Find It All Joy (a little life update)

In the slowness of this season, I'm striving to find joy + gratitude in the small daily routines. Our life might not be glamorous, interesting, or adventure seeking every single day, or even every other week for that matter. But it's filled with Jesus, faith, love, rest, and an overabundance of blessings. For that, I will rejoice, be glad, and have JOY!

So let's do a little life update and celebrate the small things, shall we? 

Despite the slowness, there are a few exciting things happening + some resources I've found on the internet that are bringing fun + inspiration into these long + dark January days (Midwest winters are no joke, friends) From birthdays, vacations, jobs, workouts, to a green smoothie recipe that interests me (and maybe you too!).

So here you have it, a little peak into life at the moment :)

Josh's 27th birthday was this past Sunday. We aren't big "occasion celebraters" or "gift givers," but a home made surf + turf dinner is totally us. Laid back, simple, and in the comfort of our sweatpants. Happy Birthday, again, husband! 

You guys! We are officially planning our summer vacation...and we're going to California + Nevada! I have not been to either state, and I am so excited to experience them. I've been Pinteresting + Googling San Francisco attractions + places to eat all week long (talk about major food cravings...) And of course, being the camping + mountain hiking lovers we are, a trip to Yosemite will be happening as well. Planning + daydreaming about this vacation is getting me through these winter months, no doubt!

If you're not friends with me on snap chat (rach_schultzz) you totally should be. Especially if you would like to see the ridiculous + weird person that I truly am....and also the cutest 9 month old baby snaps you'll ever see. I absolutely love my nanny job, and Josh appreciates the 20 million snaps he gets throughout the day :)

Have you heard of Daily Burn? It's a website with a large collection + variety of workouts that you can do in your home, for $10 a month. I am a BIG in home workout person, and I also enjoy variety in my workouts. I've never been one to finish a "90 day program" in its entirety...but if I have 5 different types of programs at my finger tips, you bet I'll be motivated to try a different one every day. Is anyone else like this? If so, daily burn is definitely worth a look. I'm loving the Yoga + Dance programs. Right now I'm using the 30 day free trial, but I'm thinking I might fit that $10 into our budget for February! 

I'm feeling super health inspired by Kimberly Snyder and her Glowing Green Smoothie ( #GGS). I found her videos on oneoeight.tv (definitely worth a watch, and a free trial account. Yes, I'm a sucker for "free trials"...) I gained some great advice from her when it comes to having a morning + evening routine. One of her suggestions for your morning routine is to have something "light" for breakfast that allows your body to continue in a detoxifying mode. She explains that putting something more heavy in your body, for example an egg omelette (oh man, I love eggs for breakfast!), will then have your body go into digestion mode. So interesting! I'm all for my body staying in detox mode ;) The smoothie calls for a water base with 70% greens (kale, spinach, romaine, etc.) and 30% fruit (suggested options were apple, pear, banana, and lemon. Lots of fiber!) It sounds delicious, and I will be trying it!

So this was fun! And a great way to feel grateful for the goodness + inspiration that is in my life at the moment. And as always, I hope it inspired you in some way too. How are you finding joy during the winter months?

Finding Worth in Jesus.

I shared my January and yearly goals last week, (here) and one of my yearly goals was to "Find my worth + Joy in Jesus." I also listed action steps that would help me reach this goal. One of these steps was to go on a week long "social media break" when I feel it's necessary. When I find myself consumed by Instagram likes and Facebook posts. When I play the comparison game, more than being joyful and content. When I flee from my sadness, boredom, or loneliness, to these social media platforms instead of God's word. Those are the times that a break from social media will be needed.

I got this idea from Pastor Mike Novotny, who is the pastor at The Core in Appleton, WI. Pastor Novotny did a sermon series called iGod. During this three part series he talks about how we so often let technology get in the way of our relationship with Jesus. His purpose for his sermons, he said, was: that our goal be to find our name, our rest, and our focus in God, and not in a gadget.

On paper our worth seems great. 
If you look at your social media accounts you will find hundreds of likes, comments, shares, and followers. With so much positive attention, it seems we should be filled up with gigabyte after gigabyte of love and acceptance. With all of this love it seems as though someone could criticize, and it wouldn't bother us. God wired us to feel worth, love, and importance. We desire these feelings, and go to many different outlets to find it. But the truth is that Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter fail us. Even among all of our friends and likes, we still at times feel distant and lonely. We fight to be included, to see if people care, or if anyone is listening.

We're like the people in the Genesis 11 story, The Tower of Babel. These people thought building a tower so high that it reached the heavens would give them a name. They thought they could make bricks stronger, use the advanced technology of their time, beat the competition, and reach the heavens! If you look at Genesis 11, you'll see that the people mentioned themselves 5 times, and God zero! Instead of looking to God for their worth and strength, they looked inwardly to themselves. When people turn inward, and forget about God, that's when all types of ugliness happens.

If you know this Bible story, you know that God spared His people from making a name for themselves. He changed their speech, they were unable to communicate, and they were scattered. But even in their trial, they were saved. They were saved from the evil of inward motivated hearts.

Friends, we are so often like the people building the Tower of Babel. We strive, sacrifice, push God to the side, and build up our own lives so high in order for others to recognize us, to appreciate us, and tell us we matter. The reality is that a name for yourself will always and at some point come crashing down. If you have to point to something that you did to prove that you matter or have value, it will fail. 

But here's the fantastic news. We do not need to find a name for ourselves, because God has already given us a name! He allows us to take a name from His Holy Word. Matthew 28 tells us this:

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Through our baptism God has given us the name of all names, a name that no one can take away. He has given us His own name. He has graciously given us the righteousness won for us on the cross. So even when social media causes us to feel judged, inadequate, jealous, comparing, or lacking joy, we can know that God has already named us. We do not need to search for one in our posts, comments, likes, re-tweets, pins, or followers.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."

2 Corinthians 5:17

I highly recommend listening to Pastor Novotny's sermon series, iGod. It gave me a proper mindset and applicable action goals to help me accomplish my goal of finding worth in Jesus. Before you head on over and listen to the inspiring words of Pastor, here are some action steps that I am taking to not let social media steal my joy. My hope + prayer is that some of these things inspire you to take action towards a better relationship with Jesus over a digital relationship.

1. Be in The Word
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7
The Bible was given to us not as a decoration on our coffee tables, but to be used, studied, meditated on, and put into practice. The Word of God is powerful. It has the power to not only create faith, but to increase faith. Struggling with comparison + unworthiness? Turn to God's word. Thinking you are a failure? Turn to God's word. Overwhelmed with the expectations and standards life gives you? Turn to God's word. Consumed with self-doubt and negative self-talk? Turn to God's word. In all things turn to him, flee to him instead of social media. He promises to give you so much more than what the world can give.

2. Find the names God has given us in the book of Ephesians
I gained this advice in the first sermon from iGod. Pastor Novotny recommends to do this while participating in a "social media break," but of course anytime is a good time! (I forgot to do it last week, so I'm doing it this week!) So go ahead, open up Ephesians, search the word, discover all of the beautiful, hopeful, loving, gracious, and righteous names that the Lord has given to believers. You have all of these names, dear friend. There is no need to seek one on the internet.

3. Before posting on social media, ask yourself these 3 questions. 
Is this post for...
1. God's Glory? Are you pointing others to him, sharing his word, or professing your faith with your post?
2. Other's good? Are you giving positive advice or encouraging words?
3. My name? Are you trying to prove your worth, make a name for yourself, find likes and loving comments, or feel included?

Before I post, I ask myself these questions in order to find the true meaning behind it. Behind this picture + caption what is my heart really saying? What am I truly desiring? Often times our posts can be a mix of these things, or all three of them at once. That's normal. My goal is that I recognize the possible prominence of number 3, and reevaluate what I truly need in my life. It's likely I do not need social media, but more Jesus.

4. Identify your bad motives
Do you suffer from any of these?
Living a lie online: Honesty alert...I suffer from this at times. Do you as well? Before you post that photo or comment, ask yourself: Is this truly me? Would I say this in person to my friend? It's so easy to get caught up in the perfectly thought out words + images. But God wants you to be you, even while online! And just remember, when comparison creeps in, you may really be comparing yourself to another persons "lie."
Suffering from "digital obsessive compulsive disorder": Guilty again (insert hand raising emoji). Whether it's standing in line, waiting for your food to heat up, at the stop light....we all do it. It's almost as if we do not know what to do with our hands and eyes without our devices. But here's a thought, when picking up your phone to mindlessly scroll, are you really searching for something else? Searching for a better conversation, a prettier reality, importance, or identity? Think about it. Find out what you are truly looking for, and then go and do that.
Suffering from "digital obsessive comparison disorder": Social media often causes us to feel "less than blessed." We see the perfectly curated images on our screens, and then are disappointed in the images of our realities. It's time to stop. It's time to be grateful. It's time to find joy solely in the identity of being a Child of God. Ask yourself, can you look at people's blessings online, and still be content with your own? Because odds are you have a ridiculous amount of blessings, and it's time to rejoice in them.
Fleeing to Facebook, instead of the Faithbook: When you're feeling lonely, bored, or sad, where do you go? Is it to Facebook, or the Faithbook? The Lord asks us to "call upon Him in the day of trouble," and to "Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." Let's work on listening to the true feelings of our hearts, and flee to the one who truly knows our hearts and can fix them.

5. PRAY
It's simple, it can be done wherever, at any time of day, for a long or short amount of time. The best part...IT WORKS. God has given us a beautiful gift in prayer. Use it, and see how God answers. If you want or need something, you must ask. If you are dealing with certain struggles, you must seek help. Turn to the Great Physician, who hears our struggles, answers our prayers, and helps us in times of need.

These are 5 ways that I am taking action and finding my worth in my Savior. Is this something you may need to work on too? I know I'm not alone. What are some other ways that you use social media, while still finding your name in Jesus? Help a sister out! I could always use a little extra encouragement :)

January + Yearly Goals | 2016

"Goals can be overwhelming if they are not connected to what matters. They can make life busier. I don't want a new to do list for my life; I want a clear, meaningful path. I want to know I'm living with intention & purpose instead of living by accident. Powerful goals--meaningful goals--simplify life and help you take action. The PowerSheets were designed to help you cultivate what matters most, little by little, with some big leaps along the way."

LET'S DO THIS!

-Lara Casey

I've found myself loving my monthly goal posts (seen here, here, here, & here). I look forward to this post every month. I've always been a planner and a dreamer, so writing + sharing goals have been so fun for me. 

I decided that I wanted more out of my goals for 2016. I wanted intention + purpose. I wanted to chase those big scary dreams. I decided to try Lara Casey's Power Sheets. I had heard so many good things about them, and thought they may just be the ticket for this goal loving gal. Let me tell ya, they are the best goal setting tools I have ever had. While I have always been quick to write goals down, I wasn't always quick to accomplish them. My goals, while some may have had purpose, were not thought out + lacked an action plan. I have been so ridiculously impressed with the content that these PowerSheets provide. I dove wayyyy deeper than just the surface. I explored my weaknesses, fears, what I'm grateful for, what worked + what didn't in 2015, what "fires me up," goal ideas, things  + relationships I want to "cultivate," MY WHY, the "big picture"things in my life, and action ideas to make my goals a reality. Sounds great, right? IT IS!

For this months goal post, I want to include both my yearly  long term goals + the goals I'm focusing on for the month. Before I share those exciting things, here's something for my fellow visual learners out there ;) Below is an image of my "big picture." These are the things that fire me up and help me to focus on what matters most.

My passion for "self care" activities, finding rest in Jesus instead of others, my marriage, dancing, finding my worth in Christ (something I am continuing to work on), coffee, kissing, studying the Word, and the mountains.

2016 goals

To be transparent here...I have 10 big "yearly goals," but some of them are very personal, and things I do not feel comfortable sharing on this blog quite yet. I hope to one day accomplish these goals + feel confident in sharing my story about them.

1. Improve my prayer life

Ways to make this happen:

-be intentional about 5 minutes of prayer when I wake up + when I go to bed

-use the Treasury of daily prayer

-read a book on "how to pray" (have not chosen one yet)

-pray with Josh

-start a prayer journal
-pray for 1 new person each week, every night (idea found from Audrey Roloff. She is just so inspiring, friends. Check her out!!)

Why? Because prayer works + changes things! It is a powerful tool + gift that God has given to us. It would be so silly to not strengthen my communication with my Lord through this simple task. To be completely honest, I'm a bit embarrassed at the lack of prayer in my life. Something that should be automatic + routine, is something that is lacking. My goal is to make prayer a habit in my day to day life.

2. Find my joy + worth in Jesus

Ways to make this happen:

-be in the word daily

-go on a 1 week social media purge when I find myself finding worth in others (This is happening TOMORROW!)

-recognize negative self-talk and let it go, do not dwell on it

-biblical self-affirmations

Why? Because finding worth in the world only brings doubt + pain + failure. I need a strong relationship with Jesus. Instead of turning to social media, I need to turn to him. Jesus alone is my refuge + strength; in him I find my worth.

3. Weekly Marriage Meeting + Daily Devotions

Ways to make this happen:

-pick a devotion with Josh

-schedule a devotion time each day

-print off marriage meeting questions from Audrey Roloff's blog (like I said, you can't pass this girl up)
-schedule a marriage meeting time at the end of each week

-pray together before + after meetings + devotions

-pray for Josh

Why? Because aside from God, Josh is the most important relationship in my life. I consider our marriage to be strong, but there are certain things like devotions + praying together that we have strayed from. Life gets busy, but that does not mean that cultivating our marriage or relationship with God gets put to the side. I hope to strengthen our marriage that much more in 2016, through more communication + more Jesus. Our marriage foundation is firmly set upon Christ, but we must take care of that foundation in order to stay firm.

4. "Core 4" Every day I will do one thing to focus on these 4 areas in my life: Jesus, Josh, Well-being, Personal Development.

Ways to make this happen:

-connect with God: studying the bible, prayer, devotions

-ask, "how can I love Josh today?"

-show Josh's love language

-eat nutrient filled foods

-exercise 3-5 times a week

-read! Just read! :)

Why? Because doing some form of these 4 things every day will help me live a more purposeful + fulfilling + engaged life. When I participate in these activities my days are simply better, and I feel accomplished and in tune with what matters.

5. BUDGET!

Ways to make this happen:

-set a monthly budget

-have a weekly budget meeting with Josh

-use the "envelope" system for food expenses

-track expenses on our budget app

Why? Because money causes stress. As much as I hate to admit it, it does! This school year in Michigan, we have been blessed with Josh's salary, but I've found it a bit more tough to find jobs that meet our budgetary "desire." Don't get me wrong, we are BLESSED + God is providing, but we do have goals + dreams of paying off debt and taking vacations :) In 2016, I hope to be a better steward of my money and chip away at that silly student loan debt!

6. Cultivate Relationships

Ways to make this happen:

-choose calling over texting

-send 2 hand written letters a month

-call my family at least once a week

-give attention to relationships that build me up

-more commenting, less just liking on social media. CONNECT!

Why? Because as I get older, I realize the importance of good, solid relationships. Friendship + community fire me up! There's nothing like a good long phone conversation or sharing your heart with a girlfriend over coffee. It's just all too good not to spend more of my energy cultivating these things. Also, who doesn't love snail mail?!

7. Purposeful + Meaningful posts on Instagram + the "itsrachelschultz blog"

Ways to make this happen:

-ask these questions before posting: Am I posting for myself? For the benefit of others? Or for the promotion of Jesus?

-write out + plan "long" Instagram posts

-make an Instagram + Blogging schedule

-write a social media mission statement + post it where I can see it

-take social media breaks

Why? Social media is a HUGE blessing, as well as being a hindrance at times. I think the reach + influence to be had on social media is important, and it is something I'm passionate about. I do not want to be surface or self-seeking in my posts. I want to be authentic, inspire, tell my story, and glorify Jesus. (hmmm, maybe that's that start of a mission statement?)

8. Try + experience new things + places

Ways to make this happen:

-practice calligraphy 

-take a dance class

-do yoga

-travel out west

-read, as much as possible, everyday

-teach a fitness class

Why? I want to LIVE and ENJOY the fun things that life has to offer. So often I focus on the things in my life that need to be "fixed," and do not take the time to explore something new. I want to seek newness, adventure, enjoyment, and challenge in 2016!

And real quick....

December Goals

1. Read the Power of Full Engagement - COMPLETED!

2. Finish studying the book of Romans - Not Completed. While I'll be honest that I wasn't faithful at studying this book everyday, I'll also be honest in saying it takes much longer to study the Bible than to just read it!

3. Do yoga 3 times a week - Not Completed

4. Blog more consistently - COMPLETED! I believe I blogged 7 times. I think that's an all time high ;)

5. Be intentional about social media - 1/2 COMPLETED. I did really well at connecting and being intentional with relationships on Instagram, but I completely failed at turning my phone off by 7, like really failed.

January Goals

1. Focus on my daily "Core 4" 

2. 1 week free of social media (I'm doing this starting tomorrow, so I'll be having a bit of a hiatus this week)

3. Continue to study Romans (most definitely my fave book of the Bible right now. So much good stuff to study and absorb).

4. Read, "Make it Happen" by Lara Casey (the mastermind behind PowerSheets!)

5. Implement daily devotions and a weekly "marriage meeting" (cooler name to come....hopefully) with Josh! (I also hope to elaborate more on how these 2 things are going in the future!)

6. Start a prayer journal

There ya have it! My 2016 goals + monthly January goals. The plan is to take action steps from each BIG goal, and have them as one of my monthly goals. Some goals may stay up for several months, some may only be one month. However long it takes to accomplish these goals, I'm excited to start the journey in 2016. I truly am so pumped about the growth that will happen in my life this year. I'm so thankful for the tools and support to be able to chase after all of these BIG dreams! 

R plus J | Two Years of Marriage.

Baby,

Two. Years. How exciting is that? Two years of being your wife have come and gone. The best two years of my life thus far. I'm writing this at 9:12 pm on January 3rd. We just got back from Christmas travel in Wisconsin + Illinois where we were surrounded by both of our families, and our dearest friends the whole time. I feel so content, blessed, happy, and all those other great adjectives to describe the friends + family I have gained since knowing you (and I think you could say the same about my loved ones!) This year may possibly have brought us the most change and adventure. I was teaching, you were writing a thesis paper. I finished teaching, and you graduated. We found out we would be moving to Michigan for your first call! We traveled to Ann Arbor, Washington D.C., and The Grand Tetons in Wyoming. We officially moved to Saginaw and began the next (2 year) chapter of our lives. I would never have experienced any of these things if God did not give me you. You have given my life so much excitement, joy, and adventure. You are my spiritual leader, best friend, advice giver, and biggest supporter. You strive to love me as Christ loved the church + point me to Jesus every single day. You continue to grow in the knowledge of how to best be a husband, and I am forever thankful for that. Our actual day to day lives aren't usually as "exciting" as our travel destinations; but I can confidently say that having a drink + watching a rented movie snuggled up on our cozy couch might just be my love language. The joy + love that I find in the simple moments with you make me fall that much deeper in love with you. As we ate out tonight for our anniversary dinner, we chatted about some of our favorite moments on our wedding day. The first thing that came to my mind was our "first look" when we exchanged letters to one another. I cried, laughed, and smiled I think maybe simultaneously as you read these words to me on our wedding day:

"I promise to love you for who you are, not who you wish you were. I promise to show you that love even when you don't love yourself. I promise to give you the attention the most important person in my life deserves. I promise to care for you when you are sick and old. I promise to stand by you when no one else does. I promise to encourage and support you in the goals you have set for yourself. I promise to be God's servant and keep Jesus at the center of your life. And I promise to love you as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her."

Joshua, you continue to do all these things and more. Even though you have failures + set backs from time to time in showing Christ like love, you continue to pursue and grow in these promises. I praise the Lord for your desire + passion for our marriage, and for me.

Happy Anniversary Baby,

Your Bride.

(PS) I couldn't resist sharing A LOT a few of my favorite images from the day, since this blog didn't quite exist in 2014! All images are from the lovely Kyna at Sawyer Creek Photography

2 years later...