Giving What I Can

On the first day of this new year I posted about things that didn't go so well LAST year, and what changes I wanted to make to ensure a BETTER 2017.

The key factor that I identified as lacking last year was CONSISTENCY.

I wanted consistency with fitness, my writing, and reading my Bible.

I know that we are only ten days into this year but thus far I am happy with my progress.

With regard to fitness, I am now rewarding myself with a dollar for every day that I get at least 10,000 steps on my Fitbit. Mind you, with my current financial situation I don't even have DOLLARS to reward myself with, so for now I put PENNIES in a baggie and once my financial situation turns around (FOR THE BETTER), I will replace those pennies with the dollars that they represent.

To date, there are SIX pennies in the baggie. For me, that's GREAT progress. My goal is to have at least SEVENTEEN 10, 000 step days each month.

With regard to my writing (primarily here at The Dialogue Den), I've written consistently and I think I am only one day short.

And for the MOST IMPORTANT area of change...I have read my Bible EVERYDAY this month, and actually look forward to it now. My daily reading has evolved into something that I did not anticipate when I first delved in.

You see...I thought my daily reading was going to simply be for ME to strengthen my knowledge OF, and relationship WITH God. It has begun to do that, and much more.

Every morning, before I begin reading, I pray. I ask God to SHOW me what He wants me to see and TEACH me what He wants me to learn. Basically...I need Him to SPEAK to me. And...He does.

What happens next has brought much joy to my spirit.

I share on Facebook whatever it was that spoke most to me. I do this because I know for a fact that I am not the ONLY one going through something. I may be the only one with $2.51 in her bank account, praying for a job offer to come through so that some income can once again be generated...BUT...I am not the only one going through something. Trials come in a variety of ways and we encounter one form or another at some point in our lives.

By sharing what God speaks to ME each day (through His Word), I believe that I am sharing HOPE with others who need it just as much as I do. At this point in my life where I have so little to GIVE, yet need to RECEIVE much...I am thankful to be able to give whatever I can, in whatever way I can.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever set out to do something that you thought would only benefit YOU, and it ultimately ended up benefitting others as well?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

From Cover to Cover

2016 will soon come to a close and as I reflect on the events of this year, all I can say is:

I WANT BETTER!

I NEED BETTER!!

I WILL HAVE and BE BETTER!!!

Many things went wrong in 2016. Some by my own doing (which I am diligently working to repair) and others that were simply out of my control.

One area where I know I need to improve was that regarding the amount of time I spent with God in His Word. Yes, there were stretches where I was consistent and did alright, but I was not "365 days consistent." That is what I want in 2017.

I need to HEAR from God DAILY (through His Word), and He needs to hear from me DAILY (through PRAYER.)

Perhaps if I had done more of both, CONSISTENTLY, I wouldn't be in the situation I am in now.

So...here are two daily Bibles that I have attempted to get through for the past few years. My goal is to read one first thing each morning, and the other some time each evening.

God's Word is important to me and I need to start SHOWING Him instead of just TELLING Him. Isn't that how all SUCCESSFUL relationships work...by SHOWING and not just TELLING?

My relationship with God (by way of His Son, Jesus) is the MOST IMPORTANT relationship I have. I need to SHOW Him that I am serious and not just giving "lip service."

So there ya have it. I am greatly looking forward to a consistent year with God and His Word.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever read the Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21? If not, I invite you to join in with me. We can grow in the Lord TOGETHER.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Leftovers

Until a couple of weeks ago, I used to read my Bible at the end of the day, right before bed, when I was too tired to fully comprehend. Pretty much "goin' through the motions" versus really reading to hear from God.

Now I read first thing in the morning, when my mind is fresh and uncluttered...before I check Facebook...before I turn on the radio for news (since I don't have TV anymore)...before I eat breakfast...I spend time with God FIRST. As a result, the words stay with me throughout the day and are having a much greater impact. This morning's reading gave me a message that was JUST what I needed to hear. It came from Jeremiah 17:7-8.



“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit."


This was yet another reminder that no matter my circumstance, I will continue to trust in the Lord.

Makes me a bit ashamed to realize that I have been giving God the "leftovers of me" by reading His word at the end of the day. He gives me His very best at ALL times. The least I can do is give me the BEST part of me, which is in the morning before everything else has taken His spot.

Now, Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's the FIRST thing YOU do every morning?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Even Though...

With the recent turn of events in my life, I have decided that I need to stop pussyfooting around God and re-COMMIT to TRUSTING Him and living according to His Word.

Of course, I'm not perfect, so I'll fail along the way...that is simply the inevitability of being human. But I am definitely going to give it my BEST effort.

Although I attend church approximately fifty out of fifty two Sundays a year, my devotion to God's Word has been lacking. So I figured that the first thing I would re-COMMIT to is studying His word...DAILY.

This morning during my study I read the entire book of Habakkuk. Gotta admit...that's not too grand of a feat considering that the entire book only consists of THREE chapters...three VERY SHORT chapters. Habakkuk is one of those "hidden gems" in the Bible. Not too many sermons get preached from that book, but if God has it in there, He has it in there for a reason...so it's just as important as all the others.

What was clear to me from this morning's reading was that we are to worship the TRUE and LIVING God versus idols and carved images.

Then, as I got toward the end of Chapter 3 were the words that I believed God wanted me to hear on this day. They came from Chapter 3 verses 17-19 and read as follows:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places."


I greatly needed those words. What they said to me were basically this: Even when I have NOTHING...God is still greatly to be praised, and He is my strength (when I feel that I have none.)

So even though things may appear to be a total loss (if y'all only knew what I'm facing right now)...I will continue to praise God.

I needed that word today!

On a separate note...I have re-committed myself to attending Bible study as well. I went tonight and received a great lesson on "what blocks prayers." Lord knows, the LAST thing I need is for my prayers to be blocked...so that lesson was RIGHT ON TIME.

Now, Let the DIALOGUE begin: For my fellow Christian brothers and sisters out there...aside from The Bible, what is your FAVORITE spiritual book? I need to to more "Christian reading" but I'm not quite sure where to start.

Talk to me!

Til next time