Running in Place Gets Exhausting

I've never been really good at training - the type of training where I have to endure a lot before I see any results.  There was that one year where I worked out everyday and I felt fantastic but it's hard to start that process - especialy when there is so many other things I feel that I need to be doing!

From my posting this week I have stuck to my goal of cutting out the chunks of time that were being sucked away by distractions which were producing no fruit.  The small changes I have made have made a huge difference in the rest of my week.   We were able to accomplish so much & spend quality time together.  We spent time at the library together checking out books, the kids got to participate in the chess club, we spent time outside, with friends in fellowship, and we cuddled together reading.  On top of everything, the sickness & discomfort I was feeling seemed like it was going away.  It was fantastic!!

Tonight I'm back to feeling sick - it's disheartening - but I'm trying not to get too discouraged.  I know this is only a season, I know that all this discomfort is for a great reason & I know that God will see me thru this - I just need to remind myself to seek HIM, to seek HIS peace, to seek HIS direction.  I need to suck it up & not use this time as a distraction from what my priorities are but to be inspired that during these times of trials I have an opportunity to rejoice in the things that God has brought me thru - the increase of faith & relationship with HIM when I follow HIM when I'm unsure & hurting.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 
1Peter 4:12-13

Patience, Perseverance, Paradise

My life is full of...well life! I am a married mom of three. I homeschool, teach at homeschool co-ops & I own a business. My plates are very full.


Sometimes I wonder how I can get thru everything during the day? I also feel this passion in my heart of my family becoming more & more self-reliant in terms of the foods we eat & the lives we live. (If the LORD leads, I will expand upon that in another blog.)


I really feel like I can't take on anything else. In fact I'm constantly reflecting on what if anything I need to pluck out!


God is so faithful to bring to light things that are & aren't producing fruit. I've been convicted for awhile that my on-line time was a lot of wasted time. A lot of surfing & getting sucked into vacume with my hand on the power switch unable to turn it off. That lack of self-control weakened my walls when it came to other things I would normally stay away from & I clearly heard from the LORD during my prayer time last week that it was time to take a stand against this weakness that had taken an idol in my walk.


I spent time with a wonderful friend last week & she reminded me how sometimes God allows drastic things to happen just so HE can get my attention. Since I'm so busy I havent been listening to HIS voice - the voice that should get my attention had gotten droaned out from the endless noise & chatter from everything else. It was time to recenter & bring everything back to HIM. I ended the week on a high note - was super productive with my bible-time, school, housework, & photography stuff.


Then, this weekend was amazing. It was a productive weekend. It was a weekend full of blessings. It was one of those great weekends you really wished would never end. My grandmother came & stayed with us, we were blessed with a new stove (not NEW but new to us), I had a great photo session, the rest of our homeschool year is organized, the classes I'm teaching are planned out & I'm ready to go. I feel like I'm walking on solid ground instead of feeling like I'm drowning!!!


This morning in our breakfast bible time, the boys & I read John 20. The Resurrection & Jesus making Himself known to the apostles & then the doubting Thomas story.


My heart just sang when we were done reading. The Bible is so wonderful, so constantly confirming what is right, and so convicting. I love that God's character is one of endless grace. I love how God desires us to forgive others not JUST for that persons sake but so our lives can be cleansed from the anger & bitterness that can hold us captive from experiencing peace & freedome. I love that God desires us to constantly strive for a never ending conversation with HIM. I love that even when God doesnt make HIS presence known HE is still there. HE sees & hears everything. There is nothing that anyone can hide from HIM.


As we read I reflected on some parenting issues we have been struggling with. There's been some small heart issues of sneakiness & manipulation that Mike & I have been praying about how to handle. God's timing is always so perfect -What an awesome chapter to read & review & talk about! Jake, Josh & I all talked about how God sees all & how its HIS great desire that we let go of any sins that we are holding onto - either because we're fearful of being found out about or fearful of not being forgiven by God. I told them that sin naturally has negative consequences but God wants to empower us with forgiveness. I instructed & led the boys in a prayer where we could pour out anything that we needed to ask God for forgiveness about.


Our memory verse this week is Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.


We all prayed together & it was an amazing experience to share with Jake & Josh. It was an awesome way to start this morning & I'm so excited to see what else God has in store for our week.