A to Z Blog Challenge ~ X

The word for today is EXAMINE. Yes. I know that this word does not begin with the letter X, but there aren't many that do! This word fits me today because I have realized that I have GOT to re-examine my daily routine!

I used to have a morning routine that started with having coffee with God. I would pray, read my devotions, and write in my journal. Then... I would check my email, read Facebook, and write in my blog.

Lately... for whatever reason... I have lost my routine. Yes, I could sit here and think of every excuse in the world as to how I lost it, but there really is no excuse.

I also need to re-examine my exericise routine! I can't seem to find a good time to fit it in. I enjoy my Wii Fit very much, but I like to be home alone when I do it. For me, it is very distracting when my family is around.... which is almost ALL THE TIME! I've been able to ride my bike at least once a week, but would like to ride it more often, too.

I want to eat better and more healthy, too. So, I plan to re-examine my meals that I cook. Yesterday, I found a wonderful Betty Crocker "Heart Healthy" cookbook at the book store. I am excited about finding new, healthy recipes to cook for my family!

Bucket List #88-90

We're almost to the end!!!

#88 --- Become better at public prayer --- By this, I mean that I want to be able to pray better in front of other people, especially a large group, such as my whole church! I have been asked by my pastor on several occasions, if I would be willing to pray on Sunday mornings, during the service. Each time, I have said .... "No. I'm not ready for that." And of course, I feel GUILTY for saying "no". But, the truth is that I really haven't been ready. I have just gotten comfortable with praying in a "small" (12 people and under!) group setting, within the last couple of years.

But, I told my pastor that I would "PRAY about PRAYING" -- This is how it is written in my Prayer Journal. And because I have been doing that, I now feel more confident that I can do it. I am just waiting to be "asked", now. **smile**

#89 --- Write my own personal mission statement --- Believe it or not... I got this idea from watching "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" --- This was BEFORE all the drama with them splitting and BEFORE Kate had her million dollar (I know... it really wasn't a million! But, it might as well have been!) makeover! --- when the show was actually GOOD! They wrote a "Family Mission Statement". I thought it was such a neat idea, so I "Googled" (of course!) "Personal Mission Statements" to get some ideas of how I could write one for myself. Here's what I have came up with, so far ----

To find happiness, fulfillment, and value in living I will:

· REVERE admirable characteristics in others, such as being spiritual, caring, healthy, fun, inspiring, and giving, and attempt to implement similar characteristics in my own life.

· RECOGNIZE my strengths and develop talents as a person who is good with words, a listener, a writer, Understanding people, Leading, and artistic.

· UTILIZE these talents in things I love to do, especially to read, go camping, go to the beach, watch TV, go hiking, ride rollercoasters, travel, go to church, garden, and play on the computer.

· ENVISION myself becoming a person who:
Dtr. #1 thinks is caring, trustworthy, and fun.
Dtr. #2 thinks is respectful, dependable, and moral.
Hubby thinks is sensitive, wise, and enthusiastic.
And I Will Remember What Matters Most to Me

· 20 years from now, I hope to be surrounded by the most important people in my life. This is who they are and what I plan to be doing:
Hubby would be there. Dtr. #1 and Dtr. #2 would be there. Their husbands and children would be there. We would be vacationing together somewhere fun.
· If a six inch steelbeam were placed across two skyscrapers, this is what I would be willing to cross for:
My family

· If I could spend one day in a great library studying anything I wanted, this is what I would study:
Christianity

· This is what I feel represents me, and why:
Bible

· This is a time when I was deeply inspired:
I was inspired to make a list of 100 things that I wanted to do in my life before I die.

· If I could spend one hour with any person who ever lived, this is who it would be, and what I would ask:
My Granddaddy. I wish that I had known him. I have heard great stories about him. I would ask him to tell me some of his stories.

I don't own this book, but it looks like it would be a good resource!

#90 --- Write my will --- This is something that Hubby and I keep "putting off", but I know that it is SUPER IMPORTANT! Of course, I don't think it is as important now that our kids are adults (Yikes! When did that happen?), but yes.... it is still important. We just need to sit down and "JUST DO IT", as the Nike slogan says!

A Quiet Place

Each morning, I start my day out by spending time with God. I call it my... "Coffee With God" time. I like to get up early --- I'm talking 5am! --- before the rest of my family awakes. I start the coffee pot, feed the dog, let the dog out ....(well, first I have to turn on the "bunny lights", so the bunnies will scatter before I let my bunny-killer-of-a-dog, loose!)... then, with coffee in hand, I come here, into my "office" ... (it's really a converted dining room that I made into my office / scrapbooking room, but I don't really scrapbook anymore, so now it's just my "office".)

I have a whole routine that I go through each morning. First, I write in my journal (the actual "book" kind. Not the computer kind.) Second, I light my "Jesus Candle" (it's just a regular candle, but that's what I call it.). The flame of the candle is a reminder to me that the Holy Spirit is here with me. Third, I open up my "prayer journal" and silently read and pray over all of the prayers that I have listed in my journal. When a prayer is answered, it gets checked off and dated in red so that I will know that it has been "answered". (There are MANY red checks and dates in my prayer journal. Thank you, Lord!) Fourth, I log into my email and check to see if there are any prayer requests that have been added to the church prayer chain. If so, then they get added into my prayer journal along with any other "new" concerns that I may have for the day.

After I am done praying, I take out my two devotional books that I read each morning. One is called... Babes with a Beatitude, Devotions for Smart, Savvy, Women of Faith. And the other one is called...Once a Day, Every Day For Women. This one is actually my favorite, but both are good. Before I read my devotionals, I pray to God and ask Him to help me hear His voice through what I am about to read. I also ask Him to help me understand what it is that He wants me to learn from each of these devotionals. I keep a notebook on my desk that I write down what I believe He wants me to hear and learn. Whenever I have the chance... I love to go back through it and read HIS messages.

I also have several devotions that come to my email each day. One is from the Upper Room and one is from Rev. Mark Brown, called Journey Into God's Word. It is actually his daily blog, but his writings are WONDERFUL!! (if you are on Facebook, you can follow him there or you can Google him.)

I started this post with the idea of sharing today's devotion from my "Once A Day" devotional book. The title of the devotion, is the title of this post --- "A Quiet Place". When I read it this morning, I knew immediately that this would be what I would write about today. I didn't realize, tho, that I would write so much about my quiet time with God! But, once you read this devotion, you will see why I did. Here it goes --- Enjoy!

A Quiet Place

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. -- Mark 1:35 NKJV

In the first chapter of Mark, we read that in the darkness of the early morning hours, Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed. So, too, should we. But, sometimes, finding quiet moments of solitude is difficult indeed.
We live in a noisy world, a world filled with distractions, frustrations, and complications. But if we allow the distractions of a clamorous world to separate us from God's peace, we do ourselves a profound disservice. Are you one of those busy women (or men) who rushes through the day with scarcely a single moment for quiet contemplation and prayer? If so, it's time to reorder your priorities. Nothing is more important than the time you spend with your Savior. So be still and claim the inner peace that is your spiritual birthright: the peace of Jesus Christ.

The more complicated life becomes, the more we need to quiet our souls before God. -- Elizabeth Elliot

In the center of a hurricane there is absolute quiet and peace. There is no safer place than in the center of the will of God. -- Corrie ten Boom

A TIMELY TIP
Be still and listen to God. He has something important to say to you.

Well, ... you can see why I really felt strongly that I needed to share this devotion and write about it. I have highlighted my favorite sentence. It is so true!! We tend to forget this because of our busy, busy lives. God just wants us to spend time with Him each day in quiet peace. If we are not still, we will never hear His beautiful voice! ~~ My prayer for those of you that read this, is that you will find the time each day to have your own quiet time with God. ~ God Bless!