Well, not a whole lot to mention since my last blog. But a bit, so I will.
Yesterday I got to stay home with Brandy. At the time she should have been brushing her teeth she was vomiting instead. A little bit of stress kicked in when I realized I would be missing work and a day of class, but that was quickly eliminated as she cuddled up next to me to tell me her tummy hurt. While I was very sad that she did not feel good, my mommy ego was way inflated! Even at 4 years old she is developing her own type of independence and it just grows as they do. So I bask in their need of me when they are sick. I love to take care of them. I love trying to make them as comfortable as possible. I also got a very relaxed, laid back day. She was not her usual energizer bunny self, so I was able to just sit and watch cartoons with her, drink some coffee and be quiet. I also did not have to run anybody anywhere or go anywhere. Additionally there weren't a flood of people coming in and out (as they do on the weekends) - just one time did someone pop in and then out. The rest of the day was super quiet. I got quite a bit of house work done, made an awesome big "I love my family" kind of dinner and made a few phone calls. It was delightful! Today is back to normal - she is back at school and I am back at work - darn the healthy little thing - LOL - just kidding. I am glad she feels better.
A little update of the Daniel fast. I haven't done as well this week. Not good at all. For that I am disappointed in myself. On the other hand I am really happy with how God has opened my eyes and through that has opened my ears to his works, his promptings and his presence. I think I may have mentioned this in my previous post, but I have developed a new desire to have more God in everyday! It has gone from KNOWING I need to be spending more time with God to WANTING to spend more time with Him. It's funny how fast we forget all that a good relationship can bring in to our lives. How good relationships make us better people. How good relationships make life more doable. Not that I have my life full of bad relationships...I have relationships on "needs/must have" basis only. Basically meaning I have very few friends that I do anything with. My life is spent doing for, taking care of and being with my family. We all need relationships (GOOD QUALITY ONES) outside of the family. That first relationship should always be God! Then the others don't have to be many, but they do have to be some. We need relationships for us - but we also need relationships so we can pour into the lives of others. God has blessed each of us in very different ways...but most of them all are stories of hope and answered prayers. Not every body has experienced what we have or maybe as much as we have. As we pour into them the faith begins to grow wings, to believe God in bigger ways they have before. It is our responsibility to share the good new, yes the Gospel, but it is also our responsibility to share our personal experiences with God with others.
Okay - I think that's all I will post for today.
Please tell me what you think!
D. J.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Daniel Fast
The church that I attend for the past few years has encouraged the Daniel Fast for 3 weeks in January. I have never participated. I actually have never fasted before unless it was for a surgery or blood test. I didn't quite understand why we should do one ~ other than it says to in the bible. But this year I decided I would. I wanted my New Years resolutions to be guided by God and I really want to grow this year, spiritually. The first week I found out I must be WAY addicted to my caffeine! Lordy Lordy the headaches were intense on days 2 and 3. I kinda went through a lull in energy at that time as well. But I kept at it. When I started the fast I committed to spend a certain time each day with the Lord, reading his work and praying. That was going well. I must have expected a lot that first week because I was pretty disappointed. I didn't think I was necessarily hearing more from God. I did see a few evidences of his work that were direct answers to prayer, but I really must have expected more. Then I began to wonder, "Am I doing this right?", "Could I somehow be screwing this up". So I got out my papers about the fast and went over them again, even read a little bit in Daniel looking for something. I got nothing. The only thing I could figure is that I was being strict enough. So I focused a little harder.
During the latter part of that first week I did notice my energy was coming back. Good. I noticed that I was getting full quicker - even with the seemingly limited food items we can eat. I also noticed I was actually feeling hunger. Not anything that would cause me to cave ~ just a hunger to let me know it was getting close to the next meal time. But that hunger did and does prompt me to pray or to take a minute to read a bit of scripture. That's a real good thing. There are other things too ~ I have noticed I am not craving food NEAR like I usually do. I am feeling much more calm and a lot LESS stressed. Okay are you ready for the LIGHT BULB MOMENT? God had to show me rather than speak to me ~ why because I have reached a point that I don't listen very well. One of my focuses (resolutions) this year is on Health. He is showing me that I am not feeding my body as He intended and that there is a lot I am giving it thinking I "need" it and I really don't. These things cause me to be tense and increase stress. He showed me that I was feeding my body emptiness. When I feed it the right kind of food there is more satisfaction, less cravings, and ultimately less eating. I have lost 10 pounds so far. I totally did not expect this. When I go off of this Daniel fast my "normal" way of eating will be changed. It won't be the Daniel Fast but it will be more wholesome, more thoughtful.
With the ease that I am going about my day I have noticed I am nicer, less grumpy. This significantly helps my interactions with people, especially my family. Another one of my focuses this year is on relationships.
Additionally, I am not spending money on eating out. I am not missing it all. In fact my husband and I have even had a few conversations about our finances that have not ended in arguments. January is normally a hard month for us financially as we recoup from Christmas. We seem to be handling it very well and needing for nothing. Through our conversations we may even be making some progress in this area which by the way is another focus. Our finances.
So I am spending more time with God. I am praying more and praising more. When I have a concern I am really "giving" it to Him. This is all from the Fast.
He hasn't told me a darn thing - but boy has He SHOWN me a lot! As always I get excited when I know I am getting what God is trying to give me. I love knowing I am on the right track, His track.
Let me know what you think!
Lots of love,
D. J.
During the latter part of that first week I did notice my energy was coming back. Good. I noticed that I was getting full quicker - even with the seemingly limited food items we can eat. I also noticed I was actually feeling hunger. Not anything that would cause me to cave ~ just a hunger to let me know it was getting close to the next meal time. But that hunger did and does prompt me to pray or to take a minute to read a bit of scripture. That's a real good thing. There are other things too ~ I have noticed I am not craving food NEAR like I usually do. I am feeling much more calm and a lot LESS stressed. Okay are you ready for the LIGHT BULB MOMENT? God had to show me rather than speak to me ~ why because I have reached a point that I don't listen very well. One of my focuses (resolutions) this year is on Health. He is showing me that I am not feeding my body as He intended and that there is a lot I am giving it thinking I "need" it and I really don't. These things cause me to be tense and increase stress. He showed me that I was feeding my body emptiness. When I feed it the right kind of food there is more satisfaction, less cravings, and ultimately less eating. I have lost 10 pounds so far. I totally did not expect this. When I go off of this Daniel fast my "normal" way of eating will be changed. It won't be the Daniel Fast but it will be more wholesome, more thoughtful.
With the ease that I am going about my day I have noticed I am nicer, less grumpy. This significantly helps my interactions with people, especially my family. Another one of my focuses this year is on relationships.
Additionally, I am not spending money on eating out. I am not missing it all. In fact my husband and I have even had a few conversations about our finances that have not ended in arguments. January is normally a hard month for us financially as we recoup from Christmas. We seem to be handling it very well and needing for nothing. Through our conversations we may even be making some progress in this area which by the way is another focus. Our finances.
So I am spending more time with God. I am praying more and praising more. When I have a concern I am really "giving" it to Him. This is all from the Fast.
He hasn't told me a darn thing - but boy has He SHOWN me a lot! As always I get excited when I know I am getting what God is trying to give me. I love knowing I am on the right track, His track.
Let me know what you think!
Lots of love,
D. J.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Happy New Year 2012!
Well the break from work was great! Time with family was great as well. Now we are 4 days into the new year, I am back at work, and life is pretty much back to normal.
So, did you make any New Year's Resolutions? I always do! I love making resolutions or a list of things I would like to accomplish for the new year. Last year I had 10 items. I totally succeeded at two of them and made GREAT strides in 6 others and two just didn't pan out. But I can assure you had I not made those goals to begin with I would not have had nearly the success in any area! This year I only made 5 hoping I would be more successful at 5 focuses rather than 10. Let me tell you what they are: 1) Health/Weight Loss, 2) Spiritual Growth 3) Financial Growth, 4)Relationships - starting with my hubby 5)Hmmmm, it seems I can't recall what this one it. Actually at this point, for this post it does not matter. I will check it tonight and update you on it in the next blog. What I want to state in this post was that as I work on all 5 of the goals....Wait - I remember #5! DeClutter and Organize!! Okay - now as I work on all 5 though I am not necessarily attacking each one of them individually. I am going to God first and foremost for all of these areas. That's the ULTIMATE change this year. I am NOT going to worry, I am NOT going to fear, I am NOT going to get emotional or stressed - - I am going to put all my trust in the Lord, I am going to seek him for correct actions, for direction, for assistance. I am doing this in journal - I am seeking him and also thanking him for his answers along the way. I am shocked by how active I already see God in my life. I am amazed at how people are acting differently around me! God is at work! I am so excited for this year. I hope you have made some resolutions - and I hope you will consider putting God at the head of each resolution. If you haven't made any, it's not too late. I hope to expand on my resolutions one by one as I continue to blog. The more we write about them and type about them and talk about them - the more successful we will be in achieving them!
Again, Happy New Year!
D. J.
So, did you make any New Year's Resolutions? I always do! I love making resolutions or a list of things I would like to accomplish for the new year. Last year I had 10 items. I totally succeeded at two of them and made GREAT strides in 6 others and two just didn't pan out. But I can assure you had I not made those goals to begin with I would not have had nearly the success in any area! This year I only made 5 hoping I would be more successful at 5 focuses rather than 10. Let me tell you what they are: 1) Health/Weight Loss, 2) Spiritual Growth 3) Financial Growth, 4)Relationships - starting with my hubby 5)Hmmmm, it seems I can't recall what this one it. Actually at this point, for this post it does not matter. I will check it tonight and update you on it in the next blog. What I want to state in this post was that as I work on all 5 of the goals....Wait - I remember #5! DeClutter and Organize!! Okay - now as I work on all 5 though I am not necessarily attacking each one of them individually. I am going to God first and foremost for all of these areas. That's the ULTIMATE change this year. I am NOT going to worry, I am NOT going to fear, I am NOT going to get emotional or stressed - - I am going to put all my trust in the Lord, I am going to seek him for correct actions, for direction, for assistance. I am doing this in journal - I am seeking him and also thanking him for his answers along the way. I am shocked by how active I already see God in my life. I am amazed at how people are acting differently around me! God is at work! I am so excited for this year. I hope you have made some resolutions - and I hope you will consider putting God at the head of each resolution. If you haven't made any, it's not too late. I hope to expand on my resolutions one by one as I continue to blog. The more we write about them and type about them and talk about them - the more successful we will be in achieving them!
Again, Happy New Year!
D. J.
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