"I Can't," or "I Can" & "If Nothing Else"

Long Version
(for short version scroll to bottom)

I hear myself saying " I Can't" a lot lately.
Maybe even for some time, and never noticed how much I said it,
and I'm sure I thought it even more.

Negative messages.
And I send them to myself.

"I Can't, I Don't"

I can't possibly get all that done.
There just isn't enough time.
I can't handle one thing more.
I don't think I know how to do that.
I'm not good on the computer.
How am I going to add that to the list?

So many appointments, so many thing to remember.
Afraid I will forget some thing, some one.
Feeling behind all the time.
Like I will never get caught up.
Is this what life is all about??

All those negative thoughts.
Always seeing what there is to do,
instead of what I have done.

Well, how about putting some positive thoughts in there?
How about thinking about what I have accomplished,
even if it is the smallest thing.
How about thinking about what a blessing
it is to get out of bed in the morning?
To have the sunshine on my face.

Today I'm going to be grateful for the small things.
The small accomplishments.
The rest will still be there tomorrow. =)

Short Version

Don't say I can't.
Say I can.
Celebrate the small things!!!
Focus on the positive.

Blessings

Barbara Jean

Here is the beginning of my positive thinking.
Seeing what I did get done.

and HERE seeing what is important.

Favorite Scripture Party

Cindy, at
I Owe It All To Him
is having a favorite scripture party.

My very favorite scripture is Ps 139:17.18

"How precious to me are your thoughts o God,
How vast is the sum of them.
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the sands of time.
When I awake I am still with you."

Can you imagine?
He thinks of you, and me, more than there are are grains of sand?
He thinks of us every minute of every day.
A mind boggling thought.

And a wonderful way to share God's love with others.
Next time you are playing a game and using one of those sand timers,
it is a perfect opportunity to share this verse.
My granddaughters were amazed by the thought of this verse.

Here is a little art piece I made up.

And I have made Ps 139 jars too.
More about those later.

And this is my favorite word:
Remember

Remember:
It's my reminder word that:
God loves me
He died for me
He is always with me
He provides for me
He is my healer,
my guide,
my strentgth.
And anything and everything I could ever want.

Thanks Cindy, for such a great party.

blessings to all

barbara jean

STOP

running away

taking on too many things

neglecting yourself

and take time for Me.

and listen to how much I love you.

You cannot be healed,
you cannot take care of yourself,
you cannot hear God,
if you are always on the run.

That's His message to me today.
Does it fit for you?

blessings and Lord help us to stop.

Let the Games Begin!!

I'M CELEBRATING BOTH MY STORE BLOG,
AND MY BRICK AND MORTAR BLOG WITH A CELEBRATION GAME.

GO HERE TO PLAY

BLESSINGS ALL

BARBRA JEAN

Sometimes Life Bites

No cute picture today, just a story.

Sometimes Life Just Jumps Up and Bites Us.

I was going for my usual walk this morning.
A man and his little brown Dachshund were walking toward me.
It is the norm for me to greet whoever I see,
and should they have a friendly dog,
I take opportunity to give, and get some lovin' in.

This little guy was just jumping all over the place.
At the OK of the owner, I slowly knelt down,
and let him (the dog not the owner) smell my hand.
He was calm and friendly as I rubbed his belly
and talked to him.

As I stood up to go, the dog jumped 3 feet in
the air and bit me on the inside of my arm at the elbow.
"oh my gosh!" I said, shocked at what had happened.
"Did you see that?" I continued.
The man, concerned, answered, " yes, did he get you?"
"yes. He did", I said. "I cannot believe he jumped up that far."
He asked if I was OK. Said the dog does that sometimes.
He does not know why.
I of course took the blame, that I must have moved to fast.

My arm began to hurt instantly.
It did not look too bad, but was already swelling and turning red.
Since the skin was not broken, I said it was all OK,
and we continued on our separate ways.

As I walked on, it hit me.

Isn't that just like life sometimes?
You are just walking along, all is well,
and something unexpected just jumps up and bites you?
It can cause pain, shock you, throw you off the path.

You have a choice how you will respond to those times.
I could have gotten angry at the man,
I could have kicked the dog.
Life is full of choices.

So, I said the the Lord, "Help me to always be ready
to turn to you when the unexpected in life happens.
Help me to always have a good response."

Then I began to sob.
Much more than the pain of the dog bite.
The tears just poured out.
I realized that I was crying over other sad things in my life that
I do not usually let myself feel the pain of.
Mainly right now my Dad's declining health because
of Alzheimers, and another recent stoke.
And my Mom in her efforts to care for him.
It's very hard to see your parents getting older,
and closer to a time when they will not longer be here with us.

So, was the man, and his biting dog there,
so that I might pour some of my sad out in cleansing tears?

Was it to see how I would respond to that situation?

Was it God using every day circumtances to teach me, as He
has so many times before?

Whatever it was, and maybe it was all of those,
I hope I am learning what He wants to teach me.

Blessings

barbara jean

If Nothing Else....

I strolled with the Lord this morning....

and enjoyed His wonderful creations.

blessings as you walk with Him

Barbara Jean

Remember

Remember is one of my favorite words.

Remember:

He Loves You
He thinks of you every moment of every day
He is always with you.

He knows the plans He has for you.
He guides and directs your paths.

He wraps His loving arms around you.
He saves every tear in a bottle
and is with you when you cry.

He rejoices over you with singing.

He gave His Son for you.

He gave us His word to guide us in His ways.
He gave us the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts.

And He has prepared a place for us,
to be with Him for eternity.

What does Remember mean to you?

Blessings

barbara jean