This has been a really hard season for our family, but a beautiful one as well. Facing things in our lives past & present, painfully necessary growth and sanctification. Sometimes you don't know your heart unless you slow down and really take inventory.
A big hurdle after a lot of hard work is the--now what?
Not getting stuck in the feeling of sadness and of failures in the past. Moving right along to identity, peace and new beginnings in Christ.
Some simple gospel truths can carry us through this season and lead us to the best place we've ever been. I'm counting on it. 2012 is our year. 2011 was the year of striking out, taking chances, learning the hard way, toughing it out (some more,) doors closing & windows opening, doing even harder things than normal, being humbled, confession, & realization.
That was a whole lot jam-packed into one 12 month period.
I don't know what 2012 holds, but I hope it changes our lives in bigger ways than we can imagine or see for ourselves. (I also selfishly hope it means Cash being 100% potty trained rather than 75%--he'll get there!)
One of the biggest goals for myself is to wake up early every morning before Cash and set aside a devotion time, the SAME time every day. Rather than hoping I can "fit it in" at some point during the day. It is going to be hard because I cherish my sleep--but so worth it. If you have any "becoming a morning person" tips for me--PLEASE share. I could definitely use em'. :)
(And by early I'm talking like 5-5:30 am--If 7am is already being a morning person, I guess I need to become an EARLIER morning person. ha)
if you have an iphone try the sleepcycle app! and be strict about an early bedtime! the only way i can get up early and be happy about it is by making sure i get a full 7-8 hours of sleep in. good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a morning person but being a teacher I have to wake up early and be present for the kids. The only way I have survived waking up early (5:45 to be exact) is to go bed early. My goal is no later than 10 PM. (it never happens) but I try! As close to 10 as I can get the better I am the next day.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried to sleepcycle app because I don't have an iphone, but I read a lot about it and it really seemed to be a good thing. It wakes you up when you're at your most "awake" stage of sleeping.
Going to bed early is good, but also a good wake me up, especially when I'm waking up at 4:30 most days of the week. I've been making tea every morning for the past couple weeks, and I've noticed a huge change in my energy. Also, make a good healthy breakfast to start off your day right. It makes me excited to wake up just knowing I'm doing good things to my body first thing in the morning! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeletewhen i married my husband at the beginning of the year i started getting up at 4:50am to make his breakfast and pack his lunch so he had time to read his bible before going to work. Before i was married i found that getting up early was the only way to make bible time happen. The few things that i've noticed make a difference in each of these stages are:
1, do something. if you have a little mindless/simple goal every morning to get you going then you are forced to wake up properly. for me now, my first goal is to get breakfast for my husband on the table. once that has happened, im awake and ready to go onto the next thing (which would be reading God's word). i guess for you it could be making breakfast or just a cup of tea or something like that to get you going.
2, dont attempt to read your bible in the same area you sleep in (or are tempted to sleep in). if its harm enough out, go outside, it's fresh and will keep you awake. if its cold outside i guess something like a dining table is best (i live in Australia, so its mostly warm).
3, i found having a plan for reading helped because at that time of the morning i needed direction and needed to know what i was doing.
4. when i was in school some friends and i decided we would get up at 6 every morning to read our bibles. each week it was someones turn to call the other people to make sure they were up. so if it was your turn to call there was more incentive to wake up because other people were relying on you and if it wasn't your week, you had someone call you quickly each morning and say "hey. get up! read the bible! its important!" - that really helped.
Taire x
i am glad 2011 is over for you very soon. there were plenty of sweet and beautiful moments but i know there were some very difficult times as well. satan attacked y'all in so many ways, but you remained strong in your faith and had God carry you out of those times. i am so thankful to have you as an example of obedience and trust and a real relationship with Christ. i love that you can admit life isn't always sunshine and rainbows and still love Him so much. love and miss you sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of the waking tips!
ReplyDelete@JaimeG I just love you.