2014: February Goals

january goals were a bit sad and i know it's already the eleventh, but it's not ever too late for monthly goals!

1. start running again
2. use my camera more
3. read 2 books (already finished with 1)
4. have $45 in my house of rose challenge (i promise to blog about this soon)

saturday devotion v3

i know as humans we are always looking to the next big thing.

when i was working in the Summer of 2012, all i could think about was going to YWAM.

when i was in the training phase of YWAM, all i could think of was when we would go to Cambodia.

when i was in Cambodia, all i could think of was going back to Nebraska.

when i came back to Nebraska, all i could think of was what did God want next for me?

when i was focused on the future, i missed the present.

God has called us to live in the present. yes we should prepare for the future, but that doesn't mean we should ignore what is right in front of me.

there are so many things that i'm waiting patiently for - marriage, kids, etc. but what does God want for me right now?

i was reminded of a devotion i completed earlier this week. it revolved around the verse Philippians 2.1-11:

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God ra thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (ESV, Biblia.com)

this passage is beautiful, but one major thing I got out of it was verses 3-5. wow, did i feel a slap in the face. all that time wasted, thinking about something that wasn't happening and it was focused on myself. i was definitely ambitious, selfishly thinking about myself. i put myself before others. how many relationships did i weaken by not being present? who was Jesus pointing out to love that i just turned a blind eye to?

basically, all i'm saying is it's not about me, it's not about you, it's not about us.

it's about Him and about others, here and now.

currently v4

CURRENTLY I'M...

Reading: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel

Watching: Downton Abbey and Sons of Anarchy
Listening: Classical Music - This has been a great soother. I'm also listening to my favorite podcasts.

Wishing: I took a longer break from work.

Thinking: About all I want to do with the blog!
Praying: That my temper would calm down.

Loving: Flappy Bird - C'mon, i'm just saying what you were thinking

What are you CURRENTLY doing?

want more currently? i am an avid instagrammer! 

2014: january in review

launched the new blog / had a giveaway / shared a few currently's 1 2 3 / made some goals for the year and january / started a new feature - saturday devotions / shared my 27 before 28 goals

how did my january goals work out?
recap:

1. Have at least 25 granny squares completed (I'm writing a CHALLENGE post soon.) (epic fail, but not all is lost!)
2. $15 in my new savings account (another challenge)
3. Read 2 books (my goal on goodreads is 24 books). I actually accomplished my goal of 13 last year! (read one -almost done w/ book #2)
4. Send "happy mail" to some close friends. (yeah, this didn't happen either)

1 out of 4? that's not too great! but again, i'm not worried. i still completed a lot of stuff this month. february will have a different focus! how did your january go? i'd love to hear about it!

saturday devotion v2

i'm wonderful at creating distance. between the people i love, the people i can't stand, and everyone in between.

sometimes the biggest chasm seems to be with my Maker.

i fall into a pit that seems impossible to climb out of, no matter what i do. but that's the point. it's not about me. if i keep trying in my strength, i can't do anything.

there's a circle affect. fail, distance myself, try to climb out of the pit with my own strength, realize i'm not getting out, call on God, fail... get it?

as i continue to fight the vicious cycle, one thing is clear, i'm missing something.

THE BIG PICTURE

i should be distancing myself:
Philippians 4:8 -
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

i should be distancing myself from anything that doesn't fit this verse. that means no negativity, from me or others, filling myself with things that will lift me up and not let me down!

do you live in that vicious cycle? what verses have helped you?

twenty-seven before twenty-eight

last year in my old blog, i wrote a blog post about twenty-seven things i wanted to accomplish before i turned twenty-eight. let's revisit and see if anything needs "editing".

1. launch my new blog (it's here!)
2. document my 27th year with project life (i've been so poor at this, but i'm about start my book with jan)
3. journal at least once a week (failing)
4. read through the bible (still in Genesis)
5. visit the grand canyon 
6. sew at least one piece of clothing (really, how long have i had this on a list)
7. learn at least 20 songs on guitar (i need help getting it off a shelf, poor excuse i know) 
8. learn to speak basic french
9. learn to speak basic spanish
10. grow out my hair (i can put it in a pony tail!)
11. move into my own place 
12. have daily quiet times with God (it's almost 100%)
13. go on spontaneous road trip
14. spend more time baking
15. write more letters
16. find a craft and hone in on my skills
17. find a place to volunteer
18. exercise my singing voice in some capacity
19. visit one major city outside of phoenix
20. explore phoenix
21. get involved with a local church (i'm attending Church on the Journey and have already been put into a few areas of leadership!)
22. find a community/set of friends
23. learn to extend grace and forgiveness
24. begin to dream big
25. start walking again (before it get's too hot)
26. learn at least 10 9 crochet stitches (learned granny square) 
27. go to disney land

so, it's getting there. i need to work on consistency. do you have a list of things to complete before your next birthday? if so, i'd love to hear them! share them in the comments!

saturday devotion v1

When taking your focus off of Jesus, you lose the one thing that can sustain you. 

It's crazy that my word for 2014 is focus, because I feel that's the one thing I haven't been able to do.

Well I've been focused, but on all the wrong things.

When we take our eyes off the one who holds everything, we begin to sink into desperation, self-doubt, pity, and judgement of others. We've internally told ourselves we are better than who we really are.

Life isn't easy. It's not suppose to be. If it were, we'd all be millionaires and everyone would win American Idol. But it's not easy. And when we take the focus off of Him and put it on ourselves, it becomes almost unbearable . Man was not created to carry the weight, he was created to surrender and have the One who knows all be our Protector, Provider, and everything. 

When we give God only something, we've told Him we, our own selves, are everything. When we give God everything, He shows us that we are only something, but what a special something that is!

When I focus on me, I lose the big picture. What is the big picture? Summing it up is hard but Micah 6.8 says it pretty well...

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously. (Micah 6:8 MSG)

Nowhere does it talk about looking to self. I've realized I have many idols in my life, but the biggest one stares right back at me in the mirror.

Today I'm challenging you to stop living for yourself and living for the only One who knows you better than yourself.