With This Ring

Withthisring.org

     To begin, I have to say, that this is not actually from or about me. If at any point you get distracted and put a little halo or think anything negatively please just exit this blog. This story is about being obedient to Christ. I know I am supposed to share this with you. I also know you may not have this same call, but I pray that God uses this blog post to encourage you to be obedient and to give sacrificially in Jesus name.
     Also, it is long, but I don't think anyone will be inviting me to write book anytime soon, so, I'm squeezing all the thoughts and struggles of a year in one blog.

This past summer my husband and I went on a mission trip to El Salvador with some friends of ours, the Empty Buckets. We went to dig a well with Living Water International.

One day I was searching on LWI's website and I saw a link to a website called WithThisRing.org. It is a website dedicated to spreading the love of Christ to the ends of the earth. People can donate their wedding rings or other jewelry to be auctioned off on WTR's website. The money is used to dig clean water wells in third world nations.

Right away God opened my heart and my eyes to know that this was a possibility for me. It was and opportunity God was handing me to live out my faith.

My husband and fellow Empty Buckets had been challenging each other and have been being challenged through scripture to be open to opportunities to give sacrificially. Also to simplify and to really live out loud what Christ has done and is doing in our lives and to share what he has blessed us with.

Being a stay at home mom, with no independent income, sometimes I don't really feel like I can give sacrificially. I do give of my time and possessions, but this really felt like a great opportunity. It felt like the Holy Spirit was saying, well.... If you really mean what you say, you DO have something YOU can give, if you are for real.

Honestly, it was quite a while before I told my husband about it. He was, as I knew he would be, very supportive and cooperative to the idea. As I said, we had been studying about radical giving together in our life group for a while. It has been in our hearts and in our minds for some time, that idea of radical giving. By the time I told him about it I was certain I wanted to donate my ring I just needed to know he was on board and would get me some other sort of wedding ring because I still wanted to look married of course.

I was thinking just a small simple silver band. One day while I was in the shower, the only place a mother can be quiet and think sometimes. It was almost like I got hit on the head with a moment of clarity from the Holy Spirit. Clear as day, and I have to tell you, most thoughts I have are foggy.  I knew that I didn't need just any simple band, I needed a cross. Because it isn't about me AT ALL. It is about CHRIST. I knew I needed a reminder of why I donated my wedding ring. I donated it to further the gospel and to sacrifice for Christ's cause. I donated it because having clean water saves lives in Jesus name, and through that clean water lives will be changed and souls will be saved. So, I hopped out of the shower and told E.J. immediately.

Remember how I said I needed to be sure, before I told E.J. Well, I have to tell you, I had honestly gotten to the point where I really felt like I would be being disobedient if I didn't donate it. I knew the opportunity was from Christ and I knew I was meant to take it.

It is AMAZING how God can change your heart! I'm not a total diamond hating monster, well to be honest, I almost am, but we'll get to that.

I remember not long after my husband and I started dating, we knew we were meant to be spend our lives together. We were shopping for an engagement ring and I picked out a descent sized gold sparkly diamond ring that I thought was a little over the top, but not outrageous. To be honest, he had been engaged before and for some reason, I knew how much he had spent, so I picked out a ring that I felt wasn't totally out of his range.

A few months later, we got engaged. I remember to this day, that night I woke up in the middle of the night and looked at my hand to be sure that ring was really on my hand and I was really engaged. I truly felt like a princess.

I was thrilled to have found the love of my life, and that ring meant to me that E.J. promised to love me forever. It put a certain value on our love, and I guess it felt like it put a certain value on me as a person too.

After I heard about With This Ring. I started thinking clearer and clearer. The well it self, that we dug in El Salvador cost $5,000. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS to give life saving, life changing clean water to sick dying people. Fourteen years ago, my ring cost about $2,000. I have no idea yet what WTR will get for my ring, but I know that it will go to Living Water International and as far as I can tell it is certainly a God blessed organization, and I was starting to consider the alternative.

The alternative seemed to be such a waste. Let's say I keep my ring and I die today or in 30 years. What will happen to my wedding ring? Someone will probably keep it and put it in a box somewhere. Best case scenario, when they come across it they have fond loving thoughts of me and are comforted by it.

I began to clearly feel like I had been given a gift. I had been set free from and earthly trap, a weight had been lifted off of my soul. I believe all that I have is Christ's. I want to personally sacrifice for the cause of the gospel and I have a descent amount of money sitting on my finger. Money which will probably be buried in the ground or thrown in a drawer somewhere. What a WASTE. I got that guilty feeling in my gut and I knew God had better plans for that money.

I seriously wasn't going to tell anyone, except my husband, I especially was not going to blog about it. Slowly God has revealed to me that he didn't want me to be obedient in secret.
First I told my mother, because her ring finger hurt and it was weird that sometimes mine did too. I was thinking that maybe mine just hurt because God was gently reminding me that I had unfinished business. I still had not donated my ring. She was supportive but was thinking maybe we both had arthritis in our fingers, so she bought us magnetic rings. I lost mine in El Salvador.

Just before Christmas I had finally found the perfect silver cross ring, so E.J. went with me to order it. It was $35 and I was in love. I was so excited to pick it up in a few weeks.

I still was content to keep my secret the night I picked it up. We went to our small group from church where we were studying a book on sacrificial giving actually, called "The Treasure Principle". Someone closed in prayer that night and said some things about how giving is not about us but a reflection of Christ in us. The Holy Spirit almost nudged me off the couch. It  became very clear to me that I was supposed to be a real life example of what we were studying. It wasn't just ironic that my ring was ready to be picked up on small group night, and that we happened to be studying about the topic of radical giving. The second whomever stopped praying, I quickly shared a tad bit of what God was doing in my heart.

A few days later having told no one else, but recalling telling our small group about the rings, I was just listening to the music on my phone through my car on shuffle. Just thinking about all sorts of things and wondering what God might have in store. A song came on called "Pass It on". Some of the lyrics are, "it only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That's how it is God's love, once you've experienced it. You spread his love, to everyone, you want to pass it on."

To me that meant God did not want me to be silent. I was supposed to pass it on, set the spark and he will keep the fire going. He has for centuries now and now is not a time to be silent. Christ is real and working in lives, he just wants us as Christians to be obedient.

Since I feel like I cannot clearly put two thoughts together, I have been writing this in my head since.

Last month, as I thought about Valentines Day. I was thinking about how I am such a sucker for love. I love love, and weddings and especially HUGE GESTURES of love.
It occurred to me that a wedding or engagement ring is sometimes one of the only huge gestures of love women sometimes get from their husbands, especially once they are married.

BUT if spending a few hundred or a few thousand dollars on a diamond ring is a huge gesture, then how much more of a gesture of love is GOD sending HIS ONLY SON TO DIE ON A CROSS for our SINS?!?! THAT'S HUGE! I am thrilled to look down at my ring finger and be reminded of that every day!

I am now just dreaming of a day where Christian women can feel secure in their marriages in Christ and stand up to our culture and let them know that we know better. (insert growing hate for diamonds). So much money is spent on diamonds, money that could be spent on children, children sick and dying of thirst, literally and spiritually.

Here's the thing. Materialism, of all kinds is a trap. It is also commonly accepted in Christian communities. The size of diamonds and rings in the Christian church is literally nauseating. I get that God has blessed them, and that's wonderful, but I don't think the idea was to bless people so they could spend money on shiny rocks that some how put a value on the women or their marriages or how much someone is loved. Some how those shiny rocks get us girls EVERY time!!!!

I know a lot of people recently married or getting married and I am not suggesting every one gets rid of their diamonds. I am not actually saying anything, it's just what God is prompting me to be obedient to. BUT I am praying for a movement or revolution of marriages. We need it don't we. I don't want to get into legal issues of marriage, I do not believe we need the government to be our moral compass. BUT I do believe if we as Christians want to have successful marriages we need to start with and keep CHRIST first. What if when a Christian got engaged they set aside a certain amount of money to give to some Christian organization. Living Water International puts a plaque on each clean water well. It could even have the couples name on it. Celebrating love can happen all sorts of ways, why not start with a commitment to love others, the way that we have been loved in the name of Christ. Why not celebrate what love can really do? It can literally save lives. God's love can save us from an eternity in hell apart from him.

There are plenty of stay at home moms feeling like they want to give sacrificially and just don't have much to give, financially or other wise. This whole wedding ring thing, really turned out to be a reminder of what GOD really wants from us, our HEARTS.

I pray that he has yours.
PEACE and LOVE friends. <3 LSL

I Will Wait

I know it's been a while and trust me I have had plenty going on and will have more to say. Tonight I just wanted to share a song in my heart.
I just left my Zumba class and somehow spent too much time loathing myself in the mirror again. That hasn't happened for a while. I really enjoy zumba, it for sure is my soulmate workout.
I haven't been very clean with my diet and I am feeling it.
I was feeling discouraged and at the same time trying to gain some momentum thru some good music on the way home. I have heard this song, "I will wait" by Mumford & Sons, a million times. But tonight it struck me differently.
Tonight it turned into a prayer. I know The Lord hears the cries of my heart and I pray that he will give me strength to keep my diet clean and my mind focused on him.

It's totally awesome to me how God can bring together all the thoughts, worries and current issues in my life that are going on all at the same time and lead me back to his arms <3 praise God!


And I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of darkness
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun

And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
That tethered mind free from the lies

But I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you


*Mumford and Sons

God hears amen wherever you are! And I love you! <3

LSL

Insanity Fit Test #2

So far so good friends!!!!

Today was my 12th Insanity workout. It was the fit test. I do count it as a workout because it kick my butt and I sweat buckets!!!

Fit Test results

ok first I'll give you the first test # then this weeks. Apparnetly, last time I forgot to write the Power Knees, but I wrote it in my note book,so we're all good.

1. Switch kicks 100, 103

2. Power Jacks 40, 46

3. Power Kicks 72, 90

4. Power Jumps 20, 30

5. Power Knees 72, 90

6. Globe Jumps 5, 9

7. Suicide Jumps 10, 13

8. Push Up Jacks 6, the first time but fell to the ground everytime, this time I decided I would start keeping track of how many girl pushups I CAN do instead of how many Push up jacks that i CANNOT do . :) so 27

9. Low Plank Oblique 18, 26

I am happy to see some improvement and I am down 7 pounds!!! yay!!!

I have a bootcamp workout tonight that I am totally excited about!! Then more insanity tomorrow!!

I hope everybody's working hard and having a great summer!!!

Peace
LSL <3

Insainty day 3 pushing thru

Ok, I don't plan on blogging about EVERY workout. I just had to share quickly a thought about today's workout. Today I did Cardio Power and Resistance.

I CANNOT YET DO A WALKING PUSHUP. I just can't! I tried and fell to the ground. However, I CAN do a pushup on my knees (girl style ish). I just wanted to encourage anyone who is as out of shape as I apparently am. I did not quit when I couldn't do something everyone else was doing, I just changed it up and as I get stronger I will do a regular pushup and then the walking kind.

Also, I had to change up the Power Squats. I can only do about 5 of those, so I stepped to the side and did a squat then to the other side and did a squat. I cannot wait till I can do them the way I'm supposed to but I'm not quitting and I hope you don't give up on whatever challenges you either.

Shout out to Biggest Losers Fitness Ridge and their staff for helping me beieve in myself and pushing forward. They helped teach me some moves like I stated above, whenever I couldn't do something exactly like the trainer. Progress not perfection is my mission. I am stronger than I think and I will reach my goals. You can too!

Happy Independence Day!!!

LSL <3

Insanity day 2

Today I did the second day of Insanity,Polymetric Cardio Circut. It was INSANE, really, I could have vomited. :) but in a good way.

It was of course really challenging, and I basically failed miserably, but I also kept my going and sweat like nobody's business. I couldn't keep up, of course and it was killer! I only spent one second though feeling like I was too fat to and out of shape to be doing it. Shaun T is a super great motivator and makes you thinkg you HAVE to keep going and you CAN do it. I know EVENTUALLY I will get stronger and do better. I want to improve and I will. I don't care if I have to do 10 sets of the 60 days.... I'm totally into it! I was sore this morning and almost skippd it. I'm so glad I didn't!

I do have to say I'm a little bit oddly exhausted today, not sure why, I am looking forward to going to see some fireworks with my guys tonight but I also feel so tired I could have gone to bed at 3pm. :/ I am contimplating taking something for energy. I thingk Jillian Michaels fat burner helped me with that some time in the past.

My diet was not perfect today and it won't be tomorrow either, although it was much better that the past few months have been. Tomorrow is the holiday and our first BBQ of the season. I won't spend the whole day eating like the end is near, but I will have a yummy meal and move on.

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

LSL <3

Insanity

Today I decided to get back on track!!! Weighing in at 227 pounds. That's up 13 from the BL contest I won this spring :/
I just completed the Insanity fit test. My husband is going to take it to his work to do with some guys there, so I plan on only doing it this week and then doing some P90X and still Zumba and running when possible. I still plan on doing the Insanity fit test every two weeks, I figure it will still be a good fitness gauge, instead of just using the scale.

So here are my 33 year old 227 pound results :) LoL by the way I love Shaun T! And he is teaching my 5 year old son how to be very encouraging ;)

Fit Test

1. Switch Kicks r,l=1. 50
2. Power Jacks. 40
3. Power Kicks. 72
4. Power Jumps. 20
5. Globe Jumps. 5
6. Suicide Jumps. 10
7. Pushup Jacks. 6
(fell to the ground every time:/)
8. Low Plank Oblique r,l=1. 18


Peace LSL

Trust GOD

I've been helping my mom at VBS this week at Bethesda Baptist Church. I have to admit, well I don't have to, but anyway, I wasn't really into it. Kind of been in a blah mood. I haven't been exercising, we're off our school year schedule and I had surgery last week. I have been eating bad.... equals.... BLAH and TIRED!!!

On top of all of that, my parents are trying to sell their house, there have been dog issues and my husbands Grandmother is not doing well health wise. Since I don't have much going on in my own life I stress over all of the worries and stresses in my loves lifes. Including my FB friends. There is A LOT going on out there friends. I know you know this.

BUT TODAY.......ok, well yesterday, I asked my FB frieds to pray and I know that they did. Because today, about half way thru I got a call from my brother, saying he and my sister in law could help out with one of my parents dogs. It was just the glimmer of hope that I needed I guess.

After that, I had a few incounters with some folks and I can't stop thinking about it, so I thougt I should just share.

I keep thinking about all of the souls working at VBS. It's AWESOME! Ok, and a little sad, well heartbreaking really, but AWESOME!

There are soooo many people there serving who have sooooo much of there own "troubles" happening, some things even DURING VBS. Heartache, stress, physical injuries or concerns,with themselves or close family members. Honestly, MOST of the people I could look around the building at, I know, or have heard of a current struggle. You know what is awesome though, is that they are there.They could have opted out of helping to focus on themselves, or to wallow, or to heal, or to avoid, but they didn't they CHOSE TO TRUST GOD.

For a few hours or for a week, they put aside their own struggle, and focus on the mission. Sharing Christ with our children. WHAT AN AMAZING BLESSING. Really I feel like I was given such a gift today witnessing the love of Christ. OVER and OVER today I heard, and these people serving heard,"TRUST GOD". I feel like they were there because they do trust GOD and are just trying to teach the children to trust God, but even though they didn't volunteer to recieve blessings from GOD or encouragement, I hope they are getting it, because it is there. GOD is there, and he wants them to trust HIM. When we do trust him he does AMAZING things and gives AMAZING peace.

My mom was teasing about that some today, because it was certainly something she needed to hear this week and I just love how it really is something I think everyone there needed to hear.TRUST GOD!

Also, there was a girl there, who I know of from our church, Harvest Bible Church. I don't know her name so I haven't said hi yet, but what a blessed suprise she was. It just made me so thankful for the CHURCH, the big c not the little c. She was washing dishes in the kitchen of the church that I grew up in, Bethesda, telling a lady about Hope 4 Western Wayne County, and I could have cried just because I love seeing God use his church. It's not about my church or your church. We are THE church, we are His people and I bet it made HIM smile today too. <3

TRUST GOD

LSL <3