Losing Control - on Purpose

It's a beautiful Sabbath morning and I'm just sitting in my rocking chair, listening to my favorite Christian radio station, and feeling at peace.

Last night was a hard night. I tend to keep things (things = feelings) in for awhile until the bottle overflows and the feelings end up bursting out. This has been something that I've done all of my life and I guess last night was just one of those nights when I reached the boiling point.

I don't know what is up with me?!? I'm trying so hard to change everything around me to suit my happiness but I know the one thing I need to change is my attitude. I just don't know how? I'm getting really frustrated with this...

I hate how your head and your heart don't always match up. I know in my head that I need to change my way of thinking. I know that I'm too controlling, I'm too picking, I'm too much of a perfectionist. I know all these things but I can't seem to get from those things all the way over to being happy and content. I know that they say (whoever "they" is) that you can only change yourself...well I'm trying here and I can't seem to do that! I also know that things can't be done alone and God steps in and takes over...well, I've asked God and I still feel "unchanged". What's going on here?!?

Please pray for me. I'm okay...don't worry about me. I just need some prayer. This is definitely my struggle right now and I can't do it alone. I need to change my heart into a happy one, a content one, and a heart that is completely given over to Jesus so that I can give Him complete control. This is scary for me....I don't like losing control, but I can't take it anymore...I can't have the control...I don't want it anymore. I understand, now, that this is why God should be in control in the first place - only He has the ability to keep things running and going...I just screw it up and get grumpy.

God, take my heart! Change it so that I don't want the control over everything and make it so much more unappealing than it already is so I will never want it ever again!

Change your Thinking

"Rather than feeling you need to do and experience everything now, accept that you can grasp some opportunities now and save some for later."

There's a difference between "scarcity thinking" and "abundance thinking".

Scarcity Thinking involves:

• an idea that there isn't enough to go around

Abundance Thinking involves:

• always trusting that there is plenty

I think that most of us are a little bit of both thinkers...I know that I tend to lean more toward the scarcity thinking concept. I find myself needing to do things right away with fear of them not being around later. Fearing that I will miss some type of opportunity if I don't "get on it" right away.

Our thinking must change from:

• If not now, when? to If not now, later.
• If I pass this up, it may never come again. to If it doesn't come up again, it wasn't meant to be.

Jesus reminds us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything. I know that it is hard to comprehend, and even believe, at times but God always keeps His promises! It is important to remember this and to keep in mind that He will provide and He will help you to balance your thinking and your life!

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
           Matthew 6:27

Just Chill

"Asking for help is not a sign of weakness."

There are many things in life that may be too hard to handle on your own. It may be taking care of someone all the time, of too much to do at work that you need a hand with. It could also be too much debt and you need help organizing finance...whatever it may be ASK FOR HELP!!! Some one is out there, waiting to be used, and waiting for you to ask them for some help.

I usually fall under the category of " if I want it done right, I need to do it myself". This comes back to bite me in the booty all the time! I find myself too stressed and over-worked and needing help because when I could have just used help I didn't ask. I like things done in certain ways...people have said I'm a little OCD - maybe they're right. However, I now know that I need to just "chill" and allow others to help me so that my load is not too heavy to carry.

My hubby, in very nice ways (most of the time), likes to say I'm a control freak...and he's right. When I lose control it's not so pretty. I would even go as far to say that losing control is, in fact, one of my biggest fears. I HATE IT! This also comes to bite me in the booty often and I find myself "out of control" (ironic, huh?) probably more than I would've been if I hadn't tried to stay in control in the 1st place! WOW....

Bottom line....

• Know your limits
• Know God's will
• Know when to quit
• Know what's important

Following these guidelines and basic questions will help you to know when you need help or when you need to just *chill*!

"It is impossible to get exhausted in work for God. We get exhausted because we try to do God's work in our own way."
                 Oswald Chambers

Focus on Being, Not Doing

"What really matter are the hearts we touch and the lives we influence."

How often do we decide to put the things in our lives about the people and relationships in our lives? Pretty often? I find myself needing to get things done and done right before I spend time with my hubby or spend time with friends. It seems to often get pushed aside to a "later time" so that I can make sure I get all my stuff done. This is something that I need to realize needs to change!

"What is the best use of my time today?" is a question that I need to ask myself daily. I need to prioritize what I need to get done and then focus on the relationships I need to nurture and focus on.

The most important thing to do is realize who in your life needs understanding, affirmation, validation, appreciation and to do the best you can to accommodate and meet the needs of the people in your life! This is what matters and this is what is most important!

Remember Mary and Martha? Well, Jesus said that Mary was doing the most important thing...and it wasn't the chores - it was spending time with Him and focusing on the relationships in her life!

"We are obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what the are but for what they do or what they have - for their usefulness."
                      Thomas Merton

Values and Priorities

"Knowing your values helps you determine your course of action."

Sorry this is so late in the day....not normal for me but today has been hectic.

Esther's story is an amazing one. It teaches us how to live out what we value and to really live a life for Christ. If you haven't seen "One Night with the King" I highly recommend it! It was a great movie and I enjoyed watching the bible story unfold on film.

So, let's get right down to it! Learn to say "yes: to the things that are top priority and "no" when you need to say it!!! My priority list has been a little upside down. I need to reevaluate my life and priorities and get crackin'!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."

Are You Connected?

"Even fleeting thoughts turned heavenward can keep our connection with God intact."

How important is it that we spend time with Jesus every day? VERY!!!

I didn't understand this until I was a bit older and more mature...I heard it all the time. Especially growing up in an Adventist (Christian) home. This was something that needed to become a habit but not a burden. I didn't know how to balance the two. As I grew older, I began to realize that this was not only something I wanted to do, but I needed it!

God connections are those small, or big, moments that you set aside to talk, or hang out, with God. These moments, at least for me, occur in my mornings. I wake up, put the coffee on, and after my shower (while the coffee is brewing), I sip my coffee and read my devotions. I look forward to these times and they meant a lot to me. In the evenings, my hubby and I have our couple's, God connection. We are trying to read through the entire bible, little by little. We are getting there...farther than we've ever gotten! This is exciting for us and it not only connects us to God, but also to each other.

The busyness spiral goes like this:

The busier we are, the harder we work to catch up. The harder we work to catch up, the faster we move. The faster we move, the less time we have for prayer. The less time we have for prayer, the more likely we'll try handling things on our own. The more we try to handle things on our own, the heavier the burden. The heavier the burden, the more we need Him.

 Funny, isn't it? We all try to find this "perfect balance" in our lives...when in reality, we just need to focus on how to handle the the imbalance. No one is perfect; therefore, no one will find balance. Is the busyness spiral happening? I know that it happens to me a lot. I try to control things...and let's just say it doesn't work too well!

Why do these two things come together? Well, if the busyness spiral is controlling our lives (which it probably is, or has before) than moments of connecting to God are a must! Find them...make time for them! You'll be happy you did!

"There is a vast difference between saying a prayer and praying."

Don't Worry...Be Happy

"The strength you need to do whatever is before you comes directly from the Lord."

It's funny that today's devotion was on "contentment".

Just last night, my hubby and I were discussing that I needed to be happy and content in every day things. I find myself "happy" all day long and when I get home I tend to "let it all out". I'm not sure why I do this?!? I've discussed this before (I think on my other blog) about how I let the worst side of me show to the ones I love the most. I don't get this? But, I seem to be an expert at doing it.

Let's just say that I was not in the best of moods yesterday. I am so stressed out about a lot of things and I feel like there are a million things "on my plate". I needed to vent, and I needed to cry, and my hubby seemed to be the perfect outlet. This is something that happens more often than I'd like it to, but it is what it is and I know I need to change that.

Anyways, so when today's devotion was on contentment I had to *lol* and remember that God has a great sense of humor! He knew exactly what I needed.

So many things are happening in my life that are fabulous! I got a new job! This is so exciting for me and everything that it entails calls for happiness and contentment. So why do I find the stressful things? I don't know?!? Instead of looking at ALL the good, I'm finding the small things to stress over. I guess I feel guilty sometimes is I'm basking in contentment but there are still ends to be tied. I'm not sure?

There were some lines today in my devotions that hit me...I want to share them because they are so powerful!

• "God's always given his people assignments that are too big for them to handle alone so that a watching world can see not what we can do - but what God can do."
• Content - it literally means "desiring no more than what one has; satisfied."
• And one that I have in our home "Thank God for what you have and trust God for what you need."

These are all great reminders that we should be content, and I'm the first person who needs to remember this!

"Happiness isn't having what you want; it's wanting what you have."

Depression Hurts...

"By fixing our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, you can overcome depression."

Depression is a scary thing.

It was the beginning of senior year of high school and I was not happy. There were so many things that were factors in this fact, but the bottom line was - I was depressed. I had all the symptoms: deep feelings of sadness, loss if interest in activities, changes in appetite, oversleeping, fatigue, irritability, big weight loss and lots of other symptoms.

I was away at boarding school and there wasn't much "help" for girls my age who were depressed. Yes, there were teachers and people to talk to, and mom and dad were just a phone call away, but nobody asked. (okay - kinda not true because I'm pretty sure my mom and dad asked A LOT but didn't probe).

I remember waking up every morning, getting ready for school, and then sleeping more until it was actually time to leave the dorm. I would sit in class, not really able to concentrate, and just await the time I could go back to my room and sleep some more. I wasn't eating...my meals consisted of wheat thins, string cheese, and Dr. Pepper. It was terrible.

I think what brought me out of this was getting to go back home and see family and friends. Feeling comfortable, in a place I felt wanted, was so important! Having the wonderful family and support group that I have, it wasn't long before I "snapped out of it".

Depression has probably phased you or someone you love dearly. It is very common. This is something that we need to understand and notice so that we can stand by each other and help others out. It is so vital that we remind each other that God will never leave us! He is there, constantly!

One of my favorite songs, even more so now, is "Trading My Sorrows". The lyrics go like this:

"I am pressed, but not crushed; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

I think this is an awesome reminder that although we may go through hard times, nothing will ever steal us away from Jesus!

"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you."
             Psalm 34:1
              

Feeling Insignificant?

"As God's daughter, you are beautiful in His eyes, and He loves you with an everlasting love."

There are many things in life that make us insecure. As women, there are lots of things that we feel "expected" to do, or accomplish, and feel the need to meet certain standards. Some things that make me feel insecure are my weight and the way I look, my skin tone or imperfections, success, perfection and many other things. Although I have these insecurities, I know that God has made me "fearfully and wonderfully".

I know that these different insecurities can be turned and changed into motivators. I know that I can look at my insecurities and look at them in a new light. They can now act as motivators and something that I can strive for.

God sees us as beautiful and perfect. I pray that we all can see ourselves the way that God sees us!

"The opposite of security is insecurity, and the only way to overcome insecurity is to take risks."
           Theodore Forstmann

Face Your Fears

"With God, you can face your fears and find His peace."

Fear is something that we all deal with. Whether it be something you are deeply afraid of or a phobia, we all have them.

I am admittedly scared of heights, snakes and spiders, being trapped, and losing control. These are all things that I don't like and the "fear-ness" ranges from little to BIG. Some other fears, ones that I'm not super proud of, are fears of failing, being alone, embarrassment, rejection, and intimacy.

I think my biggest fear in life is not living up to my full potential and never trying too. This probably has to do with me being a perfectionist for all the good, and bad, ways. I also HATE losing control and I find myself trying so hard to "keep" control that I lose other things along the way. This is something that I know I need to work on.

Today's devotion reminded me of all the different names of God. Each one means something different, but they are all referring to the same God! I think my favorite, at least right now, is El Elyon, or "God Most High"! If God is the highest and greatest, than who can lose control when He's in charge?!?! No one!

I always have to remind myself of this....I always forget. I know that God is in control, and until I really, truly, believe that, and understand that I'm not living for me but for Him, then I can live fearlessly and fully!

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear."
            Mark Twain

Slow to Anger

"In your anger, don't sin. Respond, don't overreact."

Today's devotion was about anger and handling the emotions that we may feel at times.

There may be times that I get angry about "small" things but I've been trying to handle them in a better way. I think the best thing to do is admit what is making me angry and then decide how to handle it.

Some people may choose to release their anger and tension in certain ways like exercising or journaling. I tend to need to talk to someone about my anger in order to release it. I know that everyone deals with emotions in different ways, but mine is talking and discussing it. This sometimes causes a problem in itself since my hubby is the opposite. When he's angry or frustrated the last thing he wants to do is discuss it. We've had to deal with this in the past, but we're learning!

I know that God will help me handle my emotions and there are so many promises in the bible that say so. I think the best way, or formula to follow, in order to handle anger:

• Recognize it
• Slow it
• Manage it
• Resolve it

Sounds easy in writing, right? Pray that God will give you the strength to handle it!

"Anger: an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." 
           Seneca

I Hope You'll Dance....and Remember to Smile!

"A selfless attitude is the foundation for overcoming obstacles in your relationships with men."

This morning's devotion was all about learning how to "dance" as a couple in a marriage. I loved how the author compared marriage to a dance. She says, "Marriage is similar [to dancing], it takes two parties moving in the same direction and anticipating each others' moves to be successful".

This is so true. I'm not one who knows how to dance, but I've tried it a couple times and it's just a bad idea. However, if I have a good teacher showing me what to do, step by step, I handle it pretty well. So, where's that teacher in marriage? Telling me what to do step by step? Well, I haven't found one yet so we're learning on our own. There will be stumbling blocks and he'll probably step my my toes a bit at first (and I'll do the same to him) but with much practice, we'll figure it out! And we're having fun along the way! That's just it...instead of becoming angry or upset when the "mess-ups" occur (and sometimes getting your toes stepped on hurts) just laugh! It's a learning process and you'll get there!

Along the way, during the practicing, make sure to remember that your partner is not a mind reader! I find myself thinking this often...I need to stop! My hubby is amazing, but not a mind reader. I find myself saying things like, "you should just know to do that", or "if I tell you to do it, then it doesn't count". I have to remind myself that I may see it, but he doesn't. I need to take the author's advice and utilize the "formula for communicating my needs". It goes like this, "I feel....when....because...". You feel in the blanks with how you're feeling and it works! And no one gets hurt!

I hope I'm making sense....I feel like I'm just rambling on. Hopefully, if you're in the same boat as me at times, you'll know what I'm talking about!

The bottom line is this...marriage is work! Relationships take time! Smile!!! Keep your chin up!!! It's better to laugh and learn than to struggle through it having no fun at all. Besides, these moments are building your beautiful dance one step at a time!

"Dancing is a wonderful training for girls. It's the first way you learn to guess what a man is going to do before he does it."
               Christopher Morley

A Quick Thought

This morning's devotion was a good one but should be kept for the eyes of married couples only. Today is another busy day but I can't wait until tonight!!! One of the things this devotion taught me was to make time for our marriage and tonight we are doing just that. We try to do "date night" every Thursday evening. So, tonight we are going to check out "Market Night" which is a downtown farmer's market and then watch the rest of my hubby's favorite movie, Ocean's 11!!!

Stand By Me

"Extraordinary difficult circumstances require extraordinary courage."

Today's post is a little later than normal...my morning was a bit rushed and it seems like I haven't had a break yet.

Today's devotional was entitled "Stand By Your Man". I wasn't sure what to expect from it and I was a bit surprised with the different stories and examples that the author used today. There was one woman who "stood by her man" after he was paralyzed from the neck down. Another women who was engaged to a man who was a soldier in Iraq and married him when he returned after being completely mutilated from a bombing. And the last women, a wife who'd been married for 26 years to her husband when finding out that he cheated on her. She decided to forgive him and work things out in their marriage.

Three very different situations and scenarios to look at and learn from. I haven't had to deal with anything like this but I know that the little things can even be hard to handle.

I'm not sure what challenges we will face in the future, but I know that God has given me the strength and courage to get through whatever comes or way. I know that it is sometimes tough to "stand by" and wait out the hurt, but the outcome and healing that comes from waiting is what we all need to strive for.

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"
                      Jeremiah 32:27

Change Begins with Me

"You cannot change your man. You can only change yourself."

There are many times in life that we want to change someone else. I only wish it were that easy. There are times when we see the "wrong" in others and want to fix it, but never think to look at ourselves and see anything that needs changing.

"The only person that you can change is yourself." This is something that I've heard over and over...it is true though. A lot of problems can be solved if we adjust our own way of thinking, or doing, instead of dwelling on how the other person can change.

When it comes to my hubby and me, we don't always see eye-to-eye. There are times when I think everything will be better if he just changes is point-of-view or the way he does things. But I quickly notice that everything in that thought requires him to change and not me.  I realize that I need to reevaluate myself and to work on my own changing.

I want to work on some areas that I know I need improvement on. I know that if I work on these different areas then my hubby will have no other choice but to change and react in another way. This isn't some plot to get him to change, but I'm just realizing that my way of handling things causes him to react in ways that I don't like. For instance...if I get home from a long day at work and find dirty dishes in the sink I immediately get frustrated and have to wash the dishes (in a very rough and upset way). After I've already reacted in this way, my hubby gets defensive and angry and this causes a problem that we have to discuss. His "actions" would have changed, or been completely different, if I had only taken the time to greet him, or accept his welcome home greeting, and then we could have proceeded to wash the dishes together (or he may have even done it by himself). Sometimes it is a simple change of my own actions that will require a change in my hubby as well!

Here is a list of things I want to work on - CHANGE:

• Nagging
• Yelling (or jumping to frustration quickly)
• Complaining
• Bringing my "work" home
• Whining
• "Guilting"

These sound terrible...and I'm almost embarrassed to admit these things....BUT I need to. I need to realize that they're true and fess-up to my shortcomings. I'm changing them though!!!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
                     Ecclesiastes 3:11

Finding Reason in the Misunderstandings

"Understanding and responding to the needs of your man brings about the intimacy and connection you long for."

Misunderstandings happen so often in relationships. Lat night, we had a late night visitor who needed some "time and space" and ended up at our home. My hubby probably wouldn't be the first choice for a comforter but was a first choice for an advice giver last night. I was so very proud of him for stepping up to the challenge and doing a mighty fine job. Others may not see it, but my hubby is amazing with advice. He is a great listener and has wonderful insight. I admire that about him and am so glad that he was able to use these talents for good.

Back to the topic though...misunderstandings are so common in relationships. It seems that most problems stem from them. Men and women are so different, but we need each other. God created us to complement each other and that involves getting to understand the other. This would mend a lot of things if we just tried a bit harder to understand!

The men in my life are few and far between. While reading this devotion this morning, I realized that most women have a lot more men in their life than I do. Grandpa's and brothers are just some....I had my dad, my uncles and now my hubby. I never had a brother (I did, however, gain 2 of them within 4 months) and my grandpas both passed away before I really got to know them. My dad was the one and only man in my life for a very long time. I had uncles that I was, and still am, very close to but nothing compared to my dad. When my hubby came along I didn't have all that much experience with the male species. Not really knowing all the differences between men and women, this got us into a lot of misunderstandings and long conversations about the different ways we think. It is fascinating! As I'm writing this, I am still in awe!

Here are a few differences that we face: (taken from my devotional book)

• She can't do without affection
• He can't do without sexual fulfillment
• She needs him to talk to her and hold conversation
• He needs her to be his playmate and do things with him
• She needs to trust him totally. Honesty and openness are critical
• He needs and attractive wife (taking pride in our appearance)
• She needs financial stability and support
• He needs peace and quiet at home
• She needs him to be a good father and remain committed to the family
• He needs her to be proud of him

These are just a few examples of how different we are and how different are needs are. A lot of the differences contradict each other. As you can see, as women we need to talk and have conversation and he needs peace and quiet. Just in this little need we can see how problems may arise. It is important to dig deep for understanding so those misunderstandings aren't as often. They will still creep up, but at least we can try to understand why in the process.

"Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
                  Ephesians 5:33

Relationships and Such...

"Meaningful relationships require being wise when you choose whom to spend time with."

Relationships are important. But what is more important is making sure our relationships are positive and impacting us in a positive way.

When I ponder the different relationships in my life I know that there are some that don't always have a positive influence on me. Some are more work than others and I don't always feel like I'm getting anything from them. Then there are those that I couldn't live without. Most of them are ones I couldn't live without and these relationships are so important to me!

It is important to analyze the different relationships in our lives to weed out the ones that aren't doing us any good. It is just as important to make sure that we, ourselves, aren't being a negative influence on anyone as well. If you realize that this is the case, make sure you do something to change it.

Recently I've been in situations where I find myself being so negative. I know that this stems from frustration and I know that I need to work on this and change it. I find myself causing others to join in on the negativity just because I brought it up. I need to stop...I need to change. I'm working on that!

I know that I can't change on my own and I know that God will help! He knows which relationships I need to "weed out" and He also knows which ones I need to be more positive in!

"You are who you spend time with."
           Tim Clinton

Pain and Hurt can Help

"God can and often does use our pain and disappointments in surprising ways."

Pain is something that we all go through. It is sometimes hard to believe that pain is "allowed" in our lives for good, but I am one that believes this is the case. Everything happens for a reason. I know that others would disagree with me but I feel very strongly about this.

Pain and hurt is something that is a part of life. We all have experienced it in some way shape or form and have learned from it as well. I know that there are things in my life that I have gone through and can look back now and see that there was a reason that I had to go through it.

No matter your beliefs, we can all use our past pain and disappointments to help others. Sometimes the best thing to do for someone else is to let them know you understand their situation and you can empathize with them because you experienced the same thing. Knowing that someone else got through the hurt is one of the best ways to give comfort. If you can use yous past pain for good, why not? It will help you in the process or helping someone else!

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
         C.S. Lewis

A Good Listener

"Listening is the means to learning and understanding, and it's in learning and understanding that we find love."
Listening is one of the most important tools in communication. I am guilty of running my mouth more then using my ears....especially with my hubby. He is constantly listening to me and has to remind me that I need to listen as well. We are working on that!

The bible has some great techiniques and advice when it comes to being a good listener.

• Be a good listener (James 1:19)
• Reflect and think about what is being said (Proverbs 15:23)
• Be sensitve and respect the speaker (Ephesians 4:31)
• Speak only the truth but in love (Ephisians 4:15)
• Don't fight or respond in angerProverbs 17:14)

In relationships, there is always moments when we must listen in order to communicate. A lot of us forget this step in communication (including myself) and it is so important. We must remember that God gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth....so we should be listening twice as much as we're speaking!

"The greatest communication tool God created is your ears."
             Ken Davis

When you Forgive...Forgive

"Forgiveness is essential to loving and being loved."
You've probably already figured it out but today's devotional is about forgiveness. This is something that a lot of people deal with and it is one of the hardest things to do at times. Forgiveness isn't just something you say and it is "all better". Forgiveness starts in the mind and has to really be done in the heart.

The steps that forgiveness takes is more than we may think. The chapter discussed the steps to forgiveness and I think it is important to know and practice ALL of them (not just a few):

1. Recall the hurt that happened to you and recognize that you were wronged.
2. Attempt to empathize with the one who hurt you. This IS difficult but very important.
3. Offer forgiveness and tell the person you forgave them.
4. Hold on to the forgiveness! When you forgive someone you don't continuously bring up past behavior or demand multiple apologies. Put the past behind you and learn from the instance by building stronger relationships in the future.

I have never really held a bitter grudge against someone for a long time. I mean, there were the few childish instances where I said I would never forgive someone but it never affected me in a big way. As I think about it I realize that, in my case, it is the little things that get me. I have a lot of "small bitterness" harbored in my mind and heart that I need to let go of. It isn't BIG "unforgiveness" for me, but the small ones that I need to work on.

On the other side of forgiveness there is the fact that we must seek forgiveness from those that we have hurt. This is another area that I don't think I have a lot of "seeking" to do; however, I am sure that there are small things that I need to ask forgiveness from. I need to make sure that I have covered my bases and have forgiven, and been forgiven.

The last part of forgiveness is understanding and accepting God's forgiveness in my life. It is so easy to jump to the conclusion that God is still harboring bitterness against me (since I know I well deserve it) but I have to continue to remind myself that God has forgiven me. He will continue to forgive me! I want to take this gracious gift and bask in it. I want to learn from it and know that I am free from bitterness and learn that I can do the same for others!

"Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
         Luke 6:37

Time Well Spent

"Investing time in others is at the core of building meaningful relationships."

I know that I usually do my posts early in the morning but we got in late last night and I slept in this morning. Better late than never I suppose!

Today's devotion was the beginning of a new chapter (a new week). It is discussing relationships and how important they are in our lives. Today's chapter pointed out just how important they are and how Jesus even made sure that he had relationships in His life.

So many times we make "other things" more important. There's so much to get done and not a lot of time to invest in people. I know I'm guilty of working all day and wanting to come home to just relax. I know I'm missing out on building relationships and I need to begin to shift my focus. I know how much more important a relationship is then relaxing or "getting my mind off work". I need to begin to put more energy into my family and friends.

I wanted to make a list for myself (and hopefully for you out there) of simple, inexpensive ways that I can connect with people.

- Make dinner with my hubby
- Go to coffee/frozen yogurt with a friend I haven't seen for awhile
- Go on a walk with family or friends
- Send a greeting card via email (it's free and it's fun!)

I know this is a short list but it helps! My goal for this week is to try and complete these four things. I got to start somewhere and I think now is a good time! Maybe you'll try it too?

"The most serious sign of hurry  sickness is a diminished capacity to love. Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is the one thing hurried people don't have."
                      John Ortberg

He's Got His Angels Watching Over Me

"God loves you and can use you regardless of anything you've done."

Today's devotional began with asking, "Do you believe in angels?" I would have to answer that with a "yes" and here is why.

A little over a year ago I was in a bad car accident. I should have not been able to walk away from my upside-down car, but I did. On top of that, a man pulled me out of the car door (which later would not even open up more than 10 inches) and took me to safety. I never saw him again and neither did anyone else. I know that it was my guardian angel and I believe that there are other angels all around us.

I know that God has put people and events in my life to shape and mold me for the future. I also know that things are taking place right now that are preparing me for the future as well. There's a plan...there always will be a plan. I may not know it but I know that God is in control.

I needed to hear this today. Maybe you did too? I've been struggling with what "I want" and not focusing on what God wants. I need to remind myself that I need to connect my wants with what God wants and everything else will fall into place.

"When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts."
                    Unknown