Get Fit Friday - What's Working / What's Not

Well here we are at the end of another week.

Time just flies. There is SO much I want to do, but it seems that I blink and another week has passed me by.

So here we are:

What's working:

I'm drinking a LOT more water and that is helping all sorts of things. My legs are not swelling as much during the day, my skin is clearer, and my throat is not as dry. On top of that, water has no calories, so my caloric intake is less. Overall, I just FEEL better, and that means so much.

I'm eating less. I'm not sure how to really explain this, but I'll try. One of the (many) things I've been convicted about is the amount of food I consume. Obviously I want to be thin, but this is not really about my appearance. When I over eat I FEEL bad. I don't like the lethargic feeling that I have after over eating. I've prayed about it, confessed my gluttony, and asked God to make me aware of what I eat. Not surprisingly, He has done just that. This week I have simply been AWARE of getting full. Halfway through a meal I realize that I am full... and that it is totally okay to stop eating at that point. I don't have a need to continue to eat for the simple pleasure that the taste of food provides.

I've been going to the gym with a friend. I'm not putting a lot of pressure on myself here...just going and just working out. Not trying to kill myself or be so sore that I can't move for days afterward. Just going to the gym and working out.

My body appreciates all of this.


What's not:

I still struggle. Maybe I always will. I find myself retreating into myself. Does that even make sense?
I guess it must. I don't know any other way to describe it. Even when I try to force myself to be part of  things, I find myself alone. Not alone as in by myself, but alone as in... disconnected. Many days I would be most comfortable not speaking to anyone or interacting with anyone at all. Most times, being around people just wears me out.

I discussed this with Perry on Tuesday.  He said that doesn't surprise him because I am always surrounded by people. I don't get much, if any  "alone time" and this may just be me telling myself "I need some alone time." It helps so much for him not to say that I'm wrong for feeling things like this.

We also talked about forgiveness and grace... and my unwillingness to accept it for myself. We laughed because the things he tells me about grace and forgiveness are the same things I would tell anyone...anyone but me. I'm not sure WHY I can't accept the grace I so often share with others. I don't know why I feel that my sin is something I should be punished for.

I know that I (we) SHOULD be punished for all my sin. I know that I (we) don't deserve to be forgiven for ANY sin.  That is the gift of Grace. That's what Christ died for. Perry left me with this thought, "Maybe we can't FULLY embrace the enormity of grace until we fully accept the depth of our depravity."

I don't know what else to say about that.
K

Thursday's Thoughts on... Reputation/Character

Taking a pause from pondering questions to think about something else...


One of the greatest bits I've gained in therapy is this little gem:
It is not a child's job to make his/her parents look good, nor is it a child's job to make his/her parents happy.

I cannot even express how freeing this is for me as a child AND for me as a parent.

I'm not implying that we as parents should just let our kids act like heathens, only that we are wise to consider the source of bad behavior.

When we focus on "how do you think that makes me look?" or "how do you think that makes me feel?" we train others to behave a certain way when we will be affected by their behavior. People who are trained this way choose their behavior based on the odds of someone (parent, spouse, boss) finding out about it rather than making choices based on what is right and wrong.

A more lasting and permanent change is made when we address the heart of the issue at hand.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  Luke 6:45

I've shared this story more than once already, but it is SUCH a good example...

Guy goes fishing with his preacher.
Guy snags his finger on the hook and lets a long list of expletives fly.
Realizing what he's done, he begins to apologize profusely to the preacher.
The preacher just smiles and says "It's okay. If it wasn't in you it wouldn't come out."

When we focus on reputation, our behavior changes based on who we are around, who will see us, or whether or not we will "get caught." Not only that, we also make decisions based on what we can do to make others "proud" of us, "pleased" with us, or  "impressed" with us.

Our character is what we think, how we act, what we do, how we behave, what we say NATURALLY.  Our behavior is constant, our choices are consistent, and the good (or evil) of our heart naturally pours out BEFORE we adjust these things in order to protect our reputation.

I'm applying this principle to my life as an adult. I want my HEART to be right. I don't want to "act like" I love people. I don't want to "act like" a Christian.

I don't want there to be any duplicity in my behavior.

I want my HEART changed so that I love the things Christ loves and despise the things Christ despises. I don't want to have to stop and consider how I should act in any given situation based on whether or not someone will find out, or considering if they will be disappointed in , proud of,  pleased or impressed with me when they do.

I'm reminding myself of these 3 things:
Reputation is all about behavior.
Character is all about heart.
Remember, If it wasn't in you, it wouldn't come out.

Just my thoughts...
K

Wednesday's Weekly Recipes - Apricot Balls

I'm feeling a bit more nostalgic than usual today. This is one of my  Grandma Jackie's recipes. She was a FABULOUS cook. Everything was fresh and she ALWAYS cooked way too much.  This is one of my favorite treats from her house....

Ingredients:

2 (6oz) pkgs dried apricots, ground
2 c. shredded coconut
2/3 c. sweetened condensed milk
powdered sugar


Directions:

Combine ground apricots and coconut; stir to mix
Add condensed milk and mix well
shape into 1" balls and coat with powdered sugar.
Yeild: about 5 dz


This is one the Littles can certainly help with!!!!
Little hands can roll this mixture into balls and Itty bitty hands can roll the balls in powdered sugar.


Enjoy!
K

Tuesday Tips and Tricks - Top Ten Financial Tips (from thebalance.com)

•  Get paid what you're worth and spend less than you earn
• It is easier to spend less than it is to earn more. 
• Stick to a budget
• How can you set spending and savings goals if you don't know where your money is going?
• Pay off Credit Card Debt
• This is the number one obstacle to getting ahead financially
• Contribute to an retirement plan
• Have a savings plan
• Pay yourself first
• Resolve to set aside 5%-10% BEFORE you start paying bills
• Invest
• Maximize employment benefits
• Review your insurance coverage
• You need enough....but not more than enough
• Update your will
• If you have dependents, no matter how much or how little you own, you need a will
• Keep Good Records
• If you don't keep good records, you're probably not claiming all your allowable deductions and credits for tax time. 

One thing that is missing from this list, because it is not based on God's Word, is Tithing. Our tithe should be the very first thing to come out. While many of us justify lack of tithing to "I don't have any money left" after bills are paid, there is REALLY no excuse for not tithing.  I've learned this by watching my mom in law. She tithes first. She tithes every single month. She is on a fixed income. She has no extra. Before she buys groceries, pays bills, or goes out of town or even out to eat, she tithes. 

And she always has enough. Maybe not any extra, but always enough.

I confess I have not been a faithful tither. I have used the "too many bills" excuse. I am sitting here terribly convicted of my lack of faith in God to provide and of my selfishness in not being satisfied with His provision. As with the many changes I've made this year, God revealed to me that this is an area in which I am not submitted to Him, an area where I do not trust Him. (ouch)

Motivation Monday

What if the stress and struggle we feel trying to be who we believe we are "supposed to be" is actually working against who God CREATED us to be?

In all of the effort you put forth to be who the people in your life expect you to be, do you stop and consider who God created you to be? I know I haven't done this until recently.

I wonder, when was the last time you stopped and thought about who you were before people started telling you who you are.

Just a thought...

K