So as I have been on my journey, the Lord has lead me to read "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Why you ask? Ah, I don't know, but I am reading it.
This is what I have learned so far - A good general knows his enemies, knows his soldiers, knows when to battle and when to rest his troops. A good general knows the battle field and how to director his troops through that field to victory. He knows ever piece and how to put it together and work it out so that he wins. I often imagine the board game Risk while I am reading this book - not that I really played that game, but that is what pops into my head.
To me, God is the good general. He knows me, knows how to put all the pieces of my life together and when I need to move forward and when I need to stay put.
He has already won the war, but I still have daily battles that I must go through. So, I need to listen to the General, move when He says to move and stay put when He says so.
Ah, so the word TRUST comes into play. If I know that He is a good general, that He has my back, that He knows me and only wants me to win each battle, then can I trust Him enough to move forward when He says and stay put when He says.
Ok, so now let's combine this with Sunday's sermon - ah the book of Nehemiah - no kidding - God is so amazing putting all of this together for me as I am on this journey! We are now studying this book and I must say, once again the subject of trust comes into play.
Nehemiah was on a journey as well, the journey to rebuild the wall. He had to trust God and move when God said to move. He had to listen to the good General as well.
Not sure if any of this makes sense, but this is where I am right now. Still waiting for God to reveal and move in my life. Which He is doing - I must say.
So the question is do I trust Him? Will I jump off the high dive into the deep end with Him? I think so! Not sure what it means, but I will move and go through the doors He has opened - I am excited to find out what it all means, actually!
He has been leading me to look up a couple of things online and to call the vet for the horses. So I need to do that - follow through with what He prompting me to do.
So, there will be more to this story. Aren't you glad you are along for the ride - lol! Until next time! Stacy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Breathing - In and Out
My friend, Fonda, sent me a link to a blog that she thought I might like. I read this and was thinking about how we take so much in and how much we process every day.
I see what other women are doing and either feel guilty that I don't do the same thing or maybe what I do won't turn out the same. Silly things that rattle my brain and throw me off course.
In the blog it talks about all that we take in, but we also need to breathe out. We can't do all things, we actually are not created to be able to do all things. We are created for God's purpose and He created each of us individually and unique - like a snow flake.
I remember watching a commercial growing up for a perfume - it was talking about how as a woman we can "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget your a man" - what did that message say? Woman can do it all! But are we supposed too?
I also found out at the conference that I attended that the Proverbs 31 woman is a collection of all women - not just one woman could do all these things. How God created us to do things within our talents and area of gifting.
So, then the question is - what is my talent and gift? Where does He want me to work? What is the path that He is leading me too?
This is what I am working towards. Knowing truly who I am and why I was created. Yes, I am a child of God, yes, I am a wife, yes, I am a mom and YES, I am a grandma - BUT what does that all mean? How do I fit into His big plan?
Ah, the journey continues! :) Below is the website for the blog...
Once again, thank you for letting me share! On to see what today holds for me and my journey!
I see what other women are doing and either feel guilty that I don't do the same thing or maybe what I do won't turn out the same. Silly things that rattle my brain and throw me off course.
In the blog it talks about all that we take in, but we also need to breathe out. We can't do all things, we actually are not created to be able to do all things. We are created for God's purpose and He created each of us individually and unique - like a snow flake.
I remember watching a commercial growing up for a perfume - it was talking about how as a woman we can "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget your a man" - what did that message say? Woman can do it all! But are we supposed too?
I also found out at the conference that I attended that the Proverbs 31 woman is a collection of all women - not just one woman could do all these things. How God created us to do things within our talents and area of gifting.
So, then the question is - what is my talent and gift? Where does He want me to work? What is the path that He is leading me too?
This is what I am working towards. Knowing truly who I am and why I was created. Yes, I am a child of God, yes, I am a wife, yes, I am a mom and YES, I am a grandma - BUT what does that all mean? How do I fit into His big plan?
Ah, the journey continues! :) Below is the website for the blog...
www.incourage.me/2012/02/remember-to-breathe-out.html
Once again, thank you for letting me share! On to see what today holds for me and my journey!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Puzzle pieces coming together
It has been very interesting couple of weeks. Last week I was able to attend a conference in Dallas and before attending, we had to do homework. One of the books we had to read is called "Strengths Finders 2.0", and then take an online test. This book shows you what the strengths are for your personality and how to work in those strengths. We also took a Spiritual gifts test and a personality test.
In attending the conference, I learned that I really want to please people, even in a little silly game that had no right or wrong answers. I need to look deeper into that - why that feeling of not upsetting anyone or making anyone angry. At times it is almost a feeling that if I am not perfect then a person won't like me. This feeling can become very negative as well and I can shut down from people if I feel there is just no way in pleasing them. Yes, I have issues.
I believe my Spiritual gift is Teaching, which when taking this test before, that is what it said as well, but as I heard and read about what that gift involves, it just makes me so tired. So, here again, I need to investigate why I feel so tired about my life.
The personality test was interesting and I believe what it was saying about how God created me, but what it also showed was the strong part of your personality and the weakness and how we can do so many things, but some things we do, when we operate out of our weakness and that tires us out. We then don't perform as well and we can also become frustrated or do things we wouldn't normally do. When we operate in our strengths, it is almost like giving us energy and we are excited about what we are doing.
The sermon on Sunday was, once again, just what I needed. The pastor spoke on the doors that God opens and the doors that He closes. How we need to walk through those doors, even when we feel opposition from others. He related it to a "now" and "then" - if I would have known "then" what I know "now". Where we have felt the nudging of the Lord to go in one direction and yet for some reason we didn't do it. He has a special path for all of us and that is the path I want to be on - the one He has for me!
So, now, putting this all together - awwwwwww that is the question!
I have asked my hubby to give me 2 years with the horses, I feel a nudging from the Lord in a certain direction and I feel I have an open door. So, with that in mind, I am still praying and moving forward in that direction. I will talk more about that later.
I am not one that reads a lot (I need to read more actually), but I just wanted to share this book with you. If you ever have a chance, you should order the book. It has a special code in the back so that you can go online and take a test. So this is a book that you actually have to buy and can't borrow from someone else if you want to take this test. It was very interesting to learn that even though some of us at the conference had the same strengths, how we answered the questions and how we use our strengths was different - all very interesting. The book is "Strengths Finders 2.0" by Tom Rath.
I must admit I have homework from the conference that I still need to do for this book. So I am hoping to catch up on that and have even more information and confirmation about my journey.
Thank you for letting me share! Until next time! Stacy
In attending the conference, I learned that I really want to please people, even in a little silly game that had no right or wrong answers. I need to look deeper into that - why that feeling of not upsetting anyone or making anyone angry. At times it is almost a feeling that if I am not perfect then a person won't like me. This feeling can become very negative as well and I can shut down from people if I feel there is just no way in pleasing them. Yes, I have issues.
I believe my Spiritual gift is Teaching, which when taking this test before, that is what it said as well, but as I heard and read about what that gift involves, it just makes me so tired. So, here again, I need to investigate why I feel so tired about my life.
The personality test was interesting and I believe what it was saying about how God created me, but what it also showed was the strong part of your personality and the weakness and how we can do so many things, but some things we do, when we operate out of our weakness and that tires us out. We then don't perform as well and we can also become frustrated or do things we wouldn't normally do. When we operate in our strengths, it is almost like giving us energy and we are excited about what we are doing.
The sermon on Sunday was, once again, just what I needed. The pastor spoke on the doors that God opens and the doors that He closes. How we need to walk through those doors, even when we feel opposition from others. He related it to a "now" and "then" - if I would have known "then" what I know "now". Where we have felt the nudging of the Lord to go in one direction and yet for some reason we didn't do it. He has a special path for all of us and that is the path I want to be on - the one He has for me!
So, now, putting this all together - awwwwwww that is the question!
I have asked my hubby to give me 2 years with the horses, I feel a nudging from the Lord in a certain direction and I feel I have an open door. So, with that in mind, I am still praying and moving forward in that direction. I will talk more about that later.
I am not one that reads a lot (I need to read more actually), but I just wanted to share this book with you. If you ever have a chance, you should order the book. It has a special code in the back so that you can go online and take a test. So this is a book that you actually have to buy and can't borrow from someone else if you want to take this test. It was very interesting to learn that even though some of us at the conference had the same strengths, how we answered the questions and how we use our strengths was different - all very interesting. The book is "Strengths Finders 2.0" by Tom Rath.
I must admit I have homework from the conference that I still need to do for this book. So I am hoping to catch up on that and have even more information and confirmation about my journey.
Thank you for letting me share! Until next time! Stacy
Sunday, February 5, 2012
2012
I have basically used my blog to talk about my grandchildren, family and friends. Well, 2012 will have a different look for me as I blog. I have chosen this year to be the year of finding out who I am and what I am supposed to do for the 2nd half of my life (granted I have another 48 years to live).
Turning 48 years old this year brings up many unanswered questions in my life. My hubby and I are now empty nesters, we live on 5 acres, have 3 horses, 1 dog and I work for a crisis pregnancy center where I am the Development Director.
So, what all does this mean? What is the Lord's vision for my life? Where is He working and how do I come alongside to further His kingdom?
To me the easy answer is working at the Center, but truly is that what the next half of my life looks like? I just am not sure.
So, I am on a quest and if you want to follow along, you are more than welcome to do so!
I must confess, it is strange using my blog to talk about myself. My goal is to be open, honest and transparent as this year unfolds; to be able to share what the Lord has for me.
Thank you for joining me and allowing me to express myself, if not daily, at least weekly!
See you next time!
Turning 48 years old this year brings up many unanswered questions in my life. My hubby and I are now empty nesters, we live on 5 acres, have 3 horses, 1 dog and I work for a crisis pregnancy center where I am the Development Director.
So, what all does this mean? What is the Lord's vision for my life? Where is He working and how do I come alongside to further His kingdom?
To me the easy answer is working at the Center, but truly is that what the next half of my life looks like? I just am not sure.
So, I am on a quest and if you want to follow along, you are more than welcome to do so!
I must confess, it is strange using my blog to talk about myself. My goal is to be open, honest and transparent as this year unfolds; to be able to share what the Lord has for me.
Thank you for joining me and allowing me to express myself, if not daily, at least weekly!
See you next time!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10 years ago
The 9/11 ceremonies have been on tv all day. I can not believe how quickly 10 years have past. I remember driving into work, talking on the phone when the first plane hit the North Tower and thinking - what type of pilot couldn't see a building. Then going to work and turning on the tv and seeing the horror of the 2nd plane hitting the South Tower and being in total shock!
I left work, went to try to get my kids out of school to be with them and keep them safe, but they wouldn't let them leave, then all I could do was go home, watch tv, and pace back and forth.
Later to find out that the Pentagon had been struck and then the plane crashing in PA was almost too much - what was going on - what was to become of America?
Not too much later I found out one of my friends (Otis) had been killed at the Pentagon - it was too wild to think of - too much to comprehend - this wonderful - cuddly, big teddy bear of a man (a Navy Officer - but to me a teddy bear) was gone!
He was not only a wonderful man, but a true gentleman and he left behind a wife and 3 children.
Still to this day it is hard for me to believe he is gone, it is hard to believe planes actually flew into buildings, but what is NOT hard to believe is how amazing America is! How we came together and still can come together - how we will survive!!
May God Bless America! May God be with Otis' family! And may God, please, remind of us how wonderful America is and how precious life is!
I left work, went to try to get my kids out of school to be with them and keep them safe, but they wouldn't let them leave, then all I could do was go home, watch tv, and pace back and forth.
Later to find out that the Pentagon had been struck and then the plane crashing in PA was almost too much - what was going on - what was to become of America?
Not too much later I found out one of my friends (Otis) had been killed at the Pentagon - it was too wild to think of - too much to comprehend - this wonderful - cuddly, big teddy bear of a man (a Navy Officer - but to me a teddy bear) was gone!
He was not only a wonderful man, but a true gentleman and he left behind a wife and 3 children.
Still to this day it is hard for me to believe he is gone, it is hard to believe planes actually flew into buildings, but what is NOT hard to believe is how amazing America is! How we came together and still can come together - how we will survive!!
May God Bless America! May God be with Otis' family! And may God, please, remind of us how wonderful America is and how precious life is!
Monday, September 5, 2011
It's Been a Long Time...
...since I have been riding - over a year! Well, today I feel it - that is for sure! Need to ride more, it is so good for me and for Princess!
Here are my girls! Princess and Baby and
here is the newest addition, Tejas. I call her Teja - she is so cute and full of personality! She has also been accepted by Princess and Baby - finally - so that is good - I like it when they all play nicely together!
My cousin, Tim's daughter, Lindsey, came for Labor Day weekend. She is going to Sam Houston and will be visiting us throughout the year. She loves to ride as well and she was a big help after wards washing the horses with me.
Tressa got on too! It was really a fun day and the horses behaved so well. I just need to make sure Tejas can be ridden and break Baby and then the 3 of us can each have a horse to ride!
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Yard
I have had fun this past Spring and Summer working in the yard, getting it all nice and pretty.
We need to sit out front more, but then the birds and squirrels can't eat, so I mostly let them have this area.
Here is my new sign, I got it while we were in CA.
I also enjoy our side yard - so many places to sit and just relax and enjoy our property!
I also got a new John Deere flag - loving it!
We need to build some sort of covering over the Hydrangea. It is not a fan of all the sun, this is the shadiest part of the yard.
All my Texas stuff - yeah!
The blue chairs are new - they were on sale - now we have the ability to sit under the canopy that Tressa bought for us.
Here is my newest addition, my boot fountain. Albert fixed it for me on Saturday. I still need some rocks to go around it. You can't really tell how the water comes out from this picture, you will just need to come over to my house and see it for yourself!
I love just sitting and looking at all the pretty things that we have done in our yard. Albert and I make a good team! It is just amazing to be able to enjoy LAST3 Ranch with my hubby!!
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