Affirm Yourself!

If we are to be transformed by the renewing our minds so that we won't be conformed to this world, just how to we think this transformation is going to happen? Perhaps one way is by daily affirmations. Yeah...Yeah...you've heard this already. But have you ever tried it!? I know...I know...it took me years and years before I tried daily affirmations too, but now I am convinced of their value. Allow me to share two stories.

Story One

One of my daily affirmations is "I enjoy being a wife and a mother". In October, 2007, I was volunteering at one of my 13 year old son's football games. I was on the sideline taking score. The team did not have another clipboard so my hand was my clipboard. It got a little cloudy. The wind started blowing. It started to rain. I didn't have an umbrella. This was my son's first season playing tackle football, but I knew that the game would not be called because of rain. The ink started to bleed on the score paper. The wind and rain blew in my face. I was getting cold. Then out of nowhere I heard a voice. It sounded like my voice but I wasn't speaking. But there it was again...that was my voice. All of a sudden I heard it again, it was me....somewhere down on the inside of me ...I heard, "I enjoy being a wife and a mother." All I could do was laugh. I was about to get real upset and vow never to allow my son to play tackle football again, but instead, all I could do was laugh. Then about 10 minutes later or less, the rain stopped.

Story Two

It was my goal to do the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon in less time than I did in 2007. ( I run and walk the marathon. I don't run the entire course.) So, I trained accordingly. During the marathon, as I reached the 11th mile I was not making the time I had trained for. My timing was off. I was taking longer than planned for each mile. I started getting a little discouraged. Then there was that voice again. One of my daily affirmations while training for the marathon was, "I can run faster than I think." Somewhere between mile 11 and 12, I heard my voice tell me, "I can run faster than I think". I agreed. I finished the marathon 54 minutes less than I did in the last one.

Affirm yourself!

You can eat less!
You can exercise!
You can eat only one dessert!
You can walk more than a couple of blocks!

Renew your mind!

Big Plate? No, A Little Plate, and Then She Ate!

I believe if we can master portion control, I think we can master just about anything else as we choose to keep our physical temples fit. Here are 7 Portion Control Secrets by Jennifer R. Scott of about.com

1. Meet yourself halfway - You can cut the calories of your favorite foods by 50% without changing about them - just eat half.

2. Downsize your dinner. When eating out, don't be afraid to ask for the lunch entree at dinner time, or ask to order from the children's menu.

3. Resist the upsize offer. Fast food portions are already oversized, so there is no need to add insult to injury by upgrading your meal.

4. Good portions come in small packages. If you find your will-power is overpowered by a full bag of potato chips, don't buy the large bags. Get the individual lunch sized bags one at a time.

5. Size up servings. Just how many of those chips are in one serving. Check the nutrition label to find out - you may be surprised at how small an actual serving looks compared to what you usually eat.

6. Be gone buffets! It is nearly impossible to practice portion control in an all-you-can-eat situation.

7. Compare to control. A really nifty way of learning to control portions is to mentally compare them with common every day objects that you are used to seeing, i.e one cup of cereal is the size of a baseball, one ounce of nuts is the cupped size of your palm, 3 ounces of hamburger is like the lid of a jar of mayonaise, 3 ounces of poultry is like a deck of playing cards, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta is like a golf ball, etc.

So, it's no secret any more! Enjoy!

When Do We Choose the Good Part?

"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her......"Do we choose to spend the precious 24 hours that we get each day distracted with our priorities out of sync, or at some point during our day do we realize the importance of spending time in God's presence and in his word? I must concur with David who said, "Early will I seek you....." I have learned how valuable it is to seek the Lord early in the morning! (NOTE: I said I have learned....It didn't happen over night.) Does this time change my circumstances for the day? No. If I'm broke (financially) when I start, I'm broke when I'm finished. But my perception and outlook is re-focused. Does it mean I'll have absolutely no problems during that day. No. But I stand a much better chance of any problem not overtaking me. Does it mean I won't make any mistakes that day. No. But I'm more likely to ask for forgiveness quicker and forgive myself even quicker.

It's all about choice - and sacrifice.

We make choices every day. And, usually if something is really worth it, it requires a sacrifice. Yes, you might have to get up earlier than you normally would...or watch one less television show than you usually do....or talk to one less person on the telephone each day. But, whatever the sacrifice, I'm a witness that it will be worth it.

When in your day do you choose the good part?


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