- Are You Feeling Stuck in Your Job?
Are you bored and ready to move on? Do you feel stuck in a low-paying job? Are you ready to move into a higher position? Or do you have limited options because of your current skills and experience? I realized the other day, that many people are stuck in jobs that they’re unsatisfied with, but are unsure of how to change their situation. As a result, plenty of people feel like they have no options. But I want to challenge that notion today. In the past, it seemed like the best way to get ahead or have a different life required a college degree. Today, that’s no longer true. Now I’m not knocking a college degree, I have one myself and I’m proud of it. But that’s not for everyone, and it can be costly and take a long time. You see where I’m going with this? To add to it, the job market isn’t always friendly to those of us who want to get out of a rut and make a change. I’ll admit, I’m still on my own journey in my new career field. But I am making progress and taking steps, so that when the opportunity comes – I’m ready. However, this post isn’t about me – it’s about you. The truth is, the world has changed and now there are more options than ever to learn new skills for advancing or changing careers. Online certifications and courses abound. And, of course, there are still in-person courses too. Apprenticeships are great because you can get hands-on experience. College and continuing education courses might still be right for some – depending on the field you choose. And don’t forget about bootcamps – which can be intense, but usually provide more hands-on training in a short period of time. Let’s not ignore the fact that affordability plays a role too. But there are plenty of truly affordable ways to get educated or certified these days. Many programs and online learning courses offer month-to-month payment options if you don’t want to pay for a whole year in advance. What will help you get that next job? Think about what it will take to advance your career. You might find that you benefit from simply taking an online course or learning a commonly used company software. That might qualify you to help on the next project or make you stand out from the crowd. BTW, I’m not just talking about office jobs. Expanding your skill set can benefit anyone seeking something better. What job do you think you could do if you only had some additional training? What’s the logical next step? What if you don’t know what you should do? Then it’s time to do some research. 😉 Make time for it. The next time you’re endlessly scrolling social media or the internet, think about how you could be advancing your career. You might even be surprised at how quickly you can add some new skills to your resume. So, let’s take a moment to address the elephant in the room – this might not be the thing you are passionate about – you know, the thing you dreamed of doing your whole life. We’re talking about a possible better life here, where you move the needle forward. Sometimes that comes in smaller steps – be prepared to be okay with that. But what if you fail? What if you can’t complete the course or can’t afford the education you want? That’s a real possibility. You have to search your heart and pray for answers on this one. Because at times, that’s a sign that you need to go a different direction. At other times, you might need to push through till you succeed (with help if needed). 😊 Most likely, this won’t be easy. Often, it’s not and things don’t always go as planned. I’m sure you won’t regret the decision to grow in this way. I believe that learning something new can help you build the confidence to walk towards a brighter future. I encourage you to keep learning, keep growing. Eventually, a door will open. I believe that God sees and rewards our honest efforts. So be realistic, but be hopeful too. I didn’t want to end this post without listing some of my favorite websites for online learning. Udemy (wait for a sale!) and Coursera are primary sources for me. I also want to mention DataCamp for learning technology and Maven Analytics for data analysts. I also do a lot of learning online from YouTube videos and I’m subscribed to some favorites there too. Comment below if you would like me to list them! Till next time – happy learning! 🎓📖🍎
- Life Lately #2
Yep, it’s been a long time, but I’m back. I realize why I fell behind in my writing this time, and I’m working on getting better at it. But I do have progress to report – I finished my first portfolio project and posted it! Yay!! Now on to my next project…😊 Life has been busy lately, the world has gotten crazier and I’ve decided to take up gardening. Not gardening for plants, but gardening for food. Tough times are coming and I’m trying to do my part to be prepared. But let me say, this is no small undertaking. There’s a LOT to it. While I don’t want to spend an epic amount of time learning about food gardening right now, I still have to spend some time planning and making an effort to ensure a reasonable amount of success. I want to get started pretty quickly since it’s springtime and the perfect time to plant. But if I don’t plan properly, I could find my time was wasted and have little to show for my effort. A video I found online really encouraged me. The woman used vertical gardening to get lots of plants into a small space. This idea is new to me and it helped me get more excited about gardening. Simply put, vertical gardening uses specially made planters with multiple sections, stacked on top of each other. The one she uses is called GreenStalk and it’s cool, but very expensive. Even though it’s patented, it’s popular enough to be copied. So there are lots of other (less expensive) versions available now. They’re not quite the same as the GreenStalk, which is very tall (adult-sized) and self-watering, but they have similar characteristics and will fit any budget. (Be aware that the cheaper options are usually much shorter than the original GreenStalk, but they could be purchased in multiples to get a taller version!) 5 Tier GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter Here are some additional options that you could purchase online or in-store: Amazon: Vertical Planter 7 Tier Stackable Planters Temu: Brick Red Stackable 3-Petal Flowerpot Set Home Depot: 5 Tier PP Vertical Stackable Planter in Brown (30 Pots) Lowe’s: Style Selections Rustic Indoor/Outdoor Vertical garden planter Dollar Tree: Garden Collection 3-Section Stackable Planters I’m kind of excited to see how it turns out. They say the food we buy at the grocery store doesn’t compare to the taste of our own fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs! If you’re intrigued, here’s a list of some of the most helpful videos I’ve watched to start my food gardening journey. Discovering vertical gardening makes me feel like starting a garden could be easier than I thought. And I won’t have to dig up my yard, which is not something that I was looking forward to. Now I know that I can combine vertical gardening with container gardening and do a lot with very little space. I really like that! I want to, at least start my first vertical planter in a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes. So, what about you? Do you garden for food? What do you grow? Any advice for a first-timer? I’d love to hear your feedback. Till next time, have a great day! 😉👍
- Life Lately #1
As mentioned in my previous post, I’m working on posting more regularly. So I’ve decided to add this Life Lately series. My plan is to include, at least weekly, some of the things that are going on in my life, what I’m working on, learning, listening to, and general catching-up types of things. Today, I’d like to start with prayers for the people in California whose lives have been devastated by the uncontainable wildfires and for others across the nation who have been dealing with the disastrous freezing cold weather. The devastation has dominated our news cycle lately, and I pray God’s help and protection for all those affected by these unprecedented and unexpected conditions. In my personal life, I have been working on adding my first project to my portfolio as a new data analyst. It’s been a lot of work and an uphill battle at times, but I was so proud to be close to finishing my first project. That is, until I found out that my file was corrupted! Yes…I tried everything I knew – with no success at opening the file.🥺😡😢 Is there a yelling emoji? There should be a yelling emoji. Well, sometimes life gives you lemons and things don’t work out the way you want them to. You have no idea how disappointed and frustrated I was, but I understand that I’ll need to learn how to do this many times over and quickly, so I had to roll up my sleeves – huh – and redo the project.😧 I’d like to say that all went smoothly, but initially, it didn’t. Eventually, I picked up some momentum again, and surprisingly, it actually went rather quickly. I’m not finished, but I’m much further along than I expected to be in such a short period of time. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know that I was able to reconstruct my lost work much more easily than I thought. Overall, it’s been a pretty slow time, especially because of the cold weather. However, I would like to end on a lighter note. I ran across this relaxing picture in the Chrome extension I use, called ‘With A View’. I really like it because every time you open a tab in Chrome, it shows a new picture of some travel destination, hotel, etc. Sometimes there’s even a video – which is cool, but also distracting if you really want to watch it. Anyway, today there was a picture of the most beautiful hotel in Bali! The program also provides a link for more info about the picture. I wanted to share one of the pictures with you today. Simply beautiful! You can check out more pictures of the stunning Villa Saujana in Bali, Indonesia here.
- Becoming a True Christian
It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I’m working on being more consistent, so hang in there with me – we’ll get there. Today, I want to share some of my thoughts about really getting to know God. I feel like this topic isn’t often discussed when people talk about becoming a Christian or when you give your life to Christ. It’s such a foundational topic, so I figured I’d take some time to address it. It’s important to recognize that becoming a true Christian is about developing a real relationship with God. It’s about more than just going to church every Sunday and saying your prayers – although these are both good and important things. But how do we get to know God? It’s much more simple than you might think. I hope you’re aware that God wants you to know Him. He wants to develop the most loving and personal relationship with you. One where you know Him and hear his voice, whether out loud or in your spirit. Knowing God personally is possible for every one of us, so how do we do it? One of the easiest ways is to start reading your Bible. I know, lots of people think that’s boring or old-fashioned, but the Bible is God’s instruction manual for life on earth. It’s also one of the absolute best ways to get to know God. The trick is not to read it like you’re reading some dry book about stuff that happened a long time ago. Read it with a mind that says this is showing me who God is. These are the things that God did back then, but it’s also how God works and these are the things He will still do today. These are His promises to me. This is also guidance for the future because you know there is prophecy in the Bible too. When you take this approach, you will find that He speaks to your heart while you read and you’ll get to know and understand Him better. Find a good translation of the Bible and that will help a lot if you’re having trouble understanding the language. Start at the beginning and read through to the end. Read a chapter or two a day. You can also find a Bible reading plan, daily devotional, or choose a subject you want to know more about and start studying those scriptures. Of course, prayer brings us closer to a true relationship with the Father. Most of us know that prayer is talking to God, making our requests known to Him, but it is also giving thanks, repentance, and acknowledging His greatness and His goodness towards us. It’s a way to unburden ourselves when life gets heavy and we are troubled or concerned about things. Prayer creates a way for us to know when God has heard us. After all, how can we know when He is answering, if we haven’t spoken to or asked anything of Him? Answered prayers are great builders of our belief and hope in God. We have no greater faith than when we know that He has answered our prayers! Another easy thing to do is start listening to good preachers and teachers of God. I know this isn’t everyone’s thing, but I have grown the most in my walk with God by listening to great teachings about Him. You can do this by going to church, but you can also listen to online services, teaching, and preaching through YouTube, radio, podcasts, and social media. It’s most encouraging when you’re going through something and you hear God speaking to you through a message that you’re listening to. When you pray and put your listening ears on, many times God will speak to you through the preaching of his word. Without a doubt, there are more ways that we can develop a closer relationship with God. Through the reading and study of Christian books, taking spiritual education courses, being a part of Bible study groups, and more. These are some of the ways He transforms us more into His likeness. They require a willingness to make room to get to know God. Know that He wants a true relationship with you. One where He speaks to you regularly and guides you on a path of true purpose and understanding of His love. If you do these things, you will develop a real relationship with God, one where you become more like Him. You won’t just attend church to check a box. You won’t just pray because they said we should pray. You will truly know Him and He will say that he knows your name. Let us be the light and the hope of the world – because we KNOW that God is REAL – and He cares for us!
- Finding My Faith
I just volunteered to teach Kids Church again. Yay! I’ve been procrastinating, but I’m actually excited to be involved again. I used to teach at my old church a few years ago and this will be my first time teaching at my new church. During my entrance interview with the ministry leader, I had to answer a question about my background in the “getting to know you” process. This started a conversation about my upbringing in church, which led to me write this post today. I decided to share my experience because I think it will be helpful for anyone struggling to develop a relationship with God that isn’t based on how you were raised or someone else’s relationship with God. You see, I was raised in a strict religion within the Christian church. That means there were a lot of things that we could not do and that led to an extremely restricted life. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not against that church or religion. I’m grateful that I was raised in a loving, God-fearing, Christian home and I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. I’m also not saying that one Christian religion is better than another. Getting back to my story, since I was raised in church, I got saved (gave my life to Christ) at a young age, sometime during my middle school years. But later, when I became a teenager, I strayed somewhat from what was believed to be the “right way” to be a Christian. And although I still had a heart for God, I was no longer considered saved. I believed it too, because I had fallen off the path that I believed was the only way to be a Christian. As a young adult, I continued to spread my wings and I got married. For a while, I still believed that if I was going to be a Christian, it had to be the way that I was raised. The result is that I drug my feet about going back to church and renewing my commitment to Christ. But thank God – He came and got me! You know, Jesus tells a story in the Bible about the shepherd who will leave all of his other sheep to find the one that is lost. This is a picture of our Lord – the God who loves us so much that He will come after each and every one of us. ~Luke 15:3-10 That’s what he did for me. At that time in my life, the Lord started speaking to me. He used Dr. Charles Stanley and spoke to me through his messages. He helped me understand that God still loved me and that it was okay to serve Him in a way that worked for me. Let’s go a little deeper so you’ll understand what I mean. I didn’t make up my own religion or faith. And I didn’t disregard the principles and teachings of the Bible – far from it! The Bible is the foundation of truth for all Christians. What I mean, is that God showed me how I could still serve Him, still believe in Him, and live a life for Him, but I could do it with a faith that would help me develop and grow in my own personal relationship with God. He helped me understand that my faith didn’t have to be my mom’s faith. What drew her to Christ and to the church she attended, is not the same as what draws me. I’m a different person with different needs than her. God met me at the point of my need. He understood that what worked for her, wasn’t going to work for me. God in His loving kindness – guided me back to Him in a way that allowed me to have a faith and belief that is different in some ways, but also just as strong as my mom’s faith. I am glad to say that eventually, my mom accepted the truth of my salvation, although my faith is somewhat different than hers. Now, as I look back on it, I know that what I went through served a purpose. I’m convinced that I needed to develop my own relationship with Christ and that applies to every one of us. After all, we can’t ride the coattails of our relatives into heaven. My friend, God is calling you too. He longs to have a personal relationship with you. You don’t have to fear finding your own path to Him. It may not look like what others expect. That’s okay. Just make sure it’s a true, Bible-based road to Christ, and let him lead you along the way. BTW, today, I happily attend a non-denominational church in my city – because that’s what works for me. 😊
- Watching the Classics
Recently, I decided to watch classic movies that I’ve never seen before. Although I realize we have endless programs to watch these days, sometimes it still seems like there’s nothing to watch. Does that ever happen to you? Well, it’s been an interesting experience and the results are sometimes unexpected. For example, I heard “Foot Loose” playing on the radio and decided to watch the movie. I don’t remember watching it and I decided to start with the recent remake starring Dennis Quaid. A few days later I watched the original – which was way better, in my opinion. Another movie I was excited to watch was Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s such a classic – that it’s often referred to in other shows – even today. Unfortunately, I was surprised at how disappointed I was with the movie. I know, my opinion might not be popular, but I needed to find out why this movie is so well-liked. I decided to check out online opinions to see what I was missing. Even though I understand where they’re coming from, that hasn’t changed my opinion. It is what it is. It’s okay that I don’t agree with them, because there is value in learning from and being knowledgeable about things from the past. Watching the classics is a fun way to do that. We have so much variety in our entertainment these days, that you can’t refer to something that everybody use to watch and assume everybody knows what you’re talking about. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’m watching these movies to connect with the things that were valued in the past and understand why they were so loved. Finding points of connection that we can look back on with fondness is a good thing. It’s worth investing some time to become familiar with things that were valued in the past, even if it’s just watching an old movie or tv show. Maybe you’ve never watched some iconic shows or movies that you keep hearing about. When you have some time, consider popping some popcorn and getting out the snacks. Enjoy reconnecting with the past by watching some of the classics.
- Meet Someone New
One day, in my previous job, they decided it was time for seat changes and I gained a few new co-workers in my area. I’d been on my job for a while and a lot of people I knew in the beginning were no longer there for one reason or another. I knew more people when I started because I took my initial training class with them. I’m pretty friendly, but with the gradual loss of people that I knew in the beginning, the number of acquaintances I had started to decrease. After the seat changes, I had a new person sitting across from me and the opportunity to expand my network. I introduced myself and I asked how she liked her new space. She turned out to be really friendly and happily waived to me every day. It felt really good to make a new friend and I know that I would have more time to get to know her. It helped improve my sense of wellbeing at work. I also started speaking to another person I hadn’t talked to before. My point is, I know that getting to know new people may come naturally for some, but many of us have to put effort into opening ourselves up in order to increase our circle. Honestly, it’s really easy to stay in your own bubble. Most people go about their day only engaging with the people they already know or they exist in relative isolation. Today, my goal is to simply encourage you to make the effort to meet someone new. Take the first step. It’s worthwhile and it’s easier than you think. A simple “How’s your day going?” can get you started. Try to find common ground – even if it’s just about the weather. Compliment them. Ask them about themselves and be genuinely interested in what they have to say. You can work on expanding your circle anywhere. Try introducing yourself to a neighbor you’ve never spoken to. Or ask the person who waits on you every day how they are doing. By starting conversations, you can start to build connections that benefit you in many ways. You might find that you have some common interests or just feel good about befriending another person. Give it a try, especially if you’re not the outgoing type. It can totally be worth it! You might just gain a new friend today.
- Strike While the Iron Is Hot
I know it’s an old-fashioned saying, but there is something to be said for making a move while you’re in the mood to do it. I have something important that I need to do. While it’s not urgent, it is a task that is easily put off till a later time. But at the moment, circumstances are aligning and I feel like I should go ahead and tackle it. So, I’ve decided to use the momentum of the moment to help me get started. There’s a lot to be said for having the discipline to just do it. But then there are times when a wind comes along to motivate us. Maybe it’s an open door from heaven. Are you motivated to make a change? To take a chance? To take action on an important task? I encourage you to do it now! Strike while the iron is hot and it will be easier to get started. Did you get started and then put it down? Did you get stuck? Pick it up again and you’ll be on your way to completing your goal. There might even be divine intervention to help you get it done. Either way – take the path of least resistance. Use the power of momentum to get closer to accomplishing your goals!
- Are You Waiting on the Perfect Time?
I was thinking about how I’d really love to take a vacation right now. But now is not a good time to take one. There are several reasons why now is not the right time, but I am still planning for when that day comes. Then I started thinking about how the perfect time usually never comes along. How often have you heard someone say they’re waiting for the right time to go on vacation? Waiting for the right time to go back to school? Waiting for the right time to get a new job? Waiting for the right time to have kids? Sometimes when people say that, it sounds like they are waiting to win the lottery. You can hear it in their voice. Their dreams for the future don’t seem like they are ever going to happen. And for so many, they won’t. Don’t be that person. Don’t wait for life to present you with perfect circumstances to go after your dreams. You know, sometimes that’s what we’re waiting on and we don’t even realize it. I’ve done it too. We don’t pursue our hearts desire or maybe try something new because we are waiting for a perfect time that may never come. I’m not endorsing recklessness. There is a difference between planning for the future and making poor decisions that you’ll regret later. And yes, I realize that perfect timing does happen – sometimes. Occasionally, time and opportunity align to give us what we want at just the right moment. But the truth is that most things in life don’t happen that way. The world won’t be handed to us on a silver plater. It’s not meant to be that way. We place more value on the things that we have when we work for our dreams. Then, when we achieve them – it means so much more. Know that a more fulfilling life is waiting for you. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Your dreams are waiting on you!
Are you bored and ready to move on? Do you feel stuck in a low-paying job? Are you ready to move into a higher position? Or do you have limited options because of your current skills and experience? I realized the other day, that many people are stuck in jobs that they’re unsatisfied with, but are unsure of how to change their situation. As a result, plenty of people feel like they have no options. But I want to challenge that notion today. In the past, it seemed like the best way to get ahead or have a different life required a college degree. Today, that’s no longer true. Now I’m not knocking a college degree, I have one myself and I’m proud of it. But that’s not for everyone, and it can be costly and take a long time. You see where I’m going with this? To add to it, the job market isn’t always friendly to those of us who want to get out of a rut and make a change. I’ll admit, I’m still on my own journey in my new career field. But I am making progress and taking steps, so that when the opportunity comes – I’m ready. However, this post isn’t about me – it’s about you. The truth is, the world has changed and now there are more options than ever to learn new skills for advancing or changing careers. Online certifications and courses abound. And, of course, there are still in-person courses too. Apprenticeships are great because you can get hands-on experience. College and continuing education courses might still be right for some – depending on the field you choose. And don’t forget about bootcamps – which can be intense, but usually provide more hands-on training in a short period of time. Let’s not ignore the fact that affordability plays a role too. But there are plenty of truly affordable ways to get educated or certified these days. Many programs and online learning courses offer month-to-month payment options if you don’t want to pay for a whole year in advance. What will help you get that next job? Think about what it will take to advance your career. You might find that you benefit from simply taking an online course or learning a commonly used company software. That might qualify you to help on the next project or make you stand out from the crowd. BTW, I’m not just talking about office jobs. Expanding your skill set can benefit anyone seeking something better. What job do you think you could do if you only had some additional training? What’s the logical next step? What if you don’t know what you should do? Then it’s time to do some research. 😉 Make time for it. The next time you’re endlessly scrolling social media or the internet, think about how you could be advancing your career. You might even be surprised at how quickly you can add some new skills to your resume. So, let’s take a moment to address the elephant in the room – this might not be the thing you are passionate about – you know, the thing you dreamed of doing your whole life. We’re talking about a possible better life here, where you move the needle forward. Sometimes that comes in smaller steps – be prepared to be okay with that. But what if you fail? What if you can’t complete the course or can’t afford the education you want? That’s a real possibility. You have to search your heart and pray for answers on this one. Because at times, that’s a sign that you need to go a different direction. At other times, you might need to push through till you succeed (with help if needed). 😊 Most likely, this won’t be easy. Often, it’s not and things don’t always go as planned. I’m sure you won’t regret the decision to grow in this way. I believe that learning something new can help you build the confidence to walk towards a brighter future. I encourage you to keep learning, keep growing. Eventually, a door will open. I believe that God sees and rewards our honest efforts. So be realistic, but be hopeful too. I didn’t want to end this post without listing some of my favorite websites for online learning. Udemy (wait for a sale!) and Coursera are primary sources for me. I also want to mention DataCamp for learning technology and Maven Analytics for data analysts. I also do a lot of learning online from YouTube videos and I’m subscribed to some favorites there too. Comment below if you would like me to list them! Till next time – happy learning! 🎓📖🍎
Yep, it’s been a long time, but I’m back. I realize why I fell behind in my writing this time, and I’m working on getting better at it. But I do have progress to report – I finished my first portfolio project and posted it! Yay!! Now on to my next project…😊 Life has been busy lately, the world has gotten crazier and I’ve decided to take up gardening. Not gardening for plants, but gardening for food. Tough times are coming and I’m trying to do my part to be prepared. But let me say, this is no small undertaking. There’s a LOT to it. While I don’t want to spend an epic amount of time learning about food gardening right now, I still have to spend some time planning and making an effort to ensure a reasonable amount of success. I want to get started pretty quickly since it’s springtime and the perfect time to plant. But if I don’t plan properly, I could find my time was wasted and have little to show for my effort. A video I found online really encouraged me. The woman used vertical gardening to get lots of plants into a small space. This idea is new to me and it helped me get more excited about gardening. Simply put, vertical gardening uses specially made planters with multiple sections, stacked on top of each other. The one she uses is called GreenStalk and it’s cool, but very expensive. Even though it’s patented, it’s popular enough to be copied. So there are lots of other (less expensive) versions available now. They’re not quite the same as the GreenStalk, which is very tall (adult-sized) and self-watering, but they have similar characteristics and will fit any budget. (Be aware that the cheaper options are usually much shorter than the original GreenStalk, but they could be purchased in multiples to get a taller version!) 5 Tier GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter Here are some additional options that you could purchase online or in-store: Amazon: Vertical Planter 7 Tier Stackable Planters Temu: Brick Red Stackable 3-Petal Flowerpot Set Home Depot: 5 Tier PP Vertical Stackable Planter in Brown (30 Pots) Lowe’s: Style Selections Rustic Indoor/Outdoor Vertical garden planter Dollar Tree: Garden Collection 3-Section Stackable Planters I’m kind of excited to see how it turns out. They say the food we buy at the grocery store doesn’t compare to the taste of our own fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs! If you’re intrigued, here’s a list of some of the most helpful videos I’ve watched to start my food gardening journey. Discovering vertical gardening makes me feel like starting a garden could be easier than I thought. And I won’t have to dig up my yard, which is not something that I was looking forward to. Now I know that I can combine vertical gardening with container gardening and do a lot with very little space. I really like that! I want to, at least start my first vertical planter in a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes. So, what about you? Do you garden for food? What do you grow? Any advice for a first-timer? I’d love to hear your feedback. Till next time, have a great day! 😉👍
As mentioned in my previous post, I’m working on posting more regularly. So I’ve decided to add this Life Lately series. My plan is to include, at least weekly, some of the things that are going on in my life, what I’m working on, learning, listening to, and general catching-up types of things. Today, I’d like to start with prayers for the people in California whose lives have been devastated by the uncontainable wildfires and for others across the nation who have been dealing with the disastrous freezing cold weather. The devastation has dominated our news cycle lately, and I pray God’s help and protection for all those affected by these unprecedented and unexpected conditions. In my personal life, I have been working on adding my first project to my portfolio as a new data analyst. It’s been a lot of work and an uphill battle at times, but I was so proud to be close to finishing my first project. That is, until I found out that my file was corrupted! Yes…I tried everything I knew – with no success at opening the file.🥺😡😢 Is there a yelling emoji? There should be a yelling emoji. Well, sometimes life gives you lemons and things don’t work out the way you want them to. You have no idea how disappointed and frustrated I was, but I understand that I’ll need to learn how to do this many times over and quickly, so I had to roll up my sleeves – huh – and redo the project.😧 I’d like to say that all went smoothly, but initially, it didn’t. Eventually, I picked up some momentum again, and surprisingly, it actually went rather quickly. I’m not finished, but I’m much further along than I expected to be in such a short period of time. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know that I was able to reconstruct my lost work much more easily than I thought. Overall, it’s been a pretty slow time, especially because of the cold weather. However, I would like to end on a lighter note. I ran across this relaxing picture in the Chrome extension I use, called ‘With A View’. I really like it because every time you open a tab in Chrome, it shows a new picture of some travel destination, hotel, etc. Sometimes there’s even a video – which is cool, but also distracting if you really want to watch it. Anyway, today there was a picture of the most beautiful hotel in Bali! The program also provides a link for more info about the picture. I wanted to share one of the pictures with you today. Simply beautiful! You can check out more pictures of the stunning Villa Saujana in Bali, Indonesia here.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I’m working on being more consistent, so hang in there with me – we’ll get there. Today, I want to share some of my thoughts about really getting to know God. I feel like this topic isn’t often discussed when people talk about becoming a Christian or when you give your life to Christ. It’s such a foundational topic, so I figured I’d take some time to address it. It’s important to recognize that becoming a true Christian is about developing a real relationship with God. It’s about more than just going to church every Sunday and saying your prayers – although these are both good and important things. But how do we get to know God? It’s much more simple than you might think. I hope you’re aware that God wants you to know Him. He wants to develop the most loving and personal relationship with you. One where you know Him and hear his voice, whether out loud or in your spirit. Knowing God personally is possible for every one of us, so how do we do it? One of the easiest ways is to start reading your Bible. I know, lots of people think that’s boring or old-fashioned, but the Bible is God’s instruction manual for life on earth. It’s also one of the absolute best ways to get to know God. The trick is not to read it like you’re reading some dry book about stuff that happened a long time ago. Read it with a mind that says this is showing me who God is. These are the things that God did back then, but it’s also how God works and these are the things He will still do today. These are His promises to me. This is also guidance for the future because you know there is prophecy in the Bible too. When you take this approach, you will find that He speaks to your heart while you read and you’ll get to know and understand Him better. Find a good translation of the Bible and that will help a lot if you’re having trouble understanding the language. Start at the beginning and read through to the end. Read a chapter or two a day. You can also find a Bible reading plan, daily devotional, or choose a subject you want to know more about and start studying those scriptures. Of course, prayer brings us closer to a true relationship with the Father. Most of us know that prayer is talking to God, making our requests known to Him, but it is also giving thanks, repentance, and acknowledging His greatness and His goodness towards us. It’s a way to unburden ourselves when life gets heavy and we are troubled or concerned about things. Prayer creates a way for us to know when God has heard us. After all, how can we know when He is answering, if we haven’t spoken to or asked anything of Him? Answered prayers are great builders of our belief and hope in God. We have no greater faith than when we know that He has answered our prayers! Another easy thing to do is start listening to good preachers and teachers of God. I know this isn’t everyone’s thing, but I have grown the most in my walk with God by listening to great teachings about Him. You can do this by going to church, but you can also listen to online services, teaching, and preaching through YouTube, radio, podcasts, and social media. It’s most encouraging when you’re going through something and you hear God speaking to you through a message that you’re listening to. When you pray and put your listening ears on, many times God will speak to you through the preaching of his word. Without a doubt, there are more ways that we can develop a closer relationship with God. Through the reading and study of Christian books, taking spiritual education courses, being a part of Bible study groups, and more. These are some of the ways He transforms us more into His likeness. They require a willingness to make room to get to know God. Know that He wants a true relationship with you. One where He speaks to you regularly and guides you on a path of true purpose and understanding of His love. If you do these things, you will develop a real relationship with God, one where you become more like Him. You won’t just attend church to check a box. You won’t just pray because they said we should pray. You will truly know Him and He will say that he knows your name. Let us be the light and the hope of the world – because we KNOW that God is REAL – and He cares for us!
I just volunteered to teach Kids Church again. Yay! I’ve been procrastinating, but I’m actually excited to be involved again. I used to teach at my old church a few years ago and this will be my first time teaching at my new church. During my entrance interview with the ministry leader, I had to answer a question about my background in the “getting to know you” process. This started a conversation about my upbringing in church, which led to me write this post today. I decided to share my experience because I think it will be helpful for anyone struggling to develop a relationship with God that isn’t based on how you were raised or someone else’s relationship with God. You see, I was raised in a strict religion within the Christian church. That means there were a lot of things that we could not do and that led to an extremely restricted life. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not against that church or religion. I’m grateful that I was raised in a loving, God-fearing, Christian home and I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. I’m also not saying that one Christian religion is better than another. Getting back to my story, since I was raised in church, I got saved (gave my life to Christ) at a young age, sometime during my middle school years. But later, when I became a teenager, I strayed somewhat from what was believed to be the “right way” to be a Christian. And although I still had a heart for God, I was no longer considered saved. I believed it too, because I had fallen off the path that I believed was the only way to be a Christian. As a young adult, I continued to spread my wings and I got married. For a while, I still believed that if I was going to be a Christian, it had to be the way that I was raised. The result is that I drug my feet about going back to church and renewing my commitment to Christ. But thank God – He came and got me! You know, Jesus tells a story in the Bible about the shepherd who will leave all of his other sheep to find the one that is lost. This is a picture of our Lord – the God who loves us so much that He will come after each and every one of us. ~Luke 15:3-10 That’s what he did for me. At that time in my life, the Lord started speaking to me. He used Dr. Charles Stanley and spoke to me through his messages. He helped me understand that God still loved me and that it was okay to serve Him in a way that worked for me. Let’s go a little deeper so you’ll understand what I mean. I didn’t make up my own religion or faith. And I didn’t disregard the principles and teachings of the Bible – far from it! The Bible is the foundation of truth for all Christians. What I mean, is that God showed me how I could still serve Him, still believe in Him, and live a life for Him, but I could do it with a faith that would help me develop and grow in my own personal relationship with God. He helped me understand that my faith didn’t have to be my mom’s faith. What drew her to Christ and to the church she attended, is not the same as what draws me. I’m a different person with different needs than her. God met me at the point of my need. He understood that what worked for her, wasn’t going to work for me. God in His loving kindness – guided me back to Him in a way that allowed me to have a faith and belief that is different in some ways, but also just as strong as my mom’s faith. I am glad to say that eventually, my mom accepted the truth of my salvation, although my faith is somewhat different than hers. Now, as I look back on it, I know that what I went through served a purpose. I’m convinced that I needed to develop my own relationship with Christ and that applies to every one of us. After all, we can’t ride the coattails of our relatives into heaven. My friend, God is calling you too. He longs to have a personal relationship with you. You don’t have to fear finding your own path to Him. It may not look like what others expect. That’s okay. Just make sure it’s a true, Bible-based road to Christ, and let him lead you along the way. BTW, today, I happily attend a non-denominational church in my city – because that’s what works for me. 😊
Recently, I decided to watch classic movies that I’ve never seen before. Although I realize we have endless programs to watch these days, sometimes it still seems like there’s nothing to watch. Does that ever happen to you? Well, it’s been an interesting experience and the results are sometimes unexpected. For example, I heard “Foot Loose” playing on the radio and decided to watch the movie. I don’t remember watching it and I decided to start with the recent remake starring Dennis Quaid. A few days later I watched the original – which was way better, in my opinion. Another movie I was excited to watch was Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s such a classic – that it’s often referred to in other shows – even today. Unfortunately, I was surprised at how disappointed I was with the movie. I know, my opinion might not be popular, but I needed to find out why this movie is so well-liked. I decided to check out online opinions to see what I was missing. Even though I understand where they’re coming from, that hasn’t changed my opinion. It is what it is. It’s okay that I don’t agree with them, because there is value in learning from and being knowledgeable about things from the past. Watching the classics is a fun way to do that. We have so much variety in our entertainment these days, that you can’t refer to something that everybody use to watch and assume everybody knows what you’re talking about. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’m watching these movies to connect with the things that were valued in the past and understand why they were so loved. Finding points of connection that we can look back on with fondness is a good thing. It’s worth investing some time to become familiar with things that were valued in the past, even if it’s just watching an old movie or tv show. Maybe you’ve never watched some iconic shows or movies that you keep hearing about. When you have some time, consider popping some popcorn and getting out the snacks. Enjoy reconnecting with the past by watching some of the classics.
One day, in my previous job, they decided it was time for seat changes and I gained a few new co-workers in my area. I’d been on my job for a while and a lot of people I knew in the beginning were no longer there for one reason or another. I knew more people when I started because I took my initial training class with them. I’m pretty friendly, but with the gradual loss of people that I knew in the beginning, the number of acquaintances I had started to decrease. After the seat changes, I had a new person sitting across from me and the opportunity to expand my network. I introduced myself and I asked how she liked her new space. She turned out to be really friendly and happily waived to me every day. It felt really good to make a new friend and I know that I would have more time to get to know her. It helped improve my sense of wellbeing at work. I also started speaking to another person I hadn’t talked to before. My point is, I know that getting to know new people may come naturally for some, but many of us have to put effort into opening ourselves up in order to increase our circle. Honestly, it’s really easy to stay in your own bubble. Most people go about their day only engaging with the people they already know or they exist in relative isolation. Today, my goal is to simply encourage you to make the effort to meet someone new. Take the first step. It’s worthwhile and it’s easier than you think. A simple “How’s your day going?” can get you started. Try to find common ground – even if it’s just about the weather. Compliment them. Ask them about themselves and be genuinely interested in what they have to say. You can work on expanding your circle anywhere. Try introducing yourself to a neighbor you’ve never spoken to. Or ask the person who waits on you every day how they are doing. By starting conversations, you can start to build connections that benefit you in many ways. You might find that you have some common interests or just feel good about befriending another person. Give it a try, especially if you’re not the outgoing type. It can totally be worth it! You might just gain a new friend today.
I know it’s an old-fashioned saying, but there is something to be said for making a move while you’re in the mood to do it. I have something important that I need to do. While it’s not urgent, it is a task that is easily put off till a later time. But at the moment, circumstances are aligning and I feel like I should go ahead and tackle it. So, I’ve decided to use the momentum of the moment to help me get started. There’s a lot to be said for having the discipline to just do it. But then there are times when a wind comes along to motivate us. Maybe it’s an open door from heaven. Are you motivated to make a change? To take a chance? To take action on an important task? I encourage you to do it now! Strike while the iron is hot and it will be easier to get started. Did you get started and then put it down? Did you get stuck? Pick it up again and you’ll be on your way to completing your goal. There might even be divine intervention to help you get it done. Either way – take the path of least resistance. Use the power of momentum to get closer to accomplishing your goals!
I was thinking about how I’d really love to take a vacation right now. But now is not a good time to take one. There are several reasons why now is not the right time, but I am still planning for when that day comes. Then I started thinking about how the perfect time usually never comes along. How often have you heard someone say they’re waiting for the right time to go on vacation? Waiting for the right time to go back to school? Waiting for the right time to get a new job? Waiting for the right time to have kids? Sometimes when people say that, it sounds like they are waiting to win the lottery. You can hear it in their voice. Their dreams for the future don’t seem like they are ever going to happen. And for so many, they won’t. Don’t be that person. Don’t wait for life to present you with perfect circumstances to go after your dreams. You know, sometimes that’s what we’re waiting on and we don’t even realize it. I’ve done it too. We don’t pursue our hearts desire or maybe try something new because we are waiting for a perfect time that may never come. I’m not endorsing recklessness. There is a difference between planning for the future and making poor decisions that you’ll regret later. And yes, I realize that perfect timing does happen – sometimes. Occasionally, time and opportunity align to give us what we want at just the right moment. But the truth is that most things in life don’t happen that way. The world won’t be handed to us on a silver plater. It’s not meant to be that way. We place more value on the things that we have when we work for our dreams. Then, when we achieve them – it means so much more. Know that a more fulfilling life is waiting for you. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Your dreams are waiting on you!