Looking for a Green Pasture!

I often rely on humor to help me manage life's circumstances. This week has definitely had its challenges. As I sit here tonight, I can't help but laugh out loud at the bitter irony of life. You see I believe that God has more confidence in me than I have in myself. If this week is any example, this is fact not theory. God has created a work in me and continues to work in my life. However, I think that this week He has been working overtime! Now please understand, I mean this lighthearted in every sense. I know how much He loves me and in all cirucumstances gives me everything I need! EVERYTHING! This is simply my humorous response to a week that has been less than optimal!

I think God appreciates laughter and humor and find it to be a much healthier response than other alternatives. With this being said, I am ready for a break! I think I've had enough character building for the week. I have more than sharpened my skills to persevere. I now am ready for the quite green pastures beside the still waters! Remember, don't take offense this is just my response to poke fun at a difficult situation.

Ultimately, I know this too shall pass. After all tomorrow is another day, let's just hope itl's not a repeat of this one! LOL =D

Insult vs. Integrity

The past few days I have found myself in a most precarious position. Thus, I find myself awake and sleepless at 3:00 in the morning plagued with the hauntings of my mind over the situation. You would think I would have learned by now that people do not always live up to expectations. But I think the "Pollyanna" in me, is still surprised when people do not behave well.

But herein lies the bitter irony, although someone has behaved less than desirable; manipulative; and has proceeded in a manner with total disregard to my input, thoughts or feelings; I can not lower myself to act in kind. Yes, I would love to get in their face and punch them with a rampage of sentiment which would totally be in line with their infractions. Believe you me I have played these conversations over and over again in my mind. However, I can not. Because when everything is said and done, I must live with my actions. Therefore, I choose to proceed with actions which are above reproach.

Now let me make one thing perfectly clear. This does not mean I do not stand up for myself. This does not mean that I don't speak my mind. Trust me I have no problem with this. What I do struggle with is how much I want to punch them with insult, but instead choose to articulate my position with intellect and grace. I think the punching would feel better in the short term, but know to handle it with grace helps me to live with a more clear conscience. Of course at 3:00 in the morning, it is difficult to take solace to this approach.

To the individuals who have procured your position within this posting, I will approach you with integrity and grace. However, do know that like an elephant I don't forget. For every action there is a reaction. I do believe that in time you will feel the consequences of your choices and behaviors. As for me, you will receive nothing less than my benevolence.

I'm not sure that this will be read or even understood. I do know how therapeutic for me it is to deliberate upon the written word; to place the rantings of my mind upon paper helps me to process. The opportunity to put into words the thoughts and feelings is calming. Perhaps I might even find my way back to bed and find sleep tonight after all. One can hope! =D

Is your attitude in check? Alice's is!!!!

Earlier today, I had the distinct pleasure of watching a video about a woman named Alice. Alice is the oldest living Holocaust survivor. She is living a vibrant life. Daily she is visited by friends; plays her piano; and truly has an amazing perspective on life. Throughout the video her face was joyful and she laughed often. She is by pure definition beautiful. I was astounded as I listened to this woman's story. She was a concert pianist in 1942 in Prague. She was shipped to a concentration camp. A camp which she survived. But to listen to her story, she not only survived she lived. Even in the darkness of the camp, within the burden of her oppression, she lived! Throughout the video she shares her perspectives on life, here are a few which stood out to me as I watched:

"I love people, I love everyone"
"I am interested in the life of other people"
"Every day in life is beautiful"
"I never stopped laughing"
"Hate breeds hate - I never hate"

What we all can learn from Alice is the importance of our attitude and keeping a positive perspective on life. I truly believe that our attitude is one of the most mitigating factors in determining our quality of life. It is so beneficial to our well being to look for the good in every situation. God reminds us of this in Philippians 4:8 (The Message) "Summing it all up friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse."

Alice gets it. She has lived her life full and abundantly. I love it! I want to live my life that full. I have not lived a perfect life, and Lord knows I have my challenges. But I really strive to keep things in a proper perspective. I do believe that attitude is everything. My attitude can enhance my quality of life. Charles Swindoll summed it up quite nicely when he said "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it".

Life is an adventure embrace it and remember attitude is everything!

Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"

I just started studying Philippians. It has always been one of my favorite letters and I just want to spend some time and go deeper. I love the example of faith lived by Paul. I love his attitude, faith and resolve. This simple verse is such a great reminder to me. For Paul, life is summed up in Jesus Christ. Christ was his reason for being.

I must be honest here, I can lose sight of this. It is my heart's desire to live day to day with Christ being my sole reason for being. But I have to admit the noise of life distracts me. I forget to focus on Him. I get caught up in life that I forget He is what makes it more meaningful. In Him, I am more capable, strong and confident. I know I am better when I keep Him at the center of my being. It isn't always easy to do this.

However, I am not going to beat myself up over it. To know Christ does not mean I have arrived. When we embrace Jesus the journey is just beginning. I am a work in progress. My hope and prayer is that with every day I will embrace my journey with awe and importance. I am not complete. But Phil 1:6 assures me that I can be confident God is faithful to work in my life and He is faithful to complete it! (Phil 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion)

One final reminder for myself, it really is a slow process. We live in an instant society. We can get anything we want how we want it and when we want it. Our journey is a life time process. We need to anticipate that growth is slow. But I know to persevere and continue in my journey with Jesus is so worth the effort and time. My prayer this week is that I approach my faith as a work in progress, focusing on God's good purpose for all things, and striving to keep Him at the center of my being. Praise God that I don't have to complete it today. Today is another day in the journey and God is faithful in all His goodness and mercy to be with me every step of the way.

Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"

"If the request is wrong, God says, "No".

If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow"

If you are wrong, God says "Grow"

But if the request is right,

If the timing is right,

If you are right, God says "Go"

-Bill Hybels

I came across this quote in my quiet time this morning! It was a great reminder of the importance of our prayer life. A powerful prayer life is valuable . . . but it does come with a price. You see often when we pray and petition God; but it is the wrong request; we have the wrong motive or the wrong timing. The price to a powerful prayer life is our willingness to grow; to sacrifice our selfish desires; and to set aside our sinful ways. We must be willing to come before God with absolute humility, seeking Him and trusting Him. I believe that when we come to a place of submission before God, setting aside our ambitions, God will show up and He will hear our prayers.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Message) "My God defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives,; I'll be ready for you, I'll listen from heaven".

One final thought on a powerful prayer life. A joyful attitude is priceless! Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control! It is our choice to pursue joy. A joyful heart is a choice for God and an act of obedience to God. As a matter of fact a heart of joy and thankfulness is God's will for you!

1 Thes. 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"

I believe that prayer is one of God's greatest gifts. I hope that we all can strive to have a more powerful prayer life as we seek God daily in our lives.

Have a joyful day!

I'M NOT AN OBAMA FAN!

Last week, I had an individual blast me when I expressed a political satire poking fun at President Obama. This person actually remarked on my lack of intelligence. At first, I was really taken back by it. It really caught me off guard. I may not be an Albert Einstein, but I do think I am highly functioning when it comes to my mental capabilities. Then I stepped back from the situation. The old adage came to mind "Don't talk politics or religion with friends".

Politics is a "hot" issue. But here is my take on the situation. Just because I did not share the political views with this woman, does not mean my intelligence is in question. The reality is: a true sign of intelligence is when we respect each other's opinions. Isn't it delightful that God created all of us with cognitive ability to process, think and discern what we believe to be true and right, especially in the grey areas such as politics? We all don't have to share the same political views. Diversity is wonderful; iron sharpens iron. It is a good thing that we all have our own opinions. I will make an intelligent choice to respect these differences and not insult an adverse opinion or the individual who supports them. To the woman who insulted me, I am indifferent to your assessment of me. I know who I am, like what I believe and respect that we are different!

“May God grant you always...

A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you,

a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you.

Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you.

And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”

Reality vs. Perception

Have you ever found yourself perplexed about a person, situation or an event? You analyze the circumstances in an effort to evaluate and surmise what is true. Often you deliberate in your head for days and finally reach your conclusions. Then days later you find out you weren’t even close to reality.

As we experience life we pick up filters and paradigms which impact our perceptions. I believe that we can not help but be impacted in our thought process by our life experiences. Thus, any one of us can look at a situation and evaluate it differently. However, often it is distorted reality.

I know most of us wish to evaluate a situation properly. We want truth. I believe that it is possible to see our circumstances accurately. This is possible if we seek God and He will give us understanding. I find myself praying every day that God will let me see people, events, trials, frustrations, etc., as He sees them. Not through the eyes of the world but through His eyes. The world distorts reality but God reveals truth and will give us wisdom if we only seek Him. Every day I pray that God will reveal truth to me. I trust in Him. He consistently helps me and I know that my warped perceptions are brought more clearly into perspective when I look to God for truth. There are so many great scriptures on trusting God and His revelation of truth. But I would like to share two which have stood out to me this past week:

Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long,”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him; and he will make your paths straight.”

Chase truth through the eyes of God!

God wants us to keep on keeping on. He doesn't ask us to do great and grand things for his Kingdom. He asks us to be consistent and faithful. A consistent, faithful person is the one who gets more accomplished over the long haul.