Putting the BIG Rocks First....

We’ve all heard the story in one form or another; about the teacher who took out a glass jar, filled it with rocks and asked his class: “is the jar full?” “Yes.” The class replied. “No.” the teacher replied. He then took out a bag of gravel and poured it into the jar, then a bag of sand, and finally a pitcher of water until the jar was filled to the brim. “What’s the point of this demonstration?” he asked his students. One student replied, “If you try hard enough, you can fit everything in.” “No” the teacher replied, “If you don’t put the big rocks in first, they won’t fit in at all.

What are the big rocks in our lives? What should the big rocks in our lives be? These big rocks, better known as our priorities are whatever we’re spending our time, energy, and resources on. I was recently given the opportunity to examine my priorities and I can tell you… the big rocks weren’t fitting into my jar because my jar was too full of the things of lesser importance.

What should the big rocks be? God? Family? Marriage? Work? Friends? Hobbies? Vacationing? Money? Sleep? Paying off debt? School? Church? Volunteer work? How do you determine what your big rocks should be when so many things seem important and your life (and the people in it) pull you in a thousand different directions each day?

I took some time today to think and pray about what the big rocks should be in my life when it occurred to me that I first needed a mission statement for my life. A mission statement is a summary describing the aims, values, and overall plan of an organization or individual. What are my values, my aims, my overall plan for me? More importantly, what is God’s values, aims, and overall plan for me? That’s when I created a working mission statement… followed it with what the big rocks in my life should be which each support the mission statement. Each big rock gives reasons why, scripture that shows it’s value, and a plan of action. I also included 5 things that must get done that aren’t a part of these rocks so we will consider that the gravel, and 5 things that must be limited, we will call that the sand. My plan (not all of it because it’s long and some of it personal) is listed below… what’s your plan? I found that my life was running me… I wasn’t talking to God and determining how I was supposed to be following Him in running mine. With His help, I have said the final goodbye to that way of living and I am on my way to leading a more effective, productive, joyful, and fruit filled life attached to the vine (“I am the vine; you’re the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without me.” John 15:5)

My working Mission Statement: To live the life that God has blessed me with to the fullest by walking hand in hand in relationship with Him as He guides me and directs my steps. To share His love with the world through a life of Christian discipleship… I want to immolate and exude Christ and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To live this life and LOVE like I mean it!! To be the Katie that Jesus Christ has called me to be!

My Big Rocks:

1)      God

a.      Why? Because apart from Him I am and can do nothing! John 15:5

2)      Marriage

a.      Why? Because God has blessed me with a husband whom I love and who loves me and I am to be his helper. Genesis 2, Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 13, Proverbs 31 (and many others)

3)      Eli

a.      Why? He is our blessing from God as well as our responsibility. “Start off children in the way they should go and even when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

4)      Family & Friends

a.      Why? Because loneliness stinks!! God blesses us with family and friends so that we can be encouraged and have support. Jesus showed this example in the disciples…

5)      School

a.      Why? Keeping my eye on the prize … must obtain degree to go onto the bigger things that God has in store.

6)      Weight Loss

a.      Why? To be healthier and fit to do God’s work as well as enjoy my time with Eli to the fullest. “Do you not know that your bodies are temple of the Holy Spirit…” 1 Corinthians 6:19

5 Things that Must Happen:

Housework, Bill paying, Mary Kay, Sleep, church work!

5 Things that Must Be Limited:

Facebook, Television, Magazines, Sleep, and hobbies

Thanks for reading my thoughts! God Bless!

If... I don't usually do these but saw it and thought it would be fun!

If....

This is going around the blog world :)




Fill in the blanks....



If I were to get pregnant again... I would be overjoyed



If I could have any job in the world... Christian Marriage and Family Counselor


If I had a day to myself... I would call my best girlfriend and hang out...


If I could get married all over again...I would marry the same man but do our wedding completely different!


If I could live anywhere in the US... anywhere with my husband and Eli (I would like to remain close to my peeps but I wouldn't mind city living)


If my boy would have been girl they would have been named... Emma Katherine (Emma Kate) or Loreali Elizabeth.


If I could have any talent in the world... a beautiful singing voice


If you met me in real life... I hope that you would say that I radiate Jesus. I had someone tell me the other day that I light up a room... that's probably the 2nd best compliment I've ever gotten. (the first was that I am a really good mommy!)


If I could go back to school and get a different degree... Well, I'm getting my first degree right now, Psychology.


If money was no object... I would have more children and Tommy and I would partner with our friends in their ministry and spread the love of Jesus to anyone and everyone we could!!


If I could meet one celebrity, it would be... Reba, this is no shock to anyone unless you don't know me at all!!!


If I could shop at only one store the rest of my life... Target



If we were to get another pet it would be... NO... NO.... NO.... ABSOLUTELY NO MORE PETS


If I could go on a trip right now... New York City... hands down #1 on my to go to list!


If I had to choose between a house cleaner and a personal chef... I really enjoy cooking so I would definitely  have to say HOUSE CLEANER!!!!



If I had the option of plastic surgery.. I would have things reduced - not enlarged!!! LOL

Boots & Unexpected Blessings

Blessings show up in all sorts of places! They come in many shapes, forms, and sizes! I received a pair of hand-me-down boots this weekend and they are a blessing to me. The lady that gave them was so joyful in her giving, all she saw was someone who received joy in the boots and she wanted to give them to sustain that joy. The truth is that YES those boots brought joy, they are comfy, they are warm, and most of all, and they make me feel pretty and confidant. What that sweet lady didn’t know was that I don’t have any boots… in fact I didn’t have a single pair of winter shoes (aside from sneakers) in my closet. While this wasn’t a deep pressing need… especially in comparison to the inconceivable, astronomical needs of others here and around the world, to me, in a place in my heart, it was important. You see, my family has recently gone from being a 2 bread winner household to being a 1 breadwinner household. Don’t misunderstand me; we lack nothing that we need. God is faithful and He has provided ABOVE AND BEYOND what we could hope for or imagine. As He did through the sweet lady with the beautiful boots that made this brokenhearted young woman remember that I serve a God who truly does care about even the smallest longings of my heart. Not to say that I will want a corvette and because I do, He will give me one… no, that’s not my point, my point is that He used boots to simply remind me of His love, His grace, His mercy, His faithfulness, and to say, “my child, you’re mine and I love you… I see those deep places in your heart that you don’t allow anyone else to see and I care!” This weekend, I was met with many blessings. I didn’t go expecting to come away with personal blessings, I knew I would see the love of God working in the lives of others, and that it would bless my heart but I wasn’t prepared for what happened when I determined to serve God and others out of even the broken places in my heart. When out of obedience to the Father, I stepped out in faith and did what I thought I couldn’t do, many things in fact that I thought I couldn’t do. The truth, that became a living, breathing reality to me this weekend, is that I still can’t do them… not in myself that is, but “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13. This verse no longer means the same thing to me that it has all my life, to me, it doesn’t mean that I can do anything that I want and desire to do but that I can do all things that God desires and wills me to do by relying on His strength, and not my own. Boots were only the beginning!

I have been walking around with a broken heart full of anger, resentment, loneliness, sadness, and un-forgiveness. Carrying this heavy heart that felt like it weighed at least 15 pounds was causing bitterness to creep into my once very joyous walk with the Lord. After a very painful situation, I determined to weep forward and I did… I learned that God can do amazing things through tears and baby steps!!! And guess what, He did!! He worked through my brokenness! However, my heart wasn’t healing… “Why God?” I’m trusting you to heal it… I know you can… “Why God?” That not so comfortable answer came this weekend… “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” I wasn’t walking in 100% forgiveness, I was trying, but I wasn’t succeeding. I was slowly building walls around my heart so that no one could get to the brokenness that I was hiding. I wasn’t loving my neighbor, in this case, my enemies, as myself… I can’t!... not on my own. So a few days ago, I asked God to remove the unforgivness, the bitterness, the anger, the loneliness, and the sadness. I gave Him every broken piece of my heart and asked Him to heal it. I asked Him to help me to love my enemies. “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28 Then, I knelt in prayer and I prayed for the people that I needed to love… I asked God to bless them abundantly and I learned a valuable lesson… through submission, the support of a dear friend, and leading of the Holy Spirit, I realized that God loves those people as much as He loves me!! I knew it in my head, but it became heart knowledge… God loves my enemies, friends, strangers, and loved ones as much as He loves me! We’re all His favorite! Even when we sin and fall short, His love remains faithful and steadfast! Hallelujah!!!!! Isn’t that awesome?

I gave my heart to God this weekend and allowed Him to fill it with love. He did, He filled all the tiny creases of my broken heart with His love, His mercy, and His grace. I’m thankful that He worked through my brokenness and I am also thankful that He lovingly accepted my broken heart when I handed it over to be placed on the potter’s wheel to be reshaped. I lost 15 pounds of “heart weight”… Praise the Lord!

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases… those baby steps that I was taking through my tears were great for that season but hello to the powerwalk… I dropped the load at the foot of the cross and left it there… isn’t it funny that when I dropped the baggage, I felt light enough to run and what did God give me, new shoes!!! Watch out world, Jesus loves me and He loves you too… PASS IT ON!!!