Andy surprised recently with the keyboard of my dreams!!!! I have always wished to teach my own children how to play piano, so I was tickled pink to get a piano of my own!!!
Clayton has asked for quite a while to take either drum or guitar lessons. I told him that Mommy believes piano helps teach a ground knowledge for all music, and that if he took piano lessons seriously, he could take any instrument he wished in a year or two. He has been bugging me about lessons ever since I said that, and especially since his beginner lesson books arrived in the mail! :)
Tuesday nights are hit set lesson and he was an eager beaver tonight as we sat down to work through both Theory and Keyboard books. He did so well and we ended up doing two lessons (of each) in own night.
I am like a kid in a candy store seeing how excited Clayton is to learn. Sadie stood and watched questioning when it was her turn for lessons!!!
In the recent days and weeks, it has been increasingly tempting to be upset at the change of events with my husbands job. So many things can seem unfair and even unreasonable for one person to accomplish in such a short amount of time. In an especially emotional heart-to-heart talk that Andy & I were blessed to have yesterday, (as someone offered to watch our kids in the afternoon as we spent some along time together,) Andy told me that when it seems he just can't take on one more negative aspect to this particular deployment situation, he hears this song. Now, I can't stop listening to it, knowing how much it means to him.
Many times we can almost forget how much we ARE blessed and how much of God's goodness we take for granted. We look at the short-term issues and how they affect us rather than the long-term vision of our life's purpose and calling. Keeping our eyes on Jesus has always been the answer to every challenge we have met.
We do not like the circumstances we find ourselves in at times, but we know there is much to be learned in the journey of walking out what God has set before us. I never despair AT God or question HIM as holy, just, true, kind. I have to realize He is altogether OTHER, and His ways are not mine, and maybe I couldn't comprehend His plan if he did decide to reveal it to me, so my job is to trust and submit and choose joy.
SO giddy with excitement at the fact that God is still radically calling the lost to Him and changing them from the inside out!!! A young couple Andy and I have gotten reaquainted with recently told us up front that they were not married and were not Christians. We made a choice to love them where they were at, and leave the leading up to God. I don't want to "tell" their story for them, so I will let them feel free to share the details when they are ready. LONG story short, they got saved today, made some super tough decisions and set a wedding date. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in their future. Thank you, Jesus for 2 brand new names in The Lamb's book of life! All glory to Jesus. It's all about Him anyway!
This song has been on my mind non-stop all weekend. When we put people on a "pedestal", we forget that they are just human, people like every one of us. If we start to compare and wish we were like so-in-so or wish we had accomplished as much as someone else, we are forgetting that it is God who even gave those people the ability to succeed at their given talent. On the other hand, if I feel like I am better than anyone else- whether smarter, more talented, more.............I again have forgotten that all the ways I've been blessed are still no credit to me. It is Jesus that gives and takes away. It's Jesus that is good, inspiring, gifted, successful, blessed- working through us.
Of course, it's easier to compare ourselves to other people rather to Jesus. I need draw the circle around myself and see where I so desperately need to improve and grow. When compared to other people, I may fare pretty well. When I compare strengths with Jesus and His Word, I see how pathetically far short I fall of His holiness and perfection. Jeremiah 9:24 "Let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am The Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things, I delight, declares the Lord."
Excerpts from Psalm 27: The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is The Stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? ...my heart shall not fear...I will be confident. ...He will hide me in His shelter... ...my heart says to You, "Your face Lord, do I seek. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path."
Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
(30 day challenge- memorize Psalm 27 with me in the version you are comfortable with)
For the first time in my life, I BELIEVE I can accomplish my fitness goals. I have always started and stopped when the work got too hard. Or indulged in bad-for-me-foods and vowed to start over again the next week. This has been my life. I am grateful to my trainer, Nisan Trotter, for believing in me and pushing me far past my comfort zones to help me build strength and belief. I am thankful that he is a devoted Christian and told me one morning, that he had already prayed for me that morning.
The last 7 weeks have seen some high points and some low points. I did lose 3 more lbs. this week, bringing my total to -16 lbs. since New Year's!!!! There have been SO MANY DAYS that I've wanted to quit or come up with an excuse big enough to not show up. Andy has lovingly encourageded me to push past the obstacles and I have started to actually look forward to staying in this for the long haul. My trainer said, "Having a strong mind is just as important as having a strong muscle." He also says in his Alabama way, "Get Yo Mind Right!" As my belief grows, my eating habits change, and my body follows by stepping up my game and moving faster than I have moved in years and years.
During today's workout, we did a particularly challenging set, and we earned a 1 minute rest. I was huffing and puffing and as I looked to my right, I saw the co-trainer, Yorellis Trotter, doing a bunch of sit-ups. I said, "Nisan said we could rest!" She replied, "I can't rest, I am burning calories. If you want to rest you can. You don't have to win the transformation trophy or that Kindle Fire, or that Bella makeover, it's fine!" YIKES! I laughed at her for a few seconds then got down and started doing sit-ups rather than taking the rest of the rest. This is the kind of thinking that I need to push me past my mental limits! It's the kind of motivation that helped Yorellis lose 45 lbs so far!!! I know I have many, many more pounds to lose to even begin to get into the "healthy" range, but starting somewhere is the first step. My Dr. has been keeping close tabs on my progress. I have had some disappointing Dr. visits lately. He is so excited that I am exercising and losing weight, but my health is still at a dangerous place. If you think about it and remember, I'd appreciate as many prayers about this as possible. I'm nervous about the future, but I can only do my part, trust my Dr. & fitness trainer, and let God work His will in me. I have lived in denial for so long that my body is reaping the consequences of the neglect. As I hear results and new info my from Dr., I may feel more comfortable to share more. For now, I thank each of you for your outpouring of support through cards in the mail, texts, emails & words of encouragement. I love being part of the body of Christ. We are family, and I thank God for you!
With the recent passing of singer, Whitney Houston, I have been hearing of professing Christians making comments on open forums such as, "I feel no great sense of loss for a drug addict that sang one or two OKish songs. I just rack it up as cleaning this place up a little bit more..." and "I laughed when I heard of Whitney's death. She's the one who chose to be on drugs and ruin her career." I am completely astounded by the utter lack of compassion for human life. If we start to feel like certain habits, addictions, behaviors, or orientation of people deem "worthy of cleaning them out," we have completely lost the heart of Christ and evangelism to the lost. We are ALL unworthy, people. If you feel like you are not as bad as someone else, I challenge you to ask God to show you your sin! Psalm 139. If not for the grace of God, you could be in the same place as Whitney was. If you are delivered, successful, cleaned-up, being sanctified etc, it STILL IS NOT what you have done to get to that place. Do not mistake your blessed life for anything less than what God has done in you. Statements that suggest we should clean out the addicts, the gays, the old, the weak, is absolutely no different than how Hitler felt. Beg God for compassion and understanding if you have had/have these thoughts. God does NOT love YOU more than He loves THEM. Think about that.
We have got to be the hands and feet of Christ. We have to have a love for people that goes past how people look, smell, act or fail. Strive to pray for people more than you talk about them....
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Ugh. I've been dealing with the stomach bug for a couple days... Lots of laying on the couch and running to the bathroom. :( Hoping sleep will be enough to help me recover and get back into the gym in the morning! Good night... Here's a song I sang this morning with the help of the Lord and Pepto-Bismol :)
I cannot express how excited I am about this new generation of children, seeing men of God stand up to storm the gates of hell for their families. Men who cry unashamed at the deep love and commitment they have for Christ, their wives and children. Men who choose to do the hard work of being accountable to other godly men, not hold back on anything because they may "look bad" to their peers. Men who seek God in prayer, the Word and daily worship faithfully because they know they will learn God's ways and be held to a high standard of judgment on how they led their homes. Men who humbly ask for forgiveness at home when they know they've done wrong. Men who go public with the gospel on the job and live out the gospel at home. Men who put their desires aside and show Christ by serving with love- their wives, their children, their church and their communities....This is the generation of men who are warriors on the front-lines, standing unafraid. It is not enough to wait for satan's attacks, but to be proactive, purposeful and taking up the fight, choosing to engage. If you have not already heard of "Courageous", watch the clip below and get your own copy. (in stores the 17th).
We were made to be courageous We were made to lead the way We could be the generation That finally breaks the chains We were made to be courageous We were made to be courageous
We were warriors on the front lines Standing, unafraid But now we're watchers on the sidelines While our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage? You were made for so much more Let the pounding of our hearts cry We will serve the Lord
We were made to be courageous And we're taking back the fight We were made to be courageous And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand Is on our knees with lifted hands Make us courageous Lord, make us courageous
This is our resolution Our answer to the call We will love our wives and children We refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion That we buried deep inside May the watchers become warriors Let the men of God arise
We were made to be courageous And we're taking back the fight We were made to be courageous And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand Is on our knees with lifted hands Make us courageous Lord, make us courageous
Seek justice Love mercy Walk humbly with your God
In the war of the mind I will make my stand In the battle of the heart And the battle of the hand
In the war of the mind I will make my stand In the battle of the heart And the battle of the hand
We were made to be courageous And we're taking back the fight We were made to be courageous And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand Is on our knees with lifted hands Make us courageous Lord, make us courageous
We were made to be courageous Lord, make us courageous
I have always enjoyed music history & the stories of groups, and heard this Glad spotlight on the radio recently and really wanted you to hear it for yourself!!!!
It's funny how we try to make a certain style of music more "holy" when it is in many regards, simply their preference and worship style and time period for the time being. :)
