Show Me What to Do

Show Me What to Do

            I want my life to have a purpose.  When I reach the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and think, “I have lived an amazing life.  I have no regrets.”  Who doesn’t want this?  I think I can boldly say that most of us want to live a life worth living.  This leaves us with an interesting question: what makes life worth living?

            I believe that a part of what makes a life with no regrets possible is based upon a person’s ability to be led by God.  This is said with understanding that many may disagree with me.  (I acknowledge.  I accept.)  So much entails one’s purpose in life.  I believe that following God’s leading is a critical element to happiness, peace, and fulfillment.  My goal over Easter week was Acts of Service.  I listened and reflected on what God has been telling me.  I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone when God led me.  Right now, He is working on my heart about some very exciting career plans.  At this point, they seem far out of reach and an incredibly daunting task.  Confirmation after confirmation has come about these plans (I do not have a release in my heart to discuss them yet) and I am pushing myself to have faith in these bigger-than-life dreams.

            My overall goal for this Love Languages project was to fall more in love with God.  (If you haven’t checked out Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages, I encourage you to do so!)  So, do I feel more in love with God?  Well, yes…more though I feel humbled.  Despite my best efforts, I feel like I could have done more.  My weakness, my humanness is so evident.  His consuming love and passion for me is overwhelming.  I feel very humbled.

            I have learned that chasing God’s love is a daily effort.  The best of my efforts are a daily application of time and energy.  I have learned what love languages to use when I want to fall quickly and madly into His beautiful presence.  I have learned that I need to redirect my thoughts back to Him often throughout the day in order to feel peaceful. 

            Importantly, I have learned that nothing changes if nothing changes.  Psychologist, professor, and author, Russell Kolts stated, “Your life is what you attend to.”  If I do not make the effort to chase God, I remain as I am.  God will always chase me (Luke 15:1-7) (Luke 15:8-10) (Revelation 3:20).  God gave us the freedom to make choices.  Love is a choice.

Show Me What to Do

Show Me What to Do

            I want my life to have a purpose.  When I reach the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and think, “I have lived an amazing life.  I have no regrets.”  Who doesn’t want this?  I think I can boldly say that most of us want to live a life worth living.  This leaves us with an interesting question: what makes life worth living?

            I believe that a part of what makes a life with no regrets possible is based upon a person’s ability to be led by God.  This is said with understanding that many may disagree with me.  (I acknowledge.  I accept.)  So much entails one’s purpose in life.  I believe that following God’s leading is a critical element to happiness, peace, and fulfillment.  My goal over Easter week was Acts of Service.  I listened and reflected on what God has been telling me.  I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone when God led me.  Right now, He is working on my heart about some very exciting career plans.  At this point, they seem far out of reach and an incredibly daunting task.  Confirmation after confirmation has come about these plans (I do not have a release in my heart to discuss them yet) and I am pushing myself to have faith in these bigger-than-life dreams.

            My overall goal for this Love Languages project was to fall more in love with God.  (If you haven’t checked out Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages, I encourage you to do so!)  So, do I feel more in love with God?  Well, yes…more though I feel humbled.  Despite my best efforts, I feel like I could have done more.  My weakness, my humanness is so evident.  His consuming love and passion for me is overwhelming.  I feel very humbled.

            I have learned that chasing God’s love is a daily effort.  The best of my efforts are a daily application of time and energy.  I have learned what love languages to use when I want to fall quickly and madly into His beautiful presence.  I have learned that I need to redirect my thoughts back to Him often throughout the day in order to feel peaceful. 

            Importantly, I have learned that nothing changes if nothing changes.  Psychologist, professor, and author, Russell Kolts stated, “Your life is what you attend to.”  If I do not make the effort to chase God, I remain as I am.  God will always chase me (Luke 15:1-7) (Luke 15:8-10) (Revelation 3:20).  God gave us the freedom to make choices.  Love is a choice.

Being the Hands and Feet

Being the Hands and Feet

My goal this week was to be in-tune to God’s voice, being willing to move as He directed.  This was with an emphasis on physical touch.  So, for example, if God said, “Go hug that person!” I would be open and willing to give a hug.  I did not feel called to any such action this week, but the process of being aware of God’s voice and listening to directions was an excellent exercise.  I have been trying to be aware of His presence giving me peace and joy, but being aware of any possible directions was a new step towards being conscious of Him.  Definitely something that I need to continue practicing…  I would like to note that this goal can become complicated when faced with ethical principles in the workplace.  Many work environments embed the notion that physical touch (with the exception to the oh-so-professional handshake) is unacceptable.  The time and place and specifics of physical touch in the workplace varies from occupation, person, and personal values.  As a side note, I would love to hear your opinion and feedback on this topic!

Physical touch can be a means to show compassion, to provide help, to assist in a project, or to demonstrate affection and care.  What a powerful tool we have!  We can do so much to help others through physical touch!  Looking back over Jesus’ life, we see how He used physical touch to heal or help.  He used gentleness and love.  He is a perfect role-model for this love language.  I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Part of this is being open to listening and willing to follow directions.  A constant idea to practice, to be sure!  I have one more week of my Love Languages Challenge.  Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me! 

I sing, I dance, I totally jam out in the car

I sing, I dance, I Totally Jam Out in the Car

            This last week was super hectic!  Holy cow!  Most days I was not even able to take a lunch break.  Crazy intense work and a stressful load of to-do’s when off work.  Needless to say, my weekend was very focused on R&R.  My Love Languages goal for this week (gifts) is a contract to be focused upon until Easter, when my Love Languages challenge is over. 

           

Until Easter, I will only be listening to Christian music.  It is a music fast, if you will.  I have done music fasts before and they are great.  I have always concluded the fast feeling so revived and focused.  Music is a critical element to a happy day for me. I have about a 40-minute commute to work, during which I totally jam out in the car.  During my lunch breaks (when I get one!), I pop in my iPod and listen to music.  I sing in the shower.  I dance when I am cooking.  Music, music, music! 

Not saying that the non-Christian music I listen to is horrible, but it certainly does not leave the warmness that Christian music does.  Worship music, for me, is especially uplifting.  The closeness I feel to God, the awe-struck wonder, the silent humbleness that comes from worship is irreplaceable.  It seems so perfect to focus my mind around worship before Easter.  Who knew a fast could be so fun?! 

Month	February	March	March	March	March
Week Starting	25	4th	11th	18th	25th
Love Language being used	Quality Time	Words of Affirmation	Gifts	Physical Touch	Acts of Service
How?	Pray/talk to God three times a day.	Share with an acquaintance/stranger how good God is.	Music Fast	Let God Move	To be announced!

A Moment to Consider

A Moment to Consider

        This week my goal was a stretch for me.  I planned on speaking to
someone about God’s love.  I consider myself a fairly bold person.
Not outrageously bold, but bold enough.  Walking up to a someone I
barely know or even someone I don’t know at all is not intimidating.
Yet, I am disappointed in myself to say, that my goal was not
completed.  Allow me to explain:
        All week I spent working.  Commuting in, working as a therapist, and
commuting home on Monday-Wednesday.  Then on Thursday and Friday, I
spent my days working in a school.  My only social interaction time
was for 15 minutes on Friday evening when I swung in to Hobby Lobby
and on Sunday.  Not a whole lot of interaction time.  Even still, why
did I not go the extra mile to speak to someone in Hobby Lobby or make
it a priority on Sunday?  I could not answer.  To be honest, it never
occurred to me while I was out!  I was so focused on what I needed to
accomplish during my time, that I never stopped to consider it God’s
time.
        Furthermore, this experience really got me thinking about my time at
work.  I spend a large percent of my day at work.  I keep tabs on what
I say and try not to share my personal beliefs and opinions to others.
 I was taught this was not my job as a teacher or therapist.  But
really, who says that I must limit myself in this way?  Perhaps the
government or administration or the “system.”  Then comes the big
question that I have been pondering: what would happen if I didn’t
limit myself?
        I have so much learning to do.  I did not accomplish my goal this
week, but it was an excellent learning opportunity to examine myself.
Tell me, what are your thoughts on limiting oneself at work?

Communication Makes a Difference

Communication Makes a Difference

            Positive, consistent communication makes a difference in relationships.  As a therapist in training, I am forever practicing communication techniques with my clients.  In my own relationships, I try to speak without judgment, with understanding, and with clear descriptions of what I am thinking and feeling.  It truly makes a difference in the way people respond to me and how I feel understood in conversations.  This week started my second and final rotation of my Love Languages challenge.  I started back up with Words of Affirmation.  To accomplish this, I decided to put into practice what I know to be true from life experience and research, what I am told from the pulpit, and what the Bible states countless times: be in constant communication with God.

            Everyday this week, I spent time speaking to God three times a day.  This was actually easier to accomplish than expected!  Surprise, surprise!  I prayed on my commute into work, over my lunch break, and before bed.  Oh my gosh, this was such a great experience!  I am going to adapt and continue this experience daily from now on.  What I noticed in myself was that it become more comfortable, effortless, and humbling to talk to God more frequently.  Instead of praying once a day and feeling like I really had to say something super meaningful in order to please God, I just enjoyed spending time sharing with Him about my day and any concerns that popped up.  The amazing honor it was to talk to Him as often as I wanted really began to sink in.  Super humbling!  I feel closer to God and more in-tune to His voice and direction.  <3  

Month	February	March	March	March	March
Week Starting	25	4th	11th	18th	25th
Love Language being used	Quality Time	Words of Affirmation	Gifts	Physical Touch	Acts of Service
How?	Pray/talk to God three times a day.	Share with an acquaintance/stranger how good God is.	To be announced!	To be  announced!	To be announced!