Inspiration

“Being a woman of God in a crazy demanding world.”

We all have a story.  Our life, relationships, our faith, family, childhood, and work. I’ve just finished reading  a great book, (actually listening on CD), by John Eldredge,

Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really.

In his book, the author is basically telling the story of his walk with God over a year.  His thoughts, struggles, and life stories.  I love his openness and his honesty.

For several years God has been talking to me about writing down my faith stories to share with my children.   I’ve been thinking about getting ready to write them down.  Do you know what I mean?  Getting ready to get ready?  In the fall,  I was stirred in my heart to do this and have been making a few notes as God reminds me of those special occurrences.  Then, as I read Eldredge’s book, once again, God spoke to me about my story.

God has been so faithful through the years.  His love and peace have carried me through the ups and downs.  I want my children to have this heritage, to know how their lives were influenced and touched.

So I am starting.  Yes, no more ‘getting ready to get ready’.  I have begun.

As a little girl, about 7 years old, I was living in Abilene, Texas with my parents, and sister and brother.  There was a man on our street who always has little pamphlets and ‘bible stuff’.  They were so pretty and had nice pictures on them, with a scripture.  I don’t remember what he said to me, or if we really talked much, but I loved the pictures with the scriptures verses.  Our family usually went to church, but when we didn’t go, for whatever the reason, I would teach Sunday School to my brother and sister, putting those pictures on a board, and talk about Jesus.  The beginning of felt boards for me.  I knew and accepted Jesus in those young years, and have always known and felt His presence in my life.  That neighbor on the street made a difference to me.  I wish I knew his name to thank him.

Do you have some stories in your life that you want to share?  I know you do, we all do.  Think about writing them down, and sharing with your family, friends, or just as a reminder to yourself.  It’s actually pretty fun.

Have a blessed week!

Delinda

QUESTION:  What is your story?  Do you have a story you would like to share?  I’d love to hear it!

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“Being a woman of God in a crazy demanding world.”

Friday mornings  I head out to our ladies group at church for our Bible study.  Our group is called G.I.F.T.s,  “Girlfriends In Fellowship Together”, and these ladies are a ‘Gift’. They are great friends and I am so thankful to be able to share in ministry with them.  It’s a blessing how God brings us all together.

Our Pastor has been preaching on the ‘body of Christ’, how we are all different parts, but together we make up the whole.  I Corinthians  12:4 says,   ^“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20corinthians%2012&version=NIV)

Isn’t that so cool.  It was so evident as I looked at each of the ladies in this group.  We have a teacher, a seamstress, one who makes banners, a lady who knits prayer shawls, several great cooks, an administrator, a  proofreader, several who excel at hospitality, several prayer warriors., and other gifts as well.   They are women who love and care, women who encourage and reach out.  We share our lives, our stories, and our hearts.  It is really wonderful. When we are all doing what we are called to do, sharing the gifts that God has given to each of us, life works better.
I am blessed to be surrounded by  these ladies, and I wanted to let them know that I appreciate them.  Tell them thank you for what they do, for who they are in Christ.

Do you have special people in your life that you can reach out to?  I hope  you do. Maybe a quick phone call, a pat on the back,  a hand written note, or  even an email, just to let them know you appreciate them. Everyone loves a thank you.

I also appreciate YOU.  Thank you for sharing your time with me today!

Blessings

Delinda

QUESTION:  Who would be blessed today by a heartfelt ‘Thank you’ from you?

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“Being a woman of God in a crazy demanding world.”

I was talking with a great friend yesterday and when I asked how things were going, she said she was busy, lots going on.  Then she said, “Of course, that’s the way I like it, it’s my choice to be busy”

She is so right.  As we continued to talk about choices we make, I thought I’d share some of these things with  you.

We are where we are today because of the choices we have  made along the way. (gosh, that is a nice rhyme – ummm maybe a new song).  Anyway, some are obvious; we chose to get married, or stay single.  We decided to have children, or not.  We decided to go to college, take a job, move, and so on.  Some were easy choices, some were not.  Some were conscious and others more subtle.  We are a product of our choices.

When I was a Director in Mary Kay, and as I travel,  I talk with so many women who feel they had no choice in their life.  They felt stuck.  Maybe you’ve felt this way before, maybe you do now.  The truth is we do have a choice.  We  may not want to admit it, or maybe we don’t see any choice.  Take another look.

• First, you have a choice of staying where you are, or making a change.  The change of job, or city where you live, or relationships.  It may be hard, may take monumental effort, but you can decide and make a different choice. By staying where you are and doing what you are doing, you are making a choice-to stay. Maybe just begin to think about what you would change if you could, then realize you can.

• Another choice is our attitude.  Sometimes we have looked at something through negative eyes.  We can change how you feel about it.  Sometimes just a change in attitude can totally change our life from hating our job, for example, to realizing how blessed we are to have one, or maybe realize that God can use us to bless others in whatever job we have.  Or we can do the item above and make an actual physical change.

• We have a choice in how we spend our days, each day.  As I talked to my friend Barb, I related an  ‘Ah Ha’ moment I had a few years ago.  It is so vivid that I see it as clearly today as it was when it happened.  I was in Mary Kay, and usually was busy all the time, between building my business, the kids, their activities, school, my church work, etc., life was in overflow.  Then I had one of those days that I had no appointments, nothing on my calendar, and demands on my time.  It was a Friday, a beautiful sunny day, and as I stood at the bottom of the stairs, I remember being so grateful, and I thanked God for the beautiful day and what a blessing it was to have a ‘free’ day.  I felt so feel and lighthearted.

As I was praying and thanking Him for the day and ‘free’ time, a ‘free’ day,  in my spirit He moved me.  In the stillness and sunshine He whispered to my heart, “Everyday is  your day”.  WOW!  Everyday is my day, and your day, to plan it, spend it, and do each day as we choose.  It is hard to look at and realize that we actually do choose how we  spend our days.  Often it is  running and going.  We say ‘yes’ when we should say ‘no’.  (BTW, No can be a powerful.)  We give in to the events that happen instead of making events happen the way we choose.

We often find ourselves living our days as a reaction to what happens to us instead of being pro-active and making a conscious choice in how we spend it.  This is so freeing.  We really can do it.  When we realize that we can decide how to spend our time, what we do , when we do it, where we go, then we have more joy and satisfaction, and don’t feel stuck or at a dead-end.

Here’s a tough one. A few years ago I had someone mention that I had a choice in how much I weigh.  Now,  that is my big issue, one that I’ve dealt with most of my life.  So I was really insulted that he said that I ‘choose’ to be heavy.  What?  I Do not!  Why would I choose to be this size?  Those were my thoughts…. but after some real soul-searching, it is the truth.  I talk about and think about it, but the truth is until it is important enough for me to do something about the weight issue, it is going to stay there.  Until I choose to make a difference for me, choose to make different eating choices, ‘it’ is always going to be there.  Yuck.  Do I really have to take responsibility for all that?  Yes, I’m afraid so.

How about you?  How do you feel about your choices, are there some areas that you want to make a different choice?

I think we all do.   We have a loving and gracious God.  If we have made bad choices He is there to forgive, and then choose to forgive yourself. Choose gratitude, choose Christ, choose to love, choose to let go of things that hold you back.  Choose today to be free.  Free to decide what you want and what you feel God has for you.  “This is the day that the lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Have a blessed day– it is your choice after all.

Delinda

Question- If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?  What would it take to make that choice?

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