Hi-Ya!

Over the past two weeks I have spent twelve hours taking a RAD Systems self defense course.  The course was designed to assist the average female from age 13 and up to recognize warning signs of a possible assailant and practice defensive counters to various attacks.  Let me just say that it was intense.  The last night of the class consisted of simulated attacks by policemen in full protective gear.  Even wearing my own protective gear, I still have a number of bruises and sore muscles three days later.  But I was able to get away from my attackers, thanks to knowing what to do and practicing the techniques.

Would I take the course again?  Absolutely!  Would I encourage other women to take the course? Without a doubt!  Why am I talking about this?  Because, this is one way to protect God's temple.

I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If you are a guard of the Temple of God, be prepared to defend His Temple.  Take good care of your body and know how to defend it from sickness, from hurts and from attacks.

I Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

I Can't Change the World

About two weeks ago, I got a new CD.  This week one of the songs became a little too true.  Here are some of the lyrics from "I Can't Change the World".
A bomb goes off in a far off city / A siren wails right here at home
Sometimes life ain't all that pretty / When you're watching it all alone

Our hearts were broken this week with the bombings in Boston and the explosions in Texas.  When the bombs went of, we could not fathom how someone could do such a thing, but Jesus can.

John 3:18-20 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

The song continues ...

I can't change the world...but if you let me...I can change yours.

This is a love song about a guy who wants to make a girl's world a better place.  This could just as easily be Jesus' love song for us.  He has offered himself to the whole world but will only change the world of the individual who believes in Him.  He will change your world - if you let Him.

John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
John14:27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It is Finished (sort of)

I have spent many of my 'spare' moments in the last 5 months working on my sewing room.  Back in November when I wrote "Making Ready", I made a list of seven things that I needed to do.

Making Ready a Sewing Room        

1. Planning for the room                    

2. Filling in nail holes                        

3. Sanding the walls                           

4. Painting the walls                            

5. Step aside for the ceiling/lights    

6. Finish with the floor                     

7. Smile and start the sewing         
  

Well, I am happy to tell you that I finally completed steps 1-6.  I worked on the room all day Saturday and even moved in my sewing machine and bookcase.  However, I'm not sewing yet.  I want to organize my fabric and my projects.  I want to decorate.  I want to add seats to make the place comfortable.  I also want to edit the last step.  Step 7: Smile and continue in the things you have learned to make the room a place of joy for you and others.

II Timothy 3:14-15. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

When I was a child my mom and my grandmothers taught me to sew and crochet, but more importantly they taught me about Jesus.  I hope to continue practicing all I have learned from them in both my sewing room and in my life.

In The Zone

Have you ever been so focused that you gave every last drop of energy without realizing it?  That was me last Tuesday.  I was involved with a major project at work and I got into 'The Zone'.  It's when you are so focused that you lose track of time, plow through work non-stop and feel as if you are thinking more clearly than normal.  You make more progress than you have in days and you don't want to stop.  You push yourself to see how much you can accomplish.  Then you look at the clock and realize that you've been in 'The Zone' for 9 hours.  Finally you force yourself to leave, and realize you are on the edge of exhaustion.

Over-working is something that society has created to measure our worth.  It creates fatigue, anxiety and sometimes depression.  In fact, it made me unable to function by the end of the week.  I had to take the day off on Friday to recuperate because I never could shake the exhaustion from earlier in the week.  I don't believe God made us to work this way.  

III John 3:2. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

I need to balance all things so that I may prosper in all things and be in good health.  I can't give more attention to my mind than to my spirit or my body.  I pray that we all find that balance.