Fresh Starts

It's been a while since I've been here, writing in this space that I excitedly created a few years ago.  A lot has happened...a lot has changed....I have changed.  And it's all good.

I'm ready for a new start, and I'm honored if you join me here from time to time.

See I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

The Promise

Empty and lonely and lost and stripped bare; pruned they say. 

To the bone, I reply back. 

And everyone says “it’s just a season” or “this too shall pass”.
And I know this to be true because I’ve been here before;
So why do I find myself here again? 

The seasons are cyclical, they say. 

I feel like I’ve skipped the good seasons somehow, I reply. 

How does one continually flounder back and forth from
Fall to winter…fall to winter…fall to winter?

There is always a teasing – a smattering here and there of a day or two of spring. 

But it’s fleeting. 

Just when I shed my protective coat,
Turn my face up to the sky to feel the sun shine on it
The cold rains begin again.

And I feel defeated.
And cold.
And lonely.
And forsaken. 


Left wondering why…what do I do now?
How do I do this alone?

I try to reach out in this busy world.
But mostly I just keep it To myself…who needs my stuff added to theirs?

They shy away when you get “real”;
fearful that what you have might be contagious. 


And my only hope really?
Is just this…to hold on to the promise,

Even when it seems like all is lost and there is nothing good left.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; 

he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

–Deut 31:8

Sprouted WHAT?

No, not WHAT…W-H-E-A-T!  Sprouted WHEAT!  Well, actually sprouted wheat BREAD!

This is my latest “discovery” in the way of healthy eating, and I must say it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.  Just the phrase “good for you” can make me turn my nose up!

I recently attended a mini-seminar at my church where two doctors of chiropractic (one of which is my Pastor/Pastor’s wife!) spoke on “7 Keys to Healthy Living”.  I won’t go into great detail about the 7 Keys, but they are listed below with a few notes beside them:

1 – Spiritual Health – Surrender all things to God (Matthew 6:33)

2 – Adequate Rest/Sleep – this is the time your body repairs and regenerates; lack of sleep = illness

3 – Emotional Health (Soul) – renew your mind with God’s word.  We  have a will to choose what we think about!  (Read Phillipians 4:8 for some suggestions!)

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;

jealousy is like cancer in the bones."

Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)

4 – Spinal Alignment (Chiropractic care) – did you know that all organs are connected to nerves that run to your spine?  When your spine is out of alignment, the nerves can be pinched causing the healthy nerve flow that your organs need to be diminished or cut off! (Here’s an informative video about 4:20)

5 - Have fun!

6 – Proper exercise and stretching – we all know that exercise is important, but we tend to dismiss the importance of stretching.  Stretching increases flexibility and range of motion (yoga, tai chi and pilates are all wonderful ways to stretch and tone).

7 – Nutrition – basically it all came down to this: eat real (God-created), non-processed food; organic when at all possible; and in moderation. 

We’ve all heard these things before, but let me tell you it can be a real challenge to find things that aren’t processed until they aren’t even a little bit of what they originally started out to be!  BUT, I did say “challenge” – not impossible!

So, back to the sprouted wheat.  Bread is probably one of my biggest “diet” downfalls.  I love, love, love it – especially if it’s hot out of the oven and slathered with butter.  (Oh, side note…butter IS better for you than margarine.  Read THIS about how margarine is made and you may never eat the stuff again.)

  

I don’t know about you, but when I’m making a lifestyle change, if I try to do it cold-turkey I will fail every, single time.  But if I take one component at a time and change it, then before I know it I have turned things around completely.  So, my first step toward healthful eating is switching from “white trash” bread (made with bleached, processed flour) to sprouted whole wheat bread. 

Look at that bread!  It is simply delicious.  

I truly thought it would be bland and cardboard-like, but it’s flavorful; and the texture is dense, so instead of just eating a bunch of fluffy air-filled white bread, I’m actually eating something with substance and lots of fiber and vitamins.  I chose Alvarado Street Bakery sourdough bread, but there are other brands out there that are good, too (Ezekiel Bread, for instance).

So, one step at a time. 

This week, I’ve switched from white bread to sprouted whole wheat bread.

Next week my goal is to cut out sodas completely, drinking only water and green tea.

Week three I will incorporate snacks of fruits/veggies in my day rather than chips, popcorn, or candy.

And I’m hoping by the time I get to week four, my body will be ready for its first cleanse and detoxification!

What have you done to change your habits from harmful to healthy?  I’d love to hear from you!

From Wasted to Beautiful

There have been those times when I looked back on my life – especially the past 8 or so years – and think to myself “what a waste”.

There was a time when I was younger that I had the same thought in my head that Carrie Underwood sings in her song, “Wasted”.

I don't wanna spend my life jaded, waiting

To wake up one day and find

That I've let all these years go by

Wasted

But, I did wake up one day and felt the cold emptiness of a life that I indeed thought was a complete waste.

As I have grown, both in maturity and wisdom – and that only by the grace of God – I have come to learn that nothing is ever really wasted. Even all the stuff that in my mind’s eye seems to have had no reason, no purpose… it does. God uses everything for His glory – but we don’t always recognize it.

All the poor choices I made - and the resulting pain to myself and others around me? Not a waste. I am able to take those experiences and share with others the truth that has been exposed from it. God is using the “bad” from my life for the “good” in someone else’s!

That is such a gift.

Oh yes, perhaps to the person who is able to bypass some of the pain I went through. But it's also a gift to me. To know that God loves me and finds me worthy enough to use me as an example...I am humbled.

I am not proud of my mistakes, but I am more than happy to share those mistakes with others if it will open their eyes and their hearts to His love as well. I am more than happy to swallow my pride in order that I may be a vessel that He uses for His glory.

Now I have a new song that expresses perfectly how I feel about myself....Beautiful by Mercy Me.  I am:

Treasured.

Sacred.

His.

Beautiful.

It is my hope and prayer that you will find your beauty in Him. You, too, are treasured, sacred, His… so beautiful!

“But we all, with unveiled face,

beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 

are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,

just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

Inspirational Picks of the Week

If you’re my friend on Facebook, you’ve very likely seen my posts on these things already.  But I was so inspired by them that I wanted to extend them to those of you who are friends here in Blog Land.  I hope you find at least one thing here that makes you smile or stirs your heart (or both)!

Let’s start with a little music.  Here are a few selections to put you in the mood to celebrate Christmas and worship Jesus...

Silent Night:  This is a beautiful rendition of this song, and here it is accompanied by a gorgeous, flowing ballet.  http://artofeloquence.com/selah/

Christmas This Year:  I love Christian music artist Toby Mac and this fun Christmas song doesn’t disappoint.  I just makes me want to get up and dance and clap my hands! 

O Night Divine:  If you watched America’s Got Talent, you no doubt have heard of Jackie Evancho.  At the time of her appearance on the show, she was 10 years old – but God has blessed her with the voice of an angel far beyond her earthly years.  Here she is singing at the National Tree Lighting (and listen to the short interview at the end – she is a delightful young lady)!

  

And now, let’s move on to some things that will make your heart swell with joy and will give you hope for the future generations to come!

The Biggest … Loser?  Well, Dan (and his mom Jackie) may have been big losers when it comes to their weight, but when it comes to getting over life’s hurdles and passionately pursing his dream – I’d say Dan is definitely a Big Winner!  

Here’s their story:  http://vitality.yahoo.com/.  
And here’s his first music release:  

Tags: Goin' All Out, Dan Evans, Dan Evans Videos

Victoria’s Not-So-Secret – Sure, supermodels make selling clothes, make-up, and a million other things very profitable.  But what is this standard of beauty doing to our youth today?  Here is a young man who attends Baylor University in Waco, Texas – he has a different outlook on what a REAL woman is:  

Ever been to a poetry slam?  I haven’t, but I’ve watched a couple of videos and this one is one of my favorites.  I may be old in years, but never too old to learn (and pass on) this lesson:

And from Blog Land, my favorite post this week:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/when-christmas-gets-radical-whose-birthday-is-it-really/


May you all be richly blessed through this next week, and continue to remember what CHRISTmas is about.

O Come All Ye Faithful

Most of us know this Christmas carol…or at least the first few words of it:

Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

Oh, come ye, oh, come ye, to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Oh, come, let us adore Him, oh, come, let us adore Him,

Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Over the years, as we sing this and other songs over and over, I wonder if the words get lost behind the familiarity.  I wonder if the meanings of the words in these carefully written songs are even pondered.  It seems there is a bit of a “movement” to put CHRIST back into CHRISTmas, and since singing these songs is a big part of our celebration throughout the season, maybe thinking about what we’re singing can help. 

I have picked out some of the words and/or phrases in this song in an attempt to bring them to life a bit, so to speak.  I hope they help you to remember and focus on the true meaning and reason of CHRISTMAS.

All Ye Faithful

Have you ever wondered who these all these “faithful” are?  That would be those who believe in God the Father and His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ!  The “faithful” don’t just profess love, allegiance and loyalty with their mouth.  That’s a great first step, but truly faithful people of God will be evident to the world around them by the way they live their lives; not in showy works that make themselves look good, but through loving actions that bring all honor to God above.  To be faithful is to be loyal and constant; to be true to one's promises and vows; to be devoted.  How do you show or express your faithfulness to Him?

Matthew 25:23 – Well done good and faithful servant!

Come…Let Us Adore Him/Come…And Behold Him

The song invites us to come to Him.  To adore Him.  Adoration is defined as follows:  paying honor; worship; reverent homage; fervent and devoted love.  How often do you go to God (it’s an open invitation!)?  And when you do approach Him, is it in adoration?  I hear about many who approach Him in desperation, but adoration isn’t always first priority.  Oh, most of us eventually get around to that part after we’ve listed all our needs and wants.  But I’m pretty positive we’ve got that twisted around a bit.  Adore Him.  Seek his face.  Behold Him.  Gaze upon it with great affection.

Psalm 95:6 – Come, let us bow down in worship (adoration),

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Joyful

As we accept His invitation to be with Him, we can do so with great joy!  Even when our situations make us deeply sad, we can still be joyful in Jesus' presence.  Joy has little to do with US, and everything to do with Him.  To be joyful is to be delighted with something, jubilant and elated!  Just knowing that God is sovereign, and that Jesus has paid our ransom – that is pure joy. We can delight in that!

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Triumphant

Oh, I think this is my favorite part…come to him triumphantly! Do you know why?  Triumph means victory.  And through Jesus’ blood, we already HAVE the victory over all that is evil, all that is sinful, all that is not of God!  Death has no hold on us.  By Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are redeemed by grace to our rightful place as co-heirs.  I think that is an amazingly exciting revelation and truth!

1 Corinthians 15:55 - Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

King of Angels/Christ the Lord

Christ is our Lord and the King of Angels.  He lovingly reigns over all – He is in absolute control of everything.  I don’t know about you, but that is a BIG relief to me.  Because I know he has already claimed victory, there is no need for me to try to be in control of anything.  I can (and should) certainly do my part in the work He has set before me, but there’s no pressure to try to figure out the why’s or the how’s of it all.  The Lord and King above all has everything worked out already!

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.

I hope this has inspired you some, so the next time you’re singing your favorite CHRISTmas hymn, you might stop and think about the words you’re singing.   Behind the pretty music, there’s a “reason for the season” and a message just for your heart!

Oh No - Not Another Thanksgiving Post! (Oh, Yes!)

Among the hundreds of things I am thankful for, one that comes to mind over and over again is my “small group” from church.  The church I attend is rather large, with an attendance upward of 5,000 on any given Sunday, just at our main campus!  These small groups allow us to connect with other people in a more intimate way outside of attending church on Sunday.  We basically “do life” together.  It is always God-centered; this is a place where we are able to share our highest highs and our lowest lows without fear of being judged or ridiculed.  We are supportive and encouraging of each other, and speaking truth in love to one another is ever-present.

I recently sent out an e-mail to the group as part of a thread that was circulating, and one of my sisters encouraged me that its content would make great blog material, so I took that as a prompting from the Holy Spirit to share this message.

Even though we are only a couple days away from celebrating Thanksgiving, giving thanks is something that goes beyond one day out of the year.  The message is short(-ish), so I hope you’ll continue reading.  I would love to know your thoughts…

I got a little curiosity going in my brain and looked up the words "thanks" and "give" - this may not be new to anyone else, but I know for me there are so many words/phrases I use daily that I really don't even think of the meaning behind them.

Thanks - 

to express gratitude, appreciation or acknowledgement to

Give -

to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation

Did you get that?  

"without expecting compensation"

I know that I have been guilty of giving Him thanks out of a sense of obligation, AND in the hope that if I do so He will compensate me with the "desires of my heart" (which aren't necessarily in line with His will for me). 

But that's not how it's supposed to go.

We are to be thankful in ALL things. 

Check this out from scripture:

Not just when we get a prayer answered.

Not just when we are blessed with something awesome.

Not just when things are going our way! 

In ALL things.

In the hurt and pain; in the pit when we are there.  Yes, especially there.

Because although it is unpleasant and sometimes almost seems unbearable, we who belong to Him know He is working it all out for good - for HIS good. And THAT is the *ultimate* thing to give thanks for (in my opinion). Knowing that He is all powerful and working everything out for GOOD. 

On that note, I do sincerely hope you all have a beautiful, blessed Thanksgiving celebration with your families and friends. I pray that it will be Day One of the next 365 that you will continually give thanks to God. 

{{P. S. - I have a favorite blog writer and author, Ann Voskamp, who has written a book on the very subject of giving thanks in all things. Visit her blog here, and read about her book here.  I don't think you'll regret it.}}

Sunrise, Sunset - A Legacy in the Making

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

--Psalm 113:3

I was driving to an evening appointment last week, headed due west – straight into the prettiest sunset I’d seen in a long time.  Truth be told, there had been plenty of beautiful sunsets for days on end here in the Texas Hill Country. 

{{This was the first I had actually noticed in quite a while.}}

Sad, but true.

My heart stirred as my eyes marveled at the glorious array of colors reflecting off the clouds in the sky that evening – blues and grays, mixed with rich gold, amber, orange, rose, pink and soft wisps of white clouds mixed in a symphony of perfection that could only be created by the One.

I thought about the sun then;

how its daily cycle seems to

parallel our own lives.

Our beginnings have us bursting forth out of the darkness, all in splendor and glory, boldly announcing arrival.  Little by little, light is seamlessly shed on that which surrounds us – all the discoveries that await us.  New and fresh and bright, we are filled with colorful energy that can’t be held back.

As we slowly begin our climb, we burn a path straight upwards.  Sometimes we burn too much, too soon, too hard.  We scorch everything around us.  Sometimes, we hide behind the clouds of life hoping that we can just make it through by remaining hidden and unnoticed.  And sometimes, we burn directly overhead with warm love and passion that spreads and brings life over everything we touch.

Then comes the time we being our slow descent.  Our light and warmth not yet gone, but our colors mellow and blend.  We are able to show beauty to those around us in a way that only can be done after we have experienced the passionate burning of mid-cycle.  Once again, we bring forth a beautiful blend of rich color, much different from the vibrancy of our beginnings.  This softer light is more compassionate, wiser, more forgiving.

And as we begin to dip down past the horizon, as the coolness of the evening sets in, and those around us can no longer see us – this is not the end my friends.  For although we cannot be seen with human eyes, we are still very much alive and burning brightly – only in a different place – continuing to shine light through the legacy we have left behind.

“The Light shines through the darkness 

and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

--John 1:5

What legacy are you leaving as you travel this life? 

Are you striving and going at things so hard that you are burning everything in your path, and perhaps even the path of others? 

Are you hiding behind the clouds because you are afraid to step out from behind them and live out your purpose?

Or are you shining your light for all to see and bask in its warmth so they may know Love?

"Let your light shine before men, 

that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

--Matthew 5:16

The Great Destroyer

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer

is too small to be made into a burden.”

~Corrie ten Boom,

Clippings from My Notebook

Just looking at the word brings on a bit of anxiety in me.

And yet, I know from experience that worrying about things does NO GOOD what-so-ever!  Not for myself, and certainly not for others in my life.  Excessive worry in my own life has produced an unhealthy mind, an unhealthy body and an unhealthy soul.  And it is the root cause of the loss of a relationship that couldn’t bear up under the weight of it.

“Worry weighs a person down;

an encouraging word cheers a person up.”

Proverbs 12:25

Worry is a burden not only to ourselves, but to the ones that love us as well.  It’s bad enough that we cause this trouble within ourselves, but to put that kind of pressure onto others is, to say the very least, unfair and, more importantly, unloving.

My own worrisome nature stems from a long time ago when, as a child, I never knew what was going on.  I was thrown into situations that were scary and uncomfortable, with little or no preparation or instruction on how to handle them.  I was told to just do it, and then if the outcome was not pleasing I was ridiculed for it.  That caused a cycle of worry in my life, never knowing what would happen and then worrying that I wouldn’t get it right.  Over and over and over.

Most of my adult life, I have been nearly insistent on knowing the who, what, where, when and why (and at least some idea of the ultimate outcome) of everything before I take even one step.  I like to call it “being prepared”, and often in my head it is being prepared for the worst, without thought of how things just MIGHT turn out to be just fine.

It all comes down to trust really.

Or, more accurately, lack of trust.

As a child, I wasn’t taught to trust and stand on the promises of God.  We didn’t attend church for most of my growing up years, and the only scripture I heard was used in “discussions” with my wonderful, Christian grandfather, by family members trying to twist it to fit the ungodly lives they were living.  In my house, “God” was my mother, and what she said was “gospel” – what she told me to do were the commandments of my life.  And all too often, I was lead into painful situations where I finally figured out that I couldn’t trust people.

I’m not bashing my mother.  She was a human being.  She had faults, she had “stuff” from her past, and she acted out in the ways that she was raised in, or in the ways that gave her the self-preservation she needed.  It took me a long time to realize this, but when I did I was able to let go of the anger, bitterness and sadness and fully forgive her.

What I have learned on the long road since her death is this:  I may not ever be able to fully trust people, but I can always – ALWAYS – trust God.  When He says not to worry, he isn’t asking me.  He is telling me.

And as an adult, who is currently entering into a life-saving transformation, I must make that choice every day.  Every hour.  Sometimes even every minute.  If I do not trust Him – if I continually worry – what am I saying about God?  That He is not trust-worthy?  That He is a liar?  That He doesn’t love me?  That He doesn’t mean what he says?

Those are all lies directly from the enemy of my soul.

And yours.

Take a minute to think back on your life and the many things you have worried about.  How many of them came to fruition?  And if any of them DID come true, were they as horrifying as your mind made them out to be?

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing?

Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.

They don't work or make their clothing,

yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed

as beautifully as they are.”

Matthew 6:27-29

I know in my own life, very few of my worries have come true.  And the time I spent worrying is time wasted, energy wasted, and often has destroyed my own happiness, but worse yet the peace of others around me.  I unrightly invaded their lives with strife that wasn’t theirs.

So, do I still worry?  Of course I do.  I’m human.  I’m weak on my own.

Do I have a better way of dealing with that worry now?  Yes, I do.

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers

that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow,

he will certainly care for you. Why do you have

so little faith?”

Matthew 6:30

My new way is called faith and trust.  I choose to have faith.  I choose to trust.   Trust in God’s word, not only in the Bible, but those loving words that He has whispered into my heart.  Through those actions where time and time again, He protected me, loved me, and put me back on my feet because He knows my path, and He knows the outcome.  And it’s all good.

"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."

Jeremiah 29:11

Cliché?  Maybe to some.  Truth? Definitely to me.

What will you choose today?

“This day I call the heavens and the earth

as witnesses against you that I have set before you

life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

and that you may love the LORD your God,

listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

For the LORD is your life…”

Deut 30:19-20