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...

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

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!