360: Finding Unexpected Motivation

Philippians 4:6 Do no be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

This verse was in my devotional and a reminder to remain steadfast in my trust in the Lord…my faith in Him, and He will bring me peace.

I went further into the Word and read Final Exhortations, Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is try, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard form me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

WOW. I hear you Lord. I am listening. Show me the way to my path, made straight by You. (Proverbs 3:6) Each verse spoke to me in so many areas of my life that I’ve been praying on lately…praying with great intention and trusting in the Lord to guide me. Seeking out His will for my life. A.S.K. Ask. Seek. Knock.

Verse 5: I’ve been praying for the Lord to soften my heart. What does that mean? …To have a gentle spirit. To be patient in my actions and in my words. (And slower to anger & frustration) To act in love (with great intention, instead of “doing something” to get it done).

Verse 6: I’ve been praying to let go of fear in my life. To lead a life fully relying upon my trust in the Lord…to bring me His peace when I would otherwise be unable. I’ve experienced so many things in the last couple weeks where I could rely upon that trust in seemingly fearful situations-or so I would’ve previously deemed them. Some were much more serious than others. Less serious, I went rock wall climbing with my hubby a week ago. It was an impromptu date away from the girls (2 yrs & 4months)…so needless to say, it’s been a while, and those moments I truly adore! I am afraid of heights (all sorts!) and I will say that getting to the top was a huge mental challenge for me. (Not to mention an incredible physical work out!) I may have slowed down, or even stopped for a while before I was able to make it…to find the courage & strength to grab the next handhold and push upward! To pray…Lord I trust in you…thank you for this opportunity to put my trust in you…and really feel alive in these moments! Each time I tried a new belay line, climbing my way up.. sometimes moving quickly, other times finding myself needing to slow down and examine which hold will work in order to move forward…and then toward the top, taking that moment to pray and take a deep breath before I could move on…..each time, it was a challenge to get to the top; but the joy I felt when I was there was exhilarating! …but then I had to get down…so I had to take a few more breaths before I could allow myself to let go! It seems sort of silly…to be so afraid of something that is exciting?! I cannot wait to go back! I trusted and took my leap of faith (literally & figuratively!) and received such incredible peace & joy in the experience.

Verse 8: Just this evening I was in a conversation with a friend, and I admitted I was done daydreaming for the evening! This, after I had poured out some specific ambitions, ideas, and “dreams”/goals for the future. What encouragement I can take from the Lord in this verse. To really think about such things (V8), with humble discernment.

I’ve been praying with a bolder conviction in my heart. I ask for motivation when I’m weak, when I lose focus on what matters. This last month, God has shown me such gracious motivators in my life; through words of affirmation (ever read The 5 Love Languages?!).

I first recognized this after I received the words “I’m proud of you” three times in one week by three individuals I treasure most. They were happy with the actions I was taking in my life; all in separate situations, yet a common denominator in each-my faith. These words from the people I love felt so incredible, in the most humbling sense of the word.To know that these treasures in my life might see God’s light in me?!-seeing His work through you-in the way you are living your life. Be Still. (Psalm 46:10) Live Love. (1Cor 16:14) 

I then noticed this through the absolutely amazing prayer support I’ve received this past week in particular. The feeling from this support is so comforting and peaceful…and brings joy to my heart; offered up through an incredibly diverse group of women-with a common denominator-they strive to know HIs love in their hearts & thrive upon His light in their lives. To share in something like this is such a blessing.

The other way I’ve received such motivators through words of affirmation is by a friend unexpectedly uplifting and encouraging me – like a perfectly timed huge breath of fresh air. This work was evident multiple times this last week and from a few different friends in my life. Sometimes it comes in the form of a reminder, such as a post a friend put up at the exact moment I happened to be looking and at the exact moment I needed a swift reminder to do what had been on my heart ALL day:

You know those things you always tell yourself you’re going to do? Those things that just sit and burn in your heart? You know exactly what I’m talking about. Do that. Don’t get in your own way. Sitting there and telling yourself it’ll never work out the way you want it to will ultimately just leave everything stagnant. And stagnant things stink. Get up. Time to go. You have a mission. You have a purpose.
Most importantly? Ask God to take the lead. He’s the ultimate source of inspiration and motivation.
‘You know those things you always tell yourself you’re going to do? Those things that just sit and burn in your heart? You know exactly what I’m talking about. Do that. Don’t get in your own way. Sitting there and telling yourself it’ll never work out the way you want it to will ultimately just leave everything stagnant. And stagnant things stink. Get up. Time to go. You have a mission. You have a purpose.
Most importantly? Ask God to take the lead. He’s the ultimate source of inspiration and motivation.’

Rise Up Take Courage & Do It (Ezra 10:4) ….and so I did. I’m here God, I am listening. Show me the way to Your will.

And still, other times it comes in the form of a loving sentiment from your friend, when you didn’t even know people could see the work that is so important in your life. When a friend tells you, out of the blue, that you will thrive in what you strive for. Talk about uplifting. God sends His word in our lives through the various people He places within it; through the Word directly, and in the circumstances that surround us.

Ask. Seek. Knock. Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Pray with intention, and through the will of the Lord. All things in His name. Thank you Lord, for making my path straight and guiding me along even when I can’t see the way. Thank you.

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Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.

Ezra 10:4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

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.

360: Be in the Kitchen

One of my favorite things through out this new portion of my journey is being in the kitchen. In striving to provide healthier choices for my family while making a lifestyle change, a big challenge is making the nutrient packed food exciting for the family! I’m already excited about it. Why, you ask? That’s easy! The colors, the tastes, the smells, the endless combinations, and being intentional while preparing and cooking the meals is truly an experience in itself!

Now, the husband on the other hand….the one from whom I have to hide spinach in his smoothies or he’d “think he didn’t like it”! Yes, also the one who is handed an aestehtically  beautiful meal full of color and of course flavor and says….”What are these weird ball things?” Ball things….oh, right, you mean Quinoa! ; )

This evening I made a surprisingly scrumptious meal that everyone devoured. My husband actually told me it may have been the tastiest thing I’ve ever made (aside from my ribs…oozing with sauce & filling the entire house with a sweet and spicy aroma <insert drool>) Might I just add….My husband has probably only ever loved just those two dishes of mine haha and I have SO much to learn in the kitchen and am by no means experienced enough to write a cook book! However, I do enjoy experimenting and learning so I decided it would be nice to journal my explorations!

So back to the weird ball things…for dinner I made seared chicken over a brown rice/quinoa mix tossed with mango, avocado, cilantro, & sautéed onion. In the process I used coconut oil (as always) lime juice, and pepper. Adding some chopped garlic to the chicken next time would be an added flavor boost. I garnished with halved baby heirloom tomatoes & cilantro. For my toddler & husband I tossed it all up (in various stages) including their diced chicken and plated it so that it looked like some sort of delicious fried rice. (They both love fried rice so I was hoping this would be a big “sell” in terms of a healthy replacement). IT WORKED!

Let’s not discuss my husband’s thoughts on some of my other attempts at healthy replacements! But that’s okay! The lesson here is not to take cooking and meal prep too seriously or it takes all of the fun out. Making lifestyle changes, not hopping on board some fad diet, takes time & energy! The great part about this challenge is that you in turn receive incredible energy from your food (something I’ve been desperate for) & an added bonus of decreased cravings (something I thought was IMPOSSIBLE!).

Time. Who has the extra time for all of the food prep & experimentation when you can hardly find the time to get the groceries (or shower, work out, read a book, sit down?!!!). At least that’s what I was asking myself Jan. 1st! It just works itself out somehow! A little prep here; some more here; a few minutes at night after the kids are in bed to get some recipe ideas for the week. You find yourself establishing new habits one step at a time until before you know it…you’re getting more things done that ever before and finding the joy in the journey!  Queue the spirited 2 year old and growing 3 month old!

* Be Thankful. Be intentional. *

1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

 

 

 

360 Week 5: A Recap & Focus on the Physical

Much has happened since my last post. Our family was out of town for two weeks on an island without a computer & internet, which by the way was a nice break from the social media world! Thus, I wasn’t able to relay my progress as I had intended. My goal for this next month is to have a better dedication to capturing in word what is going on in life. I will strive for at least one entry per week. In the spectrum of it all, I feel like that should be relatively easy & attainable; however, I’ve clearly struggled with this in the past.

God has already set aside time in the day for me to reflect, to pray, to live in His Word; just as He has already provided the time for me to share, so now I must take this gift of time and utilize it. This is my overall challenge to focus on in the near future. Taking the time God has already provided for me. Too precious a gift to waste.

Reflection:

In reflection of the last month regarding daily challenges to live with intent & cleanse, I have focused on a range of things- the physical self with emphasis on exercise and nutrition, as well as spiritual cleansing (but no so much the home!)

The physical self. I can’t help but to recant 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

” Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ”

This is such a strong message. Let’s break it down. First and foremost, our bodies are not our own…they too, are gifts from God. Who am I to dishonor such a gift? I want to live the life that God so intended for me and part of that is honoring Him by living the life He intends for me! That life is a continual journey at this point and part of that journey is to take care of my vessel…my physical self… I pray for strength and energy from the Lord almost each day. Of course we need His strength and His energy in our lives as we are only human and He will equip us for the journey; however, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be doing everything I possibly can to work for my own strength and energy. In essence, I need to work at these facets of life in order to better receive Him into my life. I need to cleanse (physically and spiritually) before I can more fully receive the Lord. I need to prepare my body and soul. With taking a look at my body, I should always be thankful for what God has given me and furthermore, honor Him in such thanksgiving by taking great care of my vessel!

In addition to that point, I delve even deeper. My body is a temple to the Holy Spirit that lives within me; whom God has graciously provided. We are called to do all things in Him, through Him, and for Him. The “through” portion of that is only possible through the Holy Spirit in me! Is this concept, this TRUTH, not extremely powerful? When I view my body as this temple for the Holy Spirit (as it should be viewed) I gain an entirely new perspective and motivation as to how I should be better taking care of such an important vessel.

In pursuing better care, I have started making changes and re-incorporating things into my life such as daily exercise and stronger nutrition. I could go on for days about living a more natural lifestyle, and perhaps one day I will…but not today : )  One step at a time! At 3 months post second baby, I am reminded at how incredibly God has equipped our bodies. The miracle of pregnancy and delivery is truly incredible and for anyone who has gone through this journey knows what I mean! What our bodies are capable of is truly something to honor. If God can equip our bodies for such a miraculous task & gift all in one; He surely can equip us for greater strength and energy on a daily level providing… we put in some work on our end as well! Fueling the body with clean, natural, and REAL foods & staying active are key elements to that intended goal.

We live in a society where it’s harder to find something whole and natural than it is to find an entirely manufactured food? How backwards is that. We fuel our bodies with chemicals and GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) and expect it to function optimally. Not so. We live in a society where the mentality to live your life for God is not the focus, rather, it’s to live YOUR life with you at the center. Self-satisfying, easy, instant gratification – these are just a few words, that in my opinion of course, reflect the way society lends way for us to live. It’s not surprising that we struggle each and every day to make the right choices or get distracted from the path of righteousness. Sin and misconception surround us in all facets of life. I am anchored and grounded by Romans 12: 1-2 :

” Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will. ”

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Scripture:

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

“I Pray:

” Lord, this year I’ve been trying to focus on you each day & deepen my relationship with you on a new level; living with real intent and conviction in my thoughts and actions. It is not easy day to day with so many distractions; but in just the past month, I already find myself more often with a smile on my face, joy in my life, and love in my heart. I pray that you continue to work through me and that I may love every*day (* each and every day & * in all ways) through you. Praising your name with a thankful heart! “

360 Week 1: A Plan of His Own

On one particular morning (Jan. 6th) I had woken up with a pre-planned objective: the take down the Christmas tree & the rest of the Christmas decorations; along with a deep clean & rearranging of the living room. I was pleased with my objective for the day to “cleanse” my home!

Little did I know, that was not my plan for the day : ) I walked downstairs after putting our two year old down for a nap ready to get started. As I turned the corner, boxes in the kitchen caught my attention immediately! My husband had decided to start on a different project (he had no prior knowledge of my plans & challenges). He had emptied the entire contents of kitchenette area (or mini bar area) into said boxes to clean & re-organize. Now this was definitely something that needed to be done, and is in fact one of the many house “cleansing” projects on the list for 2015! However, my world got slightly turned upside down when I spotted the piles and mess and I became instantly flustered because his plan had disrupted my own.

*Note* Perhaps it’s necessary from my perspective to note that my husband has a different technique when it comes to cleaning & organizing than I do! He works best by “piling”- a technique in which he hunts & gathers, as any man innately loves to do, and then piles his finds all up in one spot or a box. With any luck, there’ll be enough remaining energy and devotion after the big hunt to actually re-disperse and organize the contents. Haha, this is usually not the case!

So what on earth was he thinking. The living room needed to come first. It starts with the Christmas decorations, then getting the living room cleaned & organized, and then the kitchen was an entirely new agenda with lists & projects all its own that could last a month. “HOW WAS HE SKIPPING TO THE KITCHEN?” I even began to get angry and then realized I needed to displace my OCD for the time being. His intention was pure- he wanted to help organize & rid our house of those unnecessaries. So I jumped in to cleanse, de-clutter, and deep clean!

At one point I found myself just wanting to be done. I had gotten rid of the build-up, re-organized all of the drawers, and was working on the upper cabinets with all of our glass wear. At that moment, I was impacted by the thought, “Am I doing this with heart?” “Is this intentional?” …because if it’s not, then why even do it at all. The point of this 360 cleanse is to have some sort of challenge each day that either aids in cleansing our home or self..and ideally both. With that thought, as if almost a jab to my side, I received a new energy & constancy-faithfulness! Almost subconsciously, I began polishing the glasses?!

Reflection:

Taking the time out to clean, organize, and rid the unnecessary clutter and junk accumulated was so cleansing! I now had a clean, simple, and beautiful space with a **purpose**. We can better serve our own purpose when we remove the build-up that is currently distracting or impeding us. I think the key to this is taking the time & being intentional in self-reflection; praying for forgiveness; and giving ourselves in all that we do, to the Lord. The new purpose for my kitchenette area also better serves my cleansing goal for the year! It is a new home to our new Vitamix!!!! This space will act as a fresh foods area of our home & smoothie bar!

My plan of doing the Christmas decor that day was traded for a different plan. His plan. A plan to cleanse much more than just an area of my home. A plan to cleanse my heart with the realization that self-reflection & humility is extremely important; with a realization that His plans for me are with intent & purpose that is far beyond my grasp.

Scripture:

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord”

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.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray to be intentional in all things. I pray that my heart be receptive to you in all ways.

 

So, what’s next? … You don’t always have to have a plan. Pray on it and give it up to the Lord & He will prepare the path in time.

 

Becoming the Woman God Intends for Me: Becoming a Woman of Influence

Becoming a Woman of Influence

What exactly does that mean for me?
What is a woman of influence?

Well, let’s examine the facts. To influence, per Webster, is to affect or change (someone or something) in an indirect, but usually important way: to have an affect on the condition or development of.

In December of 2012 my husband and I welcomed our beautiful little girl into this world. As I prepared for this miraculous event over the course of my pregnancy, I knew I wanted to be a great mom for my future children, but what precisely did that mean, just who exactly was this “mom” that she was to become such a role model and capable of such “greatness” as to influence their lives in a meaningful direction?

There are certain character qualities of a mother I know I want to strive for. These qualities, though, aren’t just those of the mother I wish to be, but also the wife, the daughter, the friend, the woman, the Christian. I have come to realize that my personal journey as a mother is very carefully and purposefully knit into the plans for the woman God intends for me to become. These plans have been long in the making and God has been preparing me for far longer than I even knew, perhaps will ever know. It is easy to glance back at life and see both the defining moments as well as the general course my life path has taken and how it has brought me to exactly where I should be; no matter what plans I had in mind for myself or how stubborn I tried to fight the direction at times. I am right where I am suppose to be… no thanks to me, all thanks to God and his never ending presence in my life.

My faith journey in the last few years in particular, has taken first priority in my life, as it should. I am amazed with each passing day to see the greatness that can happen when you truly and fully let go, and let God. To have seeing eyes, and hearing ears, and a receptive heart welcomes the Spirit into your life in ways you never even imagined. The spiritual growth I’ve experienced, specifically regarding these last few years of my life, has encompassed seeking out the Lord on a daily basis and receiving the Spirit each and every day, as well as deepening my personal relationship with the Lord. The changes that have occurred because of this growth are breathtaking. I can’t help but want to share this greatness; to yearn for more. It’s not personal greatness I speak of, it’s the greatness of God’s love and presence in my life. God has truly planted these seeds for us and within us. See the excerpt from Luke 8 below to read the Parable of the Sower. As I write this entry, I am called to reflect on the importance of this parable.

This blog will in essence, be an outlet for me to journal (something I’ve always enjoyed since a little girl), to organize my thoughts, prayers, hopes, and life lessons, and ideally to share with anyone interested in my journey along the way…my journey of becoming a woman of influence: The Woman God Has Always Intended for Me to Be!

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Scripture

Luke 8:1-15 The Parable of the Sower (NIV)

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”