Becoming an Angel can get a little rocky...

Recently this Savage Girl got engaged. In the midst of the engagement excitement, wedding planning, putting my house on the market to sale, job hunting, job application and resume building, the thoughts of moving and transitioning into married life, finalizing my current job, and simply general everyday life have needless to say become overwhelming for this Savage Girl. My head is spinning simply thinking about all these transitions and adjustments. I get butterflies just thinking about it all. I say a simple prayer to God to give me the strength, for understanding His plans for me, and His will be done.

Something that has helped me be at peace is on Sunday mornings at the Tompkinsville Church of Christ for the past couple of months I’ve been reminded of the great expectations God has for each of us. The memory verse has been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.  In this passage the prophet Jeremiah was writing to the entire nation of Israel to encourage them while they were in exile.  Yes, He has plans for us each but we must put our talents to work. We are each individuals but together collectively we can accomplish more. If you are in the area this weekend come join us for Friends and Family Day this Sunday, May 4 at 9:00 a.m. and see how your life and God can intersect. We would love to have you!

I am excited about all the future possibilities that are in my near future and the great works that together my future husband and I can do collectively for the Lord’s church in Coldwater, Mississippi. Great things are happening in Tompkinsville. Great things are happening in Coldwater. Great things are happening all around us and around the world. Are you apart of them?

Our life, our faith, and God’s plans intersect daily. We each simply need to rely on God and the Bible to balance everything that comes our way. I’m trying to balance everything now and stay committed to Christ in the midst of all the transitions going on in my crazy life. Are you?

Let the prophet Jeremiah remind us that it is not all about us, it might not look exactly like what we think it should sometimes, but we need to understand that God provides hope through His kingdom and a His promise of a future in heaven for those who obey Him. Please keep in mind I am writing these things not only to tell you, but to remind myself so that I keep my mind focused.  

All this talk about the future, great expectations and God reminds me of a recent happy moment. Whenever I think back to this day I get a big smile on my face and dream of my future on earth and how I now have a partner to help me get to my heavenly home in eternity. So I am going to leave you with my proposal from Clifton on the day I became his fiancée. (This is his recount of the proposal and my reaction in his sweet words.)   

Our relationship began AT the rocks.

At times it has fallen ON the rocks.

We have always had to lean UPON the Rock, Jesus Christ.

Because the Bible says "Two are better than one,"

And because you rock my world,

I bought you a rock.

[At this point, Lara was well in tears and said, "oh, you did?"]

{Pulls ring out and gets down on one knee and grabs Lara's left hand}

Lara Christen Savage, will you marry me?

[Her eyes were filled with tears and with a great big smile she began nodding her head and exclaimed] “Yes!!!”

Now I am one step closer to being an Angel because I said yes!  We will say “I do” in less than 76 days! I’ve got the Rock above, a Mr. Awesome rock by my side, the rock on my finger, the future honeymoon in the Rockies, and whatever life rocks that come my way. Whatever my future holds I am ready to take it on. I said “yes”.  Are you willing to say “yes” and hear the Word of God (Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:37), believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Savior (John 8:24; Acts 4:12), repent of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess Christ (Acts 8:35-37; 1 Tim. 6:12), and be immersed in water in order to be forgiven by the blood of Christ and enter the church (1 Pet. 3:20-21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41,47).

An update from the Savage Girl...

Well it has been a long time since I blogged! Too long to be exact. Life got to rolling right along and busyness overtook this Savage Girl. So I thought why not give you an update?!?!? So here it goes....

Here are 5 updates on the Savage Girl and her crazy life...

1. Today marks 6 months of being with an ANGEL! I'm truly blessed that God gave me him. I thank God often for Clifton. We have laughed together, cried together, had many ups and downs, got stuck in the mud and lived to tell about it, and tons of other mushy details I'll spare from blogging about.  
   
    
2. After hanging a few Christmas decorations to decorate and beautify our downtown area in November my back went into shock mode. A couple of back disc herniation's later, tons of pain, the addition of stress, multiple doctors visits, an MRI, and physical therapy...I am almost 100% healed. Hopefully at my upcoming appointment I will be released and given the OK to do whatever I want. Needless to say this Savage Girl has slowed down and tried not to act like Superwoman. Sometimes I still think I can conquer the world and do it all but I try to take it easy and wisely plan out my options so I don't re-injure myself. FYI the decorations looked great by the way...see below ;)
   
3. I could really use your help. I'm requesting prayers for my family. Cancer has made a reappearance in my family. My dad, grandmother, and cousin-in-law are all battling the big C right now and could really use your thoughts and prayers. My sister is doing great...she has been cancer free for three years now!
   
4. Lucy has been a member of my family for 8 months today. She is still my precious bouncing bundle of joy! There is never a dull moment in the Savage Girl's house with Lucy around... 
   
     
5. Last but not least...here is an update on my weight loss journey. The scale inched up a little during my back injury and the holidays. I'm not happy to report this, but all I can do is start making small changes to get back in the swing of things. Once I get the OK from the doctor I will start back with my normal exercise routine of walking Lucy daily and the wellness center for water aerobics and the workout room. I still would like to lose about 20-25 more pounds, so we'll see what happens over the course of the next few months as I get back into my routine. 
   

Until next time...

Love, 

Lara

Savage Girl Updates and My "New Year" Mindset

Where do I begin this blog post? Oh there are so many things to tell and update you on! This Savage Girl has been busy and hard at journeying through life the past few months. I didn't take the time to post and tell you about the Savage Life. Sorry followers for not keeping you up to date! 

2013 ended with some new additions and changes in my life. 

First, I added Lucky “Lucy” Savage to my household this summer. She is a bouncing bundle of joy that provides endless hours of companionship and outpouring love. My daddy sure picked up an awesome little dog in the Brimstone Community. 

Next, I have learned I need to slow down a little and enjoy rest and relaxation. I am constantly on the go doing this or that. Over six weeks ago my back started giving me trouble at work. I tried to push through the pain and keep going because that is all that I had ever known, but to no avail it just seemed to get worse. This Savage Girl is learning that rest and relaxation are needed within life and are not just recommendations! I ended 2013 yesterday visiting a specialist in Cookeville and he reaffirmed this to me with his “prescription” for the next six weeks.  Please pray for me on this endeavor!  

Last, but certainly not least, I added an “Angel” Guy to the Savage Girl life. My change in life status is now “in a relationship” according to social media. LOL. It is my hope that he will be a permanent addition! I am proud to say that Clifton is my best friend and he completes me in every way possible. He is an amazing spiritual leader, encourager, and an inspiration to me. In the short six months I have known him I have learned that sometimes life might throw you a few curve balls and the road might get a little muddy or rocky. His philosophy is not to give up! He is also helping me realize that slowing down is a requirement to enjoy life…not an option. I cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store for this Savage Girl and Angel Guy.    

I started this blog last year thinking about the Godly woman God wants me to be and thinking about His plan for me. I want to revisit this today since 2014 is now upon us. I enjoy my life being a follower of Christ, daughter, sister, friend, county agent, and life-long learner. I make it my daily guidepost and life purpose to be the best that I can be and do what God intends for me to do with peace, joy, and thanksgiving. I make my fair share of mistakes along the way. I am not perfect, so I ask for your forgiveness and God’s forgiveness and mercy whenever I make mistakes and have roadblocks along the journey.  I have my eye on the end prize and ultimate gift…heaven! My ultimate goal is to one day get to heaven and be surrounded by family and friends. 

This Savage Girl has the daily goal to: 

1. Put God first.
2. Focus on my current family while building the foundation of my future “family” through building a strong relationship built on God, Love, Respect, Trust, and Loyalty
3. Continue to build relationships within my work community all while increasing productivity through efficiency, organization, and collaboration in order to build a strong family and consumer science program that will help others through life-long learning. 
4. Have a servant attitude and give back to others. 
5. Make healthier lifestyle choices to improve my overall health and well-being.

My life is nowhere near perfect; it is crazy and hectic with lots of love thrown into the mix of God, Family, Work, Service, and Health along with tons of other things that change my path along the journey. It is my hope this year to keep my mindset and have a spiritual focus. I want to strive hard this year to take time to reflect on God and His love, His gift of Christianity, and His second coming that is one day in the future when we least expect it. Where is your mindset this year? 

May God bless you and your family in the upcoming year!  

Savage Girl Life Reflections

Tonight I have been thinking about how crazy and stressful my life has been over the past few weeks. So guess what?!?! I blog to take my mind off of it. You might be asking why in the world is this girl stressed. So let me explain. First, I know I brought this all upon myself because I said "yes" to many people and things over the past few weeks. I didn't have the heart to say "no" because I wanted to see everything happen that was thrown my way when I was asked to be involved. Second, I guess I thought I was superwoman or something like that! LOL

All this thinking got me to reflecting on the council and advice of the wise dear friends that have been my cheerleaders and my "angel" over the past few weeks. So I thought I would share with the Savage Girl blogging world because you might be struggling with the same addiction to saying "yes" when you should be saying "no" or "maybe" at another time. In no particular order here are some of the wise things that others have been telling me to help me along the past few weeks in order to survive the storm of craziness when "A Savage Girl Meets Life"...

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they have faith."

"Ordinary people change lives and bring out the best in others..."
 
"Take a deep breath and everything will be OK."

"Life. It is what it is. You cannot change it now. Simply take it one step at a time. Work on the important things first and start marking them off the list one by one. Leave the unimportant things for another day. They will be there when you get back."

"Rome wasn't built in one day."

"Build Bridges. Collaborate and partner with others. Find those within your circle who are experts. Seek them out and ask for help where you fall short."

"Don't forget to delegate."

"You may not always understand why God allows certain things to happen but you can be certain that God is not making any mistakes."

"Smile. Chin up. Everything will be OK!"

"Keep your eye on the cross because we are saved by the power of God. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" 1 Corinthians 1:18."

And a little advice from me...(Please KEEP in mind I NEED to do more of this!) "Take time to kick your feet up and enjoy the moment."

 

And...last but not least let me personally add that when life throws you on the rocks and the climbing gets tough do not forget to be thankful first to God and second to those dearest and near to you! God will not give you more than you can handle at one time. So take time to whisper to God, give him the praise and glory, and ask for His council and guidance. He in turn will give you peace, guidance, and understanding in the mist of the storm.

The Bull and Thistle Take 2

Friends, food, fellowship, and fun are must haves for any girls day out...plus a little pit-stop at The Bull and Thistle! Last week a few friends and I traveled to Gainesboro, Tennessee to partake in a culinary experience like no other! My original intention and goal for the visit to Gainesboro was actually to go to my all time favorite dentist Dr. Driver for my six month dental cleaning. HA! But while in the area I knew I wanted to make a stop at one of the best restaurants around, so I extended the invitation to a few friends. Trust me...there was plenty of shops to keep them busy while I got my pearly whites polished and the small wait would be worth the awesome food! We decided to make it an all afternoon and evening affair to celebrate their birthdays! We even found a little time for pedicures and shopping :)

I like to think that the restaurateurs of this little "Celtic Irish" eatery had Proverbs 24:3-4 in mind when they had the vision for its creation. "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." The Bull and Thistle is a rare "diamond in the rough" type of place that has something for all ages along with friendly service and an awesome cozy atmosphere. It is filled with rare, beautiful, and tasty dishes. Check out my blog on my first visit to The Bull and Thistle if you haven't already read the post about why I think it is so great!

So if you have not already made the drive to this small community you must! If you locate Cookeville, Livingston, Carthage, Lafayette and Celina, Tennessee on the map the dead center is Gainesboro! If you visit be prepared to make frequent trips back!

Here is what we ate...

BLT...my friends each got this sandwich for lunch and I heard no complaints... 

Steak Sandwich...my sandwich...delicious! The fries were AWESOME!

Courtney's very chocolate dreamy dessert! 

Bananas Foster Crepes...my dessert was fantastic! It was my favorite thing that day at The Bull and Thistle :) But what girl doesn't love desserts! 

Strawberry Shortcake...Alisa was in heaven! 

The Birthday Girls and the Savage Girl! 

Now, stop reading my blog if you haven't been to eat at this restaurant yet. Make your reservation to visit The Bull and Thistle by calling (931)268-7170. Who knows I might see you there!  Keep in mind that food is not everything in life. The Savage Girl might talk a lot about yummy dishes and great places to eat but you also need to remember to "taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" Psalm 34:8. Let me know if you have any questions about God, Family, Work, Service, or Health...basically anything in LIFE. I might not know 100% of the answers but I know a great book that does!

smALL Things!

The past few weeks and days have been super busy, but that's the Savage Life! This week the Monroe County Fair is going on, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is visiting Tompkinsville today, and my Weight the Reality Series program started yesterday. Needless to say life is full speed ahead, so here is a quick update on the Savage Girl... 

• I've tracked my DAILY food and physical activity since my last posting using my WW app on my mobile device! 
• I've made a point to MOVE more and DIG deeper. So far this week I've moved 60+ minutes each day since the last posting and I've spent the majority of that time letting His word talk to me while I've been moving at the gym. I'm a couple of weeks behind on my daily bible reading because I've been super busy and my daily devotional email reminder stopped coming (sad), BUT I think I'm about caught back up to where I should be if I was still within the plan to read the Bible in a year. According to my Kindle app I'm 50% through the Bible now! My goal is to read it cover to cover this year... Tomorrow I'm going to try to get back in my daily DIG routine of letting His word talk to me before my feet hit the ground. If only I could get motivated to get up early and MOVE before work. I'm still working on this one, but for now my MOVEment comes after work!  
• I've not ate anything after 8:00 p.m. since the last posting! I'm a sucker for late night snacks, so this has been hard! 
• 35 people signed up for the WTRS program I'm conducting, 30 showed up the first night...and collectively lost 35.6 pounds since they registered last week! 
• The only 3 beverages I've consumed in the last few days have been water, coffee, and green tea. I cut out carbonated beverages (my Diet Coke addiction) something like 6 months ago! I read somewhere that green tea helps with weight loss, diabetes control, heart disease prevention and much more, so maybe my consumption will help ward off my extra baggage and prevent diabetes & heart disease from entering my life.
• I'm currently caught up with my daily work record keeping...thanks to a co-worker's advice on a new book idea to record my statisticals prior to my end of the month reports.

Everyone should celebrate ALL the smALL successes in life no matter the size...right? This has been my motivation for the last 6+ months...smALL life things hence the blog!    

Anyways this is enough ramblings for one day! Now off to my day job...please pray that I can get my creative juices flowing quickly this morning because I'm going to need them! 

Sources of graphics: 

http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/originals/e6/98/e5/e698e54e7b073a44a6b65938cc680f13.jpg

http://pinterest.com/pin/383509724488814649/

http://living4zachary.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Ella Mae's Top 3 Tips for Living a Long Successful Life

Today I got the privilege of celebrating Ella Mae's birthday after morning worship services. Ella Mae is 98 years young this week and she is such an inspiration to so many. I first got to meet Ella Mae at church almost four years ago and since then I have enjoyed many meals at her house on Sunday afternoons. She loves sweets, so when I get in a baking mood she gets a few treats from my kitchen. If she had her way she would eat dessert first and skip all the vegetables. In hopes of gaining a little knowledge and wisdom from Ella Mae I asked her for her secret to living a long life. I know the Savage Girl could use a little knowledge and wisdom so I listened carefully to her talk and reminisce about the secrets to living a long life. So to summarize her tips and pointers for all of us "younger generations", here are Ella Mae's Top 3 Tips for Living a Long Successful Life:

1. Enjoy life.
2. Keep going no matter what.
3. Word hard.

 

Her tips were simple and sweet but so true and from the heart! A little food for thought...Ella Mae grew up in the country, then she married a farmer, and she claims that she never really went anywhere or did anything but farm, enjoy the simple things in life, and work hard laboring in the fields until she was in her later years. In her later years she moved to town and began to travel seeing places, people, and things around the community, county, state, and occasionally outside of Kentucky. When Ella Mae said everyone should "keep going" she was meaning that we should keep traveling and seeing places, but I also believe that she meant that we should never give up no matter what adversity or challenges that we might come across in life. Ella Mae is a "go getter" with lots of fire and spunk within her small frame and she is not afraid to speak the truth whenever needed.

 

We all could use a little Ella Mae in our life! I challenge you to find your own Ella Mae. Stop and ask questions about his or her life. Listen to the stories. Then be open and willingly apply something you learn within your daily life. There is wisdom and knowledge out there, but we need to seek it out and find it amongst the golden diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald generations who are waiting to tell us a few stories when we give them a little of our precious time. Unplug from your crazy life and go visit your own Ella Mae today, because a little dose might be the best medicine you receive all day!   

3 Things I Know for Sure (That You Should Too!)

For the Savage Girl the past few days have been in rewind. I have been doing a little reflecting over the past four years since my anniversary being a FCS County Extension Agent is today. I would not be where I am today without a little heartache, the exhilarating experiences, the tough moments, and the daily grind. What keeps playing in my mind is that the past is to make you better not bitter!

One of my goals this past year has been to be positive since I am so richly blessed! I am so thankful for the intervention of the man upstairs in my life and the challenges He has tested me with when things were tough and hard to bare at the moment. I would not be where I am today if not for Him! I would not have gotten to meet such great new people that have made an impact in my life and have helped me grown into the young woman I am today! I do not know what the future holds, but as I hit play on my life again I am going to try to remember the following things since these are three things that I know for sure and I think you should know them too!

1. Our goal should be eternal happiness. Yes, worldly happiness and physical happiness are awesome and great but sometimes we can be too caught up in the moment that we forget what our real prize in life should be. We should keep our eye on the prize <<<getting to heaven one day>>>! If we have God on our side then everything else will fall into place. We will make it to heaven one day if we follow His will and direction for us. If we choose man’s will and the temptation of the world then we might fall short of our goal and true success in life.
2. We all need encouragement, pats on the back, and genuine appreciation from others. As a Christian, young professional, daughter, and sister sometimes I still need advice, help, teaching, corrective criticism, and positive reinforcement! In addition, I am sure you do too! If we are honest with ourselves, we should admit that we cannot do it all and that we do not know it all. Sometimes we need others to help us see our strengths and weaknesses and then give us encouragement on how to be better instead of bitter on the curves we have been given. So if you are reading this post then be an encouragement to someone else and build relationships instead of breaking them up. If you are on the receiving end of this encouragement willingly accept it and be thankful that person is willing to make your business their business. God told older women in Titus 2 to be teachers to younger women. All it takes is one kind word and advice from a respected individual to change ones outlook in life. If you are on the hearing end of the advice...even though you might not want to hear it at that moment...LISTEN, mull over what was said, and try to take what you heard in a positive manner since the other party is doing this act out of LOVE for you.        
3. Ok, so you might have failed, now what? First, keep in mind you might fail again! But don’t let this discourage you, because we all do. Keep the words of Zig Ziglar in mind, “Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker”. You can always ask for forgiveness and learn from past mistakes, but you have to turn from that mistake and try not to commit it again. Jesus blood continuously washes us white as snow once we take him on in baptism for the remission of our sins, but we have to ask for forgiveness and continue in God's word walking in the light and being faithful unto death since the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32, Hebrews 10:23-39, Revelation 3:3, 19-22). If you want to change your ways there is an easy plan to follow...God's plan. 

In conclusion, use your past experiences and memories of yesterday to make you a better person that is not bitter. Learn from your past and do better in the future as you walk throughout your journey. Let your hair down, wear no make-up, and be you for a moment! Who knows the end result might just be a beautiful snapshot in time capturing the true essence of who you truly are?

Learning From a Special Lady...

It has been an historical week to say the least. Tornadoes ripped through the state of Oklahoma. An innocent soldier was murdered in broad daylight in London. Millions of insects called cicadas have begun to emerge from the ground to serenade us throughout the summer. A new grocery store opened up in a small town promising lower priced groceries. A committee of seven ladies finalized plans on a summer concert series. A former co-worker moved on with a new life opportunity while leaving behind a vacant agriculture and natural resources county agent position in a small rural county in Kentucky (the job will be posted soon). A small group of dedicated individuals participating in a program called Weight the Reality Series continue to lose weight and make healthier life choices in order to have better bodies. A friend decided to move and transition into a new town to be closer to her work. And on a more personal note...my "Savage Life" continues. I have come to realize even more now than ever before that I cannot do it all, so I say a little prayer for God's guidance and my personal sanity. I put a smile on my face and attempt to manage one thing at a time on my to do list.

Now that I have had a chance to step back and reflect a little over my week it is kind of ironic that this week I have been reading about a special lady that overcame many obstacles! I am trucking right along with my daily bible readings and this week I have been reading about a lady that had courage. She followed God and His will for her in order to help her friends and family. She had faith and courage despite the obstacles that were thrown her way. Here are some applications that I think we can observe from this special lady.

1. Sometimes we need to stop and thank God for helping us overcome obstacles, trials, tribulations, and evil that is around us. We need to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak and be thankful for all the blessings that come our way no matter their size, shape, or situation. Life might not make sense now but God has a plan for your life just like he has a plan for my life.
2. Sometimes we might be placed into situations that we necessarily do not want or desire for ourselves, but instead of harboring on the sour situation we need to add a little syrup and make lemonade out of the lemons that life throws our way. We need to understand there is a purpose and we might not understand it now, but one day all the puzzle pieces will fit together perfectly because someone else with more powers is designing our life and we just get to play a small part in the process. 
3. Taking risks is a part of life and we must be willing to take the risks that come along in life in order to gain something greater. Some of the best things sometimes come when things are unknown. The lady I have been learning about this week was willing to go before a powerful king without his permission. She was willing to risk her life for her friends and family because she did not have anything else to loose.  
4. There are times we need to pray about things, seek a Godly counsel and wise advice from others, and then there are times we need to simply wait a while and have patience. But when the courage comes we need to move forward, step out of our comfort zone, and have faith in God's plan for us. The lady I was studying trusted in God and she saved a nation. She was willing to risk it all, but when we are like this special lady others will want to be like us. Others will look to us as an example, for answers, and for help. We need to be humble enough to acknowledge that we do not know it all and that answers can be found when one seeks the one and true God who knows it all.  

If you have not already figured out my special lady was Esther and we can learn much from her in the short ten chapters about her life in the Bible. So tonight when I say my prayers I am going to ask God what He wants to do through my life. Let us each remember that God put each of us on this earth where he wants us to be and for a particiular period of time. Let us have faith in His timing and will.

5 Things I Was Reminded of This Week

This Savage Girl has had another busy week, but in the mist of the busyness I was reminded of a few things about life. Christians (like me) should take time to reflect and allow oneself to be taught a few life lessons by those people we come in contact with on a daily basis. Learning is lifelong but one has to be willing and accepting of new ideas and teachings throughout the lifespan whether it is in a formal or informal setting. I believe that you're never too old to learn something new! Whenever you stop learning then you become stagnant and that's when dysfunction, complacency, and acceptance of how things have become begins to occur. We need keep our eyes and ears open to life's situations and be accepting of the lessons whenever we encounter them.

 Here are the top five things I was reminded of this week:

1. People are always watching you whether you realize it or not! Set your best foot forward and be a living example to them. You might be motivating them or encouraging them by your actions and not even realize it! Or you might be someone’s biggest stumbling block. Choose your actions and words carefully because there are eyes and ears everywhere!
2. Show appreciation and encourage others. If you like what someone has done then tell them about it! Don’t forget to tell someone they are doing a good job if you appreciate what they are doing. Be honest! Sometimes it is nice to know you are appreciated and your efforts are being noticed! Show people a little love and appreciation by helping them realize they really are helping make a difference no matter how minuscule or ginormous the project or task at hand is. All it takes is a kind word of thanks whether verbally, a simple written message, or a small gift as a token of appreciation to show you are encouraged or appreciate someone.
3. Don’t let anxiety over come you. Practice patience and self control and try not to be anxious. Sometimes this is easier said than done! Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Then in Matthew 7:7-8 we are told to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Basically we are told here to ask God via prayer. We need to remember to not give up, but to ask Him and He will help us seek and find an answer! If we have our priorities in line then our focus should be first on God and everything else will fall into place.

 
4. Text messages and emails are impersonal but face-to-face interactions and or personal phone calls can make the difference in someone’s day. Try it! To go a step further…a hug, a visit, a hand shake, or a kind word of encouragement also works wonderfully. This is a way of life that everyone should try again sometime if you haven’t in a while due to our fast-paced world that we live in. I strive to do more of this daily, but I understand that I cannot do it all, so I am taking it a few baby steps at a time.
5. Things do not always go as planned. Go with the flow of life whenever something goes wrong with your plan. Expect it. Understand that it is part of life. Continue on with life and handle it the best that you can.

 

Maybe these reflections will help you refocus this weekend and help you remember those things that you might have forgotten in the past few weeks and months like I have. Keep your focus on the things that really matter in life and revisit them often so you can keep your life priorities in line. Life is a choice, how you live it is your option, and only you will be accountable for your actions to God.    

Blessings & Thanksgiving After a BUSY Week

I survived this week! YAY! You might be asking, “Why in the world is this chick celebrating a ‘week’ and being able to survive it?” Well it has been busy for the Savage Girl lately and I had my doubts on getting through it! It seemed like everything I came in touch with this week ended on a positive note so I thought I should express my blessings and thankfulness. FYI, even if it had not of ended so positively, I should still be thankful because I have life! Here are just some of the things I have managed to accomplish in this workweek:

1. Monroe Monday Radio program with Randy & Jon
• Side note…It was pointed out to me that I promoted my new healthy lifestyle Weight the Reality Series program and then invited people to the Derby Breakfast. YES, I know this is an oxymoron “Let’s get healthy on Tuesday and then eat a huge breakfast on Saturday”…LOL, but it was what was happening this week so please forgive me if you tuned in on the radio and heard my ramblings.  Eating is all about portion control and is how I have lost 50 pounds!   
2. Attend and preside over a few committee meetings
3. Presented Weight the Reality Series—Week 1 to 35 participants
4. My monthly reports
5. Attended a quarterly early childhood council meeting
6. New business ribbon cutting with the chamber of commerce…attending this allowed me time to squeeze in a little consignment shopping and I got a few great deals
7. Prepared to present a small very part at a statewide FCS in-service
8. Substitute taught the teen girls class on Wednesday night
9. Help host a community Spring Fling
10. Help coordinate a large event, the Derby Breakfast, which the Extension Homemakers in my county host each year.
11. Somewhere in the middle of ALL that above…I still managed to work out three times!
12. I also got to attend my monthly book club meeting.
13. In addition, I participated in an impromptu girl’s night with friends.  

Tompkinsville Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at New 2 You.

It's my new favorite store in T-ville! 

A few of the hard working committee members of the Spring Fling event. IOU guys! Thanks!

 



Don't ask me why put I never made a photo of the entire committee today! Stupid me...I'm a bad agent :( Here are two of the club members hard at work serving and making sure the food was replenished.  We had many other helpers, but the blog couldn't hold all the photos! This event would not have been possible without the Sunshine & Old Rocky Hill club members! Thank you!   

 

What is Derby Day without a Derby Dress & Derby Hat?!?

FYI this was one of my new finds at New 2 You this week!  



I could not have done all this without a great support system. I am thankful first to God for giving me the strength, the patience, and the willpower to conquer this week! Second, I am thankful for my awesome co-workers…mainly my administrative assistant since she was my lifesaver this week on multiple occasions! I even managed to squeeze in a little birthday surprise for her on Thursday in the midst of a very busy day. She got many phone calls thanks to one little hidden post! This Savage Girl didn’t want her to be all alone on her birthday…Third, I am thankful for the great committees I worked with this week. We can do awesome things and coordinate huge events when we collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and be willing to try new things! Fourth, I am thankful for my family. They are always there whenever I need them whether it is a phone call, email, text, or visit. They always seem to have the exact supplies, encouragement, or advice I need at any given moment. AND somehow my dad always knows when my yard needs mowing! Lastly, I am thankful for my Christian family. After a long day, somehow Christian brothers and sisters know how to uplift you when you need it most.

I am truly blessed! Glory be to God for all these blessings! Without Him none of these blessings and accomplishments would have been possible this week or any other week. Sometimes we just need to take a moment and reflect as I just have done above for God’s blessings. He helps channel and flow blessings into our lives daily via our family, parents, brothers and sisters, friends, mentors, community leaders, fellow Christians, and many others. Take time to praise and thank Him in prayer. I know sometimes I get in a rush, but it truly is a better day if I squeeze this in there around all the mayhem going on.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Proverbs 28:20 says, a “Faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

We each probably should look at our individual lives and take note of what motives us. We should also note what situations we put ourselves in by the choices we make. If our priorities are wacky then maybe we should consider making a few changes. Sometimes it is our life priorities that might cause us to make a wrong choice or bad decision, which ultimately causing us to sin. God has a plan for us each and we all take different paths to achieve the end result. My goal is to get to heaven, so I am going to continue praising God, thanking Him, and asking for His forgiveness when I fall short of His Glory. What is your goal?      

My thoughts on "Muscle and a Shovel" by Michael Shank

The congregation where I attend church collectively over the past few months has been reading the book “Muscle and a Shovel” by Michael Shank. I started the book with everyone else, but like my blog talks about…life…yes it happened to me...and I put other activities and books ahead of “Muscle and a Shovel”. I let procrastination get the best of me but I finally was determined to conquer the book today before our big “Muscle and a Shovel” Sunday at church! I was on a mission to read or else I was going to stay up all night to get it done. I spent a few hours this afternoon and a few hours after dinner getting this accomplished. This awesome book is a true story about the author and how God used his co-worker to lead him to think deeply about his believes and question everything that he knew about religion. Within the book, the author tells his compelling story of how he comes to understand the truth through reading his Bible and how he and his wife became Christians through digging deep into studying the word.

I am hoping that within my life I can be more like the co-worker in the book! Sometimes we get scared when it comes to religion and then just do not say anything at all to others. This book logically outlines the church of the New Testament and what individuals must do to become part of the body of Christ. The book shows us how scriptures within the bible can be used to change lives forever by simply starting the conversation with a few questions and following it up with your beliefs backed by scriptures. An underling theme in the story for those who are already Christians like me is to dig deeper and really understand the full message of the Bible so that you can answer questions about your faith whenever asked.

The author points out that reading the bible is not for the lazy and weak because it takes a muscle and a shovel to really understand the message.  I love how the author explains the importance of a muscle and a shovel are: “Mental” muscle and a willingness to use “honest intelligence” (the metaphorical shovel) to dig deep beyond all of our preconceived ideas, our false beliefs, and our comfortable traditions. Studying the Bible takes muscle and a shovel. (p. 190-191). I know within the last year I have been trying hard to dig deeper and study the scriptures more myself, so I leave you with the same challenge and the challenge the author gave…study. Do not believe what others have always taught you or what you have always heard…study. Actually, open the Bible and dig deeper and investigate it for yourself.  

Shank, M. (2011). Muscle and a Shovel. Lightning Source Press.

http://michaelshankministries.com/

The Game of Life

Since I am in a healing process of sorts and trying to stay positive about life and not do something irrational and negative that I would regret later I have decided to open up more and reflect some on my blog. I am human and have thoughts that need to be expressed, so friends do not call me crazy...call me a work in progress...trying to heal. Blogging is the easy part, facing the new reality and not doing something irrational and negative is proving to be hard.

But on a serious note, as humans, we have grown accustomed to having everything readily available at a moment’s notice. We have been raised by our parents and today’s society to have instant access to almost anything and everything we possibly could ever want with almost no questions asked. Within our instant society also comes the idea that we can have the “best of both worlds”. But really can we have it all…?

• Enjoy cake and ice cream every day without feeling guilty and having the possibility of gaining a few extra pounds
• Have a great body without having to work out and put forth effort to maintain it
• Have a great life and not have to face the reality of situations that might hinder us from achieving what we want
• Call or text to stay connected & show you care…all just because you want someone to feel better after you break the connection…maybe after a period of time & healing…
• Get up early & get work done and to stay up late & have fun with your friends 365 days of the year
• Have a cool fast car with all the luxuries and great fuel efficiency within ones spending plan
• Have a high salary and time off from work whenever we want it
• Enjoy independence & freedom yet have a deep connection with a member of the opposite sex while maintaining the status quo of everything just like it was before 
• You name it…???
• Last but not least…Be a Christian (Sunday-Thursday) and be the cool friend “of the World” (Friday & Saturday)

Seriously, it does not work that way! Usually we cannot have the “best of both worlds” in the game of life even though we would love it! Having the “best of both worlds” is in the ideal Barbie World of fantasyland! We have to be willing to make concessions, compromises, and set priorities within our life with what really matters. The world views my fellow generation (the Millennials also known as Generation Y) as the entitled generation, because we want it all…the perfect balance of work life and personal life, the ability to make our own rules and multi-task our way through everything and anything.  You are in my generation if you were born between 1977 and early 2000s, so let us own up to a few things and be realistic with ourselves if you are in my generation or can relate to what I am talking about. OK? Satisfaction with life is important and our attitude has a lot to do with it, so let us have some realistic expectations. Here are a few things to remember about life…

1. Consider others on your “team” in order to build relationships and help them feel more confident and supported. Do not build ones self-esteem up and then burst it in a moment’s notice whenever you feel like it…and do not play the “let it down easy game”. Be honest and truthful to your teammates. If you want them to have your back do not hit them in the back along the process.  
2. Understand that technology is not everything, generations before made it without the luxury of the Internet and text messaging. Make that phone call you have been putting off.
3. It is not necessarily greener on the other side! You are the one who is holding yourself back in life when you think you it is “greener on the other side” or that you can have the “best of both worlds” because that is not “reality”. Life happens. Situations come and go. Nothing can be perfect. Life is not perfect. If you wait for that 100% perfect moment or the 1 spark to top off all others you have already felt, then you might just miss something great and wonderful.
4. You cannot always have a Win Win 100% of the time unless both parties of the team are willing to put forth the effort to make it work. Just like with prayers, you will not always get a “yes” because sometimes you can also receive a “no” from God or a “not right now” as an answer.  
5. Figure out what is best for you and go with it, but please take time to look around and take inventory of those things around you that have made an impact within your life. Consider others. Take action on things, or they might slip away from you before you realize it.
6. It takes effort to build and protect healthy relationships, so realize what your priorities are and own up to them.  
7. You have control over yourself only, so focus on what you can change and do not waste too much energy trying to force others to change. People have to want change for it to happen.
8. It is never too late to say “I am sorry”, “I was wrong”, or “please forgive me”.   

These are just a few of my reflections & what I have learned while living and working within my normal everyday life. They can be applied to almost any given situation. Once again I am no expert and do not profess to know it all or have all the answers. I have made my own fair share of mistakes! I have a degree from the school of hard knocks, trials and tribulations, and life.

We are all weak from time to time, but we need to keep in mind that we are not perfect and that we each need the Lord in order to grow as Christians. It is OK to ask for forgiveness and help when you need it. We only have one life to live, so it is our job to live our life to the fullest potential that God gave us and if we fail at the game of life it is because we simply do not want it bad enough.