Vision. Not Resolution!

The New year is approaching and Christmas was wonderful this year! We all were very blessed. Asher had so much fun opening his presents and playing with them and we enjoyed watching! I have been thinking about the New Year. I always hated the title: "New Years Resolutions". It reminds me of the word: Diet. Because when you say diet, you are purposely trying to completely change your life instead of making something a lifestyle. I always hated the title "New Years Resolutions" because people give up on them after a month or two. I would want to try and make it a lifestyle to live because then I can feel like I can carry it out. This past sunday, my Pastor introduced an idea of writing a Vision for the next decade. WOW! And the vision includes our relationship with God, our marriage and family, our ministry, and our finances. What an exciting thing to write about! And what an awesome thing to look forward to!

If you want to be blessed...be a blessing!

"...It is more blessed to give than to receive."

-Acts 20:35

I know in my heart what Christmas is all about. I've been stressing over having to do all these things before Christmas and making sure so and so has been bought for, etc. I guess you could say, I was getting tied up into the hustle and bustle of the season. It changed for me last night. Colt, Asher, and myself took quite a few gifts to a large family who has been having a rough time financially. We didn't purchase the gifts we were just delivering them. And I put myself in the dads shoes for a moment as we pulled into their driveway. He was coming home and we got out of the car and told him we have something for his family from someone. We gave him the gifts out of the car and I could feel in my heart what he was feeling and it was such a blessing to me. He was smiling from ear to ear, laughing with joy, holding back tears, and could just say thank you. And then I thought, look at how God worked it into the heart of that giver to give to them, and how much it blessed them. It was the greatest feeling in the world! For both of us I'm sure!

What a joy and honor it is to be a blessing to someone. To get out of our own world for a change and place ourselves inside someone elses. It ministers the love of Jesus so powerfully. What a great reminder it was for me last night. I think for the coming new year, I want to really work on being more of a blessing to others. To go that extra mile. We were able to give to our angel tree ministry at our church and I wished I could have been there to see the children. I know young children may either not know what Christmas is really about, or they are just so focused on presents, but they DO know that someone cares enough about them to love them like Jesus.

Shake it off!

"...he must seek peace and pursue it."

1Peter 3:11

Looking back on my day this morning, I can't help but laugh. I was running late for work. As I was coming down our street, someone else in a work van was pulling, rather SLOWLY, out of his driveway. I was thinking, geez can you pull out ANY slower dude? So, I had a feeling that he would be going pretty slow all the way down to the highway. If I had to guess I'd say it would take 4 miles down the road to get to the highway and the speed limit was 35mph. Anywho, we stopped at a stopsign and I saw no cars coming as we turned right onto another road. Impatience got the better of me and after we turned onto that road I shot passed him. So, what was rediculous is HE was honking his horn and ME and like throwing his fist up in the air like I dropped an ice cream cone he just bought or something!!! I was like what in the world? So, with the mature person that I am, I honked back...:)

It's amazing how our emotions can overtake us. Seriously, in the blink of an eye, SNAP! Emotions are a powerful thing, very powerful. I think they can be our friend, or our enemy. They can motivate us, persuade us, decide things for us. I believe there is a way to control our emotions. I've been learning in my own life to "not sweat the small stuff"...I'm still learning :) I can choose to control my emotions, or let them control me. One thing we DO have control over is our attitude.

First Post! Yay!

"...Where the Spirt of the Lord is, there is Freedom."

-2 Corinthians 3:17

I never thought I would start blogging, but my good friend Emily inspired me too. Thanks Em. :) I'm excited about this because I always have alot on my mind. Sometimes I don't like to share things, and I guess some things I shouldn't, but I'm glad that I can be free to share and not worry about what other people think, because I AM Free to be me! :) I want to make it clear that I am NOT in any way, shape, or form PERFECT. I am a sinner, and I mess up. But I am covered under God's hands and forgiven. That doesn't mean I try to mess up purposely. God gave me this life, it's not mine so I will live this life to the fullest for Him! I will probably reflect about my daily life: struggles, revelations, frustrations, or new discoveries. Hopefully, some will encourage, uplift, relate, or even laugh ;)