I'm reading a book right now about a young woman who moves to Africa to serve and care for the people of Uganda.  It comes as no surprise that the book talks about starvation, lack of food.  At one point it describes a woman making cakes of mud and salt just to have something to fill her children's hungry stomachs.

Yesterday I was listening to NPR and they were talking about the First Lady's new book, "American Grown".  A book about gardening.  The discussion led to the poor diet of most Americans and the "Obesity Crisis".

The contrast between these two bites of information collided!  I mean, it's not like it was news to me that there are people in the world that are starving, or that there are a large number of people in America that are fat.  The piece that struck me is that the problem in America is that we're eating too much.  And the problem in Africa is that they don't have enough to eat.

We're dying because we're eating too much food.  They're dying because they don't have enough food

We're trying to keep our kids from getting fat.  They're trying to keep they're kids alive.

Some of us have to force ourselves to drink a few glasses of water per day.  They're dying because the nearest watering hole is 6 miles away.

I am not pointing the finger, and if I am it's at myself. (This is coming from the girl who downed 5 s'mores last night)  I'm just saying that this is CRAZINESS!  If we consume less, and give to them, doesn't everybody win?  We won't die from heart attacks and diabetes and other diseases linked to obesity.  They won't die from starvation.

And I know about all the food processing and how that factors in.  But I'm just thinking about pure quantity.  We have much, they have little (if any).  If we give out of our abundance, they have what they need.

I think there's a reason why the story of creation does not include, "and then God made a wooden structure for the people to live in.  It had four walls and it sheltered them and kept them inside, away from the creation He had just made."  Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for my house!  And I know shelter is so necessary and there are many who are living without it.

But I just went for a short morning walk!  It is sunny and beautiful and birds are singing and the air is filled with the smells of Spring.  And I'm pretty sure my heart almost burst at the joy it brought me.  I would not call myself an outdoorsy kind of girl in the least.  But there is something wonderful being outside in the middle of all that God created.  Especially first thing in the morning when everything is waking up.

And can I get a "WOOT WOOT" for the sunshine.  Because if it had been gray and raining today this blog post would most likely not have been written.  Instead I would have written about how amazing hot coffee is and how I love sitting in a comfy chair with it in the morning.

Moral of the story:  GO OUTSIDE TODAY!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!

Today life is too big for me.  He is bigger.
"My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts"-Isaiah 45:12


Today the burden feels to heavy to carry.  His burden is light.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"-Matthew 11:30


Today I don't know which way to go.  He does.
"He tends his flock like a shepherd.  He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young"-Isaiah 40:11


Today I want to be angry.  He says to slow down.
"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry"-James 1:19


Today I am discouraged.  He is with me and tells me to be strong.
"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go"-Joshua 1:9


Today I feel weak.  He makes me strong.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"-Romans 8:37

Today I don't feel like I can do it.  He says I can.
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength"-Philippians 4:13


Today I believe!!!
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see"-Hebrews 11:1

Sometimes it's just so helpful to have someone else's perspective.  A fresh take.  A view from someone who is not the liar inside my head.  You know that liar that tells you, "It's the worst case scenario.  This is serious!  This problem is HUGE!!"  Do you know that liar?  I am very familiar with him.  He's been lying to me for a LONG time and for quite some time I believed him.  I let him heap guilt on me day after day.  I let him convince me that I had totally messed up my kids.  LIAR!!!!!

OK, back to other people's perspective.  I love it because they can see things from outside the situation.  Usually they are not tied emotionally to it, so they see things more clearly.  I especially love the really honest people who are willing to share their "crazy" life stuff too.

I want to do GREAT things in my lifetime.  But there are also so many times where I just want things to be comfortable and easy.  The reality is that these 2 things just don't go hand in hand.  The truth is that great things usually come from hard work.  "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7  

Be encouraged today.  Your hard work will be rewarded.

Perspective and Answered Prayer

If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, "You know everything that's going on in my life, but I didn't get to hear anything about what's going on with you", I would have a good amount of money save up. This used to really frustrate me.  And at times I even felt sorry for myself.

But recently the Holy Spirit has been whispering, "Isn't this really an answer to prayer?  This is what you asked for."  Oh how right He is!!  Over the past 2-3 years I've prayed the words of James 1:19 over and over again. "Lord, make me quick to listen and slow to speak."  And If I'm constantly having the opportunity to practice listening, hasn't He indeed answered that prayer in a very tangible way?

And another blessing in it all.  That people trust me enough to talk to me about their lives, and that I have the opportunity to pray with them and share in their life's journey.  It has truly become a BLESSING to me!!  Oh how He loves us and knows what we need.  I'm a little slow sometimes.  Grateful for God's patience and grace.

Unplugged

I recently read Jen Hatmaker's book, "7: Experimental Mutiny Against Excess" and it's messed with my head... just a little... in a good way.  Who am I kidding?  I've been turned upside down.  It wasn't just that book.  I mean, that book was just the icing and dynamite on the cake that has exploded me into action.  The truth is, God has been after me for some time now.  Does that sound strange, "God has been after me"?  Well, if it sounds strange then it sounds strange.  But it's true.

I recently did a 4 week "7 foods experiment".  I'm not going to go into detail, because most people who are reading this already know what I'm talking about.  Let's face it, if we're friends you have not escaped my "7" craziness.  If you don't know what I'm talking about I would love to talk with you about it.  Shoot me an e-mail.

Back to the point.  This weekend I will be starting another experiment, this time with media and technology.  This is the area I feel prompted work on.  So starting Sunday, March 11th I will be unplugging from:

1. Facebook

2. Texting 

3. iPod

4. Music in the car

5. All books (except my Bible.  Heaven help me, I LOVE books!!!!!)

6. Kindle

7. All Internet (I will still check my e-mail occasionally)

I did not choose t.v. because it's not a huge draw for me.  All of these things consume much of my time.  Probably more than I even realize.  I'm hoping to better with this challenge than I did with the food.  

March 2, 2001

11 years ago today I went on first date with Matt.  We went to see the movie "Snatch".  Our elbows shared an armrest and my heart pounded through the entire movie.  I never thought I would meet a Christian guy who was cute and funny. (I'm sorry, but it's really how I felt)  Not only did I think I wouldn't meet someone, I didn't think I deserved to.  

Thankfully God doesn't give us what we deserve.  Instead he gives grace and mercy and dreams we never knew possible.  I'm grateful for an amazing husband who is funny, handsome, wise, hard working, a lover of God, and a lover of coffee.  And I'm grateful that God knows me and my desires better than I know myself.