Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Happy Fun Girl: Follow the Leader.....More Games with God.
Happy Fun Girl: Follow the Leader.....More Games with God.: Out on the playground, Follow the Leader was one of my favorite games. And I loved being the leader. I led my "friend followers" in skipp...
Follow the Leader.....More Games with God.
Out on the playground, Follow the Leader was one of my favorite games.
And I loved being the leader.
I led my "friend followers" in skipping, jumping, singing and making silly faces at the cars passing by on the outside of the chain linked fence during recess.
In the elementary school, "Fun Olympics," I was totally the leader!
Since I was taught to take turns, eventually, I'd have to give up the reigns and let someone else lead.
Usually one of the boys would go after me.
Stupid, stupid, boys.
They'd lead us alright, eyes closed, human chain style, right smack into the tether ball pole.
Hilarious.
We trusted them to lead.
Lead me not, into temptation....
Big mistake!
If it is not our turn to be the Line Leader, then who are we following?
Or who might actually be following us?
YIkes!
A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my favorite teen girls, Savannah, getting jiggy at Zumba class.
Those 14 and 15 year old girls can shimmy and shake waaaay better than I can.
Let me just tell you, I do not have moves like Jagger!
Occasionally, I don't know why, she would glance over my way and look at my super, uncoordinated dance steps.
"I'm following you, Miss Tina."
"Oh dear God, NO!!" I shot back.
"Do not follow me...You will end up falling into a man hole!"
For real.
She laughed.
"I'm serious."
She just gave me the, 'you're so funny look' and went back to shimmying to "Cocoa-latte."
I could use a latte' about now.
The other day I wrote, "we need fellowship, a hand we can trust and hold that will help lead us to the truth." Then I read something last night by someone else, "hold our hand and lead us...as if we aren't able to find righteousness on our own. Ugh."
Double Yikes!
The statement wasn't about what I said, but it did get me thinking more about what I wrote and how we lead or who we follow.
Yes, we are certainly capable of finding our own way, but I don't think God wants us to go it alone.
I think about people who've driven and inspired me to be better.
Our personal leaders who were maybe teachers, coaches, bosses, friends...etc...
Pioneers who persevered for the sake of what is good.
Or even best.
We want righteous leaders.
We want people to stand out and lead by example.
I know I've blown it.
As a Girl Scout Leader, I've had to hike a half a stinking mile, hide behind a tree and douse myself with Cutter Bug Spray on the way back, just so they wouldn't bust me for smoking.
Not ideal.
Some of us are more vulnerable to being led astray.
Even the leaders.
So, who do we follow, which way do we go?
The path of the virtuous leads away from evil, whoever follows that path is safe. Proverbs 16
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow." Isaiah 48:17.
I quit italicizing the verses because quite honestly, it freaks my family out.
They don't really want me shoving Jesus down their throats, and since I'm working on not wanting to choke the crap out of people, myself, or the holy spirit....I've typed it in Times Roman Numeral.
Maybe they won't notice.
How can the blind lead the blind?
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce and a runner in the night....
Sorry. Everything has a rock and roll lyric reference in my head. I can't stop myself. :)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12
Lead me in the right path, or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow.
Please do! And I'll be on the look out for man holes!
Jeff Goins says, "If you’re looking to build an audience and turn it into something more than mere numbers, you need help. And that help should come from someone who knows what they’re talking about,"
So, please check out some of my favorite books on leadership:
Joyce Meyer...A Leader in the Making
T.D. Jakes, God's Leading Lady
(hehe...so proud of myself...I figured out how to copy a link AND insert an image)
And I loved being the leader.
I led my "friend followers" in skipping, jumping, singing and making silly faces at the cars passing by on the outside of the chain linked fence during recess.
In the elementary school, "Fun Olympics," I was totally the leader!
Since I was taught to take turns, eventually, I'd have to give up the reigns and let someone else lead.
Usually one of the boys would go after me.
Stupid, stupid, boys.
They'd lead us alright, eyes closed, human chain style, right smack into the tether ball pole.
Hilarious.
We trusted them to lead.
Lead me not, into temptation....
Big mistake!
If it is not our turn to be the Line Leader, then who are we following?
Or who might actually be following us?
YIkes!
A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my favorite teen girls, Savannah, getting jiggy at Zumba class.
Those 14 and 15 year old girls can shimmy and shake waaaay better than I can.
Let me just tell you, I do not have moves like Jagger!
Occasionally, I don't know why, she would glance over my way and look at my super, uncoordinated dance steps.
"I'm following you, Miss Tina."
"Oh dear God, NO!!" I shot back.
"Do not follow me...You will end up falling into a man hole!"
For real.
She laughed.
"I'm serious."
She just gave me the, 'you're so funny look' and went back to shimmying to "Cocoa-latte."
I could use a latte' about now.
The other day I wrote, "we need fellowship, a hand we can trust and hold that will help lead us to the truth." Then I read something last night by someone else, "hold our hand and lead us...as if we aren't able to find righteousness on our own. Ugh."
Double Yikes!
The statement wasn't about what I said, but it did get me thinking more about what I wrote and how we lead or who we follow.
Yes, we are certainly capable of finding our own way, but I don't think God wants us to go it alone.
I think about people who've driven and inspired me to be better.
Our personal leaders who were maybe teachers, coaches, bosses, friends...etc...
Pioneers who persevered for the sake of what is good.
Or even best.
We want righteous leaders.
We want people to stand out and lead by example.
I know I've blown it.
As a Girl Scout Leader, I've had to hike a half a stinking mile, hide behind a tree and douse myself with Cutter Bug Spray on the way back, just so they wouldn't bust me for smoking.
Not ideal.
Some of us are more vulnerable to being led astray.
Even the leaders.
So, who do we follow, which way do we go?
The path of the virtuous leads away from evil, whoever follows that path is safe. Proverbs 16
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow." Isaiah 48:17.
I quit italicizing the verses because quite honestly, it freaks my family out.
They don't really want me shoving Jesus down their throats, and since I'm working on not wanting to choke the crap out of people, myself, or the holy spirit....I've typed it in Times Roman Numeral.
Maybe they won't notice.
How can the blind lead the blind?
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce and a runner in the night....
Sorry. Everything has a rock and roll lyric reference in my head. I can't stop myself. :)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12
Lead me in the right path, or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow.
Please do! And I'll be on the look out for man holes!
Jeff Goins says, "If you’re looking to build an audience and turn it into something more than mere numbers, you need help. And that help should come from someone who knows what they’re talking about,"
So, please check out some of my favorite books on leadership:
Joyce Meyer...A Leader in the Making
T.D. Jakes, God's Leading Lady
(hehe...so proud of myself...I figured out how to copy a link AND insert an image)
Monday, June 25, 2012
Happy Fun Girl: Click, Click...Look at that Amazing View!
Click, Click...Look at that Amazing View!
I've often been accused of looking at life through rose colored glasses.
As true as that may be, I would much rather be seeing it through a Fisher-Price View Master Viewer.
You remember those?
The plastic camera that came with an assortment of cool looking white discs?
Oh my gosh how I loved that toy!
My heart almost skipped a beat when I'd pull that lever down, switching to the next slide and anxiously anticipating another photograph of a magnificent place I'd never seen before.
Places like the Grand Canyon or New York City or the Rocky Mountains!
I have now seen the rocky mountains, thank you.
Click.
Next picture please.
I'm in need of a new view and as exciting as that might be, I'm not really sure what it's going to look like.
Sometimes, when the disc was bent just so, the camera would get jammed up and not be able to move on to the next horizon.
That's where I'm at.
Clicking maniacally trying to get it to work so I can at least catch a glimpse of the next scenic view.
I know what I'd like it to look like, but I've also learned that when you're playing with the View Master, you can't go backwards.
It only moves in forward motion.
And so shall I.
I am living by believing, but not yet seeing....and tiptoeing around a little afraid in a pair of $6.00 readers from Dollar General.
Click.
On a real camera, the view finder is what the photographer looks through to see the world as he sees it.
He can then compose and focus the picture.
Fisher Price's version of this fun little vision enhancer offers, "quality optics and classic styling for an awesome, eye-popping, 3-D experience."
When I stay focused on moving forward and the good things in my life, as opposed to focusing on the negative, then I am able to see a little more clearly.
It helps to remember in these scary moments that God, the almighty view master has composed my life for good.
He knows the plans he has for me.
Plans to prosper me and not harm me.
Plans to give me...a hope..and a future.
But...then again, it's not always about me.
And I often forget to see other people through God's lens, a beautiful landmark, also composed by Him.
Because, "He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view." 2 Cor. 5:15 NLT
What are you focusing on and how is your lens looking lately?
Mine has been a little smudged, and God knows, I'd really rather have EYE-POPPING!!!
That's much more fun than having a little brother smack it up against your face when you're trying to view the Statue of Liberty.
Click!
As true as that may be, I would much rather be seeing it through a Fisher-Price View Master Viewer.
You remember those?
The plastic camera that came with an assortment of cool looking white discs?
Oh my gosh how I loved that toy!
My heart almost skipped a beat when I'd pull that lever down, switching to the next slide and anxiously anticipating another photograph of a magnificent place I'd never seen before.
Places like the Grand Canyon or New York City or the Rocky Mountains!
I have now seen the rocky mountains, thank you.
Click.
Next picture please.
I'm in need of a new view and as exciting as that might be, I'm not really sure what it's going to look like.
Sometimes, when the disc was bent just so, the camera would get jammed up and not be able to move on to the next horizon.
That's where I'm at.
Clicking maniacally trying to get it to work so I can at least catch a glimpse of the next scenic view.
I know what I'd like it to look like, but I've also learned that when you're playing with the View Master, you can't go backwards.
It only moves in forward motion.
And so shall I.
I am living by believing, but not yet seeing....and tiptoeing around a little afraid in a pair of $6.00 readers from Dollar General.
Click.
On a real camera, the view finder is what the photographer looks through to see the world as he sees it.
He can then compose and focus the picture.
Fisher Price's version of this fun little vision enhancer offers, "quality optics and classic styling for an awesome, eye-popping, 3-D experience."
When I stay focused on moving forward and the good things in my life, as opposed to focusing on the negative, then I am able to see a little more clearly.
It helps to remember in these scary moments that God, the almighty view master has composed my life for good.
He knows the plans he has for me.
Plans to prosper me and not harm me.
Plans to give me...a hope..and a future.
But...then again, it's not always about me.
And I often forget to see other people through God's lens, a beautiful landmark, also composed by Him.
Because, "He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view." 2 Cor. 5:15 NLT
What are you focusing on and how is your lens looking lately?
Mine has been a little smudged, and God knows, I'd really rather have EYE-POPPING!!!
That's much more fun than having a little brother smack it up against your face when you're trying to view the Statue of Liberty.
Click!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Happy Fun Girl: Truth or Dare
Happy Fun Girl: Truth or Dare: No slumber party would be complete without a game of Truth or Dare. I usually chose the dare because I didn't ever want to to tell the trut...
Truth or Dare
No slumber party would be complete without a game of Truth or Dare.
I usually chose the dare because I didn't ever want to to tell the truth.
The ugly truths about myself, my fears, my insecurities.
I would rather have done things like, run naked around the lamp post out in my friend's front yard.
Or kiss a girl...and then some.
Sorry Katy Perry, I kissed a girl before you were even born.
I was in 6th grade.
And I didn't really like it.
I felt dirty the next day when I had to go home.
I just read Anne Jackson's book, "Permission to Speak FREELY."
And I would.
If I weren't speechless.
This is one of the most refreshingly honest books that I have read in a long, long, really long time.
She addresses some of my concerns and frustrations in being a born again, bible thumping, believer.
Life is not always pretty.
It's not always good or noble or of good report.
I've said that before.
But, I just don't believe it's hardly ever effective or life changing to just spew out a few of our scripted Christianese responses, as a band aid to cover, wounds that run so deeply in our body.
Personally or collectively.
We need more than that.
We need fellowship, a hand we can trust and hold that will help lead us to the truth.
Yes, I believe there is power in speaking the word. Heck YES!
I totally, totally believe that there is truth and power in the word of God!
But, please, in the name of Jesus, can we just be honest with each other?
Those in my closest circle know this is one of my biggest pet peeves about "the church".
And I mean no disrespect here whatsoever!
I promise!
Often times, we are afraid to be who we are.
Who we are...with our imperfections.
So many who are lost and struggling will not come through our church doors because they don't feel "good enough."
I used to think just like that.
I'll go to church when I "get my act together."
I don't believe he wants us to act.
He wants us to come as we are, taking off our masks of tragedy and comedy.
Sometimes this *&^% is just not funny.
It's tragic.
And even as believers, we are afraid to admit that we struggle with sin.
Especially certain ones.
The ones no one wants to talk about.
But we ALL fall short of the glory of God.
We all fall.
Sinners every one of us, right out of the gate.
Desperately in need of a savior.
Some of us are just a little more obvious about it.
Or maybe just a little more honest.
But sin, is sin, is sin, is sin....it's all the same.
As the world turns, my heart yearns for us to just be real with each other.
Don't people who are not in church want us to be real?
Why can't we confess that even as believers, we're a mess!
Not you.
Of course I didn't mean you.
I know you have it together.
But, I don't.
I don't have it all figured out.
I have questions.
Any suggestions?
Many of us have questions we don't dare ask or talk about.
OMGosh how beautiful would the church be if we could just break down and bond over our brokenness?
If we could skip the designer labeled shirts or dresses on Sunday morning and wear our hearts on our sleeves.
Clothed instead in sin labeled shirts, like Hester Prynne.
HI, I'm addicted to pornography
HI, I'm anorexic.
HI, I'm struggling with depression.
Just so that we know we are not alone in this fight.
So we could celebrate together as one...Christ on the cross, calling us and the lost.
To a better way.
Calling out Truth to us.
And Hope.
That we can live abundantly and free, gaining victory over vices.
How quickly could we dispel the darkness if we weren't living in the lie of fear...afraid of the "what if's" that keep us locked in chains, in closets...far, far, far away from the light of God.
Who takes away the sins of the world.
HI, I'm forgiven.
I usually chose the dare because I didn't ever want to to tell the truth.
The ugly truths about myself, my fears, my insecurities.
I would rather have done things like, run naked around the lamp post out in my friend's front yard.
Or kiss a girl...and then some.
Sorry Katy Perry, I kissed a girl before you were even born.
I was in 6th grade.
And I didn't really like it.
I felt dirty the next day when I had to go home.
I just read Anne Jackson's book, "Permission to Speak FREELY."
And I would.
If I weren't speechless.
This is one of the most refreshingly honest books that I have read in a long, long, really long time.
She addresses some of my concerns and frustrations in being a born again, bible thumping, believer.
Life is not always pretty.
It's not always good or noble or of good report.
I've said that before.
But, I just don't believe it's hardly ever effective or life changing to just spew out a few of our scripted Christianese responses, as a band aid to cover, wounds that run so deeply in our body.
Personally or collectively.
We need more than that.
We need fellowship, a hand we can trust and hold that will help lead us to the truth.
Yes, I believe there is power in speaking the word. Heck YES!
I totally, totally believe that there is truth and power in the word of God!
But, please, in the name of Jesus, can we just be honest with each other?
Those in my closest circle know this is one of my biggest pet peeves about "the church".
And I mean no disrespect here whatsoever!
I promise!
Often times, we are afraid to be who we are.
Who we are...with our imperfections.
So many who are lost and struggling will not come through our church doors because they don't feel "good enough."
I used to think just like that.
I'll go to church when I "get my act together."
I don't believe he wants us to act.
He wants us to come as we are, taking off our masks of tragedy and comedy.
Sometimes this *&^% is just not funny.
It's tragic.
And even as believers, we are afraid to admit that we struggle with sin.
Especially certain ones.
The ones no one wants to talk about.
But we ALL fall short of the glory of God.
We all fall.
Sinners every one of us, right out of the gate.
Desperately in need of a savior.
Some of us are just a little more obvious about it.
Or maybe just a little more honest.
But sin, is sin, is sin, is sin....it's all the same.
As the world turns, my heart yearns for us to just be real with each other.
Don't people who are not in church want us to be real?
Why can't we confess that even as believers, we're a mess!
Not you.
Of course I didn't mean you.
I know you have it together.
But, I don't.
I don't have it all figured out.
I have questions.
Any suggestions?
Many of us have questions we don't dare ask or talk about.
OMGosh how beautiful would the church be if we could just break down and bond over our brokenness?
If we could skip the designer labeled shirts or dresses on Sunday morning and wear our hearts on our sleeves.
Clothed instead in sin labeled shirts, like Hester Prynne.
HI, I'm addicted to pornography
HI, I'm anorexic.
HI, I'm struggling with depression.
Just so that we know we are not alone in this fight.
So we could celebrate together as one...Christ on the cross, calling us and the lost.
To a better way.
Calling out Truth to us.
And Hope.
That we can live abundantly and free, gaining victory over vices.
How quickly could we dispel the darkness if we weren't living in the lie of fear...afraid of the "what if's" that keep us locked in chains, in closets...far, far, far away from the light of God.
Who takes away the sins of the world.
HI, I'm forgiven.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Happy Fun Girl: My Mugshot could be with Creflo's....
Happy Fun Girl: My Mugshot could be with Creflo's....: Yesterday, I was trying to get a sump pump started in the pool. It was a lame attempt to suck out the green pond scum and dead frog corpse...
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