Connie’s Thoughts

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Don’t Trade Life for Temporary Things

From Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional – This particular devotional spoke to me because it is so terribly easy to get distracted for both the long term and the short term. However, the words below remind and encourage me to stay focused on the things, the people, the relationships, the projects, the expenses, the whatever(s), that matter most.  It is the only way to make marked progress.  If you are fortunate enough to know that you are near the end of your days, wouldn’t you want to be able to reflect and know that most of what you were focused on, mattered? 

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So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don’t trade your life for temporary things.  

 Jesus said, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 TLB) 

 Paul warned, “Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.” (1 Corinthians 7:31 MSG) 

 What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? Whatever it is, let it go. “Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back .” (Hebrews 12:1 TLB)

#Life  #Focus

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Sowing Is Key

“Sow an act, reap a habit.  Sow a habit, reap a character.  Sow a character, reap a destiny.”

-Charles Reade (attrib.)

I normally have additional thoughts to add, but I feel this quote is rather clear, so “nuff” said.  I will ask you to ponder:  What will people mostly remember about your character when you leave this earth?  What are you sowing?  This is not just about wealth of money, it is equally about wealth of character, of paying it forward, of sowing into people.  Welcome to the weekend!

#destiny #character #sowingandreaping

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Quotes and Goals

From Mary Kay Ash:  “Give yourself something to work toward—constantly.”

I read this quote and immediately LOVED IT,  because I feel that it epitomizes what it means to set goals.  I love talking about goal setting, the art of taking large tasks or projects and breaking them down into smaller, more easily realizable and achievable pieces.  It is absolutely necessary to achieve progress in any area of life.

Goal setting can be beneficial for tasks as simple as going to bed at a reasonable time in order to achieve a proper night’s sleep.  With that said, any  objective, large or small, should be accompanied by a S.M.A.R.T. goal.  Such goals are S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, R-realistic, and T-time-bound or have a time frame.  S.M.A.R.T. goals prevent tasks, objectives, project, and dreams from seeming insurmountable, from completing a high school or college paper to starting a business.  The only caveat…once it’s written, you gotta stay focused, or else it’s written for nought.  Focus = action.

Consider what areas in your life (large or small) could benefit from change and then write a SMART goal to work towards the change you want to see.  If you need help writing it or brainstorming , contact me.  I’d LOVE it.  Tootles!

“Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” —Chinese proverb

 

 

 

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God Knows Your Frustrations

From Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional

My brief thoughts on this devotional:  As you read, I hope something jumps out at you; these words remind us that Jesus is also a God of emotional healing…not just physical, spiritual, and financial, but emotional as well.  For me, the resonating sentence was the very last statement, which advises that we take our cares to Him and leave them there. Boy, is it hard to leave them there!   This was a very hard directive for me to abide by, for leaving them there implies multiple steps.  It means that you trust that He knows what to do next, that you agree to be “hands off” in your own situation until you are clear on what to do, it means that you trust Him, trust Him, trust Him….trust Him fully. I can promise you that you can cast your cares on Him and trust Him to provide the clarity, means, or resources to handle them. It may not be immediate but in my experience, it’s always been at the opportune time.  
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“You may think, “Nobody knows what I’m going through, nobody feels the pain I’m experiencing.” 
But God knows! 

He knows your feelings and frustrations. He’s seen the crisis in your soul. There’s no hurt that goes unnoticed by God. Psalm 56:6 says, “You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears.” (Good News) 

Often when we’re hurting, we feel very isolated and lonely. Maybe there’s been a death in the family, a divorce, maybe we’ve gotten fired, and we start to think, “Nobody understands the way I feel; nobody can tell the way I feel; nobody feels the pain.”
But God knows, and “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” (Psalms 103:13 NLT) 

God not only sees, He cares! 

He knows the causes, the reasons, the things that brought you to this point. He understands because he made you, and he sees the hurt in your heart like nobody else can. 

Because God knows our frustrations and despair, we can give those feelings to God: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) Cast them all permanently on God, once and for all, and then, don’t take them back.”

#Jesuscares

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Memorable Quotes

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ”   ~Anne Frank

“When you are in leadership, there’s a smaller window for mistakes. The training is worth the trial.”    ~Unknown

#MakeADifference

 

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The Audacity of Hope

A poem by Dr. Connie R. Shipman ©2017

From their homes, their place of safety, our ancestors were stolen.  Brought to a foreign land and forced to become less than who they were born to be, they survived, they fought, and they thrived, due to the audacity of hope.

For the rights that we have today, for the freedoms we enjoy to work and live and love alongside those not of African descent, freedoms that should not have had to be a fight, but were, all were brought to bear due to the audacity of hope.

The endurance of the water hoses, the dogs, the false accusations and wrongful imprisonments, inferior schooling and substandard housing, we had the nerve to survive and even thrive, due to the audacity of hope.

We rule, we teach, we organize, we preach, and we serve as activists, still due to the audacity of hope.

Why do we dare to hope, regardless of the challenges?  Because there is power, strength, viability, and endurance in not just the ideal, but the certain sincerity that exists in the audacity of hope.  Selah!

#hope

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Laughter Is Indeed Good Medicine

“He Who Laughs, Lasts” – Taken from Pastor Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional 

As I’ve mentioned in these devotionals, many people think the Bible is only filled with commands labeled “Thou shalt not”

They assume the Bible is all about restrictions and making you lead a boring life. 

But this should put a smile on your face: Having fun is good for your health. 

God tells us in his Word that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV) 

I like to put it this way, “He who laughs, lasts.” Learn to laugh at yourself, put some play in every day, relax, chill out, have some fun. 

ENJOY LIFE A LITTLE MORE!

#LAUGH!

 

 

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Inauguration Day 2017

Well, good people, I have been thinking about the upcoming inauguration of America’s 45th president.  What a historical and monumental moment.  The speeches are often memorable and events of the day not quickly forgotten by some pundits and commentators.  An amount of controversy surrounds each president-elect, and Donald Trump is no different; he may have more controversy surrounding him than the last 2-3 presidents, not sure.  What I am confident about is before I considered being Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or other, I was American first.  For all of the joys and ills that is the USA, I am an American.  So, on 1/20/17, I will don some combination of red, white, and blue, enjoy my workday, and see what I can glean from the inaugural speech that may define what the next four years will hold.  Regardless of my choice of candidate, I will respect the office and view what I can of the inauguration.  Post inauguration, during the ensuing months and years, I will become an advocate for one more cause or another only if I am so moved and most assuredly, continue on with my life and impacting well those around me. 

#InaugurationDay   #IamanAmerican   #Americanfirst