Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

Joy is gratitude.  It is looking at your life and every aspect of it and thanking the Lord for every simple thing He has given you.  Sometimes it is others you need to give a simple “thank you”.  God works through other people all the time.  Don’t take any gift you have for granted.  As well as all the simple pleasures that come your way.  Joy is gratitude and thanking the Lord for the simplest gifts He has given you.  He has given your life.  And every morning you wake up you need to thank Him for every breath you take.  Get in the habit of thanking others and the Almighty for every single gift.  Life is composed of myriad details.  And prayerfully thank someone for every detail of your life–every pleasure-every thing.  He does not owe you anything.  And He usually gives us abundance.  Don’t be an ungrateful taker.  Thank Him for every detail of your life.  Joy will always follow gratitude.

Tags: abundance, be grateful, every breath, gifts, God, gratutude, joy, joy is gratitude, Lord, prayer, simple gifts, take for granted, thank Him, thank the Lord, thank-you, thanking others, The Almighty, your life
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Every person has a need for purposeful activity.  It does not matter if you have a paying job or not.  Even if you are retired, unemployed or even disabled, it does not matter.  Every day you have to find activities which gives you purpose, a reason to get up every morning.

Every person has things in their life that are important, that gives them meaning.  And if you don’t do them, there is a “hole” in your life.  All you have to do to find them is to look around the people in your life who rely on you.

And also there are people in your community who need you.  As long as you don’t isolate yourself you will be aware of others’ needs.  Maybe a simple thing you can do to find the tasks around you that are important and give you meaning is do the next thing.

And when you finish the next thing go on to the next thing on your list.  Every person has a need for purposeful activity.  And you will know when you are on the right track there will be a sense of fulfillment in your life.  We are wired to love and help others.  You just have to keep your eyes open.

Tags: do the next thing, don't isolate yourself, others' needs, purposeful activity, reason to get up every morning, sense of fulfillment, wired to love and help others, your life
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Often your worst fears don’t materialize.  And sometimes you have to be aware you are more vulnerable when you are fatigued and feeling overwhelmed.  You have to be kinder to yourself.  And realize your feelings at these moments can be a deceiver.  There is nothing like a solid night sleep to evaporate your worst fears that can run rampant in these moments.

You just have to be aware when your feelings are a more reliable indicator how you truly are doing.  And feelings do come and go and there are many shades of them very seldom do they run to the extremes–from despair to great joy and often you are somewhere in between and that is okay.

The mountain peaks only come once in awhile so enjoy the simple pleasures that come along and treat yourself not too harshly when you err.  We all do.  And forgive those who do also.  You do not expect yourself to be perfect so extend that same privilege to those around you.  Your life will run smoother.  Be happy with what you’ve got.  You only get one time around.

Tags: be happy with what you've got, be kind to yourself, despair, do not expect perfection, emotions, enjoy simple pleasures, fatigue, fear, feelings can be a deceiver, feelings come and go, forgive, great joy, life, only get one time around, overwhelmed, solid night's sleep, when you err, wisdom, your feelings, your life, your worst fears
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Why you should not count the days until…  You miss too much.  You can’t focus on the now.  You can but you have to be very careful you do not lose the moment, what is happening right in front of you.

Your best times are always now so look around, pay attention.  Enjoy your present situation.  It will only come once.  Then it is gone forever.

Don’t be like the ostrich whose neck is buried in the ground.  Soak in the present moment fully.  If you want to visualize a better future fine but don’t miss the present.  You may find out the future you have put off never comes.  So don’t count your days until…

The best time of your life is now.  Thank the Lord for today.  It is all you have.  You have to thank the Almighty for every breath He gives you and not take your days for granted.

Tags: best times, don't count the days, enjoy, every breath, focus on the now, future, God, look around, lose the moment, neck buried in the ground, ostrich, pay attention, right in front of you, take your days for granted, thank the Lord, The Almighty, the present, this moment, today is all you have, your life
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Every moment is precious.  And it is so easy to take your life for granted and every ability you have.  Every thing is a privilege until you lose it and realize what you had was really on loan.  Everything is by grace.  And to the degree you can consciously realize every moment is precious the less you will take for granted the gifts granted to you are only by grace.  Every sunset and sunrise you come across are only by grace.  Every moment is precious.  And you have to remind yourself of this over and over.

Tags: every moment is precious, everything is a privilege, everything-is-by-grace, gifts, gifts on loan, God, grace, privilege, sunrise, sunset, take for granted, your life
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I had a major struggle with a bipolar disorder (then called manic-depression).  And there was a seven year period where I was out of control (until I was stabilized on lithium in 1972).  It took even (???) years until I was properly diagnosed.  I went through hell and pain.

I never tortured myself with the question, “Why?”  There are no answers to that.  Life is not fair.  Every one has varying success in overcoming their hurdles.

But if you start asking the question, “Why or Why me”, there will only be silence.  God allowed the devil to take away everything from Job (in the Old Testament) including his family, his possessions.

Eventually the devil gave up on him.  God restored Job and his health.  I am not saying that if you are ill God will do the same.  But if you look at yourself and rail at God for your station in life, it will only make your life harder.  And make those around you miserable.

Accept the things you have no control of, change the things you can and have the wisdom to know the difference (really a paraphrase of the serenity prayer).  Stop asking yourself the question why and just move on with your life.

Tags: acceptance, Bible, bipolar, change what you can, devil, don't ask why, family, God, God restores, health, Job, life is not fair, lithium, manic-depression, Old Testament, possessions, serenity prayer, went through hell, wisdom, your life
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