I am loving this week! I have sent out 6 "Love Letters" so far, and it has been awesome writing down and reflecting on how these people have impacted my life. Also, it's interesting because I felt that God laid it on my heart to write letters to friends that I have been having a hard time with or who I've felt hurt by. At first, I wasn't so thrilled but as I was writing these letters, I felt the hurt go away. As I focused on the positive things about these people, I began to see more of God in them. Does that make sense? Any way, so far "Love Letter" week as been suprisingly healing!
Also, I LOVE the stationary that I bought for this week. I'm going to get my hands on a camera and take a picture to post : )
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Week 2: Love Letters
Happy Monday, everyone! My first week went very well, and it was a great start to Seize the Week. I feel like God confirmed that this project will be one that grows and shapes me, and I'm excited for that!
Week 2 is "Love Letter" week, and it is inspired by my grandma. I'll explain....Early yesterday morning, my grandma gave my family and I quite the scare. She woke up and had the chills to the point where she was shaking uncontrollably, which then triggered an anxiety attack. She wasn't speaking coherently and was acting very strange, so we rushed her to the emergency room. A little background on my grandma: She's been living with my parents for about 5 years, which has been ever since my grandfather passed away. The year that my grandpa passed away, I went to live with my grandma for a semester which happened to be my senior year in high school. It was difficult to see how quickly my grandma's health had deteriorated after my grandpa passed. It was almost as if she stayed strong to help grandpa with his health problems, but as soon as he passed, she felt she could let go and receive the medical attention she had needed all along. I woke up early every morning to get her out of bed, take her to the bathroom, make her meals in the morning and then the night when I got home from school. I listened to her talk to grandpa as she was falling asleep, watched as she cried and cried about how much she missed him.....it was intense physically and emotionally, but my love for my grandma kept me going. Then everyone decided that she needed to move in with my family, especially since I was leaving for college. The transition of living with my family was a rough one and is a strain especially on my mom, but she is family and my parents and sisters have adjusted.
My grandma's health dramatically changed for the better, despite the minor setbacks here and there. After moving away for college, I grew apart from my grandma to the point where I have a hard time talking with her now. I'm honestly not quite sure why, and I can honestly tell you that it breaks my heart. Well, maybe I do know why and just haven't let go of past hurts. Now fast forward to yesterday as I was sitting with my grandma in the emergency room. The doctor said that she says pneumonia, and she's going to be just fine. So don't worry- she's ok! As I sat there thinking about my relationship with my grandma, she tells me a story about the last time she was in the hospital. She had a nurse that had just gotten married a week or so before and that nurse asked my grandma if she had any advice for a newly wed. Grandma thought for a while and said, "Never go to bed angry. Me and my husband would fight...a lot, but each night as we were about to go to sleep, we would talk it through. We did this except for one night, which happened to be the night before he died." The nurse took the advice, and I'm sure that it was a piece of advice she wouldn't soon forget. As my grandma said this to me, tears started rolling down my face. She said "Amanda, don't take for friends or family for granted. Don't leave a fight unresolved, and cherish the ones you love."
God had His hand in this whole emergency room visit. I was able to spend time with my grandma for the first time in a long time, and I have a new appreciation for her. Week 2 is inspired by my grandma because I want to take her advice seriously. I sometimes take my family and friends for granted. If you know me, you know that I am intentional person who loves to show people that I love them, but there are times I forget. Every day this week, I am writing two "Love Letters" to 2 people in my life, so a total of 14 people will get a letter. I want to make sure the people in my life know the impact that they've made on my life and know how much I love them. I praise God for the gentle reminders He speaks through people in our lives.
Week 2 is "Love Letter" week, and it is inspired by my grandma. I'll explain....Early yesterday morning, my grandma gave my family and I quite the scare. She woke up and had the chills to the point where she was shaking uncontrollably, which then triggered an anxiety attack. She wasn't speaking coherently and was acting very strange, so we rushed her to the emergency room. A little background on my grandma: She's been living with my parents for about 5 years, which has been ever since my grandfather passed away. The year that my grandpa passed away, I went to live with my grandma for a semester which happened to be my senior year in high school. It was difficult to see how quickly my grandma's health had deteriorated after my grandpa passed. It was almost as if she stayed strong to help grandpa with his health problems, but as soon as he passed, she felt she could let go and receive the medical attention she had needed all along. I woke up early every morning to get her out of bed, take her to the bathroom, make her meals in the morning and then the night when I got home from school. I listened to her talk to grandpa as she was falling asleep, watched as she cried and cried about how much she missed him.....it was intense physically and emotionally, but my love for my grandma kept me going. Then everyone decided that she needed to move in with my family, especially since I was leaving for college. The transition of living with my family was a rough one and is a strain especially on my mom, but she is family and my parents and sisters have adjusted.
My grandma's health dramatically changed for the better, despite the minor setbacks here and there. After moving away for college, I grew apart from my grandma to the point where I have a hard time talking with her now. I'm honestly not quite sure why, and I can honestly tell you that it breaks my heart. Well, maybe I do know why and just haven't let go of past hurts. Now fast forward to yesterday as I was sitting with my grandma in the emergency room. The doctor said that she says pneumonia, and she's going to be just fine. So don't worry- she's ok! As I sat there thinking about my relationship with my grandma, she tells me a story about the last time she was in the hospital. She had a nurse that had just gotten married a week or so before and that nurse asked my grandma if she had any advice for a newly wed. Grandma thought for a while and said, "Never go to bed angry. Me and my husband would fight...a lot, but each night as we were about to go to sleep, we would talk it through. We did this except for one night, which happened to be the night before he died." The nurse took the advice, and I'm sure that it was a piece of advice she wouldn't soon forget. As my grandma said this to me, tears started rolling down my face. She said "Amanda, don't take for friends or family for granted. Don't leave a fight unresolved, and cherish the ones you love."
God had His hand in this whole emergency room visit. I was able to spend time with my grandma for the first time in a long time, and I have a new appreciation for her. Week 2 is inspired by my grandma because I want to take her advice seriously. I sometimes take my family and friends for granted. If you know me, you know that I am intentional person who loves to show people that I love them, but there are times I forget. Every day this week, I am writing two "Love Letters" to 2 people in my life, so a total of 14 people will get a letter. I want to make sure the people in my life know the impact that they've made on my life and know how much I love them. I praise God for the gentle reminders He speaks through people in our lives.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Week 1, Day 4- Set Apart
So I have fasted before, but never like this. The first couple days were quite comfortable but I'm pretty sure that's how fasting is supposed to be. Christ's sacrifice for us was pretty comfortable too, wouldn't you say? Getting over being sick plus fasting makes for a weak body, and I must say that I've already learned (or re-learned) some things about myself. I am far too ok with being busy. My co-worker has been forcing me to take it easy (bless his heart) and that has actually been very hard for me. I've only been working about 6 hour days, and that's very weird for me. I find myself wanting to go into work earlier and staying later, but my co-worker is insistent on me getting rest to recover from the insane amount of hours I've worked in the last month or so.
I feel like God is confirming the fact that this "Seize the Week" project that I'm doing is a good thing. If you know me, you know that I am the type to give of myself until I am totally empty, which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Also, you would know that I like to keep busy, and I tend to thrive best when in chaos. But I think that God has something different in store for me. I am too used to relying on my own strength, and I'm too used to pushing myself aside all the time. This year of making goals for myself and meeting them is something that is going to be foreign but life changing for me.
I also have realized that this year will be impossible without God. So...I'm adding more to "Seize the Week" which is really something I should have been doing already, but every day I am going to first make time with God. I've decided to start with a study in the book of Romans. I started today with Romans 1:1-17. As you readers follow my blog, feel free to do join me in these studies! The first part of this study is "Will You Take the Call?" Paul is writing a letter to the Romans, and in the first verse, describes himself as a "servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God..." I want to be that. I AM that, so I need to walk in it. The world is filled with chaos and insanity, people running around like chickens with their heads cut off, running on their own strength, doing things without God. I am not doing that any more. What about you?
I feel like God is confirming the fact that this "Seize the Week" project that I'm doing is a good thing. If you know me, you know that I am the type to give of myself until I am totally empty, which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Also, you would know that I like to keep busy, and I tend to thrive best when in chaos. But I think that God has something different in store for me. I am too used to relying on my own strength, and I'm too used to pushing myself aside all the time. This year of making goals for myself and meeting them is something that is going to be foreign but life changing for me.
I also have realized that this year will be impossible without God. So...I'm adding more to "Seize the Week" which is really something I should have been doing already, but every day I am going to first make time with God. I've decided to start with a study in the book of Romans. I started today with Romans 1:1-17. As you readers follow my blog, feel free to do join me in these studies! The first part of this study is "Will You Take the Call?" Paul is writing a letter to the Romans, and in the first verse, describes himself as a "servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God..." I want to be that. I AM that, so I need to walk in it. The world is filled with chaos and insanity, people running around like chickens with their heads cut off, running on their own strength, doing things without God. I am not doing that any more. What about you?
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Week 1: Bread and Water
Hello to anyone to will be reading this blog during this year! I am excited to be writing this first post, and honestly a little nervous. Why I am nervous, I really have no idea other than I am committing myself to doing something every day for the next year. Let me explain...
Let's start with a little background info on me: My name is Amanda, and I live in Blue Island, IL. I work for The Salvation Army as the Program Director, and I am also the youth director there. I have a heart for reaching out to teens and talking to them about God. I love God with all my heart and do my best to live that out. I have two younger sisters, a mom, and a dad whom I am blessed to have in my life. I also have the most beautiful niece and goddaughter, and they bring such joy to my life! My friends are a huge part of my life, and God has blessed me with some pretty amazing ones. I am 23, single, and I have my whole life ahead of me....
Now, do you ever feel like life is just kind of passing you by? Maybe it's just me, but I have a feeling there are others who feel this way from time to time. My life is, and always has been, pretty busy. I sometimes work long hours, do my best to keep in touch with friends, travel to Indiana frequently to see my family, keep busy with church events and activities, participate in a women's small group, attempt to keep my house clean.....you get the point. Life can be busy not just for me, but for most people in general.
Here's the thing: I don't want to live my life surrounded by such busyness that I don't take the time to have some fun, go on some adventures, and live a full life. I believe that God wants a deep, meaningful realtionship with each one of us. I believe that He wants us to take the time to recognize the blessings He has given us, and He wants to see us living a life that fully takes on each opportunity that He throws our way. I am making a choice to seize those opportunities!
"Seize the Week: Carpe Septem Dies" is what I am calling a year long project in which I make 52 different week long goals for myself (Thank you Ryan Perisin for coming up with the name). A couple examples: One week will be "Letter Week" which means I will write and send out a letter to someone different every day that week. Another week will be "Chicago Week" which means I will be headed to places I've never been before in Chicago each day of the week. Make sense?
This week I am starting with a week long fast, bread and water only. A good friend of mine suggested this for the first week, and I agreed that it was a great way to kick off the project. My prayer is that God will be present on each of my adventures this year, and that my relationship with Him will grow to a new level. I am going to start making time for ME, which is something I have never really done before.
I will blog and Twitter about my goals each week. I will write at least three blogs during the week, recording how the goal for that week is going. I will also upload pictures as I take them. I need 52 goals, so if you have any ideas, feel free to Twitter me (AmandaKeene9) or e-mail me at seizetheweek@gmail.com. I hope that you continue to follow me on this journey! Let the games begin!
Let's start with a little background info on me: My name is Amanda, and I live in Blue Island, IL. I work for The Salvation Army as the Program Director, and I am also the youth director there. I have a heart for reaching out to teens and talking to them about God. I love God with all my heart and do my best to live that out. I have two younger sisters, a mom, and a dad whom I am blessed to have in my life. I also have the most beautiful niece and goddaughter, and they bring such joy to my life! My friends are a huge part of my life, and God has blessed me with some pretty amazing ones. I am 23, single, and I have my whole life ahead of me....
Now, do you ever feel like life is just kind of passing you by? Maybe it's just me, but I have a feeling there are others who feel this way from time to time. My life is, and always has been, pretty busy. I sometimes work long hours, do my best to keep in touch with friends, travel to Indiana frequently to see my family, keep busy with church events and activities, participate in a women's small group, attempt to keep my house clean.....you get the point. Life can be busy not just for me, but for most people in general.
Here's the thing: I don't want to live my life surrounded by such busyness that I don't take the time to have some fun, go on some adventures, and live a full life. I believe that God wants a deep, meaningful realtionship with each one of us. I believe that He wants us to take the time to recognize the blessings He has given us, and He wants to see us living a life that fully takes on each opportunity that He throws our way. I am making a choice to seize those opportunities!
"Seize the Week: Carpe Septem Dies" is what I am calling a year long project in which I make 52 different week long goals for myself (Thank you Ryan Perisin for coming up with the name). A couple examples: One week will be "Letter Week" which means I will write and send out a letter to someone different every day that week. Another week will be "Chicago Week" which means I will be headed to places I've never been before in Chicago each day of the week. Make sense?
This week I am starting with a week long fast, bread and water only. A good friend of mine suggested this for the first week, and I agreed that it was a great way to kick off the project. My prayer is that God will be present on each of my adventures this year, and that my relationship with Him will grow to a new level. I am going to start making time for ME, which is something I have never really done before.
I will blog and Twitter about my goals each week. I will write at least three blogs during the week, recording how the goal for that week is going. I will also upload pictures as I take them. I need 52 goals, so if you have any ideas, feel free to Twitter me (AmandaKeene9) or e-mail me at seizetheweek@gmail.com. I hope that you continue to follow me on this journey! Let the games begin!
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