Here's your sign....

I have been thinking alot about the way God communicates with us.  I am a "give me a sign type of girl".  But the more I get to know the Lord the more I am convinced that He rarely uses this method of communication.  Do not get me wrong.  I know He can make things happen or allow things to happen to change our direction.  I mean He is GOD.  I am challenging the fact that before relying on the signs, we rely more on prayer and meditation.  Andy Stanley says that "when prayer and passion line up it is extremely difficult to exercise restraint".  This qoute stoppped me in my tracks.  When X, Y and Z all fall into place that is when we are spose to follow...correct?  That is always the path meant for us.  Why else would they line up if it not be God's will?  I have always asked the Lord to show me what He wants me to do.  Open a window or close a door.  This has always been how I operate.  So now when presented with this deeper and more cautious way of finding God's will I admit I  feel a little lost.  I would LOVE to say I am a look first person, but I tend to weight in heavier on the side of jump in and then assess your surroundings.  My desire to follow what God wants for me is extremely strong.  I am a emotional person, but feel it is time to start exercising discernent rather than being swayedby the emotional climate of the situation. To be the most effective for the Lord we need to be most prepared for when He calls.  We need to have a relationship so close to our Creator that we dont need to question His authority or put parameters on His will.

So thought provoking question of the day.....How do you find Gods will?  Do you jump in before testing the waters or do you excerise caution?  How does He communicate with you?  Where do you see His "writing on the wall"?

Be a warrior

People who like to run intrigue me.  The need to beat the ground and huff and puff, coupled with lean athletisim is a beautiful thing. When I watch runners I am enamored with thier relentless determination.  Most runners are head held high, chest out, rythmac pitter patter and I pod booming.  Running is for some a religous experience, thier way to cope with the world....I wish it was this way for me.  In my head I am elegant and strong.  I have a determined look on my face, while I am jamming out to some PCD.  I am the Nike commercial.   In reality I am a hot MESS.  I would LOVE to love running.  The honest truth is I just dont get it.  I think my body was just not designed for it.  I could let this be the excuse I use.  I could let this stop me in my tracks.  But I definentlay have a desire to concoquer this Goliath, running has become for me.  So to push myself into this world or better yet, to back myself into a cornor, making myself have no other choice...I signed up for a 5K. If you know me I HATE to waste money.  So if I sign up and put my hard earned dollars on the line I will do it! I may kick and scream but I will do it.  This isnt just any 5K....It is the WARRIOR dash. In this 5k you must jump fire, run through mud (better than a spa day), and be warrior like. This makes absolute sense to me because that is what runners are...WARRIORS.  To be a runner, you not only have to have physical strength, you must also posses Mental strength.  If your head isnt right, you will not last long.  NO matter how much your heart may want it.
  So 2011 for me is the year of running.  I also have made goals that will fall in line if I can conquer this, but for now..running is the focus.  So what is the thought provoking question, you ask? Here you go...  What are your goals this year?  Not resolutions, your goals?  What is the secret most desire of your heart and what are you doing to bring them to reality?   the time is now!  Don't procrastinate.  Be a warrior!

To Beiber or not to Beiber

So lets just jump right in with, Tonight I felt like my mother must have felt over my tweeny obsession with the New Kids on the Block.  (With that said, I love her a little more for the patience she showed me during that time.) That's right, I took my girls to see "Never say Never".  While it took us a while to jump or should I say get hit by the Justin Beiber train it def has decided to pull into the station.  As we were waiting for the movie to begin, I surveyed the scene.  We were surrounded by tween and teen girls with homemade Beiber t-shirts.  They were talking and squealing non-stop about the boy wonder and I couldn't help but become a little uncomfortable when upon the beginning of the film the girl next to me starts sobbing and uttering over and over again..."I love you Justin, I LOVE you".  The movie in its own defense, was actually pretty interesting.  Justin seems like a hometown boy who wouldn't let anyone tell him "NEVER say NEVER".  LOL  The message of the movie was also very positive with the push to Never let anyone extinguish your dreams.  But the line that seems to haunt me was a segment they did about the AMA's...or the Oscers..not sure which.  They were discussing the tribute Madonna did about Micheal Jackson.  They highlighted the portion of her speech that surrounded "that his career and success robbed him of his childhood".  Justin then turns to his manager, Scooter (promise I didn't make that up) and says "Don't let that happen to me".    I had to sigh.  Will we see this young man in the future falter to the demands this business takes?  Will he be able to maintain his positive roll model likability over time or will he reinvent himself into something darker and "more Mature" to prove to the fans and labels he can be more edgy?  As a parent , this is a weighty question.  We as parents want to steer our children into the most positive of places...which is not always the most trendy.  Right now the "Beib" is fun for my girls.  Someone to dance too and sing to and yes...daydream about, but will Justin be responsible to maintain his image.  I hope he will.  Its fun to have someone to look up too.  And music is such a good outlet. 
    So here is the thought provoking question...How do you teach your children that most of the hollywood idols are  smoke and mirrors?  How do you protect your children from the heartbreak that comes when that person you look up to fails you?  I know where to ground my children...the question is Do you?

Hard knock life

Today was an interesting day.  I can sum it up in a few words.  Pressure.  Pressure for the things I thought I had control of and pressure to continue moving forward and get better.  Today's pressure was presented in the form of "constructive critisim" .  These words were laced with a desire to help conquer the presenting challenges.  They were there to open my line of veiw wider.  While they were difficult to hear, they were neccesary to shake out of the blinded state I was currently in.  Growth doesnt always take a painless form, but it strenthens us and makes us better.  Life was never handed to us with a promise of being easy.   It can be frustrating and stressful.   Especially if you lean towards  having a tendancey to need to control everything.   This pain free process can be drawn out and become more raw.  (This unfortunatley is my personality.)
    So here is my question of the day....Which personality are you?  Do you kick and scream?  Do you run from growth or do you run towards a better you.  Open honest confrontation with yourself is the truest form of finding who "you"  really are...and how you will tackle the things that life hands you.