"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."So, is your morning routine the most important use of time each day? What is YOUR morning routine?What is MY morning routine? More accurately: what would I LOVE to have as a morning routine, vs. my reality... I would love to sit & listen each morning. For consistency... Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. For centering... Matthew 4:29 "Come, follow me." Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus... God is still at the same volume as ever, the world has only gotten louder. 1 Kings 19:11-12 There was a great wind, but the Lord was not in it. There was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in it. There was a fire, but the Lord was not in it. After the fire, there was a gentle whisper. There is a lot of opposition to this goal of mine. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. I would also love to pray my prayer list each morning. If you want to make a prayer list: - don't let it become a contact list or you'll lose the intention behind it - truly consider and ask God and listen for who in your life needs your prayers - Do you pray for your boss(es)? - Do you pray for people you need to forgive? - Do you pray for your atheist family members? - Do you pray for God to show you the "random" people that He has put into your life so that you can share the Good News? - Do you pray for the people that are "randomly" on your mind this morning? What's trendy, or what's needed...At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you do in your morning routine... it matters who you do it for. 1 Corinthians 10:31 SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK, DO IT ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD. * I am still in-progress on this, and by far not an expert or the perfect person to instruct in this. I'm simply sharing my thoughts about them, and hoping they stoke your own quandaries. *
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Some encouragement that came across my mind as I consider graduating soon God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
God gave people free will... which inherently means that people can choose wrong. They did, and the world is broken. There is no Planet B. Take care of this one. We are all one kind: humankind. Take care of this one. The world is big, and we are relatively small to it, but we can still make a positive difference. Humankind is big, and we are relatively small to it, but we can still make a positive difference. Help the ecosystems that you are in: recycle, plant a pollinating plant, be aware of what you or your possessions are spewing into the air, water, and soil. Help the communities that you are in: treat everyone with equal respect as God's creation, fight for those who can't fight for themselves. And remember: yes, you can make a positive difference. But no one can pour from an empty cup. Remember to let God fill you up, let Him use the people around you to fill you up-- sit with nature, listen to positive podcasts and influencers, fill your brain with scripture and Jesus jams. Every single day, strive to fill up with God, pour out your gifts and blessings and Jesus's love into making a positive difference, and repeat. 1. Don't bounce when fingerspelling. It's like watching shaky camera work.
Tips: Don't think "T-A-R-G-E-T." Sound it out... like you learn in English spelling! 2. Expect criticism, and accept your learning graciously.Remember: Native signers are RIGHT! Always take cue from Deaf critiques: it's THEIR language to correct!
3. The language you are learning is not your profitable platform.It's called "clout." Don't take credit-- it's not yours. Best way to spot this by others? They charge for their services; they aren't accepted or approved by Deaf community; they don't support the Deaf community, by accessible content or appropriate credit; they don't accept feedback.
4. People who want to (and are qualified to) will teach the language-- Read: you don't have to!Related: be humble! It is always better to be invited up than told to step down.
Not every Deaf person wants to teach you sign language-- not every artist wants to teach you how to draw! Do not take it upon yourself, a newbie learner, to teach ASL! (A) It's not your place. (B) If you're passionate about sharing ASL and Deaf-accessibility awareness: feature Deaf-authored sources! There are SO. MANY. GOOD. teaching; awareness; and content-creator accounts that are Deaf-authored!! Tips for finding them: - Check the bottom of the website that your Google search pulled up for a note saying it's by Deaf authors or contributors or Deaf-approved. - Check bios on social media accounts to see if admin is Deaf/ CODA/ HoH/ Interpreter, etc. Know who you are learning from! In general, this is the order of who to learn from... the hierarchy of who signs "correctly," whose signs are generally accepted by the Deaf community:
And an extra for going into the next year of learning: 5. There's no such thing as "baby sign language."It's just sign language. So, any "resources" you see that are advertising/ teaching "baby" sign language is cultural appropriation by Hearing people. Note: it's an AWESOME idea to teach babies sign language! It helps language acquisition and DOES NOT DELAY SPEAKING. Do some Googling and read/ watch some Deaf content about it. Look for early or young educational resources for teaching sign language... just not "baby sign language." It's not an issue to teach Hearing babies ASL; the issue is the hypocrisy of Hearing parents scorning teaching Deaf babies ASL rather than speech therapy, etc., and then turning around and doting over "baby sign language" for Hearing babies.
Please, comment below! Questions about any of these topics are welcomed. Share your favorite resources, or let me know what you're looking for a resource of, and I'll share my favorite Deaf-authored sources for that aspect of ASL and/or Deaf culture!
Why you should consider end-of-year charitable giving! End-of-year giving is made easier by saving throughout the year! Putting away a little bit from each pay adds up! How to give: Biblical directionDO IT FOR THE LORD Colossians 3:17 (NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED Genesis 13:17 (NIV) Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” DO SO FROM LOVE Luke 11:42 (NIV) “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. BE GENEROUS Deuteronomy 15:8 (NIV) Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. A TITHE OF EVERYTHING (doesn't have to be money-- time!) Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. GIVE BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN IT 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV) “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. SPIRIT OF WILLINGNESS 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. GIVE TO GOD, AND HE'LL USE IT 2 Corinthians 8:5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us What charities I support/ What charities should YOU support?Are you a consumer of a non-profit? Can you further support your home church, ministry so they can continue to reach people like they reached you? Are your friends running fundraisers? Support them AND a new organization! Do you know anyone called to ministry through missions?
Is your local or regional community in need? Other aspects to consider when you're deciding if you want to giveSupport the change you want to see by funding organizations equipped to implement the changes! Help organizations who've impacted you continue to impact others! What causes stir your heart? REMEMBER: YOU DON'T NEED TO SUPPORT THEM ALL. I basically cycle through all the organizations I've given to previously, and consider who I will support this year! Keep a list of organizations that you've previously supported to choose from each year, and research new ones as you sympathize with different causes. YOU DON'T NEED TO GIVE A LOT. Every bit counts! The reason for giving is to bless others because YOU'VE been blessed! I like giving at the end of the year (1.) because everyone's in the Christmas spirit and it feels very holly jolly! (2.) organizations are trying to close any gaps between costs and funds before their budget, fundraising drives, etc. end for the year! Why you need a tech-free space Sometimes it's good to shut out the world for a bit.Good... healthy... necessary!
Find your peace. The only way to face the news; social media; people; work; school; responsibilities, is with peace that is determine and carried INTERNALLY, rather than externally! * This is my tech-free corner. See pictures at the end for different ways to define YOUR space! * What NOT to have here--Stressors! These are usually tech, things with push notifications, stuff that nags at your attention. "But I need my phone for--"
What TO have here--Calming! Important things for me?
What do I do once I get there?Infinite possibilities, but I made a finite list to get you thinking...
Let your guard down... 2020's been hard. Allow yourself a break. Rejuvinate. Unplug. Unload. Relax. Be held instead of holding. <3, M |
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