Today was quite the whirlwind day but finally got around to watching the new Once Upon a Time. (Great start by the way guys, like woah!)
Since it was a crazy day, I figured I’d take you back to my archives with a picture of me when I felt like a princess. 🙂
I recently re-stumbled onto a great YouTube channel – FightMediocrity shares summaries of books he’s read in about 5-10 minutes. He did a great one of the 4 Hour Work Week. I can’t remember which video it was…I tend to watch 3-4 at a time and I’ve watched a number of them over the last week or two…anyways. The idea of giving rewards or punishments to help motivation. The example he gave was if you don’t hit your goal, then you have to donate to a charity you don’t like or something like that. I can’t remember if he mentioned positive rewards or not, but it got me thinking…what actually motivates me? It’s super easy to not follow through with a negative result. I just don’t do it. But what if I did positive rewards? It’s no secret I love the Lego video games. A new one just came out today that’s a HUGE Lego game….but with a HUGE price tag. The starter pack for Lego Dimensions is $100.
I started thinking through the goals I have….getting a first draft of my book completed, finishing projects for my clients, working out regularly. From big goals to small goals, I came up with a rough idea of what I would “give myself” if I finished them. I originally thought there’s NO way I’m spending $100 on a game. But through a few conversations with Bret, he encouraged me to read some reviews on it. I just finished some reading and can I just say it sounds like an AMAZING game? So here’s when a funny thing happened. I started thinking about how much I want that game. I started thinking about what I have to do with the first draft of my book. There is actually a part of me that wants to work on it right now and finish it this week.
There are all kinds of positive rewards you can give yourself. Whether it’s an hour in front of the TV, an hour to read a fiction book or a coffee from Dunkin Donuts, it doesn’t matter. It’s about what will make you do the work that you need to do.
What works best for you? Positive or negative outcomes?
Today is apparently Batman Day, though this guy disagrees. Even if it’s the wrong day, I have an excuse to wear my Batman shirt with a cape. 🙂
This is going to be a “real” post. I’m going to talk about some things that are not exactly popular to talk about. It’s not normally seen as a “cheery” topic.
You are going to die someday.
There is no changing this fact. You can do all the right things, eat right, exercise, go to church, be nice to pigeons. It won’t matter, you will die.
“Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.” Job 14:5
Here’s why I’m talking about death today. In a week, two people in my life passed away. I have assurance that both of them are in heaven right now. Both lived lives to the glory of God and placed saving faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to save them from their sins and go to heaven. Both lived beautiful lives and both left an amazing legacy behind. One was my grandfather who lived 93 amazing years and left a legacy of love for Christ behind him. The other was an amazing woman in her 30’s who fought cancer (and won I might add), who chose the life of her son over aggressive chemotherapy. Her story is truly amazing and I highly recommend you check it out (this is an article with info about her story and videos and other things that share her story).
I am grateful to have lived a life where I know my days are numbered. Starting at the age of 15, I went to funerals almost every year for about 5 years. Funerals of 21 year olds, 18 year olds, 30 year olds. I have had a very clear view of death for a long time. Honestly, after all of that death, I didn’t think I’d make it to 21. I am grateful for every day I have been blessed with and I try to make every day count and not hold things back or in.
Here’s what I know. Death is not scary if you have faith in Christ. If you believe that man is desperately wicked and sinful, that God made a way to be in right standing with Him by sending His perfect son to earth to live a perfect life and die a perfect death, taking on the sins of the world, for all time, that He rose again to defeat death and sin, that He is the only way to be saved, then you have no reason for fear of death.
Bret and I regularly say, “well, it’s been real. I love ya.” Almost daily, we recognize that God holds the days of our lives in His hands. That He is wise in when we will go home to be with Him.
I pray that you have no fear of death. I pray that you can find strength and joy if you are walking through the death of a loved one. If you are aching. Seek comfort in God. And remember, death has been defeated, so we can say:
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54b-55
If you have any questions, please let me know. If you have a more personal question, my email is always open.
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Yesterday, my mom told me she found a note in one of my grandfather’s prayer journals. The journal was dated around 1986-1988. He prayed – “Dear Lord, please help Jenny Lynn (that’s how he referred to me) to be born again and to love and marry a Christian man.” His prayer that I be born again was answered very soon after. I believe I prayed the prayer around 5 or so. His second prayer was answered two thousand and sixty six days ago. 🙂 As I was thinking about this and thinking about how Bret spent his day yesterday while camping, I realized a few things.
I prayed for a Christian husband for years too but I think my prayer was woefully short.
I should have prayed for a man who not only was a Christian, but one loved God way more than me.
I should have prayed for a man who went to scripture first when he had a question about anything.
I should have prayed for a man who would make “unpopular” decisions based on what he read in scripture to protect himself and me.
I should have prayed for a man who gets so excited about learning more about God that when he realizes the knowledge found in a study bible actually has a giddy response like a kid in a candy store.
I should have prayed for a man who cares for me enough to call me on things that aren’t godly.
I should have prayed for a man who memorizes scripture to have a ready answer when asked.
I should have prayed for a man who was a photographer and didn’t know it.
I am grateful for the prayers that went into my husband before I knew he existed, for prayers that were prayed when he was about 2 and I was 4. I am grateful that while I didn’t know exactly how to pray for a Christan husband, God blessed me with everything in a husband I didn’t know to pray for. How good is God that He gives us what we need and not always what we want.
And I mean, come on, look at this guy!
365daysofmarriage 