I've been away for awhile. Lots of things happening in my life lately. Failing my latest online course was probably the most expensive thing, but not the worst. I had a great time meeting my boyfriend's friends and family as well as had to deal with some unpleasant issues that come from dating someone who is divorced such as the bitter ex-wife. Hmmm...
My quota of horses has since diminished from three to two. Hopefully, I've only got about four and a half weeks before I can start riding again. I'm really looking forward to that.
I've lost the person I thought was my best friend over a difference in opinion. Sadly, she couldn't accept my relationship that has radically changed my life for the better and decided that she would be better off without me in her life any longer. What could be sadder still is how many people have commented how much more enjoyable I seem now out from under her influence. Strange. Thinking back on it, I see what they are referring to and it's a little scary to think how easily swayed I had become to her influence. I actually think that I do like me better now. At least now, I don't have to make a choice between hanging out with her and the rest of my friends and family which was the case before. Really strange, isn't it?
I tried making a melon margarita this past weekend and failed miserably. But I've not given up hope. Surely, I can accomplish this. The mock thick 'n rich pina colada was excellent though. I'm re-thinking the amt of coconut and cream of coconut plus thinking of adding a little more pineapple.
I got my hair re-styled and love it! God blessed me to go in just after she had done a hair show. She was on fire with new ideas and concepts. Boy! Did I benefit! Love it!
I'm also selling Premier Design jewelry now. I love doing that, too. My favorite thing is taking my guests and showing how to take pieces from my kit and use them to dress up even something as simple as a tee and jeans.
And I've rediscovered my love for cooking. I just don't want to eat it when I'm done. I've heard that from a lot of cooks.
So, I've been really busy now that I've got it down and am looking it over. Wow. And I don't see my life slowing down one little bit anytime soon. Hmmm... I think I like that thought.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friendship
Sometimes friendship can be hard. Do you say something or not? Do you let your friend make a mistake or not? Do you risk the wrath of said friend by poking your nose in the friend’s private affairs? Some believe that it is their duty based on love for their friends to meddle. Some feel that if their friends don’t listen then they can no longer be friends. Some feel that the best method is to express one’s opinion and then leave it alone. That would be my method of choice.
Having made more mistakes than good choices in this lifetime, I refuse to judge anyone again. Oh, believe me, it hasn’t been easy keeping that promise to myself. So many times, I find myself judging before I remember, by the grace of God, that I, too, have made similar errors in judgment, if not the exact same.
But the bottom line is this: it’s not really any of my business if my friend chooses not to listen to me. My business is to love that friend unconditionally and to be there for that friend if I turn out to be right and my friend was wrong. In these cases, I like to be wrong. Too often though, I’m not.
So, if you have loved ones who refuse to follow your advice that has been tested and tried, don’t fret. Allow them to live their lives, love them complete with their flaws, and be there when they fall if they fall. In the long run, they will love and appreciate you more. And if they have any character at all, they’ll even admit that you were right and they were wrong.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
My perspective as a Christian
I had a lot of things on my mind for today's post, but the one that I can't escape is how far this country has come. How far we have come from a nation whose foundation was rooted on Biblical principles to a nation who seemingly has so many variation of roots, we have no clue as to what the United States really stands for anymore.
I heard about the protests of the Westboro Church at a Lance Corporal's funeral. So, I decided to check out their web page in order to get a deeper insight into why they believe what they do. It was so sad. I am not going to sit here and write about my own interpretations of the Word of God and expect others to believe it or try to force others to believe it. I know what I believe as a Christian and, let's just say, it's quite a bit different from that of the Westboro Church.
Instead of protesting the funeral of a soldier who was also a beloved son, I would have expressed the love of Christ and His mercy by reaching out to comfort these people during their time of grief. I would have shown them and their son respect by keeping quiet and keeping my distance until this most private time was over. Then I would have prayed and asked God to show me favor with this family, to give me the words needed to comfort them and to help them during this dark time. That is what it means to be a servant of Christ for me. But that is just this one woman's humble opinion. I realize that doesn't make me right. However, if that is what I believe in my heart to be right, then it is right for me. Does that make sense?
Another thing about that whole story that really digs at me is the audacity of these people to persecute the very people who out there, putting everything on the line day in and day out just so that they can continue to live in the freedom that far too many people take for granted. How dare they? I think that they need first to go back and review some other scriptures before rising up to tell a dying world that is desperate for hope that Jesus hates them.
Consider Luke 6:42 -NIV "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye?" It's easy to sit in judgment of the world and make ourselves feel better about our own faults while we point out the faults of others.
Or better yet, I love how The Message puts it in Romans 12:19-21."Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."
What about Luke 6:37? The Message says 37-38"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." The Amplified version puts it this way 37Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and [a]release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and [b]released."
I don't profess to be a perfect Christian because the Bible assures me that we all sin and fall short of the glory and honor of God (Romans 3:23). All I can do is what I can do. I can strive everyday to live in obedience to the best of my knowledge to Jesus Christ. I can live everyday, alert to every opportunity to lift someone up, encourage someone, edify someone, just love on someone in a way that pleases my Lord and King. That, to me, at least, is the interpretation of being a Christian.
I heard about the protests of the Westboro Church at a Lance Corporal's funeral. So, I decided to check out their web page in order to get a deeper insight into why they believe what they do. It was so sad. I am not going to sit here and write about my own interpretations of the Word of God and expect others to believe it or try to force others to believe it. I know what I believe as a Christian and, let's just say, it's quite a bit different from that of the Westboro Church.
Instead of protesting the funeral of a soldier who was also a beloved son, I would have expressed the love of Christ and His mercy by reaching out to comfort these people during their time of grief. I would have shown them and their son respect by keeping quiet and keeping my distance until this most private time was over. Then I would have prayed and asked God to show me favor with this family, to give me the words needed to comfort them and to help them during this dark time. That is what it means to be a servant of Christ for me. But that is just this one woman's humble opinion. I realize that doesn't make me right. However, if that is what I believe in my heart to be right, then it is right for me. Does that make sense?
Another thing about that whole story that really digs at me is the audacity of these people to persecute the very people who out there, putting everything on the line day in and day out just so that they can continue to live in the freedom that far too many people take for granted. How dare they? I think that they need first to go back and review some other scriptures before rising up to tell a dying world that is desperate for hope that Jesus hates them.
Consider Luke 6:42 -NIV "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye?" It's easy to sit in judgment of the world and make ourselves feel better about our own faults while we point out the faults of others.
Or better yet, I love how The Message puts it in Romans 12:19-21."Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."
What about Luke 6:37? The Message says 37-38"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." The Amplified version puts it this way 37Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and [a]release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and [b]released."
I don't profess to be a perfect Christian because the Bible assures me that we all sin and fall short of the glory and honor of God (Romans 3:23). All I can do is what I can do. I can strive everyday to live in obedience to the best of my knowledge to Jesus Christ. I can live everyday, alert to every opportunity to lift someone up, encourage someone, edify someone, just love on someone in a way that pleases my Lord and King. That, to me, at least, is the interpretation of being a Christian.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
A thousand mile journey begins with the first step
I've been thinking of starting a blog for some time now. Actually, my inspiration came from the movie, "Julie & Julia." I liked the idea of how sharing what she was going through and her insights not only helped her, but might have helped others that read her blog. So, I thought, why not? Why not toss out what few tidbits of useful information I gain through my own trial and error, in the hopes that someone out there might be saved from some modicum of error.
It's easy to say "They should or should not...", but I think that it takes a little more gumption for a person to stand up and voice his or her opinion, realizing that not everyone, if anyone at all, will agree. So, while today is my first post, I haven't much to toss out there aside from the timeless adage that "you get what you sow." For example, the whole scandal of the alleged bribery regarding the gambling issues here in the state of Alabama. Not being a fan of gambling, I find it ironic that these people "took a gamble" and, for all practical purposes, lost. After all, credibility is an incredible power. And once lost is almost impossible to ever fully regain.
What did I take from all of this? (And I do try to learn from the mistakes of others) I want to practice what I preach. I want to be a woman of integrity so that when I say that I will or won't do something, there will be no question as to whether I will or won't. My word will be as good to people as a signed contract. I have no idea what will be the outcome of this investigation. I just know that those people will feel the implications of their actions or inactions for years to come. And because of that, I will guard my own actions more closely, trying to always remember to take the time to think things through. Could explain the importance of critical thinking skills. Which could be the topic of my next post. What if schools went back to focusing on teaching such things as critical thinking skills, honor, integrity, pride in one's own accomplishment, and developing self-worth in conduct, every day behavior, and the work of one's own two hands instead of focusing on tests scores that really mean nothing. More on that tomorrow...
It's easy to say "They should or should not...", but I think that it takes a little more gumption for a person to stand up and voice his or her opinion, realizing that not everyone, if anyone at all, will agree. So, while today is my first post, I haven't much to toss out there aside from the timeless adage that "you get what you sow." For example, the whole scandal of the alleged bribery regarding the gambling issues here in the state of Alabama. Not being a fan of gambling, I find it ironic that these people "took a gamble" and, for all practical purposes, lost. After all, credibility is an incredible power. And once lost is almost impossible to ever fully regain.
What did I take from all of this? (And I do try to learn from the mistakes of others) I want to practice what I preach. I want to be a woman of integrity so that when I say that I will or won't do something, there will be no question as to whether I will or won't. My word will be as good to people as a signed contract. I have no idea what will be the outcome of this investigation. I just know that those people will feel the implications of their actions or inactions for years to come. And because of that, I will guard my own actions more closely, trying to always remember to take the time to think things through. Could explain the importance of critical thinking skills. Which could be the topic of my next post. What if schools went back to focusing on teaching such things as critical thinking skills, honor, integrity, pride in one's own accomplishment, and developing self-worth in conduct, every day behavior, and the work of one's own two hands instead of focusing on tests scores that really mean nothing. More on that tomorrow...
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