When life gives you lemons

Ever heard that saying, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"?  Or better, yet, my favorite one, "when life gives you lemons, throw them back and demand chocolate".  Yep, I will always say yes to chocolate.

There I was, four days after a doctor's appointment, hearing the words, "Yes, she tested positive for flu."  I wasn't surprised.  I was, in fact, the one who requested the test.  Seeing a loved one sick, though, does feel like receiving lemons when you want chocolate.

Social media was full of proclamations of sickness.  It was that "time of year", after all.  I wanted to post about daughter being added to the list of those who succumbed to the virus.  Look at me, my child is sick too.  I mean others were posting and requesting prayer, so it's okay.  Right?  Before you hound me about that, I love that we can turn to others via social media for prayer....in fact, my husband and I have founded a ministry that connecting in prayer through social media is a vital part of.

However, in this case, once again, I felt God leading me to another outlet.  If I just posted about my daughter having flu on social media, who would it benefit?  First of all, me--I would receive prayer and condolences.  Secondly, her--because she too would receive prayer.  Both of which are good, in and of themselves.  But, the one reading my post? Would he or she benefit? No.

So, I came to this blog.  You see, we as Christians are called to something higher.  People need to hear more about our God, than our problems.  Yes, my daughter has the flu.  But, my God is bigger.

When life gives you lemons, don't throw them back.  There's someone watching you who would gladly take your lemons.  There's someone fighting cancer when you're complaining of the flu. There's a barren person who would gladly take the child that you say takes too much of your "me time".  There's someone who would gladly walk in your shoes, imperfections and all.

So, here comes the heavy part.  You only thought it was getting deep before.  What about those lemons that are heavy to carry?  The loved ones that don't get healed?  The prayers that don't get answered?

Yes, I've had those too. I've watched my grandmother NOT get healed from cancer.  I've NOT gotten the job that I thought I wanted.  But, as a Christian, I need others to know that God is still great.  He is still on the throne.  He is still almighty, even when those lemons start to make life taste sour.

Often we hear, God will not give you more than you can handle.  This isn't true at all.  I believe this misunderstanding comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13, "...God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (KJV).  I think it's saying that God will help you.  He needs to be the One you turn to when things become more than you can handle.  The NIV version says that "He will provide a way out so that you can endure it."  Endure.  This means that you'll have to go through it, but you will get through it.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

That said His burden, not ours.  So, when life gives you lemons, cherish them, but don't hold on to them.  Give them to Jesus.

When God Says Wait

The other day, on the way home from work, I heard a familiar praise and worship song.  "Strength will rise as we wait up on the Lord".  I thought to myself, God, I want strength in You.  I felt the Lord speak to my heart, "Julie, that's not the most important word there.  The most important word there is wait."  At that point, I felt like Jacob did when he wrestled with the Lord.  You see God answers us in three ways: (1) yes (2) no and (3) wait.  That third one is definitely the hardest to hear.

The bible speaks time and time again about waiting on God.  In fact, the word, "wait" is mentioned over 100 times in the Bible.  Waiting isn't easy.  If you're like me, it's hard to sit still.  I want things done, and done yesterday.  Lately, God has been holding me back, telling me to wait, to stay in His presences and learn.  So, what happens when you wait?

When you wait, you are strengthened. Isaiah 40:31
When you wait, you shall run and not be weary. Isaiah 40:31
When you wait, you shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
When you wait, your heart will be strengthened. Psalm 27:14
When you wait, God will be your help and your shield. Psalm 33:20
When you wait, you shall inherit the Earth. Psalm 37:9
When you wait, you will find that your hope is in Him. Psalm 39:7
When you wait, He will be your defense. Psalm 59:9
When you wait, He will hear your cry. Psalm 40:1
When you wait, He will save you. Proverbs 20:22
When you wait, you will be blessed. Isaiah 30:18
When you wait, He will have mercy on you. Isaiah 30:18
When you wait, He is good to you. Lamentations 3:25
When you wait, He will hear you. Micah 7:7



Even though I'm waiting, I'm asking God to lead me in His Truth and teach me, for HE is the God of my salvation and in Him, I will wait all day (Psalm 25:5)  So, the next time that God tells me to wait, I will.  I might want to moan and groan before Him.  I might want to wrestle with Him.  But, I want all that He has for me.  So, when He answers with wait.  I will wait.  I will wait all day.

It's okay to rest.

"Run it out!"
"Clap it out!"

These are things I hear myself yelling when I teach REFIT®, especially after a very high intensity part.  Yet, that whole "live what I preach" is hard.

This past week, I had a fantastic time that was spent solely for ME.  I don't do that often, because I much prefer serving others and taking care of things.  Well, this past weekend, I had a blast attending a REFIT® function out of town, spending the entire day with friends, then a Super Bowl get together with family.  It.  Was. Fun.

And then Monday came.  You got it.  Everyone's favorite day of the week, right?  Monday hit me with sickness.  My body was screaming at me to rest.  Even one of my mentors (I don't think she even knows I consider her a mentor) told me to show down and rest.  I took the day off work.

I listened to my mentor, right? Nope.  Not this overachiever.  From my sick-bed, I did work for school, folded laundry, and spent the day marketing and making plans for the future of REFIT with Julie.

Is that bad?  I'd like to say no because I felt accomplished.  But, I also felt drained.  On a day that I was suppose to feel refreshed and rested, I felt drained!  Insert sigh here.  Insert that feeling of "Oh Julie, do you ever listen?"

Well guess what?  It's okay to rest.  There I said it.  I, personally, hope I'm listening to myself.

In the bible, Luke tells of a time when Jesus went to visit the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha.  Martha was busy being a host, cleaning house, cooking, waiting on Jesus.  Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus and listened.  I mean, it was Jesus after all, right?  Who was in the right here?  You know it...it was Mary.

So, in our lives and even in our fitness journeys, it is okay to rest.  I might yell, "Run it out".  You might "rest and repeat" or "walk it out".  All are okay and perfectly healthy in taking care of our physical bodies.

So, I challenge you.  I challenge myself.  When we want to push our bodies to the limits, when we want that high intensity workout, I challenge us to remember this: rest is good too.