Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always beyond your grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
Archives for May 2015
What About The TODO List?
If you are anything like me, when Friday comes around, you are thinking back on all of the things that you accomplished during the week.
You may even be thinking of the things that you didn’t get done.
That’s me…
I’m normally looking at my to-do list.
I start listing the millions of things that I could do today because it’s the end of the week and I had a goal in mind.
Then, I am hit with something…it happens each and every time.
YOU CAN’T DO EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE, ALL OF THE TIME!
Suddenly, I am hit with this reality and I’m stuck.
“What?! I had so much to get done. I can do some of it…”
The truth is that I can’t and neither can you…
“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9
No matter how much we plan on doing, there are just some things that God never intended for us to do.
I don’t know about you, but I find that refreshing.
I can make as many plans as I want, but God has orchestrated my life. He has already set aside those things that I will accomplish. Not only has He set those things aside, but He is there with me in that moment to help me accomplish them. All of the things that I’ve been planning are preparation for, in my mind… It is my participation in the process, but my extreme standard or all work and no play, is not THE standard.
So the to-do list can continue to grow, but I am happy that God has set aside the things that He wants me to accomplish and I’m sure that I will get those things done in the near future…
Until then I will just breathe…
You Are More…
Sometimes we forget.
We forget that we are special.
We forget that we are unique.
We forget the times when we didn’t mess up.
We forget how much fun we are.
Sometimes we need to be reminded…
Someone sees you as amazing.
Someone thinks that you are great.
Someone wants you to shine.
…but what does it take for us to realize that we are more that we thought we were?
It takes a hit of encouragement.
I got that today. It was a dose of…you’re special.
Today through God’s word, someone told me that I am amazing and I smiled.
I smiled because for a moment I had forgotten the things that I was good at. I had forgotten not to compare myself to others. I saw their strengths and my weaknesses. I had forgotten that the standard I need to meet is God’s standard.
The word, sparked life into my being and it hit home that I am great and it’s ok because I’m not great in my own strength. I’m great in His.
Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
With this word I realized that this is how God sees me. This is how He sees you. That uniqueness that we bring to the table makes him say this to both you and me. So…don’t change who you are. Be 100% you…ALL OF THE TIME…
And remember… You are amazing!
You Can Live Your Life Without Fear
There are many people that live their lives, daily, in fear.
They are afraid of what happened, what is happening now, and what will happen soon.
Although we all have had experiences with fear, at some point in our lives, being fearful has to end. This no way to live a healthy life.
Well, what is a gal to do?
I’ll tell you what I had to do.
I had to learn that I can’t control everything and I’m not expected to.
I had to learn that there is a GREAT BIG GOD out there that cares about me and my family. He is the only one capable of controlling everything.
This task wasn’t easy, I must admit. Yet with all that it took within me, I wanted God to be in control of my life so that the things He promised me would happen. As I gave Him more control, He took the reins, and gave me peace.
That’s right! He took my anxiety and fear and gave me peace.
Now I walk, talk, and think differently.
365 times, in the Bible, God tells us not to fear.
That’s one time per day of the year.
Should anyone doubt the message, they could read it for themselves.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ~Psalm 34:4
Did you get that?
The Psalmist says that He sought the Lord and the Lord heard him and delivered him from ALL of his fears.
I don’t know about you, but that encourages me. If God would do it for Him, why wouldn’t He do it for you or me? God isn’t a respecter of persons. He loves all of us the same.
Still one of the keys is that we have to be willing to call upon the Lord, give Him our fears, and take what He gives us in return. If we do this, our lives end up filled with peace.
I’ve made the step and I feel God’s peace resting on me daily.
Will you take this step?
Say that today will be the last day that you live in fear…
Be encouraged and trust God.
Are You Faithful in The Little Things?
Often times we find ourselves committed to causes that we really believe in.
We make sure that we do all that we are asked to do. If we have committed to doing something or being somewhere, we’ll make sure that we are faithful to show up or do it. That’s great!
We are showing that we are disciplined.
Still, I have a question for you…
Are you as committed to yourself or even to your relationship with God as you are to these other commitments?
How many times do we make ourselves promises only to break them?
Where do we lack commitment to self?
Is it in working out?
Is it in reading, praying, or having time to rest?
Maybe you told yourself a long time ago that you wanted to do something, like finish your degree or go back to school, but you never did it.
Did you fine that you we committed to other things?
Now don’t get me wrong.
There is nothing wrong with having priorities and realizing that what you wanted to do for yourself, just didn’t fit into the picture at that time, but what about now?
Have you lost sight of a dream or desire and left it on the back burner?
Perhaps you’re like me and said that you wanted to read the Bible all the way through and never did it…well, what are we waiting for?
There will never be a better time than now to commit to doing something for ourselves.
God tells us to love one another as we have loved ourselves, but how can we do that if we have forgotten about ourselves and left her stranded in the dust somewhere, holding the promise of that commitment…
Really?! Are you still waiting on yourself to fulfill the commitment that you made to yourself years ago?
If your answer is yes…now is the time to get honest with you…
Today I encourage you, as I am encouraging myself, to prayerfully take a look at the things that you’ve wanted to do for yourself. PICK ONE and see where you can fit that commitment into your present life…
Be good to yourself so that you aren’t angry when God calls you to be good to someone else.
That’s right!!!
Be faithful in the small things for you.
People always call us to be faithful in the little things others, but you count too. Be faithful in the little things in your life…the little things that are important to you.
Perhaps you should take a rest today.
Maybe tomorrow, you can paint your nails.
Over the weekend you can go for a run or walk.
Read that book you’ve been wanting to read. I’m sure you can find an hour in your day to do this.
Talk to God while you ride in the car.
I’m sure that if you find time to do this, you will feel great about you.
Remember, you are loved and you matter!