Way More

Last night I was asked to share a favorite promise that God gives in Scripture.  I never actually got to share it (guess I took too long to figure out which one to share:) but it’s been on my heart ever since, so here are my thoughts.

Ephesians 3.20 is a verse that my best friend and I used to share with each other in high school.  If one of us was going through something that we just couldn’t see a good end-result to, we would usually pray together and share encouraging words from God on the matter.  Ephesians 3.20 was our favorite and seemed to fit most circumstances.  Even now, about 1,000 miles away, we still remind each other of it at times.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…"

You’ll notice that this is not a complete sentence, however, this sentence fragment, in and of itself, states something very powerful.  It’s not necessarily stated as a promise, which is probably why I hesitated to share it last night, but it’s serves as a promise of these three things to me…

1.  He is able

2.  He is able to do way more than I can ask or think

3.  There’s a power at work within me

This morning as I was driving to work, I enjoyed my time, immersed in the presence of Jesus.  I had an older song on ("All things are Possible")  and its connection to the verse on my heart caused  supernatural faith to be built.  I found myself forcing my eyes to stay open, becuase all I wanted to do was close my eyes to worship…it was a powerful time.  That song was followed by "Power of Your Love" and once I pulled up to work I had a hard time shutting it off.  "God, we’re gonna have a great day together,"  I said, and then finally got out of the car. 

God is able to do way more than I can even fathom…sure is good to know. 🙂

I’ve Got the Joi

There’s an old song that I used to sing with some friends in high school…

I’ve got the joy (joy) joy (joy) joy (JOY)….Down in my heart…Img_2290

I just realized you can’t reenact the song simply through written words, but this is a little song I always like to sing to my friend, Joi.

And I just want to announce that she just got hired to work at my school today!  Woo hoo!  God is so faithful and I love being a part of His family.  To my sister, Joi, congratulations!  You’re right where He wants you to be.  Hanley kids are gonna love your smile. 🙂

Updates are good:)

Nothing in particular, just a post for my memoir:)

1.)Today was a great day for a snow day:)  I didn’t go into Hamtramck to work but I did go into (you guessed it!) Caribou to work.  Unfortunately I didn’t gravitate to my large stack of papers to grade, but I worked with my friend, and co-worker, Dana on our School Improvement Plan.  I probably haven’t mentioned this before, but I recently became the chair for our School Improvment Committee at school.  The is the biggest job-related committee that I’ve ever led and it’s more like a second part-time job…just what I needed, something else to do:)  I really do love it though.

The Michigan Department of Education is often unrealistic with it’s goals for us but in order to exist, we comply.  My hope is that God will use me at Hanley to cast vision for us to not only comply with the regulations, but to excel above them.  So far that task has been a bit overwhelming (what’s new:).  We are setting out to write a School Improvement Plan…and then implement it.  Honestly, it stresses me out a bit when I think about it, but if I’m going to be here to work I want to be an impact.  And so that’s why I love it that I get to do this.  It’s a ton of extra work…a ton…and I hold more responsibility than I personally think I should, but growth will come as I walk through this-holding God’s hand, of course.

In saying that, I don’t mean to compartmentalize God’s "role" in my life…but I do sometimes.  Honestly, I’ve only prayed about the school improvement thing once…and the rest I’ve done on my own.  Gee, I’m thinking there’s something wrong with that picture.  Hmmm.  My heart is heavy right now over a few things, with this being one of them. 

2.) I’m quitting Curves.  This is very shocking to a few people, but it really just needs to happen.  The good news about that though, is that I joined a different gym.  I’m pretty excited about it too-change can be an awesome thing.  I’m going to have a personal trainer and she’s going to basically tell me what to do.  Last night was the first session-it was actually a trial day.  My lower body’s a bit sore, but I feel great today!  Then this morning I went and jogged a full mile (yes, I am definitely moving towards accomplishing my running goals:). 

God continues to challenge me physically.  He’s my best cheerleader and my biggest fan.  I’m glad He’s also put a few others in my life who extend His cheering for me.  It really helps me through some tough moments.

3.)Do you ever have days/weeks where you don’t think you have enough time to spend with Jesus?  I’ve been going through that this past week.  How illogical is that?  God holds time in His hands.  He shaped it and formed it.  I really need Him to direct my schedule…somehow I think He’d do that better than me.  So, I’m sitting here writing, but I miss Him…and I think I need to go spend some time with Him.  It is Valentine’s Day, and He is the hottest date I could possibly have, right?   So, good night, and Happy Valentine’s Day.  Hope you spent time with the One who loves you the most.

I’m Not Lovin’ It

Wow…my stomach hurts…

I’d be lying if I said that I was on a "healthy eating kick" recently.  I couldn’t honestly describe it as that.  But my eating habits have certainly evolved into something more of an intentional way to fuel my body, as opposed to a way to indulge my every desire for food.  Make sense? 

Needless to say though, while I haven’t given up fast food items altogether, I’ve made much wiser choices when it comes to them-especially these past few months.  Between you and me, I’ve only had french fries once since the first week of November.  (I’ll accept all types of applause at this time:) 

This evening when I was running around, kinda hungry for some dinner, I decided to stop at McDonald’s and grab something quick, without having to step out of my eating regime.  A cheeseburger and small fries are a decent number of Weight Watchers points so I opted for that in my hurry.  Let’s see, about 7 o’clock this evening my body told me that it wasn’t such a smart choice for me to have that for dinner.  My stomach started hurting with a disgusting pain (do you know that feeling?).  The thing that stinks is that it’s past 10:30 and I still feel that way.  Not good:( 
Antimcdonalds
The best thing about it is that I will probably not be too tempted with McDonald’s cheeseburgers,
or any fries, any time soon.  🙂  All I need to think of is this disgusting, horrible feeling and it should do the trick. 

I’m simply not lovin’ it!

Cardio! Cardio!

My freshman year of college I was introduced to TAEBO.  Billy Blanks led my friends and I through many a workout that year on the 3rd floor lounge in Miller Hall.  Taebo is so much fun!  As with anything, it got old to me at times, but I’ve gone back to it every now and then.

Taebocardio
Three years ago I asked my mom for the newest Taebo Cardio workout.  I got it in the midst of doing a few different types of workouts at the time.  Needless to say, I never really got into it.  Billy Blanks is a very motivating person to do a workout video with, but he also pushes you.  Every time I would start this particular video I would tire out and quit halfway through (it’s only 44 minutes long). 

About a year and a half ago I loaned this DVD to a friend and I just got it back this weekend.  With it being so cold out, I’m really unmotivated to go to Curves so I decided to pop in Taebo Cardio.  All the way through Billy shouting, "Cardio! Cardio!" and "Work it!  Work it!", I stuck with it.  The funny thing is that when I made it to the end I thought, "Oh, that wasn’t so bad…I must’ve been really outta shape before!"  Take one look at me now and you’re thinking, "Before?"  But I’m telling you, staying committed to working out and taking care of myself has been such an incredible journey for me!  And while the outward results don’t come as quickly as I’d like for them to, the inward results are fascinating to me.  It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it’s huge to me.:)  Plus, the other day I jogged the better of 2 miles (thanks Jamie for the use of your tread mill) and that felt great! 

I’m really starting to wonder what my deal was when I didn’t care so much about my health or how my body felt.  Seriously-what’s up with that?

Got Sleep?

Girl_sleeping
A good friend of mine doesn’t get to sleep as much as she’d like.  This seems to happen…almost all of the time.  This weekend she was super busy.  The girl was so tired yesterday that she didn’t watch 24 last night with me because she went to bed so early!  Now that blew my mind completely, but the second thing she did because of her tiredness was hilarious…and it reminded me of George Costanza in a particular episode of Seinfeld.

She works at an office in Farmington Hills.  Yesterday, at lunch time, this friend found an empty office with a space heater and a desk.  She put the space heater underneath the desk, then crawled up under the desk and slept..for an hour!  She slept so well that she actually snoozed the alarm on her cell phone without realizing it (kind of like what I do every morning;).

It’s rough when you’re that tired. I wonder if I could get away with that at school…maybe I could hit the Library next time I get that tired.:)

Wet Pants

Come with me to a third grade classroom….. There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I’m dead meat."

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is
carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap.
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inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is

saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of

ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The

teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts

to put on while his pants dry out. All the other

children are on their hands and knees cleaning up

around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as

life would have it, the ridicule that should have been

his has been transferred to someone else – Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out.

You've done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting

for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and\n whispers,

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Susie whispers

back, "I wet my pants once too."

May God help us see the opportunities that are always

around us to do good.

Remember…..Just going to church doesn't make you a

Christian any more than standing in your garage makes

you a car.

Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right
now, but God
is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep
the faith.

My instructions were to pick four (4) people that I wanted God
to bless, and
I picked you. Please pass this to at least four (4) people you
want to be
blessed.

This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we
receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray
for one
another.

The prayer:

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives\n and those that
I care
deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new
revelation of
Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their”,1]
);
//–>

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out.

You’ve done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and
whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn’t you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

Yesterday my pastor preached an(other) awesome message and he started out by saying that other people exist.  It’s not really all that profound of a thought, but it was striking to me, nonetheless.  Not only was it striking, but it was convicting.  I tend to pride myself on  how often I think about others and then as I sat in church yesterday I thought, "Oh, yeah, I’m not as great at that as I think I am."  My prayer is that I will walk in submission to the Holy Spirit’s calling to think of others throughout my day, and to actually put those thoughts into practice more often.

-1 degrees

When I was going away to college in Minneapolis, people thought I was crazy.  They would say, "Don’t you know how cold it gets there?"  I certainly am not a huge fan of cold weather, but nonetheless lived in Minneapolis for 5 years. 

Then when I moved to Michigan, people still thought I was crazy.  They would say, "Don’t you know how cold it gets there?"  Still not a fan of cold weather,  I figured I made it through in Minnesota, Michigan will be cake!  But I must say…these past couple of weeks have caused my body to be colder than it’s ever been in 10,000 plus days:)

At -1degrees this morning, it was colder here in Metro Detroit than it was in Alaska!  And because of that, I got a phone call at 6.15 am with great news-no school!  It came in perfect timing, too:)

As I sit in my apartment, with the temperature turned up to 85-and the thermostat showing that it’s 75-my fingers and my toes (enclosed in socks and slippers) are pretty cold still…the wind chill is simply too much…it makes me wonder if perhaps we’ll have yet another day off tomorrow!  Here’s to hoping:)