I Matter

I had lunch with a future friend last week. It was such a refreshing time to spend with her. She engaged me in conversation about myself and my leadership style, etc. Through her inquiry, I felt God reaffirming in me my value, my worth to His purpose and plan. Not that I ever doubted my value to Him, but as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend, I have found that I have passed through many phases in ministry: singleness, young married, new parent, and now parent of older more independent children. When the kiddos were more dependent, my focus and purpose was ministering to them. As they have become more independent, I have more "me" time, and can focus on ministering outwardly again. My kids are still a ministry focal point, but I don't have all my time spent changing diapers, keeping them out of harms way, feeding them, clothing them, rocking them to sleep, taking every opportunity as a teaching moment. I can see myself as valuable to those outside of my family. I don't mean to sound conceited, that's not my heart or my intent. It's not all about me or "look at me." It's about the view of myself and the value and worth God has placed upon me...it's about me believing that God has a plan for me, Jana Gibson, to make a difference in Kansas City for Him. Thanks Future Friend for your time and for, unsuspecting to you, your affirmation of my heart.

My Husband Likes to Blog

My Husband LOVES to blog and tell everyone what's on his mind. I, on the other hand, am a people person. I like to chat face to face and interact with the person I am talking with. I have let blogging become a "duty" on my "to do" list like so many other things and it is therefore not fun.

If you are like me, and you've let your life slip onto the proverbial "to do" list, and life just isn't fun anymore, I encourage you to step back and re-evaluate what's really important to you. Take a deep breathe and enjoy this Life God has given you.

Just Do it!

It's that time of year when we all make our New Year's Resolutions and/or set our year's goals. If you are like me, you may set some of the same goals in hopes of FINALLY achieving them THIS year! :) I know all the stats on written goals and I believe them wholeheartedly, but I'm a "list" person who likes to "cross" things off my list so I feel like I've accomplished SOMETHING. I know, I know, I need my head examined! :)

Here's my encouragement to myself and those of you who take the time to read my sparse blogs...whatever your goals are this year, just to do...do them...don't wait for the planets to align or for everything to be perfect. Take steps toward your goals. Who cares if you don't reach it completely or hit a bull's eye. It's like a dart game, as long as you're on the board somewhere, you score some points! What's important is that you are taking steps TOWARD your goals and therefore that much closer to achieving them. You'll feel SO much better about yourself when you take the time to GO FOR IT. So...as the Nike ad says, "Just Do It."

Now go take on the day, Jana