You know what? I am so tired of the gay marriage issue and how some Christians are handling it. I obviously have to come to grips with the fact that all believers are not going to see eye to eye on this. I have to accept that there are scriptures that mean one thing to me and something entirely different to someone else who also is truly a Christ-follower. That's a place in me that needs to mature, I will be honest about that. But still, even in light of that need, I am frustrated!
I'm frustrated because some Christians who feel like homosexuality is not a sin are so bitter towards Christians who DO believe it is a sin. It's like those of us who believe there is plenty of Biblical evidence to say homosexuality and same sex marriage is not cool with God (and therefore we feel led to take the stand when asked that it's not cool with us either) are horrible, embarrassing, backwoods brothers and sisters they'd like to forget are in the family. It's just crazy!
Look, none of us solely are the spokesmodels of Christianity. It would be nice if issues were that black and white and all Christians were a united front so that it was clear to the world what we believed. But that boat sailed about 10 minutes after Jesus went up to Heaven probably. I'm joking, but you probably get the drift. We are messed up people who have yet to fully embrace and interpret both the Word and the Spirit that dwells inside of us. Billy Graham is against gay marriage. DUH! The president of Chick-fil-A says their company is against gay marriage. GREAT! This doesn't mean Billy Graham spits on people he knows are gay and that doesn't mean Chick-fil-A won't hire gay people. These guys may be public Christians, but they are not the self-proclaimed Pope. We all have the right to our opinion about this matter, but it would be really nice if we could agree to disagree and stop acting like we KNOW what Jesus would say.
It's interesting to me that Christians who fall on both sides of this issue are BOTH wanting to protect the name of Christ. We are both wanting to make a statement on behalf of Jesus. I will always stand firm in my belief that homosexuality is a sin and a lifestyle that is deliberate sin against God, but I will listen with open ears when I get to Heaven and am told what I was supposed to believe. I can only do my best with the Word and the Spirit I live my life trying to get to know. I still will love and show kindness to people in my life who choose to sin, (it is His kindness that brings us to repentance!), just as people show love and kindness to me if I choose to sin for a season...but no one is doing me any favors by SAYING IT IS OKAY. Do not give me permission to do something just because my flesh (that I am told in God's word to crucify daily) wants to.
Lastly in my little rant I will implore believers to stop saying: "I personally don't think *such and such* is right, but whatever's right for you is fine." There are so many *such and suches* where that sentence is wonderful, hello freedom of choice...but not areas that are clear in Scripture! As a believer, IF YOU DO interpret the Word to say that something in particular is a sin, you certainly can't make people agree (and we need to be careful to not try to make everyone agree) but I don't think we should say it doesn't matter either. It DOES matter. We should be peacefully bringing forward truth and standing up for it, because there are reasons why God said what He said in His Word. I don't care if we LIKE IT or not. There are lots of things in the Bible that I kinda wish weren't in there...but I don't get to pick and choose.
As we agree to disagree, I hope that we'll at least agree on these things: to grow in our passion for God way more than our passion for our personal beliefs to be heard and affirmed...to love one another with the very love that Jesus gives us, which is an accepting but also challenging love...to pursue justice and equality for every human being on the planet, with no exceptions...and to grow in both knowledge and humility.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
A Little Health Encouragement Today
"THE LORD delights in the wellbeing of His servants." Ps. 35:27
Hey! So, I am really happy to say that I am feeling much better. I definitely feel my mind getting clearer, my sweets cravings calming down, my confidence and excitement about life coming back, and my body much more willing to get up and go!
Just had to share this praise, but also just to say if any of you are feeling fatigued a lot, foggy minded, stressed and gaining weight, I can pass on a few ideas that may help since I've been through this so much. Just a disclaimer, too: We are all at different places and sometimes our bodies just need a little TLC but sometimes there is a more serious underlying issue that is at work. What works for me may not always work for me, and may not ever work for you. I just know that it is possible to feel better and for many women that I know, including myself, it is a full time job to figure out how, implement the changes, measure the results, rinse and repeat! It can be so daunting, and requires perseverance beyond our own strength. Here are a few things you may not be taking time for, but can bring great results...
1) A daily time and space for communion with the Lord is a spiritual, emotional, and mental necessity for me. If it's 15 minutes or 1 hour, God knows what time we have and He is a master at making the most of it when we just COME! I think sometimes laying on my bed during my kids nap time and telling God everything on my heart, not just staying surface level but really letting myself talk to Him or journal it out, is true therapy. He is our Wonderful Counselor, and He wants to listen. After a few days of laying these concerns at His feet, down to the frustration about the ants in the kitchen, you might find yourself feeling like those things aren't bothering you anymore and the Holy Spirit will lead you to pray for others during this time. But either way, get past the surface prayers and connect with God every day. I am lost without this. I don't care what kind of personality you have, every branch dies without true connection to the Vine! Sometimes when I feel busy in my mind and heart and can't "dial down", I'll use the old A.C.T.S. to guide me. A=Adoration. C=Confession. T=Thanks. S=Supplication. A friend of mine once said to me, "We don't HAVE to spend this time with God, we GET to."
2) This may feel impossible, but laying down with eyes closed for 10-15 minutes every afternoon in your "tiredest" time of the day is very valuable. It calms down your parasympathetic nervous system and you will be able to fall asleep faster at night because you took the time to chill earlier in the day. You don't have to be alone to do this. Sometimes I lay on the piano bench and do this while the kids eat lunch. It may be a week before it makes a difference, but eventually it does. Taking time for moments of calm (especially if those moments can also be infused with truth, from God's Word, an encouraging book or song, or just hugs and snuggles with kids) is so important for our adrenal glands, which are constantly pumping out enough hormones to handle our craziness. Also, although it is sometimes not possible, my normal schedule is to be in bed between 10 and 10:30. There is something about getting in bed a couple hours before midnight that is healing to the adrenals. I've learned through this 2 week bout with tiredness that it really all boils down to good sleep for me. I'm a nut without it; I cannot trust a single thought that goes through my head if I am not rested...good to know! :)
3) Nutrition: There is so much to say here, but I'll keep it to the basics! We need protein every time we eat, I believe. Raw seeds and nuts such as almond or pumpkin seeds, milk, yogurt, cheese, granola, lean meats, fish, whey (for protein shakes)...these are all great and healthy sources and I feel best when I have a palm size portion of protein every 3 hours. Skipping my 3 pm snack is one of the reasons I have been feeling low lately. In the other palm every 3 hours should be a healthy carb, which can be a whole grain something (brown rice, wheat bun, etc.) or you can consider your fruit as your carb. In other blogs to come, I'm going to take pictures of my plate to give some ideas of these palm sized portion mini-meals. I think 5 to 10 servings of fruits/veggies a day is an absolute necessity and I also take Juice Plus, as do my kids. This is a whole food concentrate supplement that gives you 19 different types of organic fruits and veggies--the variety and amount is something we could never actually eat in a day, unless you juiced (I'm guessing) about $20 a day of organic produce. (I have a good friend who is a Juice Plus representative/wellness coach, and I would love to connect you to her. Please contact me if I can help you get started with JP+). We have to think of food as good quality fuel for our engine. What time of the day are you craving sweets? That is when you need a handful of a good quality protein and a good quality carb. I am so preaching to myself right now!!
4)The last thing I'm going to harp on is--well, I'll combine these two--Exercise and finding out what supplements you need. Exercise is a given, but you have to make sure you are not doing TOO much exercise. If you are a person struggling with fatigue, you need gentle exercise, not a Spinning class. You need to work your body daily to the point of feeling good, not feeling exhausted. Gotta give up on the crazy goal driven stuff, and just go for a nice walk! As for supplements, there is no way I could NOT believe in them because they are the number one reason why I have been among the land of the living for the past couple years. (Not to say I'd be dead, but just in bed!) My doctor took blood and found I was very deficient in several of the Vitamin B's, Vitamin D, and DHEA (an important hormone your adrenal glands produce). Yes, it takes time to get the right amounts and that can be so frustrating! But it's worth it. I wouldn't buy anything less than pharmaceutical grade, which you can find at vrp.com or you can try a couple different brands at health food stores, like Solaray. Because of my night time supplements, I take no sleeping meds and I haven't for 2 years (although before I made these changes, I was on Ambien and Trazodone, practically knocking myself unconscious every night to get some sleep!!) Here's my night time concoction: 100 mg of Phosphatidylerine, 3 mg of Melatonin, 200 mg of Magnesium. I have a sleep disorder that no doctor can help me with...at all...and this works! I wasn't taking my Vitamin B Complex because I had an allergic reaction to it (I guess it was the brand I was using) and I think that's one of the biggest reasons why I have felt so bad this past month. I am now on a Solaray brand B Complex, and I am positive that has brought my energy level back up. I hate to say it, but I am just not sure that we can get all our bodies need without supplements. I wish this wasn't true! I'm not a doctor or a scientist, but it seems that if I ate the recommended amount of organic foods to get all the Vitamin D, B, E, A, C, plus all the other amino acids and trace minerals, protein, calcium, (not to mention needing 200 mg of things only found in weird locations around the world) I would be eating literally be eating myself out of house and home! Plus, sadly, the soil and farming procedures are just not what they used to be. There are a precious few people still getting to "live off the land", and there's not enough for everyone. That doesn't mean give up, it just means if you are lacking something in your health, find out what it is and don't expect to get all you need (especially as we get older) from food.
I hope these things are helpful, and if you need any community around you to make these healthy daily choices, let me know either on this blog or on Facebook and we will journey together!!! I get in ruts where I don't invest wisely in my health (physical, spiritual, etc), and I need community, too.
Hey! So, I am really happy to say that I am feeling much better. I definitely feel my mind getting clearer, my sweets cravings calming down, my confidence and excitement about life coming back, and my body much more willing to get up and go!
Just had to share this praise, but also just to say if any of you are feeling fatigued a lot, foggy minded, stressed and gaining weight, I can pass on a few ideas that may help since I've been through this so much. Just a disclaimer, too: We are all at different places and sometimes our bodies just need a little TLC but sometimes there is a more serious underlying issue that is at work. What works for me may not always work for me, and may not ever work for you. I just know that it is possible to feel better and for many women that I know, including myself, it is a full time job to figure out how, implement the changes, measure the results, rinse and repeat! It can be so daunting, and requires perseverance beyond our own strength. Here are a few things you may not be taking time for, but can bring great results...
1) A daily time and space for communion with the Lord is a spiritual, emotional, and mental necessity for me. If it's 15 minutes or 1 hour, God knows what time we have and He is a master at making the most of it when we just COME! I think sometimes laying on my bed during my kids nap time and telling God everything on my heart, not just staying surface level but really letting myself talk to Him or journal it out, is true therapy. He is our Wonderful Counselor, and He wants to listen. After a few days of laying these concerns at His feet, down to the frustration about the ants in the kitchen, you might find yourself feeling like those things aren't bothering you anymore and the Holy Spirit will lead you to pray for others during this time. But either way, get past the surface prayers and connect with God every day. I am lost without this. I don't care what kind of personality you have, every branch dies without true connection to the Vine! Sometimes when I feel busy in my mind and heart and can't "dial down", I'll use the old A.C.T.S. to guide me. A=Adoration. C=Confession. T=Thanks. S=Supplication. A friend of mine once said to me, "We don't HAVE to spend this time with God, we GET to."
2) This may feel impossible, but laying down with eyes closed for 10-15 minutes every afternoon in your "tiredest" time of the day is very valuable. It calms down your parasympathetic nervous system and you will be able to fall asleep faster at night because you took the time to chill earlier in the day. You don't have to be alone to do this. Sometimes I lay on the piano bench and do this while the kids eat lunch. It may be a week before it makes a difference, but eventually it does. Taking time for moments of calm (especially if those moments can also be infused with truth, from God's Word, an encouraging book or song, or just hugs and snuggles with kids) is so important for our adrenal glands, which are constantly pumping out enough hormones to handle our craziness. Also, although it is sometimes not possible, my normal schedule is to be in bed between 10 and 10:30. There is something about getting in bed a couple hours before midnight that is healing to the adrenals. I've learned through this 2 week bout with tiredness that it really all boils down to good sleep for me. I'm a nut without it; I cannot trust a single thought that goes through my head if I am not rested...good to know! :)
3) Nutrition: There is so much to say here, but I'll keep it to the basics! We need protein every time we eat, I believe. Raw seeds and nuts such as almond or pumpkin seeds, milk, yogurt, cheese, granola, lean meats, fish, whey (for protein shakes)...these are all great and healthy sources and I feel best when I have a palm size portion of protein every 3 hours. Skipping my 3 pm snack is one of the reasons I have been feeling low lately. In the other palm every 3 hours should be a healthy carb, which can be a whole grain something (brown rice, wheat bun, etc.) or you can consider your fruit as your carb. In other blogs to come, I'm going to take pictures of my plate to give some ideas of these palm sized portion mini-meals. I think 5 to 10 servings of fruits/veggies a day is an absolute necessity and I also take Juice Plus, as do my kids. This is a whole food concentrate supplement that gives you 19 different types of organic fruits and veggies--the variety and amount is something we could never actually eat in a day, unless you juiced (I'm guessing) about $20 a day of organic produce. (I have a good friend who is a Juice Plus representative/wellness coach, and I would love to connect you to her. Please contact me if I can help you get started with JP+). We have to think of food as good quality fuel for our engine. What time of the day are you craving sweets? That is when you need a handful of a good quality protein and a good quality carb. I am so preaching to myself right now!!
4)The last thing I'm going to harp on is--well, I'll combine these two--Exercise and finding out what supplements you need. Exercise is a given, but you have to make sure you are not doing TOO much exercise. If you are a person struggling with fatigue, you need gentle exercise, not a Spinning class. You need to work your body daily to the point of feeling good, not feeling exhausted. Gotta give up on the crazy goal driven stuff, and just go for a nice walk! As for supplements, there is no way I could NOT believe in them because they are the number one reason why I have been among the land of the living for the past couple years. (Not to say I'd be dead, but just in bed!) My doctor took blood and found I was very deficient in several of the Vitamin B's, Vitamin D, and DHEA (an important hormone your adrenal glands produce). Yes, it takes time to get the right amounts and that can be so frustrating! But it's worth it. I wouldn't buy anything less than pharmaceutical grade, which you can find at vrp.com or you can try a couple different brands at health food stores, like Solaray. Because of my night time supplements, I take no sleeping meds and I haven't for 2 years (although before I made these changes, I was on Ambien and Trazodone, practically knocking myself unconscious every night to get some sleep!!) Here's my night time concoction: 100 mg of Phosphatidylerine, 3 mg of Melatonin, 200 mg of Magnesium. I have a sleep disorder that no doctor can help me with...at all...and this works! I wasn't taking my Vitamin B Complex because I had an allergic reaction to it (I guess it was the brand I was using) and I think that's one of the biggest reasons why I have felt so bad this past month. I am now on a Solaray brand B Complex, and I am positive that has brought my energy level back up. I hate to say it, but I am just not sure that we can get all our bodies need without supplements. I wish this wasn't true! I'm not a doctor or a scientist, but it seems that if I ate the recommended amount of organic foods to get all the Vitamin D, B, E, A, C, plus all the other amino acids and trace minerals, protein, calcium, (not to mention needing 200 mg of things only found in weird locations around the world) I would be eating literally be eating myself out of house and home! Plus, sadly, the soil and farming procedures are just not what they used to be. There are a precious few people still getting to "live off the land", and there's not enough for everyone. That doesn't mean give up, it just means if you are lacking something in your health, find out what it is and don't expect to get all you need (especially as we get older) from food.
I hope these things are helpful, and if you need any community around you to make these healthy daily choices, let me know either on this blog or on Facebook and we will journey together!!! I get in ruts where I don't invest wisely in my health (physical, spiritual, etc), and I need community, too.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Responsive Reading... "I Am"
You are beloved-
asked for by name, claimed
so you would always be where He is...
“I am His portion.”
You were rescued-
out of darkness, called
your enemy powerless once and for all...
“I am His treasure.”
You are chosen-
to enter His heart
and carry out pieces of it to the world...
“I am His prophet.”
You will suffer-
times of misunderstanding with Him
times of loss and even blindness
and you will remember in those times...
“I am not God.”
You will come out shining-
led through refining fires
praising Him in the ashes
living for the joy of seeing Him face on that day...
“I am His radiant Bride.”
You were created to worship-
to prefer, to prize, to adore
Him, above all others and all things...
“I am here to focus on Jesus and be changed in His presence.”
You were created for a real relationship with Almighty God.
You are the dream He created in the depths of His heart.
“I am His dream.”
Finding Freedom...
Yay! I am very glad to say that I am feeling a bit better this week! Still feeling "it", but it's not completely overwhelming. I have spent a good amount of time resting, journaling, and working through some things that were weighing on me.
I never know how much to share on blogs but since not a lot of people read this, I hope its okay to say...One of the things weighing on me was my feelings that I was just not cut out for or good enough to do my worship leading position at my church. I haven't done a week-in-week-out thing for so long. It's one thing to visit churches and sing and speak what God puts on my heart and then leave (they don't have to ask me back and I feel a freedom to just be myself)... and another to have a group of people stuck with me full-time. While they can trust I am singing and speaking what God puts on my heart, there's just a small part of this where me "not being their cup of tea" might matter...and it was really bothering me.
I've been praying through it, unpacking these feelings, asking for discernment and truth. And God is at work here. He actually gave me a whole list of truths to read each Sunday (to myself) to remind me of why I'm doing what I'm doing and Who is the one doing it! It was His choice to put me there, first of all; it was good to be reminded of that. That's kinda important. :) Here are the three main things He said I must do: Be myself, be connected to Jesus, and have fun! My job is to be a friend of the Bridegroom, spreading the word to the Bride that He is wanting us to be with Him where He is. That can be done in such a variety of ways...why worry so much about how it is being done, as long as it IS being done? I don't want to give into this thing of "worshipping worship." It's all about Jesus and turning our face to Him, our Refuge, our Oasis, the Love of our lives.
And so I decided to own this, to really own it. I'd rather totally give what I have to give as I walk in the Spirit, and be myself to the fullest, and go out on limbs using my gifts and ideas as I hear from the Lord, and be kicked to the curb...than to just play it safe and make my decisions based on what I think people will want. Yuck.
So the first thing I have done with my freedom is write a responsive reading that we are going to do at church on Sunday! I'm going to post it as the next blog, if you want to read. Thank you for praying for me, if you were led to. I don't know what the future holds, if I'll feel well or work or not, but I know that continuing to slow down, simplify, and live freely are part of it!
I never know how much to share on blogs but since not a lot of people read this, I hope its okay to say...One of the things weighing on me was my feelings that I was just not cut out for or good enough to do my worship leading position at my church. I haven't done a week-in-week-out thing for so long. It's one thing to visit churches and sing and speak what God puts on my heart and then leave (they don't have to ask me back and I feel a freedom to just be myself)... and another to have a group of people stuck with me full-time. While they can trust I am singing and speaking what God puts on my heart, there's just a small part of this where me "not being their cup of tea" might matter...and it was really bothering me.
I've been praying through it, unpacking these feelings, asking for discernment and truth. And God is at work here. He actually gave me a whole list of truths to read each Sunday (to myself) to remind me of why I'm doing what I'm doing and Who is the one doing it! It was His choice to put me there, first of all; it was good to be reminded of that. That's kinda important. :) Here are the three main things He said I must do: Be myself, be connected to Jesus, and have fun! My job is to be a friend of the Bridegroom, spreading the word to the Bride that He is wanting us to be with Him where He is. That can be done in such a variety of ways...why worry so much about how it is being done, as long as it IS being done? I don't want to give into this thing of "worshipping worship." It's all about Jesus and turning our face to Him, our Refuge, our Oasis, the Love of our lives.
And so I decided to own this, to really own it. I'd rather totally give what I have to give as I walk in the Spirit, and be myself to the fullest, and go out on limbs using my gifts and ideas as I hear from the Lord, and be kicked to the curb...than to just play it safe and make my decisions based on what I think people will want. Yuck.
So the first thing I have done with my freedom is write a responsive reading that we are going to do at church on Sunday! I'm going to post it as the next blog, if you want to read. Thank you for praying for me, if you were led to. I don't know what the future holds, if I'll feel well or work or not, but I know that continuing to slow down, simplify, and live freely are part of it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
