"Hey, Jealousy!"

 Oh, the Gin Blossoms! I absolutely love that band. I tend to forget them when someone asks me what or who my favorite band(s) is/are. I say the Bee Gees, Boston, Kansas, Journey, and Nickelback for the secular stuff, and Celtic Worship, Mercy Me, and Casting Crowns for the gospel tunes. I do love me some individuals too, mind you. I can't go without Elton, Phil Collins, Stevie Nicks, Steph Macleod, or Daughtry. OMG,  I just realized I left out .38 Special and Creed. Who am I? I've done lost my mind!

    So, the blog is about jealousy, right? I thought of the Gin Blossoms because of their song "Hey, Jealousy".  What people need to realize, and some do, is that the word "jealousy" is not to be confused with or interchanged with the word "envy". I was absolutely upset with the www.thesaurus.com site when I queried the word intentionally, so that I could prove that my longstanding knowledge of the differences between the words is nearly polar opposite.  To be jealous, as God Himself is jealous at times, is to defend wholly what is yours already. YOU own it, it belongs to you, and someone else wants it, but you say NO. That is jealousy. Jealousy is not wanting what others have, or wishing we were what they are, etc.  It is simply NOT what people try and make it out to be, and that's when it hit me! Satan is behind that confusion.

    Satan is the master liar, the confederate of confederates. You'll never see a confederate or fake $4.00 bill because there isn't a REAL or genuine $4.00 bill. In the U.S. we have $1.00 bills, $5.00 bills, $10.00 bills, and so forth, but we don't have a $4.00 bill, therefore, you'll never see a fake one out there being used. We actually do have a $2.00 bill in circulation, I'm not sure if it is still being minted. It shouldn't be. Satan wants to ruin, and have you ruin, your life. He throws lies at us and he tells us to be envious of this or that, but he sort of put it into our heads that the word should be "jealous" or "jealousy" because that way we can then later say "Oh, but God is jealous at times, so it's OK if we are."  NOTHING could be further from the truth!  We should be jealous, yes, but we should NEVER be envious of someone or what someone else has. That is also known as coveting and it's one of the Top 10!  Do not do that. Be JEALOUS if it is yours. You have that right.

    The Bible tells us that God is a jealous God. (He's the only God, too) It also says that what is His no one can take from Him. It didn't say no man, no woman, it says NO ONE, because God is including Satan in that equation. What is God's is God's. He has sealed it. He has placed the Holy Spirit over it, and it will never be taken from God. Now, we do not do ourselves any favors when we walk away from God, or when we turn our backs on Him, but trust me, and you can trust the Word even more of course, that God has sealed us. We are not going to be able to strip His hand from us even if we tried, not after we have been sealed. Not going to happen. Don't do it, that's stupid.

    What is mine? What can I lay claim to? Well, that's an interesting thought isn't it? My dog is mine. It wouldn't matter how many days you spent with her, the second I walked back into the room she would abandon you and follow me. I don't have to worry about it. It is what it is. I am not even jealous of it. Now, if I thought she were apt to run away and cling to another, I may become jealous of that fact. She is mine, I am good to her.  She should realize this fact, shouldn't she? Why would she want to seek attention from someone else? This is (on a much smaller scale) how God must see it when we venture into and onto internet sites about other religions, gods, cultures, etc. When we put into our minds that a little spell here or there can't hurt, it's for love! WHAT ARE WE THINKIING? The God of all, the King of Kings is our only refuge and when we venture, wander, stray, you call it what you want, when we even explore or become curious about something - - this is when He is jealous. He has that perfect right!

    Can you imagine the peace in our souls we would have if we just stopped being so mindless, so thick? We could have nothing but goodness, nothing but glory, only tranquility if we would just stop seeking that which is less. We have it all already! We don't need riches and fame to be complete. We don't need material possessions to know the truth. These things are distractions. We do want them. I want things too. I'm not going to stand here and lie about that. I want to be more or the best I can be. I think what we need (I need) to focus on is how we make that happen, and what lengths we will go to or what we may compromise to get the goals we think we just have to have. Putting first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness comes with a HUGE promise. He said if we do that He will give us the rest. I'm good with that. 

    So, next time someone asks you if you're jealous of this or that, remember the true definition of the word. Maybe you are. Maybe you're not. Maybe you couldn't be jealous if it (whatever it is) wasn't or isn't yours. Maybe you could be if it was. It's just something to think about. Be blessed.

Photo Credit:  www.recapo.com

Raku (A Poem)

 Raku 

 

Choosing to love him was not my choice 

The fire broke everything I believed I controlled 

The air that surrounded me disappeared 

I was left to smother in the coals 

 

Formed, I was. Treated as mere thick clay 

Never giving my consent, only shown the end 

Told, more than asked. I was led, I was worked 

Milled and shaped, pounded even, hardened 

 

Why me God? I beg to know Your mind 

Why should I continue rolling in searing flame 

To become the pot, the vase, the urn? 

Will You use me then? Will I hold? Embrace? 

 

You are the Potter. I am your clay. I know this 

You choose, I listen. You will, I bow 

The prayers, the time, the years, the faith 

I understand You’ve planned, I follow 

 

Until the last pyre I remain incomplete 

Knowing there will be blessings, I agree 

Knowing he needs me to continue  

To lift his soul through the pain of my own firing 

 

You are the Potter. I am your clay. 

My destined colors will forge with time 

Your strength is given in my making  

I am who You have decided to create  

 

If my mission is to pray, I bow my head 

Your command is well within my power 

Power given by the One and accepted in whole 

Raku me. To be the vessel You desire 

 

Jude Stringfellow 

April 9 2022 

Photo Credit: Rbfinearts.com

Walk it Off!

 I've already written a blog today, but I don't mind spinning another. I can do that. I like writing. It's my thing really.  Lately, and I do mean LATELY, my thing has been walking a 10K every day or at least as many days as the weather will let me.  I can't run. I wish I could run, but my knee refuses to cooperate. It doesn't mind boxing, riding, dancing, or even power walking, but it will not allow me to run. I've tried a number of times. The breast have been rather nasty about it as well. Some days I wish I could bind them up so that they are never seen again. I could be as flat as a preadolescent boy and not be upset about it; but the simply fact is, I have big breasts and they remind me of the perils of running. Sad face.

    Walking has always been my go to for summertime weather exercise. I can't say I'm a fair weather walker because I will walk in the wind and light rain, just not when it's pouring outside or when God decides to bless us with lightning. Nope, not gonna see me hoofing it with the bolts all around the sky! I will keep my happy feet inside!  I do often times box, dance, or even just shuffle in place when the weather is bad, and now that I think about it, I can keep my watch on to see if I can pour out a 10K inside the house as well as outside on the pavement. 

    I started the new Spring 2002 Fitness Goals on April 2 and I have successfully walked or shuffled a 10K every day since. This is the 5th, so 4 days in a row. Tonight my little Ginger puppy decided to take the last 2 miles with me. I don't slow down, and I don't stop for her to sniff the grass when I do that. She knows it, I know it, we all know it, and there I am pulling dog, clicking at her to make her move! Neighbors have taken to laugh at us and click back at me when I pass by their unit!  It's our thing now, I guess.  I've been showered with garden hoses, water balloons, even popcorn!! Our geese don't mind the popcorn so there are three neighbors who will stand out by the pond and toss bread at me too. I'm telling you, these crazies are my crazies. I love them. I can't get any one of them to agree to power walk with me. A number of them start out with me on occasion then they fall off after 200-300 steps. My steps range from 22 inches to 39 inches in strides. Just depends on the music I'm blasting in my ears at the time. Could be Steph Macleod, could be .38 Special. Believe it or not Mercy Me can get your heart pumping!

    I clocked 12398 before 8:45 p.m. which is when I come in and rest until the 10:00 p.m. dog letting. I will do another mile when we go back out. I tend to stick closer to my own unit at that hour, but  one or two of my neighbors are always out at that time draining their dogs as well - - it's another thing. We have things. It's rather nice to have a complex with such wonderful weirdoes who don't mind coming out to cheer you on and toss moldy bread at you. I think Big Richard even balls up the bread to try and hit me. I've seen it! (We call him Big Richard because he's the older one, and Little Richard is 41 I think. They're both U.S. Army veterans; we have a few here. We take care of our own, too. 

    I am online now looking at a new pair of Ryka walkers. I think I want a new style for the Spring and Summer walk seasons. I think I need something really edgy and fun.  I only wear Ryka. They feel really good, fit just perfectly, and they are breathable. Gotta have the best for the feeties. Take care of your feet, they take care of you!  I was told that so so many years ago, and I believe it.  I think walking a 10K every day (or dancing, and/or boxing to the same) will burn about 500 calories, which isn't as many as I would want to burn, but it is 3500 a week, and that's a solid pound of fat each week. I could just do that and be 1/2 way to the goal.  I'm also eating well and doing the sort-of-not-really-Keto thing, where I eat less carbs and less sugar, but I'm not killing myself over it.

    We'll see where I am in June when Spring turns to Summer and the Summer 2022 Fitness Goals start.  The Spring 2002 Fitness Goals are to lose 20 pounds and go from a certain size to another certain size. I want to drop 4 jean-sizes. Dresses don't count, the hips count. You can easily squeeze into a smaller dress if it's flowy - - I want to be a perfectly rounded, hard-muscled, tight-ended, show off! Let the pockets tell the story, that's the goal. We'll see if I can make it happen.  If not, I have all summer to keep it going. Fall 2002 Fitness Goals are to maintain, bulk the arms and shred the thighs. I think by my birthday in November I would like to be on the aerial hammock....watch me!

Photo Credit:  Getting Inverted

Mind Your Mind!

 I'm working a temporary position for the week, just waiting for the start of my actual new job. I'm filling in for a claims adjuster who is training other claims adjusters to be claims adjusters. It's a beautiful thing! We need more ethical and well-minded individuals out there observing and investigating the likes of proximate causes for perils! This is something the world needs now, and I'm quite happy to be a part of the process.  I wanted to retain my employment in the insurance business, but I thought the path I was going down would lead me into wealth management perhaps selling insurance products such as variable annuities and such; but I have, as they say, "gone in a different direction".  I am loving every minute of it.

    Today, during the initial start up training, we were asked to watch an 8 minute video about motivation and how motivating oneself is the best way to start the day, to make the plans for the day, to keep one on track, to keep the momentum for the assignment as well as the processes.  I was really impressed by the video's underlying message; it was actually, in my opinion, stronger than the initial message.  The underlying message was (is) about resetting your mind to the point (each time you need to) that you remember to remember what your goals are. You need to (and have the capability to) reset your mind at any given second during the day. You don't have to wait for any particular moment or event to occur. You can reset and fail, reset and fail, reset and fail, over and over again, but the very important part is the fact that you reset and continue to do so in order to reiterate to yourself that you are as confident as you need to be, and you are the one who makes the ultimate choice in your life to be the stronger you.

    People are constantly coming up to me after I give a presentation and saying how they simply can't talk to people in a public manner. I usually end up saying "You're talking to me right now", and they end up stepping back a second to realize that they are doing exactly that. They are speaking to someone publicly that they have never met before! It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be. Really it's not.  The scary part is when you allow your own mind to reject your message before you share it with others. You may be afraid of their reaction. You may not think you're voice is strong, or that it doesn't sound just right. That is no reason to stop talking and it is no reason to stop sharing your message. It needs to be heard. YOU need to be heard. Your opinions matter. EVEN if your opinion is not accepted by a single other person, you accept it, and it is YOUR opinion. Own it.

    When we absolutely choose to be shunned we are shunned. How does that saying go..."Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you are right."  We are the authors of our own books, the books we create within our heart, mind, and soul. We are the writers, we are the only ones who can erase the passages or add to them. We edit them. We are often apt to set the book down, never to be seen, read, or shared. We are scared to produce. We are afraid of rejection to the point of rejecting ourselves. This is not acceptable to anyone, let alone ourselves, but there we are. Did you know that God Himself has given us the power within ourselves to stand and be heard? It's true. The One who with His own voice created literally everything that is, has given us the power to call up from within our soul, the Holy Spirit, to use as a tool, as a ladder, to climb up to the top and make known whatever the message is that we are suppose to deliver. Make no mistake, if you have breath, you have a message to deliver!

    Our minds are so strong. Our mind is the place where every thought and idea begins. Our minds are the one things no one else can own or claim. They are ours forever and they are unique. Each of us has our own way and we should never be extinguished. We may need correcting. We may need redirecting. We may need education, and we certainly need to be disciplined, but our minds are who we have become and who will remain.  You can't mask a mind. You can stop it, but you can't cover it up. Let your mind light shine! Let you mind light blaze with all of its held and repressed glory. Let your mind light beam so brightly that when others look at you they want to find the wick to burn theirs as well. Be their beacon! You may set a fire that may never be tamed - - such a glorious legacy!

    One really good mind resetting exercise, incase you need one, is to go into your closet where you can be alone and close your doors, close your eyes.  Reach out with your hands and touch, feel the clothes around you, try to describe them using only your touch and memory of what you remember about them. Then dress others in your clothes and have them pretend to be you -- all in your mind - - have them walk like you, talk like you, dance, or ride a bike like you. Have them say what you wish you could say, and what you want to say to them!  Let your mind wander past the clothes and scope out the boxes and other things in the closet. Again, try to use your senses to recreate the mind exercise that will allow personification and animation of these objects...it's your mind. No one has the right to shut it off. Be openly and bluntly honest about your thoughts.  Now, allow yourself to really laugh! You win!

    Our mindset is what keeps us protected from insults.  We have to accept an insult before it can hurt us. If we don't allow it, it simply falls flat.  Remember that.  You are your own best defense against the waves of rejection that may try to harm your level of appreciation for yourself. YOU and only you are the one who can reset that precious brain; and then, do it again!  JUST FOR THE SHEER FUN OF IT. Let your heart race and sing! No one is you -- NO ONE can do for you what you alone can do for you when you set that mind, your mind, to be who you really do want to be. Stop trying to fit into their boxes!  Dance on top of your own!

Photo Credit: EmergingLeader.com

Spring 2022 Goals.

 Today is the first day of the Spring 2022 Fitness Goals for myself. I was going to start yesterday, but it was April Fool's Day and I didn't want anyone to think I was teasing. I did have a good April Fool's Day really. I pretended Jeannie and I were in Edinburgh. It was fun. I had a few people ask me to meet up at this or that cafe. Some of the ones asking me (us) to meet up were no closer to Edinburgh than we were, and it was fun to exchange "photos" we stole offline to keep the jest going. Fun!  Today is April 2, however and all foolery has been set aside.  It is now time to get the butt (quite literally) in gear, so that I can lose the needed weight, tone up the needed belly, lift the needed breasts, and feel the needed fire inside of me again. I have been FAR too lazy over the winter.

    August 3, 2020 was the day I decided to make it a very permanent change in my life to be fit. I have managed to do just that but over the past six or seven weeks I've let a few things go and I'm definitely feeling it. I've gained about seven pounds back and I know where each and every one of them have landed. I'm not happy about it, but it is a good place to start. The best thing for me (maybe not everyone else) is to stretch 10-15 minutes, do the vibration plate for 10-15 minutes while I lift a 10 pound bar or the 15 pound bar and do squats. Then I walk about 2-3 miles a day, that will increase to 5 miles as the summer approaches, and I have a jump rope that looks like King Kong should be using it. Believe me when I say I can literally only do it about two minutes before I fall flat on my face. 

    I did buy (and haven't set it up yet) a 30 foot 1-1/2" thick battle rope.  I have the necessary gear I need to attach it to the fence post outside. I was sort of waiting on that to come in before setting it up, and I was also waiting on the wind to die down, and the rain to stop. If there is no lightning I will continue to work in the rain, but I have to set it up first. I have a loop to put around a particular fence post that stands in front of my daughter's car so I can be somewhat shielded from the viewing eyes of the would be spectators. It's really not that big of a deal, but until I get really good at it and demand an audience, I may want to sort the thing(s) out a bit. I know it will also be a two minute work out until I get the arms in shape and try to build that up a bit as well. Today is the day I do that, perhaps.

    Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the past few weeks have included carbs. I'm going to have to cut that out as well. I will absolutely miss my bread, but I will also be happier in the end. I will reserve bread for cheat day - - and it will be glorious.  Tomorrow, when I shop for food again, it will be the warrior in me that passes the bread isle and there will be more meat! There will be fat! There will be oil! There will be protein! There will be fruits and veggies. I'm such a huge veggie fan. I have this really cool machine that twists squash and zucchini into little spirals. LOVE IT. When I do that with an apple I put cinnamon and honey over it - - oh, don't get me started. I am really about ready to find that thing, and rinse it off so I can start tomorrow early.

    The goal is 27 pounds and 4 sizes of jeans. I'm not upset with what I am now, but I could be better. I have that little pouchy thing sticking out over my waistband again, and that is NOT acceptable to me. For about a year I've been able to say I was nearly flat bellied, then WINTER happened, and I was studying to take the Series 66 exam, so I didn't work out, I ate terribly, and I just let it go so I could focus. Now, starting Monday, which is in two days, I will work full time from home, which will give me plenty of ME time to do the stretching before work, the walking at lunch time, the vibration plate on my break, and the boxing and dancing - - which were not mentioned before, in the evening. I don't watch TV so there's no worries of me missing a show. I can catch a re-run online if I need to. I think the TV comes on fifteen times a year and thirteen of those are when I'm watching OU football and once or twice maybe when the tornadoes are about to touch down near my house!

    In Oklahoma we have four seasons like anyone else. We have Hot, Cold, Football, and Tornado seasons. They aren't always scheduled on a rotating calendar. We have had all four seasons in one day. No worries, we can pray, we can also sit in a closet and watch the game if we need to. Some folks have rooms and basements for that sort of thing. I have a little coat closet. God knows where I am. Back to the Fitness Goals...I do get distracted from time to time, and that happens when I'm working out as well. I can have a nasty thought of seeing myself going to Braum's for an ice cream sundae right in the middle of a power walk! I have been known to just throw caution to the wind and scratch that itch too. It doesn't do much for the scores and tallies for the goal, but it does make sense if you live in this part of the world. Braum's is a staple really - - it's there to keep you humble.

    I have a YMCA right across the street from me, and last week or so I rejoined it. Then about two days later I remembered why I don't go there, and I canceled my membership. I won't wait on a machine. I just won't do it. I went into the gym again and there were too many folks standing around talking while standing or sitting on the machines I wanted to use. Rather than being rude and saying "Ya'll need to move or start working out", I decided to do the easy thing and leave. They can keep it. I'm OK with the power walking, the lifting, the boxing, the dancing, the diet, and yeah, the 100+ ounces of lemon water as well as 50+ ounces of green tea. I do pee a lot, not gonna lie about that. It's a great feeling though because I know I'm killing off parasites and bringing about a really good balance of good bacteria with the probiotics I take. Did I mention that every night (mostly) I drink about 10 ounces of cucumber juice with an apple and either carrots or cinnamon? DANG...it's great. I do that just before I go to bed. This fat doesn't have a chance really. It's going to come off and it's going to stay off.

    That's it. I'm about to take a shower after walking the first 2 miles today. I walk about 1998 steps in one mile, my stride is literally 29.9" and I average 3.2 mph. It takes me a while to get the miles packed away, but I break it up when I can and do two sets a day. The evening can find me either catching up whatever I need to make my 5 miles, or I'll blow past it if the weather is good and I have nothing else to do. I don't use the Strava app such as my good friend Tex Newington uses. Nope, when you wear a watch that tells the app exactly where you live, that could be an issue for other complex dwellers. I just walk in circles basically anyway - - I may stray off to the parking lots of the medical buildings from time to time, but that's about it.  I could use a few mountains, hills, even parks to look at, but nope, just the little lake, geese, dirt, and smiling faces of my crazy neighbors who take to sitting on their patios and porches to cheer me on every day!  I'm so happy to be their cheap entertainment! 

Photo Credit: Ryka.com