Brick Walls

I remember in the 8^th grade when I was in Mr. Dekker’s Algebra Class, there for a couple weeks I was breezing through the assignments and acing all the tests.  All of a sudden I hit a section that I struggled with; I wasn’t really understanding it and was frustrated that I got a “C” on my test.  Mr. Dekker recognized what was going on and he said, “That C is the best thing to happen to you.”  You can imagine my thoughts and the corresponding look that man received.

Mr. Dekker smiled and explained that it was all coming too easy to me and in order to really learn something, we need to work at it.  By hitting that brick wall, I would work to get through it.  I would learn more about my brick wall than if I just breezed through it.  I had to study my wall to learn my wall.  At the time I understood what he said but I really didn’t understand what he meant.

This last week I have hit the proverbial brick wall throughout various areas of my life.  One was making my “Shake the Funk” playlist with music I didn’t yet own.  I was having issues getting the music to my Walkman.  I couldn’t seem to purchase the music using my computer.  However it was a breeze to buy it on my Kindle. 

I found a way to get the music.  Well…I kept having issues with this or that.  I “decided” not to get frustrated and was determined to figure out how to do it.  (I was desperate for this playlist)  

I am a hands on person and have to “DO” things in order to really grasp how to get the “Doing” to be second nature to me.  You know, to really understand what I am doing.

Long story short, I discovered what to do when the music I would purchase would get stuck in the cloud.  I figured out where to look on my Kindle to retrieve it from the cloud to download to the Kindle.  So I am able to save the music from the Kindle to my computer and organize it for my Windows Media Player and my Walkman.  Now gathering my music is second nature for me…no longer a wall.

As I was gathering this music as if I knew what I was doing, Mr. Dekker and his lesson popped into my head.   I needed to struggle to get my music…to really learn and understand how to use my devices. 

I have failed a lot of tests this week.  I am not proud of it however I am not going to beat myself up about it either.  Some of my brick walls have been conquered and others are still waiting for me to go through them.

A friend told me yesterday that she is going through some things also and how the Holy Spirit needed her to go through them to learn how to deal with those situations.  How she wouldn’t have really learnt that if someone would have told her or if she read a book. 

Both my friend and I have had a rough week, totally different circumstances but we were both physically and emotionally drained from our week.  My friend telling me about the lesson the Holy Spirit was teaching her was what I needed to take a breath, and lay the junk and my frustrations at God’s feet.  Ok God, you want my burdens here ya go. 

Life is not always a breeze that I prefer it to be.  However without the challenges of my brick walls, I would never learn anything or grow.  My deepest desires are to grow in God, to be the woman He desires me to be.  Without my brick walls, I won’t learn my walls and how to go through them. 

God thank You for my week of brick walls.  Next time I will get through more of them with Your help.

That right there was why “I” failed to get through my walls.  I didn’t stop and ask God for help.  I tried doing it on my own, thinking that I could do it.

How many of us allow our flesh man to take on the world on his own?  We have God right there; He doesn’t leave us, why do we not just ask for a little help?  Is it our independent nature or our egos?  Is it that we don’t think He cares about the little things that annoy and frustrate us?  WHAT I ask you?!?

He tells us in His word, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Deut 31:6 (NKJV)

So next time you hit your proverbial brick wall, I pray you learn from my experience with my walls.  God is right there, ask Him for help and guidance.  He will help you learn your walls so you can not only get through them, but you will grow until they are no longer walls in your life.

Until Next Time, God Bless!

Gifts & Talents

My pastor keeps telling me how God has given me many gifts and talents.  I want you to know at first that I was taken aback by his statements.  I have never considered what "I" do as gifted or talented.  

Let me explain my thinking behind that statement.  First off what in my mind is a talented person? 

• Performance Talents - A person who can sing, dance, play an instrument, act (etc)
• Artistic Talents - A person who can draw, paint, design, photographers, film makers and basically anyone who could create something in the physical that was in their imagination (etc)
• Scientific Talents - Doctors, Dentist, Surgeons, Scientists (etc)
• Literary Talents - Authors, Writers, Teachers (etc)
• Athletic Talents - Sports, Mountain Climbing, Cyclist  (etc)
• Genius Talents - No matter the area - the person knows all there is and has the ability to find the new frontier of their field (etc)

I didn't feel that I fell into any of those categories.  However God showed me, that what I took for granted as everyday normal things weren't so ordinary for everyone.

I considered myself crafty, but not talented.  I have a cousin that can make beautiful wreaths and floral arrangements that I cannot do.  I have another cousin that can knit anything and I just couldn't grasp the technique to make anything worth having.  One of those cousins once did pastel chalk portrait of me, I can't even draw decent stick figures much less a portrait of someone.  Now they are talented, my craft skills are more of the sewing and paper crafting area.

Give me a few yards of fabric, I'll chop it up in small pieces and sew it back together again making a quilt.  I could even make curtains and other home-dec items but I couldn't make clothes.  My aunt could make the most gorgeous coordinating outfits, but I never learnt those sewing principals.  However, I do love to sew and the stuff comes out like I had envisioned which not all people can say that.  That is a gift!

Through the guidance of other Stampin' Up! demonstrators, I learnt how to see something and recreate it.  Maybe even switch it up a bit.  I even can come up with my own stuff.  Over the years I taught workshops and I learnt that not everyone can do that.  What I considered being "the queen of copying" doesn't come naturally to everyone.  That is a gift.

Through my love of using computers to make even ordinary paperwork look pretty and professional I spend a lot of time on computers, creating.  In my mind my job is to make my boss look good.  It bugs me to no end when documentation is distributed when it doesn't look professional or the best that it can.  It has taken many, many years to see that not everyone who works in an office can do things with our company’s computer programs that I can do.  That is a gift.

Know that all my computer knowledge has been acquired on the job - so what others taught me or I have taught myself is it.  Those programs are not being utilized to their fullest potential.  But what I do know, I utilize the dickens out of it.  That being a quick study is a gift!

I have an organizing skill, that can't handle things not where they can be found (easily) on a regular basis.  Not only in the office, house, and craft room, but in my computer files too.  Even my home computer - I blow my computer tech's mind when he sees how much I have on my computers and how organized it is!  

When you ask me for something I want you to be able to give it to you immediately.  Also I want you to be able to find it when I am not around, so organization is key.  Come to find out, not everyone can do this.  I used to think it was just laziness on their part, but no, some people don't have that gift - and they need people like me who do!

The writing you ask, well a few years ago I just thought it was me talking on paper.  I talk a lot so I write a lot.  I write like I speak.  I don't speak proper English, I don't write proper English. 

I was prophesied over - being told that I was to be a writer; I didn't think that my writing was a gift/talent.   However when God tells you and shows you what you have accomplished in the past, you tend to listen.  At least I did.

I took a writing class and listened to the stories of the other students.  You know what I found out; everyone had their own writing style.  Every one of them had me intrigued with their stories and they were intrigued with mine.  I now accept my talking on paper as a writing gift/talent.  It isn't the same as theirs but it is uniquely mine.

Okay, I have accepted the fact that I have gifts and talents.  Now what?

As I looked around there are millions of people who are called to write, why would God have me write, when there are so many out there who write better than I do.  Because that is the gift He gave me and He gave it to me for a reason.  

Do you feel that way about your gifts / talents?  Do you love doing it?  Then do it, it doesn't matter who else is doing because they aren't doing it exactly the way you are or touching the same people you are.   

Joyce Meyer doesn't touch all the same people Benny Hinn does. 

Benny Hinn doesn't reach all the people that Sid Roth does. 

Sid Roth doesn't touch all the same people that Apostle Charles Ndifon does. 

My pastor doesn't reach the same people as your pastor. 

They all spread the word of God, but they don't do it the same way, they don't reach the same people, but they are doing what they love and sharing their gifts / talents.

I was in a mentoring course that guides you to get from your dream to your destination.  Our God-given gifts and talents are for good and they are for His plan for our lives.  One of the things taught that the gifts/talents that God gives us are to be used to bless others.  If you keep it for yourself, not share it with others it will be taken away. 

All this to ask, what gifts / talents has God given you?  What are you good at?  What do you do that people wish they could do?  What is it that you do that you can't help but think about doing anything but that? 

·      Some people it is cleaning, what can you clean that will bless others?

·      Some people it is cooking, what can you cook that will bless others?

·      Some people have a gift for talking, what can you say to others that can bless them?

·      Some people have a gift for children, is there a way that you can bless children or those with children?  

·      Some people have an encouraging skill set that can cheer lead on the people around them - that is a gift that can bless the socks off others!   

·      The list goes on and on...

Also don't compare your gifts / talents to someone else.  As the old adage goes, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"  God gave you YOUR gifts, they are for YOU! 

I always wanted to be musically talented, I am far from it - I couldn't carry a tune if you gave me a dump trunk to try to carry some form of a tune...yeah that bad!  However, God gave me so many other talents that I have learnt that I don't need the musical talent. 

I enjoy and encourage those around me who do.  Frankly I get to enjoy their gifts / talents by getting into what they are doing - I get to have fun while they are sharing their gifts / talents with me.  Embrace your gifts and talents - they are unique to YOU. 

Personally I have a lot that I cannot do - or even like to do - or want to do.  I don't focus on those items, I find people that can do those things and pay them to do it for me so that I can focus on what I LOVE to do.

Look around yourself and see what you are gifted in.  If you are coming up empty, ask God.  

Seriously, ask God what are your gifts and talents.  Most of all, ask God, who you can bless with those gifts / talents.   

Your gifts / talents might be second nature to you, not meaning much to you but those gifts / talents you have may mean everything to someone else. 

Bless someone with YOU today.

Until Next Time, God Bless! 

Changes

I like for things to be a certain way and when they are not "my" way, I am not happy.  Actually, I can be downright pissy when things aren't the way that I like them or feel they should be.  I'm also not good with change that is not my idea.

I am praying for God to change me into the woman He created me to be.  I am constantly praying for the Holy Spirit to change my "all about me" and the "my way or highway" attitude that tends to creep up when I am not paying attention.  I also pray for forgiveness when I stumble and act like the self-centered narcissist that my past is full of. 

I can remember a time when all 3 of my kids and all my grandchildren (3 at that time) all lived within a mile of me.  I would see everyone at least once or twice a week.  We had BBQ's, sleep overs and family time more often than not.  I LOVED IT.  

Then what happened, long story short, we all moved away.  None of us live in the same city and most of us don't even live in the same state as the others.  Not being able to see anyone except for facebook is not my idea of family time but it is what I get.  NOT LOVING IT.

However our God is a God of movement, change.  He has put me right where He wants me.  I am away from the all folks that I would completely immerse my entire life in and around, not even think of doing anything else, but BBQ's, sleep overs and having family time more often than not.

God has taken me out of my comfort zone of the San Joaquin Valley of California, taken me away from family and friends, and has me in beautiful Southern Oregon away from most everyone that I love.  

God told Abram (later became Abraham) to go, move away from your family I am going to make you a great nation.  Long story short, Abram did as instructed and became the father of God's chosen people.  

Sometimes God has to get us away from all that we love so that He can get our time and attention.  To change (and use) us in ways that we can't even imagine.   

If I was immersed in my family and friends (the way I was) back in 2005 where would I be today?

Would I have become a leader in my church heading up the children's ministry, no. 

Would I have started a ministry to help the homeless, no. 
Would I be volunteering in a youth shelter, no.  
Would I be teaching adults bible study, no.
Would I be doing half the things that I do now, probably not.

Why not, well I wasn't challenged to do anything before.  How can you change if you are not challenged?  

If you knew me 10 or even 5 years ago, you would say, "Wow, Joela you have changed!  I never knew you had this in you!"  To be perfectly honest with you, neither did I!  (I also know that I am at the beginning of my change)!

I thank God for dropping me where He did and when He did it.  I am grateful that my pastors saw more in me than just a nice lady who comes to church and who is crafty.  I am grateful that they didn't leave it alone when I threw my hands up and said, "Oh no pastor you got the wrong girl" and I am grateful that God kept speaking to my heart on things that I ignored (for years)!

He has me using the time that I would devote to my family and has me involved and blessing other families and individuals.  You see "I" am an over-doer, when it comes to people/activities/projects (etc) that I am excited about - I jump in with both feet doing what I can to be the best that I can be at whatever I happen to be doing at that time.  

Is God asking you to change something?  Are you fighting it?  Are you running from it?  Your destiny might need you to leave your comfort zone.  It might not be as drastic as moving to another state or country, it might just be saying "yes" to something you are being asked to do.  

Do I like being away from my family, no.  Do I wish we lived closer, YES!  But right now I am not fighting what God is changing in my life as I know He is training me for my future, my destiny.  Do I know what that is, no not really.  But I have faith in God and that is all that matters.  Do I have all the answers, no I don't but I am learning something new every day.  

God doesn't overwhelm us by trying to change us all at once; He has us work on one thing at a time.  We are the ones that try to change all at once, and then call ourselves useless and failures when we cannot accomplish the unreachable goals.  Don't set yourself up for failure.  Ask God, what change He wants you to make today.  You might be surprised on what He has you do first.

God's instructions don't have to make sense, they are to make faith.  What is God asking you to change today?  Are you willing?  Are you ready?  It is time for change.

Until Next Time, God Bless!