A song to sing...

Today I am thankful that God blesses me with a joyful heart in the morning.  In the morning when I wake up, I like to sing.   My heart is bouncing with joy and energy in the morning. What a beautiful day...


Psalm 47:6-7:   Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our Kind, sing praises.  God is the king of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations (and each moment of today-  each piece of happiness or struggle within the moment of today).


Clap your hands, move within the moment praising God for the pure joy of life ~  Pass it on ~AT

Wise words for today...

"At some point, I learned to happen to my days rather than letting my days happen to me."  Ruth Stricker.  As Ruth also said, I will choose this attitude today, "I consider myself a well person in a diseased body.  I could have let myself become a victim...but I am not a victim."
~At


For more of Ruth's story: http://lupusnews.ecndigitaledition.com/magazine.aspx

Humbled

Today, I was thinking about how I wish I had a different body--- a body that would run- one that did not ache. A new body is something I look forward to in heaven but what can I learn here and now--- today? Today I thank God for humbling me and pray that he gives me the strength to have a grateful heart each day. I long for heaven but live for today--- today I walk as a humbled human. Oh how different our see through  humble eyes today.

What do your eyes see today? Humbly looking ~ AT

Inspiration

We all need inspiration each day if we are going to live for today. You have probably already seen this but so had I-- it inspired me for today- to dream- to be energetic- to be kind.
Be inspried ~AT

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

Addendum to being surprised

Wow! I'm already blown away- completely surprised today! I have to fill you in an a little experiment I've been running today, and I hope you will run it yourself!

I've been filled with joy and hope this morning. I've been just going about my usual business this morning but things are not so usual--- my smile seems as contagious as the flu this year! On my usual walk to get coffee through the tunnels of the hospital, the influence of joy became so obvious. The most amazing thing I've experienced in a long time--- strangers making not only eye contact- but giving me a huge smile and a loud- confident- "hello!" It gives me this wonderful feeling of being connected with fellow mankind on an intimate- real level.

Please replicate this experiment in your life today ~AT

Be surprised

It's pretty early right now but God has already blessed my day with smiles. I was reminded of this concept of living for today very early this morning- that means it's going to be a good day because I have made the choice to view life as a blessing. So my words are simple today- simple but powerful- Rejoice! Let God surprise you... ask and you shall receive.

Influence through joy for today and be surprised with gladness ~ AT

Seeing Extraodinary in the Ordinary

Today has been a perfect day because it was slow enough to take it all in. I took in each moment; throughout the day I found myself saying out loud, "This day is perfect!" It was full of things I don't normally do, and I'm so glad I got to share it with my sister Katie who lives in Colorado. We ate breakfast at the table instead of on the run, strolled around Lake Calhoun taking in the fresh morning air, and ventured to a new locally owned cafe for lunch in my neighborhood. A mid afternoon nap was also just the needed refresher. It was a day full of ordinary things that ended up being extraordinary.

What makes a day extraordinary? I wish everyday was like today. Is it possible to have a lifetime of extraordinary days? I think it's possible--- I just have to take the time to see the extraordinary in the ordinary--- take the time to see how "everyday people" are extraordinary. It's the ordinary events and the everyday people that made me feel alive today. It's enjoying the simple pleasures and people's kind deeds that blessed me with wonderful contentment despite my physical circumstances today.

Contentment is an amazing gift that I experienced today.
 May I grow to open my arms to it each day. AT

Tomorrow is Many Todays

A benefit of the 20 some pills I am taking is that I am less tired; with the pills has also come some insomnia. Bad? Depends on the view. I was lying awake last night, and while I had many circling thoughts, one stuck. Tomorrow is really just many todays of the future. And today is really just many moments. What am I making of this moment? Am I honest within this moment and the moments that will make up today? If I am honest today, I will be honest for the todays that make up the future.

I have been blessed with many conversations with family and friends. I feel "One Love and the One Destiny." I have tried to forget about the sickness, and when I haven't been able to, I feel "so many right beside me." I have decided that one of the hardest parts of life is connecting with emotions and then expressing emotions when they are so raw. There have also been many moments in which I think I haven't simply just forgotton the sickness, but rather, I have embraced it.

What should be embraced today? What we choose to embrace today will be what we embrace for the todays to come.
 Dance to ONE LOVE. AT