Sunrise Coffee

Don’t you just love early mornings? I do! I love it when it feels as though the rest of the world is still fast asleep and you're the only one who's awake. Everyone and everything feels unreal. Dreamlike. You kinda forget about your problems because for now, it's just you, your brew, your peace of mine, and your Lord. The world is indifferent, irrelevant… and then that gorgeous sunrise. Breathtaking! These are moments you want to capture, hold close and put in a box. Your keepsake moment!

"Serenity in its simplest form."

You are inspired to do so many things at this time. Your meditation takes you to a place of comfort, experiencing release and relief, emotionally.  You feel like the sky is the limit—you can conquer ANYTHING! Is it the Coffee Fix? Oh, what a feeling! You are able to trouble-shoot anything that is problematic. There is hope, optimism, anticipation, and 'great expectations.' You are Superwoman, Superman, and super-duper! Happiness glistens on the horizon. All things are possible… at least in your mind.

And then the sun becomes Completely visible and the door opens…

LIFE! 

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Navigation

As I drive and ride sometimes, I just exhale. I absorb beautiful surroundings. It's about feelings, auras, and states-of-mind. Although some may not envision the beauty that I see, I see miracles! I behold something and someone bigger than mere existence. Miracles of a new morning, a new day, dewdrops on leaves, bursting sun, hustle and bustle of traffic, and so on… I see and feel the blessing of just having a vehicle to ride in; even something as simple as being able to see! So yes, I enjoy the ride.

Listen for a minute. You know, I’m not even consumed with actually driving, but just liberty in mental capacity; subtly focusing on the moment and not problems I can’t do anything about. How sweet is the taste of being footloose and fancy-free! See, I’m not in control of my destiny, what’s in my reach, in my hand, in my grasp, for that is His. Less we forget that God is in control of everything!! Where we go, how we go, and all that we go through are not really our decision. We think we have that control, but we don’t have a clue. We don’t have a plan. 

I recently listened to a message that pricked my spirit. ‘Our trials are fixed fights. All we have to do is turn it over to God.’  And then the speaker reminded us of 1 Peter 4: 12-13; think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you… rejoice as partakers of Christ’s suffering. It’s about grace, suffering and giving God the glory. He has already worked it out.

I am convinced that many of my rides are about trials and storms. In many of his sermons, our Pastor reminds us that storms are always raging. We are either coming out of a storm, currently in a storm or about to go into a storm. But God has the navigation under control because He has already fixed it. All we need to do is ride the waves. Humanly, we are powerless, no matter what we THINK we are able to do… it’s all about God. 

So find your pleasure. Find your peace. You will find your freedom when you allow The Navigator.

The Ride

Seems I wanna ride

Wanna ‘scape by-ways and hide

Wanna, through highways, confide

Wanna spread my secret wide

Of my emotions, I’ll confess

Of my inner being, express

Of life’s storms, turmoil, and tests

Of how I cope and try my best

To keep at bay the insanity

To keep away the profanity

To know “this too shall pass”

To know freedom, alas

Just sit back and ride

Till dispersion is free, not frugal

Till destiny cannot be Googled

Till there’s room for my scruples

Till there’s peace.  How do you do it?

“Seems I wanna just ride”

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Perfect Attendance

Growing up I've always heard the term 'Experience is the best teacher.'  During those years, I didn't take that quote to heart.  When I surmised ‘teaching’ I automatically referenced it to school or books.  Sure, relatively teaching is about school and in my family we were really focused on education.  School was mandatory! I remember how we would compete to see who could achieve the most perfect attendance awards. But in this statement, the subject matter is ‘experience.’ It is the teacher in the school of life.

Those who knew me then recognized that I had a joyous, happy, and excitable attitude about everything. I was dubbed Miss Positive. I saw the glass half full, instead of half empty.  Some seemed to think that I didn’t have a worry in the world. Maybe it was because I was always there for the other person. You know the type you can count on for a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and a sounding board. And to boot, I was trustworthy and a confidante. Sounds amazing, right? That was and still is my character, but “oh the experiences” I’ve endured.  Visibly I was the pillar of strength.  Deep down I HID. But, I had an escape!

Let me give you a peek into my upbringing.

I had a STRONG single mom who took care of all six of her children. From the outside, you didn’t see the struggle. Her statement to us was “Never let’em see you sweat! Be steadfast and stand tall in what you believe.”  I understood that completely and carried it into my adulthood and family. Yes, just like the next person, I had problems but just didn’t show it. I didn’t carry everything on my sleeves. I didn't have a permanent print of a frown on my forehead. It seemed I always wanted to portray a zest for life, renowned strength, and the epitome of positivity. That was the person I wanted to exude-- to be visible to my peers.

But, deep inside

But, hidden within

But, to only my best friend

But, my bad experiences

But, to the only One

whom I can depend

But God

The key that unlocks the door

to my escape-

He is my refuge

I said all of that to relay this message. As our children and grandchildren return to school and classroom settings, we know that peer pressure will be very impactful. But keep in mind that even the bad experiences will help to mold and make them into who they will someday become. Of utmost importance is endurance and how they handle the pressure. Admit it. Life as some of us knew it, is quite different now. And like us, they must and will go through things we cannot shield them from or put a band-aid on. Yes, school and perfect attendance are important, but life experiences will be the ultimate lessons. So teach them something they cannot grasp at school. Teach them Jesus! He has perfect attendance. 

Blessings,

PJ Payne

How?

Who do you depend on when it seems everything you touch and do goes wrong? What do you do to keep yourself motivated? When do you realize you need help or a backup plan? Where do you find hope and inspiration? Why would you say enough is enough-- I can’t do this anymore?  I GIVE UP!

Some of you may remember the five W’s in school … Who, What, When, Where, Why and then there is How. Usually, they apply to writing and journalism. We were taught that they are the research and building materials to getting answers to a story. But this application can also be about life’s story!

In many aspects of our lives, at some point, we hit brick walls, get knocked off our feet, dumbfound and have no obvious explanation or answer for the dilemma in which we find ourselves. Is that when we throw our hands up in despair? “Uh, yea, we’re human”.  But just when you think you have no answer and you’ve hit rock bottom, you relinquish, release, and let go. Then you find the ‘HOW’ of your story.  

HE is the 'how' in your life! He knows how to relieve the pain. He knows how to give you strength. He knows how to take your burdens. He knows how to put the right words in your mouth when you don’t know what to say. He is your answer when you’re faced with what you consider unanswerable questions.

I don’t know about anyone else, but when I remove ‘self’ out of the way as I seek answers, my path is so much clearer. My daily walk reminds me of how sweet it is to know that ‘God can’.

God can pick you up when you’re lower than low.

God can fight your battles in struggles against the foe.

God can renew that hope when the little you had diminishes.

God can complete the order and flow of things, from start to finish.

God can allow you to exhale when you can’t breathe and exhaustion overtakes you.

He can mend the pieces when disappointment tears apart and breaks you.

He replenishes and renews your spirit, when you’ve fallen and cannot stand.

All this brings back to remembrance and it’s good to know God can.

We literally live ‘who, what, when, where and why.’ But when we truly let Him write our story, we need not ask, ‘How’?

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Leave Your Mark!

Think about it! What have you done or what is it that you do that impacts another person’s life or even his or her day?

Some years back, I worked in an environment in which the air was so thick with negativity, you couldn’t cut it with a knife. Even my coffee-breaks were ‘broken!’

I am a happy go lucky person, 90% of the time. I LOVE TO LAUGH!  Now a lot of it may have a li’l bit to do with my coffee habits, but I am a Very positive person. Kinda 'outta the box!'

One day I walked in to work and spoke in my cheerful manner. I gleefully said “Good Morning!” Nothing’s wrong with that, right? Well, of the 5 to 7 individuals who were in ear reach, only two reacted. I think every bit of energy I had in my body was immediately drained from me.  I felt as though I needed to check my breath. I was positive I bruised my teeth, even ‘after’ my morning coffee. And then my second cup of coffee had no immediate effect on my demeanor. For at least an hour, I was very quiet.

I understand that we ALL have ‘stuff’ going on in our lives—some unimaginable. And it stands to reason as to why ones persona may cast bits of quietness, anger or sadness. But NOT all the time!

That day I had had enough! I wanted my actions to ‘make them’ and not let them ‘make me!’ I could not and would not work in that type of environment for the rest of the week. It was at that time, I resolved for the rest of the day that I would find something positive to say to, or about each individual that I personally encountered. Not only that, I would throw an irresistible infectious smile. LOL.

Needless to say, my efforts were received very positively. I was even asked in which department I worked. It made me feel better about myself also.

So to all of you, do this for me. Take time for the rest of the day, or even begin on tomorrow, to say or do a positive deed…  There’s no better feeling when you've made a positive mark.

Be distinctive,

make your mark

no matter what

others say

They can't see 

your vision

don't know your thoughts

or your way

You're set apart

from a rigid format

the natural scheme

of things

Unique, relative

but not the same

You're

'Outta Tha Box' 

When you

Leave Your Mark!

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Fix Me, Coffee

Seems like the faster I go, the further behind I get!  There are Never enough hours in the day; enough days in the week; or enough weeks in the month. “A schedule? What's that?"

I used to pride myself on being organized. Yeah, I was the one who had all of the organizational skills that were down to the ‘T’. My kids can vouch for the fact that they had duties each day.  There was a time for this and a time for that... I even scheduled 'play times!’ Needless to say,  I was the organizational guru!!

Our lives were full of paste-it notes and sticky-notes.

I think it all derives from the fact that I was brought up in a mid to large size family. And we did have organization because my mom worked outside the house as well as at home when she was home…  

At that time, people didn’t have a title for a person who basically did what it took to make ends meet. it was just

‘survival’ for a single mother with 6 children.  Now we call ourselves ‘Multi-taskers or Entrepreneurs. 

But do you realize that coffee has been around forever, as the ‘Fix It’ drink?  It was, even then, the Go To drink. But as I can recall, mostly the older folks drank it. They wouldn’t give it to the kids- saying we couldn’t have any. LOL. I chuckle now as I think back to those days.

Yes, they really thought of it as an ‘adult drink!’

Let me recount their reasoning—

You are too young.

Coffee is gonna make you nervous.

You can’t drink that! Git outta ‘grown folk’s business.

Coffee drinkers smoke cigarettes too, so you don’t need to smoke.

People drink coffee to sober up.

Black coffee is a Man’s drink.

Coffee is gonna stain your teeth.

You can’t drink coffee. It will keep you up ALL night!

It’s only for us (adults). It’s too expensive.

Coffee will burn you.

Coffee will make your breath stink.

Boys (men) don’t like girls (women) who drink coffee.” They’re fast!”

The list can go on….

My how times have changed! Now we LIVE for this ‘drink of choice!’ And it is ageless, literally, from teenagers to adults. It comes in all types of strengths, flavors, caffeinated or decaf, crystalized—any way you can think of, with a million and one uses. You can do ‘shots’! Shoot, people even use it as cures and remedies.
I definitely need it to fix me in every aspect of my life! Had a bad day? I indulge in a cup of my brew. Can't do without it;  mornings, noonday, or evening, The day just goes better when you've had your fix! Is that why parents didn't want children to 'drink of the bitter cup' so to speak?  I guess the age-old secret was 'it was the FIX,' even back then!

And now... Coffee Has Arrived!

So, “Fix Me, Coffee and Jesus!” Not necessarily in that order.

Blessings,

PJ Payne

The Simple Things

We never know from one day to the next what type of day we will wake up and see. Questionable still is if we will wake up at all. Nothing is in our control, yet we take for granted the little things we enjoy without the tiniest bit of effort on our part. But today miraculously came anyway. What did you do to make it happen? We know the answer to that question… nothing whatsoever.

I speak of ‘hands-off’ blessings we are awarded because we need to wake up and smell the roses. Some of us are very fortunate to sail through the storms in our lives unscathed; others are not. A prime example is the fact that we have been inundated with rain- physically evident storms. Some people were not affected as others encountered having to be rescued, losing vehicles, and even homes flooded.

Metaphorically speaking, we all sometimes wake up to the rain in our lives. Whatever you are going through, someone else is going through something greater. “Concentrate on the rainbow after the storm.” This was my awakening one afternoon ‘after the rain.’

Just riding along one day, singing our little song

My grandson exclaimed, "Look a rainbow! It is sooo long!"

I glanced up to the sky, as I drove against the wind

"Let's follow it, he exclaimed, and see where it ends!"

Of course, I looked at him and said

"I don't think so, my son.

The end of a rainbow? Sweetie, there is none!"

Then the beauty of its colors

made curiosity get the best of me

As we drove I took pictures

and really wanted to see

Just where this rainbow might end

And of course, I knew we’d never find it

But the excitement on his face

made me feel adventurous, yet dumbfounded

To think- a child has this type of curiosity

And I've seen rainbows, many times over

I took its grandeur for granted

Never thought twice about it

Then I reminisced the childhood song

'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'

I knew it all was only fantasy

But my goodness, who knows?

Just where does this rainbow end?

So I told him about 'the pot of gold'

But that just made him even more excited

And said, "Let's go, let's go, let’s go!"

Through all of this, I was laughing

and delighted to know, as we sang

That this little escapade was our adventure

Free at will... The Simple Things

Blessings,

PJ Payne