McPIFP Goal for Week #26

Goal: Stretch Your Faith

Enlarge your house; build an addition;

spread out your home! For you will soon be

bursting at the seams.

Isaiah 54:2

This week's goal happens to be a very personal revelation that I've recently experienced... it's been slowly building, but the truth--plain and simple--has finally made its impact! In other words... God's truth has finally set me free. =) Here's the story:

My whole life has been spent living in fear... not of death, or even failure, but I've spent my whole life in fear of truly LIVING! I've never tried anything "risky" or ever ventured out of my comfort zone for fear of what.. I have no idea. But I do know that the WORST feeling in the world for me is anticipation! I HATE anticpation and I HATE being out of my comfort zone where I'm not in control or feel prepared. This fear and mindset has crippled me. God has given me incredible talents and giftings. He's always provided pivotal opportunities for me to use these giftings to make a huge impact for His Kingdom; but because of my fear and inability to release control, I have missed out on these opportunities.

I never tried out for anything vocally/musically, because the anticipation scared me to death. I would think.... "No, I could never do that".... "Stuff like that doesn't happen to me..."; I quit playing basketball for the same reason-- fear of what others would think if I wasn't the "All-Star Mandi McMichael", like I had pretty much been my whole basketball career. Basketball came easy to me.... singing background vocals, or in a choir, came easy to me.... but as soon as things got challenging, or if I had to work harder, I would back out. If I didn't personally have control over the situation, I would quit. All those years, when things would get challenging... I didn't realize that it was the Lord trying to EXPAND my favor and blessings. He didn't want me singing background... He wanted me singing the lead; He didn't want me playing off the bench, He wanted me as the starting point guard (yes... point guard.. because that's what I was being groomed for at the time); He didn't want me to just play high school and college basketball.. He wanted to send me to the WNBA and play in the Olympics (Ha ha! I know... that's a stretch, but believe it or not, I had that dream!); He didn't just want me to have a few good friends... he wanted to bless me with an incredible multitude of BEST friends!; He doesnt just want me to be the usual classroom teacher, He wants me to be the "Teacher of the Year"!; He doesn't just want me to be the "Teacher of the Year", but he wants me to be the Principal of my own school! My point is that God provided me with many, many pivotal opportunities to step out in faith and accept bigger and greater blessings, but I was too scared to accept them. Obviously... That has most definitely changed. =)

In the above verse, it shows us God's vision for our lives. He doesn't want us just living the norm or status quo... His desire for us is to be great!! He wants us to expand our small mindsets, push aside the fears or doubts, and have FAITH that His favor is upon our lives. "For you will soon be bursting at the seams...." To me, that is a promise from our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants to bless us. Everthing in my life is so clear to me now. I can literally see every missed opportunity for greater favor that I chose not to accept, because of my inability to step out of my comfort zone. Literally. God's favor has always been upon my life and I've always known that, but my small mind could never understand the magnitude of that favor. Even when I chose not to listen to Him, or even when I was living in the "haze" of my failed marriage, He still blessed me. His favor was still upon my life and He was still providing opportunities for greatness.

Our Father loves us sooooo much! He wants us to make room in our minds for MORE! He wants us to expand and enlarge our visions! When those scary challenges come along, He wants us to step out in faith and accept those opportunities for greater favor.... because that's what they are. We just struggle wrapping our small minds around that magnitude of love. =) But it's there.. and our Father wants to bless us. If you take a look at great people, who have made a difference in our cultures and past cultures...athletes, musicians, pastors, teachers, explorers, activists, etc., you will see that they took risks. They had to step out of their comfort zones and just go for it! They didn't accept failure, but continuously overcame failures, by having faith and HOPING!

Faith is the substance of things hoped for (my current mantra).... whatever I hope to have happen, I must have faith. Here's how Joel Osteen describes it, "God works and operates by faith. You must believe first, and then you'll receive. Maybe you've been waiting on God to make a move, but God is waiting on you to stretch your faith."

This week..... stop waiting on God to make a move! Do your part.... by stretching your faith, accepting those opportunities for more favor, and then give Him all the glory! He IS faithful!

I look forward to hearing some of your testimonies!

I love you all and hope you have a great week! =)

Introducing: Pollie the Pug Fairy

Pollie the Pug Fairy makes her first debut as we visited my Grandma in the nursing home! The Pug Fairy's sole purpose is to "sprinkle" happiness to everyone she encounters. But watch out... if you get too close, you might actually feel the sprinkles that come from her nose! Ha ha! She was a HUGE hit... not just by the residents, but also by the nurses and staff that worked there. Of course, Pollie has some anxiety issues, so she was in FULL snort-mode! You definitely couldn't miss her... either from the pink dress or because she sounded just like a PIG walking through the halls! It was a great experience and that was only Pollie's first visit. The Pug Fairy is excited to spread some more happiness as soon as possible!

I am firm believer that God gave us pets just because he loves us that much! They're meant to be loved on and spoiled.. and in return, they'll "worship" the ground we walk on! In a dog, you can find unconditional love! But I've found a new "calling" for Pollie's purpose... and that's to make a difference--to make people HAPPY and laugh and escape their hurts/depressions-- just for a few minutes while they admire the fat little Pug dressed in a princess costume! It was a revelation for me as I visited the nursing home and I hope you had equally meaningful experiences in whatever you decided to do.

More to come from Pollie the Pug Fairy.... I'll keep you posted on her ministry! =)

McPIFP Goal for Week #25

Goal: Visit a Nursing Home

For those who don't know, I've been spending some extra time in a nursing home visiting my Grandma as she's recovering from a recent hip replacement surgery. I'm sooo thankful that it's only a temporary stay, but I've honestly kind of been enjoying myself as I visit her. =) She has her own group of ladies that she sits with at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are so sweet and I enjoy talking to them. As I've visited there, I have seen such a need for love. Fortunately, at this specific facility, the staff is wonderful and really good with the patients and family members who come to visit.

For this week's McPIFP, I'd like for us to take just a few minutes out of our busy summer lives to visit a nursing home near you, and spread some love! =) I, personally, am going to be taking my dog (Pollie) up there to visit this week. Most nursing homes encourage pet visits as long as they're on a leash. Just like children, elderly people LOVE dogs! And it's such a simple way to bring a smile to everybody's faces. Here's some other examples: sit down and talk with a resident; bring them lunch (most facilities allow you to bring food in); bake some goodies; bring snacks, magazines, books, etc.; send flowers as an anonymous giver; participate in their activities for a day (bingo, games, movies, etc.). If you can think of anything else that you've done or would like to do, please post it as a comment.

I'd love to hear about your experiences!
Have a great week! =)

McPIFP Goal for Week #24

Goal: Say, "Howdy Neighbor!"

In the Bible, one of God's most repeated commands is to love our neighbors. What better way to pay-it-forward, then to fulfill a simple commandment of our loving Father's?? Now obviously.. or maybe it's not so obvious... a "neighbor" in God's eyes means anyone around us and/or anybody near us or in our lives....friends, strangers, family, etc. I would like for this week's goal to mean "neighbor" in the very literal sense of the word-- your next door neighbor.

Show an act of love to your next door neighbor this week. This could be anything from simply introducing yourself, because Lord knows that many of us like to stay cooped up in the comfort of our homes; to inviting them over for dinner; to baking them cookies or a meal; or taking their newspaper up to their doorstep; or scooping up the dog poo in their yards that belong to your dog ( .... I need to do this one!); or if you live in an apartment, you could help them carry their groceries up the 3 flights of stairs, etc., etc. The possibilities of helping are ENDLESS!

Since I've recently referenced "Tim the Toolman Taylor" in one of my blogs, I thought it only fair that I also reference his good friend... "Howdy Neighbor", Wilson. We all know and love Wilson.... he was full of good advice and was one of Tim's best friends. Could we maybe become friends with one of our neighbors, and we just don't know it yet?? Find out! Step out of your comfort zones and let's say "Howdy" to our neighbors this week! Show 'em some love! =)