Dianne Miley's Blog, page 7
May 9, 2017
4 Ways to Enjoy the Journey
A Beach-Inspired Tale of Two Shells...As I walked along the beach last week, I discovered the points of a large shell poking out of the surf. Big shells that make it to the beach are usually battered and broken. But this one looked promising.I waded into the receding waves to unearth the shell. Dug deeply into the sand, it was pretty, pink, and perfect! I rinsed it off and proceeded with a pleased smile.On my return trek, I came across a second shell rolling in on a wave. It reminded me of th...
September 3, 2012
Blooming Where We’re Planted
Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect, But It Makes It Easier
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13
As we continue this series, we focus on the best way of learning to bloom where we’re planted. Like anything else, it gets easier with practice. We need to consciously make the best of our situation until it becomes a way of life. But don’t get cocky. Just when we think we’ve got it figured out, we slip into those old habits of trusting our own judgment more than God’s. Sometimes it’s just a matter of logic, we reason. How can we tithe 10% of our income and still pay the bills with 90% when we’re struggling to pay them with 100%? That’s a valid question. The only good answer is: God blesses those who trust in Him.
Only God can make the refrigerator last longer, keep us safe in automobile accidents, and create income where there was none. My husband and I began in earnest this experiment of trusting God over a year ago. Here’s the result: Our refrigerator, that has been making loud groaning noises since we moved into our house over 2 years ago, is still keeping our food cold despite the eerie noises. I had a minor car accident that only scratched the front bumper of my six-year-old car. We do not have full coverage insurance and would have paid out-of-pocket to fix it. Ironically, the very week before my car was backed into in the parking lot at work and the other guy’s insurance paid to repaint my back bumper, which already had a big scratch and cracked paint from the sun. Now my insurance is paying for someone else’s back bumper. What goes around, comes around.
As for income, since we began tithing my husband has gained two of his most profitable customers – income that didn’t exist a year ago. I’ve also had two raises at work within the last year. Of course we worked hard. Yet lots of people work hard and are not so blessed. The difference is trusting in God to help us rather than trusting only our own devices. (But yes, we still have to work hard.)
“Let go and let God” the saying goes. Yet it’s so much easier said than done. Most of us need to test the waters by giving one area of our lives to God and waiting to see what happens. It’s easier to start small, and it doesn’t have to be with finances. Maybe we could spend five minutes a day reading the Bible or make a practice of saying grace before each meal. We might try being nicer to the neighbor we dislike or finding ways to praise our spouse and kids or attending worship more regularly. God may surprise us with peace of mind, a friendlier neighbor, and better behaved kids. We’ll never know unless we try.
God Bless.
Dianne
Next time: Don’t believe it? God really knows you better than you know yourself!
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13
As we continue this series, we focus on the best way of learning to bloom where we’re planted. Like anything else, it gets easier with practice. We need to consciously make the best of our situation until it becomes a way of life. But don’t get cocky. Just when we think we’ve got it figured out, we slip into those old habits of trusting our own judgment more than God’s. Sometimes it’s just a matter of logic, we reason. How can we tithe 10% of our income and still pay the bills with 90% when we’re struggling to pay them with 100%? That’s a valid question. The only good answer is: God blesses those who trust in Him.
Only God can make the refrigerator last longer, keep us safe in automobile accidents, and create income where there was none. My husband and I began in earnest this experiment of trusting God over a year ago. Here’s the result: Our refrigerator, that has been making loud groaning noises since we moved into our house over 2 years ago, is still keeping our food cold despite the eerie noises. I had a minor car accident that only scratched the front bumper of my six-year-old car. We do not have full coverage insurance and would have paid out-of-pocket to fix it. Ironically, the very week before my car was backed into in the parking lot at work and the other guy’s insurance paid to repaint my back bumper, which already had a big scratch and cracked paint from the sun. Now my insurance is paying for someone else’s back bumper. What goes around, comes around.
As for income, since we began tithing my husband has gained two of his most profitable customers – income that didn’t exist a year ago. I’ve also had two raises at work within the last year. Of course we worked hard. Yet lots of people work hard and are not so blessed. The difference is trusting in God to help us rather than trusting only our own devices. (But yes, we still have to work hard.)
“Let go and let God” the saying goes. Yet it’s so much easier said than done. Most of us need to test the waters by giving one area of our lives to God and waiting to see what happens. It’s easier to start small, and it doesn’t have to be with finances. Maybe we could spend five minutes a day reading the Bible or make a practice of saying grace before each meal. We might try being nicer to the neighbor we dislike or finding ways to praise our spouse and kids or attending worship more regularly. God may surprise us with peace of mind, a friendlier neighbor, and better behaved kids. We’ll never know unless we try.
God Bless.
Dianne
Next time: Don’t believe it? God really knows you better than you know yourself!
August 25, 2012
Blooming Where We're Planted
Plants don’t bloom without water, sunlight, the proper climate, and a miracle of God. Without the right conditions, plants become stressed and wither. Like plants, people need water to survive, not only to drink and cook, but to wash away illness-causing germs.
We also need sunlight for vitamin D, energy, health, and to see where we’re going! Some people living in particularly overcast climates actually suffer from a medical condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) caused by sunlight deprivation.
Proper climate varies by the plant – cactus thrive in a hot, dry desert while ferns need cool shade and plenty of moisture. The right environment varies for people too. Extroverts thrive on interaction and constant activity while introverts require periods of calm, quiet time alone.
Yet neither plant nor animal survives without a miracle from God. God created us to bloom. He places us here to be fruitful – to grow and thrive and lean toward the sun – His son.
This summer, a drought has overtaken much of the country. Not only have many crops failed due to lack of rain, many people have suffered due to lack of job and a sluggish economy. For many of you, the advice to bloom where you’re planted has been both an inspiration and a dilemma, as it has for me.
During difficult days when I longed for better circumstances, I was inspired to make the best of my situation. I found nuggets of joy where I could. They are everywhere if we look – a stunning sunset during the drive home after a long day’s work, the laughter of a mischievous child next door as his puppy poops on your lawn, a blooming yellow dandelion sprouting through a crack in the sidewalk, the cheerful romp of squirrels foraging your bird feeder.
Everything in this fallen world holds a positive and negative. While I’ve always had a “glass half full” mindset, my dilemma has been wanting to move from the crack in the sidewalk to the lush flowerbed. I want the drought to be over! Is that so wrong? Am I supposed to bloom where I’m planted and be happy with my lot in life?
Yes and no. Most of us are familiar with the Bible verse, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11). But many don’t realize the apostle Paul spoke those words while confined in prison. Surely he did not intend to stay in prison any longer than he had to. Prison was not God’s ultimate goal for Paul. Yet Paul made the most of his time there – praying, meditating on the memorized words of God, and sharing his faith with other prisoners and even the jailers.
Like Paul, blooming where we’re planted does not mean we shouldn’t strive for the best possible life that God has planned for us. It means we should enjoy the journey along the way, and appreciate where we are right now. While striving for a better tomorrow, we must live life to the fullest today.
We also need sunlight for vitamin D, energy, health, and to see where we’re going! Some people living in particularly overcast climates actually suffer from a medical condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) caused by sunlight deprivation.
Proper climate varies by the plant – cactus thrive in a hot, dry desert while ferns need cool shade and plenty of moisture. The right environment varies for people too. Extroverts thrive on interaction and constant activity while introverts require periods of calm, quiet time alone.
Yet neither plant nor animal survives without a miracle from God. God created us to bloom. He places us here to be fruitful – to grow and thrive and lean toward the sun – His son.
This summer, a drought has overtaken much of the country. Not only have many crops failed due to lack of rain, many people have suffered due to lack of job and a sluggish economy. For many of you, the advice to bloom where you’re planted has been both an inspiration and a dilemma, as it has for me.
During difficult days when I longed for better circumstances, I was inspired to make the best of my situation. I found nuggets of joy where I could. They are everywhere if we look – a stunning sunset during the drive home after a long day’s work, the laughter of a mischievous child next door as his puppy poops on your lawn, a blooming yellow dandelion sprouting through a crack in the sidewalk, the cheerful romp of squirrels foraging your bird feeder.
Everything in this fallen world holds a positive and negative. While I’ve always had a “glass half full” mindset, my dilemma has been wanting to move from the crack in the sidewalk to the lush flowerbed. I want the drought to be over! Is that so wrong? Am I supposed to bloom where I’m planted and be happy with my lot in life?
Yes and no. Most of us are familiar with the Bible verse, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11). But many don’t realize the apostle Paul spoke those words while confined in prison. Surely he did not intend to stay in prison any longer than he had to. Prison was not God’s ultimate goal for Paul. Yet Paul made the most of his time there – praying, meditating on the memorized words of God, and sharing his faith with other prisoners and even the jailers.
Like Paul, blooming where we’re planted does not mean we shouldn’t strive for the best possible life that God has planned for us. It means we should enjoy the journey along the way, and appreciate where we are right now. While striving for a better tomorrow, we must live life to the fullest today.
