Cancel, Delete, Save - Daily Inspiration

We say use these tools every day in the new world of computers, iPods, laptops, iPad, Kindles and whatnot. Delete that document. Delete that song. I no longer want it. Cancel that computer operation, I messed up. Undo, undo, undo.

Sometimes we need some of these buttons in our own lives. I know my thinkin' can get a bit stinkin' at times. Negativity is a hard thing to control. I've had my mind whirling at a hundred miles an hour before. And it makes me realize that thinking like this can make people think they're crazy.

We need to start canceling, deleting and saving our thoughts. When you catch yourself in negative self talk... CANCEL IT! You can even say it out loud. "I cancel you bad thought, go away." Or you can say ... DELETE! "I delete you bad thought."

And when you catch yourself, turn your thought around to a better thought, a great thought. And then SAVE that thought. You want to keep the good thoughts and get rid of the bad. You may not be able to do it one-hundred percent of the time, but just catching yourself now and then can make a real difference in your mood.

How you think and how you react to others... it's really all up to you. So use these mind tools today.

CANCEL, DELETE and then SAVE!!!

Wait on the Lord - Daily Inspiration

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

— Isaiah 40:31 NIV

I'm falling back to my favorite bible verse today: Isaiah 40:31. It always reminds me of a Steven Curtis Chapman song called "Wait". It's from one of his earlier albums. Yes, I'm a SCC geek. I used to listen to his music constantly. I knew every song lyric to every song.

I once went to Agape, which is a christian music concert sponsored by Greenville College, which isn't too far away from where I live. My friend, Kent, went with me. He marveled at the fact that I could sing along with every song SCC sang that day at the concert.

I have to admit, I don't think I could do a lot of the recent albums in the same way. I used to listen to albums on my commute to work when I worked in St. Louis. And that commute was an hour. My commute today is five to eight minutes. So, I just get a small snippet of the music listening time that I used to have. Listening to music was the ONLY thing I liked about my commute to St. Louis. I'm not a driver. I'd rather be a passenger. I sometimes took the train (MetroLink) on Wednesdays and I LOVED that.

So, why not listen to some christian music today. Maybe listen to the song "Wait". It's a great one. I've provided a YouTube link at the bottom if you want to listen to it.

Have a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMXu_qZkZiM

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. — Psalm 31:24

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. — Psalm 33:20

George Family Reunion - Daily Inspiration

Do you ever get together with family that you don't see very often? Our family has an annual tradition, we call it the family reunion. This is my family from my Dad's side. Last year, we had nearly 125 people. This year there wasn't that many, but we still had a fun time.

We have our reunion on the same Sunday of June every year. And we've had this reunion for as long as I can remember and I'm 44 this year. So, I'm not sure how many we've had but we've had A LOT of them.

We have a table for people to peruse photos from previous family reunions. We take family photos every year with whatever people are available to come. Last year, my sister and her family were able to come, but they couldn't make it this year. They live in New Mexico. We have people come from California, Arizona, Arkansas not to mention those of us who already live in Illinois.

They also keep a family scrapbook that is filled with newspaper articles, photos and whatever had happened to people during the remainder of the year. This year I know we're adding a great article by the Belleville paper about my Great Uncle Don Rockwell, his son Donnie, and Donnie's son DJ who have made television broadcasting their careers. Donnie is an engineer at KTVI FOX 2 in St. Louis and I think their station also owns the independent station KPLR Channel 11 in St. Louis.

My cousin, Joey, who didn't make it this year has in the past been an illustrator for Marvel and DC comics and currently does some work for Hasbro, Inc. It's always fun to see his cool drawings.

It's always fun to talk to people at the reunion. My cousin Jeremy lives in California and worked for the AFL-CIO in Springfield before moving to Cali. Now his Facebook says he works for the California Labor Federation. I assume it's the same thing. I never really know. All that political stuff is so over my head.

We have a lot of people with interesting jobs in my family. I have to say, I have one cool family.

What about you? Do you ever get together with your extended family? Do you even talk to anyone you're related to? I have to say that we don't have a similar tradition on my mother's side. Although, there are equally cool people on that side of the family too.

My great aunts used to get together for what they called "Sister's Day". You could do that too. One day where you get together to have lunch, go shopping and just spend time with those you don't see very often any more.

It's always a fun time for us. I'm sure you'll love it too.

Blessings to all.

Pain - Daily Inspiration

We all have those days that challenge us. On Thursday I had to stay extra late for a car ad and the resulting pain in my neck moved to my right shoulder. This was the good shoulder. I've been struggling with on and off pain for two months in my left shoulder. I guess my right shoulder wanted to join in the fun.

Yesterday, my great Aunt Pootie stopped by with her friend Cokie. They came in the morning. Left to do a bit of shopping all over creation and came back for dinner at 6pm.

In the meantime between visits, my shoulder decided to seize up. No matter how I moved it hurt.

Earlier in the morning I had bought some joint pain medicine. Just over the counter stuff. Little did I know I'd need it later in the afternoon. I bought it on a whim to help with the swelling in my hands and joints.

God works that way sometimes, doesn't he? He whispers to us things we need to know in order to help us. God knew that pain was in my future and he had a plan for it. So, if God cares about the little things in your life, how much more must he care about the big things.

Pain teaches us to stop and listen and look for clues. I hope today you stop and listen to God and what he's whispering to you.

Blessings on your path today.

Things Always Change - Daily Inspiration

Our cat died yesterday. And when I say our cat, I mean our neighborhood's cat. This cat didn't belong to any one household. But it sort of adopted us as her main means of support.

My dad fed that cat every day. And usually, the cat shared its food with a possum that seemed to hang around, and two other cats who didn't seem quite as friendly as Cat was.

One of our neighbors called Dad and told him that our cat was lying in his yard. I guess, she just walked until she keeled over. We assume that someone in the neighborhood had poison out for raccoons, skunks, possums or whatever and our Cat got into it.

It's sad. But I imagine our cat is doing cat dances in heaven and maybe our cat even has a name there. Since this cat just adopted us, we never named it. We just called her Cat or Hello Cat or Hello Kitty.

Pets are very important to many people. And to some, just like children. Remember your favorite animals today and treat them with respect.

Blessings to all.

My Story - Daily Inspiration

Editor's Note: Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Our internet was out here all day.

We all have a story. My Sunday School teacher is having us relate our story to the rest of our class as just a way to introduce everyone to the new students. I didn't have much of anything to talk about today so...

Let me introduce you to me.

My name is Toni Walker. I am the oldest daughter of two great parents. I have a younger sister, Andi, and a younger brother, Aaron. My mom used to work for a bank when I was little, but since my brother was born she became a stay at home mom. My dad is a sheet metal worker. He's really good at his job (although, retired now). I mean, great! Dad is old school. He knows how to make any fitting he needs, does blueprints and what not. He is very excellent at what he does. And that is probably where I get my drive to be the best me I can be.

My dad got me interested in singing. He used to sing with us on this old tape recorder with a small microphone. He would sing his do-wap music into it and my sister and I would copy him. We have many cassettes of us just singing together. I think people are surprised when I know complete songs by the Platters. That's dad's favorite group. (Don't call it a band, he hates that.) 

My mom bought me a small juke box when I was a kid. I wore out the button for the song "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." It was, according to my mom, my favorite song back then. I also loved "Delta Dawn". 

My grandfather (really, my step-grandfather, but who's counting) had at one time been the Postmaster of the Centralia post office. But his passion was singing in gospel quartets. He was a bass singer. Funny thing about grandpa. He couldn't comprehend anything he read. Just wouldn't stick. But he could read the bible. He did prison ministry when he was living in Texas. And spoke about the bible. Somehow he could comprehend the bible. Neat, huh?

Grandpa was an ordained minister and could play the piano by ear. And we sang with him all the time. He even had us sing at the churches he went to. Although my sister and brother weren't too keen on the experience, I liked it. He always told me I had a voice for God.

I lived with him and grandma when I went to college. And it was there I discovered contemporary christian music (CCM). Grandpa hated CCM music. He was a southern gospel lover. He loved hymns. CCM music was just too out there for him. But not for me. I didn't let him dissuade me from listening to it.

When I worked in St. Louis, I would take the bus and listen to CCM music and imagine myself singing these songs. I didn't exactly know where I would sing them, but I still liked to do it. 

In 1993 I decided to try church again. The thought had been mulling around in my mind. And I hadn't been a church goer since I was a kid in Sunday School.

I tried to go back to the church where I went when I was a child. I asked if I might be able to sing solos. They told me no. Only the pastor and his wife provided music. I took that as a sign I shouldn't go there. And when I related this story to my sister she told me to go to her boyfriend (now husband's) church. And that is where I went. It's where I still go.

Later, I sang a solo at my sister's wedding. And the pastor of my old church wanted to know if I'd be interested in being the worship director. Of course, after my experience with them, I told them no.

I started singing in the choir of my new church the second Sunday I attended. And I did eventually sing solos. I have to admit, I'm not too bad at it. And I like to do it. I don't get to sing solos as much as I'd like, but I'll take what I can get these days.

When I was in sixth grade, I was diagnosed with asthma and allergies. In fact, I was allergic to so many things they couldn't list them all. Surprisingly, I'm not allergic to food. I had the opportunity to sing in a choir when I was in sixth grade. I thought I was good. Grandpa told me I was. But the choir director had other ideas. He told me no. My voice wasn't strong enough to sing. But I didn't want to take no for an answer. It was one of the first times I stood up for something I deemed important in my life.

The choir director let me take voice lessons at his house for six months. After that time, I was then allowed to sing in the choir. And I don't think there has been a time when I wasn't in one.

Music is important to me. It's been important to me all my life. That's because of Dad and Grandpa.

Funny how I don't think of my life as my job. Many people do. As a job, I am a graphic artist at a newspaper. For thirteen years I worked for the Riverfront Times in St. Louis as a Layout Editor slash Graphic Designer. There I spent half my time laying out editorial and half my time working on designing ads.

I now work at my hometown newspaper. I'm still a Graphic Artist. But that label doesn't define me.

In my personal life, I write web serials. I like to write fiction. It's fun. I get a kick out of it. But writing can be scary, especially if you're not very good at it. So, I started out writing fiction about Days of Our Lives. This was back when the internet was a new phenomena and was mostly posted on bulletin boards. 

I started writing what they call "fan fiction". There wasn't a name for it at the time. Writing that got me to believe in myself and my writing and it got me interested in writing my own original series. 

I spun off the four original characters I had created in Volume 2 of my fan fiction. And from them I created a new series. I called the series, The Legacy. It's all about spies and the spy agency, The Legacy.

I've written on many other series over the years, all of my own creation. I love creating. I love ideas. (I love pens and paper.) I just love coming up with scenes. I know I can do it better. And I know I need more bad guys, suspense or whatever. But I just enjoy the process.

And in fact, working on TV Guide like posters for my web series, actually made me a better designer. Playing around in photoshop on my graphics sure helped me a lot.

So, sorry to ramble on so long, but what about you? What is your story? Mine could go on forever. My prayer for you today is to remember who you are. Remember your story. Don't dismiss yourself. Stand up for you today. Show everyone why it's so great to be you.

Blessings to all today.

P.S. If you want to check out my web series. Click on my Blogger profile. I've made most of them into blogs now.

Mission from God - Daily Inspiration

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. — 1 John 2:7-8

Speak your truth. How many times have we heard that over the years? Do what you do and do it well, is another way to put it, I think.

We all have a truth that is for us and us alone. God gave us a mission on this planet. And I think one of our missions is to find out what that mission is.

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; — Psalm 15:2

Just like James Bond getting a mission intel briefing from M, we must get our intel straight from God. Only he knows what the truth of our hearts truly is.

Meditate on that today. Try to ascertain exactly the mission God wants you to be a part of. That is my prayer for you. Find your true calling in life. I mean, you don't have to do it all today, this minute. But make a mental decision to start your quest. It will be the best quest of your life.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. — Psalm 25:5

Go With The Flow - Daily Inspiration

Today is a day to be flexible. Bend like the willow tree. We can learn a lot from a willow. When the high winds come they bend over taking the onslaught yet not breaking. Learn to bend with the challenges you have today. You could come across many choices and if you do, listen to your heart. You always want to do what is for your highest good and the highest good of all concerned.

What is your intuition, your gut, telling you about these new choices today? Which one feels better? It's usually the better feeling choice that is the correct path. But it is all up to you. This is your journey. 

God gives us free will. So if you choose a path that might seem a bit shaky, that's okay. Eventually all paths will lead you back on track. God has a way of steering us in the right direction. Even if we choose incorrectly, he will use that rocky path to teach us something we needed to learn along our life's journey.

So, please be flexible today. Listen to your intuition about the many choices that may assail you. Deep inside, you always know what to do. And if you don't trust yourself, mediate on it and see what God reveals to you.

Many blessings on your path today. I pray it's not a rocky one.

Happy Father's Day - Daily Inspiration

My pastor says that Father's Day doesn't get the respect as other holidays like Mother's Day and Grandparent's Day. He says even Flag Day gets more respect.

"I get no respect," lamented Rodney Dangerfield in his often mimicked comedy routine.

I guess, in a way, that can seem true. But how many times have I heard, that guy or girl needs a male role model in their lives? So, it seems to me that the role of Daddy still holds as much weight as the role of the much beloved Mommy.

We've seen it over and over. Some dad in Podunk, USA treats his kids like a punching bag and another dad just doesn't bother to show up.

Those guys only seem to give dad's a bad name. But for every loser dad is two or three fantastic dads who are always there for their kids. They are the good role models, the ones to look up to. But they don't show these dads on tv because the stable, faithful, loving dad is just not news.

Well, today honor those dad's who always get it right, who are there no matter what. Because their efforts are not in vein. Those dads help to create the honest, good-hearted citizens of tomorrow.

Blessings to all the dads today.

Focus - Daily Inspiration

Where is your focus today?

It's important that we keep our focus truly aimed at all that we desire. Don't let pooh-pooh thinking sabotage your dreams.

As you focus on your dreams watch for doors of opportunity that spontaneously open for you. And even if a door in your life closes it can only be for your highest good. God has greater things for you.

And when you think about your dreams don't limit yourself. Add the phrase "this or something better." god may want to give you gold and you settle for bronze. Don't do that. Go for the gold.

Now is the time for revisiting all those things you used to love. I've been doing a little of that myself. I've been focusing on one of my old series and letting that experience wash a great feeling of comfort and familiarity all around me. It feels good to go back to old projects we love that time has caused us to push by the wayside.

If you have old dreams left unexplored, my prayer for you today is to revisit them. Let God and his celestial team burn a fire inside you to accomplish those dreams again. God doesn't give us desires he doesn't want us to truly go for with all our heart.

Blessings to you today.

Weary - Daily Inspiration

You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. — Psalm 68:9

I worked the night shift last night and staying up until 1:30am makes a soul very weary, not to mention my knees were like jelly when I got home. That's what I call pure exhaustion. And when I get exhausted I tend to ramble on about silly things. I guess it's because I'm subconsciously trying to keep myself awake, so I ramble. I'm sure my co-worker that night probably thought I was mighty weird.

Do you ever get weary? Do you ever get drained, burned out or just so tired all you want to do is sleep? I think we all do at one time or another. It's nothing to worry about. We go through seasons just like the earth does. Except our seasons are emotional in nature. But those emotions can sure cause a lot of physical symptoms - like my jelly legs last night.

My prayer for you today is that if you get weary, find a time to rest. My brother works the night shift at the U of I and he tends to catch cat naps wherever he can get them. If that's what you have to do to survive, do that. Just get some down time. You deserve it. God didn't mean for us to work 24/7. Even God got Sunday off.

Blesssings to you today.

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. — Psalm 119:28

Eye for an Eye - Daily Inspiration

Matthew 5:38-40

[ Eye for Eye ] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 


I understand the concept of an eye for an eye, but in truth, I don't think this is an easy concept. If someone took my shirt, I totally doubt I'd give them my coat, because first I need my shirt and if it's cold. I need that coat too. But in a sense, I can see how it applies. Don't hold grudges because the only person it ends up hurting is yourself. 


I've seen instances of people who lamented about how they were tortured in high school by the mean girls who made it a point to make their life a living heck. And then when they met them again later in life, those mean girls had no idea who she was and what she and her friends had done to her.


So, holding grudges, focusing on the negative of any situation, it only hurts you, dear ones. And you don't deserve to be tormented by all those negative thoughts. So, release those thoughts to God and his angel army. Let them deal with what is to come.


My prayer for you today is to give it all to God. Negativity? It's all on Him. He will deal with it for you. Grudges? He knows how to work it for your good. Don't hold onto the things that will only make your life worse. God wants the best for you.


Blessings to you today.

Thank You - Daily Inspiration

I think it's important to say thank you to people you appreciate. And I've had a lot of people visit my blogs from places all over the world. That is a kind of mind-blowing concept to me. People on the other side of the world can read the words I prattle on about. Hopefully, the words help you or at the least make you smile.

Yesterday, I was creating two new blogs for my series, Legacy of Spies and Ambrose. I'd posted episode one on each blog and thought I might post an episode a week until all the current episodes are on there. (I've also done this with The Hollow, but it already had a working blog.)

Anyway, the reason I bring this is up is that I haven't actually advertised these new blogs and where to find them. But I believe they show up on my Blogger profile page. 

Yesterday, not long after I created the Legacy of Spies blog, someone from Germany had found it and taken a gander at it. That is just crazy to me. How did someone from Germany find it so quickly? This morning I had a total of 4 hits on Legacy of Spies and 3 hits on Ambrose. Is that cool or what?

So, that is why I wanted to say THANK YOU! I have awesome readers. I know I don't get a lot of comments and that is okay. I can see that people are reading what I've posted. And that in itself is GREAT! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for taking the time to come and visit my pages.

I've written web serials for many years now, since 1998, and even in that sort of venue I don't tend to get a lot of comments. That's why when you're a writer, you have to be doing this sort of thing just because you love it. You love the medium and you love sharing your ideas. And that is totally who I am. I may not be able to do it verbally a lot of the times, I know I can do it through the written word.

So, my prayer for you today is to be truly thankful to the people in your life who may not always give you the encouragement you seek but do listen when you put yourself out there.

Have a wonderful day. Blessings.

The Unexpected - Daily Inspiration

Last night we had a strange thing happen in our neighborhood. There was this strange gas-like smell that hovered over the entire block for a short time. It came into our house and was quite smelly. We became so concerned about wherever this smell was originating that me and my dad went outside and checked the area just making sure it wasn't a fire or something similar.

My mom was convinced that it was a bunch of kids setting off firecrackers or fireworks. And it is possible since the smell went away after about an hour. After our recent gas leak experience, we weren't taking any chances. You never know when bad things might happen.

Then, not long later, after we closed all the doors and windows at the front of the house, I heard, through a window facing the back yard a huge **CRACK**! It's the sort of crack where you hear the scream "Timber!" not long after. Luckily, the tree that fell in the back yard wasn't a big one. It was a smaller one and it's much shorter today.

Funny how the unexpected element can fly into your life with such swiftness. But that's how change works, isn't it? It comes quickly like a thief in the night. But we shouldn't fear change. Change is a part of life, even though we might not like it. It busts us out of our comfort zones and into action. Sometimes that's exactly what we need. Like a good swift kick in the butt, change can be a double edged sword. We can embrace it or fight against it.

Hopefully, your change isn't a bad change. Hopefully, it's something you need in your life that pushes you along the path to your best life. My prayer for you today is that you embrace the changes that come your way, even if they are a little hard to deal with. Because even the seemingly bad stuff can work toward our greater good.

God knows our hearts and he wants the best for us.

Blessings.

God Can Make A Way - Daily Inspiration

After my Week of Color, I'm at a loss as to what to speak about today. But I was reminded by my pastor's blog today that coming in July is the VBS or Vacation Bible School for the kids in our church, in our community, and for any kid who wants to come.

VBS and Sunday School are important in a child's development in the church if you ask me. This is where you learn the important lessons. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

I also learned the Twenty-Third Psalm in Sunday School. I'm not sure if my church back then had a VBS ministry. So, I wasn't blessed with the fun activities they have in VBS. I think I must have gotten that much later when I was in the Girl Scouts.

I guess no matter what path you take, you do get there eventually. God makes a way for us no matter what road we choose to take.

So, today I just want you to think about that. God makes a way for us when there seems to be no way. Road blocks could be blessings in disguise. Doors of opportunity could be right around the corner. Hold on to that today.

And if you have a child that is the age for VBS. Send them. And it doesn't have to be to my church, there are so many of them around these days. It could make all the difference.

Blessings to all today.

White - Daily Inspiration

Today is the last color in our Week of Color series. And that color is white. White is the absence of color. It is the color of ultimate purity. Yogi and guru masters tell you to imagine the pure white light of God shining down around you.

It is the all around color of protection bringing peace and comfort. It alleviates emotional shock and despair and cleanses emotions, thoughts and spirit.

White can give you a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness, but too much white can be cold and isolating. This is probably why isolation chambers and police interrogation rooms are usually white. White has the tendency to separate us from people.

White creates space so you can think with more clarity. It is the color of the moon, and surprisingly it's the color of death. White also signifies virginity and pureness.

If you wear white you have a positive, well-balanced personality. You are highly individual, a loner and maybe also lonely.

White is the traditional color of wedding dresses. You wear white when you get christened as a child in the Catholic church. And a person wears a white robe when baptized at my own church.

White is the color of gardenias and calililys. With white holds the possibilities of all things.

I hope you've enjoyed my adventure into this Week of Color. It was all stuff I had learned in graphic design school but was fun revisiting it.

So, my prayer for you today is to think about color, what you wear and why you wear it. Why do you choose the colors you do? You'll find if you delve a little deeper, color truly expresses the real you.

Blessings.

Black - Daily Inspiration

Black is the color of night, darkness, shadows and fear. It is comforting, protective and mysterious. Silence is black. It is infinite. It is associated with the feminine life force - passive, uncharted and mysterious.

Black can prevent us from growing or changing. Black can be depressing and allows us to hide from the world.

In Ancient Egypt black was the color of Isis. Black cats were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt, but during Halloween having one cross your path is a bad omen.

If you wear black you are strong willed and opinionated. But you may be too inflexible and too independent. You may be cloaking yourself in black while you discover exactly who you are.

Those who wear black like to renounce everything out of some stubborn protest. Don't fall into that trap.

We wear black to funerals to show respect to the dead and black is the color that greets us when we close our eyes at night.

Black can be a double-edged sword, can't it? I've stared at a black ocean at night and seen its vastness, felt the calm as the the white crests fell onto the beach in some earthly surrender.

Black isn't all bad. Just like we humans aren't just black or white. We are filled with a million colors, shades and tints. Black is all colors, that's why it seems such a fickle color.

You know the saying "choose your battles?" Be careful not to let the black things of the world overshadow you. Be strong today. Blessings.

Purple - Daily Inspiration

Purple is the color of royalty and spiritual authority. Kings, emperors and priests are clothed in purple. This is mostly true because the color purple was expensive and only the rich or well off could afford it.

Violet affects the brain and nervous system and it has a purifying effect. It cools the system and alleviates hot conditions such as sunburn. It also suppresses hunger and balances the body's metabolism.

Purple, indigo and violet have all been used in psychiatric care to calm and pacify patients from a number of mental disorders. Those colors balance the mind and help transform obsessions and fears. Purple is connected with musical impulses, mystery and spiritually. And a person attracted to it has to guard against living in a fantasy world.

Indigo stimulates the imagination and an indigo light has been used in surgeries in Texas instead of anesthesia for minor operations.

It is a traditional custom to wrap a newborn baby in a purple cloth to encourage prosperity and success. Purple is also a strong sedative and a powerfully psychic color. It is the color of transformation at the deepest levels. And purple brings peace and combats fear or shock.

If you like purple you have high ideals, with abundant creativity and strong psychic abilities.

If you wear violet:

• you have a sensitive, compassionate nature
• you're easily imposed upon
• you must pick friends who are as sensitive as you are.

If you love violet and you want to be happy, you must work where you feel needed.

If you wear purple:

• you are a very intuitive person, with deep feelings and high aspirations
• you want the best in everything including friends.
• you must be aware you are sensitive to both personal and spiritual needs.

If you don't wear purple at all, you may have lost a connection with your inner being.

WOW! Look at all that sensitivity in the various shades of purple. Mysterious and psychic, creative and strong, and high ideals. Maybe some of us need to be wearing this one a bit more often.

So, my prayer for you today is to be sensitive to what you feel. Don't react strongly to others harsh words but choose how to feel. You are in control of your reactions no matter what they may be. So, choose wisely today.

Blessings to all.

Blue - Daily Inspiration

Blue is the color of the sky, the color of the ocean, sleep and the hazy mist of twilight. The color of cornflower blue is the color of the Virgin Mary.

Pure blue is the color of inspiration, spirituality, and sincerity. Conservative people often choose blue as a favorite color. It is also the color of the Arc Angel Michael.

Blue is calming and because of this fact, it makes a wonderful color for the walls of your home, especially for babies. Male babies that are born are often given items that are blue. Blue is a cool, soothing color that is a good choice for pajamas. But dark blue is the color of truth and moderation. A blue iris has the meaning of a friendship that is important and lasting.

Turquoise is the symbol of youth and it has a soothing affect on them. Turquoise is the color of communication, growth and has long been used in amulets to provide protection, health, confidence and strength. Aqua is the color of high ideals.

Blue gives us a feeling of distance, and in art it's used to show perspective. Blue allows us to look beyond and increase our perspective outward. It contains a cool vibration that is helpful to communication. Using blue to relax will encourage feelings of communication and peace.

Put some blue in your life when you want:

• calm and relaxation to counteract chaos or agitation
• to open the flow of communication
• to broaden your perspective in learning new information
• solitude and peace
• stable, calm conservative feeling

All shades of blue will help to make communication easier, whether it is with yourself or others. Use blue paper for notes when you want help in remembering a speech or other information.

Blue sure has a lot of different meanings but I like to think of it as calming and peaceful. I tend to wear a lot of blue and green and they seem to have a lot in common, maybe that's because they're right beside each other on the color wheel. :)

Breathe in that wonderful sense of blue today. Zone out and come to a calm centered place where you can feel safe.

Blessings to you today.

Green - Daily Inspiration

Green is a restful, calming color. It represents nature, life and fertility. It speaks of self-respect and well being and is the color of balance. You also learn better when stimulated by green. Green is a safe color and brings about growth and harmony.

Green is the favorite color of well-balanced people and symbolizes master healing and the overall life force. In the past, it was believed that green was healing for the eyes. And we eat green food for good health.

Green symbolizes money. Friday, the last day of the work week, is a green day. Maybe that's because we're so relieved when it's here. Green says growth - balance - harmony. It is a color of healthy relationships.

Green contains the energies of nature and the want to expand or increase. Balance, a sense of order, change and transformation are found in the color green. Green is necessary for growth, and so this ability to sustain changes is also a part of the energy of green
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Put some green into your life when you want:

• a new state of balance
• feel a need for change or growth
• freedom to pursue new ideas
• protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others
• to overcome a sense of thwarted ambition

Green is a very restful color, isn't it? So my prayer for you today is to rest up. Take a break from whatever has been bringing you down. Wear green and breathe. You deserve it.

Blessings to all.

Yellow - Daily Inspiration

Yellow is a happy, uplifting and bright color. It reminds us of sunny summer days and is associated with the intellectual side of the mind and the expression of thoughts. Because of this, it aids in the powers of discernment, memory and clear thinking, decision-making and good judgement.

If you love yellow, you're good at organization and assimilation of new ideas. You also have the ability to see both sides of a situation. Yellow builds confidence and encourages an optimistic attitude. But dull yellow can be the color of our fearful expectations.

To the Hindus and the Christians alike, the color yellow signifies Life and Truth.

If you wear yellow, you have an interesting and stimulating personality. You like to be active and involved in whatever is going on. Lively and vital, you can cope well with life's challenges.

If someone tells you that you have a sunny disposition, you may be a yellow person. So, my prayer for you today is to emulate those yellow characteristics. Bring out your sunny, happy, uplifted side and shine it out to the world

Have a blessed day.

Orange - Daily Inspiration

Orange is another one of those power colors. While red is associated with fiery heat, orange contains the gentle warmth of the sun. You will experience thoughtful control under the influence of orange. Curiosity will be at its peak too, and along with that you'll feel more compelled to explore new things.

Orange is also a healing color. But it will increase your craving for food, so don't wear it if you're on a strict diet. It could pull that diet into oblivion. Orange means vitality and endurance. People who like orange are thoughtful and sincere. Lady luck is the color of orange.

You should wear orange if you're stressed or shocked or you want to balance your emotions. You will more likely embrace new ideas swiftly wearing an orange color. It also brings out your sense of exploration and creative play.

Put some orange into your wardrobe if you want:

• To spice up when you feel time is dragging
• To become more involved in something
• To increase creativity
• Relief from things becoming too serious

Sounds pretty cool to be an orange lover, doesn't it? My prayer for you today is to bring out that great creativity you have inside of you and why not throw on your favorite orange shirt just to stimulate those creative juices.

Have a wonderful day. Blessings.

Red - Daily Inspiration

Today is Sunday and I wanted to start a new series of inspirations called The Week of Color. Every day I'm going to speak about a different color and the different effects it has on our minds and our body.

The first color in the series is RED.

Red is a powerful color. And sometimes too much of it can change our mood quickly. Red is the color of anger and irritability. And if this color effects you strongly, you might want to limit how much you use it. So, no red walls for the color sensitive among us.

But red isn't always negative. In fact, it can help us overcome negative thoughts. Cool, huh?

Pink, a tint of red (a tint is a color you add white to) is emotionally soothing and calming, think gentle warmth and soothing. It surrounds us with a sense of love and protection. It also alleviates loneliness, despondency, over sensitivity and vulnerability.

While red is strongly associated to sexuality, pink speaks of unselfish love.

According to Hebrew tradition, the name of Adam, the first man, means "red" or "alive" and even today in some Slavic languages, red denotes "living" or "beautiful."

To the Ancient Egyptians, red was the color of Ra, the sun god, and later in Roman times it was linked to Mars, the god of war. To this day red is still the color of war.

If you prefer to wear red you are impulsive, excitable and energetic. You are ambitious and like things to happen quickly. You like to be the best in everything you do. Plus, being the center of attention, it's certainly in your wheelhouse. If you wear red, you might want to practice patience. Red stimulates us in many ways.

Hard to believe we are so impacted by a single color, isn't it? My prayer for you today is to be sensitive to your color choices this week, choose them wisely. Because they may make all the difference in your mood.

Blessings to all.

In the Zone - Daily Inspiration

Just wanted to start by apologizing for this inspiration being so late. My Sunday School class (Tiebinders) had an event today at the park. It was titled Karaoke and Art in the Park.

Set up took a little longer than normal because of the complex shenanigans of making the karaoke machine and the speakers talk to one another.

After a couple of ear piercing squeals, we were off to the races. I sang a couple of songs to help them set the levels and then people started showing up. I was happy to see people. We've had one movie night where we just entertained ourselves.

Everyone had a grand time. And when there came a lull in the action it became the responsibility of the few choir members in the class to get the music playing again.

While we were in the karaoke zone, a few of the other members were over at the art wall. Our Sunday School teacher set up four huge walls made of wood paneling and 2x4s. I supplied an end roll from the newspaper and we stapled a huge canvas onto the wood.

All in all it turned out pretty great. Nearly everyone got up to sing, even the shy ones. And the art wall was completely covered, all four of them. They even recovered two of the walls a second time.

I didn't go into this thinking it would be a successful event. But look at how it turned out. God made that happen. How cool is that?

I hope you did something great this Saturday. And if you didn't, my prayer for you is to break out into song. Make a joyful noise. It will make you feel better and put a smile on the face of others.

Have a great day! Blessings.

What The Bleep - Daily Inspiration

Check out these images of water under an electron microscope.
The words taped on the side of the bottle are at bottom.

Words have power.

I think we all know that. We've all been stung by their harshness and filled with their love. Words are a double-edged sword.

The important thing is: you get the choice. You get to choose how to use your words. That's pretty great, isn't it? The power is yours. But we think from time to time that our words don't hurt, harm, or crush someone else.

There's a movie that came out a few years ago called "What The Bleep Do We Know?". There was a section of the movie about water. People took bottles of plain tap water and taped words to the side. The two that really stood out to me was LOVE & HATE.

When the scientists looked at the water after a few days, down on the molecular level the water had changed. They showed us images of the water blown up by an electron microscope. Water labeled with LOVE had arranged the molecules in beautiful ways. The water labeled with HATE seemed troubled, boiling, disturbing ( almost like a smoky evil haze).

Since we human beings are 70% water what power do you think these words have on our body and mind?

So, my prayer for you today is to keep you words lovely and sweet. Make the choice to keep your words positive, because harsh words not only hurt others, but they hurt us as well.

Blessings to all.