Is God a Red Balloon?

5 Minute Sermon.. Anyone anyone?

I smiled as I looked into the eyes of this sweet little gentleman. I used the thongs to scoop some salad onto his plate and he said "thank you". He looked at me like he had some hope in those eyes behind the clothes he wore. He smelled like he had a shower recently unlike several of the others I served in the line.

The line was long and the people seemed to come endlessly. They must have some source to hear about these meals served on Saturdays. I wondered how they knew where to go. Then I realized that word of mouth about a free meal must travel quick among the homeless community.

When I volunteered to serve the homeless Ministry I didn't know I was in for a lesson. I had served soup kitchens before and in a homeless shelter before but no one had ever asked "Will someone give a testimony?".

I was standing in the line up with my thongs in hand ready to serve that salad with gusto when she asked the question "will someone come up and share a bit?". I stood there looking at my salad feeling my heart beat a little faster. I knew I needed to just go for it but

I stumbled looking at the faces of my friends who were doing the same thing I was.

I decided to go for it so I said "I will". With no preparation and just a knowledge that I wanted to encourage these people I walked towards the woman who lead this little ministry. By this time there were about 100 or so homeless people gathered around these tables that have seen better days.

She said hello and introduced me and handed me the microphone. I have no idea where it came from.. but it must have been from some deep place inside that only Jesus can touch.

It's there that I felt the confidence to smile and share a little encouragement. Granted it was a simple one cluttered with micophone screeches here and there but it was good. It was simply my story that they were loved by God and had a hope in Him.

Looking into the eyes of these people as I served them I had to try to see them how God sees them. They were not just homeless people but real people whose live with their story untold.

He can see each heart broken, each dream failed, and He knows each story of how they got to be in this place on this day praying there would be enough of a meal to go around for them. Somehow there was enough food and everyone ate and we had some leftover to donate to the Salvation Army. God always seems to provide.

It felt like the very small gift I could give of serving was not enough as I drove away in my air conditioned little car. It gave me a little perspective to see that it could be worse. It seems like everytime I am about ready to complain to God about what I don't have He opens my eyes to see how very much He has given to me.

Fruit:Peace

Song in my head: No other name

Verse: Romans 8:38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tips for Losing weight on a dime

I always used to think it costs too much money to lose weight. I thought of all the programs like Weight watchers, Jenny Craig and Nutri System and found they just didn't fit into my budget. Expensive personal trainers with gym memberships just seemed impossible to afford.

How could I afford to eat healthy and exercise without those programs and a personal trainer or gym membership? I decided that not trying to be more healthy was not an option so I had to figure out creative ways to be healthy on a very limited budget.

I decided to start to work with what I had going for me. I started by looking at all my activities I did during a normal day to see where I could find that exercise I needed to be healthy and lose weight without spending money.

I found that my job five days a week of 7 and half hours of sitting at a desk, talking on the phone, using the computer didn’t burn a whole lot of calories. So I thought it through and thought what if I stand while working? I found that I could burn 300 more calories for my weight by doing my same job standing for 6 of those working hours.

For my job it was an easy transition to start standing and so I did and found I was more alert and actually doing my job better. That started me thinking of how else I could burn more calories during my work day.

I had two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch to consider. So I decided to start taking a walk on my breaks and I kept an eye open for other opportunity for exercise during the work day. This was when I discovered there was parking garage right next to my building I could burn some serious calories on.

There are six stories of ramps going up that make a great low impact powerful power walk up. I found that I could do it once on my 15 minute breaks and twice on my lunch half hour and still have 5 minutes or so to use restroom, eat and such.

My secret has been to stay to the right while walking in the parking garage to keep safe because people tend to drive slower on the way up than the way down. It has been a sacrifice give up that time on breaks to exercising but I have found that I feel so much better that it makes it worth it by losing weight.

I found having this exercise plan also benefits me costing less by taking my lunch to work and has me thinking ahead about how many calories I am eating.

Since I love to multitask I also found that I could also make call backs on my cell phone, check quick emails, and pray all while taking my hike up the parking garage. It's amazing what you can do if your determined.

Next I looked at my time outside of work and got online. I looked for opportunity to get exercise in fun ways. There are so many things to do if you just consider your area and look online.

I found Churches with Volleyball, Tennis, Softball and hiking opportunity that could be great place not only to exercise but meet some great new friends. I decided to try my hand out at Tennis and some Hiking to start and its been great.

Another place I found to get some exercise was to walk to the supermarket about a mile from my house instead of driving. Another plus to this is that you really get to see the area you live in differently on foot than driving. It's like seeing your world from another perspective. You might even find a hidden treasure of a little park nearby.

It's all about thinking about little ways to add some exercise in like when parking at a mall or supermarket far away under a shady tree instead of circling the parking lot for that spot up close.

Having found these free opportunies for exercise I looked to my food. I decided to start counting some calories more and really looking at the menu when I have to eat out. I had to have some sweet things to fulfill me but needed it to be with less calories.

I started looking for alternatives to help with cost and calories for my favorite foods. I found that I could find some serious deals for food if I looked at the ads and also at the dollar store.

The dollar store has these wonderful Lemon and Cherry flavored Italian Ice's that are only 80 calories each and you get 4 for just a dollar. I also found some great deals from supermarket ads. I found some plums for about 25 cents each on sale. I also found some great coupons online and on supermarket shelves. I got soymilk for 1.25 with coupon.

There are lots of creative ways you can look at food but it is all about being reasonable and knowing your calorie intake verses what your burning in calories. I found a great website that really helps with those calcuations. http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

My only advice with this website is to not click on the links to the right on this website because they are all ads. Try to stick to the tabs at the top of the web pages and you will figure it out. It takes a bit of time to figure out how to use the site but once you figure it out you have a goldmine of info for losing weight.

I just started this free diet and health plan two weeks ago and have already lost 7 pounds. It really seems to be working so far. I will let you know how it goes from here but it literally is costing me less to live and giving me a healthy lifestyle.

Part of this has been about having a positive attitute and a change in your mind and heart about how you think about exercise and food. I know it is tough to be disciplined but it seems that finding healthy habits are forming.

It feels good to do the right thing. Even if you fail from time to time. You just have to get back up on your feet again. I am hoping by sharing this that you could find some tips from what I have learned to hopefully help you find hope in your health journey aswell. If you have any other ideas please share them with me.

Fruit: JOY

Song in my head: Peace like a river
Verse: Isaiah 54: 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,

Ways to Save a little Money

In these tough economic times it seems to have become more acceptable to be a thrifty consumer. Ten years ago or so if you were using coupons and pinching pennys the preception in some circles made you out to be cheap. Being frugal was almost a character flaw instead of an asset.

Now it seems everybody is looking for a coupon. I found myself looking for ways to save money and have found some interesting ways looking at ideas from friends and thinking up some on my own.

Having landed a job after being out of one for a month or so I looked at not spending more while being unemployed but have decided to keep my saving ways for if I don't have work. I think the key is not to believe you have it all together in this uncertain economy by spending without a purpose.

Its so easy to spend money on comfort. If your on your way to work and feeling sleepy you might want to grab a 4 dollar latte. If your feeling hot on a 100 degree day you might want to buy yourself a icy treat. If you see a 1-11 and you forgot your sunglasses and your just sure that glare might cause you to have an accident.

The problem is when budgets are tight it's the sacrifice of these little extras that add up to blowing that budget you so carefully planned down to the penny. The trick is to have alternatives to catch yourself from making those unplanned purchases out of convience or not planning ahead.

Some things I do to save money on those little unplanned purchases

Have a snack and drink box in the trunk of your car so you don't have to visit fast food when your hungry or thristy in a pinch. You can usually find ice at a gas station for free. You just need to have refillable water bottle that you can put ice and a drink in. One key to this is to make sure that the snacks are not parishable just in case you have hot car all day. In other words... nothing that melts.

Have a tote bag with some essentials in your car. You could have some things like.. asprin, bandaids, a change of clothes, shoes, sandles, sunscreen, extra pair of sunglasses, feminine hygene, Brush, nail files, and anything else you could be tempted to buy in a pinch.

Find coupons and use them. Don't just throw away that junk mail you get but actually look at the coupons. You might find something great to save you some money or give you a creative idea for a time with friends or family out.

Get a 14 dollar haircut and better yet use a coupon for it. I have to warn you though that you might have to go to a few shops that offer these to find a good stylist who will not give you a weed wacker hairdo. Once you find one though it can save you a lot of money if your female.

Make a budget for your food while your away from home and stick to it. Try to think ahead to what you will be doing for the day and plan where you will eat so you can use your money wisely. Think where will I be at lunch and can I bring it?

Buy your gas at Costco where it's a lot less expensive. Also Costco offers great food at great prices too.

It's all about thinking instead of just spending it because it's right in front of us. It seems to be those little expenses of eating out and unplanned purchases that used to get me at the end of the month. I found out that knowing where my money is going is freeing and gives you a sense of purpose and power back when you care are enough to care about the small change.

Fruit: Peace

Song in my head: Plan for me - Brandon Heath

Verse: Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, Plans to give you a future and a hope

Top Ten Funky Roommate Quirks

Over the years I have had several opportunities to have roommates. It's really an excellent way to learn about people and how they live. Everyone's family life growing up was different and so not everyone had the same values and ways of doing things in their homelife. It makes life interesting to try out a new way of living by learning another's style to live.

Some roommates are never home. Some stay home all the time. Some are clean and others not so clean. You find out a lot about a person when you live with them. Here are the top ten funky traits I have found in some of my roommates and some I have just heard about.

1. Roommate who has an imaginary friend

2. Roommate who sheds (literally hair everywhere)

3. Roommate who talks constantly about their love of spam

4. Roommate who sneaks up from around the corner to claw your leg (crazy feline)

5. Roommate who tells you they have cancer and they really don't

6. Roommate who was so sheltered they think making microwave popcorn at midnight is an exciting riskay event

7. Roommate who can fart song Jingle bells suprizingly well

8. Roommate who flirts with your blind date before you meet them (happened to me)

9. Roommate who spends hours making homemade dog food for their boyfriends dog

10. Roommate who plucks their nose hair in front of you

Really it's amazing the funny things we all have about us but in reality we are all just people and one persons normal can be totally different from another persons reality.

I think it's good we are all different because if we were all the same it would be a bore. Finding he humor in your roommate challenges is really the best way to get through those things.

Fruit: Peace

Song in my head: Blessed be your name - Tree 63

Verse: Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

I just got a tan...

For those who are wondering… I didn’t fall off the face of the planet I just got a tan.

I’ve just experienced a world of change to my world in just a couple of months. I went from being a wet Washington Expedia travel working gal to being a blazing hot (at times) and crispy golden/reddish girl on the Sunnyvale California Stanford University working trail.

If you can understand that sentence than you deserve a cookie.

I grew up in sunny southern California and had decided to head north for the Evergreen state about 9 years ago. Since then I have been missing the sun and wanting a fresh start, I ventured back into the land of the sun (California) just about a month or so ago. I ventured here knowing only 1 person without a safety net really.

It’s such an amazing thing to be in the place where you are venturing out into the unknown and where you could be totally setting yourself up for big belly flop into the pool.

When I was little girl I remember what the belly flops felt like. It stung at first but when the red went away you just laughed at the silly sound they made.

I think in life there are big belly flops and little ones too. I had one that hurt quite a bit after being here a couple of weeks but I think the key is to learn from them. I am learning that God teaches me in my challenges and trials that I don’t have to be perfect and that He loves me just as I am.

It’s His opinion of me that matters most and I can’t look to any one person to know how awesome He made me to be. I just have to keep running the race and move on not listening to any voice that tells me to stop, give up, or that I am not good enough. I have to know that I am good enough and I am His “best” because He made me “His” when I said “yes” to Jesus.

Even after a road block I decided to jump in the pool and stay here in sunny California. I may have a lot in common with the song on the radio I keep hearing but I am going to keep blazing the trail.

The song goes “Cause I got a couple dents in my fender,, Got a couple rips in my jeans, Try to fit the pieces together But perfection is my enemy, On my own I'm so clumsy, But on Your shoulders I can see, I'm free to be me.”

There are some things I decided I am going to do in my new adventure that I would like to share. I think following your passions and just going for your dreams just has to happen at least once in your life. So I am going to spend some of my time following my dream to write and working on me too.

I have started writing the book that I feel will help women who are divorcing or divorced. It will have some great practical help along with some great stories of other women to encourage them so they know they can make it through the valley. I want women to know they are NOT ALONE and can face a new life again filled with future and a hope.

I am a living breathing testimony of Gods rebuilding process but He is still rebuilding me. So I decided to make a goal of being healthy physically as well.

I have a goal that I want to reach by January 1, 2010 in losing weight and becoming more fit. I will not be completely done with my health journey by then but I made a choice to start making short term goals and getting serious about taking care of the body God gave me.

So I am following a dream, working on the physical and getting a tan without a safety net.
My safety net has to be found in the peace of knowing I am in the hands of a loving God who knows me by name.

I know His peace which flows like a river inside of me. It lets me float for awhile when I look up.

I can’t look at my version of reality or worry about the future. I just have to just trust and know that God has my best interest at heart.

Fruit:Joy
Song in my head: Peace like a river

Verse: Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.