Sometimes we hate to hear something over and over again. At least I do! I'm always ready for something new, something more exciting, adventurous and fun. However, from what I've learned in life—we need repetition. Repetition is what helps us mature in life. Sometimes we forget or sometimes we just don't apply what we've heard or learned or just don't care.
Well, to make a long story short...my son and I have been reading a book together and last night the word, Carpe Diem comes up. He looks at me and I look at him like don't ask me. Well, we went to the dictionary app on my cell phone to look up the word. Carpe Diem is a Latin word that means seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future. It was hilarious to us because this morning I woke up to read my devotional book and the first words I saw were (you guessed it!): Carpe Diem. Even reading my Bible all last week, my eyes kept locking in on a passage that said, “Making the most of every opportunity…” I have even written briefly on this in an earlier blog. It is not meant to monotonous for you or me. But the more you hear it or read it the more it should wake you up to be a participant in your own life. It should wake up ideas that have been dormant, creativity that needs to flow, passions that must flourish and growth that must take place. Carpe Diem should inspire you to inspire someone else. Carpe Diem should cause your life to be a more colorful. So if you want something new, more exciting, more adventurous and more fun--begin to take advantage today's opportunities. Do you want to be a participant in life today? Well, together let’s take charge and take the exit to Carpe Diem Boulevard and make things happen in our lives today! "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity...Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." Ephesians 5:16-17
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Sometimes our snapshots are full of anxiety, stress, busyness and worry until often times it feels as though we are suffocating. Don’t let worry overwhelm you today. Stop and breathe! Relax from the pressures of life for a moment—whether it’s family, work, education, or just caring for a loved one.
When I was 33 years old, I was admitted into the Cardiac unit of the hospital.* The root cause of my heart condition was stress related. Prior to this, I was preparing for a major event that was happening in our family’s life. And, you know how overboard we can go when we will be entertaining company in our home. We want to be hospitable and have our home presentable—you know perfect! And of course, I still had to manage the home because I had small ones at the time. Yeah, I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself—we all do if the truth be told! But, you know what? After all the preparing, cleaning and managing I wasn't able to attend the big event. My body was overworked and stressed out in a hospital bed. I guarantee you that I was able to stop and breathe then. But who wants to get to that point? I learned the hard way to say, “No!” I learned the hard way to realize that everything isn't going to be perfect. I learned the hard way to: STOP and BREATHE. I encourage you today to stop from time to time to breathe in the freshness of life. Dare to cut out any excess that leads to apprehensiveness instead of peace. Don't worry about what others will say, you are doing this for yourself first and for them (they just don't know they will benefit from your peace). You should enjoy what you are doing! Dear women, if we worry and stress ourselves out to the point where it affects our health, we are not effective and we bring more harm than good to ourselves and others. When I was in the hospital during that time, I began to think what if I had of pass away at that time—life would have gone on without me. What is so important that you feel it can’t go on without you? Think again! It can! So with that being said, let us take a moment and breathe. Jesus left us a gift and often we don’t utilize it enough. It is the gift of peace…use the gift today! "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 *More of this story shared in Snapshots of a Woman’s Heart, Chapter 10, One Live to Live Do you have a favorite pair of shoes that you love? Who is your favorite designer, do they make the most amazing shoes? Are they comfy or high fashion shoes? It doesn’t matter what pair of shoes we choose to wear or who our beloved designer is for our favorite shoes—there is one thing that is certain we can never step one foot back into Yesterday and we are not promised to step one foot into Tomorrow. Yet, if you are reading this, you have Today to step into to make some awesome things happen in your snapshot. If you have no clue as to where you should be steppin’ in life—ask God He’s the One who should be directing our steps! “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 If God has revealed to you where you should be steppin’ and you have been procrastinating, stop it right now! (I think I was talking to myself there). Fix yourself up and pick out your favorite shoes and get to steppin’ into the dreams and the visions which are in your heart. Get to steppin’ into opportunities that have been awaiting you. If you are already steppin’ into your destiny then keep on steppin’—but don’t forget about your sisters you see who are trying to step to where they should be. Step up and help your sister! We can also step into someone’s life and make a difference today. Step into kindness and show someone your care. Step in love and lend a helping hand. Step into patience with the person who gets on your first and last nerve—just take a deep breath and listen. Step into peace in your home, set an atmosphere that will make everyone at ease! Step into laughter and bring joy to someone. Step into someone’s life and allow them to see the Christ in you! It’s your snapshot! “Direct my steps by Your word…” Psalm 119:133 Today I will share some tips and thoughts from author/preacher Mike Murdock: "Order is the accurate arrangement of things." "You were created for order. Any thing that slows you done emotionally or mentally will become a distraction." "Order eliminates Stress and Agitation." "Anything you are doing is affecting order in your life." "Every person around you is increasing order or disorder." "Any Movement Towards Order Generates Pleasure." "When you increase order in your life, you will increase your productivity."
Success comes through small steps. Order and Organizing your life is one these important steps. Take small, tiny step, today toward putting things around you in order. Take a long, hard and serious look at your personality and what you can do to take steps toward change. (Be honest. Evaluate your personal weaknesses). Ask others who are gifted in organization to assist you and keep you on course. Recognize those who God puts close to you who can correct things around you and keep things in order. (Request their assistance and encouragement). Just 20 minutes can make a major difference. Only one thing is greater than order...the Habit of Order. It's a powerful secret to maintaining continuous productivity. I noticed something interesting when I was reading the passage of scripture where Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand (with the five loaves and two fishes), before He even lifted a finger, He commanded order! "And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties."* He organized the people before He looked up to Heaven, blessed and distributed the blessing (food). I just think it gives us some insight into how He can work more effectively in our lives when we bring order into them.
Okay, I will put myself on blast, there were times with my kids that I would be all over the place, sometimes in one breath I would say, "Do this...no, do that..okay what about this?" They would often be confused, and would sometimes stop and say, "Ok Mom, what do you want me to do first!" It wasn't until I brought order like posting a chore list (and sticking with it) that I began to get the desired results from my children. Order had to be my number one priority. I am an avid believer, if you are in relationship with Jesus Christ, you never operate as a sole proprietor, it is all about partnership. Jesus performed the miracle yet his disciples were participants. They did as He commanded and organized the groups for the miracle. Maybe God is waiting on us to bring that order into our lives before He begins to move and answer some of those prayers we have been waiting to see answered for so long. I encourage you to kneel down in prayer and ask God to help you bring order to your life, if your order has been taken. Then He can release His blessing and favor over your life to help you accomplish the plans He has for you. Remember, we are always more effective when we do things, "decently and in order."** *Mark 6:39-40 KJV **1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV Can I take your order please? Yes, you can take my order, if something requires an order to be taken or if I’m in a restaurant. Okay, so it’s a different type of order I'm referring to. Have you ever seen a picture of someone but you can’t concentrate on him or her because of the chaos behind them? (Okay, the mess!)? It often leaves you wondering how can they survive with everything out of order in their environment. My point for today is that we need to pay attention to what we are allowing in our snapshots and maintain order in our snapshots (lives).
Order is a state in which everything is in its correct or appropriate place. * When you think of the many roles that we have in life as women, maintaining order is essential to remain effective in our everyday life. If you are running around today frustrated, stressed, exhausted, and just plain mean for no apparent reason—your life may seem chaotic because you have let something or someone take your order! But since it’s your snapshot, you have the power to regain control over your life. Take some time today to prioritize, if you have to resign from your new committee at work and leave the choir to be a better wife and mother, in the words of Nike, just do it! If you have to say no to girlfriends who always want to hang out when you should be studying for your classes, then do so! If you have to tell your children they will each only be allowed to have one extra circular activity every three months, then do so! You may not win the award for “the most popular woman of the year” amongst others, but you will be more effective in life because everything will be it it’s correct and appropriate place. Can I take your order? No, thank you, you can’t take mine! And always remember, I’m preachin’ to the choir…myself, first! *New Oxford American Dictionary "Sometimes the simple things in life which usher in joy, peace and love are often overlooked!" -Linder Hunn
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AuthorMy name is Linder A. Hunn. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, publisher and author. God is first in my life and all else is secondary. I love helping people. Archives
April 2018
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