Life Satisfaction

I was reading the Sunday paper today and a headline jumped out at me "Where do I find Passion for Work?" Well that got my attention! Don't get me wrong ~~ I really like my job and my farmers are like family to me, but right now, I feel like we are drowning in a sea of paperwork and new programs due to the late passage of the farm bill. As I read the answer to the headline, I found out the man was asking for help because he felt lost. He didn't like his current job and couldn't think of another career he wanted to pursue. He was to the point of not even wanting to get out of bed in the mornings (Boy can I relate to that sometimes!) The columnist answered him by asking him to rate 8 areas of his life on a scale of 1-7 with 7 being "very satisfied". The areas were:

1) Friends & family
2) Fun Recreation
3) Physical environment
4) Romance/significant other
5) Mental self
6) Finances
7) Career
8) Physical self

The columnist urged the man to refocus his efforts and start looking for a career that does one thing: allows him to contribute in a way that makes him feel valuable. That being the best way to get your work energy to carry over into other aspects of your life. She also pointed out that work should just be one aspect of a happy life. She said that in the same way people mistakenly believe that a spouse should read their mind and make them feel better, many people think that their career is supposed to make them happy too!

As I read the column, I noticed several things, but the most glaring omission to the list was God/ spiritual health!!!!!! How can anyone even begin to evaluate their life without taking an honest look at their relationship with God?? Right now, I am in the midst of a Bible study that is kicking my butt and stepping all over my feelings! This study is about the small idols in our lives - things we put ahead of our relationship with God. Even good things like family and physical health and work can become an idol if we put them ahead of God in our priorities. I guess I just mistakenly thought only about addictions and bad things in our lives as being "idols" before this study. In Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 19:16-30, and Luke 18:18-30 (You know it MUST be importatnt when it is in 3 out of 4 gospels!) Jesus meets a young rich man who asks Jesus what he must do to atain eternal life. We have all read the story and it always ends in each of the accounts the same way - Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor and then come follow him. The man goes away sad because he is wealthy and couldn't give up everything to follow Jesus. Kelly Minter, author of this study, points out that when the Lord tells us to part with our idols, He is looking at us and loving us. He sees that our idols are in the way. He also know that He has the power to turn whatever we parted with into a hundred fold in this lifetime, while also granting us eternal life. He can do this not because we make it possible, but because all things are possible with him!! So, now I just have to take that to heart and figure out what idol God is asking me to root out of my life - or to at least move it out of His way so that HE can be at the top of my list!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Tara!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA!!

Today is my first born daughter's birthday. Tara, you have brought great joy to my life each and every day since you arrived! You were the first to make me a Mom, and a MIL, and a Nana! You are such a wonderful daughter! I admire how you have grown in your spiritual life and walk so closely with Jesus. You are a great inspiration to me as I watch you seek His will for your life. You truly are becoming the Proverbs 31 woman.

Proverbs 31:28-29 " Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

4th of July

Well, hubby talked me into a little Harley trip yesterday. We went down to my sister and brother-in-laws lake home on Lake Palo Pinto. The air was cool as we left yesterday morning bright and early (well, about 8:30 am). Now, riding on the back of a Harley is not my idea of the most fun thing that we do together. However, hubby enjoys it tremendously and it is a lot cheaper way to travel ~~ I just don't like the pavement rushing by me at 7o MPH!!!! I always take along my MP3 player with LOTS of Praise & Worship music loaded to listen to as we go down the road. The only problem is ~~ I am, (have I mentioned this before?) very technology challenged! That stupid little red two inch long piece of plastic can totally defy me and not want to actually PLAY all the music my son has loaded for me!! I endlessly push buttons scrolling through options, menus, playlists in the hope of hitting the right combination and actually hearing music!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, without knowing just which combination works, I hear music and THEN hubby is stopping for something. Off comes the helmet (oh that feels so good because helmets are NOT fun to wear in the summer heat!), turn off the MP3 player, and wait while the liquid gold is pumped into the tiny tank..... then back on with the helmet and into another struggle with trying to get a song to actually play. Well, today I finally bested that little bugger!!! I just learned to leave it playing and not turn it off until we pull into the driveway. Home safe and sound at last! Now, when do we leave again????