Vision Vitality

My husband and I took a little trip to spend some days resting and reflecting upon 2016 and to formulate dreams and goals for 2017. 

We read, prayed, traveled, ate, drank, laughed, and most importantly we spent time just being. 

It was delightful.

During one of the afternoons that we spent at the hotel, we sat down and shared what we envision for 2017. 

One of the challenges that I gave myself is to write more.

I've missed writing blogs and I have been encouraged and asked by many, why haven't you written? 

So it brought me to question myself...Why? 

Why did you stop writing Jeanna?

Of course, it was a busy season, I mean a baby on the way, working 3 different jobs, taking care of a household, etc. 

But those are no excuses. 

What this question lead me to believe, is that I stopped writing due to the lack of vision. 

Where there is no vision, people perish (Proverbs 29:18). 

Humans need vision to sustain life. 

Vision is life giving and no great movement or act in history was performed without a strong vision behind it. 

Vision gives meaning and gives us sight to what others may be incapable to see. 

It helps us create and it helps us dream.

It gives us the strength to choose a different way, rather than following down the path of least resistance, which our culture often tells us is the way to go.

Vision gives us a reason to avoid slipping into comfort in this world and encourages us to make the hard, life changing decisions. 

If we want to be successful at anything in life, regardless of what it might be. 

Career related, health related, faith related, relational, or financial.

We need vision. 

We cannot simply live so near-sighted.

Foresight, oversight, and insight are essential to our dreams, goals, and vision.

So now for those of you who believe in an eternal life to come, you already have a vision for your life. You know where you are going and chances are you know how to get there. All you need to do to equip yourself is to find out what your goals or stepping stones in this life are to accomplish the will over your life. How wonderful is that?! 

So I encourage you, develop foresight, maintain a good oversight, and always keep insight on your life and your vision for your life. 

Just as I will for this sweet little blog of mine:) 

May this year be your best year yet! 

Delighted by Joy

On Saturday, my sister-in-laws and I hosted a Baby Shower for my pregnant sister-in-law. We hosted about 20 women at our new apartment. They day went fabulously. It was beautiful weather, the food and drinks were delightful, and it is safe to say that everyone had a pleasant time. It was nice to catch up with friends, but as well meet some new ones in between the duties of hosting.

When I woke up on the day of the Baby Shower, it wasn’t difficult to put my own needs aside and focus on the goal of the day, to put together this party for the guests and of course my sister-in-law. Although I was busy from 6:30 am till 8:30 pm, it was amazing how much joy I had through it all. Towards the end of the day, I asked myself, how could I have so much joy and peace during such a frantic day, where I barely had 10 minutes for me?

The answer lies in two places: expectations and mission. When we wake up with the idea, today is a day to serve others rather than myself. How does the outcome of our day differ? I’ve come to learn, that when I say I am going to serve others, often, I, in tern, end up having a day full of delightful little surprises from those around me.

When we do not expect anything in return, we give no room for disappointment. Joy is the foundation of our day.

When we live with a purpose and a mission during the day, we will enter into a deep peace. Everyday can have a purpose, not only when we host a party, give a presentation, help another person out, etc. I believe, when we follow Jesus each day, our purpose on this earth is to simply be love. However that may look in our lives—through the big and small things.

Mission is essential to a healthy organism and organization, when we lose sight of our mission, we lose sight of our purpose. Without a purpose, we become more susceptible to lose sight of hope and without hope, well, we are hopeless.

So I encourage you all to reflect on what your mission is today? Where are areas in our lives where unwise expectations may lie? How can we begin to start living more purposefully in our day to day lives?