Make-a-change Monday~Don’t Be a Sloth

So let’s review. 


What small changes have you made so far this year? Are you sticking to them? Have you seen any result? 

Here are our “Make-a-Change Monday’s” so far: 


We’ve attempted to work on our physical body, our spiritual relationship with God, our home, and our relationships. It’s hard isn’t it? Even though these are very small changes, we must continue them to make a difference in our lives—to be able to look back at the end of this year and see a difference. 

Today I’m giving us a little break from new changes, and taking time to review how well we’ve done on the changes we’ve attempted thus far. 

My hubby can tell you I love to stay in my pajamas if I don’t have anywhere to be first thing. If my plans are to write, or any other work that requires my computer, it will be lunchtime and I’ll still be in my pj’s! He hates it, and honestly I do too. So why do I still do it? Could it be the “L” word? 

Look at today’s prescription verse. Let’s break it down: 

Do not be slothful

Here’s what the dictionary has to say:

slothful |ˈslôθfəl; släθ-; ˈslōθ-|
adjective
lazy : fatigue made him slothful. (yep, there’s the “L” word)

fatigue made him slothfullazyidle, indolent, inactive, sluggish, apathetic, lethargic, listless, languid, torpid; archaic otiose.

Sometimes I feel like this is how I look in the mornings: 

Do not be slothful in zeal...

Here’s what the dictionary has to say about zeal: 
zeal |zēl|
noun
great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective : his zeal for privatization | Laura brought a missionary zeal to her work.
Ross’s zeal for footballpassionardor, love, fervor, fire, avidity, devotion, enthusiasm, eagerness, keenness, appetite, relish, gusto, vig-or,energy,intensity; fanaticism. ANTONYMS apathy, indifference.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t typically have too much zeal while I’m still in my
pajamas. To feel zealous, I must act. 
Making “to do” lists of the things I want to accomplish does not get anything accomplished! 
Since November, I’ve been running. On day one, I started out running for 2 minutes, then walking for 3 minutes, for a total of 25 minutes. Today, I’m up to 30 minutes without walking. Do I look forward to running? No. I pretty much dread it…until I go put my workout clothes on, put my headphones on, and get outside. Then I’m motivated to accomplish something.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit…
fervent |ˈfərvənt|
adjective
having or displaying a passionate intensity : a fervent disciple of tax reform.See note at eager .
• archaic hot, burning, or glowing.
a fervent prayerimpassionedpassionate, intense, vehement, ardent,sincere, fervid, heartfelt; enthusiastic, zealous, fanatical, hardcore,wholehearted, avid, eager, keen, committed, dedicated, devout; literaryperfervid. ANTONYMS apathetic.
Passion is the word I like to use for fervent. I had passion for a few things/people growing up, but God was not one of them. It wasn’t until I really got to know God that I loved Him enough to be passionate about Him. I wish I could say I just kept pursuing Him until I got Him, but it was His pursuing me that got my attention. 

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

serve |serv|
verb
1 perform duties or services for (another person or an organization):
    Malcolm has served the church very faithfully

they served their masters faithfully: work for, be in the service of, be employed by; obey.

Obey. That’s the difficult part of service, especially when it comes to serving God. Who
knows what he will ask? I have learned the hard way that obedience is the only way to go. 


We can only be truly happy when we live a life of obedience to Him. 

Anything we want to accomplish takes change. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I’m
amazed at the person I’ve become in the last year, and it’s been all about small changes. Yes,
I still battle with the whole pajama thing, but I’m getting there! 
So I guess it’s time to go get dressed…

From my heart, 

Celeste







Do you get it?

Have I told you lately how incredible it is to be made brand new in Christ? Well, until September 25th, 2010, I really had no idea. I was saved when I was seven years old, and I did all the things that a good lil’ southern baptist girl should do (or shouldn’t do), but I just didn’t get it. The weird thing is, though, that because I didn’t get it, I didn’t know I didn’t get it. Get it?

I went to church. I prayed every day. I read my bible. I went to bible studies. I would see people like Beth Moore or Joyce Meyer speak, and I would always be amazed at the passion they had for Christ. I truly just thought my personality was different and I didn’t express myself they way they do. What it boiled down to is I didn’t truly down deep, to the core, feel like I needed Christ. My brain knew I did, because I’d been taught all my life that Jesus is the only way. My heart, on the other hand, could not simply “learn,” it had to “feel.”

I don’t know whether it’s because I’m stubborn, my sinful human nature was too strong, or it was simply God’s plan, but I had to endure some pretty tough stuff to realize how much I needed God and how much he wants me. I believe wholeheartedly that accepting Christ as your personal savior will get you a ticket into heaven, but to have a full life on earth, you must not only accept him, but pursue him…constantly.

When I was seven, God wrote my name down in the lamb’s book of life, and secured my reservation in heaven. But on September 25th of last year, he made me brand spanking new! Now I know some of you who are reading this are thinking…”here’s another one…thinking God is the answer for everything.” I promise you I had those thoughts about people all my life…until now. I’m not saying God is the only answer for everything, but I promise you that if you invite him into every situation in your life, he will meet you there. Good or bad, happy or sad, you will never be alone. I just want to share a few areas in my life that have changed since I let God be God, and welcomed him into every part of it.

My depression is gone…completely and totally gone.
My migraine headaches are minimal, and when I do still have one, I can handle it.
My seizures are completely gone.
I am free from the prisons I kept myself in…fear, dependence, worry, guilt, failure…and the list goes on.
I have a much more eternal perspective…a new “destination” in life that I actually think, read, and wonder about.
The act of forgiveness is no longer such a struggle. There is such a freedom in letting go of a grudge and letting God handle it. (I hesitated to list this one…God may test me on it!)

Now those are some pretty big areas right there…but what I did not expect were the changes in the seemingly insignificant areas in my life.

Meal planning and cooking are easy. No longer the daunting tasks they were.
The heat of the summer has not bothered me at all compared to summers past.
The housework gets done when it gets done. Not a single soul that walks into this house cares if I have a sink full of dishes or a basket of clothes to fold.
Exercising and losing weight is not the overwhelming goal it used to be (although definitely a long term goal).
If something on my “to do” list doesn’t get done, it’s okay. I just move it to tomorrow’s list!

Do you see where this is going? EVERYTHING in my life is easier. Now I see why Beth Moore teaches with such passion. When you can finally “get it,” you will know it, and you will be compelled to share your joy with anyone and everyone who will listen.

From my heart, 
Celeste