I heard a great message during the homily at mass yesterday. The congregation was encouraged to live life either relentlessly focused on the path to a Christ-centered life or to be the influence that leads others to Christ. His message was quite the zinger. It stuck with me and inspires me to strengthen my Christ-following journey. It also reminded me of the important message my Mary Kay director shared with me -- that perhaps I may be the only Bible a person reads.
Spiritual integrity is the most important kind of truth. I constantly remind myself that how I am here is how I am everywhere. If I’m to live a Christian life, I should always be Christ-like in any given situation. I have learned that where Jesus is, there is love. There is forgiveness. There is healing.
God’s timing is impeccable. The inspiring message I heard was tested hours after hearing the sermon. It’s as if God was testing my listening and application skills. My husband and I took our son to a children’s birthday party. I was completely caught off guard by a person who never cares to see my family happy or successful in this life. Both my husband and I were spoken down to and publicly humiliated in front of family, our son and other innocent bystanders. It was awful.
Instead of retaliating and fighting the fire with fire, we were at peace. We remained rational and calm. We replied peacefully and respectfully honoring the irrational wishes of the person who confronted us. Whether or not we deserved that kind of treatment, we remained dignified and I’m forever grateful for the divine intervention that gave us the strength to humble ourselves. After that embarrassing episode, I remembered to keep the peace. After all, we may have been the only positive influence this individual had. I wasn’t about to let go of the spiritual integrity I pray to always have. I gave in to goodness and wish for nothing but peace. If anything, I pray for that person whose misery was so obvious. It was sad to hear this person tell us off. But it was more empowering to just be kind.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Our days are numbered
Another great devotional message from Our Daily Bread was shared with me by my very wise husband. He reminds me that our time on earth is limited. I will not live a life of complacency by having the mindset that making changes in my life is something to put off until I'm nearing the end of my life. I do NOT believe that is the way to live because the time is now.
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12
In an effort to number my days, I ask myself the following questions:
How can I become more like Christ?
Am I reading the Word regularly?
Am I devoting time to prayer?
Am I meeting together with other believers?
I know God put me here to do something great with the talents and passion He's given me. But my time to do great and to be great is limited and dictated by HIM. So I will live this life with a heart open to His love and wisdom to not just spend my time, but more importantly, to invest it.
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12
In an effort to number my days, I ask myself the following questions:
How can I become more like Christ?
Am I reading the Word regularly?
Am I devoting time to prayer?
Am I meeting together with other believers?
I know God put me here to do something great with the talents and passion He's given me. But my time to do great and to be great is limited and dictated by HIM. So I will live this life with a heart open to His love and wisdom to not just spend my time, but more importantly, to invest it.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Patriotism
Below is an excerpt from Mark Cuban's thoughts on becoming wealthy. I care to do my part in patriotism.
“Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefiting you and your family, but in the broader sense. Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make the more of a financial impact you can have.” (Mark Cuban)
I’m taking my multiple streams of income to: give back to God’s church for His blessings; to give to the less fortunate in the community; and to boost sales for the Neiman Marcus children’s department. Seriously!
Make more so you can give more, and remember to always give back to the ONE who gave it to you. Our economy needs a boost. Let’s show some love to our great country in the form of our hard-earned money!
“Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefiting you and your family, but in the broader sense. Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make the more of a financial impact you can have.” (Mark Cuban)
I’m taking my multiple streams of income to: give back to God’s church for His blessings; to give to the less fortunate in the community; and to boost sales for the Neiman Marcus children’s department. Seriously!
Make more so you can give more, and remember to always give back to the ONE who gave it to you. Our economy needs a boost. Let’s show some love to our great country in the form of our hard-earned money!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Postpartum Pounds Part 2
When Isaac was born, I weighed 182 lbs. GASP! Before Isaac was conceived, I weighed 130 pounds. Since my last postpartum poundage report over four months ago, I have lost 13 pounds living life as a stay-at-home mom with absolutely NO dieting and NO exercising. That may not sound like much of a loss, but considering my current lifestyle, I'm quite proud of myself. I spend 85% of my time indoors at home eating everything in sight. The intense food cravings still haunt me at all hours of the day/night. Right now my biggest cravings are for peanut M&M’s and In-N-Out burgers and fries. Since I refrain from ordering a Double-Double-Animal-style, am I considered health-conscious? Does carrying around a gigantic baby count as a workout regimen? If so, then clearly it’s no mystery as to why I’ve trimmed down and am only 9lbs away from my goal weight! Haha!
In all seriousness, I owe the steady weight loss to the past 7 months of breastfeeding my baby. Sometimes I feel like I deserve some sort of recognition at this point. My son’s first two bottom teeth are in…yowza...they really hurt!
I’m a HUGE advocate for breastMILK. I encourage soon-to-be moms to breastfeed your child. Breast is the best and your shrinking post-baby figure will love you for it!
In all seriousness, I owe the steady weight loss to the past 7 months of breastfeeding my baby. Sometimes I feel like I deserve some sort of recognition at this point. My son’s first two bottom teeth are in…yowza...they really hurt!
I’m a HUGE advocate for breastMILK. I encourage soon-to-be moms to breastfeed your child. Breast is the best and your shrinking post-baby figure will love you for it!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
My life is in you, Lord
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your
love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in
you.
These are shortened versions of the prayers I have lifted up to the Almighty Father throughout my life. (I cannot take credit for these empowering words.)
It takes dedication to say them on a daily basis. It takes conviction to trust God’s plan rather than my own. It takes wisdom greater than my understanding to accept life as it is. It’s not about being the best me I can be. It’s about living life pleasing Him and no one else. I think that is the hardest part of all, but I accept the challenge.
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your
love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in
you.
These are shortened versions of the prayers I have lifted up to the Almighty Father throughout my life. (I cannot take credit for these empowering words.)
It takes dedication to say them on a daily basis. It takes conviction to trust God’s plan rather than my own. It takes wisdom greater than my understanding to accept life as it is. It’s not about being the best me I can be. It’s about living life pleasing Him and no one else. I think that is the hardest part of all, but I accept the challenge.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Gossip Girl
Some gossip came back to me not too long ago when a good friend confided in me. She said a particular woman in our greater community recently talked about my past mistakes to her family. My friend and I couldn’t believe that after all these years this particular woman had to drudge up the hurtful past.
When the rumor mill churns salacious drama, I admit there is an eerie satisfaction when hearsay pulls people down from their glorified pedestals. But that’s so wrong, and I cannot let my sinful nature find pleasure when he-said-she-said-this-and–that.
Although this woman cannot get past the past, I know I have. I worship a God of second chances and I love who I am today because of HIS promise to me. As long as I make a conscious effort to maintain dignity and remain Christ-like in any given situation, I know I will be blessed.
I’m thankful to my husband who is always so encouraging. He taught me how to look at the situation with greater wisdom rather than let it bring me down. He challenged me to let this one slide. In the grand scheme of things, it shouldn’t affect my personal values nor can I let it stand in the way of my potential. God has blessed me abundantly, and with this wisdom I grow stronger and become better everyday.
When the rumor mill churns salacious drama, I admit there is an eerie satisfaction when hearsay pulls people down from their glorified pedestals. But that’s so wrong, and I cannot let my sinful nature find pleasure when he-said-she-said-this-and–that.
Although this woman cannot get past the past, I know I have. I worship a God of second chances and I love who I am today because of HIS promise to me. As long as I make a conscious effort to maintain dignity and remain Christ-like in any given situation, I know I will be blessed.
I’m thankful to my husband who is always so encouraging. He taught me how to look at the situation with greater wisdom rather than let it bring me down. He challenged me to let this one slide. In the grand scheme of things, it shouldn’t affect my personal values nor can I let it stand in the way of my potential. God has blessed me abundantly, and with this wisdom I grow stronger and become better everyday.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Financial Responsibility
My husband and I have been financially responsible over the past few years. We understand that the money we earn is not ours. As Christians, we believe that God blessed us with financial privileges in the form of our multiple streams of income. But above all, we believe a portion of what we earn goes back in glory to Him. We always tithe to the church. In other words, we follow a biblically fundamental financial discipline in which at least 10% of income earned every month goes directly to the church…sometimes more but definitely no less. We pay the church first before our savings, before our bills, and before ourselves.
You know what is truly amazing about this practice? When we put God’s church before any other financial obligation, we never find ourselves in financial trouble. HE always helps us make ends meet. HE always provides what we need and in most cases, HE gives us more than we ask for. I’m not preaching the prosperity gospel nor do I guarantee God will bless you if you decide to give money to His church. I’m just saying that we give what is expected of us and walk by faith. Even when our eyes can’t see what is to come, our hearts trust that He will always come through whenever we need.
You know what is truly amazing about this practice? When we put God’s church before any other financial obligation, we never find ourselves in financial trouble. HE always helps us make ends meet. HE always provides what we need and in most cases, HE gives us more than we ask for. I’m not preaching the prosperity gospel nor do I guarantee God will bless you if you decide to give money to His church. I’m just saying that we give what is expected of us and walk by faith. Even when our eyes can’t see what is to come, our hearts trust that He will always come through whenever we need.
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