Dance in the Moonlight

 ...or the dawn light. Just get moving. I try to go the gym during the week and/or take a walk in the sunshine. I work at a desk most the day, so I try to remember to get up and move around. Movement and fresh air lighten my mood. My body needs the exercise. 

I'd like to take Hula dancing lessons. There's a cute little group of girls in our town called the Little Sunbursts. I love their beautiful and modest costumes, and the history they are learning and teaching with their dance. Their teacher mentioned that she might start a group for adults. That's movement that might be fun, and not just mindless calisthenics. I'm not a fan of exercise. (I do have a third place track ribbon from 3rd grade. OK, I was last, but I have a ribbon!) I know it's important to my overall health and longevity, so I try to make movement a priority.                                                                       

Drink Only Diamonds

I mentioned a few weeks ago about my nerdy little goal poem. I promised to let you know what it means to me and how it keeps me on track.  

I've always been surprised that the awesome album, Roar of Love by Second Chapter of Acts, didn't make a comeback with the new Narnia movies.  Here's one of the songs that inspired me.

Are You Going to Narnia 

 "you can drink diamonds, I've been told"

Water - liquid diamonds. At least I think of it that way. I lost 23 pounds last year almost solely from drinking only water. ( I do have my cup of coffee in the morning. I am a writer, after all.) The benefits of drinking more water are shouted far and wide, but if you need a reminder, here's a Lifehack link: 
10 Reasons to Drink More Water


Almost all of these little phrases have double meanings. Jesus offered the woman at the well (John 1:1-40) "living water" so that she would never thirst again. Jesus used the words living water to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul's desire only available through him.

So, "drink only diamonds" is a reminder to me to put my health first by drinking more water. Also, and more importantly, to remember that my only true source of life is from the "living water" that only Christ can give me.

How much water are you drinking every day?

Embracing the Uncomfortable

So we've got our goals written down, our mind pumped up, and the new year looks victorious! Then...we get leg cramps from going to the gym after a 5 month break, we come home from work exhausted and would rather drive through than eat the salad we diligently prepared ahead of time, and our word count is lacking for the day. The recliner looks better than the computer chair. UNCOMFORTABLE = QUIT!

Somebody posted a cute, and very true, snippet on Facebook last week. "It's time for my traditional January 1 through January 3rd diet." Something like that. I don't want to give up this year on my goals. I know you don't either. We have to face the fact that our pumped up drive and resolve will face the Enemy. 

Maybe we could look at UNCOMFORTABLE as our friend. He (let's make him a 'he', good looking, and our cheerleader, lol) gets us there, teaches us discipline, wants the best for us. Wait, that's Jesus! He's beautiful, encourages us with His Word, so wants the best for us. 

So I'm wrapping my arms around Uncomfortable. Are you with me? Normally I try to write about encouraging things, life through Love Colored Glasses. This is maybe a negative take on it, but it's where I am now.

Where are you? How do you fight the Uncomfortable?

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

Devo Thursday

W.E.A.R.Y.

W.E.A.R.Y.

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows like Jesus.” That’s me, singing tongue in cheek. I tend to have a Pollyanna outlook most of the time. I don’t like to hear complaining. Yada, yada, yada, get over it. Not very compassionate I know.

Not really. I am more of a positive person and try to be encouraging. But weary? Putting some honest thought to it, I guess am weary of one thing.

 Me.

 I am pretty sick of the areas in my life where I continually fail. I keep doing and thinking the same things over and over and expecting different results. Dumb.

I really like acronyms, anything that I can use for a handle. Here's a new one:

Worn out Excuses Are Ruining my Year. I have goals, plans, and dreams for 2012. Success is coming along in the things I always have success in, and failure is mocking me in all the same areas in which I usually fail. Ugh. Yes, I guess I am weary.

I wonder why I am perfectly willing to be uncomfortable in order to grow in some areas, and in others I am not only unwilling, but down right wimpy.

Galatians 6:9  (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Psalm 68:9 (NIV) You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Yes, I do give up too easily in some areas. I need the Father's abundant showers of refreshing forgiveness and grace, purpose, direction and motivation. I know that I don't go to Him often enough with these things. I know that Jesus is the answer, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and not in my own strength I will soar.  Isaiah 40:3 (NIV) " But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

So instead of Worn out Excuses Ruining My Year, it can be Wondrous Energized Achievement through Radical Yielding; every moment, hour, and day being filled with the grace and mercies of Christ. Now that adds up to some kind of a wonderful year.

Guest Post Gayle Ferguson

Our guest blogger this week is my sweet friend, Gayle Ferguson. Her comment to Monday's post was so beautiful, I thought it worth repeating.

These lyrics from Les Miserable hold the key to what most of us feel as we get older:

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame.

So many of us as we age,have had our dreams crushed or we abandoned them by the wayside due to other obligations taking their place. But as Christians, we need to hold tight to the promises God has made to us.Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

If we believe we are loved,then we must know that God wants to encourage our dreams.The dreams you hold onto were put there inside you by the one who created you.He knows your talents,your personality. It is not an accident that wine gets better with age.We can also see that with age, our hearts grow softer,our compassion greater,our depth of understanding situations priceless.

Take those small steps, with each step your courage builds,and you step into your own true self.But don't stop there,be an encouragement to others who have been battered by life as well,reach out to them and show them that it all starts with Faith,and that love will carry them the rest of the way.

What would you say to someone whose given up on their dreams?

Taking Back Monday

 

 

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis

Your thoughts?

 

 

And just for fun...