Be Like Alice... Kill the Jabberwock

As I was reading this famous Lewis Carrol poem, I had to post about it. We all have things that become the Bandersnatch or the Jabberwock in our lives. As Alice in Wonderland confronts these two beasts, she doesn't flee from them. She doesn't hide. She looks them square in the face even though, at first, the thought of doing so is terrifying.

There is such a lesson to be learned in this wonderful story. We can allow the Bandersnatch and the Jabberwock in our life to steal joy from us. Or, we can be like Alice and confront them. Tell whatever you are fearing that this is your life and nothing is going to take your joy, your success, your prosperity any longer away from you.

Turn to the Bandersnatch and claim your life back as Alice did. And, don't hesitate any longer: Pick up your sword and slay your Jabberwock so that you can Live in great Joy & Prosperity. You'll  be able to then shout, "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

Have a beautiful day,
Donna

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Are You Ready to Take the Jump?

How many times have you wanted to do something different, but it was scary to make a change? Do you have dreams of going back to school, changing jobs, starting a business of your own, writing a book, moving to a new city that is beautiful and exciting that you have often thought of, or even taking a trip to some far away country; however, the thought of doing something different terrifies you so you stay right where you are and keep doing the same thing that you hate and lacks joy?

People stay doing what they have always done because of their comfort zone. It feels safe. Often the what ifs keep coming up in their heads. You know the little man called What If. He's the one that says what if this happened? Or, what if that happened if I did such and such? "I might Fail" is a common thought that occurs in the mind.

The following saying that I love reminds me of the the third Indiana Jones movie where Indiana had to step out into a dark nothingness to save his father's life. Once he stepped out, however, he discovered a solid path below his feet that allowed him to get what he needed. He had the courage to believe and just did it. It is a great movie and a great scene.

Become all that you dream of becoming. Make sure that what you do on your life's journey is joy-filled. Here's the little saying for you.

The jump is so frightening,
Between where I am and where I want to be,

Because of all I may become,
I will close my eyes and leap!

Have a beautiful day, and may you have safe traveling during the holiday month,
Rev. Donna

How Are We Like Horton the Elephant? Read On...

Our health is so important to our well-being. But, did you know that our emotions and feelings are connected to our health? Every cell communicates with one another. I liken it to the Dr. Seuss story, Horton Hears a Who.

Horton the elephant took responsibility to save this "world" that existed on the fluff of a weed. That is how we are in a way. We have our thoughts. They are powerful. More powerful than we often realize. And, our thoughts are responsible for the welfare of the trillions of cells within us.

There are outside influences, of course, such as the chemicals in the environment and the foods we eat that can influence our health. We have to be wise and avoid harmful, non-nutritive foods and substances for our body's sake. However, we can contribute health and wellness or we can contribute sickness to our own bodies by what we think and feel, too. Our emotions play a vital part in our own well-being.

Take responsibility for the world within you. Choose to have happy thoughts, and thus happier cells. Dwell on thoughts of peace and prosperity. Guard your thoughts so as not to slip back in the past, or harbor regret. Enjoy every moment of every day and embrace life. You'll see better health if you enter each day with a cheerful heart.

In love & joy,
Donna

God Says to Take Care of the Earth

Hi, It has been some time since I posted. I have been blogging on some of the other social networks writing about the environment and this beautiful planet we all call home; the only home we have. I usually only write about spiritual aspects of life here at Live in Joy; my original love and my first blog from 2006.

One of my passions is studying what the original Hebrew and Greek words in scripture actually meant. One of these is "take care" at Genesis --- It is not to be taken lightly. It means to care to the extent of cherishing as a mother for her child. It means to tenderly watch over, not letting any harm come to it whatsoever, and so much more.

Are we really "taking care" of the earth as is commanded of us in Genesis. Take a quick peak at http://www.yourlifeandhome.wordpress.com/ and read about some of the things people are doing to this home of ours, and the legacy we will leave to our children if we don't change our daily habits.

We all desire joy in the lives of our children and in the lives of the many generations to come. So to fulfill that wish, let's be wise, and careful to live without unecessary waste and pollution such as plastic bottles. Those plastic bottles are mounting up to the tune of billions and billions every year. And, that plastic pollution will not go away for 1,000 years! Incredible and somewhat scary, isn't it? So much is being dumped into the oceans affecting life.

I'm optimistic enough, however, to believe that we can make a difference individually and collectively. It's not too late. Let's help each child growing up to live in joy and prosperity and to realize their dreams in a beautiful, well cared for world just as we have been blessed to enjoy.

Blessings to all,
Donna

Keep Moving Forward

Something has gone awry. What ever it was, it shouldn't have happened, you tell yourself. But it did.

The "It" can stop you in your tracks and you can become paralyzed with the moment. Sometimes the "It" paralyzes you for years.

Suggestion: Look whatever "it" is straight on; whether it be a circumstance, a person, a tragedy. If "it" has stolen days, months, or years, confront "it" at the moment it happened; at the age you were at the time. Take that person you were and mentally hold yourself, love yourself, and forgive yourself and whoever or whatever else was involved at the time.

Release so that you can keep moving forward. If you stay in unforgiveness or regret and remorse, it is death to your soul. To have the freedom to feel joy again is to have life. Have life again. Move forward.

Forgive yourself and others. Love yourself, and "Keep Moving Forward."

Love to you,
Donna

The Path with a Heart

Are you following a path with a heart? What is that, you ask? It's the course of life that fulfills you. It's following your passion, or, as one might say, your God-given path.

Thirty-seven years ago my husband and I found a framed saying in an old barn sale. It was the "The Path With A Heart." We have had it hanging in our homes ever since. I would like to share a few lines with you:

"I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question. This question is one a very old man asks. My benefactor told me about it once when I was young, and my blood was too vigorous for me to understand it. Now I do understand it. I will tell you what it is: Does this path have a heart?"

I was going over one of my latest blogs, "I Asked God", and I spoke of always knowing that you are in the Potter's hands. I stopped to reflect on that a bit and felt I should add something to that statement for a moment here.

Sometimes we can get off track. We all know the feeling of being in the right place. Yet, because of circumstances, anxiousness, fear, worry, or being enticed like the character Pinocchio, we can veer off-track of our destiny. We have to get into the habit of stopping once in awhile and asking ourselves if what we are doing is involving our life's passion. Each one of us has unique gifts that are given to us. If we do our work using them, life just seems to flow naturally. If, however, we continue to do things contrary to our gifts or neglect to involve those gifts in our work, we find an emptiness within and life is burdensome.

Are you staying in the Potter's hands? If not, you have to make the move to get back in His hands. Trust Him, and have patience. Have the patience to wait for Him to open the doors for the next step in life's journey that He has already prepared for you; steps that are filled with joyful expectation of what will come next; and steps full of inward peace: "The Path With A Heart."


In love & joy,

Donna

"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have a heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And, there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ---The last lines of "The Path With A Heart." May you have a wondrous journey following your Path With A Heart. God bless

"I Asked God"

How are you today? I was pondering on my post for today and looked over at a little plaque that my aunt had. It reads:

I asked God for all things,

That I might enjoy life.

He gave me life,

That I might enjoy all things.

What a wonderful saying. It reminds us that we have everything we need: We have life. And, no matter what comes our way, the altitude of our attitude and our gratefulness can change even the most dire circumstances.

Look at life with an expectancy for good and an inner joy; a knowing that you are always in the Potter's hands and exactly where you need to be for each and every moment. If you do that, you'll have inner "peace that passes understanding"; you'll have unconditional love and acceptance for all and yourself; and you will "enjoy all things."

God bless you, and have a beautiful day.

In love & joy,

Donna

Keep a Goin'

Whatever you're facing; whatever you're problems, as this poem says, "keep a goin'" and don't give up. It's usually right when we feel like quitting, that we're so close to having everything work out. Remember, God's in charge. He Loves you, so Keep a Goin'!

If you strike a thorn or rose
Keep a goin'.
If it hails or snows,
Keep a goin'.
'Taint no use to sit an' whine,
When the fish ain't on the line,
Bait your hook an' keep a tryin',
Keep a goin'.

When it looks like all is up,
Keep a goin'.
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a goin'.
See the wild bird on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring,
When you feel like sighin', SING,
KEEP A GOIN'!

In love and joy to you,
Donna

Secret of Happiness

One of the secrets of happiness known through out the years is to set abot the task of making every person we come in contact with better for knowing us--more cheerful, more courageous, and with greater faith in the knidness of God and man. In that moment, we begin to attain personal happiness for making the world around us a better place.

"He who goes forth bent upon always being kind, always helpful in the little daily events of life, will find skies tinted with gold, all his nights set with stars, unexpected flowers of pleasure springing forth up in his pathways, and all his tears shall turn into smiles."

As Byron once said,
"To have joy, one must share it,
Happiness is a twin."

Share your joy with others, and happiness will follow you,
Donna

Today Is Your Day

"Now" is a wonderful word. It is the moment we have. Living in the NOW gives us power since our concentration is in the moment; it is only on today. We are not regretting the past, or worrying about what is to come in the future, which, all too often, we find never comes anyway.

Today is your day-Live it,
Donna

Words of wisdom:

"Today is your day and mine, the only day we have, the day in which we play a part. What our part may signify in the great whole, we may not understand, but we are here to play it, and now is our time. This we know, it is not cynicism. It is for us to express love in terms of helpfulness. This we know, for we have learned from sad experience that any other source of life leads towards decay and waste." ---David Starr Jordan

So live life always in the now, in the today, and joy will be yours."

The Kingly Quality

What's the Kingly Quality? Writers long ago said that "if one had sweetness of nature, simplicity of manners and conduct, and humilty without self-abasement, it would give the truly kingly quality to men, queenly quality to women, and the winning to the children whatever station of life or rank they may be."

The life dominated by these charateristics is a "natural well-spring of joy to itself and sheds a continual benediction upon all who come within the scope of its influence. It makes for a great beauty in itself, and it imparts courage and hope and buoyancy to all others."

Isn't that lovely. Great words to live by. Be sweet and kind in your everyday life, and it will shed joy to all those you meet.

Take care,
Donna