Faithful

I haven't been as faithful to this blog as I had hoped but I'm more faithful than I was on my last attempt at blogging.  I have been faithful in some things which now seem to be more habit than anything else.  I still workout 6 days per week.  My P90X goes with me or when I'm at my mom and dad's house I use my brother's P90X dvds.  I'm still eating well.  I splurge every now and then by adding cheese to a subway sub when I need more calories or the other day I had chicken and mushroom pizza.  I haven't had my McDonald's sweet tea in two months.  (I've heard a rumor that the McDonald's is closing maybe there is a connection.)  My last adventure has been my dress.  I have focused on dressing more modestly and more feminine.  I haven't worn pants since Tuesday and have enjoyed my skirts.  I bought new shoes today to go with my skirts since I've been wearing nothing but one pair of boots since then.  I'm still letting my hair grow out.  My husband even commented that I need a hair cut.  I haven't started my reading through the Bible in a year but will start with an online group on January 30 and will read through the Bible in 90 days.  Someone said that they could do it in 90 days because by the time you get to the point of wanting to quit your almost done. 

Modesty

Have you ever had one of those moments in life when God is speaking so clearly to you to do something that it seems like everywhere you turn the message is there.  I have been hearing that message from God about modesty for a few days now.  It seems that everywhere I turn and everything I do seems to direct me toward modesty.  I've seen it talked about on several blogs, it was even on the radio last night, and then the same women was on blog this morning totally unrelated to the radio program.  Plus when I went to Goodwill and looked for some new skirts I found several and they were on sale.  I was able to purchase 5 skirts, 2 shirts and 1 cardigan for $13 and some change.  It was as if everything fell right into place.  Plus I received a gift card from my dad for Christmas and when my parents switch over to a different satellite provider they will receive a $200.00 gift card and I will get half of it since I gave them the coupon.  How awesome is that. 

Change

I have been reading another blog and have been considering some changes.  I'm not sure if I can follow through with those changes or if God even wants me to follow through with the changes.  My fellow blogger was talking about how she doesn't cut her hair, always wears modest clothes, and doesn't wear makeup.  I wonder what my spiritual life would be like if I followed that same path.  If I quit worrying about my appearance so much and started wearing more modest clothing.  It's not that I wear skimpy clothes but I d wear short skirts and dress and pants.  I also have shirts that I have to pay attention to because of revealing too much when I bend over.  I may just follow through with this change for a season.  If I do I must do it with the right heart.  I must do it as a way to honor God.  I will pray about what I should do.

New Years Resolution Update-Reading the Bible

I so wanted to read through the Bible in a year. I had my reading plan all printed out and was ready to check off each day as I completed the reading. Then I read another blog. It was about a seven year old who decided to read through the Bible. There was no plan, no check marks on her printed sheet of days, no open declaration on Facebook or a blog. She just started at the beginning and read. Not on some pre-made schedule created by someone else but she just read. Isn't it so like adults to make something more difficult than it has to be. I remember a story that a professor told back in law school. It was about a class in which a parent had been forced to bring a child because of some issue. Well the class was a contracts class and the professor discussed a dispute and asked the class what they would do. Well all you could hear was crickets, nothing, no profound answers until a little hand went up in the back. Having no other hands the professor figured why no so he called on the child. And the child said "I'd say I'm sorry." So simple and yet likely never thought of by any person in that room including the professor...we make things much harder than the need to be. So I will read through the Bible in a year but I will do it like a child would. I will do it with passion, with focus, with plan that God puts on my heart after prayer, and I will be faithful in my reading.

I pray

I pray that tomorrow will be a better day with my child. I can feel myself getting frustrated with my son more than I should. He is such a smart kid that sometimes I forget that he is only five years old. For example, today he was down stairs while I worked out and he wanted to play in my spot but I wouldn't let him. So he decided he was going to move his basketball goal to the other side of the room but couldn't do it so I had to stop and do it for him. Then I told him that I was going to start working out and that he was going to have to stay upstairs with his dad. So he said he was going upstairs alone. I felt horrible and hugged on him a little but he still went upstairs. Lord, help me to treat others as you have treated me. Help me especially to treat the ones I love the way you have treated me. I don't get what I deserve from you. I do get correction but it is done with gentleness help me to learn how to speak with gentleness especially in my moments of frustration. In Jesus precious name I pray.

Practice what I preach? Not yet.

Ever since I heard Cynthia Tobias talk about strong willed children on Focus on the Family last week my heart has really be focusing on my speech with my son. He is a strong willed child and I believe it will serve him well. I think it will make him a leader and not a follower. I believe he won't just follow what others do without questioning it. He is a questioner and that is wonderful...except when you are trying to parent him. However, I believe that God is speaking to my heart and wanting me to soften my speech with him. This was confirmed again to day when I read about the gentleness challenge. I have decided to participate in this challenge. I will keep you updated. I would ask for your prayers as I work toward being a more gentle mother and hopefully it will help me to me a more gentle person in general.

New Year's Resolutions

There are so many things that I could resolve to do this year. However, I'm going to focus on a few things that are really important and not worry about the things that are unimportant. So here is my list:
1. Read the Bible chronologically during the year.
2. Lead a healthy lifestyle so that I can set an example for my son. I'm going to eat healthy, exercise, read more, and spend less time on the internet and Facebook.
3. Reduce the stuff that I have.
4. I'm going to be a Christian is the truest sense of the meaning- a little Christ.
5. I am going to love more and be angry, frustrated, upset less. In particular I'm going to love my husband, son, mother, father, and brother more.
6. I'm going to work more efficiently. I'm going to get my work done in a timely and efficient manner.
7. I'm going to pray daily.
8. I'm going to get my day started earlier.