Experiment Update

I have read at least 5 out of 110 books.  That doesn't sound like much but, I have started at least 3 to 5 more...  I have plans to continue reading, I will do my best to speed up the pace.   I may practice my speed reading techniques and see what happens.

Check out the Books to Read section, I have crossed of the books I have read so far.  There are a few that I have come close to finishing several times before, so I plan to check those titles out first. 

I also plan to check out a few of my healthy books this month.  I plan to read Made to Crave and do an online Bible/Book study with proverbs31.org and reclaim my health for the glory of God.  

21 Days ~ Healthy Living Journal

Howdy again, this wasn't on the list for this month, but I plan on implementing it soon.  It is on the list to "read" but it is actually a 21 day journal.  It is a journal with pages to record your healthy living goals for the next 21 days.  It is said, that it only takes 21 days to form a habit.   By taking that time to focus on specific goals and record diet, exercise, and journal according to the prompts given such as "Answer the following questions:
1) What are my health-related fears?
2) What actions am I taking to confront them?
will allow you to make a big step toward health, and hopefully you would want to continue making those positive changes, therefore creating healthy living habits.

It also has a place for visualizing your goals.  In this highly electronic world, it is sometimes more difficult to actual find hard copies of things to use.  If you go the hard-copy route, I would recommend magazines, pictures, and/or sticky notes.  Another recommendation is a Pinterest board dedicated to this 21 day endeavor which you look at daily.  Another thought would be to compile a PowerPoint collage and look at it each day, print if you choose (ink can be pricey), but definitely look at it daily.  With this "book", I plan to post snippets of my day of healthy living (I hope) and journal entries.  I need to form healthy habits, and I know that this can work.  Why?

Nearly two years ago, I ran across another 21 day journal.  This one was for spiritual health.  It was lime green and jumped out at me primarily for its color and then for its message.  This journal revolutionized my life.  It allowed me to build a habit of spending time with God.  I fell in love with God by intentionally setting time aside everyday to be with Him through His Word, the Bible, and journaling my prayers.  The journal was just the push I needed.  I know that this journal can do the same. 

These journals also come with plastic bracelets with "Make It a Habit!" inscribed on them to serve as a daily reminder during this 21 day period of your goals and commitment. I plan to wear mine and actually remember my goals when tempted to give up or make a not so great choice.

Day 1 starts tomorrow for me.  I know what you are thinking, "What! Right before Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays?"  Yes, that is one of the many reasons I need to start NOW!  I will post my goals tomorrow and maybe throw in some visual inspiration as well.

 

Never Say Never,

 

"Learning to Live in Laughter"

B.J. Speer of "Learning to Live in Laughter" gives you a
glimpse of life on the road as part of a gospel singing family.  His mom and dad, Paula and Billy Speer, have a passion for singing and finally took the leap of faith to go into full-time ministry singing in churches across the United States.  He shares the hard knocks of road life and the difficulties of hospitality.  Their ministry began in a car, not a big bus.  There wasn't much privacy, and being on the road was tiring.  B.J. counts his mom as his best friend.  He also says he was picked on and didn't have many friends in school.  He also admits to being terrified to sing in front of people.  When he was young, he had some not so great experiences on the stage, and his thoughts tended to get the best of him.  He put a hold on singing for awhile.  His parents never pressured him to sing for which he was grateful.  He finished high school, and waited a bit playing what he dubbed "hide and seek from God."  He didn't like school growing up, and didn't know if college would be any better.  He remembered a sermon on God's Will and knew then God was calling him to Word of Life Bible College.  What he thought was  going to be one of the worst experiences of his life, God used it for good.  He got life-long friends and experienced many things that on B. J. can describe.  After college, God showed him why he was to sing.  He was to sing for the glory of God, so that is what he did.  He began singing with his parents.  He experienced hard times like many families.  He had to learn to trust God in a particular way being on tour without a steady income.  God is faithful and supplied his needs.
B.J.'s book reads as a laid back peek into his life and also serves as an encouragement to all who read it, that God is with you and will never fail you.  It closes out with the lyrics to a few of his songs and some poems he wrote.
B.J. Speer currently serves with The Dartts, another gospel singing group.  He began
singing with them in 2004 and is still going strong.  He was God's answer to prayer during Tracy Darrt's tough health battle and wait for a kidney.  Praise God, Tracy has received a kidney and his health has greatly improved.  The Dartts are all back on the road again.  I have personally met B.J. Speer and the The Dartts a few times in concert, and I look forward to when they are in town.  Their music is one of a kind and definitely a glory to God.  I will see B.J. and the Dartts in December, Lord willing, and I am looking forward to it.  It appears that B.J. has another book out entitled Dusty Road "A Journey into Faith."  I am sure this will be as good if not better than this
one.  Decisions, decisions, decisions...5 books read before I get a new one.
For more information on B.J. Speer, check out this site: http://www.billyspeer.com/index.html
For more information on the Dartts, check out this site: http://www.darttmusic.com/home.html













Never say Never,

Love & Logic Tickets to Success

Next up is Jim Fay, of Love and Logic, and his Tickets to Success.  Jim Fay does a great job of encapsulating his 5 step plan for responsible children.  This is a small, nearly pocket sized version of one of his most tried and true Love and Logic strategies.  He conveys his five step method in easy to understand peices giving numerous examples from his experience as a teacher and administrator for many years.

In 1977, Jim Fay founded along with Foster W. Cline MD the Love and Logic philosophy. Love and Logic teaches parents, teachers, and administrators one of the best ways to deal with children through love with empathy and logic allowing the child to own their problems. Jim Fay and his son Charles Fay, PhD travel the country and share their experiences and testimonies of how these strategies work. They also break them down into easy to implement bits for you to use.
I have a few years of teaching experience, and the Love and Logic teacher book is on my list to finish reading.  I have watched several clips, and I had the awesome privilege to meet Dr. Charles Fay in person and hear him deliver the strategies from his own experience (He is very personable and greeted me at the sign in table, and I was shocked to discover he was the speaker).
I also have the Love and Logic Parenting version as well for when that day comes for me with children, I can feel somewhat prepared.  I know that working with children can't be boiled down to a textbook or a how-to guide, but I do know that children need to be loved and this is logically one of the best ways to show love.  From personal experience as a teacher, the strategies do work, but they require practice and consistency for an effective return.
For more information on Love and Logic, check out the website: http://www.loveandlogic.com/

First Book ~Talking with God everyday prayers

First book down 109 to go!  This book appealed to me most because of its cover.  I am fascinated with the color lime green or  in this case green apples.  Aside from the cover the content of prayer piqued my interest as well.
This book is a collection of prayers taken (with permission) from various other books on prayer and authors that have published prayers within their books.
This book is a small-lightweight book that is great on the go or that will rest easily on your nightstand beckoning you to read a prayer before you crawl into bed and let sleep overtake you.  It is broken into sections such as "times of trouble" and "prayers for the lonely"  and so on allowing you to flip easily between sections rather than read from beginning to end.
This book would be a good gift for a friend or even a prayer (giving the proper credit) would make a nice card for a person in need.  I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a word of encouragement.  It is a book that can be a reference rather than just a one-time read.
As I began reading this book, the prayers began to speak to me in the very circumstances that I found myself.  I couldn't believe that these words would encourage me so, but they did.  I kept asking God, "Really, God?  This was here the whole time, but it took this silly experiment for me to find it."  I have a feeling that this is just the beginning God has for me with this experiment.  I am looking forward to what's next.