Like Breathing

One of my life long goals is to learn to think before I speak. It's good to have goals, right? It's even better if you can see progress. I can't say that I'm seeing a lot...

Sigh.

Another thing that I desire more than anything is to be considered a gentle person. Especially when you don't think before you speak, gentleness isn't always the most natural thing to fly out of your mouth.

As I mentioned here, I tend to be a complainer. The good news is, I'm realizing it more and more, so the likelihood of improving it is much more than it once was.

Here's what I would love. I would LOVE it if thinking before I spoke, gentleness, and gratitude were like breathing. Automatic. Something my body did on it's own with no effort on my part required. Ah, if only.

The good news is that I'm more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, so there is hope.

Recently, we were talking about 'dying to self' in life group. A man in the group said something really profound. He was saying that when we decrease, by our own strength, it kind of defeats the purpose. We have something to be proud about and even though we've decreased, it doesn't necessarily allow Christ to increase. Another man made this great point: when we are seeking more and more of Jesus, we begin to be filled by His spirit, and when we are completely filled by God, there is no room left for self. So the answer, as always, is surrender. Surrendering our desires, surrendering our plan and allowing God to fill. When there is more Jesus, by definition there has to be less me. Less me will get me a lot closer to the goal. More Jesus equals more self-control, gentleness and gratitude.

Among other things.

Isn't It Ironic?

It's so much more enjoyable to run with a friend. Even if it is at 5:30 am. Also known as dark thirty... We have strict rules though. No talking while running. Why? Thanks for asking. Because it takes complete concentration to not keel over, and if I lose my breathing rhythm, I also lose the ability to be alive.... So we listen to our iPods for the very short period of time while we are running, neither far nor fast. I usually go for the shuffle option and sometimes find it incredibley amusing which songs come up.

If God really is in the details, and I firmly believe that He is, then I will tell you right now: He has a sense of humor.

One day, I was seriously about to burst into flames. It was the only day that I actually ran in the middle of the day. And it was a scorcher. Right at the worst part of the route, an old alternative song that I used to LOVE came on. One of the lines that is repeated through out the song is, "Pardon me, while I burst into flames." It was all I could do to contain myself. If it wasn't for the fragile life or death situation I found myself in, I would have burst out laughing...

Then yesterday, we were running a different route and had gone the furthest we had gone up to this point. I really wanted to stop, but was trying to break into the record books by running over a mile. (That is huge for me, and just as a snarky aside, I'm convinced that people who run actual marathons are liars. I think they all go watch a movie somewhere and all agree to lie about the fact that they ran 26 miles. How in the WORLD is that even possible?!?!?!?) So back to me wanting, yet totally not wanting to stop... I'm seriously ready to cash it in and the song Run It comes on.

I also firmly believe that God can speak through anything, including Hip Hop music.

Thankfully, not far into the song, my partner-in-torture grunted or gasped or something signaling she was about to burst into flames, too.

So we stopped.

And that's the only reason I lived to blog about it.

Do you run? My apologies (and mad props) if you are a marathon runner. If they ever show a chic flick, let me know. Maybe I'll join you. :)

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Air Conditioning. God Bless You, Freon.

The movie, 27 Dresses. Especially when watching it with my sissy.

New friends.

Premier Jewelry.

My new dish washing apron.

Wearing my hair curly. Who knew?

Cherry Limeade From Taco Bell. Yum.

How Chloe knows h - p of the alphabet. She knows most of it, but she seems to enjoy h-p the most. Way too cute.

That my room is clean. It usually looks like a teenager lives there, but I opened a can of whoop-tail on it last week, and in an unexpected twist, I have managed to keep it picked up!

This song.

Southwestern Rice Salad

One of my favorite blogs for delicious recipes is Cooking During Stolen Moments. I've never made one of her recipes and regretted it. One of my all time favorites is this Southwestern Rice Salad. It is such a departure from the typical summer salads. If you're like me and are a little burned out on the classic potato and pasta salads, you will LOVE this!

Southwestern Rice Salad

• 1 can black beans
• 1 1/2 c. frozen corn, thawed
• 1 5oz. can diced green chilies
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
• 2 t. cumin
• 1 t. chili powder
• 1 t. salt
• 2 c. fully cooked brown or white rice
• 
  
• 1. In a large bowl, combine rice, black beans, corn and chilies.
• 2. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and seasonings. Add to the other mixture and stir to combine.
• 3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors start to develop.

Click here for a super yummy bean salad, and click here to see all the other great recipes at We Are That Family.