Life to the Full

Missing the Promise

2012-01-21T18:11:00.001-06:00

Late this afternoon as I left a store I noticed a couple of teenage girls standing in the parking lot, staring up at the sky behind me and taking pictures with their cell phones. Naturally curious, I turned around and saw this:

This was one of the biggest and most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen (sadly, the picture doesn't do it justice). Part of me wanted to go back into the store and tell everyone to come out and see it. I wondered how many people walked out of that same store and missed this gorgeous sight because they never bothered to turn around.

It got me thinking about promises. After all, the rainbow symbolizes a promise made by God to Noah thousands of years ago, after the great flood:

Then God said, “I am giving you [Noah] a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. ¹When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17)

Having gone to church all of my life, I'm well versed in the promises of God, but I wonder how often I miss them because I simply forget about or overlook them. When I'm stressed out and losing sleep over some project at work (as I was this week), I need to be reminded of this promise:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 28:11)

When I feel like my life is going nowhere, I need to cling to this promise:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

When I become anxious over money or health or just my future in general, I need to recall this promise:

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

When I'm tempted to try to find peace in the things of this world, this promise should come to mind:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)

I could go on and on, as there are many more promises of God mentioned in the Bible. I'm thankful that the symbol of God's covenant with Noah made so long ago is still shown today, and that it serves as a reminder of His faithfulness to fulfill ALL of His promises.

Honoring God with Our Bodies

2012-01-17T19:00:00.000-06:00

I'm in the middle of Gary Thomas' latest book, Every Body Matters, and it's a wonder that I'm not limping around from having my toes stepped on so many times. The book discusses how physical fitness relates to and impacts our spiritual health. In all my years of church attendance and small group Bible studies, I can't recall hearing a sermon or sitting in on a Sunday school class that addressed the subject of physical fitness, so this book has been a real eye opener for me in a lot of ways.

Here's a section that really caught my attention (thus the cause of my aching toes):

How we treat our bodies is a question of stewardship even before it is a question of health, comfort, enjoyment, or pleasure. If we're truly going to be made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work, being more energetic and even being healthier can be essential elements of effectiveness. Many issues of disability and illness are beyond our control; they fall under the providence of God and the genes he has given us. But many issues--how often we exercise, the amount and quality of the calories we take in--are entirely a matter of choice, and these are what we are held accountable for.

The problem with the therapeutic model--eating and exercising to look good and feel better--is that everything is related to self: "I shouldn't overeat because it will make me less healthy." "I should exercise because I don't want to become weak and lose my breath climbing the stairs." Talking about discipleship brings God back into the picture: "I shouldn't overeat because God tells me not to, and it dishonors him as Lord when I disobey, and I want to be as strong as possible to serve him as best I can." (pg. 47, 48)

Letting Go

2012-01-08T18:09:00.004-06:00

I'm an admitted clothesaholic. I adore fashion and trying new outfits. Coming home to find the latest issue of InStyle magazine in my mailbox is one of the highlights of my month. And for those reasons and more, my closet is on the verge of bursting at the seams.

Several years ago I realized that I was running out of clothes hangers, and I found myself buying more and more to accommodate my growing wardrobe. Finally I faced the cold, hard truth that I had way more clothes than I could reasonably wear, and I promised myself that from that point on, whenever I bought a new item of clothing, I had to give away an item. No more hanger buying for me!

For the most part over the years I've stuck to that promise. The last couple of months, however, I'm finding myself once again with an overstuffed closet. I've pulled out a few items to get rid of in exchange of the lovely new clothes I've purchased at after-Christmas sales. Still, I find myself having a hard time letting go of some items. Even though I haven't worn something in over a year, there's always the possibility that I'll wake up on some random day and have an undeniable urge to wear it, right? And those pants that just don't fit exactly right--well, maybe I'll finally drop enough weight to have them look decent again. And that top that I got for $6.99, marked down from $39.99--what a bargain! I'd be crazy to get rid of it just because I never wear it!

Silly, I know, to hold onto items that no longer serve their purpose in my life. I'm going to go back through my closet yet again and try to be ruthless about letting go of items, no matter how sentimental or how much of a shopping bargain they are. Am I the only one who has trouble getting rid of clothes? Or is there something else that you have trouble saying goodbye to, even though you no longer use it?

Book Review: A Woman's Guide to Fasting

2012-01-08T17:36:00.001-06:00

My most recent review for Bethany House Publishers is of A Woman's Guide to Fasting by Lisa E. Nelson.

The book mixes spiritual aspects and Biblical backgrounds on fasting with practical advice. Nelson draws on her own experiences and shares some of the lessons she's learned through fasting, as well as some tips for successful fasting.

My own experiences with fasting are rather limited; I didn't grow up in a church that embraced that particular spiritual discipline, and have only fasted a handful of times (and for no longer than a day at a time, at least when fasting from food). Nelson, on the other hand, has fasted many times, some as long as 40 days at a stretch. It would be easy to feel intimidated by her lengthy fasting experience, but she does a good job of emphasizing that the length of fast is not as important as the heart behind it. I especially appreciated the fact that she admitted that there are times when it is a real struggle to get through a fast, even after all her years of experience.

As the title suggests, the book is intended for women, although I'm not sure that the advice offered would differ from advice offered to men. At any rate, if you want to incorporate the discipline of fasting into your spiritual life and are unsure of where to start, or if you've struggled to complete a fast, this book may be a good source for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Explore. Dream. Discover.

2012-01-03T19:06:00.004-06:00

Adding this one to my growing list of favorite inspirational quotes:

My Quest for 2012

2012-01-02T15:30:00.000-06:00

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions; they often seem like I'm setting myself up for failure, as inevitably my resolve to exercise every single day/disavow fast food/balance my checkbook every day will fail, and I'll give up altogether. Some people do great with resolutions--I just don't happen to be one of them.

Instead of making resolutions for 2012, I'm continuing my quest for healthy living. Certainly this largely involves my physical health. I'll get back to the boot camp grind tomorrow (which will be hard to do after two weeks off!) and will do my best to run or fit in some other form of exercise on my non-boot camp days. I'll try to cut back on the number of times I eat out, especially fast food, and do more cooking at home, which will help not only my waistline but my wallet as well.

The healthy living isn't just limited to the physical, however. I want to stay mentally sharp and challenge myself to try new things. Perhaps I'll take the intermediate ballroom dance class, since I enjoyed the beginner class so much, or I may try a different class or new hobby. I'm hopeful that I'll meet more people who challenge my thinking and who encourage me to be a better person.

Most of all, my quest involves my spiritual health. I feel like over the past year God has taught me so much about His provision and has helped me finally feel content with who I am, at home in my own skin. That's not to say that I wouldn't welcome some life changes, but I feel more comfortable at this stage in my life than perhaps I ever have. I'm grateful for all God has taught me, but I don't want the teaching to end (and I know it won't). I eagerly anticipate what He's going to do through and for me in the coming year.

How about you--are you a resolutions kind of person? What are you focusing on for 2012?

Favorite Moments

2012-01-02T08:25:00.002-06:00

For the first time all year I took an entire week off from work and have really enjoyed it. So much so that going back to work tomorrow is going to be really, really hard. But before I start dreading that early morning alarm clock, I'll reminisce about some of my favorite moments from the past week. Naturally, they all stem from my and my parents' visit to Georgia to see my sister, brother-in-law and three nieces. We were only there for a couple of days but, as always, there was plenty to enjoy. Here are a few favorite moments:

• I usually stay in my oldest niece's bedroom. True to her name, Grace graciously gave up her bedroom once again to accommodate me, and left me with this lovely welcome note (complete with mint) on her bed:

Later, after being reminded (thanks a lot, sis!) that hotel guests often leave tips for good service, she added a postscript to the other side of her note:

So it's official--I have the most clever nieces in the world. For the record, I did leave a tip, although slightly less than the requested $5 because (a) I didn't have a $5 bill with me and (b) I didn't want to cause trouble among her sisters by appearing to show favoritism. It wouldn't take long for those girls to clean me out!

• One of the gifts I gave my middle niece (Sophia) turned out to be a big hit. I gave her a beauty salon set that included fake nail polish, lipstick, eye shadow, makeup brushes, comb, flat iron, etc. I lost count over how many "makeovers" Sophia gave me during my brief stay. Thankfully the "makeup" was plastic and not real, or else I'd probably have ended up with blue and purple eyeshadow all over my face.

• My youngest niece, Evelyn, enjoyed reading a Winnie the Pooh "look and find" book. I laughed every time she'd find one of the objects that the book called for--she'd excitedly say "I found it!" or "There it is!" So cute and so proud of herself for finding it!

• I also loved hearing Evelyn's laughter, particularly when she got really tickled over something (such as actually being tickled). There is nothing like a three year-old's giggles to get me laughing, too.

• My sister and I found some time to get away together for a quick shopping trip. We were both in search of jeans, and to our shock, we each found some that fit. Considering how challenging jeans shopping can be for women, that was a minor miracle. We credit each other for being our lucky shopping charm, so I think that means we'll need to meet up at least once a month from now on to go shopping together.

With fun moments like these, you can see why I'm reluctant to return home to the real world and to get back to work. So what were some of your favorite moments over the Christmas break?

Cheers to 2012

2012-01-01T13:20:00.001-06:00

I loved this quote that I found on one of my favorite blogs, Sequins and Stripes. I'm looking forward to some good changes--and maybe a surprise or two--in the new year.

Wish I Were There

2011-12-28T07:14:00.002-06:00

Is it too soon to be dreaming about a beach trip? Knowing how hectic the first few months of 2012 are going to be for me, work-wise, I have no doubt that my mind and body will desperately need a relaxing getaway. Maybe I should go ahead and put a deposit down on my favorite condo before it gets booked...

A Child Is Born

2011-12-25T07:41:00.003-06:00

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:2, 6)

Merry Christmas to you all!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2011-12-24T17:50:00.002-06:00

These folks take flash mob to a new spiritual level, surprising holiday shoppers at a mall with a medley of Christmas hymns. What an amazing and touching way to remind everyone of the true meaning of the season: Christ's birth. Sit back and enjoy. By the way, you might want to keep some kleenex handy.

Book Review: Nearing Home

2011-12-24T17:29:00.003-06:00

My latest Booksneeze review is of Billy Graham's new book, Nearing Home. In the book, subtitled Life, Faith, and Finishing Well, the iconic evangelist discusses the challenges of growing old and the desire to finish his life as God intends.

Although I suspect the book will find its widest audience among those in their senior years, it is not directed solely at them. Graham emphasizes the fact that God has a plan for each of us at every age and stage of life. Using examples from Scripture of men and women who God used to fulfill His purposes even in old age, Graham makes the point that some of God's greatest plans for us are fulfilled in our later years. He also shares from his own experiences of growing old, losing friends and family members, and looking forward to Heaven.

This was the first book of Graham's that I'd read. I think I expected something a little more challenging from such a legendary preacher, but I found the book to be a quick and easy read. It was a good reminder to make the most of each day and to trust that God has more in store for us than we can imagine.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through theBookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Lost and Found and a Little Perspective

2011-12-13T19:06:00.004-06:00

Lost: My voice

For the past few days I've been dealing with my usual annual upper respiratory infection, aka The Crud. And as is typical for me with such infections, last night I lost my voice. I was out of town at a meeting with one of my co-workers, and my voice started to get really hoarse during the meeting. Thankfully I didn't have to say very much. On the hour and a half drive home, my voice went from hoarse to practically non-existent, and it wasn't much better today.

It usually takes losing my voice to remind me of how much I really talk on a typical day. Even at home, I find myself talking to my dog quite a bit, so I wonder if she's noticing (and confused by or even perhaps enjoying?) the silent treatment I'm having to give her. I'm on antibiotics now and actually feeling better than I have the past few days, so the laryngitis is more of an annoyance than a discomfort. Still, it's frustrating at times to not be able to speak up; no drive thru meals for me until I regain my voice.

We do have an event at our office tomorrow with lots of guests who I've been looking forward to seeing, so I'm praying that my voice will recover enough by tomorrow afternoon to carry on conversations without straining my vocal cords. Feel free to say a prayer on my behalf if you feel so moved. :)

Found: A new book

On a happier note, yesterday I got a nice little surprise. Not too long ago I stumbled upon a new (to me) blog, Peak313 Fitness. Clare, the author, is an aerobics and pilates instructor who writes about health and fitness from a Christian viewpoint. With a mix of practical guidance and spiritual insight, her blog has become one of my favorites.

She recently held a giveaway of a new book by Gary Thomas, Every Body Matters. Yesterday I found out that I was one of three readers randomly selected to win a copy of the book. As an avid reader, winning a new book is like Christmas for me, so I was thrilled. I've never read any of Thomas' work, although I have heard rave reviews for an earlier work of his, Sacred Marriage, and based upon Clare's own review of his latest work, I think this will be a great read. I'm looking forward to receiving it soon.

And a Little Perspective

For the past few weeks I've been part of the Praying for Karlie community on Facebook. Karlie is a little three year-old girl who has been at Children's Hospital in Birmingham for several weeks now with kidney failure and a host of other related problems. I don't know Karlie herself but I do know her father through work; he is one of our main contacts at one of our local printers.

This afternoon I read the latest update on Karlie, and was sad to see that she has had a very rough day, perhaps one of the roughest yet. The doctors seem to be baffled by what is causing her myriad of problems and unsure how to treat her. Of course, we have a Great Physician who knows exactly what's wrong with Karlie and can provide total healing.

Please join me in praying for this little girl, who has been through so much in such a short time. Pray also for her parents and her big sister, as well as her extended family and friends. You can read more about Karlie on the Praying for Karlie page on Facebook; it is a "public" page so anyone (including those without Facebook accounts) can access it.

Hearing of others who are going through such difficult times really helps puts things in perspective for me, and reminds me to not take my blessings for granted. Furthermore, I'm reminded that this life, no matter how wonderful or how difficult it may be, is a mere warm-up act for what God has in store for us in the life to come.

WFMW: Christmas Art on the Cheap

2011-12-07T07:06:00.000-06:00

I recently determined that it was time to change out the artwork above my stove. My old artwork consisted of a floral print cut from an old Georgie O'Keefe calendar inserted into an 8x10 yard sale frame (for which I probably paid a whopping 25 cents). It was pretty, but after a few years I was ready to look at something new without spending much money on it.

With Christmas approaching, I decided to find some Christmas-themed subway art to put into the frame. There is an abundance of subway art on the internet, and I chose this one. I simply saved it to my desktop, scaled it down to 8x10, and printed on my home printer.

The yard sale frame originally had a white crackle finish, so I spray painted it a glossy black using paint I already had on hand. Here's the finished project:

Voila! New Christmas-themed artwork for just a few pennies. Now THAT works for me!

Find other projects and ideas on Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Relatable

2011-11-30T21:38:00.001-06:00

At the beginning and conclusion of each 4-week fitness boot camp, our instructor weighs and measures us so that we can see progress {hopefully} being made. Earlier this week I met with her for my post-evaluation of this latest camp [sidenote: I lost 4 pounds and 3 1/4 inches this session, woo hoo!]. As she took my measurements, we talked about that morning's session, which had included some new (and pretty challenging) exercises.

Usually our instructor does some but not all of the exercises with us. However, she told me that she went through the entire workout with her 8:30 class, and she admitted that she thought it was pretty hard, too. It was strangely comforting to hear that my incredibly fit, healthy instructor was feeling the struggle during her workout and could, in turn, empathize with us when she puts us through the paces.

It made me think about how grateful I am that Jesus came to Earth not just as a spiritual being but in the flesh as well. He faced the same struggles and temptations that we face, and can therefore empathize with us. He has firsthand knowledge of what it's like to feel lonely, rejected, hated, disappointed, betrayed. He can relate intimately to us because He's lived not just among us but as one of us, albeit without sin.

In this season of Advent, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I'm glad to be reminded of this.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2011-11-24T09:04:00.001-06:00

"O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness."

--William Shakespeare

"Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies."

--Charles E. Jefferson

"As we pause to thank Him for the blessings of the past year, we must not forget to thank Him for the lessons we have learned through our difficult times. We are not to be thankful for just the pleasant, easy things, but ALL things."

--Millie Stamm

"We tend to take all the gifts and pleasures and happiness and the joy without saying much to God. We take our health and strength, our food and clothing and our loved ones, all for granted; but the moment anything goes wrong we start grumbling and complaining and we say 'Why should God do this to me, why should this happen to me?' How slow we are to thank and swift to grumble."

--Martyn Lloyd-Jones

"Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now."

--A. W. Tozer

"Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!"

--Henry Ward Beecher

"But Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving', Charlie Brown."

--Marcie

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Gravity

2011-11-18T19:06:00.001-06:00

Most days I get caught up in the ebb and flow of life, getting worked up over the minutiae that can seem overwhelming in the moment but that is, in reality, meaningless.

Some days, however, I really feel the weight of living in a fallen world. Tonight as I was leaving the grocery store I was approached by a young man asking me to buy him some food. Instinctively I said no. I was immediately on guard, as here I was, a woman alone at night in a not very crowded parking lot. I couldn't unload my cart and get into the safe confines of my locked car fast enough as he walked away.

As I left the parking lot I immediately began second guessing my decision. Maybe the guy was harmless. Maybe I should have taken him into the grocery store and bought him some food. Maybe I should have pulled some food out of my grocery bags and given it to him. Maybe I shouldn't have let my desire for my own safety and wellbeing override an opportunity to help someone in need.

On the way home I prayed that that young man would get whatever help he needed--food, shelter, a job, hope, salvation, whatever. I wonder what might have happened if I had helped him. I know that God knows my heart, and He knows that I was caught off guard and unprepared. Maybe I did the right thing. Then again, maybe I needed to be reminded that my life--including my physical self--is not my own; I've been bought with a price, and I need to be in the mindset to respond wherever and however God calls me.

I hate living in a world where I have to be on guard and assume the worst of strangers. On the bright side, how thankful I am for this reminder that this fallen, broken, messed up world is not my true home. Times like this make me feel a little more homesick for the real thing.

Cheap Thrills

2011-11-15T17:02:00.001-06:00

• This past Saturday I made a trip to the public library. The one closest to my house happens to be the one we frequented most during my childhood, and there is something oddly comforting about going to a place that is so familiar. Granted, there are a few changes--such as more computers (no more card catalog!) and books have been somewhat rearranged--but for the most part, it still looks the same. I came home with a nice big stack of books--a mystery, some "chick lit", and a couple of biographies. The hardest part is always deciding which one to read first; the second hardest part is getting as many read as I can before they're due back to the library.

• This weekend I also made a couple of favorite recipes that I originally found on Pinterest, both using canned pumpkin. Both recipes were quick, easy and relatively inexpensive (yay!). One was for this pumpkin spice syrup for Starbucks-knockoff pumpkin spice lattes, and the other was for iced pumpkin cookies, although I "healthified" mine by skipping the icing. Hey, adding pumpkin makes it health food, right?

• Speaking of Starbucks, they are having a Buy One Get One Free special on their holiday drinks November 17-20 from 2-5 p.m. If you're in my neck of the woods and need a buddy to go with you to take advantage of this special, give me a call. I'm sure I can come up with an excuse for leaving the office in the middle of the afternoon...

Book Review: 50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know

2011-11-09T18:01:00.001-06:00

As the aunt of three nieces under age 10 (and a former "young lady" myself), I was particularly curious to review 50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know, my latest Booksneeze selection. Written by Kay West (with John Bridges and Bryan Curtis), the book is an abbreviated Emily Post-type etiquette guide for the modern girl.

The book first addresses some basic good manners, such as saying "Please", "Thank you", and "Excuse Me". You'd think that this is common sense to most people and ingrained in them since they could speak, but sadly there are probably a great number of children who are simply not taught such fundamental good manners. (My nieces, on the other hand, have been taught well!)

The book also discusses a variety of situations, some timeless--such as which side of the sidewalk or staircase to walk on, how to navigate a formal dinner place setting--and some more modern situations, such as cell phone and internet etiquette. I appreciated the fact that the authors not only discuss the hows of manners but the whys behind them as well.

The book is a bit mature for my young nieces; I'd say that it's more likely appropriate for tweens or early teens. It made for a quick read and would probably make for good discussion between girls and their parents or teachers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through theBookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

All Tricks, No Treats

2011-11-05T17:28:00.004-05:00

In case you need a good laugh...

Saturday Agenda: To Be Determined

2011-11-03T19:59:00.004-05:00

With our fall work convention now firmly in my rearview mirror, I finally have some downtime to actually breathe. It's refreshing to come home with some pep still left in my step and to actually have some energy (and desire) to spend time with friends. I enjoyed a lovely meal and bookstore run with a dear friend of mine tonight after work, and am looking forward to being more social in the coming days and weeks.

My Saturday plans got cancelled, so now I have the whole day stretched in front of me with no agenda. I've got some ideas rummaging around in my head, though...

Maybe I'll start off with a quick stop for one of these (nonfat no whip, of course)

and perhaps a trip out here for their annual Christmas open house.

I may have to spend some time cruising the aisles of my favorite shoe store

and most likely make a trip here too.

Then again, I may just stay home, catch up on some housework and reading, maybe even try out a new recipe or project that I've pinned.

Of course, I'm pretty sure I know what my evening agenda consists of--rumor has it there's some football game on TV that night...

What are your weekend plans?

Start Packing--We're Going on a Guilt Trip!

2011-11-01T18:13:00.000-05:00

Last week I was out of town Wednesday-Saturday for work. Although I didn't have time to work out while I was gone, I was pretty careful about what I ate and was really proud of myself for not gaining weight while out of town.

Then I came home--and suddenly, my motivation to cut back on what I ate and to exercise more went out the window. I went to boot camp yesterday morning as usual (I go Monday-Wednesday-Friday), and fully intended to get up this morning and go for a run as I typically do on my non-boot camp days. However, this morning I just couldn't muster the desire to pry myself out from under the warm, cozy comforter and get out into the cold pre-dawn air.

No problem, I thought, I'll be diligent about what I eat for lunch and I'll work out tonight after work to make up for my morning laziness. I had a lunch meeting to attend, and planned to avoid the dessert table and eat fruit salad instead. Lo and behold, the country club that every OTHER time serves fruit salad did not have any on the buffet table today! Instead of foregoing dessert altogether, as I should have done, I got a piece of spice cake with yummy cream cheese frosting instead. And I ate every bite.

None of my co-workers were able to stick around for a workout, so I drove home with the idea of taking my dog for a walk to at least get SOME exercise in for the day. But by the time I got home, it was a little bit later than I'd planned, daylight fading fast, and the air getting a bit chilly. And so instead of going for a walk, here I sit at the computer.

I had every intention of being good today--and now I'm putting myself on a major guilt trip for not taking advantage of the multiple opportunities to do so. The commitment to healthy living is an every day--sometimes every hour--battle, often an uphill one. I see small accomplishments--a faster running time, eating fewer sweets than I used to--but it's all too easy to focus on what I've yet to do--like give up sweets for good, for instance. It's hard not to beat myself up over it.

I just have to forget what is in the past and focus on what lies ahead. I may have messed up during the day, but I can eat a healthy dinner. I can do a brief workout while I watch TV tonight. I don't have to stay in this unhealthy rut that's ruled over most of my day. I don't have to be a slave to unhealthy habits. I WILL do better--starting now.

Anyone want to help me unpack?

Book Review: Earthen Vessels

2011-10-30T17:55:00.000-05:00

I recently read Earthen Vessels by Matthew Lee Anderson as part of Bethany House Publishers' book review program. Subtitled "Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith", the book examines various aspects of our physical selves and how they relate to our faith.

The book covers a variety of topics ranging from tattoos and sexuality to mortality and the spiritual disciplines. I have to say that I found this book a hard one to really get into. It's definitely not a light read by any stretch; it reads more like a senior thesis or dissertation and certainly provides a lot of food for thought. I do believe that our physical selves is a topic that is seldom addressed by the church but should be. However, I found this particular book on the subject to be a fairly dry read that will probably not appeal to the casual reader.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

2011-10-18T18:31:00.002-05:00

Although I don't normally consider myself a worrier, from time to time I do find myself fretting over certain situations. Over the past few days, for instance, I've caught myself worrying over several issues ranging from my workload to loved ones who are going through tough times.

One of my all-time favorite hymns is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." I've loved this song for years; it's one of those that I'd like played at my funeral as a reminder of, well, God's faithfulness. Not once but twice over the past week I've awakened to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" playing on my clock radio. I couldn't help but laugh when I heard the song, as I knew immediately that God was reminding me that He is indeed in control and I have no need to worry.

In case you need a gentle reminder of God's faithfulness toward you, here are the lyrics to this old favorite:

"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

© 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.hopepublishing.com

Adoption UPDATE!

2011-10-13T07:15:00.002-05:00

Just last night I posted a prayer request for the Black family who are adopting two children from Russia. We just learned this morning that all of the necessary paperwork was approved, they received the children's visas from the U.S. Embassy, and they WILL be heading home tomorrow as originally planned! Praising God for moving so powerfully in this situation and rejoicing in this news.

If you had a chance to pray for them, thank you--many, many prayers have been answered on their behalf. You can read the update here.

More Adoption Prayers

2011-10-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so it seems like I've been surrounded by people who have adopted or are in the process of adopting children, some domestically and some from other countries. I've solicited prayers on the behalf of some adoptions in the past, and now I'm soliciting more prayers for another family who is expanding from three to five with the adoption of a son and daughter from Russia.

The parents are currently in Russia to finalize everything, with plans to bring the children home this Friday. However, there have been some major paperwork snafus regarding their new daughter, Olivia Ann, over the past couple of days, and they have sent several prayer requests about the problems. Thankfully, God has graciously answered many prayers already and has moved several mountains, but there is still the need for prayers as they wait to hear whether everything has been resolved. Please join in praying for the Black family, specifically that the paperwork will indeed finally be in order and that they will all be able to come home on Friday as planned.

You can read about their adoption journey on their blog here.

Hurdles

2011-09-29T18:54:00.001-05:00

My normal boot camp routine (unless I'm out of town) is to go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Yesterday when I woke up, it was starting to rain, and there was a lot of thunder and lightning. I got out of bed but immediately began debating as to whether or not to go to boot camp. When it rains we meet under a covered carport at the church next to the park where we usually meet, so I knew that boot camp would not be cancelled. But that didn't stop me from thinking about skipping and making up for it the next day.

In fact, I actually went back to bed, re-set my alarm and had every intention of making it up today. And yet my conscience proceeded to nag at me, telling me I'd be sorry if I didn't go, that I'd feel guilty all day, that I wouldn't want to do boot camp two days in a row. And so after laying in bed for a few minutes, my conscience won the wrestling match and I dragged myself back out of bed and got ready for boot camp.

Despite going back to bed, I still managed to make it to boot camp on time. And yes, it was hard. Since there was a lot of lightning, we didn't get any running in, but Margaret made up for it with plenty of lunges and plank work. My shoulders are pretty sore today.

On the plus side, I AM proud of myself for going. I feel like I cleared a major mental hurdle by going when I had every intention of not going. That's not to say that it will be easier to get out of bed tomorrow; I fully expect to be inwardly groaning when that alarm goes off and longing to go back to sleep. The fact that I've pre-paid for these sessions is a very good motivator though to get me out the door and to camp.

Cleared any hurdles (big or small) this week?

Just in Time Production

2011-09-25T17:50:00.002-05:00

Last week my co-workers and I took a tour of the Hyundai plant here in Montgomery, where Sonatas and Elantras are manufactured. I am by no means a car fanatic; I'm way more interested in how many cupholders a car has and whether or not it has an iPod port than in horsepower. However, I'm also a big nerd who enjoys watching the History and Discovery channels and likes seeing how things are made, so seeing a massive production like this up close was pretty cool.

The most fascinating aspect of the tour to me was learning that the plant uses "just in time" production management--meaning that its supply trucks are precisely timed and coordinated to arrive just in the nick of time for the cars being produced at that time. It's so precise, in fact, that the suppliers know the exact order of the cars being produced at that particular time (for instance, two Elantras, one Sonata, two Elantras, etc.) and are able to load the parts onto their trucks in the exact order that they need to be taken off of and put onto the assembly line.

It's quite mind-boggling, especially considering that a supply truck pulls up to the plant roughly every minute and a car rolls off the assembly line every thirty seconds or so. It's an extremely fine-tuned production that, quite frankly, would have me nervous as all get out if I was in charge of coordinating it all. There are obviously some incredibly talented folks who have planned out and coordinated this production.

As I thought more about it later, I was reminded that, impressive as Hyundai's production is, it can't hold a candle to God's timing and orchestration of everything. I struggle at times to accept His timing. I just don't understand it. It's especially hard when it seems like things are changing or progressing for people around me but I just feel stuck in this same rut that I've been in for quite a while. I tend to forget that life is bigger than me; God's orchestrating an entire world and I'm just a small part of that big puzzle. Just because I think I'm ready for a new chapter in my life doesn't mean that everything else is aligned for it just yet.

It's times like that when I cling to verses like Psalm 139:16:

You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed.

And Psalm 31:14-15a:

But I am trusting you, O Lord,
      saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.

And I have to especially remind myself of this verse from Isaiah 55:9:

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways and
my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

I'm thankful for all the times when I've been able to clearly see how perfect God's timing has been, in both small and major situations. That doesn't mean that I don't still wrestle with His timing. But I think that the older I get and the more experiences I go through, my expectations for God to come through at just the right time--and that's HIS time, not MY time--are growing more and more. That helps make this waiting period a little more easier to endure.

Today's Little Blessings

2011-09-22T19:57:00.001-05:00

It's been a fairly stressful week at work for me, particularly earlier in the week. There were a few times when I recalled a friend's recent remark that she wouldn't want to have my job and I thought to myself, "I'm not sure I want it right now, either." But overall I am very grateful for a job that I {most of the time} do enjoy.

And I am especially grateful for several little blessings that God has sent my way in the midst of the stress and frustration. Here are a few from today:

• Getting a nice big stack of magazines from my mom. One of my favorite things to do is to curl up on the sofa with a big stack of reading material, which is exactly what I plan to do this weekend (assuming I can hold off on reading them til then).

• Working out with a co-worker tonight. Even though we were both tired and contemplated skipping our workout. Even though no one else from our usual workout gang stayed late to workout with us. Even though we had some technical glitches due to a power outage this afternoon and had to wait about 15 minutes for our resident IT expert to get the DVD player back online and running. Even though Jillian Michaels showed us no mercy--I'm still glad we stuck around and worked out. I now feel a little less guilty for skipping today's morning workout.

• Arriving home and discovering that my order from DSW had arrived. {Yay!} And by the way, I am so excited that we are finally getting a DSW store here!

• Discovering that the postal worker had kindly left the box from DSW underneath my carport, where it stayed dry and safe from this afternoon's rain. I wish I knew who the postal worker was so I could thank them!

• Finding two more new magazines in my mailbox. Even more reading to enjoy this weekend!

What little blessings have made your day today?

Pinning Streak

2011-09-17T18:17:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Margie introduced me to Pinterest. What is Pinterest, you ask? It's a virtual "bulletin board" that allows you to bookmark (aka "pin") and organize items of interest that you find on the Web. For instance, I've got boards where I've pinned recipes I want to try, home decor inspiration, craft projects, gift ideas, and more.

I love the organization that Pinterest allows, and the fact that it saves me from having a bookmarks list a million miles long. You can follow friends on Pinterest (and they can follow you) and you can repin items that others have pinned.

On the downside, Pinterest can be a real time suck if you're not careful. I've got the free Pinterest iPhone app so I can pin on the go, which I'm finding is somewhat cutting into my ~~Words with Friends~~ productive time.

Here's a great tutorial on using Pinterest. If you're already on Pinterest and want to follow me, just click the "Follow me" button on the right. If you're not on Pinterest and want to give it a try, send me your email address and I'll send you an invitation to join.

Book Review: God's Love Letters to You

2011-09-11T11:07:00.001-05:00

My latest Booksneeze book review is of God's Love Letters to You by Dr. Larry Crabb. Based on Crabb's book 66 Love Letters, this newest book is a 40-day devotional guide. Each day focuses on a different book of the Bible, includes a brief Scripture passage (usually one or two verses), a few devotional thoughts, some reflection questions, and a suggested prayer.

The devotional guide is designed to help the reader view Scripture as deeply personal letters from God. Although brief, I found Crabb's devotional thoughts to be enlightening and often just what I needed to hear for that day. Reading the guide made me eager to read 66 Love Letters, which I hope to do soon.

That said, there are a couple of changes I would suggest for the devotional guide. For one, I would expand it to 66 days rather than limit it to 40 days, in keeping with the book that serves as its basis. I would also have enjoyed more than just a couple of verses of Scripture each day to give greater context and meaning to the passage.

All in all, I found God's Love Letters to You to be an enjoyable and encouraging, albeit too-brief, devotional companion to my daily Bible study. It will most likely find a home on my bookshelf and be re-read over time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through theBookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comparisons

2011-08-29T21:29:00.004-05:00

Over the past few months, fitness has become more of a priority in my life, which is why I've written about it so often. I just signed up for an entire YEAR of fitness boot camp; while I'm excited to be saving a significant amount of money versus the month-to-month option that I'd been doing, I'm also a bit apprehensive about committing to it for a full year. Especially when I think about the prospect of dragging myself out of bed when it's not only dark outside but also freezing cold. I have a feeling that pre-paying for camp will motivate me to get my booty moving on those icy pre-dawn mornings.

It's funny how there are some days when I'm working out (either at boot camp or with my co-workers or on my own) and I feel great and have tons of energy, while there are some other days when I'm just sucking wind. This morning I was really struggling at boot camp (not surprising given that some of our exercises included burpees, mountain climbers and suicides). Tonight my co-workers and I worked out to a Jillian Michaels DVD which last week really kicked my butt, but I'm proud to say that tonight it was not so bad. I even had enough energy left when I got home to take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Go figure.

One of the most difficult challenges for me is to not compare my performance to anyone else's. There are a lot of people at boot camp who have been running and working out for years and who are in far better shape than I am. I'll be honest, when we're running around the park (as we did today) it's sometimes tough to not beat myself up mentally for not being as fast as they are.

I'm trying to focus on the fact that I've cut my mile time by more than a minute since I first came to boot camp three months ago. I can do more push-ups and sit-ups than I used to. I'm seeing more muscle definition. The only comparison that I really need to make is between the Me that was a few months ago and the Me that I am today.

Likewise, it's sometimes hard to keep from beating myself up over sins that I commit, particularly in the areas that I consider to be my stumbling blocks. And it's all too easy to look at someone else and assume (wrongly, of course) that they have their act all together and that they can't possibly struggle with sin to the extent that I do. I really need to focus on doing the best that I can, and to let God's Spirit work within me to transform me into the woman He wants me to be.

One final thought--I saw this today and loved the message:

It's not about how fast or how slow I'm going--what's important is that I'm running. I'm in the race. And whether it's 21.3 miles or .21, it's still farther than never getting into the race at all. (Can you see how this applies to more than just running here? :) )

For Me, and Maybe for You, Too

2011-08-16T21:34:00.007-05:00

Sometimes when I'm trying to encourage someone, a certain Bible verse will spring to mind that I assume is intended for them, but later I realize that it's exactly what I needed to hear as well. This happened this week.

Yesterday I was thinking of and praying for a friend who was dealing with a pretty stressful legal matter. Philippians 4:6-7 immediately sprang to mind:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NASB)

[Sidenote: Although the New Living Translation is my current Bible translation of choice, I grew up on the New American Standard, so it's common for the verses to come to mind old-school instead of a more modern translation.]

I also like how The Message phrases it:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

As I said, while I was able to use these verses to encourage my friend, that wasn't the end of their usefulness for the week. Today was one of those days at work where my to-do list seemed to grow by the hour, and on the ride home, as I thought about all that needed to get done that didn't get done today and all that needs to get done tomorrow and the rest of the week and the rest of the month, I started to get a little stressed out. Okay, more than a little.

And then Philippians 4:6-7 popped into my head yet again. This time, those verses were for me. This evening, I needed to be reminded to not let my worries pile up to be fretted over and chewed upon and digested, but rather to turn them over to the One who's fully in control.

Maybe someone else needs these verses today, too. Maybe it's you. Or someone you know. At any rate, I'm thankful that God never fails to give me exactly what I need, just when I need, and that He often prompts me to pass it along to others who need it, too.

And a One and a Two...

2011-08-10T18:47:00.002-05:00

Apparently 2011 is turning out to be the year of trying new things. I've already accomplished one of my longtime goals by trying my hand at fitness boot camp (I'm getting ready for my FOURTH camp in a couple of weeks, can you believe it??), and now I'm planning on conquering the world of ballroom dance.

For many years I've wanted to take dance lessons, but have never had a willing partner to take with me. Now, however, a few co-workers and I have signed up to take lessons together this fall. I can only imagine the struggle we'll have to maintain our composure rather than crack each other up. We could probably sell tickets for people to come watch our lessons, as I'm sure we'll provide many laughs with our lack of coordination and grace. Regardless of whether I master the cha-cha or the rhumba, these lessons will provide lots of fun (and hopefully burn some extra calories, too.)

Now, what I was saying earlier in the year about feeling like I'm in a rut?

A Little Refreshment

2011-08-07T17:33:00.004-05:00

It's been an extremely hot, humid, and (for the most part) dry summer, which has made spending time outdoors pretty miserable. Even though our boot camp meets at 5:30 a.m. before the sun really comes up, the last few days have been so humid that I've worked up a sweat just standing there waiting for the session to begin.

So it's no wonder that one of the favorite treats at boot camp are when our instructor brings her cooler filled with washcloths that are soaking in ice water. She doesn't bring them every day, but on the days that she does, we can't wait to wring out the excess water and wrap the washcloths around our sweat-soaked necks. It's amazing how such a little treat can bring such refreshment.

That got me thinking the other day about how small gestures can make a big impact. Verses like Matthew 10:42 spring to mind:

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

It's so easy for me to think that little favors don't really matter. I take them for granted all the time. Sure, I may automatically say thank you whenever someone holds a door open for me or allows me to get in line ahead of them at the grocery store, but I don't always realize the significance of that kind gesture.

Furthermore, it's so easy for me to be so caught up in my own little world that I don't notice how thirsty someone may be for some refreshment from me. I want to be used by God in powerful, significant ways--and that may mean focusing on doing small things rather than waiting for some grand opportunity. So I'm feeling challenged to (a) be more aware of and more thankful for small moments of refreshment that come my way, and (b) to be more proactive in seeking out ways that I can refresh others.

Finds

2011-07-26T18:28:00.002-05:00

In case you're wondering, I did not fall off the face of the earth (not entirely, anyway). For the past several weeks my brain has been full of preparations for our biggest conference of the year, which took place last weekend. The good news is that all of our meetings and events went well. The better news is that my brain has [nearly] recovered and I should be back to forming coherent thoughts shortly.

Most of my creative juices were directed toward preparing for this conference, so while I wait for them to refill and be channeled into some blog posts, in the meantime I thought I'd share a few favorite finds (say that three times fast).

Food Finds

• Quinoa. (Oh quinoa, why have I only recently tried you? I heard of you long ago but did not venture to try you until just a couple of months ago, and I regret missing out on years of enjoying you.) Quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah") is a whole grain that has a bit of a nutty taste and is the approximate consistency of couscous. It's a good rice substitute; I usually cook it on the stove and add in steamed and/or roasted veggies such as mushrooms, spinach, carrots and tomatoes, plus a little garlic, then top it with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. (In fact, it's what I'm making for dinner tonight!) Easy dish to make and quite healthy.

• Stevia & Agave. For years I've used artificial sweeteners, particularly in my coffee. I'm trying to get away from artificial food and use more "real" food, including real sugar on occasion. I'm also trying to cut back on the amount of sugar and sweeteners I use. I recently tried both stevia and agave nectar as potential substitutes to sweeten my coffee. Of the two, I prefer the stevia a bit more--it's zero calorie, whereas agave does have calories. However, with the agave a little goes a long way, so if you prefer it you can use just a little at a time.

Web Finds

I've also come across a couple of healthy eating/fitness websites that I've bookmarked and peruse just about every day:

• Skinnytaste.com: Great healthy, low calorie recipes with all the nutritional info (including Weight Watchers points for those on WW) included. Of course, I'm a sucker for beautiful photography so this site's a winner in my book.

• Your Nutritionista: Lots of healthy recipes, fitness tips and articles

Have you tried any new foods or come across any new websites (not necessarily health/fitness related) that you want to share?

Just So You Know

2011-07-07T21:31:00.004-05:00

If you are trying to reduce the amount of

in your diet, eating

{BrEaD pUdDiNg}

made from

is really not the way to do it.

{But boy oh boy, was it good!}

A Little Summer Reading

2011-07-06T18:18:00.004-05:00

Just Finished

I've been on a bit of a French kick lately, reading several autobiographies of Americans living in Paris. (Hmmm, wonder if that's a sign of things to come?) I greatly enjoyed Julia Child's memoir of her transition from government work to cookbook author and television star while dividing time between the U.S. and France.

Now Reading

Having completed a couple of Kelly Minter's Bible studies, I was eager to read her latest book. I enjoy her down-to-Earth approach and humility; I appreciate her openness about her own struggles to adapt to the character of Christ. I'm trying to read through the various attributes slowly and not rush through them. Developing these characteristics is certainly a lifelong process and I have a feeling this is one of those books that I'll read through multiple times.

Next in the Lineup

The first Donald Miller book that I read was Searching for God Knows What. Loved it. I was a bit underwhelmed by Blue Like Jazz; I know it was on many Christian "must read" lists but to me, it just didn't live up to the hype. However, I did enjoy Through Painted Deserts, and have been eager to read this one ever since it came out.

So, read any good books lately?

The Best Laid Plans

2011-06-28T18:37:00.002-05:00

With a weekend road trip approaching and my car slightly overdue for an oil change, I decided that today would be a good day to take it in for a check-up. I have a card that gives me four free oil changes at the auto dealership, so I took it there. Normally I would just drop off the car, have the shuttle service take me to work and then have a co-worker run me back out when the car was finished, but today I decided to get there early in the hopes of getting in and out quickly. WRONG.

I got to the dealership right at 7 a.m., when the service department opened. There were already a few cars in line ahead of me, but the service guy told me they'd be done in about an hour, so I opted to wait, figuring that I'd be done around 8 and have plenty of time to get to work by 8:30 (my usual start time). WRONG.

Turns out that there was some problem with a piece of equipment that delayed all the service work, so instead of me getting out of there in an hour, it was closer to an hour and forty-five minutes. I ended up being about a half hour late to work; luckily our office is pretty flexible about matters such as this.

My grand plans of getting to work on time (or even a few precious minutes early) were ruined, and I left the dealership extremely frustrated. My only consolation was that the oil change was free, but as a co-worker pointed out, my time is worth something, too. Lesson learned--for the remainder of my free oil changes I will just drop off the car and not wait around for it.

As I drove to work, I reminded myself that, even though I had what I thought was a good plan for my morning, God apparently had other plans in mind. And while I have yet to see the purpose in it, I'm sure there IS a purpose for it. I struggle to remember that my time--all of it--really belongs to God. More so, I struggle to surrender that time to Him. I've become very protective of my time, and I get pretty irritated when something or someone interferes with my plans. So maybe this morning's incident was to remind me that it was really God's car and God's morning anyway.

Anyone else struggle to turn their time over to God? Anyone successfully won that battle and want to share some hints for keeping that reminder at the forefront of your mind??

Book Review: Money Secrets of the Amish

2011-06-27T07:15:00.001-05:00

My latest Booksneeze book review is of Money Secrets of the Amish, written by Lorilee Cracker.

While most of America was suffering through the economic downturn, author Cracker found that the Amish were actually thriving. She set out to discover the secrets behind their money success.

The book does not really divulge any "new" secrets to gaining and maintaining financial stability; rather, it is filled with tried-and-true, practical advice that the Amish have utilized for generations. Topics range from using items until they truly wear out (and then finding new purposes for them if possible) to buying items secondhand to bartering. Some of the more challenging chapters, in my opinion, were those that covered the art of delayed gratification (something I struggle with quite a bit!) and rethinking gift-giving.

Although I'd heard much of the advice before from the likes of Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and other financial experts, I still enjoyed reading about finances and material goods from the Amish point of view. Each chapter ends with a brief challenge to the reader to employ some of the advice therein to create their own personal "Amish money makeover". I certainly think I'll put at least some of the book's insights into practice and look for ways to cut back and make life a little simpler.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through theBookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Progress Report

2011-06-26T16:59:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that my second round of boot camp is drawing to an end. (Harder to believe that I let nearly an entire month slip by without writing on my blog--I wonder if I have any readers left?)

As I was saying, I'm entering the last week of the second round of boot camp, and already it's hard to imagine life without it. Yes, I am seriously contemplating going another round. I enjoy the camaraderie of working out with a group, but more enjoyable has been seeing some real progress. Let's review some of the changes, shall we?

• My legs have slimmed down and my calves have become quite muscular. This is due not only to boot camp but also to my Couch to 5K program that I began while boot camp was on its two week hiatus. I'm currently going to boot camp Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and doing Couch to 5K on Tuesdays, Thursdays and (some) Saturdays. Walking/running up and down my very hilly neighborhood has definitely made for some strong leg muscles.

• I started out using 5 lb. hand weights at boot camp, but in the past week have semi-graduated to using 8 lb. weights, at least most of the time. Perhaps by the end of this week I'll be a full-fledge graduate and use 8 lb. weights exclusively. (A girl can dream!) I am by no means close to having Michelle Obama arms, but they are quite nicely defined and stronger.

• Thanks in great part to the Couch to 5K program, I can run farther and longer (although still not as fast as I'd like). I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to run long distances non-stop, but I can definitely see some progress and that's encouraging.

• Clothes that were once snug on me now fit, or, in some cases, have become loose on my frame. I bought a couple of pairs of pants at the shopping outlet on my beach trip in May; they fit at the time, but are now pretty loose. It's exciting to try on clothes that now loosely drape rather than pull and strain, but it's also a little frustrating to think about needing to buy new clothes when so many of my current clothes are fairly new and in good shape. Luckily I've hung on to some pants that were a tad on the small side for me in recent months but are beginning to fit well again. Perhaps I can put off shopping a bit longer...

I share all of this (and my previous boot camp posts) not to brag on myself; believe me, if you saw how I huff and puff and get red-faced and drip sweat non-stop each morning, you'd be tempted to call a paramedic out of fear that I'd keel over any second. I'm not the most graceful creature when it comes to working out, nor will I ever be the fastest or strongest. No, the reason I share these experiences is twofold: first, to build in some accountability for myself. Knowing that people who know I'm working out are going to be asking me about it helps keep me on track when I'm sorely tempted to hit the snooze button.

My second reason for sharing this is to encourage those of you who have ever wondered about boot camp or Couch to 5K or any other fitness program or sport to check it out. I feel SO much healthier since I've been doing boot camp and the Couch to 5K, and I'm so glad I tried it out. I may not be able to do boot camp every month for the rest of my life (oh, if only they gave lifetime memberships! I'd sign up tout de suite!), but I do intend for fitness to be a critical element of the rest of my life. I like to try new things, so I'm hoping I can always find something fun and challenging to do to keep me going.

How about you? Tried any new workouts or sports lately? Or are there any that you want to try but are intimidated by?

The Boot Camp Diaries Addendum (aka Please Ma'am May I Have Another?)

2011-05-29T18:20:00.003-05:00

It seems that my transformation from semi-couch potato to semi-athlete is moving quite along. Although we're on a two-week break between boot camps, our instructor set up a "drop-in" day last Thursday at the Capitol for anyone who wanted to get an extra session in. I signed up to attend, and when I read her email asking us to bring our mats with us, I thought that maybe she'd take it a little easy on us and that we'd get to do some yoga.

WRONG. Thursday's session was one of our toughest sessions, which is saying a lot. Our mats were not used for some peaceful, relaxing yoga. Instead, we began by doing 5 push-ups, 10 squats, 5 burpees, and 10 full sit-ups. And we repeated that cycle 8 times.

She then has us--you guessed it--run the stairs for what seemed like an eternity. We ran singles 10 times, followed by doubles 10 times. Then we shuffled up and down. We stopped twice along the way to do 50 triceps dips (for a total of 100). By that time my legs were burning, which meant that it was the *perfect* time to run sprints up and down the stairs. Suffice it to say, by that point I was ready to drop and starting to regret my decision to "drop-in" that day.

After all the stair running, Margaret has us do four more rounds of our mat exercises before finally cooling down. Despite the exhaustion and pain, I'm glad that I went. I figure the more active I stay during the break, the less difficult it will be when boot camp starts up again in another week.

By the way, I've also started the Couch to 5K program, which I plan to do on non-boot camp days. I completed week one yesterday and will do week two this week. I'm hoping that it will help me have more stamina for boot camp and, of course, enable me to run a 5K non-stop. At this point I'm doing good to run a minute without stopping, so it will be a minor miracle of this program transforms me into an actual runner. But miracles DO still exist, so we'll see...

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 12 (aka Last Day)

2011-05-20T18:45:00.001-05:00

Final day of boot camp! To kick things off, we had post-camp evaluations with Margaret yesterday so that she could measure us and see how our weight, inches, body fat, etc. compare to where we started. Although I didn't lose weight, I did gain some muscle and lost a couple of inches. My body fat percentage also dropped by a few points, and my lean muscle increased. All in all, a decent improvement from where I'd been four weeks earlier.

After a quick warm-up, we completed our follow-up fitness test, which consisted of running a mile and doing as many sit-ups and push-ups as we could in a minute. I was a little disappointed that I had pretty much the same time on my mile and number of sit-ups from the first week of camp, but I was much improved on my push-ups. I've obviously got a lot to work on, particularly when it comes to cardio endurance.

We then completed several one-minute exercises, including walking lunges and some weight exercises. We finished up with some yoga, and then wrapped up a few minutes early so that Margaret could take everyone to Starbucks. Talk about a great way to wrap up our session!

I've been seriously considering signing up for another round of boot camp when it resumes in a couple of weeks, and before I left Starbucks I told Margaret that I'd decided to do it. (And believe it or not, I would have re-upped even without Starbucks!) I've been reluctant to shell out another couple of hundred bucks for a month of workouts, but this morning I realized that I wasn't just spending money--I was investing in my health.

Boot camp has helped me be more disciplined with exercising consistently, as I've been exercising at home on my "off" days. It's also helped me be a bit more disciplined when it comes to my eating habits, although I still give in to my sweet tooth far too often.

All in all, boot camp has been a fantastic experience, and I'm so thankful that I've done it. If it's something you've ever thought of but were afraid to try, let me wholeheartedly encourage you to do it. I'm reaping not only physical results but also some increased inner confidence as well. I'm looking forward to seeing how the next round of camp goes. Stay tuned--the boot camp diaries sequel may be coming!

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 11 (aka Take My Breath Away)

2011-05-18T21:36:00.002-05:00

Last day at the Capitol for this boot camp session. While I still don't exactly share the same sentiment mentioned earlier by one of my fellow campers about Capitol days being her favorite workout days, I have grown to appreciate having a change of scenery, even if I know up front that this change will involve a lot of stair climbing.

Once again we used a 5 lb. weight ball through much of our workout. Once again I found myself huffing and puffing through the majority of it, although I like to think that I'm huffing and puffing less than I was when boot camp first began. I have yet to actually count those steps at the Capitol; perhaps one day I'll remember.

We ran all the way down Dexter Avenue, around the fountain at Court Square, and back uphill to the Capitol. Well, most people ran--I alternated between running and walking. My fellow slowpokes did not show up for boot camp today so I was the slowest one by far, and everyone else was back to running steps by the time I hoofed it back to the Capitol. (Maybe there's an upside to coming in last--missing out on some exercises!)

I have to admit that I was tempted to throw a little pity party for myself; I really am tired of coming in last. But Margaret was a great encourager and told me that she was proud of me for finishing strong. And you know what? I'm proud of myself too. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that there will always be a big bunch of people faster and stronger than me, but I'm trying to remind myself that I'm doing my best and that I AM getting faster and stronger. Maybe one day my body will be as lean and mean as my mind wants it to be. For now I'm going to focus on how far I've come in this first round of boot camp.

And by the way, doing boot camp two days in a row was pretty brutal. Like I said in my last post, I don't think I'm ready to up my sessions to five days a week just yet.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 10 (aka The Beginning of the End)

2011-05-17T21:26:00.001-05:00

I can't believe this is the last week of boot camp. Although I normally go on Mondays, I was still at the beach so I went on Tuesday instead. It didn't take long before I was feeling the effects of taking it easy over the weekend.

We incorporated a jump rope into some of our exercises. I can't remember the last time I used an actual jump rope, and my lack of practice showed as I struggled to keep it going. Thankfully I wasn't the only one who was having a hard time today.

We also partnered up and did some exercises where one would run across the tennis court with a band around their waist while the partner tried to rein them in. I felt like I was at football practice but was actually stronger than I thought I would be.

I'm a bit nervous about going to boot camp two days in a row. Hopefully my body will hold out tomorrow. I think it will still be a while before I'm ready to go five days a week instead of my usual three.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 9 (aka Hitting Boot Camp Before Hitting the Beach)

2011-05-13T07:08:00.002-05:00

Today I leave on my beach vacation with three good friends. Most normal people would be sleeping in a bit and finishing up some last-minute packing. You've probably figured out by now that I'm not so normal, as evidenced by my decision to go to boot camp before hitting the road.

Once again we had Heather as our instructor instead of Margaret. She started by placing orange cones in a wide semi-circle around a field at the park. We were instructed to run to each cone, pick up the cone and read the exercise on the bottom of it, and then run back to our mats and perform the exercise before running to the next cone, and so on. We could start at any cone we wanted and go in any order we wanted. Perhaps unwisely, I began with the cone nearest me; maybe I would have been better off tackling the cones that were farthest away first while I still had fresh legs and lungs, but I was afraid that if I didn't go in order I'd quickly lose track of which cone I was supposed to run to next.

The exercises were mostly strength exercises such as lunges, crunches, burpees, etc. I liked having the strength exercises mixed in with cardio; it seems to be a bit more palatable than running for a long time in one stretch.

For the last half of class we did a combination of yoga and pilates. I've always been pretty flexible, but I'm finding that I'm even more limber thanks to the yoga we've been doing in boot camp.

I'm glad that I did get up and go to boot camp right before leaving on my trip. It probably doesn't hurt to get some last-minute toning in before putting on a swimsuit.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 8 (aka Weighing Me Down)

2011-05-11T21:03:00.002-05:00

Another Wednesday, another Capitol day. If I thought running steps was hard before, then I was in for a rude awakening, as we were each given a 5 lb. weighted ball to carry with us. We used the ball in virtually every part of the workout--carrying it running up and down the steps multiple times, wedging it between our knees while doing triceps dips, using it as a base for performing mountain climbers and push-ups, switching it from arm to arm as we did walking lunges up the hill.

I think the most challenging exercise was running up and down the side driveway while carrying the ball. Our Capitol sits atop a very steep hill, hence a very steep driveway. It would have been tough to run up and down without the weight; with the weight, I was definitely feeling the burn and counting the minutes until the cooldown.

It's amazing how much effect such a small weight can have on you. I'm sure there's a very profound metaphor about life's challenges somewhere here, but I'll spare you the life lesson for now.

Book Review: The Part-Time Vegan

2011-05-09T21:20:00.004-05:00

I enjoy cooking, and I love books, so it's no wonder that I adore cookbooks. I love sitting down with a good cookbook on my lap, poring through recipes and marking the pages (with post-it notes--no dogeared pages for me!) of recipes that I want to give a try. That's why I was looking forward to reviewing The Part-Time Vegan by Cherise Grifoni.

The book begins with a brief explanation of veganism. Basically, it's not eating any animal-based food--that means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no gelatin. The book does not expound upon any moral or political issues associated with adopting a vegan lifestyle; to its credit, it merely attempts to provide recipes that fall under the vegan standards that are simple, healthy and delicious (criteria that I always look for in recipes).

Recipes are divided into categories ranging from appetizers to soups to pasta to desserts. There's also a chapter with 11 dinner plans with appetizer, main course and dessert selections to suit a variety of occasions.

I have a couple of complaints with this cookbook, and they are, in my view, pretty major complaints. First, there are NO pictures! One of my favorite aspects of reading cookbooks is seeing photos of the finished product (always helpful to have something to compare my cooking attempt to), and I was very disappointed to see that not a single photo is included in the book. That's a definite downside.

Another disappointment was the lack of nutritional information. You'd think that a cookbook filled with healthy recipes would gladly include nutritional stats such as calories, fiber, fat, etc., but not so with this book. If you're trying to watch calorie or carb intake, using these recipes could make that somewhat tricky.

On the plus side, I've already picked out quite a few new recipes from the book to try. I'm by no means a vegan (or even a vegetarian), but I do like to have several meatless meals throughout the week, so I am confident that many of these recipes I can easily incorporate into my usual recipe lineup.

That said, due to the lack of photos and nutritional info, if I were leafing through this cookbook in bookstore, I'd probably take a pass on it.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day Seven (aka Keep On Keeping On)

2011-05-09T21:10:00.006-05:00

I'm not sure if it was the fact that it was Monday, or if boot camp sessions are in fact more challenging, but today's session was one of the toughest yet for me. After our usual few minutes of warm-up, we ran/walked a mile around the park. That part wasn't so bad. Little did I know what our instructor had in store for us next...

We were told to each pick up two bowls and put 20 poker chips into one of the bowls. Margaret had lined up two sets of cones, about 40 yards apart from each other, and we placed our poker chip-filled bowls at the far set of cones. We had to run from the starting set of cones to our bowl, pick up one poker chip at a time, and run back to deposit the chip in the empty bowl. We ran five laps at a time, and after each set of five, we'd do a quick set of various exercises with weights before returning to running another set of five laps.

I am by no means a runner, and it didn't take long before I was at the back of the pack. Some campers (who are obviously in far superior running shape compared to me) were on their final set of laps while I was still on my third. Still, I tried to not focus on comparing my performance to theirs (a surefire way to disappointment in a hurry) and instead just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. We ran a total of 20 laps, and amazingly I was still upright at the end of them!

After all that running, weight training seemed somewhat easier. We did quite a few abdominal crunches and some plank exercises, so I'm anticipating really feeling it in my abs tomorrow.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day Six (aka Halfway There)

2011-05-06T19:08:00.001-05:00

Two weeks of boot camp down, woo hoo! I can't believe it it's already halfway over. I can tell a big difference--just last night, some co-workers and I did the cardio boot camp workout on one of the "Biggest Loser" DVDs. That particular workout used to really wear me out, but last night I barely broke a sweat. Bob has nothing on Margaret!

Once again, we had a substitute instructor (Heather) for boot camp today. She conducted boot camp last week and will also direct next Friday's session as well. She's nice, but she doesn't pull any punches. Right off the bat we did a series of exercises:

• 30 mountain climbers

• 30 walking lunges

• High knees skips

• 30 walking skaters

• 30 jumping jacks

• 30 jump squats

• Run/walk back to where we started

• 15 burpees (not sure why only 15 of these--I suppose that was her way of showing a little mercy)

Now imagine doing ALL of that FOUR times! That is how we spent the first half-hour of boot camp. I thought Margaret was tough, but I think Heather may have her beat. At any rate, I think we were all missing Margaret. Funny how running up the Capitol steps a million times seems so tame in comparison to this.

After the first 30 minutes of torture, we did some strength training: lunges with weights, donkey kicks with weights, arm work, planks, etc. We finished with some yoga as our "cool down".

In a weird way, I'm encouraged to hear veteran boot campers moan and groan about these tough workouts. It's nice to know that I'm not the only feeling the pain.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 5 (aka Capitol Gains)

2011-05-04T18:34:00.003-05:00

Last week, a fellow boot camper who's a repeat camper remarked that Wednesdays were her favorite days because boot camp is always at the Capitol. I'm not sure that I can share that sentiment just yet, but it is nice to have a little "field trip" and take a break from the park.

As expected, today's boot camp involved lots of running up and down the Capitol steps. I still didn't think to count them; hopefully I'll remember to do so next week just so I have solid numbers to brag about. Of course, it's a little hard to remember to count when you're focusing on keeping one foot in front of the other and not tripping.

In addition to the many, many steps that we ran, Margaret had us run/walk all the way down Dexter Avenue and back. I've driven down Dexter many times--let me tell you, it is MUCH farther when you're actually running it. And I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to run much farther than I expected. I made it down most of Dexter before stopping to walk. I alternated between walking and running on the way back. Again, I was one of the slowest folks there (a couple of slower pokes did not show up for boot camp today!), but the important thing was that I finished.

For strength training, we did 50 push-ups against the wall, plus mountain climbers, triceps dips, and kickouts. Tough, tough, tough, but I can tell that, slowly but surely, my endurance and strength are increasing. My legs and glutes are more toned thanks to those many steps. Seeing results is encouraging--it definitely reminds me that all this pain is worth it, and makes me seriously consider signing up for another round of boot camp in a couple of weeks.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 4 (aka Run, Lisa, Run!)

2011-05-02T21:20:00.003-05:00

Can you believe that I was actually looking forward to going to boot camp this morning? The getting up early part I could do without, but in just a week's time I've grown to really enjoy the boot camp experience. Except for the getting up early part. (Did I already mention that?)

Today was our first fitness test day. (Yikes.) For the first part of our test, we were to run or walk a mile, which was two laps around the park, and Margaret would time us. As usual, she reminded us to do the best that we could and to not worry about how fast others were going. As we got started, she told the walkers that they could just do one lap if they wanted.

I'm not a runner, so I alternated between walking and running, and after completing one lap, decided to go for a second to complete the mile. I was the last of the milers to finish--but darn it, I FINISHED IT! There were a few slower ones than me who only did one lap, so I was pretty proud of myself for lasting the whole mile.

The other components of the fitness test were seeing how many push-ups and how many sit-ups we could do in a minute. These were the full-on push-ups and sit-ups--not push-ups on my knees or crunches. We wrote down our results of the three tests so that when we do a final test at the end of the boot camp, we'll see how much progress we've made.

You'd think that the fitness testing would be enough of a workout for today, but oh no, we got our full hour's worth in. We did lunges (both static and moving) with weights. We did arm exercises. We did side kicks. We did shuffle suicides, which are (amazingly) even tougher than regular suicides.

This was a really tough hour, but I'm proud of how I did, and even more excited about how much better I'll be by the end of camp.

Despite how tired I was at the end of this morning's session, when Margaret told us that she was bringing some elastic bands and other equipment to use in Tuesday's workout, I immediately started thinking about going to it. So we'll see--I just may roll out of bed tomorrow and show up on what would normally be my "off" day. Then again, I may have to hit the snooze button and take the morning off from camp. Stay tuned...

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 3 (aka Hitting the Mat)

2011-04-29T19:12:00.002-05:00

We were back at the park on Friday, with a guest instructor, Heather, this time. She had us run for about five minutes to warm up, then told us to all go to the tennis courts. Much to my surprise, she told us that Margaret had told her that we'd had a tough week of workouts and needed something a little less strenuous, so she wanted Heather to lead us through yoga for the hour.

I've never taken a yoga class, but I've done some yoga moves in some DVDs, mainly as warm-ups/cool-downs for workouts. I was surprised at how challenging some of the moves were. I'm pretty flexible naturally, but it was still hard to hold some moves for extended periods of time. Heather told us there's a reason they refer to yoga as a "practice"--it takes a while to get the hang of all the moves. Thankfully we didn't have to do any headstands or anything that challenging.

By the end of the class, I felt like I'd had a good workout, but wasn't sweating up a storm like the previous classes. It was a nice way to end the first week of camp, but I know Monday's coming and I'll be back to dripping with sweat as usual.

By the way, remember how on day one I decided to up my frequency to three sessions a week? On the drive home today I started thinking about--can you believe it?--actually going five days a week. Yes, I have lost my mind. I may wait til the last two weeks of camp to go five days a week; I don't want to shock my poor body any more than I have just yet!

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 2 (aka Upstairs, Downstairs)

2011-04-27T19:02:00.001-05:00

Since I'm currently doing boot camp three days a week, I had Tuesday off. And my body was SORE, particularly my thighs from all the squats we did on Monday. I tried to keep moving so I didn't stiffen up too badly, but I definitely felt like I was walking like Frankenstein. I can't imagine how I would have made it through a workout if I'd gone on Tuesday. By Wednesday most of the stiffness was gone and I could move much better, which was a good thing because I had another boot camp session to face.

The boot camp meets at the Capitol on Wednesdays. When Margaret told me that on Monday, I knew it could only mean one thing: running stairs. And boy, was I right. After our warm-up, we began by running up and down the Capitol steps six times. I was too focused on not falling down to count the number of steps; maybe next week I'll remember to do that.

As if running up and down every single step wasn't fun enough, we then ran doubles, meaning we skipped every other step. We mixed in triceps dips, push-ups and mountain climbers to get some upper body strength training in. We walked and ran all the way around the Capitol. We did lunges up the hill. We did a couple more rounds of running stairs six times, although by the last round I was definitely running out of gas and walking it. Thankfully, there are several others who are slower than me, including a pregnant woman. (If she ever outruns me it will burst my ego for sure.)

One camper who's gone through boot camp before told me that Capitol days are her favorite boot camp days. I'm not quite sure I share that sentiment yet, but I suppose it will be fun to have a little "field trip" and go somewhere besides the park for every session.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 1 (aka What Was I Thinking?)

2011-04-25T18:39:00.002-05:00

For quite some time I've contemplated signing up for a fitness boot camp. I've been working out pretty consistently at home and at work over the past few months, but I knew boot camp would really challenge me in new ways. When I saw a Groupon discount for 8 sessions of boot camp for half price, I decided to bite the bullet and sign up.

The boot camp that I'm going to meets most days at a park about 10 minutes away from my house, so that's the good news--pretty convenient. The bad news? It meets at 5:30 IN THE MORNING. Which means that I need to get up around 5:00 to give my sleepy self a few minutes to stagger into the bathroom and brush my teeth, get dressed, and get out the door.

I was pretty nervous on my first day of boot camp. Although I had a pretty good idea that it would be tough, I didn't exactly know what to expect. Would I be the slowest one there? Would I be the one in the worst shape? Would I pass out mid-push-up from exhaustion?

Before I headed off to my first day of camp, I prayed that a) I wouldn't be the only new person at boot camp and that b) I wouldn't be the slowest one there. As soon as I got out of my car at the park, the woman in the car next to me got out and introduced herself. It was her first boot camp, too, and she was quick to tell me that she would probably be the slowest one out there. Answered prayer right away! :)

Camp was, in a nutshell, TOUGH. We did a few warm-up exercises, then ran a "warm-up" lap around the park. We did about a million squat and jumps. We did shoulder presses and flyes. We ran suicides, which I don't think I've done since high school P.E. class. We did planks and push-ups. After an hour, my clothes were absolutely soaked with sweat. Proudly, I did not throw up or pass out during any of it, so I consider day one quite a success.

There were close to 20 campers there, most of whom seemed to be in fantastic shape already. Talk about intimidation! However, our instructor, Margaret, repeatedly told us to not worry about how we were doing compared to anyone else, but to focus on ourselves and doing the best that we could. Still, it's hard for me to squelch that competitive side of me, but for now, I'm content with being not the fastest one in the bunch but not the slowest one, either.

At lunchtime, I had my pre-boot camp evaluation with Margaret. (She normally does it the Sunday before camp starts but since it was Easter Sunday had moved it to Monday.) She took measurements, weighed me and conducted body fat analysis. It wasn't as bad as I expected. My weight and body fat are still in the "normal" range, but she thinks I can drop about 5% body fat during camp. Although I'd love to drop some actual pounds, I'm more focused on dropping inches and toning up all over, in addition to increased endurance and strength.

I'd originally planned on only using the 8 sessions I bought through Groupon, which would mean coming to boot camp twice a week. After day one, I decided to up it to three times a week and pay for extra sessions. There were times on this first day when my legs were shaky and my lungs felt like they were ready to explode, and yet here I am signing up for more sessions. No wonder people think I'm crazy when I tell them.

In a Rut

2011-04-18T07:22:00.003-05:00

I'm feeling a bit restless lately. I'm craving some change--good change, mind you--I'm just not sure what I want.

Perhaps it's time to get back into a small group Bible study. It's been about a month or so since the study I was in concluded, so I'm feeling a desire to dive into one once again, perhaps even at another church to really change things up.

Or maybe I should find a continuing education class to take, just for the fun of it. Or discover a writers' group to join. Or get involved with some sort of community service project or ministry.

I'm ready for my horizons to be broadened, to meet new people. It's all too easy to stick to the familiar (and comfortable) routine of getting up, going to work, coming home, vegging out in front of the TV, and going to bed. But I'm really tired of having no response whenever someone asks me "What's new with you?" I don't want my life to revolve around reality TV; I need a new reality of my own.

So I'm praying for some new opportunities and new people to come into my life. (I know--be careful what you pray for!) I want to stay available for whatever purpose God has for me right now, whether it's something big like moving to a new city or something small like trying out a new Bible study group.

Is anyone else struggling with feeling like you're in a rut? How do you break out of it?

Book Review: Deeper into the Word

2011-04-10T17:58:00.005-05:00

My latest review for Bethany House Publishers features the book Deeper into the Word: Reflections on 100 Words from the New Testament by Keri Wyatt Kent.

As the title suggests, the book provides insight and commentary on 100 words and topics found in the New Testament. It provides brief background information on each word, including its original root and meaning and the context in which it was used. The book also includes some of the author's personal reflections on the words, making this more than just a typical reference book.

While I'll most likely use it when I want to dig a little deeper into the meanings of referenced words, the book could also be used as a daily devotional or study guide. It's definitely not the most comprehensive reference work I've seen, but the short passages pack enough information to provide a little more understanding into the use of the words in the New Testament.

More Adoption Prayers

2011-03-30T19:11:00.005-05:00

Adoption is a topic that has become quite close to my heart in recent years. I have several friends who are either adopted or who have adopted, both domestically and internationally. I've mentioned my friend Betsy several times before and solicited your prayers on behalf of her and her family as they journeyed to Ethiopia to adopt their daughter, Addison.

Now I'm asking for your prayers again, this time for a family who I don't know firsthand but who are friends of friends of my sister (you follow me?). They have been in the process of adopting a little boy, Kirill, from Russia. Kirill has Down Syndrome, and adoptions of children with Down Syndrome from Kirill's region are unheard of; such children are usually locked away from society and institutionalized.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the family was in Russia for their court hearing, thinking that all was smooth sailing and that the adoption would be approved. However, the judge denied them the adoption, saying that although their paperwork was in order and they seemed to be fit parents, she thought that the boy would be better off institutionalized rather than in an adoptive home.

The family is now appealing to the Supreme Court in Moscow. You can click here to read more about Kirill's story on mom Tesney's blog. Please join in praying that a judge will grant the adoption and that they will be able to bring Kirill home very soon. Pray also that by allowing this family to adopt a child with Down Syndrome, it will change the thinking of the adoption system and open the floodgates for more special needs children to be adopted.

On Loan

2011-03-13T13:36:00.005-05:00

For a while I'd been contemplating upgrading to an iPhone. I'd had the same little pink Motorola Razr for several years now, and while it was still functional, I wanted something that did more than just make and receive calls.

As I do with most major purchases, I proceeded to read all I could about it. I consulted friends who had iPhones and picked their brains about the pros and cons. I researched data plans. I crunched the numbers and determined that I could indeed afford it.

One night a couple of weeks ago, I found myself praying about whether or not to go ahead with the purchase. I sensed God saying to me, "It's okay to get it--go ahead and enjoy it. Just remember, it and everything else you have will one day be ashes and dust. It's all going to fade away."

Talk about a reality check. How easily I can get wrapped up in worrying about material things that one day are going to be gone. And how soon I forget that they ultimately belong to God, anyway. So I'm trying to view possessions from the perspective of just being on loan to me temporarily, and to not get so worked up and anxious about them.

I needed that reminder again this morning, when I found myself dealing with an overflowing toilet. Despite my best amateur plumbing efforts, I had to call in a professional (and ended up missing church as a result). I H-A-T-E-D shelling out a lot of money for a repair that took ten minutes, but I reminded myself that this house, this toilet and this checkbook all belong to God.

I've heard it said that the best way to receive gifts from God is with an open hand, open to receive but also open to give back if and when God chooses. And so while I'm enjoying my new iPhone, I'm trying to remember that it's not really mine. It's just a loaner.

Comparisons

2011-03-07T21:15:00.003-06:00

I recently finished the book Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. Although the book is written primarily out of the author's struggle with her weight and eating habits, I was drawn to its overall message of learning to satisfy our desires with God. Whether it's food, shopping, television, alcohol, or any other vice, we probably all have habits or things that we turn to for fulfillment and comfort rather than automatically turn to God.

I was particularly struck by the section discussing our tendency to make (unfair) comparisons:

"We like to identify our shortcomings, form them into a club, and mentally beat the tar out of ourselves. Over and over and over again. We label ourselves and soon lose our real identity to the beaten and bruised fragility we call 'me.'

We compare, we assume, we assess, we measure, and most times walk away shaking our head at how woefully short our 'me' falls when compared to everyone else. How dangerous it is to hold up the intimate knowledge of our imperfections against the outside packaging of others." (Made to Crave, pg. 184, emphasis mine)

This is so true--how often do I look at the outward appearance of someone who seemingly has it all together and judge myself as lacking in comparison? Thankfully, I'm more content and secure in my life as a single woman now than I was years ago, but there are still times when I gaze upon my married mom-friends with a bit of envy and feel somewhat inadequate next to them. The fact that I know just how messy my life is at times, how sinful and selfish and lazy and impatient I am, just makes me feel even more like a loser when I am surrounded by those who, by outward appearances, seem wholly devoted to God, unfailingly generous, and patient to a fault.

So I'm thankful for the reminder that things are not always as they seem. I'm even more thankful to remember that the One who knows me better than I know myself, who truly knows every negative characteristic that I possess and every evil, selfish act I've done, loves, forgives and accepts me, in spite of me.

Tracking

2011-02-24T21:04:00.002-06:00

Lately I've ordered several items online, some for work, some for personal use. I love knowing that something (especially if it's something fun) is on its way to me. And I really love being able to track its progress and have a good estimate of when my order will arrive.

However, I have to confess that sometimes I find it frustrating to track an order and see that it is still far from here. Why does it have to sit in a warehouse in Chicago for a day and a half before it leaves? When it arrives in my city, why does it take another day before it's delivered to me? I can see by the online tracker that it's THIS close, and yet I can't have it just yet.

I've thought before that being able to track the progress of my prayers might be handy. If I could look online and see that whatever I've asked for is just a few days away, then maybe I wouldn't worry or doubt. Then again, if I knew that the answer was delayed by several weeks, months or even years, I'm not sure I'd have the patience to wait gracefully. If I get antsy anticipating the arrival of some new books from Amazon, I can't imagine how anxious I'd be knowing exactly when an answer to a prayer would arrive.

So it's really for the best that God keeps certain things like His timing a mystery to me. After all, not knowing how or when He's going to answer helps build my faith as I wait and learn to gratefully accept whatever (and whenever) the outcome. The anticipation gives me an opportunity to experience His peace while I wait. And sometimes the best deliveries are the ones that come unexpectedly.

Book Review: Curiosities of the Civil War

2011-02-21T21:07:00.004-06:00

My most recent Booksneeze review is of Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison.

Growing up in the Heart of Dixie (and in a city that was, for a brief time, the capital of the Confederacy), I was naturally exposed to much Civil War history. Webb Garrison's book uncovers some hidden stories that aren't mentioned in high school history books. Many of his stories involve the ordinary citizens who were pressed into action, men (and some women) whose names are not familiar to most of us.

The book spans more than 500 pages, and most stories are only a couple of paragraphs in length. Although I do enjoy history, I would prefer for there to be fewer stories but stories that are longer and more detailed. Many of Garrison's stories were just tidbits of incidents that occurred throughout the war; perhaps being a details-oriented person makes me long for more information in these stories.

Subtitled "Strange Stories, Infamous Characters, & Bizarre Events", Curiosities of the Civil War provides just that. If you're a big history buff (and especially a Civil War buff), you'll probably find this book quite interesting and will likely learn some new facts.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Song on My Mind

2011-02-18T07:11:00.002-06:00

I woke up this morning with the song "Our God" by Chris Tomlin in my head. Not a bad way to start the day.

The lyrics are below, and you can listen to the song here. I especially like the words of the bridge: "And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us And if Our God is with us, then what can stand against?" May you be encouraged and refreshed by it.

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Say a Prayer

2011-02-17T16:18:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my friends Betsy and Chad who are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. Earlier this week Betsy and her mom traveled to Ethiopia to finalize the paperwork and bring the baby home. Little Addison is now officially a U.S. citizen, and she is now flying home with her new mom and grandma. Tomorrow they'll arrive in the U.S. and Addison will get to meet her brand new family, which includes three big brothers.

Please take a minute to say a prayer for their loooooong plane trip and especially for this season of transition for Betsy, Chad, their boys, and Addison, as well as their extended family.

You can read more about Betsy and Chad's journey to adoption on Betsy's blog.

Good Advice

2011-02-07T07:22:00.002-06:00

I've seen this on a few other blogs and appreciated the advice offered. Thought I'd share it with you.

What advice would you add to this?

Light Gives Heat: Buy One, Give One Special

2011-02-03T07:10:00.002-06:00

I first heard about Light Gives Heat through a friend from church, Allison. She and her family recently moved to Colorado where LGH is based and she got involved with the organization. Through its sales of jewelry and handbags made by Ugandan women, LGH helps provide economic stability for Uganda while raising awareness of the needs of Africa. Combining fashion with humanitarian efforts? I love it!

Throughout February, LGH is running a special Buy One, Give One offer. Every day an item will be featured, and when you buy one you'll get a duplicate item free. The point is to give the second item away to help share the story of LGH. You can read more about the special here.

If you have a Facebook account, you can also go here to sign up for their daily notifications of what's on sale.

Happy shopping!

Beginnings and Endings

2011-02-02T20:09:00.002-06:00

I've been offering up a lot of prayers lately for friends (and friends and family of friends) who are beginning or ending journeys. One such person is John, the father of my friend Ashley. He is in the final days (perhaps hours even) of his battle with a brain tumor. John is a faithful man of God and his family is comforted by the knowledge that, while his earthly journey is ending, his eternal journey is about to begin. Still, I can't imagine the pain of saying goodbye.

Another person beginning a journey is Sara, a young mother in Nashville. She grew up in my hometown, attended the same school that I did (although she is several years younger than me so we didn't really know each other). She was recently diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to her liver and some lymph nodes in her abdomen. She just began chemo earlier this week, and has set up a Caring Bridge page to share her story. She is confident that the cancer is another opportunity for God to be glorified, and I am confident that many people will be touched by her story and encouraged by her faith in God.

On a happier note, my friends Betsy and Chad are moving ever closer to completing the adoption process and beginning their new life as a family of six with daughter Addison. They made their first trip to Ethiopia a couple of weeks ago and got to finally meet Addison in person. They received news today that they received clearance from the U.S. Embassy and could be returning to Ethiopia in just a couple of weeks to bring Addison home! It is exciting to see how quickly God has been moving over the past couple of months, and I can't wait to finally see the little cutie in person. You can read about their journey to becoming Addison's parents on Betsy's blog.

Would you please take a moment to join me in praying for all of these people, and countless others, who are beginning and ending these journeys? There are so many opportunities for God to be glorified, both in suffering and in rejoicing. His timing and His ways, while often a mystery to us, are truly perfect.

One Hundred Verses

2011-01-28T20:38:00.004-06:00

For a while now I've wanted to create a perpetual flip calendar of Bible verses to display on my desk at work. After a few fruitless searches for spiral bound index cards that weren't neon-colored, I finally found some tonight, so I can work on the calendar this weekend.

There are fifty cards, and I'm planning to write two verses per card (one per side), so that means I need a total of one hundred Bible verses. There are certainly a lot of verses that have been helpful to me at various times in my life so I don't think it will take long to fill up all the cards.

Here's where you come in. I'd love to include some of your favorite Scripture as well. What verses encourage you, challenge you, strengthen you, comfort you? Please list one (or more) of your favorite verses that I can include in my calendar.

It's always interesting to see how different verses impact different people. I'd also love to hear why that particular Scripture is so meaningful to you. Thank you in advance for your input!

And the Result Is...

2011-01-28T07:03:00.001-06:00

a 2.6 pound weight loss at yesterday's weigh-in!

Gotta keep the momentum going...

Results

2011-01-26T20:42:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago we began an in-office Weight Watchers program. We first tried the program a few years ago and had great success with it. However, the last couple of years we have slacked off on our weight loss and the pounds have crept back on. With the holidays firmly behind us, we figured that January would be the best time to restart our Weight Watchers program.

For the past couple of weeks I've upped my amount of workout time while scaling down the calories. I've diligently kept track of my Weight Watchers points. I've done pretty much everything I'm supposed to do.

Last week we had our first weigh-in since the program began. How much did I lose, you ask?

.2 pounds. That's not TWO pounds--that's ZERO POINT TWO pounds. Not even half a pound. A certain hamburger at McDonald's weighs more than I lost.

Needless to say, I was a bit discouraged. I'd eaten well. I'd exercised more. I'd kept track of my points. And all I had to show for it was a lousy 0.2 pounds?

I did remember that the night before weigh-in I'd eaten a frozen entree that, while low in fat and calories, typically has a high sodium content. So I suspect that some water retention from too much salt the night before was to blame for not losing more, at least in part.

At any rate, over the past week I've had to remind myself that results aren't always reflected on the scale. Even though I didn't have a big pound loss to show, I have been able to tell a difference in muscle tone and in how my clothes fit. I'm building endurance and strength. My heart and lungs are probably a bit healthier than they were a couple of weeks ago.

So I'm trying not to be so focused on what the scale says and instead focus on keeping with the program. I know there will be weeks where I may not lose much (or any) or may even (Heaven forbid) gain a bit. I've been good this week but it may not show on the scale right away. I have to remember that if I keep on keeping on, eventually I'll be able to see some greater results.

Today I've been thinking of Paul's words in Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

That's an important reminder I need not just in trying to stick to my diet and exercise regimen, but for life in general. There are going to be times in life where I'm doing all the right things but not seeing results. A harvest WILL come in due time. I need to just keep on keeping on.

Book Review: The Liturgical Year

2011-01-26T06:57:00.003-06:00

My latest Booksneeze book review is of The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister. The book explores the historical and spiritual significance of the various components to the liturgical calendar, beginning with Advent.

Although I grew up going to church, my particular denomination does not practice the various feasts and celebrations of the liturgical year (aside from Christmas and Easter), so a lot of the information in the book was new to me. The author does a good job of tying each celebration and event together and helped me see that the year is not composed of individual events, but rather they all revolve around Christ and are designed to help bring us closer to Him.

The Liturgical Year is one book in a seven-part series called The Ancient Practices, and it was the third book in this series that I've read so far. I'd have to say that of the three I've read, this one was my least favorite. I found the author's writing style a bit heavy-handed and had a hard time really getting into it; I'm not sure if that's because a lot of the material was new to me or if the other books were just easier to read.

While this was not my favorite book of the Ancient Practices series, I did learn a good deal about the liturgical calendar, and am challenged to be more proactive in practicing it throughout the year.

Weekend Guilt

2011-01-24T07:12:00.002-06:00

I started my weekend with a nice lengthy to-do list in my head. I had the best of intentions.

And yet here it is, Monday morning, and I'm embarrassed to admit that most of my to-do list is left undone. I didn't balance my checkbook like I intended. I didn't write the book review or send an email to an old friend like I meant to do. And while I did a good job of eating well and keeping track of my points, I did not exercise. Unless you count power shopping at Target as exercise. (Do you?)

Instead, I spent a good deal of time lounging on the couch, catching up on my magazine reading and indulging in too many episodes of "The Real Housewives". I had ample opportunity to get more done but I was lazy instead.

It is so easy for me to beat myself up over the things that I should have done. Not just from this past weekend, but from weeks and months and even years long past. And if I stay mired down in guilt from not following through on my plans, I can stay bogged down in a place of guilt and paralysis indefinitely.

I'm thankful that God's mercies are new every morning, and I can have a fresh start. Instead of continuing to beat myself up over what might have been accomplished, I'm going to remember that this is a new day, with new opportunities to make good on the promises to myself. Weekend guilt, be gone. It's a new day.

Offerings

2011-01-17T21:33:00.004-06:00

Our office participates in several fundraisers and service projects for various charitable organizations throughout the year. This past Christmas I helped organize a service project in which we collected new pajamas and new and gently used books.

I'd been told about a local charity that might benefit from our project, so I sent the director an email. After a few days and no response, I sent her another email in case the first one was lost in cyberspace. Still no answer.

I then called and left a voice mail for her. No response. I grew more and more frustrated. I made one final attempt to call her--got voice mail again and left another message--but she never responded.

Here we were trying to donate several hundred dollars' worth of items to this organization, and we got no response. We ended up finding another worthy local organization who was extremely thankful for our donation, so we were glad to see that these items were put to good use. Still, I couldn't understand why the original charity wouldn't at least return a call or email. Even if they didn't want what we were offering, they could have politely turned us down instead of ignoring repeated attempts to get in touch.

It's now a month later, and the life lesson finally hit me: How often do I turn down or even ignore what God is offering to me? Does He ever feel frustration that He is trying to provide for me and I don't even take the time to investigate His offer, let alone take Him up on it?

I wonder...

Do you ever get the feeling...

2011-01-16T17:54:00.001-06:00

that your most meaningful spiritual moments and interactions with God happen outside the church building?

'Cause I do. And I'm thinking that's okay.

E100 Challenge

2011-01-07T06:47:00.003-06:00

Last week our church began participating in the E100 Challenge. The E100 Challenge is a nationwide campaign to encourage people to have consistent Bible reading time. The Challenge consists of 100 short Biblical passages, 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament.

Although I've read these passages before, I've been surprised at how much I'm enjoying re-reading them. I'm noticing some details that I hadn't noticed before. For instance, yesterday I read about God's covenant with Noah in Genesis 9 to never again destroy the earth with a flood. Did you know that God not only made that covenant with Noah and his descendants, but with every living creature--including all of the animals--too? I'd never realized that until I read it yesterday.

These stories are giving me a lot to think and wonder about, which is always a sign of a good study, in my book. If I continue to read a story a day, I should finish in a little over 3 months. Not a bad way to start the year.

You can read more about the E100 Challenge and download a reading plan here. Has anyone else done or is currently doing the E100 Challenge? Are there any other reading plans that you'd recommend?

Love This Quote

2011-01-03T20:47:00.002-06:00

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

— Neale Donald Walsch

Lessons Learned

2010-12-29T14:53:00.011-06:00

A few lessons that I learned and/or was reminded of courtesy of my nieces on this latest visit to see them:

A girl can never have too many lip glosses

AND

apparently you won't get poisoned from re-applying lip gloss every 4.2 seconds.

Cookie dough truffles should probably be smuggled into the house if you want them to last more than a couple of days.

The Ladybug Game is a great Christmas gift for four year-olds.

A two year-old's favorite words are still

MINE!

and

NO!

A nine year-old should probably not have chocolate espresso coffee beans after dinner.

Whoever invented Build-A-Bear Workshop is an evil genius.

"Beauty and the Beast" is still the best Disney movie ever (and was enjoyed by me as much as, if not more than, my nieces).

There is too much distance between and my family and I can't wait to see them again!

How was YOUR Christmas?

A Child Is Born

2010-12-25T07:49:00.000-06:00

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)

Merry Christmas, all!

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

2010-12-24T11:00:00.002-06:00

'Twas the day before Christmas....

I have to admit that a couple of days ago I was finding it hard to be in the Christmas spirit, mainly because I felt overwhelmed with activity and items on my pre-Christmas to-do list. But after a good night's sleep (amazing what that can do for you!) and some time to myself, I'm feeling much better and ready to celebrate.

Some of my favorites moments of this season so far:

• The Advent celebration at my friends Doug and Karla's house last Saturday night. Last year was my first time to attend their annual celebration, and it's something that I very much looked forward to this season. A group of about 20 of us gathered in their home to enjoy some yummy taco soup, talk, and then spend a period of time reading the story of Jesus' birth, sharing some thoughts about Christmas, and singing Christmas hymns. Such a beautiful, intimate way to remember Christ's birth and put the season in perspective.

• The lessons and carols service at my co-worker's church. I've attended this service for several years now and it is always a highlight of the Christmas season for me. With a choir and orchestra, it is quite different from my own church's Christmas service, but always such a lovely and thrilling service.

• Finishing my Christmas shopping and wrapping before Christmas Eve! It is so nice to NOT have to get out in the stores and fight massive lines and traffic today. I'll be able to stay home, finish some baking and food prep for tomorrow, and not leave the house til tonight when I attend our church's Christmas Eve service.

Some moments I'm looking forward to:

• Tonight's Christmas Eve service. With nearly all of my Christmas preparations behind me, it will be refreshing to be able to sit and reflect on Christmas without having my mind abuzz with all the things I need to do.

• Looking at Christmas lights. After tonight's service, my parents and I are planning to ride around town looking at Christmas lights. I'm not sure which are more fun to view--tacky lights or tasteful lights. (Do you have a preference?) I imagine we'll get to see a healthy dose of both.

• The 24-hour "A Christmas Story" marathon beginning tonight on TBS. Absolutely my favorite Christmas movie. Regardless of the fact that I've seen it perhaps dozens of times, I can't help watching it. So many great scenes--"Mama's little piggy", "I can't put my arms down!", "I triple dog dare ya!", "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine," "You'll shoot your eye out, kid", and, of course, "Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra". For me, it just wouldn't be Christmas without at least one viewing of it.

• The event I'm looking forward to MOST--visiting my sister and her family for a couple of days. I'm sure my nieces will wear me out, but it will be totally worth it. Good thing I have a few days off from work afterward so that I can recuperate.

I hope that all of you have a very Merry Christmas!

Book Review: On This Day in Christian History

2010-12-22T06:58:00.002-06:00

My latest review for Booksneeze is On This Day in Christian History by Robert J. Morgan. Morgan also authored the book that I previously reviewed, Then Sings My Soul, which provided historical accounts of some of the world's most beloved hymns and carols.

In On This Day in Christian History, Morgan gives a daily recount of notable figures of the Christian faith, ranging from the Roman Empire to modern times. The book contains 365 stories of martyrs, saints, preachers, and other heroes, one for each day of the year, designed for daily devotional reading. Each story also includes a Scripture reference.

There is a topical index at the back of the book, which makes the book a handy reference for preachers or speakers searching for stories on various topics to include in their sermons or speeches.

If, like me, you like history, I think you'll find this book an enjoyable addition to your daily devotional time.

Disciple Making

2010-12-13T07:08:00.002-06:00

"Disciple making is not a call for others to come to us to hear the gospel but a command for us to go to others to share the gospel. A command for us to be gospel-living, gospel-speaking people at every moment and in every context where we find ourselves." --David Platt, Radical (pg. 94)

Buffet or Signature Dish?

2010-12-11T15:57:00.003-06:00

The other day I was listening to a podcast of Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands. [Quick sidenote: Chris Hodges is quickly rivaling Andy Stanley as my favorite pastor to hear preach. I may have to call it a tie.]

In his sermon, Pastor Hodges said that Church of the Highlands is more like a Ruth's Chris Steak House than a Golden Corral. His point was that they try to focus on doing a few things really well as opposed to having an endless buffet of programs and activities.

Although he was referring specifically to COTH, that comparison made me think about the kind of life I want to live. Many days I feel like I'm pulled in a hundred different directions and doing a lot of activity but not necessarily accomplishing a lot. I want to refocus on the things that truly matter and spend more time and thought on fewer activities and projects. Easier said than done, I realize, but definitely a goal to work toward.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2010-12-05T18:20:00.004-06:00

I'm contemplating taking a break (perhaps permanent) from Facebook. I don't feel like it's a big time suck for me; I usually check it a couple of times a day, but I'm not on it all day (unless I accidentally forget to logout of my account, which has actually happened a few times). Still, I've been weighing the pros and cons.

On the one hand...

• Facebook has allowed me to keep up with long-distance friends and family, not to mention to reconnect with old high school and college classmates. (I figure I'll save the money spent on going to a class reunion; thanks to Facebook, I already know who's gone bald, who's gained weight and who's got 19 kids and counting.)

• Facebook has helped me learn new fun facts about people I've known for years. There are a ton of people I'm acquainted with, people I've gone to church with forever or who work with me, but outside of a few vital facts I don't know much about. Enter Facebook, and suddenly I get a little inside glimpse into their lives. Often, I learn that I have something unexpectedly in common with my Facebook friends. Sometimes reading about something on Facebook will prompt a conversation in "real life", which I enjoy.

• Facebook can be great for the ol' ego. Having a bad day? Just admit it in your status update, and watch the encouraging comments roll in. Accomplished a big (or small) goal? Broadcast it on Facebook and you'll find your own cheering section. There is power in having a little online community giving positive feedback now and then.

• Facebook can be a platform for sharing my faith. Occasionally I'll take a break from my snarky status updates and instead post a Bible verse or passage from a Christian book or lyrics from a praise and worship song. Likewise, many times I'll read a verse or lyric on someone else's status update and it will be just what I need to hear at that moment.

On the other hand...

• Sometimes it seems that Facebook has become a substitute for genuine conversation between me and my friends. If I can go on Facebook and read all of my friends' status updates, then it sort of negates the need to actually spend time together and catch up with each other, right? While Facebook been a great tool for connecting with long-distance friends, I'm not sure it's been so beneficial between me and my friends who live close by.

• It can be tempting to use Facebook to share my faith but not extend it further than that. What I mean is that I can pacify myself by putting a Bible verse on my profile but not be more pro-active in sharing my faith at work, at the grocery store, at restaurants, and other places I go.

• Facebook can quickly become all about ME. What I'm doing, what I'm reading, where I'm going, how I'm feeling. That's not to say that I shouldn't share those things, but sometimes I feel like it's just a big brag fest and I feel like a loser if I don't have some exciting anecdote to share. Crazy to think that way, but that does cross my mind sometimes.

And so the inner debate goes. I may take a sabbatical from Facebook for a few weeks to test the waters. Anyone else had similar thoughts?

Counting Blessings

2010-11-21T21:49:00.002-06:00

Tonight I was going to write a post lamenting the trials and tribulations of being an adult. The ones that make you want to take Peter Pan's stance and sing, "I won't grow up." Because when I was a kid I didn't have to deal with the heavy-duty stuff that I do now. Like paying bills. Like doing yardwork. Like having a rock fly up and hit my windshield on my home today, leaving my windshield with a nice crack in the middle of it that is yet another unexpected expense.

I was going to write about the burdens of having to make tough decisions in virtually every area of my life, from finances to career to health to relationships. But when I sat down to write, a certain song popped into my head:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
- Refrain:
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
("Count Your Blessings", Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897)

And so, instead of focusing on the things that I consider to be burdensome about life right now, I'm going to focus on the blessings. It's certainly appropriate with Thanksgiving coming up in a few days, but I want it to be more than just a Thanksgiving-week focus. I want it to become such a habit that whenever I start to complain about something (whether aloud or just to God), I want to automatically shift my focus to things to be thankful for.

Something I've done at times over the years is to try to write in my journal each night a brief list of blessings from the day. Sometimes they're big blessings, like an answered prayer or an unexpected bonus; other times, they're small but still significant. It's been a while since I've done that so I think it's time to start keeping that list again. It will not only help me focus on my blessings but will also be a great way to remind me of ways that God blesses me that I tend to forget about.

Anyone else have any tips or tricks for having a thankful heart and not focusing so much on worries?

Recipe for a Good Saturday

2010-11-20T07:18:00.006-06:00

Start with NO ALARM.

(Wouldn't you know it that on the day that I can FINALLY sleep in late, I wake up on my own before the sun's up? At least I can lounge in my pajamas as long as I want.)

Add some heavy-duty holiday shopping to try to whittle my shopping list down significantly before the stores get crazy-busy.

If I've been a good girl, perhaps a quick stop here while I'm out:

Since there's no

today, I may have to settle for

instead.

Finally, settle in for the evening with a movie and a big stack of

and I'll be one happy camper.

Now you tell me--what's a good Saturday in your book?

Book Review: Then Sings My Soul

2010-11-18T19:15:00.003-06:00

My most recent book review for Booksneeze is that of Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan. The book is a compilation of 150 Christian hymns and the stories behind them.

The book includes the music and lyrics for each hymn, along with a brief synopsis of the lyricist and/or composer. Hymns range from Christmas and Easter selections to "everyday" hymns.

I sang in chorus and both junior high and high school and have a great love of music, as well as history, so this book was a great read for me. Considering that many churches today (mine included) sing more contemporary praise and worship music and not as many hymns, I enjoyed being reminded of several old hymns that I haven't sung in years.

I've been reading a few stories at night before bed; they're only one page each and quick to read through. If you particularly enjoy history, I think you'll find this book to be an enjoyable and enlightening read.

I'm Still Here...In Case You Were Wondering

2010-11-17T20:16:00.004-06:00

The last few weeks have been exhausting as they've led up to my company's annual convention, which took place this past weekend. The convention was a great success, but I'm feeling the effects of too much and not enough:

Too much food.

Not enough exercise.

Too much overtime.

Not enough downtime.

Too many late nights.

Not enough sleep.

Just because I'm home and the convention's over it doesn't mean the workload has lightened. I came home on Sunday afternoon and hit the ground running Monday morning and haven't slowed down much since.

My body and mind are plum wore out, and I'm counting the hours til the weekend. This will be the first Saturday in quite a while that I don't have anything planned and don't have to be anywhere at a particular time. I am so looking forward to sleeping in, having a leisurely day and getting some much needed rest to recharge my batteries.

In the meantime, I'm clinging to verses like this one that reminds me that even when I'm suffering from too much and not enough, God will give me just what I need:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

Here's to slower, calmer days ahead, and strength and rest for all of us weary folk.

What to Do Next?

2010-11-03T18:53:00.003-05:00

The other night as I was driving home I saw a homeless man standing at the top of the exit ramp that I was on. He didn't appear to be asking for handouts; he was waiting for traffic to clear out so that he could cross the street. He carried a clear garbage bag that had what looked like clothes in it.

I was ashamed to realize that my first instinct was to look away and hope for the cars in front of me to hurry up and turn so that I could drive away from him. I started thinking about how this was someone's son, perhaps someone's father, or brother. I wished that I had some food to give him. I thought for a minute about giving him some money but by then he had moved further away and it was time for me to turn anyway.

I haven't forgotten him, though.

Tonight I watched a news report about the latest threat to Haiti, a storm that threatens to flood this little nation that's already been devastated by an earthquake and that is dealing with a cholera outbreak. Hundreds of thousands of people have already died, and many more remain homeless.

As I drove home in the rain I thought about how I had a warm, dry, well-running car to keep me out of the rain. I have a house with a solid roof and walls without holes in them to keep me safe and comfortable. I can afford heat. I have a comfortable bed to crawl into tonight, and more clothes than I can possibly need. I thought about how unfair it is that I live this way, and the people of Haiti (and many other countries) do not have the comforts that I have.

I find myself haunted by faces of the suffering, and unsure of what to do about it. Giving money is certainly an option. But I'm wondering if I'm meant to do something more. More and more lately, I feel an urge to do more than just make charitable donations (although giving financially is still needed). I think God wants me to give more of my time, more of my self. I'm just not sure what that means. He's giving me a lot to think and pray about.

The lyrics to the song "Whatever You're Doing" popped into my head tonight. I think the chorus is especially fitting for these thoughts I'm having:

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly ("Whatever You're Doing", Sanctus Real)

Read and Leap

2010-10-28T20:43:00.002-05:00

Whenever I'm contemplating making big changes that require a pretty big leap of faith, it always encourages me to read stories of others who took a leap of their own and lived to tell about it (and who, indeed, had their lives transformed by God in ways beyond their wildest dreams). Here are some links to a few blogs that I regularly follow who lately seem to be living out this theme of turning their lives over to God and allowing Him to do big things:

• My friends Betsy and Chad are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. They already have three beautiful boys of their own, but a year or so ago felt called by God to add to their family through international adoption. Just last week they moved to the head of the adoption list and received pictures of their precious new daughter. Go here to read the story of their journey, and please keep them and baby Addison in your prayers.

• Kristen of We Are That Family is on a journey with her own family to help pregnant girls in Kenya by opening Mercy House. Although I don't know Kristen personally, I really appreciated at this post on jumping into the hands of God.

• Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like cracks me up with his astute and often biting commentary on Christian culture, but he also writes some very serious and thought-provoking posts. I particularly love this post on ignoring the soundtrack of doubt that threatens to derail us when we face challenges.

He Goes Before Me

2010-10-25T22:20:00.002-05:00

I've been giving more and more thought to my future, to where I want to be geographically, spiritually, relationally, physically, career-wise, the whole nine yards. For the most part I get excited thinking about the future, but from time to time I feel totally overwhelmed and a little freaked out.

Thankfully, in those freaked-out times God often sends a reminder my way that He's got my future all planned out for me and under control. He's nudged open some unexpected doors lately that reassure me of His provision. I keep reminding myself that He's going before me to prepare the next chapter of my life. I'm not going anywhere, literally or figuratively, that He hasn't already mapped out in advance for me.

As these unexpected reminders of His provision pop up, I'm trying to journal about them as an added reminder down the road. It's unfortunate that I can quickly forget what He's done for me, so I need that written recount. I think that when I'm able to look back and read of some of the things He's done to prepare the way for my next place in life, I'm going to be amazed at His timing and His total provision for me.

In the Mood

2010-10-21T18:33:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to live a more intentional life without finding myself falling into a rut. That's a hard line to walk at times. This morning I was thinking about circumstances where I tend to act according to my mood at that particular time. While spontaneity can often be a rewarding thing, sometimes it can cause trouble.

Case in point--my wardrobe. On Sunday nights I usually make a mental list of what I intend to wear to work each day, making sure that each item is washed and (if necessary) ironed so that I don't run into any unwelcome surprises when I get dressed in the morning. However, lately I've found myself changing my mind in the morning about what I want to wear that day, and so I go through my closet trying to find another outfit that I "feel like" wearing. I realize that I'm extremely blessed to have so many clothing items to choose from (too many, really) but I keep changing outfits it's hard to get out the door and make it to work on time.

Another example--food. Many times I'll bring a healthy lunch to work or plan to go home for lunch for something cheap and wholesome. But then a co-worker can invite me to go out eat Mexican or some other favorite food, and suddenly it's adios healthy lunch, hola enchiladas verdes. That ends up not only wreaking havoc on my diet but on my wallet as well.

It's hard to find that balance between being spontaneous and sticking to my well-thought-out plans. Does anyone else find it hard to find that balance?

Oh, My Aching Toes

2010-10-19T21:41:00.003-05:00

Last week I joined a small group ladies' Bible study that is reading the book Radical by David Platt. I'd heard a lot about the book before I began reading it, namely that it was a, well, radical call to American Christians to turn from complacency and our secure lifestyles and begin earnestly seeking the lost.

I have to admit that I am reading this book with a bit of trepidation. This book is forcing me to take a good hard look at how I'm spending my time, money and energy--and the answer is not always pretty.

For the small group study, we're going to alternate between reading and discussing the book one week and doing some sort of service project the next week in order to put what we're reading and discussing into action. We're trying to find ways to challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zones and our secure little Christian "bubbles" and to truly seek the lost. This is definitely going to be a challenging study. I'm already four chapters into the book (it's hard to put down) and I find myself being confronted with bold statements like this excerpt:

How many of us are embracing the comforts of suburban America while we turn a deaf ear to inner cities in need of the gospel? How many of us are so settled in the United States that we have never once given serious thought to the possibility that God may call us to live in another country? How often are we willing to give a check to someone else as long as we don't have to go to the tough places of the world ourselves? How many of us parents are praying that God will raise up our children to leave our homes and go overseas, even if that means they may never come back? And how many of us are devoting our lives to taking the gospel to people in hostile regions around the world where Christians are not welcomed? Certainly few of us would be so bold as to say we "would just as soon God annihilate all those people and send them to hell," but if we do not take the gospel to them, isn't that where they will go? (pg. 64)

Ow, ow, owie, ow, OW. That's the sound of my toes being stepped all over.

I'm excited (and nervous) to see what direction this study will take and where God will lead us. It seems that so many of us are tired of just going through the motions at church and living for ourselves instead of living to serve God and others. Who knows what changes God may call us to make. Read Radical at your own risk--you might want to wear some steel-toed shoes just in case.

Keep on Keepin' On

2010-10-11T07:11:00.003-05:00

A decade or so ago, when I was not long out of college and in the early stages of my career, my parents encouraged me to open an IRA for my retirement. Even though retirement was (and still is) several decades away, they knew that the sooner I started planning and investing toward it, the better off I'd be in the long run.

And so after meeting with a financial advisor, I opened a Roth IRA and set up my bank account to make automatic payments to the IRA each month. I'm not the type of person who checks my investments every day or even every month; typically I just glance at the quarterly statement, give a little "Hooray!" or a little sigh depending on that current statement, and then file it away. I know that it's going to be a long time before I touch any of the money in that IRA and so there's not really a point in obsessing over how it's doing on a day-to-day basis. I have to trust that my investments will pay off down the road.

That's good advice for me to consider as well in other areas of my life. Right now I'm having a bit of a rough patch with a friend. We go through periods where we're extremely close and hang out all the time, then other times where life pulls us in different directions. Currently we seem to be on different paths and don't see each other very often. This friend has a lot on their plate and there are times when I don't want to bother them with what's going on with me so I just don't.

I can see that not talking to them is not a good thing for our friendship. I think I've been focusing on how our friendship is doing day-to-day and responding accordingly. If they have time to talk to me or we get to do something together, then I feel like all's well in the world. If they're too busy and we don't talk for a while, I feel really distant and not always wanting to invest more in them when, at that particular time, perhaps they can't give me the return on investment that I want.

So I'm realizing that I need to view this friendship as a long-term investment. Sure, there are times when I'm giving more in this friendship than they are, and there are times when they're giving more than I am. There are probably always going to be those up-and-down periods. I want to keep investing in this friendship and trust that, in the long run, it will continue to pay off. Some of that investing may mean communicating better with this friend and letting them know about my struggle to share what's going on with me when I sense that they've got so much on their own plate. I guess that's something I'll have to get over. After all, honesty is a big part of a successful friendship, right?

Look Up

2010-10-07T07:11:00.003-05:00

It's so easy to get caught up in the things going on in and around my life. Our annual fall meeting is coming up next month so work is steadily getting busier and more stressful as the meeting dates approach. I've got a long list of projects for around the house that need to be tackled. Plus there's the everyday minutiae of bills to pay, car tags to renew, yardwork to be done, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. that eat up so much of my time and focus.

That's why I really needed the reminder from today's reading in Colossians about not just thinking about earthly things but thinking about Heaven as well. I like the way the Message puts it:

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. (Col. 3:1,2)

My natural inclination is to keep my head down and focused on what's going on around me, but I'm going to try to look up more. How about you?

Goal-Setting Time

2010-10-02T16:13:00.003-05:00

This is the first bona fide fall weather weekend we've had (and by fall weather, I mean highs below 90), so there could not be a better day than today to spend some time outdoors. A weekend alone at the beach would have been ideal (maybe next time), but today I took the free route and drove out to a small church near the outskirts of town that has incredibly lovely gardens. Thankfully there weren't any church activities going on at the time, so I was able to find a spot without fear of being interrupted. With the sounds of birds chirping and a water fountain trickling in the background, I sat down with my Bible, journal, notebook and a book I'm currently reading (God's Joyful Surprise by Sue Monk Kidd).

My daily Bible study is with a one-year Bible, and today's Old Testament reading was from Isaiah 66. As I sat soaking in the beauty of the garden, I couldn't help but think that these first couple of verses were quite appropriate to the setting:

This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?
Could you build me such a resting place?
My hands have made both heaven and earth;
they and everything in them are mine.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word." (Isaiah 66:1, 2)

The New Testament portion of today's reading proved to be timely as well. It was from Philippians 3, where Paul talks about forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Aside from just wanting to spend some quiet time outdoors, my main reason for this little getaway was to spend some time dreaming about and planning for the future. Unfortunately, I can easily get caught up in thinking about the past and sometimes find it hard to move on. I needed the reminder from Paul that what lies ahead is far more important.

After my Bible reading, I journaled some goals for myself, some short-term, some long-term (and some that will probably be lifelong goals). I've realized lately that there are a lot of things I do in practically every area of my life that are not deliberate. One of my overall, lifelong goals is to live a life that is full of purpose and deliberate thought and action, really taking responsibility for my life and not just letting life "happen". That's not to say that I'm in control of my life (God is), but I've become lazy in quite a few areas and need to live with more purpose.

With goals set, I then wrote out a long to-do list of projects to be done around my house. One of my major goals for the next year is putting my house on the market, and these projects must get done first. Now that the projects are written down and staring me in the face, that will go a long way toward getting my rear in gear and getting those projects done instead of just thinking about what needs to be done.

I could have easily done all this at home--living alone does have its advantages, including quiet time pretty much whenever I want it. But I knew that it would be so tempting to just veg out on the couch or spend time on the computer instead of spending this time goal-setting and contemplating the future, so getting away to a quiet place definitely helped me focus more. I'm thinking that I should do this goal-setting and evaluating on a more regular basis, at least twice a year or perhaps even quarterly (I could do it when the weather changes each season).

Do any of you ever spend time goal-setting and making plans for the future? Where's your favorite place to get away and have some quiet time?

Book Review: City on Our Knees

2010-09-30T21:58:00.002-05:00

I recently signed on as a book reviewer for Bethany House Publishers. They send me books for free in exchange for giving my honest feedback by writing a review of the books. My first book to review for them was City on Our Knees by music artist TobyMac.

Based on the hit song by the same name, the book is a compilation of stories of people who have stepped out in faith to minister to others and make a difference in their communities and, in some cases, around the world. While some of these featured activists are quite well known in the Christian faith (such as John Wesley and George Mueller), there are many other stories of those who you've likely never heard of. The stories range from the 1800s to present day, and cover a wide range of ages, backgrounds and circumstances.

The common denominator is a desire to make a difference in the name of Christ. Although several of the featured activists have been able to use their influence and celebrity to help others, most of the stories are of so-called ordinary people who have started small and have seen their cause grow.

The stories are pretty short, which made for a quick read. I found many of the stories to be quite inspirational, and I found myself questioning what I could do to make a difference in the world around me.

Snake in the Office

2010-09-29T20:19:00.004-05:00

I wish that today's blog post title was merely the title of the sequel to a cheesey Samuel L. Jackson movie, but unfortunately it's not. When I got to work this morning, one of my co-workers informed me that a snake had been found outside our training room. I am terribly frightened of snakes. I can't even look at them on TV or in books or magazines. So the thought of having one in our office totally freaked me out, for multiple reasons:

1. Our offices (including the training room) occupy the SECOND floor of our building. We've had snakes get into our downstairs lobby before, but one has never ventured upstairs. Until now. So we have a very agile snake on our hands.

2. The snake was found by the cleaning crew last night. They put (or threw, not sure which) a dumbbell over it and posted signs warning us of the snake. The dumbbell didn't kill the snake, and apparently the cleaning crew was too freaked out themselves to actually get rid of it.

3. According to the signs left by the freaked out cleaning crew, they found the snake at 7:44 p.m. One of my co-workers and I stayed late after work last night to do a workout DVD in the training room. Did I mention that the snake was found right outside the training room? For all we know it could have been slithering around while Jillian was kicking our butts last night. Believe me, if I'd spotted it while we were working out, I would have run faster than any other workout in my life.

4. I was told that the snake is the same color as our carpet. So it was well-camouflaged. Which of course begs the question, how many other snakes are lurking about disguised as our carpet?

5. Yet another co-worker took the snake outside this morning, and left it alive. She claimed that it had been maimed by the dumbbell and couldn't slither back inside, but I'm skeptical. I contend that this was a scout snake, sent in on a reconnaissance mission to spy out our offices. Now that it knows the lay of the land, it will go back and tell all its snake cohorts how to get into the building and up to the second floor, the best places to hide, where we keep food, etc.

6. This same co-worker thinks that the snake was not some little harmless thing but a small copperhead instead.

I thus spent the better part of the day staring at the carpet looking for snake eyes and listening for hissing sounds. If the snake or any of his pals show up again, I won't need to blog about it. You'll probably be able to hear my screams from here.

De-cluttering

2010-09-28T21:22:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been on a de-cluttering kick. I don't mind a little bit of dust on my coffee table (well, as long as I don't notice it), but I really hate having a cluttered house. For the most part I keep the house pretty neat, but every few months I let papers stack up and closets fall into disarray, and finally I get fed up and deal with it.

So for the past few weeks I've been de-cluttering different parts of my house, little by little. I've cleaned out the closets and now have a couple of bags of clothes to take to Goodwill. I filed important documents and shredded old bank statements that had piled up.

I have to admit that some of the de-cluttering has been challenging because it's necessitated letting some things go. For instance, clothes that I no longer wear because they either don't fit or don't flatter me or are uncomfortable or just out of style. Even though I haven't worn them in months (or years), there's still a reluctance to depart with some of them. But I have a rule that for every item of clothing that I buy, I have to get rid of at least one item, so if I want to pick up some new items for fall then I have to part ways with some old ones. Besides, it's silly to hang onto clothes that I don't wear and probably will never wear again.

My latest de-cluttering focus was my computer bookmarks. I love reading well-written, funny, challenging websites, and I have a long list of them bookmarked. There are several that I read every day, but there are also quite a few that I rarely get around to reading because I don't have the time to read them all, so several of those sites are getting the heave-ho. Ironically, one of the sites I'd bookmarked that I deleted was Unclutterer. A good site, but I need to pare down my "must-read" list.

How about you? Does the change in seasons put you in the mood to do some cleaning out of your own home?

Formulas

2010-09-28T07:11:00.003-05:00

Life seems easier when there's a formula for it. If you do A, you get B. The reality is that life isn't so cut and dried, and there are plenty of times where you can do A and instead get F or N or Z.

Lately I've heard one too many sermons that seem to have a formulaic undercurrent. If you do A for God, He'll give you B. If you show love to someone, they'll love you back. If you tithe, you'll receive financial blessing in return. And so on.

That would be great news if that were indeed true 100% of the time. But raise your hand if you've ever loved someone who didn't love you back. Know someone who's given sacrificially to the church and didn't receive an unexpected check in the mail the next week? How about someone who quit a job that had caused them to compromise their values and beliefs and who are still unemployed months later?

While I appreciate the encouragement that such sermons strive to give (after all, reward is a great motivator), I think that sometimes there is too much emphasis placed on earthly blessings as opposed to eternal blessings. Yes, God does reward those who love and serve and obey Him--but that does not mean that we'll always receive rewards here on Earth.

There are plenty of Christians around the world who live in poverty and don't know where their next meal is coming from. They love and serve and obey God and yet they continue to struggle to survive. That doesn't mean that God loves them any less, nor does it mean He is not faithful to them.

Read the list of men and women in the "Hall of Faith" chapter, Hebrews 11. While some did witness earthly reward, "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:35b-40)

Many times God does reward our faithfulness with earthly blessings, sometimes in material/financial form, sometimes in less tangible ways such as peace or joy or comfort. And sometimes He instead chooses to withhold the blessings until we get to Heaven. There's no formula for that, at least none that I've discovered. We just have to have faith that the good we do here on Earth doesn't go unnoticed by a faithful and loving God.

I wish that some of these sermons I've heard lately put more emphasis on the eternal and less on earthly things. I'm sure it's hard for ministers to balance the two perspectives, and so often we want to deal more with the here and now rather than think about eternity. I'm not the one standing on the stage so it's easy for me to criticize. I guess the best thing for me to do is pray that we (including me) would not measure God's love for us or faithfulness to us by whether or not He rewards us in the way we expect.

What's New with You?

2010-09-24T23:03:00.002-05:00

Whenever I run into someone I haven't seen in a while--whether at church, at the grocery store, at Target, or some other random place--it seems that they always inevitably ask,

"What's new with you?"

I dread that question because, nine times out of ten, there is nothing new to report. No exciting new relationship. No job change. No fun new hobby like skydiving (which I DO want to do someday) or spelunking (which I DON'T want to do).

Aside from the mission trip I took earlier this year (which, I have to admit, was pretty exciting) and some added job duties (which is not all that exciting), my life really hasn't changed lately. And when so many people I know have recent changes in their lives such as getting married and having babies and changing jobs and moving to a new city and going back to school, my own lack of change makes me feel like a bit of a loser.

That sounds pathetic, doesn't it? I shouldn't measure my life by the amount of new activity in it. And I know that sometimes change isn't all that it's cracked up to be. But I am craving some changes.

I don't want change to happen for the sake of change or even for the sake of having an answer to the "What's new with you?" question. But perhaps God is stirring up this desire within me in preparation for some changes coming my way. Maybe it's time I undertook some changes as well. Time will tell...