Monday, September 13, 2010

journey to 30 #5

I want to nap, so this will be short.

#4. I want to share the Gospel once a week

When I made this one of my goals, it scared me. How in the world would this ever be a reality? Would I feel guilty when it didn't happen and then just give up???

I have shared the Gospel once a week since making this commitment, and today I led a girl to Christ. None of this has been because of my own worth or the work of my own hands, but it has been the grace of a God who loves His own renown.

I feel alive when I share the Gospel. I feel like it was what I was born to do. I'm grateful for this commitment in my life and I'm grateful for a God who is faithful to Himself.

I super loves Jesus.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

the one that makes me think

will you read this post?

I'm going to come back and talk about it again soon.

journey to 30 #4

#3. I want to commit more Scripture to memory [for reals-not just rote memory where it's forgotten a month later]

Along with some friends, I'll be discipling a group of college girls this semester. I'm super pumped about it. We're going through the book of John. As part of our commitment to one another, we'll be memorizing John 15:1-17. Here we go. I've got 11 weeks to train my heart to know this forever.
I'm up for the challenge.

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17These things I command you, so that you will love one another.


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

the one where I'm grateful

At Community Group last night we were discussing Sacred Marriage. One of the questions asked was something like this: Do you spend more time thinking about how you can make your spouse happy or more time thinking about how they aren't meeting your needs and expectations.

When I answered the question last night, I immediately thought that I spend more time thinking about how to make him happy. Because I do exhaust my little brain on ways to love him, encourage him, push him to Christ, and make him smile.

But, I realized I do spend quite a bit of time thinking about his shortcomings.
Simultaneously, something happened in my life that made me reflect on who Adam is as a man and as a husband. I am so sorry that I spend time thinking about his shortcomings, because he is an amazing man.

He is kind.
He is a relentless servant to everyone, but particularly to me.
He is super fun.
He is organized, mature, and responsible.
He provides for us.
He LOVES me.
He willingly and joyfully gives of himself to me all the time.
He is devoted to Chloe Belle and completely in love with her.
He is always honest with me.
He confesses his sins to me.
He thinks I'm perfect.
He wants to be a better man.
He loves the downtrodden, the hurting, the outcast, and the lost.

He reminds me of Jesus. I am blessed to have this man as my husband. I live each day in the comfort and security of his love.

Praise God for His amazing gifts. Of all the gifts I am most thankful for, I am thankful for Jesus and His grace, and my husband. Thank you Father!

Friday, September 3, 2010

journey to 30 #3

#9. I want to be more healthy; including cooking and providing healthy meals for my family and making exercise an important, habitual part of my life.

I've been thinking about writing this post for a couple of days. [insert here another statement about how busy I am. sigh.]
I'm so glad I waited till this morning.
Over the last 7 months I have been committed to health more than any other time in my life. Not my own health of course, but Chloe Belle's health. I made a commitment to breastfeed, the healthiest choice for both her and me for the rest of both our lifetimes. I stuck to my commitment those first three months when breastfeeding was hard, frustrating, and not at all what I thought it would be. In short, I had discipline. Me. I had discipline about health. Who knew?
The last two months since Chloe Belle has been eating food I have been a bit fanatical about what she consumes. I make all of her baby food, from mostly seasonal, local fruits and veggies.

So, making and preparing healthy food for my child: check. Making and preparing healthy food for my husband and me: utter failure.
In addition to all this, I get on the scale this morning and I've gained several pounds. I can easily attribute this to the start of the semester: frantic living, lots of food, and LOTS of coffee [full of milk and sugar].

So, hopefully putting this out there will give me the encouragement I need to change things up. This month we're doing 30 days of no eating out, and I'm hoping that will help. Also, I'm going to say no soda or desserts until Oct. 1.

Now I know I can summon up the discipline. I just have to live it out.