Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I have so much to do....
... but have no energy/motivation to do any of it. I'm sitting here watching the US Figure Skating Finals on tv and thinking that all the skaters look like they could use a good shower. Then I realized that they aren't dirty, they just look that way because of the inch of dust on my tv. If I don't get the Swiffer out soon I'll be watching a bunch of dirty football players tomorrow. Sigh.
What do you guys do to get motivated????
What do you guys do to get motivated????
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A fake fireplace....
Yep. We are in it. Right smack in the middle of the dead of winter. Everyone is complaining about the cold. The dark, dreary days. Most of you that know me KNOW that I love winter. It’s cozy to me. I love the shorter days where I’m free to get in my pajama’s early, curl up by my fake fireplace (wish I had a real one, but I make do!) and have my family near me. However, with that being said…..
…. When my husband asked me last night, “Would you like to go someplace warm?” I said, “YES!” The thought of me curled up on a beach with a fruity little drink and a good book suddenly seemed really nice. When I excitedly asked him, “Where?” He smiled and said, “Haiti”. I was stunned. Ummmmmm, seriously? Apparently, he had been asked to go down with his band, “The Boogie Woogie Jesus Project”. They were going to help out with anything they could during the days, and play concerts during the night. A mission trip. It certainly wasn’t what I had in mind when he initially asked me that question, but it was definitely intriguing to me. I have never gone on a real “mission trip” and although it kind of terrifies me, it would probably be the most fulfilling trip of my life. I don’t know yet if it’s going to work out for either of us to go, but please pray for us and the rest of the band as they try to make it happen. What’s going on in Haiti is just unfathomable to me. I can’t wrap my brain around it. The sorrow. The pain. The amount of work ahead of that country to rebound from this terrible tragedy. All of it is simply beyond my comprehension.
So this morning, I’m sitting here on my comfy couch feeling incredibly blessed. Blessed to have been born in America where even when life seems hard, it’s easy. Blessed to have an amazing family and loving friends to fill my life with love and support. Blessed to have food to eat, water to drink, and a roof over my head.
Oh yeah….and a fake fireplace.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010 - My journey towards wisdom....
I want to be wise. Doesn't everyone? Maybe not.....
That truth hit me like a brick this morning as I started my reading in Proverbs. My church Crosspoint Community Church has started the 31 Day Challenge for the month of January. I've committed to reading one chapter of Proverbs each day this month along with many other members of my church. It'll be fun reading it together and seeing how this scripture speaks to each of us in different ways. You can read what Pastor Pete has to say about each chapter on his blog. One thing he said that struck a chord with me today was this:
"I remember early on in my Christian walk I felt God’s Word existed to somewhat “imprison” me. I thought it primarily was about all the things I wouldn’t be allowed to do.
I’m learning more and more that God’s Word and these Proverbs actually exist to set me free. God wants to give us His wisdom and it will be a “garland to grace your neck.” It’s a gift.
The following chapters of the book of Proverbs paint a picture, a vision, of what life could be like in 2010 if we were to only trust Him. If we were to listen to His voice, His instructions. If only we’ll pursue His wisdom."
Which goes back to my original thought... Don't we ALL want to pursue wisdom?? Wouldn't we all like to think that we make wise choices?? Choices that will improve our lives and the lives of other's around us? Then I re-read these verses:
20 - 22- "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?'
29 - 32 "Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them"
OUCH! Kinda sounds like Wisdom is screaming for our attention but not all of us want to listen. We turn away from knowledge and ignore wisdom's advice. If I'm completely honest, I know I have MANY times in my life. I SAY I want wisdom, but when it comes down to having to make a choice that might be WISE but not in line with MY PLANS, I turn away.
The bottom line is that asking for God to grant me true wisdom is a bit scary. Along with wisdom comes knowledge. Along with knowledge comes the awareness of right and wrong, which makes it harder to continue to make the wrong choices and feel okay about it. You know that old saying "Ignorance is bliss"..... well, here I am praying for wisdom and now it feels like I'm heaping alot of new responsibility on my head. No more saying "Oh geez.. sorry I did that! I didn't KNOW any better!" Now I'll be left with saying "Sorry I did that. I knew better, but I did it anyway because I'm selfish, or weak, or jealous, or angry or......". You get the picture. So when I said:
I want to be wise. Doesn't everyone? Maybe not..... I realized that apparently everyone does NOT want to be wise, because they like having the excuse of ignorance. "I didn't know any better" is a good way for someone to overlook your bad behavior. Believe me, I've used that many, many times.... and I'm not proud of it. But I don't want to use it anymore.
Even with all the responsibility that wisdom brings with it, I'm still gonna pray for it. I'm still gonna prod along on my journey towards it. Because I DO believe that life will be better for it. I'm gonna hold fast to the last verse of Proverbs Chapter 1. :
33- 'but whoever listens to me will live in safey and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Ok Wisdom.... let's do this!! Here we go..... (deep breath) Bring it on!!
....And so my journey towards wisdom begins.
Do you want to be wiser in 2010??
That truth hit me like a brick this morning as I started my reading in Proverbs. My church Crosspoint Community Church has started the 31 Day Challenge for the month of January. I've committed to reading one chapter of Proverbs each day this month along with many other members of my church. It'll be fun reading it together and seeing how this scripture speaks to each of us in different ways. You can read what Pastor Pete has to say about each chapter on his blog. One thing he said that struck a chord with me today was this:
"I remember early on in my Christian walk I felt God’s Word existed to somewhat “imprison” me. I thought it primarily was about all the things I wouldn’t be allowed to do.
I’m learning more and more that God’s Word and these Proverbs actually exist to set me free. God wants to give us His wisdom and it will be a “garland to grace your neck.” It’s a gift.
The following chapters of the book of Proverbs paint a picture, a vision, of what life could be like in 2010 if we were to only trust Him. If we were to listen to His voice, His instructions. If only we’ll pursue His wisdom."
Which goes back to my original thought... Don't we ALL want to pursue wisdom?? Wouldn't we all like to think that we make wise choices?? Choices that will improve our lives and the lives of other's around us? Then I re-read these verses:
20 - 22- "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?'
29 - 32 "Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them"
OUCH! Kinda sounds like Wisdom is screaming for our attention but not all of us want to listen. We turn away from knowledge and ignore wisdom's advice. If I'm completely honest, I know I have MANY times in my life. I SAY I want wisdom, but when it comes down to having to make a choice that might be WISE but not in line with MY PLANS, I turn away.
The bottom line is that asking for God to grant me true wisdom is a bit scary. Along with wisdom comes knowledge. Along with knowledge comes the awareness of right and wrong, which makes it harder to continue to make the wrong choices and feel okay about it. You know that old saying "Ignorance is bliss"..... well, here I am praying for wisdom and now it feels like I'm heaping alot of new responsibility on my head. No more saying "Oh geez.. sorry I did that! I didn't KNOW any better!" Now I'll be left with saying "Sorry I did that. I knew better, but I did it anyway because I'm selfish, or weak, or jealous, or angry or......". You get the picture. So when I said:
I want to be wise. Doesn't everyone? Maybe not..... I realized that apparently everyone does NOT want to be wise, because they like having the excuse of ignorance. "I didn't know any better" is a good way for someone to overlook your bad behavior. Believe me, I've used that many, many times.... and I'm not proud of it. But I don't want to use it anymore.
Even with all the responsibility that wisdom brings with it, I'm still gonna pray for it. I'm still gonna prod along on my journey towards it. Because I DO believe that life will be better for it. I'm gonna hold fast to the last verse of Proverbs Chapter 1. :
33- 'but whoever listens to me will live in safey and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Ok Wisdom.... let's do this!! Here we go..... (deep breath) Bring it on!!
....And so my journey towards wisdom begins.
Do you want to be wiser in 2010??
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