I am back and glad for it

After a long hiatus I am finally at a point in my life to appreciate all life has to offer.  It is a shame to take life for granted when it is actually is a gift.  Sometimes it takes a sickness to bring us there, like it did for me, or a personal tragedy or loss.  Everyday is a new day that we should be thankful for, because we are not guaranteed the next day.  Share life with the people you love and enjoy everyday as a blessing!!

So Long, Insecurity

What a wonderful Saturday!  I spent the entire day at the Beth Moore simulcast called So Long, Insecurity.
I went into this event a bit apprehensive about the length of the program 9:45 am to 4:00 pm, but came out totally changed in my persepective.  Beth Moore is such an incredible speaker, with power, enthusiasm, and an amazing message that any woman (or man) could benefit from.

I feel that everyone, both men and women struggle with the same issues regarding insecurity.  I believe that the insecurity we feel most days is purely drawn off the fact the we all have a past, that should for all intensive purposes, remain the past. I believe our insecurity manifests itself in the forms of anxiety, phobia or jealousies for example.  I am sure there are many more ways, but for me the latter is the case.

I struggle daily with my spiritual life, ways I cannot explain, but I do know believing in ourselves, the Lord and/or a higher power is the best way to overcome a majority of these insecurities.  Also, knowing we are loved and that we are all important people should be proof enough to feel SECURE!

Point to Ponder:  Beth Moore said in  her simulcast "Everything always comes back to LOVE!"

Patience

I have been struggling lately with my patience and tolerence in various areas of my life.  I have realized I have neither patience nor tolerence.  Sometimes I wonder where they went to.  I believe life itself creates this struggle within ourselves and leaves us exhausted and therefore we no longer desire to try.  Like the Iditarod, the dogs just mush on and mush on not seeing anything, but what is straight ahead.  No time to stop and smell the roses, for lack of a better term.  I am finding myself thinking thoughts I would not normally think, or saying things I would not normally say, out if impatience.  I am not better than anyone else, but when I get this way I almost feel like I want to be.  I feel like I can do it smarter, faster or better.  It is within those thoughts that the patience and tolerence I am taking about turn into impatience and intolerance.  I believe it is time to search inside myself and find out the root cause of these feelings.  It time for a time out!  We all have stress in our lives, but how we handle the stress is what truly matters.  God Bless!!!!!

The joy of friendship

I just got back from the most incredible vacation I have ever had.  I realized on this trip how much my friends mean to me and my life.  I found that at times friendship is a closer bond than even family.  I know now how important it is to not lose that bond, especially when times in  your life turn bad.  During those bad times is when we want to run away from anyone who reminds us of the pain and sometimes we run so far and so long we forget that our friends were there all along to lean on.  They were there to see us through, to help us regain our strength and become whole again.

I believe my trip was a cleansing experience long overdue that has refreshed my entire being and put me on a new path to great happiness.   Knowing how much I am loved by my friends and how much I love them in return has given my life renewed meaning which could not been achieved without my faith in God.  As always I believe things happen for a reason and 25 years later my closest friends from childhood are once again my closest friends in life.  My walk with the Lord is new and I have a lot to learn, but I know that one cannot feel the intense joy and fulfillment I do without him.

Point to Ponder:  We all need a time to renew our spirits and one passage comes to mind for me:
Phillipians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

A day to forgive.

It has been a while since I have written because this year has certainly started off with a bang.  I have had a lot of year end work to do and it has kept me preoccupied by working on the weekend.  One thing that has crept into my mind lately is about forgiveness.  I stuggle with this in various areas of my life.  It took me years to forgive my parents for dying, 10 yrs. to forgive my ex-husbands, and then the various times I have needed to forgive people ( including my boss) because it was the right thing to do.

There are still times, eventhough I know in my heart I have forgiven, my mind still replays the offense over and over.  I question myself if I truly forgave that person and cleansed myself of the weight I carried around because of it.  Why do we harbor such bad feelings and why can these feelings control our very existence.  One thing I have found, is that by holding a grudge, I get very tired by the end of the day.  My mind can come up with purely fabricated garbage about the person in question that has nothing to do with offense that took place.  Forgiveness is the only way to truly escape the insanity.  Forgiveness can free not only our hearts, but also our minds, it enables us to live a full and joyful life.

Point to ponder: As Christians we all must learn to forgive.  Eph 4:32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Lets get started

Well I just took the Christmas tree down today.  I don't know if you are like me but, I like my Christmas tree.  Once it comes down it is a reminder the New Year  has definately started.  I made it through the first full week of work for 2010 and it started off wonderful and ended up very tiring.  Some how I think of the resolutions we are all suppose to be keeping.  We start off with a bang and then we are burnt out.  I feel for the ones who made resolutions with their food.  Can you imagine how hungry they are today?

Since we are on the subject of resolutions, I guess we can talk some more about mine.  I made the resolution to be a more faithful servant and to volunteer myself more.  Both of which I am doing.  Through my church I have been given contact information for a member who is a missionary in Nepal.  She is starting an orphanage and eventually will require quilts for the children.  I am so excited to be able to help supply the orphanage with as many quilts as I can whip up.  The orphanage itself is not built, that is probably a good thing, because I have yet to get started.  One of my other resolutions was about procrastinating, so far so good on that, because I don't want these kids to wait on me.

I hope your year, so far, has been encouraging and your resolutions are still in tact. Be mindful not only of yourself, but of others as well and I will leave you with this verse:

Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

New Beginnings in 2010

So far so good for the third day into this decade.  Resolutions in tact, for the most part, and well on my way to keeping at least the one about not procrastinating.  I decided long before the new year began that I wanted my new year to be filled with happiness beyond compare and a new vision for my life as well.  I have been blogging about the need to volunteer oneself, so that we can improve someone's life outside of our own.  I truly believe that my life has this calling and that I plan on using my talents this year, as a quilt maker, to make and donate quilts (via my church I pray) to orphanages or children anywhere in need. I want to think that this effort is not in vain and that any charitable contribution will be well received.  My heart has always gone out to the countries in such desperate need, that when you see the pictures of their tortured lives you almost wish death upon them as to end the misery they live in.  I hope that in some small way, by providing warmth, one can also provide security in a sense that it brings comfort.  I know that hope is what they need the most, but any small offering will help towards a better tomorrow.

I am profoundly blessed to have been born American.  My life has been one of privilege in comparison to the people I imagine I can help.  I believe the world can be saved if everyone just tried to set aside their selfish ways for a moment and step out in faith to the people who need us the most.  I will be setting up a new blog to follow and document my charitable quilt donations which I will be calling The Piece Quilter.  Check back soon on the progress.

Point to ponder:  Romans 12:1-13.