Looking for Your Sweet Spot

“There are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLV)

When I am looking for inspiration, I scroll through past blogs and on this day in 2014……..I was talking about finding my “sweet spot”.  I truly believe God nudges us in the direction we need to go.

Suzie Eller’s blog post on crosswalk.com has me thinking seriously (yes, AGAIN) about my “gifts”.  She talks about her Pinterest frenzy and how she tried all kinds of things.  Then one day her daughter after surveying her efforts said “Mom, you need to know your sweet spot and this isn’t it”.  YIKES!  How many times do we try things in an effort to be something we aren’t?  OR maybe our sweet spot has seasons, and it is time to move on.

WOW!  I know I have been talking about this A LOT lately but life has been changing for me.  I’m sure I am not the only one who experiences seasons with their gifts and talents, eight? I struggle with people pleasing so change is not easy.  Each of us is designed differently on purpose so we can come together to make a whole. So, what is your sweet spot? How has God gifted you for His purposes?

I struggle because although I know I have gifts and talents, Doubtful Debbie comes a knocking just when I think I am making strides.  Along with age (hitting 65 this year), recovery and MS issues all seem to play a factor.  Here are a few of my sweet spots:

• Making a difference – I truly believe this is one of my greatest gifts.  I am a glass half full kind of person and believe in sharing it.  Don’t get me wrong, there are days when Negative Nellie is around but they are fewer and far between lately.  Whether it is as simple as a card, a kind word or an angel to brighten someone’s day – I want to bring a smile to others.
• Crafty.  Angels have become the center of my crafting world – from sewing them to jewelry pieces to plastic canvas.  I love to share them with others and hear the stories as to why people pick certain ones.
• Writing.  I love to write.  Crazy as it sounds,  it started with poetry as a child then it moved onto grants in my professional career.  The initial challenge to blog was scary but exciting at the same time.  It is my hope I can inspire others through my strengths, hopes and experiences.
• Cooking.  Since moving to our forever home, I have found I LOVE cooking and sharing it with friends and family.

God can use these sweet spots for His purposes. God uses my unique design when I invite a neighbor or friend for dinner.  If your sweet spot is hospitality and making a home beautiful, then there are people who will be touched by this gift. If it’s humor and laughter, then someone needs to find that joy, too. If it’s teaching, teach.  Whatever your sweet spot, God has a purpose for you.

Time for me to focus on my sweet spots and make strides in all areas of my life.  How has God formed and fashioned you? Share your sweet spot with us.  It is not about being like someone else, it is about being ourselves and ACCEPTING ourselves including the gifts and talents God has given us.

Have an Epic day!

 

Finding Your Sweet Spot

“There are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLV)

Suzie Eller wrote a blog on crosswalk.com that made me start to seriously think about my “gifts”…  She talks about her Pinterest frenzy and how she tried all kinds of things.  Then on day her daughter after surveying her efforts said “Mom, you need to know your sweet spot and this isn’t it”.  YIKES!  How many times do we try things in an effort to be something we aren’t…

WOW!  Those people pleaser efforts come flooding back…Each of us are designed differently on purpose so that we can come together to make a whole. So, what is your sweet spot? How has God gifted you for His purposes?

This is a question that I struggle with because although I know that I have gifts and talents, Doubtful Debbie comes a knocking just when I think I ams making strides.  Here are a few of my sweet spots:

• Writing.  I have learned that writing is my greatest sweet spot.  Whether it is grants, poetry, blogs – I love to write. It is my hope that I can inspire others through my strengths, hopes and experiences.
• Cooking and having people around my table.  I don’t do this as much as I would like anymore but I LOVE cooking and sharing it with friends and family.  Can’t bake worth a darn so I will leave that up to the talented bakers.
• Crafty. I know my limits so I am not going to knit or crochet anything.  I can sew – making clothes, doll clothes, crafts and more through the years.  Needlecrafts – like plastic canvas that inspires.

God can use these sweet spots for His purposes. In a devotion like this. God uses my unique design when I invite a neighbor or friend for dinner and board games after.  If it’s hospitality and making a home beautiful, then there are people who will be touched by that gift. If it’s humor and laughter, then someone needs to find that joy, too. If it’s teaching, teach.

Time for me to focus on my sweet spots and make strides in all areas of my life.  How has God formed and fashioned you? Share your sweet spot with us.  It is not about being like someone else, it is about being ourselves and ACCEPTING ourselves including the gifts and talents that God has given us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

The Pull of the Holidays

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

Thank you Suzie Eller for just what I needed to hear!  My timing for this may be off since I am writing some blogs early in case I don’t get time when Belinda is home this week.  This was a reality check for me as I am now in the “married” stage of my life.  For some that may sound strange but Rob and I have only been married for a little over 2 years.  Suzie’s words made me stop and think.  She shared about being pulled in many directions when she was first married and how things changed when they had children.  Things changed again as those grown children had families of their own and new traditions.  I think back to my childhood of traveling from our house to my grandparents on Christmas morning to open gifts.  Breakfast at our house and gifts followed by the short trip to  my grandparents and more gifts followed by dinner with the family.  When Belinda was little, we tried that same tradition… WRONG!  As I said, since opening presents was a process, she never wanted to leave home.  So, our house became the one place that everyone gathered on Christmas morning and then after all was done – dinner was with family at someone else’s house.

This year, things are different.  I said something to Rob just before Christmas about just wanting to get to Friday for our family to be together.  He joked but I realized that I had hurt his feelings.  See, I am his family now.  Yes, he has his mom, a brother and a sister but once we got married, I was his family.  He is ready to start new traditions that are just ours.  Yes, he is excited that Belinda is coming home.    The truth is my comment made him feel like a third wheel or that Christmas was not important because I wasn’t with my family.  WOW!  Did Suzie’s words make me realize that I needed to change things?  So, on Christmas morning, we started our own tradition of having breakfast together and just enjoying each others company.  Most holidays Rob works so my goal is to make the time that we do spend together special.  It could be cooking breakfast or a special dinner in the crock pot – just something that is for us.

Are you pulled for the holidays?  Maybe these words will help you… “We told our children it’s not the date on the calendar that makes holidays special. It’s the heart behind them. It’s spending time with people you love.”  I know that they were a blessing for me.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!