A New Me and New Look

Happy 4th of July. Welcome to the new all redesigned off shoot of Finding Balance In A Busy World. I decided today that I needed a change. Something new, a reinvention of myself, a proclamation that I am being the BEST me that I can. Do you ever have one of those days?

Actually I have decided that I need a daily reminder that despite my numerous short falls, I am really trying hard. To cut myself some slack. To remember that no one is perfect. To relax and laugh more. To be happy with the woman I am today and stop wishing for the woman of tomorrow.

And so the birth of Being The Best Me, That I Can was launched. I am sure that if previous readers of Finding Balance In a Busy World want to bad enough they will find me. So many changes have occurred over the past few months that I find myself constantly asking, who am I and where exactly am I going?

I thought I had such a clear direction of my path. One detour and then another, before I knew it I was asking myself, what happened and where am I?

So today I needed a fresh beginning, a new start, a clarification that this crazy path I am on is OK. That I am really enjoying the ride, appreciating the new sights, living for today, and not worrying about tomorrow.

To kick off my fresh start, I have proclaimed TODAY a pajama day. After a late night of entertaining friends, the comforts of the rain and my bed kept me engaged until nearly 10:00 this morning. I remember when my children where at the ripe young age of DAILY early morning wake up calls. Milo and I use to trade off weekend mornings of child duty, while the other slept as late as he or she desired. And so I slept until I felt like rising, as did most everyone in our household.

After a warm cup of coffee and chocolate chip pancakes compliments of my amazing husband, I decided today was going to be a great day to reinvent myself. To relax, be re inspired, and simply do nothing but veg out and lay like broccoli.

The daily struggles of life seem to mount up and before I know it, I crash and just need a day with nothing else but my messy hair, pjs, and blanket being completely surrounded by my family.

So after a scrumptious breakfast that will for sure satisfy me until late afternoon, I venture to the basement, curl up with my quilt and stitch for a few hours before I simply can't handle one more review of Michael Jackson's life.

I refill my tall glass of ice tea and head for the computer. After getting all snuggled up again with my blanket, pillow, and lap top I decide it is time for a NEW look. I laugh as Mr. Milo yells at the TV trying to win every race of Mario Cart.

O! I remember the days in college when my ENTIRE weekend was filled sitting by his side for hours on end as he would play Tetris. I simply sat in adoration and awe, just waiting for the minute when his attention would shift from the TV to me. 20 years later, few things have changed.

Riley is crashed on the couch. We have titled today a 'Riley Day'. For every day in Riley's life consists of napping, eating, and lying around

The house has received a modified cleaning attempt. But honestly I really don't care. The comfort of my slimy slams and blanket far out weighs any desire to do anything about it. Tomorrow will come soon enough and I will with a new focus and intensity hit the ground running, on a mission to simply be the BEST me I can be.

But for today I will be satisfied with no need for any schedule. I will enjoy my messy hair, no make-up, and lack of any fashion sense and be content with being the best ME I can be today.

Welcome to a new chapter.

Welcome to Being The Best ME....that i can.

Jill

My Views or God's Views?

I realized that as I have been studying the meaning of grace, I had a 'mixed view' of what the process of grace meant. The process of grace includes acceptance, repentance, sanctification, obedience, prayer and meditation. My mixed view coming from the world's interpretation and God's interpretation. Perhaps you may have felt the same or may be struck by a new thought?

Acceptance: When I hear the word acceptance I immediately think of being approved by and like by others. Or what can I do to earn acceptance by others? Look better, do more things for my kids, act a certain way, etc... Or I will be better accepted once I lose a few pounds, fix this problem in a relationship, get better at my job, etc...

God's view of acceptance is right here, right now! He loves me for who, what, and where I am TODAY! Acceptance to God is immediate. When God called some of His disciples in Matthew 4: 18 - 22, they had just finished fishing and God said lets go! They left their catch, their families, and I am sure they may be didn't stop to change clothes and they were off! God took them fish smelling and all!

Repentance: When I hear the word repentance, I immediately think of having done something really bad that I need to fall on my knees and beg for forgiveness. That to whom ever I am asking for forgiveness they will be upset and mad at me for what I have done.

In the study I am working on, Living In Grace the author said 'the heartache your sin inflicts is torture enough.' OUCH! My heart aches over little things and it aches daily.

God's view of repentance is that we must confess our sin over and over again. In doing so we can change our direction, abandon our agenda, and be rid of sinful, bad habits. Not only the BIG stuff, but the daily stuff, gossip, envy, fear, unforgiveness, etc...

Romans 2:4 says, 'God's kindness leads you toward repentance?'

Sanctification: Honestly, until just a year ago I really had no cool what sanctification meant!

God's view is that sanctification is a process, a daily, conscious effort on our part to become more and more like Him. How do we stay fit emotionally, mentally, and physically? We have to daily work at it! How do we grow to be like Christ. We have to daily connect with Him and His Word.

1 Thessalonians 5: 23 - 24 says, 'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. When I think of through and through I vision it over and over and over again.

Obedience: My immediate reaction to obedience is to play by the rules. I also think of discipline. YUCK! I also think that I have the will power to do it myself and when that will power fails, I beat myself up over and over again.

Well, I was happy to read that learning to obey God's commands regardless of how you feel is one of the most difficult processes of grace. WHEW. That made me feel a little bit better! God always provides the support I need to be obedient, so I don't need to rely on my own will power!

John 15: 10 - 11 gives me so much inspiration to follow God's commands. "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

ahhh. At home in my love. Doesn't that sound awesome!

Prayer and Meditation: I immediately think of silence, sitting on the floor with my legs crossed, eyes closed, and thumb and third finger touching. When I hear prayer, I also think of continuous.

Joshua 1: 7 - 8 shares 'Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let the Word of God be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.'

I have come to learn that for me that prayer and meditation doesn't have to be a long, drawn out segment of time that has to be scheduled on my calendar but it can also be an ongoing communication through out the day. May be a passage I read in the morning, I am able to reflect on while waiting to pick up kids from school. A song on Christian radio inspires me to sing at the top of my lungs with praises to God. An upcoming difficult conversation is proceeded by a quick request for the right words to say. The silence as I fall asleep at night offers a great time to thank God for my blessings during the day, leaving me to fall asleep in Him arms.

Blessings,

Jill