Best Intentions

For at least five of the last eight mornings I've sat down with the best intentions to write, to share from my heart, some thought or musings. Nothing ... I've scanned various reading material and was inspired to write ... nothing.

Hmmm, I scanned my friends blogs hoping for and anticipated what they had to say and share and yet I've had nothing for the past eight days. Waiting to respond to what others had to say (which I've enjoyed reading -- I might add :) rather than jumping in with something.

Intentions oh best intentions I've got entire truckloads of them .... intentions to call a friend, intentions to drop someone I've been thinking of a note, intentions of telling someone I'm sorry for a wrong I committed, let's add intentions of gathering up material and photos for the annual Christmas card/letter--intentions.

Wonderful, warm, kind, thoughts/intentions don't mean a darn if they are not followed through on with ACTION. Darn it back to application/action GRRR one of my down falls. Why is it so hard?

I don't have time to doublecheck this reference, but I believe that it is in C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters (a very insightful book which is a quick read) where the head demon is tickled everytime a human has good intentions, he smiles and says something to the effect of let them intend all sorts of things -- that doesn't worry Satan, as very few humans follow through on their intentions.

I honestly think this must be one of Satan's best ploys/traps for us. I always feel good as I'm thinking of all the wonderful things I could do or say to people in my life ... but SIGH...never seem to get around to the doing part of my actions.

Okay guess I need some ACTION, (okay I have to giggle cuz the cheer "Action, Action, we want Action" is going through my brain right now. Know that one?)

I'm going to make a list, a short one of things TO DO, ACCOMPLISH AND ACHIEVE

• Send Jilly the article mentioning Talley Winery with a note to let her know I'm thinking of her -- by Friday
• Finish the baby quilt I'm working on for very pregnant friend -- by Christmas
• Get Christmas card/photo out by December 20th
• Get Kellie and Audrey's birthday gifts IN THE MAIL (not going to mention how very very tardy I am) - end of this week
• Write notes of encouragement to several friends going through stressful situations - at least one a week
• I'm not going to mention completion of Christmas shopping
• When I have thoughts/intentions write them down and put a date to them

What intentions do you have that you need to put a little action to today?

Make Me a Blessing

Found this in a jacket pocket, from a past church service.

Make Me a Blessing
by George Schuler

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blesssing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove True,
Every moment you live.

Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

I really like this reminder to be a blessing to someone each day. Often it is easier to be a blessing to a stranger, with a small kindness of a smile or opening the door for them when their hands are full.

Being a blessing to those I love the most, sometimes proves difficult. I snap, instead of listening and responding with kindness, even though my buttons have been pushed. My patience level always seems shorter with my family.Why is that?

I believe many blessings are small acts of kindness, gentleness and patience (hmmm, that is sounding alot like fruit of the spirit) in addition to the big blessings God gives us.

Blessings I can provide to others:

• Smile when saying hello
• Ask how others are doing and then truely listen
• Be a safe place to confide
• Always have a hug ready to give to those in need
• Celebrating others successes
• Sharing in others sorrows
• Giving to others of my time and service
• Keeping in touch with family and friends
• Praying for others
• Being patient, even when I don't feel like it
• Being conscious and loving those around me, whether they want it or not
• I hear my Grandma Ida's voice saying, "Feed 'em"
• Showing others the love and forgiveness my Savior so lovingly gives me (even if that other just cut me off in traffic)
• Being vulnerable and sincere
• Being present with the person I'm speaking to - really listening (not just thinking about what I'm going to say or do next)

Laziness

Hebrews 6:11-12

"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

I've been lazy lately-not leisurely, not relaxed-just plain lazy. I've chosen not to do things, mainly around the house that would make living here in our home better for my family, as well as myself.

Laziness is a sneaky sin, in the beginning I justify (which anytime I try and justify, I should know better and I guess also ALL sins are sneaky when I think about it) that I deserve a break, just to sit and watch TV or read a book BEFORE necessary chores and tasks get completed. Clutter and stacks are threatening to take over sections of my home-not good.

Why does sin creep up on me like that? I'm thinking I deserve to just sit, or sleep for just 15 minutes more ... I was going to say that I wished I had a beeper that would go off when I start drifting into sin, but then I realized that would be my conscience--ahhh, I've got one of those. Daily time with my Lord, also helps to keep my heart pliable, moldable, and AWARE.

Diligence and discipline to keep on keeping on. That is my prayer of the week. I pray that I will continously apply diligence and discipline to tasks so that once completed I can enjoy the reward of relaxation, knowing what needs to be accomplished has indeed be done.

The refreshment of well deserved relaxation is what I need to be considering, hmmmm, future reward rather than instant gratification ... that seems to be a reoccuring theme for me.

Habakkuk

Habakkuk 3:18-19

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Soveriegn Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

Some time in the past I had highlighted these verses in a study Bible. I reviewed the small book of Habakkuk. Who was he? A contemporary of Jeremiah and a man of vigorus faith rooted deeply in the religious traditions of Israel, according to my study Bible.

If you just read those versus you think, wow how uplifting, yea I need to rejoice in the Lord and I am blessed, my life is really good. I have a wonderful husband and son, family, a warm house, plenty of food, a job I enjoy, the list goes on.

However the rest of Habakkuk's story is that he had, just before this verse, mentioned his fig trees weren't budding, no grapes on the vine, fields were producing no food and to top it all off there were no sheep or cattle to be found. Hmmm, sounds bad ... and yet there he is rejoicing in the Lord.

Valuable lesson, important lesson SIGH one I hope I never need. Isn't it our human nature to want to be inspired, but not dwell in the sorrow, suffering or loss? That too is part of our life's journey ...

The study Bible also shares that, "Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith to trust in God's providence regardless of circumstances. He declares that even if God should send suffering and loss, he would still rejoice in his Savior-God. It's one of the strongest affirmations of faith in all Scripture."

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Guess that means whatever the circumstances.

Recognition

I crave recognition, there I said it.

I like it when someone gives me a compliment or praise about something I've accomplished. This weekend I was the MC for a Gala event, I did alright but then worried perhaps I didn't do as well as I thought, because I didn't have that many people tell me I did a good job. Public speaking comes rather easily for me, I'd say it is one of the gifts God gave me. Yet, I automatically look around to see who noticed what I did. Look UP, not around!

Sad isn't it? Hmmm, where are my rewards? That'd be in heaven, I know that and yet I do crave what this silly shallow world offers.

Here is what Chuck Swindoll has to say about recognition -- good reminder. Need to focus on others ... gee that focusing on others instead of my own selfish wants and desires does seem to bring my heart where it needs to be-off me and serving others.

"Regardless of your position, honors, degrees, or achievements, just stay real. Junk any idea that you deserve some kind of recognition for a job well done. Who did you do it for anyway? If you did it for God, He has an infinite number of unseen ways to reward you. If you did it for human glory, no wonder you're seeking the credit! Instead, consistently take notice of others' achievements, recognize others' skills and contrubtions ... and say so. That's called serving others in love."

Matthew 20:16

"The last will be first, and the first will be last."

November?

How did it get to be November already? Wasn't it just September?

Life moves at rapid pace, my constant challenge is to stay in the present, the here, the now. Not constantly wishing for yesterday or anticipating the future, but show up present now. I notice as Eli was growing from infant to toddler, I constantly had to catch myself from the "I can't wait til he can roll-over, til he can walk, talk". Then once his skills have grown, I then reminiscene fondly about when he couldn't walk or talk.

Recognizing it is probably human nature to do this, but I know the Lord wants more for us. Living one's life fully, I believe is showing up for right now. Deep breath, and enjoy the now. How can one enjoy God's incredible creation around us, if always focusing on the past and the future, oblivious to all that surrounds us right now.

With a commute of about 35 minutes, I have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the wheatfields, watch deer in the fields (where they hopefully stay rather than on the road), watch the leaves the crops change with the season. It is so easy to fall into the "I shoulda or I'm gonna" trap -- replaying or preparing for all those things I should have done yesterday or hope to do today. I need to just rest in Him, drink in the amazing scenery, and breath deeply.

Enjoy the present of today.