Memorial Box Monday: I fell. God picked me up.

Memorial Box Mondays are awesome! They remind me that God is always with me, in the smallest details. They remind me that He will always catch me when I fall, even when I make a complete mess of things. This week's post is one of those times...

Several years ago, I made a huge mistake in ministry -- dishonoring my leader and hurting our relationship. I've shared before how God restored us -- we are better and stronger than ever. WHY? Because God really does redeem our broken relationships when we are committed to Him, willing to humble ourselves, ask forgiveness and be forgiven. My friend confronted me in love. I responded in Christian humility.

But that didn't mean everything was fine. When we sin, we can be redeemed, but we must also accept the consequences of our sinful acts. I had to step out of ministry for a season. I was sincerely sorry for my actions, though, and God met me right there. Together, He and I worked through my pride and stubbornness. I really am not the person now that I was then.

One thing God did to help me in that time was provide free tickets to a Willowcreek Conference. I had gotten the brochure for the conference in the mail, but financially, we weren't in a position for me to go. Two of our kids were in occupational therapy. We were also paying for speech therapy and play therapy. Unfortunately, our insurance didn't cover any of it.

About a week before the conference, a friend called asking if I wanted to go. Do I? Absolutely! But it's not in the budget. She smiled through the phone -- you know what I mean. You can hear the smile fill someone's face. "Friends of mine at the host church have two extra tickets. My husband can't go. Will you go with me?" Would I? Oh my gosh. YIPPEE!

The conference was great. Each speaker spoke to my heart. I learned things about ministry and leadership that will help me the rest of my life. And then God showed off -- He had something even better in store.

Pastor Wayne Cordiero of New Hope Church in Hawaii stepped up to the podium. He shared about a time in ministry when he thought he was having a heart attack -- but the stress of his work had worn him down. He kept talking, explaining that for a very long time, he had been preaching sermons for the people but forgetting to let the word seep into him first. He'd grab a verse and throw it out there, but he wasn't taking the time to "put it in here" -- he pounded his chest -- first.

Right then, the dam broke. I bawled. Sitting in a giant auditorium full of professional and lay ministers, I cried. Cleansing tears, mascara running, sniffling, hiccuping.

Just a week after I got sidelined, God sent me the message of healing I needed. He reminded me that I am no good to anyone if I'm not close to him. I had felt like such a failure -- but God showed me I am not alone. We all stumble. We all fall. Without him, we can't finish the race.

God knew I needed to hear Pastor Wayne's message that day. He provided those tickets. He made sure I heard this message of healing. I bought a CD of that sermon. I will put it in my Memorial Box to remind me that God will always pick me up when I fall.

If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it all started here: "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced me to it, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7). By the way, "YIPPEE!" has become one of my favorite words. It comes from Linny too. Thanks Linny! I think of you every time I say it or write it. :)

FIT Friday: Don't hit the wall. Climb it!

My son, Ben, and me at camp this week!

Hey everyone,
It's Friday and you know what that means! Time for a FIT Friday post! If you're new to FIT Fridays, please read our week one challenge before you jump in where we are now.

This week, I went to student camp and had the honor of leading the seventh grade girls group. It's been a long time since I was in middle school -- let's not dwell on that, though :) Some things I noticed about these precious 13 year olds: they have incredible energy. They do not need sleep -- at all -- at least if there's mountain dew available. They like to look alike -- we braided a lot of hair this week. Seriously, they were amazing and they reminded me how precious it is to just love living!

Our last day at camp, we participated in a team challenge -- to get four of our team members up and over a 15 foot wall. Seriously. I had two who are afraid of heights and one with a sore knee. That left five girls... and our team needed a sixth participant. Obviously, the sun had burned my brain. I said I'd do it. WHAT??? Their 44 year old leader? Climbing a wall? I'm afraid of heights too, you know. AND I leave on vacation this weekend. What if I break my arm or leg -- or neck?

We sent girlie number one up and over that wall in no time! With three of us helping her go up and our strong hoister at the top (seriously, this girl has amazing strength), it was a piece of cake. Then it was my turn.... YIKES! No fear. Or at least never let it show!

Our strong base girl (she's incredibly tough too and such a sweetie) held out her palm. I stepped into it and she pushed me up. I stretched. She and another girl pushed. And I locked arms with the hoister. I "climbed" the wall and got near the top. With a little help that first leg went up and over -- oh my gosh! We did it!!! I have a few bruises which I wear with pride.

The next two came up quick and easy. Four of us went up and over in 2 minutes and 17 seconds. AWESOME! We did it!!!

At lunch, I told my teen sons that I had climbed the wall. One high fived me -- "Great job, Mom. I tried, but I couldn't do it." My other son, "Really? You climbed the wall. No way." Hints of disbelief. The girls backed me up -- and then, "Cool. Good job, Mom."

FIT Fridays is just like climbing that wall.

• When you struggle, the rest of us are here to lift you up. You can always comment to share a success story or word of encouragement or scripture that has helped you. You can join our email group (just email me privately or post a comment below that includes your email so I can add you).
• We are stronger together than any one of us alone. No one can climb a 15' vertical wall without help. Becoming healthy is just as hard to do alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reminds us that two are better than one, and a cord of three strands is not easily broken. Alone we are weak. Together, we are strong.
• Celebrate your success. When we finished, we screamed and hollered, jumped around and hugged each other. We were so proud of ourselves!!! It felt good to celebrate. Inside, I knew I succeeded because of the exercise and healthy eating I've been doing lately. I know my body was ready for that challenge. I had confidence I didn't have last year (when I refused to climb the wall).

Healthiness takes a commitment of heart, attitude, and mind. This week's "homework" is intended to help you make a healthy commitment. 

First, write down what you want in this life. When you're 40 (or older), do you want to be able to play frisbee in the hot sun with your kids without feeling like you're having a heart attack? How about doing laundry or dishes or cooking dinner without a backache? You can do it! Set the goal, make choices that will help you reach that goal, and celebrate. You'll get there quicker than you think!

Second, pick a theme verse. I am motivated by 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." At camp, I ate healthy. People noticed. One girl asked, "Why do you take the bread off your sandwich?" I explained that I want the food I eat to make me strong so I can do whatever God asks of me and I don't want to eat more than I need. So, I take the white bread off and eat more salad. 

Another girl asked how I stay so fit. Me. Really? NEVER had that question before. Then again, I've never been able to play soccer and ultimate frisbee, cheerlead and climb walls before! I explained, briefly, how I work exercise into my day so that my body can be strong for whatever God brings... I told her how I wished I had done it younger. Whatever you do... Glorify GOD!

Third, drink more water. Water is your "secret weapon." If you drink more water, you aren't as hungry. If you drink water, you have energy. My husband's job sometimes requires him to be up most of the night -- he sometimes only gets one or two hours of sleep. He has never reached for the coffee pot for a quick burst of energy. As long as I've known him, he has reached for the water bottle. He can drink two gallons of water on those exhausting days -- yes, more trips to the bathroom, but he is more alert. Your brain is mostly water. Without it, you get sluggish -- your mind is literally thirsty! For me, not enough water leads to migraines. Since eating healthy, I get fewer headaches than ever. Drink that water!

Fourth, keep cutting calories. If you've mastered the 25% less challenge, step it up. Never go below 1200-1400 calories per day. You can't function and be healthy on less! For those who are still over that, though, it's time to cut some more. What can you swap for healthier eating? How about cutting sugar out of your coffee? How about switching to more vegetables and a couple less fruits? Instead of dessert, how about just a bite? HINT: brush your teeth after meals. You'll crave sweets less.

Finally, get off that couch! Move it. Move it. Move it. And thank God you're alive! Park far away at work, at the mall, at church. Wherever you go. Run up those steps, don't just walk! Get up from your desk and do a lap around the floor in your office building or outside around the building every hour or two. It will keep you sharp! Or run a couple flights of stairs. Just keep moving!!!

One of our FIT Fridays friends did a backflip in the pool this week. AWESOME! Celebrate! God made you special.

Lots of love,

Karen

Memorial Box Monday: Our first fight

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I'm looking far back today, almost twenty years, to the first fight Rob and I ever had as husband and wife. We'd been married about three months and I never imagined we would fight about anything (yes, I was naive).

Then I came home from school one day and got the mail from the box (I love getting mail). Our bank statement had arrived. I opened it, expecting the usual: a little money into the bank and slightly less out. Just enough to stay in the black -- that's what two full-time students do. Live paycheck to paycheck, statement to statement.

Only our account was overdrawn. I freaked. Big time. In all my years, I'd never overdrawn my checking and savings. Never!

My dear husband came home -- no doubt from a long day at the hospital -- and I was waiting. He came in and I pounced. I yelled at him. I screamed. Stamped my feet. Screamed. Slammed doors.... Oooooooh...

He just took the papers, sat down on the floor with a calculator, and back-tracked. He never fought back. He never yelled. He never said a word.

I went to our bedroom -- one last door slam just to make sure he knew how upset I was -- and cried.

Several hours later, long after it was dark, he came to our room. He stayed calm. He explained a few things.

First, he said, "No matter how mad you get, I'll always love you."

Then, he explained what happened. It turns out that we both had used the ATM a few times that month without writing the withdrawals into our checkbook. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't my fault. We both did it.

We talked about our fight -- more importantly, my fears. We decided to cut up the ATM cards, right then. We apologized, both of us, for what we had done. Though, I'm not sure my apology was entirely heartfelt at the time. And we prayed for wisdom.

That argument has come up often with friends and our kids. People ask why we don't have an ATM card -- and I tell them. Our marriage is not worth fighting over money. It was -- and is -- easier to live without the "so-called" convenience than to use the cards and set ourselves up for another argument.

Ever since that first fight, we have taken a similar approach: if it causes us to fight do we really need it? 

As the Bible says in Mark 10:9 (and is often quoted in wedding ceremonies), "What God has joined together, let man not separate." (OR "let man not put asunder.") My husband made sure we both remembered that our marriage is more valuable than any thing, any convenience, or any luxury. He kept his focus on God's priorities and didn't stoop to my level.

There's no question what will go in my memorial box this week! A picture of my husband and me on our wedding day, the day we promised to love each other, in good times and bad. God has truly blessed our relationship. I am thankful.

If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it all started here: "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced me to it, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7).