Week of Thanksgiving

Today is Sunday, and thus begins the week of Thanksgiving.  With our busy lives, its common for us, when asked what we're thankful for, to quickly spout, "I'm thankful for my family and friends."  Or if you're a teenager you're likely to respond with thanksgiving for your ipod or your laptop or your car.  But what are we truly thankful for?  Sure its okay for teenagers to be grateful for their possessions - to an extent.  And its fantastic if we're thankful for our family and friends; as long as we're truly showing our appreciation to them.

Beginning today I invite you to come along with me and concentrate on one thing each day this week for which you are thankful - truly thankful, and show your appreciation.  Dig deeper than the surface responses and explore what you're most appreciative of.   And express sincere gratitude.

Today I'm grateful for my home.  It's not the largest or the nicest and it doesn't have a prestigious address - at least that's what society says.  However, I think it has the best address in the world.  It has the address that places it adjacent to my parents on the other side of the block.  It has the address that places it in the same neighborhood where I grew up - allowing me the privilege of raising my children next to where I was raised.  It has the address that surrounds us with family and friends.  And it has the address that places us ever so near to our beloved church and church family. 

My children and I have lived in this home for almost 9 years.  That's hard for me to believe - the years have really flown by.  But I rejoice in the fact that my children have had one home in which they've grown up.  At the ages of 16 and 13 today, this is the home where the vast majority of their childhood memories have been made.  Having grown up in a house that my parents moved into when I was  4 months old - and where they still live today - being able to give my children a home - one home - in which to grow up instead of moving around every few years was very important to me.  I realize that not everyone is able to do that and its not important for everyone to remain in one home.  But for me, that was a huge priority in my life and I'm so grateful that God has allowed it to come to pass. 

I bought a book a few years ago by author Robert Wolgemuth entitled, "The Most Important Place on Earth."  I had never heard of it and just happened across it at a Christian bookstore one day.  I highly recommend it - right up there with Max Lucado's "Cure for the Common Life:  Living in Your Sweetspot."  The most important place on earth is, of course, the home.  The subtitle to the book is, "What a Christian Home Looks Like and How to Build One,"  and that's exactly what the book is all about.  Realizing that your home is the most important place on earth for you, for your family, and for your children.  Some of the ideas are obvious and are things that most of us probably do without even thinking about it but there are also lots of suggestions that you may not have thought of - and they're all Biblical.  My intention isn't to provide a book review, but rather share with you how I work to make my home a Sweet Spot in my life, and more importantly in my children's lives, because it is the most important place on earth.

Our home is where we laugh together and cry together and pray together.  It's where we work together and play together.  It's where we celebrate and where we mourn.  It's where we express ourselves. My son has always had an artistic eye, so several years ago we turned one entire wall of his room into a dry erase board.  Several pieces of his artwork cover the other walls along with shelves of his favorite things.  My 16-year old daughter has a beautiful shabby chic flair to her room, complete with photos of Paris.  But most prominent in her room are the things she loves the most - her guitar and keyboard.  

I have a dear friend who recently told me that she likes to come to my house to see what I've hung on the wall. Okay, okay, I'll admit it.  My name is Monica and I am a hangaholic.  I love to hang something on the wall!!  I love surrounding myself with things I love and I find ways to display them - on the wall!!  My pastor is the complete opposite - he doesn't like anything on the walls.  I swear I see him twitch every time he comes into my home!!   If it sits still long enough and I have an empty spot on the wall, chances are it'll get hung at my house!!  The point is, my home reflects my personality and my children's personalities are evident in their rooms as well. 

Is your home a place where you love to be?  Does it reflect your personality?  Is it a place your family wants to be and invite friends to visit?  Mine is.  And its not because its the largest or the grandest or has a prestigious address.  But there's no other place in the world I'd rather be than at home - and I pray my children feel the same way.  Today I'm grateful for the beautiful home I share with my children and for the privilege that God has granted us to create this home over the past 9 years. 

Day 1 of Thanksgiving Week:  Is your home the most important place on earth in your life?

Royalty in Waiting

With all the news and excitement about the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, I've heard many newscasters question whether or not she's ready for her upcoming title - first as Princess and later, most likely, as Queen.  What sort of preparations must it take to become accustomed to a life of royalty?  Afterall, she'll be living in a palace, wearing gem filled crowns, inheriting royal jewels...how does a "commoner," as she's been described, prepare for such a life?  It must take alot of work, right?  What about us?  How could commoners like ourselves ever begin to make plans for that type of lifestyle? 

The answer is simple...become a Christian.  The Bible tells us that Heaven will be our reward and that it will be filled with mansions and palaces.  We will be donned with robes and wear jewel encrusted crowns.  How fabulous is that?!  Just like the Royals!!  But wait, there's more.  In Heaven there'll be no sickness or death.  No sadness or heartache.  No scandal or scrutiny.  Only pure joy and happiness as we live eternally.  Not even Queen Elizabeth herself can promise that!!

Buckingham Palace and the life that awaits Kate Middleton may sound grand and glamorous...but Heaven will be so much greater.  More wonderful than we can even imagine.  And our preparation for life there is simple.... Ephesians 2:8,9 reads (KJV) ^"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast." 

 Kate Middleton may have alot of work to do to prepare herself for the life of royalty that awaits her, but her works won't get her to her eternal reward.  Only God's grace and her faith can provide that life.  

Question of the Day:  Have you made preparations for the eternal life of royalty that God has promised?  

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

I know you've seen the commercials and heard the slogan.  "Snickers Satisfies."  While a Snickers bar is one of my favorite candy bars, I have to say that the "Fun Size" Snickers bar really ain't alot of fun; and it certainly doesn't bring alot of satisfaction.  I swiped one recently from my daddy's stash of leftover Halloween candy, and didn't find any fun in it whatsoever.  It just ticked me off and made me want more!!  So I ate another.  Nope, still no fun and no satisfaction.  It was delicious, don't get me wrong, but it left me wanting more.  I stopped myself after two bars for fear of feeling like a pig.  But what if I had had a full size bar?  Or even the king size?  Would that have been enough?  Would Snickers have REALLY satisfied?  Probably not; not that night.  And definitely not in the long run.  Even if it had satisfied my hunger, it would have been fleeting.  I would have been hungry again in the morning! 

Are we that way with life?  Are we constantly searching for satisfaction?  Or if not satisfaction, at least a little fun?  Sure we are.  And we should enjoy our lives.  But the enjoyment doesn't have to be fleeting.  We should seek enjoyment and satisfaction in things that are lasting, not just things that are going to curb our appetite for a while and eventually leave us longing for more in the long run.

What things am I talking about?   Simple...relationships.  Relationships with family, relationships with friends, and our relationship with God.  These are the only things in our life that will provide lasting fun and true satisfaction.  Now don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that all relationships will be a bed of roses and all fun.  I don't know of any relationship that will ever be that way.  They all will have bumps in the road.  But the right relationships nurtured the right way will be extremely satisfying.  Even our relationship with God won't always be smooth sailing.  We'll question Him, have days that we doubt, wonder why it doesn't seem like our prayers are being answered...but the satisfaction comes in knowing that He's there, He's always been there, and He always will be there.  Just like with the right relationships in our lives.  We may argue with our significant other, fight with our children, disagree with our parents, get angry with our friends...but at the end of the day when it's all said and done, these are the same people from which we draw our strength and the same places in which we find true satisfaction. 

Realize what's important in your life.  And realize what's not.  Think about what brings you satisfaction for the moment and what will satisfy you for a lifetime.  Decide which you'd rather have and go for it.  Work on it.  It's worth your effort.  Again, don't misunderstand me.  A little instant gratification is good for the soul - I still love my Snickers bar!  But we have to realize the difference in the fleeting satisfaction of today and the lasting satisfaction of the things that truly matter in our lives. 

Isaiah 55:2 NIV  "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."

Question of the day:  Where are you looking to find satisfaction? 

That's What Friends Are For...

I am blessed to have a wonderful group of people in my life.  Some are family, some are colleagues.  Some are young, some are old.  Some I've known all my life, some only a short time.  But all of them are friends, and I can't imagine how I would get through life without them. 

I have friends from childhood, friends from high school, friends from adulthood.  I have friends I grew up with, skipped school with, and got into trouble with.  Friends I had sleepovers with, went to church with, graduated high school with, and friends I used to work with.   Friends who are family, friends who are neighbors, and friends who are part of my church family.  Friends who've entered my life because our children were/are friends.  They share my past, my present and will definitely be a part of my future.  They laugh with me and cry with me.  They challenge me and pray with me and forgive me when I'm wrong.  They listen to me when I need an ear, they get mad with me when things aren't going my way, and they rejoice with me when they are.  They visit, call, text, email, send messages via Facebook, send cards in the mail, meet me for lunch, invite me to dinner, and plan shopping trips, vacations, and weekends away.  

Can you imagine life without friends?  I can't - and certainly wouldn't want to!  They are my support system, my rock, my anchor, my lifeline.  They keep me sane and let me know that I'm not as crazy as I think sometimes.  They validate my feelings, accept my anger, wipe my tears, ease my pain, and celebrate my victories.  They are such a blessing in my life and I love each and every one of them!!

Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times..." 

Question of the day:  Have you told your friends you appreciate them?  Are you a good friend? 

   

He's Got This

Today's blog is a little different.  I've searched for a topic, an analogy, a story of some sort and while I have many thoughts and ideas, nothing can compare with the need and desire I have today to simply say, God is good all the time.  All the time, God is good. 

I'm in a rough patch in my life right now.  Just when I think things can't get any worse it seems they somehow do.  Yet, I am reminded daily that God is here with me.  He shows His love and His provision for me over and over and over again.  And He shows it in ways that just completely blow me away.  He answers my prayers before I pray them, He meets my needs before I know I have them, and I am blessed beyond measure.

I keep reminding myself that everything happens for a reason and I just have to trust God to show me His plans and one day I'll realize the reason for going through this difficult phase of my life.  It's not always the easiest thing to do but daily conversations and daily affirmations of His hand on my life carries me through. 

 Two of my favorite scriptures are Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)  ""For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."" 
and Psalm 37:4 (NASB)  "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." 

I am reminded daily - in large and small ways - that God is in control of my life.  "He's got this," my sweet sweet boyfriend reminded me over the phone last night after sharing with him how God had blown me away with His provision for me yesterday.  And he's right - God's got this.  He's got my life in the palm of His hand.  And I'm so grateful!

God is good all the time.  All the time, God is good!  

Question of the day:  Can you see God's provision in your life?  Do you give Him the proper recognition?     

Trash or Treasure?

I love love love a good bargain & I love searching for and finding treasures - especially in other people's trash.  No I'm not talking about dumpster diving, although the thought has crossed my mind a few times!!  I'm talking about bargains like the $12 roadside dresser I mentioned in a previous blog.   A dear friend & I frequent antique shops, thrift stores, and Goodwill.  And next weekend this friend, my sister-in-law and I are off to have some girl time and to explore a yard sale.  That's right - a yard sale.  But not just any yard sale - a 65 mile long yard sale spanning across Southwest Georgia!!  I am so excited - it's going to be Bargain Hunter's Paradise!!  But first, we're having our own yard sale this weekend.

That's right - we're hoping to sell off a bunch of our own stuff this weekend so we can spend next weekend pilfering through other folk's stuff!!  Sound crazy?  Maybe.  But you know what they say - "One man's trash is another man's treasure."  Hopefully people will find treasures in amongst our trash this weekend and then we will turn around and do the same next weekend!! 

In this economic frenzy that we're living in, it seems that more and more people are thinking differently.  Second hand shops and consignment stores are listed in the slim category of businesses who have actually seen a rise in profits the last couple of years.  Everyone is looking for a bargain these days.  Whether it be shopping for clothing at a consignment shop, searching Craigslist for a piece of furniture, or finding new purpose in someone else's yard sale item...it seems that more than ever, people are looking for treasures amongst other's trash.

That's what God does with us after all, isn't it?  Doesn't He look at our trash and see treasure?  Doesn't He see past the tarnish on an old piece of silver or beyond the rip in the seam of a second-hand shirt?  He overlooks the chipping paint and water stains on an old piece of furniture.  He finds new life and new purpose in our trash.  He knows the silver can be polished and the result will be a beautiful shine.  He knows the seam can be re-stitched as good as new.  He knows the furniture can be stripped and refinished with a beautiful new stain or paint color.  He sees beyond the mistakes and sees the beauty within.  

I recently wrote about seeing beauty in others, but  do you see this beauty in your own life?  Do you see past your mistakes and see the potential?  God does.  And when He forgives us of our mistakes, He doesn't even see them at all anymore.  We may still remember them occasionally, but that's not God reminding us of them.  He has cast them as far as the East is from the West.  They are erased from His mind. 

Question of the Day:  What about having your own yard sale?  Do you need to get rid of the trash in your life so that you can make room for treasures?         

How's the Weather?

I've heard comments and read posts on Facebook lately about the changing weather.  It's nothing new I guess - we're always complaining about it aren't we?  Just a couple of months ago those 100-plus degree temps here in South Georgia had us dreaming of a cold snap.  And now that we're about to get one, guess what?  We're wishing it was beach weather again!!

Are we ever satisfied with the temperature?  Sure, when it's a perfect 75 degrees outside, the sun is shining and it's a gorgeous day.  Then we're happy.  What about the other days?  It's always too dry, too wet, too cold, too hot, too windy, too much humidity...

What about with our lives?  Are we ever satisfied with where we are in life or are we always waiting to see when it's going to warm up or cool down?  Are we constantly waiting for the storms to pass or eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next season?  Do we ever slow down, sit back and just enjoy what today brings us?  Do we take time to appreciate what today has to offer?  Or are we constantly checking the Weather Channel to see when something "better" is coming?  

Often times we don't stop and enjoy today.  We're just trying to get through the day until something better comes along.  Let me challenge you to take time to enjoy today...whatever the day may bring.  Remember - "This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Question of the day:  Do you anxiously watch the forecast waiting for a change or are you basking in the weather of today, whatever it may be?

Voice Recognition

Last night I watched an old episode of Law & Order on one of the cable channels.  In this particular story line, 911 had received a call from a little girl named Maria claiming to have been taken from her parents.  She told female detective Olivia Benson that she hadn't eaten in a couple of days and that her captor never let her outside of her room and that he hurt her, and so did his friends. 

Broken-hearted for this child, Olivia talked to her on the telephone for over 2 hours, trying to calm her nerves and assure her that they were coming to save her.  Of course, the rescue wasn't that easy and because of an electronic device that Maria's captor had installed on the phone, police officers were unable to trace the call.  So Olivia kept talking.  She asked Maria dozens of questions, all in the hopes that one of her answers would help detectives determine her location.  And in the end, it worked.  They got to Maria just in time.  Her captor had knocked her out with chloroform and buried her alive.  Yet when they uncovered her and began CPR, Maria responded.  She was alive. 

When sweet little Maria opened her eyes, she saw a face she had never seen before.  Yet when the detective told her she was okay and she was safe now, Maria responded with, "Olivia."  She had never met Olivia before, had no idea what she looked like...but from that lengthy telephone conversation that led to her rescue, she recognized her voice.

Some voices are very recognizable to us, aren't they?  If your children are in another room and one of them calls out to you, can't you tell which one it is?  Before the days of Caller ID, weren't there certain voices on the other end of the line that we immediately recognized?  Our children, our spouse, our parents, close friends...we recognize the voices of those closest to us.  Some public figures have very distinctive voices that we recognize immediately.  Richard Nixon, George Jones, Billy Graham and Paul Harvey are just a few that I instantly know who they are when I hear their voice. 

What about the voice of God?  Do we recognize it?  Is it a voice that, like little Maria with Olivia, we recognize not because we've ever seen Him, but because the voice is familiar to us?  Or are we like young Samuel was when God called out to him during the night and he thought it was Eli calling.  Do we confuse God's voice with something else?  The only way to recognize God's voice is to hear it.  Are you listening? 

Question of the Day:  How does God speak to you?  In what ways do you hear His voice?       

Can You See the Potential?

I've always had a love for antiques - not the glamorous, high end things you see come across the appraiser's table on Antiques Roadshow or the beautiful pieces that Sotheby's might have up for auction - but pieces that have some wear on them, some character. 

Recently a dear friend & I were driving down a country road and we passed a yard full of "treasures."  I made her stop and turn around.  She thought I was crazy!  And not many would blame her.  But I had spied it - on the back of a pickup truck in the yard was an old dresser.  Admittedly to her it didn't look like much so her diagnosis of me as crazy wasn't too far off.  But I saw it as something more.  To my friend it was an old piece of furniture that had been left out in the elements for far too long.  She saw that it had no knobs, chipping paint covered half of it and had been stripped off of the other half, the decorative pieces were missing, water spots were evident on the top, spiderwebs clung underneath...and she was right.  All of these things were true.  But I saw more.  I saw it as a beautiful, refinished piece with a dark stain.  I saw it with crystal drawer knobs, with all of the decorative pieces replaced (I later found them in the drawers!), I saw the beauty in the curved legs and the dovetail drawers.  And for $12 I couldn't resist it!  As crazy as my friend thought I was, she graciously helped me load the dresser into the back of her SUV and haul it home. 

My mother would tend to agree with my friend's analysis.  The dresser doesn't look like much to her either.  But my father can see beneath the chipped paint and missing pieces and see what I see.  Perhaps that's where I got it from; another trait inherited from my father...the ability to see something more.  Something better.  My father and I can see the potential in an old piece of furniture.  But can we see the potential in people?  I think my mother has us beat in this department!!

When we interact with people or meet someone new, how do we see them?  Do we see them as weathered and worn?  Do we see their blemishes and imperfections and label them unworthy of our time and effort?  Or do we see past that and see that they may have scars and spiderwebs but they just need someone to care; someone with concern enough to help them dust off the cobwebs, put on a new coat of paint and restore their lives into something more.  Do we see the potential in them?  Or do we leave them discarded on the side of the road where life has tossed them; hopeless and helpless with no future in sight.  What does God see? 

Question of the day:  Can you see the beauty in people or do you see the scars and blemishes?

My Roadside Treasure

It Not Broke!

My parents' youngest grandchild is my nephew Casey.  Just 3 months shy of his third birthday and with all of the other grandchildren ranging in ages from 12 - 20, he is the only small child in the family and he is definitely a bright spot in all of our lives.  Even though my son is 13, Casey always wants to see him when he comes to visit my parents.  He always has a great time with "Tutter."

A couple of weeks ago Casey came and spent the day with us.  My son pulled out some cars and trucks for him to play with.  Like most 3 year old little boys, he loves cars and trucks and will sit and play with them for hours.  Later during the day, I noticed him picking up each car and truck, shaking his head "no," and saying, "It not broke." 

Amused and confused at the same time, I just responded, "No Casey, it's not broken."  He repeated this over and over, with each car and truck.  I thought, "I'm going to buy that child some cars and trucks for Christmas.  All of his must be broken!"  I thought he was impressed with the fact that my son's collection wasn't full of missing wheels and broken parts. I didn't know how wrong I was!

Just last night Casey came back to visit us.  He immediately headed to my son's room, looking for the cars and trucks he had played with before.  And once again he would shake his head and say, "It not broke," as he held one in his hand.   At first I thought, "How funny! He's doing it again!  I've got to get that boy some new cars of his own."  Then it dawned on me.  These weren't just any cars and trucks he was playing with.  They were Transformers.  I watched as my son sat beside Casey on the porch and started to transform one of the vehicles.  He only got as far as the wheels when Casey said, "Don't broke it Tutter!" 

"Broke" to Casey meant the state of the car during the transformation process!!  My son has always been able to twist and turn and maneuver the cars and trucks with ease until they turn into whatever robot they are meant to be.  Casey has watched him do this before.  By saying, "It not broke," Casey was referring to the fact that the car wasn't in that transforming state; when it's no longer a car, but not yet a robot.  He viewed that state of change as the toy being "broke."  And I have to agree with him...in that in-between state, they do look like they've been broken! 

Aren't we the same way?  Don't we sometimes have to become "broken" before we allow God to transform us?  And although that in-between state is sometimes very ugly and we sometimes we may not look like much, isn't it a process we must go through?  A transformation state that must take place in order for us to reach the final product and become what we're supposed to be?  And can't you hear God saying, "You're not broken, I'm just not finished transforming you yet." 

Question of the day:  Have you undergone a transformation in your life?  Did you have to travel through a broken state to get there? 

Casey 

Are You Listening For The Beep?

Our dog Missi has been a treasure in our lives for 4 years now.  She's a wire haired terrier mix and just has the greatest little personality.  She looks like a lighter colored Benji and we all fell in love with her immediately when she came to us.  Her only fault was if we ever let her outside off the leash, she would take off.  Bolting for the road, the neighbors' yards, the woods...wherever her nosey little doggy nose would take her.  She just had to go see what life had to offer outside of her own backyard. 

Realizing that she wasn't getting enough exercise on the leash, but fearing for her safety at the same time, (our last dog wandered into the road and was hit by a passing car), we recently installed an underground fence in the backyard.  You've seen the ads - it works with the dog's collar and sends a slight startling shock if the dog crosses the fence line.  Despite my daughter's fears and tears at the thought of Missi getting "shocked, "  we installed the fence. 

Little white flags were put up all along the path of where the fence had been buried to serve as a guideline.  We started out the first few days with Missi still on the leash, just letting her get the feel for her boundaries.  Then the leash came off - and she got shocked.  And my daughter cried.  Even though the collar beeps a few feet away from the fence line, she would still ignore that warning and try to cross the boundary line.  And a few times more she did.  And a few times more she got shocked.  And a few times more my daughter cried.

But then, after just a few days, Missi began to acknowledge her boundaries.  We'd watch as she would ease up close to the line, hear the warning beep and immediately back off.  It wasn't long before she wouldn't even come close to those little white flags!  Missi is much happier now (and so is my daughter). She can do all of her favorite things - be outside, run around in circles, play ball, stick her nose up into the air when the wind blows, chase squirrels, torture the cat...all without being on a short leash and all without being away from the safety of home.

Missi's collar works for her just as God's love works for us.  He wants us to live a life that we love. A  line from Max Lucado's Cure for the Common Life; Living in Your Sweet Spot reads,  "Your Father is too gracious to assign you to a life of misery."  How sweet is that!?  God wants us to have the life we dream of (remember, He gave us those dreams), and He wants us to be able to do the things we love - within certain boundaries.  And when we cross that boundary line, don't we get shocked?  It may not be by a literal collar around our neck, but you can bet there's going to be pain.  And God is so gracious that He even gives us a "warning beep" just like Missi's collar.  It's called the Holy Spirit; our conscience.  We know when we're about to do something we shouldn't be doing.  The Holy Spirit will speak to us, will caution us, will give us a warning beep.  Yet instead of heeding that warning alarm and turning back into the yard where it's safe, sometimes we choose to ignore it and cross over the line anyway.  And we get shocked. 

I think what alot of people don't realize is that God's love for us - and the boundaries that He sets up for us and warns us about crossing - are for our own protection.  He knows what lies outside those boundaries.  He knows if we get out of the backyard we can get in trouble with the neighbors or worse - get into the road and get ran over.  Just like with Missi's underground fence, the boundaries God sets for us are for our own good.  Not because He wants to control us or confine us, but because He loves us and doesn't want to see us get hurt. 

Learning to live within the beautiful backyard God has created for us is sometimes a challenge.  Like with Missi, it takes time for us to learn to listen for the beep and back away.  Yet when we realize that within those boundaries is where life is the sweetest and the safest, we realize how great it is there.  You may not choose to chase after squirrels or torture the cat or stick your nose up into the wind, but you can definitely find your dream life - your sweet spot - even in your own backyard. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~ Psalm 37:4 NIV



Question of the day:  Have you learned to live happily within your boundaries or are you still getting shocked?  Are you ignoring the warning beeps?        

Not What I Had Planned...

I had an entirely different topic in mind for today but as I sat down and turned on the computer just now, the printer started making noise like it was getting ready to print something.  I thought, "That's weird - the computer has been shut down all night, what could it be printing?"  Then I rushed to the assumption that it must be something that one of my kids had been trying to print last night & it had just gotten lost in printland. 

I was totally surprised - and in awe - of what came out.  A few weeks ago I started seriously considering pursuing something I've always wanted to do - a dream I've always had.  I began making preparations, started doing some research, gave it my all for a couple of days - and then chickened out.  Fear of rejection and failure stopped me in my tracks.  I know, I'm a wimp, a scaredy cat - I'll be the first to admit it. 

The dream project has still been in the back of my mind the last couple of weeks but I've just let fear push it onto the back burner of my brain.  Well, this morning before I got out of bed I was laying there talking to God and the pursuit of my dream came to mind again.  So I just said, "Okay God - just show me what you would have me to do with this crazy dream of mine.  If it's something I should pursue, You'll have to let me know." 

Okay this is where it gets good...remember the printer?  You'll never believe what it popped out.  A page of the research I had been doing several weeks ago!!  I KNOW - I couldn't believe it either!  And get this - when I was doing my research, I made lists in a notebook & saved many websites to my favorites - I didn't print anything out!!  And this was not just any page that printed, but a very specific page from a very specific site with very clear guidelines. 

I am completely blown away!!  Not only has God said, "Yes, Monica you need to chase that dream of yours,"  but He has even printed out the instructions for where & how I need to go about it!!  Isn't it awesome when you know that you know that you know that what you're doing or what you're about to pursue is the right thing for you?!  Talk about a Sweet Spot!!!

Question of the day:  Have you ever gotten such a blatant, direct answer from God?  How did it appear?

Daylilies in October

Just last week I had a little daylily pop up & bloom in my backyard.  It really surprised me since all of the others had quit blooming way back in the summer.  I'm not sure I've ever had one bloom this late before - I certainly don't remember one.  The first thought I had was to go ask my Granny if it was common for one to bloom this late.  Then I remembered - I couldn't go ask her.  Granny passed away in March. 

If you knew her, you knew how she loved her plants and flowers.  With no formal education in landscaping or horticulture, she knew the common and Latin names of hundreds of species, knew how much sun, shade, water and Miracle Grow each one needed.  She knew it all.  Her yards were always immaculate and if she wasn't able to be out working in them, she wasn't happy.  She was definitely in her element when in her greenhouse & in her flower beds.  It was a passion, a love, a need that ran deep within her veins. 

As I thought about that daylily and my Granny's life, I realized that she had found a way to do what she loved the most and to let God be known at the same time.  She was always expressing God's love by sharing and giving and doing for those around her.  I can remember being at her house as a small child when a friend or neighbor would stop by and I remember they never left without Granny having given them something.  Usually it was a flower or a plant.  Sometimes it was a jar of her famous crabapple jelly, or a beautiful treasure she had hand crocheted, or vegetables she and my grandfather had picked from the garden.  Regardless of the gift, she was always giving.  And we all reaped the benefits. 

Thanks to her, I had a new Easter dress each and every year - straight from her sewing room.  Thanks to her, I have a love of crabapple jelly today to which nothing can compare.  Thanks to her, I have beautiful hand made ornaments on my Christmas tree every year.  And thanks to her, I have a beautiful daylily bed along the back fence in my yard. 

After I remembered I couldn't go ask Granny if its common for a daylily to bloom in October, I realized the answer didn't really matter.  It was the lesson that mattered.  Through the daylily, God reminded me of my Granny, and reminded me of how she used her passions - sewing, making jelly, working in her greenhouse & flowerbeds - to share with others; a true expression of His love.  Lesson learned.  Granny was living in her Sweet Spot, and I can too!! 

Thanks Granny for reminding me how beautiful it is to share with others the talents with which God has blessed you.  And thanks for showing me how beautiful life can be when you're living it in your Sweet Spot.


Question of the day:  What lesson(s) have you learned from loved ones who are no longer with you?

Welcome to The Sweet Spot

Welcome to Life In My Sweet Spot...I sure appreciate your stopping by & hope you'll like what you find here.  I'm not sure where this will take me but I hope you'll come along for the ride.  It's likely to be a bumpy one seeing as how this whole blog thing is completely new and foreign to me.  But I think I'm a pretty quick study and can hopefully make some sense of it all before too long!  No doubt you'll see the site evolve as I learn new tools and apply them to this site.  My intention with the blog is just to share whatever is on my heart and mind for the day.  Some days I feel dumb as dirt -  so the blog will probably reflect that and you'll probably wonder why in the world you're reading!  But I hope you'll find enough days that offer you some insight, info, hope, encouragement, tips, ideas, etc. that will keep you coming back - and keep me encouraged.  I'd also like to end each post with a question, so please offer your feedback.  These will no doubt lead to future posts and topics with the hope that we can all learn from each other. 

Let me start by giving some explanation for my blog title.  I have recently been going through some obstacles in my life and have come to the realization that through every adversity, God provides opportunity.  He recently reminded me of a book I had read a couple of years ago - Max Lucado's Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot.

It's a great guide for realizing the talents,interests, and passions God has given us and using and applying them in a way so that we can make Him known.  I remembered the book having a powerful statement but didn't feel that it applied to my life at the time I first read it.  Isn't it funny how God speaks to us to remind us of things we've seen or read or heard before at a time when they ARE applicable to our lives?!  This book came to mind again only last week & I realized God was telling me I needed to give it another read.  So I am.  And I'm realizing why God brought it back to mind.  Being reminded that He has a purpose for my life is exactly what I needed to hear right now!!  Learning to find that purpose and learning to live in that comfortable place will create a "sweet spot" in my life that I'm trusting will make me a better and happier mother, daughter, and friend. Loving my life (not just living it) is what God wants for me, and when I'm living life in the sweet spot He has created for me, I know I just can't go wrong! 

So look out Sweet Spot...here I come!!!

Question for the day:  Have you found your Sweet Spot?  Or do you know someone who has?  How can you tell?