Are You Living In YOUR Zone?

I love my Dallas Cowboys – have been a fan of theirs since the 1960s when they first became a franchise, but, otherwise, I’m not what you call an avid sports fan, unless the one that is playing happens to be one of my grandchildren, then I’m gung ho! I even have a t-shirt that says about my 13 year grandson “That’s my grandson OUT there!” On this trip to Austin, I said, “Oh, man! I forgot my t-shirt!” Brennan said, “Good!” I gave a pouty face and he said, “No, good, because you need to bling it out and put lights on it for the next time you wear it!” LOL! He certainly back-stroked for that quick thinking! LOL!

Have you ever been inspired as you watched an athlete play HIS GAME and you'd see him at his best, doing his best and having remarkable results? Commentators often say..."He's sure in the zone, today!"

Being "in the zone" is when someone’s actions seem effortless, almost as if they could score at will -- just a sweet spot where their confidence, talent and abilities produce winning results. I’ve seen that when my grandson is on his game – pitching no hit innings and when he batted, scoring 2-base to home runs. At times like that we know “He’s in his zone!”

The question is for those of us who are athletes or not…..”Are you living in your zone" -- that moment when you enjoy and love what you are doing so much, and are so passionate about doing it, that you don't even consider it a job or task or service project or ministry endeavor? It's just that sweet spot of "living in your zone".

I do my best to live that way. In fact, my blog is "Living in the Peace Zone". I do my best to avoid conflict or even thinking about those things that represent negativity -- thus I don't watch too much news. My weekends are when I feel the most "in the zone" when I am attending church and/or serving in church and I thank God for His many blessings to me, but I also serve as a sponsor in a discipleship class, am a Christian Retreat team member and I attend Bible Studies and meet with other people who have a sincere desire to love and serve God . It's my calling. I know it. A calling is when we are passionately using our God-given gifts in a way that pleases Him.

I know that when we find God's purpose and destiny for our lives...we begin to feel "in the zone" -- passionate about OUR GAME in life.

Have you discovered your calling? Are you living "in your zone"? If not, pray and ask God to help you find that sweet spot. In time, He’ll reveal it to you and you'll soon be "living in your zone"!

Thinking Back and Looking Forward

Day 365 of Photo Inspirations -- Thinking Back and Looking Forward
It's the 365th day of the year -- and my last day of photo inspirations that I committed to when I sensed that God was calling me to take my daily blogs and FB posts to a whole new level -- one that included photos that inspired me with special thoughts and words to share that would, hopefully, bring inspiration to others.  I can't begin to adequately explain how rewarded I feel for staying true to my commitment.  Purposefully, I made sure to stay "in the zone", seizing the moments, noticing little and big God-encounters, recognizing that God is always speaking.  I just had to tune in to His still small voice, and, often, His big booming voice as I witnessed His illustrated messages to me through nature, His Word, His kids and His embrace.  Fact is.....I showed up for my daily appointment with God.....and He was faithful and true to His promises.....He ALWAYS showed up for me.

I'm not exactly sure what this next year will look like, not only in my commitment to daily photos and blogs, but in life overall.  But one thing I do know for sure......I know WHO knows and I'm excited for the journey that awaits me.   There will be many opportunities for making FB posts and writing my daily blogs because I'm very aware that God has many more exciting adventures and trails for me to blaze in this new year.  So, I'll continue to be on daily assignment.

#TBT -- The second photo inspiration is from this day a year ago with my two little men -- my annual New Year's Eve dates!   Once again, tonight, these two and I will make toasts with our sparkling grape juice, we'll wear our hats, blow our horns, we'll even shoot some little fireworks, and we'll watch the giant sphere of sparkles descend in Times Square three hours ahead of Pacific time as 2015 makes its exit and 2016 begins.  We'll be silly and dance and give each other hugs and kisses.  Eat your heart out, single women everywhere!  LOL!  

A new year -- new hope for our future.  There is something inherit within us that craves a new fresh start -- a chance to make wrongs right, and good things even greater. The promise of a clean slate is thrilling and stirs up a part of our soul.  We pin so many hopes and dreams on the start of a new year. We set resolutions, create goals, hope to start new habits and break old ones.  I've already begun to think about new horizons, new seasons, and new adventures.   My personal motto will continue to be "I'm still here....so I'm not done."   I'm grabbing hold of this new year by its tail and I'm going to fly by the seat of my pants.  No rocking chair thoughts in this girl's mind!

But, even better than any resolution or goals or new habits that I could set for myself, the knowing that my Father God has my year planned out in detail, gives me great excitement and blessed assurance.    He'll give me courage to face each new day and the best part, His mercies will be new each morning, so I'm guaranteed success if I do my part in staying tight with Him.

The great news is that God is the author of 2016!   He knows each and every twist and turn that lay ahead, both for you and for me. He has planned 2016 down to the minutest detail—all with the goal of His glory, and our good.   Look out, 2016 -- HERE WE COME!  It'll be a GREAT ADVENTURE!

Keep the Bouncer at the Door

Day 311 of Photo Inspirations -- Keep the Bouncer at the Door
Yesterday, as I was having my morning devotion,  two different friends came to my mind. I try to live "in the zone" so that when a name pops in my head,  then I pray for them.  And there are times when I not only pray for them, but a particular encouraging word or scripture comes to mind that I text it or email or call them.  I did that yesterday.  That scripture had a lot to do with "fixing our thoughts on good things".  In the face of adversity, that's not easy to do, especially when those circumstances are staring us down.  But, from my own experience, I know it works, because it's replacing negative thoughts with God's Word which always brings light to the darkness.

Later in the morning, I was on a conference call and the guest speaker was giving us incredible words of wisdom.  He said, "You've got to get your thinking right.  You become what you think about. Be mentally strong.  Stop negative thoughts."  I've never heard it put this way before, but he also said, "Keep the bouncer at the door of your mind."  

It sure does make sense to have "security" on guard for our minds.    You know a bouncer is the beefy, muscular guy employed by a nightclub or similar establishment to prevent troublemakers from entering or to eject them from the premises.  Well, that's what the speaker meant about protecting our minds.  Keep the bouncer there to eject those negative thoughts from entering and kick them out if they do slip in through the back door.  I like to say "Change the channel" when negativity, worry, concern, depression, tries to creep in.  A better station to listen to is one that speaks optimism and can-do-anything.....Channel WWHB (World Wide Holy Bible).  Hmm -- maybe that really should be a TV Station.

I knew, as I was listening to this conference call, I had been on the right track when I sent words to my friends about guarding their thoughts.  This is that scripture and today, I urge you to change the channel or if this illustration makes more sense to you, make friends with the bouncer so you and him can "clean house" of those troublemakers!

Philippians 4:6-8  "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Are You Living in the Zone?

Have you ever been inspired as you watched an athlete play HIS GAME and you'd see him at his best, doing his best and having remarkable results? Commentators would say..."He's sure in the zone, today!"

Being "in the zone" is when someone’s actions seem effortless, almost as if they could score at will -- just a sweet spot where their confidence, talent and abilities produce winning results.

Are you "living in your zone" -- that moment when you enjoy and love what you are doing so much, and are so passionate about doing it, that you don't even consider it a job or task or service project or ministry endeavor? It's just that sweet spot of "living in your zone".

In general, I live that way, but weekends are when I really feel the most "in the zone". I attend two church services to worship and thank God for His many blessings to me, but I also serve in two other church services. And I have a Life Group in my home during the week. It's my calling. I know it. A calling is when we are passionately using our God-given gifts in a way that pleases Him. I know that when we find God's purpose and destiny for our lives...we begin to feel "in the zone" -- passionate about OUR GAME in life.
Have you discovered your calling? Are you living "in your zone"? If not, pray and ask God to help you find that sweet spot. In time, He’ll reveal it to you and you'll soon be "living in your zone"!