It's never to late to set goals.
Some people are better at setting goals. Some people are better at accomplishing their goals.
In my "sparrow" way of flying, I pretty much try to avoid the word. Until this year.
In desperation for help with my migraines, I am now under chiropractic care. (The shots are no longer as effective and I hate what they do to my system. The chiropractor I chose comes highly recommended. It is a big step for this skeptic.)
As I sat quietly and more than a little nervous in the chiropractor's office, up onto the lighted panel went my x-rays. Hmmm. A hushed little chirp. Here were the words offered up by the good doctor.
Scoliosis
Degenerative Discs
Misalignment of cervical vertebrae - thus causing the migraines
I don't want to go into my health maladies. We ALL have something to deal with, right? I only share the above to get to the below.
I sure was glad as I perched on the table that I was able to share with the doc that I am working on the weight issue and that I have been consistently exercising since last September.
Whew...
You know my penchant for letters. Interesting that the first two letters in goal is GO. At the onset of 2011, I had made12 goals in this arena of health. One for each month. I'm happy to report that I'm one pound away from making Goal 1. And I still have seven days. Think I can make it?
It is a humble journey. It is an all too familiar journey - and one with too little success. It is a journey that requires courage and more determination than this too-large a sparrow can muster. But God.
I love these lifting thoughts from I Corinthians:
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
I'm on the lookout for ways out. And perhaps, honesty is a good beginning. Accountability.
If you have set any goals, or would like to, I'd love to hear them. If you have some deep struggles in one area of life as I have, I'd be happy to pray with and for you. (I closed off the "comments" on my blog because of the many who weren't able to do it.) My email box is always open - monkjo@live.com
On the LIGHTER side, I bought some new moisturizer (sorry guys who are reading) and it really did make my skin look "dewey" as promised. Along with a new heather green sweater, Sparrow has sufficiently treated herself for making goal. Optimistic Sparrow:)
Flying determined,
margi
PS - My son Bret has hijacked my camera as he renovates his basement. Sorry this post has no photos.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
10-letter Word
And it's not resolution.
This word is common. It is a simple word that carries a ton of weight. Nothing frilly. It won't ever end up in a spelling bee contest. But I like it and it has gotten my attention this week.
May I present . . .
UNDERSTAND
The dictionary defines it: to grasp the meaning or significance of something, to comprehend, to stand in the midst of.
Just this past week I received an email from a friend relaying to me a situation that she wanted kept confidential. I spent a few minutes thinking how best to reply to her email. My reply could have been several paragraphs, but somehow this short statement seemed more fitting.
"I understand. And I'm praying for you."
Did you know your understanding can be a gift you give to others? It conveys that you have taken the time to process, to carry their burden, to stand in the midst of their situation, good or bad?
Here is my favorite part of the word study. Want to guess what the antonym is for understand?
MISS
What if I would have scanned quickly through my friend's email and MISSED the message? Ouch!
Interesting that the Bible has a whole lot to say using the word "understand." The words found in Psalm 119:125 are a perfect prayer.
"I am your servant, give me discernment that I may understand your statutes (law)."
I think we are all on a quest for understanding. Understanding the world around us, understanding our roles, understanding our children... Why in the world are we here? And where are we ultimately going?
I love it that God has given us very specific written instructions on life, all found in the Bible. Oh that we won't MISS it!
In Sparrow's etymology of the word (nowhere in print) - the opposite of the word is: under (over) - stand (sit)
Oversit - hummph. Because you know that understand is a verb and that requires some sort of action, meaning, "Brown sparrow, you must get off your duff (er tail) and open the Bible with pen in hand, or answer that phone call, or meet for lunch with that prickly friend, or, or, or..."
Understand. A gift to give. God's Word that is worth pursuing.
>>>>>>>
And...if you understand my chirpings, you have already given your gift for the day to me! It is a gift of friendship that I treasure.
Flying together,
margi
This word is common. It is a simple word that carries a ton of weight. Nothing frilly. It won't ever end up in a spelling bee contest. But I like it and it has gotten my attention this week.
May I present . . .
UNDERSTAND
The dictionary defines it: to grasp the meaning or significance of something, to comprehend, to stand in the midst of.
Just this past week I received an email from a friend relaying to me a situation that she wanted kept confidential. I spent a few minutes thinking how best to reply to her email. My reply could have been several paragraphs, but somehow this short statement seemed more fitting.
"I understand. And I'm praying for you."
Did you know your understanding can be a gift you give to others? It conveys that you have taken the time to process, to carry their burden, to stand in the midst of their situation, good or bad?
Here is my favorite part of the word study. Want to guess what the antonym is for understand?
MISS
What if I would have scanned quickly through my friend's email and MISSED the message? Ouch!
Interesting that the Bible has a whole lot to say using the word "understand." The words found in Psalm 119:125 are a perfect prayer.
"I am your servant, give me discernment that I may understand your statutes (law)."
I think we are all on a quest for understanding. Understanding the world around us, understanding our roles, understanding our children... Why in the world are we here? And where are we ultimately going?
I love it that God has given us very specific written instructions on life, all found in the Bible. Oh that we won't MISS it!
In Sparrow's etymology of the word (nowhere in print) - the opposite of the word is: under (over) - stand (sit)
Oversit - hummph. Because you know that understand is a verb and that requires some sort of action, meaning, "Brown sparrow, you must get off your duff (er tail) and open the Bible with pen in hand, or answer that phone call, or meet for lunch with that prickly friend, or, or, or..."
Understand. A gift to give. God's Word that is worth pursuing.
>>>>>>>
And...if you understand my chirpings, you have already given your gift for the day to me! It is a gift of friendship that I treasure.
Flying together,
margi
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Things Not Red & Green
In keeping with...
lists too long - words too many - songs too bright - stores too busy.
Here is my short list of all not red and green:
1) Two roast chickens just popped out of the oven. New recipe to encourage healthier eating. Will try a bite before I end this post and let you know. How many chicken recipes have you tried over the years?
2) Blue and brown in my mantelscape this year. I titled it, "Enchanted Forest."
3) My Chalkboard:
The bottom line says, "Who will dethrone the three year reigning champs Danae & Geoffrey in our family tournament?
The sign is ready for Christmas Day when we play our competitive family tournament. After the noon meal. After the Bible Box Christmas Reading. After the White Elephant Fun Family Gift Exchange. And... after all that we end with Find the Pickle game for the kids with a Christmas buffet & goodies. Whew!
4) Verdict on chicken: on scale of 1-10 I give it a 9. I would serve it to company. I probably wouldn't go back for seconds, but hey, it's only chicken, not mashed potatoes!
5) To all my friends in Blogland. The most important and significant greeting:
Christmas Blessings - I bring you good tidings of great joy...A Savior has been born! (Luke 2)
~ ~ ~
I'm thinking Red and Green are feeling left out. I'll end my post with their cheery greeting from my house to yours, Christmas 2010.
May your list be shorter, your words be well-chosen, your songs bring a quiet, and you get out of the stores!
margi
lists too long - words too many - songs too bright - stores too busy.
Here is my short list of all not red and green:
1) Two roast chickens just popped out of the oven. New recipe to encourage healthier eating. Will try a bite before I end this post and let you know. How many chicken recipes have you tried over the years?
2) Blue and brown in my mantelscape this year. I titled it, "Enchanted Forest."
3) My Chalkboard:
The bottom line says, "Who will dethrone the three year reigning champs Danae & Geoffrey in our family tournament?
The sign is ready for Christmas Day when we play our competitive family tournament. After the noon meal. After the Bible Box Christmas Reading. After the White Elephant Fun Family Gift Exchange. And... after all that we end with Find the Pickle game for the kids with a Christmas buffet & goodies. Whew!
4) Verdict on chicken: on scale of 1-10 I give it a 9. I would serve it to company. I probably wouldn't go back for seconds, but hey, it's only chicken, not mashed potatoes!
5) To all my friends in Blogland. The most important and significant greeting:
Christmas Blessings - I bring you good tidings of great joy...A Savior has been born! (Luke 2)
~ ~ ~
I'm thinking Red and Green are feeling left out. I'll end my post with their cheery greeting from my house to yours, Christmas 2010.
May your list be shorter, your words be well-chosen, your songs bring a quiet, and you get out of the stores!
margi
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sparrow's Voice & 22 Mistakes
I woke up at 4:30 this morning with a long list. Just like your long list in the month of December!
So why with a full day ahead would I make my way this morning to my laptop to write? Simply, the Lord placed it on my heart.
Danae, my daughter, asked me Thursday, "So Mom, when's the next chirping coming out?" I told her when the Lord puts something in my heart to share. That is not said with any kind of spiritual superiority - just the opposite is true. In fact, if the Lord does not impress my heart with words, I've got nothin'.
And so, on this 14th post, sparrow does a blog check.
widgetize
monetize
adsense
SEOs
auto responder
plug-ins
boosting traffic
brand management
RSS Feeds
WordPress
Oy. Er, make that a weak and pathetic chirp. Another five minutes and I could take you beyond 22 mistakes I'm making (or not doing) with my blog. One of my readings in the land of blogdom and how to do it better suggested that daily postings were a must to be successful. (Oy, oy - whatever happened to saying more with fewer words?)
Back on track. Or voice. The Lord has given all of us one. Maybe your voice is carried onto the gym floor coaching and mentoring; or perhaps your voice carries a basket of food to a shut-in. Some voices are preparing a hot breakfast for little ones around their kitchen table this morning. Or your voice is shared with your friends in a public high school or perhaps you are a mom who is using her voice in the public school system to bring about change. Perhaps your voice teaches, or sings, or nurses, or cleans, or grandparents. There are more than a million voices. In fact, there are as many different voices as there are people.
Voices. Chirping. Words. Blog.
For years I have journaled. Here is a page of my written word from Psalm 16:5-6.
Today, my voice has found its way onto the web log (blog). I have learned so much about the technical aspect of blogging (there is a whole new world out there!). I have been pushed out of my comfort zone. My confidence as a blogger wobbles. I couldn't tell you if my last post had 4 readers, 40, 400 or 4,000. (Perhaps #23 mistake is not tracking stats?)
I write for One. Is the Lord pleased with my words?
And, more important than the words on my blog is my life behind the blog.
It is my prayer that sparrow's voice encourages your voice. In this month of December I can only imagine all the places our voices will carry us.
to a lonely soul looking for kindness
to a hospital floor with challenges beyond comprehension
to our guys/girls in uniform holding onto prayers from home
to the needy searching for Truth in the person of Jesus Christ
It's a tall order for such short sparrows. A big job to be good stewards of the voice God has given to us. But it is in the using of our voices that brings the greatest joys and delights!
Even if we make a few or 22 mistakes along the way!
Chirp on, in your own language!
margi
So why with a full day ahead would I make my way this morning to my laptop to write? Simply, the Lord placed it on my heart.
Danae, my daughter, asked me Thursday, "So Mom, when's the next chirping coming out?" I told her when the Lord puts something in my heart to share. That is not said with any kind of spiritual superiority - just the opposite is true. In fact, if the Lord does not impress my heart with words, I've got nothin'.
And so, on this 14th post, sparrow does a blog check.
widgetize
monetize
adsense
SEOs
auto responder
plug-ins
boosting traffic
brand management
RSS Feeds
WordPress
Oy. Er, make that a weak and pathetic chirp. Another five minutes and I could take you beyond 22 mistakes I'm making (or not doing) with my blog. One of my readings in the land of blogdom and how to do it better suggested that daily postings were a must to be successful. (Oy, oy - whatever happened to saying more with fewer words?)
Back on track. Or voice. The Lord has given all of us one. Maybe your voice is carried onto the gym floor coaching and mentoring; or perhaps your voice carries a basket of food to a shut-in. Some voices are preparing a hot breakfast for little ones around their kitchen table this morning. Or your voice is shared with your friends in a public high school or perhaps you are a mom who is using her voice in the public school system to bring about change. Perhaps your voice teaches, or sings, or nurses, or cleans, or grandparents. There are more than a million voices. In fact, there are as many different voices as there are people.
Voices. Chirping. Words. Blog.
For years I have journaled. Here is a page of my written word from Psalm 16:5-6.
Today, my voice has found its way onto the web log (blog). I have learned so much about the technical aspect of blogging (there is a whole new world out there!). I have been pushed out of my comfort zone. My confidence as a blogger wobbles. I couldn't tell you if my last post had 4 readers, 40, 400 or 4,000. (Perhaps #23 mistake is not tracking stats?)
I write for One. Is the Lord pleased with my words?
And, more important than the words on my blog is my life behind the blog.
It is my prayer that sparrow's voice encourages your voice. In this month of December I can only imagine all the places our voices will carry us.
to a lonely soul looking for kindness
to a hospital floor with challenges beyond comprehension
to our guys/girls in uniform holding onto prayers from home
to the needy searching for Truth in the person of Jesus Christ
It's a tall order for such short sparrows. A big job to be good stewards of the voice God has given to us. But it is in the using of our voices that brings the greatest joys and delights!
Even if we make a few or 22 mistakes along the way!
Chirp on, in your own language!
margi
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