Friday (Re) Focus

I'm trying to enjoy the journey this week. I'm hoping that this will stick with me and that I will learn to fully appreciate my current season of life. I am hoping that focusing on "now" will ease the longing in my soul for what the future may or may not hold for me.

I look back over my life and recognize how much of it I've wasted wishing for the next season. I wonder if it is more difficult for me to see and understand God's plan because I do not fully soak in the present.

I wonder... why is it so difficult to trust God's timing? Why are we so eager to move to the next moment... or next thing? Even though I have a lifetime of personal stories about how God is good and how His plan is perfect, it's sometimes a bit difficult to relax and simply trust Him. Even though I am quite familiar with Scripture and the stories contained within, all pointing to God's provision and love for His people, it is difficult sometimes to let go and just trust him.

Is this because I think God isn't ABLE to work things together for good?

No, that's absolutely not it at all. I am quite certain that God's Word is true and that He DOES indeed work all things together for the good of those who love Him. I believe that my unrest is born out of the realization that there is a very strong possibility that God's plan is not mine, that His goals and desires for my life are not mine, or that the things I long for are not meant for me.

I am reminded that God's will for the lives of His people is pretty specific. When I think back over Scripture, I am acutely aware that the lives of all contained there point to God. No matter the story, it is clear that a person's ultimate purpose is to point others to a relationship with Christ, to reveal our need for Christ, and/or to share the heart of God. Were it not for the loving nature of our Creator, this would be quite frightening.

Sometimes it is frightening still, but doesn't need be.

It's only frightening when I fail to consider the price paid for my freedom. When I remember the Love shown for me on the Cross, the lengths God went to in order to restore me to Himself, despite my sin... there is no fear. When I consider eternity and the promise of Heaven, it is easier to submit my will to His.

Perhaps it is Satan's ultimate ploy... to make us lose sight of eternity, to convince us that God doesn't love us... to create doubt in our hearts about the goodness of our Creator.

Maybe the key to enjoying each moment is to keep Heaven in sight. Maybe it is the understanding that this life is but a blip in eternity that makes it possible to completely surrender my will to His.

Just my thoughts
K

Welcome AMY!!!!!!

How excited am I?!?!?!?

I pulled up the ol' blog this morning and saw the number of followers tic up one and... look at that! My sweet Amy has FINALLY followed me! haha!

All kidding aside, Thank you. Made my day to see your precious face smiling at me this morning!

Thank you to my sweet Amy for making my day today and thank you to all of you who stop by to share my journey. I love that some officially follow... it is nice to see who visits and to put faces with numbers. I know that there are many who would rather just pop by from time to time and I am so glad you do!

Please feel free to tag along as I make my way from here to there. You can receive the posts via feed burner, or you can drop me an email and I can add you to my email group. If we are friends on FB, you can grab most posts from there.  Of course, if you are with Google and Blogger, you can follow along.

Sometimes I forget that others read this word vomit. ha! So many times my posts are exactly that... just a place to house the over abundance of words that I need to use each day...

I truly appreciate that you take a moment out of your day to join me on my journey.

Much love and big big hugs!
K

Thursday's Thoughts on... SPRING!!!

Yeah, I know its's January.

Still, Spring is RIGHT around the corner!

Don't believe me? Just go to Hobby Lobby! They are in full-on Spring mode!

I think this is the year that I will start my cutting garden AND my herb garden. I've had these on my bucket list for ages and I think it's time to do it. I'll plant more Zinnias, a mixture of sunflowers, Black Eyed Susan, Glads, Phlox, Peonies,  Purple cone flowers, Shasta Daisy, Dahlias, and baby's breath. Oh my WORD!!! Doesn't that just make you LONG for spring time??? My heart longs for warm sunshine and cool breezes...ahhhh!  Now, for the herb garden... lavender, cilantro, mint, aloe. Oh GOODNESS! I just want to go ahead and get my hands in the dirt!!!!

Actually, I'm afraid that what I SHOULD do is update and pretty up the beds I already have.... but that sounds so boring.

(sigh)

Yes, I suppose the thing I SHOULD do is focus on what I already have. Clean out the 3 huge beds I already have, work on my lawn, trim trees, get it all nice and clean and healthy. That's what I should do....

but new things are SO much more fun!

Wow... Isn't this the case with life in general?

"New and different" is exciting and fun, is it not? So often we miss the blessing of the things that are well established, deep rooted, and familiar because we are so focused on pursuing some new thing. I wonder, if I put as much thought and effort into the flower beds I already have as I would put into a new one.... would the older beds not bring me more joy? Possibly... The plants are established. They are large and are reliable bloomers. I know what to expect from them and am filled with anticipation each year as I wait on their show.

That makes me think of something else... when we constantly chase the next moment, we miss the blessing of "now." (remember, we are enjoying the journey this week) While it is certainly obvious when I am eagerly awaiting the next set of blooms in my garden,  this was most evident in my life  when my children were little. I remember wishing they would crawl, would talk, were potty trained, etc. Now I miss those sweet moments a mom only has when her babies are indeed babies.

I've learned that God gives us what we need in every season, whether it be a season of the year or a season in life.

This morning I have no flowers or green grass, (and no babies to snuggle) but He has given me a blanket, a fire in the fireplace, and a hot cup of coffee to ward off the cold January temps... and while I love the excitement of spring, there is certainly something to be said for quiet, calm, and peaceful winter mornings.

I wonder what you may be missing today while you are looking forward to tomorrow. Please join me in soaking up THIS moment, whether you are at home or at work or where ever. God gives us blessings every single day.

Let's not miss them!

Just my thoughts...
K

Wednesday Weekly Recipe - The Flexitarian Diet

I'm asking forgiveness in advance for anything I may say today that is offensive. It is not my intention to ever be offensive. If you are currently a  Felxitarian and would like to help me understand more about this eating approach and why it is different than other "healthy whole food" diets, please do.

That being said....

This week I discovered the "Flexitarian" diet. (SURPRISE!)

What is it? This is the definition I found online....

The Flexitarian Diet is a style of eating that encourages mostly plant-based foods while allowing meat and other animal products in moderation.

It’s more flexible than fully vegetarian or vegan diets.

If you’re looking to add more plant foods to your diet but don’t want to completely cut out meat, going Flexitarian may be for you. (source)

Now, my first question is this... why do we need a name for this? Is it not just your basic "healthy" diet? 

So... I read a little more...

The Flexitarian Diet was created to help people reap the benefits of vegetarian eating while still enjoying animal products in moderation.

Okay... so... this is for people who WANT to be a vegan or vegetarian, but still want to eat animal products? Why?

I read on...

The Flexitarian Diet not only encourages limiting meat and animal products but also limiting highly processed foods, refined grains and added sugar.

Okay... I still don't see what the big deal is. This way of eating is made up primarily of veggies and fruits. Protein is to be plant based when possible.  Minimize processed meats (bacon, sausage, bologna, etc), refined carbs (white bread, white rice, etc), added sugars and sweets (sugar, soda, candy, cake, donuts, etc), fast food (burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, milk shakes). Is this a new concept? Were burgers, fries, bacon, milkshakes, Little Debbie cakes, Sprite and bologna considered diet foods before? If so, sign me up! I want THAT diet! ha!!!

It looks like this is simply limiting your diet to food God made, keeping it close to the way He created it...

Do we really have to have a "name" for every variation of eating?

What am I missing???

K

PS  I'm still holding out for the "Bacon, Little Debbie, Hostess, french french fries and ketchup, Bagel and cream cheese, Buttered Biscuit, Chips and Queso, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Sprite diet." If you find THAT one, I'm all in!

Tuesday Tips and Tricks - 100 Acts of Kindness

In keeping with my promise to myself to love the heck out of everything this year, Tuesday's Tips and Tricks will be dedicated to my effort to complete 100 acts of kindness. I HOPE that this will keep this idea in the front of my mind and MAYBE make my little part of the world a better place!

This weeks acts...

7. Make breakfast for the office
8. Compliment someone to their boss
9. Put a sticky note with a positive message on the bathroom mirror

Much love and Big big hugs!
K

Monday Motivation

Our greatest victories almost always follow our toughest battles.
Don't give up.

If you ever need someone to pray for you, please do not hesitate to ask! You can send me a confidential email at any time!

Big hugs and much love!
K