I painted my toes!!!

slightly swollen feet WITH pretty toes!

Okay, so that's really not much to blog about BUT at 9 months pregnant...feeling like 12 months pregnant (doesn't really exist), I've got to celebrate the small stuff.

At first I was just excited to myself...but then as I thought more about the feat that is bending over and reaching ones toes with about a 6.5lb baby in your belly and said belly hindering every.single.movement....I had to share. :)

You see, just yesterday, while at church we were celebrating. Nothing in particular...just the goodness of God. We declared and reminded ourself that God is GOOD. We danced and jumped and had ourselves a good ole time. Well, "we" is a bit deceptive. I sat and watched and wished....I found myself even getting a bit sad in such a happy, celebratory atmosphere. So, I redirected my disappointment to thank God that I have full use of my feet even though the pressure from the pregnancy made using these feet a bit more cumbersome. I thanked God that I'm having a healthy pregnancy and despite the discomforts and limitations, that I am carrying a life...a miracle indeed. I thanked God that my voice and arms still worked and so with my voice I was able to sing and shout. With my arms, I was able to clap and wave. I continued this until I forgot that I wasn't able to physically "dance" but I was still praising...it turned out to be a half dance. You know the ones you do when you can't actually get up out your seat to bust a move but you are wiggling in your seat? yea - that!

In my reflections, I realized that its human nature to not miss something until its gone...or taken away from us. In this fast paced life, we tend to take most things for granted. Seriously, when was the last time you noticed that your fingers are agile and moving and respond at will for your to hold a pencil/pen, send a text or wave goodbye?

Its my challenge today..and particularly for the rest of this pregnancy (as I experience tons of discomfort) to remember all that I am blessed with...even as I may be slightly limited due to a rapidly growing human alien and uterus to accommodate this little alien! ;)


Grace peace and love (and pretty toes),
Gia

Inner Beauty

I've had another opportunity to speak, this time it was less formal but the topic was important nonetheless...."Inner beauty".

I was amazed at what came up when I searched the topic, as it seems this topic has been dubbed "the thing you say if you are ugly or to ugly people". (insert blank stare here). I was wow'ed.

In any event, I felt as Christians our definition of inner beauty is wrapped up in the characteristics that make the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It was really cool to take it from this perspective because truly, the average person would consider another as "beautiful" if they are loving, kind, patient, good, etc etc etc.

The ah-ha moment for me as I prepared was that LOVE (greek: agape) was listed first and when we look at what it means to agape...well, we see the other characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)

"So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. (faithfulness)

Love cares more for others than for self. (kindness)

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. (peace)

Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, (gentleness)

Isn't always "me first," (self-control/kindness)

Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, (long-suffering)

Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, (goodness/kindness)

Puts up with anything, (peace)

Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, (joy)

But keeps going to the end. "

I should note that Biblical joy (greek-chara) differs from happiness and has to do with gladness, contentment, and trust. It is stable unlike happiness which is dependent on circumstances. Joy is deeply rooted in a belief and understanding that God is ___________(you fill in the blank with whatever attribute is applicable for your situation). 

So essentially, my summary was that to be beautiful (inside) means that we agape our  family members, friends, coworkers....i.e. our neighbours!

If one was to ask about you- would you be described as beautiful inside and out?

Grace peace and love,
Gia

seed to the sower

I challenged you a couple weeks ago to pay it forward, I want to challenge you this week, to consider small ways to extend your hand, share your world and give to those less fortunate.

At the very core, I'm a sapp. compassionate. I'm the giver. I really don't care about making money as much as I want to give out money. And I definitely don't think about making money as much as I want to help people. Its not anything I'm sharing to boast about...in fact most people (including some in my inner circle) would consider me (or this philosophy) dumb or stupid and I can understand that.  A decade + some years ago, this desire was fostered in naivety  but now I think I've gotten a better understanding of the world to understand that...well essentially you can't give what you don't have! ;)

However, even in this lesson...I've learned some more. Even though I may not have, or may not be focused on having, the Word of God (which I live by) tells me that:

"10. For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[f] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God." -2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Can you imagine how this made me smile?? Yes, I will still find practical ways to earn money, but at the end of the day...I know, if I am doing God's work, that He will make provision. He will provide me (the sower), with the seeds I need to plant. Of course, I can't just hold the seeds in my hand, because anyone, even us city folk, know that seeds do not grow in the palm of your hand. You need, at the very least...soil, water, and sunlight. At least I think that's the least of what we need...but you get the point.

This point was brought to life yesterday in Church as the minister sharing the Word talked about our dreams and gifts and our responsibility to not only dream, but to follow up with the dream (confronting our fears, mistrust, etc) and then finally to make the dream a reality...which of course requires practical funding. Without going into more details, she made a profound statement:

If you can hold it in your hand, it's not your harvest- it's your seed!!!

That shook me and reminded me, that what I have, what I earn, what I get excited about....is still merely just seed. I can plant it by blessing others, investing...sharing because when its harvest time, I will know. The barns will be overflowing. Literally.

For those of you who have followed this blog for a while, this is another example of Living on the Third River. woooot wooot. I thank God for reminding me and it is my prayer that I remain humble, pliable, and with an open hand that I may never covet the blessings I receive but share, knowing that I will help others and even through this act, will never be in lack.

What practical ways can you share, give, sow seed? food drive? packing old clothes and giving to homeless shelter? volunteering your time (which is money) to someone?

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Pressing on...

I'm tired....like not just the regular tired but sleepy. Hopefully I get a better night's rest tonight, but as I sat here looking at the computer screen and thought of what I wanted to "say" today, I was kinda blanking out.

So I sat here and reviewed my goals for this blog. I continued writing this blog  for the purpose of encouraging, uplifting and challenging my readers to live their best life. I'm about making a mark on this world through living a life that is purposeful and God-centered. If I could find 1,000 different ways to get across the importance of pursing passion and purpose, I would. :) I firmly believe it is the true secret to success and happiness that so many people long for.

Well...enough talking for today (you know I try to keep Fridays a light read).  Instead, I want you to tune in to short  interview which is a follow up on a series that my Pastor (featured) preached on last month called "Running to Win".

Enjoy

Grace peace and love,
Gia