I am Second

 "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." ~ Luke 7:47 

I grew up in church.  I went to private school from kindergarten to Senior year of high school.  I have a wonderful family that supports me in what I do.  I knew a whole lot about Jesus and at age five, I thought I knew Him as Savior.  It wasn't until age 16, that I fully understood what God did for me and my sins.  My head knowledge became heart understanding and Jesus became my Savior.  I "knew" what to do next, but I didn't quite know how to "walk the walk" and allow myself to trust God on a daily basis.  I finished high school and went on to college.  A year into college, God got my attention and showed me that He was in charge, and nothing was in my control.

Time went by, and I finished college and called on Jesus when it was convenient or when I needed help.  I was in the church pew every Sunday but in my thoughts many miles away at times.  God got my attention again, after graduation when I believe He called me to the harvest of children through teaching.  I tried to become a teacher on my own and in my own strength.  I even went on to graduate school to become a librarian thinking that would be my niche, but God grabbed my attention yet again and reminded me that I wasn't in control.  God showed me that He needed to not only be Savior but Lord of my life.  I learned that He wants a relationship with me, and I have finally become second within the last few years.  My life hasn't been easy, but staying closer to God is getting easier each day.

I am Second is a compilation of stories from various celebrities and people who declare themselves as second to Jesus in their life.  They range from rock band members, athletes, power couples, and pastors.  These people are honest and open about the struggles in their life that led them to a relationship with Jesus and the continuing trials of walking the walk with Jesus.  Some of my favorites were Ranger's player Josh Hamilton,  Ken Hutcherson, Korn band member Brian "Head" Welch, Karen Green, and Bethany Hamilton.  This book is just a portion of stories from the I am Second Movement.  At the close of each chapter there are QR codes for easy access to additional stories at www.iamsecond.com.

The book is just a small part of the greater movement.  I am Second is a movement that is circulating all over gathering others' stories of how they are second in life.  It is equipping others to go and share their story with others, and it is a means of encouragement for those in need.  For more information about I am Second, check out there website: www.iamsecond.com.

One Thousand Gifts

The night sky.  The bright moon.  The stars peeking through. Buildings that light up with changing colored lights. The newest, tallest tower brightly lighting up the skyline and occasionally hidden with the night fog.  Fellowship with a friend in my broken Spanish and her broken English.  This waiting period.  Health tests.  These are just a few of the gifts that I have been given through the reading of this book, One Thousand Gifts.
Ann Voskamp, a farmer's wife in Canada, writes in the most unique manner of how God gave her the gift of eucharisteo, Grace ~ Thanks ~ Joy.  Ann descriptively writes of the struggles of her life and the loss of joy.  She shares that thanksgiving to God in the good, the bad, and the ugly,  Thanksgiving is the process which began the restoration of grace in her life through a gratitude journal and the recording of those gifts.
The healing came in through the counting and in the seeking of the magnificent moments among the mundane routine of life.  This book encourages the reader to seek out their own gifts.  I personally started my own journal.  It is hard to keep up with writing them down, but once you get started you will always be on the lookout for new gifts.
I am currently doing the DVD and workbook study with the women of my church.  This has been a phenomenal time of fellowship and bonding allow us to share life with each other.  I would recommend this book to anyone that needs an extra dose of encouragement and perspective on thankfulness.
If you want to get a group study together, there is a DVD and workbook.  There is also a devotional book in addition to this book.
For more information check out this site: onethousandgifts.com
Check out Ann Voskamp's blog here: www.aholyexperience.com

Happy Thanksgiving and start counting...

Healthy Living ~ Day 4 ~ Bring on Thanksgiving...Almost!

Today was a decent day.  I gave into some sweet temptations early on, but then I remained pretty faithful.  I am still in the process of purging some foods such as french fries from my diet.  I know I can do this.  I walked a few minutes and did lunges, not quite ten minutes, but it was something.
Today's journal entry is about health role models you have and what tips have they offered and how helpful were they.  They suggest to call one of them up and tell them about your 21 day project and get some advice.
When I first read the question I was thinking on a grander scale such as "The Biggest Loser," specifically Jillian Michaels.  Jillian's method's may not be typical and proper "bedside" manner, so to speak, but she is not in the business of making friends.  She is in the business of making "losers," "biggest losers" that is.  From watching over the last several years, nearly every season she is on, she coaches the winner.  She is the one that shouted to this season's contestants to find their "why" and the "how" will follow.  That peice of advice allowed me to find my "why" which is to glorify God.  When I make my choices in light of that standard it makes it hard for me to go wrong.  That doesn't mean I won't fail, but when I do, I just get back up again ask for forgiveness and make another choice.
Then I realized the questions were geared to local role models.  As of right now I can think of two.  They are sweet inspirations to me and have encouraged me to continue my journey that I have begun.  Think about the people in your life, any role model, and give them a shout out.  Everyone needs to know they are appreciated once in a while.

Healthy Living ~ Day 3 ~ Overflow

Today was a unique day.  I had a morning appointment. We got turned around a bit and parked in the Overflow parking lot and took the long trek under the street and up the mountain of stairs and counted the parking garages and public parking lots closer to the building on the way.  It was a great way to get some aerobic exercise at the start of the day.

My eating was okayish.  I had good portions, but I ate some sweet stuff again.  I am working on greatly reducing my sweet intake.  Yes, even around the holidays.  It is possible.  I have done it before.
I am still working on incorporation of exercise within my day.  I am attempting 10 minutes a day.  Today I didn't get that in as of yet.  Some progress is better than no progress.  The journal entry for today discusses the temptation of straying from my plan and what I do.  It asks to describe the emotional battle of that temptation.
Personally for me, I am training myself to ask "WHY?" in all things.  The answer to this "why" is "for the glory of God."  So I have no excuse to work the plan.  It is taking a little bit to train myself to think this way, but when I let go and allow myself to do it for the Lord, the frustration dissolves and the joy returns as I eat, exercise, and live for the glory of God.
I have to get completely on board with my plan, whatever the plan, in my mind and heart.  That makes it easier for me to enforce and hold myself accountable to it when I have made a mental commitment, so to speak.
When tempted to sway from the plan, I usually have victory over temptation when I am fully invested in the plan.  At other times, I give in and don't take care of my nutrition and fitness.  The consequences for this have been weight gain, fatigue, and lack of energy.  Additional emotional responses are negative self talk and guilt over allowing myself to let go.
This is why I want a plan that I can turn into a lifestyle.  I believe Bob Harper's 20 Skinny rules will do that for me, but I have yet to mentally commit to them.  I must commit to eating healthy, why? For the glory of God.  I must commit to exercising my body, why? For the glory of God.  When tempted to cheat or go "off plan," I must ask, why?  I then must make the beneficial choice for the glory of God.
I wish all of you the best this Thanksgiving, and I will do my best to adhere to the goals I set forth.  I will do my best to ask "Why?" while filling my plate with the abundance that God has so graciously supplied for my family.  Happy Thanksgiving and remember to count your blessings.

Healthy Habits ~ Day 2 ~ Let's "Shake!"

Day 2 is here and nearly gone.  I did make my lunch the night before and drank more water today (not nearly enough, but making progress).  The journal questions for today were: "What are your health-related fears?  What are you doing to confront them?

For me, I fear that I will NOT create a healthy lifestyle.  I fear that I will NOT lose the last pesky 30 pounds I have left and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I fear gaining it ALL back.  I have a plan, but I have to work that plan.  My plan this go around is Bob Harper's 20 Skinny rules (It's a book, but I found the list at www.sparkpeople.com)  Speaking of SparkPeople, it is a free and user-friendly website for tracking nutrition, exercise, weight and measurements, water intake, and even your mood.  It is a great resource for healthy living, and I would recommend it.  It can be a bit overwhelming, but they have recently made some changes that make it even easier to track your goals.  I will do my best to use it in the next 20 days...I hope.

I have not yet done my exercise for today.  As for goals for today, I am a work in progress.  Some water, no exercise yet, I ate 3 half-way decent meals and some sweet stuff (all in decent in portions) breaking a few of Bob's rules, but I will get back on track.  My goal is to just do it!  Today wasn't the best, but there is still time to get some moves in.  Mercy Me's new song "Shake" is some great motivation. Check it out here: 

21 Days ~ Goals

Biblical Homemaking

I reworked my blog and did some transferring over, so I didn't post yesterday.  I have not yet started.  My start date is tomorrow, November 24.  Now on to my goals:
1) Drink water!  At least 64 ounces, but aim for 80 ounces daily
2) Prepare and eat a healthy breakfast
3) Make a lunch the night before
4) Exercise at least 10 minutes daily
5) Exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week
6) Eat sensible portions

These are my goals for the next 21 days.  From now until December 21, I plan to meet these 6 goals each day.  I also mentioned the 21 Days Journal emphasizes visualization.  I decided to make a Pinterest board and learned many things.  I ran across a blog entitled Biblical Homemaking and  the "changing your habit's for God's glory" post.  This post was exactly what I needed and gives me the confidence to proceed and turn these goals into habits and from there a lifestyle.

I am looking forward to seeing where this journey will take me.  I have a few pictures of specific ideas and inspiration that I will share and you can access my Pinterest board here as well.

This is a sticky note count down for each of the 21 days.  I think I will try this.  It will be the visual reminder that I need to keep me focused.

This is a clever sticky note depiction of the process of setting and reaching goals and simple at that.  If only I would just do it.  I am starting tomorrow.  I can do this!

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,