On the Path

I had to run to the grocery store tonight to pick up a couple items and I ran into someone I hadn't seen in quite a while and we were catching up. I told her that my current job isn't something that I wanted to do long term but I was thankful for it. I told her I was interested in non-profit work or social justice and she said she could see me doing that since I had a caring heart. But the thing that amazed me the most was that she said she could see I was peaceful (or at peace) and I had a sparkle in my eye. I know I've mentioned before that I've struggled for some time finding my path or purpose in life and now I finally feel like I'm on that path and other people can see that. That observation proved to me even more that I'm where I am suppose to be. On this last day of November I am so thankful for what God is doing in my life. I am so grateful that God puts the right person in my path when I need it the most. 

Be Different

God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. … But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah.Genesis 6:5-6, 8 (MSG)

There are four specific pitfalls you will face over your Decade of Destiny as you work toward the goals God gives you: cultural distractions, voices of doubt, tempting shortcuts and discouraging delays. All four of these pitfalls are present in the life of Noah and we can learn from him how to handle these tests.

The first test is cultural distraction. What I'm talking are the things that happen around us that keep us from going after our God-given dreams. For instance --

• The distraction of popularity -- If you are always worried about what other people think, you will be distracted from your destiny.

• The distraction of pleasure – It’s okay to have fun and feel comfort, but if that's the primary focus of your life, you will never fulfill your destiny.

• The distraction of profits -- There is nothing wrong with making a profit. The Bible says God blesses us when we do business wisely and honestly, but it also says you cannot serve both God and money. Making a profit cannot be the primary focus of your life.

• The distraction of possessions -- Judging your success by how much stuff you own will keep you concerned about keeping things and maintaining things. You could spend your whole life committed to things and miss the purpose, the plan and the destiny of your life.

If you intend to do anything significant with your life, it's going to be in spite of culture rather thanbecause of the culture. Everything in our culture tempts you into short-term thinking. Most of us are not thinking in terms of the next ten years; we’re not even thinking about next year or next month. We think about today.

And I know I’m stretching you to suggest you to think ten years ahead, but as we noted yesterday, “The wise man looks ahead.” (Proverbs 14:8a TLB)

The antidote to cultural distractions is this: you must dare to be different from others.  If you are going to reach your dream in the next decade, if you are going to fulfill your destiny, if you are going to accomplish your goals and see your vision become reality, you are going to have to dare to be different from others.

And until you settle this issue, you will never fulfill your destiny because you cannot make a difference without being different.  You cannot be all God wants you to be and fit in with everybody else.

Noah was different.  God liked what he saw in Noah. Everything was headed toward destruction, but two words changed history -- "but Noah."  That's the power of one person.  That's the power of just one individual.  That's the power you have in your life when you decide to be different and follow the commands of Jesus.

Pray -- God, I admit a lot of times I've worried about what other people thought more than I’ve thought about doing the right thing.  As I face this new decade, I want to dare to be different from others.  I want to be a pleasure to you. I want to be different so I can make a difference.
-Rick Warren

November 29th~I have to admit I'm thankful that I only have one more day of writing what I'm thankful for after today. It has gotten difficult to be creative each day. I'm totally aware of all I have and thankful for it. Not sure if I mentioned this...but totally appreciative of my husband who does pretty much ALL the cooking. If he didn't we'd either starve or be very unhealthy. 

Random Acts of Kindness Day

On most Sunday mornings I stop somewhere to get coffee to give me a burst of energy since I work late on Saturday night and get up early on Sunday. This morning a friend ended up going to the same place I did but she went through the drive-thru and I went inside. For whatever reason I thought it would be nice to buy her drink today, maybe because I was on my way to church, who knows? Ever get that desire to just want to do something nice? 


I don't write about this to brag about myself or to make myself look good. I talk about helping others and thinking of others in my blogs and I want to show that I practice what I "preach." Today I want to make this day "Random Acts of Kindness" Day. Go out and do something nice for someone else. It doesn't have to involve spending money. It can be writing a letter to a friend or family member or a phone call, or maybe helping a neighbor with a chore. Maybe someone has been struggling and making her dinner or bringing dessert would cheer her up. Be creative. It's amazing what a thoughtful act can do to help someone else. 


November 28th~I am thankful for those who are helping me raise money for World Vision this Christmas. I couldn't do this by myself. These children will be blessed because of the loving and caring people around me. 


P.S. If you don't read this blog today, then whatever day you read it, make that day Random Acts of Kindness day. And really it could be every day! =)

Tomorrow

Tomorrow smile at someone
That you've never seen before.
Take time to think of others that
You feel compassion for.

Tomorrow tell somebody
How they brighten up your day.
Let random acts of kindness
Put your feelings on display.

Tomorrow hug your children
Somewhat tighter than before.
Be sure to think of all the things
You can be thankful for.

Pat your dog a little longer.
Hug and kiss your husband/wife.
Thank your God for granting you
Another day of life.


November 27th~I don't know what I'd do without my four legged companion who loves me no matter what I look like or when I put my foot in my mouth. He loves back rubs and walks and curling up with me in bed. I am so thankful for his company and love. He brightens my day and makes me smile and at times drives me crazy, but he's totally worth it=)

Remade

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says how did I get here
I'm not who I once was
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love

But don't you know who you are
What has been done for you
Yeah don't you know who you are
You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade

Well she tries to believe it 
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's to weak to try

But don't you know who you are
You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade

Cause this is not about what you've done
But what’s been done for you
This is not about where you've been
But where your brokenness brings you too
This is not about what you build
But what He built to forgive you
And what He built to make you know

You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade
~Tenth Avenue North


November 26th~I've never had a garage until I moved into my new home and I'm LOVING it! It keeps your car warmer and out of the snow and ice and rain and no more scraping. Oh, I'm going to get so spoiled but I'm so thankful for it. 

Defend, Compassion, Mercy

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."


Psalms 146:7-9 "He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, he lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves those who live justly. The Lord watches over the immigrant and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."


Deuteronomy 10:17-18 "The Lord your God...defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the immigrant, giving him food and clothing."


Zechariah 7:10-11 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: Administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the immigrant or the poor."


Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute..." 


November 25th~I have missed Thanksgiving with my family for the last three years but finally this year I was home. I am so thankful for the time I get to spend with my family. 

I Resign

I Resign
Unknown

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.
I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8-year-old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple.
When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.

All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible.
I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
I want to live simple again.
I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip,illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So...here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit cards and all my responsibility.

I am officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, 'cause,

"Tag! You're it.

November 24th~I am thankful for my nephew who keeps me young and makes me laugh and smile when he says and does crazy things. 

Passions.....

I never found my passion until recently, well at least I think I've found my passion. I've always wanted to be passionate about something like other people are but it just never came. Seriously, I have been searching for like six years, knowing I was missing something. I believe that passion is now helping those in poverty in Africa. My heart can't help to break when I see the conditions these people live in and there's no help for them in their own country! It's not right for these people to live these lives when I live in luxury here. I'm no better than them, I don't deserve more. 


This has been hard for me lately because I am very passionate about helping the people in Africa and I want to inspire and motivate other people to help also but without offending them or stepping on toes. My view is totally different than other people and I don't want my view to scare people or overwhelm them or totally put them off. My view is that we are way more blessed than we maybe need to be. We don't need to spend money the way we do and I don't think just because you work hard that means you can spend it all on yourself. I don't think we need all the latest fashions and a huge house and expensive cars. I'm certainly not perfect in the way I spend my money, I need help to but I'm trying to be much more cautious and aware of how I spend my money. I'm trying to change my life and be a better steward of God's money. Yes, I believe that it's God's money, not mine. He has entrusted me with it to spend wisely and responsibly. 


The one thing I learned tonight though is just because I'm scared I may "offend" or "hurt feelings" I still need to show my passion. I was talking with a friend about it tonight and when I get going, I can get very intense and excited. I guess that would be called "passion." ;-) The thing was though, I didn't overwhelm her or scare her off; I got her excited and got her thinking about it. She wanted to help and agreed with me that we should help, it wasn't a choice. I just need to get over my fear and push on. Yes, there's ways I should approach it but I can still show my passion without upsetting other people and get them excited. 


For me this is so much bigger than me and it excites me and makes life worth living. I encourage everyone to find the same for yourself because it is so worth it! When you get out of your bubble, life changes for the better. God made all of us with gifts and talents and passions for certain things, find them and I promise you life won't be the same and it will be more than you ever expected!


November 23rd~ I am so very thankful for supportive friends and family. 

List

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."


November 22nd~For the last two days I haven't gotten enough sleep and the only thing that helped me get through the day was naps. I strongly disliked them as a kid but I'm sure thankful for them now! It's the little things....that make life so grand.