mmmms. mmhhhmmms. and idks

Lately I've been thinking in pictures.
I think its always been that way.
But lately, its interfered with my ability to communicate.
There's nothing more frustrating then having stuff to say, but not knowing how to get it out.
For so long I've longed to say something to you all, but all I was getting were pictures.
If a picture's worth 1000 words, but I only have time to say 20, which ones do I say?
And what about the fact that I see multiple pictures??
Which words do I chose to express how I feel AND how do I make it make sense to others?

I thought ^ was funny

So many times I wish I had something uber deep to say... something people would want to retweet or quote...

something that would stimulate someone so much that they would be

inspired

comforted

relieved

motivated

The pressure to know what to say, when to say it, and with that perfect tone can be very consuming...
You rack your brain, practice different cliche catch phrases... but you're empty.

just blank :/

For me... its embarrassing and frustrating... at other times, it drives me to apathy. 
At that moment, I give up my voice.  I surrender my right to speak.  I murder the power of my words by aborting my thoughts because they don't "seem" to sound "right"...

I gave up//Forfeited

in a more mature state

you realize that 99.9%+0.1% of life is not about you...

If God has your whole life covered- If He has dominion over your entire life, [which means we have surrendered our lives to Him, and we lack nothing because in Him is everything] why can't we offer ourselves to others freely?  Why are we so afraid that we'll lose if we give parts of ourselves to others?? I realize for some, its not the lack part... its the selfish part.  We're so insecure about what we have to say, that we keep our words, deeds, and talents to ourselves for fear of criticism.  We bury our talents, and unearth them for our personal enjoyment. 

and yet again...

in a more mature state

you realize that 99.9%+0.1% of life is

NOT about you...

mmmmmmmmmm....
mmmmhhhhmmmm....
idk people-

I'm outta here

keish

I'm taking my charger wherever I go

First let me just say "I know, I know, I know" its been a while.  I've been meaning to get connected with blogging this week but time kept escaping me.  This is not my excuse, rather the force that drove me to MAKE time.  Too often we talk about what we DON'T have time for.  It's almost annoying even when the phrases "I don't have time for that" or "I really didn't have time to do that" come out of my mouth.  I just had to prioritize, this as something I NEED to do and "Nike" (just do it)... SO with that-

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.  

Most people who know me, know that I am often guilty of my cell phone dying.  It can be an annoying inconvenience in the middle of a conversation or text.  ::Sorry:: I usually charge my phone once a day which is before I go to bed at night.  Well, I'm a big texter and I love to hook up my phone to the car radio and jam to Pandora on the way to and from work.  The worst part about when my phone dies is that it stays on, but all services shut down.  So my actual phone is ON, but there's not enough battery to function.  Its just apparent that I use it more than I charge it.  I just need to carry my charger with me so that I don't have to rely on the ONE time a day that I charge it. 

As Christians who have been in the game a little while (I hesitate to say "mature" because you can't qualify this journey) we have had a lot of scriptures, sermons, and just well WORDS FROM THE LORD in our hearts.  When someone calls on us for anything, we are immediately able to provide them with Godly comfort, because its just on our lips.  Even when we have little mishaps here or there BAM a word comes to our hearts and we minister to ourselves.  I found that this app (<my attempt to be tech saavy) is being used all the time! I love it!! Throughout the day I'll share a bomb word or write something that just goes!! C'mon, ya'll know what I'm talking about-- When God uses you and allows you to minister to a friend or coworker.  You share something you've learned throughout your journey, pouring yourself into someone else.  Lately this opportunity has been ever present, yet I feel my "battery" drained a more&more and earlier&earlier in the day.  Sometimes, I'm "dead" before I can even make it to my next "charge".  I usually charge up in the mornings, but lately, that charge is barely holding me through the afternoon.  Just like my phone, my battery dies- I'm on, but I'm spiritually ineffective.  There is someone that needs a text MESSAGE or needs to be CONNECTED to God, but I am dead.  This breaks my heart that because I wasn't plugged into the source long enough or often enough, my battery was spent.  God cannot use me...

::Siiigggh:: 

Isn't it our purpose to be vessels for God?  We are literally charged to DECREASE so that God may be able to INCREASE in our lives.  God DESIRES to USE us as fully functioning devices to send messages, answer calls, and search the WWW(whole wide world) so that others might be able to make a clear connection with Him.  Being charged/armed/USABLE is therefore a mandate not a choice.  I've decided that in order to pour out as often as God desires, I MUST make sure to be completely charged at all times.  That means my morning charge MUST be sufficient enough to carry me AND that I take time throughout the day to get REcharged, when I need to.  I want to be used by God and I want to be USABLE when He is desires.

So I've stepped it up... I'm taking my charger wherever I go

no more dead batteries over here...

keish

mmm...mmm good!!

So this was absolutely scruptious!! Whole wheat rotini pasta with crushed tomatoes (NOT TOMATO SAUCE) and of course mushrooms, spinach, garlic powder, onion seasoning and basil.  This was fingerlickin good!! Later that evening, I had plain popcorn sprinkled with salt (It wasn't Orvelle Redenbacher, but it did the late night snack's job).  Water, water, water, all day everyday.  I'm trying my hardest to get it in, but I must admit going to the bathroom every 5 secs is QUITE annoying.  This morning I had a banana and I'll have a pear as my mid morning snack.  Leftovers for lunch :) and carrots with hummus for my mid afternoon snack.  Dinner will be a surprise for you and I-- we shall see :).  I've included this link to an AWESOME movement called Single Saved and Satisfied.  I am a guest blogger today, so please check it out when you have time!!

(click there>)The Fruits and Veggies of Life (<click there)

peace&love

A new start means trying new things...

So, excited is an understatement.  Coming off of such a great weekend (shoutout) has helped give me the perfect boost into this DOPE journey.  I've already tried new things and let go of old weights.  I'm reminded how important it is to physically change things in order to fully receive the newness we claim and deserve.  We have the power to reach that "NEW" level in Christ with work.  The will to change is what creates the newness.  Faith without works is dead (James2:17).  Having FAITH that something new will enter your life, without putting in WORK to change bad habits and mentalities is literally a DEAD feat. 

So I welcome the change.  Its been hard to let things go, specifically habits that we've grown attached to, but the reward is so great, and it just makes the work THAT much more worth it.  This revelation is evidence of the greatness that is happening as a result of this time of consecration.  See, the power isn't in what is subtracted (from my diet) but in fact, the power is in what is added as a result of their marked absence.  I NEED God all the time (obviously)... But without these other mini pleasures, like sinking my teeth into a piece of hot fried chicken (mmmm), I am forced to seek that same :mmmmmmmm: tasty moment by adding to my relationship with Christ.  I find my spiritual fried chicken and mac and cheese, and I am fulfilled more than the physical could even try to. 

Pause for the feeling of spritual fulfillment. 

As a treat, I've included pictures of my first two meals.  Yesterday, I had polenta cakes topped with sauteed spinach&mushrooms in a tomato, basil, and garlic sauce.  It was pretty delicious, I must say!  I was proud that I tried something different.  And eventhough my grocery bill was significantly higher, I chalked it up to the couple of times I would have gone out to eat for lunch or dinner this week.  When my family told me they were coming into town and we would venture to Carolina Kitchen, I was all types of frustrated.  But this is a sacrifice and if it were easy to resist, it wouldn't be a sacrifice.  So I went to Carolina Kitchen, and had theee most AMAZING salmon salad ever!  And no, I would've NEVER had that salmon salad had I not been on this fast, but I WILL be recreating it at some point!! 

Lunch-Polenta Cakes toped with Spinach&Mushrooms in a tomato basil and garlic sauce

Dinner: Salmon Salad&Balsamic VinaigretteDressing

And so... I'm happy :)

I'm about to go snack on my veggie crisps and hummus.

and I'll be just fiinnee

satisfied

Home fries, Polenta Cakes & Nike

my menu
I'm excited
A lot of new stuff
A lot of repitition
I think I can actually do this
I'm starting to realize:

you can do ANYTHING when you take yourself seriously

#1think about what that actually means

#2take the limits off

#3(just)DoIT

Dear Nike,

I finally understand your slogan

your customer,

keish

My first RE-gifted gift

Sooo.  I'm clearly behind in my blogging efforts.  It's so funny how things you're "supposed" to be doing come into your mind so frequently... and of course I just shrugged this off like another responsibility or chore.  How dare I?? I'm really trippen.  Writing is a gift, and I'm really grateful to be able to share my thoughts with people.  I keep having this underlying desire for these words to touch someone, make them smile, or provoke a thought.  Of course that's impossible if I bottle these things up.  Thus... I will

RE-gift

myself the opportunity to share, babble, focus, and witness to the masses. 

"New things are happening in 2012", I tell myself.  "My life projects NEWNESS in this new year", I scream.  People look at me with that same pathetic 2011 daze.  They tell me that nothing changes but the date.  I am unaffected.  I don't doubt my proclamation to view this year as a new opportunity to grow, love, and laugh 'til my stomach hurts.  (While I'm laughing I'll secretly hope that my abs will get a workout and become bold enough to show face this summer. <ha)  As much as that's a joke, I can't help but to think this is yet another year where I claim "This is the last year that weight will be a point of change"... I can say without a doubt that this is really the last year.  I'm sure of that because I've officially converted this idea from weight to health. 

I'm living under my means.  Not financially, but I'm not getting the most out of my life because I'm at the best age to be in the best shape of my life.  But I'm not...In my 25th year, I don't want to be haunted by the errors of my chips and cookies youth.  I'm getting it together... I'm positive... I'm happy... I'm ready. 

Bee Tee Dubb (BTW: By the way) I received confirmation of this when they announced our New Beginnings 21Day Daniel Fast at church.  There's no better of a time to reevaluate my eating habits than a Daniel Fast.  For those unfamiliar with the deets (details) of this, please click here :) 

I start on Sunday, and I'm actually excited.  Well... of course I'm not excited to NOT eat all of the foods I love, but I am excited for what NOT eating these things will do for me.  What will be ADDED as a result of my choice to SUBTRACT-- mmmm deep huh? lol

So I'll be entering a daily account of what's going on with the fast, including recipes, my quiet time revelations, and other stuff.  I'm happy to share this stuff with you, and I hope you all give me feedback!

Here we go!!

Peace... Love... and REgifted gifts

[Keish]