Author Archive
a workaholic world.
aI just read this post yesterday on Plywood People and was SUPER convicted by it! He talks about how in our culture lately it seems like whenever people ask “how are you doing?” the answer is usually something like, “so busy!” “things are great, but just so, so busy right now!!!” and I realized I am SO guilty of this! I don’t know why I answer this question like this – is it to make people think I am important? (which I am CLEARLY not) or that I have way more cool stuff going on in my life than they do theirs? I mean…honestly, I have no idea what triggers the response.
I was telling my small group a few weeks ago that I have felt really strongly that I need to throw the brakes on things BIG time in my life- I HATE having things going every night and feeling like there is never time to slow down and enjoy my family and my friends – and that in slowing things down I felt so much better about things, so much less…busy. Imagine that. Yes – when it comes down to it, I am busy – I work full time, do consulting on the side, teach fitness classes and have a lot more going on – but that shouldn’t define who I am or how I define my life – those ARE things I do, but they are not who I am- and I don’t want to be defined by those things.
So I got home from hanging out with friends tonight and immediately sat down to get some work done. Why the heck did I do this?! I already worked 9 hours today and got A LOT of focused work done – what’s wrong with sitting on the couch watching TV or reading without feeling guilty or like I should be getting things done? Am I doing this so tomorrow I can tell my co-workers that I worked until midnight, or tell some rando this weekend how awesome I am for working all the time. Honestly, I want to get to the point where if I tell someone I worked all evening I want them to call me out on it – I deserve a break, my husband deserves my attention, and the baby that is soon-to-be will definitely deserve my focus as well!
Ok, I need to gather my thoughts here. My challenge to you (and me!) is to redefine how you are prioritizing your life and looking at things. We are ALL busy…whether you work 4 jobs, 1 job or…anything. We all have a lot going for us…no one really cares how busy you are! (are you offended by that?) So next time someone asks you how you are doing, try actually telling them how you are doing and feeling – not how busy you are…it doesn’t make you look cool! And another challenge…try shutting down work/computer/iPhone/email when you get home and ENJOY the fact that you had an incredibly productive day and that all of those emails will still be there at 8 am, and hey… maybe it will help your co-workers find some balance too if you aren’t emailing them every 5 minutes of their life!
Now…go!
My ABC’s
aSaw this over on Roni’s Weigh and thought it would be fun!
So here goes… the ABC’s of me…
- Age: 26
- Bed size: King…and I LOVE it.
- Chore you hate: Laundry, Laundry, LAUNDRY! Omg, I cannot say it enough.
- Dogs: 1, Jack…the most shedding dog in the entire world – and I love him so much!
- Essential start to your day: a yummy breakfast and a diet coke
- Favorite color: hmmm…I think teal
- Gold or silver: Silver!
- Height: 5’10″ if you ask my doctors, 5’9″ if you ask my husband
- Instruments that you can play: oboe (this was my major for a year!), flute and piano
- Job title: National Sales Director
- Kids: 1 on the way!
- Live: Atlanta
- Mom’s name: Beth
- Nicknames: Leaky…only by my BFF!
- Overnight hospital stays: my stroke in 2008
- Pet peeve: When something exciting is happening and people say negative things. (i.e. “I’m pregnant!” answer from person you are telling “you better sleep now!” “oh boy, your life is reallllllly about to change!”) How about a simple congratulations and genuine happiness and well wishes? Hmmm?
- Quote from a movie: “It’s not a tumor” – Kindergarten Cop
- Righty or lefty: Righty.
- Sibling: 2 sisters, and 1 BFF that is like a sister!
- Time you wake up: 8:45…I know, “enjoy it now”…yes, yes I will enjoy it now!
- Underwear: Uhhh…duh.
- Vegetables you dislike: Carrots….barf!
- What makes you run late: I have a complex that causes me to ALWAYS be on time, even if I try to run late
- X-rays: lots for the stroke!
- Yummy food you make: I don’t really cook…ever. So, I will have to go with Shakeology.
- Zoo favorite animal: Giraffe
If you blog have fun with this and leave me a link in the comments so I can check out yours.
coming soon…
aI guess I will FINALLY have some blog content the next several months…er…years!
Coming in September 2011, Baby Case (who for now is known by Reneseme, except Chris, who refuses to call it that.)
Friday Five
aInstead of taking the 2 minutes it typically takes to read my Friday Five today, can you take 2 minutes to stop and pray for Japan?
resonate.
aYesterday was an incredible message at church – about passion for the harvest, and something Chris and I desperately needed to hear. (i.e. passion for reaching the lost) The past few weeks have been a bit frustrating for Chris and I on the church planting front. We both have a huge excitement and passion for launching Resonate, but right now things just feel like they are on hold for several reasons. We love our neighborhood, and we want to reach our neighborhood – there is such a need, and we want to help fulfill that. It’s a difficult place to be, because we live in one community, but our roots (and time) are deeply tied to our church in a very different part of the city – which makes it hard to invest our time and resources into where we actually live.
I think it’s so easy to look at “the harvest” as a missions thing – like, going on short term or long term trips, but right now God is clearly speaking to Chris and I that our role is right here in our community. We are called to start this church and we are itching to figure out what it is going to look like, how it is going to happen, and start making things happen!
The pastor said a John Knox quote, “O Lord, give me Scotland. Or I die!” What a powerful quote. And you know what? God gave him Scotland. He was so passionate for the lost people that he begged God to give him the opportunity to invest there and change lives…and God gave it to Him. Part of me is terrified to ask this question, mostly because it’s a very bold statement…”give me ______, or I die!”….ummm…whoa. Powerful. However, even though I am fearful to make such a bold statement, I feel like as believers and passionate followers, we are asked to be bold. So I ask “O Lord, give me Resonate, or I die!”
I am not asking for a huge church, I am not asking for fame or notoriety, I am pleading for the opportunity to bring Jesus to our neighborhood through Resonate, into the city of Atlanta and bring hope through a community – a place that restores their faith in the Lord if they have walked away, or a place that introduces them to it for the first time. Make me uncomfortable, stretch me, grow me…so that I may draw more near to the Lord and be a powerful witness to my community.
So I plead, “O Lord, give me Resonate, or I die!” What are you begging God to give you for the sake of His name?