Backwards Thinking to a (Diabetes) Goal of Eating More Veggies

Is that a funny way to make a behaviour change?  Begin with the end in mind?

I recently read, “The 7 Habits of Effective People with Diabetes“ by Steven Covey. This post is in response to Habit #2, Begin With The End in Mind.

To “Begin With the End in Mind,”  I thought of my goal and then went backwards from my goal to the first behaviour I need to do.

End goal – Eat Well by adding MORE (especially fresh and low carb) veggies to my daily food plan

• To eat more veggies I need to have them in my fridge.
• To have them in my fridge, I need to grocery shop.
• To grocery shop, I need to have an empty and clean fridge.
• To have an empty and clean fridge, I need to toss things and then clean it out.
• To toss things and then clean it out, I need energy.
• To get energy, I need adequate sleep.
• To get adequate sleep, I need to allow enough time in bed.
• To allow enough time in bed, I need to make sleep a priority.
• To make sleep a priority, I need to make a schedule and FOLLOW it.
• To follow a schedule, I need to determine what the benefits of getting adequate sleep are.

When I get adequate sleep (over a long period of time) I have more energy.

When I have more energy I feel motivated to do things, especially things I don’t care to do. And all this leads me to eating more veggies on a daily basis.

I see how helpful this backwards thinking is. I will do this with other goals too. But for the rest of this month (August) and September, I am going to work on my sleep and see where that leads me.

NOTE:  Evidently many, many folks with diabetes have sleep issues (like me) and so are chronically tired. I realize that getting adequate sleep (over the long haul) requires more than allowing enough time in bed. It also means being able to stay asleep.

As my blood glucose numbers have improved (from mid 300’s to 100-120), my ability to sleep has improved. I no longer get up multiple times each night to use the restroom. I also don’t have leg cramps 1-3 times a night.

So now, I need to get over my bad habit of not planning for enough time in bed. I used to avoid going to bed because I knew it would be a frustrating experience. It is no longer frustrating, but the bad habit persists, in part because I am a night owl.

But I will be concentrating on the benefits of getting adequate sleep. Hopefully I will have something positive to report by the end of September.

Resources . . .

• The 7 Habits of Effective People with Diabetes (Steven Covey)
• 7 Health Care Behaviour Worksheet (taken from the above document)

Your Turn . . . What “end” or goal do you have in mind? Write out your steps and share your answers with us.

Related Post . . . This post is where I first talked about my diabetes diagnosis.

3 REASONS I Have a Regular Quiet Time (aka Devotions)

Sometimes I journal during my devotions. I write down insights, questions, responses, and prayers.

What does it mean to have devotions or a quiet time with God? It simply means putting aside time to engage in prayer and reading (the Bible or other spiritual literature).

The prayer time is more than talking to God.  It is also listening to Him. I find that I “hear” most of His responses when I read the Bible.

Go here to read about how to hear God’s voice.

 My reading is usually purposeful. I.e. I spend time (daily) reading the verses, chapter, or book of the Bible that my Wednesday night study group is studying. I read to understand. And I read to see what application can be made to my life. In other words, I don’t read just to read.

Having devotions in the mornings has become a habit again. I prefer morning devotions because then I know it will happen before the rest of the day’s agenda interferes. And at this time of day I can give my undivided attention to praying and reading. But like all habits (with me any way) I know that it can be easily broken if I don’t watch my environment and my motives.

Go here to read how I prepare my environment for maximum adherence to this habit.

I need to periodically go over my motives for having a regular quiet time. Knowing these reasons helps increase my stick-to-it-ness. In fact this step is helpful for maintaining any habit. And there are definite reasons I want to spend some extended time with God each morning. Here are 3 reasons.

Reason 1: Transformed Mind. It is easy for me to think mainly of myself and to think badly of people, situations, God, and even myself. The media and culture I live in support this kind of narcissistic, distorted thinking.

However, when I spend purposeful time in the the Bible, the WORD of Truth, my thinking becomes transformed. It goes from thinking according to the world and my natural reasoning to thinking thoughts aligned with God’s Word.

• Selfishness versus Servanthood
• Unforgiveness versus Forgiveness
• Enttlement versus Love
• Me-centered versus God-centered

Read and ponder Romans 12:1-2.

Reason 2: Transformed Actions. How and what I think upon radically affects what I do. How I behave shows what I think/believe in. I want my actions to reflect well on God. I want my behaviour to be consistent with Biblical mandates because being in alignment will bring me peace and wisdom. And mainly I want to be transformed to show that Christ indeed lives within me.

Read and ponder Matthew 5:16  . . . . Psalm 119:165 . . . . Proverbs 22:17-21 . . . . Galatians 2:20.

Reason 3: Transformed Relationship. In order to go from strangers to intimate friends, steps need to be taken in order to transform the relationship. To deepen any relationship there needs to be time and energy spent on that relationship. This is also true of a relationship with God. Engaging in spiritual disciplines like praying and reading the Bible help us know God better and thus deepen our relationship with Him.

As my relationship with God grows, I’ve noticed the following . . . 

• I grow to love Him more.
• I become more in awe of who He is and what He does.
• My desire to obey increases because of the thinking transformation that is taking place.

I don’t always understand God’s ways and thoughts. But I have increasingly more trust in how He governs. I think this is true because I am knowing Him better and better (mainly through my devotions) as the years advance.

Read and ponder John 15:13-15 . . . . Isaiah 55: 8-9.

These are only 3 reasons for having regular quiet times. These are my top 3 for this stage in my life.

Your Turn . . . What are some reasons you have devotions?

Related Posts . . . 

• 6 Tips to Consistent Bible Reading
• 11 Ways to Increase Intimacy with God
• Finding Obadiah and Philemon Easily
• Observation – First Part of In-Depth Bible Study
• Rev Up Your Personal Bible Study:7 Ideas to Combat B-o-r-i-n-g
• Using Your Learning Style to Feel Close to God
• What to do With a Tattered BIBLE

NOTE: This post is written for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. There are 22 categories and my category is MI = Miscellaneous.

During the month of April I will post 26 times finishing up posts that have been in my draft fie for at least a year. For a list of all the posts go to the A-Z button on my header.

Today’s letter is R. The topic is REASONS to have a quiet time.

Creating Folders (Labels) in Gmail

This post is for Kay because she asked. This also makes a great Works-For-Me Wednesday post. Go here for other WFMW submissions. I’m #99.

See the grey Search the Web tab (top middle of Google inbox page)?

• To the right of this grey button, in tiny print, it says Show research options (top line) And create filter (second line).
• Click on create filter.

• In the From box put either an email addy or name.
• Click the grey Test Search button to make sure it grabs the emails you want. I.e. I typed your name, Kay, and 3 came up.
• Click the grey button  Next Step.

There are 8 possible boxes to click.

I clicked (put a check mark in) 3 of them:

• Skip the Inbox (archive it)
• Apply the Label:  in the white box to the right it says Choose Label. Either write a name for the label (name for a folder) or click on one already there. I.e. I wrote in your name, Kay.
• Click on OK.
• Also apply filter to # conversation below. ( I had 3 from the search with your name.)
• Then I clicked on the grey Create filter button.

This last action will take you to your Settings page and show you The following filters are applied to all incoming mail.

 

Ta-Da! Folders in Gmail. Although in gmail they are called labels.

 Go to this link for Google’s description of the above or go here for an audio tutorial.

 

My daughter showed me how to do this. I had already written up my instructions before I went to the Google link above.

18 Things I’m Grateful For . . .

(In no particular order)

1. Day 3 of the Master Cleanse
2. Church yesterday – the sermon was helpful, music was worshipful, the visiting was good. How cool that the song I meditated on in the steam room was also the one we sang – Open my eyes, Lord.
3. The Arnez’s getting back safely and having a good time.
4. Catching up with my sister.
5. Spending time with Tim and Adrienne.
6. Spending time with Elizabeth.
7. Manicure Elizabeth gave to me. I have pretty pinky/purple toes.
8. How Elizabeth arranged the yellow room – complete with hanging the pictures.
9. Elizabeth re-arranging my room.
10. Safety at home, chruch, driving.
11. Filling up the needed slots at reteat. I’m going to trust God for this!
12. The things Tim did to sort out the watering situation.
13. Bob and how he parented and loved our children.
14. My plants – they are growing well
15. The abilty to do a good job on my paper – still not done so am thankign  and believing in advance.
16. A Washing machine and dryer that works.
17. For friends who care for and pry for me!!! This happened at church yesterday morning.
18. Your love for me that is everlasting and is not contingent upon my works or lack of them.  It is also enough. You meet my every need because of who you are: omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, Father, Saviour, Healer, eternal, holy, sovereign, Creator, creative, gracious and good, Just to name a few attributes.

Every day I make a list of what I am grateful for.  The date  indicates how many things I’ll write down. Since today is the 18th, I wrote up a list of 18 things. I am trying not to duplicate answers – which can get to be tough.

So what are you grateful for?

Should Christians Meditate?

A lot of people are concerned about the re-emergence of meditationin the Christian church saying it is connected to new age and other cultic movements. Since I don’t know too much about this I was eager to hear what our professor had to say in class and in his book, Spiritual Disciplines of a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N.

It’s interesting that it is only in the last 150 years that the church has not emphasized meditation.

“Biblical meditaion was common practice,” according to my prof, Gil Stieglitz, “in the Christian church for 1900 years.”

Its definition, “repeating the concepts, ideas and words of Scripture to extract all the richness and wisdom” (65) calmed my qualms.

And knowing that Scripture explains meditation as the following was a further comfort:

• Delighting in Scripture (Psalm 119:16, 34, 47, 70)
• Delighting in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)
• Letting the Word of God richly dwell in your soul (Colossians 3:16) 
• Setting your mind on things above (Colossians 3:1)
• Setting your mind on the Spirit (Romans 8:6)
• Renewing your mind (Romans 12:2) (See page 65.)

Did you know that there are at least 7 kinds of meditation techniques? Do you know them?  Or use any of them?

Special Days Celebrated on March 12th

I once wrote a speech about March 12th and why it’s a cool day. Here are 5 reasons to celebrate this day.

March 12 is my birthday. Today I am 49 years old. Below are some reasons March 12 is a special day.

•  My Birthday – Born in the Queen of Angels hospital in Anaheim, CA. (At least I think it was Anaheim.) I was 3 months premature and in an incubator for quite a while. Because of that, You Are the Air I Breathe is a meaningful song to me.
• Alfred Hitchcock Day – I’m not into scary movies much. Just the music from the shower scene in Psycho sends massive chills up and down my spine. The Birds and The Blob also freak me. Just think what I’d do with a modern-day thriller. There’d be lots of screaming!
• Plant a Flower Day – Cool! I did just that today. I’ve got dirt under my fingernails and I’m proud of it. About 2 months ago a part of my red blossomed geranium plant broke off. I stuck it in water and basically ignored it. The other day I noticed it grew a slew of roots. So today I planted it in one of the pots in my enclosed front yard.
• First Library Opened –I LOVE reading and I love libraries. If ever I got stranded on an island with a library or two, I wouldn’t be sad for the first 30 years or so.  🙂
• Girl Scout Day (Girl Scouts founded in 1912) –  As a former Girl Scout and Daisy leader, I am quite proud to share my bd with the scouts. I still have my sash of badges. I love it when K, my niece, asks me to work on a badge with her.

Thanks for sharing my special day with me. When it’s your day, tell us some fun facts too.

 This yeas I am going to celebrate my birthday at Easter (more time). Then I will make up some new year resolutions. Do any of you also make resolutions on your birthday?

New Women’s Study Starts Jan. 31

What you need to know:

• Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Held in Rudat Hall, CNC.
• Reserve your childcare spot by Jan. 21st.
• Buy your book and bring to first class:                                    Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado

Lorna Green  & Sarah Insco are the co-leaders.

“Weaving together anecdotes and the biblical narrative, Max Lucado shows how David slew his “giants” — and how we can slay our own. Lucado equates the five stones David used in slaying his giant to five decisions we must make when facing a challenge.”

M & M Saturday Two Weeks Away

January 20th is our first Mug and Muffin (M&M) Saturday. Come to hear relevant info in the comfort of Rudat Hall, friendship, food and prayer.

Tickets are available NOW from the office or any Women’s Ministry team member. 

Here’s the countdown . . .

3…Third Saturday of selected months; 9-10:30 a.m.
 2…Two goals: friendship and biblical answers.
  1…One great way to make 2007 a year to remember.

The four M&M dates are: January 20th, March 17th,  May 19th and August 18th.

Decorations Can be Emotional Bombs

I found that out when I started sorting all my Christmas decorations. Many had positive emotions connected to them.

• Like the one my ds made that has lots of eyes glued to it – the LORD is an ever-seeing, ever-present God.

• My dd rolled a blown brown egg in red, blue and green glitter.

• Of course, both children made several renditions of Mr. & Mrs. Clause out of Styrofoam balls, felt, and cotton. 

But then there’s the one my dh and I bought on a trip to Hawaii.

• We also bought one in Belgium and London.

• The year we had our house built in CO, my dd and I took a 2×4 from the site. We cut it down and painted a Mr. & Mrs. Bunny Claws. Cute. But full of memories that now cause pain.

My first instinct is to throw them all away. I don’t want to have any items around that remind me of my failed marriage. That’s why I wanted a Christmas tree that’s so different from any we had in the past. I wanted new memories. New associations.

 

But, if I throw these “emotional bomb decorations” away, will I be sorry in 10 years?

 

What do you advise? I know some of you have gone through similar situations. Please comment and lmk what has or hasn’t worked for you.

Turn These in Today

• Secret Sister “All About Me” form is due January 14th.

  Pick one up at the Secret Sister bookcase. Or I can email you one. Please consider joining. This is a rewarding program.

• Retreat 2007 signups are under way. Turn in your deposit ($50.00) and registration today.    

  14/70. Know what this means?

  14 women have already taken one of the 70 slots. Act today!

• $14.99. So you can buy a cookbook of course!

   

4th Annual Ladies Tea: Feb. 24, 2007

Ladies, as we listen to our speaker, we’ll have tea and brunch. Put this 10 am happy event on your calendar. We’ll accept RSVP’s in Feb.

           

3/10. Know what that stands for? 

We have filled 3 of the 10 hostess slots for this tea. Please sign up today, if you are interested in being a table hostess. Call Susan Wright at 635-5992.

 

“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”

Chaim Potok: The
Chosen 

M&M Saturday Countdown

3rd Saturday of selected months; 9-10:30 a.m. in Rudat Hall.

2 goals: friendship and biblical answers.

1 great way to make 2007 a year to remember.

 

Our 1st Mug and Muffin (M&M) Saturday is Jan. 20th.

Tickets are available mid January from the office or any Women’s Ministry team member