This month, as part of my time quiet time with God, I decided to do a scripture writing plan. I have practiced scripture writing on and off for the last month, but never very seriously or for any consistent period of time. I encourage all of you reading to join me on this journey into discovering who Jesus is through writing the word of God. This plan is from TheFelicityBee.com; I found this plan on Pinterest (I know, you are so shocked). If you get a day off of the schedule, or a week off, don’t worry about it. The word of God is not any less true or life-changing because you read it a day later than you had anticipated too. Comment below, “I’m in” so that I can pray for all of you as we journey together this holiday season.
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Sit UP! If it were up to me, I would snooze the three alarms I have set from 7:30 to noon-ish. My first task when reaching semi-consciousness is to sit up in bed. As seemingly unimportant as this moving from a sleeping position to a reclining position is, it shortens the time it takes me to become entirely conscious monumentally. One thing that helps me to achieve this is using the Pandora app as an alarm. I have it set to play the “Christian Workout” station at the same time every morning. AIA Devo I have had the privilege of being exposed to Athletes in Action and all of the amazing resources that they have to offer. One of my favorite tools that they provide are devotions provided daily via text message. I am not usually an advocate for corny, athlete themed, and usually shallow devotionals. However, this one truly changes my mornings with God. Despite it being short, sweet, and to the point, it offers amazing insight into how to be an athlete that worships God on and off the field. This is something that all Christian athletes want to do but do not know how. This Devo shows me each day another way that I can shine God’s love through my sport. Get Up and Podcast After prayer and getting out of bed, I begin to get ready for the day. As I brush my teeth, do my hair, get dressed, make my coffee, and do anything else I need to prepare myself for the day, I listen to a Breakaway Podcast. I heard about this powerful resource through the Delight Women’s Ministry on my campus. Breakaway is filled with sermon series’ that are relevant, applicable, and most importantly grounded in scripture. Nothing ruins my morning more than heresy. Although these podcasts are recorded on the campus of Texas A and M and delivered to college students, I think that any adult who wants a tall glass of Jesus juice in the morning can benefit from these podcasts. When I do not have time to listen as I get ready, or if I know I have a long drive ahead of me that day, I will plug my phone into the aux and listen to the podcasts during my commute. I have had some amazing Jesus moments in my car on my way home or to doctor’s appointments. Eat Something
I am not a breakfast person. I actually hate eating in the morning. Just the thought of trying to swallow food before 10 am makes me want to gag. I also rarely have time to eat a decent meal between getting ready and my first event of the day. However, eating something in the morning has definitely helped my energy, focus, and happiness in the long run. I keep a steady supply of Greek or Probiotic yogurt in my mini fridge so that I can grab it and eat it on the go. I also keep protein and granola bars in my backpack at all times to eat in class when I finally get over that “food makes me want to gag” phase of my morning. Step 1: Prepare Clothes for the Next Day I have found that my morning goes much smother when I am not throwing clothes all over the place trying to find the perfect outfit at 8 am. I look at my calendar for the next day, as well as the weather, and determine what my fashion statement will be for the day (adorably fashionable adulting or homeless athlete). I also make sure to lay out my clothes for other activities that I will be participating in the next day. If I have soccer practice, I will go ahead and find all of the random articles of clothing needed to kick a ball around for 2 hours. Some days, like tomorrow for instance, I have a piano accompaniment job that requires a black skirt and white blouse. I will be setting that out tonight so that I know I have everything I need. Doing these things not only saves me precious time in the morning, but it also keeps my preparation stress to a minimum. Step 2: Pack Bags for Productivity Nothing makes me more disappointed in myself than when I arrive at my destination thinking I have my life together when, to my dismay, I have forgotten an important object or tool I needed to successfully complete my daily tasks. Showing up for class on time but forgetting the folder with my homework in it, being early to soccer but forgetting my cleats, or being mentally prepared to work my 4-hour shift but forgetting my phone charger (I watch a lot of Netflix at work). It just irks me when I unknowingly sabotage my own success due to forgetfulness. My new habit is to pack my school bag and soccer bag the night before with every single thing I will need for the whole day. The extra 5-10 minutes of preparation before bed is completely worth the lack of disappointment in myself the next day because I have not forgotten yet another thing I told myself not to forget. When I say everything, I mean everything. Chargers, pens, snacks, my inhaler, hair ties, water bottle (filled), and any other random object I know I will need to thrive tomorrow. Step 3: Stretch and Jesus Music I have never been the “yoga and relaxing music before bed” kind of person. In fact, I used to make fun of “those girls.” However, I recently decided to deep stretch the night before a soccer game to prepare for gameday. I absolutely loved the difference it made not only in my sleep quality but in the way I felt in the morning as well. I've started doing it every night. I went on Pinterest and found some stretch routines that were specifically for athletes or sleeping better. I also found a station on Pandora to help me wind down and focus on Jesus at the same time. Hillsong… I chose Hillsong… I know… so original…. Step 4: Get the Heck in Bed
At this point in the night, it is about 10:00 pm, on a good night. As soon as stretching is over, I go pee one more time (I have the bladder of a child), and get in bed. Do not ruin the wonderful stretching and winding down you have done by getting up and doing a bunch more stuff. GET IN BED!!! My goal is to be asleep by 10:30. This gives me a half an hour to answer some emails, review my calendar for the next day, call Bae, and think through my morning routine (to come in my next post). The problem
You know those things that people do or say that just make your insides turn, your eyes squint a little, and make you have to hold back a grunt of pain. Even worse than that, you know when you do these things yourself and you are so disappointed in yourself because you do those things that you hate. Regardless of if you totally relate or are super confused by the beginning of this post, I am going to share one of the things that just grinds my gears. I can’t stand it when people shame others for complaining about something just because it’s not as bad as what someone else is struggling with. For example, Friend 1 – “I am having a bad day, and I feel so overwhelmed. I only got 4 hours of sleep last night and I still have a project to finish.” Friend 2 – “Oh please, you are fine. I had to drive my friend to the hospital last night, my dog died today, my boyfriend broke up with me, and I have been diagnosed with diabetes. You should not be complaining.” Although the conversation may or may not be as extreme as the example given, this dialog happens on the daily. Sometimes it is someone else telling us to suck it up because they have it rougher than we do. Other times, to my dismay, we are the ones telling others that they should keep their pain to themselves because our suffering is worse. My selfish “I’ve had it worse” conversations usually include the phrase “at least____” Friend from school – “man this semester has been really rough” Me, without even asking why their semester is rough, - “at least you don’t have a concussion. This is absolutely unacceptable for two reasons. 1) People in this world are hurting. Just because they are not hurting in the same way or as bad as you are, does not mean that they are not in pain. By making people feel like they are not allowed to be upset by upsetting things, we are forcing them to hold in reactions to everyday life that they need to have. You can’t work through something being a problem if you are told that it’s not a problem at all. 2) I don’t remember anywhere in the Bible where Jesus told his followers that their petty human problems were inferior and not important. He was going to suffer in the worst way and die, which is obviously worse than anything these petty humans were facing, yet he never made their needs or concerns inferior. Jesus healed and helped people with all kinds of struggles big and small regardless of what he was stressed about or going through. The solution Guys, we have to start loving each other again. There is no pride to be taken in your life being worse than somebody else’s unless you are sharing how great God has been in your tough times. This world does not need to know that it could be worse. They need to know that, with God, it can get better. That they have the same hope in their struggle that you have. As I’m thinking about what I want to do with my life, when I want to graduate, where I want to work, and what I want my future to hold, I saw this quote, “Be the woman you needed when you were younger.” What a concept! I am going to go out on a limb here and assume that there is another young person out there who needs the same person I needed when I was their age.
For me, I needed someone to let me feel. I grew up thinking that all of my “feelings” were wrong, inappropriate, and maybe even sinful. I don’t know why I felt this way, but no one ever told me differently. I constantly felt like I wasn’t allowed to cry or that I needed to suck it up. I felt as though my anger was never justified or acceptable. I even felt like happiness and glee were inappropriate more than it was acceptable. I needed someone to sit me down and let me feel the way I felt. Don’t get it confused. I didn’t need someone to justify my actions, throw me a pity party, or enable me. I needed someone to establish that no matter what the situation was, the feelings I had were real feelings that I was really having. Like a normal person. I think this is a huge reason why I am majoring in psychology. I want to look in the eyes if a young person and for them to see that I accept the way they are feeling is ok with me because it’s real. So, I don’t know about you guys. Who did you need when you were younger? How is this question going to shape the way you treat younger people you have an influence on? Bring someone else along with you on your rise, Brooklyn If there is one character quality that I could say I possessed 100%, it would be fearful. I am afraid of literally everything. I’m afraid of failure, people, loud noises, darkness, traveling, new places, change, my own feelings, everyone else’s feelings, and making others angry. I am especially afraid of screwing my life up with bad decisions I make as a young adult. I am afraid of being thousands of dollars in debt. I am afraid of getting a divorce or living a miserable married life because I picked the wrong man. I am afraid of not being able to parent children well. My goal in life for the last 10 years or so has been to live a life as safe as possible. I don’t do danger, risk, or surprises. Any of you who has ever lived a faithful life for God know that this type of life is unrealistic. I have been wrestling with God for years about my future because I want to live a safe life. God, fortunately, has bigger plans for me. Do I know what these are? Heck to the no. However, He wants me to prepare for this life now. He wants me to start getting ready to live a life for him. God doesn’t want me to prepare for safety. Instead, He wants me to prepare to be dangerous for him.
Looking forward to how I will rise, Brooklyn Wow… it has been a week since my last blog post. I guess that is what happens when my anxiety controls more of my actions than my passions do. I’m sure many of you can relate. That is why I have decided to post a little bit about my anxiety.
I was diagnosed this last fall with depression and PTSD. What caused this? 16 years of constant abuse from my father. My intent here is not to have a pity party. I have had enough of those to last a lifetime. He doesn’t deserve my tears or my self-pity. Instead, I want to share the methods I use to counterattack my symptoms. My first method is people. One thing I want to do when I am freaking out, depressed, anxious, or stressed is to isolate myself from others. I have been working hard these last few semsters to perfect the art of pulling myself out of my loneliness and at least sitting in the same room as other people. Even if it is just sitting with my seven-year-old sister while she colors. My second method is God. Why isn’t the Lord my first method? Because I never remember to go to God first. Shame on me. Although it does happen occasionally, I am not going to tell an anecdote about how I will open up the bible and the verse will be exactly what I needed to hear dur dur dur. Rarely does this happen. Often times my devotions for the day (that I hadn’t done yet) have nothing to do with my current issues. However, these God-centered methods always refocus my mind onto God, his thoughts, his purposes, and his love. This brings my anxious thoughts away from my human worry. My third method to deal with potential panic attacks is to talk to myself. No, I’m not crazy. No, you aren’t crazy to try it either. Sometimes just saying what I am freaking out about out loud is all I need to realize how small the issue is. Most of the time my anxiety is about something that feels like the end of the world on the inside, but on when I get my problem on the outside I get some much-needed perspective. Believe it or not you, whoever you are, might just be wiser than you think. Talk it out with yourself. After all, who understands you better than you? I hope this is helpful and encouraging to the rest of you reading this. I was actually battling some depression when I decided to write this. Thanks for being my “people” tonight. Trying to rise, Brooklyn I love giving gifts to people. One of my favorite things in the world is wrapping Christmas presents and imagining the excitement the recipients will have when they open their gifts. When I give gifts, I am literally bursting at the seams with joy and excitement because I just can’t wait to make the other person’s day. What makes me even happier is when the recipient of my gift truly loves their gift. It fills my heart and soul with so much warmth to give a gift that brings someone else joy. So often, we talk about Jesus being a gift to us. However, it wasn’t until today that this truth really clicked for me. I always imagined that God was like, “Ugh! The humans screwed up my plans. I guess I will give my son to save them. It’s the only way really. Sigh….”
NO!!!! Today we were singing joy to the world and I was like I bet God is bursting at the seams to see us, the recipients, so happy to receive his gift. Like what a concept. God didn’t forcibly give his son to save us because he had to. He gave his son because he loved us and wanted us to have joy. And, just like when I give gifts to others, I think this brings our heavenly father plenty of joy too. I hope this helps somebody rise a little higher today, Brooklyn I have just started reading Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore. Every day or two I have been trying to read through a few of her “bible inspired” prayers until I find one that I want to focus on, memorize, and repeat for the next few days. One that truly inspired me today was her prayer from 1 Chronicles 29:11. Beth wrote, “Yours, my Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, my own heavenly Father, is the kingdom and You are exalted as head above all” (p. 23).
What if we, no, what if I truly believed these words? What if I prayed this prayer from the pit of my soul with conviction? I am a daughter of the King the ruler of heaven and earth. Why don’t I act like it? I live my life every day in a place of worry and insecurity. Is that what Jesus died for? Did Christ die that I might live my life chained to anxiety and depression? No, of course not! My savior died so that I could share in the blessings that come with being a child of God. The glitch is that I don’t really believe I’m the child of God scripture says I am. This isn’t going to change overnight, but hopefully, with a lot of prayer and a little faith on my part, I can grow to live my life from a place of faith in who my heavenly father really is. Today I caught a glimpse of who I am. I am a daughter of the King. I highly recommend, if you want to be changed through prayer and God’s word, reading this book. I ordered my copy of Praying God’s Word from www.ChristianBook.com (click the button below to take a look), but there are plenty of other retailors you can purchase a copy from. Rising because of His grace, Brooklyn Back in my day, we didn’t have black Friday shopping on Thursday night. My family, after partaking in the annual feast, we would pull the artificial Christmas tree out of the depths of some closet and have family time putting up the tree. This would take most of the night, and the rest of the decorating would take up the weekend. Thus, we would finish out November with prepping and decorating our house for the holidays. This tradition went on for years and years until…. My sister… Desi (still age 7) climbed the dang this last year. I’m not joking. She climbed the Christmas tree. She thought that because our cat did it, she could do it too. That demolished tree promptly went in the trash. This year we went black Friday shopping on thanksgiving night. It was a blast! My mom was talking to me last week about feeling weird because we didn’t have a Christmas tree in our house. I told her that I had given it some thought and: the tree is a giant idol we put up once a year in the center of our house, we put sacrifices around it, and then the whole family worships it on Christmas morning. “No,” I said, “We are going to do things differently this year.” Now, I did not propose that we opt out of all gift giving for the year, but I wanted our family to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas and not that confounded tree. *Public Service Announcement* I am not saying that Christmas trees are bad. Nor am I saying that everyone who has one is doing Christmas wrong. I am simply sharing how my family took an inconvenient situation and let God teach us through it. *Public Service Announcement Over* My mother and I decided that for our “gift from mom” we would each get $40 to spend on something from the Samaritans purse Christmas catalog. In short, the catalog is set up like any other catalog (Macy’s, Penny’s, etc...). The twist is that the things you order are for those in severe need or crisis in another country. You can order things like blankets, food, clothing, and even a goat. For more information about this wonderful opportunity to give the love of God in the form of a gift to someone in need, click on the following link. I mentioned to my boyfriend later that week how I didn’t want to have a Christmas tree in our future home together (yes, we talk about these things). He essentially responded with, “I was thinking the same thing, I’m glad the lord led your heart to the same conclusion as mine”. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Christmas trees. I’m not saying I intend to boycott the trees and never have anything resembling a tree in my house. I still think they are beautiful and a wonderful symbol of such a joyful season. I do; however, want to make sure that my family (now and in the future) doesn’t confuse Christ and his purpose for our lives with gifts and a huge tree in our living room.
Still trying to strive, Brooklyn |
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