Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Letting The Words Flow... Inhaling & Exhaling
I recently heard that if you're a writer, a poet, a baker, a runner, or anything that requires consistent action and practice, you're also meant to do those things regardless of your audience. Do it quietly. Do it without accolade. And more importantly, do it for yourself. For the simple act of exercising your gift.
What Does It Mean To Have Peace?
I'm pretty sure of a few things in life.
Coffee makes me happy.
White IS a color.
And how I feel is actually a CHOICE...
So...
What about coffee that is so comforting to me?
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| (Taken at my beloved Main Street Coffee House in Nappanee, IN) |
What Happens When I Get On The Treadmill In Tears...
The day before was a rough one, too. And despite my consistent attempts to start my mornings with Jesus, my Bible and a colorful pen, I don't always succeed in listening to His "good morning" voice. On the contrary, my week had been a silent culmination of moody days that led to the massive emotional (and hormonal) exchange I had with my children and my husband.
Starting Over... Again...
I'm not embarrassed to say that "it's been a while" since I blogged.
Or.. maybe I should?
No.
Life has a way of getting in the way... but really... LIFE IS what really happens when you stop to take care of family, business, and relationships.
SO...
Over 4 months has passed and I'm BACK!
Back at writing my thoughts here on this beloved blog. I'm choosing to create space and make writing a habit again. A GOOD habit. A way to connect. To converse. To leave my thoughts out there, regardless of how safe, open or available the destination is. Who's my audience anyway???
As I look around my living room (where my laptop quietly sits on most days), I am overly aware that my house is a mess! Crayons, toys, papers, coloring books, random pillows, books, recycling items (out of the recycling bin, mind you...), and a sense of restlessness lingering around my house on this Friday afternoon.
And yet... I'm at peace.
There's something about letting God take over the temporary details of this temporary life. I am called daily to take up my cross, to think and invest on eternal endeavors, and THAT, my friends, allows me to focus on an Eternal God. With Eternal purpose. Who will unconditionally love and accept me, despite my crazy and "messy" circumstances.
Are you looking to find a way to reconnect with someone?
Are you looking to find a way to motivate yourself to reach that goal?
Are you looking to get back into the swing of things?
Are you struggling to find peace?
Are you tired?
Let me encourage you today.
God's Presence is just a cry away... Just say His name... And He's there.
I promise you.
I'm starting my blogging journey... Again!
How To Make Bible Reading a Part of Your Day
I have totally been STRAIGHT UP neglecting this space, haven't it?
But I will NOT try to come up with excuses why. Because I KNOW why.
It's because I've been LIVING MY LIFE...
Breathing...
Moving...
Laughing...
Taking in every breath from God...
...then exhaling to bless the ones around me. More specifically, my family.
I've been on a journey this month and God has been speaking to me so clearly through His Word, the Bible. The Holy Scriptures that we so often take for granted and let dust find its home on it, all the while the LIFE that moves, creates, inspires and always reflects God's unconditional love and care for us, gets... forgotten.
Forgotten... yes, forgotten.
We "think about it". We "want to read it." We even "carry it" around.
We post pictures of it up. We fill it with our most precious treasures... our kids pictures, valentines, a cute drawing, or a love note. But its VERY WORDS get... forgotten.
We remember a verse here and there.
We recognize a word or two when it's quoted.
But the intentions of "wanting" to read it, aren't actually giving us the LIFE we need.
I won't claim perfection. EVER! So, hear this from a sister who is still growing and is on an ever-changing journey to being more like Jesus.
As I thought about some of the lessons I've been learning this month, I decided to focus on the PRACTICAL ways to make Bible Reading part of our daily routines. So, here it is:
1. Make it a priority.
Did you know that priority is a singular word? When we use the word priority in a plural form, it becomes priorities. Ok, Helen... duh! But humor me for a sec. When we use the word priorities, it defeats its purpose. Priority means there is a single most important item that needs to be at the top. Right? To put our priorities in place, it just means we have too many things taking place of the #1 priority in our lives. Our relationship with Jesus. When I choose to "put our priorities" in place, am I saying that there are other things/people/places that are equally important than my relationship with Jesus? And the answer is YES. I want to make my time reading the Bible a PRIORITY. Period. No buts, ifs, or lame excuses. Because that is essential to getting to know Jesus. And I want to KNOW Him. Do you? It all starts with a decision. Choose to make it a priority.
2. Schedule a time.
Setting aside a chunk of time that was uninterrupted was a challenge for me. I get Joshua up for school at 6:30am and... confession time here... I do NOT like to get up any earlier than that. Sure, it would be the "holy" thing to do, right? Get up before everyone else does. Sit on a comfy chair and soak in all that the Lord has to tell me... BUT, unless I choose to get nothing done the night before and go to bed before 10pm, this sister is NOT getting up much earlier than that. So... what was THE time that was going to work for me? Anytime between 8-9am. It's after Joshua was gone on the bus, after I fed all the kids breakfast, but before Joel was out to the office. That's when I choose to sit with my Bible. This might look different for everyone. For some, this will NEED to be before all your family is up. It might be late at night. It might be at nap times. But finding a time that WORKS for your schedule and life rhythm will help you stay consistent and intentional.
3. Get a "spot".
I sit at my kitchen table. After the kiddos are done with breakfast. After the dishes are in the sink (unwashed... of course!). Sometimes I choose to sit at my dining room/living room area, but I find that I get more distracted. Sometimes I want to just sit at a comfy chair in the living room with my Bible and coffee at hand. But again, I find myself getting distracted. So, the kitchen table allows me to focus a bit more. And that works for me.
4. Let others know about it.
My family now knows that when I'm at the kitchen table, with my "big" Bible, I am NOT to be interrupted. Sure, I still get interrupted, but the kids are getting better at just playing on their own, reading books, coloring, or simply... running around the house. But I learned to adjust. This time is important and I can deal with their messes AFTER this time with God. My husband is also aware of what I'm doing, so he tries to protect my time at the kitchen table as well. As much as it is possible, if he is around, he'll try to manage the chaos "behind" me. If you need to lock yourself in your room for that time, let others know what you're doing. Do Not Disturb signs can be put to use here, too! ;) Or, if you need to leave the house, do it! I would've LOVED to be able to sit somewhere else to read my Bible... a coffee shop, library, bookstore, even church. But staying home is just more practical for my stage in life.
5. Make a plan.
Ok, this one sounds a bit scary, but, TRUST ME, it will
really help you! Pick a book of the
Bible you’ve been wanting to dig deeper, or a portion of Scripture that you’re
curious to know more about. The Gospels
are a great bunch (Mathew, Mark, Luke, or John) during this time of the
year. Paul’s letters, the Psalms, or
Proverbs. Whatever you do, pick a book
of the Bible and stick with it. I’m sure
God has spoken through random “just-opened-my-Bible” situations, as His Word is
alive and does not return void. But “knowing”
where you’re reading each day can ease your anxiety. For me, personally, I’ve been MORE THAN
ENJOYING readying through my Chronological Bible. It’s been so eye-opening and so refreshing to
read God’s Word as a chronological account.
I confess, though, that right now it’s been a stretch to have some real
practical lessons come out of Leviticus, but… I’m pushing through and God’s
been faithfully speaking to me (more on that to come).
6. Don’t rush.
I’ve been trying to engage with each text in front of me for
that day. Sometimes it’s a whole
chapter, sometimes 2. And sometimes I’m
having a flood of insight and a deep conversation with the Lord over a single
verse. But I’m giving myself permission
to either stop and reflect, or to just “keep reading” until I hear His
voice. But you know what… it’s so
rewarding to know that in my daily reading, Jesus is with me. Right there.
It’s a coffee date. Every day! I keep thinking about how sweet it would be
to have a coffee date with Jesus. Ok…
haha… would Jesus really have a latte with me?
Would He take creamer, sugar, or just black? Helen, Helen… Jesus would just LOVE to be
spending time with you, sister! So… don’t
rush! And if you need to rush, remember
to ENGAGE in the conversation at hand.
Even if for a brief moment… He
deserves our full attention. He might
say something to us through His Word… Huh… what a concept!
7. Take notes
The act of writing down my thoughts on a journal has been
absolutely life-breathing and live-giving to my soul. Sometimes I don’t hear the Lord speak to me
until I begin writing my thoughts down on paper. And get this.
Sometimes I write down the verses I just read, word for word, on my
journal, and the meaning of these words comes to life! Those few seconds between what I see on my
Bible and what I write on paper are just enough time for the Holy Spirit to
whisper a thought into my heart. The
same thing happens when I choose to write my prayers. Those moments between my thoughts and my
words on paper are the physical times I hear God’s voice speak to me. Those little thoughts that I hear in between words
on paper… THAT’s God’s Spirit speaking to me.
I hear it only when I take the time to jot my thoughts down. To take it from being just a thought on my
head, to physical words on a journal.
So, I take notes. I put my
thoughts on paper. And I often write
some of the verses down… and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through the echoing
of those verses.
8. Focus on a lesson
learned.
Before I close my Bible each morning. I try to focus on a
WORD, a verse, a main thought or lesson that I want to remember for that
day. Something I can digest throughout
the day. It helps me to remember “the
point” of it all. And to also look forward
to something new every day. If I can
learn something new about God every day, shouldn’t that be motivating me to
continue to seek Him daily? If the goal
is to KNOW God better, learning something new about Him and His character
through His Word is VERY EXCITING to me!
How about you?
9. Continue to listen
through the day.
Be aware of God’s voice throughout the day. It might be a song you hear, the majesty of
His creation, the tender moments with a child, that convicting feeling you have
when your 5 year-old catches you saying a “mean” thing, or when a message from
a dear friend reaches your inbox. God is
everywhere! And He walks with me no
matter where I go. Even as I lay my head
down to sleep, His presence still inspires me (there’s a Psalm for that!). I remember VIVIDLY hearing God’s voice
telling me to GET UP and OPEN MY BIBLE at 5:58am (yes, folks! That’s 5:58 IN THE MORNING!). Who else would ask me to open my Bible? Not myself.
Not my conscious or unconscious self.
Not the enemy. So, it HAD to come
from God Himself. Right? Absolutely!
And He spoke directly to me through a passage of Scripture I was needing
for that coming day. Amazing stuff! I can’t make these things up! It’s happened more than once. SO… if you hear a still small voice, a
whisper, or even a LOUD voice telling you to PICK UP YOUR BIBLE and READ IT, do
yourself a favor and DO IT! It’s God
telling you to LISTEN! He’s got
something important to tell you!
10. Share it with
someone else.
I get excited when I see the fingerprints of God in His
Word. A story, a word, or a verse. Get excited about God’s Word! Tell it to your children. Tell it to your friends. Tell it to your spouse! Believe me!
If reading God’s Word is exciting for you, others will see the LIGHT and
LIFE reflecting in your joy! I recently
read about the fiery cloud that accompanied the tabernacle while the Israelites
were in the wilderness… (Numbers
9:15-23) How cool is that! That God’s presence was a visible provision
of guidance and direction! If the cloud
remained over the Tabernacle, the people were to stay and set up camp. But at the Lord’s command, the cloud could
move, the people would break camp and move on.
Sometimes it would be for a month or year, and sometimes just
overnight! Wow! What faith that took! I could just see myself there. Would I grumble? Would I get excited to pick up my tent and
move on? The very presence of God was so
visible to the people then. Crazy
thought… but… if He were to SHOW HIMSELF to me on a daily basis today, wouldn’t
I just SHOW UP for it? Wouldn’t I just
drop everything I was doing to follow His presence? His “fiery cloud”?
So, there it is.
Let me encourage you today.
God longs to spend time with us.
He loves us! And in my own
imperfection, I want God to show Himself daily to me. To be my God.
To be my strength. To be my
guide. I want God to be my “fiery cloud”. But it starts with our decision to
intentionally come into His presence. We
don’t worship the Bible. But we worship
the ONE who inspired it and speaks through it today. Our source of truth. Scripture was given to us, as a gift. But we need to receive it. And read
it.
I strongly believe that it’s in God’s Word that you will
find an increased knowledge of Jesus, a better understanding of His character,
and a complete and holy guide for your faith.
Start today.
Wherever you are…
Wearing Someone Else's Shoes
I recently got a glimpse of what it would feel like to be someone else. To think and feel like someone else. I know. Weird thought, right?
Let me just preface this post by saying this... I will not go into too many details. Maybe not many details at all. Hmmm, now that I think about it, instead of deleting these last few sentences and starting this post over, I'll just put it out there. I'll be vague. VERY vague. Just because...
Ok, so, yesterday I had one of those outer body experiences. You know what I mean... when you KNOW something is happening to you but you wonder, "is this really happening?" It was like God was hitting me upside the head with a big "I told you!" but without those exact words.
For no particular reason, I came home from that experience (I told you I was going to be vague) thinking to myself, "Ok, I get it. Now I know how it feels to be in someone else's shoes." To actually feel how they feel. To see what they see. To hope what they hope for. To perceive the way they perceive. I was them! And for the first time, my A-HA moment was someone else's A-HA moment.
If you're not confused by now, I congratulate you. Because I am utterly confused by my own thoughts. But it's too late to delete this post.
Wait, did I attempt to delete this post before?
See? This is what I was talking about. The idea of putting myself in someone else's shoes. To assume. To pretend that I know. To have my opinion of what they think, see, perceive. When in REALITY, I'm not them. I'm ME. And that's all I can be!
But yesterday... it was different. God blessed me with someone else's perspective. Someone else's experience. Someone else's vision. Feelings.
Now what?
Now I go on, with an enriched idea of what someone else might be thinking and experiencing. I go on with the wisdom that I, too, might be perceived the way they do me.
Vague enough?
A Private Conversation
The Lord has done great things in me!
The forgiveness process He's brought me through with different people in my life brings me to the place I am today. I DO feel free,... but something still lingers... What is it? The Lord continues to bring my counseling career to mind. My "dream" of going back to work... The resentment I feel towards my stay-at-home role... (tears...)
God, I want to embrace my role. And be at PEACE. I get to do that! Help me to be present. Help me to EMBRACE that! Could I stop "wishing"?
Let it go, Helen! I haven't finished my work in you. You need this time at home for things I will use you in the future. Let me work through you. Stop being so hard on yourself. It shouldn't be always easy. It takes WORK. But don't resent it. I've promised to be with you. And I never lie. I'll be with you.
Create in me a clean heart, God.
Thank you, God, for speaking to me this morning!
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9
(*exerpt from my journaling & reflecting time at MOTTTS this morning)
Rest
Today is chaotic.
But despite the feelings I have about the mess, the noise, the dirty dishes and constant flow of dirty laundry, I find myself craving TRUE REST. Again. I crave the human basic need for rest.
Have you ever danced for so long, so hard, and with such joy that you found yourself taking that deep breath and saying "I need to sit down!" Yup, that's exactly how I feel right now.
I enjoy the blessing of being a mother of 3 healthy children.
But I don't enjoy every moment of it! *gasp*!!!! There, I said it! I don't.
The days can be long, especially during a cold Winter like the ones we have here in Indiana.
The day-to-day chores, feedings, cleaning, washing, folding,... can be just that, a routine.
So, for this entire month of February, I'm challenging myself to take that deep breath.
I am taking daily breaths and saying "I need to sit down!"
Last year I embarked on my journey to rediscover my Forgotten Hobby. Remember that?
For the entire month of February, I took a writing challenge and blogged for 28 days straight.
I'm doing that again. But this time, it'll be a rediscover of what it means to REST.
To TRULY rest.
To relearn what it means to take those daily deep breaths and to hit pause on the chaos of life. I gotta confess, though. It's a scary challenge. What am I going to write about for 28 days straight? Could I really take time everyday to rest?
So... here's the deal! (Yes, I'm just talking to myself here, folks! Excuse me for a sec...)
Resting by writing. Resting by singing. Resting by meditating. Resting by sharing a sweet recipe. Resting by escaping the mundane routine. That's all. Rest. Purposeful and intentional time to take that deep breath, daily.
I once read that making space for rest is the window for us to clearly see God in our lives. To bring a white canvas in front of us EVERYDAY so God can use us to portray His grace, His love, His work in and through us.
How many of you have read the book Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest
by Bonnie Gray?
That book has completely shaken my faith journey with the Lord. It's taught me more about God's love, grace, and the unconditional desire He has for us to spend time with Him. Just because.
So, if you were to describe your need for rest, would you be able to define your WHY, your HOW, and your WHERE? That's the journey I've been on. Rediscovering what it means to rest. Learning more about my need to rest. And enjoying the process of rest in places I could've never imagined!
So... for today... Dance away! Take time to DANCE your heart out! Take time to find what brings you JOY. And believe me. This is all a journey. It's a process. Sometimes short. Sometimes long. But nonetheless, don't deprive yourself of truly walking (or dancing) this journey.
Join me!
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Being All There
There's something so serene about this quote.
But a reminder that being "all there" might be one of the hardest things for someone like me.
Am I the only one who feels this way?
On this late Saturday night, I'm sitting here in the quiet of a very S.E.R.E.N.E living room, waiting for the oven to beep as I bake a German Chocolate cake for tomorrow's church potluck, and I seriously have a million-and-one reasons to still be running around, "getting things done"...
Oh my word!
I need to stop.
I want to embrace things... one at a time.
Yesterday I had the privilege to have lunch with a dear mentor. I love those "dates" with her.
Joel stayed home with the kids and when I got home (a few long hours later), he went on to report that the kids were absolutely GREAT and bragged about how GOOD they were to him. I innocently said, "well, maybe you should be the full-time at-home parent, then!" Well... maybe that wasn't an innocent statement WHATSOEVER! But, bless his heart... he already knows how much I would've loved to be working my counseling job again, seeing clients, feeling like a "professional" again.
But that's when the quote above came to mind.
"Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliot.
Being "all there" might not mean being perfect.
Or joyful.
Or creative.
Or clean (haha).
It simply means... breathing and walking with those around me.
At that moment.
Being led by the One who placed me...THERE... for that time.
Where are you?
Are you "all there"?
Am I the only one struggling?
(Oven beeped...)
...can you smell that?...
The Work Within
Dear God -
I get it.
You're doing some work in my heart and soul lately.
I didn't know I was under construction in the areas where you started digging this past week.
I get it.
Through the busy weeks, warm days, full moments,
You show up... and show me that I still have a lot of "growing up" to do.
There are no words to fully express the incredible feeling of freedom, dependence, and joy I want to have.
I WANT IT.
I want to feel free.
I want to depend on you.
I want to feel joy.
To HAVE joy.
I cannot lie... I feel tired. Anger. Dissatisfaction.
I want to rest.
I want to sit.
I want to breathe.
Deep.
Create space.
I want to sip coffee with a good friend.
I want to touch sunshine.
I want to feel drops of rain...
The wind on my tired skin.
I WANT YOU, God!
To hear a word of encouragement.
To sense your presence.
To see color.
Am I the only one who desires and needs a "day off"?
Am I the odd woman who cannot get her hormones under control?
No blaming! No excuses! No complaining!
But how can I find healing without revisiting past pain and hurt?
This past week I realized that I'm living with the aftermath of problems I once hid behind pretty wallpaper.
I moved on without dealing with my faults from the past.
Lord... I'm glad that you want... you desire... to heal me.
Thank you for the provision of forgiveness you offer me TODAY.
Thank you that in YOU, I don't need to live a solemn life.
Thank you that you promised to turn my mourning into dancing.
I may miss friends and certain relationships... but you're the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Forever.
Do your work, Lord.
I get it.
I need it.
Amen
The Gift of Perspective
Meet Kelli.
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| Galen, Kelli, Benaiah & Bo |
A woman of FAITH. A woman of PRAYER.
About 2 weeks ago I had one of those mornings at my MOTTTS (Mothers of Tots To Teens) group that will sure become one the most special times I'll ever have with this amazing group of women.
Kelli was our scheduled speaker for the day. We usually spend our mornings studying a chapter of our selected book for the year. But once in a while we have the privilege of having a "speaker"... someone who comes and shares about a specific topic, a particular challenge, or teaches us to "do something." You know what I mean, right? We think of "speakers" as someone who is an "expert" on something... anything! But Kelli was different.
She is one of us.
A teacher. A mommy. A wife. A friend. A daughter.
She is one of us.
2014 has been a CRAZY year for Kelli - to say the least!
Her second born son was born a month earlier than expected.
Her first born got croup.
They totaled their SUV after hitting a telephone poll that snapped in half!
Through it all, Kelli began and finished reading the book "Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson, and as she prayed and considered what she was reading, she asked God to make her a woman of FAITH and PRAYER.
As she so candidly blogged about this, the Lord did not wait to begin that process in her life.
Her husband went in for a yearly health screening and found out his white blood cell count was WAY high.
He was quickly diagnosed with chronic Leukemia.
A woman of FAITH and PRAYER... THAT is Kelli!
The morning that Kelli shared her story with all of us, 30+ women, was actually an answer to one of her prayers. She shared that when she was in college, she had a "vision" that one day she would be speaking to a group of people, sharing her story and being an encouragement to those present. WOW! Can I just say... WOW! Chills throughout my entire body! Tears suddenly engulfed my eyeballs... the same ones that could not, for a second, blink... for fear that that exact moment was a just a dream. Another one of God's visions for us women. Women in community. To think that as I sat among those women that morning, and as Kelli shared her story, the One and TRUE God was orchestrating the realization of the vision that Kelli had YEARS ago!
A miracle.
A confirmation.
Crazy thought... that God would use our circumstances to accomplish His purposes for our lives!
Kelli's story and her current journey bring perspective to my daily life. She is walking with her husband Galen as he battles this terrible cancer. Cancer. A word that should not be in anyone's vocabulary at the age of 28. Cancer. A word that should not describe something you're fighting while fathering 2 young children. Kelli's faith in the God who created Galen isn't perfect, but it's exactly what she asked God to give her. Faith. And prayer from the saints, from you and me, is what carries this dear family today.
And through it all, Kelli prays to God and calls Him GOOD...
"I need to learn. My situation
doesn't need to change. I do. I need to learn to trust, to be
joyful, to accept the peace I am given and be thankful.
So I will choose to trust, in spite of every thing I don't know.
I will choose peace, in spite of living out one of my greatest
fears.
I will choose to be thankful, because God is good.
He is so, so good.
Amen."
So, here is where I want you to get IN-VOLVED. Pray! Pray for Kelli & Galen.
Go to her blog (Rasler's Ramblings) and get glimpses of Kelli's faith walk.
For healing. For strength. For grace. For faith.
And in the stillness of your moments with God, ask Him to reveal to you... What is it that YOU want from Him?
Abundance Got Me In Trouble!
I have way too much stuff...
WE have way too much stuff!
And I have to admit, I'm in trouble, now!
Lately I've been finding myself juggling a few too many responsibilities, trying to accomplish way too many things, and getting behind on daily chores and tasks.
Being a stay-at-home mom, wife, home manager, crazy wrap girl, mentor, friend and daughter, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Now, I am not complaining a bit. I actually find JOY in doing and being all of those things listed above.
BUT, I find myself trying to "catch up" a lot.
Bills...
Laundry...
Dishes...
Cleaning...
...on top of constant feedings, phone calls/emails, and... *sigh* my daily time with the Lord.
I realized that the "too much" is getting me in trouble.
I live in a house where I'm tripping over toys, always picking up "stuff" off the floor, table, hallways, chairs, and never seem to create a free-flowing environment. You know what I mean? You know what I mean... when you walk up and down the stairs and always catch something out of place. You, then, take your time to pick it up and find its determined place. Ahhh... I wish I could just stop picking things up! FREE FLOWING spaces... where are you?
OR... pardon me for a moment. Let me vent for a bit about my laundry dilemma.
I'm sure I'm not the only one in the world with this issues...
So, we're a family of 5! If I don't do a load of laundry EVERY.SINGLE.DAY, I fall behind.
Seriously... So, last week we had a really busy weekend, so on Monday I had 6 loads to do! Yup, SIX! So I went through SIX wash/dry cycles, and had a MOUNTAIN of clean laundry in our guest bedroom. 4 FULL laundry baskets! My mom came over to watch the kids for a few hours and saw my laundry drama. Bless her heart! She insisted on folding ALL OF IT! (Mom, if you're reading this, THANK YOU!). Anyway, so now I have all this folded laundry, but on the corner of my eye, I see another basket full of dirty laundry already whispering "look at me! I'm ready to be washed! Look at me! Don't neglect me or I'll start making a "mess" in your clean corner air over here..."
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HEAR THE LAUNDRY TALKING TO ME?
Oh, good gracious! Clean laundry, folded laundry, dirty laundry.
So, on this Saturday morning, while I was washing the dishes, and as I was still hearing the laundry whispering to me from the guest bedroom down the hall, I realized something... the abundance that lives in this house is getting me in trouble. BIG trouble. Too much. Too much laundry. Too many dishes. Too many toys.
And hear me out... Have you said any of these statements before?
1. I'll do the laundry tomorrow. I still have clothes to wear.
2. I'll do the dishes later. I still have clean plates/cups/forks in the drawer.
3. Should I fill up the tank now or after I get my groceries?
4. 2% or almond milk?
5. Eggs & sausage or pancakes for breakfast?
6. Pulled pork or bbq chicken for dinner?
7. Non-fat or soy Chai? Hmmm, maybe a Cinnamon Dolce today!
8. Blackest black or dark black mascara? Lipbalm or lipgloss?
9. NIV or ESV?
10. Dark wash jeans, jeggings, or good ol' yoga pants?
Ahhhh! I have SO much! I could go on and on with this list. Could you? The options are endless! The choices I have are endless! And today I find myself overwhelmed with STUFF. I need to create those FREE FLOWING spaces in my life. Less options. More room for thanksgiving. More room for joy and contentment. More room... period.
So, are YOU in trouble by abundance, too? Do you want to join me in attempting to clear out those cluttered spaces in our lives? Let's GIVE more. Let's purge more. Let's clear the abundance of what we have and don't need, to make room for FREE FLOWING spaces in our lives. And maybe in those spaces we'll find more peace. And maybe, just maybe, less laundry to deal with.
Not afraid to say it...
Yup, I failed!
BIG TIME!
I started this month with the ambitious goal of blogging daily for the entire month of February.
Ha...
Day 21... haven't blogged since... Saturday, February 15?
That was almost a week ago!
BUT, this whole 28-Day Writing Challenge just made me realize that I'm a person who truly needs to set more goals for my life. Just in general. I need to be a person who challenges myself. Set goals. Big goals. Small goals. Goals in general.
I've realized I need to take a closer look at my life, sit down, and come up with a few GOALS.
This will be my challenge for the next few days and weeks.
Beginning with this...
Blogging is not a chore. Writing is hobby. And enjoying a hobby should be my goal.
So, thank you for those who are still reading, those who hung in there with me.... and to those who will continue to stick with me despite my "failure".
You'll hear from me, SOON.
Don't worry!
Something Unusual - A 5-Minute Moment
Confession time.
I am starting this post without having ANY idea what to write about.
The unusual thing about this is that I often have at least a vague idea on what I want to put on paper, well, on screen. But today, I'm free-flowing and filling this grand blank space on my screen with random words.
We'll see what happens.
I'm totally "neglecting" the little voices behind me right now. I got 3 of them, all in the same room, watching good ol' Curious George! Ahh... those sounds make me happy. Not the monkey, but the little voices. Almost like they're talking to each other. Believe me... they're not!
So, before baby #3 starts fussing, let me keep typing.
Have you ever found yourself deep in thought, all without realizing that time is flying?
No, do not delete that last sentence. Even if it made no sense.
Tell me the last time you cheered really loudly.
Tell me the last time you cried.
Tell me the last time you prayed so hard for someone, that your knees got tired and your carpet soaked with tears... real tears.
Tell me the last time you felt truly confused.
All of those questions, I could be asking myself.
Nevermind... baby's fussing.
Gotta go!
Truly unusual, indeed.
The Beauty in My Every Day
This morning I woke up and DECIDED it would be a b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l day!
My commute to the car shop (van's going in for a recall check/repair) was God's gift to me.
I saw what appeared to me the epitome of Winter Wonderland.
The trees were covered with snow.
The snow extended and covered the fields for miles... miles!
And I praised God for the warm sunshine hitting my windshield.
The thermometer showed 1 degree outside! Brrrr... that's cold!
But for some reason it was beautiful.
It IS beautiful!
Why is it so hard to see the beauty in our every day lives?
Are we THAT busy that we can't stop to "smell the roses"?
I much more appreciate the smell of coffee... but that's not the point.
The point is...
If I were to describe my day in detail, would I take the time to describe what's beautiful around me? Or would I merely describe the routine, the negative, the chores, the sighs, the cold moments of my day?
What about the sights? The smells? The breaths? The beating of healthy heart?
The sunshine... melting snow... bright blue skies.
So today I DECIDED to focus on what's b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l!
How is YOUR day today?
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