This is not January first, but I am making resolutions. I like to make changes before I start talking about all the "new" things that I MIGHT do in my life.
Also, I'm a champion procrastinator. I might win medals if they held an event and I actually chose to show up... so me writing on this blog on a regular basis is not yet a habit, but I'm working on it....once every few months...
I titled this entry "rejoice, rejuvenate, refine" and there are three parts of my life that I'm really trying to change; my mind, my body, and my spirit.
REJOICE
-my choice each day will be to look for the good in the world around me. Whether that means not judging those around me (even B. wait, especially B), or whether that means that in the midst of a crisis, I will try to find the positives...whatever it means, I will choose joy.
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3)
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
REJUVENATE
-I am blessed with the gift of a body that still has all apendages attatched. However, using my body as a temple is not something that I have been doing for the last....lets say 2 years. Now this is the only body that I have on this earth, and I need to take care of it, or parts of it might start to expire before they should. This does not mean that I should start some extreme restricted diet, or that I'm going to be exercising like a mad woman for some crazy deadline like on the Biggest Loser or something....this isn't a competition, this is a lifestyle choice that I'm making (and have already started to make) where my whole family is eating more vegetables than potato chips...and drinking more water than carbonated beverages....Little by little the changes are already being made. Our diets need to respect the earth, and that means that we need to choose food that is sustainable, and as often as possible, local. Exercise has become such a negative and "scary" word, so I'm not going to call it exercise, I'm going to call it using my body to the best of my ability.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
REFINE
"to become pure"
-This is a process of changing my whole self: body, soul, mind, spirit....letting God make me into the person HE wants me to be. I'm a control freak, so giving over the reins, and allowing someone other than me to have control in my life is a big deal. However, I am a broken, sinful person, and I have gone waaaaay too long in the drivers seat. I'm struggling in my prayer life, and in my devotions...I can't even remember when the last time was that I really spent time on my knees asking for guidance. So I'm not giving up, I'm just going to follow for a while. I'm going to use the TWO ears God gave me, instead of using my ONE mouth and talking over everyone...and I'm not going to be perfect at it, but I am still going to persevere.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 8-9)
What will this look like in my life??
I'm still working on all of these things, and it is a process, but my goal is to be a healthy, active servant of others; growing daily in my walk with God; growing in my relationship with my husband and family; and moving farther away from a "microwave" life of instant gratification towards a life that rewards persistance---EVEN if that persistence leads to failure.
A life without failure is a life lived in fear. I have confidence in Christ, even if I don't have confidence in myself.
"Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared." (Proverbs 3:25-26)
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
And let me end now with a beautiful Psalm that is a comfort to me.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you-
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
both now and forevermore.
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