my morning plan

I thought by organizing my books in my reading room page, I might start checking off some of them. Nope. I thought by keeping books available by various chairs, I might start digging in and reading them. Nope.

Since I'm determined to get through some of my piles of books {in no certain order}, I devised a plan that is working.

Merging my reading into my morning devotion time, and taking one book at a time and using that AS my devotional is working. I'm thoroughly enjoying this first book, as I've mentioned before. And I'm also learning how important it is to hold tight to my morning devotions.

You have no idea how my mental gymnastics want to take away that precious quiet time in the mornings, before anyone gets up, turns on the radio, TV, or whatever the white-noise for the day happens to be. I guard my time and if I sense someone might set their alarm earlier, then I adjust the coffee pot and my alarm for a few minutes earlier. Remember this post? Two years later and I'm still trying to figure it out. All the while, nothing really needs to be figured out as long as I get out of bed. I'm already doing what I need to do. And this post, going steady with EDDY.

This week I listened to a web-cast by Lysa Terkuerst, promoting her book, Made to Crave. I've not read this, but have read her daily devotional, which is very good. But she confirmed for me, what I already knew, that we should wake up craving God's Word, and ingest and digest His Bread of Life first thing in the mornings. By digesting it, we are taking it in, making it a part of who we are and how we live. The webcast went on to talk about the Action Plan of her recent book, which could very easily be done without the book. I'm going to investigate some simple changes {called fiber and polyphenols} along with what I'm already doing. Lysa is offering her webcast online through midnight Friday (click here) if you are interested in checking it out.

But back to my morning plan.

As my eyes fall open on God's Word, I'm fulfilled. My soul hunger is satisfied and it sets my heart on a pattern of how to crave God in my life. I'm also praying for discernment between soul hunger and physical hunger.

I mentioned that I'm already signed up for Live Healthy Iowa again at work. This is always the 'kick in the pants' I need to get moving again. My friend, wii-fit-plus trainer, was happy to see me this week and we've been making progress already. Movement is progress, right?! This week I was able to walk outside {yes, in the winter, in Iowa} for ONE HOUR! It was emotionally and physically exhilarating. Whew. My walking partner and I cover a lot of ground with our shoes and our speech. So the challenge in my mental gym, is how to fit both of these things in my morning time frame. But with a little more discipline, it is working right now.

I'm also participating in something called Million Minutes to Marvelous with another co-worker. I haven't heard or read about this, but all I have to do is log into their google doc and enter my minutes of activity for the day. VERY SIMPLE! These accountability partners are of great benefit to keep me motivated and challenged. And the weather is on our side this year! Woohoo!

I'm learning that balance includes input, output and rest. Balance also includes flexibility and this morning I'm traveling for work, away from home and my coffee and my couch. But I press on, and do what I can where I land. I don't have to lose 100 pounds for God to use me or to feel worthy in his plan. But I am called to be strong, healthy and available for his work. Tanzania here I come. ♥