I cannot believe that it has been two weeks since my last post! I have been working and running around a lot...leaving no time for thinking or writing. After a very full two weeks, I have had this weekend to catch up on some rest, get some time to reconnect with N, and enjoy my home. I am a person who needs peace and uninterrupted quiet to recharge and refuel. This is what has been missing lately! I am grateful for time to just take a breath, catch up on things, and chill out.
Today is Palm Sunday, a day to celebrate Christ - God's ultimate gift to us. I wish I was better at showing that gift to the world...telling people that their stress and frustration can be healed at the feet of Jesus. In fact, I need to remember that myself lately! God gives, gives, gives to us in so many ways. Patience, love, grace, loyalty, forgiveness, understanding, peace, mercy, the list of His gifts could go on and on. I celebrate His giving this Palm Sunday. Celebrate what I have and all that I am; celebrate the opportunities and hope I see around me; celebrate my family and friends; celebrate my blessings.
Resting in His love + spending time with my true love and partner N = Bliss.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Today's Bliss: Relaxation
The past month has been very, very crazy at work and I see no end in sight. It is a stressful time, but I am coping okay...some days more than others, admittedly, but overall I am doing fine. But everyone needs a break! Today I took a day to rest, breathe, and enjoy some relaxation. I am treating myself to a massage, some retail therapy, and a flexible schedule. I am so thankful for this time to chill out!
It is so easy to focus on the crazy world around us: the pressure to succeed, the endless desire for more, more, more stuff. On days like today, it is so healing for me to take a moment to look inside my life, look up to God, and really think about what is truly important. At the end of it all, I think that God will care much more about my attitude while facing a long to-do list rather than if my list was completed.
It is very hard to keep a cool head under pressure. I have always had some trouble with that. I hope that I can get better at coping and overcoming challenges...maybe that is why I always seem to have one in my life. Practice makes perfect.
It is so easy to focus on the crazy world around us: the pressure to succeed, the endless desire for more, more, more stuff. On days like today, it is so healing for me to take a moment to look inside my life, look up to God, and really think about what is truly important. At the end of it all, I think that God will care much more about my attitude while facing a long to-do list rather than if my list was completed.
It is very hard to keep a cool head under pressure. I have always had some trouble with that. I hope that I can get better at coping and overcoming challenges...maybe that is why I always seem to have one in my life. Practice makes perfect.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Today's Bliss: Forgiveness
My blog today is a confession. Remember back on Ash Wednesday when I was so excited to start my Lent calendar? Yeah, well, I am not following it at all! As you can imagine, I have a long list of excuses for not sticking to my calendar plan, but none of them truly excuse me. I am definitely not proud of my effort.
Forgiveness is a huge, wonderful part of my relationship with God, my relationship with my family and coworkers, my relationship with friends. I am so, so far from perfection, as we all are, that I am in need of forgiveness every day! I am slowly learning that being hard on myself and beating myself up for not doing something (or for doing something I shouldn't) is a waste of time. Things happen...all we can do is ask for forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and try to do better the next time. After all, we are all human and we all have to be forgiven sometimes, right?
I praise God for His blessing of forgiveness. Praise to Jesus for dying for me so that I can live a redeemed life, whether I deserve it or not. That is a deep blessing that I will probably never really grasp. Knowing about Divine mysteries like this is why I count my life as blissful.
And, who knows...maybe I'll stick to my Lent calendar tomorrow? :-/
Forgiveness is a huge, wonderful part of my relationship with God, my relationship with my family and coworkers, my relationship with friends. I am so, so far from perfection, as we all are, that I am in need of forgiveness every day! I am slowly learning that being hard on myself and beating myself up for not doing something (or for doing something I shouldn't) is a waste of time. Things happen...all we can do is ask for forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and try to do better the next time. After all, we are all human and we all have to be forgiven sometimes, right?
I praise God for His blessing of forgiveness. Praise to Jesus for dying for me so that I can live a redeemed life, whether I deserve it or not. That is a deep blessing that I will probably never really grasp. Knowing about Divine mysteries like this is why I count my life as blissful.
And, who knows...maybe I'll stick to my Lent calendar tomorrow? :-/
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Today's Bliss: Peace
Yesterday, storms swept through the eastern half of the nation. Many people were injured, killed, and displaced. Today, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and there is a peace out in nature. N and I have been very blessed to avoid direct impact of strong storms, tornadoes, flooding, and other natural disasters. As I think back to all of the weather-related disasters that I have witnessed in my lifetime, whether on television or in person, I realize how many disasters have not hit me or my family. Praise God for his goodness and protective angels around us.
Peace is something that I yearn for in the midst of a busy day, in the midst of a chaotic schedule, in the midst of conflicts, in the midst of literal or metaphorical storms. This makes me so, so thankful for a quiet evening spent with my family, a Saturday that has unscheduled hours to watch Downton Abbey and read a book on my Kindle, a Sunday afternoon when I can play a game of Sorry with my husband (even though he beats me 99% of the time). :-)
Praise be to God for his faithfulness and his patience. Praise him for peace, love, and mercy. Praise him for the bliss that we can all have if we just bow our heads, ask for forgiveness, and focus on living the way He wants us to live.
Peace is something that I yearn for in the midst of a busy day, in the midst of a chaotic schedule, in the midst of conflicts, in the midst of literal or metaphorical storms. This makes me so, so thankful for a quiet evening spent with my family, a Saturday that has unscheduled hours to watch Downton Abbey and read a book on my Kindle, a Sunday afternoon when I can play a game of Sorry with my husband (even though he beats me 99% of the time). :-)
Praise be to God for his faithfulness and his patience. Praise him for peace, love, and mercy. Praise him for the bliss that we can all have if we just bow our heads, ask for forgiveness, and focus on living the way He wants us to live.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Today's Bliss: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is not usually thought of as a blissful holiday, I know. But this year, I have already found some bliss this day and hope that it continues throughout the Lenten season. I have found bliss in the reminders that Ash Wednesday offers to me: of Christ's suffering so that I could live...of God's love that frees me from all bonds...of God's faithfulness and peace that he offers me so freely...of Christ's determination to triumph over evil.
Over the years, I have gone back and forth with "giving up" something during Lent. Some years it feels like the right thing to do and other years it does not. A family joke every year growing up was my grandfather always giving up watermelon and cigarettes; well, watermelon wasn't in season and he didn't smoke, so his Lenten fast was easy for him!
I have given up desserts, sodas, sugar, snacks...all of these were good reminders of the sacrifice I should be making for Christ, but they were not extremely meaningful. A couple of years, I added things to my daily routine instead of giving something up. I added daily prayer time and devotions, Bible readings, meditation. These were a much deeper thing for me and I really enjoyed it.
Last year, a friend in my Sunday School class told me about a Lent Calendar that she was using during her 40 day focus on God. This calendar had a different suggestion for you to follow every day during the season and there were some interesting additions and subtractions to your daily routine! The Lent Calendar is created each year by Mars Hill Church, the home church of one of my all-time favorite writers and preachers in our modern age: Rob Bell. I half-heartedly followed the calendar last year, but this year I am focused and ready. I have a copy of the Lent Experiential Calendar on my desk at work and in my kitchen at home so that I have no excuse to forget to read it daily!
If you'd like an idea of some things on the calendar:
Today's suggestion is to have an ash cross put on your forehead. (I should be able to do this tonight at our worship service at church...day one: done.) Tomorrow's suggestion is to write a prayer to God explaining the habits, behaviors, and sins you want to die to this Lenten season.
If you would like to download and print the calendar for your own use, just click here.
Have a blessed Ash Wednesday and a deep, meaningful Lenten season. I hope that you find bliss in it!
Over the years, I have gone back and forth with "giving up" something during Lent. Some years it feels like the right thing to do and other years it does not. A family joke every year growing up was my grandfather always giving up watermelon and cigarettes; well, watermelon wasn't in season and he didn't smoke, so his Lenten fast was easy for him!
I have given up desserts, sodas, sugar, snacks...all of these were good reminders of the sacrifice I should be making for Christ, but they were not extremely meaningful. A couple of years, I added things to my daily routine instead of giving something up. I added daily prayer time and devotions, Bible readings, meditation. These were a much deeper thing for me and I really enjoyed it.
Last year, a friend in my Sunday School class told me about a Lent Calendar that she was using during her 40 day focus on God. This calendar had a different suggestion for you to follow every day during the season and there were some interesting additions and subtractions to your daily routine! The Lent Calendar is created each year by Mars Hill Church, the home church of one of my all-time favorite writers and preachers in our modern age: Rob Bell. I half-heartedly followed the calendar last year, but this year I am focused and ready. I have a copy of the Lent Experiential Calendar on my desk at work and in my kitchen at home so that I have no excuse to forget to read it daily!
If you'd like an idea of some things on the calendar:
Today's suggestion is to have an ash cross put on your forehead. (I should be able to do this tonight at our worship service at church...day one: done.) Tomorrow's suggestion is to write a prayer to God explaining the habits, behaviors, and sins you want to die to this Lenten season.
If you would like to download and print the calendar for your own use, just click here.
Have a blessed Ash Wednesday and a deep, meaningful Lenten season. I hope that you find bliss in it!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Today's Bliss: Energy
It has been a while since I last posted anything here; the winter blahs have been in full force for me lately. I have also had some stress at work and it has overwhelmed my ability to think clearly and feel at ease in my office. But today was different. Today, I felt energized, motivated, ready to face the day with gusto! Today I greeted the day with a new sense of confidence and readiness to face whatever came my way. It was a good day, especially considering it was a Monday!
As a look back at my day and ask why I felt so renewed, the only answers are: rest and God. This weekend was incredibly restful and relaxing at our house. With little on the agenda, I had time to catch up on some things, accomplish looming tasks, and enjoy time with N. This was complimented by yesterday's church service, which was a very refreshing time. The service began with all of us making a list of things that we wanted to get from the service. I noted: comfort, peace, direction. These pieces of paper were then collected and placed on the altar. Taking time to really think about what I needed from the service was powerful and it really helped the experience be a meaningful one.
Another major highlight of the service was the music. We had a choir visiting from Boston and they had some soul. They moved me with their spirit, energy, and ability to communicate faith through song. I clapped, swayed, and rejoiced with them! The sermon was good also, a reminder of the light that we are called to shine in every corner of the world that we live in. A reminder to be what we are called to be: a shining example of God's love. One of the most powerful parts of the sermon was the gentle reminder that every single person we encounter has God's light inside them...whether they know it or not, whether it is obvious or not, it is there and we are called to help bring that light out so that it can shine in the universe also.
When I left the service, I felt that I definitely received all of the things that I listed on my paper at the beginning of the service. And I was reminded of my very favorite scripture verse. One that I have tried to live every day (even though I frequently do not succeed as much as I wish I could).
Philippians 2:14-18
Do everything without arguing or complaining so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
The feeling of peace that I felt after the church service was still with me today. Praise God! And I pray that it will be with me tomorrow...and the next day...and I pray that others around me will have the energy and peace to faithfully face the day before them as well.
We are all called to be bright lights in this world. I hope you will help me shine like a star. I'll try to help you, too.
As a look back at my day and ask why I felt so renewed, the only answers are: rest and God. This weekend was incredibly restful and relaxing at our house. With little on the agenda, I had time to catch up on some things, accomplish looming tasks, and enjoy time with N. This was complimented by yesterday's church service, which was a very refreshing time. The service began with all of us making a list of things that we wanted to get from the service. I noted: comfort, peace, direction. These pieces of paper were then collected and placed on the altar. Taking time to really think about what I needed from the service was powerful and it really helped the experience be a meaningful one.
Another major highlight of the service was the music. We had a choir visiting from Boston and they had some soul. They moved me with their spirit, energy, and ability to communicate faith through song. I clapped, swayed, and rejoiced with them! The sermon was good also, a reminder of the light that we are called to shine in every corner of the world that we live in. A reminder to be what we are called to be: a shining example of God's love. One of the most powerful parts of the sermon was the gentle reminder that every single person we encounter has God's light inside them...whether they know it or not, whether it is obvious or not, it is there and we are called to help bring that light out so that it can shine in the universe also.
When I left the service, I felt that I definitely received all of the things that I listed on my paper at the beginning of the service. And I was reminded of my very favorite scripture verse. One that I have tried to live every day (even though I frequently do not succeed as much as I wish I could).
Philippians 2:14-18
Do everything without arguing or complaining so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
The feeling of peace that I felt after the church service was still with me today. Praise God! And I pray that it will be with me tomorrow...and the next day...and I pray that others around me will have the energy and peace to faithfully face the day before them as well.
We are all called to be bright lights in this world. I hope you will help me shine like a star. I'll try to help you, too.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Today's Bliss: Service
Our church is a weekly site of feeding, housing, healing, and entertaining for homeless men. Every Friday night a diverse group of twelve men enter our doors for a hot meal, a warm bed, some friendly conversation, a movie marathon, and a dose of love. N and I are regular helpers for the ministry, lending a hand when we are able. Last night we had the unique experience of serving alongside my parents. They joined us for the evening, helping to feed the men...then N and my Dad stayed the night with the men as hosts. It was a very uplifting experience and it made me feel like we were doing something right.
Hearing one of the stories that was shared during the evening made me remember that the pain we all carry is a burden, challenging us to focus on love, focus on forgiveness, and focus on the light that Jesus is for us all. Some people have stories that really make you stop and think: how did you overcome all that you have had in your path? I look at my blessed, blissful life and I am so grateful for a wonderful family. For parents to serve alongside. For love that I have never had to beg for or earn. Struggling, hurting people are everywhere and something as simple as a backpack for a homeless man that needs some help carrying his few belongings can make a huge difference in his life.
One of the main things that we see Jesus do throughout the New Testament is serve. He heals, teaches, guides, provides, and helps all of the people who need it. He was never worried about himself; only others. His ultimate act of service was dying so that we could live. So that we can live and help people who need it. So that we can show love to the hurting, suffering people that he has placed in our path. Acts big and small can change the world and can help people see that even in the darkest day there is hope. There is a Father who can save them and heal their hurting hearts. There are people who care about them and want them to succeed. There are places to turn to for help.
God has gently reminded me of a way to truly find bliss. Love your neighbor (Luke 10:27) and serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13).
Hearing one of the stories that was shared during the evening made me remember that the pain we all carry is a burden, challenging us to focus on love, focus on forgiveness, and focus on the light that Jesus is for us all. Some people have stories that really make you stop and think: how did you overcome all that you have had in your path? I look at my blessed, blissful life and I am so grateful for a wonderful family. For parents to serve alongside. For love that I have never had to beg for or earn. Struggling, hurting people are everywhere and something as simple as a backpack for a homeless man that needs some help carrying his few belongings can make a huge difference in his life.
One of the main things that we see Jesus do throughout the New Testament is serve. He heals, teaches, guides, provides, and helps all of the people who need it. He was never worried about himself; only others. His ultimate act of service was dying so that we could live. So that we can live and help people who need it. So that we can show love to the hurting, suffering people that he has placed in our path. Acts big and small can change the world and can help people see that even in the darkest day there is hope. There is a Father who can save them and heal their hurting hearts. There are people who care about them and want them to succeed. There are places to turn to for help.
God has gently reminded me of a way to truly find bliss. Love your neighbor (Luke 10:27) and serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13).
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Today's Bliss: Creativity
Today at work my main project is just plain fun: painting bowling pins. I know that sounds crazy and I will post a photo when I am all finished! I plan fundraising events full time for Junior Achievement here in Nashville. It is a fun job and I get to meet a lot of interesting people, work with a diverse group of JA supporters, and plan three major events every year. Springtime in my life is Bowl-a-Thon season. This event always has a theme and I get the opportunity to run with it...decorations, contests, and other fun activities that we incorporate at the bowling center. I really enjoy it; you never know what you'll run into at these events!
I love having the chance to be creative. I am lucky to get the occasional opportunity to sit down with a paintbrush and just enjoy my day...even when I am at work! I am very aware that few jobs would let me be creative in the way that my job does now. I am grateful for the job that I have and so glad that I fit so well with the tasks at hand.
Creativity is most definitely a gift. Not everyone has a creative spark and I am blessed to have it. My parents nurtured this gift while I was growing up and now I have to be creative. I could not do my job without it. As I think about creativity, no one shows it more than God does. I mean, He created ALL of the animals, ALL of the pieces and parts of the universe, ALL of the beautiful surroundings and people that are around us. When you really stop to think about it, it is so amazing. And he wants us to be creative, too! He wants us to think, create, make, and enjoy our lives to the fullest.
Stop for a moment and think of something you can incorporate into your day that will give you the chance to be creative. Don't miss out on this very blissful gift from God!
I love having the chance to be creative. I am lucky to get the occasional opportunity to sit down with a paintbrush and just enjoy my day...even when I am at work! I am very aware that few jobs would let me be creative in the way that my job does now. I am grateful for the job that I have and so glad that I fit so well with the tasks at hand.
Creativity is most definitely a gift. Not everyone has a creative spark and I am blessed to have it. My parents nurtured this gift while I was growing up and now I have to be creative. I could not do my job without it. As I think about creativity, no one shows it more than God does. I mean, He created ALL of the animals, ALL of the pieces and parts of the universe, ALL of the beautiful surroundings and people that are around us. When you really stop to think about it, it is so amazing. And he wants us to be creative, too! He wants us to think, create, make, and enjoy our lives to the fullest.
Stop for a moment and think of something you can incorporate into your day that will give you the chance to be creative. Don't miss out on this very blissful gift from God!
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