Souls on Fire!

Escaping the holiday "rat race"

One holiday down and we survived! Now what to do with all the leftovers! Solve that and we ski over to the best day of winter with ease. It's really not far off--Christmas is just 28 days away. No need for nail-biting though! Let's just enjoy a small break today before it all begins again. Yes, it's okay to rebel. Instead of punching our way through the post-Black-Friday and Cyber Monday madness at the mall, we can escape and do something invigorating.

Souls On Fire!

There are many, many ways to move about our world; to bring the positives back into our lives. But we'll need to limit it to just a few, and build on that as we run into the new year with all the joy we deserve. One thing is certain: life never stands still. No, not for anyone. If this has been a year of mishaps, misgivings, and missed opportunities, it's time to set our "souls on fire!"   

We can hear our hearts beating as the excitement returns. It will happen only as much as we are willing and able to encourage it. Resistance will render the "beat" unable to perform. It will extinguish the fire. And we will suffer a hardened heart, instead of a loving one. And who wants that!

Five Easy Ways to Get the Beat Going!

Think of the word Grace as an acronym. Grace is simply receiving the gifts of favor and kindness from a loving God who believes us to be deserving of all of His blessings.  

Grateful thoughts - every single day brings more than enough to be thankful for that could fill an ocean. Sunrises, lattes, children's laughter, our health and safety, friends, books, gardens, hugs, pets, music, God's creation, and most important, His promise of heaven for all eternity. (Psalm 105:1)

Refreshing efforts - along with that sunrise, if we get outdoors each day and breathe in and out, our health can't help but to improve in amazing ways. Then we will naturally want to eat healthy and move our bodies, too. Our energy level will soar! Our outlook will change in remarkable ways. (Psalm 147:8)

Abiding attitudes - regaining our happiness is a major feat for ourselves and those around us! We can choose to live in bitterness and an unforgiving environment, but we will never be peaceful. We can't have it both ways. Once mistakes are learned, our unhappy past has no purpose whatsoever. Today is all we are promised. Not tomorrow, not next week nor next year. Today is the present. Live in it! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Calm temperaments - to regain a sense of who we are meant to be is to find out and practice ways to remain calm and composed. This is easier for some women than others. Only you know you. A common cause of staying upset all the time, full of anxiety, and living in depression is harboring and entertaining worries on a consistent basis. God never wants that for us! (Matthew 6:25-32)

Expressing love - "Let me count the ways!" Nothing will move us faster into God's will than spilling the very best of ourselves into the lives of others. Just a simple smile can do it. Laughter and a hug upon seeing a friend (without complaining about our lives) can fill both of us. Give love. Get love. (2 John 1:6)         

Last Thoughts

If we truly want a better life full of love, laughter, meaning and purpose, it's up to us. There is no one else walking on the face of this earth that will make it happen for us. No one else has the ability to do that. We alone have to decide what we want and how we will change for the better.

If we ever want to share our lives with someone else at some point, it's advisable to take out the “trash” first that buries us in sadness, worry, and bitterness before “cooking up a new recipe!”

“May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence [grace], put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 MSG.