Commit to Community

"...don't give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing

but encourage each other and all the more..." Hebrews 10:25.

I love the way this verse beautifully reveals God's heart for community, his desire to see us committed, taking time to meet, doing life together and urging us to do so all the more with no thought of giving up.

I have a great group of friends... friends I have tried to make an effort to meet with for over 13 years. In our early years, we flocked together as often as possible in an effort to survive the most challenging season of our lives (parenting toddlers and preschoolers). We endured the loud crashes of toys they liked to dump all over the floor and the high pitched screams of, no kidding.. when we all got together, a total of 15 kids who had no problem conquring the lower realms of my bi-level home. In the chaos, we somehow used the time to encourge each other to get the parenting job done! We laughed and shared stories as we slapped 15+ peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together and scrounged up extra chairs and squeezed all 15 squirming toddlers around my kitchen table which was made to seat only six. Sometimes we even tried to pray together dispite the annoying, dramatic interruptions. It was a riot!

It's fun to have so many memories of those days... Even though it was a crazy time, it had a free and inviting way about it because there was no predetermined schedule. The flexibility in my day always allowed time for community and it grew naturally and thrived as we shared our lives raising toddlers together. I loved being available to meet needs as they came, figuring out how to best handle a bruised knee, or deciding that NOW was a good time to walk to the park and run around, or to discern that it might be a good time to stop by a friend's house to visit. Forgetting to meet together was not a problem for me in those days. So glad I experienced such a season... I am still reaping the benefits today!


But today it is a totally different story... we are all scattered in different directions, kids with school and activities, adults with jobs and responsibilities. Fitting into my new, more structured environment feels tight and I often long to re-capture the free and loose fit of earlier days. The restriction limits my freedom to go with the flow and my family and I must follow a schedule. I'm OK with it. I'm not thinking just because it's "tighter" it's "wrong". I just find it's harder to keep community in the equation because I'm always concerned about what's next on my agenda, forgetting to stop and enjoy a chance for breakfast conversation with my husband, or to whisper words of encouragement in my children's ears as leave for their day, or invite a friend to lunch to catch up. I'm trying to learn to find a new way, in this structure, to flow through my day and grasp a little community on the way. I may not have an entire afternoon to do it like I used to but still a little encouraging and connecting here and there adds up and I trust it is just as powerful.

I am convinced the gift of who we are to each other is priceless. You are a beautiful gift to me and I am a gift to you because we have stories to share with each other and somehow God uses our stories to mysteriously build us up into something even more beautiful! We need each other to live to our full potential. ~As we jouney along let's not forget to do it together! It's up to us to find ways to connect, to build up, to encourage and commit to community!


Blessings!

Heavy Basics

Personal training has not only become a great love of my life but has also forced me to explore deeper insights into becoming more physically fit. It's been fun to find the research and then consider it part of my job to test it out on myself.

I love the challenge of including the insight I'm learning in my weekly training routine. Have I said it before? I love my job!!!

Most recently I have decided in my weight training to begin to lift heavier. For years I have been using approximately the same amount of weight doing lots of repetition which is great for maintaining, however, too many times we focus on specific body parts and think if I work this area a little harder it will look the way I want it to. Lifting heavier, doing fewer reps and shifting the focus to becoming STRONGER I now believe is a better mindset. WHY? Because when your overall body becomes stronger your body composition will line up the way you want it to... tighter abs, more shapely shoulders, etc... Think about the physique of people long ago... when everyday life involved more physical labor, farming and even factory workers... or think of construction workers today. Why do they look so great physcially? Because the work they do everyday made them STRONG and a strong body is an evenly proprotioned, lean, beautiful body! Today we sit behind desks and eat junky proccessed food. No wonder we look the way we do.

If you have a choice to either jump on a tradmill or lift weights... choose the weights. Cardio conditioning is great but if you get your cardio through working a hard fast moving, power-packed weight training session with bursts of cardio interspersed between sets of lifting rather than a 30-40 minute treadmill run you will burn more fat and get more results. WHY? Because you are not only developing a stronger heart and set of lungs but you are also building muscle.

When you weight train you are breaking down your muscles, stressing them, causing micro-sized tears in the fiber. How could that be good you ask? It is, because the sore feeling you have a day later is the muscle fiber repairing itself, building itself up, getting leaner and stronger, giving you the beautiful physique and the energy you need to live life. When you weight train, your body continues to work hard hours after the workout is over. The body has to work hard to repair the micro-tears. The hard work burns more calories and even burns them as you sleep... while a cardio workout alone will stop burning calories as soon as the work out is over. A lean body is more efficient at burning fat. More lean muscle mass will work in your favor in every area of your life.

In weight training it's also advisable to stick to the basics! The basics work, always have always will. What are the basics? PUSH-UPS, SQUATS, CURLS, DEAD-LIFTS, OVERHEAD PRESS, BENCH PRESS, ROWS AND LUNGES. You can build a strong, beautiful physique doing nothing more than consistently lifting heavy with these 8 basics. A good set might be choosing an exercise and lifting 4 sets of 4 reps as heavy as you can, then do 8 sets of 8 reps with a slightly lighter weight and ending with a still lighter weight of 25 reps to max out the area you are training.

Sticking with light weights and doing tons of reps will cause your body to hit a plateau and no new growth will happen... again, ok for maintaining, but if you want to keep getting stronger challenge your muscle to lift a little heavier each time you work out. Keep a training journal to record your weight amounts and record your progress. When you reach a new goal celebrate and keep going! Decide soon to include strength training as part of your lifestyle, deciding it to be just as important as eating or sleeping, becoming consistent for the rest of your life and watch what happens!

Dainty Morsels

Can you go back to the first time your were hurt by gossip? Either from the shock you felt realizing someone would say such a thing about you or from the embarrassement and sting in your own heart when your friend found out you had said something about her? We all have done it and we all have been hurt by it.

The earliest memory I have was the time Tammy (not her real name), my worst enemy in Junior High, who also happened to be big and tough, found out from someone I thought was my friend that I had been saying things about her... I don't even remember what I was saying, probably something about how much I hated her. I confess, I did hate her because she hated me for no reason, she gave me dirty looks and would call me names to my face and laugh at me everytime I walked by... she scared the crud out of me. If you knew me back then I was shy, timid and very puny so you can imagine the scene. It was the girl's locker room. I was quietly changing back into my clothes from the obnoxious gym suits we had to wear in P.E. Tammy stomps up behind my back and just stands there so that when I turn around all I see is her towering figure staring down at me. My so called "friend" was standing behind her with a look of apology on her face as Tammy shouted... "So, I hear from Kim (not her real name) that you have been talking about me!" To my surprise I shot back at her quite confidently on the outside, heart pounding on the inside... "Yes, I did... and it's because I don't get why you hate me so much... not sure why you would be surprised... anyone would talk about a person who treats them as horrible as you treat me.... you don't even know me, ... you might find I'm a really nice person if you just gave me a chance." That's all I said and stood there waiting for a punch in the face, instead Tammy just stood there. Not knowing what to do next I turned around and finished changing my clothes. Finally she said... "are you saying you want me to give you a chance?" I turned around, rolled my eyes and said, "Um.... NO!" She had nothing else to say to me after that... and I couldn't believe I was actually walking right by her with no punch in my face or name calling. After that her dirty looks and name calling actually stopped! She simply left me alone, leaving me relieved and proud that I had stood up for myself.



We all have our silly stories that we laugh about now. For some reason I woke up today with thoughts about gossip on my mind and the various times I have been talked about and the times I have done the talking. It's such a killer. Is there anything more painful than to hear someone is saying things about you behind your back? As I reminisced I experienced the pain all over again just as if it had happened yesterday. Knowing the pain it causes, why are we so drawn by it when we are not the one being talked about and then so completely offended by it when it is us? Scripture says... "What dainty morsels rumors are-- but they sink deep into one's heart."

I know my ears have done their share of perking up to gossip... just yesterday I overheard a gossipy conversation and was able to figure out who they were talking about. I kept saying in my mind... "STOP LISTENING TO THAT!" but at the same time I was feeling pretty good because I too have had hurtful issues with this particular person and felt a sense of satisfaction in knowing I wasn't the only one who felt this way. It was as if I couldn't control my thinking... but later when I got into my car I took those thoughts and began to examine them more closely. I felt sad because the reality of it was that my heart was taking satisfaction in hearing something damaging about someone else's charatcer. Why would knowing something bad about someone else make me feel good??? OH YUCK! In my thoughts I prayed... "I'm so sorry... I have no business making judgements! How can I? I don't have all the information and even if I did I am still not in a place to judge. I am always called to love! Instead I should be praying for this person and also doing something nice for them."

Understanding the negative effects of gossip are never realized more deeply until we are on the receiving end of unfounded gossip, comprehending the real damage it causes, experiencing the helplessness and anger it creates within. In times like this release from the pain is possible. There is only One who is all knowing, who sees deeper into the heart, who evaluates the circumstances in perfect wisdom and limitless grace and mercy and who doesn't comdemn us even if the rumor has some truth to it. If I have a God like that, who regards people as precious in his sight and has made all people in his image, I too need to regard people the same way. If GOD doesn't condemn what business do I have condemning?

A change in perspective is needed to consistently live with this kind of freedom! Take my original story about Tammy... I bet she had some issues in her home life to cause her to lash out at an innocent target like me in Jr. High. If it had been possible for me to have such a mature outlook at that age it would have prevented me from gossiping about her in the first place. Maybe I could have tried talking to her about why she treated me so badly.

When we gossip about how horible people are due to their behavior towards us aren't we being just as horrible as they? What does gossiping about it accomplish? If it makes us feel better that's not saying much... it just shows there's junk in our own heart that needs to be removed.

Because I have been the target of some pretty damaging gossip in my life it has caused me to think twice about spending time with someone who talks too much! I can't help but wonder... "when she's with others does she talk about me too?" I also immediately feel sorry for the one being talked about and try not to allow what I'm hearing to have any effect on me and instead to have an even better idea in my mind about that person. Let's face it... we all have bad days, sometimes bad seasons, and instead of being the target of someone else's gossip wouldn't it be life giving to be the recipient of one who noticed the hurt and gave out love and support? Why increase the burden? Why not lighten the load with love?

It's the most powerful thing we can do... We might think gossip makes us feel more powerful but in reality it only creates a rotting effect. Love and building up others is what really empowers! I only hope I can aspire to it.

Wanting More...

Has life ever left you wanting more? As I write that question I feel guilty because as Christians we should never have such feelings, but instead should be thankful... right? "Be thankful, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We should also be content... "Be content with what you have because God has said, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you..."

So I push it all down and refuse it's there... but wait long enough and it comes back up. So I ask... what is it I want? Searching within, honestly, I'm not even sure... but I sit still with it today, still enough to notice my own deep breath and quiet longing for help and clarity as if maybe there is a 3 step formula available to me if I just seek hard enough.

I am 23 years into knowing God. Presently, it feels like I am examining my faith and my heart and why I believe what I believe. For so long I have just accepted what strongly opinionated people say (the type who seem to have God neatly packaged into a box) for fear of their wrath if I dare to disagree. The churning in more recent years keeps getting louder and it sometimes creates fear in me. I don't want to believe I'm somewhat unsettled but I cannot deny it either. I ask God about it often and confess that pat answers just don't seem to work for me anymore. It's simply where I find myself along the journey God has me on. In my "chaos" I long for the neat, clean "3 step formula". I catch myself searching for it and say to myself... "It's the 3 step formula that has gotten me through past obstacles before hasn't it?" Or so I think... nevertheless because it's been my pattern for so long I search for yet another new formula. I need the formula so I can get a hold on this... to control my life... to move on.


What does God think of my "wanting more"? I ask him that often... Is this a normal part of growth or am I having some sort of crisis or is it a type of spiritual warfare? Shouldn't it be neater and cleaner than this? One thing I do sense deeply from God as I sit with him in the chaos... He is always on my side, nothing about me will ever surprise him and he will always love me. As the apostle Paul said... HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH... no matter the situation! The anchor of love is strong enough to hold me steady and keep me safe as the water rages and the waves persist in their effort to submerge and overwhelm.



Sitting longer with these thoughts, it dawns on me... that's all I really need to know. I don't need a formula because no matter how hard I search for one or how much I believed in my fomulas of the past, in reality, there aren't any... I can't formulate love and relationship and that's what God is all about. He loves me, we have a relationship that is organic and morphing and changing all the time. He desires I know Him as best I can this side of heaven, but I keep getting in the way. He waits patiently for me to grow, change and understand. He orchestrates circumstances so my heart has the opportunity to see things more clearly or in a new way. Replacing less than ideal perspectives for new better ones. The only way to reach higher ground is through experience... hard and trying experience and not through manipulating a magical 3 step process. I don't fully know everything about my present chaos, but it is a relief in a weird kind of way to discover that the formula thinking I so often run to is not of God... He is WAY too big for that.


Thinking on the Scriptures I started this post with... I see a little more clearly....


Be content because GOD IS WITH YOU...this big God is with ME, encouraging contentment not because it's a rule to follow and I'll be zapped if I don't, but because He is with me, able to create a quiet confidence, expel fear, calm chaos, and heal hurt with mercy and compassion... I am secure even when I don't realize it or feel it because He is simply with me.

The relational aspect of God shows up too in the encouragement to be thankful... "Be thankful because it is God's will for you IN CHRIST JESUS"... Somehow I am mysteriously in Christ Jesus, secure and eternally safe, protected, loved and known, cherished and always thought of. These thoughts can only bring a sense of thanks for such love.


Formulas, though they may seem neat and clean, will leave us wanting... Understanding love is there, even in chaos and even though we can't always grasp the abiguity of it, somehow settles us securely into quiet confidence, unwavering contentment and heart felt gratitude as we press on along the journey.

Being Fit... an act of Love?

Nothing motivates me to keep up a healthy lifestyle more than knowing God is pleased by physically strong and active bodies. I don't believe He shakes his finger at us when we are sedentary, but I do believe it gives him an extra measure of joy knowing we are fit, strong and feel physically alive and healthy... just the way it gives us joy when we see our children doing well and living to their full potential. It's the way He created our bodies to function best and the way He desires to see us living. I feel most alive when I am strong both physically and spiritually.

We all know there are Biblical principles about being strong spiritually but there are also Biblical principles about being strong physically. When I feel guilty about taking the time to exercise I remind myself that Biblical principles reveal that it's simpy the right thing to do. No need for gulit as if taking time for it is selfish and ungodly, as if it's neglecting other more godly duties of life. No doubt there are many duties needing my time and attention, but a well balanced life is one that not only gives out what's needed but also receieves nourishment and times of refreshing so we might have more energy to give when duty calls.

One reason God wants us physically strong is because He wants us to have what it takes to love a world in need. He wants us around as long as possible to dish out love to the next generation. Love takes work. If we desire to love well we need the physical energy to do it. Ever notice when you're tired or run down the hardest thing to do is love... which might involve listening or putting the needs of someone else first. I admit when I'm tired, run down or lacking energy I am irritated by the needs of others and certainly not looking to meet anyones needs. I may even do the opposite of loving them, like avoiding them or even hurting or lashing out. Little things become big things and relationships break down as a result.

Taking a little time to workout is a great investment and over time produces the greater physical endurance needed to be a better me all the way around. I become a better mom, friend and wife.... a more productive employee and simply bring a little more sunshine into the world because I'm strong enough to give, contribute and offer up service... not just take, gripe and demand.

I recently read these Scriptures ...

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (sound like work??... I think so).

Psalm 127:2

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Psalm 119:73

You made me, you created me... now give me the sense to follow your commands.

Wisdom for living screams from these Scriptures don't they? ... They seem to say... "Love takes work.. do you have what it takes spiritually and physicallyto love this way?" ... spend your energy wisely so that you are strong enough to love when duty calls. Get enough rest so that you are replenished enough to have something to give a world in need and realize there are common sense things to do to ensure the best life possible. Common sense knows the human body was made to move, to take in nutritious food and to get enough rest. How's it going with that? Where ever you're at on your fitness journey whether just begining or well seasoned, any amount of activity is better than none, small steps are better than no steps, some success is better than giving up and with a lifetime ahead of you to accomplish it what would stop you from pressing on? Visualize what a little exercise along with power packed food choices and plenty of rest can do for you over the long haul and join with God as He rejoices in YOU living to your full potential in Him.

My Latest Love... Personal Training

The opportunity to teach fitness came unexpectedly over seven years ago. A younger and busier mom at the time, I started with 3 classes a week, each one leaving me anticipating the next. Today I still teach fitness, am up to 11 classes a week and still anticipate the enjoyment of every class. Where else can I show up, ... sense excitement and desire among people who actually follow my advice and DO what I say (a weary mom especially appreciates this), hear laughter as friends workout together, have a chance to teach, motivate and see people push through something difficult, hear so many thank yous everyday and then leave each time energized, encouraged and even paid to do what I love? Does it get any better? The opportunity fell into my lap after I decided to become certified in group fitness just for fun. Fast forward to today... in addition to teaching, I recently added a new aspect to my job... PERSONAL TRAINING.

What a joy it has been to meet with people one-on-one, giving them their own custom designed workout and motivating them to make fitness their new lifestyle and not just a hit or miss effort to lose a few pounds this summer. Encouraged to think long-term, people stuck in a sedentary lifestyle look up the road a few years and visualize themselves with more energy and less fatigue as they move through their day. They understand that what they do today WILL effect the qualtiy of their lives tomorrow. It's such a privelege to help them keep this vision in sight when they face obstacles or discouragement, reminding them the effects of a sedentary lifestyle didn't happen overnight and the benefits of an active lifestyle will take some time too... BUT the payoff for long haul consistency is GUARANTEED... they WILL see improvement... that's the way it works... give the human body what it needs and it will give an amazing return on the investment. In fact a WHOLE NEW BODY can be had in 2 years through perserverance and consistency! It's a change that happens on a cellular level from the inside out. Through exercise and treating your body right, old toxic cells are replaced by newer healthier cells, and over time a healthier and younger you will emerge.

Convincing people they can be younger next year is the greatest job I have been privelged to assume. Every time we meet is a chance to fill their minds with the myriad of reasons why they wouldn't want to give up and the limitless number of benefits that await them. Recently, one client came in so excited to see some definition in her biceps from all the bicep curls she has been doing this summer. She knows that building lean muscle will create a more efficient body that burns fat even as she sleeps. It's thoughts like these that keep her pushing through the last gruling set of muscle firing squats. I love seeing her work hard and noticing the determination in her face that refuses her any room for giving up. It makes my day every time!!!

We all can be younger next year if we allow exercise, nutrition and committment to replace our sedentary lifestyles... it's that simple... and if it's not that simple for you then maybe try a personal trainer who will help jump start your desire to exercise, motivate you to be consistent and will find it a joy to be there for you to assure you meet your fitness goals today and into tomorrow.

Oh, Summer!

Summer's here, when the kids are enjoying leisurely mornings, offsetting the rest of the day so they find themselves eating breakfast at 11:00 and lunch at 3:00, everyone hanging with at least one friend if not two or three so that my house becomes a whirlwind of laughter, noise and activity, the boys rough housing, shooting hoops for hours then busting through the door with that lovely outdoorsey scent only a sweaty teenage boy can vent. They eat everything in sight, leaving a trail of mess behind them. The girls constantly giggle, listen to ipods and love trying new nail designs with neon colored nail polish. They all stay up late with no thought of waking to an obnoxious alarm clock the next day, they hang at the mall and everyone wants to go in ten different directions at the same time.

What is that? I'm OK with it really. It's Summer right? Kinda forget as an adult what it was like as a young person. Do you remember Summer as a young person?... Oh, to have that time of life back again... hanging with neighbor friends, riding bikes for hours, going to the park playing frisbee and looking for cute boys, walking to Dairy Queen and enjoying icecream without worry of belly bulge, blasting the music out my bedroom window as we sunbathed on the roof or swam in my back yard pool all day... I even remember thinking to myself one Summer day as I splashed water on my sunkissed face while lounging on a raft in the pool and watching my dad rush off to work ... "I should really enjoy these days... when else in life will I have a chance to be so care free... it's sure to become more complicated when I get older and have a family and responsibilities." I was rather wise for my age, giving myself permission to be carefree, understanding summer is a unique time for a young person, to be embraced as a once in a lifetime opportunity to chill and enjoy before real life comes crashing in full force.

Today as I reminisce, I smile as I listen to the laughter, watch the horseplay and smell the effects of playing hard. When I start to feel stressed or frazzled due to their lack of structure I will remember it's ok to allow for some of that as long as they have some semblance of productivity in there somewhere. Which they do.... thank God. But for the majority of the summer I want them to be carefree kids, creating lasting, lifetime memories to tuck away as part of their journey before life launches them into the real world, when such long stretches of leisure are bound to slip away in exchange for new seasons of maturity and responsibility. Watching them enjoy their season of "young, wild, and free"reminds me to keep embracing my new seasons too, tucking away the unique blessings that come with each one, not rushing ahead trying to live in the next, but relishing the here and now. It's good to know that even though seasons may change, each one is uniquely loaded with surprises, goodness and this amazing thing called life.