Filed under: Christian Beliefs & Culture | Tags: ability, able, can't, God, power, Sin, talent
When we ask what God can do, we usually think of huge miracles. After all, He created heaven and earth. But, what does that mean to us? We weren’t even there when it happened. So, what we really want to know is, “What God can do…for me.” Let’s take for granted that He is all-knowing, all-powerful and that He is love. How does that apply today? To me? To you?
First, let’s cover the list of what God cannot do. Get comfortable:
1. God cannot be sinful.
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
A good analogy is that of heat and cold. The definition of cold is a) Marked by deficient heat; b) Being at a temperature that is less than what is required. The feeling we label as “cold” is actually our sensing a lack of heat. Just as sin is a manifestation of the lack of God’s presence. Heat can’t be cold. Light can’t be dark. God can’t be sin. But, He can allow sin to move in whatever way He plans: “The LORD works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Proverbs 16:4
That’s it! Beyond that, it’s “game on!” So, now that we know God can do all things except sin, we take the limits off of what He can do in our very own personal lives.
I may live a relatively decent life; steady job, nice home, good friends and tolerable family. But, what I want out of life is to live with few regrets. I want to live!—not just survive. I want to make a difference in people’s lives. And, even if I really don’t want that, I would like to reach my greatest potential as a human being, to see the absolute best me come to life.
This is what God can do. And, you don’t even have to wait until next lifetime to live the best time of your life. No matter your socio-economic status, your star-power, your obstacles or preconceived notions about yourself (or that others have about you), God has a plan for the life you are living right now. It’s a life filled with purpose, with hope. A future.* He’s got gifts He’s given you that He wants to stir up and use properly; and He’s even got some talents in store for you that you’re not even aware of yet.
For instance, I found out a few months ago that I am a songwriter. I have no musical background, but so far I have three pretty amazing compositions under my belt and another on its way.** This isn’t me bragging on me, but on the all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-loving Lord, Jesus Christ. I’m sharing only one example of a personal trait that this ex-administrative assistant probably would have never discovered. It’s a pursuit that’s come through building a relationship with the God in heaven who knows me better than I know myself.
What God can do is more than we can orchestrate for ourselves. His offer is more satisfying than comfort, money, power or influence; He offers an opportunity to find out who you were really made to be, and live the life for which you were designed. But, as always, the choice is yours.
*“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
** find samples at http://libraryofintelligentdesigninc.blogspot.com/
Filed under: Style & Beauty | Tags: appearance, dress, hair, judge, judgement, outer, proverbs, style, superficial, surface
“Hey, Rasta!” the loser in the driver’s seat yells. Their superficial remark bounces out of a passing car that’s headed in the opposite direction of my walk home. The effortless judgment only manages to go skin deep, and I merely shake my head at the unoriginality of the comment. As I do so, I sense my dreadlocks brush across my shoulders—or maybe they don’t, because maybe they’re pulled back in a relatively conservative ponytail that day. Doesn’t matter. Details like that never do. That’s the great thing about indulging our natural tendency to judge based on outer appearance: we don’t have to bother thinking too hard. So, to make things easier for one another, it’s good to be aware of what you can expect so that you can present yourself as true to form as possible.
Putting the obvious aside, such as ethnicity and sex, we’ll focus on the things that we actually determine. Hair is surprisingly important when it comes to affecting judgment of one’s outer appearance. Long and shaggy indicates carelessness, an irresponsible and non-chalante attitude (despite the fact that this hairstyle takes forever to achieve). This and other non-traditional approaches are considered “do’s” in the world of college, arts and creative pursuits. It also works well in high school, unless you’re the principal. Once Principal Shaggy trims and tames that stylish mop, the parents find him markedly more credible and capable. Darker hair indicates soberness and sophistication, especially for females. Women with “big” hair are assumed to wear “big” personalities, while sleeker styles indicate a more prudent nature. And, if no style whatsoever is applied, it’s assumed that she’s creating beautiful music with the guy flaunting the shaggy do.
There are people who are savvy enough to use pre-judgments to their advantage. Such as rappers who dress in preppie clothing—they create their own spotlight by using the striking incongruity between an educated, conservative, white-collar exterior and a seemingly unreserved, urban approach. Colorful clothing indicates creativity or an equally vibrant personality. It can also indicate flightiness and an unrealistic world-view, setting up the perfect opportunity for you to knock their socks off with your explanation of how Einstein’s theory of relativity affects our lives, today.
Miss Etiquette would be very disappointed with the horrible posture that most of us exhibit these days. Which makes someone’s erect stance or sitting position stand out. They seem taller, more confident. Who wouldn’t follow this person’s lead versus the slouch? On the other hand, which one would you rather approach for a day of fun?
It’s a matter of life, a matter of fact that physical attributes are markers people use to guess what’s beneath the surface; whether or not you fit all their assumptions, these decisions affect how you will be received. The key to knowing what your appearance says to others is knowing your intent. Though your core style will stay the same, your intent may change from scene to scene; from office, to gym, to café. The smart move is to make an effort to use details that reflect your most applicable attributes. But, don’t let who you are on the inside rely as heavily on such fickle opinions. Most importantly, make sure that you groom an inner appearance that attracts the person in the mirror, and then determine how you want that presented.
Proverbs 13:7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
- quo elbert
Filed under: Budgets and Saving, home, Style & Beauty | Tags: budget, cheap, decor, design, free, furnishing, furniture, home, house, interior, save, style
Breath out, relax your shoulders and prepare to be creative with dressing your home. Furnishing your house (or apartment) on a budget does not have to be stressful, but can actually provide the perfect reason to develop an interior design scheme that is very uniquely you.
First things first…say goodbye to matching! You may not know this, but releasing yourself from the chains of matchdom is such a relief and a healthy challenge. Learn what colors appeal to you, and do a little color-wheel research to discover what colors complement one another. Some rules of thumb I’ve learned from experience: soft pastels accent earth tones very well. Create an arresting scene: clash colors, sparingly; and couple elaborate textures with pieces sporting little to no texture. (I have a plush, deep red, faux fur throw that I liked to drape over my cream-colored chaise whose upholstery displays light embroidery. I’ll tell you how I found those little gems, shortly.)
Secondly, be honest with what you like. For the longest time I avoided succumbing to stereotypical “girlie” styles. But, you know what? Flowery is alright with me, to a degree. And, I like pastels, to a degree. And, I like pink. Period. So there! Many more doors are opened to you when you allow yourself to test the boundaries of your likes and your dislikes. Besides, not every new discovery has to be applied to your home; in my case, my wardrobe is pretty in pink, not my wall.
Thirdly, the most important ingredient in furnishing a home on a budget is patience. You don’t want to settle for just any old piece of furniture. You want what’s right for your home. This will mean waiting on sales. Wading through estate/garage/yard sales. Weighing the options given you via freebie sources. Just remember, the home interior you create for yourself is one you’ll want to return to for many moons, so why rush to create a less than fulfilling space?
Here are a few ways to uncover that hidden treasure, that jewel, that furnishing waiting to be discovered by you!
Check out Craigslist.com. This is a free classifieds website started as a way for one friend to connect with his other friends. It’s grown to offer free info on jobs, personal ads, and every item under the sun available for sale and for free. Many of the ads for furnishings even include pictures.
Drive around posh neighborhoods. I found a pristine, country phone cabinet glistening under the summer sun as it sat discarded on the curb. I knocked on the homeowner’s door to verify it was okay to take away. They approved, explaining that it had a crack down the back of the table (barely noticeable!). I drove away a very happy camper.
Sign up for local estate sale e-newsletters. Though the Estate sales are hit-and-miss, (you’d be surprised what is dared called an “estate” sometimes) these venues can offer top-notch furniture that actually possesses distinct character. And, you can often find them for hundreds cheaper than the standard offerings in today’s furniture store. I once bought heavy, lined, cream drapes that, when hung, extended from ceiling to floor. They cost me $25. I got up on the ladder myself and quickly unhooked them from their old hanging posts. It’s at estate sales that I also found the French Victorian Chaise lounge and plush, red throw referred to previously. If you’re in California, get started by signing up with estatesaleshop.com, a company hosting sales throughout Los Angeles County.
Be vocal about what you like. If you let a friend know how much you like this, that or the other you’ll stick out in their mind should this, that or the other become up for grabs. I was giving away a lot of items before I moved to another location and remembered a friend who really liked one of the paintings on my wall. That and one other piece of art now hang, comfy and cozy, in their new home.
Turn lemons into lemon-squares. Maybe you know what you want, but it’s not in your budget. Consider the essential characteristics of what you’re looking for and then look around your home or local store to see if something else will meet that need. I wanted a long floor rug to distract from the ugly tile that ran the expanse of my long kitchen. The knit table runner that I spotted did the job perfectly, fitting my color scheme and the floor of my narrow kitchen. My comforter’s been in need of a duvet cover for quite sometime. Instead of spending additional money, the thought finally came to me to use a couple old sheets. I sewed them together leaving an opening at the top. Not only do I have a duvet cover, but it’s dual colored in case I want a change of scene.
Decorating your house on a budget is an exercise of the right mind. But, the end result is a home that is truly yours, one that expresses your heart and greets you and those who know you with its familiar warmth.
