Saturday, June 30, 2012

Day 388 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 11 of 22


This is Day 11 of my challenge... {and} my eleventh video...

... Shannon Culpepper's father moved out of Shannon's family home when she was seven, leaving her and her mother behind.  As she grew into a young woman she did not stop seeking the approval of her father all those years... eventually she found herself in a relationship with an older man when she was a senior in high school.  For as much as she loved her fiance, she learned with time that Christ is first.

Shannon Culpepper: I am Second

I too experienced exactly the same as Shannon... a few differences though... I was nine when my father left; while being only ten miles away, might as well have been 600; and my 'fiance' was only a year older than me and I did marry him.


Another difference Shannon and I have is that It has taken me much longer to realize the importance of God in my life, and putting Him first.


I am starting to get the hang of it [putting Him first that is]... however leading a Christian life or rather 'Jesus' like (as in What would Jesus do?} behavior isn't all that easy.  You'd have to be perfect.


As an example... living by the golden rule {treat others as you would want to be treated}, loving your neighbor, for another... being kind and non-judgmental... and of course being forgiving.


NOW... If that's the case... then I have broken every rule this week.


I allowed everything and everyone get to me this week.  Not only that... but I reacted to it all... and nastily!


What I can say for myself is... I do not regret what points I was trying to make ('trying' being the operative word) ... however it was how I reacted and said things.  I was an ass as far as that is concerned. 


Maybe it was a test to see if I could control myself? HA! If that's the case... then I failed!  LOL!  At this point all I can do is laugh.  It is what it is.  Just a reminder that I most definitely am not perfect.


BUT... I do respect myself enough to stand up how I want to be treated... I just have to be nicer about it {that's all}.


{and} as Shannon learned, Christ is the only one that will always love you... always be there for you... always pick you up.


Because, He is First... I am Second.


We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  ~Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Friday, June 29, 2012

Day 387 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 10 of 22


This is Day 10 of my challenge... {and} my tenth video...

... Vitor Belfort, UFC {Ultimate Fighter Championship} fighter and hero.... from Brazil.

Vitor Belfort: I am Second

Vitor seemed to have been going through the motions, a one sided relationship.  Calling to God when in need... promising the world in return of answered prayers... then never following through with all the promises to follow Christ.


Until the day tragedy happened... his sister had been kidnapped, he found out that she had been assaulted by many... one after another and  ... was never to be seen again.  Vitor turned to God once again, but this time for good.  


I just have nothing as devastating, but the lost of my sons.  That's the only horrendous pain I have ever gone through.


I ... really ... words can not and do not make the pain go away... what can one possibly say to really ease that type of pain?


My heart and prayers go out to Vitor and his family.


Because, He is First... I am Second.


We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  ~Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Day 386 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 9 of 22


This is Day 9 of my challenge... {and} my ninth video...

... Richard Ellis, 'remembers "hurting so badly I just wanted to die."  Honestly, he didn't want to leave this place... he simply needed things to make sense.'

Richard Ellis: I am Second

I watched Richard's video at the start of my day, like all the other videos I've been watching so that I may apply what I learn and act upon my task for the day.


Today's task or assignment was, to send the link to the video to someone I know.  Claude was God's answer to Richard's prayer of "send someone to help me."  Who is someone you can encourage today?


As my day progressed, well it got crappier and crappier.  Where now I am in tears over everything that transpired.  


A year ago my first reaction to my day would have been to just cut out anyone that hurt me out of my life.  Which my husband was so kind (sarcasm) to point out to me this evening... this was my method of protecting myself.


Well... I feel very guarded and lost at this point.  You could even say that I completely understand what Richard said about it hurting so badly and wanting to die.. this feeling has overcome me all too often.


However today I turn to God and feel that I am the one to be encouraged.  


I don't know what to do.  Although some people may find it easy to be confrontational.  If I do say something... I am too emotional and often comes out with too much anger and hurt.


I am a very sensitive person and have been silenced by my father so much growing up that it is very difficult for me to say what is on my mind without it coming out nasty and mean.  I hate him for that.


I have been on this quest to better myself... be a better person... put my past behind me... and live a happy life for my family.  Although today that all seems bullshit!  


I am full of anger and hurt for a multitude of reasons.  Not just one.  Today was a day of many trials... not just one!  Just want to make that perfectly clear.  In other words, it was one thing after another until day's end.


I know that tomorrow is another day and I will be able to see this from a different perspective, but it will not change the fact that I felt that everything was coming at me from all angles today.  Murphy's Law, anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.


I do want God to send me my someone to help me make sense of this all.  I want my "Claude" as Richard got his.  I have asked God for help so many times throughout my life... I just pray and hope that one day soon he will answer my prayers. 


Because, He is First... I am Second.

We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  ~Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Day 385 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 8 of 22


This is Day 8 of my challenge... {and} my eighth video...

... Bailee Madison, thirteen in October. Actress.  She has worked with the industry's biggest stars in a variety of diverse roles.  She has worked on Brothers, Conviction, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, and currently working on Parental Guidance.  Other feature films include Letters to God, Hallmarks's Taste of Romance, Just Go With It and earned rave reviews with The Wall Street Journal. Bailee also worked on Disney's Bridge to Terabithia, independent film Phoebe in Wonderland, and appearances on Law & Order: SVU and Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place.  

Bailee Madison: I am Second

In Bailee's story, she tells of how she has had to deal with competition on the film set, to where she has been done wrong upon.  She has learned to accept and forgive.

Having personally grown up in Los Angeles, I had a front row seat to the movie industry.  I have had friends and family members in the business both in front and behind the camera.  This world is not for everyone.

This world can swallow you up and then spit you out... all without a second thought.

So to hear of a young girl being so grounded... well, I commend her parents.  

I also envy her love of God.

Not everyone in the business is blessed to be ever so humble, as Bailee is.  {and} As I said, this is thanks to her parents.  

Well done.

Here's to Baillee keeping it real and keeping God first.

He is First... I am Second. 


We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  ~Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Day 384 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 7 of 22

This is Day 7 of my challenge... {and} my seventh video...

... Wayne Huizenga Jr., heir to Waste Management, Blockbuster Video, Auto Nation, Professional Sports teams, hotels, a resort and not to mention yachts, planes and automobiles...  
Wayne Huizenga: I am Second


Before watching this video, I thought to myself... "what on earth does he have trouble with?  He has everything!"  How could I conjure up sentiments for someone that I could not feel sorry for?  What could he possibly need?  After all he has everything!

Everything that is, but a relationship with God.

Not having God in his life, made Jr. feel empty even with all his accomplishments and treasures.

As I mentioned earlier, I am really having a hard time relating... after all we are even not in the same tax bracket!  However... the emptiness that Jr. (as he is called by all who know him) talks about feeling, well I can relate.

I've been working hard for a very long time, years that is, to get ahead.  Coming up with ideas after ideas that fizz out before ever hitting the drawing board due to discouragement, and basically not believing in myself.  

It hasn't been all that long that I have given myself to God, as a matter of fact I was baptized nearly three years ago.  Even though I have had Christ in my life for most of it, I have not led a Christian life.  I was more or less going through the motions.

Since moving to Texas I have attended more church (willingly) than I had all of my life.  I say willingly because I went to a Catholic school growing up and had to go to Church seven days a week... and honestly never got anything out of it.  Kind of hard when the service was in Latin!

About three months ago, I decided that I really wanted to be closer to God.  I decided that up until now I was not getting out of life what I wanted.  Was it because I did not truly have Jesus in my heart?  As I thought about it more I came to the conclusion that I needed to have Him in my life.

Making the decision to really go to church was very easy.  Actually my daughter (5 y/o) made it very easy for me.  She loves church and was always disappointed when we would not go.  I saw how much love she had for Jesus and I decided to help her grow her relationship with Christ by leading by example.  I would show her the love I have for Him myself, and live by His word.

Since then, I have become a "formal" member of our church, and attend classes {through our Church} to do more.

Today I do not have all the answers, or the riches that Jr. has... however with Jesus by my side I am growing stronger each day... and you never know... maybe I too one day will enjoy the fruits of my labor.

He is First... I am Second. 

We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.~Romans 10:9 (NIV)
I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Monday, June 25, 2012

Day 383 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 6 of 22


This is Day 6 of my challenge... {and} my sixth video...

..Karen Green, in my book... a survivor of life..  
Karen Green: I am Second

Karen is very blessed to have survived her life and choices that she made...Now, she is  second to Christ.


I personally am blessed to not have gone through anything remotely close to what Karen survived.


However I do know what it is like being in {my own} prison I made for myself.  That was then, and now is now. -


Today is another day that I am grateful for.  Today is another day that I continue my journey... a journey to happy and healthy living.


He is First... I am Second. 


We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ~James 4:7 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Day 382 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 5 of 22


This is Day 5 of my challenge... {and} my fifth video...

..Josh Hamilton, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers.  
Josh Hamilton: I am Second

What can I say that already has not been said? ...  wait... who am I to say anything about Josh's life anyways?  

To have been given a gift (great athlete), and been able to live out a dream (baseball)... and then to have been at the right place at the wrong time ("...A dump truck ran a red light as we were turning left and plowed into us and over the next four to five years I went down the path of destruction ..." Josh Hamilton quote from I Am Second interiew) resulting in the lose of your parents and baseball... how devastating!

The only devastating loss I have had is that of my sons in my life... .  Granted my sons are alive none the less... and God willing I will be reunited one day...  I don't mean to babble, but when it comes to devastating loss that would have to be it.

As I really look back on my life, I have to admit that after losing my sons, I too was self destructive.  Going out every night {even on work nights}... dating anyone that would date me... drinking most nights... sometimes even coming home soooo late that I barely would get an hour of sleep, my eyes would be burning from no sleep and I suspect that there may have been a couple of times that I may have even smelled like alcohol.  

I hit rock bottom when I lost my house (I was renting) after having loss my job and not being able to pay my rent (to my ex-boss) and other bills.  

Funny,,, I remember "approaching" a local church {before having loss my house,} however I don't really think I ever really surrendered to God back then and eventually veered away..
   
Fast forward to today at Church... I happened to be praying just about this.  I was so in the moment praying for my sons, my family, those in need... I praised my Lord ... and I prayed... and I praised Him some more...  I have never felt so peaceful... I have never felt so sure that He was taking care of everything for me.  I felt as if I truly surrendered to Him for the first time.


He is First... I am Second. 


We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ~James 4:7 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.   

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Day 381 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 4 of 22

This is Day 4 of my challenge... {and} my fourth video...

..Michelle Aguilar, one of the winners of the Biggest looser, not only lost 110 pounds on her journey but she also lost all the anger she was feeling towards her mother for the pain she caused in Michelle's life.  


Michelle turned to food for comfort when her family fell apart.  

I personally not only have turned to food for comfort, but I also eat out of boredom.  I also have gone from one extreme to another.  Meaning that I may not eat but one meal in one day, and then the next day I would literally eat something non-stop until I felt like I was going to be sick, just because "it" was really good.  

Ever since I recently found out that I had high cholesterol, I have really been watching my diet.  I have not eaten beef, chicken maybe twice and half serving at that, I eat salmon and lots and lots of vegetables... not to mention all my supplements I take.  {and} I am eating three meals and healthy snacks most times.  big smile.

I am praying that I am able to make a difference iwithn my diet, so that I can avoid taking long term medication.  More importantly I am doing this so that I may be healthy and live to be around a long time for my children and family.  Especially Calley. {because she is so young}

All natural here! 

We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?


I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...


... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright laws apply.