Come Alive

"Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."-Howard Thurman

Pause Where You Are

28 Ways

Homeless Shelter & Women's Shelter

Call your local shelter and see what is their greatest need.

Offer to help make a meal or wash dishes.

Take your donation clothes to the shelter.

Rather than shying away, share a smile and a kind word with someone.

Give donations to the homeless shelter to help build them up as a useful resource.

Volunteer at your local shelter- find a day that works for you.

Keep a supply of "ready-to-go" bags with supplies in your car to give to people you see on the street or at the shelter.

28 Ways, 28 Days

Cashier/Grocer Appreciation Day

If you go to the store, make conversation with the grocers/workers.

Compliment them on their work whether they're restocking the shelves or stacking up the oranges, or bagging your groceries.

Call your cashier by name. Ask him/her how their day is going.

28 Ways, 28 Days

Online Positivity/Compliment Day

Write a good review for a product you've purchased.

If you don't use social media, compliment the poeple who you see throughout the day.

Inspire positivity on your social media accounts by posting a positive status and only saying kind and encouraging things.

Connect with someone you haven't talked to in a while via Skype or FaceTime.

Weekend 28 Ways, 28 Days

February 7: Nursing Home Day

Many folks in a nursing home don't receive visitors.
Take some time to go talk to them, listen to them. They older generations have so much to share with us.
Call ahead and see what you can help with.
Make cards to send to them, they would appreciate a kind and uplifting note.
Take flowers, balloons, cookies, etc...(check with nursing staff for any dietary restrictions)

February 8: Police/Fire/Rescue/Military Appreciation Day
Often, we overlook the people that look after us!
Take time today to thank you local police officers, firefighters, and service men and women.
Visit your local station to learn about how you can help your local police do a better job.
Sign up for making a homemade meal for the fire station one night a week or month.
Soldiers appreciate cards of thanks for their service and need support when they have returned from service abroad. Check with your local National Guard to see what kind of volunteer and/or donation opportunities are available for you.

Busyness Is Not a Destination

I began a new women's study group last night.  Our leader brought up how we get so busy.  We all agreed.  Then she brought up how the majority of the miracles Jesus performed would not have taken place if he would have lived at our pace.  He would have been too busy.  He wouldn't have felt the woman touch his robe, as she longed to be healed.  He would have just kept rushing through the crowd, going about his own business.  Instead, he stopped, looked at her, cared for her, and healed her.  

How often do we rush by someone who is bleeding, whether figuratively or physically, because we are too busy?  We have schedules to keep, things to do, Facebook to check.  

How often are we the ones who need healing, who need to just stop and rest, rest at our Savior's feet, but we don't create a pause, white space, time in our schedule to be still, rest, and get restored?  We keep running and running, until we fall down exhausted.  Sometimes we are truly very busy.  Sometimes, we stay busy to avoid the hurt, the problems, the grief in our lives because if we stay busy, we don't have to think about it, or deal with it, we just keep running.  Exhausted.  Empty.  Yet, we run.  

I am just as guilty of this at times in my life as anyone.  I have been running at a pretty high pace lately with work, family events, basketball games, life in general.  I realized last week how fast I have been going, and have taken a couple days to intentionally slow down, rest, disconnect from social media.  

If we did an honest evaluation of our time, many of us would see we spend much too much time on social media, whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or playing games, we spend too much time there, often longing to connect with someone.  What if we took that time and called someone on the phone and made plans to meet at a coffee shop or go to lunch or for a walk, and found out how that person is doing face to face?  We long for community, but true community cannot be found online.  True community means being intentional, intentionally being with people face to face in a real relationship.  Real relationships are messy, but they are also beautiful.  When is the last time you took a couple hours and sat with someone and spoke to them in person?  

We all need to pause, we all need community.  We need to not be so busy that we miss those who are reaching out to us, who need an encouraging word, who need someone just to notice them.  

Each of us needs to intentionally create downtime in our schedules.  Time to be quiet, to read, to rest, to pray, to listen.  

What will you eliminate that is not so important, to slow down?  What will you do to connect face to face with someone and truly care about them?  Can you walk away from social media for the weekend and connect with real people, connect with yourself, connect with your Creator?  

Day 6, Friend Day

Friday Friend Day!

Take a friend out for coffee or lunch.

Remind them how much they mean to you.

Do something with them that they love to do.

Help them with a project they haven't had time to get to.

Day 5, 28 Ways, 28 Days

Day 5:  Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle Day

Recycle those old magazines that have been laying around.

Pick up the trash in your local park or roadway.

Take the scraps of things you find around your house and make something creative!

Go through your closet and take you clothes donation to your local mission.

Day 4, 28 Ways 28 Days

Co-workers and Boss Day

The day to bring donuts and coffee for everyone!

Stop to ask them how their day is going.

Ask them if they need help on a project.

Run an errand for someone who might be too busy to do it.

Day 3, 28 Ways in 28 Days

Day 3: Wait Staff/Barista Appreciation Day

If you're at a restaurant/cafe/or fast food place, make sure to be kind to the wait staff or your barista.

If they're wearing a name tag, make sure to call them by name and make eye contact.

Smile and be friendly, make conversation as you wait.

If they give good service, let them know! Tell their manager they did well, too.


Tip well!

Day 2

Day 2-Kids/Siblings Day

If you have children, spend extra quality time with them today. Make them the focus. Do what they enjoy doing.

If you have a sibling, take time to learn more about them. Make a lunch or dinner date and share with them. Be emotionally present for them.

Make time to spend with your best friend, reflect on your memories together.

Be Intentional This Month

For the month of February, take time to intentionally make a difference each day.

Every day: Smile and say hello to everyone you come across. Saying "hi" is more than just saying hello. You're acknowledging that they exist, and it affirms their worth. Kind of deep for just a 2-letter word, right? It's worth it!

February 1: Affirmation Day

Write a note of affirmation on someone's Facebook, blog, Twitter, by phone, or in person.

Tell them what you appreciate about them the most, or tell them what they do best.

Take a moment to reflect; open yourself to God's leading.

Daily Gifts, Febraury

Take time to see and experience the gifts of each day.  

Appreciate what you have, and those in your life.  

What Is Your Legacy?

What legacy are you leaving behind?  What will others remember about you?  Will they remember you were loving, caring, giving or will they remember the opposite?  If you are reading this, you are still breathing and have time to make changes right now.  Don't wait to tell someone you love them, you are proud of them.  Don't wait to lend a helping hand, a kind word.  Decide right now to live the life you want etched in the minds and souls of others.  Life is short.  Live it out.  

4G Practice

Before bed every evening do the 4G Practice - recall what was GOOD about the day, what were the GLITCHES over the past 24 hours, what are you GRATEFUL for, and what are your GOALS for the next day. Let these practices pull you toward a more rich, full and sustainably authentic life. Try it out and let me know how it goes! 

...Dr. Sara Gottfried

Faith

One Word Thoughts

"There is a reason why we say, “Get One Word for the year…but be careful.” As soon as you discover your word, the battle will begin. It will initiate a process of teaching, developing, refining, and molding. God will use your word as a light and a mirror – illuminating your path and revealing things that need to change. It facilitates a great journey of highs and lows all designed to make you into the person you are created to be.

It has been our experience that God quickly reveals His plans for the year regarding your One Word. That word (be it a discipline, fruit of the Spirit, character trait, or attribute of God) will brand you for the year! So discover your One Word for the year and share it with others! It might just change your life! "

Do you have your one word yet?  I think I finally narrowed mine down.  I believe the word God laid on my heart for this year is 'intentional.'  It's the word that keeps coming back, over and over.  If you have a word, please share.  

Life Is Happening....Disconnect!

3 out of 5 people admitted they spend more time on their cell phones than with their significant others. Do you really need to be on your phone while with them, too? If you haven’t turned off your phone and spent time with your significant other for awhile, pledge to go electronics-free for a night. Your relationship will thank you.

I was at dinner with my husband the other night, we chose to leave our phones in the car. I glanced around the restaurant and 9 out of 10 people were on their phones, playing games, checking FB, tweeting. All had either their significant other, friend, or child with them. Very few looked away from their phones. Very few had real conversations. Only a handful put their phones down long enough to order. Real relationships matter. Real conversations matter! Choose to put your phones away and invest in face to face real conversations.