Blessings

It's President's day.  My daughter is out of school today, so I thought we (mostly I) would sleep in a bit.  I was actually wide awake at about 6:20.  Ugh...  Then my 5yr old son came and crawled in bed with me.  

We stayed there for about 15 minutes, both pretending to sleep (I wanted to sleep, he wanted to play the Wii).  I debated over whether or not to get up.  I WANTED so badly to sleep and I knew if I stayed there long enough, I would eventually slip back into dreamland... maybe he would too.

I began to think about all I have to do this week.  There is always so much on my plate - or at least that is how I feel!  Then I thought about our small group.  Last night we were talking about what keeps us from living out the Word.  What keeps ME from being a living sacrifice?

Romans 12:1-2 says 
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

You know what I decided last night?  Really nothing new at all... simply put, I am TOO busy.  Too wrapped up in "all I have to do this week".  I give too much of my time to things that do not really matter... things of this world.  What can I do to change this?  Keep in mind I am still buried under the covers at this point.

I am wide awake.  Why am I not DOING something?  By now, I have a mental picture of my calendar in my head.  I have so much to DO!!!

Wait... you know what you should do, Beth?  Get up.  Quit hiding in the bed and take advantage of this not so crazy morning!   

After all my debating and stressing about mostly unnecessary busyness, I got up and made my coffee.  Now I am back in bed.  There are pillows piled behind me and Bible study materials piled in front of me.  I saw the sunrise.  Did you know that if I open the blinds that are in front of the patio doors in my room I actually get to see the sunrise?  I did not!    

I hear my kids laughing in the next room as they enjoy their slower paced morning.  The birds are chirping outside my bedroom door.  The dog is snuggled up under the covers right beside me.

The most precious part of my morning just may have been when my 9yr old daughter came in to ask me a question.  As she was leaving she said "You look beautiful!"  

I know this will sound silly, but that meant so much to me.  Here I sit, bed head and pj's., no makeup and glasses.  My hair is piled on top of my head.  My Bible, journal, pens and hilighters are all over the bed in front of me.  The sunlight is streaming in the back door of my room.  She saw beauty in this.  What a blessing!

You know, if I had gone back to sleep, I would have slept too late and gotten up in a rush.  If I had not gotten my tail out of bed and taken advantage of having unhurried extra time with HIM... some of these things I mentioned would not have occurred this morning.

I am SO thankful for ALL the blessings given to me DAILY!  My goal this week is to SLOW DOWN and THINK about how I spend my time.  What do I give my time to that is really unnecessary?  What can I eliminate?  What can I decrease so that HE can increase?

 "He must increase, but I must decrease."  

-John 3:30

Fasting/Lent

Lately I have been contemplating the true purpose of Lent.  I am a member of a Southern Baptist church so I have never actually participated in Lent or studied up on its origin and what it is really all about.  I had extended family that was Methodist and Episcopal growing up.  I remember them always giving something up for the 40 days that preceded Easter.  It has always fascinated me.

Fasting is not something new that is on my mind.  I mentioned it in a previous post.  This has absolutely NOTHING to do with Lent.  I NEED to learn to turn to HIM when I am turning to FOOD.  I need to do this ALL the time... not just during this season of Lent.

Just for kicks I posted a question as my Facebook status today.  Here's a modified version of the responses I got...

"Do you participate in Lent? Yes/No? Why/Why not?"

"Yes 40 days of sacrafice and contimplation for. Christ. Why wouldn't someone do it after all he's done for us."

"Yes, I'm always looking for ways to simplify my life. For instance, if we give up TV, the kids stop asking, and I don't have to hear any arguing about what to watch. Simpler life=more time focusing on God!"

"Christ sacrificed everything for us. Maybe we should. What would be so signicant that we would be changed forever? Maybe TV/movie time and spend it in Bible study? What could you give up since you don't have any time right now?"

"I have a devotional book I read every year. I always learn something new about the Lord and His love for me. As for sacrifice...I find that if I deny myself something that distracts me from worshiping God, it strengthens my relationship with Him."

"As a former Catholic, yes I usually observe Lent. I give up something that is difficult to do without for 40 days, like caffeine, Cokes, or chocolate. The first few days aren't that hard, but around the third week, it's a different story. Imagine, though, that Jesus was 40 days in the wilderness, fasting that whole time, and devoted to prayer. What He sacrificed for us all is indescribable!"

"I do observe Lent. Alot of my reason is because I am conditioned to it and it's habit. But as i've aged and not had anybody prompting me to observe Lent, I notice that I reflect more on Christ's sacrifice. Not only do I give something up, I try and also add something beneficial for the 40 days. And though I'm not always strict on it, I do try and abstain from meat on Fridays throughout the whole year"

"I am a Catholic and I do observe Lent. It's a habit by now, but Lent is really my favorite time of year. Without darkness, without want, how can we know light and fulfillment? I'm looking forward to Lent and Easter this year."

"I grew up with lent services at the Lutheran church. I do miss that."

"I do not observe Lent. I am not putting down other beliefs but I feel it is...incorrect because of its ancient roots. The purpose originally was to "buy" the right to sin during carnaval/Mardigra. If I sacrifice now for these 40 days I can sin all I want later. I agree that we should be willing to sacrifice superfluous things to honor CHRIST; however, if we do it we should do it privately. View what JESUS taught about giving/fasting/prayer in Matthew 6:1-8. Great question"

Here's the passage just mentioned:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."

 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."    -Matthew 6:1-8

"All of these are good points! I like hearing all the different perspectives."

"YES!!! A way to think and meditate, a way to make me more aware of what God has given me and done for me. Just my way of slowing down for 40 days and thinking about things bigger than me and more important than normal everyday stuff."

"No... Not saying it is wrong, just not right for me."

"No. We should have a continual relationship with Christ daily."

"I picked up the nasty habit of observing Lent in college. I guess I spent too much time around those Methodist kids! I find it is a good way to refocus, especially if you pick something that you do a lot, like Facebook, or soda. Every time you start to do the habit it reminds you why you gave it up."

"It's like a modified fast. Turns your heart and mind back to a focus on Christ and prepares you for the joy of Easter!"

"Well, for several years what I have done is meditate and study on what Christ has done for me. I spend time in the gospels. It is a time of emphasis, no real sacrifice...just a time to reflect and strengthen my faith."

"I think someone has it backwards.....mardi GRAS is BEFORE Lint.....thus the 'sinning' is before the sacrifice.....I have never observed Lint, but the more I think about it the more inclined I am to do it....privately of course."

• What are YOUR thoughts???

One at a Time

Yep!  I did it.  I changed the name... and the look!  I have been considering it for a while and finally decided it was time.  

After choosing a name, I decided I needed to change the look.  To me this choice is a little simpler.  Which is something I have been working on a lot lately.  One choice at a time I will SIMPLIFY.  I may even get simpler than this.  We'll see!

Recently our church held a women's conference.  Lisa Harper was the speaker and she spoke on busyness/simplifying our lives.  One of the things she said was that "being preoccupied causes us to miss grace and miss God... it is sinful!" 

"Be still and know that I am God..."   

                               -Psalm 46:10

This hit me like a ton of bricks.  Am I too busy for God??? 

Here Goes!

I started exercising last night.  Fun stuff!  Actually, it was fun.  I did 35 minutes of cardio, then some stretching and planks on a ball.  Today I feel it and it feels GOOD!

Not only did I get to exercise, I got to spend some good girl time with my sister friend, Holley.  We are going to keep each other accountable in all this. We each set the same goal of a 30 pound loss by my birthday.  It is very doable and much more fun when you're not doing it alone.

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."   -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10


I figured out how to make a new page on the blog.  Now you can click on where it says "Stats" at the top and it will take you to the new page.  This is where I am going to be posting my progress.  It has my weight, sizes, and measurements.  I may actually post some pictures there too.  We will see!

Have a blessed day!