11/20/09
So I just got back from a walk. The first I have taken in a LONG time....I don't care to mention how long. It felt great! It's a beautiful autumn day here in North Carolina. The sun is shining, the smell of burning leaves is in the air and it is not too cold and not too warm, just right for a walk. I didn't go far, but I surpassed the goal I set for myself. My new goal is to be active every day. Take a walk, clean the house, work in the yard, just do something that gets me up and moving.
My friend Gary posted on FB today about procrastination. "Often a huge goal seems impossible to attain. We stand, immobilized, as we stare at it. However, a mighty mountain can be moved one shovel at a time." Today, I moved my first shovel-full of my mountain.
Thanks for all the support and love. Keep praying for me!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thanksgiving
November 14, 2009
So, Halloween is over...and suddenly, all the stores have their Christmas displays in full array. Trees, lights, wreaths, inflatable snowmen, and so much more abound. I must admit, I have started listening to Christmas music (yes, already) and switched out my "harvest" scented candles for "evergreen" and "mulberry" scents. I am even considering putting out a few Christmas decorations this weekend.
It seems, that in the midst of recovering from the sugar overload of Halloween and preparing for Christmas, we overlook Thanksgiving. I often feel that Thanksgiving is the "warm-up" for Christmas. We get together, eat, watch some football, complain we are full, take a nap, and then eat some more. But what about the true meaning of Thanksgiving? Christians everywhere fight to "keep the 'Christ' in Christmas". We spend time and effort trying to teach our children that Christmas is not all Santa Claus and presents, that we are to be celebrating the birth of our Savior. But how often to we reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving?
Most of us will come together with family and friends and I am sure many prayers of thanks will be said, at least to bless the food, on Thanksgiving day. Children will make turkeys and pilgrim hats out of construction paper, but do we consider our blessings this Thanksgiving season?
Philippians 4:6 says "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." What a beautiful promise. Perhaps, the Pilgrims were thinking of this very scripture hundreds of years ago when they first gathered together with the Indians to celebrate. They had plenty to be anxious about...a new land, disease, a cold winter ahead, and much more. They had sacrificed much to be able to worship in a manner they felt would please God. And yet, in this anxious and terrifying time, they took a moment to thank God for His blessings.
So here we sit this holiday season, worried about money, gifts, time off from work, health, and so on, and we seem to forget this promise of God. The promise of answered prayer. The promise of peace. The next verse in Philippians (4:7) goes on to say "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." What a wonderful gift! Anything you want or need, just go to God (with thanksgiving) and He will give you peace.
So this Thanksgiving season I pray that each of you will take the time to "make your requests be known unto God" and thank Him, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day, for the many blessings he bestows on us.
God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!
So, Halloween is over...and suddenly, all the stores have their Christmas displays in full array. Trees, lights, wreaths, inflatable snowmen, and so much more abound. I must admit, I have started listening to Christmas music (yes, already) and switched out my "harvest" scented candles for "evergreen" and "mulberry" scents. I am even considering putting out a few Christmas decorations this weekend.
It seems, that in the midst of recovering from the sugar overload of Halloween and preparing for Christmas, we overlook Thanksgiving. I often feel that Thanksgiving is the "warm-up" for Christmas. We get together, eat, watch some football, complain we are full, take a nap, and then eat some more. But what about the true meaning of Thanksgiving? Christians everywhere fight to "keep the 'Christ' in Christmas". We spend time and effort trying to teach our children that Christmas is not all Santa Claus and presents, that we are to be celebrating the birth of our Savior. But how often to we reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving?
Most of us will come together with family and friends and I am sure many prayers of thanks will be said, at least to bless the food, on Thanksgiving day. Children will make turkeys and pilgrim hats out of construction paper, but do we consider our blessings this Thanksgiving season?
Philippians 4:6 says "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." What a beautiful promise. Perhaps, the Pilgrims were thinking of this very scripture hundreds of years ago when they first gathered together with the Indians to celebrate. They had plenty to be anxious about...a new land, disease, a cold winter ahead, and much more. They had sacrificed much to be able to worship in a manner they felt would please God. And yet, in this anxious and terrifying time, they took a moment to thank God for His blessings.
So here we sit this holiday season, worried about money, gifts, time off from work, health, and so on, and we seem to forget this promise of God. The promise of answered prayer. The promise of peace. The next verse in Philippians (4:7) goes on to say "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." What a wonderful gift! Anything you want or need, just go to God (with thanksgiving) and He will give you peace.
So this Thanksgiving season I pray that each of you will take the time to "make your requests be known unto God" and thank Him, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day, for the many blessings he bestows on us.
God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Choices
November 11, 1009
So, I had 1 good day this week and 1 bad day...at least with respect to my goal of eating healthier.
Monday I did GREAT, granola bar for breakfast, only 1 diet soda, drank lots of water. I even took my lunch and snacks to work, apple, string cheese and a sandwich. Ate a healthy,
homemade dinner with my family cooked by my wonderful mother-in-law.
Today...not so great. Chicken biscuit for breakfast, then a Whopper for lunch. Ugh. Dinner was good, roast beef, cabbage (okay, fried that in bacon fat), and corn. But I have GOT to get this Halloween candy out of my house! I just a 2 Snickers and a 3-Musketeers.
So tomorrow is another day, right. Especially since I have a doctor's appointment....my first since we moved to NC almost a year ago. So I am determined to lay it all out on the table with this new doctor and see if there is anything he can do to help me with my goal of getting healthy. All I can do is take it day-by-day....maybe even bite-by-bite and pray that God gives me the ability and will-power to make healthy choices.
Next goal....exercise. hmmmmmm.....
So, I had 1 good day this week and 1 bad day...at least with respect to my goal of eating healthier.
Monday I did GREAT, granola bar for breakfast, only 1 diet soda, drank lots of water. I even took my lunch and snacks to work, apple, string cheese and a sandwich. Ate a healthy,
homemade dinner with my family cooked by my wonderful mother-in-law.
Today...not so great. Chicken biscuit for breakfast, then a Whopper for lunch. Ugh. Dinner was good, roast beef, cabbage (okay, fried that in bacon fat), and corn. But I have GOT to get this Halloween candy out of my house! I just a 2 Snickers and a 3-Musketeers.
So tomorrow is another day, right. Especially since I have a doctor's appointment....my first since we moved to NC almost a year ago. So I am determined to lay it all out on the table with this new doctor and see if there is anything he can do to help me with my goal of getting healthy. All I can do is take it day-by-day....maybe even bite-by-bite and pray that God gives me the ability and will-power to make healthy choices.
Next goal....exercise. hmmmmmm.....
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Submission
November 8, 2009
Submission is not a word most like to apply to themselves. Society has taught us to be independent, submit to no one. But God would have us do the opposite. Submission is a common theme throughout the Bible, especially when reference is made to familial relationships.
Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:22 "Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord" (any feminists out there may want to stop reading now!). Peter takes it one step further and admonishes "Wives, likewise be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1). So obedience and submission to our husbands is not only for those equally yoked, but can be a ministry of women whose husbands have not accepted Christ. What a blessing from God, that we, as wives and mothers, can be a shining example of His love so that our husbands and children will come to know Him as well.
Don't get me wrong, I don't always like this whole "submission" thing! It is hard sometimes, especially when I know I am right! But God doesn't say "submit sometimes" or "submit when your husband is right and honorable and easy to get along with". He tasks us with submitting ALL the time, in ALL areas of our marriage.
This submissive relationship between a husband and wife is reflective of the relationship between Christ and His people. As Christians, we are called to be submissive, servants unto God and one another. By having a servant's heart towards one another, both husband and wife, we can teach our children to have that same attitude towards Christ and one another.
We often teach children the "Golden Rule", but how often do we live it? We desire and expect our children to put others first, but how often do we put others first? Submission is not a "sometimes" thing, namely because our children are watching us ALL THE TIME! They see everything we do and they learn from us...so if we are only submissive when it suits our purpose, they will be also. When we only put others before ourselves when it is convenient or makes us look good, they will also.
I am certainly challenged with submission and desire to have a servant's heart in all that I say and do. I pray that God continues to work with me in this aspect so that I am a good example to my children.
Love & Prayers!
Submission is not a word most like to apply to themselves. Society has taught us to be independent, submit to no one. But God would have us do the opposite. Submission is a common theme throughout the Bible, especially when reference is made to familial relationships.
Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:22 "Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord" (any feminists out there may want to stop reading now!). Peter takes it one step further and admonishes "Wives, likewise be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1). So obedience and submission to our husbands is not only for those equally yoked, but can be a ministry of women whose husbands have not accepted Christ. What a blessing from God, that we, as wives and mothers, can be a shining example of His love so that our husbands and children will come to know Him as well.
Don't get me wrong, I don't always like this whole "submission" thing! It is hard sometimes, especially when I know I am right! But God doesn't say "submit sometimes" or "submit when your husband is right and honorable and easy to get along with". He tasks us with submitting ALL the time, in ALL areas of our marriage.
This submissive relationship between a husband and wife is reflective of the relationship between Christ and His people. As Christians, we are called to be submissive, servants unto God and one another. By having a servant's heart towards one another, both husband and wife, we can teach our children to have that same attitude towards Christ and one another.
We often teach children the "Golden Rule", but how often do we live it? We desire and expect our children to put others first, but how often do we put others first? Submission is not a "sometimes" thing, namely because our children are watching us ALL THE TIME! They see everything we do and they learn from us...so if we are only submissive when it suits our purpose, they will be also. When we only put others before ourselves when it is convenient or makes us look good, they will also.
I am certainly challenged with submission and desire to have a servant's heart in all that I say and do. I pray that God continues to work with me in this aspect so that I am a good example to my children.
Love & Prayers!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Split Personalities
November 4, 2009
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
I sometimes feel like I have a split personality...or maybe several personalities. There is Meridath the "corporate consultant", Meridath the "wife & mother", and a few more I am sure. I came to this realization about a year ago. I noticed that I would dress and prepare differently depending upon what I was doing and who I would be with. Now...I know, everyone dresses differently based on what they are doing, but sometimes you have to look at the motivation behind how you dress and what you wear. Also, how you act and speak when you are in one situation versus another. What is the motivation behind your dress, speech, and actions?
I have been challenged this year to not be a different person at work than I am at church or home....and boy is that a challenge! It is difficult to be "in" this world, but not "of" it. But that is exactly what God challenges us to do, and expects us to do. I have to think of who I really want to be and who I want people to see...if I am embarrassed or ashamed of how I am behaving in a certain situation, then I try to decide, am I the problem, or is the situation the problem? Sometimes I have found that I act or dress a certain way because I don't think the people I am with will accept the "real" me...so that is my problem. But sometimes, God shows me that if the people I am with would not like how I dress or act when I am at home or church, then maybe I should not be spending so much time with them.
The truth of the matter is that I have spent my entire life trying to fit in...and frequently failing. It has taken me 31 years to realize that the only one I need concern myself with pleasing is God, and if I behave and dress in a manner pleasing to Him, the rest will follow. That doesn't mean that I will always "fit in", I think God sometimes gives us that feeling of social discomfort as a warning. But I will always have a place in His kingdom, and that is the ONLY thing that matters.
Love, prayers & blessings to all!
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
I sometimes feel like I have a split personality...or maybe several personalities. There is Meridath the "corporate consultant", Meridath the "wife & mother", and a few more I am sure. I came to this realization about a year ago. I noticed that I would dress and prepare differently depending upon what I was doing and who I would be with. Now...I know, everyone dresses differently based on what they are doing, but sometimes you have to look at the motivation behind how you dress and what you wear. Also, how you act and speak when you are in one situation versus another. What is the motivation behind your dress, speech, and actions?
I have been challenged this year to not be a different person at work than I am at church or home....and boy is that a challenge! It is difficult to be "in" this world, but not "of" it. But that is exactly what God challenges us to do, and expects us to do. I have to think of who I really want to be and who I want people to see...if I am embarrassed or ashamed of how I am behaving in a certain situation, then I try to decide, am I the problem, or is the situation the problem? Sometimes I have found that I act or dress a certain way because I don't think the people I am with will accept the "real" me...so that is my problem. But sometimes, God shows me that if the people I am with would not like how I dress or act when I am at home or church, then maybe I should not be spending so much time with them.
The truth of the matter is that I have spent my entire life trying to fit in...and frequently failing. It has taken me 31 years to realize that the only one I need concern myself with pleasing is God, and if I behave and dress in a manner pleasing to Him, the rest will follow. That doesn't mean that I will always "fit in", I think God sometimes gives us that feeling of social discomfort as a warning. But I will always have a place in His kingdom, and that is the ONLY thing that matters.
Love, prayers & blessings to all!
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