It’s too loud!
Have you ever came to point and realized the volume of your life is too high? Everyone has responsibilities, people depending on us, our own dreams and or goals. Some of our personal goals are spiritual, physical & educational. It can be a challenge not losing them in the demands of life.
Hosea 2:4&5
“So I am going to attract her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. There she will respond as when she was young, as when she came out of Egypt.”
In late March 2008 God gave me that scripture. I have held on tight to the Word God gave me. Months went by and that scripture comforted me because I knew the pain I was feeling (my Valley of Trouble) was going to lead me to my door of hope. God showed me so much in that time.
I don’t think we ever make a conscious decision to neglect our relationship with the Lord. But it happens. The demands of life, the goals we are reaching for and relationships we are trying to keep together. Busy with that we didn’t realize we pushed God out and took over. Then one day we realize how loud everything has become. It’s just too loud!
Sunday during worship I let go. I got lost in the presence of God. No one else was there, it was only the two of us. I let go…poured my heart out. Freely giving it to the one who loves me. Oh…how He loves me. I only wanted to worship Him and express my love and gratitude. But He had another plan. He poured into me. He filled my heart with comfort and told me to keep close to Him.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Flashback Friday
Ok...here we go. I'm flashing back two years ago. May 2007...Italy! And I couldn't have had anyone better to be with on this trip. Kevin and I started in Venice and ended our Italy adventure in Rome. A little over 1200 pictures , postcards, coins, scarfs, books & paintings later I can still say I fell in love...with the country that is. And I look forward to going back this June with my good friend Becky A. I changed my music playlist to reflect the music we listened to while traveling from one city to another. Good Times....Good Times!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Love, Amore, Amour, Amor
Feb 14th has been marked as a day we celebrate love. My daughters and I spent the day together. Before going to my sisters I gave the girls their Valentine's Day gift. What fun! My sister took pictures of my little family and we enjoyed a delicious meal Hope prepared for all of us. It really was a day spent with those I love and cherish. After desert we gave each other our gifts and cards. My sister gave me the funniest card... and this is what she wrote: "Just because its Valentine's Day doesn't mean you can hug on me all day! Let's try something new! I call it a "virtual hug"...see? I'm giving you one right now! And you can have one whenever you want! Love sister"
After hearing from some of my friends I found out what others had done that day. Some spent their day at a mansion where they got married, another spent her first Valentine's Day with her hubby wine tasting and enjoying a lovely dinner. A co-worker went to lunch with her husband and daughter. A neighbor of someone I know is spending his last Valentines Day with his dying wife.
It doesn't matter how you spend the day all that matters is that you fill it with those you love. I know plenty of people who hate this holiday. They think its commercialized and just a bunch of propaganda. But not really. All year long we try to surround ourselves with the ones we love. So what's bad about taking one day out of the year to celebrate the love we have for our spouse, children, parents & friends? I see no harm in that.
Doesn't matter how you spell LOVE out. In every language love is the universal emotion we all enjoy having in our lives.
After hearing from some of my friends I found out what others had done that day. Some spent their day at a mansion where they got married, another spent her first Valentine's Day with her hubby wine tasting and enjoying a lovely dinner. A co-worker went to lunch with her husband and daughter. A neighbor of someone I know is spending his last Valentines Day with his dying wife.
It doesn't matter how you spend the day all that matters is that you fill it with those you love. I know plenty of people who hate this holiday. They think its commercialized and just a bunch of propaganda. But not really. All year long we try to surround ourselves with the ones we love. So what's bad about taking one day out of the year to celebrate the love we have for our spouse, children, parents & friends? I see no harm in that.
Doesn't matter how you spell LOVE out. In every language love is the universal emotion we all enjoy having in our lives.
It's about time!
I thought it was never going to happen! I finally figured out how to add music to my blog. My goodness...I mean seriously. It's a little embarrassing but hey I did it with very little help. Thanks to Tara for pointing me in the right direction. Enjoy!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Short Timer
Yes that is what I am. A short timer. My life in California soon comes to an end. May 15, 2009 will be my last day at my job and the end of June I will be moving. While on a flight from JFK to OAK I was thinking about how long I will be here in California. The reality was sobering and at that moment I asked God to give me the courage to do what I know I must.
Last week while on my lunch break I felt excited. No longer asking the Lord for courage but excited about it all. I'm moving!!
Last week while on my lunch break I felt excited. No longer asking the Lord for courage but excited about it all. I'm moving!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Bon Jour!
I've returned from my Paris vacation and wanted to share some photos and video footage of my time away.
The arrival was an adventure in itself. My travel time to get from Oakland to Paris was 1.5 days and I was extremely tired. What should have taken us 25 minutes from airport to hotel took us over 3 hours. Sleep deprived, cold and soaked from the monsoon downpour my decisions were not up to par. We got off the Metro way too early and our luggage got stuck in the Metro exit and walked hours to get to our hotel.
The Eiffel Tower is majestic. What a structure. And to see it at night is nothing short of romantic. Notre Dame is beautiful. The intricate detail to this chapel made me giddy. Yes, I was there at a cold time of year but the rhythm of the city is hypnotic. Some points your pace is fast and that would mean your on the Metro and at other times your relaxing on a side street in a cafe enjoying your cappuccino.
"PDA" is not an issue in Paris...and I think that is what made it so wonderful. Young and old...people showing one another their love for each other.
Un, Deux, Trois. (one, two, three) Aunt Martha cost us a lot of money with that phrase. She was horrible at trying the language out. But we have many comic moments to remember during our time abroad.
What I love most about traveling is being out of my element. Going to another country and being open to how things are wonderfully different from my own country. You can take the good and bad and come to appreciate the country you live in but just as well you can come to appreciate their country and way of living as well. Bottom line is we are all human and want the same...we all want to love and be loved. We want to be around those that are important to us and we want to make a difference...in some way.
Au revoir.
The arrival was an adventure in itself. My travel time to get from Oakland to Paris was 1.5 days and I was extremely tired. What should have taken us 25 minutes from airport to hotel took us over 3 hours. Sleep deprived, cold and soaked from the monsoon downpour my decisions were not up to par. We got off the Metro way too early and our luggage got stuck in the Metro exit and walked hours to get to our hotel.
The Eiffel Tower is majestic. What a structure. And to see it at night is nothing short of romantic. Notre Dame is beautiful. The intricate detail to this chapel made me giddy. Yes, I was there at a cold time of year but the rhythm of the city is hypnotic. Some points your pace is fast and that would mean your on the Metro and at other times your relaxing on a side street in a cafe enjoying your cappuccino.
"PDA" is not an issue in Paris...and I think that is what made it so wonderful. Young and old...people showing one another their love for each other.
Un, Deux, Trois. (one, two, three) Aunt Martha cost us a lot of money with that phrase. She was horrible at trying the language out. But we have many comic moments to remember during our time abroad.
What I love most about traveling is being out of my element. Going to another country and being open to how things are wonderfully different from my own country. You can take the good and bad and come to appreciate the country you live in but just as well you can come to appreciate their country and way of living as well. Bottom line is we are all human and want the same...we all want to love and be loved. We want to be around those that are important to us and we want to make a difference...in some way.
Au revoir.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Success...
Success. How do you measure it?
I believe we all were created to be successful. I believe God created each of us with a life dream and purpose. And it is up to us to figure it out along the way. But once you have discovered it comes the real test. What will you do next? Will you continue living the life you know or will you seek to fulfill it?
Look around you and what do you see? The people who you know and love…are they happy? Are you happy?
So how do you measure success? Do you consider one successful because of their education, job or possessions? Do you feel superior (ouch that word hurts don't it) to others who don’t have what you have? If someone has children out of wed-lock, are you better than them?
I believe success varies from individual to individual. Non less than the other, from the barista at the corner coffee shop to the executive in the top corner office. Each person successful in their own right. My dream and purpose in life will not be as yours but we will all leave our “fingerprint” on this earth IF we chose to fulfill it.
No I am not married, I don’t own a home, my education is simple and my job is decent. Oh did I mention I have two daughters out of wed-lock? Ahh now your forming an opinion of my life aren’t you? I think that’s human nature of us to size each person up and place them in a category. But it isn’t wise to do so. Because I’m happy with my life. I haven’t always been. I have felt loss and pain, despair and sorrow. And I have also felt love and strength, joy and peace. I am discovering the plan God has for me and have decided to trust in Him and fulfill my purpose. I have two wonderful children who are unique and creative. They bring texture to my life and I am eternally grateful to call them my own. My journey has just begun…but I am happy!
Its our day to day decisions that will move us towards fulfilling our dreams and purpose. Look outside the box and appreciate what each individual brings to the table because we are all of great worth.
I believe we all were created to be successful. I believe God created each of us with a life dream and purpose. And it is up to us to figure it out along the way. But once you have discovered it comes the real test. What will you do next? Will you continue living the life you know or will you seek to fulfill it?
Look around you and what do you see? The people who you know and love…are they happy? Are you happy?
So how do you measure success? Do you consider one successful because of their education, job or possessions? Do you feel superior (ouch that word hurts don't it) to others who don’t have what you have? If someone has children out of wed-lock, are you better than them?
I believe success varies from individual to individual. Non less than the other, from the barista at the corner coffee shop to the executive in the top corner office. Each person successful in their own right. My dream and purpose in life will not be as yours but we will all leave our “fingerprint” on this earth IF we chose to fulfill it.
No I am not married, I don’t own a home, my education is simple and my job is decent. Oh did I mention I have two daughters out of wed-lock? Ahh now your forming an opinion of my life aren’t you? I think that’s human nature of us to size each person up and place them in a category. But it isn’t wise to do so. Because I’m happy with my life. I haven’t always been. I have felt loss and pain, despair and sorrow. And I have also felt love and strength, joy and peace. I am discovering the plan God has for me and have decided to trust in Him and fulfill my purpose. I have two wonderful children who are unique and creative. They bring texture to my life and I am eternally grateful to call them my own. My journey has just begun…but I am happy!
Its our day to day decisions that will move us towards fulfilling our dreams and purpose. Look outside the box and appreciate what each individual brings to the table because we are all of great worth.
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