Day 14 of 30- Relaxation

I am thankful for:

Relaxation!

In today's society, we are encourage to go, go, go...and do, do, do...and work, work, work! I am thankful that God encourages us to relax...to take a day of rest!

All of my close friends know that I take the above "signature shot" when I am truly and completely relaxed. This one happens to be my very favorite one of all because it was taken in one of my very favorite places in the world...The Mariposa hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Be still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God"~~Psalms 46:10

A little over a year ago, I felt God speaking to me...asking me to be still! I felt that He had a specific plan for how this was to look. It didn't "sound" right to me. It didn't fit into "my plan".

However, here I am...at the place that He wanted me to be...with His plan complete. I am in awe of His power, His glory, His grace, and His mercy because I didn't make this easy. I was disobedient...argumentative...bargaining...and at times, down right bratty! I am exactly where he wants me!

What is different now than before is that I am not hearing what His plan is from here. I just keep hearing "Be Still". For a "Human Do-er" like me, it's hard just to be a "Human Be-ing". I don't listen well...I find something else to do...I run! So now I am nursing a foot injury...I have no choice...

...I don't do well sitting in quietness...in stillness!

I guess His plan is BE STILL...know that I am God...

...I am still curious to see how this plays out!!!

Forward or backwards...which do you want?

I was talking to a friend today and she made a statement that I have been considering all day long.

It was: "Nothing ever stays where it is because you have to either move forward or backwards".

As much as I know this to be true, it kinda makes me sad. Oftentimes when we go through a particularly rough time in our life, we come to a comfortable, peaceful place. When this happens, I want to stay here...FOREVER! I want to bask in the serenity of this place. For once, I want to live in the moment!

However, I know that it won't last forever. I know that God will give me another challenge to suffer through and grow. I know that I will be in a "desert season" again. God doesn't want us to get stagnant in our journey. He wants us to grow.

I also know that if I choose not to move forward and grow, then I am really moving backwards. Who wants to go backwards? Back to learn tough lessons AGAIN, back to open old wounds AGAIN, back to yesterday...

Not me! I also realize that if I move backwards, and everyone around me is moving forward, then I am going to get left behind. I DEFINITELY don't want that!

So, I will enjoy this moment...this time of peace and serenity...because I know that change is a coming!!!

Less of Me

So, first, I want to say that I am starting this couponing thingy and I am soooo excited. We had our first grocery store coupon trip today. I saved $10. Now, I know that's not a lot but it's a start. I have been reading up on the Internet today about it. I will share what I learn as I get the hang of it. I am learning that I can save up to 75% on groceries if I do it right. More to come on that later.

This morning I was cleaning the house before church. As I was cleaning, I was letting my mind wander to random thoughts. The one that I finally stuck on was that I wish that I could be a little less of me sometimes. I have a very strong personality. I have often thought that I wish that I could be less of me and more of what God wants me to be. I meet women who appear to have this peace and serenity about them. It's almost a calming effect, and it makes you crave time with them. Like, if you spend enough time with them, that whatever they "have" will rub off on you. Then, we went to church. The last song of service was a Jeremy Camp song called Empty Me. Below is the chorus to the song:

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.

Hmmm...do you think someone was talking to me this morning???

Stillness

I realized today that the only time I have stillness in my life and in my mind is when I am sleeping. One of my "wishes" this year was to start each day with prayer and meditation. Hmmmm...apparently I am failing on this one.

Everyone has internal dialogue. Often I wonder if the chitter-chatter in everyone else's head is as busy as mine. I can carry on an entire conversation inside my head without actually saying a word. Sometimes the dialogue is positive, comforting, and peaceful. Sometimes not so much! But...I am working on it. Remember, one of my wishes is being more positive.

Above all, I need stillness in my life. That relaxing, quiet time for nothingness. I have realized that I am a human "do-er". I want to learn how to just be a human "be-ing". Time to just "be" is what I yearn for. I want to have time to actually hear my thoughts, have time to listen to what God has planned for me, or time to listen to nature.

Now, where is that volume button to silence all of those voices in my head?