Monthly Archives: January 2017

Sticky Notes In Your Head!

photo-Evan Kirby-SNote copy (Large)

 

It seems to me that certain images or memories are like sticky notes in my head. Something like an old car or brand of chewing gum can trigger thoughts from years gone by. (Some remind us of events we experienced or relationships we enjoyed along life’s way.) What is important now, and what was important at that point in time can be vastly different. But, still there they are sticky notes in your head! Those little sticky notes are not always bad or good. They are just there, and they remind us of something we once experienced. Our memories are like a series of photos and sticky notes that have been animated into a collection of short films that we can access on demand.

Luke 2:51-52 (When Jesus was a young 12-year-old boy an incident happened that caused Mary his mother to create a sticky note of the moment.) … but his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

What mother does not hide multitudes of snapshots and sticky notes of their children from birth upward. As Jesus was on the cross looking down, he saw his mother, and she was still “keeping all these things in her heart.” John 19:25-27…”Woman behold your son”. Jesus assigned John to care for his mother. Sticky note moments are hidden in the head and heart. Mary later saw her Son after he had risen, and after that, she was present in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Lots of sticky notes!

For 30 plus years I have been a professional photographer. I have created many photos for clients that captured moments in their lives and preserved them for later reflection. I carefully crafted visual sticky notes for my clients designed to assist their heads and hearts remember more clearly those special moments in times and events that were meaningful.

What kind of sticky notes are in your head?

Will you still be able to access them with clarity 20 years from now? Mary’s story is recorded in the Bible; someone wrote it down! My clients have photographs; someone hired me! Sticky notes have only one really bad characteristic: they fall off! The sticky with age gives way, and the note is often lost. Make sure you do something to keep those sticky notes hanging around as long as you can!

Just an old school photographer’s opinion, but I still think prints and albums are much greater than a hard drive that will fail and must be accessed before the images can be seen.

Fred Hughes, M. Photog.

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

Are You Happy?

Are You Happy?

Seriously, Are You Happy? What makes you happy and why?

A few years back a song that was almost worn out by the regularity it was played on the radio stations across America titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin was a favorite of mine. I loved the beat, the feel, and the message. I was thinking of this song one day, and it occurred to me, hey, that is scriptural!

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, (Don’t Worry), but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, (Be Happy) which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Also see) Luke 12:22-31

Back to the main question, are you happy? Perhaps a better question would be, what is happy? According to the song and the scriptures, worry, being anxious, frustrated or fearful is not happy! Therefore, I am asking you, what makes you happy? Let me offer a little help, another word for happy is content. What makes you content, satisfied, fulfilled, happy? Is it possible to identify it?

Possibly it is feelings, safety, adequacy, acceptance, worth, possessions, legacy, fame, freedom, love, relationship, authority, knowledge, fun, a day-off, chocolate, family, friends, food, hunting, dancing, reading, music, movies, money, kids, pets, facebook, twitter, travel, or something else.

What is your happy based on? How long does your happy last? How do you find happy again, when it goes away? Can you be happy all the time? The Bible has those answers.

Psalm 127:3-5 (vs. 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord) vs.5 Happy is the man who has a quiver full of them.

Psalm 144:13-15 vs.15 Happy are the people who are in that state; (must be Texas!) Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man/woman who finds wisdom, and the man/woman who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins: But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Happy is an atmosphere or an attitude you can move into anytime you choose to do so! Happy or Sad, Mad or Glad, Blessing or Curse, it is your call, your choice, your life! Wake up every morning and say to yourself, “self, today we are going to be happy!”

Cast your cares (worry & fear) on God, because He cares about you! When you do that, you will find that happy happens! Happy is an atmosphere or an attitude you can move into anytime you choose to do so, happy or sad; mad or glad, blessing or cursing … your call, your life. Just say, “Self, listen up, I am going to be happy today no matter what gets in my way!”

My desire is that you discover the real happy that will live inside you and always help you and be there for you! The Holy Spirit is that ever-present help in times of need, and the one who will guide you into all truth. But most important of all, Holy Spirit is the one who brings fullness of joy (happy) into your life.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

HAPPY < Let me leave you Happy! (YouTube Links) > Don’t Worry Be Happy

Fred Hughes

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.orgbaby-20607_1920