Saturday Sabbath

Get Fit Friday - 100 Day Challenge - Week 6

I'm starting to panic a bit. I feel like my life should be completely renovated my now. I feel like I am running out of time. 

This challenge is almost half over. I still haven't managed to eat completely clean for a solid week. I have not managed to get to the gym every single day for even one week. I have all but given up on planks and push ups since I hurt my shoulder (I can't lift my right arm over my head or touch my left shoulder with my right arm without lots of pain.)  A sweet friend asked how I manage to eat no processed foods... all I can say is I'm still working on it.

Of course, my brain is screaming at me right now. Today's recording sounds something like this...

"Oh.... my... WORD! Are you KIDDING me? What the heck??? Come ON! This isn't rocket science. It's not like you are trying to run a marathon or swim the 7 seas for goodness sake! How hard is it to pack your freakin lunch every day? I mean really!!! There are people with one leg who run marathons and you're unable to make it to the gym every day? Seriously? Are you KIDDING me right now? It's all about priorities, Kris. That's all. If you WANTED this, you'd do it. Plain and simple. You are a lazy ridiculous excuse for a human and will never amount to anything if you can't even do this little challenge right. All I'm sayin is that if it was important to you, you would do it. Instead, you are 6 weeks into this little 'challenge' you made up and you have not accomplished one dang thing. I am disgusted with you."

There are 2 specific voices that my brain uses when it gives me this sort of speech, which makes it all the more believable.

My normal path is to quit right now. When the recording in my brain starts reminding me of how many times I've failed and what a disappointment I am, I just quit. I mean really...what's the point?

I don't know what the final result of the challenge will be, but I am skipping the "i quit" step. I am pushing through.

Anyway, that's where I am today.  Not in the best place emotionally, but I'm not completely overtaken by the dark either.

I DO recognize that the recording my brain plays is not of God. I know that it's one of the tools Satan uses to keep me in bondage and I know that Satan continues to use the recordings in my head because they serve him so well. Up to now I believed them to be absolute fact. I didn't question the words or consider their source, I just believed them to be true.
Today I remember how it felt the first time I heard those careless hurtful hateful words and I remember thinking then "no, you're wrong. That's not true." 
Maybe proving to the ones who've told and continue to tell me these things that they are wrong isn't the way to freedom. Maybe believing  that they are wrong and not caring what they think (since they are wrong) is where I'll find freedom.

But that's definitely a post for another day.....



58 Days to go!
K

Thursday's Thoughts on... Why not?

Before I dive off into this, PLEASE note that I am not and will not condone or encourage you to be irresponsible, irreverent or careless in the choices you make. I will NOT encourage you to sin.

We clear?

Good. 

That being said...

I heard a talk on the following idea recently...

"Why not?"

Why aren't you doing what you want?

Let me clarify... as Christians, our greatest desire in everything we do or strive for should be bringing God glory by using the gifts, talents and knowledge He has given us.

For me, this sounds like:

Why aren't you writing a book?

Why aren't you selling holiday cookies?

Why aren't you actively promoting your art?

Why aren't you... doing whatever?

Why aren't you... asking for whatever?

Why?

The speaker challenged me to really consider the true "why" behind these things. I've discussed all this before.  I have an irrational fear of failure. I was posed with the following questions: (I'll use my art as an example)

Why did you choose promoting your art as something to discuss here?

        well, I feel like a failure for not following thru and seeing what I can do with my art.

SO....Why don't you actively promote your art... if you feel like a failure for not doing so?

       Because I am afraid that it won't sell.

What happens if it doesn't sell?

       I will feel rejected.

What happens if you feel rejected?

       I will feel like a failure.

How does feeling like a failure "feel?"

       Useless, worthless, dejected, lost...you know... like a failure.

And how did you say that NOT actively promoting your art makes you feel?

        ...Like...a...failure

So, you feel like a failure for not actively promoting your art, but do not pursue becoming "an artist" because you are afraid of feeling like a failure?

        well.....yeah

Sweet reader, Do you see what's going on here? This is life changing for me! I don't pursue things I enjoy because I am afraid of feeling like a failure...but  I feel like a failure already! LOL! I say that I am afraid of failure, yet  I am CHOOSING to fail! I think I have already talked about this recently...but it takes me a while to really accept some things.

Do NOT confuse this with "I want to have a sexual relationship with this person who is not my spouse, so why not?" because THAT is completely against God's Word. Marriage is hard and Satan knows exactly where to hit you to make you think that there is something better for you outside God's Will for your life.... like an affair, or any sex outside marriage... but THAT is a post for another day.

My point here is that Satan is ALSO behind the fear that keeps you (me) from giving 100% to that thing God has gifted you with.

Stop for a moment sometime today and ask yourself... "Why not?" and if your answer is "I'm afraid" then consider what exactly you are afraid of. What's the worst that can happen?

For me, the possibility of having a robust life filled with ministry that involves writing, painting, baking, and speaking is totally worth the risk of failure and rejection. I mean, I already deal with the feelings of failure and rejection without the joy of success in these areas... so what's the risk really?

What's the risk for you?
Is living the life God designed you to live worth the risk?

Much love and Big hugs!
K 

Wednesday's Weekly Recipe - Chicken salad wraps

I wish I'd had these for Sunday's bridal shower!  I think that, from now on this will be what I bring!
This recipe is compliments of  www.YummiestFood.com




Ingredients
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/2 cup dried, sweetened cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt to taste
pepper to taste
4 large tortillas








Directions
1. In a large bowl combine chicken, cranberries, pecans, and celery
2. stir in mayonnaise, salt and pepper and mix well
3. place tortilla on a plate
4. spread 1/4 of mixture on tortilla, roll into "log" and cut into sections.
5. repeat steps 3 and 4 with other 3 tortillas and the remaining mixture.


hint...
 To get nice small even sections for something like a party, first cut the wrap in half, then cur both halves in half.


Enjoy!
K

Tuesday Tips and Tricks: Celebrating (not surviving) the Holiday Season - Make a Plan

We ALL know the feeling... We have HUGE plans for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve... and then spend October, November, and December stressed, ill, and exhausted.

At least, that's what I do!

I typically plan too much. If I don't plan too much, I underestimate the amount of time I need to pull it all together.

This year is going to be different. I am going to have realistic expectations. Not only that, but I am also going to plan ahead and work smarter, not harder. I'll share the tips I find on how to celebrate and enjoy the months of October - December.


Today's tip:

Make a plan.

What memories do you want to make?
What Events do you want to attend?
What events do you want to plan?

What do you want Thanksgiving to look like this year?

What do you want Christmas to look like this year?

Make your plan. I'll make mine.

We'll get back together next week and start figuring out how to pull it all together.


Much love and big big hugs!
K

   

 

Monday Motivation

Satan loves to remind me of my faults and failures. Know the feeling?

I find great comfort in knowing that the blood of Jesus covers ALL my sin!

Have a great week!
K