“A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions.”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Tag Archives: adventure
34 lessons I’ve learned over the years
marking my 34th birthday
In 34 years, here’s what I’ve learned…
- Love is the answer; being right rarely is.
- We spend way too much time in the work of crafting ourselves, and far too little time just being ourselves.
- The greatest adventures come from wrong turns, so don’t let fear stop you.
- Discipline is important to achieving dreams. Grace is even more important.
- You can start over whenever you decide to.
- Your childhood gives you character but it doesn’t control who you become.
- Worrying about something that might happen is wasted energy.
- If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people.
- Success is not defined by status, money, education, career or another person but by the peace in your heart.
- Money doesn’t give you character. Failure does.
- When someone shows their true colors, don’t try to repaint them.
- Anger isn’t nearly as impressive as patience. Nor is it as effective.
- Listen more and talk less.
- Boyfriends and husbands are lovely. Close girlfriends are gold.
- You have to go home with your heart, so love freely but keep the key.
- Vulnerability is the strength that separates the strong from the weak.
- Everyone has a story. Make time for the adventure.
- The more mistakes you make the more you learn. Take risks.
- Dimming your light to make others feel more comfortable doesn’t serve you. Or them.
- Go neither right nor left at the fork. Go right up the middle. Choose the narrow path. Take someone with you.
- After thinking I would never fall in love again, I did.
- No one has it all together. Forgive people. Even your exes. They’re just winging it, too.
- There’s not just one person for you. Love takes a commitment. If you’re both willing, you can make a relationship work. Soul mates are made over time.
- Another person will never complete you. Only you can do that.
- If you’re not happy with yourself, you’ll never be happy in a relationship.
- No amount of designer handbags or shoes is going to make you happy in the long run. The same goes for chocolate chip cookies.
- The way people treat you is probably more about them, not you.
- Boundaries are about self-preservation, not about alienation.
- Black and white is an illusion. Life is gray.
- Help out someone less fortunate for the joy of doing it. Then keep it to yourself.
- Small minds focus on problems. Big thinkers focus on solutions.
- Working hard doesn’t mean working smart.
- Failure only happens to quitters.
- Believe everyone has good intentions… even God.
Take Hold Of Your Daily Adventure
Have you ever considered the adventure God offers us each day with the circumstances that arrive? An adventure is defined by ’a bold, usually risky undertaking’, an ’exciting undertaking’, ’a very unusual experience’ and ’hazardous action of uncertain outcome’. Doesn’t that sound like faith?! Then why do we think and speak of a roller coaster or treasure hunt as an adventure and not so much our everyday faith walk with Christ? Why do thoughts of that first big dip on an amusement park ride invoke such deep anticipation and enthusiasm while our spiritual journey of the highs and lows each day seem meager in comparison?
I received word late in the afternoon just three days ago that my job would be ending mid week. I had all kinds of questions for God at first and then sat back in my chair for a moment to ponder a deeper meaning within. My head lifted a little higher as I recalled His provision is never failing… my heart was glazed in peace.
As I laid in bed that night I couldn’t help but become giddy about the adventure He and I were about to take together! Its in these times of closed doors, that if we allow, our confidence in the flesh is surrendered to the faith that our Almighty Provider is going to open another (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9). Taking it further, we know its going to be good (Romans 8:28)!
Everything on this earth, all creation and life were created to give glory to God. He gives us these experiences to show Himself glorious, supreme to any measure of supernatural human strength we could possibly muster up. For it is only by the grace of God that we are even still standing!
He calls us to a place of faith and rest in Him that He will bring goodness to us if we believe. He goes before us and with us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Now that is some kind of adventure! Everyday we have this opportunity available to us if we’re willing to let go of the reins and hand over our hearts fully to God. This ’job loss’ has me excited with anticipation for the glory of God to be revealed! And when this adventure is over, I know I’m gonna stand up and say “Let’s do it again!” Daily living with ’no hands’ in surrender to Christ is the best adventure life has to offer! If its not an adventure to you, I dare say you’re not totally surrendered to Him.
To Give Him Glory
What if nothing less than the flagrant fame of Jesus Christ became your life ambition? What if the wholly surrendered life in Christ is captured for what it really is: the most exhilarating adventure available for human flesh and blood. It is the offer to live for something so much greater. It is the offer for a life that matters-where His glory is jealously guarded and His fame is generously spread.