So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. James 4:7 MSG

Every single person I know wants to make a difference in the lives of others by doing something special and unique. Within you are seeds of a dream to do what only you can do. It is the legacy that you will leave behind. Unfortunately, I had gotten so busy with my job and caregiving responsibilities that I did not make room for my gifts of writing, speaking and music. God was closing doors so He could open others.

Define your gift

The first step in finding your gift is to define it. A great way to start is to ask yourself, “What would you do if you had unlimited resources (time, money and education)? Your mind is free to explore once you remove the self-imposed limitations that often lead you to talk yourself out of what you would love to do. You can always make time – even if it’s just a few minutes

Follow what you love to do

Your gift will be centered around the things you like to do. Have you always had an inclination and innate ability to do certain things? Often you don’t recognize your gifting because you think that everyone has the same capabilities you do and it’s easy for you. It is the unique pattern and combination of talents and attributes that makes your gift rare and precious.  There may be others who do the same thing you do, yet you add a flair that distinguishes your gift from others.

Share your gift

Your gift brings you joy, especially when shared with others. There is no better feeling than to do what you were created to do. It does not seem like work because it is a pleasure. There will be those areas where you will need to grow to support that gift. In fact, you might feel most disqualified in the area where you would like to go. For example, I have always loved to sing and play worship songs. I can get lost in time as I sit down at the piano. I struggle with recording these and sharing with others. It’s my goal to move in that direction because others have told me these songs are a blessing to them.

Grow in your gift

Your gift will open doors and make room for you. Once you define your gift, look for ways to use it and improve your skills in that area. Even if it seems far-fetched right now, take steps in the right direction. This is where you can really get out of your Comfort Zone (or CZ as I like to call it). Volunteer to do something that you don’t feel quite sure about doing but have always wanted to do. You’ll figure it out and can have a lot of fun. Your gifts expand as you use them.

Prayer

Lord, I am so thankful for the gifts You have given each of us. I pray that You will grant us the courage to take a good look at them so we can expand and grow in these areas.  With Your help we will step outside of our ‘comfort zone’ and take some risks. Thank You for those around us that encourage us to ‘go for our dreams.’ In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. Proverbs 30 :17. ESV 

 In the verse I chose to add to this series is a fascinating one from the well known Proverbs 31 woman. When it says she dresses herself with strength, that means that she rolls up her sleeves and approaches her responsibilities with force. She's going after it. She's secure in who she is. But the Hebrew word there also means praise. 

Put praise music on every morning as you start your day. Raise your arms in praise, making your arms strong. Put on the strength that you will need for that day. She makes her arms strong. That means to me that she does her part to increase her stamina every day. She is alert mentally and physically and has the courage to face whatever lies ahead because she trusts in God's good plan for everyone in her life. Hope says that I have the courage to face today with energy and strength. That is so important. 

1. Start today. Stop putting it off. Research suggests that everyday physical activity like walking and gardening are a great place to start. Even household chores, if you do them rapidly enough, such as sweeping or vacuuming can get your muscles going. Increase your physical activity by using your own muscle power. 
2. Start small. Do frequent short exercises instead of those that require large blocks of time and find activities that you enjoy. One other thing you can do while brushing your teeth is stand on one leg. Go for at least 10 seconds each time. 
3. Stay consistent. It's okay if you miss a day or two, if you have an emergency. Obviously that will happen. But just get back into the routine. It can be as simple as if you have your loved one in the hospital. Park as far away as you can so you can walk and get the steps in. Set reminders on your phone to take posture breaks or hold yourself accountable with a friend. Walking is such a great way to get the exercise that you need because it's easy, it's available, it's free, and besides its physical benefits, walking helps to reduce stress. 

What other exercises would you recommend? 

Prayer:

Thank you Lord, that you have given me the ability to choose to do something for myself. And I pray for my fellow caregivers that they do not feel that this is selfish, but instead they know that you have given them the gift of health. Let them maintain it. I ask for wisdom so they'll know when to take a break, when to incorporate it, when to do it.  Thank You, Lord, that you give them hope. They have the courage and mental and physical strength to rise above what might seem overwhelming right now. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. 

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A cheerful look brings joy to the heart. Proverbs 15:30 NLT

One of the hardest things about my first husband’s illness (FSHD – Facioscapularhumeral dystrophy) was that it affected the muscles of his face making it hard for him to smile. The other day, as I was looking at some old pictures I started to smile because it brought back memories of when I first met Bill. We were both in the same Greek class at L.I.F.E. Bible College (Now Life Pacific College). I remember two things – his smile and the little drawings on gum wrappers. I have long since lost the works of art on the gum wrappers yet will always remember his smile.

During the last two years of his life Bill had to use a mask for the ventilator that did the breathing for him because his diaphragm had failed. That was when he relied on his little white board and marker to express how he felt. Emoji’s were a blessing because they were able to express his smiles even though he physically could no longer smile.

One of the greatest lessons Bill taught me was gratitude for the choices I have. Most people do not realize how powerful those choices are until they are around someone who can no longer make them. His mouth may not have been able to form a smile but his eyes expressed so much.

Active Self Nurture

Use your smile muscles
The choice to lift the sides of your mouth can actually make you feel better. Researchers believe that activating a specific set of muscles in the face connects you to greater happiness and joy. When you choose to smile, you signal the emotional centers of your brain that all is well. Here’s where hope comes in. This scripture says that the cheerful look brings joy. When you trust God’s good plans for your life you can smile and mean it.

Keep your thoughts focused on the positive side
It’s not enough to simply paste on a fake smile. When you are feeling discouraged, start thinking about all the things that bring you joy. Gratitude produces genuine smiles. As a caregiver, you no doubt experience a great deal of stress. It can be easy to start focusing on all that you do not control. Instead, release the burdens to the Lord and find what brings you joy.

Live longer
Research has shown that those who smile actually live longer than those who do not smile. This was fun research with a baseball team in a yearbook. Those with big smiles lived 7 (seven) years longer than those who did not.

Improve your mood
Did you know that putting chop sticks in your mouth to resemble a smile will help you to be in a better mood? This experiment was done with some unhappy folks who actually ended up being in a better mood. Try it and let us know how it works when you are having a bad day.

Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for all Your blessings and for providing all that I need just when I need it the most. At times, the burden of caregiving seems too great and it can be hard to smile. It is right there that I choose to look up and smile. I know you will take care of the rest.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more hope inspiration you can follow her posts on:

https://www.instagram.com/hopeispowerfulpodcast
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Rate and review this podcast to spread the hope to others who need to be reminded they can go from rock-bottom to the mountain top one step at a time.