Thursday, September 30, 2010

Goal VS. Mission

While taking a Strengths Test, I had to choose between the following: “I have a goal in life.” or “I have a mission in life.”

In the 20 seconds I had to decide, lots of thoughts ran through my mind. What is the difference between a goal and a mission? Is there a difference between the two?

According to dictionary.com, the following are the definitions for the two words:

Goal: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim.

Mission: an assigned or self-imposed duty or task; calling; a sending or being sent for some duty or purpose.

So then I ask myself, “Do I have a goal in life, or do I have a mission in life”?

Overall in life, I want to be mission focused. I want to strive to do God’s will and follow His lead. I do, however, think it’s very important to have goals.

I had the goal of winning lamb, goat and pig showmanship my senior year and with tons of work, I did. However, I’m not a professional showman.

One of my current goals is to graduate from college, but just graduating with a bachelor’s degree isn’t my calling in life.

I believe that God has a purpose for each of our lives but how do we discover His path? We read His word and grow in our relationship with Him.

If you have not read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, I highly recommend it!

Warren goes through and answers the question “What on earth am I here for?” in a 40 day process.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who words out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. ~ Ephesians 1:11-14

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Road Kill

I heard an interesting analogy on the radio – We, as Christians, are sometimes like animals that hang out on the side of the road. We can’t make up our mind which side we want to be on. We flirt with danger by spending time in the gray zone.

Revelations 3 says ~ To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

It’s hard to not live in the world with today’s society. It’s hard when mean people drive brand new cars and have fancy jewelry and shoes. It’s hard when life seems so easy for those who party all the time and live without any consequence. It’s hard when temptations of this world arise.

However, I know, without a shadow of a doubt that my God loves me. And in that fact, I find the joy and peace that help me strive for the ultimate goal of being with Christ in Heaven.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
~Matthew 6:24

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

When the Skies are Gray

Here are some words that were shared with me back in July –

I saw a little bird one day,‘Twas sitting on a wire,
The air was cold and frosty and one longed for the fire.

The little bird stretched wide his beak and melody flowed out;.
He didn’t seem to mind the cold, just sang and looked about.

From out his feathered throat, there came a song of pure delight.
The wind blew hard, the snow swirled by, he sang with all his might.

I bowed my head and said, “Dear Lord, make me like that small bird, when things are cold and drear, oh Lord, please make my song be heard.

If I can sing when harsh winds blow, and things are drear and cold, I’ll be of help to kindred hearts who’ve almost lost their hold.

Lord give me the courage to sing out though skies above seem gray and may I, like the little bird help make a happy day.” ~ written by Glenn E. Wagoner.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

I love the words by Mr. Wagoner and the verse from Deuteronomy! It’s such an encouragement. I do pray those words, “give me the courage to sing out though skies above seem gray”.

Let us not become wearing in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:9-10

My Uncle Kyle shared these verses from Galatians with me when I was a sophomore in high school and they have stuck with me.

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed with negativity and problems. It’s not hard to complain when the storms of life are raging.

But how amazing is it when you can take that moment, when the skies are cloudy and the waves are crashing, and use it to encourage someone!

Shine God’s light everywhere you go, to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Count Your Blessings

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge
. ~ Psalm 62:5-8

I love these verses! The key part I want to focus on is in verse eight – pour out your hearts to him.

On March 12, 2006, I started writing down three blessings every day. From that very first blessing, I can account for at least three things that God showed me every day through today.

I am soon to be on my fifth notebook and have moved up to an actual journal rather than a little 3x5 notebook. (I do still try to keep it fairly small to make it easy to take along wherever I go).

When I was younger, I had a hard time going to sleep at night. I would lie in bed reviewing my day and planning the rest of my week/month/year/life. I had so many thoughts running around in my head that I couldn’t slow it all down long enough to sleep peacefully.

How much more enjoyable is it to fall asleep thanking God for all the blessings – the people He crosses your path with, the healing that only He can bring, His beautiful creation all around us and the simple things in life – rather than worrying about the trials and tribulations that this life can bring? I choose a peaceful nights rest and growing closer to my Heavenly Father!

As I’ve gotten older and my relationship with God has matured, and so has my blessings book. Not only does it now include what I’m thankful for, but my prayers, my pleas to God and my joyful thanksgivings. They include prayer lists and love letters.

The journals hold all my ideas, hopes and dreams.

I encourage you, from the bottom of my heart, to start a blessings book. Begin by writing at least three things that God revealed to you that day. When you have a rough day it’s hard to go to sleep with a negative attitude after glancing through different ways God has poured out His love to you!

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Friday, September 3, 2010

One Day at a Time

I was recently given some really good advice – “Don’t get ahead of yourself – take life one day at a time.”

The context of the conversation consisted of me talking about wanting to walk for at least 30 minutes every day and how overwhelming it is adding it to my already busy schedule.

I decided to change my mindset. Instead of thinking about all the things I needed to do for the rest of my life, I invest in the present.

This week, rather than rushing through my ‘To Do’ list, I spent an afternoon getting to know my cousin who is a freshman at Tech.

Instead of thinking to myself at night, ‘I’m going to make my bed every single day.’ I wake up in the morning and make my bed for that day.

During a long break between classes I made the decision to spend time with God and walk for 30 minutes and it’s a decision I make when I wake up each morning.

How do you get to be 100 years old? You live each day, one day at a time. And how do you get to be a kind-hearted, loving person on that birthday? You start living that way today, and continue, one day at a time.

In reading the book Beautiful in God’s Eyes it says, “That truth is behind Moses’ plea for God to “teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). You see, as we try to live our life today as God wants us to live it, and as we cultivate the character qualities He says are beautiful, then we will be beautiful and wise today – and, in God’s hands, the tomorrows will take care of themselves.”

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:33 & 34.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Letting Go

“What do you need to surrender?

Surrendering to God is an act of humble submission. It is admitting that Jesus is Lord; that he is God and you are not. It is trusting God with every aspect of your life, to the point of submitting all to him. When you think you couldn’t love God any more than you already do, try surrendering something important to him. It will be an interesting and difficult exercise, to say the least! When you can release something that you have held on to tightly, you will fall more in love with the one whom you can never outgive.

God wants you to give him our despair, worry, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, secret sin and checkered past. He wants you to turn over to his care your aspirations, favorite pet, most expensive jewelry, worst enemies, parent’s failing health and fear of being burglarized. He is to be the Lord of your job, home, bank accounts, vehicles and even your hobbies. He is there to help you with every part of your life – your emotions, education, possessions, talents, health, awards and more – as you surrender all to him. Would you be willing to give him your credit cards, sugar addiction, children’s future, control issues, evening wine, or agenda for the day?” (taken from Praying for Purpose for Women by Katie Brazelton).

In high school, I was an overachiever to say the least. Maybe I wasn’t so much an overachiever but a people-pleaser. If anyone ever suggested a contest, I would try my hardest to succeed and win.

I feel like I had a great relationship with God but I had a need to be the best, which wasn’t a good thing. It wasn’t until after I graduated from high school that I realized I had spent so much time studying and practicing for competitions in addition to the actual contest that I had neglected my relationships with the people around me.

I’m nowhere near where I need to be with surrendering the need to be a people pleaser, but I’m working on it.

Luke 14:33 says, Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

What do you need to surrender?

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Claiming Scripture

As a young female I get scared every now and then. And I’m sure it’s not only me, but everyone gets that uneasy feeling occasionally.

Working as a sales intern for a seed company this summer kept me on the road about 90% of the time. I visited farmers in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming.

It’s amazing though – I never got scared when I was traveling. However, one night, back in Lubbock I had a very uneasy feeling.

I had been at the office at work all day and when I got home that afternoon my blinds were open in the common area (I share an apartment with two roommates). I knew that the apartment workers had been in to check all the rooms and repaint one since the summer sessions are over and the fall semester hasn’t started yet but it frustrated me that they didn’t put things back the way they found them.

As I climbed into bed that night, I did my daily devotional, wrote down my blessing for the day and closed my eyes.
That’s when I got scared. It made me nervous that there had been people in my apartment that I didn’t know as well as the fact that I was there by myself and the apartment complex was practically empty.

I started praying but needed something stronger than my words – that’s when I pulled out my phone and started reading on my Bible app.

I started with Isaiah 41:10, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I continued reading in Isaiah 41 and came to verse 13 ~ For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

In the book I am currently reading, it talks about claiming scripture as your own so that is exactly what I did.

I prayed over and over that night, “For you are the Lord, my God, who takes hold of my right hand and says to me, do not fear, I will help you.”

God’s peace is truly amazing!

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!