I have been all over the place in terms of the destination of my vacation.
Airplane tickets were super expensive this year! I initially started the year wanting to go to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. I then wanted to go to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, but couldn’t quite settle it in my spirit. Plus, right now, there are protests and unrest going on.
This Saturday, it all became clear, as did the reason to my procrastination. I am a firm believer that things just have a way of working out.
My friend was visiting from Hong Kong. She works for and lives in a hotel. Her hotel suite has a private bathroom and bath. Do you see where this is going! Yes. I am Hong Kong bound. I will also visit Macao and mainland China. Most importantly, I get to hang with a good friend!
I am super excited. This is certainly not where I thought I would go, but things have a way of coming full circle. When I originally got my passport, it was to visit her in Hong Kong, but she ended up moving back to Canada for a while. Well, I procrastinated and by the time I got my passport, she was coming back. But, now I will finally go. Plus, I remember I never expected to go to India, and what a time I had!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Week 35
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 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 6:27-38 NIV
I intended to use Luke 6:38 for my devotional, but I wanted to see the scripture in context. I discovered that verse 39 was not of interest, but I kept going back and back and back until finally I stopped at verse 27.
The thing about this scripture is that I am not sure how literal I should interpret it. If someone slaps me, I really offer them my other cheek? Really? If some steals my coat, I really give them my shirt? Really?
But verses 27-31 point to what I struggle with. Verses 37-38 point to what I am aiming for.
I worry about things that I don’t really have an y control over. My ego gets in the way when I feel slighted, and my reaction is to defend. My struggle keeps me a long way off. But, ironically, I feel like I am get close to my aim.
Does that make any sense? Is that even possible?
This paradox and contradiction reminds me of one of the reasons I enjoy my walk with God. It’s messy and often my head is spinning. Quite simply, at times, it defies logic.
I imagine God as a loving father who has given me, His child, water point and a blank canvas. He is there to supervise, and He lovingly oversees as I create. Other people might call it anything but art, but God sees the beauty.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 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 6:27-38 NIV
I intended to use Luke 6:38 for my devotional, but I wanted to see the scripture in context. I discovered that verse 39 was not of interest, but I kept going back and back and back until finally I stopped at verse 27.
The thing about this scripture is that I am not sure how literal I should interpret it. If someone slaps me, I really offer them my other cheek? Really? If some steals my coat, I really give them my shirt? Really?
But verses 27-31 point to what I struggle with. Verses 37-38 point to what I am aiming for.
I worry about things that I don’t really have an y control over. My ego gets in the way when I feel slighted, and my reaction is to defend. My struggle keeps me a long way off. But, ironically, I feel like I am get close to my aim.
Does that make any sense? Is that even possible?
This paradox and contradiction reminds me of one of the reasons I enjoy my walk with God. It’s messy and often my head is spinning. Quite simply, at times, it defies logic.
I imagine God as a loving father who has given me, His child, water point and a blank canvas. He is there to supervise, and He lovingly oversees as I create. Other people might call it anything but art, but God sees the beauty.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Week 34
As week 34 begins, I feel compelled to voice a thought that has been nagging at me for at least a few months.
I feel that my “day of devotional” has become a little monotonous. Something I do because I am supposed to do, yet it has lost its original power because it has become part of a routine. Often times, my heart isn’t even it.
I much prefer my way of interacting with God.
With that said, it is so important to me to begin what I started, and I will complete this.
The other thing is that I feel like I have lost my blog. I haven’t really blogged anything outside of my weekly devotions, besides my church articles and a few random thoughts here and there.
In some ways, next year may turn into sort of a journal-type blog, which opens me up in a way that is needed. The only area of my life that will be off-topic is my job because, well you know.
I am in a season where questions and doubts are nagging me in the back of my head. I realize that I have stopped voicing my opinions, and I have stopped voicing my doubts. I try to focus on what is good, pure, etc, which actually isn’t a bad thing. I just need to figure out an outlet.
I have decided to use one verse for my devotional today. It’s a familiar passage found in Romans 8:28, which reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Lately, I feel like there a few mistakes I have made. Times when my mouth opened when it should have been shut. Times when I could have made that extra step to reach out but did not. Times when I could have gotten over myself and acted kinder but did not.
I just need to remind myself that in the end, things come together as they should. Things just have a way of working out.
I feel that my “day of devotional” has become a little monotonous. Something I do because I am supposed to do, yet it has lost its original power because it has become part of a routine. Often times, my heart isn’t even it.
I much prefer my way of interacting with God.
With that said, it is so important to me to begin what I started, and I will complete this.
The other thing is that I feel like I have lost my blog. I haven’t really blogged anything outside of my weekly devotions, besides my church articles and a few random thoughts here and there.
In some ways, next year may turn into sort of a journal-type blog, which opens me up in a way that is needed. The only area of my life that will be off-topic is my job because, well you know.
I am in a season where questions and doubts are nagging me in the back of my head. I realize that I have stopped voicing my opinions, and I have stopped voicing my doubts. I try to focus on what is good, pure, etc, which actually isn’t a bad thing. I just need to figure out an outlet.
I have decided to use one verse for my devotional today. It’s a familiar passage found in Romans 8:28, which reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Lately, I feel like there a few mistakes I have made. Times when my mouth opened when it should have been shut. Times when I could have made that extra step to reach out but did not. Times when I could have gotten over myself and acted kinder but did not.
I just need to remind myself that in the end, things come together as they should. Things just have a way of working out.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Week 33
Saturday, the editing team of my church newsletter had our annual retreat. We bring in an outside facilitator, who is the instructor of the editing program I took years ago.
I look forward to the retreat each year. It’s always so wonderful to refocus and reenergize.
One of the topics was the church anthology. In some ways, the anthology should already be done, or at least my inner critic keeps telling me. My delay and procrastination, which is complicated, has always puzzled and intrigued me.
I believe that when God wants things done, they get done. If I am in the way, I have two choices. One, I can get out of the way. Or two, God can get me out of the way. In my experience, getting out of the way in my own free will is always best.
I know that all things work out in their own time. This is why I chose Ecclesiastes 3:11 as my devotional. It reads, “He hath made everything beautiful in his time...” It’s not about my time; it’s about God’s time.
Though totally out of context, 1 Timothy 6:15 also spoke to me. It reads, “Which God will bring about in his own time…,” in the NIV.
So, things have a way of working out how they are supposed to. I am excited about what is to come. Though I think a view into the future may cause me to go running and screaming in the opposite direction.
I look forward to the retreat each year. It’s always so wonderful to refocus and reenergize.
One of the topics was the church anthology. In some ways, the anthology should already be done, or at least my inner critic keeps telling me. My delay and procrastination, which is complicated, has always puzzled and intrigued me.
I believe that when God wants things done, they get done. If I am in the way, I have two choices. One, I can get out of the way. Or two, God can get me out of the way. In my experience, getting out of the way in my own free will is always best.
I know that all things work out in their own time. This is why I chose Ecclesiastes 3:11 as my devotional. It reads, “He hath made everything beautiful in his time...” It’s not about my time; it’s about God’s time.
Though totally out of context, 1 Timothy 6:15 also spoke to me. It reads, “Which God will bring about in his own time…,” in the NIV.
So, things have a way of working out how they are supposed to. I am excited about what is to come. Though I think a view into the future may cause me to go running and screaming in the opposite direction.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Week 32
I had the privilege of meeting Dale Sewall and others on Sunday. Dale came to my church to receive prayer for his health. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in April. After church, we went to dinner, and I was so amazed at his perspective and faith. Below is a link to the blog he and his family created as they go through this journey.
http://sewalls.wordpress.com/
It does put things into perspective.
Little things have a way of getting in the way. Most of these little things won’t matter in a week, month, or year. And this is something I have said before, mainly because I need to repeat it.
For my devotional, I used Solomon 2:15, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
I have always taken this to mean that it’s the little annoyances that come together to create a bigger problem that have a way of taking us down. Giving room, little problems can become huge crisis if they are allowed free range. It could also be talking about opening the door to sin. A compromise now, which is followed by a little more compromise next week, that leads to who knows where.
In the overall scheme of life, little things don’t matter. Someone talking ill of me or thinking ill of me doesn’t matter, especially when it’s normally someone I don’t particularly care about or think well of anyway. No, that doesn’t matter.
What does matter?
Loving my family and friends and being present for them when I can. I am learning that there are times when “no” is the right answer. Completing the tasks God has given me in this life. All achievable if I can brush aside the “little” things (and the big things) that pop up.
http://sewalls.wordpress.com/
It does put things into perspective.
Little things have a way of getting in the way. Most of these little things won’t matter in a week, month, or year. And this is something I have said before, mainly because I need to repeat it.
For my devotional, I used Solomon 2:15, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
I have always taken this to mean that it’s the little annoyances that come together to create a bigger problem that have a way of taking us down. Giving room, little problems can become huge crisis if they are allowed free range. It could also be talking about opening the door to sin. A compromise now, which is followed by a little more compromise next week, that leads to who knows where.
In the overall scheme of life, little things don’t matter. Someone talking ill of me or thinking ill of me doesn’t matter, especially when it’s normally someone I don’t particularly care about or think well of anyway. No, that doesn’t matter.
What does matter?
Loving my family and friends and being present for them when I can. I am learning that there are times when “no” is the right answer. Completing the tasks God has given me in this life. All achievable if I can brush aside the “little” things (and the big things) that pop up.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Week 31
I am extremely behind. I fasted on Monday, and for some unknown reason I am now just getting ready to blog about it. If you asked me what was going on this week to prevent me from blogging, I would be hard pressed to come up with a decent answer.
On a side note, I did a Netflix search for Master Peace Theater movies awhile ago, and I added a bunch of those series to my queue. A also did a search by authors I liked like Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, etc. and have been watching series based on those books as well. I finished Little Dorritt yesterday, and I so enjoyed it.
My quest to become a better person has led me to some curious challenges to arise. I find that I am in a position of having to speak up of myself, which is actually a good thing. I find that I am having more people tell me the truth, which is a good thing. I welcome more truth tellers in my life. I want people who tell the truth in love and to help me a better person. I don’t need or want people who tell me their “truth” to hurt, destroy, or belittle me.
Nothing like having a friend tell you that you need to get over yourself – especially when they are right. Since we are both single with no friends, I can’t blame my selfishness on that aspect of my life. After my jaw dropped, I had to so true reflection and soul searching.
I decided to use Proverbs 18:24 for my devotion, which says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
On another topic, sometimes I feel like time is my worst enemy, yet it does seem like something I waste. Sometimes it seems like there is not enough time to do what I need to do.
One of my Facebook friends had a quote on his page that resonates with me:
I found that every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point and the turning point was where they made a clear, specific, unequivocal decision that they were not going to live like this anymore. Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50 and most never make it at all. ~ Brian Tracy.
It’s so time for me to make some changes. Less of me. More of God.
On a side note, I did a Netflix search for Master Peace Theater movies awhile ago, and I added a bunch of those series to my queue. A also did a search by authors I liked like Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, etc. and have been watching series based on those books as well. I finished Little Dorritt yesterday, and I so enjoyed it.
My quest to become a better person has led me to some curious challenges to arise. I find that I am in a position of having to speak up of myself, which is actually a good thing. I find that I am having more people tell me the truth, which is a good thing. I welcome more truth tellers in my life. I want people who tell the truth in love and to help me a better person. I don’t need or want people who tell me their “truth” to hurt, destroy, or belittle me.
Nothing like having a friend tell you that you need to get over yourself – especially when they are right. Since we are both single with no friends, I can’t blame my selfishness on that aspect of my life. After my jaw dropped, I had to so true reflection and soul searching.
I decided to use Proverbs 18:24 for my devotion, which says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
On another topic, sometimes I feel like time is my worst enemy, yet it does seem like something I waste. Sometimes it seems like there is not enough time to do what I need to do.
One of my Facebook friends had a quote on his page that resonates with me:
I found that every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point and the turning point was where they made a clear, specific, unequivocal decision that they were not going to live like this anymore. Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50 and most never make it at all. ~ Brian Tracy.
It’s so time for me to make some changes. Less of me. More of God.
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