I am Blessed

I am blessed in so many indescribable ways! Today I was vividly reminded of that.

I am blessed with an amazing support group of family and friends

I am blessed with unexpected kindness

I am blessed with health

I am blessed with an amazing relationship with my future husband that isn't inhibited by boundaries

I am blessed because God's favor is on me

Prayer is a Gift

Today I received the gift of prayer. I had received a call from a local pastor I know for the second time in the last two weeks. I was going to email him back and just say hi and avoid talking to him on the phone, but then I called. It lead me to opening up about struggles I am having here and then he prayed. God pushed me (way more than a nudge) and Pastor Wayne prayed for me. He doesn't know the gift that he gave and I had no idea how huge it would be for me. It also reminded me that prayer is not something to take for granted but something to share - with others and with God - building our relationships.

Pray for someone tomorrow and pray with them while they are with you. On the phone or in person. Gift the gift of God, give it often and give it with a true heart.

The Gift Revolution RALLY

You have to be there!


Revolution Rally Reminder from Flamingo Road Church on Vimeo.

Blessings

What if today, and everyday, we didn't determine our blessings based on our circumstances?

Unwrapped 11.22.08

Check out this unbelievably AMAZING weekend at Flamingo Road Church. It's going to change everything...




Promo - The Series Before The Series from Flamingo Road Church on Vimeo.

Thankful

In the midst of one of the most 'off' weeks I have had in a while, filled with more than I thought I could handle, I have found myself thinking of being Thankful. So I stopped thinking and started being! I am so thankful of so many little things and really BIG things that have happened this week and beyond. Take some time, before the popular Thankful day next week to look around and Thank God for life, and everything that happens in between.

Who Shapes You?

Funny how God puts messages in front of you when you need them most. We just need to have the strength and courage to listen to them with an open heart, an open mind and the willingness to use the message our life - even when you don't think that you need (or want) to.

Recently God has used so many people and situations in my life to talk to me about what I choose to focus on and what I allow to shape me. Am I choosing to focus on the negative and let that rule my personality? Am I allowing people or situations to shape me in a positive way? It is an eye opening experience to look at what you allow to affect you. It is also the biggest, most conscious, challenging decision to focus on the positive and allow God to continue to shape you. Not into the person you want to be but the person God knows you are and has created you to be.

Tears

Have you ever wondered what tears were? I mean besides the water that comes from your eyes...

I have had the opportunity to shed many a tear, especially in the last three weeks. I have come to realize that tears aren't just a representative of sadness, for me, they are a representation of every emotion a human being can possibly have - hitting all at once. And presto, tears!

What have you shed tears over lately?

Lifesavers

Lifesavers come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and flavors and they taste good (the candy) and feel good when people commit the act of 'saving your life'. Sometimes people can actually save your life but how often we forget the acts that people do for us that make us feel like our life has been saved.

Yesterday, someone found some things for me at work that really lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and...'saved my life'! Who has been your lifesaver in the last week? Maybe you should thank them!

Thanks for the Talk

God, I want to thank you today for putting me in the place I needed to be last night to hear you speak through Pastor Troy directly to me. It is amazing that when we are true believers and pray with a true heart, wanting to not know what we think the answer should be and only wanting to know your will for our lives is, that you speak to us one on one. Even in a room full of people, being broadcast to the world wide web.

Amen.

Maybe I Should Sell It...

So I was discussing two situations that I have going on in my life to a friend of mine today. We have been friends for over 10 years and for the last two she has quietly observed me as a Christian - much different than the girl she used to know. Towards the end of our conversation, she said 'I have no idea how you are dealing with all of this' and I responded with the fact that although these situations are BIG for me, I am facing things that pale in comparison to what others face everyday.

Without going into detail, I shared with her the positive side of what is going on in my life instead of looking at the negative, like she was. She said, 'did you take a positive pill because I want to be what you are on. You should sell that.' I thought, maybe I should. I will wake up and 'sell' my positivity with those that I encounter. A smile. An encouraging word. Or maybe just a positive outlook on what may seem as a negative situation.

I thought of all the things we could 'sell' by our actions. I think I want to 'sell' people love, faith, God, grace, kindness, humility and so many other positive things. What did you 'sell' today? What will you 'sell' tomorrow?

"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead you anywhere"

- Anonymous

Ok, so maybe I am trying to remind myself here but it is a quote on my desk that I need to remember to read more often.

Giving it up to Him

Isn't it hard to release control of the uncontrollable? Now seriously think about it. There are so many areas of our life that we really don't have control over - What people think of us. What others will do. We stress about the uncontrollable, trying to find out anyway that we can 'control' the situation when in fact we need to just give it up to God.

Recently I have been faced with a life changing decision in my career. One that would affect myself, family, friends, where I live my life and so many other areas. For about two days I focused on the 'What If' and the 'Unknown' (and it was driving me CRAZY!) only to have God kindly come beside me with a little nudge and remind me that I need to just give it up to Him. Now I still don't know what the answer will be, but I go about my day in a state of peace with my situation that I didn't have last week. A peace that I have given it up to God and that I will focus my energy on praying for the ability to see God's will for my life.

What are we facing today? What do we need to give up to God?

The First Post

So here it is. I thought about it, wondered why would I really do it and then figured, why not? I am surrounded by and have recently realized how the people in my life and my life in general inspires, raises questions and solidifies things for me on a daily basis.

Have you ever thought, 'man, I should write that down!' and then didn't? Well here begins those moments never 'not' happening again! Take a look, read some thoughts...remember, nothing is original!