Know your worth

 

You're worth it. Sometimes, you just need to hear that. And you need to believe it. 

You're worth knowing. 

You're worth being heard. 

You're worth feeling good. 

You're worth being healthy. 

You're worth being happy. 

Someone would die for you today. 

Someone did die for you many years ago nailed to a tree. 

#knowyourworth

7 Things Every Woman Needs To Know

'nuff said.

God's plan was not the same as mine, it was better

That other life of mine seems like such a distant memory now. But I still remember how I felt when I got out of a bad relationship. Like it was my fault, like I was the failure, like I had displeased God, like everyone was watching me, judging me, I shrunk down into an abyss. There are three people in my life who completely saved me and pulled me back out... First My dad, then my mom, and finally my now husband. 

During that time of trial in my life, it seemed like such a monumentous battle. Why did this happen to me? Why did I allow myself to make such a massive mistake? But only now, looking at the size of the blessing that was on its way, can I fully understand why that battle was necessary. God had to make life pretty disastrous to get me to change my situation. He did that so that He could give me all I ever wanted. So that He could give me HIS plan for my life, instead of my plan... That I ever so royally screwed up. He took my mistake, and turned it into a teaching moment, then gave me my heart's desire. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Put On Blinders!

You've seen her, I've seen her, she's the pinterest mom. The mom who makes all other moms pale in comparison. 

Being a mom is one of my passions. I try my hardest to let my little know that I love her fiercely. I would do anything for her and I thank God for letting me borrow His perfect child while she's on Earth. At the end of the day, a 4 year old's foot in my face while she's sleeping in my bed is just Heaven. Never thought I would think that. 

But during the day. During the awake hours, half the time I want to pull my hair out. I wonder who got me into this disaster! Hubby, that's who! The days are long, each hour slowly passes, but at the end of the day, I realize how truly short it was. My days with her are numbered. She'll be on her own sooner than I like. All too often she likes to remind me that she's getting bigger and older. And I love her, fiercely and wish I could pause the time. Even though she's a royal pain in the neck at times. 

Then there's the pinterest mom. Just when I start to think I'm doing a great job, pinterest mom blends up some non toxic peanut butter playdoh (sans sugar of course) and shoves it in my face. Is it wrong that I really just want to eat it? Pinterest mom gets her workout in and looks like a bombshell doing it, is she even panting? Pinterest mom does not have a foot in her face when she's sleeping. Pinterest mom, is she real? I kinda don't think she is. I think we put our best foot forward when we are on Pinterest or any other social media. I mean, we all have rockstar moments, if we only showcased those special moments, we could all be pinterest-mom, AmIright?! 

Don't let Satan steal your joy and your triumphs at being a mom! You are no less of a mother than any other mother. John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Focus on your family and God, put blinders on to everything else. Galatians 6:4 “Let everyone be sure to do his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work done well and won’t need to compare himself with someone else”

So my advice to myself, and you if you want it, is to put on blinders! Stop caring about what the other mommies on the block are doing, and just do your thing. Love your little in the best way you know how, with a passion that only you can deliver, and you know what, she doesn't know anything different, so she thinks you are the BEST, whether your play dough is bought from the store or made from peanut butter. 

My goal is to stop comparing my life to someone else. I'm me, I'm special, God gave me strengths and weaknesses and He gave her to me because He knew that we are made for each other, because He designed it that way. So let's make a vow to stop and smell the flowers, take a pause and worry about only yourself and your adventure with your little one today, even if that adventure is being cooped up in the house watching Alvin and the Chipmunks for the umpteenth time... and stop comparing your mommy life to someone else's, pact? 

Laugh at Obstacles

If you want to live a life you've never had, you have to do things you've never done. Obstacles come in all shapes and sizes, for all the facets of your life. Take heart in knowing the the King has already won the battle. 

When you try something new, there's going to be obstacles. That just means your challenging yourself. Do not let these obstacles deter you, just move past them with your head held high! Laugh it off, this too shall pass.

My Body is a Temple

I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Pastor Rick Warren digs into 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 here. He says, "keeping your body in shape is a spiritual discipline. It’s not just about losing a few pounds, wanting to live longer, or trying to look nicer. God created your body, Jesus died for it, the Holy Spirit lives in it, your body is connected to Christ, and it’s going to be resurrected one day. When it is, God’s going to hold you accountable for how you managed what he gave you."

Your body is a temple, God lives inside you, you want to keep this temple beautiful, sacred, know your worth it! God created you in His image as a BEAUTIFUL woman, take care of the body He gave you, we only get one!

Today's workout:

50 Jumping Jacks
35 Squats
30 Second Wall Sit
10 Push Ups
20 Lunges on each leg
30 Second Plank
25 Bicycle Crunches

Why? Because your body is a temple! Jesus died for it, take care of God's beautiful work of art that is YOU!

Love Yourself

Today is the last Monday of my Love Yourself: Make the Most of Monday series. I'll leave you with this thought, embrace every piece of your journey, whether that's fitness or just finding yourself, embrace the little mistakes, or big ones. These mistakes are how God teaches you, He knew you would make this mistake. And He uses it to teach you right from wrong. He uses your life circumstances to lead you to where you're supposed to be. If I had never needed back surgery at age 22, I would never have been in the occupation I was forced into, and met my husband.

Love yourself and realize that although you may not be where you want to be just yet, you'll get there. Work to be a better you not because you hate yourself, because you love yourself enough to see it through.

Love where you are now, because God thinks you're special enough to love you anyway!