Wowā¦itās been a while since I wrote in my blog! So when I started this blog, the sole purpose was for it to be a devotional blog. All of the entries started with a verse and then my lifeās application of that verse or how God spoke to me through that verse. I love writing devotionals because my heart is to encourage people to turn their full faces toward God. Devotionals help me do that and I hope the encourage you to do that as well.
July was a great month for me. I took off from some of my ministry work and rested in Christ. I practiced the art of being instead of doing. It was a lovely time of rest and I fell more in love with Jesus. During this time, God really spoke to my heart that His call on my life is to encourage people and to make my life an example of an inextricably reliant relationship with Him. To that end, Iām changing the blog a little.
Starting today, Iām going to add to the blog my journey through the next 12-months and Iām calling it āJourney 1314ā. I have set some lofty goals for the next 12 months and I want to share how God is moving me through these goals and causing my to change and grow. These goals will only be accomplished by God moving through my life and my circumstances to bring me to His success. My heartās desire in this endeavor, and the reason for documenting everything, is to give Him the glory and encourage you to live inextricably reliant on Jesus.
Hereās the plan: Iām going to list out the goals and then each Monday, at the minimum, Iām going to update you on my progress. Iām also still going to do devotional entries so Iāll start using tags for easy following. If the entry is about Journey 1314, then it will beĀ categorized that way. If itās a devotional entry, then itāll beĀ categorized as such. (I think you get the picture!)
So, without further adoā¦..JOURNEY 1314:THE GOALS!
Goal 1: Vegetarian Eating
For the last 10 days of July, I chose to do a fast thatās called āThe Danielsā Fastā. Based on the book of Daniel, it is primarily eating only plant-based foods and drinking only water. In a nutshell, itās a raw vegan diet. I have LOVED it! I feel so great itās crazy. So, Iām planning to modify a little but still basically stay vegetarian. Actually, Iāve renamed it āVeganatarianā because my diet will really be a hybrid of the two. One awesome help I have found for this endeavor is the website, www.conveganence.com. This site has awesome recipes and also has a service where they will send you weekly menu ideas, shopping lists and recipes! Itās fantastic!!! Of course my biggest help in this will be God because Heāll need to help keep my car from pulling through the McDonaldās drive-thru.
Goal 2: Lose 50 pounds
So, Iām going to break a HUGE female rule right nowā¦you ready? You sitting down? I weigh 262 pounds. (Whewā¦transparency is awesome!! And scary!! YIKES! Did I really just put my weight on the internet?) Of course, we as women try to hide our weight all the time. We either want you to think we weigh less or we want you to think we weight more. As Americans we have this preoccupation with our weight and so by sharing mine, Iām hoping we can start tearing down some of the silly little ālawsā we put up, like not telling anyone our actual weight. Itās a number ladies, itās not the value of your worth! š
Anyways, coming off the soap box now, I need to lose more like 100 pounds or more but Iām just starting with this 50 pound goal. With the better eating, LOADS and LOADS of prayer, and more activity, this goal is easily attainable.
Goal 3: Ride in the Seattle-to-Portland
Every year, hundreds of bicyclists ride from Seattle to Portland. Itās kind of crazy and kind of awesome and I want to be part of it next. Now for me, the crazy part is that I donāt own a bike right now and the last time I rode one was umā¦ā¦..not sure. This is a definite stretch goal and success isnāt based on speed. I will be successful if I show up and start! I have no preconceived desire for any length of time it will take me to get there and I donāt care if Iām last. I just want to get in the mix and show myself that while I feel like a lump, I can actually be athletic. Again, this one is going to take LOADS and LOADS of prayer and support.
Goal 4: Get āReliantā devotional published
Iāve been working on a devotional book based on my blog and right now have the manuscript out for editing. Iām very, very excited about this project and very much aware that this endeavor is ALL God. His words working in my life spurred the blog and Iām praying will flow out beautifully in book form and encourage others. My prayer through this editing process has been, āGod, these are your words, not mine. Please donāt let my heart feel hurt at otherās input because itās Your book.ā As I move from editing to seeking publishing, that will continue to be my prayer. My hope is that I can start to āshopā the book by the fall but since this is my first book, I have no idea if that is realistic so Iām keeping it a Jell-O timeframe.
Goal 5: Speak to Women
God has blessed me with a natural storytelling personality with humor. I donāt say that in any amount of arrogance. I know Iām funny and yet I know Iām not the funniest person out there so I donāt have any pride about it. I know I love to talk to people and reach out and I know that I want to bless women (and probably a few boys along the way). People are hurting. Ā I was hurting, and through Christ and Christ alone I have been set free and I want to share that as loudly as I possibly can. My heartās desire is to speak in front of women and shine Godās light into their lives and help them draw closer to Him.
As you can see, itās going to be a busy and exciting Journey 1314!! Iām excited to be sharing this journey with you and pray you see Godās hand in my life as clearly as I do. I welcome comments and covet prayers. My prayer for you is that something I write spurs you to draw closer God and see what He wants to do in your life. Ā JOURNEY 1314ā¦here we come! š
Like this:
Like Loading...