Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Where do you CHOOSE to live???



Are you a dreamer?  Lately, I have come to realize that I have a tendency to live in my head. I have learned over my lifetime that when things are difficult and I don't know what to do, I play hundreds of scenarios over and over in my head....the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Do you find yourself focusing on the future?  I believe that many of us cling to Jeremiah 29:11, which says,  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I believe that the next two verses(11-12) are just as important.  "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  It is important to know that God doesn't have plans to make you miserable, especially when you are in the midst of trials and tribulations.  God plans to give you hope and a future.  As you learn to seek God in the middle of your struggles, you will also learn that He listens to our prayers and He answers.  The answers may not always be what we hope for and sometimes His answer is, not now.  But, God really does know what is best for each and every one of us!

Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in God's plan for the future that we forget that the here and now is just as important as the future.  Do you realize that the PRESENT was at one time, the FUTURE?  How crazy is that!  When we are so focused on what may happen or what is coming in the future, we forget how important it is that we should embrace each minute of each hour of each day, because these are the moments that God had planned for our FUTURE.  Every day that we get on this Earth with our family and friends is a blessing and a gift!  

When all four of my kiddos were little, each evening before their bedtime we would all sit around in a circle on one of the bedroom floors and sing songs and then everyone would share something that they were thankful for, that day.  My three oldest kiddos are all teenagers now and we still spend time together each evening before bed, but the time is different now.  We spend it reading the bible and praying together.  I'm having a difficult time accepting that a month from now we will have an 18 year old, 16 year old, 14 year old  and 9 year old.  I really don't know where all of the time went.  From those innocent nights that we shared together when they were little, to the time that we spend together now.  They all seem to be quickly approaching adulthood, at least the oldest three are.  I feel like these changes happened over night.  I know that they didn't, but something has triggered in me.....and I don't want to lose anymore moments.  "This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24   I want to focus on each day, because it is another day that God has given me on this earth to share with my family and friends.    

Do you focus on the PRESENT moments so you don't miss the joy that each day brings? Here are some of the ways that I plan to be more intentional with my family:  take 15-20 minutes of 0ne-on-one time with each of my kiddos daily, pray individually with each of them daily, create moments of joy during the day, have a fun activity at least one time each week, remember to notice the positive things that each person does, instead of always pointing out the negative things, read with them, spend time playing games, and take walks. There are so many ways to find joy in our daily lives.  It is just a matter of being intentional and being purposeful to embrace each moment as it happens.  Are you ready to create more joy in your life?  Another way that you can be intentional is by creating a thankfulness journal.  You could take time each evening, to write down things that you experienced during the day that brought you great joy.  What a blessing that would be to go back and read a year or so later...especially if you were having a bad day!  Remember, that every PRESENT moment was once a FUTURE moment.  Where will you choose to live in the PRESENT or in the FUTURE???  I pray that God will bless you in both your PRESENT and in your FUTURE!

Blessings,
                Jenielle
                           

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