Scripture of the Day - June 8, 2021 - Proverbs 18:24
The people you surround yourself with says a lot about the person you are and who you are looking to become. If you seek out good people, you will find good results. You cannot find success in life by allowing unreliable people in your life.
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Gratitude Journal - June 8, 2021 - Loyalty
Today, I am grateful for loyalty. Loyalty is the combination of love and faithfulness in action. This is a quality often lacking in today’s society. When you find someone loyal, you know that is someone you want in your corner. Those who are willing to stick by you in good times and during challenging times are a rare find. For loyalty, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - June 7, 2021
“The moment you realize you are not present, you are present. Whenever you are able to observe your mind, you are no longer trapped in it. Another factor has come in, something that is not of the mind: the witnessing presence.” - Eckhart Tolle
Scripture of the Day - June 7, 2021 - Philippians 1:12-14
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
Gratitude Journal - June 7, 2021 - My Son David
Today, I am grateful for my son David. He turned 17 today and is becoming a fine young man. Watching him change from the fun little dude he once was to the responsible and confident adult he is becoming has been so much fun. I look forward to seeing where his life takes him, and I am forever thankful to be his father. For my son David, I am grateful.
Gratitude Journal - June 6, 2021 - Ice Cream
Today, I am grateful for ice cream. It was a hot day to day and, to celebrate the official start fo summer, we stopped at a small ice cream shoppe for a scoop of awesome ice cream. It really hit the spot. Such a nice treat on a hot summer day. For ice cream, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - June 5, 2021
You only truly evolve by b eing present in the moment. That is where you need to be - not the future, not the past - the present.
“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.” - Eckhart Tolle
Scripture of the Day - June 5, 2021 - 1 Chronicles 28:20
God is with you - today and every day. You have no reason not to be strong and courageous. You have no reason to fear. God will deliver.
“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”
Gratitude Journal - June 5, 2021 - Having EMS Skills
Today, I am grateful that I have the skills and training necessary to know what to do in an emergency medical situation. I needed to put my skills to work today and, thank God, I was able to do what was needed. For my EMS skills and training, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - June 4, 2021
We are always free to chose how we respond to any situation. No one but you can make that decision.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor Frankl
Scripture of the Day - June 4, 2021 - Acts 3:19-21
Give your sins up to God and you will be forgiven. Every time. Without question.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
Gratitude Journal - June 4, 2021 - Google Maps and GPS
Today, I am grateful for Google Maps and GPS. These two technology, in unison, get me pretty much everywhere I need to go - accurately and the fastest way possible. I have no idea how people got anywhere with paper maps shoved a glove box. For Google Maps and GPS, I am grateful - and at the proper location for baseball.
Mindfulness Journal - June 3, 2021
Accepting your present reality seems to be a pretty straightforward concept, but it proves to be very challenging in practice. How often do you fight what is already done or try to change what has already happened? All the time. We very rarely live in the now as if it were what we chose. I think I struggle with this every day. If I could successfully do this, consider how easy life would be, how simple forgiveness would be, and how much more enjoyable my outlook would be.
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.” – Eckhart Tolle
Scripture of the Day - June 3, 2021 - Mark 11:25
Forgiveness is a key component in faith, yet it is so difficult in practice. I struggle to understand how we are all forgiven by God so easily when it is so hard for us to forgive others. We seek retribution for the slightest issues. We want “payback” for the driver that was rude on the way to work. We carry pain, fear, and anger with us everywhere we go. Forgiveness removes all of these problems. Simple, but not easy.
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Gratitude Journal - June 3 2021 - The Dishwasher
Today, I am grateful for the automatic dishwasher. I love loading that thing up with filthy dishes, pressing the go button, and unloading clean and sanitized dishes. It saves so much time and effort and makes my daily routine so much easier. For the dishwasher, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - June 2, 2021
I can see where this concept is hard to internalize. We have all become so focused on improvement and climbing the ladder that the idea of doing something without that intention is very challenging.
“Meditation is the only intentional, systematic human activity which at bottom is about not trying to improve yourself or get anywhere else, but simply to realize where you already are.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Scripture of the Day - June 2, 2021 - Psalms 29:11
It’s pretty clear from reading the Bible that God wants us (His people) to know that he gives us strength to get through anything. That if we focus on the Lord, we can accomplish great things.
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Gratitude Journal - June 2, 2021 - Running
Today, I am grateful for running. I have picked up running again to get in better shape and drop a few stubborn pounds off my belly. This afternoon I went for a run for the first time in quite some time, and it felt great. I’ll admit, it was not easy and very taxing but rewarding once done. For running, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - June 1, 2021
The practice of meditation and mindfulness is not an opportunity to escape your life or get away from stress. Rather meditation allows you an opportunity to see things as they really are rather than clouded by emotions and other noise. With clear vision, better reasoning and decisions can be made.
“Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
Scripture of the Day - June 1, 2021 - Romans 8:38-39
Nothing loves more powerfully than God.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
