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Life is funny. Today I found out what matters. I missed church and I did not feel guilty. I made a friend smile. I spent time with people who cared about me back. I did not worry about the pound I gained because it just makes more room for my heart. I got inspired to see my dreams for the first time. I laughed when nothing was funny and I cried because I just felt like it. I felt strong because I felt vulnerable. Did you know there is strength in that? I appreciated the small things. I realized that people are only footprints in your life and it is up to you on rather YOU are going to be nice stilettos or steel toed boots. What type of imprint are you leaving?
Flaws and ALL!
I try to be perfect, which is my biggest flaw. I try to be too much to too many people. I bite off more than I can chew. I sometimes think so big that I do not smell the roses because I am so fixated on the garden. I pay too much attention to details. I give until I give out. I will never win an award for “being the most patient.” I do not like when people put their expectations about me on me. It makes me feel uneasy. I have had to learn to lower my expectations on how people will treat me and higher my expectations on how I should be treated. “The expecting to be treating like I treat them” thingy is not working. I am not balanced. I am either cold or hot. I do not like asking for help because it makes me feel vulnerable. I do not like to talk about myself. I do not take compliments well even though I like them. Sometimes I feel like an alien. I expect people to think like me, and most of the time they do not. I hate to be disappointed even though that is a part of life. I would rather have an honest “NO” than a fake “YES.” I do not like people to do things for me because I always feel like someone is going to throw it back up in my face or make me feel like I am going to owe them something in return. I want people to ride the same elevator with me to the top but most of them drop out on the second floor. That bothers me.
I look in the mirror and I like what I see. I think my flaws make me unique and I like being different. I like to write even when I misspell words or use bad grammar. I love to laugh. I love to make people happy. I like to inspire. I like gummy worms and cheese puffs. I love my spiritual growth and my “Cool Christian” journey. I love when I hear God’s voice tell me something and I am obedient. I love to learn and grow. I think my weaknesses are what make me strong. I love the sound of rain and the ocean. I like people who own who they are even if society criticizes them. I love people who love GOD and they show it. I like people who have courage and a soft heart.
With all of my flaws, I love me. XOXO
Is it me?
Sometimes I struggle. In 2012, I had to let go of my old life and embraced a new life. In this transition, people and things in my life were deleted. The best part of it was that most of them deleted themselves. I did not have to block their number or anything like that. YIPPEEE!!! They did the work for me. This makes me happy because it marks off one less thing on my very long “TO DO” list. Thank you so much God for removing them in your own special way. (I know you were behind it because I would never be that good) God you created me a certain type of way and I will not waver. Aren’t you proud? 
However, I will always work on being better. Today was good but not all of my days are the same. I am constantly “under construction.” I guess I will be this way until there is no more breathe in me. I think I can do this. (Shrugging shoulders) God, I have your number on speed dial and there is always “knee mail.” I can always count on you to answer.
I have noticed that people nowadays want “fans and not friends.” Friends tell you the truth and “fans” go along with whatever you say and do that benefits them at that time. I know I always express this but it is just so true. I try to be a friend even when some people are not mine. You gave me “the gift of giving” and I had to learn that not everyone should be a recipient of that gift. If this were one of the gifts that I had a receipt for, I would have definitely stood in the return line for that one. God, do not get me wrong I appreciate everything you give me but that gift of giving does not come in handy all of the time. I am just saying. Lawd knows I LOVE gifts but sometimes people are just so doggone ungrateful. I know I am preaching to the choir by saying this to you, huh?
I have watched people worship idols like “Google”, “Astrology” and all of the “Social Media” outlets. The number of “likes” and “reposts” validates their insecurities. Why do people not think that God is enough validation? Jesus died for our sins. Why is that not enough? God and Jesus do not have a “like” or “repost” button I guess so it does not count to them. They go to church every Sunday. They have a CD collection of the sermons that match every piece of clothing in their closet yet they live a double life. What is the point of getting spiritual food when you are still dying of starvation? If people do not understand me then I do not care. If people do not get me then I do not care. This is my camera of my life and not theirs. God you are my lenses. Let me not just have sight but let me be able to “see.” XOXO
Do we have until tomorrow?
Why is it that tomorrow is always more important than today? We will always get around to something tomorrow. We are always just too busy today. As another year approaches, we can hear all of the broken promises now. “I am going to do this… or that…. next year.” The question was once asked, “What would you do if you only had six months to live?” A long list of things was given and then they said, “How do you know you don’t?” This question really can make you think. How are you living your life? We live in a world where children are frightened to go to school and where innocent people are killed at their jobs, church, and at the movies. How did we get here? Time is a gift that you should never waste and take it as the best gift ever when you receive it. How is your relationship with God or are you putting that off until tomorrow also? This moment right now is where you start making changes not tomorrow or next year. Maybe today is the day that you need to spend more time with your friends and family. They would probably rather hear your voice than to see a text or your latest social media post. This is just some food for thought. Today is the day to make every second count. So instead of saying, “Happy New Year,” we will say “Happy New YOU” and that starts right now.
A Christmas Gift from Above
We adopted Dinora from Guatemala at the age of 6 weeks, and I was so thrilled to have a daughter!!! She came with a variety of diseases common in s 3rd World Country, scabies, intestinal parasites and malnutrition. But we loved her and fed her and she blossomed into an adorable baby with big black eyes and shiny black hair.
This blog is inspirational and this post says it all! Enjoy!
Cool Christian Club Philosophies
- “God first and people’s opinions last.” He is the only person you need to impress.
- “Do not keep your enemies close. Keep God close and he will keep your enemies away.”
- “The best way to lose pounds is to drop the dead weight.” You cannot make room for something new if you are holding on to something old. For example, old habits, outdated friendships, etc.
- “Friends are better than fans. Friends want what is best for you. Fans want what is best for them.”
- “If life gives you lemons, make a lemonade stand.” Why think small?
- “Do not give the devil more credit than he deserves. Sometimes God is shaking things up so that you can get better.”
- “Two gifts you should have all year around, the gift of giving and the gift of goodbye. Why save a seat for someone on your “jet” of life when people want to remain standing at the bus stop.” Give all year around. Time is more valuable than money. Keep your money in the bank.
- “Keep a savings account for yourself. This translates into self-preservation. Do not “spend” all of yourself on others that cannot make deposits. God is always your reserve fund.”
- “Walk, run, and talk in love. Not just with people you like or every other Monday, Wednesday, or Friday but with everybody, every day.”
- “Smile. It keeps you looking like you are 10 years younger than you are. No one wants to be around someone who looks like they ate a bag of lemons.” You are alive so that already gives you something to smile about.
- “Do not try to eat the whole pie. Take life one slice at a time.”
- “Do not let people live rent free in your mind. If they want a “modification” then they need to be current and not past due.”
- “Pay it forward. Do something nice for a complete stranger. It will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling.”
- “Adopt an “It’s not you, it’s me” attitude.” This will help you to stay out of the judging mode. It is just you that have outgrown them not that he or she is immature, etc.
- “Live your life as if you were writing your own eulogy.” What would people say about you if you were no longer here?
- “Do not try to change others but change yourself.” Be what you want to attract into your life. If you are cloudy then you will attract rain. If you are an actor then you will attract drama.
- “Read the bible for application and not just for memorization.” People want to see as an example and not just being able to throw out scriptures. That is just not cool.
- “Take ownership.” Do not use being human as an excuse for bad behavior. You did it because you wanted to. The End.
- “Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.”
- “Be thankful. Be thankful. Be thankful.”
Reflections
What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does God see? If you stare in a mirror long enough, you will start to point out your flaws. Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Most people will feel a certain type of way if they stare in a mirror long enough. They will begin to point out the crow’s feet around their eyes or the gray from their overdue color touch ups. This applies to males or females. Growing older is a blessing. It means you got another chance to make a “wrong” right. Take advantage of that. Apologizing does not make you weak. It actually makes you a stronger person. Some people will use a mirror to point out other people’s flaws just so they can feel more comfortable about their own. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. Just because a person does not quote everything that is in the bible does not mean they are not familiar with it, right? Do you need other people to validate you or is God’s validation enough? If actions are louder than words then what are your actions reflecting? If you do not like what is in the mirror then change the reflection and not the mirror. It is not everyone else…it is you.
When Being OK is OKAY!
People do not get you. It is OK. You do not think like everyone else. It is OK. Your opinion is different from others. It is OK. People think you are weird. It is OK. You do not agree with the majority. It is OK. You make mistakes. It is OK. Life did not give you the winning numbers. It is OK. You missed church last Sunday but you will make it this Sunday. It is OK. If the shoe doesn’t fit then don’t wear it. If it does fit then buy it only if it is on sale and you can afford it. It is OK. If that doesn’t work then it may not be meant for you. It is OK. If other people’s shoes make you uncomfortable. It is OK. God created YOU to be unique and not like anyone else. That makes it more than OK. OKAY?!
Time
Have you ever noticed that when we were younger we wished our time away? “I cannot wait until I turn 12 years old!” “When I get 13 years old I will be a teenager!””When I turn 16 years old I am going to get me a job and drive a Mercedes.” Little did we know that we were going to be driving our mom’s old Yugo. Whatever happened to the Yugo? (If you are from Generation Y then you will not get this joke). “When I turn 18 years old I am going to move out and get my own place!”(That translates into furnished basement in mom’s house). “When I turn 21 years old then I will not have to pretend that I am 21 years old, my ID will be real.” Do not act as if you have not at least tried it once! Even the coolest of Christian folks have some type of past. When we become older, we wish we had more time. The one thing that we do not cherish is the time that we have. We think about “could haves,” “would haves,” and “should have been” but at the end of the day we have to be grateful for the time we have now. People want to lie about their age because they do not want people to think they are old. While you are complaining about turning 50 years old, someone is wishing he or she had more time with their 5-year-old. People put more emphasizes on money than time. You can buy a Rolex but you cannot buy more time. Sometimes we tend to focus too much on the bad memories that we had with people. Those people never deserved our time to begin with and we need to focus more on the “right now.” Create memories that people will cherish. The material things will collect dust but the memories will last forever. At the end of the day, time is the one thing that has a “no refund or exchange” policy. How are you spending your time?
Being Typecast
Have you ever felt like you have been typecast? You always play the role of “bigger” person, “most considerate,” “glue”, and “superhuman.” You play those roles so good that no one every thinks about you. People depend on you so much that the whole “play” would be cancelled without you playing your role in their lives. Let’s break it down so that it can REALLY be understood.
CAST
BIGGER person- You are always the person that apologizes first, gives in first, and takes it for the “team.” You can never lose weight because you are always playing the BIGGER person.
Most Considerate- You still dust off your Miss/Mr. Congeniality trophy off once a week. You are the one who plans the company’s potluck. All your dates end with “you are so nice and sweet but….”You wonder why the jerks and bad people get everything. Society tells you that nice people finish last but what they don’t tell you is that nice people wait longer to finish first.
GLUE- The world would not make it without you. (That rhymed did you get that?) You keep everything together. Your phone rings constantly because people need you or maybe you need to be needed. Your nickname is “peacemaker.” You think everyone should get along, hold hands, and sing “Kumbaya.” You know the person in the choir who wants to sing this as a solo. They can’t sing a lick but you let them do it anyway because you don’t want to hurt their feelings. Everyone deserves a chance to hurt someone’s eardrums, right? Everyone else comes first and you are always last.
SUPERHUMAN- You have an “S” on your chest but your name starts with “T.” Your close friends call you “tired” for short. The reason for this is that you get tired from having saved everybody. You rush to the aid of people who don’t even call you. You wear so many hats that you become color blind to what matches what. You become invisible to the average person because they don’t see you as human. They see you as the bank, the nurturer, the confidant, etc. You find yourself frustrated because you help people who do not even try to help themselves. You feel helpful when you do things but guilty when you don’t.
EXTRAS
“Associates” (not a friend), “Emotional Vampire” (you have perfected sucking the life out of people), “Takers” (you take “give and take” literally-someone gives and your role is to take).
How about taking on the role of “forgiver”, “appreciative,” or “thankful?” God gave us all roles to play and some may be harder than others. He will never give us a role that he doesn’t equip us to be able to play and to play well. Someone has to do it so why not you? Today think about what role you play in people lives. Do people love to see you coming or grateful to see you leaving?
