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Month: September 2020

Who is on your front row?

Who is on your front row?

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I recently heard a preacher ask that question, and it really made me think about my own life. Who do I look to for confirmation, validation, or inspiration? And what will I do if the person I count on leaves? When the person I depended on can no longer be depended on. Why am I so connected to people that they have the power to command not only my attention, but also my day? Why does his/her opinion matter so much?

I know I have been freed from people-pleasing, but there is this place in me, and in many of us, that needs to know that somebody somewhere will be on our side no matter what. We were created for connection. It’s in our nature to desire kinship. It’s deeper than just wanting approval. It’s about relationships. God-centered relationships. He created us to have a relationship with Him, and with one another. But our expectations are so high sometimes that we can’t even live up to them, and yet we expect others to be able to. It’s actually a little unfair when you think about it.

God had to show me that I was putting the wrong people on my front row. We bear the image of God, but we can’t expect them to BE God. No one will ever be able to give us what can only be found in Him. He is the One who will ALWAYS be there even without being asked. He is the One that knows what we need even before we do. And He is the One who loves us even when we’re not so lovable. So, check your front row. Make sure you have the right person sitting front and center, and let everyone else off the hook.

Until next time…

Be blessed 

This new way of living

This new way of living

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I think that I am settling into this new way of living a little too much, and my old life is beginning to feel like a distant memory. I have always loved being around people. I mean I like having alone time, but there is something energizing for me about being with people. I believe I am an extrovert with introvert tendencies. That combination is typically a plus for me, but COVID-19 kinda put a stop to everything I knew as “normal” (Whatever that means). 

I am learning to be a little more creative, and a lot more adventurous, and even though loneliness stops by every now and then, I still love having my alone time. I find myself using this time to try things that I have never tried before. I am making decisions without checking with 10 people first. I am learning to depend on God more, and not so much on other people. I realized that it puts an unfair burden on folks to expect them to solve my problems and theirs too. Besides, I love learning new things. I always have, and those feelings are beginning to come back again…like an old lost friend. It feels good to spend time reading, or writing, or praying without feeling like there is something I need to do, or some place I need to be. It feels good to go to bed late, and sleep even later or not. It just feels good to be free, and I want to hold onto this feeling as long as I can.

My goal for this new season that we have all been catapulted into is to live according to God’s plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He also says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” I love those verses, and I really am loving this new way of living. Because it’s not about my plan, or anyone else’s. It’s all about Him, and that’s more than enough for me. 

Until next time…

Be blessed 

Knowing who to call

Knowing who to call

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I am so fearless right now that it’s actually starting to be a little too much. This time I decided to try adding a security lock to my front door. That’s right! I tried to do it myself…sigh. We already know that something was not going to go the way I planned. 

It took me maybe a week to attempt it. Mainly because common sense was telling me not to do it. But, I wanted to prove to myself that I could. I didn’t want fear to stop me from even attempting it, right? There are maybe hundreds…no, thousands of women all over the world who not only do repairs on their own homes, they also have actually built homes themselves. So I figured one lock shouldn’t be that difficult. The thing is…someone forgot to tell the door that.

As usual, before I got started, I measured, and re-measured just to make sure. After a little work, I finally got the first bracket up. I stood back to admire my work, and I noticed that it was a little crooked. For a second I thought about fixing it, but it wasn’t that bad, so I kept going. When I went to attach the other side to the frame, the frame started to dislodge. Why??? Why would the frame come apart? I went and found some really long nails and a hammer, and that’s when common sense kicked in, and told me to call for help. I love being one of God’s daughters. He is always on standby. He knows what we need before we do. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try new things…even hard things. It just means that when we need help, we know who to call.

As I was praying about what to do, God told me who to call. When I called the guy, he was only ten minutes away. I know that it was only God that had the right person in the right place at the right time. I love how He does that.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Follow the Directions

Follow the Directions

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This is starting to be a thing. This week, I put up mini blinds. Yay! At first, it seemed like it was going to be pretty easy. I mean, what could be so hard, right? You drill a hole, put in a screw, and voila! Snap on a mini blind…um, not so much.

What actually happened is I typically don’t use the directions. I can just eyeball it, right? I used a ruler to measure the spot where I wanted the mini blind to hang (I did it twice just to make sure)…it wasn’t right, and I had to move it over…sigh. I drilled three perfect holes, and then the fourth hole kept on going. It was hollow. Why would the hole be hollow? Ok. So, I wasn’t going to let one hollow hole stop this show. I got out the brackets and after a couple of tries…it worked. I was so happy. A little sweaty from trying to get the screw to stop spinning along with the drill, but I digress. When I got to the second bracket, let’s just say…things took a turn. Of course, the one hole was hollow, so that screw went straight through. There was no wood for it to go into. I’m not sure what that’s about, but the second one finally went in and as long as no one fiddles with it we should be good. 

As always, God used this whole thing to show me a thing or two about myself. Even though the ladder wasn’t quite tall enough, and my arms got tired from holding them up so long, I learned that perseverance does pay off. I learned that having a plan is good, but being able to ride it out when it doesn’t go as planned is essential. Sometimes, what looks easy is really going to take hard work, but following directions will not only save time…it just makes sense. 

I really can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Until next time…

Be blessed