Week 4: The Shoes of Peace
Detox & Nourish:
- Detoxing from an overwhelmed schedule and an underwhelmed soul
- Nourishing our souls by locking God's peace into place and by embracing play & rest
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL COMPREHENSION, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS." ~ Philippians 4:6-7
Week 4 in the New Years Revolution is all about peace. And I'm wondering...
How many of us feel like our lives are guarded with peace? Peace is a topic we all need to sit with for a while.
It takes your stomach twenty minutes to recognize that it's full, how long does it take for your soul to realize that your life is full?
Somehow our culture has caused us to believe that busier is better. We've become unknowingly convinced that taking time to create rest and tranquility means that we are unfit, weak, or incompetent. We've rejected the art of saying "no" without heaps guilt resting heavily on our shoulders. We've fallen prey to the myth that if we don't have as much or do as much as others, then we are somehow less valuable.
One of my favorite authors/researchers is Brene Brown. See if you can relate to her quote below:
"If we want to live a wholehearted life, we need to become intentional about cultivating rest and play, and we must work to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth." ~ Brene Brown
Every time I read that quote, I feel a slight twinge of discomfort edges its way into my conscience. This little tug is an indicator that it's time for me to change. It's a prodding from the Holy Spirit that there is so much more, and that it's time to offer my caustic schedule and life-sucking activities up to God for healing.
I have to admit, this has been an area of intense struggle in my life.
For years, many of you have prayed with me, advised me and have picked me up after I have worked myself into utter exhaustion. I would convince myself that a fast-paced, all irons-in-the-fire, way of life, was just the way that I do things. Yes, this is a part of the personality that God has given me, but in my flesh, I try to take things to the top-tier level. My mantra for so long was "live passionately and hold nothing back, and believe me.... I've held nothing back.
Over the past year, I felt like I was achieving better balance in my life. My attention and energy was targeted on exactly what I wanted it to be, and God had loosened me from the grip of many things that drove my intense desire to produce. I have learned to say "no", and I've slashed and burned all kinds of things from my schedule. I thought I was good until January 3, 2016. That's the day that I learned what God wanted from me most.
In one moment, the person that I thought I was was stripped away (Praise the Lord). The things that I liked to pour my heart, my energy, and my time into were cut out of my life.
God asked me to set them down.
On January 3rd, a tendon in the back of my hand was severed in half- landing me onto the path of surgery and an 8-week long recovery. I was smack dab in the middle of crafting this New Years Revolution and I was fully invested into teaching and planning for my weekly yoga classes- among many other things. Suddenly and rather abruptly, I was unable to use my right hand to write, teach, do yoga, or care for my kids and household the way I was used to doing. UGH!
In addition to having a lot of physical pain, (hello nerve endings) I was thrown into a situation that would require me to ask for and receive help (even worse for me than the nerve endings).
I mourned.
And then I cried out to God with a fully surrendered heart. And the gift that God has given me the past few weeks is one that I would NEVER give back. You see- I've learned, and am continuing to learn, that God just wants ME. He's a jealous God, and He's paid far too high of a price for me to share my allegiance, my adoration and my time with anything else. He wants me to sit with Him, to let Him love on me. He want's my full attention, my plans, my dreams; and not some fragmented excuse of presence.
I've prided myself in my ability to multitask, but there's only truth in the fact that you can't multitask presence.
It's not enough to throw out the excuse that I'm a busy mom with a husband that travels. I've figured out that if it's important to me; I'll make it happen. If it's not "that" important to me; I'll make an excuse. My time of justifying my busy life has come to an end.
I've been forced to stop the full-speed pace of life, and I've tasted the sweet, sweet nourishment of pressing into the strong arms of my Heavenly Papa. He's gently reminded me that this life isn't about being strong and muscling through the trials of life. I've lived the last 38 years of my life foolishly trying to prove that. Instead, it's about curling up at the feet of God in our weakness. Poured out to nothing- and clinging to God Almighty because HE is everything. Finding PEACE in the asking and receiving of help, PEACE in the surrender, PEACE in the brokenness, PEACE in obedience.
I don't ever want to go back.....
"LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS...AND BE THANKFUL" ~Colossians 3:15
Want to dig in deeper with me? Join me over HERE.
Shoes of Peace Video Devotional
My friend, and Soul Fitness Colorado's Co-Founder, Kristin Gibowicz beautifully covers The Shoes of Peace in this week's video devotional. Many of you already know Kristin, but I'd love to share my heart towards her with you. When I think of Kristin, the words PEACE and WARMTH settle into my bones. She has an effortless way of connecting to your heart, and she makes you feel loved every time you are around her.
Her love for the Lord is genuine and runs deep within her soul; and it's from that place that she soothes and encourages others.
Pull up and chair, and get out a pen and paper- you'll want to take notes on what she has to say.
This Week's Workouts:
I am SO excited about this week's workouts!!! You have GOT to do them all!
- Sculpt and tone the entire body with Julie Ignacz's Barre Workouts. I had so much fun doing these workouts with Julie! She's cleverly divided her workouts up into two segments for us, so a lack of time doesn't count as a valid excuse to miss your workout this week.
2. Rooted in Peace Yoga Flow with Kristin Gibowicz. UNBELIEVABLE and AMAZING are just two of the word that I have for this yoga workout. (I could go on....) This flow is like a kiss from heaven. Your soul will sing as you give God glory, and your body works to be "rooted and firmly established" in God's Love. (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Let us know what you think of our workouts & devos on our Facebook page, or on our Vimeo account.
Recipe of the Week: Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp dried rosemary
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp dried sage
- ½ tsp sea salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 jar of your favorite organic tomato sauce
- ½ cup shredded raw parmesan cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Slice spaghetti squash in half and remove all seeds with spoon
- Place spaghetti squash face down on large baking sheet, add ½ cup water and cover with foil
- Cook spaghetti squash for 45 mins
- While spaghetti squash is cooking, mix together remaining ingredients (except cheese) in a large bowl
- Make 2 tbsp size meatballs with hands and place on a greased cookie sheet
- Bake for 20 mins (along side the spaghetti squash) (turning half way through)
- Remove turkey meatballs from oven, and place into a pan with sauce, warm sauce thoroughly
- Remove spaghetti squash and scrap insides
- Place spaghetti squash in a bowl and pour sauce and meatballs on top
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Notes
***Please choose all organic ingredients if possible***
May you have the PEACE of a restful mind, the PEACE of a surrendered will and the PEACE of a loving relationship with our God.
Love,
Amber