Category: Doing Life

When Life Includes Death

In Psalm 13 David feels abandoned and says, “Lord, how long are you going to forget about me. I can’t take it any more because my heart breaks all day long!” We’ve all been there, right? I know so many are there right now. I know hearts are breaking right now because of loved ones who have been lost to a broken world.

David said, “If you don’t help me understand this, I’m going to die, and then those who don’t know you will say laugh and say ‘some God he served'”

There’s no words for what two of my family members have recently gone through, my cousin here in KY and my niece in TX: my cousin lost her baby who was 7 months old, and my niece lost her husband to be.

In the midst of all his loss and feelings of abandoment, David said, “But…I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Some would say, “there is no lovingkindness in this” “there is no reason for rejoicing.” Yet, God is near to a broken and contrite heart; there is only refuge in Him. As long as we live in this broken world, we will not understand many thing, but there is still hope.

Cling to the Father. Let him be your strength. We will see our loved ones again; hold out for that day. Let the God of peace keep you, and let your soul find rest in Him. If any man be in Christ, though he is dead, yet shall he live.

Where’s My Owner’s Manual?

…new means different. As a matter of fact, Google’s definition of new is: not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

I read this morning about the meaning of prototype and it made my day – even though I know this – the reminder that God loves me uniquely and I’m special to him (I’m his prototype and there’s not another one like me), it was like hearing it for the first time! How can that be? Oh wait. The scripture does say that his mercies are new each day doesn’t it.

What’s really cool about this is, new means different. As a matter of fact, Google’s definition of new is: not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

That is why, when we hear a scripture or an encouraging word from God, even though we may have read the Bible through 10 times, in his mercy and brilliance, he gives us a NEW perspective of it. He created us, remember? He knew we needed fresh mercy, fresh energy, fresh creativity, fresh ideas.

He could have created all of us humans to be just alike: same hair, same heighth, same build, but he made each one of us new; he didn’t duplicate or repeat. Each one of us is his own special prototype, unique to his special idea when he created and formed us in our mothers’ wombs. No one can take our place..

There is something for you to do – a road only you can travel. Sure, other’s could walk down it, but they cannot leave the mark on that road the way you can, the way you were intended to do it. Sometimes the road is not scenic or lined with flowers and waterfalls on each side; instead, there may be rocks and mountains that seem impossible to navigate. But, remember. It’s your road. Embrace it and see what God intends to show you on your journey. Embrace it and let that new thing He is trying to do in you emerge.

How to know you are a prototype:

  1. Do you often ask yourself, “why is this happening to me” or “what exactly is my purpose”?  Then, you are one of God’s prototypes. He has the owner’s manual and knows how to put the pieces of your life together so that the finished product works as intended.
  2. Do you often feel like you cannot do this on your own anymore? Then, you are one of God’s special prototypes. He has the owner’s manual, and the special instructions reminds you that your version came with a constant companion who will never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone.
  3. Do you often wish you could start over? Then, you are one of God’s unique prototypes. The manual has a section that discusses how to become a new creation, and I believe it indicates that you may start over as many times as necessary in order to produce what was intended for your life.

I just came back from a conference of 20,000 fitness coaches. We each listened to the same trainers, heard the same ideas, and will apply the knowledge same knowledge, yet none of us will produce the same results. Why? Because each of us is unique, and each of us has a path to travel unlike anyone else’s, and everyone’s owner’s manual reads differently because there is not a one of us who is the same. We are all a special prototype with different purposes.

Take a moment and ask yourself, “Have I consulted the owner’s manual lately?” If not, perhaps that is why the machine is not running as smoothly as it should.

Assignment:

  1. List some things that are not going well for you today (lately)._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
  2. Now check your owner’s manual, and find the section that discusses the area of your life that you listed in number one. Read it carefully, and list here what it says. (for instance, have you been feeling angry or upset and cannot seem to get your joy back? The manual says “if you have anything against someone, take care of it before you go to God.” The instructions also say to not go to bed angry so that a root of bitterness doesn’t begin to grow. From this I would write: “Lord, I fogive that person for (fill in the offense). I give it to you tonight and will not carry it anymore”)

If this helped to remind you just how special you are and there are answers, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I will respond.Vickie (124 of 143)

Sabbath Rest

It’s okay to stop and do nothing…

This past weekend, sitting at my desk… Aka…my bed…with business partner… Aka, Nemo, I leisurely read and pondered. There’s something about Sunday and rest, probably because God ordained it.

It’s okay to stop and do nothing, to relax and enjoy your life. In fact, if you don’t there will be no peace for you.

Six days you should crush it.

One day, you should rest it.

Pick a day. It doesn’t have to be Sunday then dedicate it to rest and reflection.

What day are you choosing?

It Scared Me.

I woke up today and nothing felt real. The question, “What in the world are you doing?!) resounded in my head. It scared me.

I looked around – there’s no furniture in my house. Everything echos. The sound isn’t something I recognize. In an instant, doubt washed over me, knocking my feet right out from under me, catching me in the riptide of doubt. What if this is all wrong!  It scared me.

Wanting to crawl back in bed, instead, the pattering scratch of my bare feet on my new laminate flooring echoed eerily as I walked to the coffee pot:”You don’t have a house.” that strange voice said. “You don’t know what you are doing. Nobody cares anyway. You are not all that, you know.”  It scared me.

My routine continued. Pour the coffee, give the Poms their morning treat, use the bathroom, get to your office (wait – it’s all packed up) – get on my bed… I’m kind of numb. I don’t want to read. I just want this voice of doubt to get out of my head. It scared me.

I did my reading anyway, as always: Paul writing to the Colossians, reminding them they were once far from God, but not any more. Stop living like the old you. Put on the new you, he says…. Wait! What did he say?  Put on the new you? You mean I can change my “mental” clothing myself? I read on.

Why yes. If I continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel that I have heard, that has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven! It scared me.

I recognized how close I was to being moved away from my hope. I was allowing thoughts of fear and doubt to crowd in my mind. They were washing over me and I felt fear. Out of nowhere. Boom. There was fear and crazy thoughts. But, I’ve been reconciled, like the Colossians. Like Paul says.

Did I suddenly feel 100%. On top of the world? Unicorns and flowers? No. My head is still hurting. My house is still empty, but my hope is renewed, restored because of the truth that is unshakable, unmoveable. I’ve been reconciled. There is someone bigger than myself directing my paths. I’m just doing this life thing in His shadow – the shadow of the Almighty.

There are no words to explain how faith and hope carries you, lifting you above the natural, emotional waves that pound the shores of life; there is only belief. And, when that belief is real because it is founded on the Living Word, it just is. You’ll know because somehow your head stays above the water. The current of His love is your buoy, and you stay afloat. I’m not scared anymore.

Are you drowning in life? Choking and sputtering? Reach out and take the lifeline. You don’t have to be scared anymore either.

 

 

 

You Should Curse God and Die

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm”!!!!! I love it.

Poor Job. He was in a state of bother, scraping the scabs off his skin with a piece of a broken clay pot; his world had crumbled around him – bankrupt; his children were dead – well, you know the story. Then, his ever-loving wife tells him he might as well give it up.

But, he didn’t. He is an example of one who embodies the cliche “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” There’s a lesson here:

Some try and try and try then quit, listening to the voice of Job’s wife that says “what made you think you could do that anyway?” Thus, they end up with a mediocre life, always thinking… if only…

Some try and try and try, then try something else, then try something else, then something else, going after every “new venture” that is presented to them, ending up with a frustrated life and a laundry list of unfinished projects, always thinking… if only…

Some never try and just…settle. No commentary needed.

Then, there are those who try, try again ad infinitum. The definition for that phrase “ad infinitum” says again and again in the same way; forever. There’s a slight difference in those who try, try again ad infinitum and succeed, though. They will not keep doing it the same way when one way doesn’t work. I think that’s defined as insanity! – doing something over and over the same way expecting different results, right? Ha.

Take that and consider Google’s list of synonyms, and the real meaning comes out:

for ever and ever, evermore, always, for all time, until the end of time, in perpetuity, until hell freezes over;

In particularly, that last one. There are those who keep working toward their goal, and no matter what obstacle comes their way, they get right back up and move forward, doing whatever it takes, however long it takes. Those are the ones who make it. For instance,

  • Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor felt he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He was cheated and nearly penniless. The legend goes that Walt, working in a beleaguered office tamed one of the many mice that scurried around, kept him in a desk drawer, and fed him from his own small rations – thus Mickey Mouse was born (first known as Mortimer Mouse). -Google Books.
  • Steven Spielberg was rejected by the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts several times before winning numerous Emmy awards for numerous films
  • R.H. Macy had many retail flops before the retail giant, Macy’s -my favorite store, became a success
  • Soichiro Honda was hated by his Japanese business community because he dared to be different.Vroom, vroom, anyone?
  • Colonel Harland David Sanders, my own home state of Kentucky icon, was fired over and over No one wanted his chicken recipe! Losers…
  • The list goes on and on… Sir Isaac Newton, Vera Wang, Thomas Newton…. You should go read the list

What if they had settled? What if they’d said… if only…. What if they’d quit!

Even Scripture tells us we should keep “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10.  Some just take the philosophy of eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die, thinking…I can’t ever be good enough anyway.  Well, join the club. Yet, we are told that we are not to give up! We never stop seeking what God wants. We never settle! Keep reading, keep praying, keep trying…all the while, resting in the confidence that He knows your frame, that you are but dust. He knows your failures and faults, but he loves and died for us anyway!

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm”!!!!! I love it.

How many times have you failed? Good! Now, change your perspective, your methods perhaps, and try again!

Challenge:  write down your goal, your desire… then plan how you will go after it…again. Leave a comment of what you are going to do.

Traveling Thoughts (while heading down I65)

It’s time to grab a few heels people, wrestle and angel if necessary, or tear the roof off to get to your destination. Sometimes we have to stir it up and make some noise. Do whatever you have to do to get your passion back.

Sometimes I have it together; sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it seems prayers get answered *snaps fingers, like that; sometimes they don’t. Some people seem to walk in continued favor; some don’t.
  • Those who get things done:
  • Heel Grabbers
  • Angel Wrestlers
  • Crowd Crashers
  • Loud Mouths
  • Roof Wreckers
  • A visiting pastor at my Mom’s church made some interesting observations about those in the Bible who “got things done.” Sometimes we get complacent and life seems to slow down; then before you know it, you’ve lost your passion. If we are not careful, we’ll look around and life has happened and we are in the same place we were ages ago. What is it about those who get it done and those who don’t?
  • Jacob, the Heel Grabber/Angel Wrestler, for instance, never gave up. From the time he was in the womb, he was trying to get ahead and is recorded as “wrestling in the womb” even. He procured the family birthright even though it was supposed to go to his twin. He finally got the wife he wanted, albeit through much toil; however, to him all those years seemed like a day. Why? Because he knew what he wanted and everything he did moved him closer to that goal.
  • Later, while on the run from that pesky twin from whom he had taken the birthright, he ran into an angel and wrestled him for a blessing – and got it. He wouldn’t stop! The angel said “let go!” and he said, “not until you bless me!” Again, no matter how hard or how long it took, Jacob got what he set out to get.
  • And what about that Crowd Crashing lady? She was sick and tire of being sick and tired… and she’d spent all her money nearly bleeding to death. There had to be something within her crying out, “There’s got to be more to life than this!” Though they tried to stop her and the crowd was huge, she had one goal in mind: to touch him, even if it was just his garment. Her determination and clear vision (not to mention her faith) made her unstoppable and she got the very attention of God…and she got her healing, changing her life forever.
  • Loud Mouth. We all know a few of those, right? All his life he’d been blind. He’d tried everything, no doubt the special pool of Siloam, probably any concoction the medicine people had, yet at the mercy of whoever would help him, he’d not been successful.But this new Teacher/Healer was coming his way. I imagine he was jumping up and down, waving his arms – so much so that the people around him said “Good grief, man. Shut up.”  He didn’t, and he got the Master’s attention, and he got his healing. His life changed forever.
  • Lastly, the Roof Wrecker. There was no way. Their task was impossible! Couldn’t be done, they were told. The place was packed and they had missed the deadline for getting in. They could have gone home, but they were tired of seeing their friend waste away, unable to walk and live life, and they were probably tired of carrying him around. They knew what they wanted, and they were determined to make it happen, so they found a way. They climbed the building and took apart the roof. They went from no way in, to front and center. They got their miracle and their lives were changed forever
  • How important is your goal to you? Will you do whatever it takes to get there? If either of the abovementioned people had backed off, they’d have lost their blessing, been passed over in the crowd, or shut out completely.  It’s time to grab a few heels people, wrestle and angel if necessary, or tear the roof off to get to your destination. Sometimes we have to stir it up and make some noise. Do whatever you have to do to get your passion back.
Question:  What obstacle is holding you back? Share in the comments what you plan to do to get through it, around it, over it…

Enough is Enough

Can God get fed up and say, “enough is enough?”

Once, as the prophet Elisha was coming back from performing the miracle of purifying the water in a place, making it “pure to this day,” as he came down the hill some young boys mocked him calling him an old bald head. He didn’t ignore them, yet he didn’t engage them; instead, he cursed them in the name of the Lord, and the 2 boys and 40 other young people were mauled by bears. ..

Why didn’t he try and reform those kids? Why didn’t he stop and preach, or pray for Him to change their hearts? Wasn’t that kind of. ..harsh?

Totally supposing here. .. (hence the title)…what if this gang of youths were, in fact, a group of thugs that had made that area their turf, so to speak. And what if, day after day, month after month, perhaps year after year, Elisha and others had put up with their antics, praying for them, offering a way out of that life, yet the boys, maybe even some girls, refused their help, hardened their hearts, and/or flat out rejected the word of Elisha, which back then was the word of God?

Suppose this day was their day of redemption. Having seen Elisha heal the waters and save the land, instead of saying, “his God is God” they mock the truth of God and his follower, Elisha. Suppose God said, enough is enough that day, and that’s why the boys met their fateful demise. ..

Just suppose…

I’ve got other thought along this line. ..Annanias and Saphirra, for instance, struck down for lying… that’s not like God to zap someone on the spot. .. I’m supposing there was a track record for these people, and this was something they’d been doing for some time, and this would be their last. I’m supposing God said, “enough is enough.”

I believe he will do it again. Some day, and it might be sooner than we think, He will say to the heavens, enough is enough. The Gospel has gone to the whole world; men’s hearts are on evil continually; they have traded the truth for a lie and have traded the natural for the unnatural; therefore, I have given them over to a reprobate mind. Sounds the trumpet.”

Men will run and cry out for the rocks to fall upon them in order to hide from that great and terrible day of the Lord, but it will be too late. Elisha has been traveling through there, praying, pleading, preaching for change, but he’s been mocked for the last time. ..

Pray that you are found worthy to escape the wrath that is to come. I pray this all the time. We don’t know when God will wrap things up. We don’t know when our last breath will be had. Is God dealing with you over something? Don’t ignore it.

All or Nothing

When you grow up hearing “Don’t half-end it” you realize you might as well do it right the first time…

I grew up hearing “Don’t half-end it.”  Or, go back and lick that calf over… Ew! Right? Now, though, I totally get it. To half-end something is to not do it thoroughly. A cow will keep licking its new calf until it is clean. It won’t do it half-way!

I hate when someone is wishy-washy and doesn’t give their best effort. Over the door in my classroom is my motto “Pursuing Excellence.” That does not mean perfection, nor is it a snobbish term. It simply means giving it your all. I will not let my students settle for mediocre.

Sometimes parents take this to the extreme and drive their children so hard that they get discouraged. I like to think that my boys knew that I expected their best, and that “best” didn’t mean perfection. And someone’s best may not be the same as another’s best. I pushed them and never let them settle. However, at the same time, they knew that it was all for the Father.

Here’s what I have discovered. When we are going through life doing this or that, striving for this goal or that goal, if we are not careful we begin to compare our journeys with someone else’s. We see them achieving all this success, friends, whatever… and if we’re not careful we’ll think, “obviously, I’m not good enough”… or “obviously, I don’t know what I’m doing, so I should just quit.”

I’ve found the key, y’all! And, yes, it does involve “all or nothing,” but there’s a caveat. Are you ready? Here it is. A life changer!

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ~Colossians 3:23-24.

There it is. It’s how I survive. It’s how I have peace!  Whether it is my fitness journey or my teaching job, the one I’m seeking to please is Father, God. Sure, I want others to be pleased and happy with my work. Sure, I want appreciation and pats on the back, but you know what? Sometimes that does not happen. Sometimes…I get nothing! People walk right by me without even a nod. I got ZERO likes on that post! And it was amazing!..Those I thought were my bff’s…offended…gone… .

Sometimes, I’ve just cried. Then I usually get mad. Then I feel bad. THEN… I remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. I remember why it’s all okay: because whatever I do, I know God knows my heart. He sees my inner man. He knows my truth. He’s the one I’m serving!

So, when others misunderstand me, when others think I’m… whatever… I’m able to keep going because I know the Father knows my heart. There’s no way I can mope around and “half-end” what I do. I can’t! I’ve never been able to do that. It’s really, all or nothing. Whether it is teaching my students, or working my BB business, or cleaning my toilets, my whole heart is going to be in it because, even when no one is looking, my God is looking, and it is to him I will answer.

How freeing is this! If we never get the accolades, if that person is never friendly with us… if we have put our heart into it because God has instilled in us a desire to do well, and we do it for him and not men, then – even if it stings a little when we don’t get approval from others – ultimately we can’t help but smile.

Don’t grow weary in doing good, friends. There’s a payday, someday : )   Another old saying.

Forward Motion…

Ciao.

Breathe

When the excitement wans and the adrenaline lapses, that doesn’t mean the goal has changed

Sometimes the thoughts in my head, the ideas I have, the things I want to do or say… all scream at me, jumping up and down. I can see them: “Pick me! Pick me!”   “No. Do me first!”  And they’re all so exciting. I love them, and they are all so amazing.

So, I work in a flurry, dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s. I hate half-ended jobs! Don’t you? Work. Work. Work. But, it’s not work, because I love it! Right? You know what I mean, don’t you?

Then, suddenly, it is 1:00 in the morning. Dogs are asleep. Cat is asleep. Husband is asleep. Pandora is bouncing the message “are you still listening?”   NO. I am not. I’m trying to finish here! But, ooooo. Some Rod Stewart tunes would be really nice…  Squirrel!   (JK).

The flurry is on for tomorrow too. Those who know me, know that I hate to get up early, yet in order to do my personal development/devotions/quiet time/coffee sipping/back porch time, and get in 18 holes, and work on my challenge group… UGH. I’ll have to get up early!

Breathe…

Seriously, sometimes it’s like this, but then sometimes it’s like…. *crickets*… Where did the momentum go!!!??? All those impressive ideas are still waving at me… Why is it so easy to fall in the squat?  Have you ever heard that phrase? Can you picture it?  Can you picture that cake that is just about to rise to perfection, then suddenly…fffluuump… it falls in the squat! It usually happens during that upward motion. That’s when gravity is working it’s hardest. Analogy: That’s when the enemy sees defeat is near. This person… this nobody… is about to rise!  Attack! Suddenly there is confusion. There are obstacles: a migraine, a flat tire, a hater hating on you!

If we can recognize the timing – I’m half-a-century old so I’ve seen this – nay – I’ve experienced this so many times.  The prize is right there. Things are working out. It’s all falling in place, and there’s a flurry of action. We’re on a high… then fffflllump…. a hole…a dry spot…

When the excitement wans and the adrenaline lapses, that doesn’t mean the goal has changed. it doesn’t mean your pursuit is no longer valid. It doesn’t mean God has left you!  It means you must walk by faith and not by sight – or feel – or touch. You are walking because you know the truth. You were meant to live for so much more. Don’t lose yourself (thanks Switchfoot). Don’t fall in the squat! Push on up. But what if I fail? What if they laugh at me? What if they criticize me!

Aristotle said: The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.

That is simply not acceptable.

Breathe. Stay focused. Now simply walk it out. Focus over a long period of time equals results.

Right on. Right on.

Mulligrubbing

Growing up in Kentucky, I often heard the expression, “I’m just in the mulligrubs.” I’ve not tried it, but I doubt you can Google this and get a definition. I don’t know if anyone has ever seen the mulligrubs; however, I always knew it meant that any person who was “in the mulligrubs” were just mucking along – kind of like spinning your wheels – maybe even feeling bleh.  Well, here on this motivational blog, the author has been in the mulligrubs this past week for various and sundry reasons. Consequently, I’ve written nothing and probably inspired no one, especially myself. And, if I’m not inspired, how can I expect to inspire someone else?  It won’t happen.

I think the enemy of our soul sees us bouncing along, feeling good about life, helping others, and the Job story plays out right here in the 21st century. This enemy, who I call the devil (for some it may be “karma,” “the cards,” “the stars…”) regardless, this enemy goes before the God of the universe and says “no wonder she’s happy – things are going well and people are being nice. Let’s throw a fiery dart – aka, a snag – in her life plan and see how bouncy she stays.”

We are not supposed to walk by feelings, right? And I often tout the scripture, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Well, my feelings got the best of me this week. I was sad, then mad, then perplexed and ready to chunk my plans. Without whining, let’s just say I was looking at and listening to all the wrong things, and people were… well… no whining.

I almost didn’t go to a meeting today because I was so “out of it.” However, I kicked myself in the butt, prayed “God, let me know what I’m supposed to do,” and I drove to Canton, got lost, finally met my people, and I’m so glad I did. I came away with fresh perspective and motivation. Because of this I realized that, really, I wasted a whole week! I only intermittently did my own personal development time, prayed a little, slept a lot etc.. I was like “what am I doing here in these mulligrubs” when nothing has really changed? I can’t fix people. I can only do me, and if I’m broken then nothing works.

Here is what I discovered: the time you get is the time you get, and that’s all you get.  So you’d better manage your time with every bit of wisdom and skill you can muster.  Never, ever take it for granted. -Alan Zimmerman.

There it is. This, then, led me to think of a scripture: Conduct yourselves with wisdom … making the most of the opportunity.

How many opportunities did I let slip past me this week because (hear the whiny voice) I had a bad day… Instead, I should be making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil being careful how I live – not as unwise but as wise (Eph. 5:15-16).

So, did things not go well this past week? Did you blow it? Did you just not care? Well, we all find ourselves in the Mulligrubs as we do life, but the key to not getting stuck there is to grab hold of something and pull yourself out of there! I picture these Mulligrubs like quicksand: a person begins to sink, and as they lift a foot, the suction fights against the movement taking them deeper into the muck.

I had two voices going on my head: one that said “just stay in bed – who cares” and the other that said, “just go – what have you got to lose?”  The older you get the more experiences you have, thus you know that things will get better. I can look back at things in the past that were sucking me under, but each time I grabbed hold of solid ground and made my way out – even though I had thought it was hopeless…

Do the things you know that work, even if you don’t feel like it. Take a step towards what you know is right, even if you don’t want to. Move forward, no matter how hard it is. Your feet will hit solid ground again.