Who Knew Facebook Could Be a Blessing...

Facebook...that dreaded word. I dislike networking sites as much as reality tv, but a friend suggested signing up to help promote my business. Really...Facebook? No, please, no! Okay...I'll try (kicking and screaming all the way). Yet another thing to keep up with.

But I'm beginning to see the value. It's funny...most of my friends don't blog, much less facebook, so with whom would I connect? My sister-in-law suggested friends from high school...obviously coming from a gal who had a good high school experience.

I began searching classmates and found so many from those days...but the gurgling noise from within my throat made it quite apparent that this online journey was dredging up old wounds and dark shadows from the past. Hence my decision to put off this online world for another day.

Which brings me to yesterday. After more prompting I finally signed up for an account. I thought, "Nope, I'll just focus on the business side and leave the personal for another day." But my friend said, "You know, it might help to get your feet wet by learning the ropes on your personal account first." Ug! Not what I wanted to hear.

Okay, might as well try. Some how searching for those from the past didn't seem so daunting this time. Could it be that I'm growing? Maturing? Maybe...but the more I looked and added friends the more I felt my heart open. For so long I had closed off that part of my spirit. Hartsville did not hold good memories passed the age of 12. There were some good times, but more pain than pleasure.

By not wanting to think about that part of my life, I ignored a very important chunk of my soul. We are not our experiences. Everyone has challenges, but it's how we deal with them that matters. Did you suck back in high school, college or even yesterday?!! Join the club! Did you make stupid mistakes and wish you could erase an entire era? Who doesn't?

Some how God used Facebook to open a part of me that I had closed off long ago. How? I have no clue, but this time I saw faces of friends from the past who are different people now...people who have gone through their own challenges and trials...people who have grown and dared to believe a new dream for their lives. Life is a journey and takes us down so many twists and turns that it's hard to keep track. But if we're willing to hang in there and embrace the blessings that each day brings, we'll go further than we could ever imagine.

Miraculous Gifts and Talents...Gifted Hands - Are You Using Yours?

I watched the most amazing movie tonight on TNT..."Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story." It's based on the popular book by Dr. Ben Carson whose inspiring story tells of a frustrated inner-city kid whose faith in God helped him become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

For those of you who cry at the drop of a hat, get the tissues ready. In the face of challenge after challenge Ben had the love of an encouraging Mother who told her boys they could do anything! Even in the midst of her own self doubt, she knew her children were destined for greatness.

As God's children we are all destined for greatness. He has blessed each of us with miraculous gifts and talents to give to this world we share. But how many of us allow the battles we face to drown out those callings? Those small nudges inside that say, "Yes, you can do this! Yes, you are a blessing! I have created you as a gift to the world...to make it a better place in My name."
I offer you a challenge...to listen to that small voice inside. To hear the calling that is resting in your heart. I challenge you to be bold enough to embrace your gifts and talents and use them to touch others in God's name. We never know how even the small gesture of a smile or encouraging word can utterly change the course of someone's life. Do you know how special you are? Do you know you have miracles just waiting to be performed through you? If you don't know this yet, I encourage you to watch Gifted Hands...and then begin using yours.