It's Not Okay to Quit!

Today, I'm taking back my health and my fitness!! While I had been a virtual "coach" for about 2 years, and seen GREAT success, had a setback, and waffled in what I was WILLING to commit to in my health and fitness journey, I decided I HAVE to do this! My WHY...is ME!

I'm not trying to lose weight and get healthy to be sexy for my hubby of over 30 years (a plus, no doubt!), I'm not doing it to keep up with the grandkids (another plus, though!), and I'm not doing it to silence those who might call me fat or look at me a certain way (Who's listening to those people anyway?!) NO! I HAVE to do this for ME! I recently realized that I hadn't looked at the value of working out and being a healthier more fit version of ME! That was a reality check for me! I have to find the value in becoming the healthiest version of me first!

It wasn't until I was listening to one of my favorite motivational speakers (Terri Savelle Foy!) the other day that I even realized that! She said that when you try and fail and try and fail, you don't believe yourself, you don't believe you can do it. When you do that over and over, you start making silent promises. But your dignity takes a hit each and every time, and your personal integrity doesn't know the difference of whether you say something out loud or to yourself. You gradually lose confidence in yourself. So you have to build a reputation to yourself--That you KEEP the promises you make to YOU!

You have to believe in YOU to be successful!

Make one simple promise to yourself:

Focus on your new reputation of yourself, that you keep your promises to YOU! You have to decide to do it. The Latin root for decision is to cut off alternative options. If you say, "I'll TRY to...," you haven't made a quality decision. Change that response with, "I'm GOING to..." and don't settle for anything less than accomplishing your goals and keeping that promise to yourself!

What promise will you make to yourself? I'd love for you to share!!

~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

How Do I Know I'm Living Out My Purpose?

The past few weeks we've been talking about finding our purpose and how we even know what our purpose is! Today, I want to ask you, how do you know you're living out your purpose? 

I suppose my purpose has changed a bit over the years and I believe that's okay! It's not that God called me to something and then took it away. No! Quite the opposite. See, as a homeschooling mother, my purpose was to educate my children, for our family that was through high school graduation. Now that my youngest two have nearly finished that aspect of their lives, that purpose is coming to and end. 

Now, I'm a leader in a youth organization and have had the pleasure of sowing into so many young people, sometimes without ever really telling them about Jesus, but sowing His love, compassion, gentleness, and goodness into their lives. One of my favorite things I've done with them, that is BIBLICAL, is to have them create their own vision boards! And you know, that's my purpose in life for these kids at this time.

My sister homeschooled her three children through high school graduation. Then she, her husband, and all three children were in college at the same time! She got a degree in teaching, sowed into the lives of the students at the charter school she worked in, and now, she is ministering and filling children in Poland with Jesus' love and goodness, even though they don't know it!

I think of Esther. She was a young, beautiful woman that found favor with the king. He chose her over the others. And she was the vessel God used to save her people, the Jews. When her people were saved, did Esther's purpose in life cease? Of course not! Now that may be all we read in the Scriptures, but that is a great account of Esther's purpose at that moment in life. Isn't that neat?

You see, your purpose isn't necessarily a one-time, all-inclusive purpose. it may be for a season or for a lifetime, but God always has a purpose for your life!

What's your purpose? Has it changed as you've entered different seasons in life? I'd love for you to share!

~Lyn

Come for the friendship, stay for the journey!

How Do I Discover My Purpose?

When I was a young, first-time mom, I remember thinking, "If my only goal in life is to give this little baby boy of mine a happy life, then that's what I'm going to do!" As my husband and I added more children to our family, I began to think, "Am I only called to have babies and be a mother and wife?!" I wasn't completely sure of my purpose, though. Was that all there was to my life? Was I only made to birth children?! Of course not. But that is where my purpose began. You see, I believe I was called to reach mothers and youth in a unique way, even if I had no idea what that unique way was!

I am passionate about so many things and they all really do tie together with women and youth:

Can you see how these things go together? I can...now. I honestly couldn't see the big picture of this many years ago!

So how do you figure out your purpose? Well, look at the things you do on a daily basis. Are you a wife, mother, do you work, are there things you're passionate about? That's where you begin! Write it down. Look at what you do every day, inventory what you're passionate about, and that will guide you toward your purpose!

How have you determined your purpose? I'd love for you to share!


Lyn~
Come for the friendship, stay for the journey!

What is My Purpose?

The other night, I had a dream that our associate pastor made a feature film entitled, "What is My Purpose and How Do I Know I'm Doing It?" Pretty profound, isn't it? That I would have a dream about this question is simply my spirit revealing things, I believe that is what was happening anyway. So in the next few posts, I want to talk about this with you. I want to know what you think about your purpose, how we discover our purpose, and how we know we're living that out!

So these posts will be a bit different than others where I might explain how to do something or discuss things the Lord has been working on me about. No, this time, I am making an interactive discussion post! And YOU get to play a major role in it. My hope is that through these discussions, we will each have a new revelation as to what our individual purposes are and how we know we're doing them.

What do you say? Want to join me on this quest? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Okay, today, let's just talk about what the Word of God says is our purpose. Please share as many Scriptures as you want!

Next week, we'll discuss how we discover our purpose and how it ties into our calling!

Please share this post, too! Someone may need a new revelation that only YOU can tell them!

Until next week...

Lyn~
Come for the friendship, stay for the journey!

It's Not Too Late...

A few months ago, I was feeling like I was so organized! I had printed out a great Christian planner, scheduled a few blog posts every week, stayed on top of new youth kids joining my non-profit organization, scheduled cleaning days for every area of my house, and had regular work hours for my blog and non-profit! But then...

Then, life changed a little when my second oldest son decided to enlist in the Army. We are so proud of him, his wife, and their two sons while he is gone at Basic. My husband and I and some of our children stepped up to help my daughter-in-law with the boys since she works full-time which meant some of the things we had been doing in life had to take a temporary backseat to my son's family. If you remember way back to May, you know that I had an attitude here and there about some things, too. All that changed when the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that, as with my own children, these days, weeks, and months with my grandsons will not last forever. My son will be sent to a base, potentially farther away from us, and we will not be able to see the boys everyday as we do now. It's not too late to stop and focus on them and their learning and fun times together!

One of the things that I allowed to take a backseat during this time was my health and fitness. I have sadly become easily tired and lack energy to play with my grandsons because of that choice. A year ago, I was working out six days a week, drinking my superfood shake, and felt so full of life! Now, I often feel as though the days get away from me with little fruit to show for the days and weeks. But just as it's not too late to stop and focus on my grandsons and our time together, it's not too late to stop and focus on my health and fitness first, and then on the boys!

You see, if we stuff too many things into our days, nothing will get done well. It may get done, but without prioritizing tasks, things will be completed in a rush and be done poorly or we'll end up exhausted and lacking the proper sleep necessary to do it all!

Today, I want to encourage you to write down all that you have to do in the coming weeks. Maybe it's caring for your children/grandchildren, writing a book, helping with Vacation Bible School, cleaning the house, working out, etc. Then, I want you to prioritize each thing. Those things with higher priority are things that are not debatable! You will complete them every day. Those things with lower priority, they can wait a day or two or three before being completed.

What do your priorities look like? I'd love for you to share!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

The Truth About my Health and Fitness Journey...

When I was in middle school, I remember thinking I was "fat" because most of the cool girls my age were still wearing a girl's size 14 or 16 jeans and I was wearing a size 1 or 3. I weighed all of 104 pounds back then at 12 years old. Oh, how I wish I could tell my 12 year old self that it didn't matter what I weighed as long as I was healthy and eating right. The fear of weighing "too much" would follow me into adulthood when, as an 8 month pregnant woman with a 2 year old, all I could think was, "As long as I don't gain weight so that I weigh over 150 pounds, I'll be okay." The truth was, that I would have had just a 12 pound weight gain for that pregnancy, and that was not healthy for me or my baby. I had struggled with my overall perception of how I looked if I weighed a certain amount until I crossed a mental line and ended up thinking, "I don't care what I weigh," and I gained more weight, not even post-pregnancy weight!

About three years ago, I began working with a wonderful personal trainer! He knew I could do more, but didn't push me to the point of feeling defeated, just challenged, which I really needed to build my confidence. Unfortunately, the cost of a personal trainer caught up with me, and I had to leave my good friend. Soon after, though, another friend began posting videos of her workouts and this awesome shake she drank once a day. Well, I loved watching her working out, and she was very motivating to me (I've known her for over 20 years!), so I joined her team. I lost about 20 pounds and felt the best I had felt in years! She was my workout buddy, support, coach, and friend. But then, she quit the business, and I never felt more alone. She is still there for me, but as a great friend and encouragement. My motivation, however, waned. The weight crept back up, and my poor food choices and habits soon returned. It wasn't that I didn't want to eat more healthier, it was that the emotional eating that I had succumbed to years before was never dealt with, so I fell back into my old habits. What you keep in front of you, what you talk about, what you're focused on, that is what you will eventually lead yourself into--good or bad!

But I made the choice to start back on the health and fitness journey I had begun with my sweet friend. I'm choosing life, a healthier life, and I'm choosing to not make poor food choices. Just as I'm choosing this healthier lifestyle, we must also choose life in Jesus.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the weight of yourself, your relationships, your health, your life, I encourage you to read the Word and find Scriptures that support a healthy lifestyle. Just as I said on Monday, we are the ones who are in control of what we decide to do. No one can make the choice for you just as no one can workout for you or eat healthy for you and then you see the weight loss. Our decisions need actions to be successful!


What will you choose to breathe life into? I'd love for you to share!

~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Got Attitude?

I try to be fairly transparent with you all, and today is not going to be any different. In the past, I might have made this one of my "Friday 'Fess Up" posts. But I feel it worth putting out there today!

This past week, I've had a bad attitude. Some events transpired, and I felt as though I deserved more than what I was getting. Anyone else ever feel that way? 
"How come he gets this and I don't?" or "It's not fair! I'm in a higher position! I should be the one getting that!" or my own personal whine, "I'm the mom! I deserve to get that!" Can anyone relate?

Well, the Lord began speaking to me in my bad attitude. He said, "You have a choice. You can sit there with your 'attitude pants' on OR you can change your attitude and the way you're thinking!" What if I were to look at things differently? What if instead of being jealous that I wasn't getting something I thought I should be getting, I turned my attitude around and thanked the Lord for what He is doing in those people through those events?

You see, each of us are responsible for our own actions, thoughts, and feelings. 
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us that our weapons in warfare are not physical, but mighty in the Lord to pull down strongholds, arguments, anything that is against the knowledge of God, and for bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

And finally, in Philippians 2:5, it says that "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." WOW! He was in a similar situation that I was and worse! But Jesus never said, "It's not fair!" or "I'm the Savior Jesus! I deserve to get better!" No, Jesus simply did what the Father asked of Him. 

We are the only ones who can decide what we do with our thoughts and our attitudes! We can sit and sulk and have a pity party and stop focusing on the Word, or we can take our thoughts captive, pray for good things for those who are getting what we think we are owed, and we can start agreeing with what God  and the Scriptures say!

Have you been in a similar situation with similar feelings and thoughts? I'd love for you to share!



~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Hear the Word again...for the first time!

This past week, I was feeling overwhelmed by upcoming events. A big formal banquet with the youth organization I work with, my mom's knee replacement surgery, caring for her post-op, vet visits for my pups, my middle son's induction into the honor society at his college, a big praise and worship night at church, caring for some of my grandchildren, and ending with next Monday when my second oldest son will be heading to Boot Camp in Georgia! Just glancing over all of that, I feel those same overwhelming thoughts creeping back in...
But yesterday during our discipleship classes at church, I was reminded of a verse I have read, recited, and meditated on several times in the past. It was the perfect verse for ALL that is coming up for me this week!

That verse just popped right out at me! And then, it made me stop and think. Why am I worrying about what is coming up?! I've got enough to think about for today. As a matter of fact, I forgot something I was supposed to do yesterday because I was so focused on the rest of the week and not living in the moment of TODAY!

You may have read a particular Scripture over and over and over again. But when the Lord wants to teach you or show you something in that verse, it's like you're seeing it with new eyes, hearing it again for the first time!

What's a verse that you've heard and one moment it made a world of difference or you saw or heard it differently? I'd love for you to share!!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Distractions--How to Avoid Common Pitfalls and Finish Your Tasks

Staying the Course and Finishing the Task at Hand

One of my favorite books to read to the kids was "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie."  It was the perfect example of how a simple task can lead to distractions, and, before we know it, we've done everything except the one thing we had set out to do in the first place.

There was recently one on Facebook that described a mom's life almost perfectly.

If you give a mom a muffin, she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.  So she’ll pour herself some. 

The coffee will get spilled by her three year old. She’ll wipe it up. 

Wiping up the floor, she will find some dirty socks. She’ll remember she has to do some laundry. 

When she puts the laundry in the washer, she’ll trip over some boots and bump into the freezer. 

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight. She will get out a pound of hamburger. 

She’ll look for her cookbook. The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. 

She’ll see the phone bill which is due tomorrow. 

She will look for the checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old. 

She’ll smell something funny. She’ll change the two year old. 

While she is changing the two year old, the phone will ring. 

Her five year old will answer it and hang up. 

She’ll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on Friday. 

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. 

She will pour herself another cup. And notice that someone has eaten the muffin.

(C) 2012 Parenting Is Funny

Does this sound familiar to you?  I know it does to me!  It could almost be my daily routine and one reason I lose such valuable time throughout my day.  These sorts of distractions are all around us, but there are ways of avoiding them.  

As I said yesterday, we can make schedules.  Whether you use a smartphone, tablet or hard copy calendar, I encourage you to write things down.  This allows us to see our day at a glance.  And with everything we have going on in our busy lives, we are not likely to remember all these things no matter what we tell ourselves.  I am a list maker and I enjoy checking things off throughout the day.

Since I'm a writer, I like to do that, but maybe you need something printed out or visual examples work better for you.  Then I would encourage you to create a pictorial task list or chore list.  Laminate it so it can be reused.

When taking on more tasks, such as helping at church, community involvement, and children's activities, ask yourself if you can do it and then ask God if you should do it!  Service is such a great opportunity to reach out to others, but not at the expense of our own families.  This can be a distraction that keeps us from accomplishing daily goals and tasks.  

It is also a pitfall for us if we fear letting others down or how we might look if we choose to turn down the request for help.  This is a pride issue.  A lot of distractions, not wanting to let others down, how we might come across to others, wanting to seem as though we can "do it all" are all pride things, and we need to know and accept our own limitations. 

We don't have to live with an immediacy expectation either!  We can work to finish our tasks knowing that we have done them well and for the glory of the Lord.

Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Doing What You're Called to Do

Have you ever felt a sense of urgency to do something? Like you just feel like you have to get out there and paint or help people in some way or you feel like you want to run, drive, or just go? (Am I the only one?) 

Several years ago, I had that feeling. I thought it was because I was watching a lot of MacGyver episodes, so at first, I chalked it up to the fact that I needed to watch less television! But the feeling persisted, so I did what any rational thirty-something adult with 8 children would do: I enrolled in a rock climbing course at the recreation center...and enrolled in the community college's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) course! I know, it's not exactly a rational sounding path to trod, but nonetheless, I began to walk down that road.

I really enjoyed the rock climbing and EMT classes! I did great in both and on the national registry exam, too. But as a 35 year old mother of 8 kids from 15 to 1 year old, I just couldn't justify paying for daycare or working nights to fulfill this career. So I worked in a lab instead. 

A few years later, I felt that same sense of urgency again! But now, we were living in Florida, and I knew working in the medical field was not the path to take not to mention that rock climbing was a joke in that sea level terrain. It was then that this blog, "Super Mom the Illusion," was born! I began to write about my grown children going through so many changes as young adults and my mother's heart to want to keep them small so I could protect them. I wrote about every day activities we were doing, places we had gone, and what life was like living in a travel trailer and homeschooling 5 children. The more I wrote, the more I knew...I really knew...THIS is what that sense of urgency was all about!

Even now, as I'm sitting at the computer, pouring my heart and feelings out, it's like I'm running and feeling a release, like I'm doing what I was called to do! I think I've always known this is what I'm supposed to be doing, but sometimes there are other things that I'm good at that I think, "I'm called to do this!" When really, I'm not. Does this sound familiar?

The fact is, if you search your heart and mind, you probably already know what you're called to do. But for one reason or another, you aren't doing it. It's time to stop making excuses (I don't have the money, the time, the patience, the talent, the strength, the brains), stop doubting what God wants you to do (Is God really asking me to go, to do, to create, to be), and it's high time you get started doing it!

That sense of urgency is not going to go away by you filling your day with other busy activities and events! You will only feel that sweet release when you finally tell the Lord, "I'll go where you send me and do what you've called me to do!"

I'd love for you to share your story of doing what you've been called to do!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Breathe Life Back Into Your Dreams

If you don't know already, I love to write! I'll write anything (almost!). Quippy responses to social media comments, fun questions, poetry, short stories, novels, even a blog! What you may or may not know is that I wrote and published a novel over 5 years ago. And still another little secret is that I wrote two more novels after that! Those last two, however, have yet to be published. 

Editing is tough and raw and revealing and emotional and so many other things. But, to be honest, I was afraid to publish these next two books. They are the final components in a 3-part series of fiction stories based in Dissonance, Wyoming, my fictional town just north of Cheyenne. Creating scenes is easy for me. I can clearly see the action playing out as though I'm watching a movie! But to get all the details just right so my readers can follow through? That can be difficult. 

This month, though, I'm dusting off those two stories and looking over them again! I'm tired of being afraid of what others might think! I'm done with wondering if I'm a good enough writer, if my stories are interesting, or if critics will tear my characters apart finding inconsistencies and an elementary level reading at best. 

I know God gave me a desire and talent to write creative, fun, engaging, action-packed stories, and I don't want to stand at the end of my life and know that I quit because I didn't trust God to know what He was doing with me and through me! And I'm done listening to the lies Satan has been telling me about my writing! 

I am creative. I have a talent for writing. I can say things in a way that was meant to reach even one person, and I'm not going to sit on my talent like an old cushion on a couch! NO! I'm taking my dreams back starting TODAY!

Can you relate to these feelings? Have you pushed a dream back because you listened to the lies that you couldn't possibly do that thing you've always dreamed of or that you wouldn't amount to a hill of beans? Just stop! 

What dreams are you ready to breathe life back into? I'd love for you to share!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Triumphant

This past week, I was reading about the difference between victory and triumph. Now, stay with me on this brief journey. I'm about to share a revelation I had about each of these!

Victory. What does it mean to you? Maybe you won something you had been training for. Maybe you accomplished something you had never before done. Maybe it was in a life situation or court. Maybe it was victory over a relationship, finances, a breakthrough, or healing. Here's what the Webster's Dictionary calls VICTORY:

Now, what about triumph. What does it mean to triumph? Is it the same as victory? Not at all. While victory is the winning or the overcoming against odds or difficulty, triumph surpasses that! The second and third meanings are what I want to look at.

So victory is gaining mastery, success, even winning! And triumph is the after party, basically! Okay, hold on! Here's where it gets really good!!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the apostles recount Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. You may recall it as "the triumphal entry"! Those who followed Jesus, gave him such a reception, didn't they? They spread clothing and palm branches along the road to celebrate his coming.
What I have recently realized is that Jesus celebrated His victory on the cross--before He even had seen it! He had the vision! He knew what was coming, and He and the "multitudes" celebrated that victory ahead of it. Isn't that amazing?!

I believe that you look at Palm Sunday and the Triumphant Entry in a new way! I hope this inspires you to celebrate your own victories, triumphantly, even before you see them with earthly eyes!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Authentically YOU!

I try to live my life as genuinely and transparently as I can. I have made some mistakes like making hurtful comments or making the wrong decision in a situation. One thing I try to always do, though, is to never apologize for trying and for being who I am. 

As many of you know, I have a twin sister. She is the one who tells someone of their wrongs in such a loving way that they embrace being told of their mistakes or wrongs. I'm different than my sister. When I tell someone about something they did wrong, I am blunt and to the point. It's not that I don't want to explain or counsel them in their wrongs in love, like my sister. It's that I prefer to acknowledge the error and move on. It's just who I am. Can anyone else relate to me?

When my sister and I were 12, our parents got divorced. We grew up carrying a house key around our necks while our mom worked outside the home. We remember various aspects of our life at that time in different ways. Certain things impacted us differently and I believe shaped who we are today. Now, my sister is a teacher at an international school in Poland, and I am a public affairs specialist in a national youth organization. 

See, the point here is that no matter where you came from, you can go in any direction in life that you choose and that the Lord leads you to! This is one of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney right now:

The adventure and journey of life is unique for each of us, even twins. We must be willing to be authentic, genuine, and who we are on our journeys. No one else can do the things we can in the way that we can, and that is why God made us each so unique!

Care to share your story of being authentic and genuine? I'd love to hear! 


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Seek the Lord...in Serving My Family!

 I am a writer.  I am also a mother, a home educator, a blogger, a public affairs specialist, a wife, and a homemaker.  I enjoy telling others about Jesus and sharing the love of the Lord with the lost, unsaved and unbelievers.  When I started my blog, I thought it would be relatively simple to write a quick paragraph or two about life lessons the Lord was showing me each day, or, at the very least, each week!  What really happens is that I find myself often spread too thin to concentrate on my blog or my writing or my lesson plans for the week or my contact calls for those in the youth organization I work with or to be the wife and mother my family needs me to be. 

This week, I am working on prioritizing my work.  Everything I do this week will be with my family in mind first, and the work will be done to the best of my ability as unto the Lord.  I've been reading Darlene Schacht's book, "The Good Wife's Guide" and have been so inspired to seek the Lord in serving my family.  Whether we work outside the home or not, God has called wives and mothers to certain roles within their family, and we need to realize our jobs once again.  

      One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 32 (Kerri Pomaroli)..."She rises late and her children make her breakfast!"  The reality is, there IS no Proverbs 32.  And you and I have been commissioned by the Lord to be diligent in all we do.  We can take on as many tasks as we want, but if it's not what the Lord would have us do, we're going to burn out quickly and accomplish little in the things He has called us to do.

   Read Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 this week.  Don't be intimidated that you aren't out making clothes and buying land and guiding older moms into lives of reverence.  Concentrate on the last part of each scripture...Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:

As wives and mothers, we owe it not only to our families but to our Heavenly Father to do the best work we can and not take on more than we can successfully complete with a degree of excellence and completeness.  What will you do this week for your family?  What will you do for the Lord that will allow you to humbly work with the best job you can do? I'd love for you to share!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Seek First...

I am a people pleaser. I hate to let people down, and I don't like to say I can't do something for someone when I'm asked. This leads to increased stress for me because I'm not putting first things first. Can you relate? So how do we get around this people-pleasing mentality? We turn to the Word!

First, we can meditate on those Scriptures that remind us of the benefits of putting the Lord first in all that we do. I've listed some here:

Next, ask yourself if doing that thing, whether it's driving someone to appointments or organizing an event for a particular group, etc., is moving you toward your goals. Now, I don't mean to say that you would tell a friend you can't drive them somewhere because it doesn't align with your overall vision and goals! Surely, I'm not suggesting that! 
I want you to think if the investment of time in those things that will occur on a regular basis fits in with that. For example, I do well with the details of my organization's annual banquet such as planning the opening ceremony, the guest speaker, and the course of events throughout the night. I don't do well, however, with the planning of the food, drinks, and desserts. So in this case, I have no problem saying I will help with this, but not with that. And you can have that same ease of saying 'no' in similar situations.

Finally, remember to take care of yourself before you agree to take on more tasks. You've no doubt heard 'you can't pour from an empty cup.' It's true! Before you make a commitment to make breakfast for everyone in the church on Easter Sunday or to drive a group of teens to weekly sports events or even to host a weekly coffee group, ask yourself if taking on these tasks is because you don't want to let someone else down or because it fits into your overall goals.

Are you a people-pleaser, too? What are some ways that you overcome the fear of letting others down? I'd love for you to share!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Self-imposed Curse

A little over a year ago, I began a wonderful weight loss journey! I've learned many things about choosing healthier options in food to the importance of moving or working out regularly. On this journey, however, I struggled with meeting a goal I had set for myself. I'm all about creating goals or deadlines and rewarding yourself for the progress you've made toward achieving goals, so this was big for me. The trouble began for me, though, when I failed to meet that goal.

As many of you know, I am a frequent listener and reader of books by the late Derek Prince. In his book, "Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose," he talks about self-imposed curses, things we speak but don't realize the power our words have. Well, when I failed to meet that goal, I also failed to get the reward I had promised myself. What I didn't realize until recently was that I had actually released a sort of curse over my life. 

I had agreed that once I met this particular goal I would get a haircut. You may think that is such a little thing, but oh! The affect this choice has had on my life in the last year! A little background for you...
I prefer my hair short. Some may say 'short and sassy,' even, but it's just the look I've preferred for years now. Well, when I set the goal, I expected I would be getting my hair cut in a couple of months. That turned into over a year now. And what has also transpired is that I have lost the motivation to ever accomplish that one portion of my overall goal. I changed the approach to my health and fitness journey in an attempt to jump start my passion again, but lost valuable support along the way. On top of that, I've gained back the weight I had lost! All of this, I believe, is because of the decision in January 2018 to not cut my hair until I reached that goal.

Friends, if you've made a decision like this or any decision that you feel has begun to hold you back I have good news for you! You can stop, change your mind, and get back on the right track once again. You can break that thing that is holding you captive or in bondage! 

Pray this prayer with me:

"Lord Jesus, I believe that on the cross You took on Yourself every curse that could ever come upon me. So I ask You now to release me from every curse over my life--in Your name, Lord Jesus Christ! By faith, I now receive my release and I thank You for it!" (Prayer by Derek Prince, "Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose")

Believe you have received and walk in the blessing of the Lord!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

One Word Check-Up

I thought today we could reflect on the impact of the One Word we've each chosen for 2019! Are you seeing some areas in your life where your word has seemed to help focus or direct you? Do you feel as though you might have chosen the wrong word for the year? Don't worry if either of these questions fit your answer! Both are expected at this stage of the year! You're not crazy, weird, or odd.

So let's address the second question first. You chose a word that you felt passionate about, even believed the Lord had handpicked that word just for you. But now, two months into the year, you haven't seen anything close to that word in, on, or anywhere near your life! Maybe I chose the wrong word! Relax, friend. You are probably doing everything right, but Satan is fighting you every step of the way! That's okay! Simply confirmation you're going in the correct direction! Take out a map (or use Google Maps!) and see how far it is to the opposite side of the country that you live in. For me, I'll choose North Carolina because I live in Colorado. Now, if we look at that map, how do we decide which direction to take? Maybe we choose the fastest way, maybe the one with no toll roads, or maybe the most scenic! The point is, there are many different ways to get there, right? And each one is the right way.

As for the first question, that is also something people experience. And it's not because everything is going well now but the bottom is going to fall out soon. I used to think that! No, instead, it's that we are so focused on the Word of God that the One Word we chose for the year has aligned with our faith and the Scriptures.

Think of it this way...a person is ill. The congregation or prayer team comes together to pray for healing for that person. A miracle happens, and the person recovers quickly. Yet another person is ill, the person has others praying for recovery, but that person decides to go to the doctor and receives medication to treat the illness, and he or she recovers. Just as no two healings are the same, neither are the way situations play out in our lives.

Let's consider the battles the Lord won on Earth for His people. The Lord destroyed the Egyptians with the 10 plagues. David overcame Goliath with one little stone propelled by the Lord and David's action and faith. David and three mighty men who were with him defeated the Philistines
The king of Syria tried to make war against Israel, but could not prevail against it. There are so many stories of how the Lord fought on behalf of Israel and caused the people to be victorious, and there are many ways that happened.

Sister, don't be defeated and quit! Hang in there either way! Your One Word is on a trajectory to propel you farther and further for the Kingdom of God!

How is your One Word coming this year? I'd love for you to share!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

A Lasting Impression

As homeschoolers, we are always on the watch for things to enrich our children's life-learning experience. In 2009, we found a wonderful supplemental school not too far from our hometown where our children could attend one day a week classes with their peers. It was a Divine appointment to be joined with this school, and our five children began to thrive in this new environment. In 2016, we decided to have our three remaining homeschooled children take a break from this school. We left on good grounds with the wonderful staff of people we consider friends.

As our two youngest began to approach their final years in high school, they longed to attend the supplemental school once more. I met with one of our friends and she told us about the upcoming registration for the next school year and the new family meeting that would also be taking place soon after. I signed my kids up for the lottery process of getting chosen to attend the school and we attended the meeting a couple of weeks ago.

What was so impressive to me was that the coordinator told me we really didn't have to come down for the meeting. In fact, she exclaimed, "You could probably GIVE the meeting!" Well, there had been a few upgrades to the facility, so my kids and I were eager to see those. After we toured the building and reveled in the beauty of this new annex, we met with the center director. I wanted to know if I should be planning NOW for my kids to return in the Fall or if I would have to wait until we might be called up through a lottery system. The coordinator said, "Oh, your kids are in! No problem!" My kids smiled, and I knew then that we had made the right decision to return for the next school year. I am certain that the favor of the Lord was with us that night!

Do you have a story to share of the Lord's favor on your life? I'd love for you to share it!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

It's Time to Stop Quitting!

Today, is the beginning of the 5th week of the workout program I am doing! This is quite a big deal for me because in the past, I had a habit of getting to Week 3 or 4 and stopping the program. I would see some results, maybe weight loss or looser fitting clothes, and I just quit doing the workouts! Crazy, right? I mean, why not just keep going and see even more weight gone or inches lost?! If I had lost 10 pounds in four weeks, I might have lost a total of 15 pounds or more had I only kept going to the end of the program.

Can you relate to that pattern in other areas in your life? I know I can. And the only way I know to overcome it is to decide that I won't quit on myself again! How many times have I done that with other things? What could I have accomplished if I had only continued on?

This week I want to encourage you to make a list of things you need to complete, be specific down to the last detail. For example, you might plan to give away clothes that no longer fit. Do you intend on just going through your clothes or will you go through your children's clothes as well? And once you complete the task of determining what clothes you will give away, what will you do with them? Perhaps take them to a local mission or thrift store or give them away online through a recycling group.

You may think all this planning is unnecessary, but if you don't have a plan, those clothes may end up in the trunk of your car or back of your minivan for several days or weeks before you end up taking them to the thrift store!

What will you see through to the end, fully committed to finally getting that task completed? I'd love for you to share with us!


Lyn~
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Write the Vision: Beginning 2019 With A Dream!

If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I am passionate about vision boards! What I think I might be even more passionate about, though, is the process we take in order to create our boards: dreaming!

Dreaming has always been a part of God showing His people the good things to come in their lives, right? Jacob dreamed of an angel speaking to him when his uncle Laban deceived him. This dream led to Jacob being instructed to take only the speckled and streaked and grey-spotted flocks. The Lord spoke to Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, in dreams also, and to the baker and butler and the Pharaoh. God spoke to Daniel and to the king, and Joseph, Jesus' father, too! Dreaming is a way God shows us things we can't quite comprehend or understand how they will come to pass.

And so for the next 14 days, I want you to commit to spending quiet time with the Lord. Ask Him to show you what He has for you this year. No matter how crazy or impossible what you see or envision may be, I want you to write it down! Just start off with 5 minutes of sitting and listening to the Lord. Maybe He will keep you there a little longer or not for the full 5 minutes, but commit to spending that time with Him. Can you do that with me?

If you feel like it, I'd love for you to share what the Lord has been saying to you!

~Lyn

Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

The Beginning of My Transformation!

I am so excited to be starting a new workout program! I know that in the past, I have avoided talking about fitness, but for the past year, this has been something I committed to doing, and I want to share it with all of you!

Today, I'm talking about transforming my outward appearance. The Scripture says in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that god ad acceptable and perfect will of God." Another version says to "Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out."

How many of you have tried a workout program or a diet plan? You know it takes a LOT of what we call "will power," right? I mean, just decide that you're not going to eat pizza or sugar for a month, and all you will see on television are pizza and sugary food commercials, right?!

Well, the reason I'm writing about this on my blog is for you to help hold me accountable. You know how much better we do if we know we might let others down or someone else is watching! So this morning, I am beginning my 6 week workout program, striving to eat healthier, and renewing my mind in the Word of God! I'll post my progress here and on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to follow me there!

If you're starting your health and fitness journey, I'd love for you to share that, too!

~Lyn
Come fo the journey, stay for the friendship!

When You Can't Say 'No'...

I am a volunteer with a national youth organization that has a unit in our town. I love working with the youth, young men and women who have great potential, big dreams, and wonderful ambitions. I've been with this organization for six years now. 

A few months ago, I decided it may be time to decrease my presence and bow out gracefully, as it were. I mean, I could visualize all the things I could do if I no longer had that commitment every week, and it was exciting! Time to write my books, read other books, work my fitness business, and so much more!

But then I felt the tug of a few pretty cool teenagers. "You can't leave! The (organization) won't be the same without you!" How do I say 'No' to that?! I mean, if I walk away, am I robbing these kids of the impact the Lord wanted me to have on their young lives??

I believe I WOULD! And so as difficult as the position is with time, emotional energy, and utilizing leadership skills, I find myself constantly coming back to the fact that I am called to work with the youth! 

I used to think that I was supposed to be working in our church youth group. But things just never really worked out for me to do that. And then, I joined the youth organization, and several months after joining, a parent asked, " Why do you do this?" Almost naturally, as if the Holy Spirit spoke through me, I uttered, "I've always been called to work with youth, and that is just what I am doing!"

I believe before we say yes or no to an opportunity, we need to really determine if it aligns with what the Lord has called each one of us to do. For example, I am really good at serving in our church cafe, and I do every now and then, but that isn't my real calling; it's just something I'm good at. And I enjoy singing, but I'm not called to be in the community choir or our church worship team. But I am called to work with you, and I do at our church and at the youth organization. 

What are you called to do versus what you're good at that isn't part of your calling? I'd love for you to share!

~Lyn

Come for the journey, stay for the friendship

Help in Time of Need

As a mom of 8 young children, I often felt as though I had to everything myself. Even one time when I had surgery, I didn't want to ask for help. Thankfully, my wonderful church family set up folks to help bring meals or run errands if I needed. And you know what? Making meals for our family was just what I needed then!

Another time I had surgery on my feet. I wasn't able to get around much, but with pain medication, I was also little company and preferred to sleep most of the time, my children then older and able to care for themselves. But one person just wanted to talk or occupy my time or anything other than leave me alone. This made my recovery a bit longer as I wasn't getting the rest I needed to allow my body to heal.

This all got me to thinking about my own ideas of what helping people actually looks like! As a blogger, am I giving my readers what they need or am I just doing the digital version of talking like my friend had done to me? Am I offering positive, uplifting, encouraging words to my sisters in the Lord? Am I really, TRULY helping or am I hindering a spiritual or emotional recovery?

Perhaps the emotional recovery is just mine. Writing is cathartic to me. It is calming and a bit relaxing, if you can imagine! But I think that just knowing that you aren't going through something alone or that someone else has gone through it and come out on the other side, it's refreshing and comforting. So that is why I write this blog.

I am not a Super Mom! I don't have magical powers and cannot overcome that pile of laundry OR remembering to put the clothes from the washer into the dryer! But I can relate to a lot of things women and moms go through because I've been there, too.

What does "helping" look like to you? I'd love to have you share your thoughts!


~Lyn
Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

One Word for 2019

If you're new to Super Mom the Illusion, or even if you aren't and might just need reminding, I choose one word each year to help me focus on what the Lord has called me to do. Of course 2019 is no different, so today, I want to share my One Word with you!

Success doesn't come without action and a commitment to do something. I'm going to pursue a variety of things this year, some familiar and safe and others that are new and definitely will take me out of my comfort zone! But as Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take!" I don't want this to be a year of me saying, "I wish I would have done that when I had the opportunity..." I'm looking forward to a successful, blessed, and flourishing year!

What about you? Have you chosen the One Word that will help guide your focus for the new year? I'd love for you to share it with us!


~Lyn

Come for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Welcome to 2019!!

First of all, I'd like to thank you, my readers, for hanging in there while I work through some things. Sometimes, we just need to step back, re-evaluate and prioritize things we're doing in our lives, make time for refocusing on where the Lord is calling us, and rest in His peace knowing that all that He has planned is better than we can even imagine!

So, I'd like to tell you what you can expect this year from Super Mom the Illusion.

New, relevant articles on:

• homeschooling information, resources, and support
• reminders to write your vision and create vision boards 
• my weight loss journey and support for you on yours
• encouragement from the Word

As I step into a new role as homeschooling grandmother, I look forward to sharing with you the adventures I have with my oldest grandson, the good, the bad, AND the ugly because that's life. I've been on my own weight loss journey, too, and if you're starting or have been there for a while, I hope we can support and encourage each other! As always, I'll be helping guide you along as you create your first or even 15th vision board for the year. I can't wait to share this year with you all!! 

Come along for the journey, stay for the friendship!

Cheering you on daily!

Lyn~