Thursday, January 22, 2015

My word for 2015

"ACTION"








It's the word I have chosen for the year 2015.    #ONEWORD365

It's the year to stop this madness of procrastination. It's the year for a CALL TO ACTION!
Not just planning, but doing.

What holds me back the most?

Fear

  • Fear of rejection.



  • Fear of judgement.


And,  Excuses.  

It's not fun to admit. It's hard to set this out there for others to see. It's. the. truth.

You know that verse in the Bible about "speaking the TRUTH in LOVE" ? (Eph. 4:15) taking it a little out of context here  but I have to do that to myself today!

An "old self" that needs to be dealt with!

22 ...to put off your old selfwhich belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24


"be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22

That my friend is a call to ACTION!

You can ask me how I'm doing- keep me on my toes!

Have you chosen a word? Tell me about it!



Be blessed today!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Living on Purpose Today

I sorta woke up.
I schlepped out to the kitchen and poured my first mug of coffee and sipped the first sips with my eyes still closed. 
That was me this morning.
Ridiculous,I know!

I make goals  plans  er,suggestions to myself about going to bed earlier so getting up will be easier! 
Night comes and there I am having such a great time being awake that I don't go to bed.

I would love to be more intentional about my goals.

It's on my to-do list.




 I tend to start things than have a hard time finishing.
Easily distracted ? That's me!

Recently, I heard a quote  "Time+unintentional = ordinary" 
It stuck with me for awhile.Than I made big plans to be intentional.
Too big. 
I was overwhelmed. So overwhelmed I never implemented them.
But you know what? I am not giving up on myself.

"Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)," Eph.5:15 (Amp)


Today I made a list and I stuck with it better than I normally would. 
I can choose each day to make a small change towards the better.
Building the habit bit by bit.
That is how you eat an elephant,right? 



Here's to all  you night owls -



Be Encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Middle of God's Heart


There are times I hear a song or read a quote and it simply will not let me go. 


 I turn up the volume,
 I sing at the top of my lungs
than a million thoughts begin tumbling through my mind.

The following questions came after hearing For King and Country's "Middle of your heart".

What does the middle of God's heart look like?
Where does my heart and God's heart meet?
When I follow hard after HIS heart what do the footprints look like?
When someone interacts with me do they see God-do they see the middle of his heart?
 Does it stir a desire in them to begin their own journey?
If I am following hard after him,if I am in the center of his heart EVERY day,
wouldn't the people around me see him- through me?
I know.
No questions asked.
Out there in the
sometimes messy place- called "the world",
how I respond
the words I say
the (what I think goes unnoticed) expression on my face 
 need to be a reflection of Jesus.
All need to bring glory back to Him.

I fail.
I fail a lot.

I need to choose e.v.e.r.y day 
to stay on that path 
to remain(John 15:4)
in the very center of Gods heart.

I am glad God is God. 
I am so thankful He remembers who I am.
I am Human.
When I fail -When I admit I failed and repent, he is there with open arms 
 wearing a smile 
reaching out like the prodigal son's father
 happy to see me come home.-back to the center of his heart  (Luke 15)
He remembers that I am made of dirt.


Be Encouraged Today!  Hebrews3:13

Friday, May 23, 2014

Five Minute Friday

It's 5 minute Friday!



Explained here!






Today's prompt : "CLOSE"


Go

You can take it both ways- close as in, "close the door" or close as in "close to my heart".
So, which one is it?
I started to ponder the difference especially the idea of my "heart".
Why the heart?
Because that is where I either let you , others and most of all God in or I shut you out- that is a BIG difference in the way my life will pan out or even end!
Close the door to my life,is a lonely place to be! no friends,no encouragement , no community .
If I hold you close to my heart-what a difference I can help you and you can help me. We interact IN Each other's lives.
It is a huge difference-really huge!
 So I need to decide today- will I hold the door to my heart closed or pull others in close?
It's a choice only you can make!

Stop!

That was fun! :) although-the desire to perfect it is hard to let go!

Have a lovely weekend!




Monday, October 14, 2013

Trying Something new!

A few years back I had the privilege to attend a "She Speaks" conference in North Carolina through Proverbs 31 Ministries. I loved every minute of it! Renee Swope from that ministry has written a book titled," A Confident Heart ".
What is the study about  you ask? I will borrow a quote from Amazon.com   "Often the biggest obstacle to living out our faith is our own doubt--about our worth, our abilities, our relationship with God, and situations in our lives. A Confident Heart gives voice to the questions, doubts, struggles, and hopes so many women have. Author Renee Swope shows us how to identify, overcome, and learn from our self-doubts so that we can live confidently in God's assurance, truth, and grace. A Confident Heart is an authentic, insight-filled and encouraging message for any woman who wants to exchange defeating thought patterns with biblical truth that will transform the way she thinks, feels, and lives. " 
  I am a newbie at the Prov.31 online Bible study - it started today! Join me!

Till next time,

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Thoughts on Surrender



From a couple of months ago....


When I  think of  life directly around me, the part that you can see or feel along with me is calm and what I call "normal".If I dare to be vulnerable and let you see a bit of what is going on inside you may see something a bit differently.
If you could see my heart and read my mind you would see the struggle that I am having .Well, not sure I can actually call it a "struggle" but more like a debate with myself of sorts.
The debate around one word.
It's a word that is a verb.
It's an action.
but yet,
at the same time it's a state of rest.

 I have thought about this word more in the last week than I did (I believe) all my life.
Not that I have not had to surrender anything.I just was never at the point that I am now with that word.

Surrender.
I wonder....
What does that mean to me?
What does that mean for me?
Does it look the same in every one's life?
To be honest, I realize that I often think that when I surrender I am going to be asked to do what I don't want to. I will be miserably stuck.Yes, that is a negative thought -maybe even warped and wrong but hey I said I was going to be vulnerable! Don't give up on me -keep reading ....

Let's start somewhere
First , what is the dictionary meaning of the word? Here it is, thanks to (http://www.thefreedictionary.com)


sur·ren·der  (s-rndr)
v. sur·ren·deredsur·ren·der·ingsur·ren·ders
v.tr.
1. To relinquish possession or control of to another because of demand or compulsion.
2. To give up in favor of another.
3. To give up or give back (something that has been granted): 
4. To give up or abandon: 
5. To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion: 


 I look at each definition and relate it to my relationship to God .
I pick it apart.
Process it.
Analyze.
Think think think.


God does not DEMAND me to relinquish control.He is so incredibly patient and loving with me . I imagine him waiting for me to simply see that it's the better choice,showing me,teaching me  but yet not FORCING me. He allows me to choose.
Than, I see the word "compulsion" in definition one - "An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation" . 


If I am truly immersed and  overcome with who God is.When I see evidence of Christ at work .My reaction should be as one of  compulsion to fall on my face and say  "Anything and all for you. Where do you want me?" I imagine myself like the the disciples dropping their nets and following. What do I need to drop?

Than reality hits and I begin to 2nd guess and think about life and all the normality's that go with it. Life happens. 


The disciples dropped their nets in an instant to follow Jesus. Later, I read in John 21 how they were out fishing again . Although  "life" changed as they knew they it, they were still fishermen. I believe their focus changed. 

In John 21 After a big catch and a breakfast of fish Jesus asked Peter , "Do you love me more than these?"  I wonder what Jesus meant by "these" ? Fish? Maybe. Do I love __________ more than Jesus? (fill in the blank)

How does surrender look in my day to day? Like the disciples, I need to change my focus. Whatever it is that I do it's not about me or for me. All For Jesus....



Be blessed today!





Friday, April 26, 2013

In Stillness

Be still.
I sit here on a bench overlooking a beautiful cove .A spot I discovered here in Sarasota a few weeks ago.
I love this place! I often have twenty minutes to a half an hour before a weekly morning appointment on this day so I stop here.
Nature is alive here. Birds are chirping, pelicans are coming for their breakfast, seagulls squawking for their claim to their portion. Minnows tiny as they are, break the surface of the water nibbling for their breakfast.Bigger fish are showing off, jumping above the water.
                                              In all that activity.... 
                           This spot somehow relaxes and calms me.

Flash back to earlier in the morning---
  I was praying while getting ready for my day. I was asking for an answer from God about something.It was in a sort of desperate kind of way. In that desperation I heard; " BE STILL". I stopped. I listened.Than, I heard the answer.
A bit later I got into my truck to head out for the day and the message on the song on the radio was 
"BE STILL". Again.
I got to the park , found my bench than I immediately began my busyness of settling in,finding what I wanted on my Samsung Tablet (after all I only had 20 or so minutes before I had to be at my appointment). Again I heard " be still- enjoy my beauty".



When I stop and look around I realize this is a taste of the beauty of my God. He created this for me to enjoy.
It's HIM
 It is HIS touch.
For me. 
I can see God here.
If I'm still long enough I may even hear him.
I will not stop talking to God throughout the busyness of the day; short snippets of praise, requests for an answer,thoughts to discuss with him.
BUT
I do know
when I STOP
and am still- not only in motion but also in my words 
before my God .

I benefit so greatly.


Be encouraged!