Find ways to fit passions into everyday life.
Start by asking, "Is the to-do list more of things for family or more of passions?"
Asking hard questions, like such, sometimes can be a hard task. Further more, it can be an awesome time finding the quietness in daily converses with God regarding our questions. This can be done at the workplace, driving, standing in the coffee line or doing laundry. He speaks to us in more places than we'd like to think or give Him credit. Even in the shower, I often hear His voice.
Ultimately, conversing with Him provides answers to orignal questions. Questions often searched for answers along the way. Listen. Instead of blaming others around for why things aren't going the way we think.
One recent morning, I turned my iPad on while working on a small painting. My time was allotted in hopes to finish the project. Even though the buyer suggested "no hurry". I was in a hurry. Hurry is how I am productive. It's how I get the job done. The Ipad allowed me to listen to encouraging messages pretaining to writing while I painted. These messages are in a closed paid group called Compel offered by Lysa TerKeurst twice a year.
The night before, I jotted a to-do list. On the list painting was included with lots of other household family related things and other passion related things. Such as blogging, writing, editing, more painting etc.
When I noticed my time painting was up, I hurried downstairs from my studio. Each step, I heard God speaking LOUD and clear.
"It's more passion than family."
He was talking about my to-do list for that particularly day.
What! If I were using emoji's, I'd click on the face with two big open eyes, like what?!
The list laid on the end of the kitchen counter. I gradually walked towards it. My eyes wandered down the list. He was right. The list was more about my passions than my family. It clearly was right in front of my eyes. My hand pushed the list away. Backing away, I walked to my closet where I found my house shoes. Gosh, that sounds so old ladyish, "house shoes". But, I am serious, I went to get the shoes. They are tennis shoes. I wear these shoes only in my house. So that's why they are called house shoes.
While listening to His voice more, I begin doing household duties for the family.
He thanked me for listening. He told me, "I know you already know all this. I wanted to spend time with you."
Is He requesting your time?
Do you recognize His voice?
Listen while:
folding clothes
doing dishes
cleaning out pantry
making beds
going to the grocery
driving to work
on your lunch break
making lunches
My encouragement for you and I both, make our houses a home, make our houses a safe palace for others to come home. Balancing this with passion's can be tricky. I have no doubt He wants to carry out our personal passions. His quiet still voice helps balance each area of life.
Showing posts with label balance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label balance. Show all posts
Seeing The World As A Non Facebooker
People claiming not having Facebook keeps others out of their business.
This makes me chuckle.
Manage how openly you share.
This makes me chuckle.
Facebook isn't how non Facebookers perceive it.
There are boundaries.
Every ounce of your personal business isn't poured out.
Manage how openly you share.
Choose what not to share.
Friend who you wish.
He is realigning my time.
Things I've done instead:
Discovering a social media break was worth the study to me.
When I wait you strengthen my heart. Psalm 27:14
How to know if you maybe in need of a social media break:
tired of seeing everyone's pictures
check it first thing every morning
look at it throughout lunch and dinner
don't hear what others are saying around you
sudden urge to take pictures of your every move
urge to show off only your highlight moments in life
urge to show off material possessions
My encouragement is to take a break.
Delete the apps from your phone.
Be free.
See.
Friend who you wish.
A few weeks ago, my Bible study class started a new study called Breathe by Priscilla Shirer. My precious Bible study leaders followed their heart in the direction the Lord called them in choosing what study to do next. The Breathe study is base off the Sabbath, not necessarily on Sunday but allowing yourself margins and boundaries daily to create tranquility for our soul.
One of the first exercises suggest writing anything that holds too much control over your current season of life. I wrote, social media. Out beside social media, I continued writing, "I really don't like writing social media. I feel God uses me through social media." One of my natural strengths is balance and boundaries. When the study kicked off I wasn't sure it would be worth much.
The month prior, I held an online art auction. The money raised I donated for liver cancer research. My heart was bulging out of my chest claiming a break from facebook, social media. When we openly talked in class about the first exercise. I spoke up about social media. Most of the class could relate. We all agreed to challenge each others limit of social media intake.
The first week went well for me. The second week one of my leaders suggest deleting the apps from our phone. It's been nice breaking free. The world through non-Facebookers eyes is amazing. I can sit peaceful at a red light. Usually, my thoughts race knowing what status to post next. Don't get me wrong. Facebook is a great outlet/platform geared towards being a writer, blogger, artist and photographer. The time away God is using to speak to my soul.
He is realigning my time.
How my time is freeing:
carpool is not spent scrolling FB/IG
I don't wake up scrolling social media
my mind is not constant spining for the next status or the next picture I will post
how many people liked my post/picture
Things I've done instead:
deleted old emails
deleted old pictures
deleted apps
organized apps
conversed with God deeper
take fewer pictures
relaxed my mind
enjoyed a day tailgating with friends/football game
My Bible study has a prayer wall. Once a day from my desktop I check in, then scroll through my home page and share blog post. Outside of this I am enjoying the freedom from Facebook.
Things God conversed with me:
stop taking so many pictures
a steadily check on social media is exhausting
listen to the season of your life
foucus on your writing
organize your writing skills
foucus on your writing
organize your writing skills
you've grown as a writer
the time will come for the final edits on you second book, even if it's after the first of the year when you mentioned to your audience/readers/platform it would be ready late fall
He used exhaustion from the online art auction to pull me in closer to Him. "Listen to what I have to say." Facebook is reminding you of everything you don't have. The walk closer to Him is reminding me of everything I already have-own, blessed with, growth, enjoy, born with, acquire etc.
Discovering a social media break was worth the study to me.
When I wait you strengthen my heart. Psalm 27:14
How to know if you maybe in need of a social media break:
tired of seeing everyone's pictures
check it first thing every morning
look at it throughout lunch and dinner
don't hear what others are saying around you
sudden urge to take pictures of your every move
urge to show off only your highlight moments in life
urge to show off material possessions
My encouragement is to take a break.
Delete the apps from your phone.
Be free.
See.
Stay Home Mom
I want
to take the time to show you
some books I read last year
about stay home moms.
My first response
to several of these
books was,
where have you been!?
I really wish I would have thought
to seek out to find
such books back
several years ago.
I read My Heart's at Home first.
And let me just say, I absolutely loved.
Jill is very down to earth
and tells it like it is on how
to maintain the wife and mom role.
the balanced mom
was really good. The author, Bria Simpson,
graduated from Duke University, obtaining a Masters in
Psychology.
She worked as a child and family therapist,
followed by staying home
full-time with her children
Now works part-time as a life coach and author.
She's married with three children.
This was a very fast read,
several of the points given I already
knew but was a great reassure
book for me.
Love the cover!
Love the feel of it!
This was really the first one I thought
to myself where were you
five years ago.
The Essential stay at home mom manual
is another one I wish
I had when I first came home.
It's kinda geared more towards having
smaller children. Which the author,
Shannon Hyland-Tassava, children are
older now, school age.
Really, really liked this book!
Great cover too!
She's on my facebook page
and enjoy following what she's
up to. Making friends through books,
making friends through facebook is the bomb.
She even talks about that in her book.
Very down to earth!
I really have enjoyed the survival guide,
although I haven't finished it. It's kinda a thick
book and I am bad about reading
more than one book at a time.
It's loaded with lots
of different moms
thoughts and opinions of the stay home mommie
mode!
I have to say, I've only read a few pages
of the praise one. I just haven't had
time to finish it up.
This book has GREAT reviews
on Amazon.com though.
Here's a few old blog post
of me voicing
on my struggle at home,
but knowing I am right where
I supposed to be:
Have you read any of these books?
How long have you been home?
What's your take on the stay home mom roll?
Was it hard for you to give up
your career? Identity?
P.S. my side job is artist, photographer, author, blogger!!!
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