Inconveniences are Sometimes God's Provision

Yesterday my air went out again.  The repair man came and wanted to just fix the furnace.  My husband and I consulted each other and decided to get a new furnace.  I was planning on using my money from summer school to fix my wedding band but now it will pay for at least half of the furnace.  Initially I was not happy but then I thought about the weather forecasts

and how hot it is going to be this weekend.  If the furnace had gone out this weekend it would of been almost impossible to function and the serviceman would of taken much longer.  I know that the Lord planned this for good.  I am confident that in God's time I will get my ring replaced but thankful for the savings I have set up and the credit card I will be able to pay off before it gets interest.  The Lord in His own unique way has given mercy.  I choose to look at the positive and maybe this situation will spur us to be better stewards of our money.


Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

From a Different Perspective

It is 5:15 AM and I am anticipating a good workout from my boot camp trainer.  He helped me attain a good experience in my training, lessened pain in my joints and frankly gave me confidence as well as a class I looked forward to twice a week.  Then I walk in and another trainer has taken over the class.  She is nice, creative and kind but her moves are fast and we have trouble keeping up.  I wonder what suddenly happen to my current trainer and I start to develop an attitude.  Then I stop and think about it.  It is tough to be the sub and it is also hard to not always have the experience that others have done for many years.  So I decide to think of the times I was the one that was new and I lose my attitude.

Also I was recently accused of something I did not do.  I felt for about a month that I was constantly being watched, not trusted and being on trial.  Then I find out that one of my enemies  is getting demoted at his job.  Initially I feel vindicated but then I realize I have been in his situation of getting a demotion and I start from being mad to feeling sorry for him.  

I can't control how others make me feel but I can control how I respond to it and what I will do about wrong doing.

I will go back on Tuesday to the new trainer.  Hopefully things will get better.  I will miss the old one but I will be patient if I am supposed to find out the reason why for his sudden departure.

The other situation.  I will not that person get me down.  I will stay out of their hair and just pray for them every time I see them.  My contact now due to their job change will quickly fade.  

I choose instead to look at my skills I have acquired because of destructive people and situations.  I trust God that He will vindicate me instead of hurting me.  

Exodus 31:3 New International Version (NIV)

³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

Tired of the Whys

My earliest childhood memory was one of the birthday party where I was having to share it with a stranger.  The thing that was the most frustrating was that it felt like I did not even exist.  Fast forward 50 years later.  This has continued to happen over and over in my life.  Until recently I continued to wonder why but now I am learning to be content with not having to know and if I never know that is okay.

There are many roads that have recently closed to me as opportunities.  I initially got really upset because I really felt like I was called to do these things.  But now I am learning that everything has a purpose.  Other doors have opened and I am learning to be content that the Lord has my back and I am talented in many ways.  I am learning to trust Him that He will find other avenues to use my gifts.

Second instead of getting frustrated by getting treated unjustly I am slowly learning that in time if I am supposed to know the reasons why I will and if not that is okay too.

After doing this I have seen the Lord work in tremendous ways.  Some of the whys have been revealed to me and some have been not.  But that is okay.  The Lord has opened other doors for me and I rejoice in using my talents for Him.

I rejoice in the Lord's favor in my life and that wisdom I get from Him in the still open opportunities.

The Bible Says in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

New Things

I have had a few days off after my school year and I have been making the most of them by making the conscious choice to try new things. When we rely on the Lord he an help us with the new things of life.  From trying a new gym, new equipment, meeting new people, and just plain driving in a busy city the. Lord wants to do new things with us.

Isaiah 43:19 New International Version (NIV)

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Skip the Donut., stay for the selfie

There are many things that are just temporary like donuts.  A new tradition I have found in a lot of half marathons is donut holes at the middle. That is fine but the calories are only going to stick to you.   On a few recent races they offered donuts and a pace group that was behind time and ruining my timing as a leader finally stopped and ate some donut holes as I was running by.  Then another race I made the choice to stop to take a picture with a dear friend. Donuts  will only last for a mile or so but friendships and selfies last a lifetime.  When I get to Heaven may I take my friends who I took selfies with vs giving them a temporary gift such as a donut along the way.

Matthew 6:20 New International Version (NIV)

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Thrive Not Just Survive

It was an exhausting day. It was the last day of school and we had an Institute Day.   I had spent the day hearing about all the new stuff we had to do  as teachers with what already seems like an impossible job. My former boss was there and he was wallowing in his defeat of a demotion and when he talked about his failure he stared at me and I could feel the anger he felt toward my former school and his bitterness of failure.    I sat there as everyone else seemed to have it altogether and bragged about their successes.

I knew I had a lot but knew I did not have to share my victories.  I finished the day and brought an extra sandwich to my mother in law who is slowing the death of broken dreams and dementia a box with a turkey sandwich and chips.  I went to her apartment and out there was the couple I always see whether it is summer or the dead of winter smoking.  What a depressing sight and seeing my mother in law which has been a selfish person her whole life in her bathrobe and asking me the same questions over and over.

I think about my parents and how just a few years older are making an impact with my dad being a preacher in his retirement and how I get to coach others to a better life as a teacher, trainer and supervisor for the local recreation center.  I want to follow the example of my parents who are making their mark for Jesus even in their later years.

Mark 10:10 says
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Acts 20:24 New International Version (NIV)

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

May the last half of my life be more impactful as I depend on the Lord use my talents and abilities silently to make my life His to the full. 

Yoga for Special Needs

Yoga for Special Needs

 

Teaching yoga for special needs can be a rewarding experience. But I have found that each class is as unique as the population you are teaching.  Here are some great tips to use as you work any fitness class with individuals with special needs.

First of all, I knew that I needed to be aware of the class I was teaching.  One season it was filled with Special Olympics clients so I needed to do stretches and strengthening for the various sports. Another had a heavy autistic population so I knew I needed to have students do yoga games with the purpose of teaching social skills and interacting with one another. Another season it was stress relief since many of my participants suffered from anxiety and fear.   I would always start class with an introduction of the class, a brief answer and question session about each person’s week, and sometimes things we were grateful for.

 

I found that I needed to vary directions to the class I was teaching, from showing steps in simple form and cueing with both visual, kinesthetic, and verbal to having the participants repeat the directions and taking turns with each person having a turn being a co-teacher or demonstrator.  Yoga for a special needs group is typically not quiet and you do a lot more talking than with other classes you might teach.  Music is still the same but I try to find tunes that are pleasant to the group.  I find that like any class, it is helpful for review moves learned the previous week. But there is nothing wrong with trying something new or having more than required for the class but having more activities than you have scheduled time for.   If someone or persons particularly liked some tunes, I would find similar tunes for the following week.

 

Next, using a visual schedule proved helpful for both me, my staff, and students.  They knew what was happening and it kept me on track.   Also, I had an inspirational poem that was geared to something I wanted them to think and ponder during the week.  During a few seasons, I gave fun homework such as dressing thematically, colors, or bringing something inspirational to class or a prop for the exercise.  I always ended my class with a poem that was either themed, season related, or thought provoking. When someone we knew was struggling, I would encourage at the end to stop and pause with good thoughts or prayers for that particular individual.  I would also take time to ask that person about that particular need the following week.   Also, due to my Christian beliefs, I chose not to give the Namaste (my god salutes your god in me)  ending but instead gave the glory of the practice to my fellow teachers and students.  Many times they applauded my staff.  It brought instant connection with all participants.

 

Lastly, remember to have fun.  The great thing about working with a special population, you will rarely hear a complaint and they are your biggest supporters when you make a mistake.  By learning to accept everyone as they are, you are not only teaching them to be free to try new things but being prepared for the challenges of life.