Impact by Transparency :: Mentoring Moments

   Making an impact on the next generation sounds difficult, maybe even risky for those of us who don't have kids of our own. You might wonder, what do I have to offer that a kid who's 11 years younger than me might learn from or would someone that young really enjoy hanging out and living life with me? Sure, it might take some extra creativity on your part to look for extra fun things to do, but in the end just living life in a real way with those who are younger is enjoyable for both you and them. It gives them a chance to see how a person functions in the world, with a family, and as an individual. This is especially the case if your mentoring an at risk youth who maybe has never seen or known a functioning family, someone who can hold down a job, or even graduated high school.


  As a young single person, finding worthwhile things to invest in outside of yourself can always be a stretching...let's face it, most of our life people (parents, teachers, pastors, friends) are usually focused on investing in us with sometimes little to no return on our part. In preparation for your future, for most of us that means marriage, start the process now of learning self sacrifice.  Use your single years to advance the gospel in the lives of those around you.

   This is a path I have chosen, living a transparent life for the glory of God and the proclamation of His gospel. About a year ago I joined Ignite Youth Mentoring, a faith based organization who's purpose is "...providing youth in the Tri-Cities adult role models of Christian Character." I was matched with a sweet, fun, and vibrant 8th grade girl who has opened my eyes a whole new world. We've been able to share some special times together...everything from swimming lessons to bike rides, a trip to Spokane to painting nails together. It's forced me to get outside my perfect box of middle class, college graduate, and having no needs to see that others right in my back yard are living a life much different than mine. Though she and I may not always be the most talkative...I always come away wondering what more can I do to steer her in a good direction in life.

   Sure, there's been times when it's been difficult. I'm not going to lie, I've doubted whether or not I'm making an impact. I've wondered if maybe she's not enjoying our times together. I've wondered if there's more I should be saying about the Gospel, abstinence, drugs, and friends. Though I probably have room to grow in ALL these areas, realizing that God is going to use any measure of my time spent with her to it's fullest is where I have set my camp up at. Remembering it's not my work (see the self focus there??), but rather it's Christ. CHRIST will use my smallness for His GREATNESS...no matter the road taken. Now, does this give me an excuse to slack off? By no means... rather it encourages me to do more so that my smallness will grow larger resulting in His greatness being shown even greater. 

<3<3Finding humor in our time together<3<3

   Transparency will become your best friend. Being willing to share about your life, your failures and successes, your joys and sorrows will take you far in gaining trust in those you live life with. Likewise, with mentoring, even young people can sense when your being real with them. My goal as become to be an impact on the people in my life by being transparent. Not being ashamed of who I am, how God has made me, and that I am here on this earth for one purpose which is to glorify Christ.






~::~Solus Christus~::~

Intentionality - The Way We Should Live Life

lifeonsugarhill.blogspot.com

  

  Living an intentional life, what does that exactly mean? Do we live our lives looking for ways to be intentionally sharing the gospel, eating right, working hard, making wise decisions with our money, and the relationships with others we have? Over the last few months, I've had to learn a lot about intentionality - starting work at 9:30 means I have more time in the morning to do my own thing, so instead of wasting the precious hours, I've decided to use them for working out, eating a healthy breakfast, and spending time in the bible. This is the first year where I finally feel like I have a winning morning routine, and let me tell you, it feels wonderful! These things didn't just fall into place though - especially my time in the word - they were all intentional decisions that I knew would benefit my physical and spiritual health in the long run.

    Much of life is this way, without intentionality, many things would never get done. Good example is the state of my bedroom - 95% of the time I never get in there to clean so it's a disaster zone - if I were to intentionally put aside time each day to work on it, it could be a dream to live in rather than a disaster! Below are some areas I've seen in my life I've had to work on and need to work on being intentional in. Let me tell you, for a person who flies by the seat of her pants half the time, intentionality doesn't come naturally...so as much as this is an encouragement to me, may it also encourage you!

Walk With the Lord

   A person's walk with the Lord is very personal, but we all know that getting into the Word each and every day takes perseverance and intentionality. We have to intentionally carve out time, pull ourselves away from the world around us, and take to heart what we read. When I was younger, I really thought that my time with the Lord had to be long and drawn out - I was leaning towards legalism - and that if it wasn't, I had failed in some way. As I've grown and matured in my walk with the Lord, I've come to realize that even if all I have is 10-15 minutes in a day, that is better than putting no time at all into my walk with the Lord.

   Something that really helped me in this area was a sermon series my pastor did back in the beginning of Fall last year. In the sermons series he talked about being a committed follower of Christ and that one of the signs of someone passionately pursuing Christ was their love for being in His word. Needless to say, at that time I was struggling just to get into scripture a couple of times a week. As I thought over his sermon though, Christ placed a desire on my heart to daily spend time with Him, my best friend. Oh how sweet it is to commune with my Lord. I can now say it has become one of my favorite times of day.

   I say all this - not out of pride, for it is not in my own power I am able to do this - rather, it is Christ who gave me the desire and the job (that gave me more time in the morning) to put into spending time with Him. Let me encourage you, intentionally follow Christ each and every day. Put in a CD with scripture being read while driving, use even moments in the bathroom (seriously) to read if needed, take time on your lunch break to delve into the Word....if you look, you'll find moments in your day you didn't know you had. You will find immense blessing in your walk with the Lord if you do so and your whole outlook on life will slowly start to change for the better. Sin will be revealed, the desire to confess the sin, and the ability to walk in God's grace will give you a peace that passes all understanding.

Health/Exercise/Eating      Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

   Sour gummy worms, french fries, frosting, chips, crackers, brownies, cupcakes.....I could go on and on about the junk food I like - seriously, my good friend Jessie and I will even talk about junk foods while working out! It's pathetic! With all that said though, as much as I love the taste of sour gummy worms (my most favorite candy), eating healthy has been a work in progress - produced mainly from some health issues I've faced and the realization that without them, I feel much better. Just because I know said foods aren't good for me doesn't mean I can automatically say no to eating them. I've had to intentionally, with the help of the Lord, put my mind to it and learn to walk away from foods I so strongly desire to eat. Being okay with eating vegetables for breakfast, salads at lunch and dinner, and few carbs gets easier over time - a long time - but realizing that struggle is a part of life and the pay off is worth it helps. You WILL see results once you start eating healthy within a matter of days - guaranteed.

   Eating healthy goes hand-in-hand with exercise. A quote from a friend of mine's brother that we've laughed at time and again is this, "Ab's aren't made in the gym, they're made in the kitchen!" - Laugh now, but it's true. You can work your abs - crunches, rowing, swimming, cardio - and if your not eating healthy you will won't see great results. I know this from personal experience! So, if your not into exercise and don't have a gym membership, remember, even getting out and walking a few times a week is better than nothing at all - do some push-ups, crunches, and lunges in your own home even! You can do it!!!! If you are into working out, good for you! Your heart and body will thank you now AND later in life! Combine your exercise with healthy eating habits and not only with the weight come off more quickly, you'll have better stamina and feel better overall.

    So, whether your a dreamer of exercising, a part time gym goer, or a committed endorphin junky, remember that where you want to be or where you are takes/took intentionality. Focus on scripture and the truths of His word while doing those things that are hard, and you will find a strength you didn't know you had.

Relationships   Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

   As a single person, your probably wondering what could I possibly have to say about relationships. I probably have quite a bit, not that any of it would make sense, but come on people - I'm a social person who thinks about relationships quite often! Now, we all know that relationships are more than just romantic...in fact, we are all in relationship with multiple people at all times in our life, maybe not lovey dovey ones, but the friendships with co-workers, church people,family, and whoever else we may let in to the more carefree side of ourselves all fall into the category of "relationships". Relationships must be intentional as well or else they will fall away, be superficial, and ultimately, the gospel will not be shown - both to believers and non-believers. All relationships need to be pursued with the gospel centrally focused in. As a believer, I know from scripture that my job is to proclaim the gospel, live in unity with my fellow bro's and sis's in the Lord, and take every opportunity to exhort and encourage those around me. Can all this be accomplished if we are lazily sitting at home, watching tv by ourselves? Let me spell the answer out for you - N-O ...it's just not possible. So, let me encourage you today to pursue someone today who you've maybe not talked to in a while, or that person you wish you could just know a little bit better. You will never regret it, especially if you do so in the name of the Lord and for His glory!


Work

   At the beginning of the school year I was blessed with a job at the local school district working with the disabled community. If you know anything about me and my love for those God has blessed a little differently in life than the average person, I was exhilarated. I felt like God had finally opened a door into a new path that would be exactly what I wanted (little did I know!). After 3 weeks of working at my new job, things got extremely difficult with one of my students who has sever autism. I felt threatened on a daily bases, my emotions were a roller coaster every day with the highest point never feeling very high and the lowest point being a constant flow of tears and I had no clue what I was doing or what I should be doing to help the situation.
   
   After struggling through the situation for a few months, never knowing if I would finish working with this student and come out physically unharmed, I began to realize that if I wanted to have a changed heart - I was feeling a strong dislike for my situation and student - I needed to be intentionally taking it to the Lord in prayer. At first I didn't even know what to pray for other than my safety, but eventually I began to realize that my main goal needed to be working with him in a way that the light of Christ would shine through my actions. I then began to pray for him specifically, and things began to change. I am praising God right now that though we still have rough times - okay, several of them - and though I still find it hard to make myself show up and work with him, there has been improvement and a new excitement in his eyes to work hard at his behavior. I have seen God answer un-prayed for prayers as well as prayed for ones...and let me tell you, we serve a faithful God.

   So, let me encourage you today, if your struggling to find fulfillment in your job, find it difficult to work with some of your co-workers, you wish you could be on a higher pay scale, or your a stay-at home mom who is struggling to raise your child(ren)- whatever it may be - intentionally seek the face of your King in prayer and He will be faithful to answer!

Eating {Food} Can Glorify God - You Are What You Eat

**So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.** ~ 1 Cor. 10:31

   As I was getting ready for my day today after a hard workout, my mind wandered across what I would eat for breakfast (not unusual, but today it was more reflective) and I suddenly had a craving for something I couldn't eat ( it was so brief, I can hardly remember what it was now!). I then was instantly reminded of what God has done in my life in this area and that rather think of the things I couldn't eat, I should be grateful for the abundance of food still available to me. I realized that I needed to be glorifying God for what He HAS given me rather than dwell on the negative. 

Image from theresurgence.com

    If your like me, coming to the realization that you can't eat like the rest of society can be a difficult thing to accept and at some level, blame God for. Over the last four years of my life - after I started realizing my health was suffering, I felt sick and tired many days, my skin was red and irritated and that doctors had no real solution to any of my problems - did I come to the conclusion that a diet change was the answer.

   Knowing since I was young that dairy effected my stomach, that was obviously the first thing to go. I remember thinking then, "oh, this is no biggy, I'm not even a huge dairy product fan as it is...I can do this!" Oh what I had coming for me! Within the next two years, I decided to go on a six week missions trip to Albania where much of the food I ate had some component of carbohydrates/wheat products. I came home sick as a dog, exhausted, and ready for things to change....however that might be.

    I quickly started eating a super strict diet, slept hours on end, and drank lots of water over the course of the rest of the summer - because of this, I lost 20 pounds and at some level felt more like a "normal" (whoever can definite that for me, props to you!) person. Right after that summer, I left for 3.5 months to live and study abroad in Israel where again, though I ate healthier than when Albania, I still didn't know exactly what bothered me and would eat hummus and pita almost every day (two carbs and one made out of wheat). Coming home from Israel, through the encouragement of my mom, I started researching different eating lifestyles (yes, eating is a lifestyle, not just dieting off and on). With the encouragement of a close friend who was herself having some health issues, we both cut completely out of our diet such things as peanut butter, all wheat products, all sugars (even fruit), dairy products, and legumes (beans). Withing a week I was feeling immensely better , had more energy, was losing weight, and no longer felt in a fog. 

I sometimes feel like this guy -  just had to share as it made me laugh
Image from NPR.com

      For the next year I bounced back and forth from eating carbs and products with wheat in them only to realize that every time I did, I felt sick and my skin would look like garbage. (You really are what you eat :P ). Finally, last summer I decided I was fed up with this yo-yoing in  how I ate and started researching what was called the paleo lifestyle (some call it diet, I view it as a lifestyle change now). Broken down, basically what I have selection from is ANY vegetables, meat, seeds and nuts, fruits, and occasionally (like once a day) I'll sneak in a dairy product (super strict paleo eaters don't even allow this). I know I had mentioned that dairy bothered me, but I've found that in all actuality I'm bothered by other foods more and that if I eat dairy in a very limited moderation, I can handle it just fine. If your wondering if I can still eat baked goods and yummy food, YES, I can! Many nuts and seeds can be made into flour and used as substitutes....and very yummy one.

    So, this morning as I thought over all God has brought me through, I was once again reminded that my relationship with Him is far greater and better than any foods I may or may not be able to eat. He has given me the body and the inside workings of it to me in order to glorify Him, and if that means eating different from the norm, than I need to praise Him in it all and encourage others who may be struggling in their health and eating choices. Ultimately, God created me in His infinite wisdom, so who am I reject what God's best is for me? I could sit and pout about it, but God has greater plans in store and I am excited to see what He has in my future.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

**Just wanted to clarify...by no means do I believe you are any less a person (morally, spiritually, or whatever) because you don't eat the way I do. I think it's great God has allowed some peoples bodies to be fine eating the normal American diet! I just know for myself, I feel healthier and happier when I eat different.