I was created to be passionate. There is a unique (and some might say peculiar) twist to me as a person that directs my interests and my excitement in one direction or another. It is that ministry or service opportunity that lights up my whole face when I talk about it.

Passion will NOT be denied. If a God given passion is not able (or not allowed) to be filled then it will be filled in another way. In my life it has been food and television (in some other person’s life it might be alcohol, business, games or any number of things). Satisfaction will be found.

Although I thought I was walking the path that God wanted, I had a rude awakening this weekend. “When passion is ignored it will be filled in other ways.” That was what I was doing. I was ignoring my God given passion – because there was no chance to teach at church, because no one had asked me to write a book or bible study, because . . . I have plenty of excuses. The why is not that important but the what is important. My actions or inactions were forcing my passion in a direction other than the path God has set forth.

I changed that yesterday. I made a point to fast off the two things that my passion veers towards the most (sweets and television). It is something I intend to do for the rest of the week. But even more important I REPLACED those items with others. I went outside and played with the kids, I got up and danced when I just HAD to have a break, I read my scripture and did a bible study in the middle of the day.

When the urge strikes me to do something – anything – I have started asking myself “where is my passion?” I want the things that I do, see, read and hear to amplify the passion that I have for God’s purpose and for it radiate to the world around me.

Bible study should be a time for sharing and reflection. These are serious issues being discussed after all – they are the pieces of armor that help guard against the world.

Most days I do manage to keep my focus. No matter how silly others may get around me (or how far they might digress) I keep my composure. That is the right way to act in bible study.

Today was NOT one of those days. Maybe it was the added estrogen in the room (there are usually only one or two females and we were even with the men today). Maybe it was the sleep deprivation I was facing from trying to catch up on some writing projects. Maybe it was the cold front blowing in. Whatever the reason behind what started the giggles, I was not alone. For several minutes a few of us had a good, full and hearty laugh! It was truly a delight that still makes me smile.

We started out with a giggle because of a stomach growl, but it unfolded into belly laughter before long. The laughter spread from one, to two until the entire side of the room was laughing – despite the “seriousness” of the current discussion.

I began to think about the appropriateness of laughter in the ministry. Are there ever times when it is NOT appropriate? There is probably someone that is always going to be offended by the idea of laughter in any location (outside a comedy club or circus, but maybe even there).

I also began thinking about Jesus and his disciples. Was there ever a gigglefest among their group? Were there moments when the “seriousness” collapsed into a sea of laughter?

My hope (and my belief) is that there was much laughter in the life of Jesus and all around him. In my own life it is when joy is at its fullest that I am free to laugh. Jesus lived a life of joy so he had to have a good giggle now and then!

Maybe it was the peace and joy that I had been feeling all day that overflowed into the laughter in bible study. All I know is that it felt good to laugh with those that are growing with me in wisdom and understanding – and I want more of that.

This article has been featured in the “Pop Goes the Gospel” Blog Carnival November 30th Edition at eagleviews.org. There are some very interesting posts about life and the church so stop by and enjoy a visit.

Two days ago I walked into my room – the flood lights had been left on and the one outside my window was shining on the maple tree in the back yard. The tree was at its peak color with a splash of orange and dark red on each leaf. The flood light silhouetted the tree with a black night as the back drop. Because of the way the tree sits and the way my window sits, I had a full display of nature’s glory and nothing else.

I could have been concerned about the electric bill or about burning out the bulb (which is not easy to replace). Knowing that someone outside could see inside might have made me worry. There were half a dozen reasons to be unhappy about the situation that I was facing.

All I could do was smile. The leaves were so brilliant that they seemed unreal. The window was framing the tree perfectly and for that one evening I had a painting by God hanging on my wall. What is there NOT to smile about?

Any situation has positives in it. Sometimes you just have to be willing to look deeper than you might otherwise look. A beautiful landscape is easy compared to the recent election cycle. If we had spent more time talking up the positives and over coming the negatives then maybe the outcomes and the emotions would have been different.

But that was yesterday and to dwell on yesterday is to foster the negative. Here are a few things to focus on today.

• Barack Obama has attended church for most of his adult life – he is a man of commitment.
• Barack Obama has been married to the same woman and never been unfaithful that we know – he is a man of faithfulness.
• Barack Obama left the campaign to be with his dieing grandmother – he is a man that honors family.
• Barack Obama is articulate, is well schooled and is willing to learn – he is a man of intelligence.

There is no way to know the man without getting to spend time with him – just like there is no way to know the Father without spending time with him. True knowledge comes only from relationship. It is doubtful that I will ever have that kind of friendship with Barack Obama, but I can look at the positives of his life and believe that they are the guiding force and then trust in my relationship with the Father to see me through tomorrow.

Focus on the good, the positive and the uplifting and each day will be filled with the Joy that your Father desires for your life.

It was easy to sleep last night and I even went to bed early. My normal routine for elections is to stay up until the wee hours of morning to see what will be facing me for the next four years. This year I didn’t need to do that. My peace about the whole process is so perfect that I STILL don’t know who won the election.

I have a plaque that hung at my desk (where ever my desk might be) for many years. It was a little swallow on a branch: “I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.” It is with that knowledge that I went to sleep last night.

The outcome of the election was something that was not easy to miss this morning. I knew it would be there when any of my electronics turned on. Although it was not the results that I voted for, there is still hope for tomorrow. There is always hope.

It is time for me to make a change – not so much in the way THINGS are but in the way my heart is. I need to pour my positive thoughts and prayers over this country. One person can make a difference and I intend to be that person. Join me in this new direction and together we can heal this nation.

My Prayer for Barack Obama and the Congress:

Lord, please forgive me and my lack of support for the people that you have placed in these offices. The ways of the Lord confound the wise and I have thought myself wise for far too long. Forgive my arrogance and give me the words and consistency to humbly pray for Your servants.

The youth at church were going to a concert this evening. After reviewing the website of the place they were going I decided not to send my crew. There was nothing that was hazardous to their health – per se – but the website left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

There seems to be too much compromise in the church for my taste. It is particularly prevalent with the youth. After all, you have to give them what they want to get them in the door. Forget holding up the bar higher, you have to lower your standards or the program is going to crash.

That just seems wrong. If I remember correctly it is the Holy Spirit that draws people. The best music or most dynamic teacher may get them in the door, but it won’t stick if the Holy Spirit didn’t draw them. If the Holy Spirit is in the place then the rest will just be gravy.

I talked to my oldest son before we canceled the trip. I asked him if he felt like this was the way that Jesus wanted to be advertised (so to speak). He said “no way.” My eleven year old son then asked if he could call his youth leader and explain to her what this group was doing.

We had to have another talk about how our views are not necessarily shared by others. Too many people believe that to get the people in the doors they have to dumb down the message that they are putting out. I just don’t believe that this compromise is the right way – as for me and my house . . .

It was my Sunday school study that reminded me to continue to push on. We are discussing our S.H.A.P.E. (from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren). At the end of this week’s study I had to write down what points were going right in my life, what were not going so right and what I was committing to do next.

Sometimes it seems that things are going good, until you see it in writing. While I thought my life was moving along in the direction that I desired, it turns out that I’m farther behind than I realized. Things keep getting in the way of my goals and dreams and I keep letting them.

The people around me don’t always make change or choices easy for me, although that is just one excuse in a whole line of excuses that I could produce without blinking. But I don’t want to make excuses this morning. I want to make a difference in my life.

I’m determined to reach some goals in my life over the next thirty day.

1. I will write on my novel every day – my goal is to complete the new novel by the end of thirty days.

2. I will write fiction every day – my goal is to publish one fiction story by the end of the thirty days (or at least sale one).

3. I will write on my blogs every day – my goal is to increase my readers to 100 per day by the end of the thirty days.

4. I will spend time on my house every day – my goal is to have one gathering in my home in the next thirty days.

Each goal has a step that will help me reach that goal that requires action every single day. It’s just for thirty days. So it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge ;). What are you willing to do for the next thirty days to get you to where you know to be?

There is no reason to panic. Even though so many news medias are screaming “fire” in the crowded theater, things ARE going to be okay. The thing that you need to do is take a deep breath, turn off the television and get back to the basics of your own budget.

1. Write down your spending – EVERY DAY! It is so easy to lose a receipt or forget about a purchase. Writing it down every evening not only keeps your records straight but keeps you aware of the choices that you are making.

2. Continue to pay off your debts. It’s easy to start wondering if maybe all the debts will be wiped cleaned in some shape or form (I keep remembering the Y2K scare) but don’t count on it. Pay off your debts aggressively.

3. Save, save, save. Even if you aren’t ready to jump into the market you do still need to be saving money that you can access if you decide to invest or if you need it for emergencies. Stick to federally insured accounts.

4. Leave long term investments alone. If you did your research before investing then you were informed that the market loses money in the short term. In the long term (even going back to the Depression) the market has always made a profit.

5. Cut out extra spending. If you are really concerned about your financial future then put a “moratorium” on all spending for the short term. Continue to set that money aside for savings and when you begin to breathe a little easier about the economy you will have a nice little nest egg built up (that doesn’t have government retirement restrictions).

Yes things are crazy. Things are ALWAYS crazy. The key to surviving the chaos is to not watch the chaos. It is important to be informed, but too much of anything is a bad thing. Stick to your budget and regulate your spending and you will come through this crisis better than you went in.

God should be my dependence. It’s just hard not to rely on someone whom you trust for things that person commits to. So disappointment is natural when that person fails to follow through. I get upset with myself for turning my dependence away from God. I get frustrated with the person for not doing what was promised. And I get hurt because of the betrayal.

When the dust settles, I am left with an empty feeling in my heart that wants to tug me down. It happened yesterday, right in the middle of my bible study time. There was nothing that could be done, so I returned to my bible study. The first scripture I had to read was Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

It was if God was whispering gently to me “just breathe.” I knew I had to let it go, and I thought I did. But it found me this morning when I got up. The cares of this world – because in the end that is what it comes down to – tried to distract me from doing the things I know to be doing.

This morning I took a little time to look back over the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman. Not once does the scripture mention that she is helped by her friends or family. It DOES say that she has the good provision of God. It DOES say that she relies and trusts in God. It DOES say that she meets the needs of her family, her neighbors and her handmaidens.

It also says in Proverbs that she is rooted in God’s word. I think that is the key to disappointment. Just like yesterday, when the let down happened, God’s Word was there to comfort me. This morning when the disappointment tried again to pull me down I was reminded not to be chocked by the cares of this world. It is the Word that is helping me find the joy I need to be all that I can be.

Ultimately people will disappoint – even those people that we KNEW we could trust and count on at all times. But God will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. He is my help, my strength, my strong tower, my comfort, my consistency. Just thinking these things makes the minor (or major) disappointments lose their grip and fall away.

Oprah had another show on today about de-cluttering your life. I was taking a break, and I thought it would make a good choice for letting my mind relax and recharge (and those clutter shows, particularly with Peter Walsh) are a great motivator for me.

I was enjoying the show quite a bit and even making a few comments to the TV. Then my husband starts yelling “amen’s” from the other room and I just want to throw a shoe at his head.

Our home is NOT cluttered, at least not to the degree you see on all the different shows. We have the odd box of clothes here and there, but mainly because there is no place to store them because my husband complains any time he has to go into the attic.

I was about to start listing all the wonderful accomplishments I’ve made over the last few years - anything to justify my feelings for my husband’s attitude. But the truth is that I don’t have my home where I want it to be. There are still things that I want to release so that I have more space (and more money when the stuff is sold).

It’s not right that my husband (who is in no way perfect himself AND who has his own stuff that he doesn’t deal with) makes the comments he does. Even if it’s about other people and their homes and not about me, I can still tell that he is talking at me – if that makes sense.

It’s not fair that I have struggled to change my habits and my thinking and my actions so that my family can benefit, and my husband still sees the negative.

There are a lot of things the situation may be, but the truth is that just doesn’t matter. It all comes back to me. I have to do what I know to do AND I can’t let people, or situations, or television shows suck my energy away. In the end, one excuse is just as good as the next.

So, I didn’t throw my shoe or throw my husband out. Instead, I got up and started back doing what I should have been doing in the first place. Working, writing, and making my dreams come true.