sittin in Barnes & Nobles

Ok…so, I’m sittin’ in B & N and I’m trying to be a good girl and work on an assignment for school that’s due in 4hrs and 9min. I tried to select a location that was away from everyone else, in a quiet little spot. If you know me at all, you know that I can be a terrible procrastinator when I don’t want to do something…now is one of those times. I’m sleepy; I want to go home and go to bed, but all of that is not the point.

The thing that is destracting me is the couple sitting 2 tables away and totally making out! Come on, this is a bookstore/ coffee shop…is that really necessary? People are weird.

Of course, it did provide me with a reason to stop working and write this blog, so I’m thankful for that. Now I have 4hrs and 4min to finish this assignment. I wonder what else I can find to destract me?

I miss home

It’s such a beautiful day outside. I’m in Canada and today I went to Niagra Falls to walk around. The trees are bright oranges, reds and yellows. There are cute little pumpkin patches on the side of the road, and picturesque little houses. 

I’m with 3 girls who were my housemates when I was in Australia. I miss is so much!!!!!! Being around them just makes me remember how much I love and miss Sydney and all of my friends there. Sigh…

12:16am

I’m sleepy, not just a little sleepy… like my eyes can barely stay open sleepy, but lately I’ve noticed that I’m like a little kid that fights sleep. I’m not sure why exactly, but lately I just don’t want to go to sleep. It’s like if I go to sleep then I’m going to miss something or tomorrow will  come all to quickly. But, it’s getting a little ridiculous. I just am not sure exactly what my issue is so I don’t know how to fix it.

kick the criticism

I had a bit of a revelation the other day. I realized that in my life, as well as in the lives of others that I have observed, criticism can become a vicious cycle. It starts with an atmosphere of criticism, which breeds insecurity, which breeds mistakes, which breeds more criticism. Then we wonder why we are not getting results that we’d like to from the people we lead.

If you’re a leader who is noticing that you’re team is not performing the way that you hope:                        

-try a different tactic: expect your team to do well, don’t seek out the mistakes

-go a step further, and set them up for a win

If you’re someone who feels stifled by criticism:                                                                                            

-remember you were created to please God not men, as long as you are doing what God has called you to do, and you’re giving it your best, try not to ignore the criticism                                                            

-sometimes you have to be audacious enough to go all out even in the face of much criticism

the tough choices

So, lately has been one of those periods in life where I feel like God is presenting me with test after test after challenge after test. I hate it when I know the “right” thing to do, but everything within me wants to do the opposite. This is especially true when it comes to my attitudes. I think mastering your attitude is one of the toughest things we ever have to do in life. Well, we don’t have to, but if we want God to continue to use us in his kingdom then it’s a must. 

The truth is that no one else can help you to have a right attitude. There is some magic formula to accomplish it and there isn’t anything anyone can say to talk you into it. You have to go to God, but even then you have to choose, sometimes by the day, sometimes by the hour and sometimes by the minute, to change your way of thinking. It ain’t easy! 

the path to your God-given dreams

I had the privilege of speaking at “Ladies First” last Wednesday morning. I spoke about how we all have been given a God-given dream and destiny. Along the path towards that destiny there are steps that we can take to make sure we are positioned for greatness. The 2 steps I talked about were: surrendering your will to Him and believing for the impossible. 

Today, I was reminded of another step along the path… trusting in God. There are always going to be set backs along the journey, but it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, when you know God has called you to do something, trust that He will make it happen. It doesn’t matter if people don’t see it in you or if they think that’s it’s not going to happen. Keep believing; keep trusting in Him; keeping praying for the right doors to be opened, and trust that God will work it out.

There’s no need to strive to make it happen on your own. It will come to pass. Relax and watch what God does.

A move of God

I don’t know about you, but I am hungry for God to move… in me and in His church. I was reading a book and this line jumped out at me: “Jesus is present in his church. When people take his presence there seriously, God moves.” How often do we come to church thinking that we know what to expect. We’ll sing a few songs, maybe watch a video clip or have a special performance song, then the pastor will get up and talk for a while, we’ll all flow in and out of listening, he’ll pray, we’ll give tithe and offering (maybe, when we feel like it), and then we’ll head out thinking about what we’ll have for lunch.

Is this how church was meant to be? What happened to the church in acts where thousands came to believe in Christ, were baptized in water, then filled with the Holy Spirit. Do we expect for God to move like that where we are? Are we expecting God to move at all really in our churches? What would happen if you came into church on Sunday and “took His presence seriously?” What would happen if each of us prayed and sought Him to do something radical in our church? Are we ready for it? Are we too afraid that it actually might happen? Are we like the Israelites who said to Moses, “You go into the tent and meet with God, we’ll stay back here, and you just tell us what He says.”? 

Our world needs Christians who have encountered the living God. People need to know that He is real. They need to know that He still speaks. They need to know that He still performs miracles. We need to be radical Christians. 

My prayer is: God, I want to encounter you today. I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit today so that I can be used to influence others in their walk with you. I don’t want to play it safe. Help me to not hold back. I’m willing to do whatever you have for me to do. I’m willing to make a fool out of myself for you, as long as you’ll be with me and as long as you’ll guide me. I want to see you move in my life, in the people around me, and in your church. I believe all things are possible with you, and I am waiting with expectation to see you move mightily.

Getting excited

So, I’m really excited about some things that I have coming up. For the last few months I have been seeking direction about what other things I should be doing with my life. Finally, I feel like I have some of those answers. I’m the kind of person that functions better when I have a million and one things to do; I know that some would argue that this is a bad way to live, but for me it is definitely true. 

One of the things I’ve decided to do is go back to college. I have about a year left of school in order to get a Bachelors Degree in English. I’m in the process of submitting all my paperwork in order to get started again. There are 2 other things that I’m going to be working on/towards during the next several week, so I’m feeling good about things. One of which, I’ll be sharing soon because it may involve some of you as well.

Anyway, please pray that God will continue to open the doors that need to be opened and close the ones that aren’t for me. He has been so faithful to me throughout my life to give me VERY clear direction, and for that, I’m am forever thankful.

a little inspiration from a great poem

IF 
By Rudyard Kipling

 

If you can keep your head when all about you 
are losing theirs and blaming it on you, 
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you 
but make allowance for their doubting too, 
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 
or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, 
or being hated, don’t give way to hating, 
and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master, 
if you can think-and not make thoughts your aim; 
if you can meet with Triumph and Disaster 
and treat those two impostors just the same; 
if you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken 
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 
or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, 
and stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 
and lose, and start again at your beginnings 
and never breathe a word about your loss; 
if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 
to serve your turn long after they are gone, 
and so hold on when there is nothing in you 
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, 
or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch, 
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; 
if all men count with you, but none too much, 
if you can fill the unforgiving minute 
with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, 
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it…

Every moment of every day

So…I’m reading a really good book…God is Closer Than You Think…I’d underline it, but I don’t know how to do that on here. Anyway, it’s great! The part that I’m reading now is talking about being a disciple of Jesus, every minute of everyday no matter what you’re doing. It suggests, starting each day with a prayer of “God, help me to watch and learn from you in every moment of today.” It’s a truly revolutionary thought when you realize that Jesus is available to you at every moment to help you through every tough decision, every stressful environment, every laugh you share with friends, every annoyance that comes your way, every feeling of inadequacy, every harsh word spoken over you, every misunderstanding, every success, every good day, and every bad. He’s there. He’s not just their to watch silently. He’s not there to make you feel better. He’s not there to make things go your way. He’s there to teach you and show you how to respond like him in all circumstances. My prayer today is God, make me your disciple.