Tag: free

Smile!

One day while watching Pastor Steven Furtick on TBN, he said, “If you’re happy and you know it – tell your face.” I thought what he said was so funny and so true that I decided to sing about it. This blog is dedicated to those of us who need to smile more. Take the challenge!

smile-1-poster

One day while watching Pastor Steven Furtick on TBN, he said, “If you’re happy and you know it – tell your face.”  I thought what he said was so funny and so true that I decided to sing about it.  Hope you enjoy the video. 

I am dedicating this rendition to those of you (like me) who have serious faces.  People have told me that I look “mean.”  I agree with them although I don’t look “mean” intentionally.  Sometimes I have other things on my mind and I don’t even realize my facial expression.

Some people just naturally look friendly and happy.  I have to work at it.  I have to remind myself to look pleasant and to smile more when I’m out and about.  I know that I am not alone.  Many people have this same issue.  Can I get an AMEN?  How do I know?  I know because I observe people when I’m out and about.  

Sometimes I visit a particular church.  It’s a big church.  Most of the people don’t know me and I don’t know them.  I find it interesting that as people are walking through the parking lot to go into the church, they will walk right past each other without even smiling or simply saying, “good morning.”  What’s up with that?  We’re going in the same direction to worship God, yet we can’t even greet each other.  I have also walked into the restroom and received neither a smile nor a good morning.  As a result, I decided that I would be the initiator – I would smile and I would speak first.  I’m trying to make it a habit.  I don’t always feel like doing it, but at least I’m trying.

One day I was in Costco’s siting at a table waiting for my sisters to pay for their purchases.  A man walked towards me.  I asked myself, “Why is this man coming towards me? I don’t know him.”  Yes, you all, I talk to myself and answer myself back.  Anyway, he walked up to me and said, “Smile, you are gorgeous!” 

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather.  I’m at the age where I feel like I am invisible to men.  I was so shocked.  I smiled and replied, “Thank you.”  He then replied, “No, thank you!  He then proceeded to walk out of the store.

smile-2-poster

Instead of saying “Thank you” I should have said “No, thank God” because I had nothing to do with how He created me.  I’m His handiwork.  Really, I was too shocked to say anything else.

 The take away from my story: 

Smile because you never know how your smile might bless and uplift someone.

 

My brother Sam is in a nursing home, recovering from a stroke.  When I visit him I usually end up saying something funny.  I don’t plan it; it just comes out of my mouth.  It really blesses me when I say something that causes him to smile.  It really makes my day.

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Sometimes I wake up with a smile on my face because I wake up thinking and thanking God.  I lie there for a few minutes, throwing Him kisses.  I imagine Him smiling as He catches those kisses.

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I’m sure you know the wonderful benefits of laughing.  Do you know the wonderful benefits of smiling? 

Smiles:

  • Boost your mood.  You can’t be happy and sad at the same time.
  • Change your mindset when you’re in a bad situation. This can contribute to you finding other ways to successfully deal with that situation.
  • Keep stress at bay.  Stress plays a major role in heart conditions and hypertension.
  • Are contagious.  Ever notice how often a friend, colleague or complete stranger will reciprocate a smile after you share one?
  • Make you more approachable. You come across as more likable and friendly.
  • Through pain show strength.  It takes a strong person to smile through pain.
  • Can redirect your day toward adventure, possibility, and being carefree.

Meditating on the Word of God will help you smile more.

 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22 King James Version (KJV)

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.  Proverbs 15:13, 15 (KJV)

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.  Psalm 126:2, 3 (KJV)

 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’ Job 9:27 New (NKJV).

Humor Time

At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.  Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.  Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, Johnny what is the matter?  Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side.  I think I’m going to have a wife.”                                                            –Author Unknown

Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil.  One said to the other, “What do you think about all this satan stuff?”  The other boy replied, “Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out.  It’s probably just your dad.”           –Author Unknown

An elderly woman died last month.  Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers.  In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, “They wouldn’t take me out while I was alive, I don’t want them to take me out when I’m dead.    – Author Unknown

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One of my quests for 2017 is to encourage people (myself included) to do better (mentally, spiritually, and physically).  I believe the best way to do this is by setting goals that you can live with for the rest of your life. 

The Do Better challenge for this blog:  SMILE MORE

Ways to do this include, but are not limited to:

Goal A  

  1. Write the word “Smile” on an index card. You’re painting a picture that your brain can see. If it visualizes something – it will aim to work toward it. 
  1. Tape the index card to your bathroom or bedroom mirror. The bathroom mirror would probably be better because then everyone else who goes in there will also be encouraged to smile.
  1. Every time you look in that mirror, smile. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between what is real versus what is false.  So smile whether you feel like it or not.

Goal B

  1. Smile at a complete stranger at least once a day. Someone may think you’re strange and won’t smile back.  They may even think you’re trying to get a date, but don’t let that stop you.  If they refuse to smile back, it’s their loss.  Just move on to the next person.  Think of your smile as a two-fold good deed.  You’ll feel good and you could also brighten someone’s day.

Did you achieve your goal?  Ways to measure:

  • Take a few minutes at the end of each day to write down your smiling experience for that day.
  • Keep a calendar where you can check off or put a smiley face each day that you complete your daily goal. Keep doing this every day, and you’ll have a chain of days you’ve checked off.

Do this challenge for 2 weeks or until it becomes habit.  Encourage someone to join you.  

I can’t encourage you to do something that I’m not willing to do.  So I’ll be taking this challenge beginning March. 1st.

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When I sat down at the computer to begin this blog, I didn’t know what I was going to share.  The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to share my song.  Now I have to make myself stop typing.  It’s like eating potato chips.  Once you get started, it’s hard to stop.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to view the video and read all the nuggets. 

Bye for now.           2 smiling faces.jpg

“Smile”

Smile tho’ your heart is aching
Smile even tho’ it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by

If you smile
Thro’ your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shin-ing thro’ for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide ev-‘ry trace of sadness
Altho’ a tear may be ever so near

That’s the time
You must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worth-while

If you just smile

— NAT KING COLE

 

Resources

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/520165825686344332/

Steven Furtick, Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina

https://stevenfurtick.com

TBN  (Trinity Broadcasting Network)

https://www.tbn.org/

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+9%3A27&version=KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+9%3A27&version=NKJV

http://www.goal-setting-motivation.com/set-your-goals/writing-goals/

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/natkingcole/smile.html

 

 

It happened to me.

Andrae Crouch sang these words:  Somebody told me of the joy they had.  Somebody told me that in sorrow they could be glad.  Then they told me, once they were bound but now set free.  But I didn’t think it could be until it happened to me. 
My oldest sister, Pastor Charlotte Bryant has shown me the joy that she has over the years.  She has shown me that in sorrow she can be glad.  I know stories of when she was bound and then set free.  But I STILL didn’t think it could be – until it happened to me. 
To be honest, I didn’t want to believe it could happen to me.  I didn’t want to change.  I wanted to continue being depressed.  I wanted to keep singing songs like What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?,  Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, and Trouble in my way, I have to cry sometimes – I lay awake at night but that’s alright- Jesus will fix it after while.  I didn’t want to sing songs like: I’m an Overcomer, Victory is Mine, and Joy bells Keep Ringing in My Soul.
Slowly but surely, it has happened to me.  I’m not singing those negative songs anymore.  When I hear them being sung, I will make up words to replace them.  Everyone in life will experience trouble.  1Peter 4:12, 13 clearly says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  Trouble will come.  It’s up to me how I react to it. 
I won’t say that I am the most joyful person in the world.  I won’t say that I never get sad and depressed.  I will say that those bouts don’t happen often.  When they do happen and I examine myself, I find that I have not been praying, praising god and reading the Word like I should. 
I challenge you.  Don’t meditate on the negative, don’t sing the negative. Don’t declare the negative: Oh, I’m having a bad day, I have the worst luck, Nothing good ever happens to me, I don’t feel like thinking happy thoughts.  Don’t claim the negative:  my arthritis, my bad back, my lazy husband, my ugly self, my broke self. Look at the glass as half full and not half empty.  Praise God.  Meditate on the Word of God.  Invest in some laughter DVDs or books.  Do your part and God will do the rest.  Then you can share with others how, IT HAPPENED TO YOU.
To view my video, those who receive email notifications of new blog posts can click on the link beside my picture.

 

Word to meditate on:        
Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.  Isaiah 26:3
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17

HUMOR TIME

God is Like a TV Commercial
Then there’s the Sunday School teacher who had her 5th grade class watch commercials to see if they could use them to come up with ways to communicate truths about God. Here’s what they said:
God is like.
Allstate: You’re in good hands.
Alka-Seltzer: Try him, you’ll like Him
Tide: He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
Sears: He has everything.
A Ford: He’s got a better idea.
Hallmark Cards: He cared enough to send the very best.
Bayer Asprin: He works miracles.
Delta: He’s ready when you are.
Alberto Vo-5: He holds through all kinds of weather.
Coke: He’s the real thing.
The US Post Office: Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will keep Him from His appointed rounds.
Scotch Tape: You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there.
Dial Soap: Aren’t you glad you’ve got Him? Don’t you wish everybody did?
General Electric: He brings good things to life.
Charity Begins at Church
After the church service, seven year old Brian said to the preacher: ‘When I grow up, I’m going to give you some money.’
‘Well, thank you, ‘the preacher replied, ‘but why?’
‘Because my daddy says that you’re one of the poorest preachers we’ve ever had.’
 Going Down!!
As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, “Anyone here know how to pray?” One man stepped forward. “Aye, Captain, I know how to pray.” “Good,” said the captain, “you pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets – we’re one short.”
Get moving.bicycle
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health.  People who are physically active tend to live longer and have lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.  Physical activity can help control weight, strengthen bones and muscles, and if you’re an older adult, improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls.  In December 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Healthy People 2020, which has four overarching goals:
  • Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death;
  • Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups;
  • Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all; and
  • Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.
Healthy People 2020 tracks approximately 1,200 objectives organized into 42 topic areas, each of which represents an important public health area.  Increasing physical activity is one of the objectives.  Specific goals for physical activity are:
Here are 8 more reasons to get moving:       
  1. To reduce tension and enable you to handle stress more effectively
  2. To help prevent constipation
  3. To improve your sleep
  4. To relieve arthritis
  5. To improve your posture and general appearance
  6. To improve your circulation
  7. To have more energy to praise the Lord in dancing
I get moving because I want to have flexibility and to strengthen my bones and muscles.
 What motivates you to get moving?      apple weights                      
Thanks for stopping by.

Resources

Physical Activity. (April 2015). Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/data-search/Search-the-            Data?f%5B%5D=field_topic_area%3A3504&ci=0&se=0&pop=

http://biblehub.com/akjv/1_peter/4.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Isaiah%2041:10

http://biblehub.com/akjv/isaiah/26.htm

http://www.jokesclean.com/ChristianJokes/HolyOneLiners.php

http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/clean_religious_jokes.htm

http://www.beliefnet.com/iLoveJesus/Features/Hilarious-Christian-Jokes.aspx?p=6#8SyJPYTfowTjR3eU.99