Tag Archive | encouragement

Wear it like a jacket

Aug26

 

Humility is an act of love.

It’s the choice between accepting things as they are not as you think

they should be.

It’s the choice of not responding to sharp words with your own sharp words.

It’s the act of turning the other cheek and giving sacrificially.

Giving without expecting thanks or recognition.

It’s saying, “Look at you”, instead of “Look at me.”

It’s saying, “You go first–I’ll go last”.

Humility is the opposite of selfishness.

Humility is the expression of selflessness.

Humility is not shame, being ashamed, timidity or fear.

Humility is radiant, confidence, boldness and courageous.

It is the understanding of Who God Is.

Who I am in Christ. 

And how I view others through the eyes of Jesus. 

It is joy-filled service to others and to God.

A proper perspective of self in the grand scheme of things. 

The jacket of humility is soft, and comfortable and warm.  It’s a good fit.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” –C.S. Lewis

James 4: 10 Humble yourself before the Lord.

Micah 6:8 The Lord has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Philippians 5-8  Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (The Message Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

Begin Again….again.

Oct12

Awhile back I bought a book by Joyce Meyer entitled You Can Begin  Again. http://www.joycemeyer.org/promo/beginagain/index.aspx

I haven’t read it yet.  Only the title as I have moved it from the car to the car trunk to the coffee table, from under the stack of stuff that covered it on the coffee table, to the laundry basket where it still sits.  It is calling out to me.  Hey, Kathy, this is for you..  yes you….You can begin again too. I haven’t even cracked the cover.  I haven’t read one page, not even the back of the book.  Just the title is enough.

My problem lies with the “again” part.  It’s not hard to just begin something random.  Something I enjoy doing.  I have no problem beginning that candy bar, or chocolate rice crispy treat, or the stale cracker jacks eyeing me from the bar in the family room.  That is not hard at all. I can begin again on those things over and over without thought or care in the world.

I bought my son a doughnut but really I bought myself a doughnut.  I gave him the doughnut and took one myself.  He did not eat his and when I began to eat mine he suggested in his kind and sweet way, because he can really be kind and sweet, he said we should take the dog for a walk because she needs to lose some weight.  He did not say I needed to walk because I need to lose some weight.  He suggested it would be fun to work out.  I teased him saying, “really, you think I should work out”  while flaunting the chocolate covered chocolate doughnut at him.  I said I should take his suggestion more personally, more seriously.  He said, “Mom you should take yourself more seriously.”  Just the way he said it.  Mom make this personal.  You’re missing the mark. I care about you.  How can I help you? were the words he didn’t say but implied.

And like the awesome mom I am, I blew him off, put him off and laughed him off.  I finished my doughnut.  His remains 3 days later still in the bag.  His words ring in my heart and my head.  And I see the title in my head from the book I haven’t read yet “You can begin again.”  And I know, I know I need to begin again.

I had a good talk with a good friend earlier tonight.  She is going through her  stuff and I am going through my stuff.  And I have always prided myself as not having much stuff to go through.

But I’m trying to be less judgmental and more honest because I can’t help my friend if I’m not willing to help myself.

I can’t tolerate  an “I’m okay” when my whole world is falling apart answer from her if I am willing to give the same answer and expect her to tolerate it from me.  So, when she asked me how I was doing…I was honest.

I shared with her how I was doing in regards to taking care of myself and she rose to the occasion.  Our struggles while different have a thread of sameness in them.  They isolate us.  They consume us.  They control us.  They fight to own us.

But when we share them we rise above them and we don’t say  “Oh, stop it ” Or “You can’t do that.”  We say stuff like “how can I help you.” We say stuff like,” You don’t disappoint me”.  And we think up ways to hold each other accountable.

I am tired of beginning again.  But it’s time to begin again.  Begin to take care of myself better.  Baby steps.  I have a goal in mind for this week.  My friend helped me figure out one thing to work on.  We’re going to check in with each other.

So here’s to the word. Again.

Thank God for the word Again.

For second chances and infinite chances to begin again.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) ” Let us not become weary in doing good….”https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206:9

February 16, 2015 Day 1

Feb17

I did something a bit risky last night around the same time as I am writing now.  I wrote on FB about my need to change the way I take care of myself.  I identified myself as a caregiver, which I am, both at home ( caring for my parents and family) and professionally ( caring for the elderly).  It took me a long time to embrace the title of caregiver.  But I know that’s what I have been called to do and I know that’s what my passion is.

I shared how I do not take care of myself like I should and simply asked for a bit of prayer and encouragement.  I was overwhelmed with the response I received.  I had no idea that many people would pray for me or express their belief in me and their love for me.  It brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart and face.

Today I began this journey.  I stayed faithful in tracking what I ate.  I walked the dog with Isaiah after school and I kept busy.  I resisted the urge to give into that wave of sleepiness and desire to just sit and watch t.v…watch really, the day go by.  I did good today.

But the biggest thing I learned today, is that I am loved by a lot of people.  There are a lot of people who have decided too, to pray for me, to lift me up with their words of encouragement and that feels really good.  So…if you are reading this…thank you.  You have no idea how good it feels to have been a result of your choice to respond to my request.  I feel tonight, very blessed.

I plan to journal daily, right here, so feel free to join me.

Kathy

Bloom Where You are Planted?!!! Really, Lord?

Feb14

Okay, Lord.  You have my attention again.  I thought I had a pretty good plan.  I thought I had the right idea, the green light to move ahead, the thumbs up to proceed. Imagine the surprise I felt when the door slammed shut right in my face.  No knob to turn, no key to try just a locked door staring me in the face.  My first response was that of pure emotion.  Pure let’s fix this.  Pure I don’t like slamming doors and I want to find another way to what’s on the other side of that door.  

Wise advice….think it through.  Don’t make any rash decisions.  Just think about it.  

The debate in my head is louder than the slamming door.  Do I accept the closed door as God’s way of saying “nope…not right now, Kathy.This isn’t what I want for you.” Or do I pray for boldness and despite what seems to be a “closed door” look for and fight for a new opening.  Do I choose passivity or assertiveness?  Which one is it?  

And then the thought….maybe you should just “bloom where you are planted.”  I first hear the phrase a few days ago.  I was listening to someone speaking he said, and when things don’t go your way…accept it as part of God’s big picture in your life and bloom where you are planted.  

Really….just bloom…is that really what this is all about.  Blooming doesn’t happen overnight Lord.  It means putting down roots, it means nurturing the plant, it means giving time to a situation I am not satisfied in.  I don’t want to bloom.  I want to take my roots and plant them somewhere else.  I want to bloom in some other soil.  I want to blossom in a different pot of dirt.  But there is no other pot and there is no other soil.  

And so I sigh.  A big sigh. A soul sigh.  A tired of this sigh.  And yet I know that right now the thing that I must do is put off restlessness, put off discontent, put off striving and desiring the other side of the fence.  Instead He is asking me to be content.  Be happy with the soil He has provided.  Be pleased with the pot He has tenderly  planted me in.  Be open to the nurturing and pruning He administers to me and to quietly bloom.  

What will I be when I bloom?  What will the fruit look like?  What will the outcome be?  

He answers me before I ask the question:  Galatians 5:22 – 23  (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

What will I look like when I bloom?  Hopefully a lot less like me and a lot more like Jesus.  

6 who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, 7 but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross. (Phil. 2:6-8 Living Bible) 

Which leaves me with the final challenge to (Phil. 2 : 14 – 16 NIV) “ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”   

Thank you Lord, that at the end of the day, or the end of the disappointment, or the end of the failed attempt, or when the door slams or doesn’t open You remain faithfully in control of the door.  I will choose again to trust You and by your grace choose to be thankful for the soil and the pot you’ve provided and by your grace bloom where You have planted me.  

 

 

 

Declaration

Feb7

God’s blessings for me are incredible.

His faithfulness will not fail me.

His mercies are new every morning.

He has started a good work in me and will complete it.

Every day His grace is sufficient. 

I am full of power, strength and determination.

I will overcome challenges, difficulties and obstacles by 

Trusting in Him.

Hard times will result in growth. 

It’s never too late to fulfill a dream.

Gratitude and praise will replace 

Worry, doubt and discontentment.

I will choose to look for 

the good and not for the bad.

I will remain hopeful and positive

And pass it on to those around me.

I will be known for my kinds words and actions. 

Kathryn E White

07/10/2013