As we rise up into the joy of this day, the reality of a life surrendered to the Father is possible. What we gain when we surrender is amazing grace, love, hope, joy and NEW LIFE in abundance. Let the old be burned away so the new and true can reign!
Francis Frangipane captures my heart for today so well:
"Like prospectors of old, you must stake your
claim high in the kingdom of God, being ready to defend your rights to
the “pure gold” of Heaven (Rev 3:18). And as you pitch your tent at the
throne of grace, something eternal will begin to glow in you, like hot
coals on a furnace floor. As you persist in faith, the sacred fire of
God's presence will consume the wood, hay and stubble of your former
ways. Power such as Jesus had will reside in your inner being. Angels
will stand in awe, for your gold will be refined, your garments light,
and your life holy. -- Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God."
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Writing
I used to write a lot. Daily, in fact. I kept a journal, I 'journaled' here on this blog, pondered life, and gave my not-so-biased views on many things. What's happened to keep me from writing so frequently?
Life.
Nice excuse. But real nonetheless. There is a reality to living in the good-ole-U.S. of A. that I didn't experience when I was living in Hungary. In Hungary, even though life took LONGER to live each day, life in the U.S. is just busy because it seems to take MORE effort just to make ends meet. At the end of the day, when all the papers are graded, the connections made with customers, and the bills are paid, I crawl into bed, spent, often exhausted, my mind filled with unmet desires as I look at the stack of unread books on my bedside table.
How did I get away from the topic of writing so quickly and into the mode of complaining? Forgive me. Back to writing. I found great solace in putting pen to paper or plunking out profound thoughts on my blog. There is something very therapeutic about processing on paper, as the saying goes.
However, now, writing seems to be daunting for me; there are simply not enough hours in a day to do the kind of justice writing deserves. Plus, these days I am spending many hours per day reading other people's writing, and so come close of day, I simply want to turn my computer off and not write or read another word.
Now I understand why I quit giving my students in Hungary papers to write ha ha ha!
Call it mid-life crisis or whatever you will, but I'm definitely finding great joy in trying my hand at different things other than teaching school. However, I digress yet again.
Back to writing. I want to write...I really do. I have a couple of books churning inside of me, but finding the time to write while having the ability to pay bills is the dilemma I find myself in these days. I'm praying for the day when I can spend hours on my laptop doing my own writing, revising and editing of my own pieces.
We'll see.....til then...enjoy my musings, convoluted as they may be.
Life.
Nice excuse. But real nonetheless. There is a reality to living in the good-ole-U.S. of A. that I didn't experience when I was living in Hungary. In Hungary, even though life took LONGER to live each day, life in the U.S. is just busy because it seems to take MORE effort just to make ends meet. At the end of the day, when all the papers are graded, the connections made with customers, and the bills are paid, I crawl into bed, spent, often exhausted, my mind filled with unmet desires as I look at the stack of unread books on my bedside table.
How did I get away from the topic of writing so quickly and into the mode of complaining? Forgive me. Back to writing. I found great solace in putting pen to paper or plunking out profound thoughts on my blog. There is something very therapeutic about processing on paper, as the saying goes.
However, now, writing seems to be daunting for me; there are simply not enough hours in a day to do the kind of justice writing deserves. Plus, these days I am spending many hours per day reading other people's writing, and so come close of day, I simply want to turn my computer off and not write or read another word.
Now I understand why I quit giving my students in Hungary papers to write ha ha ha!
Call it mid-life crisis or whatever you will, but I'm definitely finding great joy in trying my hand at different things other than teaching school. However, I digress yet again.
Back to writing. I want to write...I really do. I have a couple of books churning inside of me, but finding the time to write while having the ability to pay bills is the dilemma I find myself in these days. I'm praying for the day when I can spend hours on my laptop doing my own writing, revising and editing of my own pieces.
We'll see.....til then...enjoy my musings, convoluted as they may be.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Do you need an extra $1000?
If you have received your January paycheck, you have probably seen that the tax increase did not just affect the richest of rich, but also the average person.
How about needing to lose weight? Could you stand to lose an extra 10 pounds?
I have a challenge for you: Lose 10 pounds in a week and be in the running for $1000.
It gets better...how about earning an extra $1000 every month? I would love to help people get fit, lose weight and earn extra money.
Go to THIS LINK and get the whole scoop!
How about needing to lose weight? Could you stand to lose an extra 10 pounds?
I have a challenge for you: Lose 10 pounds in a week and be in the running for $1000.
It gets better...how about earning an extra $1000 every month? I would love to help people get fit, lose weight and earn extra money.
Go to THIS LINK and get the whole scoop!
Monday, January 07, 2013
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Resolutions vs. Transformations
This is the time of year when gyms are full, health food aisles in stores are running low on items, and fast-food restaurants are searching for ways to draw in customers. Many people have made resolutions, seeking to change long-time habit patterns. Some succeed, but most do not.
How about focusing on something different? What if people decided to make new year's TRANSFORMATIONS instead? Transformations take time, discipline and diligence, but the end result is an entirely new 'being', rather than a spruced up one. Transformations mean commitment, and I believe they must begin from the inside out, rather than the outside in. There is a decision that must be made, every morning, every minute, every hour, every meal, every day. The beginning of a transformation must be charted, recorded, and then the steps to reach transformation must be taken, one at a time, one decision at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. It's an ongoing process rather than a one time declaration.
The key, in my opinion, to transformation is this: for whom are you transforming your life? The answer must be outside of yourself...is it for your spouse? Your neighborhood? Your children or grandchildren? Your colleagues at work? Your friends? You see, transformation is about making those choices that will transform your life and the lives of those around you. Resolutions are inherently self-focused and therefore fail because we were not created to satisfy ourselves but to be in relationship with others.
When we commit to transformations in our lives, the impact is far-reaching because it's not primarily about us, but rather about the world around us.
So, care to join me on a journey of transformation in 2013?
How about focusing on something different? What if people decided to make new year's TRANSFORMATIONS instead? Transformations take time, discipline and diligence, but the end result is an entirely new 'being', rather than a spruced up one. Transformations mean commitment, and I believe they must begin from the inside out, rather than the outside in. There is a decision that must be made, every morning, every minute, every hour, every meal, every day. The beginning of a transformation must be charted, recorded, and then the steps to reach transformation must be taken, one at a time, one decision at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. It's an ongoing process rather than a one time declaration.
The key, in my opinion, to transformation is this: for whom are you transforming your life? The answer must be outside of yourself...is it for your spouse? Your neighborhood? Your children or grandchildren? Your colleagues at work? Your friends? You see, transformation is about making those choices that will transform your life and the lives of those around you. Resolutions are inherently self-focused and therefore fail because we were not created to satisfy ourselves but to be in relationship with others.
When we commit to transformations in our lives, the impact is far-reaching because it's not primarily about us, but rather about the world around us.
So, care to join me on a journey of transformation in 2013?
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