Monday update

Well, I'm still going strong in the garage.  I'm getting 2-4 hours in each day....and yes, it is taking that much time.  Although I skipped a few days week one waiting for the trash man, there wasn't any room until it was gone.

I'm making shelves out of scrap wood I saved.  Yea, it's no longer taking up space, but creating new space.  I've gone a little crazy with new containers, but hopefully things will stay where they are suppose to.

I have a clear, distinct memory of watching Winnie the Pooh as a child.  I was slightly older, knowing full well Pooh was for littler kids.  But I was under ten and had little siblings, so I could get away with it, LOL.  In the episode, Pooh decides his house is too messy.  He gets shoe boxes and a crayon.  He organizes and labels everything.  Oh, in that moment an organizational seed was planted.  It just took me many years to realize I can't organize clutter - that I need to get rid of.  Then organize what is left - the useful things.  Well, enough down memory lane for now.

I'm making slow steady progress on my weight.  After the initial one pound loss, I think I've lost another half pound in the past two weeks.  I had planned to reevaluate my exercise, but that is on hold right now.  I just finished two weeks in physical therapy only to have more pain than when I started.  I'm giving it a few weeks to see if I can go my own way (with wisdom), to get rid of the pain before resorting to getting a shot.  We have hiking plans for fall break, so I need to be prepared for that.

I'll share soon about my food changes and how they are working out.  I'll post pictures of completed projects once they are done.

Accountability Partner

It is advised that everyone has an accountability partner.  Someone who you report your progress to – be it for weight loss, exercise, daily Bible study….and aught.  I want to tell you about my accountability partner.

He is my  best friend.  I am so blessed to have him in my life.  Always by my side, he gently calls me out when I’m tempted to go my way instead of God’s way.  He also quietly waits when I do choose to go my own way, and reminds me to turn back. 

He keeps high standards and urges me on to those standards as well.  He is willing to help me do all it takes to live up to God’s standards.  When I’m lost on which way to go, he speaks truth to me and directs me.  He always upholds God word.

Yes, he’s the best accountability partner.  Guess what, He can be yours too.  Jesus is willing to be your partner in life, your best friend.  He wants what is best for you and wants you to choose the ways of His Father.  He is always there, showing His love, love demonstrated on the cross, love that has the power to transform you, make you holy.

Distracted

Distraction is a tool the enemy uses to make Christians ineffective.  I know I’m often distracted.  I posted on mind control, my need to know and now the rest of my distractions.

With the start of the school year, I have more time on my own.  God has set aside the next school year for me to focus my life on Him and go through the training to be a counselor.  It starts the fourth of September for the first level.  I’m excited to spend time studying God’s word and how to help people with it. 

Distraction:

~ Over schedule myself again.  I did this last year and was ineffective.  I’ve stood firm in my withdrawal of some of the serving that I do. 

~ I wasn’t going to look for a job, but a few clicks lead me to a part time job I would be perfect doing, however, it is not what God called me to do until I fully understand what I will need to do in my training. 

~ Diving into other Bible studies to where I’m so many that I won’t remember what I studied and it will turn into 'get it done.'  I don’t want to just do it, but want to allow God to speak to me in His way and to allow Him to change me. 

~ Books I want to read.  At one point I was reading three books at once and not remember what was in it.  So I put them all aside, focused on one to completion. 

It’s basically the ‘do it all’ mentality.  Wanting something to happen that I take it upon myself to make it happen.  I will trust God, His timing and provision.  I have said this to myself over and over as I said no to each distraction.  No to getting a job, no to joining additional Bible study, no to leading Bible Club, no to computer time, no to books or TV. 

I will do things one at a time, not set my extras on a self-imposed timeline.  I have things that will be on schedule, it silly to over schedule the extras.  The extras are to fill in the margin, not overflow to the important stuff.

Need to Know

With the Olympics going on, I wondered about some of the happenings.  The story behind the story.  With it being the last week my girl is home, I didn’t want to devote myself to these stories and miss my time with her.  It is something I don’t really need to know.

This had me thinking on my internet usage.  I love to search for information.  To look up anything that comes to conversation or mind that is not known.  Like what is the rules to handball?  This was my hubby’s request, not mine. 

How much time do I waste going over senseless bunny trails of the information highway?  It made me realize that I often forgo time with my girl for time gaining information that has very little usefulness.  Usefulness of what is in my life is something God is working in me right now (see August preview post).

I’m convicted on this point.  I don’t want my daughter to grow up thinking adults sit hours on end on the computer. 

So the change to the situation is to spend the less time on the computer right.  My actions will be:

• No more than fifteen minutes in the morning – to check email, news and anything else.
• While I’m with Kat in the afternoons – no computer time.  If I think of something I want to look up, I will write it down and look up during my next computer time.
• Ask myself if I’m looking up useful information?  Do I really need this information or is it something that distracts me from the eternal.  This point God is weighing on me, I’ll write more later.

So, Do I need to know or let go?

Mind Control

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

To be real, I have trouble with my thoughts.  Although God has enabled me to have some victory, I still find I’m thinking what ifs, rehashing past mistakes, or picking up anger over a long ago infliction that I have forgiven others for.

To begin, I redirected my thoughts on good things, God, when these thought overcame me.  I also changed a few things in my life that triggered thoughts (avoid temptation).  God enabled me to have this victory, this tool to combat negative thoughts.  I also took time to forgive others once again when needed.

With this success, I found my mind wondering when I needed to listen.  I asked how can I be more attentive.  I try, however no matter how much I try, I often find myself not listening again.

This is a selfish behavior, in that I’m thinking of what I want to think on instead of listening to what others.  Especially when something important is being said.  This is a distraction from the enemy for me to miss what is said.

God led me to mind control.  It’s not just redirecting my thoughts, but to spend time each day not thinking and being in His presence.  It is hard to shut off my mind.  I know only good fruit will come from it.  I hope that as the days pass, it will become easier and I can go longer without thoughts.  I look forward to how this chances my relationship with God.

Why the guilt?

I had to write about my crazy day yesterday.  I did well with eating.  I'm still 95% meat free.  It's hard to go completely vegetarian when your family meal has meat in it.  I usually pick out the big chunks.  I'm just not that devoted to the idea to be all loopy about it.  

So back to yesterday and the undo guilt I felt.  I wanted some dark chocolate.  Now, I used to not like dark chocolate and since giving up sweets I love it.  Its not that I need chocolate, however it is something delicious God gave and I want to enjoy.  I usually eat less than 1/3 of a serving which is an under 100 calorie treat.  I don't eat it everyday either.  Yesterday I did.  There wasn't any guilt at this point.

Then for dinner, I wanted a glass of wine.  There's something about Italian and wine that go together.  When I have wine I fill half my glass with ice and water and top with wine, so I really only drink about 2 oz. per glass. 

That's when guilt started to creep in and I hadn't even poured the drink.  Then I thought about the chocolate and the few Sun Chips I had as a snack.  I said to myself, this is crazy.  Why should I feel guilty over the foods I've eaten?  What's wrong with a glass of wine?

I didn't drink the wine and still wondered why the guilt?  Why was my conscience against it?  

As we prepared for bed God breezed the answer.  It isn't wrong.  None of it was wrong.  However, I asked Him to help me stay on track.  I asked Him to help me reach my goals.  Then I questioned what was going on when He answers that prayer, when He sends me that grace I requested.  Crazy right?  

How often have I done that?  Have I asked God to do something then stubbornly refuse the help and then blame Him for how I feel?  I'm successfully humbled and thank God for giving grace on this as well.  God is Good!

I don't eat sweets

This used to be my response to anyone who offered me sweets.  Then they usually say "What?"  I add, "God has called me to give up sweets."  Response: "you are so strong, I don't think I could ever do that" or "you are stronger than I am."

Unfortunately, the conversation dies off after that since others don't want the guilt of someone else exercising self-control successfully.  Although I tried to give God the glory, I felt it was laid on my feet because of the way I presented the conversation.  I do not deserve any glory, so things had to change. 

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  This is not of my spirit, but the Holy Spirit.  And believe me, it is something I tried for years to do concerning food.  I could not do it on my own efforts and definitely was not motivated for my health.  I could not do it for me.

God called me to do it for Him, so that sweets no longer come before Him.  It is only through His enabling do I do anything good.  I have no self-control when it comes to food on my own.  Only through Him who strengthens me.

So my response is to start with "No thank you," and leave it at that.  If pressed, then I can present it to the person, hopefully in a way to bring God glory.  In doing that, I must remove myself from the equation and point to Jesus.  I can't have a canned response, but respond to each person with the words the Spirit gives me. 

Giving up sweets is from God to me and not to be imposed by me on someone else.  I do hope to encourage anyone is in bondage over food, that with God's enabling, you can do it to.  I was a mess and God cleaned me up.  He's still cleaning me.  He's turning my mess into my message.  Self-control doesn't just happen, it is developed by choosing God's way at each choice.  I didn't do it perfectly, but I made progress and that's what matters.

To God be the Glory.