Change

IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME A YEAR AGO, "DO YOU LIKE CHANGE?"  I WOULD HAVE RESPONDED WITH A SOFT, BUT FIRM "NO."  I AM NOT ONE TO REDECORATE OFTEN (PERHAPS, BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO SO), REPOSITION MY FURNITURE,  REVOLUTIONIZE MY PERSONAL STYLE, SET OFF TO NEW AND EXCITING DESTINATIONS (THE FOUR WALLS OF MY HOME PROVIDE ENOUGH ADVENTURE FOR ME MOST DAYS),  ALTER OUR DAILY SCHEDULE... YOU GET THE PICTURE.  EVERY FEW MONTHS I ANTICIPATE MY MUCH NEEDED AND LONG OVERDUE HAIR APPOINTMENT TO MODIFY THE COLOR AND LENGTH OF MY HAIR, AS IT IS THE ONE OF THE FEW CHANGES I ACTUALLY EMBRACE. 

HOWEVER, AS OF LATE I AM NOTICING A SUBTLE SHIFT IN MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHANGE.  PERHAPS IT IS THE LACK OF MEAT IN MY CURRENT DIET INSPIRING SUCH THOUGHTS, OR THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SALLY HANSEN INSTA-DRI, FAST DRY NAIL COLORS I AM COLLECTING (CURRENT FAVS - "SLICK SLATE" AND "BLAZING BLUE"... EDGY PICKS FOR A GAL WHO ONCE WORE ONLY CLEAR POLISH) BUT, I AM SOFTENING TO THE IDEA OF CHANGE.  I RECOGNIZE I WILL NEVER BE THE KIND OF WOMAN WHO JUMPS AT THE CHANCE TO (WILLINGLY) SHAKE THINGS UP, GET MESSY, OR DROP EVERYTHING IN THE PURSUIT OF THE NEXT BIG ADVENTURE.  BUT, THE LORD IS TEACHING ME TO BE THE KIND OF WOMAN WHO IS ABLE TO EMBRACE, ANTICIPATE, AND WELCOME CHANGE.  ULTIMATELY, THE LORD IS RESHAPING MY HEART AND IT'S RESPONSE TO CHANGE.  

(CURRENT) CHANGE THAT BRINGS ME JOY:
HAIR COLOR
NAIL COLOR
BLOG BACKGROUNDS
PIZZA TOPPINGS
SEASONS
MILESTONES
UPGRADED PHONE
TEMPERATURES
GROWING RELATIONSHIPS
NEW RECIPES
HUSBAND'S SCHEDULE
CHILDREN'S INCREASED VOCABULARY
THE MINIVAN
BABIES BEING BORN
SISTER-IN-LAW'S UPCOMING WEDDING
NEW RESTAURANTS DISCOVERED


CHANGE THAT WILL REQUIRE PRAYER:
THE MOVE
THE FELLOWSHIP
LEAVING OUR CHURCH/FINDING A NEW ONE
INCREASED DISTANCE BETWEEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS
PLANNING FOR FUTURE CHILDREN


CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.  THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CHANGE IS NECESSARY OR EVEN  DESIRED.  AND, THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CHANGE IS NOT WELCOMED AND ARRIVES UNINVITED OR UNANNOUNCED.  THE CHALLENGE LIES IN OUR HEART'S RESPONSE TO IT.  IT IS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THAT I AM LEARNING TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES HE HAS FOR ME, AND DARE I SAY ENJOY THEM.  

"TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT." PROVERBS 3:5-6