Acceptance

Day 10

Today’s reflection is a bit difficult for those of us with a tendency towards perfectionism to accept. When we hear about ‘acceptance’ we may think of giving in, accepting our lot in life and staying where we are. But that’s not really what this is about. It’s about not throwing shade on our current situation, not hating every little thing so much that we can’t enjoy the good that is there. It’s coming to a point where we can say ‘I’m ok, and I’m on my way’, my life is not perfect but it’s ok. It’s offering those things that bring us stress to the Lord and relinquishing them to Him. And then we stop fighting with it, we simply need to pray and obey! Listen to the Lord in prayer and then obey the little steps that He puts before us. Be open to receiving His graces. It’s about dying to our own will, so that we can live for His.

Index

IntroductionStepping into it, series intro.video
Week 1 intro*Core intro
ThanksgivingDay 1*Attentiveness to God’s blessings
CommitmentDay 2*To be all in for whatever the Lord wants of us on this journey.
LoveDay 3*To love God with our whole heart, mind and soul…and others as ourselves. It’s at the core of who we are, not simply what we do.
TrustDay 4*Childlike confidence that He leads us step by step.
KindnessDay 5*Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.
*Focus on the Kingdom
TenacityDay 6* Setting up a specific prayer time
Week 1 recapLOVING GOD WITH OUR WHOLE MIND
*What is health and wellness
* The Mind’s purpose is to envision God and Heaven (to see the unseen).
EnduranceDay 7*Our feelings and emotions
* Consecrating them to the Lord for His purposes
ForgivenessDay 8*Effect of unforgiveness
* ph balance
PerseveranceDay 9*Mary’s help for the journey
*The Rosary
*The white ladder
*consecration video 2 (the rosary)
AcceptanceDay 10
PatienceDay 11
HumilityDay 12
Week 2 RecapLOVING GOD WITH OUR WHOLE HEART AND MIND

Young Living

Six Steps to Wholeness

www.essydphoto.com
www.essydphoto.com

I’ve determined that I need to make some changes in my life in order to feel ‘nourished’ in mind, body and soul. In a previous post, I listed the areas that are important to me. I’ve decided to start working on it, one area at a time…just baby steps…and hopefully I can connect with someone else out there that may be reading this and we can inspire each other.

So from that list I’ve come up with these six target areas that I need to address, so that what I believe is more in line with what I do. I will be following up on each one in greater detail as I go along. For now I’m just setting up a ‘wish list’ if you will.

1)First target area is that entire realm of health, with diet and exercise being the most predominant factors. I’m what some would consider ‘crunchy’. I believe in the power of wholesome foods and herbs for keeping us strong and healthy. I believe in embracing a fairly clean diet and exercise program as a way of life, one that provides energy and does not make me or my family ill. I believe that pharmaceuticals have a purpose, but should be kept to a minimum. 

As an Autism mom, the book that has made the most sense to me in explaining the why as well as offering a solution is The GAPS diet. So this is what I aim for in my family…or at least The Paleo diet which is very similar and more people are familiar with it. 

The Paleo Cure

2)Intimacy with my Creator. For me as a Catholic, at the top of that list is frequent Reception of the Sacraments in a place that feels authentic. I’ve found that as a ‘sensitive soul’ a more traditional setting serves me best. I like all the bells and whistles in my Liturgy.

3)Intimacy with others. To be in relationships where I can lay it all out and feel accepted for who I am but yet challenged to be better. To be surrounded and reaffirmed by people who are similarly called. Where I can both feed and be fed and nurtured and can have a safe exchange of ideas.

4)To guide and nurture my children in the most authentic way possible. Being attentive to their special needs and distinct calling. For me, this involves choosing a homeschooling curriculum that fits our needs. And developing a method of discipline that reaches their heart.

5)To live in an organized and fairly clean setting. Surrounded by nature and beauty. Beautiful music, art and good books surround me.It means de cluttering my living spaces and putting together a cleaning schedule that works for us. A la Flylady.

6)To express my creativity and make a living at it.
Productivity is of huge importance to me, as is providing financially for my family and for the things that The Lord puts in my heart of course. Right now, my photography is my passion. I believe that this is my current calling, and the tool that I’m to use to connect to others.

What my soul needs

Www.essydphoto.com
Www.essydphoto.com

I’m trying to live proactively, and not just accept life as it happens. So I sat down and jotted some things down. What do I like? What gives me true pleasure and peace of mind? This might seem a bit too self focused, but at the point where I am in my journey it’s what needs to be done. I need to remember myself…who I was created to be.

Life and other people…often well intentioned…seem to band together to push you down…to keep you ‘in your place’. You need to put up a struggle…the world needs you!

My Soul enrichers

* Frequent reception of the Sacraments in a place that feels authentic.

* A good diet and exercise program that will provide energy and not hurt me (paleo at the moment)

* Intimacy…relationships where I can lay it all out and feel accepted for who I am but yet am challenged to be better…be surrounded by people who are similarly called, where I can both feed and be fed and nurtured…and exchange ideas safely. A setting where I give and receive plenty of words of affirmation and appropriate physical touch.

* To express my creativity…(my photography at the moment.)

* To feel productive and useful.

* To live a simple life in an organized and fairly clean setting.

* Be surrounded by nature and beauty

* Beautiful music and art

* Good books

I’m going to tackle each of these areas individually in future posts, so stay tuned. 😉

All of me a duet

Do you ever sing romantic songs to Jesus? I used to do it all the time, but haven’t done it in a while. Until this special song came out. It’s one of my favorites and yet not quite worthy to be sung to a mere human…so I sing it to Him, the lover of my soul, the One who does not disappoint, the One who will never leave me. The one who will indeed love me through it all. It’s a beautiful duet…a Communion Song if you will. 🙂

[Verse]
(Jesus)What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down
(Me)What’s going on in that beautiful mind
I’m on your magical mystery ride
And I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright

[Bridge]
(Me)My head’s under water
But I’m breathing fine
(Jesus)You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all, of me
And you give me all, of you

[Verse]
(Jesus)How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you’re crying you’re beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I’m around through every mood
(Me)You’re my downfall, you’re my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing, in my head for you

[Bridge]
(Me)My head’s under water
But I’m breathing fine
(Jesus)You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all, of me
And you give me all, of you

(Jesus and me together)Cards on the table, we’re both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it’s hard

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you

(Jesus and me together)I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you.
image

Lord and Savior

“If we want to live in true freedom from the power of sin and Satan, then our ‘house’ – our mind and heart and whatever we allow to control our appetites and desires – must be occupied and ruled by Jesus Christ where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to God and his word?”