Delayed Gratification :: staying focused

I am just back from my weekly training session with Teresa.  She is such a gorgeous sweet looking woman with the kind of eyes that light up and personality that naturally makes you feel good to be around.  She is super super fit & super sexy and super motivated personal trainer.

What you can't see from that adorable smily face is the tough love she is ever so happy to inflict on her victims.  I mean....only one hour on......and  I just KNOW that tomorrow I am facing a world of pain.  My legs still have the wobbles and I am scared about next week already!  When I message her to complain about my treatment, she sends back an insincere......I'm ever so sorry message.

In reality, I am really grateful for her fabulous attitude and her courage to be a "real" person.  I think that we all need an encourager and she is one of the best.

I also was told recently by a friend that physical pain is my friend.....I am not totally convinced but there may just be some wisdom there.

It's a bit like everything really, a bit of pain now for a lot of gain later.  Whether it be relational, spiritual, physical or mentally.  Take the book of proverbs for instance, it's full of little gems encouraging the principal of self control and self discipline.


Hard work means prosperity, only fools idle away there time.


Work hard and become a leader, be lazy and become a slave.


Lazy people want much and get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied.


It is better to be patient than powerful, it is better to have self control than to conquer a city.


So on that reminder......my eyes and mind stay focused and my body tags along behind.  It is after all such a wonderful high after starting the day down by the beach working up a sweat.

It's also so comforting and grounding to see the regular early morning crowd each day.  The lively group of elderly Italian ladies who walk by smiling and, lost in conversation,  passionate about sharing their lives.

The elderly man who swims in the Derwent and stands for a big stretch on the pontoon.

The young men in their kayaks that glide by who stop by after to enjoy a coffee whilst contemplating life and looking over the beautiful river landscape.

The world is full of endless possibility and goodness at this particular moment.....a gift to be savoured and a treasure for the soul.

Where else would I be?

Perspective

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  


For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

good choices :: best choice

A few years ago one of my relatives said that when making big decisions that she had learnt that there were often many options laid out in front of her.

She shared that there were plenty of good choices. Things which appeared reasonable, responsible and productive.

The key was to decide was it just a good choice or the best choice.  Once you have two paths, good vs best, it's amazing how much clearer the right and best path is.

This is something I put into practice after my enlightening discussion with her and found really liberating.

Often I had been pressured into the choice which was best for someone else yet mildly good for me and those I am responsible for.

I just remembered that conversation this  morning and was prompted to realise it had somehow been forgotten in the survival and daily grind of the last couple of years.  I love it when you remember something really great and profound.

Bring on the next decision, I am ready.

Timing is everything :: my new favourite song

We watched this movie a while back and I fell in love with the soundtrack.  Sarah and I also tried really hard not to fall head over heels for the guy who sings it.  Garrett Hedland...check it out as it's a must see.  It's sad but real and there is just something about a film which shows the frailty of humans which gets to me.


When the stars line upAnd you catch a breakPeople think you're luckyBut you know its grace

It can happen so fastOr a little bit lateTiming is everything

You know I've had close callsWhen it could've been meI was young when I learned just how fragile life can beI lost friends of mineI guess it wasn't my timeTiming is everything

And I could've been the child that God took home,And I would've been one more unfinished songAnd when it seems a rhyme is hard to findThat's when one comes alongJust in time

I remember that dayWhen our eyes first metYou ran into the building to get out of the rainCause you were soaking wetAnd as I held the doorYou wanted to know my nameTiming is everything

And I could've been another minute lateAnd you'd never would've crossed my path that dayAnd when it seems true love is hard to findThat's when love comes alongJust in time

You can call it fateOr destinySometimes it really seems like its a mystery

Cause you can be hurt by loveOr healed by the sameTiming is everything

It can happen so fastOr a little too lateTiming is everything

brother+ sister + brother = gorgeous.