30 Day Challenge: Friday Updates

Hi 30 day Challengers!!! Its been awhile since we have shared our updates. I look forward to hearing how its going for you...I hope better than me :)

My current challenge ended a few days ago and it did not end well. Long story short I failed miserable in every area of my challenge since my last update. In addition to my lack of discipline, I have had a house full of the stomach flu to include a trip to the ER and a broken washing machine. Ad it all up and what do you get?  No challenges being met...uhg.

But I choose to look at this as a small blip on the radar, and I am going to move forward with my chin up and get ready for a new 30 day challenge!!! That is what I love so much about the 30 Day Challenge... every 30 days we get a new start at challenging ourselves to make changes in our lives to better glorify our loving and gracious God!!!

Change for the challenge
I want to be sure to let all challengers know of an upcoming change for the 30 day challenge. I have decided to do Monday updates in place of Friday updates. I have decided to do this because I personally always love to start my challenges at the beginning of the week and it bugged me to update mid-week in a challenge. I hope the Monday updates will work better for you too!

Please let me know if you have any suggestions to make the 30 day Challenge better :)

PS- I am still hoping to get a button soon. Thanks for your patience.

Is Jesus Enough?

As followers of Christ we must continue to be moldable. As God moves in our hearts we are transformed (if we let it happen). God is so patient with me. He always molds me so slowly and so carefully. Often I don't even realize its going on. Then I have the blessing of looking back and seeing how my heart has been changed. Sometimes it is clear to me where he is taking me with the change he has brought about in my life. At other times I am perplexed to see which direction a change will take me. I must be patient and wait for Him to reveal things to me as he sees fit. I will admit its tough waiting at times.

Last week in Scott's sermon he talked about our need to be loved by others, how it is an idle and that Jesus should be enough for us. I LOVED what he was saying!!! Yes, it was convicting as I am human and definitely want the love and approval of others. Though the good news is it caused me to look back. To look back and see the change God had done in my heart. Is Jesus enough for me? YES! YES HE IS! Do I always feel that way? NO, of course not. But slowly and carefully he continues to mold me and I AM GETTING THERE!

The time line-
10 years ago- I didn't know Christ at all. I was empty and dissatisfied.

5 years ago- I had been a believer for about 3 years. Jesus was my savior! Though I still looked to others for love and approval. I filled every quiet moment with relationships, noise or busyness.

3 years ago- I loved Jesus, I loved his people and I loved being with them and serving them even if that was at my own families loss.

2 years ago- The change had begun. The conviction of my sin was burning in my heart. God was leading me home. Home, to better serve the husband and children he blessed me with. Home, where I could sit at his feet and be quiet and listen. I wrote This Post  about this very change 2 years ago and what a blessing it was to be able to go back and read it!(one of the biggest reasons I am back to blogging)

I want to share with you a comment a dear friend left on that post that blessed me then and again today when I reread it.

As God shapes, molds and changes you through this new season fix your eyes on Him. I know that God is using this time to bring a different dynamic to your relationship with Him. I'm excited to see what these winds of change will result in. Remember that discipleship is difficult....truly denying ourselves and giving our lives to Christ is a narrow road.....but we need to do this to become more like Christ...we cannot gain a resurrected life without dying. I'm praying for you sista!! -Carrie Stannert

Wow! Do you think she had any idea the wisdom she was dishing out?!?! I'm thinking those words just might need to be hanging somewhere I can read them everyday!

Back to the time line...

Today- I love Jesus more then I ever have! He is more real to me then he ever has been! While I do still struggle at times...ultimately I know He is who fills my cup. Today I know my place and I know where he wants me to be. I am so blessed to be at home loving and serving my family. I am blessed with a great community of believers of whom I feel I have healthy and balance relationships with. Don't get me wrong, I do still struggle at times with the pull to be everywhere with everyone... So I could love them and they could love me! Sounds good right? Wrong! I have learned that community and relationships within the body are an absolute must. But not when I allow them to cause my role as wife and mom, or more importantly sitting at Jesus' feet to suffer.  A careful balancing act I will continue to walk prayerfully.

And because we are keeping it real... I struggle with all the mudane duties as wife and mother. Trust me, just because I know God has called me to do this doesn't me I'm always pleasant and joyful while doing it = /  This Post over at Stay At Home Missionary's site is amazing. A must read!!!

love

30 Day Challenge: Friday Updates (sorry it's late)

So sorry this is late my fellow 30 Day Challengers. I got home from a camping trip yesterday and just had SO much to do with no time to blog. I am excited to hear how the challenge has been going for you this week.

Days13-19 (Wow, only 11 days left already!)

Challenge 1:Time in Gods Word
At the beginning of my week I had some great time in the word. I spent a lot of time in 1 Peter and got some great verses that I will cling to during a struggle I am having right now. I am so thankful for God's word! He gives me comfort through it so often. The last couple days I have not read at all. I forgot to take a bible camping...LAME, is all I can say about that.

Challenge 2: Exercise
So far this week I got in 3 yoga, 1 run and 1 good walk. I plan to do another run today, hopefully a long one. This Mama needs the stress release right now. I was so hoping to get a run in along the beach while I was camping but taking my 4 kids and leaving my hubby at home for this trip...well you get the picture. No time for Mama to run. The trip was great though! I will post pics later today.

Challenge 3: Eating Healthy
This one is still going pretty good although I did drink a some soda and have more than my share of peanut butter cups while camping =/. Over all though I can't wait to share more about the changes my family is making. We are making some big changes in the way we eat! Basically changing to buy more organic products, more fruits, vegs, beans and rice, less meat and dairy, buying only pasture fed meat and doing our best to buy local. A lot of reasons behind this and I look forward to sharing with you how I intend on doing this the most frugal way possible.

Challenge 4: Organization
Did get anything done on this this week because I have been to busy packing, camping and now unpacking. I have 11 days to get it done and I intend on doing just that!


 love