Rough In The Diamond

A growing process

Jewels — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:32:37 +0000

If it is not obvious by now, I am a Christian. Which also means, I am connected to a local church. In a church, it a very different culture than anything I have yet experienced. As you increase in influence and leadership, you are exposed to things that really would boggle most people’s mind. There is an under-current, at least in my church, of control and manipulation because, I believe, they are Christian leaders. Therefore, it is my moral obligation to do what they say, whether it can be proved in the bible or not. I believe this under-current is in all churches to one degree of another. So, some might say, “Just leave your church. Find a church that you can agree with their leadership style and techniques.” And my response is that leaving would be the easiest thing to do. In order to stay connected to a local body of believers it is crucial that two things happen.

1. You must have a personal, daily relationship with God, for yourself.

2. You must examine your heart, your motives, your actions, your words and line it up with the word of God.

I am learning this two things in my life right now. I am in a level of leadership where I must know things for myself. This requires me to still have hard converstaions with the leaders over me and their style of leadership, but I MUST, MUST, MUST do these two things above.

I am young, without a lot of experience, but I do know how to listen to people with experience. I do know how to seek God for myself. So, any young leaders out there who are depending on someone else to do these things for you, it is time to wake up and smell the coffee. Life is a growing process, which means we all need things to be able to grow properly.

Until next time,

Jewels

Just some quick thoughts

Jewels — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:39:41 +0000

Great books I am learning alot from right now:

John Maxwell’s 21 Most important minutes in a leaders day: a devotional type book. Loving the scripture tie ins! Making perfect sense to my life right now

Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover: Totally challenging the way I think about money and handle it on a daily basis

Beth Marshall’s A Time To Heal: Which is more a journal to walk through the healing processes in my life.

So if any of your readers out there are looking for a money makeover for your mind, need healing in any area of your life, or desire to spend more time with God on a daily basis, these are great books that are helping me right now.

Until next time,

Jewels

Who I admire the most

Jewels — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:47:57 +0000

The people, or person, I admire most in this world is my husband. I have been married for five years to an amazing man. And when I say man, I mean man. My husband is not the man who likes to be the center of attention, draw a big crowd or be the life of the party. He is the man who is evaluating himself, constantly challenging his character to become more Christ-like, and never letting those around him settle for being less than. He pushes me, and everyone around him, to become a better leader, a better person, because he does. The point of this blog is not to brag about my husband (which I do not do enough) but to show an example of a man. A real man is a leader, a follower, passionate about pursuit, relentless in his desire for change.

Looking through a different lense, the life of Christ is very similar in a lot of ways. He did not operate under the traditions of men, but rather created a new standard of living, the Kingdom standard. When was the last time I had the courage to go against the grain for what I believe is right? When was the last time I examined myself, challenged my own thinking patterns, and actually did something about it (that did not involve pointing my finger at someone else to change) ? Why don’t we all look around at those leaders in our lives for actual leadership? A son cannot be a son (or daughter, whichever the case may be) without chastening. I admire my husband because he knows how to rebuke in love and so did Christ. So, tomorrow, I am going to examine my thoughts, my words, and my actions to see how they measure up to standard set before me by Christ. Am I following the unction of Holy Ghost? Am I following my emotion? Am I listening to the leaders around me? Or am I so prideful that I refuse to examine my heart?

Refreshed

Jewels — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:23:19 +0000

Hello dear internet world. I have had the best, most spontaneous weekend with my amazing husband and daughter. Friday afternoon at about 4:30, I causally suggested we go to the mountains and spend some time together. It was so amazing, so refreshing, and we could afford it.

Currently I am reading a book by Dame Ramsey called The Total Money Makeover; and this book is just that. It is a total makeover, from the inside out. I would suggest it to anyone who will ever use money for anything, ever! It is just a fundamental in my opinion. Also a fundamental; spending time with your family. No matter how little time I convince myself I have, I do not have time to not spend with my family. I haven’t heard any professional say this, but if you don’t put in the time now with your family, you will pay the price later.

Well to sum up my thoughts, I am refreshed, renewed and ready to conquer some of the difficult decisions this week will surely hold.

Until next time,

Jewels

Simple but not so simple

Jewels — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:06:51 +0000

In a world of information overload, sometimes I find myself having a hard time processing everything. In order for me to function I have to bring everything into focus again and again, day after day. If I lose site of what it is important, I go into overdrive mode, start trying to fix people, control my circumstances, and boils over with anger.

What are the things that are really most important to me? 1. Having a personal relationship with God. Which means reading the word of God and mediating on it daily. (Reading through Mark right now and really learning alot about Jesus, and who He is.) 2. Hearing what my Father says and doing what I see Him doing. (This includes having a healthy relationship with my husband. Being a good mother. Developing as a leader. Loving people. ) The list is long, but the task is simple. Listen and obey.

Lots of questions come to my mind concerning hearing the voice of God. Am I listening? What is stopping me from listening? What in my life am I doing, that I do not, or could not see my Father doing? Those are the things that must go. Simple and yet complicated.Bringing life into focus and finding out what really matters is critical, and never easy. This is where I live.

Until tomorrow,

Jewels

Alot to learn

Jewels — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:12:33 +0000

Well, any readers out there, I had a terrific blog post prepared for you about why named my blog “Rough in the Diamond” and how we are all diamonds with rough places in us. But unfortunately I still have a lot to learn and lost my draft. So instead, I want to talk about letting the small things go.

I am a control freak. Let me express that a little more clearly. . . I am a C O N T R O L F R E A K. I hate not getting my way, and things not going according to plan. But I am discovering that you cannot afford to sweat the small stuff. I believe part of my gifting in life is to see the things that no one else sees in every situation, point them out, and fix them. But my gift is also my curse, and I have a tendency to drive everyone in my life crazy. Case and point my beautiful blog post for tonight. Usually I would get mad, say forget the whole thing and fuss at my husband until he magically made my first draft appear. And tonight (insert the pat on the back here) I did not. It is just a blog post that probably only 2 1/2 people will read. Not really that big of a deal.

Progress! Yes at last. Everyone has just witnessed a miracle. I am learning, I am listening, and trying to keep the freak out factor under control.

Until tomorrow,

Jewels

Just getting started

Jewels — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:44:46 +0000

Hello on line world! I am new to the blogging thing, and really new to the writing thing. My purpose in this blog is to explore my thoughts, feelings, issues, relationships, and the list goes on and on. My prayer is that this blog will be a medium for me to express myself in a construction way and maybe help someone else in the process. If you are expecting fancy writing, good grammar, or correct spelling,this is not the blog for you. But if you are looking for a transparent, honest person, growing and developing while balancing life, this is the blog for you.
I do not know what this blog will develop into, but to start with I will be talking about my childhood, where I come from, and where I am going in life. Some things that you might want to know about me to understand where I am coming from are: I am 24 years old, a wife of five years, a mother of two years, a daughter, a sibling of a brother and sister, I am a Christian, I am a leader, and so on and so forth. If none of these things interest you and I sound like the other 6.6 billion people in the world, just hold onto your seat…I think you might be surprised.
Until tomorrow,
Jewels