Beginning and Ending Well

Everyone has those days when it is hard to face what waits for you. Many times I have had difficulty going into my day. God has blessed us with my job as it provides for us here, however a significant amount of stress accompanies the provision. Last semester I struggled with anxiety and fear when I woke up in the morning and when I went to bed at night. It's a long story, but suffice it to say that just the thought of going into my school was enough to make me despair. I know that God does not want those feelings for me. We should never despair in what He has ordained. So, I started doing some reading and I wanted to share some of the ways that I learned to change my thought processes.

Starting the day:

1) Begin by acknowledging that you really can't do anything - not without Christ! Remember and have faith in the fact that you need and are completely dependent upon Him.

2) Take your thoughts captive. (This was the hardest one for me.) Do not allow yourself to listen to your negative thoughts. Stop listening to yourself and talk to yourself about the goodness of God. Remember that you have faith for the future. He will bring his work in your life to completion for His glory and your good.

3) Use your commute or "getting ready" time to pray or memorize scripture. This also helps with #2! If you are busy memorizing or praying, you don't have time to think poisonous thoughts.

Ending the Day:

1) Thank God for the gift of sleep! (see blog below)

2) Thank Him for the blessings of the day and acknowledge that He is the source of all good things.

3) Seize this opportunity to express gratitude for the cross. There is no comparable gift.

These things have really worked for me. I am much less anxious and more positive as I begin my day. This has also helped me to have that invaluable reflection time before bed. Ending the day contemplating the blessings of God has a real affect on how you wake up.

Savoring Sleep

After a 3 day weekend I am feeling particularly well-rested. One of the reasons for that feeling is the restful sleep that I have enjoyed. Reflecting on all of that sleep, I remembered a blog that I read a few months ago which hinted that naps may be a sinful thing. I disagree.

In his book, Humility, C.J. Mahaney charges Christians to praise God for sleep. It is certainly a gift like no other. Sleep did not have to be such a pleasant thing. God could have created another, less delightful (I do mean delightful) way for us to be rejuvenated. In addition to praising God for this gift, we can also praise Him for his sovereignty in a special way. What better example do we have for the all-sustaining sovereignty of God than sleep? Sleeping is a time when we have to admit to absolutely no control. He gives us every breath and every heartbeat. It is by His grace that we wake from our sleep. I am making it a habit to thank God for this gift every time I close my eyes to rest. I hope that you will do the same.

Lifetime Movie = Thankfulness

I am not usually a fan of the Lifetime movie. I do watch a lot of re-runs on that channel, but the "Moment of Truth" movies are not exactly Oscar caliber. Today, I got lazy and did not feel like looking for the remote.

This movie came on called Shattered Hearts - I know what you are thinking - that title could represent any number of Lifetime plots. But this particular movie was about a high school couple and their families. The boy is diagnosed with cancer and he and girlfriend run away together. There is this one scene when it is Christmas and he is sitting in his little hospital bed with his little bald head and he is crying and apologizing because he had been feeling sorry for himself. The website says that this is based on a true story. I don't know about that, and wouldn't actually recommend the movie, but I am thankful that I watched it.

You see, just this morning, I opened another email about a family needing prayer. A young wife, six months pregnant is living on one failing kidney. Yesterday, we got an update on the 21 year old son of a friend. They are struggling to deal with his chemotherapy and praying for healing. And I've been complaining about crowded stores, a messy house and long drives.

So, today I am encouraging myself and you to stand in that 45 minute line at Wal-Mart and be thankful that you can stand. And when you are going nuts cleaning up after Thanksgiving this Thursday, thank God for each healthy appetite as you wash those plates. Rest and be thankful and pray for those hurting, sick, and grieving.

Does Anyone Remember Jem?

That Smurf pic from the previous post reminded me of my all-time favorite Saturday morning cartoon. I used to love Jem. Remember her? She was Jerrica until she pressed her fabulous earring and then she became JEM! - Super Rock Star. As the theme song said, she was truly outrageous. And better than Barbie because she was soooo mysterious and she had a rock band.

Anyway, I have good memories of watching Jem , so I decided to google and see if it still comes on. Guess what I found?

There is a whole world of Jem-lovers out there and it is a little bit scary. There is one site called "The Cult of Jem."

People are continuing the story of Jem by writing their own "episodes."

You can even upload all of the shows and the songs that they sang! And I kind of want to!

If you are a Jem-lover, check out this site:

http://www.jemunlimited.com/

Only 3 Days Until Thanksgiving....

and today I am remembering the lyrics of one of my favorite songs by Caedmon's Call:

I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
It's by grace I have been saved
Though faith that's not my own
It is the gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast

I am thankful for this, because I don't think my works would be getting me very far these days....All of these moving plans and uncertainty and crowded stores have made me pretty grouchy. Remember him? -->

So, today I am thankful for God's free grace and for my sweet husband and family who love me even when I'm grouchy.

What Month Is This?

Hum the tune to "What Child Is This?" when you read that title.

Seriously, have we just skipped Thanksgiving and gone straight to Christmas this year? My street is aglow with garish flashing lights, inflatable santas, and giant candy canes. There are no more pumpkins and scarecrows and sparkly fall leaves. All of the stores are packed with ornaments, wreaths, and shrink-wrapped gift sets.

With all of this hype, I am afraid to go to Target or Walmart. The crowds could be ugly.

I am doing a lot of my shopping online this year. There are lots of great deals out there. Check these out:

www.eyeslipsface.com/ - This one is great for stocking stuffers.

www.thecandleshop.net/ - Everyone loves candles.

www.buy.com/ - Get anything (except clothes and shoes) here.

www.overstock.com/ - Good deals plus $1 shipping!

www.findgifts.com/ - This site gives suggestions for the people on your list.

My advice is to shop online, but if you are going to the stores, you have my respect. I have to return something to the mall today, so wish me luck.

The Road Crew

The city has been re-paving our road for two months! I do not understand the road crews. Granted, the street needed some maintenance - it was beginning to look more like a skateboarding ramp than a residential street, but the methods of this repair are puzzling. They have literally paved our road and then dug it up twice. I am not exaggerating. Maybe there is some benefit to this, but I cannot see it.
Each morning, I am awakened to the sound of the trucks backing up *beep*beep*beep* Since I work at home, the constant beeping and loud dump trucks are driving me nuts.
And just when they dig a nice big whole, they stick a barrel on it and disappear for five days. They block up the driveway and if you leave the house, you may not be able to get back onto your street when you return. Who knew it takes 5 dumptrucks and a steamroller to re-pave 30 yards?
I try to smile at the workermen when I see them. I know that they are just doing their jobs, but after two months my smile is strained. And all of our shoes have black gunk on the bottom of them from the tar debris that is everywhere!
I know there is nothing that can be done about this, but I just needed to vent. I won't complain again for at least a week.

Stranger Than Fiction

If you know me, then I have probably mentioned to you that I LOVE the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" starring Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson. The characters are lovable and bizarre, the filming is poignant, and the philosphy is not sappy, but moving. I love that they never explain why Maggie Gyllenhaal's character knows the words to that obsure Monkees song. I watched the movie again last weekend, and I love it more. I have discovered that people seem to either love or hate this movie. I love it. Ben loves it. My Mom hates it.
The pic to the right is a still following this conversation:
Dr. Hilbert: Harold, you don't control your own destiny
Harold Answers: I know........
Harold is beginning to realize, that his death is inevitable. This conversation follows:
Dr. Jules Hilbert : Hell Harold, you could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted.
Harold Crick: What is wrong with you? Hey, I don’t want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind, in a choice between pancakes and living, chooses pancakes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you’d realize that, that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.
If you haven't seen the movie, or if you were one of those who hated it, please, please give it another try! I personally struggle with getting bogged down in routine and it was helpful this past weekend to watch this movie while remembering that there is nothing too small to be thankful for. I think the final narration puts it nicely:
"As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren’t any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick."

Weekend

It is hard to believe another week has come and gone! This weekend, we are planning to rest, go to church, and be lazy. We might take in the new George Clooney movie, Michael Clayton. It has gotten great reviews. Has anyone seen it?

In my blog reading, I found this great video. If you are ever having a fat day, it is sure to cheer you up.

Finally Friday!

It is Friday! Normally, I would say "WOOHOO," but today all I can muster is "woohoo." I woke up with a terrible cold and body aches after sneezing all night long.
Me on a different sick day: On the bright side, I am going to get to watch a sick movie. Everyone has a sick movie, right? Something you would only watch if you are sick. Today, mine is going to be "Twins" with Arnold and Danny DeVito. This movie represents the kind of humor you can only appreciate when your head is stopped up and you have taken a few benadryl.
I know there is plenty of fun to be had this weekend, but I guess I will miss it all. This is the last weekend of the fair, and I will gladly boycott that this year. Also, I hear there are some fun haunted houses taking place. My friend, Angie recommends this one: http://www.terrortest.com/. It is located in Lumberton, MS. I think it is a little bit intense. Not for the kids.
This Sunday is Ben's ordination. The event takes place at 6:00 at FBC Clinton. We will have a small dinner at the Rogers' home at 5:00 and dessert at their home after the ceremony.
Sorry for the superficial content of the blogs lately. I will tackle some deeper issues when I am feeling better.