What Matters Most in life?

The ending of Crown Financial happened much too soon. we still have yet to have our get toegther, which will happen in a couple of weeks... As we ended our session last night we talked of what is really important, what is eternal, and what truly matters in this life. Lyndy brought up an insightful poem that I thought would be good to share. So here is a fortune cookie for today:

The Dash
The following is a poem by Linda Ellis © 1998. Consider the implications for your own life's choices

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own; the cars .... the house... the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard ... are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash mid-range")

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash??

Opportunity for Joy?

James 1: 2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

I have to hold onto these words very tightly. I remember as a teenager when I felt down and out, God continually brought this passage to my mind. I am reminded again, and it gives me hope. As I am going through a divorce, becoming a single Mom, and completely relying on myself, I feel overwhelmed at times... but I am reminded of this verse, it is my 'Life Verse' that I have always held close.

I have discovered another area of growth that I have been running from for quite some time! As I joined the Crown Financial Course I knew that I would be facing one of my biggest fears: Finances.

Finances are extremely tight. Jill, an amazingly talented woman at church, came over last night and helped me create a fabulous spending plan (budget). She leads the course and has an amazing life story in regards to how God has blessed her financially. Her methods are great, my income... not so great. So, needless to say, I am on a VERY tight budget. I was only able to fit in $40 for diapers a month, which if I was to be realistic it is really about $60 worth of diapers that Madi uses a month. I will have to dip into my Misc/Entertainment fund for the extra diaper cost (which is budgeted at $25 a week).

This is going to be a huge learning process... $25 a week?! That is ALL I get to do with what I want - my Misc/Entertainment fund - everything else goes to bills and neccessities. My income does not cover my debt, so we are going to see about contacting my debtors to negotiate. I am already behind on quite a few things.

Sometimes consequences are not very fun, but as I always say 'Consequences are our best friends' because I will learn from them, and hopefully not make bad financial decisions like these again.

I have been living very frivolously for my income, using my credit Cards to pay for all of my neccessities, not facing the reality of my financial situation. I have decided to cut them all up! It will be hard, but I know that I will survive without them, things just may be a little tough.

I am struggling, it has been somewhat of a rollercoaster. But I am pushing through. I am going to face this battle with God by my side, cheering me on.

Please say a prayer for me as I embark this new journey.

I was encouraged today when I happened upon this blog. It just so happened to be the Blog Of Note today(Click HERE to link to it).
All things are possible!


Looking back at the 100 some odd posts, I am feeling good about where I am. I feel more stable spiritually and emotionally than when I first began blogging. I am even feeling better health wise. The low dose of steroids that I have been on have really helped boost my immune system, it seems as though that is really doing the trick. Things are deffinetly looking up, I am going in a postive direction and it feels wonderful.

No Blog for 3 Days.

Was the title of an email that I received today from My Grandma Brady. I love you Grandma!! You are probably my biggest fan, and even if you were my only fan I would still blog for you ;) (I miss you so much, by the way, I can't wait to see you!)

So, I realized a couple things from Grandma's email 1) I really do blog a lot, don't I!? and 2) I have been a really busy girl...

Although I am going on 6 months of being single now, I think that I am much more busy now than I was when I was in a relationship. Nonetheless, I LOVE it!! I feel like such a sponge right now; I am soaking everything up, and growing, figuratively speaking anyway! It is Grrrreat!

There are some bumps along the way of course. Talking to Shirley last night she put it into perspective though. When you are cleaning out the closet, it gets messy before it can really get clean, as you are organizing it all. I am in the messy stage, that is for sure! But I feel optimistic, and I love to clean; During the messy stage is when I am motivated. So here I am staring my mess in the face, and I am determined to clean it all up, with Gods help of course!!

Crown Financial has been amazing so far, I have had so many revelations and we are only going into our 4th week. Last night the topic was seeking Wise Counsel. I am meeting with Jill, a wonderful woman from church, whom I lived with as a teenager. We are meeting on Saturday before our 'Dine with Nine', a dinner of 9 people from the church, it is an annual thing that our church coordinates, a ton of fun... Anyway, we are going to create a budget and a spending plan for me, I am so excited but also desperately afraid all at the same time. BUT I am trusting God, I know that he is going to break through and this will just be another area of growth, among the many that have and still need to take place! Isn't brokenness just a part of our humanness though?? I am constantly reminded that I need to be humble, for it is God's glory that shines in my life, not my own! This will all be testimony to his love in the end.

Grandma, I was really planning on posting tonight... So, here is another blog post for everyone to read. I am so happy to see where I have come in the last 6 months, I am genuinely happy now, and for the first time ever, I am whole-heartedly serving my Creator, and I feel so free to be able to do so.

as I end this post I want to leave this little 'Fortune Cookie' for you to chew on. I challenge you to really take it in and think about it. Are you speaking positive things? Are you doing positive things? Are you hanging out with people who lift you up? If not think about what you can do to make some healthy and positive Changes!

If you say something enough it becomes truth, and if you do something enough it becomes natural, and the people you spend time with help form your character.

My Money Counts!

Money will buy:
A bed but not sleep;
Books but not brains;
Food but not an appetite;
A house but not a home;
Medicine but not health;
Amusement but not happiness;
A crucifix but not a savior.

I have joined a class called Crown Financial. As part of the curriculum I read a book titled, 'Your Money Counts' by Howard Dayton. It is simple, yet simply amazing! My eyes have been opened and as of today I am choosing to make some better decisions in my financial life.

I look forward as I start my journey along this rough path... I am in a tough place right now financially because of my previous irresponsible decisions, and today I have decided to face them. I know that God will be by my side. What seemed impossible alone, is possible with his help!

Off to Crown Financial I go tonight... I am nervous and excited all at the same time to make these changes... No more credit card! that is soooo scary for me, but I know that God is sovereign and I am putting this all in his hands.

Please pray for me during this transition, this is a hard place for me to submit to God, sad I know, because it is only money!