a conscious effort

Earlier this week I had a meeting with my supervisor at work. The meeting was in regards to goals that we should work to achieve in the coming year. Some of them are in regards to how to make our work processes better, others are in regards to how we interact with our peers & those we work with on a daily basis.

One of the goals I decided to make for myself was to nominate at least 1 per/quarter for an award within the company. Oddly enough, my supervisor chose the same goal for my to complete as well. When she had mentioned this was something she wanted me to achieve, she said the following:

"Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in what people are doing wrong, that we find ourselves forgetting, or neglecting to look at the good things that others are doing as well."

I was so struck by her words & hadn't thought of it that way. However, I put it into not only my job, but my life as well.

How often am I worried about others & their wrongdoings & injustices that I forget to look towards those around me & see all that good that surrounds me on a daily basis. I don't want to live that way. 

I was watching Schindler's List at work the other day & was distracted by some annoying emails & other disturbances around me. I found myself getting worked up about something completely small & not even worth my frustrations. I sat there watching an entire culture be wiped out & found myself wondering why something so small as an email with a question could affect me as much as the movie I was watching.

I find that this is a constant thread in my life right now especially after giving up social media for lent. Too often I would find myself worried about others & what was going on in their lives, and completely took all the energy away from my own life & all the good things within in. I don't want to be someone who is affected by  negative around me, whether it be someone who may have wronged me in the past, or a negative coworker complaining once again. 

I want to recognize the good around me. The coworker who maybe needs a helping hand, or telling Jason that he's a better husband every day. I want to make a conscious effort to not let the negative bother me & to make more space for the positive.

I haven't decided what I necessarily want it to look like once Lent has ended as far as social media goes, but I want to be more aware of my attitude & how I react to those around me.

I would love to hear your thoughts & how you are doing this in your own life, or if  you are going to start with me in making a direct effort to focus on the positive!

thankfulness

When I first thought about blogging again, I wanted to make sure that that I was being mindful of good things. Good thoughts, events, people, etc. It can sometimes be hard to remember all of those good things, so I wanted to remind myself of things that I'm thankful for.

41. Modern medicine - Jason & I have both been sick. Not cool.

42. Great co-workers (& bosses!) with understanding.

43. Starbucks Coffee (I've reached the Green level)!

44.  Girl scout cookies.

45. Warm weather.

46. Netflix & Hulu plus.

47. Dreams that bring understanding to difficult situations.

48. a husband who takes out the garbage.

49. a new shelf to bring organization & functionality to my life.

50. a new camera! 

51.  a show that Jason & i can enjoy. . . together! 

52. send snail mail.

53. fresh, clean water

54. being able to see nieces & nephews

 

 55. looking through old pictures & reminiscing.

56. band aids

57. learning through lent

58. forgiveness (still working on it)

59. old friends. new friends. being able to see both.

60. tennis shoes

90s Christian Music

Hello! Here I am ignoring my computer as of late because there isn't really much going on that I want to invest in. . . which is good and something that I wanted to experience with Lent this year. 

These last couple of days after work I've plugged in my iPod & have attempted to find the best playlist that reflects this warmer weather we've been experiencing (40 degrees anyone?!). Well, it seems that old school 90s Christian music is exactly what I've been feeling.

You know, like Amy Grant, Geoff Moore & the Distance, Rich Mullins. . . I mean the list really does go on for quite awhile. Heck, I even threw in a little Sandy Patti. I kid you not.

 Today one of those songs struck a deeper place in my heart, and it was good. I think that with so many worship songs available at our fingertips, we sometimes forget older songs that are still true & can be used to touch not only ourselves, but those around us.

So, why not have a giveaway of my top 10 songs that feed my heart & soul in hopes that they'll bless you as much as they've blessed me. 

There are a couple of ways to enter & you can complete each of the below once (with a possibility that your name is entered 5 times)!

• Follow my Blog! (This will earn you 2 entries of your name!)
• Post a comment with a song that gives your spirit life (it can be anything).
• Share a link to this post on Facebook or Twitter
• Note: As I am not on Facebook OR Twitter right now, you can leave a comment on my blog that says "Facebook" or "Twitter." I'll take your word on it :)
• 

 If I have 15 entries (not necessarily 15 people!), then I will put all of the names in a hat (really. I have a super cute hat that I can use), and the winner will be drawn on Monday March 17th. 

The winner will need to have a valid iTunes account as I will send the gift via iTunes.

If you have a few minutes, listen to the video, read the words & let them truly sink in. It's such a beautiful song & what a reminder to have.

Step by Step

by Rich Mullins

(lyrics are in the video)

worship

A week ago, Jason & I went to see Paul Simon & Sting. While I enjoy both, Paul Simon was definitely my favorite part of the evening.

We were listening to Paul Simon & Sting sing a duet of "the Boxer" & something about it moved me to tears. It wasn't simply the beautiful lyrics or the effortless harmonies provided by 2 legends of our time. Rather, it was the simply stirring in my heart that overwhelmed me with gratitude. 

I wanted to raise my hands & worship the Lord. Not because the lyrics necessarily stirred that in me. Rather, it was complete gratitude for brilliant & wonderful music that brings life to my wounded soul.

I sometimes think that the Christian culture has made worship into something that we have put into a box of what it should look like. In doing so, it seems that some of the beauty of worship & what it should be has been taken away from it.

Frederick Buechner describes worship as the following:

"Phrases like worship service & service of worship are tautologies. To worship God means to serve God. Basically there are two ways to do it. One way is to do things for God that God needs to have done- run errands for God, carry messages for God, fight on God's side, feed God's lambs, and so on. The other way is to do things for God that you need to do- sing songs for God, create beautiful things for God, give things up for God, tell God what's on your mind and in your heart, in general rejoice in God and make a fool of yourself for God the way lovers have always made a fool of themselves for the one they love.

A Quaker meeting, a pontifical High Mass, the family service at Zion Episcopal, a Holy Roller happening- unless there is an element of joy and foolishness in the proceedings, the time would be better spent doing something useful."

I think that's what it's about. Loving the Lord with all of our hearts & rejoicing in all & anything. 

So what if I happen to be listening to Paul Simon & Sting singing about whores & boxing. . . the beauty of that song touched a deep place in my soul & I am thankful & will worship the Lord for creating a spot within myself to is moved by beautiful music~