Be a Jeremiah

We are all called to a particular greatness! And, in the beginning when we first get a glimpse of this great calling on our life we approach it with much enthusiasm. However, with time and obstacles our eagerness begins to fade. We begin to be complacent on the road to our great destiny.  Look at Jeremiah. God assigned him a daunting, unfavorable, rough road. How accepted are you when you walk into a social circle and inform them that God is not happy? Not so popular. But, Jeremiah walked out his task with tenacity. He was obedient even on the darkest days. God measured him successful, as he was obedient even when it was consistently difficult. Regardless of opposition, Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed the Word of God!

In this day and age and, in particular, this part of the country there is a lack of long-term commitment, caring and willingness to stick with our purpose against all odds. God calls us to endure and fight the good fight of faith - 1 Timothy 6:12. I think we sometimes forget that one day we will be accountable for all things. When it comes to your test of endurance how will you account?

I find this challenge particularly poignant at the moment as I feel I am at a crossroad. I am not sure which path to take … one direction is leading me with my head; however, I am not sure my heart is in it. The other path seems to be a gray and undefined. While these uncertain paths often lead to greatest victories and defining moments it is the first step of faith that is so frightening. 

Regardless of how I feel I will be led and I will be obedient. I am just thankful God actually chose Jeremiah instead of me. How will you endure?

TUG OF WAR

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light – Matthew 11:30  What an easy scripture to quote and meditate on … yet, (for me) such a hard scripture to walk out. Yes, God and I have a tug-of-war … repetitively. I have heard and tried to abide by this for most of my years but when I really contemplate on this I #fail CONSTANTLY.

I start all nice and neat with prayer of “giving” my burden to God. But, His timing is not my timing. His ways are not my ways. And, I, almost always, take my burden back. In my feeble, humanistic reasoning I think that I can solve this problem so much better or faster than God. And, I just end up frustrated with one more trip around the mountain.

Just when I start to celebrate thinking I have overcome something, He brings that situation right back into my life. Herein lies the test. This is to see if I can surrender again. This is to see if I can and have really turned this area over to God. I have concluded that once is easy – I mean we can do anything for a moment or even a season. It is the repetition of a burden that defines how much we have grown.

I came across such type situation again this week. I had gone through something really heart wrenching in the fall. Truth be told, I did not handle it well. I tried but I did not succeed. I did, however, recognize my failure and repented. So, what did God do? He tested me again. This time, I was much more victorious! It is not that the situation was not any easier. It was just that I really did cast that care upon the Lord. 

7 Random Things ~ JANUARY

1. In my wallet, I have to have all my dollars facing upright, in the same direction, and in order of denomination.
2. Tried a Barre class for the first time last week. Just because you danced for 7 years in your youth does not make for muscle memory 25 years later.
3. Of the 138 accounts I am following on Instagram 132 of them are of Bostons or Frenchies.
4. Mango is my favorite fruit … and, surprisingly I was 37 the first time I tried it (was robbed as a child!).
5.  I will be trying 4 new recipes in February that are way outside my comfort zone. Stay tuned …
6. I envy people who can consistently stay up until 11 p.m. and run on 6 hours of sleep effectively.
7. I really wanted to be a model when I was younger. God knew what He was doing with that one!

TALENT & HUMILITY

Anyone who knows me for more than a half second knows that I am an avid tennis fan. More precisely, I am an avid men’s tennis fan. I have never really been able to follow women’s and this weekend it became quite clear why I just don’t have the heart for it. For season after season and with each new Grand Slam Tournament, I try to create a fondness for women’s tennis but I just can’t. I began to really reject it at the US Open finals in 2009 when Serena Williams had several HORRENDOUS outbursts toward the lines woman for calling her foot faults. To be fair, very seldom is a foot fault called in a Grand Slam – especially a final. So, for her to have two called was a bit odd. However, I think how we respond to life’s inopportune hiccups is how our character is really defined. It was a final. It was the final match of the final tournament for the season. It was Kim Clijsters final, retiring match. And, Serena threw it away for all of them with her derogatory, defaming shouts of profanity. Then last night, as I was thinking maybe I could cheer on the lone American woman it all came back … abundantly clear … why I just do not think great talent is an excuse for lack of humility. Caveat for my upcoming opinion - While I do not profess to be a tennis professional I am not sure that you have total control of where you return the ball (although, I am sure there are many out there that would disagree). So. Sloane Stephens returns the ball and it does hit Vika’s torso. Stephens immediately held up her racquet (the universal sign for “I’m sorry” in the tennis world) and Vika refused to even acknowledge her. Poor Stephens tried again and was promptly ignored a second time. When I was fed up with, yet again, another brash display of utter arrogance I was about to change the channel. And then the opposite occurred. Azarenka volleyed a return, which did not end up hitting Stephens as she quickly ducked but the response was so polar opposite that it made me smile. Stephens simply laughed and returned to the baseline while Vika refused to even apologize.

With this, it brings me back full circle to my mens! I have and will always be a Roger Federer fan – fan does not begin to describe my respect for him but an appropriate noun nonetheless. Even though he holds the record with 17 Grand Slam titles it is not this achievement that impresses me. It is his humility. His net worth is over $180M and one would never know it. He has always handled himself with such humbleness and modesty you can’t help but like the guy. Equally as modest are some of his best competitors – Nadal, Murray, and I will throw Djokovic in there although there are days I am not quite sure. However, Djokovic’s worst day is better than most women’s best day …

God gives us all natural talents. There are some he bestows with more than others but how we handle them is how we will be held accountable. Just because you can doesn’t mean you always should … Respect what you have but respect others above your talent. You do not know what tomorrow holds. One injury can cause it all to come crashing down. Careful who you step on and disrespect on you way up. If you fell to the bottom of the heap, who would offer you a hand to help you back on your feet? 

A New Beginning

I get really excited about every New Year. I love new beginnings! I used to move often in my younger years because each new apartment was a blank canvas and I was enthusiastic about splashing as many colors as possible into the 600 square feet of my humble abodes. I am, also, a purger when it comes to things, clothing, furniture, etc. I am very much out with the old and in with the new.  I love fresh, blank calendars. I love empty, unfilled journals. I love new goals. My mind runs wild with anticipation!

And then 90 days hit and there lies the brick walls; the enormous pot holes; and constant struggles of everyday existence. Life is not quite as shiny as it was a mere three months ago. Those goals and objectives become tiring to-do lists. The new leaves I was thrilled to turn over become crumbled and noisy under my feet.

How do you maintain the passion that comes at the stroke of midnight on that 365^th day of the year? How do preserve the strength to fight for all the new accomplishments you promised yourself you would achieve?

This year I will break free of the boredom, the mundane and the ever-present force that attempts to constantly suck my joy when things, days and moments do not unfold exactly as I expect. I will find enjoyment in the turns and twists of the path life & God lead.

Here’s to an exciting year!

7 Random Things

In the spirit of Thanksgiving the 7 things I am grateful for:

1. My family ~ I would not be a fraction of what I am today were it not for them. I am glad that although we are not perfect we are honest and supportive of one another.
2. God answers prayers ~ I contended in prayer this summer for a handful of great female friends from whom I could lean on, learn from, and (hopefully) pour into. I am so thankful God brought me Leticia, Jess, Tasha, Nicole and Steph.
3. I am appreciative of my God-given gifts ~ it took me awhile to get to this point of appreciation but with a lot of prayer, study and a bit of coaching from Joyce Meyer I can, truly, say that I walk in my gifts and do not covet another’s.
4. That I have made progress in my personal life over the past six months with the epitome of clarification coming from time this fall. I am learning to accept my personal life for what it is while (slowly) letting go of what I thought was going to be the future and faithfully praying God will meet my heart’s desire.
5. Generations ~ after fixing all of my grandmother’s Thanksgiving recipes I am grateful she taught us how to cook; the importance of tradition; and the love of family. (P.S. Mom and Stac helped a lot – don’t want to take credit for much).
6. Hobby Lobby ~ and their 50% off sale the day before Thanksgiving. Watch out – Outlaw, Ink is in full-force!
7. I hate pumpkin pie! So … I am grateful for all the other treats.