My latest read, Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice was filled with lot of thought provoking concepts and information. I picked up this book at the local Christian bookstore and after I read the back cover, my curiosity got the best of me.
I am a computer nut, not so much in the technology field but for gathering information, resources and shopping. I love to research books, authors, follow blogs, ministries and more. I started out by being a closet blog reader (never leaving comments or being a public follower) I wasn’t ready to make myself public to the world or a broader base of people. That is why I didn’t jump on the facebook bandwagon after it came out. But about one year ago, I took the plunge and joined facebook and I have been hooked every since.
I am a person that thrives on my friendships and being around people. I love to talk to people face to face and over this past year as I have become more and more addicted to my facebook account, I started having a desire to figure out why this social network has such an appeal to me and to the other millions of people using it. So this leads me to this book….
Jesse did a great job of writing this book with illustrations of historical events that help us understand how certain things in history have changed our world. But I want to highlight in brief what stood out to me. His initial concept was the fact that people like facebook because they have the control of what people read and see about them. We have the ability to only post the BEST pictures of us and our status can be stated in a way that we trigger comments from friends that will encourage us and make us feel good. This is not a negative thing unless we are not being REAL in what we are trying to show our friends. He has many great stories and points but he concluded by stating that facebook is a new revolution that is changing the way community is lived, but that we need to display three key elements as we post on facebook and they are: be intentional – Jesus was intentional in the way he thought, spoke and acted in his personal life as well as his public life. So we need to live intentionally (with purpose) being aware of our thoughts, feelings and actions. Second element: show humility, Rice quoted Bruna Martinuzzi ; “something interesting happens, too, when we approach situations from a perspective of humility; it opens us up to possibilities, as we choose open-mindedness and curiosity over protecting our point of view. We spend more time in that wonderful space of the beginner’s mind, willing to learn from what others have to offer. We move away from pushing to allowing, from insecure to secure, from seeking approval to seeking enlightenment.” Rice speaks to this in the way we make judgments about people by what they post on their status or what pictures they post. We also do this by making comparisons to our facebook friend’s life experiences. The third element is authenticity. Authenticity as defined in Merriam-Webster is “not false or imitation.” One issue on facebook that has gotten much press on is the concern how people are misrepresenting themselves on their profiles.
So as Rice concluded in his book and my challenge to you is to BE REAL on facebook as you would with your face to face relationships and connections. That is my desire and that is what I plan to do as soon as I finish this. I NEED to go check my facebook page!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Unconditional Love
Last Wednesday, I posted this status on my Facebook profile, “today I am tired of Bryson having Diabetes.” It had been another one of those days when his blood sugars were crazy high and then crashing low. I was tired of being responsible, tired of worrying and just downright weary. As I have reflected over my feelings this past week I was reminded of a conversation I had with Bryson in July of this year.
Bryson and I were driving to town and we were discussing his upcoming transition to the insulin pump. I was trying to reassure him that this change would be much better for him because he wouldn’t have to have his four shots of insulin every day. He sat there quietly and then very boldly stated, “I wish I wouldn’t be Diabetes anymore, I wish Duke would take my Diabetes.” (Duke is one of Bryson’s favorite cousins. Because of Bryson’s speech impairment he is unable to pronounce her real name Jennilee accurately, so he nicknamed her Duke.) I sat there for a bit and my eyes welled up with tears, how do I respond to a statement like that? As a mom, how I wished I could take his Diabetes from him. I responded to Bryson by reassuring him that I also wish he didn’t have Diabetes but that God will help him through. As I continued to drive I thought about why he chose Duke as the person he wanted to take his Diabetes, I thought about their relationship. It was an unconditional, close, safe and loving friendship. In his childlike heart he trusted her with his life. To him she would always be there to love on him and care for him.
As I recalled that conversation this week, I had to remind myself of what I told Bryson that day, “God would help him through”. And I was reminded again that this is what our loving Heavenly father wants from me, he wants me to come to Him and say “God, I don’t want diabetes anymore, I want you to take my diabetes from me.” He wants me to have that unconditional, close, safe and loving friendship with Him. He wants me to trust him with my life. He desires for me to talk to Him daily, hourly, every minute, seeking HIM!! HE will be there. He will take that burden from me. He wants me to rest in Him and in the knowledge that HE will carry my diabetes, carry the responsibilities of being a mother or whatever struggle or obstacle I might be facing.
Lord, when I am weary, help me to claim your Word and rest in your presence knowing that you are there and you will provide for me all that I need!
Matthew 11:25-30 (New Living Translation) Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Bryson and I were driving to town and we were discussing his upcoming transition to the insulin pump. I was trying to reassure him that this change would be much better for him because he wouldn’t have to have his four shots of insulin every day. He sat there quietly and then very boldly stated, “I wish I wouldn’t be Diabetes anymore, I wish Duke would take my Diabetes.” (Duke is one of Bryson’s favorite cousins. Because of Bryson’s speech impairment he is unable to pronounce her real name Jennilee accurately, so he nicknamed her Duke.) I sat there for a bit and my eyes welled up with tears, how do I respond to a statement like that? As a mom, how I wished I could take his Diabetes from him. I responded to Bryson by reassuring him that I also wish he didn’t have Diabetes but that God will help him through. As I continued to drive I thought about why he chose Duke as the person he wanted to take his Diabetes, I thought about their relationship. It was an unconditional, close, safe and loving friendship. In his childlike heart he trusted her with his life. To him she would always be there to love on him and care for him.
As I recalled that conversation this week, I had to remind myself of what I told Bryson that day, “God would help him through”. And I was reminded again that this is what our loving Heavenly father wants from me, he wants me to come to Him and say “God, I don’t want diabetes anymore, I want you to take my diabetes from me.” He wants me to have that unconditional, close, safe and loving friendship with Him. He wants me to trust him with my life. He desires for me to talk to Him daily, hourly, every minute, seeking HIM!! HE will be there. He will take that burden from me. He wants me to rest in Him and in the knowledge that HE will carry my diabetes, carry the responsibilities of being a mother or whatever struggle or obstacle I might be facing.
Lord, when I am weary, help me to claim your Word and rest in your presence knowing that you are there and you will provide for me all that I need!
Matthew 11:25-30 (New Living Translation) Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Mindless Eating
I love to read and a friend referred me to this book and I just finished it this morning. It is called Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, PH.D. - Why we eat more than we think...
The book consists of research done by Dr. Brian at his lab. Some very amazing and interesting conclusions are talked about in this book. The main theme is the "mindless margin" This margin is the 100 more calories we consume daily mindlessly eating that will gain us 10 pounds a year and the 100 less calories we can consume each day by making some small changes in our eating to loss 10 pounds each year.
The average person has to makes over 200 decisions about food every day! Some we know breakfast or no breakfast, pop tart or bagel, kitchen or car.... but most of the decisions we cannot really explain.
I loved his quote that says "the best diet is the one we don't know we are on!" He states "to those who love food, a diet is pretty much 'die' with a 't' on the end! In fact, "diet" comes from a Latin words that means, a way of life."
I feel so consumed sometimes with all the decisions that I try to make each day to eat healthy. My desire is to have my diet just "be my way of life." If you are like me and have "dieted" all your life and struggle with losing weight, the idea of trying again to lose weight can be an overwhelming and depressing feeling. I found this book encouraging because it has simple and small ways that we can become more aware of that will help in this mindless margin.
He finished the book with a simple challenge of the Power of Three. Figuring out what three 100 calorie changes in your daily food routine would be the easiest for you to turn into mindlessly positive habits! It has challenged me to really think about what areas I consume those extra 100 calories that prevents me from successful weight loss.
This book is not about how to get fast and easy results like we all want. But as I believe in my heart but have to get in my head it is "a way of life" not a sudden and fast program. The more I work this into my life, these eating changes become habits and don't consume my every thought.
I encourage you to get the book or just to think of 3 situations/areas in your life that you could make a small change in how you eat and see what difference it can make for you!!
Blessings,
Lisa
The book consists of research done by Dr. Brian at his lab. Some very amazing and interesting conclusions are talked about in this book. The main theme is the "mindless margin" This margin is the 100 more calories we consume daily mindlessly eating that will gain us 10 pounds a year and the 100 less calories we can consume each day by making some small changes in our eating to loss 10 pounds each year.
The average person has to makes over 200 decisions about food every day! Some we know breakfast or no breakfast, pop tart or bagel, kitchen or car.... but most of the decisions we cannot really explain.
I loved his quote that says "the best diet is the one we don't know we are on!" He states "to those who love food, a diet is pretty much 'die' with a 't' on the end! In fact, "diet" comes from a Latin words that means, a way of life."
I feel so consumed sometimes with all the decisions that I try to make each day to eat healthy. My desire is to have my diet just "be my way of life." If you are like me and have "dieted" all your life and struggle with losing weight, the idea of trying again to lose weight can be an overwhelming and depressing feeling. I found this book encouraging because it has simple and small ways that we can become more aware of that will help in this mindless margin.
He finished the book with a simple challenge of the Power of Three. Figuring out what three 100 calorie changes in your daily food routine would be the easiest for you to turn into mindlessly positive habits! It has challenged me to really think about what areas I consume those extra 100 calories that prevents me from successful weight loss.
This book is not about how to get fast and easy results like we all want. But as I believe in my heart but have to get in my head it is "a way of life" not a sudden and fast program. The more I work this into my life, these eating changes become habits and don't consume my every thought.
I encourage you to get the book or just to think of 3 situations/areas in your life that you could make a small change in how you eat and see what difference it can make for you!!
Blessings,
Lisa
Monday, October 12, 2009
My precious Bryson
After I posted my precious entry, I was reminded that those of you who do not know me, do not know my story and don’t know what I am referring to when I talk about Bryson’s limitations. Let me give you a brief glimpse into Bryson’s journey!
Bryson was born January 29, 1998 and was diagnosed several days after birth of having suffered from a stroke. He had a blockage of his left carotid artery sometime between 3 -6 weeks before birth. This resulted in 76% of his left side of his brain, as one doctor stated so rudely, “dead and gone”. Bryson has a right side hemiplegia (weakness). He has limited use of his right hand, and his arm is a great helper. Bryson’s right leg is not as involved and with the help of braces started to walk at age 4. Bryson also has a speech impairment. He had intensive speech therapy for many years, and we worried about his ability to be able to speak in any understandable language at all. But those year of speech therapy paid off, we can’t get him to stop talking now. I call it the “Bryson dialect” once you know how he pronounces words you can understand him. He also has major learning disabilities. He suffered from seizures for the first years of his life and was very heavily medicated to combat them. Bryson has been seizure free and medicine free for about 5 years now and we stand firmly believing that God healed Bryson from Epilepsy. Bryson had another setback in 2008 when he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Why God, why Bryson? He has been through so much already, why something else? But through all of these challenges, my son has a desire for life, he doesn’t complain or cry, he just lives life to the fullest and is a friend to everyone he meets.
Over time, I hope to share in more detail our experiences of life with a special needs child!!
Bryson was born January 29, 1998 and was diagnosed several days after birth of having suffered from a stroke. He had a blockage of his left carotid artery sometime between 3 -6 weeks before birth. This resulted in 76% of his left side of his brain, as one doctor stated so rudely, “dead and gone”. Bryson has a right side hemiplegia (weakness). He has limited use of his right hand, and his arm is a great helper. Bryson’s right leg is not as involved and with the help of braces started to walk at age 4. Bryson also has a speech impairment. He had intensive speech therapy for many years, and we worried about his ability to be able to speak in any understandable language at all. But those year of speech therapy paid off, we can’t get him to stop talking now. I call it the “Bryson dialect” once you know how he pronounces words you can understand him. He also has major learning disabilities. He suffered from seizures for the first years of his life and was very heavily medicated to combat them. Bryson has been seizure free and medicine free for about 5 years now and we stand firmly believing that God healed Bryson from Epilepsy. Bryson had another setback in 2008 when he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Why God, why Bryson? He has been through so much already, why something else? But through all of these challenges, my son has a desire for life, he doesn’t complain or cry, he just lives life to the fullest and is a friend to everyone he meets.
Over time, I hope to share in more detail our experiences of life with a special needs child!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Limitations
The other night, Tyrell brought home a slip of paper from school about a cross county run for the elementary kids at Fairfield High School. This is a chance for elementary kids to get a taste of running one mile with the high school coaches. As he handed me the paper, Ty said “mom, I want to run this race with Bryson. The top 10 get medals and everyone gets a ribbon.” I thought this was really cool that Ty wanted to run with his brother, but I thought to myself, “does Ty understand Bryson’s limitations?” So I commented back to him that we should see if Trent and Tucker want to participate. Ty responded back quickly with “why not just with Bryson?” So I stated the obvious, I thought, to Ty by reminding him that Bryson would have a hard time running and finishing. Ty answered “that is ok, I don’t have to get a medal, and we would still get a ribbon.” Sacrifice and love all came gushing out of my sweet sensitive 9 year old son. He was willing to sacrifice a chance at a medal to run with his brother. Ty’s heart wanted to see his brother succeed. I think that Ty understands the fact that it really isn’t about winning, it is all about participating and finishing the race.
Bryson’s drive and determination for winning, really drives me crazy, because I see that he has so many limitations that will prevent him in so many areas of life to win. But as I think about this situation through Ty’s words, it probably really isn’t about winning to Bryson either; it is about having a passion and desire to do something. Maybe it is about looking past the obvious handicaps and hurdles and saying and believing “I am able to do this” and “I am important enough!”
Wow, how God teaches me through my children. As I look at myself, I see all my limitations, my insecurities, I see how I have let my thoughts and perspectives about myself handicap me and restrict my movement for the kingdom. Bryson doesn’t have any other beliefs but that someday he will play for the Fairfield football team, Notre Dame, and the Cubs. He hasn’t put limits onto his potential, he believes that he can do it all. So why am I putting God in a box? Why don’t I believe that I can do incredible things for the Kingdom with my life? Why do I tell God, that I would have a hard time running and finishing; that I am not good with words, so God, you can’t use me? I need to throw off all of the barriers and excuses that I think I have and go for the homerun; the touchdown of what God has in store for me in this life.
Below are some verses that I am claiming for my life as I journey towards living free in Christ!
Exodus 4:10-12 (New Living Translation)
10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation)
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (New Living Translation)
20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you,[a] through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen
Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Blessings,
Lisa
Bryson’s drive and determination for winning, really drives me crazy, because I see that he has so many limitations that will prevent him in so many areas of life to win. But as I think about this situation through Ty’s words, it probably really isn’t about winning to Bryson either; it is about having a passion and desire to do something. Maybe it is about looking past the obvious handicaps and hurdles and saying and believing “I am able to do this” and “I am important enough!”
Wow, how God teaches me through my children. As I look at myself, I see all my limitations, my insecurities, I see how I have let my thoughts and perspectives about myself handicap me and restrict my movement for the kingdom. Bryson doesn’t have any other beliefs but that someday he will play for the Fairfield football team, Notre Dame, and the Cubs. He hasn’t put limits onto his potential, he believes that he can do it all. So why am I putting God in a box? Why don’t I believe that I can do incredible things for the Kingdom with my life? Why do I tell God, that I would have a hard time running and finishing; that I am not good with words, so God, you can’t use me? I need to throw off all of the barriers and excuses that I think I have and go for the homerun; the touchdown of what God has in store for me in this life.
Below are some verses that I am claiming for my life as I journey towards living free in Christ!
Exodus 4:10-12 (New Living Translation)
10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation)
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (New Living Translation)
20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you,[a] through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen
Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Blessings,
Lisa
Friday, October 2, 2009
The beginning
God first gave me this vision/dream for Plugged in with Life this past January and I have been praying about it and not sure what to do or how to start it. A lot of different things have happened in the last several months and I believe the time is right to move on this dream and to start by making this blog public. I am not sure what all God has in store for me and this blog but I want to be faithful to what He is asking of me.
I am a major blog reader, but I am known as a closet blog reader and writer. I have several private blogs but have not gone public. So this is my first step forward and I invite all who read this to join me in my journey and pray that God will be able to bless you through what I write.
I am a major blog reader, but I am known as a closet blog reader and writer. I have several private blogs but have not gone public. So this is my first step forward and I invite all who read this to join me in my journey and pray that God will be able to bless you through what I write.
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