Sunday Seven

Sunday Seven

I was recently asked, "What can you control?" My schedule was busy, filled with uncontrollable variables. A lot of them were making me angry. I've been reflecting on the answers, which I want to share with you today. 

1 • How much I expose myself to Scripture reading. Yesterday at church, I was reminded that Scripture shapes both my opinions and prayers. The reading and study of Scripture are empirical in my life, no matter how busy my week may be. 

2 •  When faced with toxic, negative comments and complaints, I can control my response. The person wants a reaction, but I believe that a response is something I can control. The best way to provide a Biblical response is to be sure that my attitude lines up with what I read. 

3 • Toxic and negative complaints are part of what I do. Over the years, I learned to set up and maintain great boundaries. I turn off comments and notifications. I go outside and enjoy nature. I even passed the torch to another coworker who would read each complaint and only notify me of something truly important. These and other steps, which I can control, allowed me to keep my joy and peace. 

4 • "The excellence of my job" was the first answer that came to my mind. I can't control variables. I can't control what other people think of me, how they react to me, and how mean they are to me. What I can control is how I rely on excellence as I work. I decided that I do my work unto the Lord because I serve Him. Excellence is costly yet worth the price of the peace it brings. 

5 • I can control how much I exercise. I can control how many hours of sleep I get at night. I can control how many servings of vegetables I eat during busy weeks. I decided that I could mindlessly browse the internet or I can be proactive about my health. It was within my control to buy a bag of spinach and a case of strawberries, so I did just that. I felt much better, although I was tired at the end of the week.

6 • I can control my response and heart attitude toward people who manage insecurities in public. I often tell myself, "Cintia, you don't deal with public insecurity, and you do not have to have the same attitude as this dear person." Then, I stand in my confidence. Standing in my confidence has saved me from drowning in the insecurity of others. I do not believe that embracing someone else's insecurity is the same as loving them. Oftentimes, people do not want to let go of their insecurity. I can't convince them otherwise. I can pray and I can stand in my confidence. 

7 • It may seem counterproductive, but I can control how much I think and do for others during a busy week. When God clearly puts someone in my mind and heart, I go to action. I write a note or I give a small token. I can control how much good I show to others. I discussed with my kids this weekend that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We all shared how much joy giving brings to our hearts. We prayed that God would allow us to be more alert of those around us who need to be uplifted. Uplifting someone is completely within my control. 

How about you? What can you control?

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Easter Practices for Busy Families

Hello my friend! If you are so incredibly busy with your family's activities, you will love this episode.  

I speak about the easy practices my family adopted over the past 15 years to make Easter a meaninful season for the soul. You can listen and subscribe here.

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Sunday Seven

 Sunday Seven

1. Never allow anyone to establish your potential. If they close doors, let them. If they say you can't, don't take it to heart. God is the one who called you. He can open and close doors. He can do what seems impossible. If He allows you to be where you are He will also sustain you there by His grace. 
2. Our greatest potential may be hiding behind our greatest fear. Asking yourself "why" may lead you to recognize the source of that mindset. 
3. God is still assuring us of His presence amid the storms of life. When we choose to get on our knees and read His book, we find evidence of who He is to us and in us. My conviction is that though my situation does not always change, my resolve to stand firm and trust God is strengthened. 
4. Holding on to grudges is a waste of time. Passing personal grudges on unsuspecting people is like planting weeds in a perfectly beautiful garden. This week I chose to get on my knees and repent from planting bad seeds on unsuspecting people. May God give me wisdom to speak only what encourages and blesses others. 
5. Distractions come to anyone who receives a word from God. The word I'm talking about are the words from the Bible. When we read and believe that Jesus is our peace, a distraction comes our way to derail us from this truth. I find it helpful to recognize distractions for what they are. I'm learning to go back to God's word and immerse myself in His truth. I benefit from speaking this truth to God in prayer as I fight against any distractions that come my way. God's word will always prevail, no matter what the enemy of our souls tries to do. 
6. I'm amazed at how some lovely humans use intimidation as their first line of contact. I learned to keep a smile on my face and the kindness of God in my heart. I never match their energy because that's not what God called me to do. He called me to represent Him at all times. I often use peace and self-control as the counter strategy for intimidation. So far so good. 
7. I'm grateful God brought us to Georgia. I can't thank God enough for our community. I never thought I'd work for the government but here I am serving God and community and loving my experience. 

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Voices

Listen to this Podcast episode here

How are you doing this year? 

What are the voices you are choosing to listen to? 

I sometimes find myself drowning in the media chatter out there. The messages are conflicting. They mostly do not bring peace nor do they encourage self-control. These messages come from a worldview that directly clashes with what the God of the Bible calls me to do. 

Over the years, I've learned to mute worldview voices so I can make room to hear what God has to say to me. Lately, I'm encouraging myself to "courageously continue."

The work God started in me is not finished yet. It takes courage to live what we believe. It also takes determination to live a life completely dedicated to the Savior. 

Let's make this more practical. 

What did God ask you to do last year? What were His priorities for you? Did you complete them? I know some seasons are not over in 12 months. Marriage and parenting for example. We get to courageously continue to be the spouses and parents God is calling us to be. 

God is always available to guide us with His wisdom and love. It is up to me to get on my knees and pray. It is up to me to open my Bible and read. 

Some of us got another chance to live on earth thanks to God's providence. I remember when my health was poor and God allowed me to change my habits so I could walk away from a lifestyle of high blood pressure, stress, and the things that go along with all of that. I took that chance and I try to be a good steward of the health God so graciously gives me. I can also add that to the courageously continue category. 

How about any goals and dreams you have for this year? You can still reach them. It takes courage to take the steps that will lead you there. 

Today I want to invite you to consider the voices you are allowing to crowd your thoughts. If they are not helping you, mute them. 

Remember the voice of God always needs to be the loudest voice we hear. 

I also want to invite you to courageously continue to follow God's commands. Obedience to God's will and His ways is what Christ did Himself. We get to do it as followers of Christ. 

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Lessons for a Busy Spring

• Listen to the Podcast here.

I was driving one of my kids to a class one evening and she reminded me that this is the most "chill" season of the year for us. I'm glad she is starting to notice how our lives flow throughout the year. Mind you, "chill" means multiple classes, rehearsals, performances, church responsibilities, and such. We also spoke about how we get increasingly busy as the Easter season comes along. 

I believe in learning from my life. As I think back to busy seasons, here are a few things I am reminding myself: 

Don't reinvent the wheel 

I first thought about this when I was wracking my brain trying to come up with new year goals. Why reinvent the wheel if I can do what works? I believe in pushing myself. I'm a fan of achieving more and growing exponentially. I also know that I can keep going and doing things that work well during busy seasons. 

Prepare for the busy season

Preparation is my superpower. While it does not guarantee that things will be perfect, it will help me have a smoother ride. 

Master short cuts 

Have you been in a car with someone who shows you a shortcut they're proud of? In your head, there is a better shortcut. If you are kind and considerate, you will celebrate the person's discovery without sharing your personal preference. Shortcuts are just that: personal preferences that make sense to us. It is good to know which shortcuts will make your life easier during busy seasons. For me, anything that helps me get a healthy dinner on the table is worth the investment. I know that when I invest thought and time, I make good choices in this area. 

Schedule rest 

We often think of burning the midnight oil when we are busy. Scheduling rest guarantees we have the energy to complete our tasks. The best way for me to get rest is at night. I focus on getting enough rest at night so I can wake up with energy. I also try to get downtime when I'm off work. Pushing myself to produce without any rest is unproductive and unhealthy.   

Get in line early for important appointments

I learned last year to call beauticians and request hair appointments for the kids early. Everyone is booked silly during Easter. It does not hurt to get in line early. I also decided not to wait until the last minute to get everyone's outfits. It was one of the best decisions I made. 

Preparation works for other areas of life as well. I invite you to consider the next couple of weeks and pinpoint your busy season. How will you prepare? 

The most important preparation we can all make happens in the heart. Starting each day with prayer and Bible study is the key to facing a busy season. God knows what each season holds. We can always find guidance when we go to Him. 

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