Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Doing the Right Thing, Having Integrity by Nina Keegan- Owens
Recently while I was in the grocery store parking lot, I was witness to a horrible onslaught of obsenities a young couple was hurling at a woman they believed had taken their coveted parking spot. They were relentless in their hostility and rage. The woman seemed oblivious to what was going on, she appeared to not even realize that she may have taken the parking spot they had wanted. When she finally realized the mean banter was aimed at her she looked scared and rushed into the store. It was a beautiful day and the parking lot was not particularly full. The couple was well able to walk yet they spent several minutes harrassing a woman that had no idea of the brawl she had caused. What good did any of this do? The couple wasted more time feuding than parking elsewhere! Why can't we stay calm, be still, and give people the benefit of the doubt? The woman's actions were clearly unintentional. She may have just had a lot on her mind. We never know what issues people are facing each day. Had the couple kept calm and moved on to a different spot, I guarantee they would have had a much better day with maybe a few unexpected blessings thrown in for good measure. What if situations like that are all a test, one we need to pass to be blessed?
Do you ever struggle with trying to do the right thing? You may be facing one of those tough times where you know what the right thing to do is but you may be waivering in your decision and your choices to follow through with your actions. Sometimes the hardest things are the right things. There is no easy way out of our messes, many times God allows us to have trials, like a checks and balances system to measure our integrity, to make sure we will listen to Him and do what's right. Sure God can turn your mess into a message and your trials into triumphs, but we are always looking for instant gratification and don't want to wait out our trials. For many people, if there is an easy way out, they will take it and lose themselves in the process. We may think that we got away with something or that our misgivings will go unoticed just this once, but that is never the case, I believe God will just keep giving you the same test, just different scenerios over and over again until we finally pass and are able to move on to the next grade.
We are often presented with opportunities where by we are challenged to do the right thing even when we so want to buck the system and do what's easier or what's seemingly more beneficial at the time. Those so called instant gratifications, and benefits that may result from not doing the right thing will most assuredly come back to haunt you later and cost you precious blessings from God. Doing the right thing will ALWAYS keep you on the right path causing you to reap what you sow!! God will bless you when you take the high road! You get what you give, it's pure karma at it's best. When you operate your life with the highest standards of morals and integrity, you will triumph and set an example that will cause an avalanche of blessings for you and set an amazing example for those around you and those that look up to you!
Proverbs10:9 says whoever walks in integrity, walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out!
God knows each and every time that you are faced with a will I or wont I question. He also knows how hard it is for us to keep our cool and our tempers in check. The heavenly rewards we store up every time we serve God instead of our emotions is imeasurable.
Integrity, what is it exactly? It's an unequaled quality of being honest, having sound moral principles, a strong code of ethics and a lack of corruption. It's the opposite of hypocracy, It's not following the crowd, but going against the grain and doing the right thing even if it hurts or even when everyone else is doing the wrong thing. It's never compromising one's values and beliefs. Having Integrity means that your moral standards are so high, that one would never question your charactor. It means we should live our lives in a way by which someone could talk bad about us and nobody would believe it. Integrity means you play by the rules, you are fair and equal, and you do not conform to this world if it will cause you to compromise yourself or your faith. Integrity means you are true to yourself and to the Lord and never waiver in those truths reguardless of gain or loss and that there is no discrepancy in your beliefs. It simply means keeping a commitment even after our circumstances have changed.
Not allowing ourselves to get angry and lose our tempers over every little thing, forgiving others first even when we feel it was not our fault, these are all examples of integrity. Not obeying rules and laws, not working an honest days work and leaving early or handling personal affairs on the computer during company time, is an example of a lack of integrity we may all be guilty of. Letting God handle your battles and staying out of petty scuffles. Keeping your word on promises you've made, can all help us grow in charactor. We can build our integrity by defeating the temptation to be dishonest.
We can either stand for something or fall for everything.
Trust your Gut, your inner voice, the Holy Spirit and pay close attention to the small still whispers deep inside you that is God guiding you and keeping you from compromising your integrity. It's Him saying "let it go and follow me"!
According to the scriptures, virtually everything that truly qualifies a person for good leadership, is built on integrity and charactor. I challenge you today to do the right thing when faced with a fork in the road, to always take the high road, the road leading straight to the blessings of God.
Proverbs 2:6-8
For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for the upright; He is a sheild to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.
Heavenly Father, please help us to live and walk in integrity, displaying your light through ourselves everywhere we go. Help us to be an example of what it means to be a christian. We thank you for all our many blessings. In Jesus name we pray!
Amen
"Few things are more infectious than a Godly lifestyle"!
Chuck swindoll
Do you ever struggle with trying to do the right thing? You may be facing one of those tough times where you know what the right thing to do is but you may be waivering in your decision and your choices to follow through with your actions. Sometimes the hardest things are the right things. There is no easy way out of our messes, many times God allows us to have trials, like a checks and balances system to measure our integrity, to make sure we will listen to Him and do what's right. Sure God can turn your mess into a message and your trials into triumphs, but we are always looking for instant gratification and don't want to wait out our trials. For many people, if there is an easy way out, they will take it and lose themselves in the process. We may think that we got away with something or that our misgivings will go unoticed just this once, but that is never the case, I believe God will just keep giving you the same test, just different scenerios over and over again until we finally pass and are able to move on to the next grade.
We are often presented with opportunities where by we are challenged to do the right thing even when we so want to buck the system and do what's easier or what's seemingly more beneficial at the time. Those so called instant gratifications, and benefits that may result from not doing the right thing will most assuredly come back to haunt you later and cost you precious blessings from God. Doing the right thing will ALWAYS keep you on the right path causing you to reap what you sow!! God will bless you when you take the high road! You get what you give, it's pure karma at it's best. When you operate your life with the highest standards of morals and integrity, you will triumph and set an example that will cause an avalanche of blessings for you and set an amazing example for those around you and those that look up to you!
Proverbs10:9 says whoever walks in integrity, walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out!
God knows each and every time that you are faced with a will I or wont I question. He also knows how hard it is for us to keep our cool and our tempers in check. The heavenly rewards we store up every time we serve God instead of our emotions is imeasurable.
Integrity, what is it exactly? It's an unequaled quality of being honest, having sound moral principles, a strong code of ethics and a lack of corruption. It's the opposite of hypocracy, It's not following the crowd, but going against the grain and doing the right thing even if it hurts or even when everyone else is doing the wrong thing. It's never compromising one's values and beliefs. Having Integrity means that your moral standards are so high, that one would never question your charactor. It means we should live our lives in a way by which someone could talk bad about us and nobody would believe it. Integrity means you play by the rules, you are fair and equal, and you do not conform to this world if it will cause you to compromise yourself or your faith. Integrity means you are true to yourself and to the Lord and never waiver in those truths reguardless of gain or loss and that there is no discrepancy in your beliefs. It simply means keeping a commitment even after our circumstances have changed.
Not allowing ourselves to get angry and lose our tempers over every little thing, forgiving others first even when we feel it was not our fault, these are all examples of integrity. Not obeying rules and laws, not working an honest days work and leaving early or handling personal affairs on the computer during company time, is an example of a lack of integrity we may all be guilty of. Letting God handle your battles and staying out of petty scuffles. Keeping your word on promises you've made, can all help us grow in charactor. We can build our integrity by defeating the temptation to be dishonest.
We can either stand for something or fall for everything.
Trust your Gut, your inner voice, the Holy Spirit and pay close attention to the small still whispers deep inside you that is God guiding you and keeping you from compromising your integrity. It's Him saying "let it go and follow me"!
According to the scriptures, virtually everything that truly qualifies a person for good leadership, is built on integrity and charactor. I challenge you today to do the right thing when faced with a fork in the road, to always take the high road, the road leading straight to the blessings of God.
Proverbs 2:6-8
For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for the upright; He is a sheild to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.
Heavenly Father, please help us to live and walk in integrity, displaying your light through ourselves everywhere we go. Help us to be an example of what it means to be a christian. We thank you for all our many blessings. In Jesus name we pray!
Amen
"Few things are more infectious than a Godly lifestyle"!
Chuck swindoll
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Gods Summer By Nina Keegan-Owens
As summer is fast approaching and the realization of having our kids back home driving us crazy with endless commotion sets in, I get anxious about wanting to keep everyone safe and happy this summer. I have started praying for God to swoop in like a super hero and fix it all... Line it all up nice and neat and not give us anything to panic about!!!... I think to myself, This is God's summer too! He wants to enjoy this time with us, he wants us to trust Him to be with our kids when they need Him most.
I Have always been one of those moms that continuously wants to"fix"everything for my kids. You know the deal, we want to make easy their paths, take away their hurts, ease their pains, and erase all their insecurities. We don't want them to make the same mistakes we made.
When our kids hurt, we hurt! Up until about 2 years ago, I feel like I had been a pretty darn good fixer mom, as compared to what I do not know, as I don't believe there are any statistics on that sort of thing yet! I may even have been deserving of a small award of sorts. A tiny trophy perhaps, the good fixer medal or at the very least a pat on the mom back! Yup, I took my mom fixing job to extreme heights, it was and still is a job I take very seriously. I could talk my kids off the ledge when they were upset or had had the "worst day ever!!!" I was there to help with all the problems, the endless homework and studying, I drove them to at the very least, an infinity X a million practices and lessons, I took them out driving through parking lots and on abandoned roads when they were eagerly learning to drive. I was the life guard each and every summer. We
have been through girl troubles and being grounded, when I was certain I was not winning any popularity contests any time soon. I was there to calm the nerves of first days of school or when they were starting a new job, and I sat vigil by the bedside when they were sick, becoming an instant nurse that would watch hours of cartoons armed with popsicles and tons of jello.
I'm sure you as a parent have quite the same long laundry list... We could go on and on until our list resembles the looooong white grocery store receipt after shopping for Christmas dinner groceries! The issues, whatever they may have been, were ones we were always able to find the answers to, the solutions, the magic touch, or just plain old ice cream worked great! Problems solved! All fixed!
In Feb of 2010, the unfixable happened!! My boys father passed away after battling lung and brain cancer for 2 long, indescribable years. After falling into a coma, he was removed from life support and so began the unfixable!
We had been divorced for quite sometime, but remained friendly. We lived a close proximity to each other which was what we thought would be best for the consistancy of raising the kids through a difficult divorce. He was a good dad and the boys were extremely close to him.
I knew God was there from the start and the morning after their father died was proof positive. God's presence was everywhere!
My youngest son who was 16 at the time called his golf coach and announced he would be playing in the 18 hole varsity tournament that very day. He had been up all night, had not been at any recent practices and had just lost his dad a few short hours before, yet he wanted to play! He played because he said his dad would have wanted him to play. On that cold day in Februrary, God was watching... On 18 holes, he shot 18 pars! A perfect round.. No bogies ,no birdies, just 18 straight pars!! There was not a dry eye among those of us who were watching. The strength, poise and charactor he had displayed at such a young age was unparalleled. God was there guiding him, guiding us all. He was saying, "this will take some time, but I am right here!"
I remember feeling a little less helpless and as I watched hole by hole, I knew I could not do anything to fix this for them..but God was already there... He had shown up that very day to give us all a glimmer of joy in the midst of the sorrow. As the time passed I had to stand back helplessly and watch them go through it all, every text book stage of grief, each one in order as if it were written just for them, the disbelief, the anger...every one displaying a new pain or revelation, a new something I yet again could do nothing about. Try as I might, I would fail in my insurmountable attempts to calm the unending storms. Every step though God was there, growing my faith, guiding and loving us through it all.
All I could do then and all I still can do is pray! I can leave it all in God's hands. God was and is always right where we need Him the most. He is armed with tons of angels, 100 SPF sunscreen, and a truck load of life jackets and He's ready to protect our kids this summer! We can rest under God's giant, striped beach umbrella because His arms are wrapped tightly around our kids and He is holding them close!
I pray for God to handle each day on it's own and to be with them all during this and all unfixable times in their lives. I pray for God to give them peace for their pain, strength when it gets tough and for God to give me signs that He is always right there, holding our joy in his grasp! God is helping me to help them. I was reminded that God knew exactly how my boys felt, He too had watched his own son suffer and die an unthinkable death. I was comforted by knowing that God loves my boys, He created them and He still has a great plan for them.(Jeremiah 29:11)
I am confident that nothing they have been through will be wasted. They will be stronger because pain builds charactor and faith. I stand on the scripture that says God turns ALL things around for the good for those who love Him!! (Romans 8:28)
I know how amazingly strong they both are because God does not give us anything we cannot handle!!!
If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it.
As a mom, a parent, you may be facing uncertainty where your kids are concerned, they may be going through some tough times, maybe they are spiraling down a wrong and destructive path, and the thought of summer terrifies you. They may have issues with drugs, alcohol, or immorality. They may be experiencing peer pressures and insecurities or they too may have lost someone close to them.
Whatever the case , please know that God will always show up! He will never leave our kids or forsake them, and for you, the worry filled parent, well, He is close to the broken hearted and He will perfect that which concerns you!! (psalms 34:18,138:8)
Yes He will perfect our concerns!! We can do all we can when it comes to our children, but when you absolutely are beating your head against the wall in sheer frustration, feeling like you have nowhere else to turn, when it looks like all hope is lost, please remember that God is our super hero! Our lifeguard! He carries us when we are to weak to carry the heavy load ourselves. He will give us rest and a calming peace and make light our burdens.
My boys will always miss their dad , but I see God's strength in each one of them. They are strong, they are fighters, they are resiliant. I am still the mom that is always trying to fix what I can, but I am letting God handle the rest, in fact, who am I kidding? I cant do any of it without God anyway!!
2 years later when Kris was graduating highschool, his coach used Kris's story at the varsity golf banquet. He said kris was his hero and that he would never forget that day and the bravery kris had shown. We too will never forget!
Lord please be with our kids always, keep them safe and protected this summer. Please give them perseverence, wisdom and guidence. Help them to stay focused on you and the plans you have for them so they can fufil your will for their lives! Please give us, peace for our lives, and a wonderful endless summer!!! Thank you! In Jesus name!
Amen
I Have always been one of those moms that continuously wants to"fix"everything for my kids. You know the deal, we want to make easy their paths, take away their hurts, ease their pains, and erase all their insecurities. We don't want them to make the same mistakes we made.
When our kids hurt, we hurt! Up until about 2 years ago, I feel like I had been a pretty darn good fixer mom, as compared to what I do not know, as I don't believe there are any statistics on that sort of thing yet! I may even have been deserving of a small award of sorts. A tiny trophy perhaps, the good fixer medal or at the very least a pat on the mom back! Yup, I took my mom fixing job to extreme heights, it was and still is a job I take very seriously. I could talk my kids off the ledge when they were upset or had had the "worst day ever!!!" I was there to help with all the problems, the endless homework and studying, I drove them to at the very least, an infinity X a million practices and lessons, I took them out driving through parking lots and on abandoned roads when they were eagerly learning to drive. I was the life guard each and every summer. We
have been through girl troubles and being grounded, when I was certain I was not winning any popularity contests any time soon. I was there to calm the nerves of first days of school or when they were starting a new job, and I sat vigil by the bedside when they were sick, becoming an instant nurse that would watch hours of cartoons armed with popsicles and tons of jello.
I'm sure you as a parent have quite the same long laundry list... We could go on and on until our list resembles the looooong white grocery store receipt after shopping for Christmas dinner groceries! The issues, whatever they may have been, were ones we were always able to find the answers to, the solutions, the magic touch, or just plain old ice cream worked great! Problems solved! All fixed!
In Feb of 2010, the unfixable happened!! My boys father passed away after battling lung and brain cancer for 2 long, indescribable years. After falling into a coma, he was removed from life support and so began the unfixable!
We had been divorced for quite sometime, but remained friendly. We lived a close proximity to each other which was what we thought would be best for the consistancy of raising the kids through a difficult divorce. He was a good dad and the boys were extremely close to him.
I knew God was there from the start and the morning after their father died was proof positive. God's presence was everywhere!
My youngest son who was 16 at the time called his golf coach and announced he would be playing in the 18 hole varsity tournament that very day. He had been up all night, had not been at any recent practices and had just lost his dad a few short hours before, yet he wanted to play! He played because he said his dad would have wanted him to play. On that cold day in Februrary, God was watching... On 18 holes, he shot 18 pars! A perfect round.. No bogies ,no birdies, just 18 straight pars!! There was not a dry eye among those of us who were watching. The strength, poise and charactor he had displayed at such a young age was unparalleled. God was there guiding him, guiding us all. He was saying, "this will take some time, but I am right here!"
I remember feeling a little less helpless and as I watched hole by hole, I knew I could not do anything to fix this for them..but God was already there... He had shown up that very day to give us all a glimmer of joy in the midst of the sorrow. As the time passed I had to stand back helplessly and watch them go through it all, every text book stage of grief, each one in order as if it were written just for them, the disbelief, the anger...every one displaying a new pain or revelation, a new something I yet again could do nothing about. Try as I might, I would fail in my insurmountable attempts to calm the unending storms. Every step though God was there, growing my faith, guiding and loving us through it all.
All I could do then and all I still can do is pray! I can leave it all in God's hands. God was and is always right where we need Him the most. He is armed with tons of angels, 100 SPF sunscreen, and a truck load of life jackets and He's ready to protect our kids this summer! We can rest under God's giant, striped beach umbrella because His arms are wrapped tightly around our kids and He is holding them close!
I pray for God to handle each day on it's own and to be with them all during this and all unfixable times in their lives. I pray for God to give them peace for their pain, strength when it gets tough and for God to give me signs that He is always right there, holding our joy in his grasp! God is helping me to help them. I was reminded that God knew exactly how my boys felt, He too had watched his own son suffer and die an unthinkable death. I was comforted by knowing that God loves my boys, He created them and He still has a great plan for them.(Jeremiah 29:11)
I am confident that nothing they have been through will be wasted. They will be stronger because pain builds charactor and faith. I stand on the scripture that says God turns ALL things around for the good for those who love Him!! (Romans 8:28)
I know how amazingly strong they both are because God does not give us anything we cannot handle!!!
If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it.
As a mom, a parent, you may be facing uncertainty where your kids are concerned, they may be going through some tough times, maybe they are spiraling down a wrong and destructive path, and the thought of summer terrifies you. They may have issues with drugs, alcohol, or immorality. They may be experiencing peer pressures and insecurities or they too may have lost someone close to them.
Whatever the case , please know that God will always show up! He will never leave our kids or forsake them, and for you, the worry filled parent, well, He is close to the broken hearted and He will perfect that which concerns you!! (psalms 34:18,138:8)
Yes He will perfect our concerns!! We can do all we can when it comes to our children, but when you absolutely are beating your head against the wall in sheer frustration, feeling like you have nowhere else to turn, when it looks like all hope is lost, please remember that God is our super hero! Our lifeguard! He carries us when we are to weak to carry the heavy load ourselves. He will give us rest and a calming peace and make light our burdens.
My boys will always miss their dad , but I see God's strength in each one of them. They are strong, they are fighters, they are resiliant. I am still the mom that is always trying to fix what I can, but I am letting God handle the rest, in fact, who am I kidding? I cant do any of it without God anyway!!
2 years later when Kris was graduating highschool, his coach used Kris's story at the varsity golf banquet. He said kris was his hero and that he would never forget that day and the bravery kris had shown. We too will never forget!
Lord please be with our kids always, keep them safe and protected this summer. Please give them perseverence, wisdom and guidence. Help them to stay focused on you and the plans you have for them so they can fufil your will for their lives! Please give us, peace for our lives, and a wonderful endless summer!!! Thank you! In Jesus name!
Amen
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Embracing Change by Nina Keegan -Owens
It seems one of the only guarantees we have in this life, is that change is inevitable. God however does not change, He is our constant, our rock! He is a fortress in times of trouble. His love for us will never change!!!
People, circumstances, life, will be always and forever changing, sometimes those changes are expected and welcomed, but most of the time change carries with it some dreaded fears and anxieties, it's like peering around the corner to see what change will bring but you can't see anything, or reading a long book and there is no ending. We just can't see the forest through the trees. We all wish we could sit down in a comfy chair, pen in hand, and write the script ourselves. Start to finish.. This is how the story ends. We want the crystal ball, just a peek...just one hint.
We must learn to embrace change. Where would we be without it? Still stuck in the 1950's when computers were the size of a truck, no smart phones, modern medicines and technologies or even before that when cars and modern transportation did not exist... It's coming no matter what, we can't fight it, it's on its way, just like it always has been. We need to grasp change and face it head on, take ownership of every situation, and know that whatever the changes you are going through right now, good or bad, they too will change.
With change comes growth, maturity, wisdom.. With each change we take on, endure, and conquer, we become more equipped. We quite often have a hard time when we have to step outside the box and are removed from our comfort zones. When we go through changes and face new challenges, we are simultaneously gathering precious fragments of information, gaining valuable life experiences, tidbits and particles of every change we go through cling to us like a magnet, creating us, and shaping us into the very person we were created to be.
We have all heard the expressions,"go with the flow" or "roll with the changes", we must do just that. Change can be a golden opportunity for us. God knows what He is doing! We may need a gentle nudge, a little coaxing here and there to get us moving and changing. Sometimes we just need to get pushed out of the nest so we can learn to fly.
We can all look back at our lives and see countless times when we were facing major changes and now, how differently we see those same situations. We can see just how necessary those changes were, that they happened for a very specific reason. We can now see how it all added up, that A+B does not always = C. Sometimes there are a few other letters thrown in just to keep us on our toes, to keep us playing our best game, to keep us motivated to persevere through it all and to become our best selves. We begin to understand how changes lead us out of something that was wrong for us or how it was a beautiful gift on a silver platter, but we just did not recognize it at the time. Sometimes things are good for a season but then it's time to move on, think of your life as a fabulous expedition. There are many treasures in your life yet to be unearthed. Many treasures that are very valuable to the purposes for which you were created.
We would never want to be sitting still while the world and all its constant changes races passed us leaving us in the dust. We must grab hold of change, put our running shoes on and get in the race too. No finish lines here, not in this race but there are plenty of beautiful places and wonderful people and an abundance of fabulous things to enjoy along the way. If we happen to stumble or fall down while we are running our race, God will be there to pick us up, and to carry us straight through to whatever the next changes in our lives will be.
If you look at it this way, there will always be somethings about your life you can change, we can always better ourselves, we can strive to learn more, stay healthy, be more positive, work harder towards our goals, but there are many things we simply have no control over. We must accept those changes and not stress over things we can't do anything about anyway. It is a huge waste of precious time trying to manipulate change. Have faith and let God be God and let Him handle what we can't.
In James1:7 it says, Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of the heavenly lights who does not CHANGE.
So while we are in the midst of uncertainty and maybe feeling quite uncomfortable with all the changes going on around us, we can relax with the knowledge that God is right there walking us through it, He will never change, He is the same yesturday, today and tomorrow. We have no need He will not meet, no problem He cannot solve, while change is inevitable, His presence is constant!!!
His love for us will never change!!!
Serenity prayer written by
Reinhold Niebuhr 1930's
Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!!!!!
People, circumstances, life, will be always and forever changing, sometimes those changes are expected and welcomed, but most of the time change carries with it some dreaded fears and anxieties, it's like peering around the corner to see what change will bring but you can't see anything, or reading a long book and there is no ending. We just can't see the forest through the trees. We all wish we could sit down in a comfy chair, pen in hand, and write the script ourselves. Start to finish.. This is how the story ends. We want the crystal ball, just a peek...just one hint.
We must learn to embrace change. Where would we be without it? Still stuck in the 1950's when computers were the size of a truck, no smart phones, modern medicines and technologies or even before that when cars and modern transportation did not exist... It's coming no matter what, we can't fight it, it's on its way, just like it always has been. We need to grasp change and face it head on, take ownership of every situation, and know that whatever the changes you are going through right now, good or bad, they too will change.
With change comes growth, maturity, wisdom.. With each change we take on, endure, and conquer, we become more equipped. We quite often have a hard time when we have to step outside the box and are removed from our comfort zones. When we go through changes and face new challenges, we are simultaneously gathering precious fragments of information, gaining valuable life experiences, tidbits and particles of every change we go through cling to us like a magnet, creating us, and shaping us into the very person we were created to be.
We have all heard the expressions,"go with the flow" or "roll with the changes", we must do just that. Change can be a golden opportunity for us. God knows what He is doing! We may need a gentle nudge, a little coaxing here and there to get us moving and changing. Sometimes we just need to get pushed out of the nest so we can learn to fly.
We can all look back at our lives and see countless times when we were facing major changes and now, how differently we see those same situations. We can see just how necessary those changes were, that they happened for a very specific reason. We can now see how it all added up, that A+B does not always = C. Sometimes there are a few other letters thrown in just to keep us on our toes, to keep us playing our best game, to keep us motivated to persevere through it all and to become our best selves. We begin to understand how changes lead us out of something that was wrong for us or how it was a beautiful gift on a silver platter, but we just did not recognize it at the time. Sometimes things are good for a season but then it's time to move on, think of your life as a fabulous expedition. There are many treasures in your life yet to be unearthed. Many treasures that are very valuable to the purposes for which you were created.
We would never want to be sitting still while the world and all its constant changes races passed us leaving us in the dust. We must grab hold of change, put our running shoes on and get in the race too. No finish lines here, not in this race but there are plenty of beautiful places and wonderful people and an abundance of fabulous things to enjoy along the way. If we happen to stumble or fall down while we are running our race, God will be there to pick us up, and to carry us straight through to whatever the next changes in our lives will be.
If you look at it this way, there will always be somethings about your life you can change, we can always better ourselves, we can strive to learn more, stay healthy, be more positive, work harder towards our goals, but there are many things we simply have no control over. We must accept those changes and not stress over things we can't do anything about anyway. It is a huge waste of precious time trying to manipulate change. Have faith and let God be God and let Him handle what we can't.
In James1:7 it says, Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of the heavenly lights who does not CHANGE.
So while we are in the midst of uncertainty and maybe feeling quite uncomfortable with all the changes going on around us, we can relax with the knowledge that God is right there walking us through it, He will never change, He is the same yesturday, today and tomorrow. We have no need He will not meet, no problem He cannot solve, while change is inevitable, His presence is constant!!!
His love for us will never change!!!
Serenity prayer written by
Reinhold Niebuhr 1930's
Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!!!!!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Enjoying Every Moment, by Nina Keegan -Owens
Do you remember being young? Being a kid, you could not wait to be a full fledged teenager. In your late teens and early 20's, if you were anything like me, you were always in such a hurry to get to that next great stage in life? Always a race against time! It seems we just couldn't wait to be all grown up and play the proverbial game of life. If you were in high school then you could not wait to step foot onto the fabulous campus quad of your college destination, if you were in college, then getting out, getting a"real"job, finding prince charming and getting married in a gorgeous,white, chiffon gown, in a flower filled church, and dancing the night away to your favorite songs, played by the best local band you skillfully managed to book for your reception, buying the white picket fenced home and having the national average of 3.2 kids to carpool around suburbia was the absolute end all of a great life. The pictures in our minds of the perfect life, was the life we had seen many times before over and over again on a Lifetime movie, or the Hallmark channel.
How fast could we get there? Never fast enough! Time has flown by at a record setting pace since those days. Now if I could only take it all back, if we could only stop the clock, rewind it a bit, and push replay.. Maybe this time around we could use the pause button and relax in the moments a bit longer and savor the place God had placed us for just a bit more time.
Why does it seem we always want what we cant have? Even if what we want is looking in the rearview mirror. We can't get back the times we hastily wished away. We will have to rely on our recollections, our scattered memories, and cherish every new and glorious moment from this day forward.
The good old days are the days we seemed to have taken for granted, being young, care free, and naive. Is youth really wasted on the young? Will it always be like this? Will we ever just "get it?" will we ever be able to sink our teeth into today and bite off a huge piece and whole heartedly enjoy it?
The days we wished for, the days we could not wait for, are the days, that never really get here quite the way we had envisioned . Sure we hit those target points and specific goals of marriage, careers, and all, but while we are there in those moments we are always thinking of what's next.
We have our precious babies and can't wait until they are finally sleeping through the night and actively anticipate the day of not changing any more diapers... Then the focus is getting them out of school, and through graduation etc, etc,. We always seem unsatisfied, we need a promotion at work, a bigger house in a better neighborhood... We always just can't wait for something.
Where does it all end? What does it get you? We throw the ladder down from our lives and as if we are racing to escape from a burning building.
On this ladder of life, we should be climbing up, climbing higher. We need to stop and pause on each and every single step. This wonderful life, where each stage is meant for greatness in it's own right... We will never be able to appreciate the good things unless we have experienced some bad. We can't have successes without having had some failures.
We need to be in the "now" the "present", right here. Look at where you are at, you are exactly where you are supposed to be! Enjoy this random moment in time because it is so fleeting, this moment, gone in a flash is one you will never get back. Pay closer attenton to your life, focus on the task at hand, the tasks of today, this very day!
The Bible says in Matthew 6:34, Do not worry about tomorrow today, for each day has enough trouble of its own.
In other words, if you are so busy thinking about the future , you miss the here and now. Bloom where you are planted!!! This is your time, this is your journey unfolding. This is your tiny space in an infinitely vast universe.. This is YOUR day carved out of time by God for you to enjoy!
My oldest son Kyle is graduating from Baylor University in a few short days.
I look at this man and all of his accomplishments, how proud I am, he's so motivated and ready to get finished and get to the next stage of his life, seems only yesturday, I was wishing for him to sleep through the night. Memories of his childhood flood my mind.. In a flash He is grown, he is a man with tons of dreams and ambitions.
I see so much of myself in him, but only now as a mom, I want to tell him to wait, slow it down a bit. Life will be there, it's coming no matter what so look around and bask in this precious speck of time.. This sculpted nugget of space is the good stuff!!! The miraculously good stuff given to us by a generous loving God to be savored each and every day of our lives. I dont want him to miss a thing.... The video keeps rolling... No Hollywood producer is yelling "cut"!!!" Take two!" We get only one precious, get it right the first time, life!!! ENJOY!!!!
God please bless Kyle as he graduates, may he savor and enjoy his life each day. Protect him and guide him on his new path in life. May we all never take a single moment for granted and enjoy our days completely and effortlessly, and may we enjoy every second of this precious time you have given us!
Thank you father!
In Jesus name we pray!
Amen
How fast could we get there? Never fast enough! Time has flown by at a record setting pace since those days. Now if I could only take it all back, if we could only stop the clock, rewind it a bit, and push replay.. Maybe this time around we could use the pause button and relax in the moments a bit longer and savor the place God had placed us for just a bit more time.
Why does it seem we always want what we cant have? Even if what we want is looking in the rearview mirror. We can't get back the times we hastily wished away. We will have to rely on our recollections, our scattered memories, and cherish every new and glorious moment from this day forward.
The good old days are the days we seemed to have taken for granted, being young, care free, and naive. Is youth really wasted on the young? Will it always be like this? Will we ever just "get it?" will we ever be able to sink our teeth into today and bite off a huge piece and whole heartedly enjoy it?
The days we wished for, the days we could not wait for, are the days, that never really get here quite the way we had envisioned . Sure we hit those target points and specific goals of marriage, careers, and all, but while we are there in those moments we are always thinking of what's next.
We have our precious babies and can't wait until they are finally sleeping through the night and actively anticipate the day of not changing any more diapers... Then the focus is getting them out of school, and through graduation etc, etc,. We always seem unsatisfied, we need a promotion at work, a bigger house in a better neighborhood... We always just can't wait for something.
Where does it all end? What does it get you? We throw the ladder down from our lives and as if we are racing to escape from a burning building.
On this ladder of life, we should be climbing up, climbing higher. We need to stop and pause on each and every single step. This wonderful life, where each stage is meant for greatness in it's own right... We will never be able to appreciate the good things unless we have experienced some bad. We can't have successes without having had some failures.
We need to be in the "now" the "present", right here. Look at where you are at, you are exactly where you are supposed to be! Enjoy this random moment in time because it is so fleeting, this moment, gone in a flash is one you will never get back. Pay closer attenton to your life, focus on the task at hand, the tasks of today, this very day!
The Bible says in Matthew 6:34, Do not worry about tomorrow today, for each day has enough trouble of its own.
In other words, if you are so busy thinking about the future , you miss the here and now. Bloom where you are planted!!! This is your time, this is your journey unfolding. This is your tiny space in an infinitely vast universe.. This is YOUR day carved out of time by God for you to enjoy!
My oldest son Kyle is graduating from Baylor University in a few short days.
I look at this man and all of his accomplishments, how proud I am, he's so motivated and ready to get finished and get to the next stage of his life, seems only yesturday, I was wishing for him to sleep through the night. Memories of his childhood flood my mind.. In a flash He is grown, he is a man with tons of dreams and ambitions.
I see so much of myself in him, but only now as a mom, I want to tell him to wait, slow it down a bit. Life will be there, it's coming no matter what so look around and bask in this precious speck of time.. This sculpted nugget of space is the good stuff!!! The miraculously good stuff given to us by a generous loving God to be savored each and every day of our lives. I dont want him to miss a thing.... The video keeps rolling... No Hollywood producer is yelling "cut"!!!" Take two!" We get only one precious, get it right the first time, life!!! ENJOY!!!!
God please bless Kyle as he graduates, may he savor and enjoy his life each day. Protect him and guide him on his new path in life. May we all never take a single moment for granted and enjoy our days completely and effortlessly, and may we enjoy every second of this precious time you have given us!
Thank you father!
In Jesus name we pray!
Amen
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Having an attitude of gratitude by Nina Keegan-Owens
It's 7:00 a.m and I am waking up on this glorious morning in quite the usual way. My sweet, little, fur ball, dog Zoe saunters over all the pillows and climbs on top of me, deciding it's time for her to get her morning hugs and of course a few good scratches behind the ears. The new day's sunlight streams through the cracks in the shutters of my bedroom windows, and I can hear the birds singing their cheery early morning serenades. It's my birthday today!" Thank you God for this fabulous day and for my wonderful life!" I'm up, I'm ready and making my way to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee...
A quick glance at my phone shows an abundance of warm birthday texts and messages already... How amazing that We can get wished a happy birthday in several types of social medias these days, we are more connected to friends and loved ones and in so many ways. I am so very blessed, I'm feeling pretty loved right about now and grateful beyond words.
Never really been a huge fan of my birthday, I do not like all the fuss, being the center of attention makes me very uncomfortable, but as the years go by, and faster than ever it seems, the more I reflect back on my life. The life that has brought me here and to this point in time, my forty.. Hhmm.. something birthday.
My life has not always been easy. Who's has? I joke sometimes that I could write a book about my life but it would have to be sold in the fiction section of the book store because nobody would believe my stories were true, however I would live my life again the exact same way changing only one thing, I would make sure God knew how extremely grateful I was....how grateful I am for every single new and perfect day and the countless blessings each one of those days whether peaceful or hectic contains. What better birthday gift can there be than God's peace? His love each new day unfolding new promises and 2nd chances.
I appreciate every joy, every sorrow, every pain, and smile, of living a life.. watching my children growing into wonderful men, sharing their joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs, meeting new and wonderful people, moving, traveling, hearts broken, hearts healed.. having a wonderful husband to spend birthdays and everyday with. Yes I am so grateful for my life well lived. Like water steadily carving it's way through rock eventually etching out a river, God has designed my life with each valley to be a learning exercise providing invaluable experiences that would draw me closer to Him. Each peak in my life a place for Him to share my joys and to show me His unconditional love.
I want my life to mean something, I want it to count, to matter. I do not want to waste a single moment on trivial, not worth it, petty things! Each moment is a precious gift to be used wisely and with focus, clarity and abundant purpose.
Eph 5:20 says to Give thanks always and for everything to God who loves and cares for you.
We should never miss an opportunity to praise and Thank God, how can you not see His greatness in everything and everywhere? We can look at a bed of brightly colored flowers and see His brilliance, we can hear the contagious laugh of a child and know He's right there.
What if we were to wake up tomorrow with only the things we thanked God for today? What would you have? Really makes you think, I dont want to miss anything, so I'm thankful for everything!!! Every nook and cranny of my life , every birthday, another year, another milestone, a year good and bad is one I've cherished.
In (1 Thess 5:8) the scripture says to Give thanks in ALL circumstances for this is the will of God for you.
Gratitude ulocks the essence and completeness of a life. It turns what we have into all we need. Being grateful can make sense of the chaos and give us divine peace for our souls.
So today when I blow out my candles on my birthday cake surrounded by people I love, I will be thankful for another year well spent gaining tiny perils of God's wisdom, enjoying the many simple abundances in my days and I will be thanking God for EVERTHING, and I will be asking for God to give me a more grateful and loving heart and for His peace for many birthdays to come!! Yup that will be the most perfect birthday gift I could possibly ever receive!!
Thank you sweet Father for my life and everyone I love. Thanks for your love, mercy, forgiveness, protecton and safety for me and my family and friends. I am truly blessed and grateful for this and all the days of my life. In Jesus name I pray!!
Amen!!
A quick glance at my phone shows an abundance of warm birthday texts and messages already... How amazing that We can get wished a happy birthday in several types of social medias these days, we are more connected to friends and loved ones and in so many ways. I am so very blessed, I'm feeling pretty loved right about now and grateful beyond words.
Never really been a huge fan of my birthday, I do not like all the fuss, being the center of attention makes me very uncomfortable, but as the years go by, and faster than ever it seems, the more I reflect back on my life. The life that has brought me here and to this point in time, my forty.. Hhmm.. something birthday.
My life has not always been easy. Who's has? I joke sometimes that I could write a book about my life but it would have to be sold in the fiction section of the book store because nobody would believe my stories were true, however I would live my life again the exact same way changing only one thing, I would make sure God knew how extremely grateful I was....how grateful I am for every single new and perfect day and the countless blessings each one of those days whether peaceful or hectic contains. What better birthday gift can there be than God's peace? His love each new day unfolding new promises and 2nd chances.
I appreciate every joy, every sorrow, every pain, and smile, of living a life.. watching my children growing into wonderful men, sharing their joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs, meeting new and wonderful people, moving, traveling, hearts broken, hearts healed.. having a wonderful husband to spend birthdays and everyday with. Yes I am so grateful for my life well lived. Like water steadily carving it's way through rock eventually etching out a river, God has designed my life with each valley to be a learning exercise providing invaluable experiences that would draw me closer to Him. Each peak in my life a place for Him to share my joys and to show me His unconditional love.
I want my life to mean something, I want it to count, to matter. I do not want to waste a single moment on trivial, not worth it, petty things! Each moment is a precious gift to be used wisely and with focus, clarity and abundant purpose.
Eph 5:20 says to Give thanks always and for everything to God who loves and cares for you.
We should never miss an opportunity to praise and Thank God, how can you not see His greatness in everything and everywhere? We can look at a bed of brightly colored flowers and see His brilliance, we can hear the contagious laugh of a child and know He's right there.
What if we were to wake up tomorrow with only the things we thanked God for today? What would you have? Really makes you think, I dont want to miss anything, so I'm thankful for everything!!! Every nook and cranny of my life , every birthday, another year, another milestone, a year good and bad is one I've cherished.
In (1 Thess 5:8) the scripture says to Give thanks in ALL circumstances for this is the will of God for you.
Gratitude ulocks the essence and completeness of a life. It turns what we have into all we need. Being grateful can make sense of the chaos and give us divine peace for our souls.
So today when I blow out my candles on my birthday cake surrounded by people I love, I will be thankful for another year well spent gaining tiny perils of God's wisdom, enjoying the many simple abundances in my days and I will be thanking God for EVERTHING, and I will be asking for God to give me a more grateful and loving heart and for His peace for many birthdays to come!! Yup that will be the most perfect birthday gift I could possibly ever receive!!
Thank you sweet Father for my life and everyone I love. Thanks for your love, mercy, forgiveness, protecton and safety for me and my family and friends. I am truly blessed and grateful for this and all the days of my life. In Jesus name I pray!!
Amen!!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Finding your purpose by Nina Keegan-Owens
Purpose? If you do not yet know what your purpose here on earth is, keep reading because you are about to find out.
We as Christians, hear so much about this simple 7 letter word, it is nothing fancy, it's more of a flying under the radar type of word, but oh how we wrestle with the definition... What does it mean? By definition, purpose means and end or a goal by which one strives for. Are we not all given a specific, highly individualized, purpose from God? What is our purpose? How do we begin to find out? What if I don't like my purpose? Can I get a raincheck, or trade mine in on a newer model, one that's a little shinier, one with more pizazz perhaps? Can we get a purpose on a trial basis to be changed out later at a more convenient day and time? Does God only give us 1 purpose each or do we get several? Does purpose stay consistant or is it constantly changing? Questions?? Tons!!! Some people will spend a lifetime in angst trying to figure out the confusion that lies within the unearthly answers to those elusive questions.
I'd like to think the answers are much less high tech than all of that, I actually think it's all quite simple but as humans we like to complicate everything, our minds are like a virtual spin class that goes 100 mph even on the steep hills, never yeilding, never stopping, always chasing something. We are always trying to "get it right". We think up all sorts of grandiose ideas about the type of lives and purposes we think we should be living.
We scheme out elaborate plans, calculated maps so to speak about how we will attain our countless goals.
Could it be possible that we, while earnestly seeking our elaborate purposes are actually missing the bigger picture? The real purpose?
I believe we all have the exact same purpose, all equal, fair and square, we all start with the same amount of chips on the game table. After all, God is no respecter of persons right? Acts 10: 34-35
So here it is, the answer you have been waiting for.
Our purpose is to love God... Period!! Yup, that's it.. Simple yet magnificent in God's eyes. We simply, are here to glorify Him, love Him unconditionally, unceasingly, and infinitely. We are to show others who He is through us. We are to set examples for others by walking in His love, and by living each day as if we are on an highly specialized assignment from God.
The very real, simple, mundane, tasks we do on a day to day basis, can exemplify His love and give us purpose. You are where you are on purpose so embrace each and every wonderful new day. Giving an encouraging smile, or a compliment, can change someone's whole day. Offering to help someone out, volunteering your time, or even cooking dinner for your family can be filled with purpose. Taking care of a scraped elbow or knee with a bandaid and a kiss, reading a beautiful bedtime story to your child as they fall asleep in your lap, these things have amazing value and purpose. Being a shoulder to cry on, a loving, accepting, spouse that does not always have to be right, being the person first to forgive, the first to say" I am sorry" these small day to day things all can change attitudes and lives and help you live deep in the midst of your God given purpose. Doing your job, your school work, your house work daily with pride and without complaining as if you are working for God, loving each other unconditionally, and being able to overlook the flaws and faults in ourselves and others is everyone's purpose. These are all ways that we show God how much we love Him. God does not expect perfection, He only expects us to try our very best. We need to be thankful every day for the opportunity to love and be loved. All of these tasks we do day in and day out without giving it much thought, is actually us living out our purpose here on earth. These are the things that matter, the things that count more than you could ever begin to imagine. These simple things, when all done in unison as one body of Christ can be the most amazing purpose fulfilled! The purpose of God smiling down on us and saying,"Job well done my good and faithful servant!"
Ecc 3:1
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Prov 19:21
Many plans are in a man's mind but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand
Dear Lord help us to fulfil our purposes everyday and stay focused on the little things we can do daily to set an example for others. Help us to appreciate all that we have, and where we are right now. Thank you for loving us. We praise you in Jesus name. Amen!!
We as Christians, hear so much about this simple 7 letter word, it is nothing fancy, it's more of a flying under the radar type of word, but oh how we wrestle with the definition... What does it mean? By definition, purpose means and end or a goal by which one strives for. Are we not all given a specific, highly individualized, purpose from God? What is our purpose? How do we begin to find out? What if I don't like my purpose? Can I get a raincheck, or trade mine in on a newer model, one that's a little shinier, one with more pizazz perhaps? Can we get a purpose on a trial basis to be changed out later at a more convenient day and time? Does God only give us 1 purpose each or do we get several? Does purpose stay consistant or is it constantly changing? Questions?? Tons!!! Some people will spend a lifetime in angst trying to figure out the confusion that lies within the unearthly answers to those elusive questions.
I'd like to think the answers are much less high tech than all of that, I actually think it's all quite simple but as humans we like to complicate everything, our minds are like a virtual spin class that goes 100 mph even on the steep hills, never yeilding, never stopping, always chasing something. We are always trying to "get it right". We think up all sorts of grandiose ideas about the type of lives and purposes we think we should be living.
We scheme out elaborate plans, calculated maps so to speak about how we will attain our countless goals.
Could it be possible that we, while earnestly seeking our elaborate purposes are actually missing the bigger picture? The real purpose?
I believe we all have the exact same purpose, all equal, fair and square, we all start with the same amount of chips on the game table. After all, God is no respecter of persons right? Acts 10: 34-35
So here it is, the answer you have been waiting for.
Our purpose is to love God... Period!! Yup, that's it.. Simple yet magnificent in God's eyes. We simply, are here to glorify Him, love Him unconditionally, unceasingly, and infinitely. We are to show others who He is through us. We are to set examples for others by walking in His love, and by living each day as if we are on an highly specialized assignment from God.
The very real, simple, mundane, tasks we do on a day to day basis, can exemplify His love and give us purpose. You are where you are on purpose so embrace each and every wonderful new day. Giving an encouraging smile, or a compliment, can change someone's whole day. Offering to help someone out, volunteering your time, or even cooking dinner for your family can be filled with purpose. Taking care of a scraped elbow or knee with a bandaid and a kiss, reading a beautiful bedtime story to your child as they fall asleep in your lap, these things have amazing value and purpose. Being a shoulder to cry on, a loving, accepting, spouse that does not always have to be right, being the person first to forgive, the first to say" I am sorry" these small day to day things all can change attitudes and lives and help you live deep in the midst of your God given purpose. Doing your job, your school work, your house work daily with pride and without complaining as if you are working for God, loving each other unconditionally, and being able to overlook the flaws and faults in ourselves and others is everyone's purpose. These are all ways that we show God how much we love Him. God does not expect perfection, He only expects us to try our very best. We need to be thankful every day for the opportunity to love and be loved. All of these tasks we do day in and day out without giving it much thought, is actually us living out our purpose here on earth. These are the things that matter, the things that count more than you could ever begin to imagine. These simple things, when all done in unison as one body of Christ can be the most amazing purpose fulfilled! The purpose of God smiling down on us and saying,"Job well done my good and faithful servant!"
Ecc 3:1
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Prov 19:21
Many plans are in a man's mind but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand
Dear Lord help us to fulfil our purposes everyday and stay focused on the little things we can do daily to set an example for others. Help us to appreciate all that we have, and where we are right now. Thank you for loving us. We praise you in Jesus name. Amen!!
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