Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Crazy options!

Ever felt like life was full of options? Crazy options?

Where do you start when there are more possibilities than you have hours? When life starts to open in creative in unexpected ways?


Here's my personal how-to checklist for decisions I'm making this week:
  1. Choose faith instead of fear. I'll ask, "What are the possibilities" before asking, "What will this cost and how badly will it hurt?"
  2. Admit the emotions. Am I excited? Am I scared to death? Am I hopeful? Concerned? Maybe I'm all of the above: I can take heart - and caution - from my feelings. (Reminder to self: feelings are a temporary reality.)
  3. Who offered the opportunity? Is it legit? Is it interesting? Do I want to work with them or their circle?
  4. What do I - or don't I - like about this? Does the opportunity line up with who I am OR will it make me miserable because it's an awful fit?
  5. What am I currently doing that boosts or blocks this new thing?
  6. What do my "peeps" say about it? If it's a big decision, I'm talking to trusted family and advisers before jumping in!
  7. How far has everyone else bought into this? Is there enthusiasm or resistance from other participants?
  8. First and last, I'm always going ask, "Is this in line with who God made me to be?" And ... is this His time for me to do this?
What are the options you're considering? How do you tackle change?

Read more:
*I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6 NLT

*Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!" Matthew 8:23–27 NLT

*Philip baptized the eunuch. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:38-39 NLT

Moravian Prayer: God, you hold the salvation of the world; thank you for not being stingy with it (for our sakes!). Still, there are people who, like the eunuch, need to know that this grace is for them also. Make us more like Phillip – sharing your bountiful love and bringing to others the joy of inclusion into your baptized community. Amen.

2 comments:

  1. What do you do when you have zero good options or when it feels that way?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sometimes a coach can help you see your situation: they'll ask things like, "What is important to you?"; "What would you like to work toward?"; and "What can you do today that gets you closer to better options?"

    ReplyDelete