Posted on: January 15, 2010 by Terri
I’ve just started doing the On Demand workouts with Jillian Michaels. For those of you who know me, you know that tight abs, muscular arms and a trim physique have always been a struggle for me to achieve. During this morning’s workout, Jillian said something that made sense. She said, “You can’t phone it in, you have to do the work!” Her comment made me think about the areas in my life where I have done the work. The results do come.
I made the decision to follow Jesus some 10 years ago which for me meant committing to do the work - the work of developing my relationship with him, reading and learning the Bible, serving in my church, giving my money and sharing my faith with others. I could have just walked out of the baptism tub and returned to the day-to-day, but I wanted so badly to change who I was! I wanted self-esteem, I wanted to accept and see other people the way God did instead of judging them, I wanted to contribute to something significant, I wanted others to get the same new life I’d been given.
Whether it’s spiritual growth or exercise, the work isn’t easy; it takes time and priority adjustments. The person I was 10 years ago is pretty much gone. I think my family and friends would agree. The hard work has gotten me amazing results. The physical changes are coming a bit more slowly, but Jillian’s comment encouraged me to continue to do the work in both areas of my life.
Phoning in our desire to change isn’t an option. We need to do the work.
Tags: acceptance, clear, God, heart, jesus, Relationship, study, Women Filed Under: Bible, Connecting with God, Faith, Prayer, Relationships, Women
Posted on: September 18, 2009 by Terri
I read the first 4 chapters of Luke this morning. I love Luke’s Gospel! It tells us there’s a place in God’s plan for everyone, there’s good news, women have a role, there’s concern for the poor, sinners, family. Two statements stuck with me this morning and made me smile. The first is chapter 2, verse 19, it says this: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. This is following the shepherds’ visit after Jesus’ birth and their decision to tell everyone about him. The second statement is the same, but is written after Joseph and Mary leave Jesus, who’s a boy, in Jerusalem and have to go back to find him. He asks them why they’re searching for him, didn’t they know he had to be in his Father’s house. They’re confused by what he says, but he goes back home and is obedient to them. The statement comes again in chapter 2, verse 51: But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
My family’s not close to being like Mary, Joseph and Jesus, but I treasure things in my heart just like Mary. Things like my youngest grandbaby saying “gommer” as his pushes my face toward his wanting my attention. At 2, he can say my name. Or my middle grandchild running to me and putting his arms around my neck when he hasn’t seen me in awhile and my oldest grandchild saying she misses me and asks when am I coming over for dinner. It’s when my 28 yr. old son and my 22 yr. old daughter call me “mama.” It’s watching my oldest daughter mother her children. Watching and experiencing them is pretty incredible.
Storing up treasures in our hearts brings us feelings of delight, love, happiness, laughter, respect and admiration. We don’t have to be a mom or a grandmom to do this either, we can store up all sorts of things from all those we love in our lives. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Mary and the feelings she must have had. I do know the feelings I have and at times my heart could burst out of my chest it’s so full of amazing feelings for my loved ones.
Read the beginning chapters in Luke, start there and then ponder all the things that are in your heart like Mary did.
