Yesterday the Holy Spirit was at work on my soul. Also, Satan was fighting for control over my thoughts/emotions/actions. Charlie and I got into a little spat just as we were leaving for church, and it really affected my ability to get something out of the morning service. After church, I felt oppressed, like I didn't want to speak, I didn't want to do anything. I just wanted to be alone and silent. Not sure why, but there it was. So, during the evening service I began to feel my heart stirring, and still not knowing why, I started to cry during the service. The message was on yielding completely to Grace, and not letting sin control us. We frustrate Grace when we choose to sin instead of choosing to live for God. The message was very powerful, and I knew that I needed simply to yield to God. During that service, you could tell that the Holy Spirit was working on everyone there. It was amazing and uplifting.
In Romans 5:20 the Bible says that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. God knows the temptations that we face individually, and He sends more than enough Grace to overcome those temptations. We as humans fail to recognize that Grace, and sometimes even if we do, we ignore it and choose to sin anyway. That frustrates Grace, but God still sends it. Romans 6 is all about being delivered from sin's control by yielding to God. It's because of sin that we are all going to die anyway, so why spend your life serving the sin that's already claimed your body? Why not serve God and live a life of obedience unto righteousness?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Worship
Some thoughts from my pastor from this morning's sermon on Worship:
1. Worship is the Christian's highest calling.
2. Honor and Worship are different. Honor upholds a person because of what they are (a judge, official, etc.). Worship upholds someone because of WHO they are.
3. Prayer, Praise, and Worship are three levels of our soul's occupation:
Prayer is our soul's occupation with its needs.
Praise is our soul's occupation with the blessings from God.
Worship is our soul's occupation with God and God alone.
My soul is being fed, and I feel like I can't get enough! God is really working on my heart, and I'm thankful - so thankful!
1. Worship is the Christian's highest calling.
2. Honor and Worship are different. Honor upholds a person because of what they are (a judge, official, etc.). Worship upholds someone because of WHO they are.
3. Prayer, Praise, and Worship are three levels of our soul's occupation:
Prayer is our soul's occupation with its needs.
Praise is our soul's occupation with the blessings from God.
Worship is our soul's occupation with God and God alone.
My soul is being fed, and I feel like I can't get enough! God is really working on my heart, and I'm thankful - so thankful!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
If at first you don't succeed....
Yep, you guessed it...my New Year's resolution barely lasted one day. Actually, that's a lie. It didn't last even that. I'm talking about the one with being healthy and all that. Yep. So, I've got to start buckling down and seriously making an effort to eat healthy and work out. The desire is definitely there, and while most days I've managed to eat probably 75% healthy, there's always something that brings me back to the sugar or the large portion sizes. I blame it on the cold.
It would be so easy to do some crash diet/liquid cleanse, but I really want to live a healthy lifestyle that becomes so ingrained in my daily activities that I don't even have to think about it. I think starting a new job on Monday will help jump-start this process. There's a gym with weights and a treadmill on the premises, plus a couple of pals to work out with. I'm really excited about that.
Not to mention all the benefits that go along with eating well. Better skin, less fat so I'll look leaner, boosted energy levels, knowing that I'm taking care of myself instead of letting myself go. When I look back on photos of me when I was thinner, I remember what I was doing at that time to make me look so good, and always I was focusing on what I was eating, and I was regularly working out. It's really so simple that it's crazy to think that I ever stopped those habits. But, life gets in the way, and changes seem to disrupt me to the point that it halts any progress I've made and even sometimes reverses the good results back into what I used to be or look like. If I could get my life on somewhat of an even keel, I really think the eating and working out part would naturally fall into place. I'm excited about having a new routine, and about being serious about making the necessary changes for myself. It's not just for looks, although that's a big part of it. I also want these changes to become permanent so I grow old gracefully, and so when I have children I can lead by my example and teach them to have active and healthy lives. I also want to show both myself and Charlie that just because I'm turning 30 in six months doesn't mean I'm still not just as hot as some 20-year-old walking around!
It would be so easy to do some crash diet/liquid cleanse, but I really want to live a healthy lifestyle that becomes so ingrained in my daily activities that I don't even have to think about it. I think starting a new job on Monday will help jump-start this process. There's a gym with weights and a treadmill on the premises, plus a couple of pals to work out with. I'm really excited about that.
Not to mention all the benefits that go along with eating well. Better skin, less fat so I'll look leaner, boosted energy levels, knowing that I'm taking care of myself instead of letting myself go. When I look back on photos of me when I was thinner, I remember what I was doing at that time to make me look so good, and always I was focusing on what I was eating, and I was regularly working out. It's really so simple that it's crazy to think that I ever stopped those habits. But, life gets in the way, and changes seem to disrupt me to the point that it halts any progress I've made and even sometimes reverses the good results back into what I used to be or look like. If I could get my life on somewhat of an even keel, I really think the eating and working out part would naturally fall into place. I'm excited about having a new routine, and about being serious about making the necessary changes for myself. It's not just for looks, although that's a big part of it. I also want these changes to become permanent so I grow old gracefully, and so when I have children I can lead by my example and teach them to have active and healthy lives. I also want to show both myself and Charlie that just because I'm turning 30 in six months doesn't mean I'm still not just as hot as some 20-year-old walking around!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
My 2010
So, I'm bored, and I'm thinking about all the crazy things that happened this past year. I feel the need to write them down, so I won't forget (like I would, but anyway). Here's how my 2010 went down:
January:
1. Charlie came back to NY after being gone for two months to Arkansas doing rotations. He also went on some residency interviews.
2. I went skiing for the first time, and Charlie and I decided to start doing more outdoors activities together before we left NY.
February:
1. Went to Maine for Valentine's Day.
2. Skied again.
3. Started applying for jobs in AR.
March:
1. Charlie found out he matched at UAMS in their ER program. We started making plans for the big move.
2. Realized I would have to leave my job early b/c of the move.
April:
1. Worked my last month in NYC.
2. Packed and prepared to leave NY.
May:
1. Family visit to NY and subsequent road trip move back to AR.
2. Stuff went to storage and stayed until July.
3. Flew to St. Maarten for Charlie's graduation.
4. Started the process of buying a house.
5. Went on some job interviews.
June:
1. Began to be homeless after returning from St. Maarten.
2. Went on more job interviews and applied to more schools.
3. Lived with friends while we waited on our house to close.
4. Was hired as the 3rd grade teacher at SCA.
July:
1. Closed on our house - finally!!
2. Got our stuff out of storage.
3. Painted the entire interior of our house.
4. Put new carpet in our house.
5. Charlie started residency.
August:
1. Started back to work.
2. Worked a lot.
September:
1. Worked a lot.
October:
1. Worked a lot.
November:
1. Worked some - finally started feeling like I have my act together at work.
2. Saw family.
December:
1. Prepared for the holidays.
2. Worked some.
3. Saw family.
4. Went camping.
5. Celebrated New Year's in style!
All in all, I've had a busy year. For a while, it was really hard to imagine ever feeling settled. Now that we sort of are, I find myself loving the feeling! I love where we are living, I love the friends we have around us, I love the exciting possibilities that are starting to open up for me, and I love knowing that Charlie and I both are getting back to where we need to be. We're home. In every sense of the word. We're home and it feels great!
January:
1. Charlie came back to NY after being gone for two months to Arkansas doing rotations. He also went on some residency interviews.
2. I went skiing for the first time, and Charlie and I decided to start doing more outdoors activities together before we left NY.
February:
1. Went to Maine for Valentine's Day.
2. Skied again.
3. Started applying for jobs in AR.
March:
1. Charlie found out he matched at UAMS in their ER program. We started making plans for the big move.
2. Realized I would have to leave my job early b/c of the move.
April:
1. Worked my last month in NYC.
2. Packed and prepared to leave NY.
May:
1. Family visit to NY and subsequent road trip move back to AR.
2. Stuff went to storage and stayed until July.
3. Flew to St. Maarten for Charlie's graduation.
4. Started the process of buying a house.
5. Went on some job interviews.
June:
1. Began to be homeless after returning from St. Maarten.
2. Went on more job interviews and applied to more schools.
3. Lived with friends while we waited on our house to close.
4. Was hired as the 3rd grade teacher at SCA.
July:
1. Closed on our house - finally!!
2. Got our stuff out of storage.
3. Painted the entire interior of our house.
4. Put new carpet in our house.
5. Charlie started residency.
August:
1. Started back to work.
2. Worked a lot.
September:
1. Worked a lot.
October:
1. Worked a lot.
November:
1. Worked some - finally started feeling like I have my act together at work.
2. Saw family.
December:
1. Prepared for the holidays.
2. Worked some.
3. Saw family.
4. Went camping.
5. Celebrated New Year's in style!
All in all, I've had a busy year. For a while, it was really hard to imagine ever feeling settled. Now that we sort of are, I find myself loving the feeling! I love where we are living, I love the friends we have around us, I love the exciting possibilities that are starting to open up for me, and I love knowing that Charlie and I both are getting back to where we need to be. We're home. In every sense of the word. We're home and it feels great!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Worthless & Sore
Well, I did two 20-minute workouts this week, and today I can barely move. So much for working out every day in preparation for my New Year's dress....
It's sad that I am so out of shape that working out for a total of 40 minutes has almost put me in the nursing home....and today I have done nothing but bum it out in sweats in front of the TV. Oh, I made some cookies.....that's really gonna help my new "eating healthy" focus for the new year! It doesn't help that a cute little pug has been keeping me company and pretty much forcing me to lay on the couch. It's all your fault, Oscar....
Trying not to think about Monday, the Day of Depression, the Day Back to Work, the Day I Have to See My Students.....maybe it'll snow Sunday night and school will be cancelled!! One can always hope! It's a sign that I need to be doing something else....if only I knew what. Can't complain about the vacay time, though!
It's sad that I am so out of shape that working out for a total of 40 minutes has almost put me in the nursing home....and today I have done nothing but bum it out in sweats in front of the TV. Oh, I made some cookies.....that's really gonna help my new "eating healthy" focus for the new year! It doesn't help that a cute little pug has been keeping me company and pretty much forcing me to lay on the couch. It's all your fault, Oscar....
Trying not to think about Monday, the Day of Depression, the Day Back to Work, the Day I Have to See My Students.....maybe it'll snow Sunday night and school will be cancelled!! One can always hope! It's a sign that I need to be doing something else....if only I knew what. Can't complain about the vacay time, though!
Monday, December 27, 2010
New Year, New Focus
Well, a new year is almost here, and I'm ready to go! I'm feeling very focused on a couple of aspects of my life that need to be different. For instance, I've really let my working out and eating healthy goals slide in the past six months. Sure, moving, being "homeless" for two months, and adjusting to life back in Arkansas was partly to blame, but there's really no excuse for throwing away so much progress that I made at the beginning of 2010. So, that being said, I'm going for it again. Back to buying healthy foods, planning menus, making and taking time to work out regularly, back to bodyrock.tv, back to drinking water instead of diet coke, and back to respecting myself.
I'm also seriously thinking about what I need to do career-wise once this school year is over. I could teach again next year, but I'm probaby going to be very selective about where I even apply. I sort of want a change, but I'm not really sure yet what that change should be. Motherhood is looming over the horizon, but there's no guarantee that will happen this next year. I have a few options, but still praying/thinking about it.
Charlie and I may have found a new church home. We visited on Sunday, and we both felt like this could be the one. It will be so nice to become apart of a church we are excited about going to!
So, to sum up, I'm ready for this new year - 2011 is going to be a year of change, of challenging myself, of new beginnings. I can feel it! It's also the year I turn 30 - did I mention that??
I'm also seriously thinking about what I need to do career-wise once this school year is over. I could teach again next year, but I'm probaby going to be very selective about where I even apply. I sort of want a change, but I'm not really sure yet what that change should be. Motherhood is looming over the horizon, but there's no guarantee that will happen this next year. I have a few options, but still praying/thinking about it.
Charlie and I may have found a new church home. We visited on Sunday, and we both felt like this could be the one. It will be so nice to become apart of a church we are excited about going to!
So, to sum up, I'm ready for this new year - 2011 is going to be a year of change, of challenging myself, of new beginnings. I can feel it! It's also the year I turn 30 - did I mention that??
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Camelback, PA - Ski Trip #2
I tried my hand at skiing again last weekend. This time we went to Pennsylvania, to a place called Camelback. This mountain is smaller than the one at Sugarbush, and it was definitely not as intimidating. I didn't feel the initial nervousness that I felt from not knowing what to expect. And I had a private lesson this time instead of a group lesson. My instructor was so cool. His name is Kevin and he was gentle and encouraging. He distracted me so much that I didn't have time to be scared. Here's what I did this time that I didn't do the first time:
1. Go up the magic carpet.
2. Go down the bunny hill.
3. Turn both left and right.
4. Control my turns and link them together.
5. Stop.
6. Use the chair lift.
7. Go down a green!!!
I didn't believe that I was going to be able to do any of that, but I did. I was so excited, and so proud that I did it. I couldn't wait to show Charlie my new skills! I made myself a goal of going down the green at least ten times by the end of the day, and I did that as well. I'm still not comfortable completely, and I still need to get confidence, but I am way farther along than I expected to be at this point. It's such a mental game - and I psyched myself out. Now, at least, I won't dread skiing again!
1. Go up the magic carpet.
2. Go down the bunny hill.
3. Turn both left and right.
4. Control my turns and link them together.
5. Stop.
6. Use the chair lift.
7. Go down a green!!!
I didn't believe that I was going to be able to do any of that, but I did. I was so excited, and so proud that I did it. I couldn't wait to show Charlie my new skills! I made myself a goal of going down the green at least ten times by the end of the day, and I did that as well. I'm still not comfortable completely, and I still need to get confidence, but I am way farther along than I expected to be at this point. It's such a mental game - and I psyched myself out. Now, at least, I won't dread skiing again!
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