blah blah!

Attitude. Theirs. Mine. Yours.

Lord
I realize my attitude needs adjusting. Thank you for little inconveniences that come my way and bug me. I obviously need a fresh word from you. Help me to hear you and obey.
Amen.

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