May 20, 2013

Reaching Down, Moving Up


“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” -- Flora Edwards

Today has been one wild, fun filled day.  A few calls, a few emails, and the momentum was started.  Goals are being met, new heights are being reached.  It is so fun.

I love a day that has been spent talking to others, helping them figure out what it is they want, and then laying out a plan to achieve it.  It is inspiring to hear the excitement in their voices, sometimes with a mix of surprise.  "What?  I am about to accomplish what?"  All this activity prompts me into action as well.

The more I reach down to help others, the higher the ground I find myself standing on.  Isn't that the point?  Not to turn and try to climb new heights carelessly, but to be intentional about bringing others with me.  My face smiles, my heart races, and I do little happy dances through the house.  Yes!  This is what stirs my soul, this is what fires me up.

I never would have known that simply investigating the name of a company I knew nothing about a few years ago, could lead to such extraordinary opporunities and blessings.  Really?  This is what I get to do?  Mondays have never been so exhilerating.
 

May 18, 2013

The Longing

 To sit confidently in the place God has brought me,and walk passionately on the path before me.
To know my purpose and my callings, and be at peace that what has been breathed into my heart will come to pass.
To be still and know that I am loved, I love, and to be aware of the beauty all around me.
To be filled with joy and give joy to thers, to inspire, to grow, to learn and to teach.
To meet a goal and then set and meet a new one.
To never stop being who I am called to be while encouraging others to be who they are meant to be.
To not be great but to be greater.
To do well with this life I have been given.

May 17, 2013

The Land Of The Over Cermonial

I have noticed a trend as of late: we seem to have a ceremony for everything.  You finished preschool, hooray, let's have a mock graduation.  What?  You got through kindergarten?  Awesome!  Another graduation it is And just to make sure this is close to the real thing, we will also do "graduation" pictures, even though you are only five, and still have trouble tying your own shoes, and twelve plus years of school remaining.

Oh, you were on the team?  You never won a game, and in fact, you personally stood in the middle of the field picking your nose most of the time, but that's ok, here's your trophy, and popsicle.  I asked you to clean your room and you did it?  Fabulous!  Here's a sticker for your sticker chart and once that's full, we will by you a treat.

We tend to over celebrate our children.  In doing that, how do we expect them to ever develop self satisfaction?  If a reward is expected at every accomplishment, be it big or small, what is going to happen when they seek employment and expect praise and rewards for every little thing.  I can hear it now.  "But Mr. Johnson, I completed the assignment you gave me, where is my reward?"  "Your reward?  Son, we call that a paycheck."

Our society praises and rewards children so much, they are going to expect it from everyone.  Bosses, friends, spouses, children, the mailman, the store clerk, everyone.  We have gone to the extreme, once again, as a society.

While I firmly believe in verbal affirmations, sometimes the only reward is the lack of punishment that would come from disobedience.  I remember a day when my child, after having been told to do something, turned to me and asked, "What will I get if I do it?"  My response was something akin to, "Pardon me?  What will you get?  I can tell you this.  If you don't do as I have said you will get a spanking.  How's that?"  Between my statement and the crazy eyed look, she got the point: obedience is its own reward.

I also think we minimize events like high school and college graduations because they have been graduating for the past 14 years or so.  The excitement wanes as they think, "Didn't I do this in kindergarten?"  We take away the feelings of pride and accomplishment and replace them with complacency and entitlement.

Do we tell our child we are proud of her and thank her for following directions, yes.  Do we give her rewards and trophies for doing so?  No, not even a certificate of completion.  I want my child to develop her own gages of success, to find out how it feels to have accomplished a task for no other reasons than she was supposed to and she had the ability to do so.  I want the awards she may receive in life to mean something, to be an accurate indication of the effort she put forth.  Simply participating just doesn't cut it.

A few years ago, while at a youth sporting event, I overheard a child say, "They only gave us this trophy because we are on a team.  That's silly, we didn't ever win a game.  We shouldn't get a trophy."  From the mouths of babes.

 

May 16, 2013

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

What an interesting day it has been.  I had the plan for my day, which included a workout via Suzanne Bowen fitness, and a visit from a friend.  Other than that, all I had left on my agenda was to pick up my child from school and meet some friends for lunch.  Nothing too exciting, but enough to get out of the house for a bit.

However, I ended up with an addition in the schedule.  I believe, in many ways, a God ordained encounter interrupted my day.  Outwardly it was an interruption, actually, it was a blessing.

If I had viewed this encounter solely on appearances and outward circumstances, I would have missed it all.  I asked a few questions, parts of her story were revealed.  Past hurts, past trials, and how she has been rebuidling ever since.  I spoke little, smiled, and asked more questions.  I encouraged when I could, and that's when it happened.

My mind's eye began to see not the current circumstances and surroundings, but something more.  I saw her standing in a different place, more put together, more stable, and she shined.  With a straightened spine and pulled back shoulders, she spoke with confidence.  Gone were the slumped shoulders, the doubts and the fears.  She stood, triumphant, no longer chained by a past that threatened to destroy her and the legacy that came after her.  Everything had changed.

I heard her words, but this scene was playing out, and I didn't fully feel its impact until I drove away.  All day my thoughts have returned to this morning's events.  I am fighting tears because I know God is calling her, "You are enough.  You are good, you are worthy, and I have so much in store for me.  Take hold of these opportunities and run like crazy.  Just start."

I do not know where this story will go, where this road will lead.  But I could not have asked for a better interruption than to catch a glimpse of the blessing God would love to pour out on another precious soul.

 

May 15, 2013

One Word Linkup (May)


I may have missed a linkup or two. Honestly, I can't remember and while I could go through past posts and check, I just don't want to.

To say my belief has been under attack this year would be an understatement.  Surgery, mono, so many things to hinder the work I need to do in order to accomplish what I believe will be accomplished this year.

In April, I had the great honor of speaking at a women's Bible study.  It was fantastic, I loved every minute of it.  I can say, with great confidence, that I shared exactly what God wanted me to share.  How do I know that?  I started feeling poorly and found out I have mono shortly after.  Talk about being knocked down.  Yikes.  I like physical movement, I like being active throughout the day.  However, the only way I get better is to refrain from such things (insert pity party here).

With all that has happened, with all the attacks that have found their way into my life, I still believe.  I purchased Jesus Today by Sarah Young, which I know was a Spirit led move.  Without reading the back cover or the intro, I purchased the book.  As I sat at home and read the introduction, I began laughing out loud.  This book was written at a time when Young, as she says, "was too sick to write a book."  The words I read each morning remind me where my belief begins, the place it is fueled.  It is good.

There have been frustrations, there have been setbacks (welcome to being among the land of the living), but I am still going forward.  I am still believing for things to happen professionally and personally.  It's a journey, albeit more interesting than I would like it to be at times, but I will sojourn on.  After all, this is my journey, my story, and the unfolding of God's purpose for my life.

**To read other incredible and inspiring "One Word" posts, go here.

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May 14, 2013

The Music You Need

Not only will Danielle blow you away with her vocal abilities, but her lyrics reveal a heart passionately seeking her Savior.  The music flows through the core of who she is, and it is evident this is her calling.  These are powerful songs sang by a powerful voice.  You will love every beat, every note, every word.

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