I've been feeling stuck for a few months but I can say now that I am refreshed! The past two days have been well spent at a conference at my church. God is so good and I couldn't be thankful enough for Sandals Church. Sandals saved me during a difficult time in my life, married my husband and I, and spiritually feed me every weekend.
My top takeaways from this conference:
1. Honor the man that he will become.
I love my husband so much but sometimes I get tired. Sometimes I feel like he isn't trying hard enough so I don't feel like trying either. I have a change of heart now though. Even if he is acting up, I will still honor him as the man he will be one day. In pre-marriage counseling, I learned that honor and respect are two things a man needs from a marriage.
2. Become biblically literate.
I need to know what's in the Bible. Growing up in Catholic schools my whole life, I do remember most of the stories. But I have never read the bible myself, for fun. There is SO much wisdom in that magnificent book. It'll take discipline and I hope to find a great workbook to go with it when I finally sit down and decide to read the whole thing.
A couple years ago, I learned a cool beginner tip to reading the bible. Start at Proverbs. There are 31 chapters and there are 31 days in a month (usually). Read one chapter a day. Proverbs is full of advice on life that I could use. I am going to do this program again at the beginning of next month.
3. Kindness and knowledge cannot be separated.
I'm sure you can think of someone who is really knowledgable but isn't very kind. A woman can be so biblically literate yet know know will find her credible due to her unkind heart. Kindness gives you credibility. With kindness and knowledge, women can change the world.
The theme of the conference was kindness. I have always struggled being nice especially in high school. But over the past few years I have been trying to be a good person. Kindness is my new goal.
4. Be curious.
Why is that person unkind? They must be going through some heartbreak or other hurt. Understand why that person is being mean and don't judge right away.
5. Be the person you wish you had.
I wish I had a person in my life that would encourage me and adore me for who I am. Someone with wisdom and love for God. Someone who could keep me on my path and hold me accountable.
6. Keep your mouth shut.
If unkind words are about to leave your lips, just shut them. If you are around someone you really don't like, keep your mouth closed. Even though it's unknown that you are being kind by NOT saying anything, God knows.
7. Enjoy your body NOW.
I am guilty for always critiquing my body.
I could really work on my legs more. I need my abs to be more defined by summer. After I have kids and as I grow older, I am going to miss my current body! I know that I should love my body the way it is. But sometimes I get carried away with perfecting it. Working out and eating a balanced diet is my life and career. I just need to embrace my body and appreciate the improvement instead of fixating my thighs, hips, and arms.
8. Love fearlessly.
Love all the way. Be so in love with life and everything around you. In "The Power" by Rhonda Byrnes, love is a powerful feeling. Loving brings so much good into one's life. After reading that book, I definitely changed.
9. Face what you fear.
I have a fear of public speaking. I never liked presenting in class or talking in front of crowds. But God works in the funniest ways. He probably laughs from heaven sometimes. Whenever I say
I'll never do that God responds LOL. I know I am being called to change the world. I know that someday somewhere I am going to have to speak... in front of a crowd. So I'm facing my fear every time I give a presentation (which is 7 times this quarter). The areas of our life that we are weak is where God anoints us.
