Authentic Progress

Progress: a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage

That is the word of the day Progress.  It really sucks when you feel stuck. There are so many methods to help us get unstuck.  Books, blogs, Youtube videos, apps on devices, hourly tweets by our favorite motivational gurus.  On and on the list goes with all the info invading my brain you would think that I would see some crazy progressing results.  I would be in shape, weigh less, in control of my emotions, have a published book, lots of money and children who don't ever bicker and disagree.

Interesting the times that I have seen the most progress is after I have lived some of the most ridiculously hard to imagine surviving it times.  During these times we who are believers pray like the Bible encourages us to, without ceasing.  Crazy hard  like the infamous bed bug invasion, or the almost getting evicted thing, or the kid just did the unthinkable years.   I can remember not too many years, ago the bravery it took to answer the "do you need anything" question with honesty, I can remember crying (not uncommon even now) after ladies bible study and answering I just want to buy fresh fruit for my family, and my friend without hesitation gave me 20 bucks.  Was I looking for a hand out NO not at all!  I am who I am now, generous, because I have been taught generosity from my friends and family.  Fast forward to yesterday I'm standing at Winco  I got all teary because I was able to buy groceries for the whole week, for the 3rd week in a row.   Over and  over I am grateful to be out of a storm not just because it bites to be in the drama but for the lessons learned in the test.  End result progress.  

Progress and I have had a love/hate relationship for years. I have been entranced by the idea that progressing away from where I am brings more success, more peace, more results that measure my worth.  Truth is worth comes from God and every day I have a choice to go forward or go backward.  Understanding that "working" it out from the position of rest, absence of worry, is something possible by God's gift of faith.  I have been saying for the last couple weeks that "I want to rest well so that the rest will be well."  Living relaxed and not edgy about my progress I rest in the process and not beat myself up because of the results I am better, my family is better.  Interesting this concept of "doing less" can create more positive  results.  Living with intention, is a powerful stance, be  you.  

That's pretty much it......  

"Be brave. Be strong.  Don't give up.  Expect God to get here soon." Psalm 31:24 msg

Yep that's it........