Tag: stretch

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End of Month One

It’s the end of the first month of the year.  Just 30 days ago many of you made resolutions to change yourself this year.  How is it going?

I picked Stretch as my word for the year, and that has helped me focus on change. Personally, my muscle flexibility has increased tremendously, I’ve cleaned up the basement a little bit ( not as much as I had planned), I’ve lost a few pounds, ( not as much as I had planned), I’ve gone the whole month without a carbonated beverage and we’ve eaten at home most of the month according to the plan.  (Applause, Applause!)

It’s been a pretty good month for transformation in our home.  Now, there are several other transformations that are faltering – organizing the office, keeping focused on exercise, letting the spirit lead, and always being peace in the storm.  But they are moving along little by little.

How about you? If you change has been gentle or overwhelming, don’t quit.  The first month is over, and it’s done – take stock, and move on.  Keep changing a little bit each and everyday.

Oh and keep that one word that you picked for the year right out of you each day.

 16Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.2 Corinthians 4:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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Being Uncomfortable

Yesterday I was able to run for the first time in several months. I think I have run maybe 4 or 5 miles total since July. So as a part of this therapy to break down things I was told to run a few miles every other day . Last night I went out for a one miler. Everything felt odd – even my shoes. Every step was uncomfortable – not really because of pain, it just did not feel right. It was just plain awkward.

So here we are on the 11th day of the new year. Many of you are trying new things, many of you are working to change and transform yourself.  And you are probably sitting in a time where you feel really awkward and uncomfortable with what you are doing.    That is how it is when we get out of our comfort zone.  It’s just plain awkward.

But here is what I know – the more I get out there on the roads, the comfort will return, and the growth and strength will return as well.

I think it’s no wonder that Paul equates the Christian life with one of a runner.  Because each day, we must continue to push, continue to change, continue to train, continue to stretch our comfort zones, and we will see change.

Change – not to achieve something, but change that happens ‘in view of His Mercies” that brings glory to the father.

Keep it up.

 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27  New International Version (NIV)

 

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One Word 365

This weekend I saw a tweet about a group that was not encouraging resolutions, but was encouraging you to pick one word to focus on for the next year.  It’s called One Word 365.  When I first saw it, my interest was peeked, but it quickly left my mind. However, I was reminded of this effort again yesterday morning, and so I decided that I needed to take part in this activity this year.  Actually, I sort of did this last year, so I think this year I will be more intentional about it.

I bounced around through lots of words, and last night I debated between two.  However, after lots of thinking, and praying, I have settled on this one word:

Stretch

I think this word not only fits the “buffet your body daily” idea, but also sums up a lot of my goals this year.  It seems so obvious to the physical nature, as I continue to heal my injured knees through increased flexibility via stretching.  But this word also describes so many other things – stretching out to others, stretching my influence in my family, stretching my knowledge at work, stretching my dollars, and most importantly stretching out to my creator.

 13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,  14I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 American Standard Version (ASV)

How about you, what is  your one word for 2012?