What a Day

So much I'm doing and thinking about and praying. On FB I posted how many people I want to pray for. I think I could make it a full time position. I just love having a need and praying through it with someone. When I was 17 I made a journal where I entered each and every wish I had and then on the right, when God answered the prayer. I'm sure most of them were something along the lines of, "Dear God, make me hot" or "Dear God, make Chris like me" or something like that. But, i remember entering more serious  prayer requests about my parents, about the revolution in the Philippines about trusting God with my heart as I had no idea even to know myself. I think I'm gonna start doing this again because as the bible encourages us,

(Psalms 119:114 NKJV) You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word

(Psalms 31:24 NKJV) Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD

(Psalms 16:8-9 NKJV) I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.

I also remember this song:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

 This is good news as I pray for many friends with kids in need, have cancer, parents health failing, siblings health failing, jobs not working out, husbands not being man enough, wives being lazy, children not obeying or having significant health and healing issues....

This morning at breakfast as Alan read the morning devotions to us (I know, perfect dream eh?) he was talking about controlling our feelings. I never think about telling God that I want him to change how I react to things, naturally. I guess I just normally assume I'm gonna respond correctly or mature. I don't. I want to encourage you to respond in hope. Think about what God HAS done. Then take a breath in and be quiet and think about that again. I have not been through much fire and I don't really want to, but I do want to be more like Jesus which means there is less of the impulsive-negative-reaction-Lisa and more of the breath-in, be hopefilled-and-pause-Lisa.

I start our new semester tomorrow and I'm not very prepared because I was cleaning my house and playing with my kids and working on my business. That was just a random added note, there.

here's a picture that reminds me to be filled with hope because it reminds me of all the ways God talks about the ocean and it's vast measure and bounty. The rolling waves, how he knows how many grains of sand and just the beauty of it..it's good to soak that all in.

Happy New Year!

About one year ago I posted. I miss blogging because it forces me to journal and I realize that even though I don't particularly love to blog, I need the release it gives my soul and I certainly love your comments.
Last year was a very difficult year for my marriage. A lot of ideas and dreams and expectations that I had were dashed. A few health complications and a lot of vocational bumps for Alan and we were moved to do something drastically different.
My biggest defense was prayer. I felt like Lord told me to just let him sleep. Don't bring up any marriage expectations or fears or dreams, just pray for rest. I did a lot of talking through things with my closest friends and relatives. Asked a lot of questions and cried a lot.
At times when I'm struggling I can feel really distant from my Father. But this year I didn't feel distant. In addition to figuring out how to get Alan sleeping well again, I began a life style change of eating and exercising. It has taken every ounce of "gumption" and energy to stay on track. I'm pleased to say that although my husband was very resistant at first (as I'm sure he felt like, "here we go again") we have pushed through and our total weight loss has been..drum roll...

108 pounds lost!!

I still have about 50 pounds to lose, but even that doesn't seem out of the question, HOPEFULLY!

After a lot of processing, some mentoring and time spent in prayer and meditation with God, I can honestly say I am over-the-top grateful for a better day.

One thing I have been thinking a bunch about is to post all of the accomplishments in terms of life style changes with eating and exercising. One goal I had was to do 100 push ups by the end of this year...and I did it!

SO HERE'S MY QUESTION....will you post what accomplishments you've had this year? So we can all see?