I worked out at the gym today. That is a very good thing. This is the first week I have gotten back to my workout schedule since I was sick in January. It really feels good to be back at it again. I am coming to realize that these workouts are a really important part of my health. I feel better when I work out both physically and emotionally.
I hate to admit it but given my age these workouts are even more important. I need to tone my body and drop some of the weight I have gained over the past two years. it is time to be more disciplined.
So I am going to keep walking, I am going to keep going to the gym. I am going to develop the disciplines that will help me be healthy and strong.
Why is it so hard to be disciplined?
Just Connie
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Dog Days
I cradled Charlies big hairy head in my hands and listened to the vet with growing hope. Against all my expectations they are going to try a pain medication for Charlie and see if they can make her comfortable. I loaded her back into the car and with great joy took her home with me.
Once home, I unloaded the car and began my daily chores. Suddenly it dawned on me that Hope puppy was at the back door and Charlie was nowhere in sight. I looked out the window and stood there in stunned disbelief. The back fence was laying flat on the ground and Charlie was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed my coat and headed out into the sleet. I searched all of the abandoned tree farm behind the house and with a growing sense of panic I began to walk the streets. By then tears of panic had begun to fall. Charlie had no collar on, no tags, nothing that would identify her at all. I began to stop and ask people if they had seen a large sheepdog go by and then ... miracle of miracles people began to say,. "yes" they had seen her go by. Finally one man said, "yes I saw her and there is she is over there behind the fence." I couldn't believe it ... I called her name and her big wet hairy and very muddy head popped up from behind the fence. I slipped the collar over her head and tearfully began to retrace my steps home. Relief filling me with every step.
Putting Charlie in the house I went out to inspect the fence damage. It was a 10 foot section of 3 foot cedar fencing laying flat on the ground. I stood there in the rain and sleet and began to try to raise it. The longer I worked at it the more frustrated I became. Finally sinking down into the mud and resting my forehead on the fence, I faced the reality .... I could not fix the fence on my own.
I tearfully picked up the phone and called for the cavalry. So tomorrow I have help coming to help me. But I have to admit that I feel rather overwhelmed. It is these moments that I really feel my singleness. But I refuse to let this defeat me. I have people that love me. People who will help when there is need.
I am not alone.
Just Connie
Once home, I unloaded the car and began my daily chores. Suddenly it dawned on me that Hope puppy was at the back door and Charlie was nowhere in sight. I looked out the window and stood there in stunned disbelief. The back fence was laying flat on the ground and Charlie was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed my coat and headed out into the sleet. I searched all of the abandoned tree farm behind the house and with a growing sense of panic I began to walk the streets. By then tears of panic had begun to fall. Charlie had no collar on, no tags, nothing that would identify her at all. I began to stop and ask people if they had seen a large sheepdog go by and then ... miracle of miracles people began to say,. "yes" they had seen her go by. Finally one man said, "yes I saw her and there is she is over there behind the fence." I couldn't believe it ... I called her name and her big wet hairy and very muddy head popped up from behind the fence. I slipped the collar over her head and tearfully began to retrace my steps home. Relief filling me with every step.
Putting Charlie in the house I went out to inspect the fence damage. It was a 10 foot section of 3 foot cedar fencing laying flat on the ground. I stood there in the rain and sleet and began to try to raise it. The longer I worked at it the more frustrated I became. Finally sinking down into the mud and resting my forehead on the fence, I faced the reality .... I could not fix the fence on my own.
I tearfully picked up the phone and called for the cavalry. So tomorrow I have help coming to help me. But I have to admit that I feel rather overwhelmed. It is these moments that I really feel my singleness. But I refuse to let this defeat me. I have people that love me. People who will help when there is need.
I am not alone.
Just Connie
Monday, February 21, 2011
Dreading Tomorrow
I am sitting on the couch with a lap full of big hairy dog .... about 100 pounds of big hairy dog. Charlie seems content and happy. For me this is bittersweet. Tomorrow I take her into the vet. I am afraid that I will not be bringing her home with me.
It was just a few months ago that I found out that my 10 year old sheep dogs had a tumor in her head. She has done pretty well, but these last two weeks she seems to be failing. She seems uncomfortable and uneasy. She is restless and never sleeps for very long. Her discomfort seems to be growing. I do not want that for her. So tomorrow we have an appointment with the vet.
She has been a great companion and friend to me. She has pulled me up mountains, run alongside my skis and protected my back on dark and stormy nights. I am not ready for this to be over. My heart is heavy as I contemplate tomorrow.
This is a day I would like to skip ......
Just Connie
It was just a few months ago that I found out that my 10 year old sheep dogs had a tumor in her head. She has done pretty well, but these last two weeks she seems to be failing. She seems uncomfortable and uneasy. She is restless and never sleeps for very long. Her discomfort seems to be growing. I do not want that for her. So tomorrow we have an appointment with the vet.
She has been a great companion and friend to me. She has pulled me up mountains, run alongside my skis and protected my back on dark and stormy nights. I am not ready for this to be over. My heart is heavy as I contemplate tomorrow.
This is a day I would like to skip ......
Just Connie
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Purity
1 John 3:1-3
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Purity ... God's call to his people. To purify ourselves, just as he is pure. But what does it take to live pure?
Heart Given Over to Jesus
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”
Ephesians 1:13
Commitment
“4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ” Psalm 37:5
Be in the Word
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
1 Peter 2:2
Diligence
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12
Conclusion: We are what we eat.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
To live pure we need to fill our life with what is pure and healthy. garbage in and garbage out. Purity is not an empty dream but a living reality. It is the outcome of a heart and life given to Christ and filled with the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Purity ... God's call to his people. To purify ourselves, just as he is pure. But what does it take to live pure?
Heart Given Over to Jesus
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”
Ephesians 1:13
Commitment
“4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ” Psalm 37:5
Be in the Word
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
1 Peter 2:2
Diligence
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12
Conclusion: We are what we eat.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
To live pure we need to fill our life with what is pure and healthy. garbage in and garbage out. Purity is not an empty dream but a living reality. It is the outcome of a heart and life given to Christ and filled with the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
Thought for Today
Purity is more about being than doing.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Quiet Day, Busy Night
I had a quiet day and a busy night. I slept in till 7 which is amazing for me and then laid around and read for several hours. I spent much of the day on the couch reading and watching TV. It has been ages since I have had a day like that. I really enjoyed it.
But then it was time to head to Sheridan for the Kiwanis Bingo night. I floated around and chatted and sold raffle tickets. Just about the time the Bingo was actually beginning it was time to head to the church. There I set up the tables for Sunday School and then prayed through the church. By then the musicians were there practicing and I spent time singing with them. I love this time on Saturday night. It lifts my heart and fills me with joy.
I headed home happy and contented. Sometimes it is really good to be busy. It fills my life with people and purpose and I think that is a very good thing.
Just Connie
But then it was time to head to Sheridan for the Kiwanis Bingo night. I floated around and chatted and sold raffle tickets. Just about the time the Bingo was actually beginning it was time to head to the church. There I set up the tables for Sunday School and then prayed through the church. By then the musicians were there practicing and I spent time singing with them. I love this time on Saturday night. It lifts my heart and fills me with joy.
I headed home happy and contented. Sometimes it is really good to be busy. It fills my life with people and purpose and I think that is a very good thing.
Just Connie
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Board Meeting
I had a church Board Meeting tonight. It was a long long meeting.Some meetings are like that. This was very long but very good. We just had a lot of stuff to wade through tonight.
One of the things we did was to look at a new ministry starting up and pledged $1,000 to help them start. We looked at ways that we can support church planting. We looked at the many ways that God is blessing us financially. We looked at a personnel problem and set some new protocols in place. We worked and planned and dreamed and looked with hope and expectation to the future.
I am excited about the people God has brought into leadership. This is a wonderful group of people. I think they will continue to do wonderful things in the days ahead.
I am ready for wonderful ... that sounds pretty good to me.
Just Connie
One of the things we did was to look at a new ministry starting up and pledged $1,000 to help them start. We looked at ways that we can support church planting. We looked at the many ways that God is blessing us financially. We looked at a personnel problem and set some new protocols in place. We worked and planned and dreamed and looked with hope and expectation to the future.
I am excited about the people God has brought into leadership. This is a wonderful group of people. I think they will continue to do wonderful things in the days ahead.
I am ready for wonderful ... that sounds pretty good to me.
Just Connie
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Teaching
I taught a class tonight. That is nothing new, I teach lots of classes, but this class was really stimulating. I love it when people are really involved and there is lots of discussion going on. Tonight was like that. People have so much to share and I get so much from them during the class. It is one of the things I love most about teaching.
Those kind of classes fill me with energy and makes me feel like I can face anything.
So watch out world here I come!
Just Connie
Those kind of classes fill me with energy and makes me feel like I can face anything.
So watch out world here I come!
Just Connie
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