QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Positively Charged 
by Chrissy Larson

In the midst of a hectic life, we have to make sure to find ways to keep our spirits high. From the time I take my warm toes out from under my sheets to the time I put them back again, life has the potential of getting me down. Here are three things to keep your head up: think the best of people, remember to smile, laugh at your mistakes.

I don't know how many times in a day I have the opportunity to get offended but I can honestly say it's usually a lot. From the way someone speaks to me to the blank stare I get when I ask a perfectly sane question, I can choose to take things personal or give people the benefit of the doubt by letting comments, inflections, and physical expressions roll off my back. Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." When I choose to think the best of someone, I eliminate offense.


On the flip side of that, my countenance sets not only the mood in my house but affects people in my path. Most days, it's easy for me to smile. Those muscles, from what I am told, were the first to get a workout when I was an infant. But sometimes I have days when the gray cloud just won't disappear over my head. It's best if I don't have to leave the house, make important decisions, or answer many questions. I simply put up a Red Flag Warning, stating it's bad weather up ahead and my family seems to understand that tomorrow should be a better day. No matter how dismal my day is though, I still try to put a smile on my face. It makes a difference, even for me.

In my work,  I meet many interesting people. On one particular job, the woman I was working for had many awards and accolades displaying her service and generosity to various schools and organizations. With a letter signed by the president himself, she was one of President Bush's "1000 Points of Light" for making a difference in Jacksonville. I asked her to lunch after my work in her home was finished because I wanted to know her secret to success. The most significant thing she said to me over a Chick-Fil-A sandwich was, "My husband taught me to laugh at my mistakes." I thought about that for awhile and decided it was extremely profound. We make enough mistakes to disqualify ourselves from anything positive or good. If left to my own opinion of me, I am a hopeless loser. But the truth of the matter is humanness is humorous. If God can laugh and move on then why can't we?


So why not laugh at your mistakes? You are funny, especially when you do something stupid! While you're laughing at yourself, a smile will naturally take over your face. That's a good time to roll off offenses and make sure you're dishing out as much grace to others as you would hope to receive yourself. Since life is so full of negatives, be the positive charge as often as you can :)


What is your #1 tip for being happy?

ANGELS AMONGST US

With the economy in crisis, stress levels at an all-time high, and depression knocking on 2009's door, some can truly relate to George Bailey in Frank Capra's classic, "It's A Wonderful Life." Watching this mans life through the camera lens of an angel named Clarence gives us just the "rear-view reflection" needed for the days to come.

The movie has many high points as the laugh meter rises to the top time after time, but I must say that one of my favorite parts is the very beginning when we hear numerous prayers being offered by those who believe He truly hears us. The camera slowly zooms out as requests are being made known and everyone seems to be clamoring at once. The script allows for a small cast of voices crying out to Him with various supplications. Yet God, in all His glorious splendor, chooses to listen and is moved by those who tug on His merciful heart.

As far back as my memories serve me, I remember my mom being a "tugger." Even if it was after I had fallen asleep, I still recollect her tip-toeing into my room to say a soft-spoken prayer over me. Each time she prayed, she tugged at His heart, asking for my safe passage through this life, as well as His blessing. Those words cover me to this day; their goal was and still is to accomplish all that was intended in the words which came off her lips.

I do the same for my children now, whether they are near or far. Already, I pray for their yet-to-be spouses, as well as the grandchildren I will soon hold. As a mother, tugging is my business, but as a believer, tugging is essential to my existence. Once you start tugging in sincerity, you become addicted sensing His pleasure in the asking. Strangely, because of this act, His heart is moved.

More than ever before, I feel an urgency to tug. As much as Hollywood attempted to portray this, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit when we pray. Just as many lifted the name of George Bailey to the heavens, God is calling His people to pray. If we could zoom the camera out the way Frank Capra did, we too would begin to hear the consistency in God's agenda.

This generation is very unique. Truly, these are exciting times to be alive in and 2009 will soon be overflowing with so-called change. Can prayer make a difference? Let me narrow this down even further . . . are there angels assigned to personally assist you? According to George Bailey, there are. Read Psalms 91:11-12 and let me know what YOU think.

(The story you are about to read is 100 % fictional)

Just the other day, I needed to sign some important documents. Because of the nature of my business, signing them in person was a requirement. The office happened to be on the 18th floor of the Modis Building in the downtown area.

I noticed a commotion as I approached the elevators but somehow in all the confusion in the lobby, I wound up in the same elevator as presidential candidate Senator John McCain. There I was, face to face with him. Before I knew it, the doors were closing and secret service came pouncing towards us like a bunch of cats chasing catnip.

I must have been a sight, gawking at him with my jaw touching my chest. He broke the ice by shaking my hand and politely introducing himself. I gasped, knowing exactly who he was. When I told him my name, he smiled and said it was a pleasure to share the ride with me. He further expressed how the security slip-up might serve as a much needed break from the maddening crowds he was so accustomed to.

I nervously stared at the numeric display ascending from one floor to the next, when all of the sudden, the elevator gently came to a stop. We both looked at each other in surprise. I hesitatingly remarked, "Maybe your break will be a bit longer than you expected."

After security assured him via his ever-ringing cell phone we would be fine and the elevator would be repaired momentarily, he asked if sitting on the floor would make me feel uncomfortable. I responded by joining him. I debated in my mind for what seemed like forever, whether or not I should bring up the many issues I was concerned about. As soon I said, "Would you mind if I . . .” he interrupted and replied, "No, go ahead."

The rest is a blur. We must have sat there for a good thirty minutes when the elevator jerked and began its rise back to the top. As my floor approached, I quickly expressed my appreciation for the one-on-one moments we shared. Waving goodbye, I stepped out on to the 18th floor. The doors closed behind giving the Senator two and a half more minutes of solitude as he rode to the building's private top floor.

What did we talk about? That is for me to forever hide in my heart. But I learned so much about him in those few minutes.

Here's my opinion: John McCain is truly a hero. On the subject of negative campaigning, he could sling plenty of mud at his opponent but chooses not to at this time. Maybe what he faced as a POW explains his reaction to keep quiet in the face of persecution and ridicule. I know God honors this no matter who wins this race.

I feel deep concern for where this country is headed in light of the "change" that is promised by the other camp. Socialism is not only knocking at our front doors, it believes it can come in and put its feet on our furniture. Adopting this type of thinking, just because we as a nation are tired of taking care of ourselves, is not worth the consequences.

Voting correctly is one of the most powerful rights we physical possess, but praying fervently moves the heart of the Father. We need to ask God for mercy as a nation and cry out to Him to save us in our time of need. Praying is not the "least we can do," it is definitely the MOST we can do!

IMAGINE YOU GOT STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR WITH ONE OF THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. WHO WAS IT AND WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

What ONE Embarrassing Little Truth Can You Tell About Yourself?

"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part,

which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:22

It's almost hard to recall but there once was a time in my life when I was able to watch bits and pieces of morning television shows . At 9:00 Am, I had coffee with Regis and Kathy Lee. They jested and jeered about their lives and let me guess, along with the rest of America, the answer to the daily trivia question. Then at 10:00 Am, Martha Stewart showed me how to grow my own herbs, bake my own bread and weave a basket to serve it in. Everything was easy and perfect in her TV world and I too, dreamed of Living just like Martha. It appeared to come so natural for her, except for one thing. . . an entire staff of employees did the work behind the scenes. The image she portrayed was just a facade.

It reminds me of those old western towns seen on a film set. Many of the buildings are only facades, which are far cheaper than actual buildings. If we could go behind the scenes, we would be surprised by the fact that they are merely held up with supports. Such is the case in Martha's world.

Jesus used the story of Mary and Martha to prove a similar point. Martha appeared to have it together on the outside, but in her heart, she missed the mark. Martha felt like her purpose was to busy herself with household duties. One of her biggest downfalls was expecting everyone else to be as passionate about housework as she was. She began to despise Mary for her lack of concern but not even Jesus felt Martha's tasks were as important as Mary's.

I am truly a Mary stuck in Martha's world. I would much rather worship than wash the dishes; I prefer to fast than to feast; I'd rather press in and hear from the Lord than press shirts and have starched creases. The worship webstream runs more in my house than the carpet steam cleaner. The biggest reason I get on my knees is NOT to wax my floors. Existing in this realm requires I loose some of my Martha dignity.

You see, I love to do those things and I was trained by the best (my mother) to do them well. But I can't quite get myself to prioritize any differently. I get up early, yet stay up late. My accomplishments? They add up to a few new songs written for an audience of One; words of encouragement penned for one that needed His touch; or precious time spent with my kids who will one day be gone from my immediate reach.

What is my embarrasing truth? My house is pretty much a wreck. But one thing is needed, and hopefully I have chosen the good part.

Cyber Psalmist

Do the Math

A few nights ago, my husband woke up around 3:00 Am for no apparent reason. He lay there awhile wondering what he should do next. I've been there myself and it feels as though someone's decided to set off an imaginary alarm clock in my head. I toss a bit, then turn, trying not to disturb anyone. After facing my sleepless denial, I am likely to get up and clean or even work on a project.

I asked my husband what he did during his awake time. He said his mind started going down a list all the near-misses in his life; the really stupid decisions he made as well as risks he had taken, imagining what should have happened. When we're young, consequences don't seem as up-close and personal as they are when maturity knocks on our door. He could not understand his survival rate in comparison to the situations that nearly took his life, nor the reason for the grace that came his way. After reviewing his extensive list, he said he fell peacefully asleep.

I've heard drinking warm milk or cocoa helps insomnia, but then so does a dose of NyQuil PM. One of my favorite movies, "White Christmas," has a scene in which Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney discover they both have trouble sleeping. Bing suggests a glass of buttermilk along with a liverwurst sandwich. That sounds to me like trouble, not a treatment. Then they segue into what I consider to be one of the most beautiful songs in the movie. The lyrics go like this:

Count You Blessings
Irving Berlin
(from the 1954 movie "White Christmas")

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

If you think of all the times you were spared, about every close call, and each near-miss, you'll agree, you shouldn't be reading this blog. But God has decided your divine purpose is greater than what you've survived by the skin of your teeth. Psalm 89:13 says, "You (Lord) have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand."

When you count your blessings and do the math; you'll realize you are exponentially blessed!