Now that the newsletter is underway, I am once again hit by how much I enjoy working on it.
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved words. I have always loved the emotions the right words strung together can bring. It’s truly a gift to be able to make people feel. I have always loved the ability of a book to make me feel and take me somewhere far away. This is especially true as a child when I wanted to escape. As an adult, I am more aware of needing to come back to the real world so to speak.
But being whisked away on an epic adventure brings my imagination to life. This leads to my own desires to spring forth.
There is just so much travel I still want to do. I can spend hours plotting how to make all this happen in a fiscally responsible manner of course.
There is the thought or wonder if somewhere out there is a person for me.
There are things that are not yet, but could be. But it really makes me wonder how parallel my desires and God’s will are running? Of course, my timing is now, but God’s timing could be longer.
Yesterday for my devotional, I searched “God’s time” and found these two scriptures from the Amplified Bible to use.
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.” Habakkuk 2: 3
“For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” Ephesians 2: 10
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Week 37
I am once again very behind in updating my blog! Monday was my fast day, but alas, I am just now writing about it.
Work has been hectic. I was in the midst of monthly reporting and my company was hosting a conference that I volunteered at several days.
I am also working on my church newsletter, and I have been a little behind on that. It’s ironic that the theme surrounds preparation, yet I find myself not really prepared.
Some of my lack of preparation is acceptable in that things have been a little crazy. However, there is a part that is not. I procrastinated on working on the church newsletter because I was distracted.
Borders’ was having a closing sale, and I bought books and books and books. Of course, I wanted to read them! I also discovered a television series on Netflix, and I wanted to watch the DVD the minute it arrived.
For my article, I wrote about the story of the ten virgins so that seemed like a good passage to use for my devotional. That scripture is certainly about being prepared.
I find myself being unprepared, and I need to work on that! I am completely behind so much the fact that I am eve now half doing this!
Matthew 25
1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Work has been hectic. I was in the midst of monthly reporting and my company was hosting a conference that I volunteered at several days.
I am also working on my church newsletter, and I have been a little behind on that. It’s ironic that the theme surrounds preparation, yet I find myself not really prepared.
Some of my lack of preparation is acceptable in that things have been a little crazy. However, there is a part that is not. I procrastinated on working on the church newsletter because I was distracted.
Borders’ was having a closing sale, and I bought books and books and books. Of course, I wanted to read them! I also discovered a television series on Netflix, and I wanted to watch the DVD the minute it arrived.
For my article, I wrote about the story of the ten virgins so that seemed like a good passage to use for my devotional. That scripture is certainly about being prepared.
I find myself being unprepared, and I need to work on that! I am completely behind so much the fact that I am eve now half doing this!
Matthew 25
1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Week 36
Life is an awesome journey. I am currently 37, and for the first time, I am beginning to see how “great” my life is. This is not saying I have everything I want, but I do have everything I need. There are still things I desire in my heart, but I have to believe that God will deliver them in due time, if that is in fact His will for my life. Meanwhile, better to accept and cultivate and be thankful for the opportunities given to me.
I don’t feel like I have traveled that much. There are around 240 countries, and I have to date been to 16 of them. It seems like a failing grade to me, and I feel like I am behind in traveling. It is then that I have to ask myself who dictates how many countries I should visit, and who am I in competition with. I really wish my family could have afforded to send me to Europe or somewhere when I graduated high school or college, but that was not the case. So, the traveling I have done has been as me older and my own resources. I realize that one, as an older traveler, I see more than the inside of a bar and two the fact that I paid for it with my old blood, sweat, and tears brings it more value to me.
I don’t always feel like I earn enough money. My salary is decent, but in my mind I want to earn more. I am not sure if this is an ego thing in wanting to earn more. In truth, I earn enough to do what I want to do. As a single person with no kids, I earn more than enough. Truthfully, I can do a better job at planning for my future.
What I realized this week is for the nth time is that not all that glitters is gold. It is easy to get caught up in the glamour peoples’ lives look from the outside. But once you get inside, you realize its gold plated. I think this happens because God wants us to realize and prefer our own lives. Things many not be perfect, but things are perfect for us.
When I realized how “great” I had it, I also realized easy it is to get puffed up and prideful about what I have managed to accomplish thus far, which is ironic because it’s not like I have found a cure for cancer or something great like that that had an impact on humanity. Yet, it is easy to think what I have and what I have done is the result of my hard work or my superior intelligence or my somehow deserving all this. The truth is I get lazy and don’t always work hard. The truth is there are many people more intelligent that I. The truth is how does one measure what they deserve or don’t deserve. In fact, I probably don’t deserve it, but that’s when I have to thank God for His grace and mercy!
So, I decided to focus on scriptures about being humble. I know all my blessings come up above. I just need to remind myself of this.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
I don’t feel like I have traveled that much. There are around 240 countries, and I have to date been to 16 of them. It seems like a failing grade to me, and I feel like I am behind in traveling. It is then that I have to ask myself who dictates how many countries I should visit, and who am I in competition with. I really wish my family could have afforded to send me to Europe or somewhere when I graduated high school or college, but that was not the case. So, the traveling I have done has been as me older and my own resources. I realize that one, as an older traveler, I see more than the inside of a bar and two the fact that I paid for it with my old blood, sweat, and tears brings it more value to me.
I don’t always feel like I earn enough money. My salary is decent, but in my mind I want to earn more. I am not sure if this is an ego thing in wanting to earn more. In truth, I earn enough to do what I want to do. As a single person with no kids, I earn more than enough. Truthfully, I can do a better job at planning for my future.
What I realized this week is for the nth time is that not all that glitters is gold. It is easy to get caught up in the glamour peoples’ lives look from the outside. But once you get inside, you realize its gold plated. I think this happens because God wants us to realize and prefer our own lives. Things many not be perfect, but things are perfect for us.
When I realized how “great” I had it, I also realized easy it is to get puffed up and prideful about what I have managed to accomplish thus far, which is ironic because it’s not like I have found a cure for cancer or something great like that that had an impact on humanity. Yet, it is easy to think what I have and what I have done is the result of my hard work or my superior intelligence or my somehow deserving all this. The truth is I get lazy and don’t always work hard. The truth is there are many people more intelligent that I. The truth is how does one measure what they deserve or don’t deserve. In fact, I probably don’t deserve it, but that’s when I have to thank God for His grace and mercy!
So, I decided to focus on scriptures about being humble. I know all my blessings come up above. I just need to remind myself of this.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
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