the two questions in life...

i was going through some old emails...and came across this one a girlfriend had sent me...gotta love when something makes you laugh out loud...this one surely did...

life really boils down to 2 questions...

1. should i get a dog....?



or...

2. should i have children?

He is...

what else needs to be said? He is...and because of that...i know that i know...that my life is secure...in His embrace...

enjoy your weekend!

He makes all things beautiful...

i was reminded today...of how God can make something beautiful...out of something not so beautiful...all in His perfect timing...and although there is still so much chaos around me...my mind drifts to the ultimate surprise in God's ultimate end to it...

i...for one...cannot wait to see...beauty from ashes...

He makes all things beautiful...in His time...

words are a powerful force...

on monday evening during bible study...when we got around to the discussion questions...one of the exercises was to tell about a time that someone's words had a huge impact on you...in a positive way...and in the same respect...a time that someone's words had a huge impact on you negatively...

as we went around the room sharing...it was interesting to hear the impact that words had made to each life...some were so uplifting...some were spoken at the right moment...i believe...truly ordained by God...what other way is there?

what saddened me...was the affect that harsh words spoken...or criticisms...snide comments...or no words...and how huge of an impact they had on lives...things that were said recently...or long long ago...maybe in childhood...

i've really been thinking alot about this through this week...words truly are a powerful force...and we may just make a casual remark...not realizing the kind of impact it could have on someone's day...or life...

choose your words wisely...and as we have all heard...if you have nothing nice to say...don't say anything at all...as funny as that sounds sometimes...it truly holds words of wisdom...

i'm not saying that sometimes...there won't be times where we may need to speak words that aren't all cozy and warm...but there are certainly different ways of delivering those words...

and encouragement? enough cannot be said about it...think about the times you have felt a sense of renewal...of wanting to keep going...just because of someone's words of encouragement...and then...pass that on...especially...to the children in your life...it may not be apparent...but they hold on to every word that is spoken...how much better to speak words of encouragement...words of beauty...words that will elevate those children...to see who they truly are in the eyes of our Savior...

we are daughters & sons to the King...let's reflect that in our words...when we speak to each other...

pausing to pray...

but you, when you pray, enter into your room. and shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly." matthew 6:6

i remember when i was younger...reading that verse...and being so hard on myself...because i hadn't spent time in prayer...in my room...praying to the Father in secret...my day had gotten away from me...i couldn't understand how people did this...made this a "regular" routine...

but all the while...i was talking to the Father...maybe it wasn't the standard...on my knees...in private...for that allotted hour...but throughout my day...while driving...or doing whatever it was i was doing...

when i finally buckled down and felt the sense of release that i did upon reading Jesus' instructions in matthew chapter six on how to pray...i was so relieved when i realized Jesus didn't require me to hold a weekly all-night prayer vigil...

now don't get me wrong...while i really wanted to get that point...i don't want to give you the impression that all we ever need to do is throw up 3-sentence prayers here and there...there is another component to a truly vibrant prayer life...

a common problem i see and have experienced myself is we're so busy each day that we don't pause to pray...for ourselves or others...we don't plug into God...until a crisis happens...even then...sometimes...we're so used to dealing with things without praying that it can take awhile for us to remember to turn the problem over to God...so developing a pray-as-i-go-through-my-day mindset is important...

equally as important as taking God along with me through my day and my to-do list...is to set aside and spend time with Him...to commune with Him...to read scripture...to pray...and to listen for His response...to be still in His presence and worship Him...this kind of thing can't be done on the run...

plus...some issues we face in life...for whatever reason in the spiritual realm...cannot be solved with one or two quick prayers...we have to persist praying with faith...we may need to gather others to join us in praying...and to intercede on our behalf...it's always necessary too...to keep in mind that God may not answer in the way we expect...

em bounds writes..."we would not have anyone think that the value of prayer is to be measured by the clock." he also asserts...however, "the short prevailing prayer cannot be prayed by one who has not prevailed with God in a mightier struggle of long continuance." i believe what he is saying is that when we find God faithful in the issues of life that have required much prayer and faith...it provides a foundation of trust...experience and relationship on which our short daily prayers can rest...

when i look at the life of Jesus and His prayer practices...i see lots of brief prayers He prayed...i also see instances when He spent extended time praying and communing with God...for instance...in mark 1:35 we find Jesus alone in a solitary place...very early in the morning...praying...and in mark 6:46...after miraculously feeding 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish...Jesus leaves His disciples and goes up on a mountainside to pray...matthew adds to mark's account that Jesus remained there alone until evening (matthew 14:23).

so let's examine our prayer life for a moment...could you benefit from learning to pray quickly during your day as needs arise? is a set-apart time of leaning deeper into God with stillness and prayer what your soul is truly craving? whichever it is...or both...decide to make it happen...we can start with a quick prayer for God to guide us in this...

i can't think of anything better...then staying connected with Him through prayer throughout my day...

something i don't understand...

what a morning...got off the phone with someone (need to keep private) today...someone who completely because of their association with someone...is completely immersed in a relationship that should have ended a long time ago...this person...that i spoke to...is not in the relationship...but is a relative to the one who is...so the two in relationship...just keep at each other...they don't want to be together...but they keep inviting the other in (both of them do this) and then when not convenient...they play games...and completely shut the other out (again...both of them do this)...

maybe that makes no sense...but it does to me...and i guess since it's my blog...i'm venting...

sometimes...it is so hard to stand back...and see this horrible pattern take place...and what these two VERY selfish people do not realize...is how much damage they are doing to themselves...and more then that...how much damage they are doing to other family members...

when do you finally take the high road...and decide...you know...i'm not going to do this anymore...even if it feels like i've lost...or given up...this whole thing is not worth the pain it is causing everyone around me...including myself?

when do you say...enough is enough...and it is time to grow up...and stop playing these childish games?

when do you say...i'm going to walk away...so that those that are being hurt over and over...that have nothing to do with my own crap...can rest...

sigh...ok...that felt a little better...as i spoke to this person on the phone...i kept repeating...it is out of our control...there is nothing we can do...these two people...need to figure it out on their own...that it isn't about just them...it is about a whole bunch of people...that are being directly affected by this childish behavior that needs to stop...seriously...

nothing to say...

wow...what a week...not much to say today...got too much on my mind...which you would think would give me plenty to say...but i'm still processing... =)

on a good note...despite all the bad notes...my dear dear friend's surgery went well...it was so great to talk with her yesterday...hear her voice...and even laugh a little...love you g...so so much...

what i know...God is good...no matter what the circumstnaces...He is good...He is there...He is present...

and for that...i am grateful...truly truly grateful...

today and this weekend...i'm in aici conference...all those image consultants in one room should be fun...colorful...almost like a fashion show...looking forward to learning...reconnecting with old friends...and meeting some new...

have a great weekend...and remember to hug those close to you!

r.i.p. alan & rose...

a little over two months ago...i lost two friends...both in their 40's...one in early 40's...the other late 40's...early...late...does it make a difference? they were both in their 40's...that was crazy to me...but accepted as one of those things you just don't understand...

this week...same thing...all over again...rose...a friend from school...late 40's...she's gone...she had been sick for a long time...she was the most bubbly person i knew...even when she wasn't feeling good...she had the most magnetic personality...and everyone loved her...everyone...

and then yesterday...my dad called to tell me that alan had passed away...only 43...gone...our families had always hung out together...i with his sister...and my younger brother with alan...alan was a joy to be around...always smiling...thats how i will remember him...everyone had been praying...for months...and although i'm sure no one understands it...God chose to take him home...he leaves behind two very young children that i am sure are grappling with this loss...

and i'm sure you know what i'm going to say next...because it has to be said...live your life to the fullest...tell those in your life that you love them...hug them...spend time with them...no one...no one...is promised tomorrow...and age does not play a factor...

the detour...

you always here of the stories of God's protection...like those on the day of the horrific 9/11...someone was late getting to work...or someone had a blister and had to stop at the drug store...how many times we won't or don't know of the times that we were stuck at a red light...or traffic...and what God was protecting us from...

i had the opposite of that happen...on monday...i was literally not home all day...i was out with a friend...but i told her i needed to be home by 4pm because i had bible study...well...we got home at 4:15...her house...so i had no time to go home...grab my stuff for bible study...or the networking group meeting afterwards...i knew that it was going to be a long nite...so i had just enough time to get to starbucks to get my venti skinny hazelnut latte =)

walked in to starbucks...it was a breeze...no one in line...got my order in...grabbed my cup of delishishness (is that a word? did i spell it right?) i had 5 minutes left to get to bible study...and then i remembered...well i had already known because i called her that morning to sing to her my most dramatic version of happy birthday ever...i wanted to bring rosarita her birthday drink...so i called her and asked her what she would like...she was thrilled! awwwww...this meant that i needed to stop at the starbucks at the mall...can you envision it?? cra-ay-zee-ness!

so i walked in...and the line was looonnnggg....and i knew at this point that i was going to be late...which is something i really don't like to be...and am usually very very punctual...but...i really needed to do this for rosarita...

as i was standing in line...i kept hearing a lady's voice that kind of sounded familiar...but i didn't want to turn around...so i kept waiting in the never ending long long line...

when i finally was able to place my order...i went over to the area where you pick up...and then i saw her...the one who was attached to the voice...my long time friend suzie...i walked over to her table...she looked up...screamed...jumped up...and gave me the most incredible hug ever...sigh...

we chatted for a few minutes...she was in from out of town for a few days for a cousins funeral in sacramento...and now...here she was in the bay area...at starbucks...at the mall...we laughed that we had just chit chatted a while back on facebook about our wild teenage years...and then she hugged me again...she gives those hugs that are so heartfelt...you know the ones? you just feel enveloped in love...

so on monday...i thank God that he allowed the minor detour in my life...and being late for bible study...to get rosarita her birthday starbucks drink...and see an old friend who had married and moved far far away...and to get some incredible hugs...

He continues to bless me...

rules...

looking through some old documents...i came across this lovely list...now keeping in mind...i try not to follow rules...well...within reason...when it allows me to be me...without hurting others...then i'm all for it...the breaking of the rules...but i have to say...these are pretty good...don't yah think?

Rule 1 : Life is not fair – get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now… They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

where do you stand?

the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience...but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy... ~ martin luther king jr.

some of my favorite quotes are those of martin luther king, jr...those thoughts that make you stop and think...those are the quotes worth repeating...

mathematics - part 2...

...and God...

so are you excited to see the rest of this mathematical phenomenon?? or is it just me...makes no difference...i still think it is pretty amazing...and yes...it IS a God thing...after all...He created everything!

so here we go...a continuation of yesterdays post...take a look at this...

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there,

It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

and to that i say...a big fat AMEN!
enjoy your weekend!!

mathematics - part 1...

...and God...

i remember a health talk i listened to once...where the doctor was REALLY explaining the body...and all its integral parts...and how each part had a role in helping another part...blah blah blah...and i remember so clearly...like it was yesterday...how i sat in my chair and was so overwhelmed at how God had so orchestrated the body down to the very miniscule part...it still amazes me...

so i received this email...and once again...overwhelmed by the smallest of details that makes this work...no one can tell me that it is not a God thing...and based on that...how can you not trust Him with every miniscule detail of your life?

Just the math part is good enough, the end is even better.

Beauty of Mathematics

1 x 8 + 1 = 9

12 x 8 + 2 = 98

123 x 8 + 3 = 987

1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876

12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765

123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321


1 x 9 + 2 = 11

12 x 9 + 3 = 111

123 x 9 + 4 = 1111

1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111

12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111

123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111

1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111

12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111

123456789 x 9 + 10= 1111111111


9 x 9 + 7 = 88

98 x 9 + 6 = 888

987 x 9 + 5 = 8888

9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888

98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888

987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888

9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888

98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1

11 x 11 = 121

111 x 111 = 12321

1111 x 1111 = 1234321

11111 x 11111 = 123454321

111111 x 111111 = 12345654321

1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321

11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321

111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...wait till you see part 2 tomorrow...

reason & purpose...

yesterday...i wrote a post on "being anxious for nothing..." and as always...when i write...i'm really writing for me...this blog has been a way for me to get my thoughts out...in the open...to be able to analyze what is going on in my heart...and to deal with stuff that i may be struggling with...and in yesterdays case...it was about...really trusting God...and holding on to the truth given us in philippians...

and then i saw this note in facebook...written by one of my dearest friends...

"God's provision"
As some of you may know, I've been unemployed for over two years and John has been since this past spring. We haven't had an income since my unemployment ran out. I'm not sharing this for sympathy or any other reason but because I wanted to to say what an amazing God we serve and to thank him for His provision. My dear friend writes a daily blog (yes E. I do read it faithfully), today she shared my absolute favorite "go-to" scripture: Phil 4:6-7 "Do not worry over things but always by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ". John's devotional for today was about remaining faithful in our obedience to God and being willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent. Well in today's mail we received substantial unsolicited funds from a couple sources (one is someone we've never met or spoken). Wow, God is good is an understatement!!

how amazing is that? God is SO good...

and then...i literally sat on my couch and started crying...this has happened so many times with this blog...and it is usually when i write about something that i really don't want to write about...i mean...who wants to admit that you have control issues? which i did yesterday...but i felt led to write it...and then God totally surprises me...not because someone read my blog...but because it shows when i'm really dealing with what God is teaching me...and being open and honest...it touches the lives of others...and that was not my intention...but maybe therein lies the point...when we do things that He is asking us to do...whether we understand it or not...there is reason & a purpose for it...

i love how God still so amazingly surprises me...

do not be anxious...

do not be anxious about anything but in everything...by prayer and petition...with thanksgiving...present your requests to God...and the peace of God...which transcends all understanding...will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...philippians 4:6-7

have you ever REALLY looked at this verse? i've read it so many times...heard it read so many times...recited it so many times...are you getting the picture? but this morning...i REALLY looked at the verse...

wow...

what a promise! this is a verse...that basically sums it all up...dontcha think? do not worry about ANYTHING...that means...don't worry about the car payments...the mortgage...the economy...your job...bills...or your health...whatever is in your heart and mind...bring it to the Lord in prayer and in petition AND do it with thanksgiving...

have you ever thought about the "thanksgiving" part? it is such an important part of the process...because it is the part that speaks to trust and confidence...

it's kind of like this...you take your prayer request to God...and with that...you continue to worry...basically...you are telling God..."um...Lord...thank you so much for listening to me tell you about all that is currently on my mind...the stuff that is making me kind of go crazy...i'm not sleeping much because of it...but i trust you hear me...and will help me..." sounds good so far?

but when we continue to worry....we might as well be saying..."thanks for listening God...but i'm not so sure you can help..." i believe that in our soul we sense the conflicting beliefs in that line of thinking...we believe that God is able to do what He says He will do...why then is it so difficult to rest in this promise? it clearly states...don't be anxious about anything!

i think our need for control interferes with our trust in God...at least i know it does for me...joy and control do not make good roommates...i constantly struggle with this...daily...i've always found it hard to delegate...i figure if i do something myself then i know it will be done and done the way i think it should be...this spills over into my relationship with Christ...and here is the key...the doing makes me feel as if progress is being made...but that's not necessarily so...

when i face a number of situations that lack closure...i see clearly that i have two choices...i can bring these to God and then spend the rest of the day trying to figure out how i can "make things happen"...or i can bring my requests before God's throne of grace with a prayer of thanksgiving and confidence in Him and wait in the Lord...the real difference is what happens in me after my initial prayer...if i make the first choice...i continue to worry and fret over the outcome...if i take the second route...the way by which paul (in philippians) exhorts us to live...i come to an awesome promise... "the peace of God...which transcends ALL understanding...will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus..."

wow...

what a gift...the word of God could not be clearer here...if we will relinquish control of our lives and place our trust in God with absolute confidence...the peace of God...which is beyond human understanding...will cover us...protecting our hearts and minds...

i think i'll opt for that...

i resolve to...

here it is...the first full week of january over...a brand new year is officially in full swing...more than that...a brand new decade! wow! makes me all shivery inside! twenty eleven...that's fun to say...

ok...so over the past few days my daily newspaper...the evening news...my internet provider...programs on tv...plus any number of friends have been brimming over with advice on making and keeping new year's resolutions..."don't be unrealistic, just get started, accept your mistakes, count your successes" and on and on it goes...i can't turn in any direction without reading or hearing or seeing something about resolutions...i'd feel downright guilty if i didn't make at least one...

the thing is - this isn't the time we need the advice or encouragement...heck...we all have tremendous resolve right now...it's a new year...everyone has a shiny, clean slate and success is just waiting to be claimed...right?

it reminds me of a scene from the mel gibson movie "the patriot". [as a complete digression...i must say that i have always been a big mel fan - the old mel anyway...the "pre-weird rant, mid-life crisis, dump my wife of 30 years and my 7 kids for a newer model" braveheart mel...MAYBE he will make some resolutions to clean himself up and be the guy we all used to love and admire...but that's a whole other blog]. but as i said..i digress...

back to the patriot: remember at the beginning of the movie when the south carolina state congress...against mel's objections...votes to declare war against england? the people are delirious with excitement...fireworks are shot off...people are cheering and throwing their hats into the air...FREEDOM! (oops, wrong mel movie)... anyway, only mel seems to know what lies ahead...he's battled before...he's a veteran...

now fast forward to the scene where mel's character and his oldest son, gabriel...are watching out an upstairs window at a disastrous scene playing out before them in the open field below...the british are routing the patriots and the once idealistic...optimistic army of future americans turn tail and run away as fast as they can in humiliating defeat...mel puts his arm around his disheartened son and lets him know this is just one battle lost...not the whole war...

his timing is...of course...perfect (could the "old" mel be anything less?)

we don't need to be told what to do on december 31st or january 10th when our resolve and hopes are high...it's when the new bag of m&m's is suddenly... inexplicably 1/2 empty ("melts in your mouth, not in your hands!" - obviously a brilliant scheme to hide all evidence) or an empty pint carton of ben & jerry's dutch double chocolate ice cream is found in your personal office trash can ("how in the world did that get in there?") or when...despite every good intention...you forget to call your mother for three weeks or you accidentally nag your husband/boyfriend again (and again) about ________ (fill in blank).

it's losses in these individual battles that lead to complete defeat in the resolutionary war...you see...it's in the middle of the campaign when hope for success dwindles...when the enthusiasm at the starting line is just a dim memory and victory is still too far off to seem attainable...come january 27th or february 13th or march 6th i'll need my good, old friend mel to put his arm around me (editorial pause as i close my eyes and imagine the old mel, the "what women want" mel, actually putting his arm around me) and tenderly encourage me that while i may have lost a battle or two...the resolutionary war is still winnable....that's when dr oz and phil, dateline and my local newspaper should all run the articles we are reading this week...

of course...it's also about making resolutions that both matter and are absolutely attainable...i made a list of a few resolutions that i intend to keep this year that aren't on the normal top 10 most common resolutions (you know the ones i'm talking about: lose weight, spend more time with family, get out of debt, stop smoking, stop drinking and whatever else)...

for example: i resolve to:

1. do a completely unexpected act of kindness for someone i absolutely loathe and despise...really...first, it's biblical - doing a kindness for your enemy will be like heaping burning coals on his head...sounds totally worth it, doesn't it? (of course, you cannot assume that if i happen to do something nice for you...i actually loathe you...) honestly, it's a great lesson in servanthood...the loath-ee might not even know...but i will know and it will be good for me...

2. finish something: i know what that means to me - i will keep the "thing" to myself...but the point is...i've got some things in my life that i have had dangling in my head and heart for a long time and I aim to finish at least one of those "things" this year...

There are a few more...but you get the idea...those are resolutions for me - just me - and they are completely attainable...at least it feels that way on january 10th...so, are you with me? let's all resolve to win the resolutionary war this year! hip, hip hooray! hip, hip hooray! with a little help from the old mel...and ALOT of help from the Father above...how can we go wrong??

the safest place to be...

sent to me by a wonderful friend...may you feel safe in His arms...

wishing you a wonderful weekend...

dream job...

i think one of the most incredible things we can do...if afforded the opportunity...is to travel and explore the rest of the world...it gives us a sense of life outside of our self-imposed "comfort zones"...teaches us all the wonderful diversity that people can have and most important...teaches us that at some level or another we are all alike...even when we seem worlds apart...

i have been able to travel to some pretty incredible countries...the ability to learn about different cultures...try different foods...and of course...for me...to see different fashion around the world is pretty amazing...

but even when i'm back home...i am always people watching...and looking at fashion...and how people put outfits together...some that should be together...and well...some that just shouldn't...

and although i love my job...being a fashion consultant...and helping people reach their true personal style...my "other" dream job would be to do something along the lines of "the sartorialist"...i have admired this blog for a long long time...can you imagine being able to travel around the world...and take pictures of people and their own personal style? les sigh...a true dream job...

a carpe diem life...

"seize the day..." this is what "carpe diem" means...this is the time of year where most ask if you have made any resolutions...i don't actually sit down and write them down...but something that i started being pretty adament about last year...was really living in the moment..and taking each day as it came...so...i'm thinking if i had to "name" a resolution...that would be it...just more of living life that way...

i rec'd this email a while back from a girlfriend...entitled "we are all guilty..." you may have seen it before...i know that i have...but wow...what a reminder to live life to its fullest...2010...i lost 2 dear friends...both in their 40's...i'm sure they thought they had a lot more life to live...i've said it so many times...probably more for myself then for others...we are not promised tomorrow...so make this the start...if you haven't done so already...to live each day to its fullest...

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would pause & stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because People cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask 'How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see her sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi'?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

'Life may not be the party we hoped for... But while we are here we might as well dance!'
author unknown

what does it mean to die?

ok...as much as i love the holidays...and all it entails..i do not love the winter...or its weather...but it is needed...it’s that time of year...when things die in order to come back to life stronger and more mature in the spring...which is an awesome reminder from our loving God that every season is a necessary part of life and growth...

as christians...many times we avoid (at ALL costs) anything that will break us...crush us or cause any amount of discomfort...we love the verse, “but thanks be to God...who always leads us in triumph in Christ, & manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 corinthians 2:14), but we forget that triumph in Christ requires a cross & becoming an aroma will involve a crushing...and in order to be a new creation...something must die...

a.w. tozer said, “among the plastic saints of our times, Jesus has to do all the dying, and all we want to hear is another sermon about his dying.” we want the resurrection without the crucifixion...without death...but really this should be christianity 101...i give up my rights...my wants...my desires and dreams...and i exchange them for Him and for His perfect leadership in my life...because the truth is...i am human and i will screw it up...

another scripture that we love is revelation 12:11, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” but we leave out the last part: “they didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up.” overcoming will require that you lay down your life...

i have been asking the Lord to show me how to die...to come gently like a winter snow and place His finger on the things in my life that i haven’t handed over to Him and the rights that...in my arrogance...i think i have...this winter...ask Him to do the same in your life....because for everything that dies...something new...beautiful and fruitful will grow in its place...

new dreams...

there is something about the beginning of a new year...at least for me...it is a chance to start over...to re-assess the old...what is working and what is not...the thing is...i have a lot of good things going on in my life...but it opens up the opportunity to look at things...and dream...and hope for more...

now really...i could do this anytime of year...and if i was being completely honest...which i want to be...i do this exercise throughout my year...throughout my life...

but the new year really brings the point home to me...of new beginnings...it is kind of when i have decided to start exercising...or eating right...i would always need to begin on a monday...not that monday is some magical day...but it (in my mind) has that "beginning" feeling...which is kinda crazy really...you know you need to start exercising...you decide on wednesday that you will begin...but you can't start till monday...i know...doesn't make sense...but it works for me...so that is why this time of year is huge for me...kind of like a monday...long term...

i am excited about this year...the start of a new decade...not because my last year was so awful...i mean...it was tough...don't get me wrong...but in those tough times...out of those...came some pretty incredible moments...those moments that i wouldn't trade for anything...

so we choose how we look at things...and i choose to focus on the lessons...the hurts taught me a lot about myself...and what i was capable of enduring...and that endurance came because of my relationship with the Lord...absolutely no other reason...they also taught me of the incredible relationships that i have been so beyond blessed with...those that left when the going got tough...or those who left because they couldn't be honest & deal with the hurt or wrong they had caused...those are people whose integrity is questionable...and really...who wants people like that around? the Lord protected me...by showing me people's true colors...and for that i'm grateful...

i'm excited about new dreams...i'm excited about the new people i have yet to meet...and i am most excited on the path the Lord will take me this year...all i need to do...is to hang on tight to Him...