Week 15: "I love the Fall" Week

Hello! Hope you all survived the crazy Chicago storms (if you live in Chicago)! Last week was wonderful. I did rest...maybe too much. I was able to just relax, spend time with friends, read, pray, and just be still for the week. In the chaos of life, it's good and actually essential that we stop to do that otherwise life will just run us over, right?

Last week ended with one of my favorite things: a hayride and bonfire with friends and family. I love the Fall! A lot. I'm not quite sure why I love it so much. Maybe because my birthday is in September which leads up to the Fall, maybe the changing colors, maybe the crisp and cool air...I could continue on and on. This weekend, I was thinking about the summer and how I let that season pretty much pass me by. I didn't go to the beach, I only went to the drive-in once (if you know me, you know that's unusual), I didn't go to any movies in the park. Basically, I didn't do the things that I love to do in the summer. That season came and went and I was too busy to stop and enjoy it. That's not happening this Fall. This week, I plan on doing the things that I love about Fall. I am going to force some friends to carve pumpkins with me : ) , I am going to spend time outside, I'm going to put my new photography skills to use and take pictures of the displays of Fall around me, I'm going to enjoy this season.

This doesn't really have much of anything to do with "I love the Fall" Week, but since this whole Seize the Week blog is about growth, taking hold of every moment, and letting God transform and change me, I feel like I should fill you in on my life a little bit. Through various words from other people and through prayer, God has made it clear that I am supposed to be going into training to become a pastor in The Salvation Army in 2012. This will come as a shock to probably 90% of you, which is totally understandable. I myself have just started to come out of that shock. This basically means that in 2012, I will go into something like seminary for two years and then will be sent somewhere to serve God and His people. If I were to rewind back to the beginning of Seize the Week, which was 15 weeks ago, I probably would have been scared and would have figured out a way to push that thought to the side. Now, I accept what God has for me and I'm moving forward, trusting that God will close doors if in fact I heard Him wrong.

I have almost completed my paper application to go into training, and yesterday I completed a "Healthy Living Plan," which has come into effect starting today. This plan includes living healthy emotional, physically, spiritually, and socially. I guess I say all of this to show you how awesome God is. Do you realize that I have so far had a week during "Seize the Week" that stretched me in all of these areas? God has been preparing me and stretching me so that on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, I could start meeting these daily goals that I have set for myself. I'm not sure where all of you are at with God, but let me tell you that if you seek after God, you will find Him. It's a promise, not from me, but from the Bible. Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When you let God in, He starts to change you in ways unimaginable. Just think about that, ok? ok.

Week 14: A Week of Rest

Hello, friends! Sorry it has taken me so long to update you all on what this week is. This past weekend was filled with busyness, yet a lot of fun so I am not just getting around to living my "normal" life again. One of my best friends from high school got married this past weekend, and I was a bridesmaid in the wedding which was a lot of fun, but then Sunday came around and I was wiped! On the way home from the reception, I couldn't think straight, my eyes were all blurry, my body ached...I was exhausted, so this week is simply a week of rest. I don't have really any other goals than that. I have been sleeping more, I watched a movie with a friend last night, I have been reading, and praying...just being still for a little bit and relaxing. We all need some rest right? For the rest of this week, I hope you guys join me!

Also, my blog friends, do you have any suggestions for goals I could make? The next couple weeks, I have planned unless God changes those plans, but I would love to get your input! Either make a comment on my blog, facebook me, twitter me, or send me an e-mail!

Week 13: Health Week

Hello, friends! I've missed all of you guys this past week! Unplugged Week was definitely a success. I was telling a friend of mine that I felt this week was the most satisfying. I felt like God really began some work in me. Let me tell you, this week was hands down the hardest week I've done so far. I spent the week without my phone, almost totally unplugged. I did still use the Internet for work, but other than that I was unconnected. I spent a lot of time with God, which is definitely what I needed to do and enjoyed doing.

For so long, actually as long as I can remember, I have been a "social butterfly" as many people have said. I LOVE my friends and I LOVE my family, but it had come to a point where I didn't like being alone. I was too dependent upon other people. As one of my friends put it the other day, I'm too "attached." This past week, God really has started working in me, healing me, showing me that all I need is Him. It's definitely not all solved in a week- I have a long way to go, but I'm on the right path.

Thanks to those of you who sent notes of encouragement this past week. When I turned on my phone, I had at least 5 voicemails saying something like: "Hey, I know you are unplugged for the week, but I wanted to leave you a voicemail telling you that I hope your week went well. I love you." I listened to those voicemails and felt loved and supported. Thank you all for your continued support!

This week is simple. It's "Health Week." Basically, I need to get back into my work out routine, and I need to be more conscience of what I'm eating. No dieting....it doesn't work, well at least for me. Just making healthier choices and watching portions. I want to be healthy, and I want to treat my body as what it is- God's. For those of you reading this who need to get into shape and work toward being healthier, please join me! You know that it's so much easier to do this when there are people there along side you. Since I've been honest throughout this whole blog, I will continue to do so....I've struggled with overeating for as long as I can remember. I've gone back and forth, weight up and weight down, and honestly I'm sick of it. Food is something that I've put before God, and I can't do that anymore. This week, only with God's help, I am going to move toward a healthier "me." Who's going to join me???

Week 12: Unplugged Week

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope that you all had a great weekend-I definitely did. Thursday night I got the stomach flu which was awful. I threw up a billion times (not actually, maybe like 15 times), and then woke up on Friday weak and sore. It was not fun, let's just say that. This weekend was Youth Councils, so us leaders from the church took the youth to WI to hear Michael Collins speak from Vancouver, Canada. God spoke so strongly through him. Lives were changed, people were healed, chains broken, souls saved....it was amazing.

God spoke to me personally pretty strongly, and revealed me to things that will change the course of my life. I am still trying to process through everything, and I think that will take some time, but ultimately I am excited. I am blessed that God has spoken so clearly and all that's left to do is walk forward toward Him.

Michael Collins said something pretty interesting during the weekend. He asked us a couple questions: Could you live 7 days unplugged? Without our cell phones? Without our friends?

As I listened to these questions, I knew I could live with out these things but I knew that it would be extremely difficult for me. I have talked about this before, but I like to be with other people. It is hard for me to be alone, and most days I hate being alone. I think there's something wrong with that. I know that we are created to be in relationship with one another, but what I miss is that the most important thing is to be in relationship with God. I am starting to realize that a small part of why I love to plan events for my friends and I'm always the one making plans, is that I'm afraid no one else will-that I'll be shoved to the side because no one cares to go out of their way to spend time with me. Yikes. I actually typed that out. It's true though, and if I don't continue to confront these things in my life, then I will never change.

So this week is "Unplugged Week." What exactly does this mean? For starters, no Facebook, Twitter, Four Square, or blogging. Honestly, I would have gotten rid of Facebook a long time ago (I actually did a couple times) if it wasn't such a awesome advertising tool. Maybe that's just an excuse, I don't know. The only time I'll be online is to do my job. Also, no phone. This will be a new one for me. No cell phone for 7 days. This means being unplugged from family and friends, which I think will be the hardest thing for me. I want to again point out that I don't see anything wrong with any of these things I'm giving up, but what God is shown me is that I am much too dependent on other things when I should be only dependent on Him. I am sick of these stupid insecurities and the way I feel so easily tossed to the side by people but that's what happens when you see your identity in anything or anyone other than God. No more. God has shown me way to much this weekend to ignore these things any longer.

Well, here we go. Join me if you'd like. Pray for me this week, because I'm sure that Satan will use this week to attack me with lies. For any one who knows me just a little, you know that this week will be difficult, but I'm ready for it.

Week 11, Day 4

I will admit that this week has been pretty rough as far as actually meeting my goal. I think I just picked the wrong week to sit down and read. I've been babysitting 3 kids/house sitting for the last couple nights, which you mothers out there will know that by the time you actually have the time to read, you basically just fall asleep with the book in your hand.

Also, I haven't none of the libraries around the area have this book "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," which is actually pretty interesting. I am bound and determined to read it though.
This weekend I am off to a youth retreat with the teens from my youth group, so I'm hoping that I might be able to find some time during free time to read by the little lake that's there.

Just to educate you guys a little bit, here are the 10 Most Challenged titles in 2009:

• ttyl; ttfn; l8r; g8r by Lauren Myracle
• And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
• Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
• The Color Purple by Alica Walker
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Here's the thing: I've read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Color Purple. I loved both of the books- they're classics! And I can't imagine not allowing kids in school to read these. But I also know that I wouldn't want my young children reading just anything.

What are your guys' thoughts about banning books? I'd love to hear opinions.

Week 11: Reading Week

Identity week was an awesome week. I feel like God is slowly working on me and showing me how He sees me. I had a conversation with my friend the other night, and it was great yet quite convicting. God has done some amazing things in her life, and I want that for my life too. She is becoming comfortable with herself, and she's seeing herself as God sees her. She has taken time to sit there with God in the stillness and listen to what He's saying. I need to do that more often. I will admit that I have a hard time sitting still and listening, resting, abiding in Him. The thing is, I could talk about how I want to grow and be stretched and how I want to develop into the woman God created me to be, but if I don't stop and take the time to be with God then nothing will happen. God has told me to abide in Him; now I need to listen and do just that.

Now onto Week 11 which is reading week. When I was at Trinity going to college, every October they had reading weekend, and we'd get a Friday off to, well, read. I will admit that I very rarely used that Friday to read, but now that I'm "grown up" I want to take that time to read. And it just so happens that this week is "Banned Books Week." Check out this website for more detailed info about this week: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/info.html

The website explains: "Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982...Their targets range from books that explore contemporary issues and controversies to classic and beloved works of American literature."

Honestly, there is a part of me that thinks that certain books maybe shouldn't be put in elementary or middle school libraries depending on the type of content, but I see no reason in banning books from bookstores and libraries. I was shocked when I actually saw the top 10 books that were challenged in 2009. As the week goes on, I will update my blog every so often with different books that were banned, reasons for being banned, and I will use this week to get back into my love for reading. After work today, I'm heading to the library to see if they have the book "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," which is listed #3 on the American Library Association's Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009. I'm feeling rebellious....this is going to be fun : )

Week 10, Day 5 & 6

I first want to give you guys some verses that I find helpful to read through when I am struggling with identity issues. My goal is to actually memorize some of these verses.

• 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you-although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a rice; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
• 1 Corinthians 12: 27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
• (still trying to figure out how this is played out in my life) Colossians 2:9-10: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
• Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Those verses always encourage me. I've also been doing some reading this week. I picked up a book called "When Wallflowers Dance" by Angela Thomas. I have actually read this book before. I read it the beginning of the second semester of my senior year in college, and it was during a really rough season in my life. My heart was kind of broken by a guy I really liked, I felt alone, I was hiding big time in my busyness and friends were being neglected because I didn't "have time" for them. I think back to that season and just see it as a dark, low point in my life. Any way, I read this book during that time and God totally spoke through it. I honestly don't remember much about this book other than I was healed during reading it. I'm picking the book back up again, not because I'm at a low point, but because I remember God speaking to me about my identity through it. My friend AJ gave it to me because God really spoke to her through it too. In one of the beginning chapters it poses a question: "What if the woman I have always dreamed of becoming is the woman God envisioned when He dreamed of me?"

With all my heart, I want to grow into the woman God envisioned when He dreamed of me. And the thing is-that woman is already inside of me. I just think she might be buried under fear, insecurity, some bitterness, pain over rejection....but she's going to surface eventually. And when she does...it's going to be awesome : )