Fill 'er up

 I challenged myself with the rainbow challenge.

It has caused me to drink more spinach!

It has caused me to grab a handful of crudites with any lunch

(a radish, a cherry tomato, a mini cucumber, a mini pepper, some baby carrots).

With just a few mini veggies - I can get most of my rainbow.

I started the challenge with a balance that leaned toward more fruit,

and ended up getting more and more veggies!

So how about some habit stacking?

Hopefully, you have been practicing the rainbow of fruits and vegetables

and it is becoming second nature.

Fruits and vegetables are a powerhouse of fiber.

The skin and seeds in the "rainbow" are great for the body!

How about looking for even more fiber?

Fiber boosts metabolism,

fiber lowers cholesterol and blood sugar,

fiber keeps things "moving",

fiber feeds healthy bacteria in the digestive tract boosting immunity and aiding digestion,

fiber keeps you full for longer (less snacking).

So start looking at your meals.

Are they empty?

What can you add to your fruits and vegetables?

How about some oatmeal or granola for breakfast?

Whole wheat bread or even sprouted grains for a sandwich?

Corn tortilla chips instead of potato chips? 

(neither is stellar, but the tortilla chips have more fiber)

Brown rice instead of white rice?

A meal with beans at the core instead of meat?

Whole grain pasta and noodles instead of white pasta?

Could you throw brown rice or barley in a soup you are already making?

How about trying a new grain like quinoa or buckwheat?

What about sprinkling some ground flax on your yogurt or blending in your smoothie?

Try nuts on your yogurt or with your cereal or granola.

Frustrating, but profitable

 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times:

Unless she had turned from me, 

surely now also I had slain thee, and saved he alive.

Numbers 22:33

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; 

but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, 

as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:20

Oh, how frustrating the roadblocks of life are!

I don't want detours;

I don't want delays;

In essence, I want my way.

But just as God used an angel to spare Balaam

And God took Joseph on a detour to save the entire nation of Israel,

So he uses the detours in my life for my good or the good of others.

I haven't figured out the reasons for all the detours,

But the longer I live,

The more I understand some of the detours.

And I am reminded to be patient in them

And to let God do the work he want to in my life.

A Good Word

 I have been much encouraged (and rebuked) recently by good words at the proper time.

About 2 weeks ago,

I ministered in music with a piano offertory in church.

It had been over 10 months since I had played in church

and over 3 years since I had played in a larger church.

I had many nerves but also the power of prayer by my hubby and a good friend.

The morning came to play and God blessed and answered prayer abundantly.

When we arrived at Sunday School (even a little late) the sanctuary was empty

and I could run through the piece (a real piano feels different than a keyboard).

Then two men encouraged me with their words after my practice.

It wasn't words to pat me on the back,

but words of encouragement.

Then before the service ... more words ...

again, not of praise, but of empathy, acknowledging those nerves as normal.

Then this past Sunday, I was encouraged by a lady who asked about a prayer request that I had given over a month ago.

Her words were a reminder that she was still praying.

All of these words were words that encouraged me

and rebuked me for not always having the same encouraging words for others.

Who doesn't like to be encouraged?

Who doesn't need to hear a good word?

Why shouldn't that encouragement come from me or you?

Why Exercise?

 Exercise is a daily part of my life.

I actually dislike it.

It takes time.

It takes effort.

I feel sore the next day.

BUT ...

It strengthens me.

It builds my endurance.

It challenges me.

It reduces stress.

I gives me more energy.

It doesn't happen immediately.

For a while, I have to envision the results.

But then it surprises me.

One day I jog without being winded.

One day I lift something easily that used to be hard.

One day I see that muscle more distinctly.

After our bout with sickness last month,

we finally got back to running this week.

Hubby and I went out for our WOG.

I got my heart rate up and we enjoyed the sunshine together.

We look forward to building those lung and leg muscles again.

Faith is the same way.

It must be exercised in order to be strengthened.

And in much the same way, you wait to see the results.

Our trials have been relatively few,

but in recent days, we look back over nearly 20 years and see where the trials have yielded results.

I smile when I look at the gas reports and the last time gas prices were this high.

When?  July 2008 - right before we moved from WA to NC - 

to start school with no job lined up!

And God provided.

We have lived in a town, in a home, in a state that is designed for engineers, computer techs, and 2 income households for 3 years.

We can't really afford to live in Oregon.

BUT - God provided abundantly.

And today, the slow build of strength that these trials have yielded is seen as we face the future with more confidence than we might have in the past...

not confidence in ourselves, but confidence in our God.

And now we envision the increased strength that this move will provide.

More confidence in God.

More stories of miraculous provision (as we have already seen).

So maybe you have a trial before you ...

just remember that the trying of your faith is designed to produce fruit in your life.

God knows the timing, the situation, the trial ...

... and He is already there.

The Gentle Rebuke

 This morning, I mentioned that yesterday had been a tough day.

We were flying high - very high - over the weekend.

We had planned a survey trip for hubby to our possible new location.

All systems go!

The church seems good (dare I say great), 

4 possible job locations within an hour of the church,

and the thoughts of finally purchasing a home.

This might even be our final move.

And then ...

I started researching moving truck prices!

Yes, that was the stinger - the derailer.

$10,000 to rent a truck between OR and TN?

Yet only $3,000 to take one from TN to OR?

Do you see the difficulty?

I actually went to a few sites thinking that the first one had a glitch in the online calculator.

It seems that we are not the only ones wanting to leave the liberal west coast.😀

The flesh immediately wanted to get mad,

to cry,

to ask why.

I am going through the Minor Prophets with my Sunday School Class.

I felt like the prophets.

Why was I being punished for moving to OR to do right?

I moved 3 years ago on Biblical principle

and truly believe that we are moving again in God's plan.

So why the hurdles?

(Should have just thought on Amos in which God promises not to forget works of any type - good or bad)

And then God, as He does, brought the gentle rebuke ... in the funniest ways.

We had bought 2 books that came recommended to us.

Neither one turned out to be what we expected, 

but we opened the book that we were reading together last night ...

This is the chapter title that greeted us ...

Trust God to Deliver in His Own Unique Way

And as we finished that chapter, the next chapter title screamed ...

View Your Current Crisis as a Faith Builder for the Future

And then, in the devotional book that I was reading,

I awoke this morning to this Proverb ...

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10

Yes, God, I get it.

Another reminder that Sandra is not in control.

Another reminder that I don't have to understand.

Another reminder to just rest.

Another reminder that His ways are not our ways.

And as I stand back,

I can see that maybe God wants me to hire a moving company for less than it would cost me to DIY

and thus give me a more comfortable drive across the country.

I can see that maybe God will keep asking me to trust and drop prices in the final hour.

I can see that He doesn't need my money or my wisdom.

I can see that I still have a long way to go in the area of trust and faith.

And one more gentle rebuke ...

Sandra, you are helping to plan a Praise Service for TONIGHT!

You are presenting Psalm 103 in song.

Bless the LORD, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He has always been faithful and will continue to be!

I don't know what may try to steal your joy today,

but listen to your gentle rebukes.

And if you can't hear yours ...

at least listen to the ones that God sent me.

He Knows

Psalm 139:4-6

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

This year has been full of twists, turns, surprises.

Some events have been pleasant.

Some events have been unwelcome.

There are years that string together in difficulty.

There are other years of great ease and enjoyment.

Our service in Oregon began as an unknown.

How long?

How would it end?

What would be required?

That chapter is coming to a close.

The Author of that chapter knew how long.

He knew the end.

He knew what would be required.

He knew what I needed to learn in the past 3 years.

He knew of skills I needed to practice.

He knew relationships that could be healed.

He knew of people I could help.
He knew the people that would change me.

He knew my reactions, both good and bad.

The move to Oregon came with excitement and questions,

but it was all known to our loving God.

And now we face another "Adventure."

Our primary "mission" was completed in August.

In every move in the past, our destination was dictated ...

by job to Washington,

by pursuit of education to North Carolina,

by family duty to Oregon.

But now ...

a wide-open country.
Where is the next place of service

There is now the innate desire to fret, to worry, to doubt

when God wants me to trust, to have faith, to walk by faith.

He knows.

He knows the timing.

He knows the desires of my heart.

He knows the needs of my life.

Perhaps there are pressures and unknowns around you today.

Remember that He knows.

He is before you.

He knows your concerns.

Leave the cares with Him today!

A Challenge for November

Our church family has been challenged for the month of November.
The challenge is to pray for another family in the church each day of the month - 30 days.
The challenge includes sending them encouragement,
letting them know why they are appreciated.
The challenge can even include gifts of gratitude.

I guess it is kind of a "Secret Santa" or "Secret Sister" type idea.

But doesn't God work in your heart as you focus on others?
Don't you sympathize more and criticize less while you are focusing on the needs of another? 
Isn't there a blessing in looking for the good in others and holding others up?

While our challenge was done so that no family would be left out,
is there someone in your sphere that you would commit to encourage this month?