To Begin Again

Beginning again. Now, something I love; beginning again with God’s grace from above!

You see He gives us chances over and over again; to right wrongs, to say I’m sorry, to say I love you, to help somebody else, even something that we take for granted… seeing a new day. But, how many of us really set out to start over, to refresh, to renew the old?

I’ve heard a lot of people say “in the beginning, I was or we were….” but what happened to the now?  What progress was made? What happened to the now? Can you actually see accomplishments? Do you know what mistakes were made along the way? What happened to the now? Did you learn from your mistakes? Now What?

Starting over doesn’t mean that you have to disintegrate the past (because you can’t), just CHOSE a fresh new start. You can’t do anything about that past because there will always be someone who ‘remembers’, but you can move forward, not become complacent, feel  unresolved  or wallow in self-pity. 

I am so guilty of these things; But

I have resolved to first of all, express my innermost feeling in some form or fashion; whether in words or in actions. Just get the negativity out of me!

I have resolved to not be unproductive, discouraged or disheartened, for those are only the enemy’s thoroughfares to stagnation.

I have begun to utilize talents I have kept buried deep inside, for fear of nonacceptance or ridicule.

I have begun to go back… (yes, you have to go back sometimes) and reevaluate and revitalize old passions that I thought weren’t ‘good enough', but found them to be a blessing to somebody else.

And I have begun to cultivate and bring to fruition seeds that were planted in me by someone who NEVER has to begin again… “He doesn’t make mistakes!”

The tiniest inkling can be a new beginning.

… even if you have to begin again over and over again!

Laughter...

Dictionary.com defines Laugher: a verb- To express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.
My take on laughter is that it is the emotional catalyst of Joy... The self-preservation of ones' mind; the belief and spirituality of mankind; kindred spirit along with self-motivation; the will to do, without notification.

Question: When your 'git-up n go has got-up n gone,' what and who do you really rely on?
Well, with God's guidance and your intuitive reactions, one can really grasp and hold on to any emotion, using the reality of foresight we each have. Basically, having anticipation and forethought before you react to any given situation produces any mood you want.

Example: The other day I walked into a store, (with my happy-go-lucky self) just smiling and ready to delve in to any bargain I could find. ‘Low and behold’, the first person I laid eyes on in the check-out line was an EX coworker whom I had not seen for at least 6 years. My thoughts… “this is the last thing I need!” (not a cordial work relationship) Well, I kept walking, heart pounding, semi-sweating, but my head up and I’m saying to myself, “don’t react, don’t react!” So I made my way to the back of the store, out of eye contact and looked a little closer to confirm whether it was her. “YEP, her alright! What would Jesus do?"
To my dismay, after nonchalantly perusing the store, I had to return to the front to retrieve a basket for the bargains I’d found. Wow, I know I can do this! I pertly walked to the front, grabbed a basket, smiled BIG and said “hi, I thought that was you” giving her a hug. ARKWARD!! Basically, I could see that she didn’t know how to react to my genuineness (and I was genuine) She stammered a hello with a phony smile and asked how I was doing and what I was doing now? Now that question REALLY made me smile, because I am honestly happy ‘in me’. I exuded naturally the laughter and joy I had to tap in to and channel, to get through that situation. I give God the glory... 

I’m sure she noticed my exuberance as I replied to her question, but her reluctance lingered. Maybe it was the shock of me actually approaching her, or the fact that she was still doing the same ole thing, whereas I’d moved on… Can’t question it! I did Me and I still have JOY!

In all you do, let no one steal your joy. God's got you! "Just Laugh On!"

PJ Payne

While You Wait

you know not what to expect

until you walk in

as waiting rooms depict

what the mind transcends

if flustered and clustered

the brain won't comprehend

any concept of normalcy
hidden deep within

peripheral visibility

is hampered by the flaw

of what the mind sees 
versus what you saw

surroundings are a blur
much less, to concentrate
only wanting answers
Reasons, for Heaven's sake!

but be aware in waiting rooms

you meet different people

from different walks in life

you meet different people

and likeness in Reason

of your meeting that day
is a mutual ailment

that might or may

constitute similarity

and lays to rest

the question of WHY

you are ‘ALL’ guests

in ‘that’ waiting room…

Shhhh...

Have you ever gone someplace and after the fact, you swore you’d never return because your encounter was one of displeasure and not quite your ‘cup ‘o tea’? Basically, you DIDN'T enjoy the experience. You brushed it off, didn’t speak of your distaste, just grinned and bore it because you figured you would NEVER have to return.

Well, as happenstance or a twist of faith would have it, I found myself in that very situation. The opportunity and circumstances dictated a ‘Revisit’. When I realized I would be returning, I immediately remembered dislike and thought, “this is the last time”. So, I girded up courage and planned  to encounter what I thought would be a very unpleasant recurrence!

To say I was pleasingly surprised is an understatement. Not only was there a noticeable change in the ‘look’ of the place, its' whole aura and atmosphere wreaked of joyous mysticism. My first thought…  “What Happened?? Whereas I was regretting the return, I found myself pleased and engrossed. I began to feel guilty though, about the past initial memories, how I shunned the thought of engaging in a return visit and most of all not speaking up about the experience.

“OBVIOUSLY, somebody said something”!

Like me, someone else had the very same mundane, uninviting, humdrum and uncomfortable occurrence. But unlike me, instead of enduring the discontent and saying nothing, somebody spoke up. Better still, somebody was listening and CHANGES emerged.

What I'm asking now is “how do you change something if you say nothing”? You may even think, as I did, it’s not your place to voice your concern. Well, it’s not even about what you say as much as it’s about how you say it. The voice is precious and it speaks volumes without a rise in its' tone, over emphasis on any words or even added demonstrative actions. Think first and let the Spirit lead you.


I’m so happy ‘somebody said something’! Thank you and I shall return.

Road to Easy Street

OUR GOD! 
He is so good! He gives us just what we need, in His time, which is when we need it. Sometimes we don't even realize that we need it, because we think we can work our own magic. We're hustling and bustling, trying to figure things out; shedding tears; blood pressure rising... we get in a frenzy when our backs are against the wall. Stuff happens!! So when we can't find immediate answers, those humanistic instincts kick in. 
"How soon we forget whose child we are". As Christians, we say we know God, but do we really?? We throw up our hands in despair; we throw temper tantrums like little kids who can't have their way; we get all worked up because 'we' can't work out the problem; we personalize failure and give up! But guess what? That's what He really wants us to do... let Him. "Who's your Daddy"? 

Just when we think it's all over, we've run the race, we've lost the battle, He is standing on the sidelines watching and waiting and then... HE INTERCEDES!

He guides us as He touches us

Takes the reins to lead us out of confusion

Clears the path of obstacles so we can see

and think clearly, as to not draw own conclusions

And then, only then do we grasp who truly has the answers. The only magic touch is the 'Touch of the Master'! When we let Him guide us in the path He wants us to take, we will realize we're in for the ride of a life time. Consequently, we wonder "what was all the fuss"?

... riding on easy street.

Maybe---Not?

Decisions, decisions! Has there ever been a time in your life when you were left to make an impacting decision on something MAJOR? All eyes were on you and you couldn't bail out because your responsibility dictated that YOU had the final say. The ball was in your court!


Problem: Your demeanor is passive, with a tad of aggression if you're passionate about a cause. You generally hesitate to make 'big' decisions for fear of hurting someone's feelings, much less making an 'unpopular' call.

With that being said, how did you get yourself into this situation? Well, the initial concept was yours, you  put it out there and your counterparts ran with it. Talk was cheap, but now those ideas have begun to come into fruition. The next step is to execute and finalize what YOU had started. Now you've got to step up your game or foul-out!


Realization: Somebody believed in you, "Now what"? You started this and you've got to progress to the next level. HOW do you muster-up the courage to pick up the ball and run with it... or just PASS?

Incognito

Hiding in the bushes and don't want to be seen, because you think your importance is nothing but a pipe dream. You don't NEED to be seen! You're letting others 'show' your work, even taking the credit, while in the shadows or behind the curtain you lurk... unassumingly, unselfishly, unnoticed.
You don't NEED a stamp, don't NEED a pat on the back, don't NEED to be pointed out, as a matter of fact.


Well, the reason you say, is that you're just exuding the love in the things you love to do and you do it 'just because'. Anyway, HE gets the glory when you're through and that satisfaction in itself, is enough for you.


Unbeknownst to you, you ARE seen from afar and admired by many. Some of whom, like yourself, not accredited their accomplishments. Your 'worth' does not go as unnoticed as you may think!


Summation: Humility is not exploited, but anointed! You ARE acknowledged. Maybe by no means of your own, but there is an "All Seeing Eye, Watching You", and SEES.