Time Management

In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon speaks of all the amazing works of his hands and all of the great possessions he had acquired. He spoke of how great he was and how he withheld nothing from himself that he wanted. His heart found pleasure in all of his toil, and then he paused and took a step back to consider what it took to get to the point where he was now. How much his hands had done and all of the time he put into it and says this of it all:

"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."

Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't work hard and enjoy this life (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:23). There is nothing at all wrong with being a hard working person and having fun. I am a big believer in working hard and doing it right and playing hard! The point is, ultimately it isn't about this life. God put us here for a short time and for a purpose. TIME is a gift from God and we should treat it as such. Think about how many days He has already blessed you with. Time is the opportunity God has given us to serve Him. We must be mindful in our day to day lives about how we manage our time. Like most people, we feel like we never have enough hours in a day to get all of the things done on "the list". What do you spend most of your time on? We spend at least 40 hours a week a work, roughly 8 hours a day. After work, we either head to the gym, head to eat somewhere, or head home. We will sit down and eat a meal and probably turn on the TV or get on the internet. How many minutes or hours do we spend in His word and in prayer to Him? I am just as guilty as the rest of us. We have this amazing Heavenly Father who wants to hear from us and wants us to love on Him and how much time do we give Him? Think about your own father. How happy does it make him for you to just want to come and hang out with him, or call him just to talk? Our earthly fathers are an example of our Heavenly Father. He feels the same way about attention from us. So, the question is, what are we using our God-given time on? How can we change how we manage our time? Four little helpful ways you can use are:

1) Set Measurable Goals (This applies to everything in life! :)

2) Make a "To Do" List

3) PRIORITIZE!!! (That one is huge!)

4) Learn to Multi-task (This one just takes practice :)

Pray to God. Ask Him to help you with your time management. Ask Him to help you draw closer to Him and look to Him for guidance and wisdom and answers. Read and meditate on God's word. Set time aside everyday to focus on God. I love all of you and my main goal is to get myself and as many people as possible to Heaven. John 14:6 says this, "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  See, Jesus paid the price for OUR sins that we can't pay (Romans 6:23) God says if we believe in Him  and repent of our sins and confess that Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins and then rose again on that third day, and are baptized for the remission of our sins to be raised to a new life in Christ Jesus, we can walk as a new Christian with Him. (John 3:16;  Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Romans 6) He gave us the gift of time, now lets get out there and use it for HIM! :)

I love all of you and if you ever need me I am here!

<3 brooke="" candace="" p="">

The Faith of a Blindman

This week I had to attend the dreaded "jury duty." I am no rookie to this citizenly deed, so just like before, I go downtown, parked in the Boutwell and started making my way to the courthouse where the jury room is located. As I got to the building there was a lady that had a gentleman by the arm who was obviously blind. He had the standard white cane with a red tip. She helped him in the building and into the elevator where he thanked her and kindly asked her to let him walk to the jury room by himself as he didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he was blind (which he assumed could cause him not to be able to serve on a jury). He didn't want his "disability" to prevent him from being able to do this good deed. He got to the door, I was behind him in line, and the lady asked him for his summons. He, like me, didn't have his. If you don't have your summons you must fill out some information about yourself. She obviously didn't realize or didn't think (I will give it to her, it was early on a MONDAY) about him not being able to fill out a paper full of information for himself. I volunteered to help him. I read him the questions and he told me all of the answers. I then led him to a seat and then went back up front to complete my information. Later on when they started calling for jury members, his name was called out. He started slowly walking down the aisle feeling his way along with his cane. I stood up and told him it was me again and he grabbed my arm and we walked over to the line of jurors who had already lined up. I asked one of the ladies to be his friend and helped him out and she kindly accepted and helped him through to their court room.

After I sat back down I got to thinking. This man, who I assume has been blind since birth, got around well and wanted to be independent yet still allowed people to help him as much as was needed. He depended on the character and honor of people to be leading him in the right direction. He didn't know until he reached his end destination that they were in fact taking him to where he needed to be. He depended on the help of others. He KNEW they could help him out and get him to the place he needed to be and he wouldn't be stuck, for a lack of better terms, feeling around in the dark.

Well guess what? WE have someone who will do that for us, we are just to stubborn and independent to give him our full faith and let Him lead us. Now, I may not be talking to everyone but this is DEFINITELY me. I pray and pray for God to guide me and show me the path He has for me, but I am not sure I have complete faith in Him. WHICH IS RIDICULOUS! He knows where I am going. He knows, Lord willing, where I am going to be in 10 years. He knows my hearts desires and my deepest heartaches. He knows my every thought and how many hairs I have on my head... and I can't completely let go and give it to Him? How crazy is that? This is one of the things I will continue to work on and pray that if you have a problem with this you will too. God knows what He is doing. HE is the one who MADE YOU. He is like the ALL-TIME quarterback. Let HIM handle it. He wants to hear from you. He wants you to talk to Him about your wants and needs and dreams and desires. Give it to HIM. Let HIM handle it. Big Love Y'all!

<3 candace brooke

Who am I to judge?

We've all had it done to us. You are at the gas pump minding your own business and then all of the sudden someone sneaks around from the other side of the gas pump and says, "Excuse me..." and starts into their "story." NOW, this is where it gets tricky. The story could be about anything from a flat tire to a lady who is running away from an abusive husband and she needs enough money to get home to her family in Jasper. This is where it gets tricky. What if they ARE ACTUALLY telling you the truth? What if they truly need it? OR... maybe it is a lie. Maybe they are scamming you for money for drugs or alcohol or any other purpose than what they originally asked you for. But, who am I to judge? Is it up to ME to decide if they are lying or telling the truth? Or do I give them what I have and leave it up to God? Now, normally I would have to say no because I never have cash.... but today was different. It was like all the cards fell into place for this lady. I had stopped at a Texaco right by the interstate to get gas and the BOTTOM had just fallen out and it was raining like crazy. I get to the pump and swipe my card and it read ERROR. I went inside and the man told me the satellite was out and I would have to have cash. WELL, I never have cash so I had to drive to the nearest ATM. I get my money out and drive on to a Chevron a little ways down the road. I get out, go inside, and pay for my gas. As soon as I walk back to my truck, this little white car pulls up and these two ladies get out. One sneaks on around the pump to me and tells me this story about her friend whose husband beats her and she needs to drive her to Jasper but they don't have the money. Now she doesn't look scary or out of the ordinary. She looked fairly normal. I had cash this time (because I had to go to the ATM). The only problem was, I only had a $20. So, lucky her gets a $20 (haha this is where it gets good) I pull out of the gas station and pull onto 79 and see this little white car whip out really fast behind me to catch the green light. It was the white car the ladies were driving. They didn't near have time enough to get gas. So I kept an eye on them. As I pulled onto Carson Rd, they did too and turned into ANOTHER gas station! I just laughed out loud and thought... well there went that $20! BUT, I did what I should've done. I tried to help someone in need. I can't guarantee that money went to "good" use, but I did what I felt was right. I have never seen my daddy turn anyone down who asked him for money... so I KNOW that's where I get it from. Help others. Let God be the Judge :) I hope everyone is having a HAPPY MONDAY!

Love,

me

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

While I'm Waiting...

 One of my friends sent me a song from the movie Fireproof because she said it reminded her of me. The lyrics are powerful and I thought about it today.

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am peaceful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's not easy

But faithfully, I will wait

Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve you while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Many know my story. If you don't, just ask :) Here is the deal, put God FIRST in every relationship you have. Make sure HE is first and build a relationship based on Him. Heartbreak is the worst feeling in the world. A feeling that could've been spared if I would've truly put God first. NOW, having said that, I don't question WHY things happened the way they did. Never would I have known how to love so deeply and take care of someone and learn the power of faith in the face of a nasty disease had I not met and dated one of my best friends Josh Bennefield. Our relationship taught me many things. I don't regret the opportunity I had to share so much of my life with such an amazing person. But God wasn't truly FIRST in our relationship.I know God puts people in your life for a purpose and we go through trials to make us stronger. No one ever said it would be easy. If you sat down and talked to some of the people you consider to be the strongest, I am SURE they have a trial or two they could tell you about that made them the person they are today. Trials make us stronger, they perfect our faith and bring us closer to God. While God is working in my life, and I am learning whatever it is He wants me to learn from this, I will wait. I worry about the future so much sometimes that I forget to live in the present. I painted a little picture today to be able to look at and remind myself, no matter WHAT, it is in God's hands. God is going to take care of me because I am HIS child and I am doing everything in my power to make sure I am staying in HIS will. Friends, enjoy the little things in life. The little things are what keep you going. Tell your husband/wife, or boyfriend/girlfriend you love them. Appreciate them. Love them like they are leaving...and they won't (Good Brad Paisley song ;) Tell them how much they mean to you. Call them just to say hey. Write them a little note just to let them know they are your most favorite person in the world. THESE things are what keep you going. If you love them, don't just assume they know! REMIND THEM... OFTEN and ALWAYS. LV2DAY

Love,

me

Thank God for Flat Tires

Started out my Monday BRIGHT and EARLY as I have been for a month or so now at Body Pump at 5 in the AM. After pump, I went home and got ready to go to work. I was meeting my sweet little daddy this morning to get some air the back passenger side tire and when I get out and start walking to the back of my truck... my back DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE has a screw sticking out of it! My daddy automatically turns on the "Daddy-of-a-girl" mode and changes it in 10 seconds flat! haha (Ok... so maybe a little longer but to me it was awesome and fast :) He had a meeting to be at by 8 and he told me he made it with 5 minutes to spare but I am pretty sure he was just trying to make me feel better because I felt SO bad for making him late to his meeting! He is the GREATEST daddy God ever created!!! I know he would've made a great daddy to some boys but.... WOW... he is SO good at being the daddy of 3 girls! I always sit back and try not to let things like a flat tire on a Monday morning (when you have a patient at 8) put me in a bad mood for the day. It makes me sit back and think about events like 9/11. Many people who were supposed to have been in the Trade Towers when they were hit and collapsed weren't because it was their day to get the doughnuts, or they blew a shoe on the way to work and had to stop to get new ones. Something out of the ordinary was thrown into their morning to make them late and HAD THEY NOT been late and things would've gone smoothly like every other morning... they may have been in those buildings and not be here today like so many other men and women who lost their lives on that day. One morning I was running late to work and I got in the traffic to a wreck that I could've been in... but missed because I woke up late that morning. I try to THANK GOD for what seem to be bad starts to my day. Maybe bad starts are a blessing. I Thank God For Flat Tires.

Romans 8:28:

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Love,

me

Blessed to be an Athlete

ATHLETE. What comes to mind when you think of an athlete? Speed, Agility, Determination, Strength, Practice, Will Power. Athletes are usually very self disciplined and competitive. They have to work hard for their goal. To Win. All I have ever known is sports. Being an athlete has been a huge part of my life. I was a little tomboy who LOVED to play almost any kind of sport (would've played football if they would've let me!). Athletes have a different mindset. When something gets tough and everyone else wants to quit, an athlete uses that toughness to fuel the fire. Turn it into something good. Use it to push yourself harder. If you want to get better at anything in life, you can't quit when the road starts to get a little bumpy you just got drive on until the road smoothes back out again. I am blessed to come from an athletic family. I use the things that I learned all throughout my softball career everyday. The self discipline to get up and workout or the push to better myself everyday in SOME way. The dependability of being 10 minutes early because being on time is being late and if you are late you may as well not even show up. It's being a team player and helping out wherever I am needed. In trials, the discipline and self-determination I have gained from being an athlete allowed me to try to overcome the doubts and fears in my mind and push on through the trial. Trials perfect our faith and bring us closer to God. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be an athlete!

"and not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Love,

me

*** You are how you train, You are how you LOVE... both deserve your whole heart! ***

My Favorite Blessing

I wanna start adding a "BLESSING" to each blog post. If I don't have something to write one day... I may just post a picture of one of my blessings! My first blessing is my FAMILY. I am the luckiest girl on the planet! My family is awesome! My mom and dad are like 2 teenagers in love. They are each other's best friend and are an amazing example to me of what love is and how christian parents/ a christian couple should act and lead. My dad is the closest to the perfect man you can get and a machine when it comes to work! My mom is the greatest mom God ever created. She is one tough cookie :) My oldest sister, Laura has the SWEETEST little family. She is such a good little hot momma and is so strong. She has a huge heart and is an amazing, spunky little thing and is hands down one of the funniest people I know. I am very proud of her ;) My middle girl, Moni, is my other little momma!. haha She pretty much thinks I am hers. She is one of the most caring, big hearted people you will ever meet (which makes her an amazing nurse). GIRLY LITTLE PRINCESS :) I LOVE MY FAMILY SO BIG!!!!

Love,

me

God blesses us EACH day... THANK HIM FOR IT :)