Satan uses our schedules against us. I really believe that.
We spend our time doing lots of things--lots of things that aren't 'spending' time with God and then we are too tired to spend true, quality time with God. We complain that we don't have time to eat right, to exercise, to spend with the people we love, or to spend in prayer. And then we wonder why we are stressed out, burnt out, unhealthy and unhappy.
And then--when we do pray we sound off a litany of things for God to do for us while not even taking another breath to thank Him. We don't stop to listen--we just go--because to us spending quality time with God is for us to put in all the effort in the relationship. Real relationships are two way but our prayer lives reflect one way relationships. We don't have time to stop and listen. I mean, after all, we are taking the time to spend with God, right? We need to keep on moving to the next thing on our schedule...
In full-time ministry we are subject to this...we spend all of our time doing 'God's work,' but how much time are we really spending with God? Sure, we can say that everything we do--feeding the hungry, clothing those who need clothes, listening to those who need a listening ear, etc--is spending time with God. I would argue that these things are necessary but are not a substitute for spending quality, alone time with God.
The problem is that we walk around pretending as if doing God's work is a substitute for spending time with God. As a result we get tired, stressed out, burnt out and become unhealhty.
We let our schedule control us and the time we have to spend with God rather than the other way around. Satan uses it against us.
I spent some time with a prominent member of our church who is unhappy in life. From the outside looking in it appears as if she has everything she needs to be happy but on a recent leadership retreat she was asked what her priorities in life really are. Her priorities and how she spends her time did not match up with each other. Now she's searching and struggling about what to do. It's a difficult place to be.
Is how you spend your time reflective of who you say you are--a disciple? A true, committed believer yearning to grow in closer relationship with the author of perfect love?
If not, you need to ask God to help you live out who and what you say you are. Don't give Satan the victory...
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Life some days: diamonds in the rough
I ran the half marathon on Thanksgiving day. It went really well and I was happy with my time. I'm happy the rest of Thanksgiving weekend is over.
Sometimes in ministry things happen that really bless you and other times things that really break your heart. These past few days I've seen my share of heartbreak and I'm exhausted and worn out.
It's in these days that I'm reminded just how truly blessed I am.
Often times I give some of the homeless guys we work with a ride down to our main shelter since it's on my way home. Tonight I had the privilege of driving someone down there who is just a sweet, humble man. I work with a lot of homeless people and he's a little bit different than the rest. He recently had an accident on a construction site and has injured his right wrist. He is certain that his wrist isn't broken but we are going to try get him some medical help. He is just so thankful, uplifting and encouraging. He was a blessing to me today. I'm thankful that I'm healthy and can use both of my wrists without pain.
At dinner tonight I met a gentlemen who wanted to come and help with the homeless activities we have going on. We spent some time in conversation afterward and I learned that he, too, is homeless. He was so well dressed and put together that you would never expect him to be homeless. The difference between him and others is that he lives in his car and bounces to and from his friend's places. Oh--and he doesn't consider himself homeless. I'm thankful that I had the privilege to have a meaningful conversation with him.
Yesterday I found myself in the apartment of one of my employees (now former employee) who relapsed into drug use. As I sat there holding him as he cried my heart broke. I'm blessed that I don't struggle from that addiction. Hopefully he is on his way to healing and wholeness. He was clean for over two years.
We went to the Veterans Administration hospital and nursing home today to distribute Christmas gifts. There were soldiers there who were missing limbs and the psych ward will forever be etched in my memory. I'm blessed that I have my limbs and that I'm not living in a psychiatric hospital.
One of the volunteers with us (a member of our rehabilitation program) had a heart attack about an hour after we left the facility and died. I'm thankful that I have a functioning heart even if it breaks every now and again.
All in all the past couple of days have been rough. I know that God is in control and that there are diamonds in the rough...
Sometimes in ministry things happen that really bless you and other times things that really break your heart. These past few days I've seen my share of heartbreak and I'm exhausted and worn out.
It's in these days that I'm reminded just how truly blessed I am.
Often times I give some of the homeless guys we work with a ride down to our main shelter since it's on my way home. Tonight I had the privilege of driving someone down there who is just a sweet, humble man. I work with a lot of homeless people and he's a little bit different than the rest. He recently had an accident on a construction site and has injured his right wrist. He is certain that his wrist isn't broken but we are going to try get him some medical help. He is just so thankful, uplifting and encouraging. He was a blessing to me today. I'm thankful that I'm healthy and can use both of my wrists without pain.
At dinner tonight I met a gentlemen who wanted to come and help with the homeless activities we have going on. We spent some time in conversation afterward and I learned that he, too, is homeless. He was so well dressed and put together that you would never expect him to be homeless. The difference between him and others is that he lives in his car and bounces to and from his friend's places. Oh--and he doesn't consider himself homeless. I'm thankful that I had the privilege to have a meaningful conversation with him.
Yesterday I found myself in the apartment of one of my employees (now former employee) who relapsed into drug use. As I sat there holding him as he cried my heart broke. I'm blessed that I don't struggle from that addiction. Hopefully he is on his way to healing and wholeness. He was clean for over two years.
We went to the Veterans Administration hospital and nursing home today to distribute Christmas gifts. There were soldiers there who were missing limbs and the psych ward will forever be etched in my memory. I'm blessed that I have my limbs and that I'm not living in a psychiatric hospital.
One of the volunteers with us (a member of our rehabilitation program) had a heart attack about an hour after we left the facility and died. I'm thankful that I have a functioning heart even if it breaks every now and again.
All in all the past couple of days have been rough. I know that God is in control and that there are diamonds in the rough...
Friday, November 12, 2010
I'm a bad friend
So, it's true.
I'm a bad friend. The friends that are closest to me know it's true and they love me anyway. I'm awful at remembering birthdays and I don't often call. When they do come around while I'm at work there are always other people around taking my attention away.
I don't call because I'm ALWAYS busy. Always have been. Before I was engaged in constant, full-time ministry as a profession and calling I was a full-time graduate student and an employee. Before that I was a college student and employee. Before that I was heavily involved in my high school music program and involved with my church. Before that I was the parentified child in my household looking after my two younger siblings and taking care of my mom. I've always been busy.
Lately I've been trying to balance work (which I absolutely love) and being a wife who is available. Most of my friends live hundreds or thousands of miles away so we don't get together often or speak much. A couple of the really good friends have trekked to Atlanta to visit--one friend even twice already. Another two sets of friends are planning on coming in January.
I have good friends far away.
I have a very few good friends here in Atlanta, too. I still don't get together often with them, or call, or even facebook them.
One of my friends lost her job about three weeks ago. She came to work tonight to talk to me. She sent me a text when it happened and I totally missed it. She's been trying to get my attention since and I've missed it every time. Add to that her birthday was this past Tuesday. I utterly and totally forgot it. I have no excuse.
I'm a bad friend.
How do I fix it? I try to balance but there never is enough time for everyone and everything (welcome to adulthood, I know).
I've been so focused lately on work, on dealing with a situation with my sick mother back in Pennsylvania, and on having time for Andy that I have completely blocked out everyone else.
I'm sorry.
I have a 12 mile run in the morning as prep for the half marathon in two weeks. I can think about how to be a better friend during the run.
I'm a bad friend. The friends that are closest to me know it's true and they love me anyway. I'm awful at remembering birthdays and I don't often call. When they do come around while I'm at work there are always other people around taking my attention away.
I don't call because I'm ALWAYS busy. Always have been. Before I was engaged in constant, full-time ministry as a profession and calling I was a full-time graduate student and an employee. Before that I was a college student and employee. Before that I was heavily involved in my high school music program and involved with my church. Before that I was the parentified child in my household looking after my two younger siblings and taking care of my mom. I've always been busy.
Lately I've been trying to balance work (which I absolutely love) and being a wife who is available. Most of my friends live hundreds or thousands of miles away so we don't get together often or speak much. A couple of the really good friends have trekked to Atlanta to visit--one friend even twice already. Another two sets of friends are planning on coming in January.
I have good friends far away.
I have a very few good friends here in Atlanta, too. I still don't get together often with them, or call, or even facebook them.
One of my friends lost her job about three weeks ago. She came to work tonight to talk to me. She sent me a text when it happened and I totally missed it. She's been trying to get my attention since and I've missed it every time. Add to that her birthday was this past Tuesday. I utterly and totally forgot it. I have no excuse.
I'm a bad friend.
How do I fix it? I try to balance but there never is enough time for everyone and everything (welcome to adulthood, I know).
I've been so focused lately on work, on dealing with a situation with my sick mother back in Pennsylvania, and on having time for Andy that I have completely blocked out everyone else.
I'm sorry.
I have a 12 mile run in the morning as prep for the half marathon in two weeks. I can think about how to be a better friend during the run.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Family: A divine concept
I teach a weekly class on Monday afternoons at a transitional shelter for veterans overcoming addiction(s). The class is called Family Issues and we mainly talk about dysfunctional families and how the cycles and patterns of our families repeat through the generations (generational curses) and what can be done to change the pattern.
We've spent a good amount of time talking about dysfunctional families in the Bible but this past Monday we talked about the concept of family.
Starting in Genesis (1:28) we are instructed to make families, "go forth and multiply." This is in a book that has several stories about families and was written (first aurally passed down) for families to read together. In some places the Bible is even still read by families...what a concept that is...
In the Bible the family is a representation of the community. When a family fails the community fails (Israelites as a prime example, or Eli's sons). We see this in our society. We have weak families= weak communities, weak morals, etc. Families, and the larger community, promote growth and strength.
Deuteronomy 29:18 tells us to "make sure there isn't a man or woman among your families or tribes who turns away from the LORD our God" Basically there were consequences when families did not make God worship their primary focus. Family is something more than the "basic unit of society" or a household unit, but is a divine concept made to worship God and to affect change for the better.
Family is not a manmade concept. It originates from the mind of God. God chooses to bless families, not man. God often refers to Christ and the Church as a family (bridegroom, Father-Son, etc).
The Bible, inspired by God, talks loads about relationships and about inheritance. Family patterns were so important that the new testament begins with a family tree of Jesus' line. The old testament ends with instruction for children and parents to love each other. Jesus is God's "only begotten son." When Jesus is dying on the cross he tells John to take care of his mother (John 19:27).
The Bible also talks about the importance of spiritual family. "My mother and my brothers are those people who hear and obey God's word" (Luke 8:20). Spiritual parents and spiritual family look different for different people just as the biological family does.
In a day and age where family values aren't really values at all, where culture is raising even our "Christian" children, where pastors and preachers don't value marriage, or aren't home to spend time with their children, where we divorce just as much inside the Church as outside of the Church, we need to realize that in order to faithfully practice our beliefs we need to reevaluate our notions of family.
We've spent a good amount of time talking about dysfunctional families in the Bible but this past Monday we talked about the concept of family.
Starting in Genesis (1:28) we are instructed to make families, "go forth and multiply." This is in a book that has several stories about families and was written (first aurally passed down) for families to read together. In some places the Bible is even still read by families...what a concept that is...
In the Bible the family is a representation of the community. When a family fails the community fails (Israelites as a prime example, or Eli's sons). We see this in our society. We have weak families= weak communities, weak morals, etc. Families, and the larger community, promote growth and strength.
Deuteronomy 29:18 tells us to "make sure there isn't a man or woman among your families or tribes who turns away from the LORD our God" Basically there were consequences when families did not make God worship their primary focus. Family is something more than the "basic unit of society" or a household unit, but is a divine concept made to worship God and to affect change for the better.
Family is not a manmade concept. It originates from the mind of God. God chooses to bless families, not man. God often refers to Christ and the Church as a family (bridegroom, Father-Son, etc).
The Bible, inspired by God, talks loads about relationships and about inheritance. Family patterns were so important that the new testament begins with a family tree of Jesus' line. The old testament ends with instruction for children and parents to love each other. Jesus is God's "only begotten son." When Jesus is dying on the cross he tells John to take care of his mother (John 19:27).
The Bible also talks about the importance of spiritual family. "My mother and my brothers are those people who hear and obey God's word" (Luke 8:20). Spiritual parents and spiritual family look different for different people just as the biological family does.
In a day and age where family values aren't really values at all, where culture is raising even our "Christian" children, where pastors and preachers don't value marriage, or aren't home to spend time with their children, where we divorce just as much inside the Church as outside of the Church, we need to realize that in order to faithfully practice our beliefs we need to reevaluate our notions of family.
Monday, October 25, 2010
life changing talks around a camp fire
This past weekend we had our young adult camping trip. It was fun, encouraging and very relaxing. It was exactly what I needed.
We had some good, deep conversations about faith and about our personal spiritual growth. We were vulnerable to share some of our struggles with the group around the fire there were several things that the group had in common.
Just about everyone in the group is too busy. I say it's because our priorities are mixed up (they don't match our values) and that Satan uses our schedule against us...
We decided to craft out some time to be together as a group (small group). We also have some just "fun" sporadic things taking place--a few as soon as this next weekend.
Several people in the group reported that they need direction and guidance and with that others are struggling with loneliness...
We decided to call at least two people in the group per week and with that will set up some accountability/prayer partners.
We talked about lots of other things. For church on Sunday morning I shared from Mark 2 where the friends carry the paralytic man to see Jesus by cutting a hole in the roof. I expressed the importance of having friends who have faith--no where does the scripture record that the paralyzed man had faith yet his sins were forgiven AND has was able to get up and walk. Friends are important. We need each other.
It was a good weekend. I'm looking forward to our small group tomorrow night.
We had some good, deep conversations about faith and about our personal spiritual growth. We were vulnerable to share some of our struggles with the group around the fire there were several things that the group had in common.
Just about everyone in the group is too busy. I say it's because our priorities are mixed up (they don't match our values) and that Satan uses our schedule against us...
We decided to craft out some time to be together as a group (small group). We also have some just "fun" sporadic things taking place--a few as soon as this next weekend.
Several people in the group reported that they need direction and guidance and with that others are struggling with loneliness...
We decided to call at least two people in the group per week and with that will set up some accountability/prayer partners.
We talked about lots of other things. For church on Sunday morning I shared from Mark 2 where the friends carry the paralytic man to see Jesus by cutting a hole in the roof. I expressed the importance of having friends who have faith--no where does the scripture record that the paralyzed man had faith yet his sins were forgiven AND has was able to get up and walk. Friends are important. We need each other.
It was a good weekend. I'm looking forward to our small group tomorrow night.
Running in the rain?
I haven't written in a while because the past month has been crazy (a real shocker, I know). We had to let an employee go so for the past month I have been handling all the finances for our building in addition to everything else. It's been...tiring.
I have, for the most part, kept up with running.
Until last week when I came 8 miles short and ran on the treadmill twice instead of outside where I need to be running.
This morning I started out determined to keep up with the mileage.
But it started to rain.
So I ran 6 miles on the treadmill. The problem is that it's supposed to be storming in the morning every day this week so I have to decided whether I am going to run on the treadmill, in the rain in the dark, or move the run to later in the day (which never works out well for me). It's already extremely dark in the wee hours of the morning so the cloudy skies aren't much of a help.
I am determined to stay focused with this half marathon goal.
I have, for the most part, kept up with running.
Until last week when I came 8 miles short and ran on the treadmill twice instead of outside where I need to be running.
This morning I started out determined to keep up with the mileage.
But it started to rain.
So I ran 6 miles on the treadmill. The problem is that it's supposed to be storming in the morning every day this week so I have to decided whether I am going to run on the treadmill, in the rain in the dark, or move the run to later in the day (which never works out well for me). It's already extremely dark in the wee hours of the morning so the cloudy skies aren't much of a help.
I am determined to stay focused with this half marathon goal.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Balancing Act?
Training is going well. I ran a 10k last weekend with Daddy Jim and we had fun. What wasn't fun was over committing myself...which I tend to do often...
After the run I came home, showered, and drove over 4 hours to play in a band benefit concert, turn around and drive all the way back home to Atlanta only to be at the church at 8:00am the next morning. I got home I think after 9pm that Sunday night after preaching in the evening and doing all of the other things that pastors do on Sundays....(insert pity party here). This was a typical weekend. It's sad, pathetic, and not God-honoring.
And then Monday came. We had an interesting week this week because we had leadership councils 5 hours from home for a few days where the speakers stressed the importance of balancing relaxation with work, worship, play, etc and as much as I wanted to relax I had people calling me and my regular weekly demands still to fulfill.
So I felt myself left with the option to take care of work when I should have been relaxing so that I could come home and relax with Andy(my preference by the way) or relax in Savannah and rush through all of my work when I got home, ignoring Andy in the process.
What happened was a mix of the two. I got a little work done, and came home to spend 12 hours in the office yesterday not seeing Andy at all. I spent some good quiet time with God as I got to watch the sunrise from the beach of Tybee Island, GA. Today, after the 7 mile run this morning, Andy and I am spending some much needed time together which I am looking forward to, but there is still work to be done--housework, church work, etc.
It never ends, so where's the balance?
I'm trying to learn and am praying through it all. Jesus was able to balance as he still got up early and took time to pray. During the day people were around him all day with their needs. While I'm not Jesus I can really relate to the demands that were on him all day.
He wasn't married and the scriptures don't really record him taking time to "play" with his friends. His friends were his disciples. Thankfully we don't have any children yet, but that adds another dynamic.
LORD--can you help me balance all of this?
After the run I came home, showered, and drove over 4 hours to play in a band benefit concert, turn around and drive all the way back home to Atlanta only to be at the church at 8:00am the next morning. I got home I think after 9pm that Sunday night after preaching in the evening and doing all of the other things that pastors do on Sundays....(insert pity party here). This was a typical weekend. It's sad, pathetic, and not God-honoring.
And then Monday came. We had an interesting week this week because we had leadership councils 5 hours from home for a few days where the speakers stressed the importance of balancing relaxation with work, worship, play, etc and as much as I wanted to relax I had people calling me and my regular weekly demands still to fulfill.
So I felt myself left with the option to take care of work when I should have been relaxing so that I could come home and relax with Andy(my preference by the way) or relax in Savannah and rush through all of my work when I got home, ignoring Andy in the process.
What happened was a mix of the two. I got a little work done, and came home to spend 12 hours in the office yesterday not seeing Andy at all. I spent some good quiet time with God as I got to watch the sunrise from the beach of Tybee Island, GA. Today, after the 7 mile run this morning, Andy and I am spending some much needed time together which I am looking forward to, but there is still work to be done--housework, church work, etc.
It never ends, so where's the balance?
I'm trying to learn and am praying through it all. Jesus was able to balance as he still got up early and took time to pray. During the day people were around him all day with their needs. While I'm not Jesus I can really relate to the demands that were on him all day.
He wasn't married and the scriptures don't really record him taking time to "play" with his friends. His friends were his disciples. Thankfully we don't have any children yet, but that adds another dynamic.
LORD--can you help me balance all of this?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
God's promises are true
In devotions I've been reading Zechariah and there are some promises recorded there about the Messiah. I find it very interesting and encouraging.
Zechariah reference:
3:8 pictures Messiah as servant (Mark 10:45)
6:13 pictures Messiah as priest (Hebrews 6:20-7:1)
6:13; 9:9-10 pictures Messiah as king (Matthew 21:4-5)
11:12-13 pictures Messiah as betrayed one (Matthew 27:9)
12:10 pictures Messiah as pierced one (John 19:37)
13:1 pictures Messiah as fountain (Revelation 1:5)
13:7 pictures Messiah as shepherd (John 10:11)
13:7-9 pictures Messiah as God (John 1:1)
14:5,9 pictures Messiah as Lord over all (Revelation 11:15)
Thank you, LORD for fulfilling the promises of your word!
Zechariah reference:
3:8 pictures Messiah as servant (Mark 10:45)
6:13 pictures Messiah as priest (Hebrews 6:20-7:1)
6:13; 9:9-10 pictures Messiah as king (Matthew 21:4-5)
11:12-13 pictures Messiah as betrayed one (Matthew 27:9)
12:10 pictures Messiah as pierced one (John 19:37)
13:1 pictures Messiah as fountain (Revelation 1:5)
13:7 pictures Messiah as shepherd (John 10:11)
13:7-9 pictures Messiah as God (John 1:1)
14:5,9 pictures Messiah as Lord over all (Revelation 11:15)
Thank you, LORD for fulfilling the promises of your word!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Atlanta Track Club Half-Marathon training begins...
Yesterday was the first run with the ATC for the half-marathon....12 more weeks to go!
I did well. I ran with the novice group (4 miles) and was in the fastest group which was a fluke because I am not a fast runner. It was a success.
What happened to not be a success was that we weren't allowed to wear headphones. They gave us a nice speech about how many deaths are caused each year by runners wearing headphones while they run. Boo.
So I had some time to think about things. Normally I organize what I have to do for work (workaholic symptoms) or think about other things that I have to get done at home.
Yesterday I was stuck thinking about something else. Something that is really sad, devastating, and heartbreaking. The more I thought about it the more my heart broke over the issue. By the time the run was over and I was in the car driving home I was thankful that I had the uninterrupted time alone with my thoughts and with God.
We all need alone time with God. It's renewing and refreshing. For me, yesterday, it was encouraging.
Thank you, LORD, for the ability to run and to spend time with you while doing it.
I did well. I ran with the novice group (4 miles) and was in the fastest group which was a fluke because I am not a fast runner. It was a success.
What happened to not be a success was that we weren't allowed to wear headphones. They gave us a nice speech about how many deaths are caused each year by runners wearing headphones while they run. Boo.
So I had some time to think about things. Normally I organize what I have to do for work (workaholic symptoms) or think about other things that I have to get done at home.
Yesterday I was stuck thinking about something else. Something that is really sad, devastating, and heartbreaking. The more I thought about it the more my heart broke over the issue. By the time the run was over and I was in the car driving home I was thankful that I had the uninterrupted time alone with my thoughts and with God.
We all need alone time with God. It's renewing and refreshing. For me, yesterday, it was encouraging.
Thank you, LORD, for the ability to run and to spend time with you while doing it.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
I never lost my praise
I never lost my praise is a song that Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sings. While it isn't one of my favorite songs that they have recorded, I do love the message.
At Light on the Hill on Sunday I am speaking about praise based on Psalm 44. I find the psalm interesting because the writer praises God for a little bit and then asks why they are suffering (as a community) when they haven't done anything wrong. The two psalms before it are individual prayers that are similar but this one is a community prayer. It's important that we praise God not only as individuals, but as a community.
The psalm begins by talking about how good God was to those who were before them and makes it sound so common place. Everyone knew about how good God was even if it was before their time. Part of it was their tradition, but part of it was that they knew how to praise God. Even when times weren't great.
I feel like we don't do that--or we don't choose to do that. We praise God when things are great or when we are with like-minded people at a church service like Light on the Hill, but we grumble and complain to the people around us. And then we wonder why God doesn't come quickly.
We need to praise God no matter the circumstances.
I never lost my praise
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Solo 1
I've lost some good friends along life's way
Some loved ones departed in Heaven to stay
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I've lost faith in people who said they care
In the time of my crisis they were never there
But in my disappointment in my season of pain
One thing never wavered one thing never changed
CHORUS
I never lost my hope
I never lost my joy
I never lost my faith
But most of all
I never lost my praise
Solo 2
I've let some blessings slip away
And I lost my focus and went astray
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I've lost possessions that were so dear
And I've lost some battles by walking in fear
But in the midst of my struggle, in my season of pain
One thing never wavered, one thing never changed
At Light on the Hill on Sunday I am speaking about praise based on Psalm 44. I find the psalm interesting because the writer praises God for a little bit and then asks why they are suffering (as a community) when they haven't done anything wrong. The two psalms before it are individual prayers that are similar but this one is a community prayer. It's important that we praise God not only as individuals, but as a community.
The psalm begins by talking about how good God was to those who were before them and makes it sound so common place. Everyone knew about how good God was even if it was before their time. Part of it was their tradition, but part of it was that they knew how to praise God. Even when times weren't great.
I feel like we don't do that--or we don't choose to do that. We praise God when things are great or when we are with like-minded people at a church service like Light on the Hill, but we grumble and complain to the people around us. And then we wonder why God doesn't come quickly.
We need to praise God no matter the circumstances.
I never lost my praise
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Solo 1
I've lost some good friends along life's way
Some loved ones departed in Heaven to stay
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I've lost faith in people who said they care
In the time of my crisis they were never there
But in my disappointment in my season of pain
One thing never wavered one thing never changed
CHORUS
I never lost my hope
I never lost my joy
I never lost my faith
But most of all
I never lost my praise
Solo 2
I've let some blessings slip away
And I lost my focus and went astray
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I've lost possessions that were so dear
And I've lost some battles by walking in fear
But in the midst of my struggle, in my season of pain
One thing never wavered, one thing never changed
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Going where the people are
If you live in metro Atlanta you know where the people are...they're sitting in traffic somewhere.
They're sitting in traffic on their way to one of the several malls.
Or they're passing through on one of the several interstates stopping long enough to visit a strip club. The Georgian Bible belt has several churches (seriously it feels like every corner) and enough strip clubs nearly to match.
Atlanta feels like it's a large metropolis of malls. And no substantial public transit to get to them so traffic is a requirement to getting to a mall. Or anywhere.
Once upon a time Christians would go to where the people were. In the place that I choose to worship it's in our DNA--we went to the bridges, the bars, started the shelters, etc, etc. I still go under the bridges but haven't been on a tavern route in a long while. I'm trying to get into the strip club within walking distance from my office but I think God requires more of us, more of me.
Now where do we go? What do we do?
Do we expect people to come to us?
We expect people who need physical things to come to us--shelter, help with a bill, food--but what about the other people? We are comfortable sharing with a certain subculture because they need us for their physical survival. But what about those who don't come to us for welfare services?
The people who are sitting in traffic on their way to malls where they spend themselves more into debt and continue to live unhappy lives (I know I'm generalizing, but still)?
Why aren't we in traffic--on billboards (the cost is an issue, and we would probably just market ourselves instead of share the gospel)? Although I do have some ideas for billboards...
Why aren't we in malls? Andy says we have 'nothing' to sell and wouldn't make enough money. Maybe it's because we're too set on only caring about 'poor' people but everyone needs to know about God, right?
I thought about a fair trade store where we could sell goods from our locations all around the world. Andy, the realist that he is, says it would still cost too much to ship it to the U.S., etc.
So what do we do?
How do we tell them?
Do we care? Or do we live in our lyrical state of only being around like-minded people so we don't have to think about it--and argue about a mosque being built at Ground Zero in NYC while ignoring the larger xenophobic issues?
I like to say that it's relational--one person at a time but there are so many people who pass by who we never take the time to speak to or to care about. We do it every day. So is being relational really the answer if we don't incorporate it into every are of our lives?
We went to Lenox Mall today to visit the Apple store. My ipod hasn't been working right which is annoying when I'm trying to run so I am ready for an upgrade. We had a snack and sat on a bench and people watched. So many people with nice clothes carrying expensive packages and they look miserable.
There are so many people and no one is telling them.
How can I tell them?
I want a solution. Our society NEEDS a solution. What do we do next?
LORD, please help me to be faithful!
They're sitting in traffic on their way to one of the several malls.
Or they're passing through on one of the several interstates stopping long enough to visit a strip club. The Georgian Bible belt has several churches (seriously it feels like every corner) and enough strip clubs nearly to match.
Atlanta feels like it's a large metropolis of malls. And no substantial public transit to get to them so traffic is a requirement to getting to a mall. Or anywhere.
Once upon a time Christians would go to where the people were. In the place that I choose to worship it's in our DNA--we went to the bridges, the bars, started the shelters, etc, etc. I still go under the bridges but haven't been on a tavern route in a long while. I'm trying to get into the strip club within walking distance from my office but I think God requires more of us, more of me.
Now where do we go? What do we do?
Do we expect people to come to us?
We expect people who need physical things to come to us--shelter, help with a bill, food--but what about the other people? We are comfortable sharing with a certain subculture because they need us for their physical survival. But what about those who don't come to us for welfare services?
The people who are sitting in traffic on their way to malls where they spend themselves more into debt and continue to live unhappy lives (I know I'm generalizing, but still)?
Why aren't we in traffic--on billboards (the cost is an issue, and we would probably just market ourselves instead of share the gospel)? Although I do have some ideas for billboards...
Why aren't we in malls? Andy says we have 'nothing' to sell and wouldn't make enough money. Maybe it's because we're too set on only caring about 'poor' people but everyone needs to know about God, right?
I thought about a fair trade store where we could sell goods from our locations all around the world. Andy, the realist that he is, says it would still cost too much to ship it to the U.S., etc.
So what do we do?
How do we tell them?
Do we care? Or do we live in our lyrical state of only being around like-minded people so we don't have to think about it--and argue about a mosque being built at Ground Zero in NYC while ignoring the larger xenophobic issues?
I like to say that it's relational--one person at a time but there are so many people who pass by who we never take the time to speak to or to care about. We do it every day. So is being relational really the answer if we don't incorporate it into every are of our lives?
We went to Lenox Mall today to visit the Apple store. My ipod hasn't been working right which is annoying when I'm trying to run so I am ready for an upgrade. We had a snack and sat on a bench and people watched. So many people with nice clothes carrying expensive packages and they look miserable.
There are so many people and no one is telling them.
How can I tell them?
I want a solution. Our society NEEDS a solution. What do we do next?
LORD, please help me to be faithful!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Early morning here I come...!
I haven't written in a few weeks not because I have been slacking off but because I have been busy!
I've been running: I ran a 5k to raise money for the police department through downtown with my father-in-law (Daddy Jim) this past Saturday. It was fun but he beat me! We are going to run a 10k in about a month.
I've been running: I've gotten up a few times a week WAY before the sun has come up to get my outside runs in. I usually run on the treadmill which is super boring and isn't very helpful when I have to run outside for races. Since we live in the ghetto I have to drive somewhere to park and then run. This takes time. Add to that the Atlanta morning traffic and being to the office before 8:30= EARLY MORNING RUNS. It's a discipline thing for me. It's all good.
I've been running: I am still strength training twice a week (my goal) but for my cardio warm-up I am running on the treadmill.
I've been spending time planning to run: I've lived in Atlanta over a year now but haven't had much time to orientate myself to the city so when I want to go on an early morning run before work and before the heat I need to spend some time researching not only where to run but where to park. It's been pretty labor intensive figuring out the mileage and all but I think I have a good list of places to run: Ponce/Freedom Park (has to be light out though); downtown Centennial Park; Piedmont Park; Oglethorpe University; Georgia Tech, etc. I have a parking place mapped out for each location.
I've been paying attention to portions: I've simply been cooking less for meals and Andy is into being healthy with me. It's great that we can do this together.
Staying active/motivated: Andy and I have been making more time for each other with doing some form of exercise. Andy has mainly been playing sports with friends (soccer, softball, etc) but has also come to the gym with me a few times (a miracle!). This is really helping to keep me motivated. I love him.
Prayer time: I have had amazing opportunities to pray with people who are struggling recently. Today I prayed with someone who is fighting a long-standing illness; a gentleman who is homeless and trying to get housing; and another man who is homeless who is trying to get into treatment. God is so good to me and continually brings people to me to minister to. I love my job.
I've got tons to write but I am so thankful right now. God is really blessing us. I really am enjoying the job change which is nice after a difficult past year and a really difficult spring.
So--off to running I go. I need to beat an card carrying AARP old man in a 10k pretty soon...
I've been running: I ran a 5k to raise money for the police department through downtown with my father-in-law (Daddy Jim) this past Saturday. It was fun but he beat me! We are going to run a 10k in about a month.
I've been running: I've gotten up a few times a week WAY before the sun has come up to get my outside runs in. I usually run on the treadmill which is super boring and isn't very helpful when I have to run outside for races. Since we live in the ghetto I have to drive somewhere to park and then run. This takes time. Add to that the Atlanta morning traffic and being to the office before 8:30= EARLY MORNING RUNS. It's a discipline thing for me. It's all good.
I've been running: I am still strength training twice a week (my goal) but for my cardio warm-up I am running on the treadmill.
I've been spending time planning to run: I've lived in Atlanta over a year now but haven't had much time to orientate myself to the city so when I want to go on an early morning run before work and before the heat I need to spend some time researching not only where to run but where to park. It's been pretty labor intensive figuring out the mileage and all but I think I have a good list of places to run: Ponce/Freedom Park (has to be light out though); downtown Centennial Park; Piedmont Park; Oglethorpe University; Georgia Tech, etc. I have a parking place mapped out for each location.
I've been paying attention to portions: I've simply been cooking less for meals and Andy is into being healthy with me. It's great that we can do this together.
Staying active/motivated: Andy and I have been making more time for each other with doing some form of exercise. Andy has mainly been playing sports with friends (soccer, softball, etc) but has also come to the gym with me a few times (a miracle!). This is really helping to keep me motivated. I love him.
Prayer time: I have had amazing opportunities to pray with people who are struggling recently. Today I prayed with someone who is fighting a long-standing illness; a gentleman who is homeless and trying to get housing; and another man who is homeless who is trying to get into treatment. God is so good to me and continually brings people to me to minister to. I love my job.
I've got tons to write but I am so thankful right now. God is really blessing us. I really am enjoying the job change which is nice after a difficult past year and a really difficult spring.
So--off to running I go. I need to beat an card carrying AARP old man in a 10k pretty soon...
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Moving on; needing motivation
My 50 day challenge to lose some wait was a complete bust. I have actually gained a few pounds. I lost motivation somewhere.
I went to the doctor's office yesterday for a check-up on my thyroid. My TSH level is a little higher than it was a few months ago, but still in a good range. This is a praise report. I have stopped stressing about the thyroid.
I haven't, however, stopped stressing about the extra weight I am still putting on. I have gained eleven pounds since the last time I was at the doctor's office. If the thyroid has leveled off something is wrong on my end...
I workout. Granted I haven't in a few days because I've been tired and on the go at the same time. I eat...healthy? I need to get focused again with the eating part of it. Andy and I were talking about it and we came up with some action steps. He's very supportive in all of this and loves me regardless. I'm glad I married him.
This is what I am doing:
1. Run a marathon: there are a few coming up in Atlanta. The one I really want to run is on October 3rd but it isn't realistic. I don't have enough time to train and it's really hot outside. Instead I am shooting for the November one, right before Thanksgiving
2. Join a rock climbing gym: this is something that I have been thinking about for awhile now. It is expensive, but it's something that Andy and I can do together which is great because he HATES working out. We found one near Andy's parents house and took a tour.
3. Portion distortion: When I am home I prefer to cook. I am gone so often that I really do treasure being home and cooking in our tiny kitchenette. When I am not home I am running around way too busy for any sane person. As my adrenaline gets rushing so does my appetite. I need to watch my portions. I grew up in a house where we ate plenty. My dad was afraid we were going to starve so he always cooked for ten people instead of three or four. I do the same thing.
4. Make the extra effort to get to the farmer's market: I love the farmer's market but it's inconvenient. I need to get cash out, make the trek over there, and then make sure I cook up/use the food I bought in a few days....but it's worth it. It's worth the trouble, the expense, and the attention required.
5. Staying motivated: This is vague but important. Andy is helping with this. He's my cheerleader and is a great encourager. He also doesn't take my crap and tells me what I need to hear but more than him I need to motivate myself. He and a friend are going to check in with me to help keep me motivated at least twice a week.
The battle is in my mind. The marathon will be a great motivator and a great mental challenge and the planning of the other things will help.
I am looking forward to all of this and know that God is teaching me a lot through all of this.
I went to the doctor's office yesterday for a check-up on my thyroid. My TSH level is a little higher than it was a few months ago, but still in a good range. This is a praise report. I have stopped stressing about the thyroid.
I haven't, however, stopped stressing about the extra weight I am still putting on. I have gained eleven pounds since the last time I was at the doctor's office. If the thyroid has leveled off something is wrong on my end...
I workout. Granted I haven't in a few days because I've been tired and on the go at the same time. I eat...healthy? I need to get focused again with the eating part of it. Andy and I were talking about it and we came up with some action steps. He's very supportive in all of this and loves me regardless. I'm glad I married him.
This is what I am doing:
1. Run a marathon: there are a few coming up in Atlanta. The one I really want to run is on October 3rd but it isn't realistic. I don't have enough time to train and it's really hot outside. Instead I am shooting for the November one, right before Thanksgiving
2. Join a rock climbing gym: this is something that I have been thinking about for awhile now. It is expensive, but it's something that Andy and I can do together which is great because he HATES working out. We found one near Andy's parents house and took a tour.
3. Portion distortion: When I am home I prefer to cook. I am gone so often that I really do treasure being home and cooking in our tiny kitchenette. When I am not home I am running around way too busy for any sane person. As my adrenaline gets rushing so does my appetite. I need to watch my portions. I grew up in a house where we ate plenty. My dad was afraid we were going to starve so he always cooked for ten people instead of three or four. I do the same thing.
4. Make the extra effort to get to the farmer's market: I love the farmer's market but it's inconvenient. I need to get cash out, make the trek over there, and then make sure I cook up/use the food I bought in a few days....but it's worth it. It's worth the trouble, the expense, and the attention required.
5. Staying motivated: This is vague but important. Andy is helping with this. He's my cheerleader and is a great encourager. He also doesn't take my crap and tells me what I need to hear but more than him I need to motivate myself. He and a friend are going to check in with me to help keep me motivated at least twice a week.
The battle is in my mind. The marathon will be a great motivator and a great mental challenge and the planning of the other things will help.
I am looking forward to all of this and know that God is teaching me a lot through all of this.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Is it just charity and does anyone care?
I've been grappling with whether or not I am involved in a standard charity or in something impacting social change. While I hate to admit it, I think we are just another charity but I feel we should be different.
We have a "program" (program is a key sign of charity at times) where homeless men and women are welcome to come in off the streets and shower in our locker rooms and get clean clothes. They leave their dirty clothes with us and volunteers wash their laundry, ready to pick up when they come back for their next shower. We provide a small breakfast and a sitting space with a couch, etc for the guys to chat and enjoy their coffee. I lead a devotional which has just been a question of the day. We have a food pantry and a little clothing warehouse and we try to give them whatever they tell us they "need"--shoes, belt, food, razor, shaving cream, etc. It's a great thing and very much needed in the community. The methodists had a similar program in North Philly on Broad street across from my office building.
When they are finished they leave the building to go back under the bridges close by to sit and watch time go by, or drink, or figure out how they are going to get their next high, or roam the streets.
Most of them have no interest in going to a shelter, or in receiving some type of "services." They are war vets, people with mental limitations, and one fully employed executive who is living in his car. Many of them receive government checks.
If someone is interested in going to a shelter we have a "list" of places that can be called, but always with the same response. "Do you have id?" "No" "You need id to stay here." That place is crossed off the list...for medical care "Do you have id?" "No"...and on and on it goes.
If we find a shelter, i.e. our organization's shelter, and we get the $10 fee waived and the id requirement waived, we still have to figure out transportation. One of my employees drove a guy down there two weeks ago because he could barely walk.
Ids aren't really a big deal. There are "programs" that help people get their ids if they want them. Despite the very limited number of shelter beds in Atlanta, including a 400 bed shelter that is closed down for political reasons at the moment, shelter can be found if you look hard enough.
But they don't want shelter. Or ids. They want to escape from life. Life has beat them up so much that they don't want the stress--they just want to be left alone which leaves me wondering--are we really helping them? Are we making a difference, or are we "just" a charity?
About 8-10 of the guys came to our dinner before Bible Study last night with the church people and before the fight broke out one of the gentlemen quoted Isaiah 58 for us and affirmed what we were doing. After that he got himself into trouble and we had to escort him outside, but he meant well.
Are we just a charity? Who gets to decide if we are "helping" them or not--generally it's us deciding, but why?
This is what Isaiah 58:6 says:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
We have a "program" (program is a key sign of charity at times) where homeless men and women are welcome to come in off the streets and shower in our locker rooms and get clean clothes. They leave their dirty clothes with us and volunteers wash their laundry, ready to pick up when they come back for their next shower. We provide a small breakfast and a sitting space with a couch, etc for the guys to chat and enjoy their coffee. I lead a devotional which has just been a question of the day. We have a food pantry and a little clothing warehouse and we try to give them whatever they tell us they "need"--shoes, belt, food, razor, shaving cream, etc. It's a great thing and very much needed in the community. The methodists had a similar program in North Philly on Broad street across from my office building.
When they are finished they leave the building to go back under the bridges close by to sit and watch time go by, or drink, or figure out how they are going to get their next high, or roam the streets.
Most of them have no interest in going to a shelter, or in receiving some type of "services." They are war vets, people with mental limitations, and one fully employed executive who is living in his car. Many of them receive government checks.
If someone is interested in going to a shelter we have a "list" of places that can be called, but always with the same response. "Do you have id?" "No" "You need id to stay here." That place is crossed off the list...for medical care "Do you have id?" "No"...and on and on it goes.
If we find a shelter, i.e. our organization's shelter, and we get the $10 fee waived and the id requirement waived, we still have to figure out transportation. One of my employees drove a guy down there two weeks ago because he could barely walk.
Ids aren't really a big deal. There are "programs" that help people get their ids if they want them. Despite the very limited number of shelter beds in Atlanta, including a 400 bed shelter that is closed down for political reasons at the moment, shelter can be found if you look hard enough.
But they don't want shelter. Or ids. They want to escape from life. Life has beat them up so much that they don't want the stress--they just want to be left alone which leaves me wondering--are we really helping them? Are we making a difference, or are we "just" a charity?
About 8-10 of the guys came to our dinner before Bible Study last night with the church people and before the fight broke out one of the gentlemen quoted Isaiah 58 for us and affirmed what we were doing. After that he got himself into trouble and we had to escort him outside, but he meant well.
Are we just a charity? Who gets to decide if we are "helping" them or not--generally it's us deciding, but why?
This is what Isaiah 58:6 says:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Day 30 + 1
Yesterday was day 30. Things are going well.
I have entertained a few things over the past week which include running a half marathon or re-introducing interval training into my exercise routine.
The main problem with running is that it's difficult to get running time outside since I can't run in my neighborhood and it's really, very extremely hot here. I don't do well in the heat, particularly when I am running.
I have done interval training before and I still do it when I ride the stationary bike. Introducing it more regularly into my "routine" would break the monotony up a bit and may start to yield results...I still look the same. Perhaps I always will.
Eating has been going well. I made gazpacho from scratch last night and have been eating lots of fruits and veggies. The gazpacho came out a little spicy but I am going to eat it all (I have like a gallon of it!) because I took the time to actually chop all of the vegetables before they went into the food processor. It's also nice to eat in the heat since it's a cold soup.
Andy and I had an enjoyable time visiting my brother and sister in law in Minneapolis. We saw some spectacular fireworks from the back of their condo building.
I am really enjoying the change of pace of my new job responsibilities and things are just going well. I'm happy which means I can focus on being healthy.
I have entertained a few things over the past week which include running a half marathon or re-introducing interval training into my exercise routine.
The main problem with running is that it's difficult to get running time outside since I can't run in my neighborhood and it's really, very extremely hot here. I don't do well in the heat, particularly when I am running.
I have done interval training before and I still do it when I ride the stationary bike. Introducing it more regularly into my "routine" would break the monotony up a bit and may start to yield results...I still look the same. Perhaps I always will.
Eating has been going well. I made gazpacho from scratch last night and have been eating lots of fruits and veggies. The gazpacho came out a little spicy but I am going to eat it all (I have like a gallon of it!) because I took the time to actually chop all of the vegetables before they went into the food processor. It's also nice to eat in the heat since it's a cold soup.
Andy and I had an enjoyable time visiting my brother and sister in law in Minneapolis. We saw some spectacular fireworks from the back of their condo building.
I am really enjoying the change of pace of my new job responsibilities and things are just going well. I'm happy which means I can focus on being healthy.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What are you passionate about?
I've always considered myself a passionate person. Andy and I were going somewhere in the car the other day when I started talking and stressing about work (an unfortunate common thing for me) and he asked if I was still passionate about the things I used to be passionate about.
I had to really think about it for a few moments. I used to be passionate about a few things...but am I still? Do I live that way?
I mean, sure, I live like one's salvation is important, and so is holy living, etc...but what about those homeless guys I used to care about? What about social justice? What about....the other things that I used to get so excited about?
Am I still passionate?
I tend to get caught up in the day-to-day non-sense and grumble about it. Satan is a trickster...he had me, but no more! When thinking about my new appointment there are lots of things to get me off track but they really aren't worth it.
I want to live a missional life and not waste my time stressing about things that aren't worth my energy.
Mrs. Castillo said it best, "focus on Christ...not the Christians!" That's the best advice I think I have ever been given.
What are you passionate about?
I had to really think about it for a few moments. I used to be passionate about a few things...but am I still? Do I live that way?
I mean, sure, I live like one's salvation is important, and so is holy living, etc...but what about those homeless guys I used to care about? What about social justice? What about....the other things that I used to get so excited about?
Am I still passionate?
I tend to get caught up in the day-to-day non-sense and grumble about it. Satan is a trickster...he had me, but no more! When thinking about my new appointment there are lots of things to get me off track but they really aren't worth it.
I want to live a missional life and not waste my time stressing about things that aren't worth my energy.
Mrs. Castillo said it best, "focus on Christ...not the Christians!" That's the best advice I think I have ever been given.
What are you passionate about?
Day 20...a bit late and headaches
My day 20 update is late because Andy and I went away for a much needed weekend getaway (happy anniversary to us!). I love being on vacation...makes me never want to work again!
I've been eating fairly well but not exercising as much as I should be. I've been feeling really tired and lethargic and have been since I was sick a month ago. Yesterday I had another awful headache which kept me in bed all day accompanied with the chills, nausea, etc. I'm certain I'm not pregnant so it's coming from somewhere else.
I've been to the neurologist who sent me for an MRI. He says the headaches aren't migraines and is sending me for another test.
The first really bad headache found me sick and dizzy while driving. After the ambulance took me to the hospital and treated the symptoms I was sick for a few days after from side effects from the strong drugs. I felt better for a day and then was in bed for four more days too weak to do anything. I want to get to the root of this mess...
Andy thinks I'm going crazy. I almost agree with him. Our apartment has black mold so I've been researching black mold toxicity which he thinks is making me crazy.
Anyway, that's me lately. Other than that I am trying to enjoy my vacation. We are flying to Minneapolis this weekend to spend some time with Andy's brother and his wife. We are looking forward to it.
I've been eating fairly well but not exercising as much as I should be. I've been feeling really tired and lethargic and have been since I was sick a month ago. Yesterday I had another awful headache which kept me in bed all day accompanied with the chills, nausea, etc. I'm certain I'm not pregnant so it's coming from somewhere else.
I've been to the neurologist who sent me for an MRI. He says the headaches aren't migraines and is sending me for another test.
The first really bad headache found me sick and dizzy while driving. After the ambulance took me to the hospital and treated the symptoms I was sick for a few days after from side effects from the strong drugs. I felt better for a day and then was in bed for four more days too weak to do anything. I want to get to the root of this mess...
Andy thinks I'm going crazy. I almost agree with him. Our apartment has black mold so I've been researching black mold toxicity which he thinks is making me crazy.
Anyway, that's me lately. Other than that I am trying to enjoy my vacation. We are flying to Minneapolis this weekend to spend some time with Andy's brother and his wife. We are looking forward to it.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day 10
I did well today because I committed to writing this blog entry today.
I ran my three mile run on my country road this morning. The weather was nice and cool thanks to the bad storm we had last night.
This next week needs to be better than the past week or else I won't lose any weight. I did lose a pound this week but I'll never make my goal at only one pound per every ten days.
One of the problems is that I have been so busy with work (which is nothing new). When I get tired, stressed, or frustrated I tend to not care. I eat what I want since I'm an emotional eater.
Andy and I were planning on going to see a movie last Friday and then decided on the way to the theater to rent a movie from Red Box instead. This was much cheaper but the problem was that Red Box is right in front of the supermarket. We ended up going in to the supermarket and buying a bunch of junk food--and eating it! I gave the mint Oreos away after I ate a few but I still have the rest of that junk in the house.
I have still been feeling really tired. This is left over from when I was sick a few weeks ago. Feeling tired leaves me unmotivated to go to the gym. I did make it a few times over the past ten days, but it's still less than I normally go.
Let's see what the next ten days bring!
I ran my three mile run on my country road this morning. The weather was nice and cool thanks to the bad storm we had last night.
This next week needs to be better than the past week or else I won't lose any weight. I did lose a pound this week but I'll never make my goal at only one pound per every ten days.
One of the problems is that I have been so busy with work (which is nothing new). When I get tired, stressed, or frustrated I tend to not care. I eat what I want since I'm an emotional eater.
Andy and I were planning on going to see a movie last Friday and then decided on the way to the theater to rent a movie from Red Box instead. This was much cheaper but the problem was that Red Box is right in front of the supermarket. We ended up going in to the supermarket and buying a bunch of junk food--and eating it! I gave the mint Oreos away after I ate a few but I still have the rest of that junk in the house.
I have still been feeling really tired. This is left over from when I was sick a few weeks ago. Feeling tired leaves me unmotivated to go to the gym. I did make it a few times over the past ten days, but it's still less than I normally go.
Let's see what the next ten days bring!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Ode to Farmers Market
After we moved here I looked into shopping at a farmers market like I did when I lived in Philadelphia. Then I got busy. And then it got cold.
The weather got warm again but I've been working an insane amount of time. I've been averaging a trip to the supermarket every three weeks. A trip to the farmers market hasn't been a high priority until today.
I made the decision that if Andy and I are going to eat better and support regional farmers I need to invest the time and go to a farmers market. I did.
I realized how much I miss shopping at a local farmers market. All of the produce is fresh. There was a lot of variety and I bought some really great things. They have just about everything I normally buy with a few exceptions like Andy's cereal.
I'm excited to eat them. So is Andy.
Yay for the farmers market! I'm looking forward to going back again soon.
The weather got warm again but I've been working an insane amount of time. I've been averaging a trip to the supermarket every three weeks. A trip to the farmers market hasn't been a high priority until today.
I made the decision that if Andy and I are going to eat better and support regional farmers I need to invest the time and go to a farmers market. I did.
I realized how much I miss shopping at a local farmers market. All of the produce is fresh. There was a lot of variety and I bought some really great things. They have just about everything I normally buy with a few exceptions like Andy's cereal.
I'm excited to eat them. So is Andy.
Yay for the farmers market! I'm looking forward to going back again soon.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Day 1
Today has been the first day of my 60 day challenge to lose weight.
So far, so good. I don't have much to say. I am feeling good about this personal challenge but today is only the first day. One down...59 to go!
I went to the gym this morning and ate well during the day. If I get the munchies later on tonight I'll have a piece of fruit.
This is going to be a really good time of reflection for me as I focus a bit on myself. I am praying that I'll make the commitment to take the time to grow spiritually during this time.
So far, so good. I don't have much to say. I am feeling good about this personal challenge but today is only the first day. One down...59 to go!
I went to the gym this morning and ate well during the day. If I get the munchies later on tonight I'll have a piece of fruit.
This is going to be a really good time of reflection for me as I focus a bit on myself. I am praying that I'll make the commitment to take the time to grow spiritually during this time.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
60 day challenge
I am making this public so that I follow through with it.
I am going to attempt to lose 20 lbs in the next 60 days. That means I'll be at my pre-moving-to-GA-weight.
I am going to :
Eat early
Eat often
Eat less
Eat healthy
And will post updates:
Day 1: June 7th, M
Day 10: June 16th, W
Day 20: June 26, Sat
Day 30: July 6, T
Day 40: July 16th, F
Day 50: July 26th, M
Day 60: August 5th, Tr
Let's see how it goes!
I am going to attempt to lose 20 lbs in the next 60 days. That means I'll be at my pre-moving-to-GA-weight.
I am going to :
Eat early
Eat often
Eat less
Eat healthy
And will post updates:
Day 1: June 7th, M
Day 10: June 16th, W
Day 20: June 26, Sat
Day 30: July 6, T
Day 40: July 16th, F
Day 50: July 26th, M
Day 60: August 5th, Tr
Let's see how it goes!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Encouragement
This time last year I was hosting some friends of mine from out of the country. They came to NY for a month to be a part of my graduation, ordination and wedding. They are some very special people to me.
I've been thinking about them lately but have been "too busy" to call. I finally called them today and am really glad that I did.
They are both struggling with some health issues which I've known about for a few months but the Majors health has gotten far worse to the point that they are retiring early--at the end of July. While this news really broke my heart I know that they are long overdo for some much needed rest.
They will be retiring to St.Vincent where some local friends will be helping them. I am excited that they are returning to St.Vincent. I think it's a good decision.
This thirty minute conversation really put a few things into perspective for me. I've been sick this past week and am realizing that it's because I have been working myself too much. I am simply tired and worn out. While I tell my husband that I didn't choose to have two appointments at the same time the truth is that I revel in being so busy and feeling so needed. I need to take care of myself. That needs to be my priority. It doesn't mean I love my work any less or that I'm a slacker, but that I value my own health.
I called them today to hear some encouraging news. They are spirit filled people who always are full of joy and love. While the tone was a bit different today I still left the conversation feeling encouraged, just in a different way than usual.
Thank you, LORD, for great role models.
Now I want to go help them pack...and enjoy some time on their enchanted island with some friends!
Almond Milk
A friend of mine drinks almond milk because, she says, it's healthy. I would buy soy milk until I ran into my hypothyroid issues and learned that I should avoid soy. I do drink regular lowfat milk, but I also like to try new things.
I bought almond milk today for the first time.
Since almonds are one of the best nuts that you can eat I believe that almond milk will be really good for you to drink provided that the milk actually has a good amount of almonds in it and not just sweeteners and additives.
I found this cute recipe to make almond milk at home. Maybe I'll try to make it some day.
*
Grind one-quarter cup of almonds in a coffee grinder (I don't drink coffee but I have something that would work).
*
Combine almonds with one cup of water and blend in a blender for two to three minutes.
*
Strain the liquid using a sieve, if you like.
I bought almond milk today for the first time.
Since almonds are one of the best nuts that you can eat I believe that almond milk will be really good for you to drink provided that the milk actually has a good amount of almonds in it and not just sweeteners and additives.
I found this cute recipe to make almond milk at home. Maybe I'll try to make it some day.
*
Grind one-quarter cup of almonds in a coffee grinder (I don't drink coffee but I have something that would work).
*
Combine almonds with one cup of water and blend in a blender for two to three minutes.
*
Strain the liquid using a sieve, if you like.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Update
The last several weeks have been extremely busy. I was in Orlando for a week, then in Warner Robins, camp, Nashville, Atlanta, Warner Robins, etc. I haven't been home a lot.
One of the most difficult things when not being home is that I don't have a lot of control over my schedule. It makes it more difficult to eat right, work out consistently and I have no time with Andy.
This is all going to change in about a month and I am looking forward to it. I am really going to look into joining the rock climbing gym, making it to the farmers market, and being home in time to have dinner with Andy.
I was at the gym one day this week and I began to ask myself why I workout. I mean I look the same whether I workout or not. Granted I've stopped gaining weight, but I haven't lost any either. What's the point of it?
Then I was reminded that exercising is good for me and it allows me a stress relief outlet. Going to the gym is the one thing I do for me and not for other people. I enjoy it and I enjoy going by myself.
When Andy and I first got married we did devotions together for awhile. Lately, since our schedules are so different, we don't do them together but we still pray together. I am realizing that my devotional time comes before my gym time and is my priority. I love the time I spend in the morning in prayer even if it means I have to get up a few minutes earlier. It's a great way to start the day and it's a great reminder to me of where my focus needs to be.
Thank you, LORD, that you are always there no matter how busy life gets around us.
One of the most difficult things when not being home is that I don't have a lot of control over my schedule. It makes it more difficult to eat right, work out consistently and I have no time with Andy.
This is all going to change in about a month and I am looking forward to it. I am really going to look into joining the rock climbing gym, making it to the farmers market, and being home in time to have dinner with Andy.
I was at the gym one day this week and I began to ask myself why I workout. I mean I look the same whether I workout or not. Granted I've stopped gaining weight, but I haven't lost any either. What's the point of it?
Then I was reminded that exercising is good for me and it allows me a stress relief outlet. Going to the gym is the one thing I do for me and not for other people. I enjoy it and I enjoy going by myself.
When Andy and I first got married we did devotions together for awhile. Lately, since our schedules are so different, we don't do them together but we still pray together. I am realizing that my devotional time comes before my gym time and is my priority. I love the time I spend in the morning in prayer even if it means I have to get up a few minutes earlier. It's a great way to start the day and it's a great reminder to me of where my focus needs to be.
Thank you, LORD, that you are always there no matter how busy life gets around us.
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Manifestation of Sin
This is an entry from my former blog.
In a lecture we were asked if we hate sin. There were a couple of responses, but nothing that raised any amount of discussion. At best we merely scratched the surface. I've been thinking about this topic mainly because the majority of those in the lecture were quiet when asked to respond on the topic.
If the same question were asked to a group of Salvationists during the Victorian Era the response would have been different. There would have been lively, engaging conversation spoken from the heart with conviction. I can imagine scripture being pitched in and personal accounts of testimonies and God's grace working in the lives of those speaking.
I think of one story where "Ol' Reddie" was converted in Kensington, Philadelphia. He was a drunk and a "scoundrel," as some literature has called him. He would harass Eliza Shirley and disrupt all of the meetings. Sin was so abundant in his life that his eyes looked like they were a never ending pit of fire. He was scary...until he came to the mercy seat (probably sobering up at that point) and with all the flare and drama that so many conversion stories of our Army heritage contain, was converted. The manifestation of sin in his life was broken. There was victory that day!
Do I hate sin? YES, yes, and yes! I hate what it does to people--to their lives, to their loved ones, to their potential, and to society at large. Sin is nasty. It is okay to hate what is not of God and what is not edifying the Kingdom. I, Monica, hate sin and I'm not ashamed of it. I think of how sin has manifested in my own life at time in the past and it makes me sick.
I know what sin can appear to look like in people. Further than the shame that some people try to hide I remember specifically working with gang members and drug dealers in North Philadelphia while in graduate school. I think of the mothers in the projects that I worked with...I think of the domestic batterers and criminals that I worked with in the Criminal Justice Center in center city Philly...I think of the lost souls who come to a local soup kitchen.I think of the people I have passed day in and day out on the street...I can see the sin in their eyes. Their hurting, lost, and confused. They are struggling. I can see the helplessness. I can see the manifestation of sin all around me and I hate it! That's not to say anything derogatory or negative about my past clients, just my personal experiences. I firmly believe that it is permissible to hate these things.
So what can be done about it? Why was the lecture that day nearly silent on this issue? I understand that we live in different times than our Salvationist forefathers did, but do we really? Have things gotten any better?
We should hate sin and fight against it. We are called to ACTION and we are in a battle. An Army moves...we have our "battle stations" where people can go for refuge and we have our "war crys." The battle we are engaged in is against sin and the author of sin.
The manifestation of sin is real and needs to be stopped.
In a lecture we were asked if we hate sin. There were a couple of responses, but nothing that raised any amount of discussion. At best we merely scratched the surface. I've been thinking about this topic mainly because the majority of those in the lecture were quiet when asked to respond on the topic.
If the same question were asked to a group of Salvationists during the Victorian Era the response would have been different. There would have been lively, engaging conversation spoken from the heart with conviction. I can imagine scripture being pitched in and personal accounts of testimonies and God's grace working in the lives of those speaking.
I think of one story where "Ol' Reddie" was converted in Kensington, Philadelphia. He was a drunk and a "scoundrel," as some literature has called him. He would harass Eliza Shirley and disrupt all of the meetings. Sin was so abundant in his life that his eyes looked like they were a never ending pit of fire. He was scary...until he came to the mercy seat (probably sobering up at that point) and with all the flare and drama that so many conversion stories of our Army heritage contain, was converted. The manifestation of sin in his life was broken. There was victory that day!
Do I hate sin? YES, yes, and yes! I hate what it does to people--to their lives, to their loved ones, to their potential, and to society at large. Sin is nasty. It is okay to hate what is not of God and what is not edifying the Kingdom. I, Monica, hate sin and I'm not ashamed of it. I think of how sin has manifested in my own life at time in the past and it makes me sick.
I know what sin can appear to look like in people. Further than the shame that some people try to hide I remember specifically working with gang members and drug dealers in North Philadelphia while in graduate school. I think of the mothers in the projects that I worked with...I think of the domestic batterers and criminals that I worked with in the Criminal Justice Center in center city Philly...I think of the lost souls who come to a local soup kitchen.I think of the people I have passed day in and day out on the street...I can see the sin in their eyes. Their hurting, lost, and confused. They are struggling. I can see the helplessness. I can see the manifestation of sin all around me and I hate it! That's not to say anything derogatory or negative about my past clients, just my personal experiences. I firmly believe that it is permissible to hate these things.
So what can be done about it? Why was the lecture that day nearly silent on this issue? I understand that we live in different times than our Salvationist forefathers did, but do we really? Have things gotten any better?
We should hate sin and fight against it. We are called to ACTION and we are in a battle. An Army moves...we have our "battle stations" where people can go for refuge and we have our "war crys." The battle we are engaged in is against sin and the author of sin.
The manifestation of sin is real and needs to be stopped.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
When I lived in Philly a few friends of mine joined a rock climbing gym and really enjoyed it.
Since I'll be spending more time at home in Atlanta and less time traveling I am considering joining an indoor rock climbing gym.
There is one in Atlanta, about twenty minutes from my office. It's a little pricey, but I am thinking about joining anyway.
They have a discount on Monday nights for women and they have special beginner classes (which I will definitely need to take).
I think indoor rock climbing is a challenge and it will break up the regular routine.
Since I'll be spending more time at home in Atlanta and less time traveling I am considering joining an indoor rock climbing gym.
There is one in Atlanta, about twenty minutes from my office. It's a little pricey, but I am thinking about joining anyway.
They have a discount on Monday nights for women and they have special beginner classes (which I will definitely need to take).
I think indoor rock climbing is a challenge and it will break up the regular routine.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reflections of life
I have to admit that I am tired. Very tired.
Working so much and spending so much time in the car is definitely taking its toll on me. Add to that the nearly non-existent time I have with Andy and the emotionally draining work that I do and at the end of the day I could just be bitter and worn out.
But I'm not. I'm tired, but I'm not dead.
I am blessed beyond belief and am so extremely thankful for the provision, the love, and the mercy that God gives me every single day of my life.
This weekend we had a youth retreat and I had to drive A LOT to pick up my kids and take them to this retreat. Truth be told its been quite exhausting.
As I was driving down to Warner Robins to pick them up on Friday I was reminded of a time when I was a kid sitting in the back of the van excited about a trip to youth councils. I was reflecting about how much I was loved and cared for and about how much fun I had learning about God with other kids my age. Someone spent many hours in a van taking me to and from several youth councils.
Now I am that person and I am thankful for the privilege I have to do it for other young people. My prayer is that these experiences will transform their lives like it did for me.
God continues to amaze me and bless me. Thank you, God, that you have chosen me to do your work!
Working so much and spending so much time in the car is definitely taking its toll on me. Add to that the nearly non-existent time I have with Andy and the emotionally draining work that I do and at the end of the day I could just be bitter and worn out.
But I'm not. I'm tired, but I'm not dead.
I am blessed beyond belief and am so extremely thankful for the provision, the love, and the mercy that God gives me every single day of my life.
This weekend we had a youth retreat and I had to drive A LOT to pick up my kids and take them to this retreat. Truth be told its been quite exhausting.
As I was driving down to Warner Robins to pick them up on Friday I was reminded of a time when I was a kid sitting in the back of the van excited about a trip to youth councils. I was reflecting about how much I was loved and cared for and about how much fun I had learning about God with other kids my age. Someone spent many hours in a van taking me to and from several youth councils.
Now I am that person and I am thankful for the privilege I have to do it for other young people. My prayer is that these experiences will transform their lives like it did for me.
God continues to amaze me and bless me. Thank you, God, that you have chosen me to do your work!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"Save-the-world-itis"
Georgia has so many strip clubs is really angers me. There are so many interstates running through Atlanta...so many truckers...so many desperate people. People are spiritually hungry. I really believe that we as the church aren't doing our job in "feeding" them because we aren't spiritually feeding ourselves...
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
Kids say the darndest things
There's a family of children that another adult and I take home each week. We sometimes stop by a pond on the way home to throw some old bread in to the ducks and geese. These are the kind of kids whose mom is never wondering where they are when they're 30 minutes later than usual getting home.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Hidden blessings
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just didn't make logical sense at the time?
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Crazy Love
Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?
These are questions posed in the book by author Francis Chan. He sets up the premise that present day Christians are lukewarm. Revelation talks about what God thinks of lukewarm Christians (Rev 3)...
This book has been the best seller on the Christian Business Association's list for several months and for good reason. Crazy Love is a simple, yet profound read. The ideas posed by the author aren't really new ones, but need to be reinforced for our "Christian culture."
A few things in the book really caught my attention. In one section of the book Chan talks about the parable of the sower throwing the seed among the path and cautions us that we may not be good soil:
We, I, fill our lives with so much "stuff" that spending time with God becomes something we do, not something we live for. There are so many distractions and working full time in ministry is one of them for me. I want to be good soil and totally in love with Jesus. That truly is crazy love. The world cannot understand it but I want more of it!
These are questions posed in the book by author Francis Chan. He sets up the premise that present day Christians are lukewarm. Revelation talks about what God thinks of lukewarm Christians (Rev 3)...
This book has been the best seller on the Christian Business Association's list for several months and for good reason. Crazy Love is a simple, yet profound read. The ideas posed by the author aren't really new ones, but need to be reinforced for our "Christian culture."
A few things in the book really caught my attention. In one section of the book Chan talks about the parable of the sower throwing the seed among the path and cautions us that we may not be good soil:
I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.
Most of us have too much in our lives. As David Goetz writes, "Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually." A lot of things are good by thmeselves, but all of it together keeps us from living healthy, fruitful lives for God.
We, I, fill our lives with so much "stuff" that spending time with God becomes something we do, not something we live for. There are so many distractions and working full time in ministry is one of them for me. I want to be good soil and totally in love with Jesus. That truly is crazy love. The world cannot understand it but I want more of it!
Psalm 63 and praise
Psalm 63 is my favorite Psalm. I am going through a difficult time with work right now and this Psalm reminds me to focus on what is important. David wrote this Psalm while he was in the wilderness fleeing from Absalom.
There isn't a lot of time for much of anything after working extremely long days. The frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion are all taking its toll on me. I need to make my time with God a priority. My personal relationship with God will outlast these next three months.Despite the difficult time right now I am going to praise God because He alone is worthy. I know that He will bring us through this.
Psalm 63
There isn't a lot of time for much of anything after working extremely long days. The frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion are all taking its toll on me. I need to make my time with God a priority. My personal relationship with God will outlast these next three months.Despite the difficult time right now I am going to praise God because He alone is worthy. I know that He will bring us through this.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld you power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I love,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches on the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and become food for the jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
God gave-unfailing love
If God is love and love is God, what is love?
Love is a lot of things.Any word, situation, experience we have to describe love is inadequate when compared to the awesome love of God. Our finite minds cannot comprehend it. Love is indescribable. At times we think we know, but we can't. God is love.
God loves us unconditionally and he wants to! God gave and still gives unfailing love.
We don't deserve it, we can't earn it. All we can do is attempt to live, do, be something in return that we can't fully comprehend.
If God gave us something that is unfailing, this love, it would help to understand it. The trouble is that the more we delve into what love is and the more we think we begin to understand it, the more we realize that we can't explain what it is outside fo the perfect love we have in Jesus. And even then we accept it, but do we truly understand it? If we did we would live different lives. We are limited to understanding how big, how great, how deep this love is for us. This love is impossible to grasp, yet is perfect in the simplicity of what it is. Ephesians 3:19 tells us that this love surpasses all knowledge as it is unknowable, but at the same time cannot be completely known.
1 John 4:8-10 tells us that to know God one must love. If one doesn't love one does not know God. But we don't really know what love is so how can we know God?
The scripture goes on to tell us that love is what God did for us--he gave his only (unique) Son. In this way we see love modeled for us. We can't fully grasp it, but we see it in action and can go and do likewise.
Love isn't something that we do for God. Love is what God did for us when he allowed Jesus to dies on the cross for our sins. Our response is the natural out flowing of this love from our spiritual soul to our material sole.
In order to know God one must love. If one does not love, one cannot know God. The Amplified Bible tells us that not only does one not know God if they don't love, but they never knew God. This shows us that this love is unconditional--it is continuous. Truly loving God isn't a phase in life, there isn't a gap during rebellious teenage years--it continues. Real love, true love never ends. It's big. It's worth living for, fighting for, and dying for. That's what Jesus did for us.
When do we "know" someone? When does a person for from being a stranger, to having recognition in your memory, to being an acquaintance, to being "known" by you? To love God isn't to have him as someone you recognize on the street every now and again or even to talk to him occasionally as an acquaintance. To know God is to have a relationship with Him. He who does not have an intimate, personal relationship with God does not love.
God made his love know (apparent) to us be sending Jesus to the earth to die for our sin. In his great love for us he became the atoning sacrifice for our sin. It's difficult to grasp--it seems quite inconceivable if it is done without love. But it wasn't. It was love and that makes all the difference in eternity.
Our sin keeps us from God--all sin does--the confessed din, the secret sin, the "justifiable" sin, the "deniable" sin...all of it keeps us from God, from knowing God and from loving God. Ephesians 2 tells us that we used to be separated from Christ as a result of our sin but that because of Christ's great love for us (vs 5) we have been made alive in Christ.
Is sin the opposite of love? Some say apathy is the opposite of love or hatred is the opposite of love. Elie Wiesel says indifference is its opposite. I think sin is its opposite. Sin separates us from God. Sin damages the intimate, personal relationship. Sin keeps us from knowing God and it damages the connection no matter how "small" we think it is--it still separates us. This is why we strive for a life of holiness.
The more we sin the less we love. Jesus, who was without sin was and is love. He modeled love for us.
We can't love and sin. To know God is to know this love, to depend on it, to rely on it, to live by it and in it, to exist in it.
God gave his unfailing love through His only Son so that we may live through him. We do this by living in love.
How we respond to this unfailing love is in knowing God. Knowing God cannot be kept to oneself. It must be shared, expressed, live and must be evident to all--not just to the people who look, think and smell like you--to all people. The song says "they'll know we are Christians by our love". John 15:9-17 gives us some instructions about how we are to love--just as the Father has loved us. Vs 17 then commands us to love one another.
Ephesians 2 tells us that we are made alive in Christ by this love and that we are to abide in it as it has been modeled for us (Jn 15:10). Our response is to allow this love to control us (2 Cor 5:14) and to love one another (Jn 13:35) as nothing can ever separate us from this love (Ro 8:35-39). This unfailing love surpasses all knowledge (Eph 3:19) and is poured out into our hearts (Ro 5:5).
Do you "know" God? Do you love? This love is the distinguishing mark of Christ's followers (Jn 13:35). Is it distinguishable in your life--in all areas of your life? God gave his unfailing love and this love compels (2 Cor 5:24)--drives us, pushes us, urges us, forces us--to love others. This unfailing love allows us to no longer live for ourselves, but to live for Him.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Reminiscing the old blog..."From Brokenness to Community"
While I was in seminary I began a blog about my experiences so that my church family I left behind in Philadelphia could see what it was like to live at the seminary.
That blog is no longer exists, but I thought I would re-post a few of the entries.
From Brokenness to Community
From Brokenness to Community is a book by Jean Vanier. It is originally from a lecture series at Harvard. Jean Vanier lives in France and talks about what he has learned from the adults with disabilities that he lives with. By living and working with these people he himself has found healing. He earned a doctorate in Philosophy and then met two men with Down's Syndrome when his life was changed. The three of them lived together and he started what we would call a residential home. There are several of these homes (L'Arche community) across France and the world (numbering over 100). He lives at the L'Arche community in Trosly-Breuil, France. Communal living is hard. Here are some thought provoking quotes from the book:
Community is a wonderful place, it is life-giving; but it is also a place of pain because it is a place of truth and of growth--the revelation of our pride, our fear, and our brokenness
...For they call us to love, to communion, to compassion and to community...
When we talk of the poor, or of announcing the good news of the poor, we should never idealize the poor. Poor people are hurt; they are in pain. They can be very angry, in revolt or in depression.
...the greatest pain is rejection, the feeling that nobody really wants you "like that"...
Many people in our world today are living in deep inner pain and anguish because as children they were not valued, welcomed, loved.
To be in communion with someone means to walk with them.
But this communion is not fusion. Fusion leads to confusion.
Communion gives freedom to grow.
Elitism is the sickness of us all.
...if someone is called to live with wounded people...he or she has to discover God's presence--that God is present in the poverty and wounds of their hearts.
Community is a place of conflict: conflict inside each one of us. There is first of all the conflict between the values of the world and the values of community, between togetherness and independence. It's painful to lose one's independence, and to come into togetherness--not just proximity--to make decisions together and not all alone.
...inside the churches...a yearning for solidarity, a cry coming from people for togetherness and love.
Faces don't lie
Community means the respect and love of difference
The greatest persecution can come from inside our communities; people who have fallen into mediocrity do not want others to rock the boat."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Uncle Donald Promoted to Glory
Andy's Uncle Donald passed away this morning. Over his 80 years of life he was truly a man of God--a man who practiced what he preached, who loved sincerely, and who prayed earnestly. He began praying for me before I ever met him. I had the privilege of spending a good amount of time with him a few summers ago while I was in Lebanon, PA for the summer months. His wife, Audrey, was very ill during this time and I saw love in action as he so delicately took care of her. There's was a deep, true love which only reflected the love he had for His savior. His was a gentle and giving soul. He served as a missionary in various places in Africa for several years and never had much by way of earthly possessions but was very rich indeed. This love he had for other people and for God is absolutely contagious.
Andy and his dad flew up to Pennsylvania the weekend before last to spend some time with him. They had a great weekend and Donald was very peaceful. Andy came home and told me that he had "perfect peace" that can only be explained by a firm faith in a just God. Lt. Colonel Donald Seiler has set the bar high for not only what it means to be a servant in this Army, but what is means to be a sanctified disciple of Christ Jesus. His life modeled Christ effectively in a very humble way.
These words are from Jeremy Camp's song Enough:
All of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in you is more than enoughYou are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I knowAnd all of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in you is more than enoughYou are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King
You're my everything
Still more awesome than I knowAnd all of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in you is more than enoughMore than all I am
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enoughAnd all of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
Friday, January 29, 2010
Ode to flax seeds
I have eaten flax seeds before but I purchased them this past week because they were on sale. I have been adding them to my salads and other meals and my husband has been eating them too.
Flax seeds are better than flax oil which can go rancid quickly AND they are good for up to a year after opening the package. I store mine in the refrigerator.
They should be ground up for their optimal nutritional benefit but so far I have been too lazy for that. Since we don't drink coffee and have a coffee mill or spice grinder I would have to do it in the blender. I really do need to ground them up to get any value out of them...maybe I'll buy a spice grinder this weekend. That would come in handy...
These tiny seeds are packed with really great nutritional value...fiber, omega 3s, protein, antioxidants...
Too much of them are a bad thing. They contain cyanogen (cyanide) which keeps the thyroid from taking up enough iodine- a problem I do not need. When they aren't ground up they not only pass right through you but they can also cause cramping, especially for those with IBS or other similar issues. I need to be careful.
All in all, I think the good more than out weighs the bad when it comes to flax seeds.
Since I love smoothies so much here is a morning smoothie recipe.
Flax seeds are better than flax oil which can go rancid quickly AND they are good for up to a year after opening the package. I store mine in the refrigerator.
They should be ground up for their optimal nutritional benefit but so far I have been too lazy for that. Since we don't drink coffee and have a coffee mill or spice grinder I would have to do it in the blender. I really do need to ground them up to get any value out of them...maybe I'll buy a spice grinder this weekend. That would come in handy...
These tiny seeds are packed with really great nutritional value...fiber, omega 3s, protein, antioxidants...
Too much of them are a bad thing. They contain cyanogen (cyanide) which keeps the thyroid from taking up enough iodine- a problem I do not need. When they aren't ground up they not only pass right through you but they can also cause cramping, especially for those with IBS or other similar issues. I need to be careful.
All in all, I think the good more than out weighs the bad when it comes to flax seeds.
Since I love smoothies so much here is a morning smoothie recipe.
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup milk (you can use soy, rice, almond, etc--I used to use soy, but it isn't good for the thyroid)
- 2 tbsp flax seeds
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 banana
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Unplugging
I led a group session this past weekend in Tennessee about the spiritual disciplines. We discussed how we can open ourselves up to God so that God can direct us.
I talked about the idea of "unplugging" and found it really challenging to me.
Unplugging calls us to leave the virtual world of technology in order to be present to God and others. Doing this allows us to be fully present to and uninterrupted in one's interactions with God and others.
Deuteronomy 8:10-11 states "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God."
This is what can be done to unplug:
-unplug electronic devices that interrupt relationships
-refrain from the use of e-mail
-abstain from video recreation
-devote time and attention to others without interruption (no texting)
-communicate face to face rather than virtually (no texting)
-refuse to put sensitive human interaction into electronic form (facebook)
-have a no e-mail workday
-have an e-mail free weekend
Doing this allows one to settle into uninterrupted quiet time with Jesus.
I talked about the idea of "unplugging" and found it really challenging to me.
Unplugging calls us to leave the virtual world of technology in order to be present to God and others. Doing this allows us to be fully present to and uninterrupted in one's interactions with God and others.
Deuteronomy 8:10-11 states "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God."
This is what can be done to unplug:
-unplug electronic devices that interrupt relationships
-refrain from the use of e-mail
-abstain from video recreation
-devote time and attention to others without interruption (no texting)
-communicate face to face rather than virtually (no texting)
-refuse to put sensitive human interaction into electronic form (facebook)
-have a no e-mail workday
-have an e-mail free weekend
Doing this allows one to settle into uninterrupted quiet time with Jesus.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Seven months and counting
I met with my trainer at the gym yesterday. She says I'm doing everything right. I met with the doctor today and my thyroid is doing great--1.7--so I really have nothing to complain about.
I am thankful that I have someone in my life who loves me no matter what my struggles are with weight or vanity and who supports me. We have been married a whole seven months today.
Thank you, God, for this gift you have given me in my best human friend and husband, Andy.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Contemporary Christian Music...WinterJam2010
I am not a big supporter of contemporary Christian music. I think too often the popular Christian bands compromise musicality and their lyrics are shallow at best. Music is too often focused on "me" and "I" and a lot of the lyrics aren't based in scripture. I mainly listen to Brooklyn Tabernacle or to old music that my husband likes.
Add to that the ever changing scene of bands breaking up, struggling with their own sin and addictions and it just isn't worth it to me...I gave up on Christian music before I was even fifteen. Haven't followed it much since.
I have been thinking about it though. The teens I work with all listen to really bad mainstream music. The lyrics, the violence, the message is just not healthy. Most of them are already struggling with depression, anger, eating disorders, the need to fit in and the need to be wanted. But what do I have to give them to listen to instead? Mediocre Christian rock bands with shallow theology in their lyrics? Is there any good Christian hip-hop around? What about a decent Christian band that makes young people think and not just feel good?
I'm stuck. We did talk about our church's hymnal and some of the beautiful treasures it contains--but that goes the other way--it's too deep for them right now. We spent like fifteen minutes explaining what "a bulwark never failing" means. That's only the first song in the book!
I tried to give Christian music another try at WinterJam here in Atlanta. Due to another church event this past weekend we couldn't bring our young people with us so we went--just the two of us. Complete with sandwich board guys out front (my favorite being "God loves" and "God hates" as it inaccurately judged homosexuals), youth groups, church vans, lots of Baptist people, and lots of middle class white people... Welcome to "mainstream" Christianity in the US.
It was loud. I felt old. Newsong is getting really old, but they are so gifted. Andy's highlight of the night was when they sang "Arise." I thoroughly enjoyed Third Day. Newsboys have gone through a lot of changes. They've added Michael Tait (the black guy from DC Talk) and sang "Jesus Freak" last night. They were alright, but nothing spectacular. There were only four of them in the band last night.
The Arena was sold out. They turned a little over 3,000 people away at the door. The concert was riddled with advertisements, buy this, donate to that, watch the video for this, etc..which has me thinking....is Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) popular because it's the "cool" thing to do as a young Christian?
When did Christianty cease being the unpopular thing to do? The thing that meant something because you had to sacrifice your all to Jesus? Something that meant you had to struggle to fit in with society because your life was something different (Romans 12:1-3)?
This is my prayer:
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Good thing it's all about love, about your heart, and not just about the music.
Add to that the ever changing scene of bands breaking up, struggling with their own sin and addictions and it just isn't worth it to me...I gave up on Christian music before I was even fifteen. Haven't followed it much since.
I have been thinking about it though. The teens I work with all listen to really bad mainstream music. The lyrics, the violence, the message is just not healthy. Most of them are already struggling with depression, anger, eating disorders, the need to fit in and the need to be wanted. But what do I have to give them to listen to instead? Mediocre Christian rock bands with shallow theology in their lyrics? Is there any good Christian hip-hop around? What about a decent Christian band that makes young people think and not just feel good?
I'm stuck. We did talk about our church's hymnal and some of the beautiful treasures it contains--but that goes the other way--it's too deep for them right now. We spent like fifteen minutes explaining what "a bulwark never failing" means. That's only the first song in the book!
I tried to give Christian music another try at WinterJam here in Atlanta. Due to another church event this past weekend we couldn't bring our young people with us so we went--just the two of us. Complete with sandwich board guys out front (my favorite being "God loves" and "God hates" as it inaccurately judged homosexuals), youth groups, church vans, lots of Baptist people, and lots of middle class white people... Welcome to "mainstream" Christianity in the US.
It was loud. I felt old. Newsong is getting really old, but they are so gifted. Andy's highlight of the night was when they sang "Arise." I thoroughly enjoyed Third Day. Newsboys have gone through a lot of changes. They've added Michael Tait (the black guy from DC Talk) and sang "Jesus Freak" last night. They were alright, but nothing spectacular. There were only four of them in the band last night.
The Arena was sold out. They turned a little over 3,000 people away at the door. The concert was riddled with advertisements, buy this, donate to that, watch the video for this, etc..which has me thinking....is Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) popular because it's the "cool" thing to do as a young Christian?
When did Christianty cease being the unpopular thing to do? The thing that meant something because you had to sacrifice your all to Jesus? Something that meant you had to struggle to fit in with society because your life was something different (Romans 12:1-3)?
This is my prayer:
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Good thing it's all about love, about your heart, and not just about the music.
Why do we compare ourselves?: Pride and humility
I led devotions at work last Wednesday. We discussed pride and humility and why we feel the need to compare ourselves to other people and other things.
This quote is from Brennan Manning's book Relentless Trust
These are the lyrics to the song we listened to:
Cry For Humility
Lord I Cry For Humility
Crush the pride that has blinded me
Forgive my hidden faults and bring the fear of God
Until Your dread’s in me
CHORUS:
I will worship in Spirit and in Truth
Teach me discipline, to meditate on You
You gave up Your life, I must give my all to You
Remove the veil so I can see
Grant me grace to see my wickedness
You must increase while I become less
Keep Your servant from willful sin
So I’ll stand blameless before Your throne
This quote is from Brennan Manning's book Relentless Trust
The more guilt and shame that we have buried within ourselves, the more compelled we feel to seek relief through sin. As we fixate our jaded motives and soiled conscience, our self-esteem sinks, and in a pernicious leap of logic, we think that we are finally learning humility.
On the contrary, a poor self-image reveals a lack of humility. Feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, inferiority, and self-hatred rivet our attention on ourselves. Humble men and women do not have a low opinion of themselves; they have no opinion of themselves, because they so rarely think about themselves. The heart of humility lies in undivided attention to God, a fascination with his beauty revealed in creation, a contemplative presence to each person who speaks to us, and a "de-selfing" of our plans, projects, ambitions, and soul. Humility is manifested in an indifference to our intellectual, emotional, and physical well-being and a carefree disregard of the image we present. No longer concerned with appearing to be good, we can move freely in the mystery of who we really are, aware of the sovereignty of God and of our absolute insufficiency and yet moved by a spirit of radical self-acceptance without concern.
Humble people are without pretense, free from any sense of spiritual superiority, and liberated from the need to be associated with persons of importance. The awareness of their spiritual emptiness does not disconcert them. Neither overly sensitive to criticism nor inflated by praise, they recognize their brokenness, acknowledge their gifts, and refuse to take themselves seriously. (pp. 120-121)
These are the lyrics to the song we listened to:
Cry For Humility
Lord I Cry For Humility
Crush the pride that has blinded me
Forgive my hidden faults and bring the fear of God
Until Your dread’s in me
CHORUS:
I will worship in Spirit and in Truth
Teach me discipline, to meditate on You
You gave up Your life, I must give my all to You
Remove the veil so I can see
Grant me grace to see my wickedness
You must increase while I become less
Keep Your servant from willful sin
So I’ll stand blameless before Your throne
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Bible Study
The first week of re-focused goals has gone well. I'm sore from the gym, eating has gone fairly well, and devotion and Bible Study time is going well. Praise God for a week on the right track!
It's funny how your prayers are really answered at times. I have been praying for a few years for God to give me a genuine love of His Word. I didn't grow up in a Christian home and while I was very involved in my neighborhood church we didn't study the Bible a lot. We learned about Bible stories and had lots of programming, but we never really had in-depth Bible study that I could attend or that was available.
I knew going into seminary that one of my weakest subjects/areas would be Biblical knowledge. I wanted to know it and I wanted to study it, but I felt so discouraged about it. I began to pray about it as I began to study.
The truths in the Word of God excite me! There are so many treasures to be found and so much to learn. I love it! In Sunday School today I even had the opportunity to use my Biblical Hebrew. Now if I could only find someone to read Hebrew with me on a semi-regular basis...a prayer yet to be answered.
The preacher today began a sermon series on Titus (which is a difficult letter to preach through) and at church tonight a different preacher began a series on James (one of my favorite books). I have been studying Genesis in my private Bible Study time and the Sunday School material that I am responsible for at work is studying Daniel. That's a lot of Bible, and while it may be a little too much to really sink in at once, I am grateful for it!
Thank you, LORD, for giving me the freedom and the opportunity to study YOUR word. Now help me to live it!
It's funny how your prayers are really answered at times. I have been praying for a few years for God to give me a genuine love of His Word. I didn't grow up in a Christian home and while I was very involved in my neighborhood church we didn't study the Bible a lot. We learned about Bible stories and had lots of programming, but we never really had in-depth Bible study that I could attend or that was available.
I knew going into seminary that one of my weakest subjects/areas would be Biblical knowledge. I wanted to know it and I wanted to study it, but I felt so discouraged about it. I began to pray about it as I began to study.
The truths in the Word of God excite me! There are so many treasures to be found and so much to learn. I love it! In Sunday School today I even had the opportunity to use my Biblical Hebrew. Now if I could only find someone to read Hebrew with me on a semi-regular basis...a prayer yet to be answered.
The preacher today began a sermon series on Titus (which is a difficult letter to preach through) and at church tonight a different preacher began a series on James (one of my favorite books). I have been studying Genesis in my private Bible Study time and the Sunday School material that I am responsible for at work is studying Daniel. That's a lot of Bible, and while it may be a little too much to really sink in at once, I am grateful for it!
Thank you, LORD, for giving me the freedom and the opportunity to study YOUR word. Now help me to live it!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Unexpected Blessings?
I have been contemplating about how I could be healthier both physically and spiritually in the new year.
I planned out our menu for dinner at home for the month in an attempt to make sure that we are eating healthier at home.
I started using a new Bible study tool and am studying with that at night while I do my devotions in the morning.
I will not only go to the gym, but will make an effort to build at least one relationship with someone at the gym.
Lofty goals to attain?
Yesterday was going to be the first day this all started. Until I went to the gym first thing in the morning, before doing my devotions--mistake number one.
The water fountain at the gym exploded one week ago today. I remember it because I was there when it happened. I haven't been back since (we did travel in that time) and I went yesterday morning only to find out that the wiring for all of the machines in the wellness center (one huge room) has been damaged. It's closed until they can re-wire the entire room. =NO GYM
I came home, thanked God for the blessing and had plenty of time to do my devotions with the resolve that I would attend the spinning class, held in a different room, later that night.
I received a phone call that a friend was coming to spend the night. We made arrangements for it earlier last month but I thought it was a different day. We were glad that she was here, but again.= NO GYM
I made shrimp stir fry for dinner and since the whole gym plan was blotched yesterday I decided I would drink coke with dinner instead of juice or water. None of us could get the cap off of the soda! It was on there so tightly that I eventually gave up.= NO SODA
Today is a new day full with possibility. I had a lovely time in my devotions this morning. Let's see what today brings!
I planned out our menu for dinner at home for the month in an attempt to make sure that we are eating healthier at home.
I started using a new Bible study tool and am studying with that at night while I do my devotions in the morning.
I will not only go to the gym, but will make an effort to build at least one relationship with someone at the gym.
Lofty goals to attain?
Yesterday was going to be the first day this all started. Until I went to the gym first thing in the morning, before doing my devotions--mistake number one.
The water fountain at the gym exploded one week ago today. I remember it because I was there when it happened. I haven't been back since (we did travel in that time) and I went yesterday morning only to find out that the wiring for all of the machines in the wellness center (one huge room) has been damaged. It's closed until they can re-wire the entire room. =NO GYM
I came home, thanked God for the blessing and had plenty of time to do my devotions with the resolve that I would attend the spinning class, held in a different room, later that night.
I received a phone call that a friend was coming to spend the night. We made arrangements for it earlier last month but I thought it was a different day. We were glad that she was here, but again.= NO GYM
I made shrimp stir fry for dinner and since the whole gym plan was blotched yesterday I decided I would drink coke with dinner instead of juice or water. None of us could get the cap off of the soda! It was on there so tightly that I eventually gave up.= NO SODA
Today is a new day full with possibility. I had a lovely time in my devotions this morning. Let's see what today brings!
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