And in the morning, I'm making waffles!

The first thing my pastor Dr. Bob taught me is that most people (especially women) view their problems as chocolate chips in a pancake -  not that chocolate could EVER be bad, but figuratively seeing every chocolate chip as an issue and you can see them all at once. Its as if they are multiplying and magnifying the whole thing - some of them even clump together! We try to fix everything all at one time; we're natural multitaskers you know!

God on the other hand deals with our problems like waffles, compartmentalizing every little thing. He works on things one thing at a time. One square and one chocolate chip at a time. 

Exfoliation

Exfoliation isn't just for your skin. What does it really mean?

Exfoliation has several meanings:

• Exfoliation (botany) describes the loss of leaves (or, in some cases, pieces of bark) from a plant.
• Exfoliation (cosmetology), is a cosmetic technique aimed at removing dead skin cells from the face and body.
• Exfoliation (geology) is a weathering process.
• Exfoliation (material science) is the process responsible for breaking up particle aggregates.

I have found through this journey in the wilderness that I have to take time for every part of my body to cleanse and give everything a chance to rejuvenate, renew, and exfoliate where necessary.

Like the seasons changing and a tree shedding its leaves in the fall, I too, must shed my leaves for the changing of the season and prepare myself for what is to come.

New Lessons

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you. Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke

"The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dreams and how you handle disappointment along the way!" 

 

 

 

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

"Let go of holding on, and hold on to letting go." - Olga Rasmussen 

Boundaries Book Reflection

I reached a quote in the book that really struck a cord with me. 

"...disappointed desire is what hurts you. The problem lies in who is responsible for the want. It is your want, not his. You are responsible for getting it fulfilled. That is a rule of life. We do not get everything we want, and we all must grieve over our disappointments instead of punish others for them.”

Cloud, Henry; Townsend, John (2008-08-22). Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How to Say No (p. 153). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I am not sure if it spoke to me so strongly because I actually got absorbed it or because the realization that the only person I can change is me. I can change my expectations, how much I tolerate, and my reaction to other people's actions. They make their own choices and I can either be proactive or reactive. 

Voices of reason (and NO i'm NOT hearing voices):

• Let go and let God
• Be still
• If he'll bring you to it, he'll bring you through it
• Keep your chin up
• His grace will cover you
• Be strong

I am finding new strength in him everyday and I am stronger than I ever thought I would be but I am still struggling to find my own voice; when I think I finally begin to hear it, it seems like I just can't find the right words to say.  Patiently, as I wait and I am still, the silence is deafening.