I believe we all can agree that we’ve shared a collective trauma over the past few years. That’s why I want to let you know I’ve got a new YouVersion devotional plan!

Everyone’s story may look a little different, but a lot of us are finding it hard to find our stride…to get back into the swing of things. In fact, I’ve had numerous conversations that lead me to believe that many are finding it difficult to break some negative habits or destructive thought patterns.

I know I’ve had to work through some difficult emotions and explore my own thinking. But, it occurred to me that some of you might sense there’s something amiss, but you don’t have a clue where to start.

God’s Word is living and active.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Still, no matter how much you know God’s truth, it can be hard to apply it when your mind and emotions are stuck.

Are You Stuck? Daily Steps To Break Free

First, you’ve got to identify the lies that have you in their grip. Then, you can learn practical steps to draw you outward and onward.

This will be my second devotional plan on the YouVersion app. The first one, Find Freedom From the Draw of Food: Renew Your Mind for Lasting Change has had more than 25,000 completions. I’ve loved hearing testimonies from people who were impacted by the devotional and Find Your Weigh.

I hope you’ll join me in this new Youversion devotional plan. Better yet, why don’t you make the YouVersion app part of your daily routine? There are tons of great resources to encourage you in your faith and challenge you in your walk with Christ.

~ Shellie

The post New YouVersion Devotional Plan appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

Have you ever found yourself repeating the same action over and over again only to find yourself continuously disappointed by the outcome? I mean, let’s be honest, we all do it albeit unconsciously. I recently found myself in this unproductive cycle until it hit me…Shellie, get to the why!!! Why are you so surprised by the outcome when you’ve done absolutely nothing to change your actions?

So, what sparked this not-so-new revelation that I’ve lost track of my why? Well, it all goes back to my weight story, which is and will continue to be a running theme in my life. Yes, I’ve written a book that addresses the mental and emotional roots of our behavior with food. And yes, those principles I continue to find the most effective in navigating my food journey.

But, the last two years have thrown a new wrench into my well fashioned and fully formed routine…hormones.

I’d heard about it, I’d read about it…but now It’s time for me to wrestle with the frustration of hormonal weight gain. It literally moved in about 6 months ago. I was chugging along fine; making occasional adjustments here and there as I’ve learned to do over the past seven years when I started to notice my weight creaping up.

It was insidiuous at first; probably because it starting taking hold in December when I typically expect to gain some weight. The problem is that the extra pounds didn’t disappear as easy as the holiday decorations. In fact, they decided to stick around. What’s worse, those pounds invited a few of their friends to come hang around like uninvited guests.

I know some of you are biting your lip about now because you know exactly what I’ve been feeling. The well-honed routine I’ve followed for years just isn’t getting the job done anymore.

Hmm…so, I hit Google hard researching all the words: hormonal weight gain, perimenopause, causes, symptoms…to get to the why behind my spiraling weight gain.

Unlike past years, creating a calorie deficit was just not going to cut it anymore. I needed to shift my focus from how much I was eating to the kinds of foods I was eating. I am a self-declared carb junkie and my post-50 body was saying, “Nope, not anymore!”

Ok body, I get it…I’ll change things up!

Well, that was about six weeks ago. I’ve lowered my carb intake, cut way back on sugar and I’ve stopped eating after dinner.

Get To The Why

Here’s the point in the story that I come to my “get to the why” lesson for today.

Most of us have struggled with the scale at one point or another in our lives. I knew not to weigh-in too much in the first couple of weeks, but around week three I found myself walking over to the scale every morning. Initially, it awarded my A.M. pilgramiges with signs of downward movement.

But, then around two weeks ago my progress came to a screaching halt. I hadn’t changed my new habits, nor had I dipped in my resolve. Nope, I’m doing the right things; however, the scale refuses to award me for my efforts. In fact, it appears dead set on moving in the wrong direction.

Yet, every morning I find myself walking to the scale, hoping that my persistence will reveal something different. Then, when it doesn’t, it’s like a kick to my resolve.

Have I developed healthier habits? Yes. Does my research confirm that these habits will contribute to a healthier me and lessen my chances for developing secondary health issues? Yes. Are there any other reasonable adjustments I can make to my current eating habits without going overboard? NO.

Then, why do I insist on weighing myself everyday when the practice does absolutely nothing positive for my progress or my resolve?

Why do we often fail to ask why?

Why do we insist on performing the same rote actions only to find ourselves dealing with the same negative outcomes?

1. The action used to work for us in the past.

For years, I’ve relied on the scale to provide an objective benchmark of my current weight. But now, my weight fluctuates widely depending on how the hormones decide to rage on a given day.

People change and circumstances change. If an action that used to positively reinforce your mood or outlook no longer produces the same results, then it’s time to ask yourself why you’re still performing it.

2. We are too busy to notice that we’re stuck in a rut.

The auto-pilot syndrome is real. Often, we do what we’ve always done because we just don’t seem to have the time to explore why we feel bad. In fact, a lot of us just assume we’re tired and cranky because of our schedules, when in reality it’s because the way we go about our daily duties just isn’t working for the people we are today.

3. We are resistant to change.

Finally, we get to the “C” word that so many of us resist. We are just plain-out scared of change. Our past successes can paralize us from changing actions that used to reap positive results.

• You’ve always worn your hair past your shoulders. But lately, you’ve noticed that your long hair seems to be making you look older.
• You’ve always had dark hair, but you can’t hardly keep up with the gray roots.
• You’ve always dressed a certain way, but your body is no longer shaped the way it used to be so the style seems less flattering.
• You’ve always had a three bedroom house, but now the kids aren’t home and some of the rooms are never used.

I think you get the idea at this point. Take some time. Schedule it in if you need to. But find some time to think about your life and your routine. Do your daily actions fit who you are today? If not, it’s time to get to the why.

God always calls us to examine the whys in our lives because it’s the why that reveals what’s truly in our hearts.

Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;

Psalms 26:2

So, I’ll be saying goodbye to my daily weigh-ins for a while, but I’ll keep pursuing all the positive changes I’ve made to my daily routine. Why?…because those are the things I can actually control, while the rest I ultimately have to leave in God’s hands.

~ Shellie

Catch all my posts by subscribing to my newsletter list in the footer of this page or Follow with Bloglovin’!
Check out the fabulous linkups I’m joining this week – My Linkups!

The post Get To The Why appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

It’s been a long while since I’ve done a fitness post and I must admit it’s because I’ve been wrestling with what fitness should look like as I approach my mid-fifties.  I hope to encourage a few of you who are walking this familiar road as you try to figure out your own midlife fitness routine. Even better, I’d love to hear what some of you are doing to stay fit in midlife.

I’ve exercised regularly since I hit 30. That was the year my youngest turned one and I decided it was time to get some of my junk pulled together after a few childbirths. And, for the most part, my chosen routine of primarily high-impact cardio worked like a dream for the next two-plus decades. My body responded well as long as I logged a good four hour-long sessions each week.

However, something started changing a year ago when I turned 53…I hit a wall with my cardio exercise. I’d heard rumors of it, but I guess with anything, experience is usually our best teacher.

I was going to the same classes and doing the same things, but the energy just wasn’t there. Not only that, but I would return home only to find myself sapped for the rest of the day. I mean…DRAGGING.

I wish I could say that I was so in tune with my body that I determined to change things up then and there…but no. I kept powering through like I had conditioned myself to do over the last 20 years. My body finally got my attention one morning in the middle of a Zumba class when I just couldn’t summon up the energy to go on.

I picked my stuff up and headed out the door in the middle of the class.

I went home and started combing the internet for answers. Frankly, it’s not all packaged neatly and tied up with a bow, but here’s what I’ve been able tie down in my search. We midlife women are a churning mix of rising and falling hormones that are all conspiring to rob us of our energy and deposit fat around our midsections.

Haha…that doesn’t sound very encouraging does it? I think the real truth of the matter is this…the whole midlife transition thing is real and hormonal changes do affect our bodies and performance.

More importantly, ignoring the problem does little to help a woman emotionally, mentally or physically.

A Few Things To Consider In Your Midlife Fitness Routine

1. Regulate Your Sleeping Schedule

I try to plan for 7 to 8 hours each night. Initially, I was experiencing a lot of waking and night sweats, so I went to a physician who prescribed an estradiol patch. The patch lessens my night sweats and I find myself sleeping a lot better. I eventually cut my dosage down to a half a patch.

Now, I know there are a lot of opinions on hormone replacement therapy, so I will leave it to you to work these out. But, I do recommend a doctor’s visit to get things checked out regardless of which path you choose.

2. Breathe More

No wonder we feel stressed out with the hormonal changes, sleepless nights and weight gain on top of all the other circumstances in our lives. Like me, many of you are also juggling the empty nest and aging parents, not to mention the toll of living through a worldwide pandemic. It’s A LOT for anybody.

Stress hormones can wreak even greater havoc on our already taxed systems. So, when you feel anxious or overwhelmed…sit down and consciously breathe.

I actually installed an app on my phone called Abide. The Abide app leads you through a brief meditation series with scripture and prayer. It also has a great bedtime story function that helps you to relax and focus on God.

Sometimes, we just need to be still. Most of us are familiar with this popular verse:

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46: 10

But, do you realize that this verse is proceeded by another group of verses:

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46: 1-3

It’s in the conscious act of stilling ourselves that we allow God to claim our attention, if only for a moment. We get so distracted and upset by the constant turmoil in our lives and the world around us that we find ourselves literally holding our breath.

We forget that God promises to be our refuge and strength. He says he’ll be right there when we’re in trouble.

God calls us to breathe him in and exhale our worries and fears.

3. Take Strategic Supplements

I have never really been good at the whole vitamin routine, but I now realize that strategic supplements really do give me the energy I need to get through the day. It helps me to portion out my week’s supply in a little M-F holder, then I take half at breakfast and the other half at lunch.

I will not take the time to dissect my whole supplement routine here, but I will mention one supplement that has given me a huge bump in energy. I’m notoriously bad at getting all the vegetables and fruit my body needs, so the Alive Once Daily Women’s Multivitamins help fill in the gaps that my eating doesn’t cover.

4. Commit To An At-Home Workout Routine

Working out at home was not an easy transition for me. While I like the social interaction of working out at the gym, I felt a pressure to keep up when my body just didn’t want to. I’m not saying I will say goodbye to the gym forever, but I do think the home workout is working for this season for several reasons. At-home workouts:

• allow you to cater the time and exercise to exactly what you need.
• give you the freedom to stop and start as many times as you need to during a workout.
• make it easy for you to modify any exercise to work for you.

Having said this, I don’t recommend just laying on the floor to do a few leg lifts now and then. We all need to push past what we think we’re capable of, which means we still need a virtual instructor to push us.

The FitOn app is the perfect app for the at-home workout. You can narrow down your routine to your own goals, time frame and activity level. If I get too tired, I press the pause button and walk around until I’m ready to press “play” again.

5. Add Strength Training & Toning To Your Workout

Our metabolism takes a huge hit in transition. While our bodies must deal with ever-changing hormone fluctuations, our metabolism is also greatly affected by loss of muscle tissue. The less muscle you have, the less calories your body burns at rest and the less food you can eat.

So, if you want to rev up your metabolism then you’ve got to start beefing up those muscles. Strong muscles also help support your bones, which protects you from usage aches and injuries.

I have added a lot more strength training into my routine; making special effort to concentrate on leg and rear exercises because those are the biggest muscle groups. Bigger muscle groups burn more calories…it’s a simple way to get more results from your efforts.

Here’s a link to an informative article that gives a lot more information about some of the changes I’ve made – What Type Of Exercise Is Best During Menopause?

Well, there you have it! This is what I’m doing to shake up my midlife fitness routine. I’d love to hear what you’re doing, so drop a comment below.

~ Shellie

Catch all my posts by subscribing to my newsletter list in the footer of this page or Follow with Bloglovin’! Check out the fabulous linkups I’m joining this week – My Linkups!

The post Transitions: My Midlife Fitness Routine appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

On this 3^rd Advent post, I’m talking about the Joy…joy that He came, joy that He offers to all who love Him and joy that He’s coming again to call up all who believe in His name.

We’re all known for something…maybe it’s your hair or sense of humor. Me?? I think I’m known most for my smile. Interestingly enough, I didn’t use to smile in pictures. In fact, there’s not a tooth to be found in most of my childhood photos.

Somewhere along the way I found my smile in late high school and early college. But, here’s the thing, a smile is only as good as what’s behind it. For me, it reflects the joy of knowing I am loved, valued and accepted by God.

I’ve accepted the good news that the angels heralded so many years ago…news that a savior came to earth to save me and invest my life with meaning and abiding joy.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Luke 2: 9-14 (The Message)

Does a sense of abiding, there-all-the-time-regardless-of-what’s-going-on-around-me, joy sound appealing to you? Believe it or not, that’s why Jesus came!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shellie Bowdoin (@shelliebowdoin)

If you don’t have the joy I’m talking about or, pretty much, you feel joyless a lot of the time, then I encourage you to do something about it. And wow, Christmas is the very best time to find out about the authentic joy found only in Jesus.

Practically every church in the country will be doing a special Christmas program this Sunday and they’ll be excited to tell you more about the true meaning of Christmas.

~ Shellie

The post Advent| Joy appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

I’m huge on planning and organization. Yep, all eyes are on me when it’s time to plan a family vacation or trip. No one stresses because they all know that I’ll have everything figured out when the time comes. So, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that peace and preparation go hand in hand for this second week of Advent.

Here’s an interesting fact about me…I played Mary in a live Nativity in my hometown every year from the age of 12 until my senior year in college. Of course, peace is an easy one. We’re all familiar with the iconic phrasing recited and remembered at every community Nativity observance and yes, I heard it spoken as I held a host of little babies throughout those years.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Peace

Well…maybe it’s easy to see how peace fits into the Christmas narrative, but I don’t think any of us assume it’s a foregone conclusion in everyday practice. We get the concept; we know we’re supposed to have it, but the daily execution can prove much more difficult to master.

Why is it so easy to allow fear and worry to replace peace in our hearts and minds?

Obviously, God knows it’s a daily struggle for us to walk in peace. That’s why the His Word consistently encourages us not to worry or fear. But, did you know that the Bible actually mentions “fear not” 365 times Yep, one time for every day we’re tempted to succumb to doubt, fear and anxiety!

Preparation

While the worries of this life loom daily, so does the firm reality that God has our lives and this world under control. It’s right here that the whole preparation part comes into play…this world as it is right here and right now isn’t all there is…nope! Jesus is coming again and we can be ready.

‘‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.

Luke 3: 4-5

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shellie Bowdoin (@shelliebowdoin)

What does this preparation look like in practice? It means to consistently take things back to Jesus and God’s Word. When I feel tempted to follow the path of cynicism or speak words of judgement, I ask myself, “Where is this emotion coming from and does it reflect Jesus?” God promises to bring peace as long as I refuse to allow myself to wander down crooked paths.

Christmas comes around each year to remind us that God’s got a plan for every step of our journey…and that plan starts and ends with Jesus.

I encourage each of you to reflect God’s peace this Christmas season. You may know that this world and all its problems is not the end, but is your life reflecting this reality to others who so desperately long for peace?

~ Shellie

The post Advent | Peace & Preparation appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

Ding, dong, ring those bells…it’s the Christmas season and I have a reason to hope! Hope was sent into the world as a tiny baby born to an unassuming couple in an unassuming town in an unassuming way. Although the setting was simple, the implications of Jesus’ birth are anything but simple.

I love the trees, the ornaments, Santa and don’t get me started on the Christmas treats!! But, I also love the fact that I get the opportunity to shine a little light on why we celebrate Christmas…why did Jesus come??

I don’t think I’m the only one who loves babies. There’s just something about the hope in their eyes that draws us in and helps us to forget all the other stuff going on around us. I think that’s why we love to tell and retell the Christmas story each year because it’s all about a baby born on a starry night in Bethlehem.

But, I’m so glad that the manger scene was only the prelude to so much more!

Jesus came because I need him…because this world with its war and pestilence is just more than I can handle on my own! I have a reason to hope when my world seems shaken and it’s hope that sustains me.

We have entered into a season that some call Advent, which literally means “coming.” Yes, Jesus came as a baby some 2,000 years ago, but HE’S COMING again.

His birth means much more than a sweet story or a cherished symbol that we set out on our mantles. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shellie Bowdoin (@shelliebowdoin)

Jesus invests our lives with HOPE. No matter what obstacles, worries, or struggles stand in your way right now, Jesus offers a way for you to look up over, under, around or even through your circumstances to the enduring hope he represents and freely offers.

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15: 13

May the Holy Spirit stir up your hope this season. But, even more than that, I pray that you would grab ahold of the joy and peace that only truly comes as we fix our eyes on the God of hope.

Reach out for him and he will be there for you every time!

~ Shellie

The post Advent | Reason To Hope appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

I can’t let the holiday slip by without seizing the opportunity to say how thankful and blessed I am this Thanksgiving, 2021! And you know what? My gratitude has absolutely nothing to do with my circumstances.

I sit here typing out this post in my Manila apartment…I’m literally a world away from the family I hold most dear in the world. I’m sure I’m not the only one, but long ago I determined that if I could have just one super power, it would be teleportation. Wouldn’t it be great to just snap your fingers and be anywhere in the world you wanted to be?

But then, having said this, I’m filled with a host of conflicting emotions because where I am, right now, in this very moment is also exactly where I know God wants me to be!! And frankly, when it comes right down to it…I want to be right, smack-dab, in the middle of wherever God wants me.

It’s a miracle we made it back to Manila; a place that’s been virtually out-of-reach for over a year! Thank you God for making ways where there seems to be no way!

Nope, I can’t wish away God’s provision with a click of my heels, so I’ve decided to flip the script in my head and heart. Instead of focusing on what I don’t have this Thanksgiving, I will choose to thank God for what I’ve got!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shellie Bowdoin (@shelliebowdoin)

Thankful And Blessed

• I’m thankful for the awesome view from my apartment windows.
• I’m thankful for my three happy, healthy kids who all love God and choose to serve Him.
• I’m thankful for my husband who loves me and makes me yummy muffins for breakfast whenever I ask.
• I’m thankful for supportive family members who also choose to see God’s provision in our separation.
• I’m thankful that my feet always stay the same size, so my shoes always fit.
• I’m thankful for crunchy ice in my iced tea.
• I’m thankful in advance for all the pictures I will get to see tomorrow from your holiday celebrations.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Colossians 2: 6-7

My list could go on and on…I am thankful and blessed…no buts or “if-onlys.” Life is just too short for that…I’m living it!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

~ Shellie

The post Thankful And Blessed| Thanksgiving appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

I find myself in a reflective mood as another year comes calling. Bidden or not, the years pass. While I can do little to ebb the tide of increasing years, I hope to garner a few nuggets of wisdom and insight to carry into my 54th year.

We all do it…stand in front of the mirror to assess what new “gifts” the new year has bestowed upon our unwitting faces. They say the eyes are the mirrors to the soul. Well, that’s all fine and good, but my vanity wishes my smile lines had just a little less to reflect…wink, wink!

Over the past year I decided to fully embrace my natural gray hair. For me, the transition was from dark to light, which has required a considerable amount of patience and waiting. So, I guess I can say this birthday is the gateway into the lighter years.

Nuggets Of Wisdom

I’ve often heard people associate gray hair with wisdom. Well, I can definitely say that this past year has taught me that it takes a lot more than gray hair to consistently walk in wisdom.

Wisdom is found when lessons are learned and experiences become fuel for greater insight and empathy…when the essence of your character rests more in who you are than in what you say.

I’ve seen a lot in my five-plus decades, which leads me to the firm conclusion that I don’t possess answers to any of the world’s problems. But, I’m so grateful to know a God who does and He’s given me some pretty clear instructions for life and living.

The older I get, the more I appreciate how simple God makes things for me. He whittled everything down to two simple things…love Him and love my neighbor. He sifted it all down to the L word, L-O-V-E.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12: 30-31

Aging hasn’t lowered my threshold for opinions…yep, I’ve got a lot of those. And, if I’m not careful (and I do mean mindfully, day-by-day, careful) those opinions can steal my joy and perspective. But, the wisdom of my 54 years forces me to ask myself, “Shellie, will everyone who hears my opinions feel the love?” If my answer is no, then I know the only place for my soapbox is before an audience of one.

God’s not in the business of changing minds, so why in the world do I think I should be? Instead, He goes straight for hearts, because when those truly change…ahhhh, now there’s some true wisdom for me to wrap my life around and stand firmly upon.

~ Shellie

Catch all my posts by subscribing to my newsletter list in the footer of this page or Follow with Bloglovin’! Check out the fabulous linkups I’m joining this week – My Linkups!

The post 54 Years – A Few Nuggets Of Wisdom appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

If you’ve read my blog for any time, then you know I’m big on perspective, because I believe it’s the secret sauce for living a victorious, overcoming life. I’m convinced that our lives are determined not by what challenges life brings our way, but by how we choose to think and subsequently act when faced with inevitable obstacles.

When life gets hard, pour on some perspective and watch God elevate your character to frame your circumstances in a whole new light.

While blogging is one place I hang my hat, I spend most of my time as a missionary working alongside my husband. In addition to our work in the Philippines, we’re also oversee an awesome band of fellow missionaries in Southeast Asia.

Today, I’ve asked one of our missionaries to the Philippines, Lindsay Choi, to share her recent journey and some tips she’s learned to help shift your focus when you lose perspective.

Panic, Pesos, and Perspective

I was in the fetal position in my daughters’ closet, weeping, sweating, terrified, and only able to stammer a few words: “God. Help. Please.”

A week earlier, a wave of inexplicably severe anxiety had crashed over me. Panic attacks sprang on me without warning, leaving me gasping for breath, unable to function, tortured by devastating scenarios that played on repeat in my mind.

What instigated this storm? I honestly don’t know.

As a nation we were facing social upheaval, a contentious election, and divisive opinions about the pandemic… but this anxiety was more personal than all that. The icy hand of fear grasped my heart and conjured up visions of the worst things I could imagine happening to my family.

The anxiety and panic plunged me into depression. While I was never suicidal, I remember thinking, “If this is what my life is now, I can’t do it.” And the enemy of my soul shouted back: “YES! This is your life now. Give up!”

What eventually pulled me back from the brink of despair?…Scripture, worship, prayers and messages from my family… and a lesson I actually taught on perspective back in 2012.

I was teaching English in the Philippines, and we were using the book of Habakkuk to practice reading comprehension. As we watched Habakkuk go from fear to faith, I prepared a simple object lesson to demonstrate how Habakkuk made that leap.

I had each student hold a Philippine peso, a coin about the size of a nickel, up to their left eye while closing their right. When they all complied, I asked the class what they saw.

“The peso,” came the replies.

“Only the peso? How is that possible?” I pressed. “I’m here, and I am a little bigger than a peso.”

There were a few giggles… and then from a student in the back came the one word I was seeking: Perspective.

I reminded my class that day that our focus can warp reality. Small things loom large when we hold them too close. We may be surrounded by beauty, by friends, by opportunities. But if we’ve brought our small, insignificant concerns to the center of our vision, life will shrink and our souls will be threatened by a coin-sized fear.

In Habakkuk 1, the prophet is asking God some modern-sounding questions: “Why? How long?” He vents his frustration and confusion. And God answers:

Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

Habakkuk 1:5

Notice how God’s response to Habakkuk was not the obliteration of evil nor relief from pain; it was simply an adjustment of focus. Look, God says. Watch. In other words: shift your focus. Raise your eyes. See a different reality.

In 2012, I went to the Philippines as a missionary, leaving home out of a season of disappointment. While overseas, God highlighted Habakkuk 1:5 for me. For years, I had focused on my struggles; I finally realized that it was my focus, not my circumstances, that had birthed the disappointments I was fleeing.

God was calling me to watch what He was doing. And He was right: I would not have believed if I’d been told what He was going to do with me.

Fast forward to that August day in 2020. I huddled in a closet, unable to play with my kids or cook dinner or chat with my husband or consider the future without terror. And this verse is drumming through my mind on repeat: “I am doing something. I am doing something. I am doing something.”

I didn’t feel the truth of that statement in those agonizing moments. But I learned that you can know something is true without feeling it.

you can know something is true without feeling it.
Click To Tweet

So again and again, I dragged my eyes away from the “peso” that had swallowed my vision and I looked up.

Minutes later, I would find my gaze fixed once again on the peso. Almighty God, Creator of all, King of kings and Lord of lords, had been eclipsed by my infinitesimal human fears.

Not once, not twice, but countless times I lifted my eyes until I saw Him once again, seated above the flood. Eventually, the turbulent sea of anxiety stilled and I floated again on the gentle waves of His goodness.

A repeated adjustment of my perspective finally brought me to the same conclusion that Habakkuk comes to at the end of his short book…

Even if the worst things I can imagine do happen, I will rejoice. I will trust. I will invite the Sovereign Lord to be my strength.

Practical Steps To Shift Your Focus

If you are in a season where your focus is continually eclipsed by “coins,” I encourage you to do a few things I’ve found most helpful:

1. Find Scriptures that speak to your situation and write them out by hand.
2. Post these scriptures around your house where you will see them often.
3. Fill your home with praise music.
4. Let trusted friends and family know you are struggling, and allow them to send you words of encouragement, lyrics to songs, and Scriptures.
5. Remind yourself, as many times as necessary, what you know is true; not what you feel is true in the moment.
6. Pray for a perspective adjustment so you can see your mountain as God sees it.

You will find proportions drastically changing as your focus shifts. Mountains may shrink down to molehills. Molehills, things that were on the periphery and seemed insignificant or mundane, may swell to become holy mountains.

The right perspective, a heavenly perspective, gives you power to hop over molehills, climb mountains worth climbing, and move forward in God’s perfect plan for you.

If you could peek behind the veil and see how God is working in the darkness of your situation, you wouldn’t even believe it. Lift your gaze to the One who is truly larger than it all… and prepare to be utterly amazed.

I’m Lindsay Choi, wife, mom of 2 princesses, missionary, teacher, and writer. I inhale coffee and doughnuts, and if I have a minutes of free time, you’ll find me curled up in a comfy chair with a book… or five. God has been incredibly gracious to me. I am humbled and honored to share my story with you. If you would like to support my family and me as missionaries to the Philippines, please click here.

The post Shift Your Focus – Guest Post By Lindsay Choi appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.

I’m a Florida girl who’s spent almost her whole adult life in the tropics. What can I say? I love summer and long days and heat and beaches! So, it just seems right to share some of my favorite summer stuff!

But first, I thought I’d kick off with Olaf’s song, “Summer.” Just imagine me singing along.

“When life gets rough I like to hold on to my dream of relaxing in the summer sun just lettin’ off steam!”

My Favorite Summer Stuff

Fresh Air

I can’t help but compare this current season to where I was last year at this time. Undoubtedly, my number one most favorite summer thing is breathing in fresh air whenever and wherever I want to!

One year today, I was experiencing my first day back in the United States after a 28-hour plane trip from Manila where I had spent the prior three months in my apartment with only a window’s view to the outside world.

Today, I walk and live each day with a greater appreciation of the very air I breathe!

Earthly Choice Cauliflower Rice

Ok, I admit I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the wonder of cauliflower rice! I’ve been trying to find ways to cut some carbs out of my daily menus. Cauliflower rice allows me to make several of my favorite things without the huge carb load…whoop, whoop.

Better yet, I’ve discovered microwavable rice that can be stored in your normal pantry without refrigeration. I’ve included the Amazon link here, but you can find a much better deal at Sam’s club.

Earthly Choice Cauliflower Rice

Here are a few great recipes to add to your summer menu.

Cauliflower Pizza Recipe

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

Brocolli Cauliflower Casserole

Espadrille Sandals

This girl absolutely loves espadrille sandals and I literally have them in all kinds of styles and colors. The espadrille sandal is a combination of cuteness, style and comfort all squished into one glorious shoe.

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps

I like to store my dark chocolate pretzel crisps in the freezer. This cool, crunchy snack is perfect for long summer evenings…crisp, cool, chocolatey goodness…who could ask for more in a snack? But I do leave you with one word of caution…do not eat these straight out of the bag! Pay attention to the nutritional label on the back and pull out the amount you intend to eat before you take your first bite.

Colorstreet Summer Nails

Your nails are the perfect place to show off the fresh colors of summer. Colorstreet nail polish strips come in all kinds of fun colors and styles that don’t require constant upkeep. Shoot me a message if you would like to learn more about them.

Long Summer Days

It just feels like I have more time in summer; time to go outside for a walk after dinner or to sit and chat in the back yard as the sun slowly fades on the horizon. Thank you God for long summer days that draw my attention to the verdant beauty of nature!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Psalms 19: 1-6

Yep, I love summer and all my favorite summer stuff! I hope you are carving out a little time each day to enjoy it while the sun is still high in the sky.

* This post does contain a few affiliate links. This means I may receive a few cents for sharing the products, but you pay no extra to use them.

~ Shellie

Catch all my posts by subscribing to my newsletter list in the footer of this page or Follow with Bloglovin’! Check out the fabulous linkups I’m joining this week – My Linkups!

The post My Favorite Summer Stuff appeared first on Shellie Bowdoin | The FABulous Journey.