My sweet spot…

Sorry for the length…this one’s mostly for me
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I am reading Max Lucado’s “Cure for the Common Life: Living in your sweet spot” at the moment, and although my mother has his entire collection of books, I have yet to read anything from him. So far…It’s very good.

I truly believe books are all about timing, I can’t tell you how many times I have started a book, instantly hated it, swore up and down I would never read it – and then years later, I can’t put it down. That would be the case for this one.

Do you know where your sweet spot is? And I don’t mean sexually lol…this is not the time… I mean do you know what makes you excited? What makes your mind reel or what kind of work makes you smile? Up until recently I haven’t really thought about those things – I just went after what I liked to do.

The book although very good….has frustrated me a bit. He asks the reader to do some self searching…some internal inventory if you will about our likes and dislikes and strengths and weaknesses. And then encourages us to find a way to makes those things work for us. The thing is..I HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY…or at least attempted to do such things – all of which I have failed at.

For as far back as I can remember anything, I remember having a passion for certain things. I love to write, I love fashion, I love music, I love hearing people’s stories, I love loving on others, making them feel good about themselves. I like to be busy, but hate to be overworked with meaningless crap. So I have tried all of these things; got accepted to fashion design school and didnt go; attempted to report news and found myself compromising my integrity and getting zero call backs. Still writing a book – that may very well never get published. People I am good with, as long as you aren’t tall, handsome and have a million dollar smile…that’s just trouble!

Not to discredit Mr. Lucado, but what are those of us who know this supposed to do??

The answer: “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires” Psalm 37:4

Taking delight in the Lord…I was not good at that for a LONG time. I felt as if God was trying to make me live this boring, dull and unhappy life. Do you fee like that sometimes? I felt like that for YEARS! Seriously. It’s not a healthy way to live, and is so incredibly false.

I have let go of certain pursuits but the passion behind those pursuits remains. I have surrendered my pathetic attempts at a life of fame and fortune and traded it in for a life of simply living and simple loving. And I have never been happier.

I still love clothes, I still draw pages and pages of dresses that fill my brain that have to get out. I still sing – in the shower or my car mostly and I still write music. Playing the piano on a quiet saturday morning with only my dogs as an audience is all I need.

I still love hearing people’s stories – which are now most commonly done over glasses of gin and tonic and fancy little tapas. I have blogs and short stories that will never fall on anyone else’s eyes, but the pleasure that writing gives me is unreal. I have found a desire to serve others in whatever manner that may be. And slowly I am beginning to find my sweet spot and better yet, live in it!!

Timing is everything right? I hear that ALL the time.
But the truth is God’s timing is what I operate on these days and the patience has proved to be worth the wait.

What do you when all your prayers slowly start getting answered??

Give it a go!!

Today marks my second week in Nashville, the first week was a little rough I won’t lie. I battled a bit of homesickness and anxiety over wanting to do things well here. But as the days went on, I felt better and less nervous. I am still in a bit of unbelief about how things worked out. If anyone would have told me four months ago I would here for practicum, I am quite certain I would have laughed about it. But, its happening and I am enjoying every day to the fullest.

Being away from your family and friends, even if its not that far can be hard, but it makes you incredibly close to God. At least for me. I keep reminding myself about Australia, but this is different than that. Being here has made me even braver!

The intership is great, it presents new challenges but is also very interesting. I don’t have an office – and that’s ok. I spend most of my days at USF in an office by myself, so its nice to have little spots all over that I can sit and watch people walk by and say hi. Everyday is different and everyday I like Nashville more and more. Cherry has a beautiful house that feels like home and it’s been nice living with her and Hunter!

So far, its been more than great…I really needed this…

I am inspired by this experience to not be afraid to try anything!

Just b/c you’ve gotten “no’s” from God in the past doesn’t mean there will not be “yes’s” in the future. Just keep trying and give it a go!!

~ Tabi

Secrets…

I am a very private person. I am. I am outgoing, but I don’t like my real business out there. I have a very small tight knit group of friends, who I tell everything to. I think that’s the luxury of having few friends – they get to know everything about you.
But…
Sometimes you need to have secrets just between you and God.
It makes things intimate.
And I love that.

Dreamers…

Have you been praying or wishing for something…for a long time?
And when I say a long time, I don’t mean one or two years.
I am talking ten years, maybe even twenty years?
If you know that feeling, this blog is for you.
Recently, our pastor posed three questions during one of his sermons that really put into perspective the kind of faith I am required to have.
Not asked to have, but required to have.
One question in particular stayed with me…

“What is the one thing you believe will NEVER happen?”

I had a hard time with that question, you see…
I could not think of one thing.
I had a whole list of things…things, hopes, dreams, desires for myself
and mostly others that I had prayed for tirelessly, and was on the verge of giving up hope.
I am ashamed to say that I did stop praying for some things. I gave up.
But, here’s the beautiful thing about God…
When we don’t believe anymore, when we don’t have any magical words to say,
and are tired of crying about it.
He believes for us.
And that’s when miracles happen.
Have you ever witnessed a miracle?
I am a walking miracle..does that count?
Up until the past year or so, I have to say no.
The joys of seeing prayers answered for myself are not a great as the ones I see answered for those I love.
Believing for others when they have lost hope is more of a miracle than seeing one of my own come true.
I mean that.
This past year has proven that to be true.
I know I am being vague..but If you know me well, you know what I am eluding to.
My point is…if you have a dream, something you want to happen so bad you can taste it.
Let it go.
Another revelation courtesy of my pastor…
“when your dreams are not happening, forget about them, and attach yourself to someone else’s dream.”
Help someone else make their dreams come true.
Whether it’s volunteering or handing out business cards for a friend’s new business.
Do it!
And you just might be witness to a miracle…maybe one of your own…