Inspiration for Balance

Isn't this a great photo?

I enjoy hunting for photos to go along with my topic; it's even more fun to be the photographer. This one is not mine though.

Anyway...

the other day I asked for your ideas and input regarding time use and staying organized.

Didn't hear back from any of you 50 plus people who read my post Tuesday but I digress...

I started to think through the issues for me in being consistent in the area of self-discipline. There are quite a few to be honest but one of the biggest issues is me not pushing back against anything that comes along to sway me from what I had started to do. In other words I have a hard time saying No.

No to being lazy and not exercising.
No to eating what I know isn't the best for me.
No to staying up too late (that keeps me from getting up on time)

So I said Yes to several things that encouraged me:
• A Bible reading plan found here
• An exercise plan (with a trainer in my face 2x a week)
• writing something daily
• doing something creative daily

Most of all I want to share with you the real inspiration for balance in my days: My Relationship with Christ. His grace to me when I don't follow through with my commitments to myself helps me so much to begin again from whatever point I stumbled.

No shame.

No guilt.

Just a precious undeserved LOVE that allows me to be me and inspires me to move forward.

Enjoy this quote of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men but only in the sight of God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work."

I pray that you are inspired to balance in your life today.

Live What You Believe

So today's post title is a challenge to each of us. I am being poked by the Holy Spirit in one big area right now: self-discipline. Ouch!

But it's summer! I whine (ineffectively)

My use of time is the biggest culprit but there are more subtle ones too like my eating and exercise habits, (non existent), taming my tongue (yikes I thought I had that one down...), what my thoughts are of people (sometimes critical and judgmental...sad face)

I have wanted to blog more since I have more time, but I have come to this point of getting poked to realize I need to make some serious course corrections right now. Hence this point of confession.

I would love your help. What are your tried and true techniques for managing life? Exercise? Eating habits?

Suggestions are more than welcome. In fact, greatly desired!

Why?

Have you ever asked the question "Why?" If you are like me you ask it way too much! Sometimes the answer is available and sometimes it's not. The thing I am asking "Why?" about right now is "Why is life so full?"

Do you ever wonder how to have more time to do the things you want and need to do? Do you ask yourself "why did I say yes to this activity?" or "why don't I have more help around the house?"

For me right now I am seeing the answers to these questions through a different lens; discernment. I am seeing the places I have lacked discernment in saying yes to activities that take me away from things I want and need to do. The pamphlet Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles E. Hummel gives outstanding wisdom regarding discernment. The author uses a phrase that was spoken to me long before I read it and I will share it with you here:

"The need does not constitute the call"

What have you gotten yourself into because you felt you could respond to the need?

Discernment cautions us to wait, pray, and seek the peace that passes all understanding BEFORE we decide to be involved with an activity.

Does anyone else jump in without discernment?

Facing Fears

Do you ever stop and recognize you have a fear of something? As a human we all have had fears of one kind or another at different points. When we were little people we may have had a fear of the dark. Or we may have had fear of strangers. Maybe even a fear of trying new things, like food or activities. What are you afraid of?

This is on my mind today as my husband and I are packing our car to travel to Lake Tahoe. Fear is on my mind? Why? Well, we are participating in a challenging event for me: 100 mile cycling around Lake Tahoe this Sunday.

Fear is a funny thing really. It is simply thinking about something that could be a dangerous experience that hasn't happened yet but we imagine it to be reality. This description is an oversimplification of our emotions but truly it boils down to us giving emotional attention to something that hasn't happened.

How do we face fear and call it for what it is? We speak the Truth to ourselves. Over and over again. Truth? What truth? God's Word to us. He is mindful of our frame. He has given us all that we need to face fear. Good news is: He has overcome the world. So if God is for us, who can be against us?

He promises us so many wonderful truths to hide in our heart so the Holy Spirit can bring them to mind when we are facing fear. Here are two that I am clinging to as I go into this weekend:

"Do NOT FEAR, for I AM with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I AM your GOD. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Is. 41:10)

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected (mature) in love." (1 Jn. 4:18)

So I would love to know you are praying for me as I face these two fears of pain, (like a crash) and of failure, (like we can't complete the ride). They are silly to express because in the light of Who God is these fears pale in comparison, but like so many things, if we don't bring them out into that Light, then they have the power of darkness to overwhelm and hinder us.

There they are. I am facing my current fears. How about you? What are you afraid of? Bring it out into the Light; share it with a friend and ask them to be praying for you. Face that fear and in the Power of Christ, overcome!