Do Something

Living life without knowing your unique purpose and passion is sleepwalking through life. It feels like you are just getting through the daily drudgery of tasks to be done, but not really living to your full potential. As Christians, we know that God has us here to draw people to Him. Often the details of how to live that out are fuzzy and nebulous. Christy Wright says “The things that are important to you are a part of you.” That revelation was huge for me!

 I have been praying about how God can use me to make a difference for orphans who I feel so passionate about helping. Then I got an e-mail from a small orphanage in Taiwan that I have fallen in love with online over the past few years, named Taiwan Xi En. http://taiwanxien.org/ I love their heart for getting children into Christian homes and the way they love the children in their care. I think you will fall in love with them too!

Here is a link to their most recent newsletter. The short of it is that they need to raise funds by June 10^th for their next step in expanding to house more children. They are currently full and have to turn children away. Please take a look at this link and pray about donating to help support their ministry. If you send a donation, please e-mail me and let me know at captivatingjoyphotography@gmail.com I don’t want to know how much you gave, just that you gave. In the words of Matthew West “It’s time for us to do something!”

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b6f68f0c7e368a0224fcfb19d&id=147b591e14&e=c1c3cc7f4b

Summer's coming! What about today?

My Bible study yesterday had a great illustration. Imagine a bank account with $86,400. No matter what we do, as long as we live, we receive the same amount each day. The only thing is that it you lose what is left at the end of the day. It doesn’t carry over.

That bank account is time. We are given 86,400 seconds every morning. Each night we lose what wasn’t invested. When we fail to use today’s deposit wisely, the loss is ours. This really hit home for me as I am learning to be more intentional with my time. It reminds me of the DC Talk song that was popular when I was a teen “Time is ticking away. Tick, tick, ticking away.” (Now I can’t stop it from playing in my head. Enjoy the song today. You’re welcome!)

Time is finite. You always have to make choices on how you spend your time. If you are always giving your time and attention to the squeaky wheel, you are going to be stressed. You are stressed when you don’t have time for what you care about. The things that are important to you are a part of you. Intentionally put your own values at the top of your list.     ~ Christy Wright, Business Boutique 2016

What does my calendar say about what I value? As we are wrapping up another school year and filling up the summer calendar, it has me really thinking about choosing what is best for each of my family members. I am looking forward to making memories with my family this summer in the cool, beautiful mountains of Colorado, lazy days by the pool, and a more relaxed schedule. I am also excited about launching my new business and going on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for the 1^st time. What are some of your summer plans?   

As I have a natural tendency to get excited about future plans I am making, I am reminded to live in the moment today. How am I going to use these 86,400 seconds that I can never get back?

Mountain Top High

I had an amazing weekend experience at The Business Boutique conference in Ft Worth. I was inspired so much and my passion was ignited! My feelings were indescribable as I came home ready to launch my new business and prepare to give to orphans around the world. Literally ready to take on the world!

As always happens following these type of experiences, reality hits hard when you get home. My precious dog ate something indigestible while I was gone on my trip. (She does this often.) So amid my excitement and inability to stop my mind long enough to sleep, said dog has vomited throughout the night on my return. What a warm welcome home! 

So mingled with my excitement and determination to follow through on all that I learned this weekend, has been a lot of cleaning up dog vomit all over my house! (Insert a good amount of gagging and heaving.)

Surprisingly, in the middle of everything, something inside of me is different. Instead of dwelling on the sick dog, lamenting about all of the cleanup, and giving in to the “Woe is me, nothing is ever going to change. My purpose in life must have been to clean up dog vomit” mentality, I have been able to take it in stride and keep my focus where it ought to be. I am focusing on finding what God has for me to do today and baby stepping my way into my dreams one day at a time. Just writing this post to start the blog I have been thinking about for years is a big step in itself.  

All of this is leading into a huge leap of faith in opening my own business. I am excited to see where He leads and what He has in store. (Which may include a trip to the vet.)

I hope your week is off to a great start too:) What is God leading you into today? 

Welcome to Captivating Joy!