An Exercise in Writing

On my journey to transform my life, I have been reading about others that have transformed their lives and things that helped them to get out of their rut and to make real changes.  Yesterday I came across the writing exercise below and thought I would try it.  I am including the article, in case you decide you would like to give this a chance, instead of paper and pen I will be using my keyboard, but whatever follows, you can be assured that it is what comes off the top of head.  I have not thought about it, in fact I did not even read the assignment through all the way until right now, because I did not want to think about what I was going to write beforehand.

So let me set my timer.  Ok, here goes:

1. I want to run a marathon
2. I want to have a successful Arbonne Business
3. I want own my own home
4. I want to make enough money to be able to give away 90% of what I make
5. I want to open a home for unwed mothers
6. I want to start a program for Junior Highers that will teach them how to think, how to help others and how to take personal responsibility for their lives.
7. I want to dance on Broadway
8. I want to lose 50 pounds
9. I want to take my grandson to Disneyland, and on vacations around the world.
10.  I want to buy property large enough for my family to live close by.
11.  I want to attend a black tie affair
12. I want to be able to open my home to those in need
13. I want to have weekly family dinners
14. I want to help others achieve their dreams
15. I want to help my sons achieve their dreams
16. I want to be able to move my mom into my home, and be able to afford to give around the clock care.
17. I want to have a big extended family Christmas
18. I want a marriage that points others to Christ
19. I want to have weekly Bible Studies in my home
20. I want to be able to be a secret Santa to those in need
21. I want to give back to everyone who has ever helped my over the years in ten fold
22. I want to travel to Isreal
23. I want to take an RV trip around the US visiting every state.
24. I want to feel good about myself when I look in the mirror
25. I want to laugh more
26. I want to feel free to invite people over to my house on a whim, no planning
27. I want an extra room that is always available to anyone in need.
28. I want have girls night in
29. I want to do more with my step-daughters
30. I want to spend more time with all my grandsons and get to know them better.
31. I want to love more
32. I want to have my life mean something
33. I want to be able to say yes more and not have to worry about what it will cost
31. I want to shop more
32. I want to be able to see a need and meet it
33. I want to be prepared when I see someone struggling to lend a hand
34. I want to know Christ more intimately
35. I want to spend more quality time in prayer
36. I want to believe God for more
37. I want to be used by God to bring others to salvation
38. I want to do the things that Jesus tells his disciples that we will be able to do
39. I want to  attend church more
40. I want to be true to my word
41. I never want to feel ashamed because I do not have the money to join in
42. I never want to have to come up with excuses of why I can not do something, when I know that it is money that is holding me back
43. I want to have a swimming pool
44. I want to attend more sporting events
45. I want to help my husband be whatever it is he wants to be
46. I want to dream more and bigger dreams
47. I want to decorate my home, how I want
48. I want to buy a fixer upper and redo it and sell it or give it away
49. I want to be able to visit my kids more
50. I want to write a book
51. I want to have a blog that I can make money with
52. I want to write a play
53. I want to choreograph more
54. I want to do a play with my sons again
55. I want to
Ok, well I did not get through 100, but that was 20 minuets.  Some of what I wrote may sound trivial, but it was honest as it came to my mind.  I did not censor anything, or second guess myself.
Now, over the next 87 days, let's see how many of the above I can start working on.  Should be interesting.  
You've got 20 minutes to change your life in 100 ways. Go.
This is the premise of an exercise I tried once, when I was feeling stuck in life. I wasn't sure what was amiss, but the routine I had fallen into was not satisfying the inner voice in me that insisted there was something else out there for me. (See also: Change Your Life With Storytelling)
After trying (forcefully) to understand what was going on, reading self-help books, filling out aptitude tests, and working with business and life coaches, I was given a suggestion that became a catalyst for some pretty big personal changes.
Here is how you can change your life in 20 minutes, step by step:

1. Clear all distractions. Turn off the phone, the TV, the computer. Lock your door, and go to a quiet place.
    
2. Sit down comfortably at a desk or table, with a blank piece of paper and a pen in front of you.
    
3. Set a timer for 20 minutes.
    
4. Go. Write down 100 things you want to do. Or careers you want to have. Or people you would like to meet. The sky is the limit.
    
5. Don't be realistic. Dream big. Write down the craziest things you can think of, as well as the things that you don't even think bear mentioning because they are so simple. Write it all down.
    
6. Work quickly. 20 minutes isn't very long, and you have 100 items to get through, if you can. Don't think about whether or not to write down an idea — just write. Write everything that comes to mind, even if it doesn't make sense. Just keep on writing, and don't stop until that timer goes off.

Something happens after about 10 or 15 minutes if you employ the exercise to its full potential. You stop caring about what specifically the ideas are, and you start to release an inner creativity that may have been locked away for a while. In an effort to get through 100 things in 20 minutes, you start to write outlandish things down that you aren't even really sure you want, but that are ideas that came to you nonetheless.

Today's weigh in:

I know there are some that say that I shouldn't weigh myself every day, I do this to keep accountable and to keep me consistent.

Until tomorrow.

Day Two Renewing my mind

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

The Bible tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  There are many ways that we can renew our minds. Philippians reminds us about what kinds of things we should allow into our minds.

Philippians 4:8

[ Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

 

One way to transform your mind, is to read.  I love to read and usually have more than one book going at any given time.  

 

During my 90 day transformation I am committed to reading 20 books.  Below are some of the books that I am currently reading.

 

First and foremost there is the Bible, I like to start each morning out be reading a portion of the Bible, I also like to have a devotional going at the same time.  The devotional that I will be reading during this transformation is Transformed by Rick Warren.  I will share what I learn as I go along.

I also like to have a personal development book, a leadership book and a biography book.  My first personal development book is The Gift by Shad Helmstetter, my leadership book is Whitewashing the Fence by Keith Potter and my Biography is Funny Side Up about Rita Davenport.  

I looking forward not only to what these books with teach me, but my growth as I read these and many other books during this 90 day period.

I will post my weight every day, today its 185.2

Here I am yesterday shopping at one of my favorite stores, Barons.  Notice how far I am parked away from the store?

My transformation will come as I allow God's Spirit to move inside me to guide me and teach me.  I am learning to listen, which is not always easy. 

I said I would be completely honest with this blog. 

Small victory:  Even though my husband and I have very different opinions regarding spiritual matters and I don't like to discuss matters with him, as I was writing today's blog and he came in and started reading over my shoulder.  Immediately he had an opinion, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, I was able to allow him to speak (held my tongue) and then just said that although I appreciate his opinion, this is suppose to be a blog from my point of view.

If you knew my husband, you would know what a victory that was. 

Talk to you more tomorrow.

90 Day Transformation

Today I am beginning a 90 day transformation, which I will share with you.  I was going to do 30 days, but then how transformed are you really in 30 days.  In 30 days you are just getting started, getting into a routine, working through things, so that did not seem long enough.  So I thought 60 days, but in 60 days you start to waiver, run into obstacles, that is the time to stay committed.  So I settled on 90 days, because by then I should be in the swing of things.  I would have conquered some challenges and hopefully come out on top.  

So I am here to share this 90 adventure with you.  The good, the bad and the ugly, in word and pictures.  No holding back, you will share my triumphs and my defeats.  I promise to tell it exactly like it is.  What I am learning, what I am struggling with, where God is taking me.  

My goal is to transform mind, body and soul.  

Starting point: 

In order to see how far you have come, you have to know where you are starting.  So here I am in pictures day 1.  

 

Weight 186.2

Skin: dark spots, lines, bags under eyes, not a pretty picture.  Hard to post.  

Teeth a little yellow.  

Products I'm Using:

Oil pulling to detoxify and whiten teeth.  

Arbonne Genius plus Arbonne RE9 Advance for Face 

7 Day Detox to help jump start health and weight loss. 

My breakfast of choice, Arbonne Shake and Fiber Booster. 

Supplements: Joint Support, Omega 3 and Metabolism Boost.  

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Your comments of support greatly appreciated. 

Trust

Trust in The Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Prov. 3:5

Trust in The Lord with all my heart, hmmm do I do this.  Yes on some level, I do trust The Lord but do I fully trust God?  With all my heart?  The word "Trust" indicates a confidence, boldness but I have found myself doubting.  How many times instead of proclaiming something out loud, I hold back, hesitate.  What if it doesn't happen?  What if I say it out loud and then look like a fool?  I mean it has happened, we have all heard the stories of someone declaring that something will happen because they believe that "God" has told them it would happen, then nothing.  Wow, not only do they look foolish, but so do Christians all over.

I think the problem comes with the second part of the verse, "and lean not on your own understanding".   Sometimes, when I pray for things, I find that I also want to provide God with the answer.  You know the kind of prayer, God we pray for healing for so and so, we trust you for that healing and we declare it to be true.

Is that the way God wants us to pray?  I don't think so.  If we trust God, really trust God, then we have to trust him with the outcome, even when that out come looks nothing like what we prayed for.  Even when our Lord, prayed the Lord's Prayer, he said Thy Will Be Done.  That is what we need to trust, God's Will!   Do we trust his will?  Do we trust that God always will do what is best for us?  Even when a loved one is not healed?  Even when the job doesn't come?  Even when the relationship is not restored?  Do we trust Him?  

Jesus had to trust God before his crucifixion, he had to trust God and say "not my will, but thine be done". 

Jesus taught about giving good gifts, good gifts are not always what we want, but what we need.  Did your parents ever give you a gift for your birthday, that was not what you wanted, but was maybe what you needed?   Or did your parents ever not give you wanted because they knew that it was not what was best for you?  Do you remember not understanding why?  Why can't I have a pony?  Why can't I have this or that, and we had to learn to "trust" them?

Every time we trust God when we feel that he did not answer our prayer exactly how we wanted, our faith grows.  And trusting gets a little bit easier.

So next time you pray for something Trust God, trust him boldly, trust Him with confidence.  Not that he will do exactly what we ask, but that our loving Father will do exactly what we need.

I sat down with an old friend today

Have you ever ran into an old friend and are amazed at how much you enjoyed sitting down talking to each other.  It's like you can talk for hours and it seems like no time has passed.  Even though you have kept up with each via Facebook, emails, texting, there is nothing like just sitting down together and catching up.
That is what I experienced this morning, and learned a very important lesson, that with all the ways we try to make communication easier and faster (and yes I believe there is a time and place for such communication) there is absolutely nothing better than sitting down together.
Well this morning, I got my Bible out and sat down with my Bible.  Now don't get me wrong, I spend a lot of time online, reading different Bible Studies, Reading through the Bible online etc.  but I have neglected picking up my physical Bible and reading.  I realized this morning that with all that modern technology has to offer, there is something very special about picking up your Bible.
The first thing I noticed is that I had to reacquaint myself with my Bible, it actually took me longer than expected to find certain passages.  I mean on the computer, I just type in the reference and there it is, no looking, no memorizing where books are just relying on the computer to do it all.
Then I became reacquainted with my notes, I have always been a person that writes in the margins of my Bible, and it was great to read over notes that were there.  Remembering lessons that I had learned, promises that I had claimed, just notes that make my Bible unique to me.
Finally, picking up the Bible, allowed me to be directed by God to certain passages as I combed leisurely through my Bible.  It wasn't me determining what to read, but just letting the conversation go in any direction it wanted to go.
What a great way to start the day, by sitting down with an old friend and spending some long overdue time getting reacquainted.
So if you are like me, and maybe its been sometime since you have picked up your Bible, try it.  Turn off the computer, the Biblical Apps, and just spend time with your friend.

A time to Pray, a time to take action

Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him. ² Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. ³ Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. ⁴ Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

There are so many things about this passage that I love.  I don't know about you, but I know there have been times when I have blown it, really messed things up, times that have brought me to my knees weeping and confessing to God.  Wondering, will God really forgive me this time?  Is this too big, have I messed up too many times?  Times when I knew better and still sinned.  Have you ever had times like that?  Times of unfaithfulness to God.  

But as I read this passage, I read at the end of verse two, "but in spite of this there is hope."  What a comfort, to know that there is indeed hope, no matter how badly we have blown it, there is still hope for us, that hope comes in the form of Jesus Christ.  Jesus died to give us that hope.  Jesus promise to us is, if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

But it doesn't just stop at "hope" the people of Israel move immediately into action.  They repented of their sins.  Repenting is to make a 180 degree turn away from sin, and that is what you see them willing to do.  They also seek Godly advise from Ezra, and others who respect the commands of God.  I have to confess there are times, when I will confess my sins to God in private, but seek Godly advise?  You mean let someone else know what I have done?  Wow, that is a much harder thing for me.  I know I'm not perfect, and I know others know that too, but to let them know just how far away from perfection I am?  But sometimes we need to seek advise, but not just from anyone, no we seek advise from someone who respects the commands of God.  This can be crucial.  

I know they say that "misery loves company", and speaking as a woman, I have had to be careful whom I seek advise from.  Believe me, when things are not going right, it is easy as women to commiserate with one another and see only one side of things.  It reminds me of the seen in the movie Fireproof where the lead character is complaining to her girlfriends about her husband, and of course her girlfriends are all taking her side and seeing only what her husband was doing wrong.  So again, it is crucial, when seeking advise that you seek it from someone who respects the commands of God.

And finally the time for prayer comes to an end.  And now comes the time to be strong and take action.  Do you know that person, or are you maybe that person that can pray about the same thing forever, even after God has told you what to do?  I know people like that, even when things are clear and God's direction is clear they will tell you, well I'm praying about it.  Praying is good and we should pray without ceasing, but don't let prayer become an excuse not to act.  

For there is a time to pray and a time to take action.  What do you need to take action on right now?

Please leave me your comments and prayer requests.  
God Bless.

Can God Really Change People?

Acts 9:26-28

"When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord."

As I read these verses I am reminded of a dear friend of mine, who although I do not know his past, I know he has one, one that he has had to overcome through the blood of Jesus Christ.  I remember one day speaking to my friend and he told me how when he had turned his life around, and believed on The Lord Jesus Christ he tried to go back to the church and they basically told him they didn't want him there.  Wow,  church not wanting a repented sinner to come to their church.  I wonder what they would have done if Saul, now Paul had tried to come to their church?  Would they have turned their backs and said we don't want you here? 

How can we say that Jesus has the power to change lives and then when He does it we doubt the changes?  Has The power of God changed someone so drastically and still you are unwilling to believe it?  How do we treat new believers when we know their past?  Do we try and stay away, shun them, look at them with skepticism?  

Maybe we need to check ourselves, first of all do we really believe that God has the power to change people?  Or is it just some people, like ourselves, that God to change?  Is there anyone to far gone that Jesus on the cross can not save?  A murderer (like Saul), an adulterer (like David), a sinner (like you and me)?  

So let's say you do believe that God can change anyone do you do something about it like Barnabus?  Are you willing to not only friend such a person, are you willing to introduce him to your friends, invite him to hang out with you at Church?  To help tell their story, when it may be difficult for them to do alone?  The Bible tells us "They will know we are Christians by our love", are we willing to love everyone God brings into our lives?  

Please feel free to comment below.  God Bless.  I am praying for you.