discipline

An Empty Present: A Post-Holiday Reflection

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What an empty feeling to get the present you thought you wanted, only to discover that it doesn’t bring you fulfillment – or longer hair, whiter teeth, stronger muscles, a bigger bank account, greater prestige, or many of the empty promises we heard touted by advertisers in the weeks preceding the Christmas holidays.  Just reflect:  were your holidays celebrated as holy days?  Instead of resolving to do something you knew you wouldn’t do in the new year, did you consider asking God to show you what HE wanted from you in 2011?

I’ll be honest – I did overeat during the holidays a bit more than Weight Watchers would’ve allowed.  Nevertheless, I’m back on track, losing weight again (after several weeks of gaining!), being more disciplined, making healthier food choices, and getting back into my exercise routine.  But I’m grateful that I didn’t overspend.  Because I’ve been in that position before – and it hurts when the sparkle wears off.  Every action has a result.  The euphoria of having something shiny or new diminishes exponentially when you realize how much it’s going to cost you…every month…for several years.  And then you have to ask yourself:  was it worth it?

I believe there’s actually a correlation between overeating and overspending – in both instances, you think you don’t have to pay for it now.  But the big secret is this:  you will have to pay for it eventually!  And interest is mounting up significantly.  While excess fat that you don’t burn off accumulates on the hips (and other spots!), spending (or charging) what you don’t have today racks up credit card debt. 

By now, the bill cycles from Christmas decisions (and indecisions) are running and being delivered to mailboxes far and wide.  Though the specific day celebrated as Christmas has come and gone, it is still quite appropriate to ask your Creator for the right gift this year.  Troubled, anxious, worried, fretful?  What you really need is peace – that only comes from the Prince of Peace.  Puzzled, confused, wavering?  You need the Wonderful Counsellor.  Looking for direction and instruction?  The Mighty God and Everlasting Father will show you the way – for He is the Way.

Don’t bankrupt yourself – in the natural or in the spirit realm.  Nobody wants an empty present birthed out of an impulsive past that leads to a bleak future.  Choose life!  Make wise decisions!  Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving…taste and see.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

 

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

(II Corinthians 9:15)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Just One – Really?

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moderation – restraint, control, self-control, temperance

Moderation isn’t popular these days.  I’ve found that it goes hand-in-hand with that discipline thing…and isn’t temperance a fruit of the Spirit?  Yeah…Galatians 5.  Pop culture glorifies and glamorizes excess in just about everything – and now we want more of just about everything.  The multitude of marketing and advertising messages that constantly bombard us through a variety of media (strategically crafted for millions of dollars, might I add) tease, tantalize, and tempt our senses.  We can almost smell, feel, and taste things we see dancing across our TV screens – that’s pretty powerful!

As I munched on some Pringles chips the other day, I remembered the jingle they used a few years ago, “Once you pop, you can’t STOP!”  With all intentions of having “just a few chips,” I started humming as I crunched and drifted into reminiscing on the days when my mom packed Pringles for my own lunches…before Weight Watchers, before being a “responsible adult,” before counting the “few chips” I’d surpassed.  Before I knew it, 4 chips, then ¼ of the can, and finally 1/3 of the can had disappeared – all with mindless nibbling and thinking about a catchy product tune!  I quickly snapped back to reality as I glanced at the label, fat content per serving, and calculated how much I’d need to exercise to burn off that little “snack detour.”  Now I won’t go so far as to say that I believe some dark forces implanted ideas into my brain as a child and are triggering them in my adulthood to make me overweight (think “The Manchurian Candidate”)…or would I???  LOL…

In all seriousness, we have to stay on guard and fight the wiles of the enemy.  Random ideas and fleeting, idle thoughts often come to accost us – the challenge is what we do with them.  Will we actively choose to walk according to the Word, or will we passively allow the flesh to dominate?  Will we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, or will we fallaciously continue to think we have the power to have “just one?”  Don’t fool yourself – obedience to God’s Word is the best choice.  Perhaps I should create a new tune, “If you don’t pop, you won’t have to stop!”

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”

(Philippians 4:5)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

(James 4:7-8) 

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Appreciating the Beauty of Routine

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So this is maturity, eh?  Let me back up.  To understand the significance of this epiphany, you’d have to know that I grew up as one of those über-creative types who thrived on new, unique, and exciting experiences – always something different.  I thought a person who adhered to a schedule was a boring stick-in-the-mud. Quite frankly, predictability was not appealing to me.  But that was then… 

My dad is retired from a 20-year Air Force career.  I believe he’d have blown a bugle to get us up every morning…if he’d had a bugle (I shudder to think!).  I could set my clock by him – and probably still can – because he’s regimented.  But that routine helps him.  And after I left off living under his roof and went to college, I became aware of how much his routine helped me.  So when I got married, did I walk into a leisurely free-for-all?  To the contrary – my wonderful husband was also an Air Force man with a strong foundation of consistent daily habits.  Sigh…obviously, God’s trying to tell me something, right?  Yeah, it boils down to that inescapable “ingrained discipline is a forced habit that’s good for ya” thing…

Allow me to share my “I could’ve had a V-8!” moment from last week.  I was talking to a co-worker who’d spent a lot of money on a personal fitness trainer a year or two ago, but had recently gained more weight than he wants to carry.  I encouraged him to start walking (a mere 15 minutes) during his break just to get moving.  He nodded and asked genuinely, “What’s your workout routine?”  When I didn’t immediately scoff at him, but instead chirped enthusiastically, “I take classes at the gym during lunchtime because I need to be around other people while I’m exercising!” I knew I’d turned a major corner.  I admit that I actually like knowing what I was gonna do on my gym days!  Conversely, when I get out of routine, I tend to lapse back into old, not-so-healthy habits – and it’s not worth breaking my momentum.  Now, I look forward to my fun fitness classes (and hanging out with the people in them) with joyful anticipation instead of loathsome dread.  “Yeah, I need to start again,” my co-worker agreed.  You go, buddy!  Start again indeed…

Routine helps in our spiritual lives, too.  What spiritual discipline do you commit to work on this week?  Start again indeed!

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

(Philippians 1:6)

 “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

(I Timothy 6:19)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Reflections on My Fitness Journey

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A trainer at my gym recently asked me to submit an article for the monthly newsletter; I’m sharing it with you and hoping you’re doing something each day to stay healthy.  If you’re in the Charlotte area, I invite you to check out a free workout at Elements for Women – tell ‘em Kayren sent ya!
 
Special thanks to Kevin Mills (my fellow Paper Polisher) for his expert editing of this piece! 🙂  

I’ve encountered my share of speed bumps on the road to personal health and wellness in my lifetime.  Admittedly, many were self-imposed.  When I finally got serious about making some positive changes for a healthier lifestyle (instead of desperately grasping at the latest weight loss scheme), Elements was there with a support system designed to ensure my success. 

Since I started working out again (after my long hiatus), Elements has been like training wheels on a bike, bumpers at the bowling alley, and safety scissors – all rolled into one.  The staff helps me celebrate my small victories, challenges me to set goals, and pushes me straight out of my comfort zone.  Truthfully, I look forward to seeing other class participants on a regular basis.  It’s become so much more than just a gym – it’s a community.

Before joining Elements, my weight loss plan basically consisted of getting my wisdom teeth extracted.   Today, however, I understand the importance of incorporating physical activity into my schedule at least 3 times a week.  And after sweating non-stop for a full 45 minutes, it’s much easier to choose to eat a more balanced diet!  🙂

Since joining Elements and starting Weight Watchers in June, I’ve lost over 16 pounds.  But I’m prouder of the fact that I can actually jump rope for 30 seconds; I couldn’t do THAT 2 months ago!  I was winded during my first Walking Boot Camp Club session, but now I can keep up with the best of them.  In a few months, my posture has improved (thanks, Pilates instructors!), my muscles are getting stronger (my abs are somewhere between a 6-pack and a 2 liter), I’ve lost half of my double chin (good riddance), and my shadow is actually shrinking. 

From sedentary to simply spectacular… I’m on my way!  It’s all about making progress, being consistent, and staying committed – one step at a time, one day at a time, and one healthy decision at a time. 

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

(I Corinthians 6:19)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Extraction: It’s Gotta GO!

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I finally had my two upper wisdom teeth removed last week (after my dentist has been trying to separate them from me for at least four years).  They weren’t giving me trouble, but she found a cavity on one during my recent routine cleaning and told me that I just needed to get rid of them; they could cause me more trouble later.  So I sheepishly scheduled the appointment with the oral surgeon.  Isn’t that like so many other things in life?  We put off dealing with the inevitable, only to find out – too late – that a situation has exacerbated, festered, become infected, or just gotten downright outta control.  Then we wish we’d taken care of it when we first saw evidence of the issue.  And why was I holding onto a potential problem anyway???  No rational reason except for upholding the status quo…I’ve always had these teeth.

I don’t really look forward to pain (or even discomfort), so I decided not to think about what it would feel like to just do what I needed to do and get those teeth removed.  I truly had the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) before, during, and after the entire procedure; I know the prayers of the saints were at work on my behalf.  And because I opted for IV sedation, I don’t remember a thing…it was absolutely beautiful.  But I had to go through the process for those teeth to be removed.  Thankfully, my recovery was speedy – bleeding had stopped within 24 hours, and I was eating mashed potatoes within two days.  Armed with my new mindset and determined to eat healthier, chicken broth became a delicacy as I waited for my tender tissues to heal.

What has to “go” from your life for you to line up with God’s plan for you?  The Holy Spirit will strengthen you to let go of the things that are hindering you from growing, developing, and maturing into who God is calling you to be.  Granted, you will have to yield and change, but the results will be worth whatever sacrifices you make.  Just ask me as I appreciate how much my fresh gums have in common with my 7 year-old’s these days…I know I lost a few pounds last week! 🙂

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

(Mark 11:23)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Honest Accountability: Effective Leadership in Action

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accountable – responsible, answerable, liable

dependable – trustworthy, reliable, conscientious, sensible, mature

Whether we like it or not, we all have to answer to somebody.  Though we don’t care to admit it, we need to be accountable to others – it keeps us honest.  Our Pastor has the right (and the responsibility) to hold us accountable to the standard of God’s Word, the Holy Bible.  As parents, we must hold our children accountable to being obedient to our instructions.  Our managers provide us with mid-year and annual performance reviews, and sometimes give more frequent feedback.  Many people have to clock-in for work on a daily basis, creating a documented track record that can be reviewed at any time.  Friends can be our accountability partners for fitness goals or lifestyle changes when we check in regularly to share our triumphs and challenges.  The baseline for all of these relationships?  Honesty.

What good is telling someone something if it isn’t true?  One thing I’m learning from Weight Watchers: the scale doesn’t lie!  I can choose not to track or write down a high-calorie item and kinda attempt to “fudge” my numbers (pun intended!); but in the end, the truth reigns.  So I may as well be honest with myself to begin with, then start making healthier choices.  In turn, it becomes easier to be honest and transparent in my relationships with others.  From my husband to my personal fitness trainer to my Sales Director in Mary Kay – accountability is built into systems all around me.  But I know it’s for my benefit.  Because left to my own devices, I deviate from the best path and meander into justifying behavior that’s undisciplined.  I have proof from previous experiences – and I can’t afford the consequences anymore!

Why do we hesitate to tell others the truth about what we’re really going through?  Because we don’t want to be corrected or instructed in righteousness; we wanna do what we wanna do (hint: that’s the FLESH)!  Before I was committed to changing my eating habits and beginning some semblance of exercising, I didn’t talk about my unhealthy habits to others because I didn’t want them telling me what to do!  The sad thing about that mindset:  it’s counterproductive and detrimental to me, but it also impacts others associated with me.  Most of all, it affects my witness for Christ.  In the Body of Christ, we are interconnected, so how can I think my actions are isolated?  They are not.

I know it’s been several weeks since I blogged, but I’ve been digging in to make some seriously positive changes in my life.  And I’m glad to be in the process of aligning my walk with my talk.  How about you?  Be honest…with yourself, and with others.  Allow God to lead you in the way that is right.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

(Psalm 119:105)

 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

(Galatians 5:16)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Resistance is Futile: Just Obey!

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How many times do we hear God speaking to us, sense the Holy Spirit nudging us to go a certain way, and we do exactly the opposite?  I had an important reminder of the importance of obedience this week.  Actually, I’ve had a LOT of reminders recently (like blinking neon signs!), but I’m just writing about a couple today.  🙂

I decided to drop some bags off at my office early in the morning before hopping on the train so I wouldn’t have to lug them all over tarnation.  Reasonable enough, right?  Well, there was a red “No Parking” sign affixed to the meter in front of my building (that wasn’t there the LAST TIME I dashed in); during morning rush hour, no parking was permitted on this thoroughfare.  Hmmm, drag all these heavy bags for 3 blocks, or rush up to the 23rd floor to drop these off?  I slipped into the parallel parking spot way before 7:30 a.m. as I justified the validity of my risky choice.  I saw a police officer nearby and asked him if it would be okay for me to leave my car for 3 minutes to put the bags into my office; he was “hands-off,” saying he didn’t have anything to do with parking matters, and that I’d be rolling the dice.  (Like he was gonna say, “Go ahead, disobey the law.”) 

I thanked him politely, then darted with my cadre of bags and full-sized umbrella up the elevator shaft, asking the security guard at the front desk to watch my car as I raced by.  Heart rate elevated, I dropped my load and ran back to the elevator and headed for my car.  The security guard said, “You’d better hurry; you’re about to get towed.”  I got to my car just as the parking man (accompanied by the tow truck!) was taking my plate information.  The cherry on top was him saying, “You parked here and the police officer said he told you not to.”  I had no recourse at all.  I humbled myself and said yes sir, thank you, you’re right, I apologize, and got into my car shaking as I drove off.  How would I have explained the car getting towed to my hubby???  I shudder to think…God is truly gracious.

But it didn’t have to be that way.  Had I been obedient in the first place, I would’ve never encountered the parking law enforcer!  No need for an adrenaline rush when we obey – whether it’s God’s laws, or the law of the land.  It really is simple – we just have to obey.  We were created to.  Things work better when we do.

With that said, I am adding an extra layer of accountability as I announce to the blogosphere that I’ve gone from do-nothing to joining a gym AND joining Weight Watchers in less than a week.  Okay, I’ve been resisting the idea while knowing I need to lose weight and start exercising (again) for a very long time, but I finally decided to do something this week.  And it took messages (like blinking neon signs!) from soooo many people God placed in my path to help me get back on the right track.  Making a decision is powerful.  Taking action is even more empowering.  Now that I’m here, I welcome you to join me on my new journey.  I’ll have lots of new stuff to write about, that’s for sure.  I have my first Personal Training session next week.  Stay tuned…

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

(II Corinthians 10:4-6)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Consistently Inconsistent?

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Have you ever wondered why you just can’t “keep it all together?”  That thought often comes to me in cycles.  I’ll be doing great (so I think), then all of a sudden (so it seems) – WHAM! – I’m off-kilter and trying to pick up the pieces, get reorganized, and get back on track.  Whether it’s morning devotions, regular exercise, making healthier eating choices, or whatever goes into having a balanced lifestyle that glorifies God in every facet (not just the examples I’m willing to show others!), I know that I must become more consistent in my practices instead of being “hit-or-miss.”

However, I know it’s a process that builds consistency.  And inherent in that process is (ugh!) discipline.  My hubby told me I was just gonna have to learn to love discipline.  Now that seems like an oxymoron to a free-spirited creative type like me, but I know he’s right.  And exhibiting discipline is a manifestation of love.  So just as I discipline my children because I love them and want them to grow up healthy, successful, and making wise decisions, I must discipline myself so I can be who God has called me to be.

As I walk in obedience to God’s Word, I’ll build consistency.  Simple, isn’t it? 🙂  Pray for me as I walk this out – not easy, but very necessary! 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

(I Corinthians 15:58)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Lasting Change

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It’s slowly dawning on me that I really don’t want the “old way” anymore.  And it’s exciting to see myself changing, because I did the “old way” very well for so long!  This past weekend, I had my first ice cream cone of the year with my family.  And that was it – one ice cream cone after a balanced dinner at home.  No secretly sneaking to eat it alone between meals in a room behind closed doors. (If it sounds like the “old way” took a lot of scheming and energy, go with that – you’re right).  I didn’t revisit the freezer for a 2nd or 3rd cone (glorious change!).  I was truly content with eating in a more healthy way that would profit my body.  I didn’t even feel deprived when I gave my children some ice cream for dessert last night; I passed up my portion. 

Additionally, God made a way of escape for me when my hubby wanted to treat us to Sunday dinner out so I wouldn’t have to cook – he selected a buffet.  I didn’t say anything to him that morning (gotta appreciate your spouse’s thoughtfulness!), but I prayed that God would give me wisdom in selecting foods from the buffet that would glorify Him and not stuff my body full of junk.  And you know what?  By that afternoon, my hubby had changed his mind – without me saying a word (imagine that!).  He decided that we could eat at home, save some dough (yippee!), and I still didn’t have to cook because we’d prepared well a few days before and had plenty in the fridge.  I was so delighted to eat a chicken breast sandwich topped with bleu cheese dressing, fresh spinach, and red grapes at home!  When I remarked to my hubby, “I definitely wouldn’t have gotten something this healthy at the buffet,” he agreed and we both laughed.

I am grateful that God wouldn’t allow me to eat myself to death – literally.  Why?  Because He has a purpose and a plan for my life that I must fulfill.  So it is with you, my friend.  If you’re facing something that seems absolutely insurmountable and you haven’t gotten victory over it the past 10 times you tried to overcome it, I encourage you to try one more time.  But this time, allow God to change your heart (give Him free reign, holding nothing back for yourself) so you can change your mind, and your lifestyle will begin to change.  He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  I am a witness!

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

(Hebrews 11:6)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Less is More

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I should’ve known God was up to something that would create major change in me.  You know what tipped me off?  It wasn’t one particular “struck with a lightning bolt” moment.  But it was a gradual realization of, “Hey – something is different here!”  That “something different” is the reason I haven’t visited my co-workers’ candy dishes since the Christmas holidays…who knew that 20 miniature chocolates in one week (or in one day) would add up on your hips if left unattended???  Right – I should’ve known then, but now I know better, and I do better.  Allow me to share a couple of observations.

About a month ago, we went to a restaurant that serves chocolate mints after dinner.  Our server was kind enough to give us 2 for each person.  Now I remember a day when I would’ve taken the mints from my children so I could have more (I hate to admit it, but I guess that’s hoarding).  This time, I reached (out of habit) for one mint, then subconsciously jerked my hand back.  I remembered, “That was my old way of doing things; I really don’t want that candy, nor do I need the extra calories…nor do I desire to eat one and end up with an urge to finish off the rest of them.”  My family didn’t notice my mental conversation, but I did.  And I’m proud to report that the candies my children didn’t eat are still in a drawer in my kitchen.  I see them when I pull out twist ties, and they’re safe – it’s not even a temptation anymore.  I am grateful for God changing me from the inside out. 

As if to prove that it wasn’t a one-time deal, another test-type situation presented itself one afternoon at work.  I headed to the break room to refill my water bottle, passing by the “free” coffee and rich, calorie-laden hot cocoa.  Then I saw them – leftover cookies from a meeting.  Neatly preserved in a box.  And nobody was looking.  Oh sure, they’d been put there for anyone to help themselves – but that someone didn’t have to be me!  I took a peek to see what flavor presented itself – livin’ on the edge, right?  Peanut butter, with visible peanut butter chip chunks.  “Hmmm,” I mused as I inhaled, noticing how soft the cookies looked.  “Peanuts are healthy,” I reasoned.  Then I snapped back to reality, shut the box, and walked back to my desk with my full water bottle.  I didn’t really want or need a cookie, and that wasn’t what I’d gone to the break room for anyway.  I acknowledged it as just a distraction.  Kayren – 1 point, cookies – zero. God had made a way of escape for me. This time – thankfully – I took it.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

(I Corinthians 10:13)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart