Are you a tree?

Wow, how long has it been??? Too long.

I have been doing the study...very slowly. I just finished up week 3 a few minutes ago. I went to bed at 10 last night with a bad headache. That is a good time for me. I just haven't been able to stomach going to bed before then. It's almost as if I'd never see Tim by myself if I did, but even as I type this, I am doing much of it with my eyes closed, I'm so sleepy. I could almost feel Satan luring me to go back to bed this morning. I woke up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom, but my alarm goes off at 4:55 anyways, so what's the point of going back to bed?

I confess that because of my nodding off, I didn't get as much out of the lesson as I'd have hoped. It was on Psalm 1. I'm sure there are many truths there, but one thing I pulled away with was just not to be envious of the wicked. Whether that is the actual unbeliever who has it all, or the believer that isn't living the right way. I don't need to be envious because all they have is fleeting. It is all but for a moment and the only thing that will last is what is done for Christ. I want to live with Christ as my audience. I want to worry about what Christ thinks and not people. I want to live for the applause of Christ and not other people. I want to think and meditate on Him and His word and not on me and my belly or whatever else is distracting me today.

To be firmly planted by rivers of water is to be rooted...deep in Christ. To be filled and hydrated by living water. When the winds of temptation and trials blow, I want to be strongly grounded in Christ that I don't blow away like the chaff of wheat would in the wind. Realistically speaking, some fruit may fall off in the wind, but it will grow back if the tree is firmly planted.

• Let me be that tree. May the wind blow in my life, and may I be found standing in you, Lord. There are so many pointless distractions in American life. We have it so easy. The easiness of life bothers me. If I am coasting through life, the Christian life, throw some speed bumps in there along the way. God, we have it too easy and perhaps it may not always be that way, but we aren't even thankful all the time for the way things are now. Give me and Sam and Erin hearts that long for you. Give us minds that realize that we are in the temporary and that what we do today determines a lot of our forever. I want to be firmly planted in you so that I yield much fruit for you and glorify you forever.

Refocusing as well . . .

Hi Ladies~

Well, it wouldn't be the first Monday in January if I wasn't refocusing, would it?

Talk about being behind. And look at my behind these days. Seriously!!

So, here is a prayer request. Chris and I are going to try to refocus our eating habits together. I am glad he is interested in trying to lose some weight, as he needs to.

Again, as you said, Sam, in His strength, not mine!

Also, off subject, but another prayer request. I have too much on my plate right now and so I am going to be trying to take some things off my plate so that I can become a sane person once again. I was sane at one point in my life, wasn't I?? Please pray that I listen to Him for what the priorities in my life should be, not just what seems to be a "good" thing.

Love you, girls.

Hope your holidays were blessed!

Erin

Time to Refocus!

Week 3, Day 4...yes, I'm behind...but I am resolved to finish this study again. I'm praying that God give me something new, something for a "ah ha" moment. He told me in ways that I can understand that I already have what I need...there is no need for something new. I need no new trick or trinket to help me loose this weight. I need no new focus, I just need to refocus. The Holy Spirit in me is all I need...waiting to guide me and help me. I just need to ask and be grateful, instead of mentally throwing a temper tantrum because I feel I deserve "something." I just haven't been asking ...trying to do it all on my own-the very downside of my personality that festers my codependency issues...trying to fix everything in my own strength. I don't need to be strong for this...I just need to turn to God. I think I have allowed Satan to get me so frustrated with this weight thing that ...I see that I'm not strong enough and then I cave and QUIT. Instead of realizing that the next step is not in the quitting, but turning to God. Hmmm...my "next step" should be turning to God first. Hmmmm...maybe I have this whole thing backwards. And this is where I need to stop and pray, and ask Him to fill me up, to direct my day, to change my attitude, and to purify my heart.

Lord, thank you for this little "ah ha" moment...even though it is nothing "BIG". Thank you for speaking to me and teaching me in small ways. I know you care about all of the little things in my life, and I am sorry that those sometime get in the way of the big picture. Help me to refocus my thoughts today. You know I have been battling negative thinking patterns. You did not create me to do that, help me to recognize and stop them in their tracks. Thank you for loving me enough to sit quietly with me and to whisper to me and for me to hear you. Now, just help me to be obedient. Help me to glorify you in all I do. Be with Michelle and Erin as well. As we start this new year, bless them...bless their families. Help us all to become women of moderation. Help us to live like the daughters you created us to be. Thank you for giving me the greatest sisterhood I've ever known. I love you, help me love you more. I do believe Father, but help my unbelief. I give you this day.