Just Me...

Have you heard of Inductive Bible Study?  I first heard about it in a group I am in for clergy spouses.   Inductive Bible Study is an "investigative approach to the Bible using three basic components:  Observation, Interpretation and Application" ( http://precept.org/know-gods-word ) I was seeking a new way to study The Word that would bring me some further insight into the Bible itself v. just reading a story.  I had tried several times over the year to read the bible cover to cover.  I have several One Year Bibles and so many "plans" it is obnoxious.  The latest I ever got was to Psalms.  Recently I realized that there were so many things I had read in the Old Testament but because I start at Genesis every time, I never got to Proverbs, the Prophets or anything in the New Testament.  And, although I have done studies that cover these areas of the Bible, I just didn't have anything really in depth. This was troubling to me....

Some things are the same...some things are drastically different. Some days I roll with the punches and embrace the new....some days I feel like a fish out of water. Some times I am confident...some times I am unsure if I have what it takes. Some moments are all talk and no action...some moments are all action and not talk. I try to think things through without getting overwhelmed.  I work to remember that God has this and that He has big plans for me that involve this path.  That He will equip the called and that I don't have to know everything to step ahead to the next stone in the path of life.  I get attacked by the enemy... a lot!!  I see victory in this because it means that when I am doing things they are things that God has planned.  But it hurts...it is hard...some days I just fall short and succumb to the unfortunate nagging of the devil himself.  I rebuke him...cry out to God to put up a shield... I must remain strong even when I don'...

A month ago I lost my father.  He battled a long time with a terrible disease called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).  The loss has been hard even though I know that he is in Heaven and is no longer in pain.  Somehow, even knowing that he is no longer in pain and is with our Jesus in heaven, there is nothing that can prepare anyone for the individual experience of being left behind. The other day I was having one of the down moments of the ups and downs I experience daily now as I work through the grieving process.  All I could think of was the part in Top Gun where Maverick is distraught after Goose dies.  All I can remember thinking is that I am desperate to get to the point in the movie where "Maverick is re-engaging...". I am praying to re-engage....I have had some moments where I am firing on all cylinders, and then I hit a backfire.  I run out of energy.  I lose focus.  Nothing is important. I guess even at the point where Maverick re-en...

I recently read a blog post.  I think it was by Laura Vanderkam but I am not sure.  In it she was suggesting a book called Playing Big (I am reading now and am fascinated by it).  In addition to the book she talked about an exercise of doing a list of 100 Dreams.  I took her up on the challenge. I was hard. Harder than I thought. I mean really, 100 things doesn't seem that much, but when you are trying to think of things you haven't done that you want to do, it can get a bit tougher.  I got through about 30 before I really had to think, but I re-read this list today.  A month later, a crazy month at that, and I just marveled about the things that I put in there.  Things that are fun and totally achievable.  Things that make me smile. I suggest to anyone to make a list of 100 Dreams.  Write it out, refer to it when you need a smile or motivation and work to cross those babies off! (I am working on one just now...Write at least one bl...

How do you control that feeling when you feel like you want to control something that is not in your control? Wow.  That is a loaded question when I read it written out like that.  I think that the key differentiation lies in the action around the word "control". I know I can't control everything.  Primarily because that is not my God given purpose, but also because I shouldn't.  I have lived 38 years of experiences that are my own only.  I have expertise in some areas, I know enough to be dangerous in others and I am flat our ignorant on all the rest.  Me controlling everything would create too many problems and I would probably explode with anxiety resulting over what actions I did or did not take attempting to control things. Controlling everything is not an option. What can I control?  Well, really the only thing I can control when it comes down to it is myself.  My actions and emotions are mine alone.  My actions and emotions are...

We all need a creative outlet.  Something, or in some cases a few things, that allow us to separate from the day to day of our job and even parenting or connect with our own creative nature.  Even if you are tasked to be creative for work or if you are creative as a homeschooling parent, there is still a need for a creative outlet. Creative outlets can come in many forms.  They may be quickly accessed and only take a few minutes to tap into, or they may be planned longer term and take time away to fully experience.  I think that there is a need for both.  Some examples of my creative outlets are: When I have 5 minutes - I keep a coloring book and colored pencils at my desk at work and take it out sometimes when I have hit a block and need a quick escape into something totally unrelated to anything. When I need an hour - Every 2 weeks, a group of co-workers and I meet in a conference room to knit or crochet for charity or personal projects.  Sometimes...