Thankful For Daughter

Thankful Thursday...thank God for little girls

Mother/Daughter relationships are important. I just finished talking with my only daughter (29 years old+) on the phone. We have a wonderful open and loving relationship. We are very different: I'm the creative right brain cluttering spontaneous one, and she is organized, linear thinking, left brain super smart one. We maximize our relationship with honor for our differences and making sure we operate in our strengths together. We lovingly kid one another on our weaknesses.

My mom and I didn't have this trusting open relationship and I do know to thank God that my daughter is my best friend. I can truly say if I was left on a deserted island she is one of the people I would want to be there if I could choose.

Yes, God, thank You when it looked like I was barren and would never have a child You blessed me with this wonderful, beautiful daughter. Thank You, God, when a life threatening situation hit her 12 years ago You swept her up in Your arms and saved her life. Oh, God, thank You for my daughter....thank You.

Knowing I Belong

Knowing I belong...Knowing I matter....Knowing I have respect and honor are key to my prospects of thriving at anything.

Yesterday I wrote about the initiation of a new ministry work: Soteria Prison Ministry newsletter and inmate correspondence. I spent much time drawing from the pastor/pardoned exoffender what our audience, the inmates, will look for in our publications. His words were, "They need to know they have value and that they will be assets when they are discharged."

As I listened to him and watched his facial reactions as I probed for more descriptions of the feelings on "the inside," I sensed his remembrance of a loss of personhood. The sadness that fell on his eyes moved me greatly.

Hasn't everyone felt that to some degree? Today I'm impacted with the power of noticing people at every level. Everyone deserves attention. I've always been fascinated by people...all people. So, I've always known people I have come in contact with on a regular basis. I know the tellers at my bank. I'm even making a choker for one of them. She keeps admiring one of my necklaces and recently she told me how she loves jewelry and especially chokers.

Today I'm convicted that I can do a better job in respecting and honoring all people that serve me and that I encounter on a regular basis.

A college student found a major question on a business exam was "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school in this building?" Most students had to hand in the exam with that question blank. One concerned student inquired of the professor if that cleaning lady question would count as much as the other questions in their ultimate grade.

"Oh, yes," the professor declared, "your respect and honor for the many people you will meet in your career is important. Each one of those people are significant. They deserve your notice and validation. If all you do is smile and say "hello," they matter enough to be acknowledged."

How can we validate people's value better?

Razor Wire: Value Added

"Razor Wire" Prison Ministry Newsletter's first issue is set for November 20th!!!

I've had the "itch" to write for months. This blog has been the only way for me fulfill God's call to write. My life changed abruptly in April when my husband died. When I have prayed for God's plan for my life; all I sensed was "write." No one was seeking my writing and it has been decades since I had published anything. A 64 year old woman regenerating a writing career wasn't logical to me.

Yesterday a long scheduled meeting occurred with a pastor in our church who heads up a large prison ministry. We have officially begun two writing projects: pen pal ministry to inmates and a monthly newsletter to all SC inmates. When we came together the pastor named the inmates' newsletter: Razor Wire. He desires it to be stories of encouragement and uplifting. After 2 hours of wonderful brain storming he decided to place me over all the projects. We will be recruiting writers, artists, humorists, and cartoonists for 2 monthly newsletters (one for ministry and one for inmates) and letter writers to inmates.

Today I am sobered by God's call: "Write." I could not imagine how I would fulfill God's call with no one desiring my skills. Now, I am praying anew: "Lord, give me strength to fulfill Your call with so much demand for my writing and leadership skills."

I asked Pastor Jerry what "thread" did he desire to weave in all of these projects. He said that he wanted the inmates and the community to know the value that exoffenders add. He said they are assets!!! When they have completed their work in transition housing and follow up ministry of mentors and accountability for financial literacy, etc. they offer much to a business, church or business. We concluded they are: Value Added.

I'm expectant and most aware that this is God's work and I must be conscious of being led by Holy Spirit in all things. I leave you today with joy of fulfillment of this most mysterious call months ago: Write. I also want you to contemplate that you are value added wherever you are. You are an asset!!!

Be Yourself and Be Your Best

BE true to you; and you will be the best you can be.

Today I'm featuring words that begin with a "B" that contribute to thriving as a Christian. Thanks for your input on the words that begin with an "A."

I highlighted and enlarged the word be. Life became
wonderful once I gave up trying to become "better' by trying to be what I thought my mom, husband, fashion experts, professors, etc. wanted me to be. Trying to be anything but me just wore me down and brought me to the end of myself.

As I study the Bible I see through God's grace in Jesus Christ' I am free to be myself looking fully to God for guidance. In fact, God intended me to be ME and I fit in His plan for His Kingdom.

Moses asked who should he say was sending him to Pharaoh...God said, "I AM." Because He is I AM; I can rest in Him and be.

I can bless you as I encourage you to be your true self. I don't have to be sensitive because I'm not caught up in comparisons....what you are is my celebration; not my competition.

Yes, my favorite "B" word is "be." What words can think of that I can include in "B" words that encourage people to thrive?

http://wordle.net/

Failure to Thrive

Recently I learned of a medical term "failure to thrive." It is used to describe infants, small children and the elderly who are fragile. The medical community uses this term to describe a situation that occurs when they are unable to determine why an individual is not progressing toward normal healthy living. Life seems to be at a standstill.

Lately life has been tough. Some days I just get tired of pushing forward. But I know I'm either thriving and pushing forward or I'm standing still and failing to thrive.

In fact Apostle Paul writes that the mark of Christian maturity is that we continue to grow and move forward. This term "failure to thrive" describes us when adverse winds may blow in our storms and we give up. But Paul tells us that God guides us to set our sails and get to a place of thriving. In Ephesians he writes that we can go on in the direction we are supposed to be going no matter what adverse winds are blowing around us.

The Olympics inspired me to think of pressing through the pain. Paul tells it this way "straining forward to what lies ahead." The runners I saw on TV were single-eye focused on the finish line.

Nearing the end, nothing gets to the runner at that point:

• crowds cheering or booing
• a crowd or no crowd
• is it cold or hot

She or he is focused on one thing: the finish line. My question is "do I see God's destiny for me?" That is my finish line...when I know it and see it, I can thrive; no matter what.

Got any ideas on failure to thrive in your life?

Words Are The Picture

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. What Are Words That Create The Picture Worth?

This is a wordle using primarily "A" words to express thriving. Love to hear your thoughts and what "A" words would you add?

http://wordle.net/

Thrive in God's Mercy

Today is the 100th post on Thriving Christians. Back in late April Thrive Rich in Mercy was my initial attempt at blogging.

My heart was full and overflowing with all the emotions of my husband's sudden illness and then his death. You readers have been a blessing that still surprises me with rare joy. As a new widow I had a fear grab me around my throat that drove me to write and press to stay "alive."

Many years ago a widow close to me showed me how easy it was for her to "drop out" of living when her spouse of decades suddenly died. I desire to live fully until I die. That's what Thrive Christian's is all about.

Fears can hold us hostage to the adventure of living that is ours to embrace. Psalm 23 and many other scriptures use analogies of sheep to explain our relationship with God.

Shepherds' frustrations are usually centered around the fearful mindsets of sheep. It appears you can drive goats and cattle, but sheep must be led.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. {Psa 23:3b RSV}

The Hebrew word translated "paths" means "a well-defined, well-worn trail." Some shepherds say that sheep will even wander away when the trail is well laid out. The shepherd knows the trails from experience, and the sheep trust him.

All of us are facing uncertainty about our futures. I've had many decisions thrust on me, but I hear from many people that the events of our times is causing changes for everyone. How do we know that we are making the right choices? Decisions can be crucial, and frustrating!

In this new place I stand firm in my quest to thrive in this adventure of life. But I need wisdom. I need a shepherd. I need someone who knows the trails, someone whom I trust. I must be willing to say, "I'll go anywhere. I'll do anything. I'll be anything. I'll carry any load, live any place you want me to live, do anything you want me to do, Lord" I, like David, see the Lord as my Shepherd...the one I will follow.

God bless insurance professionals and financial planners. They have the difficult task of taking us to our death and afterwards. I've been blessed with wise and compassionate advisers, but it's amazing what you go through anticipating when you die. Developing strategies for all the "what if's" is daunting.

But verse 4 helps me: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

It seems when the shepherd is leading the sheep in the hills of Israel they sometimes have to go down through narrow gorges that have long shadows lying across the trail. In the Hebrew this is a "valley of deep shadows". The timid sheep are terrified at this part of their journey. Trusting the shepherd they have enough comfort to keep on the journey in spite of the shadows. For me in my "shadows" I hold onto "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5}.

Back in April I encouraged myself and readers to passionately embrace the adventure of living. Paul Tournier's book The Adventures of Living inspired me in this pursuit. May we close with his quotes:

"....being made in the image of God that man throws himself so eagerly into all the adventures God opens up before him....not only religious adventures such as those I have referred to, but all the others: the adventures of science, of the exploration of earth and sky, of art, of culture and philosophy."

"It is the adventure of God which is being worked out in every human adventure. The Bible is the book of adventure and must be read as such. Not only the adventure of the world and of humanity, but the personal adventure of each man and woman whom God touches, calls and sends into action."

"The Bible also gives adventure its true meaning, for from end to end it reveals what is at stake in all our work, all our activity, all our choices, and all our self-commitment."

Reflecting back to post 1 I am still passionate about the adventure of life God has laid out for me. I'm alive and that is a gift....here at number 100 I'm opening my gift and embracing it with gusto!!! How about you?