Working on my Bucket List!

Back in February I created a list of 47 things I want to do this year. I’m a list maker and having a short term “bucket list” appeals to me. One of the items on my list is to memorize Psalm 139. I’ve never been good at memorizing Bible verses. I do okay for a while, but then it gets muddled and I end up saying things like, “Well, I can’t remember the exact words, but it goes something like…” Taking a year to memorize one Psalm might help engrain it in my life. A whole year, maybe it will stick :o)

Psalm 139 was one of the first things I learned after I came to know God 15 years ago. Thursday is my 15^th rebirthday! Sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since that night in a little church in the middle of a farmer’s field where I met the Lord, really met Him, and gave my heart to Him.

In those early days I used verses 23 and 24 as a way of letting God point out the things I needed to change. They read:

Search me, O god, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

It never failed that God would show me things that I needed to work on in my life. It’s been 15 years and it still never fails that He shows me things that need working on when I pray those words.

But those verses are at the end of the psalm and I’m still working on memorizing the first part. The last few weeks I have been looking at the copy of the psalm that I posted on my bathroom mirror. (The mirror is called into duty for more than just making sure I don’t have spinach stuck in my teeth!) In the first 3 verses it says that God knows me. He knows my lying down and rising up. He is acquainted with all many ways. I find comfort in the fact that is acquainted with all my ways.

He knows my thoughts, my lying down and rising up, all my ways and He STILL loves me! Each morning I see those words I am reminded that despite me, He loves me. He knows my ways, so I can’t do anything to cause Him to not love me.

What verses do you find comfort in?

Abundant Life

Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
~Harold Whitman

I saw this quote in a magazine recently and I love it. God isn't asking us to be perfect. He's given each of us things that make us come alive and all He asks is that we use what He has given us. Don't wait, come alive today!

Wordless Wednesday - Peacefull

Leadership

Last week I saw this video of a short talk given by Drew Dudley at TEDxToronto. I like what he has to say about leadership. So many people think that leadership requires training, education, a fancy title. I think we are all leaders in different ways and have the ability to change another's life without even trying. The video is 6.21 minutes long.

Fingerprint Friday

I've recently started reading Beki from The Rusted Chain's blog. I first saw her jewelry on Facebook and fell in love with simple, whimsical design. I don't have any of the pieces yet so if you're reading this and just have the desire you know what you can bestow upon me ;o)

On her blog she has started what she calls Fingerprint Friday based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:

I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god


I love the sentiments in this song and I see the fingerprints of God all over the place. Today I'm going to join Beki and post my own story on the subject.

My hairdresser has a three year old son who last spring told his mom and dad, "I asked Jesus for a baby sister and he said yes."

Months later they found out they were expecting a baby.

Monday their beautiful daughter came into the world. She is the answer to her big brother's heartfelt prayer.

I see the fingerprint of God in the simple faith of children who are not afraid of asking Jesus for exactly what they want and then trust he will fulfill their request.

Wordless Wednesday

St. Patty's Day is Coming

I am now four weeks into my shoulder pain and it has been an eye-opening experience. I'm usually pretty pain tolerant, but this has given me new perspective on what other people have to deal with on a regular basis.

I've had a hard time concentrating enough to actually write anything of substance.  But, today I did get motivated to make some shamrock garlands for my office mates. I saw this idea on Quiltish - Alisa Jacobs blog. The picture isn't great...I took it on my cell phone.

Labeling People

Source: sixninepixels / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today I listened to the radio as drove to work and heard a quote by Max Lucado where he said that labels allow us to wash our hands and leave. Labeling people keeps us from seeing the real person beneath the label. At the very next opportunity I put the quote (as best as I could remember it since I had to wait until I was no longer driving) into my phone for future reference. But, you know how God is, future reference was apparently closer than I expected.

The reality of Max’s words sunk in and began to work. How many times have I labeled someone as obnoxious and detoured around them? Or said, “They’re emotionally needy and I just don’t have the energy for that.”  It happens and as I thought about it I realized it happens more than I’d like to admit.

Placing a label allows us to not see the person behind the words we use to categorize them. When we label someone we can overlook the real person. We can make excuses and justifications. When we label someone we do that person a disservice. More importantly, we block the path for God to use us to minister to that person.

I’m thankful that God doesn’t label me the way I’ve labeled others.  He might label me pretentious, unloving, stuck-up. Yes, I’m thankful He doesn’t do unto me as I do unto others. I’m also thankful that He keeps at me until I finally figure out what He’s trying to tell me and then He helps me to change.

Wordless Wednesday

Shoulder Still Dragging Me Down

Well, folks, this shoulder thing is getting old that's for sure. I'm sorry for not getting any other posts up last week. I'm hoping this week will be better and I will get back on track.