My last Facebook status one week ago was, “Will be taking a bit of a sabbatical from Facebook. See you FB friends when I comeback. Blessings!” I picked last Thursday the 12th on purpose because I was going to be away from the computer for a good three days and did not have to white knuckle it through the de-tox!! You laugh but unfortunately it is true.
Immediately after posting the status, I received an email from a friend asking me about it. Others have stopped me in meetings and said, “Facebook sabbatical. Are you ok?” I even received a phone call from a friend checking on me because of my status.
To all inquires, my response was the banality of Facebook. Banality is a word I learned from John Piper as he explained why he did not have a TV in his home when his boys were growing up and I thought it applied to me with Facebook. The Oxford Dictionary used synonyms for banality such as triteness, unimaginativeness, lack of originality and my favorite, prosaicness.
There are lots of things I like about Facebook but for me it had become some such a time waster. And I was wasting time over such trite things as someone complaining about the traffic or how long the carpool line was. Instead of checking status updates, why not patiently wait at the light or riding the elevator down to the first floor? If I was at dinner alone, why not be still and relax instead of reading about someone else’s dinner? My mind is already on overdrive, why was I making it even crazier filling it with trivia?
So, does this mean I will never be on Facebook again and I am closing down my account? Not at all. But I am being mindful of the time I spend on it and I will try and capture those moments of stillness so that I can know God even better. (Psalm 46:10)
The July 2, 2010 USA Today headline read, “After seeking help, Cabrera sees his life swing in positive direction” and below the story was told of how Major League Baseball player Miguel Cabrera life had changed. Nine months earlier, Cabrera had been jailed after a night of heavy drinking and when he was released sought help for his addiction. In the article he says, “I learned so much from my mistakes.”
As I read this article, I realized that his comments were true in my life as well. I did not have a drinking problem but I learned the same way Miguel did…through my own mistakes, I learned the best. The failures, the struggles, the crashes taught me what NOT to do.
I was at least 40 years old before I discovered that I did not have to touch the hot stove to know that it would burn me. In my 20’s and deep into my 30’s, wise counselors would tell me to avoid something or to not do something and I would listen but often think, “That doesn’t apply to me or “That consequence won’t happen to me.” And before I knew it I had burned the fire out of my hand!! These “burns” were manifested in relational failures, financial struggles and emotional crashes.
But these mistakes got my attention and caused me to change my ways. They also caused me to not just seek the counsel of others but to actually heed it. To apply what I was taught to change my life and avoid pitfalls. Don’t get me wrong, I still make LOTS of mistakes but the consequences are not nearly as grave. I have learned to quickly adjust when I feel the heat – heat that comes mostly through consequences and the Word of God.
What about you? Do you have the same learning style as Miguel and I? What are some of the lessons you have learned through your mistakes?
Check out this video! These athletes inspire me, how about you? The amazing thought is that many of these athletes while in the womb would have been considered, by some, to be “burdens” to society. Now, they inspire the world!
As I shared in my earlier blogs, TMPW has impacted my life in profound ways but the last way I want to share is really the coolest way. As an Activator (see earlier blog), dreaming is challenging to me because I don’t daydream, I just do it as soon as I think it. However, TMPW forced me to get in that settled place and make a list of dreams. What is so amazing about making a list is that things on the list just start to happen. I believe there are two reasons for this…the power of the mind and the awesomeness of God. When we write things down, our mind begins working on it – even if it is subconscious. I also believe that when God sees us write it down He believes us and begins making things happen to accomplish it. He wants to give us the desires of our heart when we are fixed on Him.
Through the exercise I also began dreaming beyond myself. Because of my self-reliance and independence (read “pride” here), I struggle to dream beyond my capabilities. By using the tools given to me by TMPW I can dream on a whole different level and I so look forward to the amazing things the Dream Master will do in my life in the next 12 months, 3 years, decade.
Come start discovering your dreams! First meeting is this week!! Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions.
Earlier I shared of two ways in which the TMPW impacted my life – living intentionally and the process of change. Today I want to share a fantastic blessing of being a part of TMPW – the books we received. As an avid reader (thanks, mom, for instilling that in me), this component was especially meaningful.
Of all the 30+ books we receive, by far, the one book that had the greatest influence on me was Strengths Finder 2.0. It was so impactful that I gave about 30 of these books away as Christmas gifts in 2009. My top strengths were Achiever, Activator, Strategic, Communication and Discipline. They all fit me to a tee and others agreed. It was so influential because it gave me clarity on the skills that the Lord had created in me. I was better able to understand myself and why I make a to-do list on vacation and why I can be impatient at inactivity. I cannot use these as excuses to ignore the Spirit of God in me or the Biblical commands He has given us, but they have helped me know exactly what my role is in His Kingdom.
Another area of growth for me has to be the Sabbath. As an achiever and activator, rest is hard for me. But as I learned through TMPW as well as reading The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan, if I want to restore my soul then I have to rest. I also learned that Sabbath does not mean that I am sitting around doing nothing. I might be taking a lesson at the Apple store or getting a massage. I actually signed up as a monthly member of Massage Envy to “force” myself to rest. Now, I am not perfect in this area by any means but by practicing a regular Sabbath these past three years, I know that resting in Him during a significant transition in my life in the Spring of 2010 was possible.
Would so love to have you join me on July 1st for the introductory meeting! Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions.
In my earlier post, I began sharing how TMPWhas significantly impacted my life. Today I want to share another teaching that I think about on almost a daily basis, The process of change. Here are the four steps:
Step 1: Unconscious incompetence.
Step 2: Conscious incompetence.
Step 3: Conscious competence.
Step 4: Unconscious competence.
It made such sense to me and I began asking myself how do I move – and how do others move – from Step 2 to Step 3? Often, I would know that I was failing in an area but I would not take the initiative to get better. Unfortunately, the only thing that moves me – and I believe most people – is pain. When the pain gets greater than the ignorance, we are willing to move. So when pain comes in my life, whether it is physical, emotional, mental or spiritual – the first question I ask myself is “Is there an area in my life where I am ignoring what I know to be true?” The longer I wait before making the change the greater the pain. This was big motivation to make changes in my life.
It has become a goal of mine to change before the pain gets too great. When I recognize or am told of an area that I need to work on, I try to go ahead and jump on it so that the pain does not have to increase. It has also allows me to free others that may be doing things, as I see it, wrong. When the pain gets great enough in them they will change. (Of course, I have to remind myself, often, that God is usually NOT calling me to be the source of pain for them.)
Come be a part of the wonderful TMPW experience! First meeting is just around the corner. Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions. Plan on being a part of experiencing The Master’s Program for Women up close and personal. You might learn how to avoid some pain!
As many of you know from my posts and in my blogs, I am pretty pumped about teaching The Master’s Program for Women (TMPW)! Why am I so excited about teaching it? I am thrilled because TMPW changed my life and when something that powerful impacts me I not only want to tell others but come alongside and help them experience the impact of living an intentional life. Which leads right into the very first example of how it changed my life….
In the very first session of the three year course, there is a teaching from Ephesians 5:15, 16 that says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (KJV) The keyword to me is circumspectly – coming from the same root as circumference. So I began having a 360-degree look at my life. How was I doing in all the realms of my life (Personal, Influence and Kingdom)? It really prompted me to live diligently and intentionally. I am not one to be loosy-goosy but this really pushed me over the edge to be mindful of every moment of every day.
Over the next week or so I will share three more specific examples of the life-changing impact TMPW had on my life. Please plan on joining me at the next session – it is starting in just a few weeks!! The introductory meeting will be July 1st from 3 pm – 8 pm at a friend’s home, which is located not far from Beltway 8 and Memorial Drive. Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions. Dinner will be served so plan on being a part of experiencing The Master’s Program for Women up close and personal. You will be blessed!
“Any leads?” “Are you staying in Houston?” “What are you up to these days?” These questions and others have been the conversation starters of many of my visits with my friends these past 30 or so days. How blessed I am to have so many who truly care about me as well as what my future holds?
As many of you know, I have felt much like Abraham these past few months. From the Bible, Hebrews 11:8 tells us, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” I was definitely called to leave LifeHouse and upon my resignation, was not the least bit certain of where I was to go next. But, I loved this recent tweet by Suzanne Eller, gave me great comfort “God didn’t ask Abraham to leave his country as a sacrifice, but to move him closer to the promise…”
As I shared in an earlier post, God has given me some direction but it still has been one of the strangest faith walks I have ever been on. What has been so unique about this walk is that instead of being in an “at-ease” position between steps – you know, where you take a step with the left foot and then bring your right foot parallel to your left and stand. This walk has looked more like this…
And since much of this came down during the winter Olympics, apart from the skin tight suit, I have felt a bit like this…
In the ready. On my mark. Awaiting the starter’s gun. Not wanting to miss the signal but also not wanting to get ahead of the voice of God.
Well, now, after being back from vacation for two weeks, I definitely feel like I am in my stride in this next season of my life. There is joy in my steps, my yoke is easy and my burden light. Tomorrow, I will share exactly what I am up!
In my two earlier posts, I shared reasons for my contentment in my singleness. The first one I shared was that if I were married my focus is divided and instead of just focusing on pleasing the Lord, my focus is on pleasing my husband. The second reason is that if I marry I will still have troubles – different than if I were married but still troubles. The final reason is that if I were married my body would not be my own.
Back to I Corinthians 7 again where it says in verses 4 and 5, “The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” The issue of sex in a marriage is a huge source of troubles in many marriages. For many women, life starts happening, schedules get busy, children come along, etc. and their desire for intimacy wanes. Meanwhile, the level of desire has not decreased in their husband. So there is conflict sometimes when the husband snuggles up to the wife and desires sex.
However, what the Bible says is that when a husband desires intimacy from his wife, unless she can convince him to pray, she needs to say yes so that Satan does not get any foothold in the marriage. If I were to marry, my selfish ways would be quickly revealed and I am certain that this would cause conflict especially because I love sleep!!
In Monday’s post, I that for the most part I am very content in my singleness but there are days were I struggle. On those days, there are three Truths that I remind myself about that helps me to re-gain perspective. The first one I shared was that if I were married my focus is divided and instead of just focusing on pleasing the Lord, my focus is on pleasing my husband.
The second Truth I want to share about today comes from I Corinthians 7:27-28, “Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.” Here is the Truth: if I get married I will have trouble. Now, as a single, I will have trouble as well – different trouble – but still trouble. And not only do I still have troubles but now I have troubles with someone else.
I sometimes think if I get married all of my troubles will be gone. If I just got married, I would be living on Easy Street and things would be go smoothly. The hard things in life are because I am single. But that is such a lie and the Truth is that I will have troubles, difficulties and challenges – not the same kind if I were single but still I would have them.
When I am eating dinner alone and I see a couple enjoying dinner together, I remind myself that if I were married I would have trouble. When I am traveling by myself and see a husband carry his wife’s bags, I remind myself that if I were married I would have trouble. When I am struggling to make big decisions, I remind myself that if I were married I would have trouble. These reminders keep me focused on the fact that marriage is a wonderful thing but being married will not eliminate problems from my life.
On Saturday, I will share the third and final reason for finding my contentment in my singleness!!
back. Blessings!” I picked last Thursday the 12th on purpose because I was going to be away from the computer for a good three days and did not have to white knuckle it through the de-tox!! You laugh but unfortunately it is true.
However, TMPW forced me to get in that settled place and make a list of dreams. What is so amazing about making a list is that things on the list just start to happen. I believe there are two reasons for this…the power of the mind and the awesomeness of God. When we write things down, our mind begins working on it – even if it is subconscious. I also believe that when God sees us write it down He believes us and begins making things happen to accomplish it. He wants to give us the desires of our heart when we are fixed on Him.
as Strengths Finder 2.0. It was so impactful that I gave about 30 of these books away as Christmas gifts in 2009. My top strengths were Achiever, Activator, Strategic, Communication and Discipline. They all fit me to a tee and others agreed. It was so influential because it gave me clarity on the skills that the Lord had created in me. I was better able to understand myself and why I make a to-do list on vacation and why I can be impatient at inactivity. I cannot use these as excuses to ignore the Spirit of God in me or the Biblical commands He has given us, but they have helped me know exactly what my role is in His Kingdom.
has significantly impacted my life. Today I want to share another teaching that I think about on almost a daily basis, The process of change. Here are the four steps:
I am thrilled because TMPW changed my life and when something that powerful impacts me I not only want to tell others but come alongside and help them experience the impact of living an intentional life. Which leads right into the very first example of how it changed my life….
I sometimes think if I get married all of my troubles will be gone. If I just got married, I would be living on Easy Street and things would be go smoothly. The hard things in life are because I am single. But that is such a lie and the Truth is that I will have troubles, difficulties and challenges – not the same kind if I were single but still I would have them.
