Author: Geri Mason

As I’ve gotten older I try to practice what is preached TO me, rather than practicing what I preach.  It’s easy to practice what we preach to ourselves because we can say anything and then follow through on what we believe!  There have been many occasions where I felt the urgency to let go of what I feel or want or believe about a situation, and today I felt it very strongly after listening to the message at church.  Although the message was about how we miss the opportunity to witness because we are so judgmental when it comes to people who don’t live up to our expectations of how we think they should look or act, I found myself feeling guilty of avoiding opportunities, not so much to “witness,” but simply to show that I care.  Today I practiced what was preached TO me because life is not always about me!  It truly made me feel good knowing that I had removed myself from the equation and focused only on how I could help the situation.  Sometimes doing the right thing means doing things you wouldn’t normally do in order to make others happy.  (I know I left out a lot of details, but you can apply this to many circumstances.)  Be blessed.

Sometimes you have to be where you are to get to where you are going.  It is important that we are present in the moment and embracing our current circumstances in order to progress towards our future goals.  In other words, you cannot always skip ahead to your desired destination without first acknowledging and dealing with your current situation.  Every stop along your journey is preparing you for what lies ahead.  No time is wasted if you learn to see your experiences as parts of the final puzzle.  To reach your goals or achieve personal growth, you may need to accept and work through the challenges, lessons, and experiences of your present situation. Use mindfulness, patience, and resilience as you navigate your journey toward your desired future.  The path to success and personal development often involves taking one step at a time, learning from the present, and using those lessons to shape your future. Let’s not rush through life but appreciate and learn from each moment along the way.

 

So often we hear people speak of the “good ole days” and it conjures up feelings of times gone by, when the world was slower, simpler and kinder.  As I read my morning bible study, with an accompanying story, it took me back to my younger years.  Yes, I do miss the country living where you could leave your doors unlocked, people showed up uninvited and all was well with the world, and we were glad to see everyone.  However as a teenager I couldn’t wait to be grown and gone.  Oh how we think we want what we want until we get it!  I vowed never to return permanently because I couldn’t imagine a town with one stop light (I was grown before they got that one), and no pizza shop for miles away.  Don’t get me wrong now, I still have no plans to return but my thoughts this morning gave me a bit of envy for the family and friends, unlike me, who opted to remain in their little hometown.  Every time I visit, which is quite often now that I’m back in Virginia, I’m reminded of the quiet resolve and peace of mind that comes with the lack of busyness found in the city.  So, for some of us the good ole days may be behind us, but for others the good ole days are right now in their little hometown!

Between a rock and a hard place!  Life has been doing its thing and I have been sitting back and listening to the voice of God as I learn to trust Him more each day.  As an Uber driver I made the decision not to drive in bad weather, and God has been faithful throughout that decision.  However, last week was the first time in my life that it has rained every day.  Needless to say, I did manage to get in a couple rides in between the rain drops on three days.

When you operate on faith there will be times that your faith is tested!  And oh my God was I tested on Sunday!  It was a beautiful day after church so naturally I planned to make a few trips in the evening.  Low and behold, the air conditioner in my car, which was starting to not freeze me like before, decided to blow cool air and that didn’t help with my hot flashes and profuse sweating while transporting my first rider of the day, who thankfully happened to be an elderly gentleman who did not need much air.  After successfully completing his ride I politely went to a family member’s house and discussed my dilemma, and today I woke up to intense temperatures again (which the weather predicts will last all week), as I headed out to buy freon for my car.  So, there’s the between the rock and a hard place scenario; last week I couldn’t work because of the rain and this week I can’t work because of the sunshine.  But praise God that dilemma will be resolved very soon.  Remember to keep the faith no matter what it might look like on the outside.  Of course I found plenty work to get done in my office, including this blog!  Be blessed.

“Play to Win”

1. Keep the right perspective on the right prize.
2. Be clear on your goal
3. Develop discipline
4. Engage in strict training
5. Always have a plan that is devoted to get you to a specific place

What are you banking on?  Your job, your experience, your connections, your money or your God?

Temptation is always there starring us in the face and trying to push us into the unknown world of excitement and pleasure. There are a number of things that might make you give into temptation.  Here are a few:

1. Crafty Communication – conversations or outside influences that make you question your belief system.
2. Fragments and Facades – not having the whole story from conversations or other delivery methods.
3. What You See – there are times when both ways look good, but you have to choose the best one.

We need to learn how to move through life with courageous partnerships, so check your circle!

Gratitude Over Negative!  As I drove to Locust Grove, VA recently for a short getaway, I caught myself slipping into that complaining spirit. It’s natural to slip into negative thought patterns from time to time, but it’s important to recognize when this is happening and make an effort to shift our perspective. Expressing gratitude is a great way to redirect our thoughts and focus on the positive aspects of our life.

Traffic was very light on the freeway all the way there and I was quite joyful.  Then I turned off the highway onto a 35 mile or so, one lane highway, with no passing.  Lord it was up and down, and around the bend and back again for the longest time.  Of course I couldn’t follow the posted speed limit because the roads were so winding and I didn’t know where I was going.  That’s when the complaining spirit kicked in. You can try to make a habit of focusing on the things you are thankful for, even during challenging times, to maintain a more optimistic outlook on life.  After a moment, I quickly asked God for his forgiveness.  I said, “Lord I asked you to broaden my horizons and you have done just that, as I embark upon the journey today, on my way somewhere I’ve never been before, to meet someone I don’t know, who invited me to join them at a Black-Tie affair, with a free ticket included.  God I thank you and you have permission to smack my hand and shut me up!  I’m so sorry for complaining about what I asked for.  I thank you Lord for this new version of me and the woman that I am becoming.”

I am so glad that I was able to catch myself in the moment and shift my perspective towards gratitude. It’s natural to sometimes feel frustrated or impatient when we encounter challenges or unexpected obstacles on our journey, but it’s important to remember that these experiences can also provide us with opportunities for growth and learning. By focusing on the positive aspects of your journey and expressing gratitude for the new experiences and opportunities that come your way, you can cultivate a more positive outlook on life and enjoy the journey to its fullest.  Gratitude can be a powerful tool to shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. Focusing solely on the destination can cause us to miss out on the experiences, growth, and joy that can be found in the journey. The journey itself can be full of valuable lessons, opportunities for personal development, and moments of joy and connection with others. By savoring the journey, we can appreciate the small moments that make life meaningful and create memories that will last a lifetime. So, enjoy the journey, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses along the way!

Fire makes the beauty last!  We all may have heard the story of the Potter who tells us that the pot is not finished until it goes through the fire.  Have you ever felt like you are going through the fire?  This happened to me recently and I was at my wits end.  One day I had been shut out of my Facebook Page twice and had to recreate my password. Then the next day my computer was hacked and my page was switched from English to a foreign language, and in the process of trying to get the language switched back I clicked on something that completely locked my page.  Needless to say, I was done, so I stopped everything I was doing in the office, texted my daughter and asked her to stop by after work to fix the problem.  Once that situation was removed from my brain I decided to drive Uber and make me some money.  By 6pm the problem was solved and I was $43 richer after driving two and a half hours! Won’t He do it?   Remember, sometimes you have to go through the fire in order for the true beauty to be realized!

Need a little R and R?  You think I’m talking about “rest and relaxation” don’t you?  Of course I am, but that’s not the most important part of the message.  Sitting in church on Sunday I marveled as my pastor broke it down and explained R&R from a whole different perspective.  Most of this is exactly what I heard and some is me putting my own spin on it.  Take what you need and leave the rest!  The first “R” is Restraint:  Sometimes we need to show divine restraint and remove ourselves away from the noise of the TV, the phone, social media, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Tic Tok, and face time.  We need to learn how to say “no” so we can help the many, but not all.  Learn how to say “yes” to some requests, but not all.  Learn how to join some groups, but not all. Learn how to take care of yourself and not everyone else.  The second “R” is Retreat:  Yes!  We need go somewhere for prayer and reflection, whether it means getting up a little earlier than everyone else in the house, or setting aside time at night after things have calmed down.  Retreat may also involve going off from the crowd to a solitary place.  Maybe even travel to spend time alone with God, so you can talk to Him and He can talk to you.  It’s all about getting ready for your elevation, while eliminating your stress and preparing you for your next opportunity.  Is God calling you to a place of R and R  – Restraint and Retreat?    

A Promise to Serve!  Once again I have some key points from a previous Sunday sermon.  I’m so happy that I have found a permanent church home since returning to Virginia.  I don’t recall taking these many notes in a service before, and I love that God has placed it on my heart to share with others.  Today’s message has three points:  1) Service and love is linked together.  Love is essential to service because love covers our mess-ups and mistakes that would disqualify us from serving one another.  What we love we are willing to serve.  2) We need to hone into hospitality, which Webster defines as “loving strangers.”  Think about Chic-Fil-A, and you realize that theirs is the epitome of hospitality from the moment you enter to the time you are handed your order.  Another example, Doubletree Hotel gives a warm chocolate chip cookie.  Let’s be intentional about hospitality, and it may look different than the way we used to do it.  3) We are charged to serve.  That means prioritizing the needs of others over ourselves sometimes.  We must serve our God, our Church, and our Community.  We have many gifts given as service to us and others.  Use your gifts!  It’s time to serve.  There’s no expiration date.  You have a charge to serve as long as you are breathing!