The Chrisliss Story

"Well, didn't you just jump on out that boat, Peter. Congrats on the leap of faith!" 

Those were the exact words spoken in a Facebook comment by my friend, Shenora, after making it publicly known that Chris and I are going to get married. Those words have been ringing in my head ever since. They were a prophetic statement of confirmation and encouragement; as well as a foreshadowing of things to come. My heart was lifted and reassured to have such blessed words come out of the mouth of a godly woman. It cemented my confidence and strengthened my faith as I held tight to the image in my mind of walking on the water towards Jesus and His plan for my life (and all the lives involved).

In regards to the foreshadowing part, I knew that I would need to hold onto that courage and strength if I were to KEEP walking on the waters. We all know that Peter is often bold and full of faith, but that his tendency to be impulsive, second-guess, and worry were often his trouble spots. It's nothing I can fault him for, because I have the same tendencies. It hasn't been easy preparing to move and make a bunch of fresh new changes after finally getting settled down. I had bought a house, put a lot of time and money into fixing it up, and was very content in my new job and church home. I was perfectly happy with how things were going and was even at the point where I had become pretty indifferent to having a relationship. My promise to follow through on Gianna's request for a "new Daddy" wasn't forgotten, but my need for a man was no longer that high of a priority and I had become more patient and relaxed about when that part of the picture would be fulfilled. Therefore, that was obviously God's cue to surprise me and shake things up so I wouldn't get too comfortable lol!

So, here it is, peeps! This is for everyone who always loves to know a couple's "story" about how they met and all the "details" regarding the upcoming nuptials (though there isn't much to share regarding that part considering it's basically a private wedding). If nothing else, I hope and pray that all of you who have been so loving and supportive of the both of us will make sure to the read the part at the end about how you can pray for/support our upcoming marriage/blended family. Your prayers mean so much to us! Thank you!

Our Story

There was a moment in the infancy of our relationship where Chris stated: "It's so odd how we've followed similar but at the same time oddly different paths to arrive at the almost mirrored image of each other that we both are today." Indeed! Our life stories are very parallel to each other. We were raised in the Christian faith, grew up in blended families, and have always done our best to live the kind of lives that our faith has taught us to live. Yet, despite our best efforts, we both managed to find ourselves in marriages where those values weren't fully shared. We both tried our hardest to honor our commitments to our mates and to God. Unfortunately, sometimes, things still don't work out. Ultimately, in both of our cases, we were forced to make the painful decision to move on for the sake of our health, safety, and the well-being of ourselves and our children (those close to us know and understand the reasons why).

Chris started saying this early on so he was thrilled
to randomly find this picture one day
(which he immediately texted to my phone lol). 

Eventually, we both began to start over and move on. In that process, our paths finally crossed on Plenty of Fish (a free dating site). He was fresh to the dating game, but I had been on and off the site for a while. It had gotten to the point where I figured I had seen all the other "fish in the sea" and I was annoyed and tired of fishing. Not only did there seem to be no new fish, but there truly weren't any worth catching. I even had some that would message me and tell me that I was too good or too pretty for the site and that a nice girl like me wouldn't find the kind of guy I was looking for on a site like that. That's because my profile was very specific as to the kind of person I was looking for; faith and character were the top priorities. My best friend even told me that my standards were too high, but no matter what, I stuck to them. There was NO WAY I was going to compromise on those two things, but anything else was optional. I didn't have requirements as far as looks, income, ethnicity, etc. was concerned. All I cared about was the heart.

What nerd could
resist lol?

Imagine my surprise when I was using the "Meet Me" feature and a picture of a handsome guy popped up. "Do you want to meet him?" it asked. Before hitting "yes" or "no", I always check out the profile first because looks are secondary to substance. In my experience, it is very rare to find a guy who has both. Therefore, I was shocked to be proven wrong lol. I was amazed and refreshed to see almost a mirror image of my own profile as I began reading his lol! Every time I read something, it was just another new level of jaw dropping awesomeness and common ground as he showcased his heart, humor, interests, etc. Where had he been and why hadn't I seen him before now?! Oh well, at least I found him and I couldn't believe that I had probably just viewed the profile of the ideal guy for me! The best part was, the two things I always look at first (faith affiliation and kids) matched up with mine! So, I clicked "yes" to meeting him and promptly "favorited" him. Then, I waited to see how long it would take before he would contact me (call me old-fashioned, but I believe in finding out who the real men are and waiting for THEM to make the first move! The site does let you know when you've been viewed, faved, or if someone wants to meet you). Almost immediately, I got a message from him....and it made me laugh because he obviously had taken note of my picture in Jedi attire. He had said, "Hey, I saw that! Some sith in a jedi disguise trying to spy on me?? lol." I promptly responded with: "Sith?! Never!!! I would have used a Jedi hand wave to make you message me, but I see I didn't have to. ;) They only work on the weak minded anyways...so it would have been wasted on you. I LOVE your profile."

The pictures on the ends were our "main" photos when we met. :)

Long story short, the conversation continued via messages and then over the phone. We did a video call on Skype the same night and we have been inseparable ever since lol! Our lives for nearly six months (yeah, I know....but when you know, you KNOW!) have consisted of constant communication and connection via text/Facebook/Skype; and always looking forward to the weekends when we could finally get to see each other for a short time before resuming our daily work/life routines. This 75 minutes apart thing has been rather tiresome and taxing (but always worth it!).

We've also bonded easily and quickly with each other's family and friends and received their approval and blessings. We are so touched and amazed at how wonderful, loving, accepting, and encouraging everyone has been to us! The Vineyard Church has also been just as amazing and apparently, the family counselor had given Chris a prophetic word a few months before we had gotten together. He had said that God had showed him that there would be a lot of positive changes that would happen in the coming year and at a very rapid pace. Chris didn't know what that meant at the time, but it's definitely come to pass now lol!

The moments of affirmation just continue to come too! We have had our moments of doubt and struggle (particularly as we prepare for this upcoming transition and all that is on our "to do" list) but today's sermon was a big help to us. Kent was talking about the Lord's guidance and how it comes to us in many different forms. It comes through prayer and His Word, but also through godly counsel. Sometimes, we expect these big signs when all we need to do is line it up with God's Word and see if it fits with what's "in the book." Kent kept saying, "Well, it's in the book. Did you read the book?" Lol! He said that 9 times out of 10, the solution to our problem has been addressed "in the book." Want to know how to parent a child? It's in the book. Want to know how to treat people? It's in the book. Want to know how a marriage is supposed to function and look like? It's in the book.

He's right, it's "in the book" and if more people would pay attention to it, we would all function better! He pointed out that in his career as a pastor, he has seen so much pain (especially in regards to marriage and divorce) because people haven't heeded what's "in the book" or the godly counsel of others. He mentioned that so many "blew through stop signs" and failed to heed the warnings. All of this really hit home for Chris
and I (and I was wiping away tears) because we have experienced both situations. With our first marriages, we both ignored the "stop" signs and warnings from godly counsel. We went through so much unnecessary pain. Now, we have the reverse situation where everything is lining up with what's "in the book". Lots of good godly counsel is giving us prophetic words and tons of support, and yet we sometimes are LOOKING for the "stop" signs out of fear. I just couldn't help but cry because all of Kent's words were absolutely melting all that fear and reminding me WHY I jumped out of the boat. I need to keep walking on the water. God set this in motion and I don't have to keep looking for "stop" signs that don't exist this time just because I ignored the ones that DID exist last time. Everything is going to be alright!

How You Can Pray For/Support Us

We are so grateful for the prayers and support of our family and friends throughout our lives! We appreciate your prayers now as well because right now is a very high-stress time for us. I won't specify every little thing, but here is the gist of it:

• Our houses; refinancing his and selling mine. The good news is, I've added a lot of value to my house and I'll come out ahead once I DO get it sold. The bad news is, we don't know when that will be. Pray that the right buyers (and nice new neighbors for my Dad's sake) will come along soon. Paying for two houses isn't doable for us. Also, the refinancing that needs done on his is another catch-22. He's also going to get some money out of it (which will go for my ring and some car repairs he desperately needs to get done before it conks out or something) but coming up with the initial funds to get a foundation inspection done has us in a bind; especially when he was initially told he wasn't going to have any upfront costs. I told Chris that I would marry him with or without a ring. There are a lot of "traditions" that just haven't happened the "traditional" way, but that's ok lol. We're old enough to know what's really important, so that's why we aren't hung up on rings or the wedding itself (it's going to be private and small; just us, our kids, best man/matron of honor, and parents. His step-father will be officiating us in their backyard; sweet, intimate, and non-expensive lol. We HOPE to have some kind of a reception for our close family/friends at a later date, but we don't know when or how that will be possible yet). 

• My Job & the Kids' School: I'm sad about having to leave a job/people I love, to say the least. Pray that the right person will fill my shoes and that I will be able to find somewhere else to work and serve when the time comes. I'm working up until the wedding/move and then I'll be around to watch the kids so we don't have to worry about childcare for the rest of the summer. I hope to start a new job after we're settled and school starts again. That's another area too...getting all the school stuff figured out/transitioned for Casey and Gianna; especially Casey's special needs stuff. Good special help is rare and this is the part that concerns me a lot because I don't know how any other school could ever be as great as Casey's current one. 

• Faith, Wisdom, Provision, and Patience: There is a never-ending list of transitions, adjustments, and changes for all of us. Address/name changes, packing up and moving (and figuring out how to get all that done) and just so many phone calls and changeovers to make, things to do, pay for, etc. My brain is overloaded and I have been beyond exhausted trying to stay on top of things! I just keep praying for the wisdom, endurance, and patience to get through it and that my faith will build up as I trust that God's timing is going to be perfect and He will find a way to provide for us all. He led us out of Egypt to go to the promised land. I won't complain in the desert. He'll provide and He'll get us where He plans for us to be! It may not go the way we think or look the way we thought it would look, but we can deal with whatever happens because He's got a plan! 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to read this! We hope it's given you a glimpse into our journey and we thank all of you for your prayers and support! We also realize that there are some people that have (or will ask) about wedding gifts and such. Obviously, we have enough stuff accumulated between the two of us over the years so we aren't the typical wedding couple that needs "stuff". I am not one that likes to ask for/accept help, but since I am always one that likes to give it, I have to be humble enough to receive it too. So, if anyone DOES feel led to support us monetarily so we can take care of the avalanche of urgent financial needs that we have, you can Paypal it to chrislisscunning@gmail.com (or if you'd like to hire Chris for computer work or me for some furniture project work, we will gladly take on the jobs; or maybe you'd like to sign up as a Team Beachbody coach through me and/or make a purchase for yourself? :) It all helps!). No matter what, as long as we're all praying, things will happen! We'll keep our eyes fixed on the big picture God has for us; we're not getting back in the boat! :) Be infused! God bless you! 

"Aren't You Glad You're Not the Lord of Your Life?"

As always, it's been a blessed, eventful, and life/heart changing week! I wouldn't know where to begin in sharing it all. However, if I had to pick one thing out of everything in this past week to share, it would probably have to be something that was spoken in the church service today: "Aren't you glad you aren't the Lord of your life?" Think about it. If Jesus is LORD and Savior, that means that He not only saved your life, but you have allowed Him to be in charge of it. Recognizing his power, authority, and sovereignty brings freedom from worry. You don't have to be in charge/control; He's "got this" for you! 

Usually, I would never feel great about NOT being in control. I am a take-charge and control type of person, so I wouldn't normally be like, "Yes,...I'm TOTALLY glad I'm not the Lord of my life". However, if there's one thing I've been relieved to know more and more, it's that God has got me covered and that things are a lot better when He's the boss and not me. It's a burden off my shoulders not to try and hold all that control and manage life on my own. I worry less and less as I get older because history has shown that yes, God definitely does take care of things. When He says not to worry about tomorrow, and that I'm worth more than many sparrows, He means it. He has come through in the big stuff AND the small stuff. 

Surrender isn't a popular or fun idea to most. It can sometimes be misconstrued as passive or weak. However, it takes strength, courage, and ACTION to be able to willingly acknowledge the awesomeness of God and trust Him. He is faithful and will show you how great it is to be dependent on Him and not yourself. There is great relief in knowing that He is God and you're not. 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you had a great week and that as you reflect on the wonder and glory of God on this blessed resurrection day, you'll embrace Him as Lord as much as you do the Savior! Be infused! God bless you! 

A Welcome Attitude

Today was another one of those Sundays where I'm just barely finding some time to blog. This day (as well as the week/weekend) has been very full and eventful. It seems like the theme has been one of "welcoming". 

A picture from a few years ago;
probably the last time I seen her.

Firstly, my Grandmother was welcomed into the arms of Jesus this past week after battling with her health for the past few years. Our family is saddened and will miss her so much, but we are relieved to know that she isn't suffering anymore and is finally at peace. I'm grateful to everyone for their thoughtfulness and prayers for my family! 

Secondly, I continue to feel welcomed more and more by my boyfriend's family (and church home). This has been another great weekend of spending it with the many people who have become so dear to me. The theme was even in the church sermon as the pastor was talking about how we need to welcome AND honor Jesus. It's easy to invite Jesus in and have Him make himself at home in our lives if things are good and He's doing what we think He ought to be doing for us. It's another to honor Him regardless of whether or not things are going well. The pastor referenced various stories in the Bible where people were asking for Jesus' help and miracles and the fact that many times, it was those great wonders that made people believe as well as continue to expect Jesus to keep doing those things (and whenever they asked). Sometimes, it's so easy to forget that just because He's God, it doesn't mean He's always going to flaunt it the way WE want. Our requests won't always be answered the way we want and expect; which doesn't diminish His divinity either. No matter what happens, our faith needs to continue being just that: faith. Faith stands; no matter what. 

The last thing that falls along the line of "welcoming" is the fact that I have been becoming more welcoming of the changes that God is making in my life and in my heart. In the past few years, I feel that I have toughened up (probably a little too much) in order to get through everything that I have. While that is sometimes necessary, it can also become a problem when you become so tough that you don't allow yourself to be broken and vulnerable anymore. It makes it harder for you to let go (as well as let in) the things that you should. The depth of the emotional pain I have wrestled with has been difficult; hard to deal with and let go of. It's also been hard to embrace the healing and restoration that God has been pouring out on me as things have finally gotten better in my life. A woman with a prophetic word at church had shared that there was at least one woman there that was struggling and felt "numb". I knew that was me because I had shared that same thing with Chris recently. I resisted at first and reasoned that I didn't really "feel" strongly led to receive prayer from her (especially in a new church where I didn't know people yet). God pointed out that I didn't "feel" it because I was numb (duh) which is exactly why I needed it. It was also an issue of allowing myself to feel it and not trying to ignore or stifle that prompting that I knew might be arising in me. So, God was good and was like, "You want to 'feel' something? There, do you feel it now?" Yeah, I did...and I'm glad I had that lady pray for me because she had been through a very similar ordeal of a bad relationship that ended in divorce and she had experienced the same array of emotions. 

If there's anything that I've learned recently, it's that I need to give myself permission to be "that girl" again. I had made a conscious effort to not be as open in an effort to guard my heart better, protect myself, and be smarter about things. Maybe now it's time to rejoice in the fact that I don't have to do that anymore (at least not to the degree that I have) and that I can relax because I'm surrounded by God's love and the love of Chris, his family, and my own family and friends. This is probably the most peace, love, and goodness that I have ever truly experienced in my life and it's ok to "welcome" that. It's MORE than ok! I just never knew that life could be this good; even with the day-to-day stress that is still there. Life is good. GOD is good. Even if things fell apart again, He is still good and always will be. He is sovereign. 

Grace and peace to you, my friends. I encourage you to be open and welcoming; to Jesus and to others. Allow Him to take it all, good and bad, and work it out for His purposes (Romans 8:28). Rest in the fact that honoring Him really is a good thing no matter what you "feel". Have a "welcome" attitude! Be infused! God bless you! 

How to Be Fearless

Fears. We all have them and they come in many different forms. Some of them even have names like agoraphobia or arachnophobia (yeah, I'll fess up to the last one...but I won't be swimming in a sea of spiders any time soon in an attempt to get over it!). Though, in all actuality, there is only ever ONE fear at the heart of every one. I've heard Dr. Phil mention it many times and that is: "the fear of losing control."

Any time I ever feel worried or afraid, I always make myself ponder that root: losing control. I try to dissect the things that make panic rise up in me and do my best to identify what makes me feel that I've lost it (or WILL lose it). Figuring out and breaking down the triggers is a big help. No matter what, it all comes down to an issue of trust; not in myself, but in God. No matter what the fear is, I can overcome it because God enables me to do so. It's because His Spirit is a Spirit of courage, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Relying on His Spirit vanquishes fear because there is NO FEAR in love (1 John 4:18) and the strength and courage that He infuses us with deflates our fears. Oh, and that self-discipline part? Yeah, that's the part that helps us unlock it all! It all hinges on whether or not we make the right choice in accessing what He's given us. We have His Spirit inside our hearts; we just need to use Him! It reminds me of when I read Prison to Praise by Merlin Carothers and he mentioned how he said he wanted Jesus to use him, but Jesus told him something like 'I don't want to use you, I want you to use ME!' So many times, I've thought on that because it's so easy to think of things backwards; that God needs us rather than us needing Him.

The older I get, the more I realize and understand what it means to surrender control and trust God. There are so many things that I don't know, can't predict, and are unable to figure out; whether it's past, present, or future things. The only thing I HAVE been able to figure out is that God is sovereign. Sovereign. That word is a BIG DEAL. It's a word that means "supreme power or authority." In other words, ultimate control! So, here's my chain of thought on that: God = sovereign = ultimate control. If I'm worrying/fearing, I'm not trusting, which means that I don't feel in control which further means I need to "check myself" and remember who is. If I'm seeking ultimate control on my own or for myself, I'm putting myself in a place of God's sovereignty; big no-no! I am NOT God and that is what the fear and control thing boils down to; remembering who IS God and who holds the sovereignty and control. Reminding myself of that always sets me free, relaxes me, and I'm able to surrender and let go.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I know that there is someone out there that needed to hear this besides me. I composed this as a result of the things that God was working on in my own heart today (and in the past few months). I feel humbled and broken; but in an amazingly sweet and tender way that I can't explain. His Spirit is breaking my many fears by reminding me of who He is, who I am (and am not), and how much better life is when I remember who I belong to; knowing that if any fear (great or small) came to pass, I would be ok because He is Lord. I'll submit to Him the "what ifs" the "maybes" the "yeah, buts" and whatever else makes my mind spin and rest in Him because He's saying, "Hey, I got this!" Even if any of them came true, it wouldn't matter either because He'll work it out. He'll calm the seas so I can walk on the water; as long as my eyes are on Him and not the fear underneath my feet! Be infused...and be fearless! God bless you!

As Innumerable as the Sand...

It's always great when someone gives you a wonderful analogy to wow you and boggle your brain! Today, in worship service, our stand-in for our regular worship leader presented us with some great food for thought. Sand. Yes, sand....like the beaches of warmer places (Spring, where are you...really?). He showed us a big cup full of sand; explaining that he attempted to count a few grains (about a pinch). He asked us to imagine how many pinches of sand might be in that container and gave us a few ballpark figures. Obviously, there's no way to count all the grains of sand; nor all the grains of sand on one beach, many beaches, the ocean floor, or the dessert. But my goodness, it's astounding to think of!

Now, consider this verse that  he referenced to us. It's in Psalm 139:18 (the whole Psalm is really amazing, by the way): "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." God has that many thoughts toward us; about me, about YOU, about every single person! Innumerable! Indescribable! Can we even think even a fraction of that many amazing thoughts about ourselves (or about any person) in one day or  even a lifetime? THAT is how extravagant He is and how GREAT His love towards us is! It's hard to fathom, yet it just makes you feel so awed and favored by the Creator of the universe when you think about it!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! You are loved; by the God of all creation! He is crazy about you and sent His son to die for you; taking the place of your sins and eternal separation from Him so He wouldn't have to be without you for eternity (so long as you freely choose to accept His sacrifice and want to be with Him - love always gives a choice). Think about that this week! Be infused! God bless you!

What is Your Life Blood?

There were a lot of things that I was considering blogging today. They were things regarding today's sermon which was given by three of the church elders in the absence of our pastor today. I haven't had the time to process it all, or organize them into a blog the way I would like, but it has definitely been on my heart all day. It was all about being close to God; thinking about when we were closest as well as furthest away. It's something that I have thought about a lot when evaluating my spiritual walk. They were talking about how when we are distant from him, it's because our E.G.O. has gotten in the way which stands for "Edging God Out". It's definitely true because when we aren't close to Him and depending on Him, it means that we have become too self-sufficient and full of pride to "need" Him. We take care of ourselves and whatever else is going on in our lives so much that we forget our priorities.

I just kept thinking about how everything they were saying was what I have been pondering for so long. I struggle so much to balance it all. I need to find a way to build more "God time" into my day the way that I do everything else. I don't want life to be so jam packed that I feel like I have to pencil Him into my schedule. I always have an awareness of Him being with me no matter how busy I am (and pray in my heart throughout the day) but I know I need some very focused time with Him as well. I know it definitely needs to be the first priority of the day (now, to start implementing that into my "I'm not a morning person" routine lol). I can make it a habit just like anything else if I would focus and do it! After all, being spiritually healthy is the most important thing there is because it will transcend into other ares of my health and life.

Life. That was the other thing I was thinking about today as we were singing the songs about the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is everything. His blood was His life being given out for us. LIFE is IN the blood. That's why when a person bleeds until they bleed no more, they die. That's also why we sometimes refer to things metaphorically as being one's "life blood". For what or whom do you bleed for? Is it a sports team? Your job? A person? A hobby or addiction? Drugs or alcohol that courses through the blood in your veins? What gets your blood pumping? What has become the "life blood" that you can't live without? If one can't look at their life (and where all their time, energy, and resources are spent) and say "Jesus", those other things are going to bleed us to death. That's what the world does and is: death.

Grace and peace to you, my friends. I'm deeply pondering the things that I've mentioned and I hope that you are too. It's worth meditating on because God should be our focus and life blood. Every day, we go through our routines and life has its demands, but if we don't discipline ourselves to be consumed with the right life blood, the bad blood will drain the life out of us! So, more than ever, we truly need to remember what it means to "be infused" with Christ. I say it at the close of each post; not just because it's tied in with the name and meaning of Infusion 413, but because it really is important to BE INFUSED with the Holy Spirit. Here's to hoping we can all truly ponder that more and live it out! So, yes, be infused! God bless you!

Green Faith

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day. It's yet another holiday with wonderful spiritual meaning behind it that has been corrupted and commercialized by modern society. I have written about it before regarding St. Patrick's day (as well as Christmas).

I don't know about you, but don't you get tired of all the hype and commercialism that comes with every holiday? Wouldn't it be GREAT if it were easier to focus on the essence of what we were celebrating without the bombardment of advertising and alternate meanings for what we are supposed to be concentrating on?

There's no way we can block it all out (and I'm not saying all the novelty things are 100% bad either). Though, I guess the only thing we can do is to make sure we take the time to celebrate holidays like St. Patrick's day, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and the upcoming Easter holiday, in ways that matter. We can educate ourselves and our children about the real reasons we celebrate these holidays and just take some time to meditate on the real reasons for their existence. Holidays are created as a way to observe and celebrate special things that deserve to be remembered. All of the above mentioned holidays are rooted in Christian faith. It's very important as believers to refresh our hearts and minds with the reasons why we believe what we believe and not get lost in the worldly mess of it all. Go ahead. Eat or drink something green, but remember that the green stands for Ireland's people; the people that St. Patrick was passionate about witnessing to so that their souls might be saved. Decorate with shamrocks and remember that St. Patrick used them to illustrate to the pagans what the trinity was all about. Think about all the important reminders of faith that you might ordinarily overlook and cherish the heritage behind it!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have a blessed day tomorrow and that all the green will also remind you of the green grass that is surely on its way when Spring arrives! It's a celebration of faith and new life! It's wonderful! Let your faith be renewed as you go green! ;) Be infused! God bless you!

Family, Friends, and Faith

It's been quite a busy week! I feel like every day was jam packed with something! Sometimes, it just seems like a blur after you sit down to think about it!

I really don't have anything to say or share today. I almost forgot to post at alll even though Sundays are the days I usually like blogging the most. They are my more "personal" posts and a break to focus on spiritual wellness which is the most important aspect of one's overall wellness. I guess if there would be anything I would want to share, it's just that reminder to enjoy life and what's most important; as well as taking the time to rest. I finally feel a little more rested up after such an exhausting week (even though I just started Les Mills Combat TODAY lol) and I also felt rejuvenated after some unexpected family time with my parents and some extended family. It was wonderful to be able to do that today and to get a pleasant start to a new week!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you can take some time to relax as well as enjoy all the wonderful and most important things in life; family, friends, and faith. That was one thing my family always does so well when we get together; we laugh, share stories and memories, and talk about important things. Never underestimate the power of those simple things that mean so much! Be infused! God bless you!

Integrity: Maintaining Yours When People Lose Theirs

"Know that the world is full of ugly, but beauty too. Don't let the bad in people override the good, the evil override the miracles. Above all, there is always love and love never fails." 

- Jama Smith. 

The above quote comes from a dear friend of mine who had posted these wise words of advice in a recent Facebook post. Jama's words couldn't have been more timely because in the past couple days, I have been needing to mediate on those nuggets of truth in order to attempt to cope with some rather unsettling behavior and underhanded actions of a couple people. It seems that no matter how cruel, competitive, and wicked this world is becoming day by day, there still exists that sweet, naive little girl inside of me that is always amazed that someone could behave so nastily and immaturely. It doesn't matter that I have had tons of experience by now in dealing with people who have no character or integrity (or the ones that appear to have some and then flip a switch and show me that they don't). Deep down, I always believe that people are generally decent, grew up with some kind of basic faith and/or manners, and would treat others the way they would want to be treated. Sadly, that's not always the case.

Of course, there are a lot of emotions that one feels when someone purposely hurts you, betrays you, and then happily twists the knife some more for their sick satisfaction. Sometimes, the sweet little girl inside doesn't always want to play nice. The anger can sometimes make you want to fight back in a way that would hurt the one that would hurt you. However, I am incredibly blessed by the fact that faith and experience has taught me that reacting in anger and matching the perpetrator's cruelty isn't only ineffective and fruitless, it damages your own integrity and character. That is something that I am never willing to sacrifice. As Jama said, it's important not to let the bad in people override the good; whether it be in the world around you or in yourself. People who exude maliciousness and seek to be abrasive, toxic, and cruel aren't people you want to emulate. I would never want to mirror someone's ugly heart just because they have sought to poison me with their venom. Instead, I choose to stay true to one of the highest compliments that someone has ever given me (which, ironically, came from Jama) and it was when she remarked that I was one of the most forgiving people she knew. How humbling! Yes, that's the person I strive to be; and praise God, it can be seen by others! It makes me want to work all the harder to retain that virtue! Evil comes easily (because we have a sin nature) but CHARACTER has to be taught and developed. There's no way I'm going to let anyone hit my "reset" button to go back to any sort of "default" setting. I have learned and grown too much to ever be a person like them or a person like who I was.


I continue to compose these blog posts for so many reasons (and this makes post #200 already! Yay!). I don't do it simply because a lot of Team Beachbody coaches do it. I do it because I truly have a heart for people and a desire to help. Anyone that knows me know that to be a fact. So, I share with you what I have shared today as a reaffirmation of the kind of person I am and the kind of business that I run. Infusion 413 has heart, character, and integrity at its core because God is the foundation of who I am, the motivation for why I do what I do, and how I conduct this business (as well as my life). It is my hope that people will see that I'm genuine and caring and that the mission of Infusion 413 is something they would proudly want to be a part of (because I'm certainly happy and grateful for every single person who choose to be a part of my team and allows me to be their coach!).

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Remember, we all get hurt, double-crossed, bullied, and used in our lives. However, we should continue to cling to what is good and not let evil corrupt or change us (and, actually, allow the pain to help us grow instead). All things will work out for good according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Continue to act in love no matter what because love really does conquer all and cover a multitude of sins. Evil isn't conquered by evil; it's overcome by GOOD (Romans 12:21). Rest assured, God is JUST and HE is the avenger and equalizer; not us. He's not mocked and everyone reaps what they sow (Galatians 6:7). Keep living a life of love! Know what love is and isn't and how to "fight fair" when you've been hurt (I just posted about that a while back lol). Stick to God's Word as the blueprint for your life and you'll succeed! Be infused! God bless you!

Do You WANT To See?

Today's sermon reminded me of another one I heard a few years ago. Not only is it refreshing to be reminded of something that touched you so deeply the first time, but to it's great to see evidence of the Holy Spirit revealing Himself to people in the same ways! It's amazing! 

The sermon was about the story of the blind man; though it was mainly about being spiritually blind more than anything. The point of the sermon was to be like the blind man and cry out to Jesus for what we want to see. Jesus had asked the blind man "what do you want me to do for you?" That's the same thing that He asks us when we have an issue, can't see something clearly, or need some kind of healing and/or miracle. Though, it's more than just telling him what we want, it's being ready and willing to receive it. The paralytic at the pool wanted to be healed, but he was fairly passive about his healing. Jesus had asked him if he wanted to get well because the man only offered excuses of "well, others get in ahead of me". I guess he couldn't even find any good friends to help him. You know, the kind who would tear shingles off a roof in order to get their buddy healed. Nah. Too hard. Wishing, hoping, and complaining for decades was easier than finding the means/help to get himself well. Though, I can't judge him for that. After all, I've been on this weight-loss journey for years. When I have his attitude, I get no where. When I do whatever it takes to get healthy (and enlist God's help to do it) I ALWAYS succeed then!   

What is stopping us from getting what we most need in our lives? Jesus is asking us these two questions: "What do you want me to do for you?" and "How bad to you want it?" Passivity, excuses, and half-heartedness isn't the kind of attitude or display of faith to have if we expect to receive from Jesus. Like I've mentioned not too long ago, you either do it or you don't. "There is no try!" Remember?! We need to decide and be whole-hearted about whatever it is that we are in desperate need of! Jesus will be there to help us, but we have to want it (and want it with all our might) and not let anything get in the way of seeking Him for what we need! Think about it! What do you want, how bad to you want it, and are you willing to do what it takes (and will you receive it)? Do you really WANT to see what you need to see in order to be who you need to be?

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Click here to read the blog post I wrote a few years ago about this (it's worth it!). It's regarding that similar sermon I heard years ago that touched me so much. It was preached by the late Scott Kaehr (that man had such an amazing heart for God!). Be infused! God bless you! 

What Love Is (And Isn't)

I never stop learning what love is (and isn't). There have been so many times in my life where I felt like, "Hey, I get it!" only to discover that there is so much more to learn and experience. It's amazing when you realize that you just reached a whole new level of understanding! 

Learning to love (and be loved) is such an amazing gift! It helps one understand the pure, perfect, flawless love of God. Though, in order to do this, it's helpful to understand what love is and isn't. One does that by contemplating on the Word of God. God didn't just speak it; He demonstrated it. Love is action. Love is virtue and character. NEVER is it described as a "feeling". Of course, love can generate strong emotion, but those emotions aren't love itself. Emotions and feelings are fickle and varied. Someone that ACTS in love does so as a result of genuine character and virtue. 

Knowing this, I composed a sort of reference guide. I referred to it earlier this week as Chris and I were conversing in depth about what it means to love. I had actually compiled the guide last year in the midst of a difficult relationship I had had with someone who DIDN'T understand love at all. I showed it to Chris and remarked that he fit the bill so well and how glad I continue to be regarding the fact that we display genuine love, respect, and care for one another. I can't tell you how amazing it is to read through something and realize the fact that the man who SAYS he loves me really DOES because he's demonstrating it the way it was designed by God! 

Just like when I took this picture,
I was distracted from what I was doing by his goofiness;
but I love him. ;)

However, human love isn't perfect (hence the "fighting fair" part of the guide for how to act in love in the midst of conflict). In fact, even as I type this right now, I had to GENTLY remind Chris to give me a few minutes to type this blog (if we are on Skype as I'm trying to do this, he can be a little noisy and/or distracting while I'm trying to work lol). Because he loves me, he doesn't get offended by this. He is gracious, apologetic, cooperative, and patient. It helped that I approached him in a kind manner, but even if I had been a rude and snippy female, he's the type of man that would still treat me with kindness because that's just the kind of character and humility he has. The way he demonstrates love to me helps me to love him that much better (and reminds me of how kind and generous God is to me; whether I deserve it or not). 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that the following guide helps you as much as it continues to help me. I know that sometimes, we try to figure out whether or not someone loves us based on the advice of our culture, other people, past relationship comparisons, or who knows what. However, God's Word is the measure and the mirror that we should be using to figure that out. Only then will we truly understand how to love and be loved. Be infused! God bless you! 

*****

1 Corinthians 13, John 15:13, 1 John 4:7-21, Galatians 5:22-23  

Love IS

God (He is love. We love him and others).

Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness,self-control). 

Patient (long-suffering)

Kind

Enduring/Persevering

Truthful/honest

Protecting

Hopeful

Forgiving (keeps no record of wrongs)

Sacrificing (even one's life) and puts others first

Love is NOT

Fruits of the sinful nature (sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like - Galatians 5:19-21).

Envious

Boastful

Prideful

Rude

Selfish

Angry/easily provoked

Fearful

Hateful

Unforgiving

Fighting Fair

1. Truth, honesty, and communication. Expressing and listening to each other with open minds and hearts and doing so in love. Meaning, building up and not tearing down (Ephesians 4:29, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Hebrews 3:13). No name-calling and personal attacks. Any emotion should be expressed tactfully and respectfully without accusations/assumptions, judgement/condemnation, bad attitudes, and vocal/body language expressions that can wound as well. Appropriate breaks and constructive methods of dealing with anger should be used (like "time outs" and breaks for some down time). Additionally, while input and help from family/friends is often helpful and needed, it needs to be limited. Not everyone needs to know or needs to no everything (or know every instance). When they do, it's important to let them know when/how a conflict is resolved so that they know we're ok. 

2. No games. No "blame game", excuses, ultimatums, threats, or manipulation. It solves nothing and only creates more problems and wounding. Adam and Eve played the blame game, but it did nothing to help and there were still consequences (Genesis 3). 

3. Taking responsibility,ownership, and apologizing. "Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?" Choosing humility over pride and looking at one's own errors instead of the flaws of someone else (Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 14:3, Proverbs 16:18, Ecclesiastes 7:8, Matthew 23:12, Ephesians 4:2, 1 Peter 5:5). We all have planks in our eyes so we shouldn't throw stones (Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 6:41-42, John 8:7 ). 

4. Compromises, solutions, resolutions. Both people have to be willing to sacrifice and be willing to come up with a solution to the problem; as well as resolve how to prevent that type of thing from happening again and repenting/doing better (2 Corinthians 7:9, Romans 2:4).

5. "Forgive and forget". Forgiving and moving on (and not dragging up past issues and mistakes into fresh conflict). Unforgiveness is a poison that will eat away at a relationship and breakdown intimacy. It's not always easy to forgive, but holding onto grudges is so much harder. It drains you of energy and is a load on your shoulders. Without forgiveness, restoration isn't possible; nor can we expect God to forgive us if we don't forgive others. The judgment and measure we use will also be measured to us (Matthew 6:15, Matthew 7:2, Luke 6:37). 

The most important thing to remember is that we can and will make mistakes. Relationships are tough and require a lot of grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness (sometimes a little more than we would like). No one is perfect or loves perfectly, but we will strive to be made more perfect in love and remember that true love covers a multitude of sins (Luke 17:4, Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8).

Superhuman vs. Being a Super Human

Sometimes, you are reminded of the fact that you are human and can't do it all by yourself. Life has many demands on your time and resources and it's hard to handle. Tasks get put off and/or forgotten and before you know it, you're scrambling to catch-up and make-up for lost time.

Today, I was thinking about all the things that haven't gotten done; a few dishes in the sink, never-ending laundry, my shaggy headed son needing a haircut, and Friday and Saturday's blog posts that I totally forgot to compose (sorry about that!). Despite my best efforts to be superwoman/mom, I fall short. It just can't always be accomplished.

It's in moments like these where I have to just stop for a moment and reflect. If you're like me, I'm sure you can relate (especially other fellow moms out there). It's absolutely necessary to truly stop and shift your focus. For me, it was acknowledging what actually DID get done and remembering where the priorities were. As long as my time, attention, and resources went to what was most important, I can relax and remember that I did a LOT because I did what mattered most.

So, what DID I get done? Well, I made sure my kids got to school every day (unless it was canceled...then I had new arrangements to deal with). I made sure their homework was done, sibling dynamics were neutral, meals were given, clothes were laundered (though this never ends!), and bedtimes were observed. The job of a mother isn't a "paid" position in terms of currency, but it certainly pays off in other ways! So, that job is a BIG DEAL and MUST be done - always. I may not do it perfectly (see prior shaggy-headed comment) but I make sure the major parenting stuff is covered! ;) All that while having to make sure I work my other two jobs (the ones that DO pay the bills). I'm a Team Beachbody coach, but have not reached the point to where I can be like some of the other coaches that don't need a "day job" anymore. So, I keep on juggling both. ;)

Chris and I at the wedding reception;
the first time he has ever grinned ear to ear like that
for one of our pictures together! Priceless!

In the midst of all that, I still try to make sure I stay connected with family and friends. I also make sure that I'm continuing to be a good girlfriend to the wonderful man that always places me in the highest of priorities in his day-to-day life. This past weekend, he once again drove over an hour to be with me and insisted on taking me out to a nice dinner for our early Valentine's Day. Then, after my shift the following day, I finally got the chance to return the favor by experiencing the long drive to "his turf" lol. I was beyond honored to go with him to a wedding reception for a good friend of his as well as spend a lot of quality time laughing and visiting with his parents for the first time. Then, I drove all the way home in mildly treacherous winter weather; happily exhausted from such a long day.

After reflecting on all of that, I don't beat myself up as much over the "little" things that are still begging for my attention. After all, dishes, clothing, and the blogosphere will always be there (and be a continuous, regenerative, greedy vacuum that wants to consume my time). I could never feel too guilty about putting those things on the back burner, but I WOULD feel guilty if I made the truly important people/events/etc. wait! I may have come home to the sink and laundry hampers that mock me, but  you know what? Who cares! Who REALLY cares? Those things are nothing but "filler" in my life. The meat and potatoes, the things that matter most, are the very things that got the most of my being this week/weekend. Through it all, God was right there; carrying me through, listening to every prayer, and providing everything I needed (Casey even came home with a fresh haircut when I picked him up from his Dad's! So grateful for that little surprise blessing!).

Grace and peace to you, my friends! It is my hope that we all can remember to enjoy what matters most in life and never beat ourselves up for the little things that will never matter when our lives end. The legacy we leave, and the impact we have on this world/people, last a lot longer than a haircut, clean dishes/clothes, or a blog post. Though, this may be one of the blog posts that people will remember when I die...who knows lol! ;) Sharing this was definitely time well spent! The dishes and laundry can wait yet another day (especially since my wonderful Dad is going to fix the leaky sink tomorrow!). See, even the sink itself gave me permission to focus on the important stuff. It knows where it stands lol! Doing your best doesn't mean being superhuman, but a SUPER human! Yeah, there IS a difference! Be infused! God bless you!

He's Got Us Covered!

Once again, it was some very simple words from Dennis (our worship leader at church) that really grabbed me today. It was after singing a worship song about the blood. In his prayer, he mentioned how the blood covers and forgives ALL of our sins "not just a part of it". All of it. Absolutely all of it!

I don't know about you, but I have lots of moments where I don't "feel" forgiven; even though 1 John 1:9 says He is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. Sometimes, my heart just feels heavy with regret about various different things and that regret causes me to forget the "all" part. Do you ever feel that way, or is it just me? Do you ever have something bother you so much that no matter how much you pray and confess, Satan always ends up convincing you somehow that "that" isn't forgiven? I struggle with this....a LOT.

I needed to remind myself today that every time I feel like Satan's saying "except that", God is saying, "yeah, that too! Everything! ALL of it. It's covered. Nothing escapes the blood. It IS that powerful!" If I can absorb this truth, maybe I will better accept grace and forgiveness (and learn to forgive myself). 1 John 1:9 is powerful and true; and I need to be reciting it to myself. That and Roman 8:1-2: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The more I meditate on it and soak in each word, the more power, freedom, truth, and revelation it brings!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Like the old saying goes: "Smile! God loves you!" It really is something to smile about. He loves us, forgives us, and He's got us covered! Completely! Be infused! God bless you!

"Who Ya Gonna Call?"

What would you say if I started singing: "If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call?" Right. You'd shout "Ghostbusters!" You can't help yourself! "If it's somethin' weird an' it don't look good, who ya gonna call?" Yeah. You are probably hearing the theme music in your head and jammin' out right now aren't ya? It's ok...it's playin' in my head too!

Ok, so what does "Ghostbusters" have to do with anything and why on earth would I bring it up? Well, it's because there are a lot of times where I feel like something is strange or off (remember THIS incident lol?). I feel like something is weird; whether around me or just inside of me. You can't explain it. You don't know what it is, but you just feel like something isn't normal. You're wondering, "What is it? What do I do?!" You wonder who you can turn to or call on. Assuming it's not 911 emergency grade, maybe you call a friend or family member to talk to (been there, done that). Though, the very first person we should be calling on is Jesus. He is our first line of defense against anything strange, weird, or off-putting. No matter what is going on or how we are feeling, He is right there to battle and defeat it for us. All we have to do is speak His Name!

That simple fact is definitely something I have to remind myself of more often. This week, especially, was a time where I needed to remember that Jesus needs to be first in the chain of command. Sure, it's ok to talk to my best friend, boyfriend, and others that care about me, but no one knows me or cares about me like Jesus does! All I have to do is go D.E.A.P. (drop everything and pray). I'm not sure what brought that to my mind, but when I thought of that this past week, I googled it to see if maybe that concept/acronym was already floating around out there. Apparently, it is (google it for yourself). And, the one thing that I could find on it was this video from YouTube where a lady describes how life-changing it is to just drop everything and pray. It warmed my heart to watch it. 

So, "who ya gonna call" my friends? The next time you're struggling with something, who are you going to turn to? When you're hurting, feeling down, or life just doesn't feel quite right, just call on Jesus. He will calm every storm, defeat every demon, and bring peace to your heart. Just go D.E.A.P.!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have a blessed week! Remember, Jesus is always with you! He's just waiting for you to call on Him! Whether it's big or small, He is there for whatever personal emergency you have. Just like shouting "Ghostbusters!" is the irresistible response and answer in that song, so should Jesus be in our lives! I promise you, He is the BEST and QUICKEST first responder ever! He's always on call! Be infused! God bless you!

The "S" Word

I'm sure the last thing anyone wants to hear about, read about, or talk about is all the snow. Yes, we know. It's SNOWING! The weather emergencies are out, school is closed already, and the shoveling doesn't end (that's all my boyfriend has been doing at his place all day...poor baby!). Even our Walmart is closed! Yeah, you know it's bad when the Evil Empire shuts down lol.

As for me, I was able to get to church today before it started getting bad outside. I was glad that I did (as always). Of course, the snow got a few mentions here and there. Personally, I really don't give it much thought, but one of our elders made a mention of it that I thought was worth sharing. He spoke of someone he knew that hadn't seen snow before and how he marveled at just how white and pure it is and what the Bible really means about making our sins white as snow. How often do we think about that? Our sins; so dirty and filthy. Then, the beautiful blood of Jesus makes us PURE and WHITE as the snow! You got to admit, even with all the perils that come with the snow, there ARE moments where you just look at it and admire it for a while. Snow IS beautiful, sparkling, and so very white! Who doesn't love to admire a thick flawless blanket of it when it's untainted, glistening, and absolutely pure?! Now, think about that being you; yes, YOU! THAT is what Jesus' blood does to you. He makes you that beautiful, pure, fresh, and new! Think about it! And, if you'd like, check out this post I wrote a few years ago about how He is "snow wonderful". ;)

I know we've all seen (and have been posting) snow pictures all over the place. I took a few too. Gianna was so very eager to go out and play in it. The look of anticipation and delight on her face wasn't something I could say "no" to. Sure, the snow is so cold and wet, but there's that little nudging inside of you that just has to be a part of something so pure and beautiful that it just beckons you to it! That's how I always felt as a kid; couldn't wait to dive into it and be a part of it all! I think we all need to get in touch with that inner child. There really is something to that.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you're all safe and warm! Stay inside! It's beautiful, but dangerous out there! "Snow" doesn't have to be the dreaded "s" word lol. There are things about it that can be appreciated! Focus on that! Be infused! God bless you!

Anticipating the New Year

Celebrating our first Christmas in our new home!

In just a few days, we will be celebrating the new year. We will think back on 2013 and look forward to 2014. For some of us, it's been a bad year; and we hope for a better one. For others, it's been a good year; and we hope it continues on. Either way, I hope we all have bigger and better things to look forward to in the coming year!

For me, this was probably a year to remember! I have had so many rough years for so long, that I don't think I remember the last time I really had a "good year". It started off a little rough, but it ended up turning out rather well in so many ways (buying a house being the biggest thing). I don't know what the new year holds for my children and I, but I have reason to believe that it will continue to build upon this past year. For the first time in I don't know when, I feel like things have finally started working out and falling into place. I couldn't be more grateful and I know that God has been the author of it all!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I really don't know what else to say other than the fact that I am hoping that all of you will have a safe and happy new year! Here's to hoping that it's a good one; and if one of your resolutions is to get fit and healthy...you know I can help you with that. I'm right there with you! Be infused! God bless you!

Decompressing Christmas

Sander in hand and safety glasses on.
It's decompression time!

Yesterday was just one of those days where all the miscellaneous stress and busyness of the season (and life in general) finally caught up with me. I felt emotionally frazzled. Anything and everything was getting on my nerves and I really needed to take some time to decompress and channel it all into something. I had just bought an old chest of some sort (probably a toy box) and I felt like it was the perfect time to redo it. I needed to be "giving new life to old things", as Chris puts it. It's very freeing when you have a soulmate who understands and encourages you to have some "you" time. He said, "Okie dokie, my beautiful artist. You take all the art therapy you need. I totally understand the need for decompression time." So, that's what I did!

"Before"

As I mentioned, the busyness of life is stressful enough; and then you add the holidays on top of all of that. While there is usually much to enjoy about it all, it can be overwhelming. It's really important to take a timeout to just "be" and reflect. Taking a small break to breathe and decompress is vital.

It's very timely that today's sermon was about that very thing that I was doing last night. Pastor Larry Sprinkle was saying that no matter what is going on during Christmas, the four words that it all boils down to is "God is with us." Jesus, Emmanuel, was sent to us (and for us). We are not alone and God is always with us. In our busyness and in our downtime, He is there. He gives us strength and energy to endure as well as the peace and comfort to rest. He is everything we need. That is an amazing truth to take in; and something I value greatly when I have that "decompression time" because I know that God is always there to help me process things.

"After" :) 

Taking in the sermon, I thought about how true Larry's words were regarding how the Bible often says that Mary treasured and pondered all the wondrous things about Jesus in her heart. That's what we need to be doing; meditating and pondering the amazing things of Jesus in our heart and allowing it to sink in. Sometimes, you have to find fresh ways of making the "familiar" fresh again. We can easily become callused to the life-altering power of the true meaning of Christmas because we have heard the story, sung the hymns, and participated in the same traditions for so long. Therefore, we really do need to realize when we need to just hit pause on everything and take a timeout to refocus. Just like that old chest, we can find a way to give new life to old things.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Don't miss the wonder of it all because of all the distractions. Decompress Christmas and get to the heart of it. Stop. Ponder. Listen. Ask Jesus to make His story new and fresh for you! He will do it! New life is what He's all about! Ponder the miracle of what Christmas is: a precious baby, the Son of God, resting humbly in a manger; a baby, destined to die for you. His perfect features would one day be marred by thorns, nails, and a spear. All of it was for you. If you're a parent, you can imagine how Mary must have felt; her mind totally blown away at not only the miracle of her first-born, but the fact that her son was the Son of God. Treasure and ponder that! Be infused! God bless you!

All About His Business

The first piece that I did; an old end table
that Casey used for his toys.

"Your passion is giving new life to old things." This was the heart stopping sentence that brought me to tears and made me feel as if my purpose in life was put into the perfect words. This phrase was uttered by the lips of my soulmate (yes, my soulmate....we have finally found each other! More on that another time lol). We had been talking about a variety of different topics and I was sharing about how I had discovered just how much I love redoing old furniture. So, when he uttered that simple and profound sentence, I burst into tears because it hit me at the core of who I am. My heart completely melted. I was like, "Ohmiogsh! Yes! That's me! That is what I love; life, restoration, and newness!" Is it any wonder that I do? After all, isn't that what Jesus is all about? And since that's what He is all about, isn't that what WE should be about? Jesus was all about his "father's business" (Luke 2:49). If we are in Him, we are about the Father's business too; no matter what our "business" in life is. We find a way to make it about Him.

I have a lot of "business" in my life. This very blog is a big part of my Team Beachbody business. Though, more than anything, this business is ultimately about God's business. It's precisely why I have given this business back to Him and have sought to glorify God by giving Him the credit as I help others. I'm here to help; that's always been my goal! Not only do I want to help someone get into good physical shape (taking care of the bodies that God has given us) but into good spiritual shape too! It truly is my passion to help people; to help them transform into a better version of themselves. I've always been one to build up, encourage, and help fix things (broken hearts in particular). Helping someone discover the purpose and potential in themselves that God created in them is an extremely rewarding thing!!

The old end table; made "new"! :) 

How about you? How have you made the "father's business" YOUR business? In what way are you serving others? Whatever you do for someone in His name, it is done unto the Lord (John 14:13-14). Jesus is all about restoration; making the old new again. In Him, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). We need to exude that newness of life so that others will be drawn to it and want it as well.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I encourage you to be about HIS business by making all of "your" business centered around Him! Be infused! God bless you!

Having a Content Heart

A while back, I was reading about contentment in a Joyce Meyer devotional. She said: "There's nobody happier than a truly thankful person, a truly content person. The word content means 'being satisfied' to the point where nothing disturbs you no matter what's going on, but not satisfied to the point that you never want any change." Additionally, she also mentioned that, "contentment is not about fame or being well-known, how much money you have, your position at work or your social circle. It's not found in your level of education or what side of the tracks you were born on. Contentment is a heart attitude."

Content and blissfully happy!! 

I couldn't agree more! Contentment isn't about a feeling, it's about a way of being. Contentment is a result of thankfulness. When you're thankful, you really can be satisfied in whatever stage you are at in your life because you have a joy in your heart that can't be altered no matter what is going
on in your life.

I just felt like today was the day to share those quotes about contentment. I have been reflecting so much about how different and amazing this year has been. Even as I look on the terrible years before that, I can still say that overall, I have always been content because I've had the peace of God inside my heart no matter what. There have been lots of moments of extreme pain, loss, and sadness, but the love of God has sustained me and infused me with strength. Remember these verses:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:12-13

Grace and peace to you, my friends! May you all be blessed with a heart of contentment! Thanksgiving is the key! God will infuse you and give you all you need! Be infused! God bless you!

The Never-ending Thanksgiving

Today is December 1st. Shopping season has officially kicked off with Black Friday and all its deals. People are putting up their Christmas trees and soon, another year will officially wrap up. I don't know about you, but my own heart echoed my pastor's statement this morning when he talked about not wanting Thanksgiving to end yet! I'm not talking about having a never ending turkey feast or anything. I'm talking about the whole essence of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I feel like it puts a lot of things in perspective and generally helps people to remember to have an attitude of gratitude. It's a shame that that spirit doesn't always continue year round. People are far too selfish and negative these days.

I was so blessed by the message at church today. Our pastor always has such a great heart behind every sermon. He encouraged us to be thankful for everything and for one another. And, like the message in the video that they showed, to remember that no matter how "messy" life gets, God is good! Watch this video! It's very touching (and quite hilarious as well lol).

My life has really been "messy" in these past three years. Those of you closest to me know what I'm talking about. Now, I feel like God has truly been putting things back in order. Sometimes, we are the most thankful after overcoming the most pain. I look back on all that I've been through and I just marvel at where I am now. I am in awe of it all and what God has, is, and will continue to do in my life. It increases my thankfulness to Him more and more all the time! I just can't get over it! He's done so much for me and is teaching me so many things! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have had a great week! Carry that spirit of thankfulness with you each and every day! Express it to God for all He has done for you! Make it your first item of business in your prayers; thank Him for all He has done/given before you ask for more! Let Thanksgiving be never-ending in your life! Be infused! God bless you!