What I Learned This Week: Edition #5

                         

I've learned a few things this week....

* I really love Dannon Light 'N Fit yogurt.  When we were without a fridge for days, it was the one thing I think I missed the most.  Even more than cheese.

* Prayer is essential in the seemingly not-so-important things in my life - even maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  I can't believe the difference in my self-discipline since committing this area of my life to the Lord.  I know without a doubt that it's a result of prayer.

*  I can say no to food temptation and live to tell about it.  LOL!

*  Walking on the treadmill for 40 minutes is exhausting, if you're still trying to get back into exercising after a months-long break.  You might even need a nap when you're done.

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Now join Jo-Lynne and her blogging friends over at Musings of a Housewife to see what everyone else has learned this week. 

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An Unusual Week

It's not often I have much to say on Sundays, but I thought I'd give you an idea of what's been happening in my life because it's been a highly unusual week....

First things first, I now have cold yogurt, milk, juice, cheese, and pop in my new refrigerator.  Hallelujah!  The other night my Facebook status said "drinking a warm Vanilla Coke Zero," and a few friends expressed they thought that warm pop would taste awful.  Well, when you've got a hankerin' for Vanilla Coke Zero, you do whatcha gotta do.  I'm so glad we have ice cubes again, though.

Next, in order of importance, is my progress in First Place.  I haven't really talked about it, but two weeks ago I re-committed myself to the program and had an attitude adjustment.  God has helped me immensely since that decision, and I know it's because I have tried a whole new tactic in this weight-loss/healthy way of life.  It's called prayer.  Who knew?  A Christian who prays for self-discipline and help in temptation... what a concept!  And the Lord is working in all sorts of ways because of  it.  I'm very excited!

In conjunction with my health focus, I have become reacquainted with my treadmill.  Aren't you proud of me?  I've even gone so far as to walk not 20, not 30, but 40 whole minutes on both Friday and Saturday.  (Who am I?) 

Moving on... We've had our missions conference at church going since Wednesday, and it's been terrific.  We have had some excellent sermons and presentations by some very dear and godly people.  I'm not sure if our church will be able to take on support for more missionaries, but when you hear about their ministries, you wish you could support all of them. 

Well, that's my week in a nutshell.  It's been full and challenging.  Wonder what this week will be like?

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Then Sings My Soul: "Call On Jesus"

My selection today is a song I enjoy playing when I really need a faith boost, which means I play it frequently.  This life is hard, and I need to be reminded all the time that God is always there, ready to pour out His grace for my trial and temptations.  I'm so quick to forget. 

My favorite lines in Nicole C. Mullen's song, Call On Jesus, are...

Sometimes I'm hiding away

From the madness around me

Like a child who's afraid of the dark.

But when I call on Jesus

All things are possible.

I can mount on wings like eagles and soar.

I often feel like hiding.  Life doesn't make sense to me much of the time.  At times it feels like the world has spun off course, and I'm not sure I can hang on any longer.  Life hurts.  But this song reminds me that Jesus is there, and He's just waiting for me to call on Him to rescue me from despair, discouragement and giving up in the battle.

So today, enjoy one of my favorite songs... Call On Jesus.

For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday, click on over to Amy's blog.

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Refrigeration. It's a Good Thing.

You may not care, but this is probably the most Aaaaaah moment of my day, which I can't help but share. 

I just ate one of these....

And drank a COOOOOLD one of these....

It's been days since I had a cold drink of anything.  Thank you, Lord, for my new refrigerator.

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Learning The Secret

Things have gotten kind of tricky here at home, especially since I'm fond of cold cheese, cold yogurt, cold milk in my cereal, cold juice, and meat that is safe to eat.  Here's the trouble.  I noticed the other night that our ice cubes seemed a little too wet, although they were solid.  The next night I went to get an ice cream treat and found they had all melted to one side.  Not a good sign!

So we turned the temperature dial in the fridge to the coldest setting to see what would happen.  Know what happened?  Nothing happened.  The ice is getting meltier, and my yogurt is barely cold.  Can you believe I just went grocery shopping yesterday?  I can't even think about all that yogurt I stocked up on without groaning a little.

It's an old fridge.  I don't know how old, but it's old enough.  I'm ready to replace it.  And FAST.  That's just not going to happen today, though.

I was so frustrated this morning when I realized I could not eat yogurt or cereal for breakfast or use anything else that was in my fridge.  Part of that frustration came about because I've been so committed to sticking with my First Place diet perameters and have been doing well, but if I couldn't have my normal breakfast, it really threw a wrench into the works for me.  I also knew I would be starving the whole morning, and I could only imagine the monster that I would surely transform into when hunger set in.

So I was working through all that in my head and my heart and decided to take the dog outside while I figured something out.  Guess what verse popped into my head at that moment.  It was my memory verse for this week...

In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4:12b-13 (NASB)

Pretty amazing, huh?  I decided the best I could do was eat a banana and drink some water.  God would have to help me learn the secret of going hungry this morning.  It was obviously His will for me today. 

You  know what?  As I spent the morning at the office, I did get hungry by 9:00, but I never became ravenous or felt like I had to raid the toddler room for cookies.  That could only be God's doing.  I know myself, and that wasn't me.

So I'm learning.

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Was It Something I Said?

I use Feedburner to burn my feed.  I have no idea what exactly that means, but all the bloggers do it.  So I do it, too.  All I understand is that it's supposed to be helpful and to keep your readers with you if you should happen to move your blog to a different spot.

Well, I've never understood how the service works.  When it says that I have 26 subscribers, are they actual, real-live subscribers?  Or are some of the "subscribers" search engines or something that happened to grab my feed?  If there's anyone out there who can shed light on this topic, please talk to me.  The reason I ask is because my numbers go up and down so strangely.  Are people really subscribing and unsubscribing that frequently?  How do I go from 26 to 22 and then down to 15?  FIFTEEN?!?  And here I was getting so excited because I thought I might reach the big 3-0 soon.

Was it something I said?

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"Indescribable"

This is my first time participating in Then Sings My Soul Saturdays.  I have a lot of favorite songs, and many of them I have had opportunity to sing at church as special music with my friend Judy.

Today's entry is a particular favorite because all the lyrics are words to describe the Lord found in scripture.  The words and music of this song, Indescribable, were written by James MacDonald, and he included scripture references for every description given in the song.  It's powerful.

My favorite lyrics are toward the end of the song where it describes Christ as He is seen in the book of Revelation.  It builds to a climax, and it gives me goosebumps every single time.  As we sing, you will recognize the words in this passage...

     His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

(Revelation 19:12-16 NKJV)

For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday entries, visit Amy's blog.

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Friday Randomness: I'm Healed

It's a good thing I went over and read Andrea's (Under Grace & Over Coffee) post today.  She was talking about her runner's knee injury and some other pain she's having, and something dawned on me, all-of-a-sudden like.

My wrist doesn't hurt anymore!

For about 2 months I had been feeling a pain in my wrist when I'd put pressure on my hand, like when I'd get in the car and press my hand on the seat to help shimmy myself over into the seat squarely.  It hurt every time but only when I put pressure on it.  It had started hurting even worse after a month, and I was sure I was going to have to see a doctor or do something about it.

But just now after reading her blog and being reminded of that pain, I put pressure on it and felt nothing.  So when did it stop hurting?  I don't even remember the last time it hurt.  Believe me, I had tried bending my hand back and forth, turning it this way and that, really putting pressure on it, but it just wouldn't budge.  It felt like it needed to be cracked but wouldn't crack.  And now?  No pain!

Well, isn't that just somethin'.

Hey, do me a favor.  Go over to Andrea's blog and check out some other Friday Randomness.  She's real nice and will be happy to see you.

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Just Do It

I just finished 20 minutes of walking on the treadmill, and I think I'm getting back in my stride.  I think I'll be bumping it up to 30 minutes the next time.  Thank goodness my body is responding to activity.

The comments I received on Tuesday seemed to be varied.  I had a few that thought I sounded motivated and encouraged me to stick with it.  Some readers felt de-motivated, which wasn't the direction I intended to sway you, and still others were even inspired to get their bodies active again.  I can't believe I did all that with just a post.

Here's the moral of the story.  If you are currently active in some sort of exercise, DON'T STOP.  If you want to get back into exercise after a prolonged break because you know it's good for your body, DO IT.  Just know that it's going to hurt the first few times, but your body will acclimate to it again.  Aren't the results worth it in the end?

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What I Learned This Week: Edition #4

Did you know that if you choose not to exercise for... oh... 5 months, it's going to hurt when you decide it's finally time to exercise again?  Yeah.  I bet you didn't know that.

I hopped on my treadmill Saturday to walk for 10 minutes, knowing this was going to be a process.  (Remember now, I used to run.  So this is definitely going to be a process.)  After 10 minutes was up, I knew I could push it to another 10 minutes and continued on.  My hip joints were sore later.

Yesterday's walk on the treadmill was even worse.  I set the timer for 20 minutes, and it was a hard 20 minutes.  I felt the burn, baby!  When I got off I felt like I used to feel after a run. 

Aw, man!  This is not good!

I was so exhausted last night I went to bed early.  Early like 8:45, when I usually go to bed about 10:30 or 11:00.  Yes, that early.  I guess that could be a good thing, though.  Getting lots of rest is probably good for a body.  Right?

So I've learned two things from this experience:

1. It's high time I whip this body into shape.
2. It's painful to whip your body back into shape, especially when you know what you used to be capable of doing.

(Now I'm wondering about my golf swing.  I never touched a club last summer.  Aiy-aiy-aiy!  Guess it's a rebuilding year for Liz.)

As always, you can check out Jo-Lynne's blog for more What I Learned This Week entries.

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Friday Randomness: Some Thoughts

Is it Friday Randomness today?  Oh good!  Because this is going to be a totally random post.  I know I'm posting it really late, but better late than never.

Just a few thoughts going through my little head...

1.  Why do I love, love, love going to the library, checking out a book, and then I let it sit here on my end table without reading a word of it?  It makes no sense to the bibliophile within me.

2.  Why is it that I hate change so much, yet I can't stand my blog's design for more than 2 months at a time?  I've been browsing for a new design again, although I haven't found one that I like yet.  Such a paradox.  I'm fickle yet committed.

3.  We ordered Chinese takeout for dinner tonight.  Why would they change their menu listing Teriyaki Chicken to calling it Chicken on Sticks?  Really?  Chicken on Sticks?  If it's Teriyaki Chicken, then why don't they call it that?

4.  Will I ever learn that I can't lift heavy objects anymore?  I have neck and shoulder issues, and you'd think I'd finally get a clue and ask for help.  Nope.  Not Liz.  She thinks she can just do everything by herself.  Today it was a big shipment of books that arrived at the church.  Thought I could just carry those babies into the office if I lifted with my lower body strength.  WHAT lower body strength?!?  Wise up, girlfriend!

5.  I'm blog-happy.  I've enjoyed having new people come by the last couple weeks and finding myself some new blogs to read.  If you're new here, I'm glad to have ya.

6.  I received my new MacArthur NASB study Bible today.  (It was in the box of heavy books from thought #4 above.)  It's pretty, and I'm looking forward to getting to know it.

7.  First Place and weighing-in is tomorrow morning.  Ooooh, let's not talk about it.

And this officially concludes my randomness for today.  Not enough for ya?  Click on over to Under Grace and Over Coffee for another serving of Friday Randomness.

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Maybe Twitter Really IS My Thing After All

I'm totally thrilled because I feel like I've made the "big time."  I got mentioned on the ever-popular blog Musings of a Housewife today just because of Twitter (which is ironic, if you ask me).  It's really quite a funny story, but it's Jo-Lynne's to tell.  Would you go take a look?  C'mon.  You know you want to.

By the way, I'm the one called @discoveringliz.  You know... in case you wouldn't figure that out. 

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Into Those Facebook Lists?

If you're on Facebook, you may have participated in one of those notes you're supposed to post about yourself and then tag 25 friends, passing on the Facebook notes annoyance love.  So if you're one of those people, you will totally get a kick out of this video.  It's hilarious! 

25 THINGS I HATE ABOUT FACEBOOK

I think my biggest Facebook annoyance is that when you do comment on somebody's stuff, you get email notifications every time another person comments, as well.  Sometimes I want to read the comments, but other times I don't care.

I agree with this guy about the ad bar, too.  Some of them are gross to look at.

So leave me a comment and tell me which of these is your biggest Facebook annoyance.  And hey, if you're not on Facebook yet, this might just be the thing that will keep you from joining.  Yes, you should run away while you still can.  Run far, far away.

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Take Up Your Cross Daily

I have just, within the last hour, finished reading Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor.  It's a compilation put together of various authors, written on the subject of suffering.  I have loved reading this book, albeit there were some hard things to wade through.  It was excellent, just the same. 

I am thankful that they seemed to put into words what I believe about God's view of suffering and His purposes for it in my life, as I was just unable to verbalize it myself in any meaningful way.  The Lord also confirmed some things for me as far as understanding His ultimate plan of redemption and how He has done everything from the beginning of time to demonstrate His grace to the praise of His glory.

The icing on the cake for me, if we can call it that, was the final chapter titled Hope...the Best of Things, written by Joni Eareckson Tada.  If you know of Joni, you are familiar with her story of becoming a quadriplegic as a young woman because of a diving accident.  She has learned through adversity what it is to cling to hope through a lifetime of utter dependence upon God.

By the end of the chapter I was weeping, blown away by the way she has chosen to take up her cross daily and knowing my own miserable failures at rejecting my own cross.  Are you familiar with the Bible verse? 

Then He [Jesus] said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  (Luke 9:23 NKJV)

"Taking up my cross" was always one of those phrases in the Bible that I didn't really "get."  Finally, it all clicked one day for me in a Bible study a few years ago.  I like how Joni explains it, and I was happy to find that DesiringGod.org has the book available online so I can share it with you here.  This is what she says....

     Please know that when I take up my cross every day I am not talking about my wheelchair. My wheelchair is not my cross to bear. Neither is your cane or walker your cross. Neither is your dead-end job or your irksome in-laws. Your cross to bear is not your migraine headaches, not your sinus infection, not your stiff joints.  That is not your cross to bear. My cross is not my wheelchair; it is my attitude. Your cross is your attitude about your dead-end job and your in-laws. It is your attitude about your aches and pains. Any  complaints, any grumblings, any disputings or murmurings, any anxieties, any worries, any resentments or anything that hints of a raging torrent of bitterness— these are the things God calls me to die to daily. For when I do, I not only become like him in his death (that is, taking up my cross and dying to the sin that he died for on his cross), but the power of the resurrection puts to death any doubts, fears, grumblings, and disputings.  And I get to become like him in his life. I get to experience the intimate fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, the sweetness and the preciousness of the Savior. I become holy as he is holy. O God, “you will make me full of gladness with your presence” (Acts 2:28).

(Excerpt taken from Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, by John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, pg. 196)

My words can't convey the conviction I felt, not just over this one paragraph but over the rest of what she shares.  I'm not even sure I know what else to say.  I just know I want to live differently, without the grumbling, disputing and murmuring.  I want to be full of gladness at His presence.

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It's Somebody's Birthday!

Four years ago today, our Sheltie was born, and we picked her up and took her home two months later.  She is the dog I always wanted.

Happy birthday, Dixie!

                           

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What I Learned This Week: 3rd Edition

There are a few things I learned over the past week, so I will go with the list format today.

• I will not lose that last 10 pounds if I continue to munch on fun-size candy bars at the office when I'm starving and if I continue to ignore my treadmill.
• I wear the same denim skirt to church every Sunday night because it's the most comfortable.  Do you think anyone has noticed?
• Watching "Curb Appeal" and "House Hunters" on HGTV has become a favorite pastime thanks to our new satellite.  I couldn't tell you what the draw is for me.  All I know is that I find them enjoyable.
• After watching "House Hunters", it's now clear to me why our banks and mortgage companies have fallen on hard times, as well as homeowners.  Have you seen what kind of loans these people are approved for to buy homes?  No wonder people can't afford their mortgages. Unbelievable!
• Victoria Stilwell's dog training techniques do not work with our dog.  Either Dixie is stupid, or we are.  {sigh}
• I don't think Twitter is my thing.
• Good, consistent blogging is hard.

I think that about covers it.

Visit Jo-Lynne's blog and read about other lessons learned through the week.

                     

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The Post in Which I Make People Hate Me a Little

I know some of you don't like the switch to daylight savings time.  I understand about losing that hour and then trying to endure the next days or weeks of the discomfort of your body catching up to the alteration.  I think I'm feeling it myself.

But.  (You knew there was a "but".)

As I write this it is currently 7:17 PM, and it's still DAYLIGHT.  I live for this time of year.  Oh, how I love it!  It feels like there is life after 6:00 PM again.

I don't know if any of you are like me,  but when it gets dark, that means it's time for jammies.  Six o'clock just seems too early for jammies, don't ya think?

Daylight savings time is also the pre-cursor of sweet things to come like leaves, warm weather, green grass, flowers, warm weather, sweet smells and warm weather.  Did I mention the warm weather?

Don't hate me because I might love DST.  I do have other lovable qualities, and you might want to focus on those instead.  'kay?

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Just Fluff Today

Not sure I have anything pertinent or witty to say today, so I'm just having fun with this little meme.  The idea is to answer the questions with one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2. your hair? Unruly
3. your father? Pastor
4. your mother? Helper
5. your favorite thing? Dixie
6. your dream last night? IM'ing
7. your favorite drink? Starbucks
8. your dream/goal? Sanctification
9. the room you are in? Office
10. your fear? Fire
11. where do you want to be in 6 years? Heaven
12. muffins? Banana
13. one of your wish list items? Car
14. where you grew up? Indiana
15. the last thing you did? Typed
16. what are you wearing? Silver
17. your tv? HGTV
18. your computer? Obsession!
19. your life? Hard
20. your mood? Changing
21. missing someone? Yes
22. your car? Clunky
23. favorite store? Kohl's
24. your summer? Anticipated
25. your favorite color? Blue
26. when is the last time you laughed? Unsure
27. last time you cried? Devotions
28. someone who emails me? Judy
29. a favorite food? Chinese
30. place I would rather be right now? Disney

Looking for more randomness and "just for fun" posts?  Visit Andrea's blog every Friday.

 

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It's Just What I Wanted

My dad is out in California this week for the Shepherd's Conference being held at John MacArthur's church.  Dad goes every year and comes home with a suitcase full of new books, either that he purchases or are given to all the pastors as gifts from the conference.  Of course, he always enjoys rolling his suitcase into the office his first day back to work and showing me all of his new treasures, while I ooh & aaah over the titles.

So I get a call from him today, asking me about the new personal-sized NASB MacArthur Study Bible in leathersoft that I've been interested in purchasing.  They had them for sale at the table at half price, and Dad wanted to know if I would like him to pick one up for me. 

YEEEES!  I definitely want one! 

I don't have a NASB yet, but I've been reading some scripture online in that translation and have enjoyed it.  I already own a MacArthur study Bible in NKJV and have used it well.  I thought I would enjoy a different translation and a lighter-weight Bible for carrying to church and Bible studies.

So I'll be getting one of these pretty Bibles when Dad returns.  I can't wait! 

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What I Learned This Week: 2nd Edition

This week has been a tough week, as far as spiritual challenges go.  Every week at ladies Bible study I've been asking them to pray for my continued spiritual growth.  I can't help but think that if you're going to ask God for spiritual growth in your life, you better be prepared for some stretching.

So streeeeetching it is.  Ouch, does it hurt!

Seems that the area God has chosen to do the stretching in is concerning my attitude at work.  And yes, I am a church secretary with a bad attitude.  Please don't gasp so hard that you suck the cursor right out of your computer screen.  I'm a sinner who happens to work at a church.

My sin problems are in the anger, pride and fear departments, and they manifest themselves in perfectionism.  Did I ever tell you I'm a perfectionist?  I'm pretty sure it was on my list of 25 things about Liz, although I believe it was listed as a "recovering perfectionist".  Yeah, at least, that's what I thought.

I realized a couple days ago that my perfectionism has been causing me some undue grief.  Maybe I'm not as "recovered" as I thought I was.  I couldn't believe it was still hanging on like that.  I got to thinking that if I would look at my work from a different perspective, I would probably cut out a big chunk of my aggravation. 

I went into work Monday prayerfully, and I was able to see things differently.  It was surprising!  I was calm, even under the same circumstances that would normally set me off.  Calm.  Thank you, Lord.  I learned I can be calm.

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer  and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard  your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7 (NASB)

*Head over to Musings of a Housewife, and see what other bloggers have learned this week.

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