Summer 2011 Manifesto

Well......Spring didn't go exactly as I had planned.  I'm not sure I have any expectations that summer will, either.  *sigh* 

So, I think I'm going to go nice and simple here.  I hope having this posted in front of me will help keep me focused.  Odd that I've come to a point where I have to focus on having fun.  *another sigh*  So, without further ado, here's to my summer - with a little commentary by Winnie-the-Pooh.

I will get sunshine

and go barefoot on the grass.

“Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.”

I will “just do the next thing”

without anxiety.
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry.
We shall get there some day.”

I will take each day slowly --

no matter how fast the season scurries.

“Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear,

and not bothering.”

I will have fun.

“When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably

just a little eleven o'clockish.”

 

Five Minute Friday: If I Knew I Could, I Would...

It's Friday!  Time for Five Minute Friday hosted by The Gypsy Mama.  The rules are simple:  Throw caution (editing, revising, and worrying) to the winds and just write for five minutes flat. Without wondering if it’s just right or not.  Here we go.  Today's prompt:  If I Knew I Could, I Would . . .

GO.

If I knew I could, I would . . .


Save the world.

Heal the heartache.

Gather the brokenhearted and just give them a hug.

Spend all the money that’s needed to make sure no one is going to bed hungry.

Protect all the unborn babies from the selfishness of their mothers.

Bring back my father’s mind and soul.

Give my mother true joy and peace….and a good night’s sleep.

Guarantee my children and grandchildren a life without the pain that goes on forever.

Express the love I truly feel inside.

Convince every soul that Jesus gave up everything just for them.

Be the person I envision myself to be.

Be fully awake spending every bit of life I have for Him.

STOP.

Five Minute Friday: The Hard Love

Gypsy Mama hosts Five Minute Friday.  This is my first time participating, but it sounds fun...and good for me.

The rules are simple.  You take her prompt and write for 5 minutes flat with no editing or tweaking.

So, here goes.

HARD LOVE


GO.

Hard love. Isn’t all love hard? Selfishness gets in the way of love all the time. We want to esteem others better than ourselves (as the Word says), but maybe later. Right now, I’m just tired. Right now, I just don’t feel like it.

Today’s Good Friday. I am so glad that Jesus didn’t feel the way I do so often. But, maybe He did. He just didn’t let it stop Him. Who knows? He was human. He did fall carrying that cross up the hill of Golgotha. He was tired. He felt the pain. The physical pain. The emotional pain. I’ve watched The Passion of the Christ. I know how much physical pain He bore. But, I think the emotional, spiritual pain must have been so much worse. Can you even imagine what carrying EVERYONE’s guilt must have felt like? I can barely bear my own. All of our guilt. All of our sorrow. All of our shame. All of our pain.

That’s hard love. How can I not love Him back?

STOP.

Spring 2011 Manifesto

(Double click on graphic to view in larger format.)

Winter Manifesto

Autumn Manifesto

Inspired by both last day of may and in other words..., I present my:

Autumn Manifesto

1. On chilly days, I will remember to drink tea.



2. I will invite people into my home to “Share the Harvest” -- my theme this season.



3. I will put thought into our meals to make them both tasty and comforting.



4. I will place pumpkins and fall decorations throughout the house – and keep tweaking it all season to keep it fun.

5. I will use pumpkin and apples freely in my cooking and baking.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies

 

6. I will light my candles and little lamps as dusk falls to make my home cozy feeling.



7. I will visit Farmers' Markets more frequently.



8. I will pay more attention to the journaling of my life (this blog).



9. I will use my Silhouette Machine.



10. I will let my gym see my face more often.



11. I will complete my 10-day Give (which I forgot about the first time around).



12. I will go outside every day just to breathe.

13. I will buy some tights. And look for a new coat.

14. I will use my stationery.

15. I will trust God and my husband as I discover grace.

6:33 Club

Matthew 6:33 in the Amplified Bible says, “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” Those “things” are the daily things of life – what we are going to eat, drink, and wear. Basically, the cares of each day.



God is calling us anew to seek him first. We need to go to God first – when we have a need, when something good has happened, when we need advice, when we go about our daily chores, when a decision has to be made, when life is good, and when it doesn’t seem to be. He should be the One who hears all of our good news first and He should be the One who directs our doings and goings each day.


There is only one way this is going to happen. We need to stay in constant communication with Him. We don’t just need to pray once a day. We need to pray hundreds of prayers each day. The prayers may just be a word or a short sentence. And we also need to listen all day. We need to be on the alert that He may speak to us at any time.


But, we also need to set aside a part of our day to fully spend time with Him each day. Jesus gave us a good example of this. Though Jesus was one with the Father, He felt a need to get away by Himself and spend time with His Father one on one. How much more would it seem we would need such a time? Mark 1:35 tells us, “While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed.” (The Message) Because Jesus spent quality time with the Father before the day began, He was able to move in the will of God without hesitation throughout the day. He did not have to stop and “pray about it,” as we hear Christians say so often. He had already received what He needed for that day.


I am challenging each of you to join the “6:33 Club” with me! Let’s seek Him first! Let’s meet one on one with Him in the morning before our day starts. Before anything – before we eat, before the kids are up, before we read our email, before we get on our way.


In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 5:3 (Amplified Bible)


Yes, it might be a sacrifice. But the rewards will outweigh the effort to get out of bed a little early. As your day unfolds, you will see how much better and smoother your day goes when you are prepared. In fact, you might find you’ll want to set your “opportunity clock” earlier and earlier as your time with your Lord gets sweeter and sweeter.

The 10 Day Give

So, have you joined? We have!

People from all over have joined together to start a "giving revolution"! Beginning TODAY!

The 10 Day Give is a challenge that is designed to help us get our minds off of ourselves and start thinking about how we can help others.

This is an opportunity to choose, on purpose, to give of ourselves.

For some people that means giving money, for others time is far more precious than money, and for others it may mean their expertise in an area. But, no matter who you are, we all have something to give.

There are no rules, no judges, and no right or wrong ways of completing the challenge.

For ten days, starting today and ending on Sunday, October 19, we are giving -- on purpose and with a purpose. Something different each day, and to someone different each day. It doesn't matter what the gift is, how much it costs, who it is given to, or how it is given. The point is just to give.

You don't have to, but you can sign up at http://www.christianpf.com/10daygive. And if for fun, you'd like to send in little reports and also see what others are doing (might inspire you and give you new ideas), you can do so at Daja's blog, in other words . . . -- anonymously, if you would like.

Come join the giving revolution!