I Can’t Handle Change

Fact: I am a creature of serious habit. I can’t handle change! When eating out I pick the same thing from the menu every time. (Why risk picking something that might disappoint when I know a good thing?!) When I grocery shop, I take the same route every time. (efficient!) When I work out, the routine drives my motivation. I have even worn the same eyeliner brand for years now. Change throws me off my game big time.

Grayson Kinder

Today I sent my 5 year old son off to his first day of Kindergarten. I hid my tears behind my oversized sunglasses and put on a brave face as I walked him into his class. We had our “I will miss you”  boo-hoo session the day before so he got it out of his system early. I, on the other hand, was a weepy mess. Part of me weeped because my little guy is growing up. Another part of me weeped because this new season, this CHANGE, is scary to me. Figuring out a new path to take, a new schedule to navigate makes my head spin.

What life changes are you going through these days?

Maybe your new career is exciting but the learning curve is tough…

Maybe you are wading through the pool we call summer toward the ocean of starting school in the fall…

Maybe you are in a new relationship…

Maybe you are moving…

Maybe you are dealing with health concerns…

Maybe your family dynamics are evolving…

What is it about change that freaks us out so much? For me it is the fact that I cling to familiarity so tightly. A schedule and order to things keeps me in check each day. Yes it is exciting to take a risk and…gasp…go off schedule. Yes it is fun to try new things…sometimes… But for me, the same ol’ same ol’ is what drive me each day. But, I’m wondering though if this shake up in life, this change, can serve to give me new, refreshed perspective.

Maybe change shakes up our schedule…to make us evaluate what’s important

Maybe change shakes up our roles… how we see ourselves in life

Maybe change shakes up our confidence… make us more brave

Maybe change shakes up our dependence on the familiar…to be more dependent on God.

Definitely all these things for me. My personal change in schedule gives me a wealth of time now to write and do ministry…time I didn’t have before. My personal change  up in roles…my role as a mom and duty to love and serve my family. My personal change up in confidence…I need to be brave and ready to take on challenges that are sure to come in this new season. My personal foundational shake up…more dependent on God and less dependent on things familiar. I think it is with a fresh perspective beyond the norm and the familiar that we see God at work in exciting ways.

Sometimes these shake ups in life are traumatic. Sometimes they are fun and exhilirating. Sometimes they are painful and tough to handle. Today while I’m tossed around by this life shakeup, I’m reminded to stand firm on this ONE truth…

Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him, 29 for He is like a fierce fire that consumes everything. {Hebrews 12:28-30 THE VOICE}

Enough said? I’m going to go handle my change now…how about you?

Leave a comment…let’s chat!

Celebrate Monday Picture Fun!

Celebrate Monday

Last Monday on a whim, I decided I needed a pick-me-up and started taking pictures that helped me look at Mondays in a more positive light. How often do you stay up on Sunday night as long as possible to prolong the inevitable Monday morning?

 

Will you join me in Celebrate Monday this week? I posted my pics on the LIVE IT OUT! FB group and on Instagram (@sarahfmartin) with the hashtag #liveitoutmonday. Here are some of the pics (including my own) that some super cool chicks posted in their own way to Celebrate Monday. I would love for you to join in TODAY!!

 

~Take a picture of anything that inspires you on a Monday morning. Your coffee, a pretty sun rise…anything. Post on the LIVE IT OUT! FB page or on Instagram with #liveitoutmonday.

Here’s what happened last Monday…

From Tonya…

Monday 2

 

From Shari…

Monday 3

 

From Lytysha…

monday 1

Here are a few of my own Celebrate Monday #liveitoutmonday pics…

 

Monday 6

 

 

caption: Celebrate Monday with an energy drink…or two…or three…or four!

Monday 7

 

 

caption: Celebrating Monday: A fresh start and chances to workout harder this week than last!

Monday 5caption: Celebrate Monday: All five blooms popped open this morning!

Monday 4caption: Celebrate Monday: taking a few minutes to create. Back to work now!

Join in on the #liveitoutmonday Celebrate Monday fun! Share your pics and be sure to add the hashtag. Let’s focus on a positive perspective as we start a new week!

How To Enjoy God

How to enjoy God…

A simple answer to a loaded proposition…simply ask Him to give us new perspective on the world –– HIS WORLD –– He created with you and with me in mind.

Father God, give us eyes to look past ourselves and see Your beauty bountiful in the world surrounding us. Help us to clear away the cobwebs that dampen the brightness of Your presence that already surrounds us. Give us a heart full of worship of Your glory. Amen!

bench with text

How to enjoy God: relish, savor and delight!

Some other words that come to mind when I think of ENJOY…

RELISH…oh that’s a juicy one. May we taste Your goodness as we actively pursue You day by day. May we see Your zest and spice in life as we look past our so-called mundane. For it is in the so-called mundane that we find comfort and security, but Lord! let us see Your spice of life in our routine and mandatory to-do lists.

DELIGHT…give us a twinkle in our eyes as we think of You as our Father, Our King and our FRIEND. May we delight in new and fresh conversations with You through out our day. Show us what YOU delight in, Lord. Stretch our heart towards delighting in those things too.

SAVOR…help us to slow down and soak in your presence. Remind us that Your presence is ever fulfilling and satisfying–– the ultimate blessing.

We were created to enjoy God and interact with Him in every square inch of our life. It is our choice, daily though, to enjoy Him, to relish and actively pursue Him, to delight in His friendship, to savor His presence. It is our choice to simply ask Him to give us a fresh perspective and a heart willing to enjoy Him. By living a life of worship…looking to ENJOY God… we develop this fresh perspective and live outside of ourselves to look toward His grandeur. For it is by standing in His grandeur (rather than our own plan and agenda) that our soul delights, relishes, savors and enjoys where God has us right here and now.

What are your thoughts on this simple plan answering our quest of how to enjoy God? Do you have any additional words to add to the list? Leave a comment…let’s chat!