Second Chances

I called a friend today and as her phone rang, I had to laugh at myself. I know that as we walk through life we always have second chances. It is up to us to accept those second chances and do well with them or ignore those second chances and always wonder what could have been. In walking through these second chances we should reflect on what went wrong, what mistakes were made, and then chalk it on the board as "lessons learned."

I have found myself within the past year to go through MANY second chances. Now these second chances I am going to call "chapters" in my life. I don't know about you, but my book is still being written. I think God gives us second chances for many reasons. One reason I can think of is that He teaches us the first time we go through stuff and tests us on what we've learned. the next reason is He shows us what we missed the first time and the third time (or more) we go through our stuff to get it right.
I don't know why we are given so many chances to survive or experience a car accident, an operation, a relationship, or any other situation we may have gone through. As I reflect on my past, I wonder why there are some people that show up in my life after we don't talk for MONTHS and then there are other people that are in my life for a season. I don't understand why there are some situations that I go through one year and they never return compared to other situations that come across again and they stay.
Oh, I am not looking for answers, I am just thankful that my journey is beginning with a fresh new out look on life, I can reflect on  my past and choose to learn from my faults and grab onto the successes and then run with them.
You see, in 2001 I became a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. I had a lot of basement people in my life and I wanted something for me. I stayed with the company for eight years. There were times I failed and there were times I picked back up and started over again. I found I was doing things for the wrong reasons and decided to quit altogether.  Then after a year off from it, I found it in my path, in my dreams, in conversations. I decided in a moment of quiet times with my Lord Jesus to discuss it. I did and He began to open doors and situations. Now, I am on a new journey, with new goals, new desires, and a new attitude. It's not about me, it's about Him, it's about You too.
Some people may say "you have so much on your plate now, you can't do this." Yes I can. I know when to say "No thank you" and I know who to run to when I am not sure what to say "No thank you" to.
I believe in me enough to say "Yes I can" and there was a time when I didn't.
There is a song out called I Refuse by Josh Wilson; I hope you have heard it.  If God is calling me to do something I don't want to refuse Him.
I heard "the world is your oyster and you are the pearl" in my head again and this time I may be the pearl, but there are a lot of diamonds out there. I want to find them, pamper them, love on them, and allow God to take away the roughness.  "You're a diamond in the rough" is what the first person who believed in me said and now I want to find that one person that needs to know they are a diamond in the rough. If Mary Kay is the vehicle to help me get to that diamond, then I know Jesus is worthy to follow and will lead me to her.
I am thankful I am not who I was but I am ever so grateful that I am who I am today. I am under construction and I'm excited to see what happens in this new chapter in my life.

Do you have something new happening in your life? I would love for you to share it with me.
Please leave me a comment or email me.

~Marjorie

EVERYTHING

Ever known anyone that just knows how to do something? The first people that come to my mind was a  three year old who plays the piano and a five or seven year old that plays golf and both play VERY Well. Then there are others who just have some things come to them like they have been doing it forever; from working on cars to putting a radio back together after taking it apart.

This morning I was camping out in the book of Exodus and read chapter 31 verses 1-4 which says:

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with widsom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. (NIV)

As I camped out, I began to think about this. When we believe in the great I AM, there is nothing He cannot do that He chooses to do. Think about it for a moment. We choose whom we want as our friends, we choose whom we want to smile at, give a handshake to, or even dial up and call on. We have choices because He first made choices.

YET, there is more to God. He gave His son Jesus Christ for our sins and when we accept to believe this truth, that Jesus was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilot, God resurrected Him from the dead and is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, we receive MANY blessings and gifts.
I read this past week we become His "heirs." This means that we receive an inheritance; all that the Father owns. Doesn't God own EVERYTHING?
As a parent, I want to give my children EVERYTHING because I love them very much. Father God wants to give us everything He owns, but if He did we woul end up as spoiled brats and ungrateful.  Would you agree?
I know our days are written before we are even born, so I imagine that He knows what He is going to give us before we even knowit, before we need it, we use it, or even think about it.

I am thankful for the gifts, skills, and blessings He gives me everyday. He sends me gifts, skills, and blessings that I see and some I do not see.  Have you camped out in God's word to see what He has for you today?
Have you experienced Him this week in His word or has He given you insight to His word?
I'd love to hear from you.  Please leave me a comment and share.

May God's Light Shine In You Today!
~Marjorie