“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
zoom zoom zoom zoom
Like Anna plays in my presence, like she comes to Like Anna plays in my presence, 
like she comes to me when she gets hurt,
like she wants to be held when she’s sick,
like she unashamedly + honestly feels any and every range of emotion with me, 
like she never corrects or censors or judges herself before coming to me, 
like she trusts me to love and care and accept her always... 
so it can be and is for me with God my Father. 

What a delightful way to be with Him! Don’t hold back — disappointment, confusion, happiness, sadness, longings. Give Him access to you, as you are right now, and find rest and love for your soul.
Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of wakin Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of waking up early to February as she reaches her 10th day of coronavirus quarantine.

I’ll keep the details to myself, but I do have to acknowledge the generosity and availability and kindness of our family and friends. They’ve brought us meals, groceries, medicine, and @maghjohnson, IN MICHIGAN, sent us a Door Dash gift card for a pizza. I could cry over the love. @audreyhealy5 @kgmartin521 @ansley.c.evans @nm_wilson @klb418

Also, even though today was the first day I had the energy to walk it, I’ve never been more thankful for our long driveway. Sunshine is the JAM. 

To everyone who has had COVID or will get it, our experience will of course be different, but— solitary, friends, solidarity. And grace upon grace.
Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wil Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wilderness are impossible without God. Miracles of change and help.

“The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. 

I will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert. 

So that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:17-20‬ ‭CSB 

It is the Spirit of God who changes hearts.
It is the truth of God that transforms + renews minds.
It is the Son of God who leads the way.
It is the love of God that heals and calls. 
It is the power of God that does the impossible.
It is the presence of God that makes a difference.

So I pray. Faithful to what + who He puts before me. Trusting Him to be faithful in being God.

So we pray.
Ruth Haley Barton writes that in silence we come t Ruth Haley Barton writes that in silence we come to God with what is true about us and let Him be in control. 

This is my personal prayer for this year and honestly for the rest of my life — that I would accept what comes, and what is. That I would welcome what God gives and allows for me. That I would grow comfortable in His presence with what is true about me, not what I feel *should* be true, or even what I wish was true. 

Not defending, not comparing, not berating, not promoting, not criticizing, not earning... being with Jesus with what IS, and receiving Him. Letting Him form and grow what is there, the real me. 

Accepting with joy. Because God is God, sovereign, wise, almighty, good and merciful, and I am His.
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home · 02/09/2016

Things To Do When You’re Tempted To Procrastinate In Front Of The Tv

Things To Do When You're Tempted To Procrastinate In Front Of The Tv | heartnatured

Don’t get me wrong, I am a movie-watcher. I am a Netflix-watcher. In college, if I got home from a long day, I wanted to pop in a movie and veg. It’s a stress reliever for me most days, and that’s fine. But I’ve realized having the tv on has become a crutch for me to be productive. If I’m cleaning, Gilmore Girls is usually on. If I’m home along, drawing or folding clothes, I usually put something on. Not saying I’ll never do it again after this moment, because I certainly will.

Even with social media, I will sit on the couch and scroll a feed for a good 20 minutes, before getting up to do something. Not saying it’s a bad thing, sometimes it’s relaxing, but… how many other things that would do my tomorrow a favor could I be doing in that 20 minutes?

I’ve also realized how much more productive and clear-headed I am when I don’t have the television on, or my phone right beside me. It got me thinking about all the small things I could do with time that I’m tempted to procrastinate. When I get home from work, or on a lazy Saturday afternoon…

  1. Paint your nails
  2. Walk around the house thoughtfully: rearrange, throw out, donate
  3. Exercise
  4. Plan recipes for the next week
  5. Sketch out a garden plan
  6. Take 30 minutes and practice your hobby (for me, photography)
  7. Organize your recipe files
  8. Catch up with a friend via phone call, email, or text
  9. Talk a walk around the neighborhood
  10. Put on worship music and sing your heart out
  11. Clean out the ‘catch-all’ drawers (everyone has them)
  12. Take a few minutes and make a list of your blessings
  13. Brainstorming Christmas gift ideas
  14. Write a couple letters to distant friends or family
  15. Create a recycling system for your home
  16. Clean out your pantry
  17. Write a family manifesto for the year
  18. Memorize a Bible verse
  19. Spend some time in dedicated prayer for someone, or a people group
  20. Do something creative (for me it would be probably doodling for a little while)
  21. Create a budget for the upcoming month
  22. Organize your closet, getting rid of clothes you haven’t worn in a year
  23. Play with your hair and figure out a new way to wear it, just for fun
  24. Find an adventurous dessert recipe and make it
  25. Make a list of goals for the month
  26. Deep clean the bathroom (not anyone’s favorite, but marvelously helpful in the end)
  27. Plan a spontaneous evening out for your husband, or your friends

Most of these things range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, not a huge deal when considered within 24 hours, right? But, it can truly make a great deal of difference in the overall month or year. I find the quote below interesting:

“Most people don’t think in terms of minutes. They waste all the minutes. Nor do they think in terms of their whole life. They operate in the mid-range of hours or days. So they start over again every week, and spend another chunk unrelated to their life-time goals. They are doing a random walk through life, moving without getting anywhere.” Alan Lakein

Small choices today that can help or hurt bigger goals later.

What do you think?

In: home · Tagged: goals, productivity

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Comments

  1. Brittany Bergman says

    02/09/2016 at 3:44 pm

    These are great ideas, and I love that they really can be done in 20-30 minutes. When I have an odd chunk of time, I tend to waste it scrolling my phone. I need to get better about getting up and just doing something quick — usually it ends up leading to a burst of productivity!

  2. Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says

    02/09/2016 at 4:05 pm

    I really, really, really love this. I’m seriously considering printing it out and putting it on my wall!

  3. Charlene says

    02/09/2016 at 6:15 pm

    Oh my goodness! These are some great ideas! I am so bad about veging out in front of the TV and scrolling on social media. There are so many times I’ll sit down “just for a minute” and then later I think “where did the time go??” Definitely keeping this list handy!

  4. Chelsea B.E. says

    02/09/2016 at 6:43 pm

    Charlene, I hear you loud and clear, friend. Time flies by far too fast sometimes, and I’m not intentional with my time. Then I’m bummed or discouraged, which is never fun.

  5. Chelsea B.E. says

    02/09/2016 at 6:43 pm

    It DOES end up leading to a burst of productivity, Brittany! I wholeheartedly agree.

  6. Chelsea B.E. says

    02/09/2016 at 6:43 pm

    You and me both, Daisy!!

  7. Rachel says

    02/10/2016 at 2:57 am

    Love this list! I’ve definitely been trying to unplug from technology when I come home from work these days. I actually LOVE cleaning (channeling my inner Monica Gellar, haha) but I usually save it for the weekends. A mid-week clean would definitely help me destress and unwind. :)

  8. Nina @ Hugs and Lattes says

    02/10/2016 at 2:33 pm

    Ahh I really need to *not* sit in front of the TV all the time. It’s so easy to just do brainless activities! I have found I enjoy my evening more with some mood lighting, candles, and journaling or what not. Why do I sit in front of the TV then? It’s a problem. I blame Netflix. and my lack of self-control.

  9. Chelsea B.E. says

    02/10/2016 at 3:12 pm

    You channel that inner Monica, Rachel! I’m the same way about saving deep cleaning/organizing for the weekends. My favorite thing is to wake up on a clean-slate Saturday morning and go to TOWN. Haha.

  10. Chelsea B.E. says

    02/10/2016 at 3:12 pm

    Haha, Nina, my friend you are certainly not alone. I am the exact same way.

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I'm Chelsea... a wife, mom and friend who enjoys all things peanut butter, clean beauty, the written word, and a good sports movie. This is my place to share real life and Biblical encouragement to draw us all to deeper joy in God. Pull up your favorite internet browser and stay awhile!

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“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
zoom zoom zoom zoom
Like Anna plays in my presence, like she comes to Like Anna plays in my presence, 
like she comes to me when she gets hurt,
like she wants to be held when she’s sick,
like she unashamedly + honestly feels any and every range of emotion with me, 
like she never corrects or censors or judges herself before coming to me, 
like she trusts me to love and care and accept her always... 
so it can be and is for me with God my Father. 

What a delightful way to be with Him! Don’t hold back — disappointment, confusion, happiness, sadness, longings. Give Him access to you, as you are right now, and find rest and love for your soul.
Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of wakin Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of waking up early to February as she reaches her 10th day of coronavirus quarantine.

I’ll keep the details to myself, but I do have to acknowledge the generosity and availability and kindness of our family and friends. They’ve brought us meals, groceries, medicine, and @maghjohnson, IN MICHIGAN, sent us a Door Dash gift card for a pizza. I could cry over the love. @audreyhealy5 @kgmartin521 @ansley.c.evans @nm_wilson @klb418

Also, even though today was the first day I had the energy to walk it, I’ve never been more thankful for our long driveway. Sunshine is the JAM. 

To everyone who has had COVID or will get it, our experience will of course be different, but— solitary, friends, solidarity. And grace upon grace.
Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wil Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wilderness are impossible without God. Miracles of change and help.

“The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. 

I will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert. 

So that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:17-20‬ ‭CSB 

It is the Spirit of God who changes hearts.
It is the truth of God that transforms + renews minds.
It is the Son of God who leads the way.
It is the love of God that heals and calls. 
It is the power of God that does the impossible.
It is the presence of God that makes a difference.

So I pray. Faithful to what + who He puts before me. Trusting Him to be faithful in being God.

So we pray.
Ruth Haley Barton writes that in silence we come t Ruth Haley Barton writes that in silence we come to God with what is true about us and let Him be in control. 

This is my personal prayer for this year and honestly for the rest of my life — that I would accept what comes, and what is. That I would welcome what God gives and allows for me. That I would grow comfortable in His presence with what is true about me, not what I feel *should* be true, or even what I wish was true. 

Not defending, not comparing, not berating, not promoting, not criticizing, not earning... being with Jesus with what IS, and receiving Him. Letting Him form and grow what is there, the real me. 

Accepting with joy. Because God is God, sovereign, wise, almighty, good and merciful, and I am His.
“May the urgency with which I approach my work n “May the urgency with which I approach my work never become anxiety. The world is not mine to save.” @justinmcroberts

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