our response determines our future

the simplest of sentences can sometimes help you to slow down, take a breath and focus on what it is you are really doing in a moment.

This one, spoken at church a few weeks ago, has really resonated with me.

This goes for;

• what we say – they can so strongly affect our moods and feelings towards others, even if spoken quietly to ourselves.
• thought life – the way we speak to ourselves and the motivation we give ourselves means so much towards our own outlook.  Positivity and silver lining always – even a smile on your face can change your thought pattern.
• prayer – giving thanks and praise to God.  Such a big part of how we should respond to a situation.  Something I’m constantly working on. Pray away negativity and train yourself to respond to negativity through prayer!  Not in reacting.
• patience – realising that you don’t have to respond straight away to a situation or something spoken to you.  Think about your response.   Try not to be personally offended if someone upsets you with something you don’t agree with.  Take a breath, don’t react, push forward forgiveness and be patient with your response.
• change – something that has been at me for weeks now.  small changes mean the world and can change the world in you!  They can easily determine your future, just with the smallest of steps, thoughts or words.

It might be a simple statement but its something that means so much.  Simple is so often the best. I know my brain OFTEN over complicates things.

But I also know that I can choose how I respond!   It’s my future afterall!

So I’m keeping on with the small changes.  The small ideas.  The brave moves forward.

I only get one chance at this life and if the least I can do is respond positively, be grateful and have faith – I know I will be creating the best future possible.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

> Grateful Heart with Emily from Ember Grey blog

He goes where we go

Today was a great day….and it was Monday – what is with THAT!  That rarely happens.

But I’ve been feeling good. Full of energy in the mornings, not tired when the afternoons come around and feeling focused at the moment – and I know its to do with the good food we are eating thats for sure!

But today, amongst feeling happy and energetic, I also found myself in the right place at the right time !

Full of energy on this Monday,  I decided to do a food shop on the way home.   Driving towards our usual supermarket, I decided, no I’ll try something different as I find it awkward with a trolley there, I’ll go to the other supermarket a few suburbs away – which I haven’t done before.

So off I went, strangely excited and shopped away.

Heading out to the near empty carpark with only an elderly lady heading to her car beside me,  I put my groceries in the car, put the trolley away and dawdled back to my car.

Heading back, I had to look twice as I saw a man lying on the concrete holding his head. He’d fallen down and definitely wasn’t getting back up.

I worriedly walked towards him and said out loud, “is that man okay?” only to have the lady who was now at her car, hear me and turn around panicked rushing towards him saying “thats my husband”.

The poor thing. She’d walked ahead of him and he’d tripped off the concrete step and fallen hitting his head.

With just her and I around and no need for an ambulance thank goodness, we had to get him up. I’ve never lifted a dead weight before as he has bad knees so struggled to get up, but it was hard – used all my muscles I tells ya.

But with a few scratches, little blood to his head and knees, she walked him back to his car quite upset and I of course reassured her when she said she didn’t see him and should have stayed with him, that its okay – life gets in the way sometimes and you aren’t to know plus he is okay praise God.

It just make me think. How much we end up being where we are needed. That a little hint to go grocery shop somewhere else and this happens.

Of course, perhaps anyone else could have been there at that time if I wasn’t and they would have had help. Or she could have been there struggling to get him up all by herself and eventually been okay.

Either way, its God that has reminded me through this that He is there. That He will point you where you are needed, even if it is in a small moment.

It’s reminded me of how in control our God is and how we are sent where we are needed and that He goes where we go!

Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9, NIV

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”   Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

> Linking up with Emily from Ember Grey Blog for Grateful Heart Monday 

I have to be grateful.

So often you can sit and wallow in your own circumstances when things don’t go as planned – I know I do. 

Sometimes its hard to remain positive when others around you can pull you down with their own negativity, demands or mood swings – this happens far more easily than I would like!

Other times its hard to pull yourself out of disappointment when your expectations of others isn’t met – this is a big one for me, I push my expectations onto others!

There are so many things in this world that can make you feel down and instantly change your mood. Stupid little things that we know don’t matter in the long term but can change in an instant!

Often times its out of our control when we deal with people on a daily basis. Your mood can be affected just by someones response…or no response. It’s incredible!

I know I have to keep reminding myself to snap out of it and instead look to all the things I am grateful for DAILY!

To not let the moods of others change me – they are their moods not mine!  Instead constantly be that positive person who continues to smile and laugh, even through irritation.

With that comes a lot of patience and I’m learning more and more that patience is a habit. You have to routinely do it for it to become second nature. That may take me till I’m 60 or more, but hey, I’m still going to try.

For me, it’s also about finding strength outside of myself, outside of my circumstance and for that, I pray. I have to take myself away from that situation, find a quiet spot (sometimes a bathroom) and pray for patience, pray to be understanding and pray to be kind through every moment!

Its definitely a growing process and I’m so happy that I’ve realised recently that I don’t have to have the answers to everything, that I shouldn’t have to spend time anxious about situations I can’t control – I just have to;

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12 NIV