Practice

I've often had people ask me, "How do you make time for yourself?" Life can be so hectic and with so many things to do how do you do it? How do you make time to sit on the couch and watch a TV show or just read for a few minutes?
Sometimes the answer is in becoming more organized and better with time management, but mostly the answer lies in making a choice to just do it. It means you set some boundaries with those around you. You say "no" to some things so that you can say "yes" to yourself.
Many feel guilty if they were to sit and do something for themselves even if it's just for a few minutes, but in reality by spending a few minutes for yourself you are actually helping those around you. Because a few minutes to yourself can be just enough to help you regain your perspective. A few minutes could be enough to give you some needed rest so that you can be at your best. A few minutes could be all you need to change your mood.
O.k. Now you've made the decision to do a little for yourself...how do you really do it. You practice it. You just try it. Admist all the things you need to do, you stop for 10 - 15 minutes, set the timer and sit. Let everyone know that this is your time to relax and they can interrupt you when the timer goes off. It's amazing, during that time, no one in your house will starve, more and likely no one will experience any life changing event (however, make sure all the little ones are in a safe place prior to doing this). Chances are that you will not be any further behind than you were before you started. Practice this daily and you will be surprised how this will begin to feel normal and o.k. Practice!

Stepping Stones

Do you ever look at what you have or are doing in life, and compare it to what someone else has or is doing in his or her life and think, "I wish I had that" or "I wish I was doing that"? If so, why? God's plan is perfect for each of us, regardless of our circumstances, and we must look at what we have and what we are doing as stepping stones towards where God is leading us. His plan will never be fully revealed to us unless we willingly step onto each stone and stay there a while. When God feels we are ready, he will put the next stepping stone ahead of us and it will then be time to move.
But we get impatient...we want to jump from the first stone to the last stone. Realistically, if we did that, we would fall into the creek and perhaps be carried away by the waters. We need to take God's step, one at a time! We need to be comfortable there, take a look around and see what God is offering to us in that moment. We need to praise God for where he has us and where he is leading us.
Be patient!

Humility

We frequently hear how humility is needed to progress in holiness, and I have really been thinking alot about humility this week. What does it mean to be humble? It's obvious that Jesus was humble and what did he do? He taught us to love and to serve. So what does it mean to serve?
When I think of a servant, I immediately think of a Butler. You know, the kind we see in a movie. What he does is crucial for the master, but he's not really a major player. He's in the background taking care of his duties, quietly. When acknowledged for his service he merely says, "Thank you". He doesn't parade around saying, "look what I did" or even try to get noticed by anyone while doing his work. He is merely there to serve his master, and he knows his purpose is to make sure the master's work can be done. He is only there to truly serve.
How often do we go about our days looking for recognition? How often do we keep score with those around us? It's tough to be humble, but the more we ask God for humility, the more opportunities he gives us to practice. "Ask and you shall recieve". God bless.

Speak Up

How often do you allow something to happen in your life that you don't want to happen merely because you don't feel like dealing with the opposition or complaints that occur when you speak up? Most don't speak up because dealing with the complaints or oppositions just seem like too much of a hassle, or for others it's because they don't want to create waves or disturb the peace. But what is the end result of not expressing our true feelings or desires? We loose our own peace, and we are allowing our plans or our desires to be taken away from us.

Now speaking up does require a bit of discernment because we must all be flexible at times and we can't think only of our own plans and desires lest we become selfish. But to discern the matter ask yourself some questions:

1. If I'm allowing this to happen, how will I truly feel at the end of the day and are my feelings legitimate?
2.If I allow this to happen will it upset my plans so much that I won't be able to recover within a reasonable time frame?
3. If I allow this to happen, does it set a moral or immoral example for someone else?
4. Then finish this statement..."By allowing this to happen, that means that I am also allowing...___... Is that O.K.?
"By not allowing this to happen, that means that instead ....___...will occur."

Many time speaking up is a choice which means, when we don't speak up, the results or consequences of that becomes something we have chosen. So what are you choosing?

Simplify

Before reading this post, please be sure and read the post below titled "Vacation".



So, do you feel like you need to simplify your life? Is life crazy, hectic and just plain draining you of energy? Then group coaching is just what you need to get you moving in the right direction. Learn how to identify the things that are cluttering your life and making life more complicated. Gain a clearer vision for yourself and start moving towards that vision, so that you can start enjoying life more. Learn how to take charge of your life instead of your life taking charge of you.



The next Group Coaching sessions will begin on Tuesdays nights at 7pm starting the first week of June. The class size is limited, so make sure you make your reservation ASAP. The cost is only $20 per month (for three months) plus your cost for a long distance call. For more information about the details of each session go to http://www.avenuesofgrace.com/GroupCoaching.asp?Tab=GroupCoaching. or to sign up contact me at http://www.avenuesofgrace.com/ConnectWithMarna.asp?Tab=Contact%20Marna. I hope to see you there.

Vacation

I recently took a vacation to Florida, and while I was there all I could think of was how much I was enjoying myself. I was so relaxed and had plenty of time for my family. There was no laundry, no cleaning, no meals to make. Life was simple. All of that enjoyment got me thinking...How can I make my life at home more like a vacation? O.k., You're probably laughing at the thought, thinking that it is absolutely impossible! But what is the difference between being at home and being on vacation? ....Simplicity. So, I've been looking at the things that keep my life from being simple, and asking how can I change them? I've made some changes and things are better for me. Then I was also looking at some of the upcoming decisions I have to make, and when I look at them in terms of "simplicity", it's helping me to make better decisions.
Then, last night I was blessed to be able to see Ivan Dragicevic speak. He is a visionary from Medjugorje. His message, which is Our Lady's message is to pray and make time for those you love. The only way for me to make time is to simplify. I'm seeing a recurring theme in what God is revealing to me. I guess it's time to listen.

Bringing Heaven to Earth

Our Father, who art in heaven... ...Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Have you ever really thought about that last phrase? What are we saying? We are asking God to bring heaven to earth; to transform our circumstances as they could be transformed in heaven. So often we think, "Oh, things will never change until we get to heaven." In one sense that is true because everything will be glorified there. We'll have new bodies, new understandings and healed relationships because of our new understandings. However, I believe this prayer given to us by Jesus is reminding us that God's healing and understanding is fully available to us now. By saying, "on earth as it is in heaven" we are calling down the power of heaven into our lives. We are embracing now, what we believe God will fully reveal to us after we die.
Imagine what our lives would be like if we had that kind of faith. "Lord, make our earth as heaven. Make our cities as heaven. Make our neighborhoods as heaven. Make our homes as heaven. "
God didn't say how long it would take to transform all these things. But he did ask us to pray this way. I think that says alot.