Valentine's Day......A New Approach

Every year Valentine's Day is on February 14th.  Valentine's Day evolved from pagan Roman mythology. It was then changed to a religious holiday it has now morphed into Valentines Day as we know it: a day to celebrate love or commercialism at it's best, depending on who you ask.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy celebrating love as much as the next person.  Although I do take a bit of (well a lot actually) personal issue with getting caught up in the fact that I may or may not have a special someone to reciprocate these feelings of 'love' with only one day a year.  And somehow if I don',t then this makes me unlovable.  If I am honest here, often on Valentine's day someone is set-up for failure and someone is doomed for disappointment both based on often unattainable expectations.  Even though I don't know what your relationship status is or whether you are in a love valley or love peak during this particular season of your life.  For me, for far to long, Valentine's day has gotten lost in translation.

Instead of taking a totally critical, cynical view, this is how I have decided to celebrate February 14th, 2013.  We are called to love one another as we love ourselves, which is a whole other blog for another day.  This year I am taking on a whole new, brave approach.

It came to me during my morning devotional time:

Then [Ezra] told them, "Go your way, eat the fat, 

drink the sweet drink, and send portions 

 to him for whom nothing is prepared; 

 for this day is holy to our Lord. 

  And do not be grieved and depressed, 

                                        for the joy of the LORD

                                              is your strength and stronghold."

                                                 Nehemiah 8:10

Did you catch that?  ....and send portions for him whom nothing is prepared; I've decided wouldn't it be great to share love by paying it forward...... to the car behind me if I'm in a drive-thru line, to let someone go ahead of me at the check-out lane, to actually look a stranger in the eye with a smile and sincerely say hello.  I've got some cool sticky notes I'm going to put on a strangers car.  I'm taking some extra time and pray for my husband, my kids, family and friends.

I think I might actually begin to look forward to February 14th!                                        

Falalalala Friday

Falalalala Friday is just that, every Friday I'll be 

posting some of my fav's old and new.  I pray 

you will enjoy them as 

much as I do!

Interesting fact about Jason Gray, when he speaks he stutters.  However, he doesn't stutter when he sings.  In fact he says, "In the brokenness of of life, God can make music out of it - make it beautiful."

Tell me once again who I am to you.

Who I am to you.

Tell me lest I forget who I am to you.

That I belong to you.

To You.

Procrastination

Do you remember that that old Carly Simon song, Anticipation?  In the song she reflects on these lines, she bemoans them actually:

Anticipation, anticipation,

 is making me late, 

is keeping me waitin'

I was talking with a sweet friend of mine today about a struggle we have in common only it's not anticipation, it's procrastination.  I feel as though we could write our own hit song but instead of the above chorus we would be reflecting, oops I mean bemoaning it like this:

Procrastination, procrastination

is keeping me late,

is keeping life waitin'

The Oxford English dictionary defines procrastination as: V. To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.  To postpone or delay needlessly. Or as defer[ing] action without good reason.  OUCH!! 

Why oh why do I procrastinate?  I've got several theories going on, keep in mind they are just that theories.  I'm sure this checklist or combination there-of could go on and on.  In no particular order here's what I have so far:

• Pride - Really it's probably more like self-pride. In a twisted kind of way, I seem to take pride in procrastinating.  I'm finally realizing that saying 'yes' to everything isn't good and neither is saying 'no' a bad thing.  
• Rebellion - This is me in a conversation with myself, "You do realize XYZ needs to be completed?"  "I'll get to said project when I get to it, stop reminding me that it isn't close to finished!"  Does anyone else have these little self-pep talks?
• Selfishness - I want to do what I want to do first.  Or could it be I'm really dreading doing XYZ so I continue to put it off. 
• Martyrdom - One of definition says martyrdom is a display of feigned or exaggerated suffering.  Could it be I am procrastinating just so I can draw attention to myself or pity from others?  YIKES 
• Laziness - I confess laziness just comes so easily to me, blatantly easy in fact.  OH MY GOODNESS, can anyone else relate?
• Control Issues - Am I afraid of failing, falling just a bit short in another's eyes?   At other times my life seems so out-of-control, I fool myself into thinking I work better under-pressure.  I don't ever recall that truly working out for me.  If I'm honest, it's more like God rescues from the very mess I've created for myself.  Not every time mind you, sometimes.  

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done."

God has been showing me some not very pretty things about the heart issues behind my procrastinating.  He tells me to seek Him first when making a decision.  Not make the decision and then asking Him to bless it.

"Seek first the kingdom of God

above all else,

and live righteously,

and he will give you everything you need."

Matthew 6:33 (emphasis mine)

My prayer:  In Jesus name I pray, Lord help me realize when I'm procrastinating.  To bring light to the hidden places of procrastinating and that through your power and strength I can have victory when procrastination rears its ugly head.  Amen

Goal vs Wish

Falalalala Friday

Falalalala Friday is just that, every Friday I'll be posting some of my fav's old and new, I pray you will enjoy them as much as I do!

This is one of my new favorite bands, The Rhett Walker Band the song is called: When Mercy Found Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm5oirhXl7I&list=PLFngjQqOEftbuGHDBKfhTzvHpmDKIr_7C

All those days 

          all those doubts

                    They don't seem to matter now

                           His grace is all I need

                                    His grace is all I need

                                          And the chains I was in before

                                                 They don't hold me anymore

                                                    His love has rescued me

                                                         His love has set me free

6 X 6 Challenge

Last night at our church's leadership meeting our pastor challenged us to participate in a 6 X 6 challenge.  Pastor Jeff has declared we are a a hospital ship the S.S. Epic, specifically in 2013 we are a 'Church On A Mission'    The concept is simple and it is based off of Bill Hybels speech the 6 X 6 Rule at the 2012 Global Leadership Summit.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuMersvslNw



Bill Hybel says that I should focus on the 6 most important things for the next 6 weeks.  Why 6 weeks?  Because realistically, I may not be able to sprint for 6 months but I can sprint for 6 weeks.  I can focus on certain things in life that are priorities for me for 6 weeks, and make a conscious effort to fully commit and do something to make those 6 things happen.  I may not be able to change the world, but I can make an impact on specific areas God has opened for me.

Here are my 6 things, they may change or morph into something totally different as I seek the Lord's guidance.  Remember, these are big ideas, and as I seek the Lord they will be broken down into more manageable tasks that I can focus on for 6 weeks.

My 6 X 6 Challenge

1)  Be more intentional in praying for my husband and children.  Spiritually, physically & mentally.  

2)  Don't take a single moment for granted.  Don't shy away from challenges but embrace them as God   opportunities.

3)  Clean-up and commit to edifying personal and spiritual habits.

• Setting aside the next 6 Thursdays for fasting and prayer.  Intentionally seeking God's power, passion and purpose.  Specifically for myself (yes, it's okay to pray for things for yourself), my husband, my family, my church and my ministries.
• Incorporate exercise 4 days a week.
• Cut-back on unnecessary processed foods.
• Track calorie intake.
• Wake-up earlier to begin my day with God.
• Actively acknowledge and acknowledge Him throughout my entire day.

4)  RE-COMMITMENT PRIORITY:  Meet one-on-one with women on the mentoring team.

5)  Pray consistently for the people directly involved in my ministries.  Seeking God to open the doors for His plan to expand the women's mentoring ministry and women's ministry.  Bringing even more faithful women mentors and women desiring to grow in their relationship with God.


6)  Embrace the roles I have been blessed to receive, covering those in prayer and giving them my undivided attention.  In other words, I shouldn't be coveting and wandering around in someone else's role or ministry.

Can You Hear Me Now.......

A few years ago, my daughter and I were driving home after a long day.  You know the kind I'm talking about, endless errands and appointment's.  My 14 year-old daughter was chattering a hundred miles an hour, telling me all about her friends, challenges at school and other events of her day.  All of a sudden she stopped chattering.  She turned to me and said, "Mom, you wouldn't make a very good counselor."

OUCH!!!

She was right of course, I wasn't conversing with her, heck I wasn't even listening to her.  My mind was wandering, going through my to-do list:  Had I forgotten something at the store?  What were we having for dinner?  Had I paid for ...... I think you get where I'm coming from.

BUSTED!!!!

The Lord surely did use my daughter to convict me on so many levels:

• Why wasn't I truly listening to my daughter, engaging with her?  How many other family & friends had I ignored my preoccupied state?
• My poor husband, how did he continue to put up with me being inattentive and unavailable to him and our marriage?
• How had I let myself get to this place?  Where the world and it's demands became chief occupants in my head and ultimately my heart.

Fast forward.....it happened again, today.  Only this time I wasn't the one doling it out, I was the recipient.

Crushing :(

God is trying to get my attention on this matter......again

1)  "Listening" is not the same as "hearing".  Hearing means that my ears work, listening means that my mind is engaged.  I must truly listen to what someone is saying, not just hear them talk.

2)  Truly be available.  Good: Put down my phone, I-pad, Kindle, laptop.  Better: put them on silent-mode. Turn the television off.  Best:  So I won't be tempted or distracted to check it, don't even bring it with me.

3)  When someone is speaking to me I need to be fully engaged in that conversation only.  I can't be distracted by what's going on with other people's conversations.  Become engaged with eye-contact.  Continually looking over the person who is talking to me's shoulder is a giveaway that I'm not fully engaged.

4)  Listen with the only one intent, TO LISTEN.  I confess, this is one I really struggle with.  Am I only listening with the intent of speaking correction or direction.  Especially if I am the one who engaged you in the conversation in the first place.  The least I can do is let you finish your sentence and respectfully respond to what you have just shared.  You've heard the saying; "Listening to hear, not listening to speak."

"Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish."

Proverbs 18:13