How rude!! It's been over a month since I've last written....
So many things have happened over the past month. But in saying that...there are so many things that have not...One in particular is to do with my health. Now I k now I live a very busy life and a lot of that is self inflicted, and I am now feeling in the pit of my stomach borderline hypocritical. I think it hit me when I was having coffee with one of my clients who is getting married in June. We ordered dinner, and she said to me..."What happened to the "New Me"?"....exactly! She was right!!!
The Old Me is finding it's comfy seat within me...and is about to settle. I have so many things I want to do and with my obligations at church and with my family picking up again...I know that I am putting myself in the back seat again. If you could see the inside of my mind write now I'm pretty should you would be standing at the edge of a motorway with everyone rushing to wear they need to go at 200km/hr.
I am now feeling like I have made promises to myself....and I am breaking them. Though at the same time I'm feeling like...I'll just dedicate this time to what I need to do for God and for my family...and then I'll make some time for myself. With my first Sunday preaching fast approaching I know that it will be a true testament to even myself to be up on stage at the size that I am...and thinking...this has got to stop. I cannot continue to serve God in this thick shell I have right now!!! I need to get myself right....physically.
Spiritually I am feeling really blessed with the awesome messages I have been listening to, and the messages that I feel God is giving me for this preaching. I have so many things I feel I need to say but trying to say it in a way that will reach as many people as possible is a little difficult. But I know that relying on the Holy Spirit to help put together the right words will do the trick :)
I feel like sometimes I need a massive whiteboard in my mind to help me prioritise things but I think it's really to waste time writing lists. I'm a huge lists person and I love to write lists for the sake of writing them. Doesn't necessarily mean I'll get everything done, but it does feel good to cross things out.
I will try to write more as it does give me some relief. Especially over the next couple of weeks leading up to our 10th wedding anniversary night away. I'm really looking forward to it 'cause I do miss my love. But I know the trip will be worth it :)
Okay.....I need to get onto my domestic duties. If anything writing today has helped me to get things back into perspective. Which ironically is what my preaching is about :)....Learning to Change our perspective :) xxxx
Friday, March 23, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
He is My Centre
I put this as my status on FB today "You know for a while things had been a little stagnant at church....so I decided to change seats....moving from the back of the church to the front....and I tell ya....BOOOM!!!! I am feeling it all over again....If you're finding yourself getting comfortable and eventually getting bored and distracted...then maybe all you need to do is CHANGE WHERE YOU SIT!!!....blessings y'all! Good to be home xxx"
It's been a while since something felt so true as that statement did for me today. The last couple of weeks since moving to another seat in church my perspective has changed. It's the same with taking a picture, one photographer has a different perspective to another. I feel so very blessed to be at the front and to feel in the amidst of worship and to hear His word, His encouragement hit me at full volume than as a faded whisper when you sit at the back.
I feel so relaxed despite being as busy as I am. I am really appreciating everything that I'm doing. With my healthy journey I'm receiving comments from those around me saying that I'm looking slimmer. I stand in front of the mirror and see little changes. My response to their comments is..."I feel really happy". What a freedom that brings me to say that I am honestly happy. Of course there are always ways we wish our lives could be better, but how can feel happy in those times if we don't appreciate the times we are in now.
Worship today was awesome. Not really any different to any other day, but only because I'm at the front of the church now, each lyric and musical note hits my heart like an arrow hits its target. The words in one particular song really put me in my place. My girls are singing it right now as they lay in bed.
Jesus at the centre of it all
It's been a while since something felt so true as that statement did for me today. The last couple of weeks since moving to another seat in church my perspective has changed. It's the same with taking a picture, one photographer has a different perspective to another. I feel so very blessed to be at the front and to feel in the amidst of worship and to hear His word, His encouragement hit me at full volume than as a faded whisper when you sit at the back.
I feel so relaxed despite being as busy as I am. I am really appreciating everything that I'm doing. With my healthy journey I'm receiving comments from those around me saying that I'm looking slimmer. I stand in front of the mirror and see little changes. My response to their comments is..."I feel really happy". What a freedom that brings me to say that I am honestly happy. Of course there are always ways we wish our lives could be better, but how can feel happy in those times if we don't appreciate the times we are in now.
Worship today was awesome. Not really any different to any other day, but only because I'm at the front of the church now, each lyric and musical note hits my heart like an arrow hits its target. The words in one particular song really put me in my place. My girls are singing it right now as they lay in bed.
Jesus at the centre of it all
From beginning to the end
It will always be
It's always been you
Jesus, Jesus
Nothing else matters
Nothing in this world will do
Jesus you're the centre
Everything revolves around you
Jesus, you, at the centre of it all
Singing this song I reflect on our 10th wedding anniversary coming up in a couple of months. There have been so many milestones reached in my life. And from the very start when I left home 11 years ago, I remember promising God that if it was His will for me to leave home then everything I do I will dedicate to Him. And since then, as I have blogged about before...I cannot describe in words the blessings that He has given me over the years. And even now with doing photography, God has blessed me with meeting beautiful families, making new friends, sharing a part of my life with them, and them with me. I am so absolutely blessed. My temple will be in the condition God intended for me. I am determined to get there!
I am preparing for my first Sunday sermon as a preacher at the end of next month. I feel that God is speaking to me and planting messages in my heart about encouraging his people to make a move regardless of how big or small that movement is....it's a move...and that's what God wants. I am excited and praying for spiritual fulfilment so that whatever encouragement I share on the night will be what He wants me to share.
My life is beyond what I thought it would be 11 years ago. He has blessed me with so much more....and I am truly thankful and it's all because I have made Jesus the Centre of My Life!!!! so blessed xxxxxx
Here's the video clip of the song for you to enjoy xxx Jesus be the Centre by Israel Houghton
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Laying It Down
It's been a long time since I shared the goings on in my life. I have been so busy and at times felt overwhelmed with my photography that I have taken on. God has been so good to provide for me and my family.
Dan preached today's message fr the first time this year. I always feel proud to hear and see him serving in our church. Well actually for anything for that matter. Seeing him at work makes me feel so much more confident in where he believes our family should be led.
Today's message was simple in that we need to plan the year ahead. Set goals and prepare for the opportunities and the unexpected things that prop up. Pray - Link - Apply and Never give up. Awesome encouragement to remind us to have continuous conversations with our God in everything that we do. I was remembered that I need to link with the right people to see God's plan through in my life. We can only go so far with certain people in our lives. When we feel that we've reached the end of the relationship then we need to be thankful for that time and then move on and continue with God's plan. Application is always key to any plans being made. Putting to action the plans we've developed. I sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself to follow through with what I've promised but at the same time I need to keep a balance of what I have going on in my life. Lastly, never giving up. I am not going to give up on my journey to improve my health. My husband is so motivated right now which is exciting for me. Today I felt good about myself. The way I dressed to go to church. I had blogged about some time ago that I no longer am going to feel so down about myself with the size that I'm at right now, because I know this is only temporary. But I really did feel pretty today :) and my husband stared at me in the same way he did when we got married. As embarrassing as it was for me to be on the other end of those long stares, it felt good to be the apple of my husband's eye again :)
The other key message that stood out for me today came through in a song that our worship band hadn't sung in a while. An old "Katina's" track. I'm "laying it down for the joy of the Lord". With all that we have going on in our lives it takes an action by us to lay our burdens down so that we can see the glory of God. So that we can enjoy what God has set for us. We build a wall around us that prevents us from really seeing the blessings that we have in our lives. That song reminded me to push aside all that makes me unhappy to see how happy I can really be.
For 2012 don't waste your time on things that don't add any value to your life, because you will miss out on the value that is already there!!! xxx
Dan preached today's message fr the first time this year. I always feel proud to hear and see him serving in our church. Well actually for anything for that matter. Seeing him at work makes me feel so much more confident in where he believes our family should be led.
Today's message was simple in that we need to plan the year ahead. Set goals and prepare for the opportunities and the unexpected things that prop up. Pray - Link - Apply and Never give up. Awesome encouragement to remind us to have continuous conversations with our God in everything that we do. I was remembered that I need to link with the right people to see God's plan through in my life. We can only go so far with certain people in our lives. When we feel that we've reached the end of the relationship then we need to be thankful for that time and then move on and continue with God's plan. Application is always key to any plans being made. Putting to action the plans we've developed. I sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself to follow through with what I've promised but at the same time I need to keep a balance of what I have going on in my life. Lastly, never giving up. I am not going to give up on my journey to improve my health. My husband is so motivated right now which is exciting for me. Today I felt good about myself. The way I dressed to go to church. I had blogged about some time ago that I no longer am going to feel so down about myself with the size that I'm at right now, because I know this is only temporary. But I really did feel pretty today :) and my husband stared at me in the same way he did when we got married. As embarrassing as it was for me to be on the other end of those long stares, it felt good to be the apple of my husband's eye again :)
The other key message that stood out for me today came through in a song that our worship band hadn't sung in a while. An old "Katina's" track. I'm "laying it down for the joy of the Lord". With all that we have going on in our lives it takes an action by us to lay our burdens down so that we can see the glory of God. So that we can enjoy what God has set for us. We build a wall around us that prevents us from really seeing the blessings that we have in our lives. That song reminded me to push aside all that makes me unhappy to see how happy I can really be.
For 2012 don't waste your time on things that don't add any value to your life, because you will miss out on the value that is already there!!! xxx
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Rewards & Growth
So I've kicked into my first workout for the year and went for gold! On Day 2 I am very sore. Why? Because I forgot to stretch and warm down. How quickly I wanted to just get into it and now paying the price of not seeing something through from preparing myself to cooling down.
With anything we face it is important to prepare oneself as much as one can. Otherwise you would only embark on a journey with half a tank and vague driving directions. A half an hour drive to your destination would then turn into 2 hours, a lesser tank of gas and frustrated passengers.
So today I'm going to prepare my body properly with having a good breakfast, working through what I need to do today ( I need a to do list ), and putting time aside to exercise again. I'm afraid pain will be my best friend for some time. Before all of that..praying is the best way to start the day :) With all this pain I have now I'm going to need some help with strengthening my spirit, because I know that it will be fighting spirit that will help me to do the last push-up, pull-up, box jump. :)
My first milestone will be in March. I will look over last year's fitness goals and make some adjustments. I think I need to simplify them again. I also really need to follow through with rewarding myself. While on holiday I was reading Joyce Meyer's "Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes". The book talks about allowing yourself to have a break, to reward yourself...basically encouraging yourself to continue on with your spiritual life, to persevere through it all. Encouragement and positive self-talk really push you through, push anyone further than put downs and negative self-talk. Simple Math really. In the chapter about rewarding yourself it explains that rewarding yourself along your journey is just as important as the journey and the destination itself.. We need to fuel ourselves in order to carry on with our journey. I had reached one of my milestones last year but never got around to going through with my first reward. I quickly lost motivation because I didn't reward myself. So this time I'm going to set smaller goals and rewards.
Our New Years didn't kick off to a great start. We were heading home on New Year's Eve from an awesome holiday with my little family when my husband had an accident and fell into a tank through the ground. The result was heading straight to the hospital where my husband stayed for the following 3 days :( He is now instructed to rest for 6 weeks. Thankfully he is able to work from home, but how frustrating it has been for him because in the last 3 - 4 months of 2011 there has been something wrong with his leg...be it a grid iron injury or some thing. Someone asked me recently how it was all going...my response was that if I hadn't worked hard in my marriage before...I am definitely working hard now...I was rushed off my feet preparing my family to head out to lunch with my husband's extended family for their annual reunion. I had my girls to change, trying to burn CDs, preparing a dish to take with us, ironing my husband's clothes and I still hadn't dressed myself. I could feel the pressure building up until I received a text from Dan's cousin...his best man at our wedding :)....asking if I ever needed any help to let him know as he knew I would be putting my superwoman cape on and trying to do everything. Reading that text made me giggle, but also made me relax. I can't do everything, and I do need to ask for help. Though it is very busy at the moment with taking care of my family especially my husband. I love it still. If anything I feel that I am giving back to him what he has shown me....and continues to do so even while he is propped up in bed with almost all the cushions and pillows in our house supporting his back and leg :)
This year is going to be another year of realisation. Realisation that I am worth all the time in the world so that I can give that time to others...especially my family. I am really loving my life right now. So many good things happening to me and my family...and so many challenges to overcome which I will!!!! xxx
With anything we face it is important to prepare oneself as much as one can. Otherwise you would only embark on a journey with half a tank and vague driving directions. A half an hour drive to your destination would then turn into 2 hours, a lesser tank of gas and frustrated passengers.
So today I'm going to prepare my body properly with having a good breakfast, working through what I need to do today ( I need a to do list ), and putting time aside to exercise again. I'm afraid pain will be my best friend for some time. Before all of that..praying is the best way to start the day :) With all this pain I have now I'm going to need some help with strengthening my spirit, because I know that it will be fighting spirit that will help me to do the last push-up, pull-up, box jump. :)
My first milestone will be in March. I will look over last year's fitness goals and make some adjustments. I think I need to simplify them again. I also really need to follow through with rewarding myself. While on holiday I was reading Joyce Meyer's "Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes". The book talks about allowing yourself to have a break, to reward yourself...basically encouraging yourself to continue on with your spiritual life, to persevere through it all. Encouragement and positive self-talk really push you through, push anyone further than put downs and negative self-talk. Simple Math really. In the chapter about rewarding yourself it explains that rewarding yourself along your journey is just as important as the journey and the destination itself.. We need to fuel ourselves in order to carry on with our journey. I had reached one of my milestones last year but never got around to going through with my first reward. I quickly lost motivation because I didn't reward myself. So this time I'm going to set smaller goals and rewards.
Our New Years didn't kick off to a great start. We were heading home on New Year's Eve from an awesome holiday with my little family when my husband had an accident and fell into a tank through the ground. The result was heading straight to the hospital where my husband stayed for the following 3 days :( He is now instructed to rest for 6 weeks. Thankfully he is able to work from home, but how frustrating it has been for him because in the last 3 - 4 months of 2011 there has been something wrong with his leg...be it a grid iron injury or some thing. Someone asked me recently how it was all going...my response was that if I hadn't worked hard in my marriage before...I am definitely working hard now...I was rushed off my feet preparing my family to head out to lunch with my husband's extended family for their annual reunion. I had my girls to change, trying to burn CDs, preparing a dish to take with us, ironing my husband's clothes and I still hadn't dressed myself. I could feel the pressure building up until I received a text from Dan's cousin...his best man at our wedding :)....asking if I ever needed any help to let him know as he knew I would be putting my superwoman cape on and trying to do everything. Reading that text made me giggle, but also made me relax. I can't do everything, and I do need to ask for help. Though it is very busy at the moment with taking care of my family especially my husband. I love it still. If anything I feel that I am giving back to him what he has shown me....and continues to do so even while he is propped up in bed with almost all the cushions and pillows in our house supporting his back and leg :)
This year is going to be another year of realisation. Realisation that I am worth all the time in the world so that I can give that time to others...especially my family. I am really loving my life right now. So many good things happening to me and my family...and so many challenges to overcome which I will!!!! xxx
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
It's Amazing...
It's amazing that time has flown by so fast that it is January again....
It's amazing that once again my new year's resolutions remain unchanged except now this year WE WILL FINISH IT!
It's amazing how even when a new year springs about new contemplations of CHANGE some people remain THE SAME!
It's amazing that my good God has once again protected my family despite an accident that left my husband spending New Year's day in hospital. I love Him still....
It's amazing that I feel more tired now during the holiday than I have any other time...BLASTED DVD NIGHTS!
It's amazing that we continue to leave it 'til special occasions such as Christmas and New Year's to tell our loved ones how much we value them....
It's amazing that in these holidays I have been blessed with some quality time with my husband and children....but once we step through our front door...we almost lapsed into old habits....ENOUGH OF THAT NOW!...IT'S A NEW YEAR :)
It's amazing that I have been blessed with another year to spend with my family, to serve such a wonderful God, and to make right the wrongs in my life.
It's amazing that this year will bring about opportunities that could not have been foreseen 2, 3 or even 5 years ago.
It's amazing that......LIFE IS JUST AMAZING...
I have not fallen off my healthy living wagon...I am holding on for a bumpy ride this year....but my theme for this year is to FINISH WHAT I STARTED!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!!! xxx
It's amazing that once again my new year's resolutions remain unchanged except now this year WE WILL FINISH IT!
It's amazing how even when a new year springs about new contemplations of CHANGE some people remain THE SAME!
It's amazing that my good God has once again protected my family despite an accident that left my husband spending New Year's day in hospital. I love Him still....
It's amazing that I feel more tired now during the holiday than I have any other time...BLASTED DVD NIGHTS!
It's amazing that we continue to leave it 'til special occasions such as Christmas and New Year's to tell our loved ones how much we value them....
It's amazing that in these holidays I have been blessed with some quality time with my husband and children....but once we step through our front door...we almost lapsed into old habits....ENOUGH OF THAT NOW!...IT'S A NEW YEAR :)
It's amazing that I have been blessed with another year to spend with my family, to serve such a wonderful God, and to make right the wrongs in my life.
It's amazing that this year will bring about opportunities that could not have been foreseen 2, 3 or even 5 years ago.
It's amazing that......LIFE IS JUST AMAZING...
I have not fallen off my healthy living wagon...I am holding on for a bumpy ride this year....but my theme for this year is to FINISH WHAT I STARTED!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!!! xxx
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