Week 40: A Week of Water

Hello, friends! Welcome to week 40! Re-cap of last week: It was a great week, and this past weekend was amazing. I think I've finally found content in being by myself as well as in being with others. I went to see a movie with a friend this past Friday, and then Saturday I spent mostly by myself. But I love every minute of my Saturday. I went to the Quincy Flag day parade. I got there really early and found my spot where I read and did devotions before the parade started. Then after the parade, there were fireworks. I LOVE fireworks. It was just a beautiful, peaceful day. I was very content.

This past Sunday after Teen Night, I took one of the teens home. It was a beautiful night, so after I dropped her off, I took an impromptu drive over to the beach. My goodness, it was the perfect night-nice and cool, the sunset was beautiful, and the view of the water was amazing. That night I knew that this week would be focused on water somehow.

This week is very simple. Quincy is honestly the perfect location. I am minutes away from Boston, within walking distance of the "T" which is like the "L" in Chicago. Also, there is water everywhere. I can drive or walk to a beach which I wasn't able to do in Chicago. I feel like I need to take advantage of that! This week my plan is do simply be by water. For example, last night I went to Wollaston Beach right after my workout. I read, did devotions, memorized scripture, just sat there soaking in the view, listening to some music, etc. I was there for about 3 hours. I watched the sun set. It was amazing. I'm reading a book called "Can you Hear Me?" It's a book about tuning in and listening to God who is already speaking. I read some of the book last night, and I did some of the exercises that go with it. God spoke clearly. It's amazing what happens when you actually take the time to listen. The author talked about God using every day situations to speak to us, and so I paused and thought about what God might be trying to say to me. Then pretty quickly, the thought came to me that there was significance in what I had done last night. I had come to the beach, spent time with God, waiting for the sunset and when I saw that sunset, it was beautiful. I felt God saying to be, "Wait on me, for my perfect timing, and you will see and experience something beautiful." There is a lot that I'm waiting on God for, so this was such an encouragement to me. Any way, all this to say: I'm really looking forward to a peaceful week at the beach with God.

I will do my best to upload pictures at the different beaches I go to this week. Part of my goal is to go to a different beach or wharf every day. I took this picture last night. Beautiful, right?

Week 39: A Week to Be Content

Hey, everyone! What a week and a half it's been! Last week was awesome. For real, it was life changing. I am doing so well. There are still things here and there that I have trouble with, but that's life, right? My perspective and outlook has changed, I am confident that God has everything under control, and I know that He's doing something pretty amazing in my life right now. I love it. I'm still doing "A Call to Die." I just finished the 24th day of the study, and I'm still loving it.

I was thinking earlier today that this blog has made an interesting turn. For the most part, I had a plan of how these weeks would go, but almost every week has changed. It's been a lot about me and working through my own personal stuff inside, which is great but different than I expected. These goals for the weeks haven't been as tangible as I thought, but I still love it. I have learned so much in these 39 weeks. It's crazy to think about where I was 39 weeks ago...so much has changed. Many things I miss, but there are others things that I'm grateful have changed.

I have a hard time living in the moment, being content with where I'm at. I have this annoying tendency to think I should be doing more or should be doing less, never really taking the time to appreciate where I'm at. I don't really ever look at myself and think "Well done, Amanda" which I know isn't good. First of all, anything good is because of God's grace so in a sense it's not really me doing them. I'm obedient because of God's grace. I think too often I'm hard on myself, when God is just so proud of me. Does this make sense?

This week, I am going to be content with where I'm at in this season of my life. I'm going to view myself as God does, and I know that He is just so proud of me, like a father is proud of his daughter. I'm going to challenge you to do the same. There can be so much craziness around us, things we think we need to work on about ourselves, things we need to get accomplished...it's so easy to live day to day without enjoying it- without taking a look at your life at the end of the day and being grateful, being content with where you are in life and with what God is doing. This is kind of what this whole blog is about. This week I'm not going to be hard on myself. I'm going to rejoice in my obedience which is only by God's grace.

I know that a lot of my readers have different views about God, and honestly, I didn't think that this "Seize the Week" blog would be this centered around God, but I hope that you all have enjoyed reading through these posts, getting to know who I am, my struggles, my joys. I hope that you've been challenged and will continue to be challenged as we finish these last weeks. You all are great and such a support!

P.S. I've been trying to comment in response to all of your wonderful comments, but for some reason I'm having a hard time doing that...I'll keep trying!
P.P.S I took the picture at Panera. I wanted to share my favorite spot with you. I love to go to Panera and do my reading and devotions. The picture is my set up, including my favorite low fat black cherry smoothie : )

Week 38: A Week to Claim a Breakthrough

Hey, friends! Welcome to Week 38. First I want to give you an update on my life: The study I'm going through which is "A Call to Die" (see week 37) is going very well. I love it. I highly recommend it to anyone out there who is ready and willing to get closer to God, to do some serious soul searching, and to be challenged in a hard but amazing way.

Since this is the first time that I've made a big move like this, from Chicago to Boston, I really have nothing to compare it to. I find myself still missing home, wanting to go back, yet knowing that God has me here for a reason and that I need to trust Him. It's a crazy battle, believe me. I think about my friends Lisa, Amber, Rebecca, Meghan, Colleen, Everett, and a ton of other people who have made big moves, so I know that I'm not alone in that. Still the days are so up and down that sometimes I think I'm crazy! Plus, things are a little chaotic here with my bosses being sent to another Salvation Army and random other happenings that aren't ideal. I've been fighting off some depression and have fallen into it for a bit, but I see God slowly dragging me out of it, and I'm so grateful. It's one of those things where I know that no matter how lonely I get, God is with me, but sometimes it's hard to take that and have it be enough. I know that I try to be satisfied with junk and not God, and that will never work. Day 14 of my study was called "Too Full to Eat?" It was this eye opening chapter that God used to move me to action. I will summarize for you:

There is this guy Chris who served at The House of the Dying in Calcutta. Basically, Chris and the team went out onto the streets, picked people up who were dying, and brought them to this home where they would have a place to die with dignity. The workers loving and gently cared for these people. Chris would do just about anything, but he really didn't like to take out the garbage. These bags of garbage contained clothes stained with rotten flesh, hair shavings, used syringes, and scraps from the previous night's dinner. The first time Chris took out the garbage, kids came running up to the bag, tearing it open to look for scraps of food. And the kids at the food. Out of the disease filled garbage bag.

Gross, right? And that was only a summary...any way, the point was this: David Nasser writes, "Disturbing image, isn't it?! But in all honesty, how far are we from this spiritually? Can you see yourself feasting at the dumpster of this world?" Quite convicting, huh? We eat this "rotten food" every time we let ourselves be polluted by sin, by watching things we shouldn't, by gossiping, by putting others down, and "every time we try to put other things in God's place in our hearts." Needless to say, I read that day's chapter and couldn't help but to change some things in my life.

I woke up the next morning and went to work out. I am eating right, and I've decided to do my best to go to God for everything- when I'm upset and just want to go home, when I am lonely, when something great happens.

I know that a big part of me coming here to Quincy was so that God could really work on me, and believe me, He's been doing a lot. I refuse to leave this place without soaking up everything that God has for me here. I refuse to leave here and not go back home a transformed person. This summer is going to be a breakthrough in Amanda Keene's life. And this week, I am claiming that. With God's help, sin will be uprooted and thrown out and will be replaced with joy! I will walk in obedience which will lead to victory and freedom! The words of the song "Freedom" which Tanesha would sing at In-Fyuz keeps running through my head...

"I wanna lift my hands higher than before
I wanna love you more than before (oh!)
I wanna worship deeper than before
I've gotta shout louder...(oh!)

No more shackles, no more chains, no more bondage
I am free, yeah
No more shackles, no more chains, no more bondage
I am free, yeah
No more shackles, no more chains, no more bondage
I am free, yeah"

Oh, friends....just wait for it- I can already feel it....

This week is simply going to be moving forward with these changes, getting back on God's track for my life, and claiming that breakthrough in my life. As always, prayers are very very appreciated.