Day 6

Today has been a beautiful day here in NC. The sun has been out all day and the temps have been in the 70's. It’s hard not to love a day like today. For me it began about 8:00. That is about as late as I could sleep. Once my eyes were open my mind began racing about things that needed to get done.

However, the first thing I did was go make some coffee! Then I made a to do list. Next I fixed a cup of coffee and pulled out all my bible study stuff, Ipad, note book and such to have my quiet time. I don't know where you are from - but I have never been a part of a church that celebrated Lent. However, over the last several years a friend of mine and me began this "discipline". Sorry - please do not let me offend anyone with my knowledge of Lent. However, over the last several years we have used this time to give up something and try to prepare our hearts for the upcoming Easter Holiday. Well in the past I have given up sodas, coffee, processed sweets, time, and last year I even gave up TV. This year as I prayed and prayed about what to give up and honestly the Lord kept nudging me that it wasn’t about sacrifice but obedience and that I really needed to sit at His feet and listen to Him. This past year has been full of challenges for me. Several which can be attributed to my weight gain. So I continue to pray saying "really Lord - you don’t want me to give up anything?' and He kept nudging me to "choose Him first & really be still and know He is God over my life and over my circumstance." So this year for Lent I haven’t given up anything but what I have chosen to do is to actively read His word and take notes and journal back to Him each day. It has really been amazing too. Right now I am reading Nehemiah and I have asked God to help rebuild the walls of my life as He did in Nehemiah. So this morning before all the rest of the family (other than my DH who had gone to work) got up I spent my morning reading, writing and talking to God. I found the most amazing verse ~ Neh. 8:10 - "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before the Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength."

This is what I put in my journal - "Thank you Lord that in your word sits this verse. Thank you Father that even though it’s not in your will for me to be a glutton and eat sweets and rich foods all the time - there is a time and place for them. I don't have to feel guilty when those special moments in life arrive . . . like holidays, weddings or birthdays of those I love and are very special to me. I don't have to be tied completely to these healthy ways and never enjoy those rich foods. Thank you Lord. Now this is what freedom feels like. Not bond to those foods ~ not bothered by them either but not barred completely from ever enjoying them."

I am sure this is wonderful news to someone other than me. I just wanted to share it with anyone who is reading. God loves you. He wants you to be healthy but He is not a tyrant that doesn't want the good things, rich things, sweet things in your life. He just wants you not to rely on them instead of Him.

So after my quiet time I went for a run and then continued to work on the rest of my to do list. The rest of my day was just your regular old every day BEAUTIFUL Saturday. There is nothing else worth noting. So with that said here is what I ate today:

Eggs with turkey breast, apples, strawberries, baked salmon with roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, veggies and dip, & yogurt.

Today exercise - I went running for 28 minutes, walking for 10 and went to the gym to lift weights 45 minutes. I usually exercise this much in one day but I wanted to catch up on the run I missed on Wed. Not to mention I LOVE my new Nikes.