BIG FAT BUT

BIG FAT BUT

          Once I have made a decision about my actions a “but …” I could have done it this way is altering.  That “BIG FAT BUT” questions the choice and puts doubt into the situation.

          God’s guidance can help me choose wisely.  The “but what about …” can put so many questions in my mind that might impede acts already done.

          I could relive decisions with regrets for choices made that may mire myself deeply.  If I have chosen properly, the “BIG FAT BUT” could be a turning point toward some improper changes.  And the action might get reversed in favor of a bad move.

          The thing you have accomplished does not always need fixing to where we do something different to change what we’ve done.  We can be satisfied with our choices, not looking for options to vary the outcomes.

          Seeing something already chosen with such questions might give a different perspective, but that doesn’t mean we have to act to make changes.  We could learn a lesson that benefits us and others without making the deed a reality.  Don’t let your “but” change your life unnecessarily.

     In a high school Religious Education (Confirmation) class I played a guessing the word game.  I wrote "I should not let my _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ _ get in the way"  When they filled in the letters BIG FAT BUT in several said I spelled it wrong.  I said, "No, I didn't."

     Our "BUT" could be a life changer, making all the difference.

Inherent Beauty as a Child of God

 Inherent Beauty as a

Child of God

          On a walk I saw some cacti that looked burned out and I thought they looked ugly.  But God told me they weren’t created that way.  They were created with beauty as were we.  We have an inherent beauty as a child of God.

          What I learned was we don’t lose our beauty as a child of God because of the actions of someone else.  Our beauty is inherently created in us and we hold onto that as long as we remember it.

          We are so much more because of our connection with God.  If we remember who and Who’s we are it gives us somethings so incredible that we cannot lose.

          God won’t give up on us.  A Pastor once said, “If God forgot about us for even a fraction of a second we would literally pass out of existence.”  And that doesn’t happen.

          We are created for a purpose, and we are still around for just that.  The other reason we exist is to help others.  God brings people to our paths that are available for one another’s journey.  We are part of God’s family, a significant part.

Be Good Anyway

 Try To Find Someone Good.

Be Good Anyway

We have lots of choices to be good, and to look for someone who is good.  If we have trouble locating a good person, making good choices can improve our environment greatly.  Mother Teresa said, “There a lots of good people in the world.  If you can’t find one, be one.”  Do good anyway.

God gives us the free will to help each other and spread goodness into the lives of those brought to our paths.  Don’t live on borrowed time, don’t put off being “good” until ______.

Someone said, “We cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good that we can do.”  We must make good choices while we can.

God is with us continuously/consistently/constantly to help us choose right choices we face.  The “Support Group” (which God can be the biggest part) that encourages/builds-up/edifies us on our journey can be what we rely on to get us through the tough times and hard decisions.

          Recently I heard “… Sometimes it costs zero $$ to be nice.  …”  Being nice can be quite economical, but might affect another person immensely.

My Renewed Garden

 My Renewed Garden

Looking at the environment I have to work in now, it seems different than the one I had before.  The changes of this newer place is so varied from what I’m used to.  It’ll take some getting used to, and building new relationships.

Don’t compare the newer garden with the previous one or expect the current garden to be similar to the one before.  Each one offers its own characteristics that are unique.  The things planted could be different with each one.

I can see much clearer now, the difference is amazing.  Being able to see this newer garden and all its possibilities can be so refreshing.  What can be planted gives a renewed look to this environment.

Approach the gardening activity/duty as if God is there helping you.  That partnership changes our perspective.  What we face is different and easier to handle.

This new look offers some different opportunities to accomplish changed perspectives.  It is refreshing to see various growth from what was planted.  The blooms and blossoms develop such beauty that was inherently there from God.

What God has planted through us grows into things so incredible.  The blooms and blossoms become the best versions of God’s creations.

The Gift of “Enough”

The Gift of “Enough”

We are all blessed from God.  There is enough that we can share with each other and be a blessing to those that are brought to our path.

Our lives are filled in ways if only we open our eyes to notice the incredible graces that God has given us.  Seeing ourselves as filled is so important because we can move forward to help others.  We overflow beyond our own containers and are able to be available in the ways God wants us to be present for that other person.

And God wants to be there for that other person through us.  God wants us to know how “enough” we are for ourselves and the blessing we are for the people around us.

We are not less of ourselves because we are connected with God.  Rather we are richer versions of ourselves.  We are different, we are not deficient.

When we feel challenged more, then the Grace & Power of God is increasingly at our disposal.  We are filled to the point of overflowing in our environment onto others.

The “enough” gift is what fills our heart and the things we instinctively do.  That is the way God affects others through us.  God calls us and sends us as messengers into one another’s lives.

Don’t "Should" All Over _____

Don’t "Should" All Over _____

          Things we do are done because of choices we make.  But if afterwards we think “I should have done ____” considering other options, that can be detrimental for the decisions we’ve made.

          The “shoulds” can be like “what ifs” and can have various ramifications.  These variables and possibilities are vast.

          Making alternative choices for actions we’ve already done may undo some things, and that could cause dire consequences.  Choosing to do things God’s way reduces the need for “should-ing” decisions and gives us more room for good choices.

When we are closer to God we decide better about how we act.  We also see situations more clearly.

        Believing and trusting in God can improve our decisions beyond “should ______ happen”.  We can be sure in the choices selected that we've made good ones.

Heard on Catholic radio;:

"Some people should all over themselves --

I should have done _________

I should have been ________

We walk toward _____

We walk toward _____

(and we walk away from something else)

          There are many things ahead of us as choices which we can select.  But in so doing, we are also walking away from something else.

          Everything we walk toward is a choice we have made to participate in, but also includes something we’ve avoided.  We move away from instances and experiences, choosing the thing we will be a part of.

          Whatever we have chosen, God is there in our midst.  We can include God into our life and make it a fuller experience.  If we try to do it without God the occurrence is lacking completeness.  Someone once wrote “Those who do their own will are constantly running into their own limitations.”

          Picking the thing we will do may be an easy choice or convenient or fun or not.  The accomplishment might be fulfilling and a blessing, if only we can see the benefits.

          Walking toward something can be so rewarding that gives us so much and fills our life with blessings beyond belief.  We can sense much more because we are aware of things we might have missed.  The questions for which we seek answers provide many blessings when we are ready to receive, when we are open to what they offer.

          Walking toward opportunities feed us in many ways because our search has opened our minds and hearts and ultimately our souls to be blessed.  Placing ourselves in such environments gives us a zone to see and hear and feel the things God is sharing with us so graciously.