By Lois Hewitt

Sometimes I am tired. I don’t want to get up and go to work or clean the bathroom or any other task I may dislike.  I would rather stay in bed, warm and cozy.

I have learned that it is okay to feel that way. It is a normal response.

The action reveals itself in the choice you choose from there. Do you stay in bed or do you muster the strength and go anyway?

That is the proverbial fork in the road. The younger me never failed to take the easy way. I felt no problem wallowing away in my solitude.

Today I have learned that the sin is not in dreading a task but in not, at least, showing up.

Jesus knew how His story of life on earth would end. He always knew. As it grew closer, He did ask the Father to remove it…if it was His will.

Well, it could not be removed for all the reasons it had to happen.  Jesus did not want to do the hard thing, but He knew He had to. He chose to show up and that decision changed history.

Using that as an example of a way to live has changed my life.

It is okay to not want to do the thing you don’t want to do.  But to get up anyway and do it is where the you begin to grow and change.

It’s easy to be easy on yourself. I never allowed discomfort in my life for many years. The problem with that is there is no growth only stagnation. 

The growing process is hard work. It hurts some times. But it is absolutely necessary in order to get better and to heal.

I recently learned this lesson.  I used to think the thought was the problem and since I was already there, I was already defeated. I believed that lie.

The thought is not the issue but how you react to it is.  Even Jesus questioned the hard things. We can too.  But how you react is key to your growth.

There is a beauty in showing up even though you rather not. A new piece of courage and strength is forged into your soul. And with every victory comes more of the same.

So today I choose to show up. I choose to delete the negative thought. I choose to seek my strength through the example Jesus gave us. And in Him belongs the glory!

By Lois Hewitt

What is a distraction?  This is the meaning I copied from Google.

“thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else”

That is an accurate description of the world we live in today.

Social media: distraction
Hollywood: distraction
Addictions: distraction
Clutter: distraction
Well, you get the point.

There are so many, real and theoretical, “shiny” things to look at, it becomes more difficult to concentrate.

Many people I know, including myself, are walking around trying to remember what they were going to do.  Or where they left something. Or if they actually did something and forgot.

When I am distracted I pray half prayers because my mind wanders or I fall asleep.  I struggle with Bible studies because I start thinking about a conversation I had in 1986 or ponder what to make for dinner next Tuesday.

The distractions keep us from having vibrancy. They keep us down and defeated. The distractions actually become the focus and all other things start to fade into the background.

Though not an expert, the distractions seem like an easy way for the enemy to control us and keep us from being fully present with God

If you are feeling frustrated by all the things you plan to do but then don’t, realizing that you are distracted is the first step.

Then classifying your personal brand of distractions and working on ridding yourself of the useless ones is a terrific second step.

The third step, and obviously the hardest, is to start to make yourself focus. I don’t know about you, but focus, for me, left the building a long time ago. 

Distractions are keeping me from the important things I want to do.  I end up watching cat videos instead of reading my Bible.  It is no wonder I feel defeated. But as long as you are breathing there is time to reclaim your focus and your time.  Time to be victorious over the wasters of our desires.

Today, I want to focus on the important things I have put on the back burner. Today I take charge of my thoughts. Today I kick defeat to the curb and take up with victory. In this crazy world, I need more God not more memes. How about you?

By Lois Hewitt

Inspiration and understanding, although searched for, sometimes appear in the most unlikely of places.

I have concerns lately that my “normal” mode of living is askew.  I am really done with the anxiety, the racing heart, and all the other side effects of said mode.

I was sitting in my work cubicle doing the same work I always do wondering if it will make a difference. Wondering, in fact, if any of my work labors will have any lasting effect.

Then an old work project came to mind. A project I worked on for years.  A project I worried over. The end result of it all ended up in boxes, taped shut and put in a crawl space.

Did all the worry end up making the project a success? No.  Did all the worry help me grow as a human?  No.  Did all the worry contribute one positive influence? No.

Then my eyes opened further to all the times I was fraught with worry and/or fear.  Days, weeks, months of not sleeping, racing heart and unwellness.  To what end?  Other than manifestations of anxiety, nothing good came and no postitve progress was made.

I sat in my cubicle, listening to random typing and various phones ringing.  I heard the coffee maker making yet another cup of coffee.  I wondered what lasting impact this all would have. What it all means to mankind in general.  Would the worries we all have come to believe as normal, work for the betterment of humankind?

No.  Worry tends to manipulate the space it occupies.  It covers that space with darkness that no light can penetrate.  It lasts so long, it starts to become normal and is accepted as “just the way it is.”

As of yesterday’s epiphany, I no longer see it that way. Worry, for me, has always been my way of holding onto the control of a situation or project. If I worried enough, it meant I was the one with the power. But the reality was the opposite. I lost my power by holding on too tightly.

I sat at my desk devastated by all the time I wasted clinging to things and, sometimes, people that would have been healthier for me to let go of.

Yes, we need to have concern for immediate situations. We need to act accordingly. But for me to sit at my desk and worry and over think everything to its impending death is only stripping me of my joy for life.

Remember happiness is based on temporary situations whereas joy exceeds the situation and exists regardless of what is happening.

So what does any of this have to do with anything?  I am still working on the conclusion.  But I think if we all as a world worried less and held more joy, we could start to heal from the hatred and divisions we now live with on a daily basis.

Maybe putting a little less emphasis on trying to control situations and letting the reins drop for a bit.  Placing faith in the One who holds the true power.

I’m not foolish enough to believe that me having more joy will make the world a better place or that in a hundred years that any contributions I make will be remembered. But that sort of takes the pressure off.  Maybe I don’t need to be all consumed with control.

Maybe it’s okay to bake cookies, tend the garden, read a book or whatever.  Maybe I have taken work too seriously as a way for me to atone for past sins. I used the worry of work to validate who I was. But, in my truest reality, I am a child of God and that is all I honestly need to know and be.

I know this is rambling, as usual, but my thought is maybe we as humans need to change the importance rating of the things in our life. Maybe we need to have the faith to not be in control all the time.  Maybe we could all benefit from less worry and that would benefit the world.

Just a thought.

By Lois Hewitt

The other day I was sad. I used to have such a good friendship with a girl named Little Debbie. She was oh-so-sweet. She never disappointed me.  I could always count on her.

Then one day I realized that when we hung out, I didn’t feel so great.  It turns out she was just not good for me.  So I said goodbye to my old friend.

Over the years I have walked away from many of my old chums.  Mickey D.  The King.  Kit and Kat and Pop and Tart.

I used to sit and remember the times and thought they would never return. But I was actually wrong.

Most everything you like to eat can be made at home with better ingredients. I searched for my favorite, Cosmic Brownies, found a recipe and made them. Still not health food but not nearly as unhealthy.  They turned out pretty good.

I made peanut butter cups that had no sugar, just a touch of organic maple syrup.  They hit the spot.

I have learned to make many of my old favorites just in a new way.  It saves money most of the time too.  Win-win.

All it takes is a little readjustment in thinking. Of course, my oven baked fries do not taste like the ones in the red container, but they aren’t trying to stop my heart.

It is difficult at first to talk your taste buds into this new way of eating. All those old food receptors will scream for trans fat and white refined sugar. You will feel worse than when you ate junk.

Just wait it out.  Your body will change and start liking black bean burgers instead of greasy hamburgers or whatever you change to (I’m not against good quality grass fed local meat.)  I used to eat processed veggie burgers until I found out they ain’t so great. So I make my own. Sometimes they are a winner and others not so much.

It is all a change in perspective.  You may think you can’t live without Coke or Arbys.  But you can. And once you have ridden the storm out, you will see a change.

My diet and food addiction was so bad.  I was so anemic several times in my life to the point my legs could not hold me up.  I was malnourished and sickly.

I could barely go three weeks without a sick day.  I was miserable.  Then I started to learn about food and nutrition and I was still miserable until my breakthrough.

My health started to improve.
My taste came back, didn’t even know I lost it. And I started a new and healthy love affair with food.

It just had to change my perspective on what was good for me. 

Life, in general, is like that. My relationship with Jesus is that way.  At first, I never dreamed I could live without the sin.  I had a taste for it, I craved it. 

Then one day I was so spiritually sick, I could not get up.  So I changed my perspective.  And I still felt bad until I didn’t.

Just like a Big Mac is repulsive to me now, so is sin.  I don’t want to feel what a Big Mac will do to my body and I don’t want to sin anymore. I still do, we all do, but it is different now.  I have remorse over it, I grieve it.

Making changes is never easy and it is not automatically all sunshine and chocolate brownies but it gets better. You heal and you start to thrive.

The absolutely best thing I did was give my life and my sin to Jesus. He took the sin and gave me my life back.

What a glorious way to live.  It isn’t perfect and I’m not perfect but it’s ok.  Better is a good thing. Each day I get stronger, healthier and more focused on the One who saved me. 

Don’t be afraid to change. It may be the most amazing thing you can experience!  Try a new perspective.

By Lois Hewitt

Today, I am blessed.
Today, I am cared for.
Today, I am loved.

By the One who died for the sins of the world.  He gave His earthly life so I could have eternal life.

Sounds to good to be true?  I have lived His redemption and His love. It is the ultimate truth.

He died for you too!  Jesus is not some fairy tale character or a man behind a curtain, He is truth, light, righteousness and love. Not just for me but for all who believe in Him.

He promised His children His forever presence and He always keeps His promises.

Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  It’s that simple. Seek Him and your life will change.

Have a blessed day my friends. You are SO loved!

By Lois Hewitt

Yesterday I went to church. I do not usually go for a variety of (lame) reasons. But I went yesterday. 

I sat in the second row which I don’t usually do for a variety of (lame) reasons. 

In front of me sat a young man.  I had not seen him there before.  Everyone stopped by to introduce themselves, so I was pretty sure he was new to visiting church.

I thought it odd that this young man (a teen) was by himself.

He turned to talk to me, introduced himself and I to him.  He then let me know that his name starts with a “c” and mine with a “l”.  I then realized the conversation was going to be different.

He told me and a few others the letters in the alphabet and how many letters there were. When he started to talk about numbers a few others had to leave. 

It was just he and I and he asked me my favorite shape. I said a square. He thought I should like a triangle better.  Ok, I agreed.

Then we talked about a rainbow made of shapes and colors. I told him, sincerely, that his idea about such a rainbow was beautiful. 

He asked me if I had any children and I said that I didn’t.  He asked if I was going to have any children (at 62, I would hope not) and I said no.  He told me if I did, they would like watching Sesame Street because the use letters and numbers.

Then the music started to play and the service began. I was a little nervous because I was going to be reading the Litany for Pentecost. I was not feeling great and was wishing I was laying in bed at that moment.

The first hymn was sung. The gentleman next to me taped on the pew in front of him and the young man became a little aggregated. He told the man next to me that he could not do that.

I whispered that it was ok and that he was allowed to tap the pew.

Then my time came to speak and I went to the Chancel area too soon and my voice creaked through the microphone (I had never heard my voice amplified-yikes).  It went ok but not great.

When the reading was complete, I started back to my seat and the young man told me that the reading was good.  I thanked him and sat down.

I started to feel really bad but I had wanted to show up for myself and to show God He was more important than my feelings.

As the service ended the young man said to me that he enjoyed the service and I agreed.

I work at the church and had remembered a task I had to complete so I ran to the office and turned on the computer.

I looked out the window and saw the young man walking toward the sidewalk. I turned for just a second  and he was gone. So many questions.

But I had to get home. I was shaky and once home broke into a fever. I slept for 15 or so hours waking drenched in sweat.

I then started to wonder about that young man. Was he real?  Was it my fever starting?  How did he get to the church and why was he alone?  He had a deep wisdom that you could see in his eyes.

He was so sweet and his quirks, for lack of a better word, were understood by me as I have a few myself.

I wonder if he was an angel sent to earth. I’m sure an angel would enjoy Sesame Street. It would be a sweet way to learn about us humans.

You never know the reason someone might cross your path.  Even if just briefly. Charlie’s innocence and sweetness was a reminder to me not to let life make me too jaded.

He was right, I think a triangle is my favorite shape.

By Lois Hewitt

The days are finally gone when I struggled to figure out who I am.  Today I am comfortable being me. Even if I do some strange things:

I figured out how much I need for bills and am able to work part time.  Full time would net more money but there are other more important things

I take much pride in bring a wife.

In the time I am not working, I prepare all our meals from scratch.

I meal plan weekly and purchase groceries online either for pick up or delivery. I actually save money this way as I’m not tempted with convenience foods or impulse items.

I mix everything by hand to experience a connection with the process (some times I do wish for a hand mixer but I plow through.  Lol)

I rarely eat out and my bank balance thanks me.

I don’t shop when I’m bored, anxious, upset, hurt or any time. I shop online and always think about it for a couple of days before purchasing.

I cut my own hair (yes, I know it’s obvious).

I use one bar of good quality organic soap on my hair, face and everywhere else. No extra products for me.

Black castor oil is my moisturizer if I use one.

I have one work uniform I wear every day until it wears out. No worries, I wash it each day.

I read and do a Bible study everyday. I don’t wait until Sunday.

I have lots of systems in place for household chores, studies, baking, cooking and health.  I embrace the simple ways.  I used to think it had to be complicated to be good and that just put extra pressure on myself.

Am I trying to say I have it all together, that I’m perfect?  Goodness NO!  I am still broken and tattered. I fall short sometimes on an hourly basis.

But, through my relationship with Jesus and some hard earned processes in place, I have learned who I truly am.  Not who I think someone else thinks I am.  My intents are clear and I stand firm where I was pretty shaky before.

I have tried to be a hundred different people trying to please a hundred other people. I was never true to me or to God.

I used to discount the “Jesus” things in life because I felt I knew better.  Now I actually do know better in that I have a lot I do not know.

What’s my point? Do you struggle knowing who you really are. Do all the outside influences make you confused?  You need to stop looking at others and look to Jesus. He will show you the way.

If you are true in your relationship with Him, He will let you see that part of you that you may be missing.

I was so stubborn I didn’t see until I was nearly 60.  Just proves it isn’t too late.

If you feel like you don’t fit in, that’s ok.  That means only one thing…if you don’t fit in the world around you, then it means you are outstanding!  And you are that, even if you cannot see it yet!

By Lois Hewitt

Enjoy today! 

Today will not be perfect!  There will be issues that you cannot control.

You can control, however, how you view the day.  Will it be a disaster or will it be beautiful in its imperfection.

You can control your attitude today.  Will you continue to walk under the dark cloud of life or dance in the sunlight.

How you handle those thoughts in your head will reflect through you.  Stop listening to those negative thoughts, they do no good at all.

Start turning those invasive thoughts into powerful and positive thoughts that will help you see the world differently.

Today I pray that you take hold of the negativity in your life and throw it to the ground. I pray you embrace a new healthier outlook that sees past the trials and the hurts of this world.  I pray your light shines through the fog of life.

Today is truly the day the Lord has made. Rejoice in it (even if you don’t feel like it..that is a gamechanger).  God is real and He loves you so much! Enjoy the day!

By Lois Hewitt

Back in the day, the highlight of my week was when the new TV Guide would come out.  I would run to the store every Tuesday (I think that was the day it hit the store racks) then take it home and plan my television watching schedule with a highlighter.

I hated the summer because it meant I had to watch reruns. Hard to imagine in this streaming age.

The mailbox was fill of booty from Publishers Clearing House, such as People magazine, US Weekly and Entertainment Weekly.

We lived out in the country so we didn’t have cable for a long time. I begged my husband for a satellite dish so I could watch MTV and E! News.

Friday afternoon around 3 PM, my heart would start to race at the thought of speeding to the video store after work to pick up five or six movies for the weekend and bags of junk food.

I was truly obsessed.  It was my way of life for so long and so unhealthy it was.

Since I could barely leave the house without an anxiety attack, Hollywood became my life.  I made idols out of movie and TV stars. I wanted to be like the singers on MTV.  I wanted to be anyone but who I was.

This life choice made me dissatisfied with what I had, how I looked, what I ate, and what I wore. There is a lie in all the entertainment hype that I bought lock stock and barrel. It is intended to create disharmony.

The disharmony keeps us buying things to make us happy and to make us younger looking and more fit.  Because, according to the hype, you are just one more thing away from happiness.  Then it’s one more thing and one more thing and so on.

The media today has more sophisticated ways of causing the disharmony. Influencers on social media with their perfect houses, $10,000 a week work from home jobs, organizational baskets and containers and the easiest, best looking meals ever.

I fell for the lie for decades. I believed it wholeheartedly, thinking it could never be dangerous. Just look at the food we were sold, talk about dangerous.

I can only speak of my own experiences, but I know during this time in my life my idols were rich and famous people.  I had no room for God.

I spent money I didn’t have on things I didn’t need all so I could feel better. But I didn’t feel better. I was always stressed and sick, never thinking about the connections.

Then the bottom dropped out as it tends to do.  No comfort came from the things. No relief came from shopping.  I began to see the people on the screens as frauds and liars just doing a job for money.

How much of a fool do I feel!  A lie so easy to spot now but I saw nothing at the time.  Thankfully God opened my eyes to the real source of joy, peace, health and wealth…Him.

Today even those words have a different meaning. Joy is not a momentary rush only when things are good.  It’s a sustained feeling no matter the circumstances.

Peace does not come by eating a unhealthy meal, or buying yet another book or trinket.  God’s peace is internal without the need for external stimulus.

His health is transforming. It comes from a steady diet of prayer and His word.  I still struggle with physical health but my spiritual health is on the mend.

Wealth, well my definition of that words has completely changed. I find my wealth in my two outfit closet, eating leftovers and enjoying simple pleasures. It’s not cars and houses.  It’s gratitude for a hot shower or a homemade cookie. It’s a roof over my head and a warm blanket. It’s knowing that I am a child of God.

God opened my eyes to the lies. And He showed me a better way.  He has given me a life I never could have dreamed of with all its human imperfections. With my sights on a perfect eternity with Him. His way is the only way for me.  Blessed I am.

I pray that those blessings are yours today and for ever more! He can make the difference in your life if you trust and have faith.

By Lois Hewitt

I have heard it said that you have to give too much up to follow Jesus. And it’s so true. You give up:

Your love for sin.
Your anger.
Your anxieties.
Your fear.
Your hate.
Your insecurity.
Your death.

He takes it all away through prayer, faith and focusing on Him.

So you give all that up and what do you get in return:

Forgiveness.
Strength and courage.
Peace and calm.
Love.
Guidance.
Eternal life with Him.

If that’s the trade off, sign me up.

He has done all that in my life and more if I just focus on Him. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? More than you can imagine!

It’s not some magic pill, it’s a lifelong commitment. It’s not an easy fix, but you can change.