Good thoughts

Half full, half empty. You get to choose! Consider thinking on things in the positive, find the good, see the best...think good thoughts.

Today

Today. Made by the Lord and reason to rejoice!  Be glad! My mind is already full with thoughts of this day...first day back to school! It is tempting to allow worries and concerns to drown out the excitement and joy of a new day, the only opportunity we get to live this day! I am reminded of my favorite verse...I choose to be glad and rejoice!

Strength

Early this summer, I thought my heart was failing. To think the all important blood pumping organ might be in distress is cause for concern.  Thankfully, my heart is strong. We depend on the organs of our body to function in order to keep us alive! While I am deeply thankful for the good report but more important is the strength that comes from my Heavenly Father.  I can make every effort to strengthen this "old" body, eat the right foods, exercise, manage stress...but this flesh will wear out. His strength, never will.  God is my strength!

Confidence

Confidence doesn't come easy in the mind of one who seeks to please others, which would be almost anyone, me included.  Several years of experiences  have taught me that if I depend on me, My degree of success is limited.  However, if my confidence comes from faith in what God can do, confidence soars. Today, I am confident, in Him!

Creekside

There isn't a creek any where near me this morning but a river is a hard rock throw away!  So, why did I name this blogspot Creekside Reflections?  Glad you asked.

One of my favorite places to be is beside the water...creek, river, lake, ocean, pool, hot tub.  Any body of water.  Something about the water restores my soul.  There are many special water-side places, but first place will always be creekside at the Breezy Knoll.  The name for this blog was born in the midst of a hot tub discussion with my confidant-partner-in-crime, sister-chick-friend, dream-weaver, Lisa.  As we were talking and seeding some dreams at her creekside, the blog and title was conceived.  Bear in mind, this blog wasn't actually born until 2009. Some dreams take a little time to grow before time for delivery.  The  water broke at a time of personal challenge...and a baby blog was born. 

A bigger dream is waiting to be realized but in the meantime, I'm enjoying the toddler years and learning to walk! 

Dream big!

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/psa.23.1-6.nkjv

You'll smile too

I couldn't help smiling.  I was looking through my bible, finding highlighted verses, notes, dates beside verses that marked a specific time the verse was claimed, some verses highlighed in multiple colors and underlined...the precious reality of the power of the living Word...and personal peace...personal power.  There is power in the Word and it becomes a personal power when you believe what you read, claim the Words as your own, apply the Word to your own situation...the Word becomes real in your life.  Can't even begin to tell you how many times these precious scriptures have brought me comfort, hope, correction and guidance...but seeing all the markings and highlights reminded me...and I just had to smile.  

Here's an all time favorite, and I should mention that when I brought this verse up on YouVerse, it was highlighted!!!! This verse is special to me for several reasons, the first being the reminder not to worry, instead pray about everything.  This is a verse that you can read and quote all day long but will only help IF YOU do it!!! That's the key, for me.  Telling God...He is always listening...at any moment...ready to hear what is on my heart...

Make this Word your own today...read it, say it out loud, write it down, believe it and actually take time to do it.  You'll be able to smile, too. 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

http://bible.com/116/php.4.6-7.nlt

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 AMP

http://bible.com/8/php.4.6-7.amp

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/php.4.6-7.nkjv

Choose well...

Choices. Plenty of them. 

Hungry? More than one option is available...frig or freezer is stocked with lots to choose from and if that isn't enough, restaurants galore are open and ready, just sit down and look over the slick menu with listed choices, all presented with a mouth-watering description and a perfectly presented photo.  Political Candidate? No shortage of names on the list, all touting their strengths and the other's weakness with crafted and not-so-crafted sound bites and images viewed in every imaginable format, to give you a menu, of sorts, to choose from.  Lots of choices!

We make choices every day, some after much research and thought, other choices are not well considered, some impulsive or imposed.  There are times when we abdicate responsibility to choose by handing off a decision to someone else, with a "I don't care, whatever you want to do is fine with me" response that is not so much true as just an expression of the truth... feeling overwhelmed by too many choices. Do you ever yearn for a day when there was only one restaurant in town, with a special of the day! Maybe not, we like our choices too much!

But there are times when there isn't or shouldn't be a choice. As a responsible parent, you don't give a two year the option to hold your hand or run at will all over the parking.  Presenting that option would result in a certain choice of freedom and a disastrous end.  Maybe that isn't the best example but I think you get my meaning, there are times when you just need to hear "don't do that" from One who cares and has your best interests at heart. 

In the scriptures, there are plenty of instructions available to show us what "to do" or what we "should do" and we love to choose what we think will work best...sometimes we choose well..other times, we wish we had chosen better.  And we do have that freedom to choose. However, there are also instructions that come with a "don't do it" and we would be wise to heed those words and choose well.  Those "don't do it" instructions may  be found in the Bible, or may come as a loud whisper from the Holy Spirit as He guides you, or a fitly spoken word of wise counsel from someone who cares about you.  Those "don't" words are as powerful as the "do" words...but we must choose wisely.  Even the Do's and Don'ts come with the freedom to choose...bear in mind, the freedom to choose, to Do or Don't, also comes with the consequences of the choice...

Choose well, today!