I started this blog as my encouragement for us all to stay active in the lives of those around us. But when I see people fleeing from their homes because of flooding or other destruction, it makes me want to help more.
Years ago, my mom's house was in the path of a flood. She had some sand delivered to her yard so she and her family and friends could fill bags with sand and pack them up against the plastic she wrapped the bottom half of her house with. I'm sure I wasn't the only one with sore muscles that day. Many people were there offering to help.
This year when the Brazos River flooded, my mom's house had
two to three inches of water in it. That doesn't sound like much, but she still
has to replace walls and flooring. I wasn't able to help her this
year because I was doing something else. But I sent my best gift: my two kind,
strong, able-bodied children.
Some of her friends had a lot more water in their homes than my mom did. But the funny thing is, while her friends were staying at someone else's house until they were able to go back to their home, they were still helping others. They weren't letting their own disaster stop them from showing concern for other people.
Today's goal is: Bump it up a notch!
When you see a someone else's need, decide if you have the ability to help them. If you can't help, pray. If you can help, grab a friend and make it a bigger gift.
When you are being friendly, caring, daring, determined, and generous,
you are setting an example for others as you participate in your
community. Don’t think no one will notice. They notice, and they
sometimes accept your unspoken challenge without telling you. Your quiet
gift of time, effort, prayer, supplies, or money actually improves the
chances of others donating or volunteering.
Thank you for making a difference in your world. You are motivating others.
Showing posts with label be determined. Show all posts
Showing posts with label be determined. Show all posts
Happy Birthday To You!
I know I’m not the only one in the world who forgets to send birthday cards to family and friends. Lots of people forget this fabulous opportunity to brighten someone’s day.
My office has a file that stores a variety of birthday cards. Some are specifically for a Grandmother or a sister. Others are fairly generic and could be used for anyone. So I can throw a card in the mail pretty quickly. My problem is remembering when someone’s birthday is coming up.
I got a phone call from a relative who wanted to thank me for sending a birthday card. I thought it was strange that he would call and thank me for something I try to remember to do every year. Then he admitted that it was the only birthday card he got in the mail that year.
Today’s goal is: Send birthday cards to as many of your family and friends as you can.
There are all sorts of calendar alarm systems to remind you of an upcoming birthday. You might have a kitchen calendar, a purse calendar, a hand-held computer, a Blackberry, or a calendar alarm system on your cell phone. Whatever system you use, make sure you list those important birthdays and get the card out on time.
You never know if yours will be the only card they get in the mail.
My office has a file that stores a variety of birthday cards. Some are specifically for a Grandmother or a sister. Others are fairly generic and could be used for anyone. So I can throw a card in the mail pretty quickly. My problem is remembering when someone’s birthday is coming up.
I got a phone call from a relative who wanted to thank me for sending a birthday card. I thought it was strange that he would call and thank me for something I try to remember to do every year. Then he admitted that it was the only birthday card he got in the mail that year.
Today’s goal is: Send birthday cards to as many of your family and friends as you can.
There are all sorts of calendar alarm systems to remind you of an upcoming birthday. You might have a kitchen calendar, a purse calendar, a hand-held computer, a Blackberry, or a calendar alarm system on your cell phone. Whatever system you use, make sure you list those important birthdays and get the card out on time.
You never know if yours will be the only card they get in the mail.
Be A Regular Attender
Have you been sitting around feeling guilty every Sunday morning because you know you should be in church, but aren’t?
My dad raised us to go to church every Sunday, whether you stayed out too late on Saturday or not. I had friends there, so I didn’t complain. I’ve grown up now and recognize the wisdom of regular church attendance. Eventually, the power of God’s presence will sink all the way into your heart. I love it when people give up on fighting against God.
And that’s really what we want. We want God’s power to help us change from where we are to where we can be. He can elevate our goals and help us reach them.
Today’s goal is: Go to church.
Find a good local church. Pay attention and take notes. If something in the sermon sounds a little off, go home and look up the subject in your Bible. Find out if the pastor got it right, but be merciful. All speakers make mistakes. If the pastor keeps making the same mistake, ask for an appointment and discuss it. If you feel the pastor isn't following God, try a different church. There are a lot of church options. And a lot of different pastors.
As a regular attender, you’ll see the same church from a few different angles. Some days everyone will be friendly and the choir will sing exactly what you needed to hear. Other days, well, you know. We all have our off days. The key to finding the right church and staying there is knowing God wants you there. Pray and find the right one for you.
If you’re waiting for the perfect church, you’ll never find it. But you may find one that offers training in the word of God, a good prayer ministry, and a way to make and maintain Christian friendships.
You can even make a good church great by joining the ranks of the volunteers. Ask around to see where the needs are. If one opportunity isn’t your cup of tea, try another. Keep an open mind. You may be surprised when you find a church-based volunteering opportunity that you've never tried is exactly right for you.
Be determined to enhance your church because your church is designed to enhance you.
My dad raised us to go to church every Sunday, whether you stayed out too late on Saturday or not. I had friends there, so I didn’t complain. I’ve grown up now and recognize the wisdom of regular church attendance. Eventually, the power of God’s presence will sink all the way into your heart. I love it when people give up on fighting against God.
And that’s really what we want. We want God’s power to help us change from where we are to where we can be. He can elevate our goals and help us reach them.
Today’s goal is: Go to church.
Find a good local church. Pay attention and take notes. If something in the sermon sounds a little off, go home and look up the subject in your Bible. Find out if the pastor got it right, but be merciful. All speakers make mistakes. If the pastor keeps making the same mistake, ask for an appointment and discuss it. If you feel the pastor isn't following God, try a different church. There are a lot of church options. And a lot of different pastors.
As a regular attender, you’ll see the same church from a few different angles. Some days everyone will be friendly and the choir will sing exactly what you needed to hear. Other days, well, you know. We all have our off days. The key to finding the right church and staying there is knowing God wants you there. Pray and find the right one for you.
If you’re waiting for the perfect church, you’ll never find it. But you may find one that offers training in the word of God, a good prayer ministry, and a way to make and maintain Christian friendships.
You can even make a good church great by joining the ranks of the volunteers. Ask around to see where the needs are. If one opportunity isn’t your cup of tea, try another. Keep an open mind. You may be surprised when you find a church-based volunteering opportunity that you've never tried is exactly right for you.
Be determined to enhance your church because your church is designed to enhance you.
Learn A Language
We live in a global community that seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Once I thought India was a foreign land on the other side of the world from me. Today, my husband picks up the phone and conducts business with people in faraway lands in a way he never imagined when he was in high school.
It’s easy to have conversations when everyone knows your own language. But what about speaking with people who haven’t learned your language?
My mother joined a choir that was scheduled to sing in France. In preparation for her trip she not only practiced her songs, she also practiced her French. She was able to order food in restaurants and ask brief questions in shops with confidence. On a side trip to a place off the beaten path, she encountered a waitress who didn’t know English, and my mother’s beginner French wasn’t enough to communicate with her – so they spoke in Spanish to each other.
Today’s goal is: Begin to learn a new language.
Learning more than one language can be a challenge for some. But think how you can brighten someone’s day by sharing conversation in their language. If they’re a foreigner in your country, you may be a great help to them.
It takes a lot of time and effort, but if you’re determined, you can do it.
It’s easy to have conversations when everyone knows your own language. But what about speaking with people who haven’t learned your language?
My mother joined a choir that was scheduled to sing in France. In preparation for her trip she not only practiced her songs, she also practiced her French. She was able to order food in restaurants and ask brief questions in shops with confidence. On a side trip to a place off the beaten path, she encountered a waitress who didn’t know English, and my mother’s beginner French wasn’t enough to communicate with her – so they spoke in Spanish to each other.
Today’s goal is: Begin to learn a new language.
Learning more than one language can be a challenge for some. But think how you can brighten someone’s day by sharing conversation in their language. If they’re a foreigner in your country, you may be a great help to them.
It takes a lot of time and effort, but if you’re determined, you can do it.
Apply the Medicine
Many Americans have a Bible. Some actually read it. And then there are those who do what it says.
If you had a wound and asked a doctor to give you medicine for it, would you go home and read the label of the medicine bottle – and not take the medicine?
That’s what people are doing when they read what God wants us to do, and then not act on it. When we read the Bible and understand God’s instructions, it is to our benefit to act on it. We must be determined to apply the word.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Think on the word so that you can do it.
James 1:22 (NASB) But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Today’s goal is: As you read slowly through the Bible with ears perked to hear the lesson God wants you to apply to your life, find the lesson that opens your understanding and act on it.
Joshua 1:8 says we should” be careful to do everything”. When doing everything written in the Bible seems too huge to even consider, take a small piece of scripture and meditate on the lesson in it. Apply it to your life. Act on it.
Some medicines need to be applied continually over many days. Don’t give up.
If you had a wound and asked a doctor to give you medicine for it, would you go home and read the label of the medicine bottle – and not take the medicine?
That’s what people are doing when they read what God wants us to do, and then not act on it. When we read the Bible and understand God’s instructions, it is to our benefit to act on it. We must be determined to apply the word.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Think on the word so that you can do it.
James 1:22 (NASB) But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Today’s goal is: As you read slowly through the Bible with ears perked to hear the lesson God wants you to apply to your life, find the lesson that opens your understanding and act on it.
Joshua 1:8 says we should” be careful to do everything”. When doing everything written in the Bible seems too huge to even consider, take a small piece of scripture and meditate on the lesson in it. Apply it to your life. Act on it.
Some medicines need to be applied continually over many days. Don’t give up.
Daily Goals
I love daily goals. They help me keep my stress low. I know I can accomplish a huge challenge by taking it one small step at a time. If I’ll break off a piece of a large project, I can do a small thing rather than be overwhelmed by staring into the face of the impossible.
Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Today’s goal is: Read eight pages in the Bible each day.
I can’t read the whole Bible in one month or even three because I like to think about what I’m reading. It takes time to meditate on the scriptures.
But I can read eight pages of the Bible in a day. That gives me enough pages to consider the context, but it isn’t too much. I have time to think and try to wrap my mind around the lessons I could learn from those pages. For me, a larger goal might pressure me to read too fast and miss some important truths.
If you want to read more than eight pages, please do. I set low goals for myself so I can accomplish them. I’m a mom whose schedule gets interrupted often, and then I get distracted . Set your page goal where you are challenged, yet able to accomplish it.
Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Today’s goal is: Read eight pages in the Bible each day.
I can’t read the whole Bible in one month or even three because I like to think about what I’m reading. It takes time to meditate on the scriptures.
But I can read eight pages of the Bible in a day. That gives me enough pages to consider the context, but it isn’t too much. I have time to think and try to wrap my mind around the lessons I could learn from those pages. For me, a larger goal might pressure me to read too fast and miss some important truths.
If you want to read more than eight pages, please do. I set low goals for myself so I can accomplish them. I’m a mom whose schedule gets interrupted often, and then I get distracted . Set your page goal where you are challenged, yet able to accomplish it.
Be Determined
Laziness is a virus that infects people with an energy-sapping fog. Most people have succumbed to this at one time or another. I know very few people who are immune to the clutches of laziness. Very few. But they’re there. They seem to be inoculated against it.
If you’re like me and have to fight against its draw, then you know the effort is worth it. I know the feeling of satisfaction when I pass up opportunities to sit and watch “a little” TV. I want to join with others who are determined to make reasonable plans and follow through without laziness undermining the success.
I’m fueled by the joy of knowing I can accomplish a lot in the time I could’ve spent on the unnecessary rest. But having your car fully fueled with the right gasoline doesn’t mean it’s coming out of the garage. To get this body moving, I need the accountability of another person checking on my progress.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent beautiful Texas mornings walking with a friend through the neighborhood. I need the exercise, and I need the time with her to maintain our friendship. Without her accompanying me on my walks, there would be very few walks.
Today’s goal is: Invite two people to start an accountability group. Keep each other informed of your goals. Enjoy each others’ triumphs. Encourage each other during struggles.
The laziness virus must be stopped. But remember, there’s strength in numbers. Together, we can fight it and win!
If you’re like me and have to fight against its draw, then you know the effort is worth it. I know the feeling of satisfaction when I pass up opportunities to sit and watch “a little” TV. I want to join with others who are determined to make reasonable plans and follow through without laziness undermining the success.
I’m fueled by the joy of knowing I can accomplish a lot in the time I could’ve spent on the unnecessary rest. But having your car fully fueled with the right gasoline doesn’t mean it’s coming out of the garage. To get this body moving, I need the accountability of another person checking on my progress.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent beautiful Texas mornings walking with a friend through the neighborhood. I need the exercise, and I need the time with her to maintain our friendship. Without her accompanying me on my walks, there would be very few walks.
Today’s goal is: Invite two people to start an accountability group. Keep each other informed of your goals. Enjoy each others’ triumphs. Encourage each other during struggles.
The laziness virus must be stopped. But remember, there’s strength in numbers. Together, we can fight it and win!
Do Big Things
Being determined means doing something because it’s right – even when it’s hard. Our inclination is to stay comfortable and carefree. Our challenge is to do something worthwhile and make sure we follow through to completion.
The story of David and Goliath is well-known. David killed a giant while he was still a boy, long before he grew up to be a king. However, David was more of a giant than Goliath, not because of stature, but because of attitude.
It’s not how big you are; it’s what you do that matters. Giants do big things.
Sure, David made mistakes. Nevertheless, history calls David one of the greatest kings. He was a man after God’s own heart. No one would’ve blamed David if he’d killed King Saul when he had his chance, but he refused to do it. He did big things.
The Bible records the story of a woman who gave two copper coins in church. Jesus told someone that the woman gave more than the wealthiest of the crowd. Those small coins were all she had. She was the giant in church that day.
Who are today’s giants? Are they wealthy businessmen? Are they professional sports figures? How many of today’s lower income families give to those who are even more poor than they are? I’d say probably more than we realize. There are single moms, barely making ends meet, who take in neighborhood children and give them attention while the children’s parents are at home, fighting. Those single moms are doing a big thing for those kids.
There is determination in a school crossing guard who shows up every day to face an intersection loaded with pedestrian children and impatient drivers of powerful machines. Being a school crossing guard may not seem like such a big thing to the guard, but to the parents of the children who cross that street, it is a very big thing.
Forgiveness is a big thing. It can bring enemies together and make them friends. It can be a first step to healing.
For some, forgiving someone is a great idea, but following through to completion takes a lot of determination.
Is it in you?
Today’s goal is to: Forgive someone who has hurt you.
You may already be thinking of someone. Or you may be able to be a mediator between two people who need help forgiving each other. Who is the person on your heart?
If forgiving someone seems too hard and you want to give up, just remember that if it were easy, it wouldn’t be such a big thing.
So do it. It’s worth it.
The story of David and Goliath is well-known. David killed a giant while he was still a boy, long before he grew up to be a king. However, David was more of a giant than Goliath, not because of stature, but because of attitude.
It’s not how big you are; it’s what you do that matters. Giants do big things.
Sure, David made mistakes. Nevertheless, history calls David one of the greatest kings. He was a man after God’s own heart. No one would’ve blamed David if he’d killed King Saul when he had his chance, but he refused to do it. He did big things.
The Bible records the story of a woman who gave two copper coins in church. Jesus told someone that the woman gave more than the wealthiest of the crowd. Those small coins were all she had. She was the giant in church that day.
Who are today’s giants? Are they wealthy businessmen? Are they professional sports figures? How many of today’s lower income families give to those who are even more poor than they are? I’d say probably more than we realize. There are single moms, barely making ends meet, who take in neighborhood children and give them attention while the children’s parents are at home, fighting. Those single moms are doing a big thing for those kids.
There is determination in a school crossing guard who shows up every day to face an intersection loaded with pedestrian children and impatient drivers of powerful machines. Being a school crossing guard may not seem like such a big thing to the guard, but to the parents of the children who cross that street, it is a very big thing.
Forgiveness is a big thing. It can bring enemies together and make them friends. It can be a first step to healing.
For some, forgiving someone is a great idea, but following through to completion takes a lot of determination.
Is it in you?
Today’s goal is to: Forgive someone who has hurt you.
You may already be thinking of someone. Or you may be able to be a mediator between two people who need help forgiving each other. Who is the person on your heart?
If forgiving someone seems too hard and you want to give up, just remember that if it were easy, it wouldn’t be such a big thing.
So do it. It’s worth it.
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