Is it all about money?

 

 Good Morning my sisters...

Giving back…

I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot lately.  Do you realize that the lowest paying jobs are the ones that give back the most?

I’ve put together a list of just a few jobs in America that give back for very little monetary compensation.

1.      Mothers staying home

2.      Fathers staying home

3.      Teachers

4.      Paras

5.      School Janitors

6.      Hospice Consultants

7.      Social Workers

8.      Foster Care Parents

9.      Nuns

10.   Mental Health Workers

11.   Administrative Assistants

12.   Interns

13.   Childcare providers

14.   Volunteers  for organizations like Hospice, American Red Cross, Hospitals, Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, Soup Kitchens

In just 30 seconds I thought of 14 different jobs that are impacting, providing guidance and hope to people. These jobs are all either at no pay or have very little pay for the hours they spend taking care of others. 

When was the last time you wondered how much grit it takes to clean after children, teens and adults? Or, what about the hours of preparation, grading and direction it takes to teach our kids? How about the cancer patients and their families as they hear their loved one is in the last days? Who tells them? Who sits with them? Who gives them hope?  And then there are the FEMA workers and the Red Cross who watch as people wander back to their homes only to see the destruction.  Who offers a hand, a hug, and a bottle of water? These are the things that matter.

We look at our careers and our salaries as the end all be all. We are happy to have the title of Director, Vice President or CEO.  If you put the money, the time and the title into a blender— blended it up, what would you have? Would you be able to say you impacted your culture, the people that looked up to you or provided a product that saved a life?  These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.

The most important one being: Are we doing something in our lives that positively impacts another human being?

The parable of the rich man who couldn't give up his wealth is a good reminder.  He was a good man who wanted to follow Jesus. The worldly price was too high for him to pay.  I admire the list of people I have compiled because they didn't go after wealth they went after a lasting investment. They pursue good to impact others  with little benefit to themselves. 

I'm challenged, are you? Please take a moment to pray for those on this list,  you may even know a few of the selfless people that take their time to make the world a better place.  If you feel compelled comment and add to the list.

Be well my sisters!

 

Mark 10:26 NIV

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

 

 

It only takes 1!

Good morning all-

I've had a lot on my mind lately.  You can't even open your phone without seeing the chaos in sports and our national anthem, or pictures from Puerto Rico, Houston and Florida. There are people suffering around the world and our big thing is "I'm going to protest the president." I'm not going to get in the middle of politics or things of this world. I will just pray about those things. What I do want to get in to is —it only takes one.

One person can start a movement. One person can be kind and a movement spreads. One person can speak about Jesus and thousands can come to know Him. One person can make a difference. I want to be part of a movement that spreads one thing, the love of Jesus.

It would be great if our country was more worried about loving one another.  Imagine how one person could change someone's life. Look at what JJ Watt did for Houston in the wake of the disaster. He is just one person who believed he could make a difference. Jesus knew what one person could do. He knew that if one person loved another it would make a huge difference in the world. He only chose 12 men, that's it.  And from those 12 came another 12 and so on.

We can make a difference. We can love one person. We can be kind to one person. We can show mercy on one person. We can give money to one person. We can care for one sick person. We can spread the word of Jesus.

I'm one person and I want to start a movement. I want us to get downright honest with ourselves and decide to impact one person. I want us to reach out to someone we don't know and make a difference. I want the 525 women that like my page to reach out and let one person know about Jesus Christ. One person a piece will double and then triple and then who knows what. Love is a powerful tool in the fight for souls. Reach out, make a difference. It doesn't matter that you're just one person. One person, Jesus, brought thousands to know God for over 2000 years. It's our time to step out on faith. If players can start a movement by kneeling, we certainly can start a movement that will make a difference in a thousand generations and to thousands of lives!

Be with me. Do what matters, love and be loved!

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The LIGHT of the World!

Good afternoon-

I've been going down the long road of the past. You know the hours you spend wondering why you had to go through trials. In the last 10 years, I have lost loved ones, watched my youngest stumble and have been unemployed. During one of those trials, I lost myself and it took everything I had just to get out of bed.  It's been a long road...

Along the way and through all my trials, there has been one constant— Jesus. I could look up and see the sun rise and the sun set. I could look at the horizon 30000 ft. up and watch as the sun was rising to the East. I've seen some spectacular sun rises and ALWAYS, they have reminded me that I am loved by my Father. He is the LIGHT of the world.

That light is what got me out of bed when I lost loved ones, was persecuted and when the future was very unknown. It was through a renewing of my mind, looking out over the horizon and grasping at Scripture that the Lord was revealed time and time again. And today, it's the very reason why I feel the pressure to spread the word of God. Everyone has defining moments, mine have come often. I guess I have a thicker skull then some, well actually I know I do. I'm stubborn and it takes a lot to break me and to mold me.  Jesus has been there for me every time I needed Him. He has guided me through the darkest nights of my life— to show me that He is near.

Light is hope and hope is light. They are intertwined like DNA.  There is no hope without Jesus. Don't let another day go. You  can see the sunrise, God made it. It is your sign He is near. Take the step to welcome Him in. He will be a guiding force. If you are questioning his existence because someone that is a Christian hurt you, stop. We are human, we are sinners. I have let people down, not always done the right thing and judged. I've learned from those experiences and I'm better for it today. They also will learn from their experiences. Don't let a person hold you back from a God that loves with no limits, pours out grace in buckets and who died for you and me.

Let Jesus light your world...

John 8:12 NIV:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Glorious collaboration...

Good afternoon my sisters-

Isn't this a wonderful symbol of collaboration and beauty?  Today  is about collaboration and how God created this beautifully, intricate world. No detail is without thought. He didn't need a spell checker— He knew exactly what he was going to do, right down to the very last detail. We are all symbols of His unbelievable creation. 

In order to mate it takes a male and a female. If you want fruit you have to have a male and a female for it to provide that fruit . To get honey, you need pollen and bees and the list goes on and on. The universe was built on collaboration.  Our creator knew exactly what He was doing and how it would all come together. I am in awe, especially, when I can't even decide on what to make for dinner.

I don't know if you're like me.  I have been waiting to refine my skills, find courage to put myself out there, all in the hopes that when I do, I will be perfect. Well, I think it's time for me just to come out of my cocoon and fly.

Happy Monday my beautiful friends!

Acts 26:16 NIV

Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

When all you can think about is Jesus' call...

Good morning my sisters-

I'm sorry it's been awhile since my last post.  I have been thinking about many things and sometimes when I do — I'm not sure what to write. Like many things in my life, I wake up one day and know exactly what to say.

This year, I was laid off for the first time in my life. I loved the job, it was exciting, full of travel and new people. I was challenged at a level I haven't been for a long time and that was part of the problem. I let opportunities slide through my fingers because along the way I had lost confidence in who I was. My lack of confidence didn't change my path, the company went back into design and still isn't in total release. The experience taught me many things and I am grateful for the time I spent with those people.

I'm on a new journey and it has been full of peaks and valleys. The business is full of wonderful people and the obstacles may be as high to overcome.  I'm different now. I held back last time but not this time. I have a job to do and I will do it.  And yet, in the quiet I still hear Jesus calling. What does it all mean?

The road seems like a super highway. I'm going in five different directions a day. How am I supposed to do it all?  That's the question that keeps coming through.  I have a husband, sons that still need me, a business to run and my new job. I'm exhausted at the end of the day trying to figure out all the different pieces to this puzzle I call life. Fun, what is that?  I find myself entrenched in the day to day stuff and I forget to even take a moment to look out into the stars.

This week I made some very needed changes. My motto for this year is "be the change."  I bought a notebook with that phrase on the cover right before I started this job.  I need to change and I need to be the change.  Your probably wondering what I'm babbling about.  It's simple. The Lord wants me to do something. I keep holding back needing confirmation, courage and faith that it's really Him calling, pathetic I know. There are young people changing the world for good every day and I need confirmation.

As you know, if you've been reading this blog, I have been praying the 99/1 prayer. For every lost soul around the world, I've been praying that they will see Jesus. People are getting pulled in a million different direction, including me. I'm not here for me. Astounding concept I know. Look around on LinkedIn or anywhere else and you will see people needing to be seen. I want to be seen, you want to be seen, we all want to be seen but that's not our journey. It's not about filling stadiums with the saved, it's about calling to the ones that are so full of shame, hate, anger, and who knows what else. Jesus didn't come for the people that knew God, He came for those that didn't.

I hear Him, I'm praying that He will lead me and all those I love to further His kingdom and as I do this; I look up into a dark sky only to see a rainbow. Not just any rainbow, a double rainbow. It hasn't rained here in months.  We are dry and the grasshoppers are eating everything they can. Even the weeds are shriveling up. At that very moment, I know I have to keep, keeping on. I have to keep posting on Facebook. I have to keep writing this blog. I have to work on the book and not make excuses.  I have to get out of my way of wanting to be seen and put Him first and foremost in front of anyone that hits this site. This is not about me.

As far as hearing His call, we are all called to spread the words of Jesus. I'm not the only one He's calling. He needs me and you and 10,000 more. He needs people to show love and stop the hate. He needs us to pray for those that lost their homes in places we may never see. He needs us to pray for the president of North Korea, China, Japan, Russia and oh yes, our US president.  These men hold the keys to destroy the earth. These men make powerful decisions everyday. They are just men so what do they need, prayer, petition and wisdom.

We are called ladies to do whatever we can to lift up the children, men and women all over the world.  Apathy can no longer stand by and be our guide. Time constraints, fearful thoughts, nor needing to promote the right image can be our descriptors. We must take the word, the sword of life and spread it through this world. My medium of choice is on the superhighway called the Internet. You have the same power. Share a post, read, speak and do it again. Don't stop until you stop and I'm not going to either. I'm going to remember that rainbow and ask the Lord to keep leading me behind Him, not in front of Him.

That' what's been on my mind.  May God bless you and keep you!

Romans 11:29 NIV

28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 29For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.