Well, this is awkward...

I decided that this post would be about my journey through P90X, an intense 90 day workout program consisting of 12 different dvds that you switch each day. It involved a lot of self-discipline, but I could never have done it without the support of my accountability group. While I learned self-discipline for exercise, apparently I've yet to master it in writing. Looking back I haven't posted since January? Is that right? Wow, 6 months. I warned you. My first post I said I probably wouldn't post very frequently. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm in the process of deciding if I want to use this as an outlet now to post about my healthier habits, or if I should just let it be. Ah well. I'm sure in another 6 months I'll have an answer.

One Thing Study

I was recently introduced to the concept of a "One Thing Study". You choose a book of the Bible, and read one chapter each day. Within that chapter, you take the "one thing" that stood out to you the most. It can be a word, a verse, or an entire passage, but then you explain why it was significant. I really like these as they're a good way to start your morning, but I've yet to get in the habit of doing them daily. Today's verse really hit home.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phillipians 4:8

I struggle with this list. Flat out. I guess my redeeming quality would be the honesty part. I'll toot my own horn a bit and say honesty I have down pat... maybe to a fault. The only person I'm not always honest to is myself. That can be a problem in it's own right, but I don't lie to others. This is probably why some people are no longer in my life, but that is all for the better. Things that are just, pure, lovely, of good report, I can struggle with these. I'm not going to get too specific. We don't know each other that well, yet. All in good time my tender lumplings. There are things that seem to pop up with incredible frequency if one was to look around.

Gossip is rampant in our society. And I'm learning that gossip doesn't have to be the spreading of false information. Far from it, actually. Spreading true information, if the intent is less than noble, (and let's face it, if you're not sure if you should be sharing it, you probably shouldn't) can have the same devastating effect as when you spread what turns out to be a lie wrapped around a grain of truth. And not just to the other person, to yourself. When you gossip, you're lessening your own credibility. .

There are times when I wish a brain scrubber was a real thing. I'll see things on the telly that I wish I had the capacity to erase from my memory. The media has completely desensitized us. I work with preschoolers and you'd think they were teenagers by the way they explain the movies they watch. Violence, sex, corruptness, pain, devastation. It's heaped upon us everyday to the point that we don't give a second thought to things that should make us cringe.

Speech can also be an issue. I love language. Words and me, we're best buds. I wouldn't go so far as to say I read the dictionary for pleasure, but whatever the step below that is, that's where you'll find me. The English language, with it's difficult spellings and at times nonsensical grammatical rules, is nevertheless beautiful.  With all the wonderful words at our disposal, why do we bother to cuss? Why do we find the negative in situations rather than the positive? I get that there are times when words fail us. We revert to what's considered normal. I'd prefer the term rampant rather than normal. When a plant is introduced to an entirely new area and it flourishes, suffocating the native species to the point of extinction, is the new plant then considered native? If one reads the classics, you can't help but notice how beautiful their speech is. I wish that we still talked like that. But that's not a dream differed. We can choose to talk like that. Utilize the English language, people. I guarantee there are better, equally expressive alternatives to dropping f-bombs.

Can I issue challenges before I even have a base of readers? Since I write for myself first and foremost, yes. You=me. Pay attention to your thoughts this week. What's in the heart and mind will always make its way out through the mouth. Let your thoughts and words be uplifting to those around you.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phillipians 4:13

Ah, Phillipians. Short, to the point, and full of gems. I hope God speaks to you about something you've been struggling with with as much clarity as He did to me this morning. :)

Out Of The Rut...

I'm just going to come out and say it. I LOVE Michael Jr. I had the awesome fortune of getting to see him live this past December at Winter Conference and man, that guy loves him some Jesus. I love how heuses his gift to give laughs. Let's face it, we could all use more laughter in our lives. This video showcases some of the different "styles" of prayer that he's encountered. Don't lie, you know SOMEBODY who is at least one of these. And if not, well, it's probably you then. I'll admit it, I'm the one with the hands that get too moist, too fast (I promise I've never wiped my forehead with anybody else's hand though!)

The one that caught my attention was the "repeater". There are entire religions based off of pointless repetition. "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7" When prayer is structured and regulated, you become like the pharisees who forsake a true relationship with Christ to follow tradition. When we pray, why don't we treat it like we would if we were talking to one of our mates? He longs to hear about our day. Our hopes, our fears, our deepest desires. Not because He needs to hear them from us, He already knows everything you could possibly tell Him. But for us to show Him our love and trust by talking to Him? That sounds like a true relationship to me. And the best part: it can be done at any time! We are instructed to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) and that's something I intend to work on. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a talker. *insert derisive cough*  And unfortunately, that leaks into my prayer life. There are times when I don't even know where to start. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26". I love that my God has prepared for every contingency. Don't know what to pray about? He's got some ideas for you. Honestly, how amazing is that?

It's for this reason that my heart breaks for those who are so wrapped up in tradition, making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down (Mark 7:13). They've completely lost sight of what it's all truly about, being close with our Creator. We've become complacent. This, however, should never be tolerated. I went to a church for 4 years that personified complacency. They never bothered to read the Bible to test against what was preached for themselves. Content with milk, they never grew up to enjoy meat. If the pastor said it, it was considered true. I'm so glad I was brought out of there. That type of thinking poisons the mind, and looking back on my life, I can see all the symptoms during that exposure. Which would you rather have? Blind ignorance or a relationship that stood the test of being challenged and questioned. To quote a favorite old show, knowledge is power.

To me, tradition is the cloak of the complacent. You replace intimacy with routine. Are we not considered His bride? He deserves more than that. But now I must apologize. I've let my anger write my post, not my faith. Forgive me for being human, sincerely I hope you do.

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

My "fixer" personality wants the situation remedied now. But God's timing is perfect. If we've fallen away, it makes His grace that much sweeter when He brings us back into His loving embrace.

Soo...yeah.

  I know I'm coming late to the blogging scene, but writing has never been something that peaked my interest. My term papers leave me scrambling to meet the minimum requirement of pages/words. Why spend 300 words of fluff to get a 50 word point across? Brevity is a highly favored trait in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I love the written word, as long as someone else is the one writing it. I was the child who asked for diaries and journals only to leave them unopened and unused. Even now, I have doubts as to how often I'll get around to actually blogging. Great way to get people excited about reading my blog, right? Though it is the beginning of a new year, creating this blog was not in response to a half-drunken resolution to express myself more. A few of my friends have lauded writing as being the best way to organize their thoughts. As of late, my thoughts have been...scattered. I have a vague sense of the direction it'll take, but who knows? A nice blend of prediction and surprise seem to be at the heart of the best art.