Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
May the amazing presence and protection of God be over you and all who you love.
Blessings~
Linked to Sunday with Deidra
This week has been a difficult one.
My “To Do” list has been filled with things I didn’t want to do.
Have you had weeks like that?
Since my mom went home to be with our Lord last month, my heart has felt the pain of her passing and yet my soul has rested in the hope I have in heaven. My life has been pulled with the demands and obligations that come following the passing of someone you love. There are calls and arrangements to make. There is stuff to be sorted and in the midst of it all, sometimes I just don’t want to do it. I miss her.
This week I had to make sure her apartment was completely cleaned out and turn in her keys…
I forged ahead to accomplish the tasks ahead of me, but I began to notice an attitude raise up within me. I looked around at the piles of mess scattered over her apartment, this mess was once my mom’s home. It was the place where she lived and laughed and loved. Now, it was just heaps of things and my task at hand. Her death was so sudden, she was so young. Oh how I wanted her there instead of this awful “To Do” list. Sometimes the things that life requires of us are not at all fun or easy. My attitude got worse by the minute.
As I scurried around I heard the still soft voice of God speak to my heart, “Come, sit with me a while.” The pressure of the tasks before me tempted me to ignore His voice. I know His voice, I have heard Him call me many times before so I accepted His invitation.
I sat on mom’s stairs and gazed through the open front door at the beautiful day God had made. I heard the sounds of life around me. Birds singing, breeze in the trees and my heart found peace once again.
Mom’s house is empty, cleaned and the keys have been turned in. It is another point of closure as I say good-bye to my mom here on this earth until we see each other again in heaven.
I exchanged my attitude for peace that surpasses understanding.
I know that the peace I have is because God loved me enough to give me a much needed time out.
Linked with Faith Filled Friday
Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
I pulled a word search book from the selves in my study to have some creative down time. It had been a while since the last time I did that. It was a fun way to relax and just chill. I searched and discovered the words one by one and then at the end I unlocked the “hidden message”.
I can’t help but think that my heart is a lot like that word search. It is filled with words that describe my emotions, both good and bad. Sometimes they are hidden and not easy for others to see, but not for Him. God always sees.
Every closet and corner of my heart is fully accessible to Him. There are no hidden messages with God. He always understands me. Although, this is a very vulnerable place to be it is also the place where I find complete acceptance. As He searches my heart God discovers many messages. No matter what is found there He always loves me with His compassionate grace and then gently leads me in His truth.
And so, my heart welcomes Him, even invites Him to come and search…
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me oh GOD and know my heart,
Try me and know my thoughts,
See if there is anything offensive in me
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Linked to OYHT
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.
For all the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience revealed to the world through mothers…
Happy Mother’s Day!
Linked to Sundays with Deidra
I recently downloaded a great new iPhone app called the Bit Timer.
It’s an interval training timer that you can set to create your own personal interval training workouts.
You choose how long to make the work per set and how long you want to rest per set and then how many times you to repeat it.
For example the setting I used in this picture is for 40/20/20 = 40 seconds of work with 20 seconds of rest, 20 times. Using this setting I can create a quick 20 minute interval workout.
Example of a 10 minute interval workout:
40 sec. mountain climbers / rest for 20 sec.
40 sec. plank/rest for 20 sec.
40 sec. burpees/ rest for 20 sec.
40 sec. right side plank / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. kettle-bell swings / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. left side plank / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. jump squats / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. crunches / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. dumb bell press / rest 20 sec.
40 sec. bicycles (abs) / rest 20 sec
You can make your workout as long or as short as you need depending on your schedule.
I used this app a couple of days ago to plan a 30 minute workout. I combined some cardio, abs and strength training. I loved it! It eliminates all the counting because you just do the work based on the timer rather than reps.
The app cost .99 to down load. It was the best .99 I have spent!
Linked with TMT Fitness Friday
How many choices do you think we make every day?
Hundreds, I would imagine.
Sometimes our choices aren’t between what is good and bad but rather, good and better.
I am thinking about the choices that two sisters made.
Martha and Mary.
Martha chose to focus on obligation and duty. This is not a bad choice.
Most would even say it’s the responsible choice and servitude.
Mary chose to direct all of her attention on the presence of her Lord. This is not a bad choice.
Although, some would consider this choice to be lazy or even slothful.
Both made choices and both were good choices. Mary’s choice was better…
Living life for an audience of ONE is found in our choices.
Making the better choice will often be misunderstood by others.
Opportunities to live for an audience of ONE are presented to us everyday in many little ways…
Will we choose good or are we willing to be misunderstood and choose better?
Linked with WFW Winsome Wednesday TPT
“For in this HOPE we are SAVED.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what he already has?
But if we HOPE for what we do not have,
We WAIT for it PATIENTLY.”
~ Romans 8:24-25
May God bless you with true hope for every dream He has placed in your heart
and the patience to wait for His timing…
Happy Sunday!
Linked to Sundays with Deidra
And my GOD will supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:19
Seasons in life change so rapidly and unexpected at times.
My needs seem to change with the seasons.
I am so glad that God always knows way before I do exactly what my needs are.
So very faithfully He provides above and beyond all I could ever think to ask for.
His gifts are always extended with perfect love and grace.
With His compassion, He comforts.
His wisdom gives me light for the path when it gets foggy and dim.
Forgiveness and redemption shine hope and wash away shame.
Powerful and mighty His protection gives me safety.
The hope of heaven gives me glimpses of glory beyond the temporal into eternity.
All I can do is humbly accept His goodness to me and trust Him, always trust Him.
This Post is Linked to Winsome Wednesday and WFW
Exercise has played a huge role in my recent weight loss. A lot of exercise!
Cardio and strength training of all kinds will continue to be a very important part of my life as I lose more body fat and then ultimately be a big part of a maintenance plan.
There is one exercise that I do everyday… the plank.
It is a painful… umm I mean very effective torso/core/stability exercise. By description, it would seem easy to do because absolutely no movement is required. You simply hold this position for as many seconds as you can…
The first time I did a plank my entire body was shaking at between 20 – 30 seconds. Now, I can hold a 2 minute plank.
This is definitely not a very flattering picture. It might not be pretty… But here’s the proof, I’m doing it!
I found a great way hold to myself accountable to do a plank everyday. I tweet with the hash-tag #PlankADay and the @PlankPolice will actually call me out on twitter if I miss a day.
How about you? Have you done your #PlankADay today? No?… Why not start right now.
Happy Planking!
This Post is linked with OYHT WFMW and We Encourage Welcome Wednesday
