Every Thursday morning I attend a ladies bible study at Church. We first meet as a big group, then break off into our individual classes. Within our individual classes, we then break into small groups. Within our small group, there are a lot of women who are transparent, and I am grateful for that. For those of you who know me, I tend to be very selective in what I share and whom I share with. However, today I said more than I usually would. God brings us through trials for many different reasons. One of those reasons is so that we can relate and have compassion for those going through the same trials. Through each trial, we come out a different person. Our hearts are changed more and more by God.
Today's devotional touches on the fact that as we live in close contact with God, the light of His presence filters through us to bless others. Our weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the light of the knowledge of His glory shines forth. His strength and power show themselves most effective in our weakness.
Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Peter 3:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 12:9
This season of bible study, I have chosen to study Gideon. As you may know, Gideon defeated the Midianites with 300 men in his army, while the Midianites had over 100,000. Gideon's army originally had 66,000 men, but God reduced it to 300 because God 1) did not want Gideon to boast about the victory and 2) showed him nothing is impossible with Him. When God asks us to perform a task, we think we need this or that to complete it. But God doesn't want us to boast about what WE have accomplished, but what God has done through us. He will reduce us to our "300", and when we are feeling outnumbered or in over our heads, that is when we are ready. If you feel weak in achieving anything God has given to you, do not feel defeated. Weakness is the key to unlocking God's strength. He will deliver us with our "300". He does not ask us to do the hard stuff, but the impossible.
Another important lesson that hit me hard today is about being a changed person, and only growing from there. God has started a good work in me, and wants to complete it, but I keep going backwards. This year is all about moving forward, and not looking back. Two key things: environment matters and posture is everything. I need to place myself in the right environment to stay straight. I have no business going where I used to go. And how I start at the beginning has every bearing on how it is going to finish in the end. I am so afraid that I will start slipping downhill, and this year will be another year of yo-yo dieting and a so-so relationship with God. But in this weakness, I can find God's strength. In order to be successful at anything, I cannot rely on my own strength, but on God's.
Nothing new to report on my road to healthville. I am still counting my calories and exercising daily. However, I am having a hard time eating 1200 calories net. I find myself eating less during the day so I do not go over. But then it's 7:00 and I still have 300 calories left to eat. However, I do not want to fill myself up with junk at that hour. So I just do not fulfill my 1200 calories. I know that is horrible for my metabolism, and weight loss progress, but I am trying to be better at consuming most of my calories during the day. It's a learning process, but I am getting better and better at it.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Anxiety, Be Gone!
I am a planner. Anything I do, I have a plan to back it up. I cannot do anything spontaneously because that causes anxiety. I need to have a course of action...that's how I roll! This morning I planned on exercising after dropping the kids off at school, like I normally do, but spontaneously went to a friend's house instead. I had a great time, but on my way back to preschool, not having accomplished my morning workout consumes my thoughts. I made it a priority to work out as soon as I got home. But when I picked Chandler up, he tells me that he got in trouble for talking AGAIN. I had decided that I was going to drop everything and have a talk with him once we got home. At home we talked about his behavior at school, and I told him he needed to start taking naps again. Kicking and screaming I laid him down on my bed with his blanket. He asked me to lay with him, and despite my work out clothes screaming for attention, I did. All the while the anxiety keeps on building. Once I got him settled, I left the room and opened up my devotional and here is what I read.
We are to strive to trust Him in more and more areas of our lives. Anything that tends to make us anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them. If we believe that He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives, then we are to trust Him. Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment, accepting things exactly as they are. Trust is like a staff; it will bear as much of our weight as needed. Lean on, trust and be confident in Him.
Psalm 52:8; Proverbs 3:5-6
Once I crept out of the room, I did not know what to tackle first. But then I was reminded of a quote I had read earlier today that said "God cares much more about my heart than what I accomplish on my to-do list". So here I am, sitting on my couch with my devotional open and my fingers ready to type. I thought I had given over my struggle with weight to God, but apparently I still have a couple of fingers still gripping, not ready to totally let go. I struggle over not having done my workout in the morning, then trying to fit it in during nap when I know I have other things to do, and knowing I wouldn't be able to fit it in once Alexa got home from school. I have a lot of anxiety when I feel like I have no control over something I should have control over. Not only that, but when I do not get my workout in, I feel unaccomplished. But laying there with Chandler, as he fights sleep, I realize that accomplishments do not come in size 2 pants. They come in a form of a loving mother who is willing to drop anything to lay with her son, who by the way is upset about not being able to go to the "treasure box" because of his talking. Accomplishments are about being a good steward of the things God has entrusted to me. Anything that creates anxiety in me should be a learning opportunity to just let go. To have freedom over it. Start at the present because I can't change the past. And to lean on the staff, so I don't bear all the weight.
We are to strive to trust Him in more and more areas of our lives. Anything that tends to make us anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them. If we believe that He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives, then we are to trust Him. Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment, accepting things exactly as they are. Trust is like a staff; it will bear as much of our weight as needed. Lean on, trust and be confident in Him.
Psalm 52:8; Proverbs 3:5-6
Once I crept out of the room, I did not know what to tackle first. But then I was reminded of a quote I had read earlier today that said "God cares much more about my heart than what I accomplish on my to-do list". So here I am, sitting on my couch with my devotional open and my fingers ready to type. I thought I had given over my struggle with weight to God, but apparently I still have a couple of fingers still gripping, not ready to totally let go. I struggle over not having done my workout in the morning, then trying to fit it in during nap when I know I have other things to do, and knowing I wouldn't be able to fit it in once Alexa got home from school. I have a lot of anxiety when I feel like I have no control over something I should have control over. Not only that, but when I do not get my workout in, I feel unaccomplished. But laying there with Chandler, as he fights sleep, I realize that accomplishments do not come in size 2 pants. They come in a form of a loving mother who is willing to drop anything to lay with her son, who by the way is upset about not being able to go to the "treasure box" because of his talking. Accomplishments are about being a good steward of the things God has entrusted to me. Anything that creates anxiety in me should be a learning opportunity to just let go. To have freedom over it. Start at the present because I can't change the past. And to lean on the staff, so I don't bear all the weight.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Mysterious, Isn't He?
My children received gift cards in the mail today from their grandparents, so Jeremy and I loaded up the boys, picked up Alexa from the bus stop and headed to Walmart to allow them to pick out one toy each, and Jeremy and I got a few things we needed (the kids owe us, right?!). I was in a bit of a rush because Alexa has gymnastics tonight and I knew I had to get home, cook dinner, get everyone fed, and rush off to gymnastics. But my husband and kids had another agenda. They cruised around Walmart without a care in the world, while I was constantly checking my phone for the time. By the time we got home, I was in a rush to get dinner fixed, have everyone fed, and send Jeremy off to gymnastics. I had decided that He, not I, would take Alexa and Chandler (he likes to go and play with his friend), so I could eat dinner and blog in peace. So here I am, at my kitchen table, eating this delicious seafood stuffed salmon fillet, which only has 420 calories, and sharing with you what God has laid on my heart today. I have to describe what took place at Walmart, and when I arrived back home, as chaotic! As I opened up my devotional tonight, I thought how fitting would it be if God spoke on "if your day does not go your way", but He did not. Instead, He spoke on wanting me to depend solely on Him.
He wants us to be ALL His. He wants to wean us from other dependencies. Our security should rest in Him alone, not on other people or circumstances. Depending on Him may feel like a tightrope, but there is a safety net underneath: His everlasting arms. So do not be afraid of falling. Instead, look ahead to Him. Nothing in all creation can separate us from His loving presence.
Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 8:39
Before I sat down with my dinner to blog, I looked over our budget first. My husband has committed this year to tithe beyond the 10% we normally give. That is a big commitment, and I am proud of my husband's obedience. However, when looking at our budget it worries me. I rest my security on the numbers on our bank account, and not on what God can do through us tithing beyond what we are told to give. God reminds me that He wants ALL of me. He does not want me to depend on our bank account. And yes, depending solely on Him does feel like I am walking on a tightrope, but He is our safety net, not our money. He will honor our obedience, and I put my security in Him.
I bet you are asking why I titled my post today Mysterious, Isn't He? Well like I said, I had a hectic late afternoon. I thought for sure that with how my day ended, that God would speak to me about that. However, He went in a totally different direction. And as I have mentioned in a previous post, I read my devotionals at different times of the day. And no matter what time I read them, it always seems to be at the most perfect time. Well, I had a reason for looking at our budget tonight. And if I hadn't, or I read this devotional earlier, this post would have gone a totally different direction. But everything is on His perfect time, and not mine. And He is here to teach me, to redirect me and to change my heart. So yes He is mysterious, but loving and compassionate as well.
In other news, I have to say I am very proud of myself. Not only am I still exercising everyday, and counting my calories, but I have tremendous willpower. At our MOPS meeting today, I stared at all the mouth-watering casseroles, and settled on some fruit and some sausage balls. I even brought a protein bar just in case there was nothing for me. I feel so refreshed and so healthy. I know I could not have done all this by myself. I know that I had to give it to God so that I could enlist His help. My husband has been very supportive as well. I know this past Sunday at lunch I was tempted to have a cheat day, but my husband said it is not even worth it, and He was right. I am an all or nothing kind of girl, so I know that one cheat day could have a domino effect, and my husband knows me all too well. When I say I am going on a diet, it does not last long, but I do want health and wellness to be a part of my life, and I need to stay focused and committed in order to achieve that.
He wants us to be ALL His. He wants to wean us from other dependencies. Our security should rest in Him alone, not on other people or circumstances. Depending on Him may feel like a tightrope, but there is a safety net underneath: His everlasting arms. So do not be afraid of falling. Instead, look ahead to Him. Nothing in all creation can separate us from His loving presence.
Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 8:39
Before I sat down with my dinner to blog, I looked over our budget first. My husband has committed this year to tithe beyond the 10% we normally give. That is a big commitment, and I am proud of my husband's obedience. However, when looking at our budget it worries me. I rest my security on the numbers on our bank account, and not on what God can do through us tithing beyond what we are told to give. God reminds me that He wants ALL of me. He does not want me to depend on our bank account. And yes, depending solely on Him does feel like I am walking on a tightrope, but He is our safety net, not our money. He will honor our obedience, and I put my security in Him.
I bet you are asking why I titled my post today Mysterious, Isn't He? Well like I said, I had a hectic late afternoon. I thought for sure that with how my day ended, that God would speak to me about that. However, He went in a totally different direction. And as I have mentioned in a previous post, I read my devotionals at different times of the day. And no matter what time I read them, it always seems to be at the most perfect time. Well, I had a reason for looking at our budget tonight. And if I hadn't, or I read this devotional earlier, this post would have gone a totally different direction. But everything is on His perfect time, and not mine. And He is here to teach me, to redirect me and to change my heart. So yes He is mysterious, but loving and compassionate as well.
In other news, I have to say I am very proud of myself. Not only am I still exercising everyday, and counting my calories, but I have tremendous willpower. At our MOPS meeting today, I stared at all the mouth-watering casseroles, and settled on some fruit and some sausage balls. I even brought a protein bar just in case there was nothing for me. I feel so refreshed and so healthy. I know I could not have done all this by myself. I know that I had to give it to God so that I could enlist His help. My husband has been very supportive as well. I know this past Sunday at lunch I was tempted to have a cheat day, but my husband said it is not even worth it, and He was right. I am an all or nothing kind of girl, so I know that one cheat day could have a domino effect, and my husband knows me all too well. When I say I am going on a diet, it does not last long, but I do want health and wellness to be a part of my life, and I need to stay focused and committed in order to achieve that.
Monday, January 20, 2014
An Ordinary Day
Today is MLK day, and the kids are off from school. It's not your typical day, filled with things to do and not enough time to do it. No, today is just an ordinary day. I welcome the break from the chaos, but sometimes I long to have something to do. So instead of enjoying this break, I accepted an invitation to get out. As I was checking off the things I needed to do before I left the house, such as exercising, making homemade playdough (for Chandler's class), and doing my bible study, I began to realize that I was creating chaos on a non-chaotic day. So I made the decision to just stay home. As I was doing my bible study, I came across this:
'God often comes to us in our "boring" days, veiled in the most ordinary of circumstances. In fact, "ordinary" is often the disguise of his divine. If we are constantly anticipating a grandiose event to accompany the times when we encounter Him or hear His voice, we will miss out on many intimate moments in our relationship with God. The mundane, the routine, the commonplace-these are often the contexts in which He will reveal Himself to humanity'
Then I read today's devotional and it just adds onto the paragraph above. It talks about making plans for your day. We need to remember that God orchestrates the events of our lives. On days when our plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Him. He maybe doing something important in your life. We need to be in constant communication with Him, accepting that His ways are better than ours. Don't try to figure out what is happening. Just simply trust and thank Him in advance for the good that will come out of it.
Isaiah 55:9-11; Jeremiah 29:11
Whoa! Totally needed that today! This morning I had a plan! Then I realized I possibly could not do it all, and still get out of the house at a decent hour, so I made the decision not to go out. And here I am, sitting outside on this beautiful day, spending time with the Lord and watching my children play on the trampoline; all the while thanking God for the slowness I needed to experience today. Everyday does not have to be a rush rush. I need to slow down once in awhile and enjoy the blessings of God. Today's blessings are to be able to stay home and be with my kids, to have 3 beautiful, healthy kids, to have food to eat and a bible to read. If I had decided to leave the house, I would've rushed through my time with the Lord. But the Lord knows what I needed today, and He provided, through the most ordinary of circumstances.
'God often comes to us in our "boring" days, veiled in the most ordinary of circumstances. In fact, "ordinary" is often the disguise of his divine. If we are constantly anticipating a grandiose event to accompany the times when we encounter Him or hear His voice, we will miss out on many intimate moments in our relationship with God. The mundane, the routine, the commonplace-these are often the contexts in which He will reveal Himself to humanity'
Then I read today's devotional and it just adds onto the paragraph above. It talks about making plans for your day. We need to remember that God orchestrates the events of our lives. On days when our plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Him. He maybe doing something important in your life. We need to be in constant communication with Him, accepting that His ways are better than ours. Don't try to figure out what is happening. Just simply trust and thank Him in advance for the good that will come out of it.
Isaiah 55:9-11; Jeremiah 29:11
Whoa! Totally needed that today! This morning I had a plan! Then I realized I possibly could not do it all, and still get out of the house at a decent hour, so I made the decision not to go out. And here I am, sitting outside on this beautiful day, spending time with the Lord and watching my children play on the trampoline; all the while thanking God for the slowness I needed to experience today. Everyday does not have to be a rush rush. I need to slow down once in awhile and enjoy the blessings of God. Today's blessings are to be able to stay home and be with my kids, to have 3 beautiful, healthy kids, to have food to eat and a bible to read. If I had decided to leave the house, I would've rushed through my time with the Lord. But the Lord knows what I needed today, and He provided, through the most ordinary of circumstances.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Expectations
What does God expect of us? Are His expectations high? Are they unattainable? The answer my preacher gave today is the same answer that is written in today's devotional...to worship Him, to seek His face. He is the goal of all of our searching. When you seek Him, you will find Him, and then you will be satisfied. When other things capture our attention, He slowly fades into the background. He is still there however, just watching and waiting for you to seek Him again. Let nothing dampen our search for Him.
Psalm 27:8; Philippians 4:7, Jeremiah 29:13
God really convicted me today during the sermon. I like involving myself in everything our Church offers because I feel like I am doing the right thing. By getting involved, I can somehow win God's favor right?! But God reminds me that true worship is not about "doing" Church, but about loving God. I need that reminder on a daily basis. I need to be reminded of that when I am going to ladies bible study to see friends or make new friends. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but it's not a social convention; it's a group of women there to worship and adore God. I need to be reminded of that when I feel a song move me, and I want to raise my hands in worship, but too self-conscious to do it; I should be there to worship Him at all costs. I need to be reminded of that when I am taking notes in my journal during the sermon, and my OCD self does not allow me to continue onto a fresh page just for a sentence or two; God is teaching me life lessons and I need to get them ALL down. See, worship of self and worship of the Savior cannot co-exist. I need to get over myself to truly worship Him.
This morning my husband got up unusually early and watched Charles Stanley preach on tv. He preached on forgiveness. He used himself as an example. He said throughout his life, his mother's job took the majority of her time. As a baby, he went to daycare, and then eventually had a maid. During his critical years, his maid was there for Him. He went on to say that she saved his life; not physically, but emotionally and mentally. I listened to the whole sermon while cooking breakfast for the family. I felt convicted...all this time I worried about not financially contributing, not having a job, not having purpose in my life. Then to hear the great Charles Stanley say that he wished his mother was there for Him; how he felt so alone during those times, really hit me hard. I never want my children to feel that way. Then today's devotional really solidified what God was saying to me this morning. God's nature is to bless. My nature is to receive with thanksgiving. Glorify Him by receiving His blessings gratefully. I will glorify God by receiving His blessings with gratitude, and not wasting it with worries. To live each day to the best of my ability.
When I started my weight loss journey, my weigh-in day was going to be Mondays. However, I got impatient and changed the weigh-in days to Saturday. The result...DOWN 4 LBS!! BOO YAH!! I now officially weigh 130, and what's even cooler about that number is that for once in my life, I weigh less than my sister!!! BAM!!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Trials Are Inevitable
I have learned that you cannot escape trials. Every trial in life is either God orchestrated or God allowed. But what we must all remember is that God is with us through those trials; He will never forsake us, and will see us through to the end.
Today's devotional is about God leading us along the high road, but there are descents as well as ascents along the way. In the distance, we see the snow-covered peaks, and our longing to reach those peaks is good, but we must not take shortcuts. God instructs us to follow Him, allowing Him to direct our path. We need to learn to trust Him when things go wrong. Disruptions highlight our dependence on Him. Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all. He has lovingly planned every inch of our way. We need to trust when the path becomes rocky and steep. He reminds us that we will make it to the end together.
John 21:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Habakkuk 3:19
God has seen me through some major trials, but the one that always stands out in my mind is the time we were financially struggling, which led to Jeremy going down a different career path. This new endeavor moved me and my then two children, to CT to live with my parents, while Jeremy lived a life as a truckdriver, exploring all 48 states. During those 14 months, we only saw Jeremy a handful of times. I never understood then why God has allowed the financial struggle, or the 14 months of our family being apart, but looking back, that trial brought more blessings that far outweighed the circumstance. I do not wish that on anyone, but I am grateful to God for doing what was best for our family. Our marriage is stronger than it has ever been, Jeremy is the best father He can ever be, and we never take for granted the time we have together. If you are going through a trial right now, just remember that God has your best interest in mind. He is not here to punish, but to love and redirect.
To update on my last night's adventure, I am happy to report that I did extremely well! I resisted the chips and salsa, ate grilled chicken and shrimp (minus the smothered cheese that is oh so good) with some lettuce and avocado, and half of my refried beans (which I substituted for rice). Then afterwards, we went to a coffee shop where I had a skinny latte with almond milk (which I just found out has fewer calories than nonfat milk), and passed on the AMAZING (as my friends put it) chocolate cake. I am dedicated folks, but I pray that I continue on this path. I am known to be such a yo yo dieter, but I want to put an end to that right now. What this week has taught me is that as long as I seek the Kingdom of God first, everything else will follow. I just have to let God help me in this struggle of self-image, and I will overcome this obstacle.
Today's devotional is about God leading us along the high road, but there are descents as well as ascents along the way. In the distance, we see the snow-covered peaks, and our longing to reach those peaks is good, but we must not take shortcuts. God instructs us to follow Him, allowing Him to direct our path. We need to learn to trust Him when things go wrong. Disruptions highlight our dependence on Him. Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all. He has lovingly planned every inch of our way. We need to trust when the path becomes rocky and steep. He reminds us that we will make it to the end together.
John 21:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Habakkuk 3:19
God has seen me through some major trials, but the one that always stands out in my mind is the time we were financially struggling, which led to Jeremy going down a different career path. This new endeavor moved me and my then two children, to CT to live with my parents, while Jeremy lived a life as a truckdriver, exploring all 48 states. During those 14 months, we only saw Jeremy a handful of times. I never understood then why God has allowed the financial struggle, or the 14 months of our family being apart, but looking back, that trial brought more blessings that far outweighed the circumstance. I do not wish that on anyone, but I am grateful to God for doing what was best for our family. Our marriage is stronger than it has ever been, Jeremy is the best father He can ever be, and we never take for granted the time we have together. If you are going through a trial right now, just remember that God has your best interest in mind. He is not here to punish, but to love and redirect.
To update on my last night's adventure, I am happy to report that I did extremely well! I resisted the chips and salsa, ate grilled chicken and shrimp (minus the smothered cheese that is oh so good) with some lettuce and avocado, and half of my refried beans (which I substituted for rice). Then afterwards, we went to a coffee shop where I had a skinny latte with almond milk (which I just found out has fewer calories than nonfat milk), and passed on the AMAZING (as my friends put it) chocolate cake. I am dedicated folks, but I pray that I continue on this path. I am known to be such a yo yo dieter, but I want to put an end to that right now. What this week has taught me is that as long as I seek the Kingdom of God first, everything else will follow. I just have to let God help me in this struggle of self-image, and I will overcome this obstacle.
Friday, January 17, 2014
A Thankful Heart
I read my devotional at different times of the day, depending on what the day unfolds. But God works in mysterious ways, and oftentimes, when I read the day's devotional, I feel like I couldn't have read it at the most perfect time.
Today's devotional is about going to God with a thankful heart. To rejoice in today, refusing to worry about tomorrow. Anticipate abundant blessings and accept difficulties as they come. Go to Him with ALL your needs, knowing that His glorious riches are more than an adequate supply. Stay in continual communication with Him so that you can live above your circumstances, even while you are in the midst of them. Present all your requests to Him with thanksgiving, and he will provide you with His peace, which surpasses all understanding.
Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:19, 6-7
I have a hard time accepting difficulties. God has shown me, through several circumstances, that He does work things for our good, even tough times. However, when you are going through those tough times, you wonder how in the world can God turn this into good. But He reminds me to have a thankful heart. To always go to Him with thanksgiving because no matter how bad I have it, I have much more to be thankful for. I am not to overlook my blessings from God. Nobody said the grass is greener on the other side. Nobody said that once I give my life to the Lord, that I will have it all. I feel like my circumstances have become more frequent as a Christian. But I must depend on the Lord, and have daily communion with Him, so that I can live above those circumstances. I would rather go through these times with Him, than without.
In other news, I am going out for Mexican, and then coffee and dessert afterwards with some friends tonight, and I have already planned out what I am going to have. That way, I do not order by the aroma lingering through the restaurant. I can get in BIG trouble for doing that! Play it smart, or don't play at all ;)
Today's devotional is about going to God with a thankful heart. To rejoice in today, refusing to worry about tomorrow. Anticipate abundant blessings and accept difficulties as they come. Go to Him with ALL your needs, knowing that His glorious riches are more than an adequate supply. Stay in continual communication with Him so that you can live above your circumstances, even while you are in the midst of them. Present all your requests to Him with thanksgiving, and he will provide you with His peace, which surpasses all understanding.
Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:19, 6-7
I have a hard time accepting difficulties. God has shown me, through several circumstances, that He does work things for our good, even tough times. However, when you are going through those tough times, you wonder how in the world can God turn this into good. But He reminds me to have a thankful heart. To always go to Him with thanksgiving because no matter how bad I have it, I have much more to be thankful for. I am not to overlook my blessings from God. Nobody said the grass is greener on the other side. Nobody said that once I give my life to the Lord, that I will have it all. I feel like my circumstances have become more frequent as a Christian. But I must depend on the Lord, and have daily communion with Him, so that I can live above those circumstances. I would rather go through these times with Him, than without.
In other news, I am going out for Mexican, and then coffee and dessert afterwards with some friends tonight, and I have already planned out what I am going to have. That way, I do not order by the aroma lingering through the restaurant. I can get in BIG trouble for doing that! Play it smart, or don't play at all ;)
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Seek and You Shall Find
A couple of nights ago while I was laying in bed, this verse came to me; Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." My one major goal I want to accomplish this year is to seek His Kingdom first, above all else. Every year I have wanted to lose weight and be healthier, but I do not want that to be my first chase. My first chase is God, and He will make everything else fall into place. He reminds me that I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me.
Today's devotional is about resting in God's presence. That no matter what troubles lie ahead, that we need to relax in His presence. He will strengthen us to prepare for these times, transforming our fear into confident trust.
Matthew 11:28-30; Joshua 1:5, 9
Today's devotional relates to the Gideon study I did today. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have the tendency to want to fix our problems as quickly and as painlessly as possible. But as I have learned in today's Gideon study, God either orchestrates or allows every circumstance, but He uses it for our good. God is more interested in changing our heart, than changing our circumstance. As I have learned in the past, God does work, even through circumstances where you think He is absent. I have numerous testimonies where God has used a circumstance to my benefit. Our relationship with God is all about the heart; about letting God work through us. It's dying to oneself, not looking inward, but outward and upward to Heaven. I have heard that the Word is ON our heart, until we allow God to break our heart, to allow His Word IN our heart. That is what I want to strive for.
In other news, I am very proud of myself. I declined a lunch invitation after bible study to rush home to do a HIIT workout before rushing back to Church to pick up my son from preschool. Now THAT'S what I call dedication!!
Today's devotional is about resting in God's presence. That no matter what troubles lie ahead, that we need to relax in His presence. He will strengthen us to prepare for these times, transforming our fear into confident trust.
Matthew 11:28-30; Joshua 1:5, 9
Today's devotional relates to the Gideon study I did today. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have the tendency to want to fix our problems as quickly and as painlessly as possible. But as I have learned in today's Gideon study, God either orchestrates or allows every circumstance, but He uses it for our good. God is more interested in changing our heart, than changing our circumstance. As I have learned in the past, God does work, even through circumstances where you think He is absent. I have numerous testimonies where God has used a circumstance to my benefit. Our relationship with God is all about the heart; about letting God work through us. It's dying to oneself, not looking inward, but outward and upward to Heaven. I have heard that the Word is ON our heart, until we allow God to break our heart, to allow His Word IN our heart. That is what I want to strive for.
In other news, I am very proud of myself. I declined a lunch invitation after bible study to rush home to do a HIIT workout before rushing back to Church to pick up my son from preschool. Now THAT'S what I call dedication!!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Journey of a Lifetime
Like I said last night, 2014 is my year. My year to finally stop making excuses, and to start living life again. I am embarking on a journey with God that will change the rest of my life, and I am very anxious and excited about it. I am excited to see what God has for me, and where this journey will lead me. I know God has great plans for me, as long as I seek Him daily and keep Him close, which brings me to today's devotional.
Today's devotional is about focusing on God and not on the problems around you. That if we gaze on our problems, we will sink under the weight of them. However, if we keep our gaze on the Lord, He will give us peace that transcends all understanding. If we stay close to Him, He will keep us safe. Circumstances change, God does not. Have Him near you daily, and He will help you face today's problems.
Philippians 4:7; Matthew 14:30; Hebrews 12:2
Today's devotional reminds me of the story of Peter in Matthew 14, where God calls him out of the boat and into the water. When Peter kept his gaze on God, he was not afraid. However, as soon as he took his focus off of God and onto the waves around him, He became afraid and started to sink. That is my problem. When faced with a circumstance, I immediately start getting scared. I feel like my world has been shaken. I feel like we need an immediate fix, and the burden is just too much for me to carry alone. Therefore, I need to give it to God. Focus on Him, and not on the situation. Keep my gaze on Him, and no matter what life throws at me, God will provide me with the one thing I need to get through it all...PEACE.
In other news, I am on day 3 of calorie counting and exercising. I feel GREAT and ALIVE!!
Today's devotional is about focusing on God and not on the problems around you. That if we gaze on our problems, we will sink under the weight of them. However, if we keep our gaze on the Lord, He will give us peace that transcends all understanding. If we stay close to Him, He will keep us safe. Circumstances change, God does not. Have Him near you daily, and He will help you face today's problems.
Philippians 4:7; Matthew 14:30; Hebrews 12:2
Today's devotional reminds me of the story of Peter in Matthew 14, where God calls him out of the boat and into the water. When Peter kept his gaze on God, he was not afraid. However, as soon as he took his focus off of God and onto the waves around him, He became afraid and started to sink. That is my problem. When faced with a circumstance, I immediately start getting scared. I feel like my world has been shaken. I feel like we need an immediate fix, and the burden is just too much for me to carry alone. Therefore, I need to give it to God. Focus on Him, and not on the situation. Keep my gaze on Him, and no matter what life throws at me, God will provide me with the one thing I need to get through it all...PEACE.
In other news, I am on day 3 of calorie counting and exercising. I feel GREAT and ALIVE!!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The New Year
We are 14 days into the new year, and I did not have a new years resolution to start out 2014. I did not want to rewrite the same ole resolutions that have been my resolutions since I can remember. Instead, I let God speak to me and this is what I got; Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." A week before the new year, I began questioning my purpose in life. Along with those questions came answers of inadequacy, failure and worthlessness. I began to wonder why God has given me the life that I live. What purpose am I serving by cooking, cleaning, running errands and all that stay at home moms do. Then this past Sunday, God spoke to me. My purpose in life, whether I am a stay at home mom or a big shot corporate woman, is to love God and to love others. So my resolution this year is to commit to the things that have been on my new years resolution for many years...that is to love God above all else, and be a healthy version of myself. To finally put an end to feeling bad about myself, and to start loving myself. As a dear friend puts it...this year is to RECLAIM!!
The first objective to reclaiming back my life is to have accountability, and what better way than to blog and commit to blogging every single day for the next year. On top of participating in bible studies, I am committing to reading a devotional from Jesus Calling, and blogging about the day's devotional and how God is speaking to me through that devotional. I will also jot down my weight loss progress. I did start reading a devotional out of Jesus Calling yesterday, but did not blog about it, so I will start from yesterday's devotional.
Jan. 13
This day's devotional was about living each day like an adventure. Don't predict what's going to happen, or try to manipulate the day to go your way. To be attentive to Him, and to all that He has prepared for you. Resist the tendency to take the easiest route.
Psalm 118: 24; 1 Peter 2:21
This is so me. I try to plan each day accordingly. The less stress, the better. But some days will throw you a curve ball, and you can't stress out about it. Just let God take you where He wants you to go. Just keep Him in the forefront of your mind, and no matter how chaotic, He will take you through it. He also reminds me to make best of what God has blessed me with. God has blessed me with the opportunity to stay home with my children. I need to make the best of it because one day they will be grown, and I will miss these times. And to make good use of my time. To be more involved at Church, and to just do God's work.
Jan. 14
Today's devotional really spoke to me. It was about not feeling ashamed about being empty. That emptiness is a blessing because that is an optimal condition to be filled by His grace and peace. It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, thinking you can fool people, but you cannot fool God. He can see the depths of your being. Talk with Him about your struggles or feelings of inadequacy, and He will turn your weaknesses into strength.
1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 8:38-39
As a stay at home mom, inadequacy is a feeling I feel frequently. Not being able to financially contribute to the household damages my self-worth. But God reminds me that self-worth is not about how much you are worth, in monetary value, but what you are worth in Christ. To know that God does not make mistakes. We are where He wants us to be. I can and should openly talk to Him about my struggles of feeling inadequate, and let Him work in me.
Now to other news, the past two days have been successful. I have been counting my calories and exercising. So needless to say, my back hurts and I need to lay down, so this is all for now!
The first objective to reclaiming back my life is to have accountability, and what better way than to blog and commit to blogging every single day for the next year. On top of participating in bible studies, I am committing to reading a devotional from Jesus Calling, and blogging about the day's devotional and how God is speaking to me through that devotional. I will also jot down my weight loss progress. I did start reading a devotional out of Jesus Calling yesterday, but did not blog about it, so I will start from yesterday's devotional.
Jan. 13
This day's devotional was about living each day like an adventure. Don't predict what's going to happen, or try to manipulate the day to go your way. To be attentive to Him, and to all that He has prepared for you. Resist the tendency to take the easiest route.
Psalm 118: 24; 1 Peter 2:21
This is so me. I try to plan each day accordingly. The less stress, the better. But some days will throw you a curve ball, and you can't stress out about it. Just let God take you where He wants you to go. Just keep Him in the forefront of your mind, and no matter how chaotic, He will take you through it. He also reminds me to make best of what God has blessed me with. God has blessed me with the opportunity to stay home with my children. I need to make the best of it because one day they will be grown, and I will miss these times. And to make good use of my time. To be more involved at Church, and to just do God's work.
Jan. 14
Today's devotional really spoke to me. It was about not feeling ashamed about being empty. That emptiness is a blessing because that is an optimal condition to be filled by His grace and peace. It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, thinking you can fool people, but you cannot fool God. He can see the depths of your being. Talk with Him about your struggles or feelings of inadequacy, and He will turn your weaknesses into strength.
1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 8:38-39
As a stay at home mom, inadequacy is a feeling I feel frequently. Not being able to financially contribute to the household damages my self-worth. But God reminds me that self-worth is not about how much you are worth, in monetary value, but what you are worth in Christ. To know that God does not make mistakes. We are where He wants us to be. I can and should openly talk to Him about my struggles of feeling inadequate, and let Him work in me.
Now to other news, the past two days have been successful. I have been counting my calories and exercising. So needless to say, my back hurts and I need to lay down, so this is all for now!
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