Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

Be Present Be Real

All quote from Pinterest -

“...there is no such thing as a charmed life

, not for any of us, no matter where we live or how mindfully we attend to the tasks at hand. But there are charmed moments, all the time, in every life and in every day, if we are only awake enough to experience them when they come and wise enough to appreciate them.”
― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

Be Present Be REal

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Be Present Be Real

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Be Present Be Real

All quotes from Pinterest

Oh! The Ordinary Day

let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me be grateful while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall fall upon my knees, or bury my face in the pillow, or lie among the sick, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return." Mary Jean Iron

Be Present!

Seven Ways to Stay in the Moment

Each day and each moment of each day is a gift that we all have been given. When you stop to think about it you know this is true. But it is an easy fact to forget when you open your email, look at your to-do list or see a steady stream of people asking you for help or to get something done . . . now. The world conspires to keep us moving faster and to multi-task at every turn.

Unfortunately most of the time when we are moving at that frenetic pace we aren’t at peak efficiency or effectiveness. We know this too, but too often we don’t act on that knowledge. What we need to remember is the value of right now.

And right now…

is right now.

The value of the present moment.

When we stop multi-tasking and live remembering and valuing the present moment we will paradoxically get more done. We will have better relationships, we will learn more that we can apply in the future and we will enjoy ourselves more each day.

To get to these benefits we must get past the pace and seemingly the expectations of the world around us. We must find ways to slow down enough to be present in each moment. The rest of this article offers seven ways to be present so you can reap the great benefits of doing so.

Be grateful for the “present.” Let’s put first things first. If you want to be more present in every conversation and situation, you must be grateful for that moment. Even if you don’t like the situation, when you are grateful for the opportunity you are better able to stay mentally in the moment rather thinking about what you will do “next.”

Note: Granted, this first piece of advice is a bit philosophical and doesn’t provide you with a specific strategy or tactic, but this philosophy will drive your ability and willingness to do all of tactics that follow. Read on for the specific actions you can take.

Take a deep breath. When you find your mind wandering beyond the current situation, start by taking a deep breath. This breath can serve as a reminder to help you refocus and to center you as well.

Focus on the present moment exclusively. Do one thing – just one thing – at a time. The crux of remaining in the present is to focus on the task, person, situation or whatever is in your current moment. If you are thinking about what you are going to say next, what you are going to do next, or what you are going to have for dinner you aren’t focused on right now.

Reduce the noise. Turn off the iPod, the radio or the television unless that is your current moment focus. The noise and distractions around us can easily pull us away from the current moment, divert our focus and reduce our effectiveness.

Refocus your inner voice. When you notice yourself judging, analyzing or having another sort of mental dialogue in the current moment, shift your mental focus by saying to yourself, “now, now, now” or some other phrase that will help you bring yourself back to the current moment, situation or activity.

Be more observant. Pay closer attention to the present moment! Notice what your senses are noticing, but what you may be unconsciously tuning out. What is the real message under the words you are hearing? What do you smell, what can you taste? What do you hear (in addition to the words)? When you open yourself up to be more observant you give your brain something to think about that is relevant and helpful in the present situation, rather thinking about another time, place or activity.

Ask “What do I want to remember about this moment in time?” I once read the advice that when you are on vacation at a place you truly value, that you should take an omni-sensory, three-dimensional picture of everything about that place and time in your mind. Taking this “picture” helps you savor the moment in the present and helps you remember it forever. This advice combines the concepts of being grateful and being observant. I believe this approach can be used anytime, as a way to capture a moment for memory, for future reflection and more. You can stimulate this activity by asking, what do I want to remember about right now? Or a similar question that works best for you.

These activities will make a difference in your results – both personal and professional. The benefits mentioned at the start of this article will all be yours as you perfect the habit of being in the present moment.

Copyright © 2007 - All Rights Reserved, Kevin Eikenberry and The Kevin Eikenberry Group.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of speaking, consulting and training services. He also is the author of Remarkable Leadership – a book that will help you improve results as a leader, regardless of your job title. Contact him to learn more about how he can help you or your organization improve your skills and results.Published:3/19/2007

Be There Poem

If you listen
In the silence
You will find
An opening
An opportunity
A window
To the future
You're Invited to
Be There

A place
Beyond race, religion,
Income, geography
It doesn't require
Additional resources
Of time or money
Make the most of the time you have...
Of the family you are, single parent, two parent, grandparent, blended,
It's all inside you...
Be There

Begin a new tradition
A sacred daily practice
To start and end the day...
Whatever time of day that is
It transcends school
Barriers, boundaries
Here, there are no obstacles
Only opportunities to
Be There

Get to the heart of
What's in your child's heart
Meet them where they live
And open to the possibilities
Here, there is no achievement gap
Just achievement
Success shines from the inside out
And life changes for generations
Be There

In a moment
You feel the difference
It's real...
By being present
You've connected and created peace
Eye to eye, heart to heart
Truth, trust are born
At any age...every age
Be There

By Wendy Elwell

Agenda for the Week of December 16th:

Two days in Montgomery, boys finish up school, update FBP website, dinner with friends, and I guess we better get shopping! BIG apologies to all who'd signed up for the calendar class. My crazy sinus issues kick up at the strangest times - mostly due to weather!

Devotion by Jill Briscoe from the Women’s Devotional Bible:

“I love the way Jesus solved problems. He tackled them head on! He was a master at confronting people in such a way that it did not hinder His relationship with them afterward. Think of Martha for instance. Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Mary … sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words while Martha got mad about it! … There was a meal to prepare and nobody would help! … It wasn’t that Martha didn’t know what it was to enjoy the Master’s company, because we understand that Martha also sat at Jesus’ feet. It was just a question of priorities. Martha was busy getting a banquet ready when soup and sandwiches would have been quite adequate. Jesus gently reminded her … Luke 10: 41 [NIV]: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” It isn’t that the doing doesn’t need doing, it’s that the being must come first, and then we will find that the necessary part of the doing will get done!"

Praying that you and yours continue to take the time to BE with Christ during this holiday season ~

Agenda for the Week of December 9th ---

Two days in Montgomery, Messiah Sing-a-Long, church women’s dinner [I have a table to decorate], Christmas Cards in the Mail, Sunday School Party, FBP Class [Scripture Calendar], and work appreciation luncheon.

Devotion by Nicole Hill from the Women’s Devotional Bible:

“Like most women today, I lead an active life. Often I feel like a one-woman juggling act. Sometimes, it gets out of control – or rather, I get out of control. Recently, I found myself waking up in the morning, dreading to face the new day and my seemingly endless chores and duties. My prayer time was suffering because I was so overwhelmed with pressures and responsibilities. Yet, I kept taking on more and more. …Seeking God’s guidance, I sat down and made a list of things I truly needed to accomplish that day. I didn’t worry about what I had failed to do yesterday, or what I hoped to for tomorrow. I just concentrated on today. As the day progressed [beginning with a renewed and refreshed prayer time], I found time … as I climbed into bed that night, I looked at my list and smiled. I was right on schedule. Lord, help me to remember …”

Zechariah 4: 6 [NIV],

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

says the Lord Almighty.”

Agenda for the Week of December 2nd ---

Christmas Music at church [cheesecake and coffee – yum!]: Mug Swap at Bible Study; St. Nicholas Day*;
Matt on Youth Leadership Retreat; and FBP Kits ready to go out.

Do you have a busy week planned also? Consider this devotion from Kathryn Hillen in The Woman’s Devotional Bible,

“I need to slow down. And I’m asking the Lord to help me do it. I want to move slowly enough to be aware of all the joys He has hidden for me. I want to slow down enough to grow as He wants me to grow. I want to be quiet enough to hear His voice. I need His wisdom to know how to spend my time and how to order my days.”

Isaiah 30:15, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Praying that each of you will feel His quietness.

* More to come…

Slowing down

is still a process I'm learning. I think my normal life is pretty chaotic on the best of days and then during those months of summer my body was working overtime to keep me going - there was just ALWAYS so much to do - if I wasn't heading over to help with parents- then I was heading home to catch up here and at work, and always - always planning what had to happen next - because it was best to get as much done as possible since I never knew when I'd need to rush away again. And now that things are slowing down to my 'normal' chaos my body is creating craazy things to keep the hype up - when I don't need it anymore [or for now anyway...] So I loved reading this on Jody's blog this morning -

I am learning to be reflective, to look back and enjoy the memories and laughter and innocence that life holds for kids at Christmas. I am learning to slow down and appreciate the present moment and to modify my expectations in order to enjoy the 'now' {although I still need some work on that one...it's an ongoing process for me to live in and appreciate and/or modify the present}. I hope to savor now so that in the future I can look back on it and love these memories and give them as 'gifts' to my kids someday.
Last night Craig and I went to a concert "Festival of Scared Christmas Music" and as I got in and started looking at the program I kept thinking of all the little [and not so] things I needed to do last night - and "just how long would we be here anyway?!" And this was my idea - so I just asked the Lord to help my body be calm - and help me relax in Him. It was a such a good evening and a wonderful way to start the Christmas Season with our focus on Him.** This was put on by a group called Keep Christmas Alive and of course I love their mission! That's Bob Smith on the website - a wonderful man of God who used to be one of the pastors at our church. All of the music was so so good- but have to say that This Hope did THE most beautiful version of "Mary Did You Know" that I've ever - ever heard. Love their music - kind of a smooth beach boy feel to it.

** [Then I was up until 1:30 getting things on-line for the DT, and some other little projects lined up as well. ] This morning as I was waking up that racing feeling was there again- sooooo much I want to do today - but again - I've slowed down and I'm in the present - accomplishing one little thing at a time [waiting on my boxes to dry after painting them - purple, gold, and green of course.] I'd LOVE to finish up my Advent Boxes - and plan to put the scripture from Luke 2 inside them. But I've decided that it's okay to hang it without the insides done for now. I'll show some photos later. IF I have a little time later on [in the season] I may get that part done, but for now I need to move on.

As Craig said the other night, "It looks like Santa threw-up" in our play room. He helped me get every last Christmas thingie out of the attic this week [so blessed to have a large walk-in attic] and I want to go through each and every box and do a giant keep /discard clean-out. [It's amazing how much you can accumulate when you have a giant walk-in attic! - This Christmas stuff is slowly - or quickly- making it not so giant anymore!] So break -time is over - promise photos later. And gotta say - despite the racing stuff - I feel really good [well, even] for the first time in months - so am really looking forward to enjoying each and every Christmas moment.