It's ok, pay for it.

It's true- you get what you pay for.
I just heard my friend talking about a pair of shoes she bought in Europe, she said something like "the shoes were cheap quality, they didn't last". My other friend reminded her that she only paid $20 for them. So, although they were European shoes and I'm sure they gained a bit of frequent flyer miles coming all the way to Las Vegas- that didn't necessarily make them top of the line shoes.
Same thing goes w purses- and I am a purse girl- I haven't yet bought my first Gucci or Louis Vuitton, but I have learned from experience- pay $15 for a purse, watch out! Soon you will have straps falling off, zippers breaking, rips and stuff making it look like its been dragged around by a pack of wild horses.
Seriously. Spend a little bit more. Get quality.
Tonight I am trying a new yogurt- Oikos. Yes, I know it's .38cents more than Yoplait, but trust me- it was divine. I totally agree with John Stamos, it is the very best in the world.
I am worth it- and so are you!
Norma


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To blog or not to blog

It's a new year and of course I've been thinking about thing from last year that I've neglected. One of them is this blog. It's not like I don't have any time- that's always the easiest and best excuse. It's that I have this 'great expectation' that it has to be perfect and filled with spiritual revelation and scripture... But really, it doesn't. Its supposed to be what is on my heart and mind for the day.
So the ultimate question is- to blog or not to blog...
I have decided to blog. Starting today. Imperfect, about whatever and whenever.
It's a step forward and I'm excited.
Ciao,
Norma


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oh boy it's been a while.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for!

Today I was reminded of the scripture in Philipians 3:12 that reads:

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."

That's right friends, I have not yet reached that place of perfection. I am a work in progress- can anyone relate? I am not really one that likes to rehearse my imperfections, but I will admit when I have fallen short. I can tell you that the thought of writing my inspirations and dreams continue to fill my mind. I guess it's not only a matter of prioritizing, but also the thought of- once it's online, it's really out there... my friends, my family and strangers can just read and who knows what they will think of me.

Well, once again I will embark on this journey, I will continue to move forward taking one step at a time. As I walk with the Lord, and continue to experience His power and His presence in my life, I will surrender my fears and stay close to His heart.

Thanks to Kelanie Gloeckler I keep hearing this anthem: "I have resurrection power, flowing on the inside!" So, therefore I will resurrect this blog and not look back.

It's time to dream again.

I know, it's been a while. People have been asking, where I've been. Well, I've been here. I've had alot going on, but I am doing good.

I've been reading the word mostly. I've been in Luke, and so lately I've been able to read more and more. Which is a good thing.

I've been encouraged to write, even if it's short, so here it is.

Mainly I've been getting used to changes in life and that is a good thing.

It's time to dream again because God is doing a NEW thing.

Let your life count!

About a week ago, my husband challenged me.

He said - Don't underestimate your gifts, how much you hear from God and how much you have to give. At that time, I was just waking up and I really didn't want to hear it, but I smiled at him and said - ok.

Last night I had this dream. In my dream it was like I was watching a movie and I was in the movie. I am walking around going through some streets and then I'm standing next to a wall. All the sudden there's a truck coming towards the wall, the truck hits the wall and next thing I know, I am laying there on the ground. In the dream I can feel my life leaving my body... I realize I'm dying, then I say to myself: "Let your life count" .... then I die. I immediately wake up.

I 'm getting ready for work with these words resounding in my spirit... let your life count... let your life count. Hmmm. So, I write these words on FB and just keep them in my heart.

Tonight during the service, Cindy Jacobs was sharing a powerful story and she started saying that same phrase... let your life count.... I was just totally freaking out, because at the end of the story that she was telling, the three people she was talking about, they die. One of them- her last words were " let your life count".

I don't think my life is ending. However, I am dying to many things in my life and many fears that I have had for a long time. I believe that is what the death in my dream represented. It's really given me alot to think about.

I wonder how many times I have set aside words, thoughts, inspirations, feelings, and dreams and how would my life be different right now, if I would have followed through. I know there's a time and season for everything, but now more than ever I am really aware of how much God is speaking to me and that He has so many dreams for me to fulfill.

One of the reasons why I started writing my thoughts on this blog was so that I would have a place where I could express myself and not bury my dreams. I don't know if anyone is reading, or if it's even making a difference to anyone out there... I am doing this for me, and it's making a difference in me. I am giving life to my dreams and inspirations and I am making my life count.

At the end of the service, Cindy Jacobs compelled us to ask the Lord to "PICK ME!"

I said to the Lord, "PICK ME!"

And He said to me: I did...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

Look

Look, look… then look again.

You can hear so much when you listen to people talk about their day, at the end of the day.

What went right, what went wrong, what they finished, and how much they have to do tomorrow.

I wonder how much we actually listen to ourselves talk… Maybe it’s time to sit still, listen and be thankful.

In January of 2007 the Lord spoke a word to me:

“This year you will turn your losses into gain, you will find gain in all of your losses and you will look and see depth.”

I’m sure that if I really took the time, I could list the losses and the gains and all the stuff I saw during those 1,000+ days…

Today, I just want to say: “Thanks God!” for the tears, for the laughs, for the days.

“Likewise I, God will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I’ll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God, A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs.” Isaiah 51:3 MSG

Resignation

Today I resigned from the ministry. I quit! Again....

Instead of reviewing our agendas and giving our updates, our entire leadership team had a three hour prayer meeting and encountered the presence of God. Most of us quit today... We resigned from doing things as we've done them in the past, to our old ways and to anything that has become chaff in our lives.

As I was in a place of surrender, I was asking the Lord to enlighten the eyes of my understanding.

Ezra 9:8 says: "And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage."

I thought to myself, well I'm not in bondage... But really when I stopped to think about my life, I realized that I had many idols. I saw clearly areas of my life and things that I have done - on my own - in His name.

We create idols when we place others, things, or ourselves, in a place where only God should be. I actually started seeing myself as the candle burning out, on both ends, at late hours for all the wrong reasons.

So, I challenge you now... to resign from your own ways, to look at your life and review what you do and why you do it. Resign from your titles, from your gifts, from your personality, and from any area that takes the place that you should give to your Beloved.

Only then can your really be free.