I've been in a funk the past few days. Maybe it's the weather. Or maybe there's no reason for it at all. Either way, I've really been having to fight for joy lately. Here are two songs that have helped lift my spirits a bit and put things in perspective. Maybe they can do the same for you during this dreary season.
Month: January 2013
My Top Three Tips for Cruising.
I’m back! And boy was it a great trip. Super relaxing, but also super entertaining :). For any of you planning on taking a cruise, here are my top three tips to make the most of it. 3. Learn to Wobble. If you have never heard of the Wobble, don’t sweat it. I don’t think [...]
Off to the Bahamas.
I'm off to the Bahamas today, peeps. When I'm back you won't recognize me- I'll be so tan...and fat. It's an all-inclusive cruise. Theme of the trip- YOLO. Stories to come, I promise. Have a great week!
Goals.
I know we’re already half way through January, but I think I’ve finally decided on my 2013 goals. I think sometimes you need a few days for the goals to sink in- for you to realize even when the excitement wears off, you want your life to change in this small way. So, here are my big two: 1. Just Do It. And Do It Again. And Again.
From thesimplyluxuriouslife.com
I realized that to get where I want to be, I have to start by building healthy habits right now.- Wake up on time and get in the Word.
- Go above and beyond at work.
- Work out 3 times a week.
- Stay in 2-3 nights a week.
- Serve others with my time.
- Keep a budget.
- Keep up with this blog 🙂
- Read a book each month.
“The most fascinating people in the world are telling great stories with their lives. They know a secret, that God has given them shared agency. The truth is any of us can tell a great story with our lives.” –Donald Miller
My 2013 Word.
In addition to goals, I have decided to choose a word for 2013- a simple word that would be my theme for the year. A girl in my small group gave me this idea and I loved it. I love for things to have order and a purpose. So I began to search for my own word. I had some pretty great ones picked out- Dream. Live. Explore. Pretty great words, right?
God had a different idea for this year. In small, quiet ways (his usual method), he dropped ideas and whispers in my head of what my real focus for the year should be. The word wasn’t nearly as glamorous and the ones I had picked out. In fact, it was probably the least exciting word that could be chosen as a year theme. The word I kept feeling him prod me grudgingly towards was humility.
Humility. Ick.
But humility is the cure to the disease of pride. And, I am seriously infected. God wants my focus of the year to be to get well, not to distract myself for diversions and pleasures.
He wants me to challenge my thinking for that’s the place pride breeds. He wants me to catch myself when my thoughts slip into comparison and envy for that’s when my pride will quickly tear the person to shreds to protect itself. He wants me to think of myself less. He wants me to get out of the prison of pride and live in the freedom and reality that humility provides.
Living in humility means-
- Not tearing people down with my words
- Never judging
- Not being a know it all
- Putting others’ needs above my own even when it hurts
- Acknowledging that my time and possessions are not my own
- Being grateful for what I have
- Admitting that I’m the worst of sinners and God’s grace is my only redeeming quality
image from Gary on flickr
It’s not going to be easy since I’m constantly doing or thinking prideful things. But I think that’s evidence that this is the goal I really need to focus on. I’ll try to keep you posted on how my 2013 word goes and will post a few of my other little goals for the year later this week.Enjoy.
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness. - Charles Spurgeon
GLIMPSES OF JOY 