Month: January 2014

What Inspires You?

Posted on by Wendy
I like to surround myself with things that inspire me.
I like to surround myself with things that inspire me.

Do you remember when we used to take pictures that involved something called film? Do you remember when you returned from a wonderful vacation and you couldn’t wait to “get the pictures back” from the lab? We used to make albums with all of our photographs and they were a way to document our family history.

They told the story of births and birthdays, and weddings, and of holidays and family trips. They were special. Film was expensive, so photographs were for special occasions. Now, thanks to our smart phones and digital cameras, we take pictures constantly. Someone always has a camera out and photos are sent instantly via Instagram and Facebook.

While it’s really neat technology that we can share our moments with so many people so quickly, how often do we actually print those fabulous pictures? Do any of them ever make it into albums or frames. I love to frame pictures of happy times or of beautiful scenery that I have been blessed to see and display them in my home for me and my family to remember and enjoy.

I mean, it’s fantastic that a hundred Facebook friends can look at them for ten seconds, but who do I really take pictures for? I take them for me. Sometimes, life can get tough. Times can appear bleak. There’s nothing like looking around my house at pictures of better times, that bring back happy memories and make me smile. Sometimes I need to remember.

I made a board of pictures that inspire me and I hung it over the desk where I work. I think it’s easier to create when you are surrounded by quotes and photos that inspire you.

So, here’s my question of the day for you: What inspires you? It’s a brand new year. We have lots of work to do.  We have the opportunity to make a difference.The best way to get it done is to choose to serve in ways that inspire you. I challenge you to take sometime today or this weekend and think about what really inspires you. Try to get some pictures and actually print them. Put them where you can see them and then get going.

2014 will be fabulous. I can feel it! I’d love to hear about what inspires you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Making the Best of the Time We Have

Posted on by Wendy
Caves can be dark places.
Caves can be dark places.

Yesterday was New Year’s Day and it proved to be quite a lazy day for my family. We were up really late celebrating and we were running on half-charged batteries. We all napped at some point, including the dogs. The TNT Network was running the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy back-to-back. Now, if you ever have the desire to veg in front of the television for a day, there’s your perfect excuse.

Those movies have always captivated my attention along with a million others. Evil forces try to take over the world and a very unlikely underdog, a Hobbit, sets out to save it along with nine others to help him, but in the end, his best friend is the one who stays by his side to complete the quest. It’s a beautiful story of friendship. Good wins over evil and the scenery is stunning. It makes me want to visit New Zealand even though it’s like a twenty hour flight.

One of my favorite scenes of all time occurs in the first movie. They are in a cave and are being pursued by evil forces. The little Hobbit, Frodo, says: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf, the wizard, replies,” So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it and that is an encouraging thought.”

Those are timeless words which hold timeless truth. We often wish we weren’t living during these times, during a recession, during terrorist plots, during wars… But, that is not for us to decide. We must decide what to do with the time we are given. We can decide to trust that God put us here in this moment at this time for a reason and like Frodo, do our very best to see good win.

The writer of the trilogy was a man named J.R.R. Tolkein. He was born in 1892 and was a devout Christian. He was also a professor at Oxford in England with another man named C.S. Lewis. Lewis was an atheist when they met, but in time, Tolkein’s faith rubbed off on Lewis and he became a Christian. He went on to write, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” another wildly popular, Christian based, good always wins in the end, book.

You never know what may happen when you share your faith. Sometimes, it may be nothing. Sometimes, you may get to witness a small change in someone. Sometimes, incredible things can happen and the world is changed forever. Like Frodo, the choice of what to do with our time is ours to make. What will we do? Feel free to comment.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Resolutions

Posted on by Wendy
Happy 2014!
Happy 2014!

Well, the New Year is officially here. Aren’t you glad we mostly use debit cards now instead of checks, so you don’t have to remember to write 2014 instead of 2013? If you are anything like me, you may be a little tired today. I rarely stay up til midnight anymore. I have come to really appreciate the quiet of mornings and if you sleep til 10:00, you missed it.

So, if you are having a lazy day watching football games, enjoy yourself. We are beginning a brand new year and it’s full of promise and possibility. How can you make changes in 2014 to make yourself happier? Is there a dream you would like to explore? Is there a relationship you would like to mend? Could your marriage be stronger? Maybe you would like to draw a little closer to God.

Last year I made the resolution to be more intentional in all aspects of my life. By being intentional, I had to think about making time to exercise. I had to think about choosing an apple over a cookie. I had to think about how to carve out daily time to read the Bible.

I had to think about opportunities placed in front of me and only say “yes” to those things that I felt called to do. This meant learning to say “no” to some things, which has always been a struggle for me. I had to be more intentional about my prayer life and instead of chattering on endlessly to God, I learned how to be still and quiet and listen for the answers I sought.

I became more intentional about the books I read. I read some really inspiring books last year. I became more intentional about the sites I visited on the internet. There are some really inspirational blogs out there.

I am happy to report that being more intentional has become a way of life for me, (unlike many resolutions in the past). I highly recommend it as a resolution.

This year I’m hoping to really pursue the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Of course, the only way to have these is to continue to read the Bible and to pursue God and walk with Jesus.

I think the pursuit will be worth it. What about you? What are your resolutions this year? I’d love to hear them. Happy New Year.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂