Petals from the Basket

Blog

The Paralyzing Power of an Internal Error

On November 28th, I decided to update the look and feel of this blog. It was tired-sounding and tired-looking, and I was tired of looking at it. So I clicked what I thought to be the right button and quickly discovered that it was the wrong button. I could see the website just as plain as day; I just couldn’t access the internal workings, which kept me from posting, updating, communicating through the blog, and connecting with the many friends I’ve made through this site. The site was literally paralyzed by one simple click. Moving forward was not an option.

During the month of December, I kept thinking: I need to fix that problem, but I don’t know what to do…so I’ll do nothing until I know exactly what to do.

Allow me to insert here that the word I selected as my theme for this year is DELIBERATE—choosing to be intentional about what goes into my mind and my heart so that I can be intentional in what I think about, what I do, how I build my relationships both socially and professionally, and what the resulting DELIBERATE actions, thoughts, and words will be!

That said, I realized yesterday that I was already—only three days into the new year—being anything but deliberate about how I was facing the internal error with this website. So, do you know what I did? I checked the online manual for any assistance it might provide. [Eh…no…I didn’t think to do that earlier. I was too busy trying to “solve” it on my own or too busy ignoring the problem and procrastinating the “work” it would take to fix it.]

On the FAQs (frequently asked questions) page, there was a one-step solution to my erroneous click—one simple step. And as you can see, it worked!

Sadly, this is all too often exactly what happens in my spiritual life. I make an error—i.e., I sin against a holy God—and it paralyzes me. I think: I need to take care of this the right way, so I’ll take time to do that later today…or tomorrow…or whenever it is convenient for me. 

Before long, my spiritual life is “paralyzed”—I’m unable to make forward progress, and I can try every possible human “solution” without a resolution to my “internal error.”

But when I stop to read the manual, written by my Creator to guide me through (not around) the trials that come, I find a simple one-step solution that releases me from the paralyzing power of my problems—one simple step: “Follow me.” [Read: John 21:15-22.] Why didn’t I just open this spiritual manual in the first place? Pride, procrastination, and wrong priorities too often keep me from the forward momentum He intends for me to maintain. My amazing God has the answers, but it’s even better than that: He walks me through them and leads the way, freeing me from the paralysis caused by fear, backward glances, and choices that were not intentional in their purpose. Then, and only then, am I free to move forward, take heaven-ordered risks, and enjoy a fully functioning life of God’s best for this year, this day—this moment.

 _________________

Thanks for taking time to read “The Paralyzing Power of an Internal Error.”

Have you chosen your theme or theme word for 2014 yet? I’d love for you

to share it in the comments below!

By Petals from the Basket | January 4, 2014 | Bible Reading, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes |

Silent but Thankful

About ten days ago, I stopped posting the little note-card-sized reminders that I was creating each day to go along with the Thirty-Days of Gratitude e-book. It seemed a little redundant to me. But instead of doing anything about it, I just went silent—not only on the blog but also on the Facebook page for the blog. I don’t know why. Maybe I just really had nothing to say because my recent words had merely been written rather than released from my heart; they were no longer springing out of the transparent realities of God was teaching me and doing in my life.

The interesting thing about silence is that you can hear so much in the midst of it. You hear the words of others as they ring truths into your thoughts when you take the time to read their long-preserved volumes of knowledge. You gain the ability to finally hear—truly hear—the difference between the cries and laughter of your friends and family, even when those tones are wearing each other’s clothing to disguise their true identity. You hear the whispers of your heart as, with every beat, it repeats its passion in tones that intertwine with the steady (sometimes monotonous) flow of everyday routines and well-planned schedules.

And when you finally hear the beautiful symphony created by the blending of these silent sounds, you understand fully why our Lord Himself gently commanded us in Psalm 46:10 to “be still”—to “cease striving.” For it is in the midst of that stillness that we know—really, honestly, with-a-firsthand knowledge know—that He is God.

So in this week that includes a day set aside for gratitude and culminates with the conclusion of a month that has done the same, take a moment—many moments, if possible—to listen to and learn from the silence. It is there that you will know what you need to learn of Him through the quietness of that moment. It is there that you will learn to recognize the sounds that need to join together to create the melody of praise and gratitude that you were created to share.

 

By Petals from the Basket | November 26, 2013 | Bible Reading, Books, Family, Friends, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratefully Showing God’s Compassion in the Philippines

We are setting aside the thirty days of November to be intentional about demonstrating and expressing our gratitude. We’d love for you to join us!
_______________  

We are so blessed in 2013 to have the Internet with e-mail, Skype, Google Hangout, etc., allowing us to easily talk with or send messages to people all around the globe. This past week, I “coincidentally” reunited (via Facebook) with a dear friend I met in the Philippines in 1993. Only one day later, she was able to share with me that she and her family were safe—even though her home was no longer in existence, and the church where her husband pastors had an entire section wiped out. The majority of their church members lost their homes. But her words to me touched my heart: “Thank God everybody is safe.” She’s right—that’s what matters.

“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” (Proverbs 25:25, NIV)

In keeping with the thought from our Bible reading today—that God is compassionate—I want to share a link that my friend from the Philippines sent to me when I asked her how I could help. Please note that I must legally tell you that I am not responsible for any funds that you send, but I will also add on a personal note that I know this is a sincere need, and that they have set it up in a way that will keep them accountable, and that they will use the funds wisely—100% going directly to the need. (Please note that the listing of giving options is necessary—running to the ATM or the nearest bank to transfer funds is not an option in Aklan! I personally think the easiest, fastest—the need is NOW—and safest way is to use the “send money” tab in PayPal and use the e-mail address listed under the PayPal option to send funds.)

The top picture on the left in the blog post (“Help Rebuild Banga” written over the top) is my friend Bing-Bing’s church building, where her husband pastors; they lived in the parsonage—which is no longer standing. The need is great. I encourage you, if you so choose, and only if God leads you to do so, to consider this as a way to demonstrate compassion today to our needy sisters and brothers in Christ in the Philippines.

Click here to learn how you can show compassion to the church of

my friend Bing and her husband, Rehum Baldimor, in the Philippines.

_________

Thank you!

 
By Petals from the Basket | November 13, 2013 | Bible Reading, Family, Friends, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

11 – 12 – 13

We are setting aside the thirty days of November to be intentional about demonstrating and expressing our gratitude. We’d love for you to join us!
_______________     

Are you like I am when it comes to cool dates like the one today? It’s silly, but I just love numbers and what they represent! No, that has nothing to do with our month of gratitude, but it won’t happen again until next year on December 13th, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

Often, we are quick to let a manager or clerk know when something is wrong with our order, our purchase, or our service (and rightfully so, when done with a gracious spirit, I might add).  But how quick are we to let a manager know that we are thankful for the fact that we can trust his or her business, that a clerk was extra helpful, or that we’re glad they open early so that we can pick up what we need on the way to work? The Bible calls it “a word fitly spoken!” Encourage someone in the “selling” business today with a kind word of thanks via a phone call, a Facebook “like,” or the spoken word while you are in the store!

What a wonderful way to represent your Savior: through kind words and actions of gratitude!

___________
Today’s “leave a comment” question:
What are some practical ways you’ve encouraged or thanked a shop owner or store clerk?
____________________
Click here to download the “guide” we are using for the
Thirty Days of Gratitude.
___________
 Would you like us to e-mail our posts to you? We’ll only send you
the blog posts—no spam—and we won’t give your information to anyone else!
In fact, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll still be friends!
Subscribe to Petals from the Basket by e-mail. 
 
 
By Petals from the Basket | November 12, 2013 | Bible Reading, Books, Events, Thirty Days of Gratitude |