Boomerang or Frisbee?

  Do you know the difference between a boomerang and a Frisbee? Besides the shape? ;)

  When you throw a boomerang it comes back to you (if you throw it correctly).

   When you throw a Frisbee it goes toward it's intended target and either lands in someone's hand or up in a tree somewhere or on the ground.

Regardless of the other person's catching abilities it should not come back to you.

    Many times I live life trying to be a boomerang when I am supposed to be a Frisbee.

   I want to perform some action or encourage someone because I want it to come back around to me.

   I want to change an individual's opinion of me or help myself earn brownie points.

  I want....the focus is ALL wrong.

  God asks us to do things in life because of other people, for other people.

  He doesn't ask us to do it to build up our own kingdom or our own ego.

  He does it to kill our pride. To put the focus back where it needs to be. On Him. On His beloved children.

  Today are you trying to throw a boomerang or a Frisbee?? Check yourself. It's not too late to switch.

Words of Wisdom

 I absolutely LOVE quotes. I am constantly writing down words that people have shared with me. I think it comes from a love of wisdom. I want to learn how to grow and take steps forward. I do not want to stay in one place for too long. Therefore I have a multitude of quotes to share. Please do enjoy a handful of my favorite words of wisdom. I may do this again as I have so many to share!!

"Some of the most beautiful futures are built from the rubble of the most broken past." - Mandy Hale

"Extravagant love always leaves an aftertaste of lasting hope." - Bob Goff

"Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home." - C.S. Lewis

"What God does for us, He does in us." - C.S. Lewis

"We are called to take initiative in building strong relationships instead of waiting passively for others to pursue us." - Mike Bickle

"We do not 'try harder' to change our emotions but we fill our minds with the truth of God's Word that transforms our emotions." -IHOPKC

"Submission doesn't even begin until agreement ends." - Gordon Shipley

"Preach the gospel & if necessary, use words." -St. Francis of Assisi

"God's grace isn't nice and cute. It's scandalous." - Jefferson Bethke

"The most painful part of your biography will empower you to do your most effective ministry." -Bogdan Kipko

"If it's not something you value, it's not really giving, it's just discarding." -Gordon Shipley

"Jesus was never that interested in enthusiastic admirers." -Kyle Idleman

"Do you know what hurts so very much? It's love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things that we can do when this happens. We can kill the love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies too. Or, we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel." - Casper Ten Boom

"Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." 

- Tony Robbins

"The main reason Jesus was able to endure the cross was because He knew what was set before Him. Always dream of the day breakthrough happens in your life." - Bethel Church

"Discontentment makes you a slave to what you don't have instead of a fully engaged participant with what you do have."  -Someone Wise

Life is a Highway....Texas

     At the beginning of the year I had the incredible opportunity to visit a dear friend of mine who lives in Austin. I didn't have a job at the time so it was the perfect time for a road trip! Another good friend of mine came along for the ride and I dropped her off in Dallas before I continued down south to Austin. It was SUCH a blessing to have Mandy with me. I'm not sure I would have made it all of the way without anyone to talk to.
     I like to make lots of stops while driving. While in Oklahoma we passed one of the largest casino's in the country. Naturally we stopped for a visit. The outside was decorated like different famous structures around the world so it made for fun pictures!

   When I arrived in Austin we made a list of things to see and places to explore while I was there. I am all about visiting new places and it was really fun to go to some places Marisela has been to and also to go places she has never been in her city. I love love love bridges and downtown's so we went to downtown Austin a few times. It is SUCH a cool city!!    I

oohhhhhh yes.

laughter is food for the soul

 

helloooooo Austin

We also visited this really neat place called Graffiti Park. There are so many walls full of graffiti that people are constantly adding to and changing. It was pretty sweet to see, and free to the public (always a bonus!).

graffiti park

 A good restaurant to visit if you are ever in Austin is Hot Toddy's. They have some tasty burgers and fries. They can be so popular that you have to wait in a long line that wraps outside and around the building. Luckily it wasn't so busy on the night that we went.

Alina and I

 

Marisela

tasty burger at Hot Toddy's

While in Texas I had to take a trip back to my childhood days. In middle school I took a historical road trip with my school and we visited the Alamo. I decided it was time to revisit so we spent the afternoon in San Antonio.  It is good to visit the Alamo and read some history about our nation and the battles fought! San Antonio also has a lot of very neat architecture and Spanish buildings....and I love the Spanish cultures!

Alina, Marisela, & Andres

Alina is a beautiful model!

      

One cannot visit Austin without posing in front

of the life-size postcard that someone drew outside of a building. Don't forget the pooper scooper either. Austin is full of fun and unique art. They also have the coooolest people that live there. I am SO blessed by my friendship with Marisela. She is an encourager and a challenger. God is stretching her in big ways and she is responding to Him. She has a servant's heart and is a very hard worker. Alina is pretty awesome as well. God is going to do big things in her as well, a future world traveler! :)

Greetings from Austin!

One of my Heroes

 Hero - a person noted for special achievement in a particular field; 

a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose

I want to tell you about one of my heroes.

His name is Gabriel and he just turned 10 years old. 

He is a man after God's own heart.

He loves to read his Bible.

He loves to share his knowledge of God and other facts about the world.

He hears from God.

He is a defender of the weak.

He is wise beyond his years.

He is bold.

He is creative. 

He is an author.

He is my nephew. ;)

  
  Gabriel is destined to do great things. How do I know this? Surely not just because he is my nephew and I am slightly biased. Not so. He is already doing great things so I know that it won't stop as he grows older. He is a dreamer. He has an incredible imagination and he is allowing God to use it NOW. From the young age of 4 or 5 years old Gabriel was already putting pen to paper and writing stories. I am absolutely honored that one of his first stories was The Story of Gabriel and Stefanie. I love this kid. God has placed talent inside of Gabriel and it has been coming out for many years now. We serve a big God. My 10 year-old nephew already knows this. 

Gabe's 10th Birthday Party

   This past Christmas was a memorable time for our whole family. Gabriel finished his book Toy Wars a while back and his mother helped him type the story onto the computer and edit it. There is a special company which actually allows you to create a book just like it would appear from a publishing company with a copyright, author's note and more. Gabe started saving up money to get the book "published" in the future. Little did he know that his Christmas gift would be an actual printed copy of his book. I think it is safe to say that the highlight of our family Christmas was to watch Gabriel open his gift of Toy Wars and to see the joy that he displayed. Pure joy. Dancing. Jumping. Singing.

my crazy. goofy. nephew.

   The thing that I find most incredible about all of this is that this is only the beginning. He has already finished Toy Wars II. He has started another series in which he plans to have over 20 books. He is not even stopping there. Gabriel is walking into the goodness that God has planned for him. He is not limited by his age. He does not believe that God has small plans for him. He is asking God for big things and experiencing BIG results because of this. 

  Gabriel is an example to me of a hero. A man used by God. He already has a special achievement. He has been overcoming many fears this past year and is proving courageous. He has nobility of purpose.  1 Timothy 4:12 speaks of not being held back by age. I believe that of Gabriel. He is an encouragement to me that I have what it takes to do the things God is asking of me. I have been using Gabe as an example to myself and to my friends to not be afraid to ask God for big things. When we limit God we are in turn limiting ourselves.

  This next year ask God what He wants to do in your life. How does He want to stretch you? How does He want to bless you? How does He want to empower you? What is His ultimate BEST for you?

    "Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use." 

1 Timothy 4:11-14

Thank you for taking the time to meet one of my heroes.
To read an even more in depth story of God's work in Gabriel's life this past year click here.