If You Don’t Use It – You’ll Lose It!

My precious mom said to her doctor “Doc, some mornings I just don’t want to get out of bed!” His reply? “The day you decide to do that, count on being bedridden very soon. In essence, he was saying “If you don’t use it – you’ll lose it!” These days – our minds are on overload, so much so, – the opposite is true: If we overuse it – we’ll lose it!

My sis-in-law was coming over to see me. I gave her the easy directions. “Turn into the community at the gate and just turn right at the first street and it’s the first home on the right.” I watched out for her. She turned right but went to the first house on the left. I overheard her talking to her husband on her cell phone: “I can’t do two things at the same time – drive and follow directions.” I get it. We need to be fine-tuned!.

I’ve been reading up on “powering up” our brains and I've found out some things that can boggle our brains – one of which is all the multi-tasking that we do. While on our phones, we’ll be driving, eating, telling our kids to stop arguing, remembering another item for the grocery list, etc. Bottom line – being focused not only saves our brain’s power (over-using it), but it also saves us from being distracted and having an accident. I read that a recent neuroscience research proved the human brain is unable to consciously pay full attention to two tasks at the same time (thus my sweet sis-in-law's dilemma).. Sure, we can do simple tasks like walking and talking at the same time – maybe even chewing gum along with it, but when it comes to true multi-tasking, our brain shouldn’t do it.
’t do it. Yikes! Think about all that multi-tasking we’re doing while driving – talking on our phones, eating, etc.

Helping us to not overuse our brain is “powering it down” when we get the sleep we need. A sleep-deprived brain works harder, but accomplishes less. It becomes more difficult to concentrate, speak clearly, and make decisions. I’m making sure I get as many zzzz’s as I can to keep my brain powered up!

And, “powering up” our brain is powering up our attitudes that cultivate good habits like, enjoying life, laughing often, developing an optimistic outlook and being sure to free our minds of stress and anxiety. And above all – STOP saying, even in a “just joking” way “I’m losing my mind!” Instead, we should daily “power up” our brains by keeping our minds on God’s Word – even memorizing scriptures that help guarantee sound and healthy minds! Let’s speak these kinds of affirmations from God’s Word:

~ I have the mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 2:16)
~ My mind is renewed daily! (Romans 12:2)
~ His mind is in me! (Philippians 2:5)
~ My mind is in perfect peace because it stays on God. (Isaiah 26:3)
~ I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and MIND. (Matthew 22:37)
~ Daily, I think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Philippians 4:8

I’m in for the long haul so rather than my mind being used “mindlessly”, I’m “powering up” to be sure I live up to the best version of me that I can be! How about you?

“I refuse to give in to my fears. For God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a SOUND mind!”
2 Timothy 1:7

Are You a Scatterbrain?

Scatterbrain -- a person who is unable to concentrate or think clearly. If I didn't know better, that's what I would call myself lately. My thoughts seem to be here, there and everywhere. And while they’re everywhere, I've misplaced my keys, my cell phone, my computer cord, my ring and bracelet and even an important document. Yikes!! Thank goodness, I've recovered it all, and now I'm focused on reeling myself in to losing that "scatterbrain" name!

You know the deal. Our thoughts can get so scattered because of so much going on inside these heads of ours. We're multi-tasking -- we're going after something while we're cooking, while at the same time we're talking or texting on our phones. So much to do with so little time to do it all. Being clear headed and clear minded often seems like a lofty goal. But that's the goal I have for myself. I want to have my head on straight, my mind alert and my tasks focused on what God has for me in that moment and in that time.

The crux of the matter is our minds are everywhere except being on the ONE Who brings balance and focus to everything in our lives. Overtaxing our minds is so unnecessary when our Father God promised He'd bring peace to our chaos if we'd keep our minds on Him. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

I sincerely want the mind of Christ. I want His ways that are so much higher than my ways. I want his thoughts that are so much higher than my thoughts. I know that my life is on purpose. I know that His plans are greater than any plan that I could ever make for myself. So, NO, I am NOT a scatterbrain. I am intuitive, aware, focused, thoughtful, purposeful, attentive, sharp, and creative. I know I can choose my thoughts and think things on purpose. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” I want to have that kind of THINK TANK that believes "anything is possible with God". I'm committing to set my mind on He Who knows everything about everything, so that's what I'm doing RIGHT NOW!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will give you (and me) the desires of our hearts!" Proverbs 3:5,6

Sweet Times Between Papaw and Daddy

Day 69 of Photo Inspirations - Sweet Times Between Papaw & Daddy
While my kids were in Tulsa last weekend, Staci and I got to grab a whole afternoon together -- a rare opportunity.  We found ourselves chatting a lot about her Daddy (my Honey) and the influences he had had on her life.  Seems that she got so many of his genes -- the ambitious, passionate, over-achiever, multi-talented, creative ones and the dreamer ones. And, often, those are the genes that keep her awake at night -- multi-tasking when she is trying to sleep.

Driving to our next destination, and still talking about her Daddy, we found ourselves driving by the cemetery where he is buried. At first we were just going to wave as we drove by, but then we were just too close, not to stop for a visit.  Honestly, I  don't need to go there.  I  don't need to go where he is NOT, but I appreciate that there are those that do need to go and  pay their respects and remember. Remembering the sweet times are a part of my daily routine.  

Not having been there in a while, we couldn't find his gravesite.  We drove up and down rows.  I said, "What kind of wife am I that I don't even know where my husband is?"  Right on queue, Staci  remarked....."You DO know where he is.....and it's sure not here!"   We laughed, but I know that's why I don't go there often for a visit, because I DO know where he is.  Eventually we found the site where my Honey and his Dad are buried.  We had a little one-way talk with them and asked for their intercessions for us.  Why not?  They're close to God's throne now, so if their prayers were effective here, how much more so in heaven!

It excites me to think that we'll have a great reunion one day.  I do my best to meet each day's challenges and circumstances with the mindset "In the light of eternity".  It really puts perspective on the many activities and circumstances that seem so important -- but are really so trivial and unworthy of attention.  God has purpose for us to live strong on this side of heaven, but thanks be to God -- it doesn't end there.  His plan offers us the opportunity BEYOND our lifetime.  So you won't find me living among the dead.  I'm just too busy living among the living and just seeing how many I can take with me!