Move on....

 

Have you ever set out with a new workout plan or a new daily routine only to hit an interruption and have to set your plan aside?

I finally started my new workout plan....set a goal to hopefully run another marathon this year. I began a 90 Day plan with 3 goals in mind and at the end of the first month I would sign up for my next race. Life is good.....I am going to get back into my workout routine! First week went great, completed 6 days of workouts. Second week good, completed 5 days of
workouts....I am feeling good, limiting my sugar and no snacks in the evening. I am into my third week, I am working out as well as I am doing yard work.....feeling good but then I notice my knee is bothering me. It appears swollen, feels like I bruised it or something bit me when I was doing yard work. So I press on and do my Wednesday workout and finish the yard work when I notice my knee is really swollen, I can hardly walk. It hurts so bad I need to take Advil and begin icing. Not a good moment. I am really frustrated. I have been making such progress.....now what? Are you kidding me, I didn't even injure it while running.

So this morning while I am icing my knee, feeling frustrated because my plan is interrupted I hear the Lord whisper to me, Do you trust Me? Do you think I don't know the desires of your heart and the goals you would like to accomplish physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds me to trust in the Lord with all of my heart, lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him and He will direct my paths. And Ps 37:4, says, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. To be honest I was not trusting, I didn't understand because I don't even remember injuring my knee so I definitely was not delighting. I was not a happy person and I was not a happy person to be around. As I began reading through our 40 Day study the method Rick Warren is teaching us now is the "personalize it" and "pray it" method in scripture meditation.

 

I begin to personalize one of the verses in the study and it was for me personally..........

Philippians 1:6 -I began a good work in you, (Linda), and I will carry it on to completion. Then Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in Me, Linda, with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your paths.

I think what God is trying to show me is yes, make a plan, do what you can do and do your best but delight in Me, trust Me and relax in Me....let it go and trust.

 

There are so many things I do not understand and are out of my control no matter how good I think my plan is or how hard I am working at it. I can control my attitude and my response to the many interruptions to this life. I can let it go and trust God........I can Move On. He has a plan for me, He wants me to accomplish my goals and dreams even more than I do because He created me to live life to the fullest and be who God created me to be.                                                            

The open road

I love road trips......whether we are just cruising for an afternoon/evening ride exploring new roads or we are actually headed somewhere. I love road trips. I love having the top down in the

 convertible, good tunes on the radio, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze blowing. Depending on how far we will drive maybe a few snacks, some SOBE green tea or coffee & chocolates or just find the closest Dairy Queen for an ice-cream cone or frosty & fries from Wendy's. I just love the open road.                                                                                                                                              

I also love running out on the open road or go for a long bike ride. I think what I love most about the open road & road trips is the freedom, the wide open space leaving room for your mind to think and process life. The open road is like an empty page waiting for you to write a new entry of your life story. A chance to unwind and just breathe. You can just get lost on the open road. Refresh your mind and regain your focus.

Zephaniah 3:17 - For the Lord your God is with you, He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

The open road isn't just for a planned occasional "road trip" it is open and ready for you to experience daily or weekly. Take little minibreaks with God.....he is calling you.....to come join him on the open road. Take a break from the noise and business of the world, find that open road for a drive, a run or a bike ride, a place to be still in His Presence and listen to His voice. Listen to the love song that He is singing over you! I take great delight in you...I rejoice over you with singing.  He is singing over you continually we just don't always hear Him. There are treasures to be found through listening to Him and some of the richest blessing have to be actively sought.

See you out on the open road!

Focus

Romans 8:31 - If God is for us who can stand against us?

Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge & strength always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come & the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar & foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters rage!

Luke 1:37 - Nothing is impossible with God!

God is not only with us....He is for us! When you decide on a course of action that is inline with is plan for your life, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop it.

Never give up...God is for you. Focus on Him, the author and the completer of our faith!

Focus - stay on the coarse no matter what obstacles but also enjoy the journey of being in His presence.

My One Word for 2014



Happy New Year.....2014! A fresh new year is right in front of us. A few years ago I decided to stop setting new years resolutions and instead choose one word to focus on for the year. You can read about it under the tab My Story. This past year was filled with twists and turns as well as so many wonderful life experiences for my family. Our oldest daughter, Emily, graduated from the University of Florida with high honors, I ran my first marathon, Mark competed in several Triathlons, our youngest daughter, Katie,  graduated from the College of Central Florida, we cheered on Emily as she ran her first half marathon and then finally we helped Emily transition to Las Vegas where she accepted a position at Central Christian as the Associate Director of Communications & Branding www.centralonline.tv. Whew.....and those are just a few of the highlights. Emily and Katie decided to road trip out to Vegas so they left on New Years Eve. That was one of the hardest moments for us, to watch the girls drive away and know that life will never be the same. As we stood in the kitchen, all for of us in tears, we told the girls we will always be Team Cummins we will just be in different places...Multi-site:)! We prayed for protection and guidance and His peace to fill us. Then the girls drove away and Mark and I found ourselves sitting in front of the fireplace, not really able to speak or move for several hours. I finally opened up my journal and I began to write out my thoughts & feelings. I knew I needed a Word for this year more than ever.

 

My one word for 2014 is Focus. This will be a very different year for me....I have never been here before. The landscape of my life is changing with Emily out west and Katie charting her course. It will be easy for me to drift.....drift in my thoughts, to old patterns, in my eating & exercise habits, to drift into depression & just want to stay in bed. My life just looks different & feels different.

Focus - I need to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things. (Phil 4) I need to focus on God and trust His Word, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. He still has a plan for my life. To focus on an incredible future. To focus on trying new things & achieving new goals.

 

One word is sticky and memorable. It gives clarity & a laser focus throughout the year. It will stretch you spiritually, physically, mentally, relationally, emotionally & financially. By living a single word that is meant just for you, you'll find a renewed purpose & meaning throughout the year. Instead of coming up with a list of things "to do" choose one word "to be" and then let God transform you from the inside out. It will change your life!



Visit www.GetOneWord.com where you can read stories of others on this same journey.

Send me your One Word for 2014 Linda@hopeinocala.com. I would love to hear your story!