Getting In Shape

I just had to let you all know about my new exercise program!

I'm getting the best cardiac workout of my life these days!

And it takes such little effort...you might want to check it out.

Each day I do one or more of the following exercises, sometimes more than once:

1) Jump to conclusions

2) Jump through hoops

3) Carry a grudge (this one really gets your heart pumping, because they vary so much in weight, but all are pretty heavy!)

4) Twist in the wind--usually follows #1, but can be done all by itself

5) And my personal favorite---Bending over backwards

Now, hopefully you know by now that this is tongue in cheek, but seriously, these things will give you a good cardiac workout. Just not the one recommended by the American Heart Association!

Think about it...anger, stress, frustration, anxiety, fear...they all cause our hearts to race and our blood to pound, subjecting our body to forces we were not meant to endure.

All because we have to be in control, or we let someone else control us. So, even though my workout is effective, it isn't productive.

I think I might try something a little easier...

Like leaning on the Everlasting Arms...whaddaya think??

Be blessed, and be a blessing!
Deena

P.S. Could someone help me with my budget? I'm always borrowing trouble............

Tell Me The Truth

"Sometimes, when I say "I'm fine", I want someone to look me in the eye and say, "Tell me the truth."

I read that quote on someone else's blog (thanks sweetie!)

Here's my question: do we, as believers, ask people how they are and then move on so quickly we never really know? Do we look them in the eye to see through to their souls?

And before you say, "Oh, that's impossible!", let me tell you about this sweet lady in our church. Every week, she hugs me tightly, asks me how my week went, and then pulls back a little, looks me in the eye, and then tells me what I was reluctant to share out loud.

She pretty much nails me every time. And you know what? I love her for it! She gives me the freedom to be me, and that is a rare, rare gift, my friends, especially for someone in ministry. Too often we are tempted, sometimes forced, to hide our hurting, bruised or bleedings selves for the sake of "the church" or "the ministry", or so we won't cause someone to stumble.

In the meantime, we suffer alone in silence, and we become weak and unable to defend ourselves against attacks from the enemy. Praise God for those people in the body of Christ who look us in the eye and say, "Tell me the truth" in love and compassion. That takes guts. It's taking a risk. It's sticking your neck out and taking a chance on getting it chopped off. And sometimes, honestly, you get more than you bargain for with some people:-)

But, to someone like me who has a difficult time sharing, it's a lifeline. And as believers, we of all people should be the ones looking people in the eye and finding out how they "really" are. This life is short. Eternity is coming for everyone. The world needs to know we genuinely care...they are looking for someone to really, really care.

And the church is hurting. We've played pretend for so long, some of us don't know what it means to share our burdens. People ask us and we automatically do our best Jack Nicholson impression : "You can't HANDLE the truth!" A good long look in the eye would probably help out a lot! So....

What do you say on this topic? Come on, share....

Be blessed, and be a blessing!
Deena

P.S. If you like what you read here, check out my personal blog at
http://blog.myspace.com/in_a_daze_today
Come on...you know you wanna!!!

Another discussion starter...

Once you've had a chance to answer the posted questions below, consider this: "I've always dreamed of being much more than I am." This is the opening line of chapter one in our book.

What "more" have you dreamed of becoming? Where do you feel the lack in your life?

For me, it's complicated...again, no surprise there for those who know me!! I long to be more diligent, more of a housekeeper, and more of a patient mom. I've always dreamed of being a more spiritual example of a child of God.

But I'm cranky and moody. I doubt and I struggle to trust God's best for my life. I'm short-tempered at times and I hate waiting for things. I love God's Word, but get so easily distracted by other things, and the next thing I know I've forgotten to read the Word the last two days!!

Still, I've had many, many Godly friends tell me that we are all works in progress...the key is progress! We move forward, one step at a time...sometimes progress is slow. So slow we miss it if we blink! But then one day we look at where we were, and where we are now, and we are amazed at what God has done in our lives!!

I've greatly changed in just the last 5 years in my faith, thanks to some very dear Sisters in Christ (you know who you are:-). We need one another, to keep us making progress, to support us when we falter, and to give us those nudges down life's path to God's perfection in our lives.

Wow, that was long-winded!! Now, it's your turn...tell me what you think. Go back and re-read the question, since I took so long...I'll wait here for you:-)

Be blessed, my dear sisters, and be a blessing to someone...you never know how God will use you!!

Stumbling Blocks, Be Gone!!

Today was a wonderful day. I spent it with my oldest sister. We shopped, we gabbed, we ate lunch, we gabbed, we laughed, we shared our hearts, and we split sweet rolls from Costco!
So, why am I sharing all of this?
Because I never really knew my sister until 5 months ago. Oh, I knew her name, where she lived, who she was married (or not) to, her kids, where she worked, where she went to church...all of the basic know about someone stuff when you're related.
But I never really "knew" her. And she never really knew me. We grew up separated by 16 years, a lot of family skeletons that were "not discussed", and a lot more baggage with a capital B.
What changed all of that?
Our mom died.
And now, we spend time together. Before, we spent time with Mom, and most of it was her and Mom and then me and Mom. Rarely was it the three of us. It would take too long to explain it all, and it really isn't important.
What is important is this: we have worked together as a team to remove all the stumbling blocks to our relationship as sisters and as sisters in Christ. We have covenanted together to spend a sister's day out once a month, just hanging out together. We have committed to call and check on one another, to be honest with one another, and that anything goes with questions, answers, and challenges, as long as all is done in love.
What makes me sad is it took losing our mom before we realized what we were allowing life to do to us. We never really walked in victory, apart or together. We never reached across the divide that was our family. And we even lived in the same town for most of our lives, yet never spent time together alone, as sisters.
So...who are you longing to get to know? What is in your way? What holds you back? What will have to happen before you step out in faith, trust God for the best and see what can happen?
Don't wait until someone dies before it happens. Don't wait for tragedy to strike. Don't let the forces of life's struggles force the issue. Don't wait.
Reach out. In love. In prayer. In humility. In faith.
You never know what you will find. You just might find your new best friend...
I know I did. I just wish Mom could have experienced it with us...but she knows:-)
Be blessed, and be a blessing...especially where it isn't expected!!
Deena
P.S. In case you were wondering...you can have more than one best friend in life...I know, I have several...it's in the handbook, trust me!!