Author: Chrisy

I Need You

So, the Love Challenge has my mind going 100 miles an hour trying to figure out the best ways to show Mike that I love him. (And he only reads my blog every couple of months, so I am hoping he doesn’t read this until AFTER the challenge is over. :)). While I was thinking about what I am going to do today, I was reminded of this song, I Need You, by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

The idea that there are certain things that I need Mike to help me battle (not whiskey and cigarettes, like Tim’s verse, but other things), is true. There are certain things that help me cope with life that he provides. I need him. The thing is, our lives often get so busy that we forget that we need one another to get through. We begin to think we can do it all on our own.

The same thing is true of the Lord. We need Him. We can’t do it on our own, but we try. And it isn’t long before we find out that we can’t do it all on our own. But sometimes, our pride won’t let us go and ask for the help we need at that point. We continue to try to tough it out until we are so beat down, so immersed in our problems, that we feel like we’ll never get out.

But all it takes is for us to swallow our pride and admit we need help. We need our spouses. We need our God. We need our friends. We need to do life together in community. We are not meant to be solitary individuals, but part of a larger whole where we all need one another.

And when we recognize that we need one another and we need the Lord, we also recognize that life isn’t all about “me.”

So, who do you need today? Where do you need to swallow some pride and admit that you can’t do it all on your own?

Love Challenge

First off, this is not an original idea, I borrowed it from the ladies at Leading and Loving it. You can read their post here. But, I loved the idea so much that I thought I would offer the challenge to you, my readers, as well!

In November, I challenged you to find something to be thankful for each day.

February begins in two days, and this time, I want to challenge you to do something special for your spouse every day for the first two weeks of February, leading up to Valentine’s Day (or the whole month if you are feeling it!).

It doesn’t have to be anything big (but it could be). It could be fixing their favorite dinner. It could be getting a sitter and going out on a date. It could be buying them a little special something. It could be sitting with them on the couch to watch a movie. It could be taking a walk with them. It could be planning an intimate encounter. The sky (and your creativity) is the limit!

Don’t have a spouse or aren’t in a relationship? No big deal, you can participate, too. Do it for your kids, your parents, your best friend, or someone you know who needs a little extra love poured out on them this time of year.

Be creative. Be spontaneous. Show love in a tangible way. My guess is that not only will you be blessing someone else you will be blessed in the process.

So, are you in? If so, leave a comment below. At the end of the two weeks, I’ll ask you to share some of your most creative Love Challenge ideas.

Sticks and Stones…

I’ve been doing quite a bit of thinking lately about words. Words that we say to ourselves. Words that we say to others. Words that we hear from others. Words that have power.

We all know that the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” is one of the most untrue statements in the world. Whoever changed that to “…but words can hurt the most” made it much more accurate.

Words can hurt. Words can heal. Words can encourage. Words can destroy. The power of a single word is so strong, and yet, we tend to let our words fly without any concern for how they sound or what they are doing to the person they are directed to.

There are a few different areas in which the power of words has become very apparent to me lately.

  1. When I am running and I am tired, sometimes the difference between finishing a run and having to walk comes down to the words I am telling myself. If I am rehearsing how tired I feel, how my legs feel like lead, how my breathing is struggling, etc., you can bet that I will be walking soon. But if I am saying to myself that I have this, I can do this, I am a strong runner, my lungs are feeling good, etc., it is amazing how much strength and energy that gives me and I can finish the run.
  2. When you have kids, particularly a daughter that is 11 and the change from a smile to tears happens in a nanosecond, you quickly realize that your words make a huge difference in how quickly the tears change back to a smile. I am finding that I have to be very careful in how I respond to her these days and am trying to use words that build her up and encourage her in this time of her life that is scary and constantly changing.
  3. When life is difficult, we often tend to commiserate with others about how hard things are. But, if we would instead talk about the things that are going well, and look for those things that are positive in our lives, our attitudes would be greatly different, even about the hard stuff. It’s easy to wallow. It’s hard to rise above it. But if we choose to speak those positive words, we would notice an overall change in our outlook.

There are many other areas where our words are important: how we speak to our friends, co-workers, spouses, etc. It is so important for us to speak positive, encouraging words that build up rather than tear down, whether it be for ourselves or those around us. Yet it is so hard sometimes. But that is when we need to pray Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips,” and we need to make sure that what is going into us is positive so that what is coming out is positive as well.

Let’s work on that together.

When is it hardest for you to speak words that encourage?

Growth Opportunity

Over Christmas my mom gave me a book filled with short daily readings that her aunt had given her last year. She really enjoyed reading it and thought I would too. It is called Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. Since I do my devotional/Bible reading at night before bed, I thought this would be perfect for something quick in the morning. Each day consists of a short paragraph or two, written as if Jesus were talking directly to you. It is based on scripture that she provides the references for at the bottom, so you could look them up if you choose.

It has been amazing to me how some (many) of the days have been exactly what I needed for that day. But none so much as Sunday.

I have been struggling. I am training for this marathon that is coming up in April and am feeling like between some asthma/breathing issues, scheduling, and weather it has just been very difficult to get my training runs in the last couple of weeks. And that is frustrating. And it makes me scared that I won’t be ready for the race. So Sunday morning when I got up, anticipating another long run in the afternoon and wondering if I was going to be able to do it, here is what I read:

Strive to trust Me in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, it is possible to trust me in all situations. Don’t waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment–accepting things exactly as they are–and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.

Trust is like a staff you lean on, as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind. (Psalm 52:8; Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP)

Talk about exactly what I needed. Every single sentence I read (and have read over and over again) went straight to my heart.

  • Issues with training making me anxious = growth opportunity.
  • Embrace the challenge = gain blessings.
  • Belief God is sovereign = trust Him in ALL situations – even running.
  • Don’t worry about the past, look at right now and God’s way.
  • Lean on Him and let Him bear the weight. (This is a great one to think about when I am spent during a run.)

And while nothing has changed–my breathing has good and bad days, the weather is just crappy this time of year in southern Illinois, we lead a busy life–my attitude has. I am choosing to not be fearful about it. I am embracing the challenges and knowing that it won’t be easy (if it was – everyone would do it!), I am believing that God is with me on each and every run and I can call out to Him for His help and strength when I feel weak. It doesn’t matter if I had a bad run last week or missed one due to weather, I have today to try again.

And what a difference it is making to hold on to these promises when I am tired, struggling to breathe, freezing, etc. I guess that means I am taking this opportunity to grow!

As you read this today, is there an area of your life that you can apply it to? What is it and what kind of difference do you think it will make?

 

Do We Get Heavy?

I am really loving this little book I am using for my devotions each night before bed (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God). And yet, it isn’t the book that is working on my heart, it is God as I read His Word, pray and journal (something I don’t always do, but am doing this year). A couple of nights ago, the scripture reading was one that I have read over and over and even have parts of which memorized, but that night, something caught me differently.

Jeremiah 29:10-14

10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Italics mine.)

Usually verse 11 is the one that sticks out in this passage, and it is often quoted. But what got me was the last part of the last verse – “and will bring you back to the place from which I CARRIED you into exile.”

When we think of exile, we think of banishment. We think cast out. We think pushed away. We think hands off. We think “I’m done with you.” But that isn’t what this says. This says that God CARRIED them into exile. That means that He was there, in exile, with them. That means that even in exile, His presence was there. And that when the exile was over, He would carry them back.

There’s a reason that He says in verse 13 that “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” We will find Him because we are in His hand. He is right there, even when we don’t realize it. Even when we feel like we are in exile.

I don’t know about you, but I seem to be seeking God about a number of things these days. I am asking for His wisdom, His direction, His provision. And you know what, I am finding Him. Maybe not in the ways I think I will. And sometimes the answers are not what I thought they would be. But He is there. He is answering. He is holding me in His hand just like he promised in Isaiah. 41:8-10.

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

What are you seeking Him about these days? Are you feeling like you are in exile?

Seek Him. You will find Him. Because He is carrying you. And you don’t get heavy. 🙂

I Hope You’re Happy

So this morning on my way into work, my kids were going nuts over the less than one inch of snow that was on the ground and continued to fall. I looked at them and said, “I hope you are happy,” which reminded me of a song that I proceeded to play on my iPod while we all sang along. The song was Defying Gravity from Wicked. (If you haven’t heard it – or if you have and love it – here’s a link to it.)

After listening to the song, I couldn’t help but feel energized for the day. The idea that nothing and no one has the power to hold me down tied in nicely to the book study I began with my friend Tina this week. We started The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. As we talked yesterday we both loved the term he uses to describe what it is like to be and embrace the person that God created us to be. Flourish. When we are who we are supposed to be, we flourish. When we are operating in the ways that God has created us to operate, we flourish. When we are doing the things that our hearts long to do, we flourish. We defy gravity. We can’t be held down.

And that is energizing. And those thoughts and reminders started my day off on an amazing high that continues through spreadsheets, phone calls, and to-do lists that get longer instead of shorter.

Maybe I should listen to this song every morning. 😉

What is bringing you energy today?

Family Challenge

How often have you been a part of this scenario: Mom wants to lose weight and eat better, but Dad and kids don’t, and continue to eat normally. Mom does well for a while, but eventually, fixing two types of meals gets old or the junk that is still left in the house becomes major temptation for Mom and she falls off the wagon.

Well, that kind of happened to me over the holidays. The junk won. The less than healthy meals took over. I didn’t lose too much ground, but a few of those previously lost pounds crept back on.

I knew something needed to change and I was ready to get back to eating right and not missing my workouts. But I needed help to succeed. I needed the junk not to be in the house.

So, in an effort to both help me, and to help my family be healthier, too, we have removed all sweets/sugar from our pantry, fridge, and candy cabinet. All four of us are now “sugar-free” until my birthday, March 24.

For me, this transition isn’t that hard. I’ve done it for most of the last 9 months, and I feel better when  I am not eating junk anyway.

But for the others in my house, it is a bit harder. Especially when the kids are at school and the school uses candy to reward. My solution: buy some sugar-free candy and send it to school with the kids along with a note asking their teachers to please use the sugar-free options for my kids when candy rewards are given. But this still means that the kids have to make good choices. They have to think before they eat when they are away from home. They have to be able to say “no, thank you” when offered something sweet. And when you are a kid, that’s hard. But they are on board and have agreed to this challenge. They are even helping to remind Daddy that sweets are not an option, even when Mommy isn’t around. 🙂

I am curious and excited to see what the results will be. Will there be changes in my children’s behavior? Will my husband’s waistline show any sign of getting smaller? How will this challenge that we are undertaking as a family strengthen our bond? What will we all learn about ourselves and one another and what we can do when we work together? What will we learn about healthy living as a family?

Now, my challenge is to find a reward for our family, that is not food based, that we get or do once we complete our sugar-free challenge. That’s where you, my readers, come in. I would love to hear some of your ideas about what our reward should be at the end of our challenge. Also, what family challenge would you like to take on this year? (Last year, we instituted family game night every Monday night and that was our challenge.)

Coming Down

Our "White" Christmas on the Gulf Shores Beach

My family and I spent the last 10 days of 2011 along the Gulf Coast of Alabama with my mom and dad. We had a “white Christmas” on the beach, we played cards and other games, we worshiped together, we laughed, we played our new Wii, we played on the beach, we visited a Naval air museum, we played mini-golf, etc. You get the idea – we had a whole lot of family time with no schedule constraints or commitments. Even after we came home we had a couple of days of just hanging out and being together.

And then Daddy went back to work. And then the kids went back to school and I came back to work. And we are once again trying to balance life amidst schedules and commitments, as well as meals, dishes, laundry, work, and more.

I knew it was coming. It always does. That feeling of coming down. That feeling that you wish you could just stay in vacation-mode forever. That feeling of wanting to run away from real life because it is so much harder than what it seems like it should be.

It’s no wonder I feel that way. I just had nearly two weeks of nothing but my family. Quality time with them. Conversations with them. Hugs, kisses, and snuggles with them. My husband’s undivided attention. There was almost no TV. There was very little to distract us from simply having fun as a family.

And in real life there is 40 hours a week of work (times 2). There are bills to pay. There is a house to keep clean.  There is a lot of stuff that just isn’t fun and it feels like it distracts us from one another.

It’s almost enough to say it isn’t worth going away because I know how it feels to come back.

Almost. But not really at all.

I can’t imagine going through real life all the time and never getting those special times as a family. And the real-life times are where we learn to make priorities. That’s where we learn what it means to be a family so that we can have fun together when we are away. Those real-life times are the ones that bond us together and teach us about one another.

Despite the feeling of coming down that I get when I return from a break, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I strive to enjoy every moment with my family. The fun ones; the learning ones; the real-life ones and the vacation ones.

Bring on real life!

How do you feel when you return from a vacation and how do you deal with it?

Plans

It is a new year.

2012.

Can you believe it?

2011 went so fast and it is already the second day of 2012, which will also go fast.

Lots of people made resolutions yesterday. Many of them failed to keep them today.

I don’t make resolutions. I have things  I want to accomplish and plan to accomplish – things like getting to my goal weight and finishing my first full marathon, expanding Knitting (and now crocheting) with a purpose, growing closer to the Lord and my family – but while I can make decisions to help me bring my plans to completion, there are more important plans that I need to complete.

God’s plans for me.

Yesterday, at two different times, I was reminded of a verse that I love:

Jeremiah 29:11-13

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.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Perhaps my plans aren’t God’s plans and in order to find out which is which, I have to seek Him with all my heart and talk with Him about what I am thinking, as well.

So, my plan for 2012 is to line up my life with God’s plan for me, whatever that looks like, whichever direction that leads me, no matter what that means or how much it requires of me.

That may be harder than just following my plans, but it will also be more worthwhile.

I hope you will have a Happy New Year following God’s plan for your life as well.