Whoo Hoo! I have made myself a little busy and have been saying "I need to update, I need to update" every night for the last 2 weeks. Funny, then, that this chapter and this first Power Thought is exactly what I needed at this time. Isn't it amazing how the Lord works?!
Let's get right into it since there are 11 more Power Thoughts and this is the reason for this blog. We are to meditate on each Power Thought for a week. I will update mid-week for each Power Thought. Check in with yourselves, too, to see where you are at.
#1 I CAN DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO IN LIFE THROUGH CHRIST
What in your life do you need to begin to believe you can do?
Be successful in all things. Mothering my two beautiful girls, working, my new venture with Thirty-One gifts, a Children's Writer course that I am currently taking, keeping everyone healthy and happy while still taking care of myself. I long to finish something. I long to embrace success. I never have and have accepted my life "as-is", dents and all. When I was younger (not that long ago!) I was terrified of marriage and becoming a mother with a mini-van. To me that life was the equivalent of death. Not physical death, but a death of dreams, of individuality, of existing. Well, surprise, surprise, I am there and I am not dead! The van has actually come in handy and I am still searching for my purpose in the wee hours of the evening when everyone decides to sleep at the same time. I am still searching for success in all things. I am sure if I looked hard enough, I would find a few things that I have done, but I do not feel that I am finished, that perhaps this life is an accomplishment in itself.
Do This: How often do you say "This is too hard for me?" or "I can't do this?"
My answer: Occasionally
What will you begin to say to reflect your confidence in God's ability to help you do what you need to do?
I CAN do what I NEED to do through Christ!
Complete this sentence: YES, I CAN
I can write and reach those that need to hear that they are not alone. I can shake off my fear and move forward, never regretting that I DIDN'T do something. Moving forward is frightening because it is not known to you what will happen. When you are afraid of what you don't know, pray. When you don't know what to do next, pray harder. I have learned a lot about patience. I have said over and over that I have prayed for patience all my life and God gave me children! He will continue to do this in your life. He is not a genie and will not grant all of you wishes simply to do it. You still have to live your life for him once you get your "wish". We have faced many a challenge in our life in Idaho. From work, to babies, to financial crisis, to growing into adulthood (the not-so-fun part!), and through all of this we have prayed feverishly that our path will become clear. I am still struck with epiphanies daily about how our life is working for Him. At the Flogging Molly show last night it hit me~ Pete and I are the only constant in our lives. We have experienced unending transition in our lives, we all do, and we are what has not changed.
What box do you need to rock?
My previous thought pattern. I am learning through this Power Thoughts process that my negative thought pattern isn't just cliche negative thinking, it is a whole mindset that I am having to change. I feel the flourescent lights are slowly coming on in the warehouse of my brain. It begins with facing new worries and concerns with bright eyes, new eyes that I am still adjusting to.
Which "I can't" belief in your life do you need to exchange for an "I can"?
I CAN raise healthy, happy girls, I CAN be too amusing to my husband for him to find fulfillment elsewhere, I CAN trust, I CAN BE HAPPY, I CAN write what I need to write, I CAN be a successful Thirty-One consultant, I CAN exercise, I CAN go on and on and on!!!
How can you push through and overcome a particular obstacle in your life?
I am a broken record here, but I will state again that I CAN overcome the struggle that I have had since I held a gorgeous tiny being in my arms just after she hatched. As a family, we have struggled with the work/childcare vs. raising the family/not working/not bringing in a valid paycheck dilemna. We have charged forward with this on our shoulders. We have bent and tweaked our lives almost daily to facilitate us both working and being with the girls. It has not been easy, but we can overcome this with prayer and with time. Instead of crumbling under the weight of trying to find the perfect recipe for financial freedom and successful parenting, we can enjoy that we have made it this far in Lily's life and have somehow managed to stay in our house and have a fully stocked refridgerator!
What excuse do you use most? Will you determine today that you will stop making excuses and start believeing God gives you strength to do what you need to do?
I LOVE this question! My #1 excuse that I use all the time...."I'm Too Tired". Oh man, I have used this excuse to keep me from doing the dishes to writing in the girls' baby books. I used it 10 minutes ago when I discovered that I had writer's block for the first time since starting the Power Shower, I use it when I am at work sifting through grants accounting that I just don't understand, I use it when Lily wants me to play with her, I use it when I think about popping in a work-out DVD. I WILL STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What have you been wanting or needing to do that you haven't done yet because even the thought of it overwhelmed you?
Right now? I have to write a 500 word story and it is terrifying me. I haven't written in Stella's baby book in months because I don't want her to know that she was super difficult for 6 months of her little life. This is all very petty I know, when most people are dealing with relationship troubles and grief and loss. I am very vocal when it comes to my pleasure or dissapointment with others, so maybe that helps in times like these.
In what specific situation do you need to believe that you are more than a conqueror?
Being a mom. I really want to kick ass at being a mom.
Moving forward, through sleepy eyes and crying babies, pulling myself out of complacency and reaching up to the Lord for strength and power. I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ!
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