Tuesday, August 6, 2019

"More Than Anything" --Songs and Scripture Series



I’m not going to lie, this song is kind of depressing, BUT it is also full of hope. While it can be scary to think that our negative situations may not change, it is encouraging to know that the deep-down things that truly matter are already taken care of. It is a tough concept to grasp, but it can help calm a lot of fears in the unknown. (Fear of the unknown is one of my biggest challenges.)




More than Anything by Natalie Grant

I know if you wanted to You could wave Your hand
Spare me this heartache and change Your plan
I know any second You could take my pain away
But even if You don’t, I pray
…You know more than anyone that my flesh is weak
And You know I’d give anything for a remedy
I’ll ask a thousand more times to set me free today
But even if You don’t, I pray
…When I’m desperate and my heart’s overcome
All that I need, You’ve already done
…Help me want the Healer more than the healing
Help me want the Savior more than the saving
Help me want the Giver more than the giving
Oh, help me want You Jesus, more than anything


Over the years, this idea has come up in my life through various situations, most profoundly when I’ve had to remind myself that I will be just fine if I can never run again. Being honest, that is also one of the scariest things I’ve had to tell myself. It’s been basically my life for so long, but I know that sometimes that is how God works. His plans are not always what I expect or hope.

Balance. What a concept.

Hope and reality. Desire and contentment. Perseverance and acceptance. Work and patience. Just to name a few.

It is easy to begin to lose hope when things go downhill, especially when multiple things start to snowball. Even with a strong faith, the hard love facts of this faith can be depressing. “God might take away my greatest treasures? Why would He do such a thing? If He loves me, He will keep me happy; He will heal me. Life will be good. What kind of a God makes bad things happen?” These are all questions that people both new and mature in their faith may ask in times of trial, and it’s real. Why would God take away what we love? Because He wants us to love Him more. He has a greater plan to use us beyond what we are comfortable with.

I get stressed when I think that my life may never be the same in a variety of circumstances. For example, with injury, I can cling to the hope that He has the power to heal anything beyond what seems humanly possible, but I also have to come to terms that He may not. He had the power to take Jesus down from that cross and save His own Son from death, but He didn’t. Why should I, a sinner, expect anything better than Jesus, His perfect Son? He has a plan for our pain. Just as Jesus rose again to save the world, there is a greater purpose beyond the pain I go through.

While I can’t ignore the fact that things may not get better, I can’t lose hope in the fact that they can. And through it all, I have Jesus, and that’s all that matters. I have all I need because my eternity is secure in heaven.

Through my trials of life, I have grown closer to God and more satisfied with my life than I ever could have if things always went smoothly. I didn’t get all the opportunities that I had thought of or hoped for, but I got some that changed my perspective and made an impact on others’ lives in ways that would not have happened if things went my way.


What God’s Word Says:

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

“…he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised…not for him alone, but also for us…” Romans 4:19-25

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved, for You are the One I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

“See now that I Myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death and bring to life. I have wounded, and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of My Hand.” Deuteronomy 32:39

“You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love, You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back.” Isaiah 38:16-17

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

“…Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.” Jeremiah 32:17



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

"Don't Give Up" --Songs and Scripture Series

Shop and Save with ibotta


Through the past few weeks of struggling with set backs and general stress of life, there have been some themes, songs, and scriptures that God keeps bringing back to me. When there are things that I have that sure feeling that it is from Him, I get so excited and want to share, and I feel like that is what He wants us to do.
"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

For a long time I've liked to do Bible studies with songs and how they relate to my life and draw on scripture, and I can end up going so much farther than a simple devotion, learning so much! The words of music can be so uplifting, too. So I want to take what has touched my heart and life through songs and scripture lately and share it for anyone else who may need some encouragement from it as well.

by Calling Glory

This time your heart said it's had enough
Sick and tired of everything that's so messed up
...praying hard somehow that your life will change
When you feel like you don't know what to do
Stuck inside this maze you can't go through
...these walls around you are caving in
And your life seems like it is wearing thin
Your hope is drowning in despair
Looks like you're not going anywhere
Step inside this heart and then you'll see
Such a love that is so amazing
...Don't give up
Help is surely on its way
Don't give up
The dark is breaking in today
Just keep on moving through these storms
Soon enough you'll find the door
Just don't give up
 

This song came on my playlist one morning as the first one shuffled while I was doing core. It’s an older song, but considering “don’t give up” was something I had had to keep telling myself through these toughest days, it was fresh for the time. It has seemed like it is one thing after another, and I didn’t know how much more I could take. I want change, but I don’t know when or what will come. At times I just don’t know what to do with myself and feel like I can’t break out of whatever the issue at hand is. One day, I really began to lose hope in my future like I may never get to enjoy the things I love again. I can’t get over these injuries that are all connected to each other, can’t get my use of time or doing things on track. But I have to embrace His love that is greater than all my pains and challenges and not give up. Though some days are dark, there is light of another day coming. Now I can see, a few days later, that I was in pain and distress, but I was also so close to my back injury having relief. Now I am in a different physical pain, but I’ve got to get through this one, too. God may have relief for this waiting on me soon, too.


What God’s Word says:

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out of us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…consider Him who endured such opposition so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

“…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God…for what we preach is not of ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’…We have this treasure to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not us. We are hard-pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-10 (***see a note below!)

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion in the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary; what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

“Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

“We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade…In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you believe in Him and love Him, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9
 


***While many of these passages came to mind right away, this was one that really jumped out as I began searching.>>Because of God’s mercy, I have this opportunity to share His goodness, and that is enough to keep me going! I can turn from lying and deceiving (myself and any others), hiding the pain that I bring on myself, using God’s power to my own advantage. I must be true, both for the sake of my own faith and to show the truth to others. Everything I say and do is because of and for God, not myself. I am useless and selfish on my own. My purpose is to serve Christ and others and to bring Him glory. He is and wants us to also be the lights shining into darkness. All the good things that happen, possessions, experiences, feelings, blessings, etc. are all gifts from God to be used to show His power. I did not get here by my own efforts. At times it feels like everything is caving in on me, but I do not get crushed. I get confused and discouraged, but I am never without something to cling to. Outside people and circumstances may work against me, but Christ never leaves me. I’m never alone. He is always there and always sends me reminders of His promises. I get knocked down, but I am never done for good. Each day I ought to walk as one displaying Christ and what He has done so that the life-saving message may be seen through whatever I do. 


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Why I Jumped on the Trendy Train

Shop and Save with ibotta

Following the latest health and fitness trends is not always a good idea, but after some serious knots in my back and glute caused some unbearble pain that kept me from walking, I needed some relief. The physical therapist I started going to proposed a solution that I had only heard little and knew even less about--dry needling.
I didn't know what to expect, but I can't put into words how thankful I am that I decided to try it. After the first day, only five needles, the transformation in my pain and movement was night and day. It wasn't gone, but I could freely walk without crying and only a slight limp, while that morning I was in tears with most steps and could barely walk into the clinic. 

What is a trigger point?
Trigger points are typically caused from repetitive use or acute trauma that damages tissues. This creates inflammation, causes tissues go into a protective state, inhibits circulation, limits oxygen and blood flow, and prevents waste from leaving the area. This congestion of tissues causes what is commonly known as a muscle knot. They can also cause scar tissue and put pressure on nerves. Trigger points can be painful in their own area as well as cause referred pain to another part of the body. In my case, the knots in my glute felt funny, but the sharp pains were referred to my SI joint (lower spine and hip areas).

What is TDN (Trigger Point Dry Needling)?
Trigger point dry needling, TDN, is called "dry" because the needles have nothing in them that is injected like with a shot. The needle itself is the treatment. The very thin filament needles are inserted into the skin and muscle to release myofascial trigger points. The needles can be of various lengths and left in the body for various amounts of time. Mine were 60 mm (about 2.4 inches long) and were left in for generally three to ten minutes.
When the needle goes into the muscle, it can cut between three to fifteen thousand individual muscle fibers. The body will react to the needle as if it is a foreign invader, triggering inflammation and immune responses in the area and throughout the body to further accelerate relief.

Does it hurt?
The needles are inserted into a contracted, painful muscle to create a local twitch reflex. Patients may not even feel the needle break the skin--I never did. When a twitch is elicited, it can produce a very brief pain that patients usually describe as an ache or cramp-like feeling. These twitches and little pains are good! That is the sign of the knot breaking up. My PT and I both knew when she hit the right spot. I would flinch a bit and feel a sudden jump in my muscle, like a small spasm, but within a split second, that pain was gone and I couldn't feel anything again. When the muscles or skin were tighter, they would kind of hold onto the needle, and I could feel it sort of slide when they were removed, but there was never any real pain in my hip or all the way up my back.
Are there side effects?
Dry needling can cause soreness and occasional bruising. You may also get dizzy or nauseas, but that can be more psychological than physical, especially if you are squeemish. Luckily for me, I was lying down for all my needle sessions, and I could not see what was going on since it was on my back and hip. I experienced intial soreness, especially in the areas that had a big twitch, but this went away within an hour or so if not sooner. I also never bruised even though a pain-relief shot the week before had left me bruised!

What ailments can TDN help with?
A large variety of pains can be eased, including, neck, back, shoulder, knee, hip, glute, chronic pains; tennis elbow; headaches; tendonitis; plantar fasciitis; sciatica; and sprains.

Where I stand
On both legs! While dry needling is a relatively new practice, it is one trend that I have experienced success with firsthand from some of the worst pain I have ever been in. I was able to start cross training the day after my first needling. After each day I had this done, there was tremendous progress. I was so fascinated with both how I couldn't feel such long needles going so deep into my muscles and how effective it was at releasing my knots and pain. They were so happy about my progress, but my parents probably got annoyed with me telling them all about it. Now, exactly four weeks from the onset of my muscle spasms, I can do all my daily activities with no pain and have been able to add in running again. It will still be a slow comeback into full training, but I can't imagine how long it would take if I had not jumpstarted healing with dry needling. Unspeakably thankful, I will proudly toot the horn of the trendy train for TDN.


If you are having tightness pains that other methods are not helping, I highly recommend it! A limited number of physicians are certified with this new technique, but it is important to find someone who is qualified.




Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Get Off the Merry-Go-Round




Got brave today and kind of looked at the needles. I highly recommend dry needling for anyone having a lot of muscle pain that you just can't get rid of through other means. I am not a trend-follower, but I am tooting the horn of this trendy train.

 Dang, this book jumps out at me when I am not expecting it to. It may start out with something I don't relate to then bang pops up outta nowhere! Starting chapter 4 after the end of chapter 3 left me hoping for something more, I got more that's for sure.
--Stop trying to go around it and go through it--avoiding things that may be uncomfortable or inconvenient at the time that will help me in the future has been something that comes back to bite me. But now I am focusing on taking time to do what I need to do when it comes up, even if I don't want to. No, I don't want to take time to go to physical therapy an extra day, but I want to feel better. No I don't want to make yet another appointment and go to the dermatologist, but it may save the skin on my face. No, I don't want to study for the GRE but I'll be thankful if I only have to pay for it and take it once and get it done at a more convenient time (um, still haven't started stuyding...), you get it.
--This is the big one! A pattern of work and relief that is no longer glorifying to God, though it may not look sinful on the outside.
---I love the grind of daily life. I love to work hard, stay busy and productive, always finding something I want to do. I love the thick of a training cycle. I can use this to make great impacts on the people around me when I do it the right way, and I've done it in the past. I worked hard, had success, had great chances to share joy and hope with others. Sometimes though, I get way too busy and caught up, and I am just rushing from one thing to the next, not really looking at what is going on around me or what God wants me to see and do. Then my gifts and opportunities change from a tool to a self-defeating weapon. Then things like injuries, illness, schedule change, whatever, come along to get me to wake up to take a rest. Now instead of going around these signs, I am taking hold of them and looking for what needs to change (although it is kind of forced right now, I am learning to do it on my own and hopeful for the future). Then I thought of a quote that kind of blew my own mind: Get off the merry-go-round and be active in the whole playground. -->>Get out of the cycle of work and rest only to move on to the next work, and enjoy the whole life you've got right in front of you.
Also so excited to be getting a bunch of my favorite dizzled kettlecorn! Share your dreams; God loves them. He wants us to be able to live joyfully if our hopes are aligned with His plans. This may sound silly, but having that recognized was encouraging to my recovery.
***********

Since I've been biking somewhere on the highway pretty much every day for a while now, I've wondered how many people have recognized me, and today, a friend finally texted me that she had seen me! And she asked if we could make breakfast one day soon! Oh, how I needed that. I had also gotten a message from a friend I haven't seen in a couple years but she had wondered how I was doing and gave me some great encouragement through my injuries. I've been pretty lonely lately, and basically no one knows or seems to care whether or not I am hurt/healing/healed, so these were both blessings that God sent to pick me up to start the day. It also may sound silly, but a couple companies reached out to me on instagram, too, to do some work for them. Just a little something to remind me that people are watching, and I am making an impact even when I don't feel like it. That's how God keeps me going.

 This afternoon my Bible study hit me like a home run again today! About the "why." A lot of times, it doesn't matter so much what we do, but why we do it. Good things can be sinful if they are done with the wrong intentions, and mistakes can be okay if they are done with a positive outlook.

 --It also brought up the same verse that was my verse of the day yesterday, Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion in the day of Christ Jesus."


 --The main idea of this section was on rest. Over time, I've gotten better at it. Taking time to relax is so good when you finally do it. Rest is a great time to reflect, too, as I've seen a lot in recent years. We need it. If we're always pushing forward 100mph, we can't really take in where we are and where we've come from. I need to look back and learn, sit still and observe. I often forget things as soon as they go through my head. Mom keeps telling me that if God is trying to tell me something through all this, to listen with my heart. I know He is. It is so good to feel it.


 --There are so many things that can get me motivated about rest. It's one of those things that is hard to do, but once you do, you want more. God likes to work that way, rewarding challenges in His timing ("carry it on to completion in the day of Christ" not the day of Makenzie). Here are some of those wonders: energy, sleep, healing, peace, strength, refueling, enjoying the moment, spending time with others, having time to share, celebrate!, spend the time as thanks for what is past and preparation for what is ahead. It's not only a time for me, but ultimately a time for Christ to be made greater. Rest shows that I have faith in Him in the ways that are hardest for me. I fear the loss of productivity, fitness, my daily routine, whatever, but where I need to act in faith is not doing but being; trusting and thanking God for His provision. Whatever I do should be an act of worship. Enjoy a day on the lake with my family--thanking God for the weather, my home, the wonderful people. Go to a party and celebrate whatever the occasion! God brought us through a great thing! Or sit on the couch and thank God for helping me through another week and pray and prepare for the days ahead. Rest should be joyful, not burdensome.

 --Amazing quote! "Fight fast-paced and fear-based with prayer and praise."


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Believe!



Believe!!! (From Strava, 7/2/19)

Photo
Out on the water is a great place to think, pray, plan (I have mixed emotions with this word), and get some inspiration from peaceful time away from everything else. Today I was really thinking about my devotion from yesterday. It can be applied to life and sports. You hear all the time that you have to "believe in the program." If you don't have faith in your training, you won't fully do it, and it won't work. It is psychological, too. The same goes for your faith and any other challenges. If you don't believe that there is a solution, that God is working something good, that He will reward faith, then you won't get the benefit. If you think you might feel better if you drink water instead of soda, but you also doubt that it will make a difference so you keep drinking mostly soda, that 'think' will not make change. You have to 'believe' and DO. God doesn't say if you think you will be saved. He says if you BELIEVE you will be saved. For me in this current predicament, I think I can come back stronger and motivated if I let myself rest and heal more fully than before. But sometimes when I just think and still hold onto my doubts, I don't allow change to happen. I tell myself, "Well, I might heal faster, but I might not, and then I would just be really out of shape, so I need to push myself super hard cross training, just in case." But now I am fighting back with telling myself to relax. See what happens. "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." I have to do things differently if I want different results. I have been through so much, and the only thing that brought me out stronger than I've ever been was giving up my faith in myself, accepting my failures, and totally trusting God to take care of my body and life. And He did. He always will. "Believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
So this is me, challenging myself in a rather ironic way. The challenge to be confident in uncertainty of my circumstances and the certainty of God's plans.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, June 29, 2019

This Post was Inspired by Physical Therapy



"You may be pain free in a couple days, but the weaknesses that are causing the problems will still be there."

Long story short, I have weak glutes, uneven hips, and they have caused me some major problems over the past few months. One little thing led to a big thing, more imbalances and weaknesses, long recovery and lots of pain, but I finally healed. Then I suddenly went from the best running since February to basically not being able to walk. My hip healed, but after months of limping, several muscles that had been having to do jobs they are not meant to do decided that they had enough. Some spasmed, some knotted up, and all the pain culminated in my lower back, leaving me helpless and afraid.

Thanks to a lot of help from my mom, a generous check on me from a friend/physical therapist, and a visit to my doctor the next morning, I felt a little better physically and emotionally, but for someone who is used to training twice a day barely able to get out of bed or off the couch, this was not familiar territory. As the day went on, with lots of time to think and pray, I started to see ways that this could be good. I knew I couldn’t let myself get too discouraged; I’ve been through so much already, I can make it through this, too. I had been kind of discouraged in myself over the summer for not getting little fun projects done at home, like crafts and reading, as well as going fun places and getting extra sleep. Well, now I can read and work and sleep lots. I can take time to do things that I didn’t while I was more focused on running. I have so many weaknesses I can work on—sleep, hydration, muscles, getting organized, etc.
 
The next day I started physical therapy, and something my PT said really stood out. It was obvious, and I knew it, but it was good to hear and inspired me to really work at it in a lot of areas. This was Thursday, and she said I could very likely be pain-free by Monday. But—but I would still have the weaknesses and imbalances. If I don’t correct those things, then another injury could come up just as quickly as this one.

It can be so easy to make things look better on the outside when on the inside they are still messed up. Covering up our problems, pains, and weaknesses doesn’t fix the issue and doesn’t mean that it won’t pop back up and cause another problem later. This isn’t just about muscles. Yes, if you are weak in a certain area, if you don’t address it and make it stronger, it can very easily cause another injury even if you look and feel healthy. However, this can go into so many areas of life, especially emotional and spiritual.

If you’re struggling with something but just cover it up, ignore it, it isn’t gone. We can hide our weaknesses the best we can, and no one may know…for a while. Things happen that bring out our blemishes. No one is immune; everyone has weaknesses. That’s part of being human. It’s not wrong, but what is wrong is when we know there is something we ought to work on and we don’t. If we want change, we have to change. There’s a saying I’ve heard at church many times that goes, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” It sounds obvious, but we humans tend to avoid change yet we want change at the same time. We can’t just temporarily push a struggle aside; we have to fill that space with something better. If it’s a person, find someone who will move you forward. If it’s a habit, find something positive to do instead. If it’s a junk food, replace it with something both healthy and satisfying. If you’ve got a weak butt, do some clam shells. If you’re sidelined from your sport (or other job), make good use of your time.
Let’s not ignore the foundations. Let’s get back to the basics and build ourselves up so we are ready when it counts. Let’s embrace our weaknesses so we can grow stronger. 
----------------------------------------------
I believe things are always more successful with inspiration, and there is no greater inspiration that God's Word. Here are some things the Bible says about change:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 “With regard to your former way of life, put off your old self, which is being corrupted, be made new in the attitude of your minds, and put on the new self, created to be like God n true righteousness and holiness.”



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Happiness Is

Athlete Network
Shop and Save with ibotta

A little over two years ago, I came across this cute little book while shopping at Target with my mom and dad. I can always stay in Target for hours, but this time Mom and I could've stayed in the entertaining book section for just as long! I flipped through every page of this one and got so many giggles and good memories. It reminded me of so many daily things that we can ought to be thankful to enjoy. It really is a blessing to have so many of God's gifts right in front of us every day. Ever since then I have been working on a project to commemorate some of the ways that I could relate the doodles to things in my life. This week I finally pieced together just about as many as I could and put it to quite a fitting song, HAPPINESS by NEEDTOBREATHE.

I hope that you are inspired to look at your daily life for the simple things that make you smile, share them with others, and thank the good Lord for all He does!

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." Psalm 68:3

 "A happy heart makes the face cheerful..." Proverbs 15:13

 "I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live."  Ecclesiastes 3:12




Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)