Give God a Year

I picked up this book recently--likely at a thrift store--because the title spoke to me. I figured I'd look through it and if it felt doable and spoke to me and what I've been seeking, then I'd give it a try. Basically, I see this as a personal and social experiment...not testing God, per se, but I'm curious...if I give God a year, what will happen? I figure not giving God much of anything for a huge chunk of my life led me into some very dark and scary places, this has got to be better than that. I've already seen God's work in my life in many ways, even when I wasn't following him (I'm just going to use the genderfied pronoun here, because of tradition and all that. I don't really know that God is male, female, or whatnot). I'm curious and excited to see what God might do when I'm actually giving him the reigns and not trying to control everything.

This book is the author's memoir of her 365 day challenge of giving God a year of her life. It includes her process and some guidance on the steps to take in applying her process to our lives.

At this point, I'm convinced to try it. A year will pass anyway, so why not give this a go and see what happens. The author recommends journalling our process and how we're seeing God work in our lives. So, I'm just going to pop those journal entries here along with everything else I journal about my life.

To begin with, she asks us to prayerfully explore the things we want God to do--God's Part--and the things we need to do--My Part--and come up with a list for each. So, here's my list...

God's Part

"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." - Matthew 7:11 NLT

1. to know God better and lean into his direction for my life
2. our entire family to know and serve God
3. reach my weight goal and stay there
4. to be close to and have a healthy relationship with Dancer
5. to have a God-led marriage and friendships
6. vibrant health emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically
7. no debt and financial fitness

My Part

"I discipline by body like and athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." - I Corinthians 9:27 NLT

1. prayer and meditation; quiet time for reading and studying 12-Step literature, doing step-work, Bible study, and journaling
2. yoga everyday
3. start a strength and functional fitness program -- workout cards
4. stay on abstinent food plan and track foods on MyFitnessPal
5. moisturizing face, neck, hands, and heels before bed; brush teeth at least twice every day
6. connect with one other fellow in Program
7. invite myself to participate when wanting to avoid these things and pray on it
8. track spending; make a budget and stick to it; plan purchases

The author reminds us that God's Part is for God. God knows the big-picture, and if I PRAY and OBEY, then God will fulfill his promises.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." - Matthew 6:33 NLT

God will give me everything I need. God knows what I need. God knows me better than I know myself. All I need to do is seek his Kingdom and his Righteousness, and God will provide everything I need.

365 Project... Out the Window

Yeah, I sort of said f-it to the 365 Project.  The winter was getting too long and I felt like I was taking a picture of the same damn thing everyday.  I do hope to pick my camera back up soon... if the weather outside would just warm the hell up already!

365 Project: Day 46

365 Project: Day 45

Dodger cutting up chicken for chicken & noodles... it was super yummy
I don't know why it's so blurry... but it's the only one I have from this day

365 Project: Day 44

homemade noodles... drying

365 Project: Day 43

365 Project: Day 42

365 Project: Day 41

365 Project: Day 40

365 Project: Day 39

365 Project: Day 38

The neighbor's place.

365 Project: Day 37

It's Super Bowl Sunday!  Dodger made chicken wings for dinner... there was honey mustard, honey BBQ, and lemon pepper.  We both thought the lemon pepper kicked ass!  He also made up some smashed potatoes, too.  I bought half of a cherry pie at the store yesterday for our desert today.  The hubby bought me some wine a few days ago... he got me Arbor Mist Peach Chardonnay... yummy.  I don't usually drink but I wanted some for Super Bowl Sunday.  It's been ages since I last drank, do I got a little toasted.  Love that staying home for the game thing.

After the game was over, we watched the season finale of Dexter.  Yes, I'm fully aware of when that actually aired and I have no idea why Dodger decided to wait so dang long to load it up so we could watch it.  What I didn't tell him was that already watched it about a month ago.  I just got tired of waiting.  We're both looking forward to the start of the new season, whenever that may be.

Dancer went to my mom's this evening.  This is a usual occurrence every Friday and Sunday.  I think they were going to watch the game and start working on their projects for the next county fair.  I'm all for getting a head-start.  Dancer is wanting to put some of her photography in for judging this year... maybe I'll do the same.  I haven't yet entered anything in to the county fair.

365 Project: Day 36

a newly cleaned and organized 'command center'

365 Project: Day 35

My favorite book bag ever!  It was a gift from my friend, Sarah, a year or so ago.
I now use it to carry my laptop in.  It's the perfect size for it.

365 Project: Day 34

what the Dodger made for dinner... I eat mine without the bread
he puts corn on top... Dancer and I put it on the side

365 Project: Day 33

365 Project: Day 32

Even though almost everything has come to a halt here, because of the weather, the mailman still came.  I guess there's not much that stops the mail.

We had flurries today but we still didn't get what we were expecting to get, not that I'm complaining.  For some reason our side of town didn't get hit hard.  I have friends on the other side of town that lost power and got dumped on.  Some of the smaller villages and surrounding towns actually closed down roads and opened up emergency shelters for people who had lost power to come and stay warm.

{"Blizzard" of Winter 2011}

365 Project: Day 31

The weather man called for freezing rain.  I had friends across town and in neighboring villages who got covered but we only got a light dusting of misty snow.

{"Blizzard" of Winter 2011}

365 Project: Day 30

I think it's time to clean off my bed again.

365 Project: Day 29

The first 'successful' homemade pizza.