Lord, You are so smart!! This "lemonade" thing is really blessing people. I had a conversation with a sister/friend of mine (Love you, Val!) and she blessed me with a thought. She visited "The Lemonade Stand" last week and then she called and reminded me of how sometimes the sugar settles at the bottom of the pitcher...WHOA! That leaped in me!!
I believe that when we finally get to the point where we decide to do something productive with the lemons, we don't fully stir. What do I mean? Well, we have these sour lemons and then we add sugar (which, of course, represents God). This now changes the bitter taste of the fruit. If we didn't spend time consistently stirring, then the moment we leave the pitcher sitting, what happens? The sugar settles at the bottom.
This week's thought is this...We cannot lie dormant as if life is not happening all around us. Get God involved in your issues - in your dreams. He wants more for you than you want for yourself. His presence sweetens the drink and changes your perspective. Your "it" is not as bad as it may seem or taste...Just keep stirring!! God is the resolve...He is what makes the sour sweet! Be encouraged.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
I'm OK With That...
Saturday (April 21st) is my birthday...Thank You Lord! As I approach 41 years of life, I am realizing how much of me I have given to people and how little of me I've given to God....WOW!!!
In our first week together, I talked to you about "emotional vampires". Do you know how they were born? From those of us who have "Savior Syndrome"! We spend so much time being people-pleasers that we forget our life assignment is greater than us and them. God does want you to show love by helping others, but not to the degree that you have no time to bring Him a return on the investment He has made in you.
Have you ever found yourself exerting more energy into someone else's life, dreams, and issues than they do? How about when you have set your schedule for the week and there's just no available time to be there for them? Do they get upset with you? Well practice this...stand in front of a mirror, put your hands on the center of your chest and say aloud, "I'm OK with that".
First of all, this practice prevents you from keeping score and stealing credit that doesn't belong to you. While helping someone is an awesome gesture that we should carry out, we should never get to the point where we resent helping others because we have allowed ourselves to be used up by them.
Do what you CAN for people. Do not let people CAN you. In this human experience there are those who will box you in, keep you in their pocket, for you to only be used by them, if you allow it. No one person deserves that kind of liberty in your life. Although we are made in the image of God, we are not Him. We have to learn to be OK with not being everything to everyone...only He can do that. And we have to BE OK WITH THAT!
In our first week together, I talked to you about "emotional vampires". Do you know how they were born? From those of us who have "Savior Syndrome"! We spend so much time being people-pleasers that we forget our life assignment is greater than us and them. God does want you to show love by helping others, but not to the degree that you have no time to bring Him a return on the investment He has made in you.
Have you ever found yourself exerting more energy into someone else's life, dreams, and issues than they do? How about when you have set your schedule for the week and there's just no available time to be there for them? Do they get upset with you? Well practice this...stand in front of a mirror, put your hands on the center of your chest and say aloud, "I'm OK with that".
First of all, this practice prevents you from keeping score and stealing credit that doesn't belong to you. While helping someone is an awesome gesture that we should carry out, we should never get to the point where we resent helping others because we have allowed ourselves to be used up by them.
Do what you CAN for people. Do not let people CAN you. In this human experience there are those who will box you in, keep you in their pocket, for you to only be used by them, if you allow it. No one person deserves that kind of liberty in your life. Although we are made in the image of God, we are not Him. We have to learn to be OK with not being everything to everyone...only He can do that. And we have to BE OK WITH THAT!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I Remember...
Today (April 11th) marks five years since my first brain surgery (I had six in total). I have shared this testimony time and time again...it will never get old. I've seen people respond to my story in shock as they try to steal glances at my head to search out scars. They've said things like, "Oh my God! Are you okay now?" I always respond, "Yes, I'm fine. God is amazing, isn't He?" They reply, "Yes, He is". God's ability to heal our infirmities is not the only thing that makes Him amazing. It is also that He continues to heal us, invest gifts in us, cover and bless us even though we don't actively appreciate Him for any of it.
Want an example? I'm what I'd like to call an "extreme parent". I don't like repeat offenses. For instance, if I find myself tripping over toys on the floor more than once, then I snap the doll's head off and toss it in the garbage. My daughters look at me in shock and disbelief, but in the aftermath from "Tornado Mommy", they realize that I just simply got tired of giving to ungrateful children. So today, as I remember when the nurse had to teach me how to lift a spoon to my mouth and feed myself; or as I remember at the age of 35, learning how to walk again; or even as I remember the joy of coming home after a 10-month hospital stint and sitting on the "uncomfortable" futon bed that I spent so much time complaining about...I just want to say, "Thank You Lord that I remember."
My friend, isn't it funny how we disregard priceless things like the air we breathe, the ability to use our limbs, our senses and our memory? We refer to them as the "little things" when really, we can't function without them. Our perception of things that are important is like looking through a car's rear view mirror. PLEASE BE ADVISED: OBJECTS MAY NOT BE AS "IMPORTANT" AS THEY APPEAR. Today, let's reflect on things that are really important. NOW...What are you grateful for?
Want an example? I'm what I'd like to call an "extreme parent". I don't like repeat offenses. For instance, if I find myself tripping over toys on the floor more than once, then I snap the doll's head off and toss it in the garbage. My daughters look at me in shock and disbelief, but in the aftermath from "Tornado Mommy", they realize that I just simply got tired of giving to ungrateful children. So today, as I remember when the nurse had to teach me how to lift a spoon to my mouth and feed myself; or as I remember at the age of 35, learning how to walk again; or even as I remember the joy of coming home after a 10-month hospital stint and sitting on the "uncomfortable" futon bed that I spent so much time complaining about...I just want to say, "Thank You Lord that I remember."
My friend, isn't it funny how we disregard priceless things like the air we breathe, the ability to use our limbs, our senses and our memory? We refer to them as the "little things" when really, we can't function without them. Our perception of things that are important is like looking through a car's rear view mirror. PLEASE BE ADVISED: OBJECTS MAY NOT BE AS "IMPORTANT" AS THEY APPEAR. Today, let's reflect on things that are really important. NOW...What are you grateful for?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Pass the Pitcher
They say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I don't know who "they" are and why "they" are constantly saying something. Not only that, but why do we adopt everything "they" say? Well, this particular quote I did choose to adopt as my life motto. The wonderful thing about making lemonade is that you may start with an ingredient that is sour to taste, but you end up with a thirst-quenching refreshment for others to enjoy with you. Your life journey is not just for you alone, so take your lemons and make a pitcher of lemonade to share!
Have you ever met a miserable person? One who believes that they are the only human being with problems? I call them “emotional vampires” because they tend to zap all of your energy with their negative perspective on life. Unfortunately, sometimes these are people we are assigned to help and other times these are just people we love and want to help. Here is a great practice…ask them a question. For example ask them, “Is your life worse than the homeless man you saw on the train the other day? Do you think he decided to be homeless for a living?” I know it seems a little direct or brass, but sometimes we need to be reminded that not only is there a common thread called “issues” between us all, but that there are definitely others in worse situations than ours. Spend at least one day a week NOT praying for or talking about yourself. Pass the pitcher...Live to love someone else today!
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