Potential

In the wake of the morning after Christmas (madness and MESS) , I was cleaning up the aftermath and realized a few things.... thought I would share them with you.

I shared last night with family that I am a gift bag, tissue paper Nazi. I admit it, if I see gift bags getting ready to be pitched... I save them. If I see good tissue paper going to waste, I hoard it! The way I see it, I am the hero in this situation... I am merely a treasure hunter. Do you REALIZE how much gift bags and tissue paper cost now a days??? Apparently my husband does not!!!

I took a few pictures of Santa's Workshop- this is a room in the corner of our basement. I don't think the girls even know about this room. You have to go through our bedroom, through the laundry room, into the boiler room, into the cat litter room, and then into the workshop. During November and December, Santa resides here with his elves. But during the remainder of the year it is my gift room. (Well Christmas decorations also stay in this room :)) I have it organized by celebration; Birthdays (girl birthdays and then a unisex section), New Babies, Valentines Day, I even have a few Easter things. The next thing I want to add to this room is an endless supply of gift cards! I also have a few random presents that we can give at the next occasion. I honestly think it's quite ingenious, Joseph believes it is not (Scrooge)!

So, as I was bringing things out to the curb for the poor garbage men to take (see above), I saw a few treasures that Joe thought he could get away with killing... Does he not REALIZE the Potential of these bags?! Here is just ONE of the many things I rescued and that are now taking refuge in my workshop.

potential- adj

1po·ten·tial adj \pə-ˈten(t)-shəl\Definition of POTENTIAL1: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality 2: expressing possibility; specifically: of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in “it may rain”) — po·ten·tial·ly \

potential -noun

1 a: something that can develop or become actual

2 2 a: any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated b: the work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (as at infinity) to a point in question

In Exodus we meet Moses... he was a baby that was saved by a princess. Later, God appeared to him as a burning bush and when he realized it was the Lord he covered his face in fear. (Ex 3:6) God chose him to lead his people. Moses went from fearing God, to complaining, protesting, and making excuses as to why he wasn't a good choice. Moses doubted not only himself, but God! He asked God to show him signs, to give him abilities to show the people. He lacked faith. God even allowed his brother to help him in this amazingly honorable journey. During their exodus, Moses became an amazing man of God. He grew more faithful and more obedient to God's word and demands. But Moses was human, and when the people complained about being thirsty (when didn't they complain really?(Numbers 20)) He and his brother Aaron went before God and God instructed them to gather the people and speak over a rock, God would then make water stream from the rock. Whether it was lack of faith or lack of obedience Moses only half obeyed. He gathered the people, but instead of speaking over the rock he used the staff God gave him and struck it. This disobedience led to his mark- not reaching is FULL potential! God intended for Moses to lead his people into the promise land. But due to his lack of faith and disobedience God spoke to them and said "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" Numbers 20:12 Yes! The SAME man who delivered the Ten Commandments, who spoke and said You must love the Lord your God, with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut 6:5 Hand picked by God himself, and he still sinned, still faltered, still fell a little bit short. I am not pointing this out to say it's hopeless that we are all doomed. I am pointing this out because his story is one we need to learn from. We need to have endless FAITH, we need to be obedient. Here comes that POTENTIAL word again- because in Deut 34 God says to Moses "This is the land I promised... LATER in verse 7 we read: Moses was 120 years old when he died (yes very old... but read the next part careful) yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. That's not sad because he died , I mean he was a pretty ripe old age, it's sad because he never reached his true -potential. He died with spunk and spark still in him, he was almost to the finish line but his disobedience and lack of faith kept him from his POTENTIAL! Instead, Joshua got to swoop in and lead the people in. Joshua who's name was barely mentioned before he got his own book in the bible. Moses went from hiding his face in fear of God as the burning bush to lacking that fear. We are meant to fear yet love God. We are made for a purpose and the only way to fulfill that purpose and reach our true potential is to LOVE God faithfully and obediently!

Did you know that you can iron out the wrinkles in tissue paper??? You can with a little help from a damp kitchen towel.... ;) amazing! Now I'm not as crazy as you think I am... or did I just prove to be crazier??!

Now as for the true potential of my wrapping papers, well I can see myself using them for years! Find ways to maximize YOUR potential :)