Extreme Lifestyle Makeover

Lent is coming...I've been thinking about that a lot. A couple of years ago, I heard my pastor say in a sermon, "What is going to be DIFFERENT, because of this season?" NOT "what are you going to give up," but what is going to be different? I like that.

Last week, one of the pastors at my new church taught from Isaiah 58, and the main point was that God is not impressed with our silly little fasts -- the kind of fast he want is the kind that makes a difference in the world.

So here's what I'm thinking............

I have several (many) things that I've tried to change, over the years -- a whole list of things that I know work, that I need to build into my life. Everything from diet and exercise to budgeting and housekeeping, and more. All put together, they form a pretty complete vision of the way I want to manage the basics of life, so that I'm free and energized to focus on things *outside* my life. It's actually pretty wonderful and miraculous that all these systems have come together and I know exactly what to do.

So here I am with this perfect plan, every piece of which I've tried out at some point and know that it works. Why am I not living it all? Every piece has been picked up, tried out...and dropped. Why?

Yeah...I can't answer that question, at least not completely, but I know what I want to do right now. I want to make it happen, and Lent seems like a good opportunity.

Here's what I'm gonna do. Put it all into Outlook, so it's centrally located and listed...and do it. For the 50 days of Lent, I'm just gonna do it. Stay up all night, get up early in the morning -- whatever it takes. Just push through the discomfort all at once, and commit to it for these seven weeks, as a Lenten fast.

I think it's a proper Isaiah 58 fast, too, because my motivation has shifted, over the years. I no longer want to lose weight so I can get a boyfriend...a husband...a career...whatever. Now I just want the energy to love the people I live with and follow through on the things God has planned for me to do. I want the Kingdom to come to MY LIFE. True, I will also be happier, healthier, and enjoy life more...but that's the way the Kingdom works, isn't it? Everyone gets blessed. God is so good.

The elements of my 50-Day Extreme Lifestyle Makeover are:
Using MyFoodDiary.com's guidelines as minimum food guidelines, and recording all my food
Half an hour to one hour of exercise every day (also recorded on MyFoodDiary.com).
Setting up and adhering to my March and April budgets, using MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com
Using FlyLady's housekeeping system, with the Daily Flyt Plan as a minimum standard
One hour of spiritual time every day (mini-Sabbath -- not sure what form they will take)
A weekly complete Sabbath day
Keeping up and doing well with work commitments (30-40 hours a week)
Keeping up and doing well with Joshua Station commitments (tutoring and resident volunteer)

I think I'll post some "before" pictures and post some "before" notes on Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday, and my last Sabbath before Lent).

:)