When God Smacks You

Don't you hate it when you read a book and it smacks you in the face? Or, rather, that God sends this book to you and when you just start to think, 'oh this is pretty good', then BAM, a line direct out of the book is delivered directly to your heart? Yeah. That happened. I once had someone refer to those moments as a "Godbrick," when God smashes you with a brick because you just aren't seeing his more subtle clues.

I'm reading Interrupted, by Jen Hatmaker, based on a recommendation from a great friend, Denise. She obviously wasn't aware that this book would be brutal to me, or maybe she did... But either way, it's good. Very good. In fact, I've highlighted, dog-eared and highlighted some more all through out this book. I should have been clued in when the cover says, "When Jesus WRECKS Your Comfortable Christianity." Anyway, thank you Denise, you've wrecked me, or should I say blessed me.

This section right here blew me away. After days of praying and contemplating tithing, giving, how much to give, who to give to, can I afford to give, can I afford to REALLY give, will giving and tithing make a difference, where will my money go, yes I've pondered all these and more... Then, I read this: 

"We do not get to opt out of living on mission because we might not be appreciated. We're not allowed to neglect the oppressed because we have reservations about their discernment. We cannot deny love because it might be despised or misunderstood. We can't withhold social relief because we're not convinced it will be perfectly managed. We can't project our advantaged perspective onto struggling people and expect results available only to the privileged. Must we be wise? Absolutely. But doing nothing is a blatant sin of omission. Turning a blind eye to the bottom on the grounds of "unworthiness" is the antithesis to Jesus' entire mission. How dare we? Most of us know nothing, nothing, of the struggles of the poor." (pg 62-63)

God doesn't always tell us WHO to give to, he tells us to give. He doesn't specify only love this person, he tells us to love everyone. I have more reading to do, but know I am re-thinking my entire thought process on this. I know many non-Christ followers who live by this, they give freely of their time and money, just because they are purely GOOD people. A very strong atheist I know, stops and talks to homeless people everyday, because they are human too and deserve our time and understanding. Then, there are professed "christ-followers"who would NEVER stoop to do something like that because they would say that person needs to get  a job. There is such a wide spectrum here. I've given money to the homeless person standing on the street corner; yet, I've also ignored them. When we can't give money to everyone, what do we have to give? God's Love. 

My goals this year included, "Being a Light" to others. This can be done through sharing, caring, giving and many other ways. But turning a blind eye, will not help me be a light. It only shadows the light I have. 

"When Jesus' followers asked what to do about the weeds in the harvest field, He said to treat them the same as the wheat, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them" (Matthew 13:29). (pg. 63)

I don't have the answers to who, how, how much, when, etc... to give of my time, my money. But I have a much clearer direction, and wide open eyes now that I've been smacked in the face by God. We make it too complicated. Giving should come from our heart, it should be joyous and something that pours from us. I'm working on this. When the thought crosses my mind, "you should pay for that", "you should give this," etc... Instead of doubting myself or worrying who's watching, what they will think about it, or if I "CAN", I need to just follow the leading in my heart and "DO". I can do it. I can do anything he calls me to do. Now, it's just listening to that call in your heart, finding that passion, and seeing in what direction you are led to serve. 

ps. get this book! 

Giving...

I have never been a tither... There. I confessed it. I've slacked for way too long. Using all the "normal" excuses. We didn't have the extra money. I could barely afford bills, camps, and everything else the kids needed.

I decided as part of my New Year ~ New You resolution that I would start tithing. 10% of all my Beachbody income and working on adding the additional % of my normal income. It's tough. I'm not used to this. But, I listened to a great message (I missed it as we were gone from church that week), week two of the "Drive" series by Pastor Jeff Arnett Drive #2 - Jan 12th Sermon. It's not "extra" income that I need to tithe. It's giving that tithe FIRST. That tithe is for God, it's not extra. It's changing my mindset on HOW to give.

I'm accepting TVC's tithe challenge. 12 weeks straight.

"Give, and it will be given to you. 

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

Haters and Heroes

Yesterday I was beginning to feel defeated, you try so hard and people still want to see what they want, they want to lay blame on the shoulders of people who don't deserve it. They want to tear down all the good that someone has worked so hard to create. BUT, I realize these people, these happy sucking vampires, are winning only if I let them. If I choose to focus on them and let my anger grow, then they win. If I choose to move on, ignore them, and create my own happy - then I win.

I've seen a few posts and articles over the last few days - people trying to change their world. People making it their goal to make someone else's life better, even in very small ways. This goes along with my last post, but reaching out to one person can change the momentum of their day, their life, and therein the world around them. I believe in the small ripples of change. You pay it forward today and the ripple moves on... Some people think it's silly, but have you ever purchased lunch or coffee for the car behind you? Try it sometime.

We can defeat the angry people, the haters of the world. They will forever exist, as that is human nature and sin. But, they don't have to defeat us.

Then I saw this video this morning and I got to thinking about every day heroes - Kid President how can you NOT love this kid...  Heroes

I have a lot of "heroes". Sometimes it's that stranger in the store you see going out of their way to help someone. It's the missionaries, the military personnel, the teachers, my kids, my husband, my parents... The high school students leaving sticky notes around the school. The students taking time out of their day to work with younger kids. The volunteers working with the elderly. The moms staying at home raising their kids... I could go on. There are SO many GOOD people. Life is good. God is good - all the time.

So today, I refuse to let the haters bring me down. I refuse to let the happy vampires ruin my Friday, my week or my life. These people are not my judge and jury. I don't live to please them. My happiness comes from within, your heart is the key, and my heart will not be hardened.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts... These are what defile a person" 

Matt 15:19-20

The actions of the haters will only fuel my desire for change and to seek more kindness and love in this world. We were all created for a reason, doing nothing is most likely not our goal. We are all capable of great things. So DO SOMETHING today. You are here to make a difference. You are capable. You are meant for amazing things. "It's not enough to do nothing, It's time for us to do something..."

Feel free to comment below with how YOU are changing the world.

One Person, Every Day

A couple weeks ago I purchased this lovely set of notecards. They are nothing fancy, a Kmart special... But my intention was to send one person a HAND WRITTEN note each week. In the social media filled world we live in, with text messaging over phone calls, etc... the personal touch seems lost. I know how great it is to get one of those hand written notes from someone. It can make your day.
Well, I've sent out two, and today I was reminded of how important it is to take the few seconds a day to make someone else's day.

I've tried to impress on my kids since they were young that they need to say "Hi" to someone new each day. A kid at school, in their class that they don't know, someone walking down the hallway, etc... for us adults, maybe it's having that chatty conversation with the checkout girl at Walmart, instead of being to rushed to say hello. Maybe it's stopping at our neighbors to make sure all is well... Maybe it's picking up the phone and telling someone you hope they have a good day. Or, maybe it's dropping a real note in the mail, lunch box, wherever and telling someone you are glad they are in your life.

So many people rush through this life, too busy to connect with the people they walk past. How many times have you walked past someone without making eye contact because you didn't want to say "Hi"? How many times have you heard someone was having a rough time but figured it was none of your business? I'm not saying you have to get all the gory details, but drop a note and say "I'm thinking of you."

I know I'm at fault of doing all of the above. There are days the chatty checkout girl drives me insane, but really... she's there for 8 hours while people pay for their groceries and don't even SEE her. It literally breaks my heart to think about how many people and lives I've missed impacting by not taking those few seconds to care. I don't have to become best friends with the checkout girl, but I DO have treat her as a person. As someone who matters in this world. Every person we walk past is fighting some battle, would one person smiling at them change the course of their day? Their week?

You've heard about the power of a smile right?

How many times have we been guilty of this with our own family and friends? How many times have the kids come home and you are rushing around getting dinner and you didn't take the time to ask, "How was your day?" How many times have you fallen in bed at night, exhausted, and fell asleep without telling your spouse, "I love you."

Simple words, that mean a lot. Simple actions that take very few seconds of our day. Try it. Tonight after work when you are busy with your errands and picking kids up from school, when you would normally walk right past someone, make eye contact, say hello. give them a smile.

I'm giving myself a new goal. I'm going to try a bring a smile to one new person a day. Whether it's at the gas station, the post office, the grocery store, the school... wherever I might be. I'm going to take the extra few seconds to go out of my busy life and give a pleasant hello to some stranger. I'm also going to make a better attempt to connect with those people in my own life. Mostly my family, but also my friends.

I challenge you all to do the same. Make an impact, make a difference, give a smile - to one person, every day. Not only will you be sharing your smile, but you will also be changing your own life as well.

Matthew 25:40 

"'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, 

you did for me.'"

Worthy and Worth

After a week of Insanity Max 30, I have learned a lot. I have made it through scissor and "x" jumps, tricep dip crosses, and burpee suicides (who invents such a thing??), calf cramps, sore shoulders and shaky muscles EVERYWHERE. I have pushed myself to the MAX and fell flat on the floor dying (or so it felt for 5 seconds until I could catch my breath).

Warning... this picture is ugly, but the truth - #nofilter. I can't wait to introduce my volleyball players to these awesome, yet horrid moves.

But beyond the week of sweat and soreness, I've learned - a magic aha moment - that while I may be unworthy, I am worth it.  In the Bible, the story of Jacob, he is blessed and granted God's favor on his life. Yet, Jacob knew he was not worthy. Gen 32:10 "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown..." And this is true for us all, we are not worthy of the blessings and favor He gives us in this life. I have failed Him in many many ways. Yet, I am still blessed. I know that I am unworthy.

However, I've only recently realized that being unworthy does not mean I'm not "worth" it. I am worth it. I am worth investing in myself, in both my physical and spiritual health. I am worth the extra hour a day to study the Bible and get a workout in. I am worth it, and my life is worth enough for me to value this spiritual and physical health. On top of that, my kids are worth having a mom that is "here". She is focused and committed to her family and their well-being. My husband is worth having a  wife of the same values. We ARE worth the investment. That is why God has invested His blessings in us. He knows are worth. He knows that our brokeness, our failures and shortcomings are avenues to bless others. 2 Cor 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness."

So while we have shortcomings, and we may fail Him on a daily basis, and we may be unworthy. We are worth it. YOU are worth it. You are worth every drop of sweat to be healthy. Every minute of quiet time with God. You are worth it.

Blessings and Stuff

I'm sure you've had "one of those days..." I'm having one today. Busy at work, busy at home. Phone won't quit ringing. Bills are due. I started a workout THREE times and had to stop to take care of something (problems of working at home).

I went to do laundry and the three loads I did yesterday multiplied somehow and there are another three loads waiting for me. I swear I just washed some of that stuff... I went to take a blueberry shake out of the fridge after my attempt at a workout, dropped it on the floor and had blueberry shake in my hair, on my neck, on my clothes, all over the floor, the fridge...  And, I wanted to scream.

But, out of nowhere this song popped into my head... This is the Stuff. So needed to hear this today, 

"In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed." 

Blueberry Shakeology in my hair, failed workout, busy day and on top of it all, I have to see that this is the stuff YOU use. The little things that you use to humble us, to guide us, to show us your plan is much much bigger than any that I think I may have. I thought I was on a schedule today, but you have shown me your schedule. 

"I've got to trust you know exactly what you're doing, might not be what I would choose, 

but this is the stuff you use...

Break me of impatience

Conquer my frustrations

I've got a new appreciation

It's not the end of the world."

So thank you Lord. Thank you for all my blessings, whether they feel like cursed blessings or not. You have blessed me richly in ways that money cannot touch. The little things, this STUFF that does drive me crazy, isn't going to define me, or my life. Your plans for me are much greater.

Today I will treasure the STUFF, I will look for the happy in all the crazy frustrations. Oh, look at that, with -16* weather the dog crapped in the basement... And, so is life. Excuse me while I go clean up ANOTHER mess. And no, I'm not joking. I'd post a pic but that would just be gross... 

Multi-Tasking Problems

I'm sure I'm not the only woman out there struggling with this. Multi-tasking. I need more focus and I'm trying to figure the BEST way to get it.

Here's a few quick questions for you:

* How many books are you reading right now?
I have one for enjoyment, one personal development and one devotional. I carry 3 books and a journal wherever I go...

* How many tabs do you have open on your browser?
I have three screens, laptop, 2 large monitor screens for work. I have three applications open for work, three tabs open for work. Then I have chrome open with youtube (playing my favorite music), and a few other tabs that I browse when I take a quick coffee break from my work screen...

* How many rooms do you clean at once?
LOL, this is bad for me... I often have good intentions of doing ONE chore. Dishes. Then I scrape a dish and see the garbage is full. So, I bag up the trash and then realize I should also do the trash in the bathroom. So, I go to the bathroom, bag up the trash, clean the toilet, wipe down the sink, and then leave. On the way back from the bathroom, I stop and pick up all the empty wrappers my kids have left sitting on the coffee table, the empty water bottles my husband left and any other trash laying around. I go to put this in the trash I bagged up and realize I left the bathroom trash in the bathroom.. I head back to the bathroom, my phone rings. As I answer it, I start pulling stuff out of the fridge, might as well add this to the trash. Get off the phone and start doing dishes. Then I realize it's almost dinner time, so I start working on dinner while I try and finish dishes. While doing this I realize the kitchen towel is dirty so I walk this to the laundry. Throw a load in the dryer, throw a new load in the wash. Head back to the kitchen. Probably whatever I have on the stove is boiling over, burning or somewhat in danger of being burnt. I deal with this. Then realize the news is on. I turn on the TV to listen to the news while I finish dinner. Kids get home. Dinner is served. Dishes aren't completed, the load of laundry in the dryer needs to be folded, the trash is sitting in the entryway, the bathroom trash is still bagged up in the bathroom, and now there are even more dishes because of making dinner. There is even more stuff to be picked up, because, HELLO, kids are home and they've emptied their bags all over the kitchen table. The dog has destroyed something that needs to be picked up in millions of pieces all over the living room floor. In picking this up I finally get the trash bagged up and outside. I finish laundry only to turn around and have the kids walk in with a huge load of nasty sweaty clothes. Ugh... And I give up. Time to sit on the couch with a cup of tea and read that personal development book that might just clue me in on HOW to deal with all the chores at once, that somehow doesn't require cleaning fairies or a maid...  Then repeat EVERY. DAY.

And my husband wonders why I can't remember things...

Baby Sister, It's Cold Outside...

Two words. Michigan. Winter.  Yep, it's cold outside, again. We avoided the cold and snow all through December, but it found us. I decided to take my workout outside in the beautiful sunshine, which is horribly deceiving, and shovel today... I bundled up and was thinking how good the crisp cool (quite an understatement) would feel. At the same time, it would give me a break in the sunshine...

I even made a fresh cup of coffee to deliver to my sister, who also works from home, next door. She still has Arizona in her blood and she couldn't stand the thought of walking the 50 ft from her office to her house to get more coffee (not that the GREAT big sister that I am I walked the 200 ft to her office from my house...). This is how I found her... 

I thought she gained 100lbs, but it was just the pile of blankets and coats wrapped around her... 

I delivered the coffee then started my workout, shoveling the drive and sidewalk. Within 5 minutes the cold had sucked ALL the air out of me and I couldn't feel my fingers - yes, I wore gloves. My cheeks were frozen as well, I could not keep the scarf close enough to my eyes while shoveling. So, while my steps and sidewalk are shoveled, it is pretty much a failed workout attempt. I mean, it did burn some calories, but I since I froze before I tackled the driveway, it did not burn as many as I hoped. Next time I attempt to shovel the windshield will be above -10*... 

Thank you Michigan, for reminding me that while the view looks beautiful, it is horridly COLD. 

Let It Go... and not the Frozen Kind.

As part of my dream/goal list for the year, is reading the entire Bible in a year. I started with the New Version ap and the Bible in a Year plan. Finished Day 5 today. Also successfully got up EARLY and read in the quiet or the morning. I miss those daily quiet times.

So, today's reading included Matthew 5, The Beatitudes "Beautiful Attitudes" ...

Matt 5:3-12  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heave. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Now this pic is not a great one, but my new water bottle has the same verse ^^, which is also on my "To-Do" list for 2015... Be a LIGHT to those around me.

So today, I'm working on both being a light and having a Beautiful Attitude, one of mercy. There were a few things that came up this weekend that really did not give me a beautiful attidute. I was angry, hurt and earlier felt like I should give someone my real thoughts on the situation. But instead, I will be merciful, I will be a peacemaker, and I will be a light. Even though they may not see me or my light. I will let it shine anyway!

So, today I said, "LET IT GO!" Let go of the negativity, let go of the critical remarks. And give yourself a dose of positivity today. I know it helped me!