I got a call this morning from my daughter sharing the sad news that a lady we attended Community Bible Study with had passed away unexpectedly last night. She was not that old - I'm guessing mid 50s - and though she had had some health issues over the years, it was still not expected.
None of us are ever promised even the next breath, but when you hear of tragic events like this, it brings it even that much closer home that we need to be mindful of the time we have as we never know when it will end. My daughter was sharing with me that she had just talked with this lady on Tuesday and she was doing great and had just had shoulder surgery and was healing well from that.
I read somewhere once that when they put our tombstone over our grave, and engrave our birth date and death date, that little dash in between stands for a whole lot and we need to make it count. None of us are ever told just how long we will live and even those diagnosed with cancer and given so much time to live never know exactly how long that really is, but perhaps if we all chose to live with the thought that we could die at any moment, it would impact what we do in this very moment. What do I want my last words to be, my last acts to be? What kind of legacy am I building to leave behind?
I know this lady who has passed is probably sitting at the feet of Jesus right now asking if she can work with all the kids in heaven. She left behind lots of family who love her, but she also left behind a legacy of love to all the kids she worked with in CBS. Let us remember that one day, we too will take our final breath here and let's make sure of what it is we are leaving behind.
Hugs & Blessings,
Donna
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
Oh my goodness!!! It's been almost a year since my first post on the new blog I created. How sad is that? Yet, it speaks to the season of life I have been in - busyness! I am reminded again that I am a perfectionist - I won't do anything unless it is going to be exactly the way I think it ought to be and that includes blogging....I am so glad that God doesn't wait till everything is perfect in me before He invests in my life.
Those who know me, know that I really like to plan things out but they also know that I struggle with getting my plans executed, and there a variety of reasons why. It is something I have a tendency to beat myself up over, but I am beginning to understand that maybe God is trying to show me that I am trying to do all these things under my own power and in my own strength. He needs me to know that HE is where my strength comes from. I've given lip service to Him being my strength, but I'm really starting to see that maybe that's all it's been - lip service.
Instead of just quoting "I can do all things through Christ", I need to actually put it into practice. For years, I've struggled to know just "how" to do that, but I'm slowly learning. Sometimes it is the simplest steps and yet, because they are so simple, I tend to overlook them or not see them as really important.
We've been building on our farm since March and we moved into a 24-ft camper in April to live in while we're building. I've learned that building is not a 1-2-3 steps and your done sort of process. There are a MILLION little steps that have to be taken before you can get to the bigger, more noticeable steps. But these steps are more important than the bigger ones because without these little steps, the bigger ones could not be done.
And so it is in our lives, learning to put our trust and hope in Christ is done by taking all those little steps on a daily basis, sometimes a minute-by-minute basis, and that is how we "do all things". Nike may have made the slogan famous, but I believe it was God's idea first - "Just Do It".
So, as fall approaches and my life season of busyness continues on, this is where I'm at and this is what God is asking of me. He promised He'd never leave me or forsake me, so it is through His strength that I will accomplish the plans He has for my life. My task is to just take each step in faith and "Just Do It".
Despite the busyness, I know that journaling (or blogging) about the things that God has spoken to my heart is important as it will serve as a wonderful reminder of what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life. So if you're reading this, please come back again soon. I promise to share more and hopefully something I say will be an encouragement to you as well.
Hugs & Blessings,
Donna
Those who know me, know that I really like to plan things out but they also know that I struggle with getting my plans executed, and there a variety of reasons why. It is something I have a tendency to beat myself up over, but I am beginning to understand that maybe God is trying to show me that I am trying to do all these things under my own power and in my own strength. He needs me to know that HE is where my strength comes from. I've given lip service to Him being my strength, but I'm really starting to see that maybe that's all it's been - lip service.
Instead of just quoting "I can do all things through Christ", I need to actually put it into practice. For years, I've struggled to know just "how" to do that, but I'm slowly learning. Sometimes it is the simplest steps and yet, because they are so simple, I tend to overlook them or not see them as really important.
We've been building on our farm since March and we moved into a 24-ft camper in April to live in while we're building. I've learned that building is not a 1-2-3 steps and your done sort of process. There are a MILLION little steps that have to be taken before you can get to the bigger, more noticeable steps. But these steps are more important than the bigger ones because without these little steps, the bigger ones could not be done.
And so it is in our lives, learning to put our trust and hope in Christ is done by taking all those little steps on a daily basis, sometimes a minute-by-minute basis, and that is how we "do all things". Nike may have made the slogan famous, but I believe it was God's idea first - "Just Do It".
So, as fall approaches and my life season of busyness continues on, this is where I'm at and this is what God is asking of me. He promised He'd never leave me or forsake me, so it is through His strength that I will accomplish the plans He has for my life. My task is to just take each step in faith and "Just Do It".
Despite the busyness, I know that journaling (or blogging) about the things that God has spoken to my heart is important as it will serve as a wonderful reminder of what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life. So if you're reading this, please come back again soon. I promise to share more and hopefully something I say will be an encouragement to you as well.
Hugs & Blessings,
Donna
Friday, November 29, 2013
A new beginning at the end of November??
Not sure what number this is - my attempt to become a dedicated and faithful blogger - but here I go again. I am amazed at how full my mind is at times and I always think, "This would make a great blog post" or "I need to journal about this so I don't forget it". Hopefully, this newly named/designed blog will be one in which I will finally reach that goal. I hope I will have the time to keep up with it.
This past year has been a doozy and we are embarking on some exciting new times in our lives, as well, as we move more fully into our empty nest years. I think keeping a blog will be a great way to document these new events in our lives. So, here's to hoping I can do it justice!
This past year has been a doozy and we are embarking on some exciting new times in our lives, as well, as we move more fully into our empty nest years. I think keeping a blog will be a great way to document these new events in our lives. So, here's to hoping I can do it justice!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)