"7".... Testing the waters

 

We ( I say this loosely) are reading this challenging and funny journal and are pondering, "What does this experiment look like for us personally?"  Darrell actually does find this concept interesting.  What categories will we examine and rid ourselves of in excessive living?  The list we see in the book is great and we will take on a couple of them and decide what needs to be dealt with in our personal little family of two... food, clothes, media, stress, entertainment, spending, debt. 

FOOD:  We don't eat a lot of different things and I am not a great cook who gets her greatest joy from reading cookbooks, but there is definitely room for improvement and thought, when it comes to what we put into our mouths and why.  We may pick 7 foods to NOT put in our mouths for a month instead of only partaking of 7.  We have decided to omit fast food, soda, sweets/desserts, a decrease in coffee (let's be honest, we probably won't completely do without our morning coffee).   Hmmmm... that's only four and five if I cheat a little.  The foods we will eat are green leafy veggies, berries, bananas, whole wheat bread, eggs, avocados, tomatoes and chicken.  OK, that's eight.  This permissible list is very similar to Jen Hatmaker's, but I figure since she's already done the research on a good combination to get all the nutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle, let's go with that.  No red meat or pork for a MONTH?!!!  We are steak and potato kids, so this will be a challenge, but in a good way.  We will overdose on water and continue our glass of wine in the evenings; so water, coffee and wine for our beverage intake.

CLOTHES:  Now, I doubt very seriously that Darrell will go along with this one and I'm really going to have to look at my closet with a lot of prayer and discussion with God about what to do without.  It's not that I have an elaborate wardrobe, but SEVEN articles of clothing?!!!  I'll let you know how this turns out.

MEDIA:  Touchy subject in this day and age, right?  We should probably fast where media is concerned all 7 months in order to truly get free from this addiction... yes!  ADDICTION!!!  When you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and quietly slip into the living room to see if anyone has written on Facebook since the last 6-7 hours you spent on 'your page' the day before... you've got a problem and by 'you' I mean 'ME'!!  So this is what is rolling around in my head...  I will completely FAST Facebook for a month and thereafter, check it ONE TIME A DAY!  If you really need me, I have a phone number ad so do any friends who are really friends. (That is a whole 'nuther subject... who is and who really is not a true friend)  If you won't give me your phone number, if you won't call and be willing to talk about what really matters in my life and yours, we'll just continue to touch base on FB, but not nearly as often.  I love you, but I will no longer give my life to you unless I get to hear a live voice or see you in person.  YIKES!!!  This is becoming a scary development!  Instead of crashing in front of the TV at night, we will build our business, go for walks, watch more sunsets and trim a few more trees or something.  (I was going to say we will........ but my children, if they happen to read this, would give me a definite TMI signal)  We sometimes complain that no one will drive out to see us at our little country cottage, but we need to invite, plan for and be more hospitable.  GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and be with precious friends! Miniature Golf anyone?

SPENDING: At the time of this writing, we have already taken steps toward less spending and snowballing our debt, so mostly we will keep keeping on.  My suggestion is that when we feel the strong temptation to eat out or go see a movie, "Just say NO!" and when we are victoriously headed home, we take the same amount we would have spent on our fleshly desires and put that on our DD (Debt Disappearance) or give it into the ministries God has put on our hearts.  Holy Spirit will be sure to show us which direction to go on this.

STRESS: What is it that stresses me out and what is the solution?

1. Not hearing from my kids... let them hear from me.  Like buying my own flowers on my birthday so my feelings won't get hurt.

2. No money.... purposefully and faithfully put $ in our savings and build an emergency fund.  Then DO NOT TOUCH IT... unless there is an emergency of course!!

3. House repairs... save money and when there is enough, do the thing that needs maintenance the most.  Choose not to stress, but rather set goals with the hubster and rest in knowing, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

4. Boredom....  refer back to activities when media is turned off.  MOVE MY BODY!  Don't just sit there; do something!!

POSSESIONS: De-clutter garage, closets.  Either have that yard sale we keep talking about or give stuff away.   I mean, do I really need to keep my mother-of-the-bride dresses just in case I happen to be invited to a ball someday?  Discard broken items we have thought we would repair for decades, but never have. 

WASTE:  Recycling is not convenient and my one shot at composting failed when the guy who was mowing didn't realize what it was and mowed over it.  Have a plan and work the plan.  Glass, plastic and paper.  All grass clippings, sticks and veggie waste... to the compost pile we will make a place for this weekend!  Hold me accountable on this.

 

OK, that is seven; almost exactly the same list as Jen Hatmaker's because I couldn't think of anything else that seemed more important.  I thought could, but I couldn't.  I guess we all struggle with similar obstacles to living an uncluttered, God-minded, others focused life, don't we? 

 





What Was I Made For; Which Door at 64?

A blank page...  I haven't been here in so long, but I feel I have something to say.  I'm not even sure I know where to start, which is not unusual for me, but start I must.   I have things I still wonder about, need to learn; places to run, experience and be in awe over.  Why am I here... now that is a recurring question that has gone on for decades.  Maybe you relate or maybe you know exactly what you were made for and are completely confident and comfortable with where you are in this season of life. I usually am not. There are days when I feel that kind of assurance and there are even more days when I can't seem to keep my balance, fall on my face, get up again with shaky legs and wonder why I can't seem to find my way.  I know Jesus loves me.  I know God has a plan for my life.  The question is, am I living in His purposes?  Is walking with Him always this hard or am I making it harder than it needs to be?  I hope so.  I hope as I write, I will somehow come to a peaceful conclusion; a way to bring the peace I long for; a way to get outside myself and be others focused.

Age 64 will happen, ready or not, in four weeks and I don’t have a to-do-list written down.  I love the phrase, “If you think it, ink it!”, but what does my list, bucket or daily mundane happenings look like?  I’m not sure, but I am certain if I will “Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, all these other things will be added to me”.  I know He is the author and finisher of my faith and that I am supposed to rest in Him, but I don’t feel restful a lot of the time.  I’m a dreamer, a visionary; that is a good and a bad thing.  Good because being creative, setting goals and moving forward to see a dream realized is exciting and rewarding.  Bad because I spend a lot of time dreaming and not doing; I am uncertain of which steps to take.  If money were no object, if I had enough time, if I knew all the right people, if I were in shape physically and had the energy of an eighteen year old and the wisdom of an eighty year old, then life would take shape, multitudes would be helped, restored and I would have a vegetable garden and a guest cottage with flower boxes on every window.  “If a frog had wings, it wouldn’t bump its butt every time it jumped”.   

So here I am trying to get myself straightened out and I am about to embark upon a challenge like no other I’ve considered.  There is a book our staff ladies’ Bible study group… all four of us, three of whom are young enough to be my daughters… have decided to tackle together.  “7” by Jen Hatmaker.  I had heard of this experiment regarding the simplification of life from my girls, but now I’m going to get right in the middle of it.  This is scary and exciting at the same time.  Scary because I don’t want this to be one more thing I fail at, and exciting because I think if I will persevere, de-clutter my life for the next 7 months in areas of excess, I will see Jesus much more clearly; there will be more room for Him instead of all my ‘stuff’.  I told Darrell, my sweet husband who listens to my rambling without complaint, about this project and assured him it was the perfect time to tackle our spending habits since we don’t have money to spend anyway. He chuckled.  I would hope that if we had an abundance monetarily that I would still pare down, spend less and give more.  I keep chatting with God about this and assure Him that I can totally handle being rich for His glory. Perhaps He is wanting me to glorify Him regardless of what state I find myself in?  Uh, yeah!  I think what I am hearing is that this new blog entry, after being dormant for several years, is for the purpose of journaling my journey as I listen for Holy Spirit to "show me great and mighty things I have never known before". He does that you know.  So, here we go… Blog entry #1 regarding letting God take charge, slowing down, de-cluttering, enjoying this path and crying when necessary.  God bless you and come along with me if you want.

Lord, Let Us See You Even When We Can't

So many storms in life... but God.  We may not always understand, but we can always know that God loves us and that He is faithfully there even when we can't see through the darkness, the wind and rain.  The sun... the Son, is shining just as brilliantly as ever regardless of our perception of Him.  He is FAITHFUL!!  And when we choose to trust Him there is peace. He calms the storm and lifts us above adversity and hardship.  We see Him and there is rest.  Thank God!

BEHIND THE STORM:
The Light is always here; always near to us even when its radiance may be veiled temporarily by storms of adversity. Keep looking toward the Light and when He calms the storm and the Light bursts through... Oh! The beauty of it is worth the wait. The glory of it all is even more precious after the storm.

Inside Protandim The Paul Myhill Interview | Blog Talk Radio

Inside Protandim The Paul Myhill Interview Blog Talk Radio

Thoughts on Calendars

From January to December so many things fill our days. A calendar is a journal of sorts, isn’t it? Recorded good things, challenges, fun times and more often than we’d like, sad times and tender memories. I thank God that my times are in His hands and I purposefully choose to make the most of what time has been given to me. As I flip through the pages of my calendar I see so many people, events and holidays to celebrate as they brush quickly through my mind. We joyfully look forward to so much and also remember many days gone by with the aid of a calendar. Calendars give vivid reminders of how fast life passes and how important it is to give our lives fully to the things that are eternally valuable. Certainly there are hair appointments, lunch with friends, errands, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, doctor and dental appointments. Not to mention Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July and vacations planned to give us refreshing rest and a plethora of family get-togethers. We busy ourselves with business meetings to build relationships with those who work with us, celebrate the birth of a new grandchild or the 80th birthday of a grandparent or two. Wouldn’t it be fitting to keep record of the blessings that surprise us from God’s own hand? He is so good and He has given us time. Time to love Him, learn from Him, see the beauty all around us that He created and to walk with Him as each day comes and goes. A calendar is a good thing, albeit a temporal thing, that helps us order our steps until time will be no more. Then eternity will be before us with no appointments to keep. Continual celebration and joy; joy unspeakable and full of glory… forever.

Another New Year ~ 2011

How'd that happen?! Here we are in January of 2011 and 2010 blew by almost without my knowing most of the time. One day fades into another and before you can say "poop-poop-dee-doop" there is more gray hair, laugh lines, and it's a bit harder to get up off the floor than usual. I've been reading over some of my old posts about new beginnings, goals, and commitments. I could just kick a rock because of some of my failures and am actually somewhat pleased that I didn't completely fall out of the boat in other areas of this little life God has given on the timeline of history.

We're about to have kids in their forties come summer; have added another gran-girl, Miss Lexi Reese Waters, and have two more in preK and Kindergarten. Our oldest granddaughter, Allie Jill, is turning into a beautiful young woman at the age of 14 and I find it amazing to watch this pretty princess and all those coming along behind her grow, mature, and give so much joy to our family. We have budding artists, singers, song writers (Cooper), adventurers, seamstresses, jewelry crafters, athletes, chefs and probably doctors, lawyers, and merchant chiefs. Not to mention the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker... well, and the uh... barn-girl (Claire). God has blessed each one of our children and grandchildren with amazing gifts and talents and I pray that all will be developed and perfected for His glory as time continues to jet by at accelerated speed.

We praise God for good health, jobs, and opportunities to share our love for Him with others. Christmas came and went and was glorious chaotic fun, but Christmas cards and/or a New Year letter did not make it to the post office, so this will have to do and will hopefully be a blessing for the few who stumble across this scanty blog of mine. I rarely write, but had the urge today, so here it is, filled with news of unmet goals... again, hope for the future, and brimming with possibilities. I am in awe of being so loved and cared for by a Savior who gave everything to make a way for me ; the way for all who will embrace this Jesus I call Lord. I am also speechless at the blessing of family; every single person set into my life by God's design. We're perfect for one another within our imperfections, don't you think? My husband and children are some of my dearest friends and I can always count on them as points of accountability to help keep me from hypocrisy. My heart is to walk well through this life; loving Jesus, those who love Him and those who have yet to know Him. I still take a terrible tumble every now and then, but God heals, restores, and refreshes me by His Spirit and through His Word. Truly we are all a work in progress as we keep our eyes on the prize of His high calling and I find grace in Him and mercy that is new every morning. My confidence is in the God of the universe who stepped out in faith Himself to make man in His own image and I count it an honor and privilege to be called a child of the King of Kings.

One Step Forward... Sometimes

August, hot and humid August! I figure since it's been about four months since I so courageously wrote of my dreams and goals for the future, I should shoot out an update. Journaling every few months is good, right? Especially since there is only me and maybe a couple others who might read my ramblings. Anyway, it does me good to lay my thoughts out on the table... so to speak. Back in January I began this purposeful journey toward 60 and that particular birthday is coming up in two days. I had high hopes of sitting with Jesus daily, devoting more time to him than sitting in front of a TV, paying off more debt, and losing more pounds before Friday, August 6, 2010. Well, the truth is, I have succeeded at a certain level and I have a long way to go as well. By June I was down to 134 lbs. from my heaviest weight EVER at 153. So VICTORY. YEA!!! I still do not consistently capture my thoughts; stay still in God's presence for extended periods of time each day, but I know He loves me and I just can't get over that. I am in awe sometimes that He even likes me. Truly, His love is all about what He has done and not His expectations for me to somehow qualify. Thank GOD! I am desperate for Him to deliver me from my own distractions.

We sent off our last truck payment and will now apply that amount to our next debt, so the snowball is snowballing and we can honestly see our way out of this self-made mess. So, though I've gained a few pounds over the summer, still have unmet goals, and so many dreams for the future, I am encouraged. It is one step forward and two back more than I'd like to admit, but some of our steps in the right direction are big ones and our hope is high. I resolve to follow Jesus with a passion regardless of whether or not I keep my focus. My scattered thoughts may pull me in fifty different directions, but I will ALWAYS run to Him with all my heart. I'm sure I'll write more later and may figure out how to post a picture of my gray hair and slimmer body, but for now and because it's 5:00, I must go.