Archives for December 2014

December 31, 2014

Pure Inspiration Confessions

Happy New Year’s Eve, Friend.

I am nervous and honored to have been featured as a Guest Blogger yesterday on “Triad Moms on Main” website. Triad Moms on Main is the premier online resource for wives and moms for the Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, NC area and beyond. Forgive me for not sending this information to you yesterday.

I pray this blog encourages wives, moms AND husbands everywhere, from a single woman’s perspective, and helps us all focus on how blessed you are. Please share the article, ,make comments, and spread the love.

http://triadmomsonmain.com/my-blog/confessions-of-a-wannabe-wife-and-mom

Thank you for making a difference in my life and the lives of so many others. The best is yet to come in 2015 and beyond.

Gratefully Yours,

December 30, 2014

Making New Year’s Resolutions Less Intimidating

The end of another year–it can be intimidating or easily rushed through to get to midnight.  Why is it so intimidating?

Three words. New Year’s Resolutions. Or maybe we should call them New Year’s “Solutions.” Isn’t it funny that the word “resolution” is “re-solution,” as if our solutions need doing again? No wonder they intimidate me.

I encourage you to reflect these next few days, to look back and pat yourself on the back for all that was accomplished through you this year. Sure, you didn’t get done all that you wanted to get done. Who does?  Before you tell yourself all the things you want to improve and change in 2015, please ponder on the many good, no, GREAT things about yourself. Can you remember all the great things that wouldn’t have gotten done if not for you?

Remember that you influence the world around you.

Enter Eddie.

Eddie is the parking lot attendant at a local medical office building. His “office” is a tiny booth, perhaps five feet long by three feet wide. Eddie is one of the most positive, enthusiastic  servant leaders I have ever met.

Eddie loves his job. How could a parking lot attendant love his job? I intentionally observed him in action. He waves at everyone. He smiles. He calmly answers questions asked by nervous patients and eases their spirits. He ensures parking spaces are available to accommodate those who need them.

Whenever Eddie spots my car, he comes out of his little booth, waves frantically and blows kisses. He makes my day.

Guess what Eddie had one day? Bird feeders in the little tree across from Eddie’s booth. Eddie purchased hanging bird feeders and bird food to make the birds happy AND improve his environment even more!

Eddie is happily married and brags on his wife and marriage every chance he gets, so his gestures and affection are totally innocent. He exudes the love of Christ.

Eddie inspires my heart and challenges me to be better. Instead of just making resolutions and thinking about changing yourself, your work, your home–change your attitude about your work, your home, your environment. Add “bird feeders” near your booth.  Make the walls of your work inspire you; make them “talk.”

Smile. Wave. Blow kisses. Be the calming force to people around you. Make someone’s day. Be like Eddie.

As you reflect on this year and prepare to write your New Year’s Solutions and Re-Solutions, think of Eddie. Now our New Year’s Resolutions won’t intimidate us anymore.

PS. Today is also a great day create your own mission statement. Simply print out my “Creating Your Personal Mission Statement Template,” which is free, by just adding your email address and subscribing to my weekly blog.

Reflect:

–As we excitedly and expectantly welcome the blank pages of a new year, what are three highlights of yours this past year? Please comment.

–How will you be more like Eddie ?

Renew:

-“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw.” –Proverbs 24: 32

-“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” –Proverbs 27:17

-“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” –Proverbs 27:19

-“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’” –Habakkuk 2:2,3

Recharge:

–What is your personal mission statement? Please let me know.

–What are three ways you can improve your work, your home, your “booth?” Please comment below.

December 23, 2014

And Heaven and Nature Sing!

Christmas music stirs the soul. Since it’s been playing in all the stores,  classrooms, our cars , homes, and work since, oh, around November 1st or earlier, I admit that I am guilty of passing over some of my favorite, heart-stirring, theologically-sound Christmas carols as background noise.  Not this Christmas, though. Or at least I want to make a conscious effort to let the words soak in.

Take, for example, “Silent Night, Holy Night.” All my life, we have sung that sweet carol in church and on the radio, even out Christmas caroling with neighbors. It wasn’t until a recent church service that I truly listened. I let the words marinate. Then I wept.

“Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, Love’s Pure Light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace—
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.”

How beautiful to think of Jesus as “Love’s Pure Light.” He is. He is. He is the Light of the World! (John 8:12)!

Also beautiful to think of His sweet, redeeming grace that is a true Gift to each of us who want to receive it.

Even “What Child is This?” I passed over for years. Then it hit me.

“Good Christian, fear—
For sinners here
The silent Word is pleading…
This, This is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud—The Babe, the Son of Mary.”
 
Can’t you almost hear the urgency in the message: “Listen, everybody—This.  THIS! is Christ the King, don’t you see? Hurry up and bring Him the praises He deserves.”

My favorite Christmas Carol is “O Holy Night.” When I was nine years old, my parents asked, more or less MADE me start taking piano lessons. I took until tenth grade, when basketball and volleyball took priority. I quit piano. I regret that now.

Anyway…my favorite songs to play were, and still are, Christmas carols. All those years I played “O Holy Night,” and sang.

It wasn’t until recently that a phrase in the carol moved me to tears.

 “Long lay the world
In sin and error pining,
‘Til He appeared
And the soul felt its worth.”

That’s it! That’s it! That’s the message. When Jesus came to this earth and into our hearts, our souls, our souls, my soul finally felt its worth…

My simple prayer for you on this Christmas Eve Eve, and I vow to you that I will do the same, is to attend a Christmas Eve church service tomorrow and listen, to hush our hearts. To breathe the words into our souls as we sing. It doesn’t matter how well you sing. We are called to make a “joyful noise.”

If you enjoy a candlelit service (I love candle light), please hold your candle high when you belt out “Joy to the World.”  What Truth in that carol, spoken so simply, so passionately.

“He rules the world with Truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.”

Amen. Merry Christmas, Herald Friend! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Reflect:

  • What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Why? Please comment.

Renew:

  • “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Ephesians 5:19, 20 (NIV 1984).
  • “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.” –Psalm 108:1 (NIV 1984).

Recharge:

  • Today is the perfect day to know Jesus better, as we celebrate His birthday. He wants you to choose Him. After all, love is not love if not chosen. Simply repeat this prayer aloud:

“Dear Lord Jesus,

 I am so sorry I have chosen to live apart from You. I have tried to run my own life for too long. I want You in my life. I accept the payment of love You gave for me by Your birth, Your death on the cross, and Your resurrection. 

Please come into my heart and life. Thank you for being my Savior, Redeemer and Best Friend.” Amen.

  • If you prayed that prayer, Congratulations! “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” –Romans 10:13
  • Please tell others of your eternal decision, the most important decision of your life! Please find a Christ-centered church home where you worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians. Please demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
  • For more information, check out Proverbs 31 Ministries “Do You Know Jesus?” portion of our website at  http://proverbs31.org/do-you-know-jesus
  • Please comment and let me know also. I’m so proud of you! You just gave Jesus the best birthday gift ever–your heart! Let’s PARTY!
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