CREDENTIALS: While helping a lady choose colors for her home, she stated, "Everyone I talk to about choosing colors for my home says the same thing.....go talk to Yvette." I explained to her that I have done this for a long time and people have come to trust my color eye. Then she asked me a question that I have had several people ask me lately, "What are your credentials?"
A few days later, I was sharing with a woman about how excited I am to be involved with a group of women in my area who are seeking God to make changes in the lives of other women, here and around the world! We were talking a bit more and I invited her to one of our meetings and told her I was on the Board for this group of women and we would be excited to have her attend a meeting. Her response, "Oh....you're on their Board? Really? How did that happen?" Then I shared with her how God had called several new members to this ministry and how diverse each new board member is and what exciting things we are seeing come out of the unity within the body of Christ that we all share. She then added, "But...I didn't know you had THOSE kinds of credentials. What are your credentials?"
ADVENTURES: It has often been said that I am not a very adventurous person. I would beg to differ. Adventure for me is taking the same road to work each day and enjoy the subtle differences that I see.......a sunrise or sunset is always an adventure. It is seeing my children function as young adults and struggle here and there along the way all-the-while treasuring within my heart the little moments I have shared with them and the lessons that THEY have taught ME. It is in looking forward to my morning cup of coffee with vanilla creamer in it and knowing that through the years I have ventured out and tried other flavors but have come to LOVE this one!
ALL IN: This year's theme at my FT job is "All In". My boss signs his emails, "I'm All In" and often asks us "Are you 'all in'." Then on the rare occasion that I have had to attend church due to having to work the weekends, our Pastor is teaching a new series he has titled "All In." Of course, then the Lord takes this phrase and many times during my personal devotion time, listening to Christian radio on my way to work and quite time just before I doze off to sleep, I hear Him ask me "Are you 'all in'.
So why post a blog about these things? Well, because the Lord is using these things to remind me that HE is the One that I have credentials from....He is the one equipping and preparing me for the things He has planned for my life. My identity is in Him and through Him I am living out the life that He has for me to share with those around me in big and small ways, as He directs me. HE is the One that helps me see the little things that are different in my otherwise ordinary and repetitive life.....to see them not as boring and mundane or predictable, but rather seeing the adventure in the simplicity of the usual. And it is HE who gives me the desire to be "all in" when it comes to my relationship with Him.
What lessons/verses or repetitive themes in your life is He using to grow you and teach you? What have you learned from these things?
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Embracing Change
Ever have those times when change comes along and hits you without you even seeing it coming? I'm not talking about those changes that (gasp) I don't have control over.....like a loved one or close friend dying, life choices being made by a loved one, etc. I am speaking about those painful inner changes that need to happen and that tug and pull at your heart and require effort on my part to actual occur.
In the not so distant past, change like this would make me freeze and shutter a bit before I would become upset and then eventually, yes often inevitably, I'd then have to deal with it. Now, though, I am actually at a point in my life where I am fine with change....actually embracing it! This change is due to much prayer and seeking His guidance for my life, and the realization that I am much better off when I listen to Him and His plans for my life.
With that being said, I know that a few changes are just around the corner so that my words are actions and not just words. :) That is how the Lord is.....teaches me then tests me in that area a bit. I have discovered that there are lessons in change and God is molding me to be more like Him and in order for that to happen, I have a lot of changing to do! Boy howdy! LOL!
The Bible tells us that there is a season for everything. Check it out here:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
A time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what was planted;
A time to kill,
And a Time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to case away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
What is it in your life that needs to change? I would love to encourage you to embrace those changes! I would love to hear from you how embracing change has effected your life. In the past few years, I have been witness to a couple of friends who have been thrown curve balls in life and had to deal with major changes. Both of these wonderful friends have embrace these changes and are now using the experience to help others! Love that!
In the not so distant past, change like this would make me freeze and shutter a bit before I would become upset and then eventually, yes often inevitably, I'd then have to deal with it. Now, though, I am actually at a point in my life where I am fine with change....actually embracing it! This change is due to much prayer and seeking His guidance for my life, and the realization that I am much better off when I listen to Him and His plans for my life.
With that being said, I know that a few changes are just around the corner so that my words are actions and not just words. :) That is how the Lord is.....teaches me then tests me in that area a bit. I have discovered that there are lessons in change and God is molding me to be more like Him and in order for that to happen, I have a lot of changing to do! Boy howdy! LOL!
The Bible tells us that there is a season for everything. Check it out here:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
A time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what was planted;
A time to kill,
And a Time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to case away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
What is it in your life that needs to change? I would love to encourage you to embrace those changes! I would love to hear from you how embracing change has effected your life. In the past few years, I have been witness to a couple of friends who have been thrown curve balls in life and had to deal with major changes. Both of these wonderful friends have embrace these changes and are now using the experience to help others! Love that!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Dreaming...And Then Some
Lately, I have been working on making some of my God-given dreams a reality. The first step in the process was to compile a list of dreams.....100 to be more precise. Well, after a few days of thinking it through, I purchased a journal to use through this process and began to write down my dreams. Big, little, and everything in-between that I could imagine. Things I would love to do if money, time, talent etc were not an issue. For someone who is more of a realist than a dreamer, this has been a much harder task than anticipated and has taken some significant time. In total obsessive/compulsive fashion, I have made a commitment to myself to make sure that I jot down at least 100 dreams before beginning to work on them. I did not put them in alphabetical order or categories, but believe me....I was tempted to do so! Because I know myself and I know that once I reach 100 I will put a limit on what I think God can do with these dreams He has placed in me.......so I have also committed to adding to it as the Lord directs. No limits!
Once the list reaches 100, I will continue to add to it as He directs, but I will also take the next steps in making a few of these dreams come to fruition. This is what I am super excited about!
Having grown up with "less than" most people, I have never really been a dreamer. My life approach has been to take each day as it comes. So, the first dream that I have began to work on is to things about Heaven at least once a day. Seems simple, even logical. But to me, honestly, it always seemed so frivolous. The Bible teaches that if you believe in Jesus and that He died on the cross for the sins of all humankind, and proclaim His name as the King of King and Lord of Lords in your heart and live, then you will go to Heaven when you die. So, my thoughts have always been, "Why think about something that is already promised to happen? What's the point in thinking about Heaven?" Is it a coincident that He would have, "Think about Heaven at least once a day" as one of the first dreams that I wrote down in my dream journal? I don't believe it was a coincident but rather a divinely inspired, long-forgotten dream placed in my heart one evening long ago when I was about 7 years old as I was laying down on the grass in my friend's backyard out under the stars one night wondering where I came from and why I am here. It has been a blessing to think about Heaven each day for the past few weeks! One thing I have discovered as I have been dreaming about Heaven is that my thoughts are not big enough to imagine its vastness! To think that the Lord would have me first work on a dream to think about something each day that is so fast and endless and so unrestricted....yes, pretty sure He is giving me a glimpse of how He wants me to view these dreams as I begin to bring them into fruition in my life. To dream so big that only He could make it come to pass. Amazing feeling!
Looking forward to working through this list of dreams, adding to it as I go and as He leads and so super stoked to see where it is He is leading me through this journey. Whoot!
"If your dream isn't big enough to scare you.....it isn't big enough!"
Once the list reaches 100, I will continue to add to it as He directs, but I will also take the next steps in making a few of these dreams come to fruition. This is what I am super excited about!
Having grown up with "less than" most people, I have never really been a dreamer. My life approach has been to take each day as it comes. So, the first dream that I have began to work on is to things about Heaven at least once a day. Seems simple, even logical. But to me, honestly, it always seemed so frivolous. The Bible teaches that if you believe in Jesus and that He died on the cross for the sins of all humankind, and proclaim His name as the King of King and Lord of Lords in your heart and live, then you will go to Heaven when you die. So, my thoughts have always been, "Why think about something that is already promised to happen? What's the point in thinking about Heaven?" Is it a coincident that He would have, "Think about Heaven at least once a day" as one of the first dreams that I wrote down in my dream journal? I don't believe it was a coincident but rather a divinely inspired, long-forgotten dream placed in my heart one evening long ago when I was about 7 years old as I was laying down on the grass in my friend's backyard out under the stars one night wondering where I came from and why I am here. It has been a blessing to think about Heaven each day for the past few weeks! One thing I have discovered as I have been dreaming about Heaven is that my thoughts are not big enough to imagine its vastness! To think that the Lord would have me first work on a dream to think about something each day that is so fast and endless and so unrestricted....yes, pretty sure He is giving me a glimpse of how He wants me to view these dreams as I begin to bring them into fruition in my life. To dream so big that only He could make it come to pass. Amazing feeling!
Looking forward to working through this list of dreams, adding to it as I go and as He leads and so super stoked to see where it is He is leading me through this journey. Whoot!
"If your dream isn't big enough to scare you.....it isn't big enough!"
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Seagulls, Pecking Orders and Blessings
While driving to work the other morning, I was (as I do each morning) listening to K-Love radio and the morning host shared a recent incident in which the Lord spoke to him. While feeding seagulls, he came to realize that there are three kinds of seagulls. When a cracker is held out for them to eat, there are those seagulls who hang back and watch from a distance as though they are afraid to take the cracker. Also, there are those who settle for hanging out on the ground and settle for the crumbs. Then there are those who go right in and take the entire cracker right from the hand of the giver. His observation was that we are like the seagulls in that we choose to A.) observe from the sidelines, B.) settle for the crumbs of a blessing, or C.) go right in and take the gift from the Giver.
After hearing this, and knowing much about the ways of seagulls, it dawned on me that the seagulls react in certain ways because in their "culture" there is a pecking order. The strongest and fittest are the ones to fly right in and take it from the giver's hand. However, with the Lord, it is not this way! We ALL have equal access to the blessings He hold out from His children. While we settle for watching from the sidelines or picking up the crumbs left from others, He desires for all of us to have faith and trust enough to fly in and swoop up the blessings He holds out for us.
Now you, like me, might think that it is selfish to "grab up" the blessings He has in store for me. Actually, He is FULL of blessings and is overjoyed to share the many blessings He has with each one willing to partake of them!
This insight and the wonderful analogy He gave to me as well has changed my outlook on blessings. It is not that He is not wanting to, willing to, or going to bless me....it is whether or not I am wanting to, willing to, and going to dive in and take the blessing, giving Him full credit and thanks for His love for me. It is not out of greed that we receive blessings, it isn't because we have earned the blessing or deserve it...it is that the Father wants to give us blessings and is elated when we accept what He is offering.
After hearing this, and knowing much about the ways of seagulls, it dawned on me that the seagulls react in certain ways because in their "culture" there is a pecking order. The strongest and fittest are the ones to fly right in and take it from the giver's hand. However, with the Lord, it is not this way! We ALL have equal access to the blessings He hold out from His children. While we settle for watching from the sidelines or picking up the crumbs left from others, He desires for all of us to have faith and trust enough to fly in and swoop up the blessings He holds out for us.
Now you, like me, might think that it is selfish to "grab up" the blessings He has in store for me. Actually, He is FULL of blessings and is overjoyed to share the many blessings He has with each one willing to partake of them!
This insight and the wonderful analogy He gave to me as well has changed my outlook on blessings. It is not that He is not wanting to, willing to, or going to bless me....it is whether or not I am wanting to, willing to, and going to dive in and take the blessing, giving Him full credit and thanks for His love for me. It is not out of greed that we receive blessings, it isn't because we have earned the blessing or deserve it...it is that the Father wants to give us blessings and is elated when we accept what He is offering.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Getting Back Into It
It has been since last December that I posted anything here on my blogspot. Feeling a prompt recently to get back into posting here, I thought it best to do a bit of catching up.
Dec of 2012 was my last post, and I was depressed a bit. Our son had moved out and moved back in after a roommate issue. Since then, he has moved back to Eugene, found employment and some great new roomies and is doing well.
Our daughter has moved out....moved back....moved out.....moved back and is now living here but gone much of the days in each month. She is still "looking" for a job....we'll see where this goes. LOL!
My husband recently went to Montana to help his sister move and to discuss the possibility of his parents moving closer to us all. That will be nice.
In March, I took a huge leap of faith (for me anyway) and starting meeting with some other Christian gals at a twice monthly meeting titled Toast the King (part of the Mighty Women of Vision ministry based in Eugene). It has been great to see who the Lord brings to our meetings! I have set some goals to get the word out and will see where God takes us. So exciting!! It was with humility and honor that I took another leap of faith and spoke at the June Community of Unity (also part of the Mighty Women of Vision ministry) meeting in Eugene. God had given me an old lesson with a new spin.......you are loved, God can redeem anyone from anything and we are His daughters!
It is wonderful to be doing what I feel God has for me to do. I plan to start writing a book about God's grace in the lives of women and will begin the process in the fall......Lord leading of course. :)
Wanting to get back into the swing of things and focus on blogging a bit more. Looking forward to opportunities to use my gifts as He sees fit.
Dec of 2012 was my last post, and I was depressed a bit. Our son had moved out and moved back in after a roommate issue. Since then, he has moved back to Eugene, found employment and some great new roomies and is doing well.
Our daughter has moved out....moved back....moved out.....moved back and is now living here but gone much of the days in each month. She is still "looking" for a job....we'll see where this goes. LOL!
My husband recently went to Montana to help his sister move and to discuss the possibility of his parents moving closer to us all. That will be nice.
In March, I took a huge leap of faith (for me anyway) and starting meeting with some other Christian gals at a twice monthly meeting titled Toast the King (part of the Mighty Women of Vision ministry based in Eugene). It has been great to see who the Lord brings to our meetings! I have set some goals to get the word out and will see where God takes us. So exciting!! It was with humility and honor that I took another leap of faith and spoke at the June Community of Unity (also part of the Mighty Women of Vision ministry) meeting in Eugene. God had given me an old lesson with a new spin.......you are loved, God can redeem anyone from anything and we are His daughters!
It is wonderful to be doing what I feel God has for me to do. I plan to start writing a book about God's grace in the lives of women and will begin the process in the fall......Lord leading of course. :)
Wanting to get back into the swing of things and focus on blogging a bit more. Looking forward to opportunities to use my gifts as He sees fit.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Joyful in Depression
It has been a rough season for me personally. With Christmas coming and going and very little under the tree this year, I was beginning to get a bit depressed. Not at all usual for me. With having to use up my remaining vacation time I have earned at work, I was able to take some time and find joy in the depression that wanted to surround me. We were not able to "go" anywhere or "do" anything for my vacation due to financial restraints, but I have been able to find some time to "go" along in my faith walk and to allow Him to "do" many things in my heart of hearts. From the trials of owning our own businesses to the ups and downs of my other job, a close relative facing prison time, a son moving home again after struggling to make it on his own, and a few other things that are to personal to mention here, it has been a rough time for sure. BUT, I know that through all of these trials, God is teaching us a lesson or two or three.
The Lord has used James Chapter 1 to speak to me lately and I wanted to share this passage. It is so encouraging to know that there is good even in the things that so often times seem bad to us. God is at work in and through the trials of life. How often do I disregard the fact that even in the trials of life....God is in the center of it all! Hopefully, you will find strength toady in these words written so very long ago....a reminder that God is always near to those He loves and calls His own!
The Lord has used James Chapter 1 to speak to me lately and I wanted to share this passage. It is so encouraging to know that there is good even in the things that so often times seem bad to us. God is at work in and through the trials of life. How often do I disregard the fact that even in the trials of life....God is in the center of it all! Hopefully, you will find strength toady in these words written so very long ago....a reminder that God is always near to those He loves and calls His own!
James 1: 2-12
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Treasure of Friendship
Just taking a moment to share something I came across today. This is from a daily devotional I receive. It was written by Joan Horner. Thought I would share it here. Her is what Joan has to say:
The Treasure of Friendship
We need friends. They multiply our joys and divide our sorrows. They serve as mirrors to show us things about ourselves we need to see. Friendships are stronger many times than family relationships. We are able to relax and allow more easily for the faults of our friends.
Now, is't that the truth? My friends laugh with me, cry with me, call me just to chat about nothing in particular, love me through thick and thin, help me through life's big and little problems, tell me the truth....even if it hurts, love me deeply, care for me intensely, and make me smile when my heart hurts beyond words. They know when to speak, what to say and how to say it. They keep quiet when needed and scream if they have to. Love you, my friends and I am so grateful that the Lord saw fit for us to be friends!
Now, is't that the truth? My friends laugh with me, cry with me, call me just to chat about nothing in particular, love me through thick and thin, help me through life's big and little problems, tell me the truth....even if it hurts, love me deeply, care for me intensely, and make me smile when my heart hurts beyond words. They know when to speak, what to say and how to say it. They keep quiet when needed and scream if they have to. Love you, my friends and I am so grateful that the Lord saw fit for us to be friends!
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