Holding Pattern

It is time for yet another lesson from the gym.


I know that some of you think that the best lesson from the gym is to avoid it altogether, but this last week, I learned something new.


The new trainer with whom I am working has started a new pattern in my routine.  He has incorporated a "holding pattern" in my weight training.  My workout partners and I have to "hold" in a neutral position the same amount of time we are lifting the weights.


It does not seem like this would be hard, but the holding is often more difficult than the weight lifting itself.  I am much more sore the next day after such a workout.  I am certain that I am stronger as well because of it.


This is true in my spiritual life as well.  I think "holding patterns" are MUCH harder than times of action.  I think that is why there are so many instances of the word "wait" in the Bible (129).


One such example is Psalm 27:14.   "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."


I think it is brilliant that sandwiched between the call to wait is the call to be strong.  Why?  Because the Psalmist knew it would take strength to be in a holding pattern.


Are you in a holding pattern with God?  Is He calling you to wait on Him in the situation you are currently facing? 


The process will make you stronger (and possibly a bit sore).


Amberly

Tick Tock

I love 24.


I admit it.


I know it is fraught with violence, stress, spicy language, and a high body count, but it is just so much fun.


It is fun to leave housework and the demands of the day for 42 minutes (we watch it without commercials) and whisk away to (in this season), to England to watch Jack Bauer save the day.


Genesis 6:9 "This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God."


Jack Bauer makes the most of the time he has.  Noah clearly made the most of the time he had as well; so much so that the people that lived at the same time were struck by his righteousness.


Although I will never save the day, I hope that God uses me to display His glory through a righteousness life and a life marked by a faithful walk.


Tick Tock...


Amberly

Ick on a plate

Yesterday, I found an article in the Huffington Post that talked about the 10 disgusting things we eat of which we may or may not be aware.  Secretions from the anus of beavers is one of them - seems it is used in vanilla flavored items.  I am not excited about consuming beaver ANYTHING much less  stuff from its back end.


Ugh.  I have resolved to never eat anything that might closely resemble vanilla flavored from now on.


Does this ever happen to you?  You are made aware of something and it strengthens your resolve to avoid something for a time, although often we "return to our folly" or in this case, our vanilla flavoring.


I want to be stronger than that.  I want my resolutions to be resolute.  I want all the vanilla items in my life to be legitimate.


I am glad that God never goes back on His promises.  He never resolves to do something only to fail when tempted. 


He is good.  Even when I am weak. :)

Psalm 89:2 "I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself."

Blessings!  Amberly


Just in case you are interested, the article can be found at:  Gross foods
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/gross-food-ingredients/

LENTrance

Years ago, early in my teaching assignment at a Lutheran School, I had an interesting epiphany.

On one particular day, a teaching peer was walking down the hall.  This beautiful woman was also one of my daughter's first grade teachers and I respect her like crazy.  It was my admiration for her that behooved me to let her know when something was awry.

She had a large smudge on her forehead.  It looked like pencil or dark chalk.  Right in the middle of her forehead.  Before she walked into class, I managed to get her attention and tell her about the smudge by rubbing my forehead.  She politely smiled and said, "It is Ash Wednesday".  Ugh.  How embarrassing.

After correcting me, she entered the classroom.  She said that as soon as she walked in, a beautiful blond 6 year-old (my daughter) looked up and whispered, "Mrs. Fortnum" and rubbed her forehead.

She admitted that although we are terrible Lutherans, she discovered that we are good friends that day.

Friends are willing to point out smudges and missteps.  They let you know about the broccoli in your teeth and love you enough to tell you the truth.

I am blessed to have some of those friends in my life.  Truth tellers.

The conversations we share are not always painless, but they make me stronger.

Business guru, Ken Blanchard once said, "Feedback is the breakfast of champions".

I pray that you have friends who give you feedback and make you a better person.

By the way, happy Ash Wednesday.

Amberly

AUTO-matic

It figures.

We are two weeks away from having enough money saved up to put a down payment on a new (used) car for Scott and his steering goes out.

Really?

We were driving home Friday and 1/4 of a mile from the house, it peters out.  Scott had it towed to our favorite mechanic, but since it was Friday and they only have one tech. on Saturday, we still do not know what the prognosis is...I am not looking forward to finding out how much this repair is going to cost.

Ugh!

We want to sell this car as soon as possible.  It has not been a good car (riddled with issues, etc.), but hopefully, it will perform better for someone else.  The used car we bought before that threw a rod and was rendered useless at 84,000 miles.   Let us hope that this next one is a better investment...

Then I was reminded in the sermon today that more than 80% of the world's population lives on $10 a day (globalissues.org).

How can I complain?  I am safe.  I am loved.  I have water to drink.  I have $11.37 in my wallet. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself.

Looks like a new car is the least of me worries.  I need a new attitude.

Can you relate?

Amberly

Sleep Deprivation

I had the honor of being a counselor at Hume Lake Christian Camp this weekend.  I had eight junior high girls in my cabin and once there, we enjoyed the snow, great worship, unhealthy snacks, fun games, and one another's company. 

The one thing I did NOT enjoy was the nighttime.  Despite the small windows of sleep the schedule allowed, one of the girls in my cabin refused to let me sleep.

The first morning she awoke at 5 a.m. and walked around the room until I finally mandated that she return to her bed.

The next night, she "lost" her pillow a few times and in order to find it, she turned on the main light three times (once at 1:15, once at 2:18, and once at 3:37).  I finally offered her my pillow to STOP her insanity.

I nearly got ugly.

You see, I need my sleep.  I can run a small country when I have sufficient sleep.  I cannot even run myself without sleep.

Psalm 4:8 reminds me, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

I love that God not only promises us sleep, but rest... we need only acquiesce to His "making" us find safety in Him.

Are you having trouble sleeping?     Is it insomnia or a lack of trust?  Or a seventh grader who is restless?  No matter the cause, the solution is God's peace.

Sleep sweet.
Amberly

Beyonce upon a time

I love Siri.

Siri is the "voice" of Apple products that serves to answer questions, be a "knowledge navigator", and be a source of entertainment.

One of my students has "taught" Siri to call her "Beyonce".  Her given name is Morgan, but her favorite singer inspires her so that she wants the digital personal assistant to call her by the star's moniker.

Although Siri addresses her correctly, when Morgan asks Siri "What is my name?", Siri says, "your name is Morgan, but you wish for me to call you Beyonce".

We can pretend we are someone we are not.

We can pretend that we are a famous singer, or a mom who has it all together, or part of a perfect marriage.  We can pretend and possibly fool others, but we cannot fool God.

He knows.  He knows our name.  He knows our desires.  He knows our disappointments. He knows our struggles.

And He loves us anyway.

I need to be reminded of that today.

I have called myself many names today: defeated, overeater, disappointment.

But He calls me "beloved daughter".

That is better than anything I could train Siri to call me.

Amberly