Unless you change and become like little children...

I didn't realize I would take it so literally.
Remember when Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" ?

This thought occurred to me a couple days ago as I was dancing with the baby (not so baby anymore--she is 18 months old and expecting a baby sister in less than 2 weeks and so now she is "the big girl", but oh how my heart wants her to still be the baby I used to hold in my arms!).

We were dancing around the living room for the 5th time that day. I had a blue scarf from Kindermusik in one hand and a blue balloon on a ribbon in the other hand. The baby was giggling because I was doing this silly march/stomp/clap your hands thing while singing along with the music. And it hit me:
I used to be an intellectual.
Really, I swear.
I once used really big words and got A's on tests.
I once took courses like Physics and Abnormal Psychology and Geology.
I once hung out at the campus commons with other intellectual people and we used big words and carried stacks of books around that had words in them that no one could pronounce. There was no such thing as the internet back then so we spent hours,days, weeks in the university library doing research and writing papers. People came to me for help--more help than "tie my shoe" and "where's my pacifier."
I used to sit in meetings and run Bible studies and get involved in projects and be in charge of people. People who weighed more than 23 pounds!
No, really. REALLY.
And now, I dance around the living room with a toddler with a balloon.

Life's funny, eh?
But this is WAY more fun ;) I am enjoying my life a lot more now.
I bet Jesus would approve.
He even said in John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

How about you? What are you doing to enjoy your life? Are you doing what you want?

100 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Joyce Meyer

I have just finished reading this great book by Joyce Meyer (she rocks!!) called 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life.
I gotta say, my life was so complicated for a while that it took me several weeks to read said book.

Her book, however, is filled with awesome ideas for simplifying life, such as:
#1 Do 1 thing at a time (that's hard for me-- I'm a multi tasker, but I'm working on it.
#5 Don't worry about tomorrow (whew! Don't get me started!)
#24 Be quick to forgive (heaven help me!)
#60 Organize (can I please hire someone?)
#85 Be generous (this is actually easy for me because I love to be a blessing to others)
#71 Wise up before you burn out (I got that one just in time when I finally quit my teaching job last fall when I was ALREADY burnt out and about to have a break down)

I am making my own list of ways to simplify my life, of things I can do without. I am slowly learning (I've got to face it, these days I am a slow learner, but through God's grace, I'm getting faster as time goes by.)
Been thinking a lot lately. Been learning some things. Been listening to God a little faster than I used to (Yah, He says, you're getting a clue at last, ding-dong.) (You've got to love my Yahweh.)

Ways I am learning to simplify:
1. Don't hang out with people that are full of themselves, are selfish, are inconsiderate, moan & complain about everything,are not going to be edifying to my life .
2. I don't need to fit in with people that I used to think I needed to fit in with. Especially people that turn out to be part of above said group.
3. Put God 1st in my day. Make God the biggest part of my day. It's really true that all other things will be added unto you. Makes life much simpler.
4. Do not feel rushed or compelled to answer e-mails or posts on bulletin boards the day I receive questions/replies/e-mails if I am not ready to answer. I doubt that someone else is sitting at their computer anxiously awaiting my reply. I'm not that important.
5. Giving my things away to people who need themright away is a lot easier than saving things all up in my garage to have a garage sale this summer just to make a little money, and its a much bigger blessing to people. I might be able to make $100 in a garage sale, but by giving things away to people, those items might be worth thousands of dollars to people who really really could use them now.
6. I listen to CD's of Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore and Michael W Smith in my car on my long long drives to work. Saves me the frustration when I am caught in VERY long lines of rush hour traffic.
7. Don't argue with people when they are convinced they are right. Especially about Christianity. There are people who are going to be convinced that Christians are wrong, no matter what. Their hearts are hardened and their eyes are blind. This is a sad fact that even God has pointed out in the Bible. They are not going to understand, no matter how much I write or try to point out the truth to them. I will try once or twice to point out the truth, but I'm not going to waste any more of my time arguing or convincing. That's not my gift.
8. Rely on truth. This week I have been amazed and fascinated by some things as I have finished reading all of the New Testament and about half of the Old Testament. Its incredible. But that's another post. My life is being made much simpler as I learn to rely on what is true and weed out all the false things the world has to offer.

How to Handle Life According to My Pets

I have been extremely frustrated with the world, with people and with myself the past week or so. Even more so the past couple of days. I "fret" a lot. I'm trying so hard to learn to trust God, to let things go into His capable hands, and to let go. When I asked God in prayer "What do you want me to do!? (about all this going on)" His answer only was: "Let me do it." Which follows along with earlier things I have heard from God the past 7 months: "Wait". "You don't have to fight so hard." Oh how I like to fight and try to do everything for myself, exhausted as I am.



My pets, however; they have such a great way to handle everything. They are experts in handling life. The following pictures are examples of exactly how my pets handle everything from me telling them "I'm worried about my future" to "I'm scared no one at my new school is going to like me" to "I think my milk has gone bad" to "I can't find anything around this house!"




My chocolate lab's answer to everything: I'll lay here in front of the door and keep the outside world from getting in. Don't worry... I'll protect you from everything.












My Great Pyrenees: Sleep cures everything so go take a nap. Just don't come in here with me. This is MY spot.

The cat: Lets lick the Bible and see if that gives us any answers ;)

My 145 pound Newfoundland puppy: Let's just sleep it off. Don't worry about it.

My Border Collie: "Problem? What problem!?Let's play ball! "