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...

Thankful for Leftovers

Last Sunday morning I had intended to go to service at my regular church as that wasn't one of my "visiting" Sundays.

My plans got changed at the last minute and I didn't make it.

My church doesn't have an evening service but thankfully (based on my recent visits), I knew of one that does, so I went there.

The minister spoke from John 6:5-12...you know, the one about the five loaves and two fishes (yes, it says "fishes" in The Bible).

The title of his message was "My Life Is Not A Waste"

Well...that got my attention because mine has been feeling like one lately.

After reading the verses I understood that there were "leftovers" and that the fragments were to be collected so as not to go to waste. What I didn't understand was how those fragments were to tie into my life.

As I listened I wrote down a few points that jumped out at me.

The first was this, "FAITH has nothing to do with FACTS."

Boy, did I need to hear that. I mean...I already knew, but hearing it again just gave me reassurance. You see, if folks were to fully understand my "current situation," they'd tell me that I should be worrying and running around like a chicken with its head cut-off.

Yes, I agree that my "current situation" is not "ideal," and very few (if any) folks would want to be in my shoes right now. Yet my FAITH in Christ tells me not to worry. He already knows what I need before I even ask, and His track record is FLAWLESS. God has NEVER failed me before and I am 100% certain that He's not about to start.

He may not come through for me until I am down to my VERY LAST PENNY, but I know without a doubt that He WILL come through.

And for those who may be wondering...NO...I'm not just kickin' back eating bon-bons waiting for something to "magically" happen in the meantime. I am diligently taking steps to improve my situation. I have simply made a conscious decision to not worry about it.

The second thing that the minister said which caught my attention was that, "the pain in my life is not because God wants to BREAK me; it's because He wants to DISTRIBUTE me so that I can bless others I encounter."

That made my ears perk up because I have been in a number of situations that I felt I didn't belong in. What I later realized is that even though I didn't want to be there, others were blessed by the fact that I was.

So in my "current situation" I pray that I was a blessing to those in my past, and that I can be an even greater blessing (by being "distributed") to wherever God will send me next.

Then the minister tied the fragments into the message. He said that God wants to "get the fragments of my life and bring them all together. He is going to use EVERYTHING I'm going through to be a blessing to someone else."

Like I said before...I needed to hear that. It put things into perspective and left me with a more clear mind-set with regard to what I'm going through at this juncture in time.

As the benediction was given and we proceeded to head to our respective destinations, I knew that missing service at my church was no accident. It was divinely orchestrated and God meant for me to attend evening service where I did. He is an intentional God and makes NO mistakes.

I look forward to gathering up my fragments and sharing them with as many as I can.

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: What do you do with leftovers? Do you eat them until there are no more left, or do you toss 'em right out?

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...

In the beginning...

With the start of another new year, I have once again commenced on a journey through The Bible as I do every year.

Many folks have NEVER read The Bible from cover to cover. I, have done so MANY times.

Some have wondered, "Why do you need to read it AGAIN if you've already read it ONCE?"

That's often a tricky question for me to answer because, unless one truly knows the power of God, and His word, they won't really understand my answer.

You see, for me, The Bible is always FRESH, and never gets old, stagnant or stale. Even though the words on the page NEVER change (because God's word is CONSTANT), what I get from those words CHANGES.

I can read a passage of Scripture today and come away with one meaning. I can go back to that same passage of Scripture a year from now, and take something completely different away from it. So even though I have read The Bible many times, there is ALWAYS something fresh and new to be gained.

I have also had people say to me, "I just don't understand The Bible", or, "Whenever I read, it just puts me to sleep."

I can understand both of those statements because at one time, those too were my experiences.

For the first, "I just don't understand The Bible," I had to do a few things in order to gain a better understanding myself.

One -- I needed to be in a BIBLE BASED church with a Pastor who preached and taught thoroughly and contextually because CONTEXT RULES. For the past 17 years, my Pastor has done just that.

Two -- I needed to understand that understanding was not simply going to come by attending worship service on a Sunday morning and then not opening my Bible anymore during the week. Nope. Doesn't work that way AT ALL.

Understanding comes by attending Bible Study and/or Church School (also known as Sunday school), and (turn the mic up) by STUDYING God's word on your own.

I always say, "The more of God's word I put in, the more of His word will come out...by my deeds, words, and actions toward others."
Similar to a bank account, if you never put any money in, there will never be anything to withdraw. If I never put God's word IN me, then how can I ever pull from it? Simple answer...I can't.

Three -- I always PRAY before I read. I thank God for His word, and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the word so that I can learn whatever it is that He wants me to learn at this particular time. For me, without praying first, the words are just letters on a page and I often miss what God is trying to tell me.

As for the ones who say, "Whenever I read, it just puts me to sleep." Again, I say...PRAY. I would also suggest reading in a place that's not so comfortable. Perhaps at the kitchen table, versus in your bed right before you turn in for the night. Personally, I always read on my knees at the side of my bed, and I have no problem with getting sleepy. Interestingly, that is the only way that I can read. I have tried reading at the table, or sitting in a chair or on the couch. None of those work for me though. Yet when I go in my room, get on my knees and open my Bible, I can stay there for quite a while, often not realizing how much time has passed.

So this year I am trying a new thing and I am reading The Bible in chronological order -- reading the events in the order in which they occurred. The format is quite different from what I am used to, so this will be an adjustment, yet I look forward to what God will reveal to me as I read it this way.

As I opened my One Year Bible this morning, I remembered buying one for a friend a few years ago. She wanted to strengthen her faith and asked me for some suggestions. She wasn't ready to go to church but still wanted to know more about God. I didn't want to just say, "Read your Bible" because (A) I wasn't even sure if she HAD one, and (B) The Bible is a HUGE undertaking for someone who is at the beginning stages of their faith walk. So I suggested the One Year Bible and even bought it for her. To this day, I have no idea if she's ever even read a page. I'd go to her home and see it on the coffee table, looking as new as the day it arrived. In recent visits I don't even think it was on the table anymore. Who knows? Maybe it found its way onto a shelf (where it will do her absolutely NO good), or possibly even in the trash. I highly doubt that she's reading it because "Super Soul Sunday" on TV has pretty much become her "church." She doesn't seem to think she needs anything else. I've never seen "Super Soul Sunday," so I can't accurately describe the teachings that are broadcasted. I would hope that someone on there is a Bible Teaching Pastor who is sharing the TRUTH about Christ. Otherwise, if it's just a bunch of Iyanla, Deepak, Oprah-esque "Motivational Speakers," the folks will be just as LOST when they tune OUT as they are when they tune IN.

So...that's how I'm kicking off my 2016, with God's word to lead me, guide me, and direct me. Lord knows I need some direction.

How 'bout you? Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you read The Bible from cover to cover?

Talk to me!

Til next time...