5 Things I Love

1.Yeah, yeah, I’m sure if you’ve been reading a while and saw the title then you just knew that this little guy would be on this list.  I love Lindo especially his amazing hugs and asking to be on my shoulders.

2. Bare feet!  I greatly dislike socks and even shoes. Going barefoot is the best and if not that then at least flip flops.  I must say that being back in the snow…I’ve gotten multiple comments about how I need to wear shoes…boo.

3. Wearing sunglasses on my head.  They make me feel summery and happy.  Oh and I love this girly too! She makes my heart happy!  Though, I’m not so keen on her living miles and miles away now instead of down my stairs…

4 and well 5 too there’s a lot of love in this. This picture shows so many random things I love: Wearing my hair in braids. The hat Tara made for me because I love her! and the hat.  The other hat that I got in SA hanging on the door. Being able to hang things on my door like sweatshirts and purses is so handy. Painted wooden chairs.  All the bright happy colors.  The South African flag in the background because I love SA and the people and God’s calling on my life. Also, below the flag now is a poster of the Hope House kids and I love them. My Lerato shirt from June because I love June, Lerato (love in Sesotho) is my name and that it supports Thrive.

ht: 5 things I love

Leading Yourself

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my calling sure?
2. Is my vision clear?
3. Is my passion burning hot?
4. Is my character fully submitted to Christ?
5. Is my pride subdued or is my ego messing with it?
6. Are my fears at bay? Or do I have anxiety?
7. Is my psychological baggage affecting the way I make decisions?
8. Are my ears open to the voice of God?
9. Is my pace sustainable?
10. Is my heart for God increasing or decreasing?

ht: Bill Hybels

Are You Caught?

“When you look in the mirror, you see who you used to be rather than who you are.”

“Teach me to see me as who I am in Christ because in Christ you are completely forgiven.”

“You are doing things for him because you are afraid that if you don’t he will leave.”

“If there is going to be no commitment, you are better than being treated like you’re something from Rent-A-Center. You are valuable in the sight of God.”

“The easiest thing for her to do would be to jump right back into the relationship when things get tough.”

“He wants to you live the life that he created you to live.”

“Jesus’ passion can overcome your problem.”

“I’m obsessed with who you could be if you would just give your life to me.” -Jesus

-Random quotes from Perry Noble’s sermon “Caught”

Vision

Forgive me, I took these notes from a sermon a few months ago and am just now getting to them.  Unfortunately, I do not remember who gave the sermon….my bad.  So, if you know, let me know because I like to give credit where credit is due.

“the clearer the vision of your life, the fewer the options”

As long as the vision is general then it is not helpful in making decisions.  The clearer and more defined vision you have the easier it is to make decisions based on your vision.  What do I want life to look like in 3, 5, 7 years?  Nehemiah served as a cup bearer before taking further steps toward his dream, his vision for his life.  Visions sometimes begin as a burden.  Nehemiah’s burden was to go rebuild the walls and he based decisions off of that.  Though, sometimes our visions need to be altered.  Our “me-focused” visions get thrown out the window to make room for some even bigger “God-focused” visions.  So, how is your vision?  Are you making decisions on your clear vision?

Plans

I’m a planner.  I make plans, make back-up plans, back-up of the back-up plan, and so forth.  I package up this nice, neat red ribboned box of how everything should go and often get upset or disappointed when the plan does not happen.  Though, most of the time what does happen turns out even better or at least I adjust and learn to enjoy anyway.  So, why do I still plan?? I feel safe.  I feel in control.  I have direction.  For me, plans can motivate, inspire and provide a goal, but they can also hinder and restrict.

My plans to go to college and graduate school helped motivate me to perform well in school.  Planning to transfer pushed me to go through the application process, trust, and step into an unknown situation.  Planning to spend time reading the Bible, devotions, in prayer, with friends, ect. all have sometimes allowed me to positively use my time and resources.

Yet, sometimes my plans consist of the “expected” or “safe” thing to do.  For example, I expected and those around me expected I would go to some sort of graduate school or law school right after college…yet that does not seem to be happening anytime soon.  Even though I was unsure and did not really know if I wanted to go, I still went right ahead and planned and acted as if I were going to go.  These type of plans can narrow my vision and place me in another cookie-cutter life plan chasing after “success.”

Here are the verses my NASB Concordance came up with under plan:

PLAN design, scheme

Exodus 26:30

Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain.

Isaiah 25:1

O Lord, You are my God;

I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;

For You have worked wonders,

Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness

Jeremiah 18:12

But they will say, “It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.”

Acts 2:23

this Man was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

For the first time in a VERY long time, I am plan-less.  I have no clue what I’ll be doing next week let alone a month or two from now.  The only thing I know is that I have housing until May–even that I could leave if I absolutely needed to (I don’t plan on doing that though!).  Also, I don’t have another person to factor into my plans/actions.  Oddly freeing, yet ridiculously sad and scary.  Not going to lie, I miss my plans…

-Katy Rose

p.s. I’m getting a mac!