Don’t you just love the description of summer… Lazy Daze!  I believe the original term used was “days,” but if I was a betting woman, a mother with a houseful of children changed it to “daze.”  She was completely worn out doing all the kids stuff that the day had left her in a daze!

I didn’t realize how much entertaining, teaching and learning I would be doing this summer with my kids.  (and we haven’t even had a full week of summer yet!)  We’ve been swimming, shopping, and spending a lot of time together.  I thought my shuttling hours were over when school drop off and pick up was done.  Oh, but no, “Mom can you take me to…” has been the most asked question thus far.

To say the least our summer hasn’t been lazy and there have been times both the kids and I are left in a coma like daze state after having so much fun.

I have been doing well with my Bible reading and reflections.  God is still nudging and I was more than happy to talk to Him this morning at 3.  The house was completely still and I had a lot on my mind to discuss.  Praying over my thoughts and waiting for his response was enlightening this morning.  I went back to bed feeling so much better and relaxed.  And the best part, when I went to bed, I didn’t mull over the thoughts like I would normally do… I just fell asleep so peacefully knowing I had left my worry in His most capable hands.

Something funny though… as I was reading Proverbs 11 this morning, I guess I dosed off a little while reading.. my eyes were going through the reading motion but I believe my mind fell right to sleep as I passed over verse 22.

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman” is what I comprehended.  As I made my way down the page well past verse 22, I realized what was read.  Puzzled, I was trying to piece together what I read. “pig’s snout”, “gold ring,” and “beautiful woman.”  Was God comparing beautiful women to pig snouts with golden rings??  I thought, “Wow, I’m glad I’m not a beauty queen.”  Thinking the Proverb verse would be good to blog about, I went back up the page to find it so I could refer to it.

Then I read the whole verse…

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”   I got to laughing at my mistake…then I had to agree with the Proverbs.  I was kinda relieved though for those beauty queens out there!!

Enjoy your Lazy Daze!  And God bless…

I failed miserably this morning.  I vaguely recall being nudged before 5am but obviously I didn’t wake up fully to read and reflect.  So at 6:30, hoping that I would be quiet enough to do my thing without being noticed, I snuck to the living room to retrieve my Bible.  I managed to sneak back to the bedroom and to open my Bible, when I was discovered.  Both my son and hubby found me awake and the morning routine began and I ignored my thing. ((sigh))…I have been trying all morning to find a moment to steal away..((sigh)) and every time I do…((sigh))

I went to my Bible study feeling down and  so guilty for not waking up before everyone else.  My perfect record is now tarnished and I can not recover from it.  I sat in my car stunned with shame.  I just wanted to cry.  I want to be so well balanced and to do what I am supposed to do…find peace and contentment in all areas of my life as well as being totally centered on God.  UGH!!

Already the insecurities and the doubt for my quest was beginning to creep into my thoughts.  How will I ever be able to teach the world about finding balance IF I can’t do it.  Frustrated I stomped up the stairs of the church and plopped pouty self down in the front row.  I didn’t want anyone to see my frustration, so I kept my back to everyone.  Then I realized I left my papers at home.  UGH!!  ((sigh)) Now, I have to ask to see someone else’s so I can fill in the information needed for today’s lesson.  Swallowing hard and faking the best “today’s a great day” smile, I turned around and asked the lady behind me for hers, copied the notes, and politely handed them back.  Let the sulking continue….

Beth Moore’s image appeared on the screen.  She began her speech.  I immediately felt drawn into her message.  She began by introducing a formula for the brain change I need to conquer if I truly want to succeed in balance.  I need to realize that through God’s love, I am blessed, chosen, accepted, adopted, redeemed and forgiven, and in that I am believing God.  She had us repeat that statement several times and then explained the significance to memorize it.  Funny, how the UGH’s and the sighs quickly diminished.  She’s was right.  I mean I already knew that but it was made clear to me that I needed to hear it….again.

Feeling somewhat better after reaffirming what I believe is true about God (blessing, choosing, accepting, adopting redeeming and forgiving me), the fact of the matter still remains that I did not do my thing this morning.  It was bothering me that I allowed life to interfere once again.  I could feel the UGH! coming on…sighing to keep from ughing, I settled my mind down to hear Beth once more.

She continued her speech with the most wonderful definition of “blameless.”  We are called to lead “blameless” lives.  Not perfect lives mind you but blameless lives.  Blameless living means without premeditated and willful sinning.  Living without thinking of ways to sin..  Huh!  Then it hit me…I am trying to find the perfect formula for living a perfect Christian life with results in contentment.  Perfection will never be achieved here on Earth.  Perfection isn’t what I need to strive for.. but rather, blamelessness.

Now, I really need to find some reflection time for this one.. excuse me, the kids are occupied and well, I need to meet with God…

God Bless..

This quest that I am on is going to take some real effort..  I want a balanced life and balance is going to take a lot of work.  Most importantly, I want to be like the “good” Christians and have ample Quiet time with God to study His Word and to reflect how to apply it to my life as well as listening to Him when He quietly whispers into my thoughts.

Well, I began to pray to God for me to “want to want the quiet time.”  I told Him to wake me when the house is still so I can spend the quality time without any interruptions.  My plan was to read a chapter (I’m reading the Book of Proverbs) before I go to bed then when God wakes me I will re-read it with Him.  My hope is to gain a better understanding and to build a much more intimate relationship with God.  It is my desire to find solitude and a peace beyond what I have experienced on a short term in the past when I am being obedient.

I have been very diligent in my reading and getting up.  God has nudged me awake between 5-5:30 am.  I climb out of bed and do my thing without complaint.  Well, last Friday morning, I was nudged at 3:18am.  I begged God to let me sleep until 5.  I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to convince myself to stay.  Well, have you know guilt swept over me like I was a little naughty kid.. ahem.. guess I was being one, huh?  Apologizing like crazy, I got up and read.  Really, once I got awake, I enjoyed the time.

Hope your quiet time is going well… God Bless…

Have you ever pondered on the word “Swimming” before?

This morning as I sat down to blog, I was asked the age-old question so many youngsters have asked their parents for generations, “Can we go swimming, today?”  Being the first day of summer vacation and the temperature has been nearly 100 all week, that question has been on the tip of my 8yo’s tongue since Monday.

Of course, at the onset of that question my mind started wheeling and the pondering began.. Swimming…HMMMMMMM… never realized how deep that subject can really be..

You can swim in just about anything.  Pools of debt, sorrow, depression,  greed, clutter, and stuff are just a few examples.  You have heard the terms like “wading in,” “staying afloat” and “drowning” to describe the condition in which people are swimming in their pools of whatever.  I personally like and tend to use “knee deep.”

But do you know what bothers me the most???  How we have taken such a wonderful summertime pleasure like swimming and turned it into a bleak, miserable, and so adult figure of speech.  Couldn’t we just learn to swim only in swimming pools, lakes, rivers and oceans?  Why not bask in the sun with laughter and fond childhood memories?  Why can’t we just be a kid again and enjoy swimming? Can’t we just make a commitment to drain our “adult” pools and stick with it?

Trust me, since I am on the quest for balance, by the end of the summer the only pool this gal will be swimming in will be the ones filled with refreshing cool water.  You will find me basking in the sun, enjoying my kids and my nose stuck between the pages of a good book with no “adult” worries.

God Bless…..

Today is the second day of my newest adventure.  Perhaps, it was inspired by the recent book I read (Eat, Pray, Love) or by the book I started yesterday (Plain Secrets).  I would bank on the fact that this is God inspired.  Whatever the case may be, I am on a quest to find balance.  Balance between work and play, Bible study and Bible reflection, housework and home, world and church, living and Christian living…just balance in all areas in my life.

My life is never balanced.  I’m either working and letting the house go OR cleaning and letting my writing go. I’m either too busy doing and ignoring precious time with God OR spending hours in God’s presence and getting nothing done..I’m just saying-you know what I am talking about.

For the past two nights, I have been praying something different…

God, I want to want to get up early before everyone and be with You.

God, I want to want to walk away from food and walk to Your word.

God, I want to want to give my best to Your ministry.

And so far, I have been doing really well.  I know that balance is something achievable.  I no longer want to feel like I’m wasting time, energy and myself on the small stuff.  Really, are clean toilets a top priority? Let’s see God and toilets..I’m going with God on that one.

I truly hope that balance is something I can reach.  I want peace.  I want rest.  I want knowing God is smiling down on my balanced life.  It doesn’t mean “I want it all.”  That would be a train wreck waiting to happen… ahem… it has wrecked so many times over my life and it wasn’t pretty.  Yeah, a peaceful simplified Christ-centered life with clean toilets..((sigh)) that’s what I want.  Won’t you join me on this quest?

God bless…

Yesterday, I explained I read the book Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I have always been intrigued with the “hippy” yoga types of personality.  I am amazed by the outwardly appearance of balance these people seem to have and after reading this book I was even further intrigued.. one could say a hint of jealousy was present.  While reading the book I discovered that the author had reached a close bond with God through mediation.

I have always believed that mediation was “bad” and something good Christians do not play around with… then I was reading the Bible and I ran across this verse:

Psalms 1:2 ” But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

The word “meditates” is used.. confused I began to do some research.  What I have discovered is that mediation itself isn’t necessarily bad but if we partake in the eastern yoga style mediation we are opening ourselves up to some pretty dangerous stuff.  But, what scholars have said about Biblical Mediation is not that we sit for hours crossed legged and humming.  Rather, reading our Bibles and reflecting on the meaning and the application of it in our lives.  It can also be a means of memorizing or remembering certain Bible verses to help us overcome strongholds.  It encourages you  to sit quietly and reflect on the message read from the Bible while you listen for God.

Like the eastern mediation techniques, Biblical Mediation Reflection calms the stressed body and recharges our minds on the good and godly thoughts outlined in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”  Plus, it opens a communication through prayer to God which in turn, creates a strong relationship and a bond that is endearing.  This type of reflection seems beneficial in so many ways.. so, here’s my challenge:

For the next two months, it is my goal to participate in Biblical Reflection twice a day (morning and night).  I will sit quietly and reflect on the Bible reading while listening for God.  I can’t wait to see the results in my attitude and overall well being.. won’t you join me??

God Bless..