Thinking About Thinking

By Lara

Recently, a friend asked me how I think. I asked for some clarification, because that's a strange thing to ask someone. He explained that he was curious about how my mind processed information and how aware I was of the inner workings of my though processes. Sigh. Engineers...

Needless to say, I haven't thought about thinking in quite some time. I decided to take the challenge and think about it. It is an interesting question, afterall.

I found myself trying too hard to be consciously aware of my thoughts. Nothing seemed natural. Every time I remembered that I was supposed to be thinking about how I think, I started talking to myself in my head.

I tried to explain this phenomenon to him. We talked about the modes of thinking for several minutes, but I was sure that I hadn't really captured my inner mechanism.

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Making Room In My Heart

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

So if you have been following my musings around here you know the following:

1. I am an advocate for Compassion after meeting my first sponsored child in Honduras and seeing how well the ministry works.

2. I love children especially those considered "the least of these." I believe that children should have an opportunity and it is my ministry to try and make that happen.

3. My heart is in Honduras~ all of my sponsored children are there though I encourage others to seek sponsorships in any of Compassion's 26 countries.

As of January 11th my wife and I made a conscious decision to make one of those statements false. Obviously for statements 1 and 2 to become false would require a complete change in my faith and ministry. The world would be turned upside down for those that know me. However for statement 3 to become false would require a change in my heart and direction. Easily said but not easily done. My wife and I had made a decision to sponsor all of our children in Honduras. We had fallen in love with the Country and many of the people we met there. Having all our sponsored children in one place would make it easy to visit them. We have done this twice and are planning to see them all again this summer.

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Living For Today

By Pat

Last night we got some snow, a very heavy, wet snow. I went out in the morning armed with my shovel and began the daunting task of clearing the driveway and also the road we share with neighbors, but after a very short time, I knew this would be no easy chore. The snow was like concrete, and after a while it became clear to me that I would be shoveling for quite some time and I became discouraged. I looked at the area I had done, but it was so small compared to what was still ahead of me. And so, slowly and painstakingly I continued on, and I discovered that if I kept myself focused on what I was doing and what I had finished rather than on what was still to be done, I felt more able to continue on with confidence that I would be able to finish. But in looking at what was still before me, I wanted to simply give up, thinking I would never get it all done.

It's easy for me to allow the same mentality to overtake me in my daily life. I look too much at the future, worrying and wondering how I will pay certain bills...or will I someday find a new career? Will my husband finally find a new and better job? Will my business pick up? Will my learning-disabled granddaughter learn the things required of her, and will she have friends? What is God's plan for me"? The future is uncertain... tomorrow is not promised.

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God Is... Our Protector

By Dusty (Reflections on the Life of a Christian)

^{Photo by Colin Brough. Used by permission.}

Throughout scripture, God is described as a fortress and a provider of security and salvation. One of my favorite go to passages in times of trouble references this aspect of who God is:

"Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge." (Proverbs 14:26 NIV, ©2010)

God loves and protects those who are His children. The word 'fears' above actually means to have a sense of wonder and awe that leads us to follow Him. When we follow God, we are taken into His care, and He will be our shelter and protection from the troubles of this world. That does not mean we will not receive scrapes and bruises. Nor does it mean we will never be harmed.  It does mean that even during the worst battles of our life, we are granted security in God. When everything seems to be falling a part and despair tries to overwhelm us, we are able to experience joy and hope because we know we rest secure in the arms of God.

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Organize This! Understand Your Organizing Style and How it Works With Your Family

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

Did you know there was such a thing as an organizing style?  There is!  Just like there are learning styles and communication styles.  In order to make your space efficient, you should make sure that your systems match your style.  This sounds really simplistic, but for many it is not.  In fact, most of the time this step is skipped completely! 

We learned back in pre-school that trying to fit a square peg into a round hole just does not work.  No matter how we turn it or twist it -- it doesn’t fit.  Yet, we try to do it all of the time by putting systems in place that don’t match our personal or our organizations’ styles.

Begin by being realistic about your lifestyle and personal style.  Focusing on the way you live is important to finding the right organizing strategies for your life.  Be realistic about your personal style – it is not about what you should do, it is about what you WILL do.

Next, recognize that it is highly likely that whatever style you identify for yourself will not match at least one person in your household or office!

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