so, one of my personal goals for this year is to be more transparent and to maybe write a little more, but i'll be honest reading and writing are not my strongest qualities, so it will be a work in progress this year. i've been dying to write about this for a few days, but life will just not slow down long enough for me to sit in front of the computer long enough to form my thoughts. i've been traveling quite a bit for work, and that has this girl extra sleepy and a little out of the semi-routine i have. the one fantastic thing about traveling is that i always read on planes, and i had a longer flight than normal last thursday to arizona, so i started reading this book that everyone has been talking about and even my counselor suggested i read, one thousand gifts. so i pulled it out and just the first 50 pages rocked my world. don't worry, contrary to what you are probably thinking, it didn't take me 3.5 hours to read those 50 pages, i did other things and slept some too:) so i am sitting there reading, and i come to this part where the author (ann voskamp) starts talking about the passage in the Bible where Jesus restores ten lepers to wholeness and how only one of them returns to offer any thanks. i am thinking, yes, i know this one!!! but ann goes a little deeper than just pointing out that only one was thankful, follow along for a minute.
" One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed?" Where are the other nine?" Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17: 15-19)
okay, so i am somewhat horrible at reading comprehension, but the point that ann made (in my words) is that basically, even though all ten were healed, the leper who received sozo (which means salvation) was the one who actually returned and gave thanks. so, the big point here is that "our very saving is associated with our gratitude."
i'm not going to pretend to be a scholar or anything, but quite simply i think this passage and her words sum it up quite nicely. if ultimately our fall was not being thankful (which i know for myself i am guilty of everyday), then salvation has to be intimately related to giving thanks. just think, eve was tempted and ate the forbidden fruit, because what God had given her wasn't enough, she wanted more.
so, here i am on my way to arizona for work, kind of mad, because i have to be gone over the weekend, missing a chance to go hear matt chandler with my best friends, and basically just having a pity party for myself, because i am so tired of traveling for my job, and then i read this... i am thinking snap out of it, and quite simply live a life of thanksgiving. how different would my life be if i didn't constantly focus on what i did not have and focus on all the gifts i have in my life daily. my mind quickly went back to all those beautiful faces from my haiti trip. those kids never once complained or talked about things they did not have, they praised God and thanked him for the things they did, which was not very much at all. (i know we could all learn many lessons from them.) recently i've been on my why i am still single kick, what if i chose to focus on the many blessings in my life, and stopped whining about something that is clearly not in God's timing right now. instead, i should thank him for his provision and protection in this area of my life:) the author of the book decides to make a list of 1000 gifts she already has/things she loves/blessings, etc. so, i pray about this on the plane, and i think i need to do this, i think it will help me live a life more joyful, less self-centered:)
so, i hope in all of this rambling, i have made some sense, i know that i am not the best writer, but hopefully something in this post has maybe helped you realize that we could all benefit from being a little more thankful on any given day:)
a few things from this week....
1. a window seat on my plane to jacksonville
2. white chocolate mocha from starbucks
3. sound machine app
4. sunny days in jacksonville
5. my lead helping me with a new system at work
6. at 5pm, most days, lindsey calls me
7. seeing my favorite toddlers every sunday at church
8. hearing a great message on identity in Christ at church on sunday
9. cold medicine
10. co-monitors
11. naviagtion to find my way in cities that i could easily get lost in
12. curly hair
13. made to crave devotionals in the morning
14. dinner with co-workers on Monday night
15. a three hour nap on sunday after the red-eye flight home
Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole, fullest life." - one thousand gifts, Ann Voskamp
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
baby steps for a big year:: 30 things to do this year
so for the past few years, i have made a list of things to do with the amount of things to do correlating to the age i turn that year. the first two years, i did pretty good, but for some reason last year i didn't to well. this year, i debated not doing a list, but let's face it, i turn 30 this year and i want to have a fun list, a list with small things that i can do to make myself a better version of me, and i am going to really try hard to do these things. i have been reading lots of devotions from proverbs 31 ministries, from streams of the desert, and from made to crave, and know that i can so do this with the help from the Creator of everything, My Heavenly Father:) so, some of these may be repeats, others will be knew, but regardless, i don't want to look back and think that life passed me by... you only get one and i want to know that I spent my days on this earth, drawing closer to God, having fun with friends, helping/serving others, not working all the time, and being the best version of myself! here's to my 30th year of life being the best yet!
1. reading the Bible - i'm going to be real honest here, reading is so not fun to me, no matter what it is, so instead of trying to be like everyone else, i am going to do what is best for me. i am going to focus on small amounts and really pray and focus on those. i've really got to work on not comparing/worrying what other people think. if anyone has reading plans for the Bible that are SMALL, short passages at a time, i am so for that, send them my way.
2. make my bed each day - why is this on my list every year, but so far in 2012, every day that i have been home, i have made my day, so we are on the right track, haha
3. learn to sew - i met a girl at church who knows how, so hopefully one saturday, i can pay her to teach me, i hope she has a lot of patience, things do not come easy to this girl.
4. go hiking and spend some time outdoors - for this somewhat girly girl, most of you are probably laughing, God created a beautiful world and nature is pretty, so i think it would do me some good to get out and enjoy it!!! my friend kase and i made a list of fun things to do in the next six months on new years day, and this made the list, so i think this will happen:)
5. food - i want to continue with my trying new foods and restaurants. i have lived in charlotte for over three years now and there are several restaurants that i have not tried, so i want to try at least five new ones this year and five new foods. i am going to cabo fish taco in two weeks, which i have wanted to go for a while, so we are already on our to a good start!!!
6. serve in the local community more, plain and simple, just do it!
7. read more, let's face it, i said it before and everyone who knows me, knows this... i hate reading, but i have set a small goal to read 10 minutes a day, everyday. so, the first book i am reading is 1000 gifts:)
8. break the starbucks addiction, haha - who would have ever thought that i would be so addicted to coffee. i got a keurig for christmas, so i am hoping this will help. i am drinking more coffee at home. new goal, $25/month at starbucks, I CAN DO THIS:)
9. i want to go ziplining. seriously, love all things related to heights, not scared at all, so this has to happen this year!
10. personal fitness goal:: lose 15 pounds.
11. continue to get better at crocheting, i enjoy it but don't stop and sit still long enough to do it often enough... so improve, do more, and learn more patterns
12. be more focused in general, i get easily distracted. i think one way to be more focused would be to turn the TV off and read, journal, pray, etc.
13. try to write daily in my peaks/pits/praise/prayers journal. saw this on pinterest, and i love it!!!
14. cook more often. i would save so much more if i broke down and cooked more and ate leftovers, so i will do this!!!
15. try a hot yoga class.
16. live expectantly. i read a verse in my devotion the other night and it is so true. "whatever you ask for in prayer, belive." mark 11:24
17. i want to be a counselor at camp care this summer, now if i could get in touch with the right people. hopefully this will happen.
18. be intentional about catching up with my friends who live in different cities (whitney - baltimore), (kelly - atlanta), (bay, holly, and michele - raleigh), (heather, kaleena, ashley, and candice - raleigh) (casey - raleigh) - life is busy, but that is no excuse as to why we shouldn't stay in touch.
19. i've been in the same role at my company for almost five years, and i've been frustrated that i haven't gotten a promotion due to restructuring and the economy, but i want to have a better attitude and really work hard in my current role and see my studies through the end. if and when God decides it is time for me to be promoted, i will be ready. explore different positions that i may want to do in my company, as well.
20. try something new, anything.
21. i want to go to a shooting range and maybe get a gun for protection... goodness, my roots are showing and i love it:) i will take a concealed weapons class and be educated, don't worry! (pretty sure i am going to be able to talk lindsey jo into doing this one with me as well.)
22. i want to go to the CMA awards in nashville for my 30th birthday. i have already informed lindsey and crystal and they say they are on board, so we will see. it is the one thing i want to do for my birthday:) how awesome and fantastic would that be!!!
23. spend less and save more! i got out of debt in 2010/early 2011, except for my student loans and my mortgage, so my big thing for this year to live by a budget and to SAVE money!
24. adopt/sponsor a child from a third world country, more than likely haiti and possibly from mission of hope, my church had the information one sunday and i didn't do it, but i have been praying about it and i need to do it:)
25. purge, i have a lot of stuff that i don't need, that others would be so blessed by. i need to donate to people who need it:)
26. either go sky diving or on a hot air balloon ride:) yes, i really want to do one of the two.
27. learn to do a complete push up (weakest arms in life)
28. crafting/DIY projects - one or two nights a month, take time to enjoy crafting and doing things i find on pinterest. after all, it is cheaper and super cute!
29. look into going back to Haiti or on another mission trip... really praying about this one and trying to figure out where God may want me to go.
30. spend a weekend in the mountains, possibly go skiing, oh goodness this could be hilarious. this is so happening, as we are going for Jillian's 30th, and i am so excited about a little mountain fun:)
1. reading the Bible - i'm going to be real honest here, reading is so not fun to me, no matter what it is, so instead of trying to be like everyone else, i am going to do what is best for me. i am going to focus on small amounts and really pray and focus on those. i've really got to work on not comparing/worrying what other people think. if anyone has reading plans for the Bible that are SMALL, short passages at a time, i am so for that, send them my way.
2. make my bed each day - why is this on my list every year, but so far in 2012, every day that i have been home, i have made my day, so we are on the right track, haha
3. learn to sew - i met a girl at church who knows how, so hopefully one saturday, i can pay her to teach me, i hope she has a lot of patience, things do not come easy to this girl.
4. go hiking and spend some time outdoors - for this somewhat girly girl, most of you are probably laughing, God created a beautiful world and nature is pretty, so i think it would do me some good to get out and enjoy it!!! my friend kase and i made a list of fun things to do in the next six months on new years day, and this made the list, so i think this will happen:)
5. food - i want to continue with my trying new foods and restaurants. i have lived in charlotte for over three years now and there are several restaurants that i have not tried, so i want to try at least five new ones this year and five new foods. i am going to cabo fish taco in two weeks, which i have wanted to go for a while, so we are already on our to a good start!!!
6. serve in the local community more, plain and simple, just do it!
7. read more, let's face it, i said it before and everyone who knows me, knows this... i hate reading, but i have set a small goal to read 10 minutes a day, everyday. so, the first book i am reading is 1000 gifts:)
8. break the starbucks addiction, haha - who would have ever thought that i would be so addicted to coffee. i got a keurig for christmas, so i am hoping this will help. i am drinking more coffee at home. new goal, $25/month at starbucks, I CAN DO THIS:)
9. i want to go ziplining. seriously, love all things related to heights, not scared at all, so this has to happen this year!
10. personal fitness goal:: lose 15 pounds.
11. continue to get better at crocheting, i enjoy it but don't stop and sit still long enough to do it often enough... so improve, do more, and learn more patterns
12. be more focused in general, i get easily distracted. i think one way to be more focused would be to turn the TV off and read, journal, pray, etc.
13. try to write daily in my peaks/pits/praise/prayers journal. saw this on pinterest, and i love it!!!
14. cook more often. i would save so much more if i broke down and cooked more and ate leftovers, so i will do this!!!
15. try a hot yoga class.
16. live expectantly. i read a verse in my devotion the other night and it is so true. "whatever you ask for in prayer, belive." mark 11:24
17. i want to be a counselor at camp care this summer, now if i could get in touch with the right people. hopefully this will happen.
18. be intentional about catching up with my friends who live in different cities (whitney - baltimore), (kelly - atlanta), (bay, holly, and michele - raleigh), (heather, kaleena, ashley, and candice - raleigh) (casey - raleigh) - life is busy, but that is no excuse as to why we shouldn't stay in touch.
19. i've been in the same role at my company for almost five years, and i've been frustrated that i haven't gotten a promotion due to restructuring and the economy, but i want to have a better attitude and really work hard in my current role and see my studies through the end. if and when God decides it is time for me to be promoted, i will be ready. explore different positions that i may want to do in my company, as well.
20. try something new, anything.
21. i want to go to a shooting range and maybe get a gun for protection... goodness, my roots are showing and i love it:) i will take a concealed weapons class and be educated, don't worry! (pretty sure i am going to be able to talk lindsey jo into doing this one with me as well.)
22. i want to go to the CMA awards in nashville for my 30th birthday. i have already informed lindsey and crystal and they say they are on board, so we will see. it is the one thing i want to do for my birthday:) how awesome and fantastic would that be!!!
23. spend less and save more! i got out of debt in 2010/early 2011, except for my student loans and my mortgage, so my big thing for this year to live by a budget and to SAVE money!
24. adopt/sponsor a child from a third world country, more than likely haiti and possibly from mission of hope, my church had the information one sunday and i didn't do it, but i have been praying about it and i need to do it:)
25. purge, i have a lot of stuff that i don't need, that others would be so blessed by. i need to donate to people who need it:)
26. either go sky diving or on a hot air balloon ride:) yes, i really want to do one of the two.
27. learn to do a complete push up (weakest arms in life)
28. crafting/DIY projects - one or two nights a month, take time to enjoy crafting and doing things i find on pinterest. after all, it is cheaper and super cute!
29. look into going back to Haiti or on another mission trip... really praying about this one and trying to figure out where God may want me to go.
30. spend a weekend in the mountains, possibly go skiing, oh goodness this could be hilarious. this is so happening, as we are going for Jillian's 30th, and i am so excited about a little mountain fun:)
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