I have continued to take weight off since the competition. I am eating healthy and NOT emotionally eating. I have started back running and I am running further than I have in 15 years. I sticking to P90X - we begun week #6 last night. My family is healthy and although my father lost his job, they are doing just fine. My twin sister is expecting in June and has had a healthy pregnancy and her other two kids are doing awesome. I have been offered several jobs and although none of been the perfect fit yet, it has boosted my confidence. I could list about 100 more things that I have been blessed with...
Needless to say, I cannot stop smiling. As I was leaving my interview the other day, the interviewer said, "You exude happiness!" Whoa - NO ONE HAS EVER SAID THAT ABOUT ME BEFORE!
Yes, I am talking all of the time and in 5 minutes, I can tell you enough about my life that you feel like you have known me for years (bonus that I talk fast) - but exude happiness? Yes, I am VERY enthusiastic and am up for almost anything - but exude happiness?
I AM very happy right now. And instead of living in this happiness... I am wondering when the "bad" will happen. Will I gain the weight back? Will I need surgery on my knee and it will keep me from my marathon? Will I find a job that I will love? Will I ever have enough money to get back to seminary? Will my kids adjust to me working again? And I KNOW that I am not supposed to be worrying... but how can I live in this happiness?
I haven't had a bad life. I have been incredibly blessed with every need fulfilled. But like I mentioned earlier - I am over the moon.
My devotional gave me great insight on this:
"We are called to be the Lord's diehards to whom can be committed any kind of trial of endurance and who can be counted upon to stand firm whatever happens... This is the spirit that animates all valiant life: to be strong in will - to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield - is all that ever matters... To be able to stand steady in defeat is in itself a victory... It is inspiring to be trusted with a hard thing."
I should not worry about the defeats that may lie ahead (sick child, injury, gaining some weight), but be steadfast and live in the overflowing blessings that the Lord has graciously given me. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" Psalm 23:5.Indeed, my cup runneth over!!!!!
How do you strive to live in your happiness and not dwell on what may come?
16 comments:
Glad you've been so happy. And reading this has actually put a smile on my face - which is a nice change from the crazy week I have had. :)
Hi Jen,
You do seem to be pretty happy and upbeat:) I think that happiness does shine through in your blog!! I am glad that everything in your life is going well:) Congrats on all of your success!!
Awesome post!! I am experiencing many of the same things....I feel so blessed and happy right now. God is really shining through me and I am so awed by that! How did I get this way? It took years but I finally just decided to refocus my life for the better. Congrats to you!
Great post! I am so happy for you. You have a lot of positive things happening in your life and the perfect job will come along, your kids will adjust to you going back to work, you will rock at the marathon and you will keep the weight off. I hope your dad finds a job soon as well. I love your positive outlook.
I needed to read this today! Thank-you!
Congrats on many things in life going so well for you! I truly believe we are all capable of making happiness happen, no matter what our circumstances are. Like you touched on, being in the moment is key.
And as tough as they may to endure, I think times of adversity are what remind us how truly blessed we are.
Well joyous is a better word. God does not call us to be happy, but to be joyful in Him through all circumstances and trials. It is easy to be joyous on the mountain top, its in the valley that we are truly tested. Our surroundings, our weight loss, our childrens health should not determine our joy. We are to be joyful in the Lord and draw our joy from HIM. You are blessed to be on this mountain top and I know you are thankful to God for where He has brought you too, but all of us are either on our way to the valley, in the valley or just coming out of the valley, because we are living in the world. But no matter our position we are to be joyful in the Lord and gain strength from HIM daily. On the outside you are exploding joy...how about the inside..who is whispering to you... are you believing those doubts...When we are focused on our accomplishments we start doubting and it takes us away from our true focus on Jesus. Sorry for the preaching, felt called to share..being your sister felt I could. I love you very much.
'There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.'
It seems that you are right there! Wow!
Don't worry, it seems to me that you can handle anything that comes your way.
Love that! Thanks for the post... I like the idea of thinking of hard times as something God has trusted us with, kind of makes it seem more positive!
What a compliment! I think that is awesome, you sound like you have such a blessed life :-)
I feed so much off of happiness and try not to focus on the "what if's" in life. It can be easy to start wondering when something will go wrong when everything seems to be in place and great at the moment! I just take it one day at a day and enjoy every little bit of life!
What a wonderful place to be in! The joy knowing that your succeeding, your kids are well, and you have great opportunities knocking.
I think that God's will is for all of us to be blessed and to live in that blessing. We have control over what steals our happiness or joy. I know that trials will come, so I prepare myself now by building my faith. When my faith is built up and trials come I have a confidence that I will come out a victor.
James 1:2-4 says:
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Great post! That is such a great compliment...happiness is infectious, so I am sure you are the reason for a lot of happy souls. Great going! I always remind myself to live in the now...and enjoy everything that is happening at the moment...that heps me not dwell on the past or the future.
Great post and thanks for being honest about how you are feeling lately. It IS a lot to take in-new lifestyle habits-new look-renewed love of running-enjoyment of success. But you're right to remember we can't live our lives worrying about what our next tragedy or hardship might end up being. God gives us blessings and joy in this life and they are still there even in hard times. Two verses come to mind-1. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love and a sound mind. 2. Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. Sorry for not giving the exact verses and references but you probably know them already anyway. :) My point is relax, don't worry about things that may never even happen. If they do, God will absolutely give you grace to make it through. Loved your devotional too-and you always have a testimony for Christ that brings glory to Him! May our awesome God continue to bless you!
Remember, it is the peace that comes from knowing God more and more each day that leads to true happiness :)
i'm glad everything is going so well! live in the happiness. everything happens for a reason - so if something bad does happen - you'll pull through that too.
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