February Goals.

It's already the second month of the year! January always seems to come and go so quickly (and to be honest I'm completely okay with that!) These long, cold, Midwest winters can be the pits, so I'm ready to be one month closer to Spring. But hey, it's been 45 degrees (heat wave) in Michigan the past 2 days...so I really can't complain too much!

I'm so excited for these February goals, and maybe even more excited to reflect on January. 

January was good. Really good. It was filled with imperfect progress, little by little steps, a few big leaps, and lots of prayer. There was so much personal, spiritual, relationship, and financial growth this past month, and I just feel so proud. I'm proud of what I accomplished, and I think that is something myself and other women need to say to ourselves more often. We do so many amazing things everyday, but we so easily forget to give ourselves a pat on the back! I'm proud because I made things happen and took action towards my goals. I wasn't perfect, but inspiration + grace + prayer (oh my goodness, prayer) carried me through the tough days. I read two books, prayed often, budgeted, called my family members, treated my body as a temple with food, exercise, and the word, finished studying Romans, practiced yoga, implemented weekly marriage meetings with Josh, had a week long social media break, and took time for more bubble baths.

That was a lot. And it seems a bit crazy to think I accomplished it all. I praise God for the strength + persistence that he gave me.

And if you're reading that list, and feeling guilty about what you did or didn't accomplish compared to mine, please don't. I've been where you are. Struggling to make things happen, not taking action, dreaming instead of doing, not prioritizing the meaningful things in my life, comparing what I was doing to what others were doing, and feeling burdened by guilt and failure. 

Let comparison + failure + guilt go, and just start small. 

Despite all the good progress made in January, if I was honest with you I would admit to feeling overwhelmed a lot of the time. My list of goals was too long. While I may have accomplished much, my mind was constantly burdened by all the goals I had to do. So start small. Focus on a few things, or maybe just one thing. Big or small, decide what your goal is for the month, plan out a few action steps, and go make it happen. Believe that you can be proud of yourself!

I'm taking my own advice for February. While I may have accomplished a lot in January, it came with the cost of overwhelm. February is all about simplicity, and focusing on the few things that really matter.

Let's take a look back at my 6 January goals (that actually turned into like 16 over the course of the month... #liveandlearn)

January Goals

1. Focus on my daily "Core 4" 

My core 4 is: Jesus, Josh, well-being, and personal development. This is a goal that isn't completely measurable, but I felt very faithful with these things last month. I will admit to not always being in my Bible every day, so I'm focusing on daily Bible readings in February. Over all I'm feeling these 4 things becoming habits, and that is my ultimate goal.

2. 1 week free of social media 

Complete! And I plan on doing them regularly throughout the year. I wrote a blog post about it here if you would like to read more about my experience + some tips on how to find worth in your Savior before your devices. 

Also, I got another great tip from Lara Casey when it comes to disconnecting from devices: Turn off all notifications from all applications on your phone. 

This has helped me tremendously. I used to constantly check for likes + comments after I posted something on Instagram. I would see that little camera pop-up on the top of my phone and just had to see who double tapped or wrote a comment. Today after I posted a photo, I realized an hour and a half later that I hadn't even checked for likes or comments! It was the best feeling, and a nice little surprise when I did see all the love given on the photo :)

3. Continue to study Romans 

I finished this study a couple days ago and am so thankful for all that I learned from Paul's letter.

4. Read, "Make it Happen" by Lara Casey

FINISHED! It most definitely makes my favorite books of all time list. Lara's story is so real, raw, and inspirational. Go read this book, friends!

5. Implement daily devotions and a weekly "marriage meeting" (cooler name to come....hopefully) with Josh! 

We have faithfully implemented marriage meetings (I like the alliteration, so the name will be staying), and I plan to blog about our experience with it in the coming months. Until then, you can check out Audrey's post about it here if it's something you are interested in starting in your relationship. Devotions were tough for us to implement. They shouldn't be, but they were. It's something we need to schedule in and commit to this next month.

6. Start a prayer journal

I did not start a prayer journal this month, and for a couple of reasons.

1. Overwhelm

2. I decided to change my goal to simply "praying every day."

3. I'm not quite sure what format or style of journaling I want to start, so I need to do a little more research first. Suggestions are welcome!

February Goals

1. Be in the word every day. Make it a habit.

I plan on putting a time on my schedule for this, not just a "to do." Often times I overlook getting into my Bible because it's written as a task to check off, instead of a commitment or "appointment" that I have.

2. Read: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

I'm excited to read this book! Has anyone else read it?

3. Plan out blog + Instagram posts

I have a lot of posts that I've been meaning to write, but haven't felt the push to write them. I'm hoping that setting a date to them will encourage me to share my thoughts. I plan on brainstorming + scheduling them on Saturdays and Sundays when I plan out my week. When it comes to Instagram, I do not plan on all of my posts to be scheduled. I like to add in a little spontaneity, because that's real life!

4. Implement daily devotions with Josh

They will be scheduled at the beginning of each week, just like all other commitments. I don't love treating time together in the word as an appointment, but thinking of them that way in our schedules will hopefully motivate us to make them a priority! I'm not positive what devotion book we'll use, but we may just read a section of scripture. 

I almost had the urge to add one more goal, but I stopped and reminded myself: simplicity, Rachel. Overwhelm + pressure is no fun. Goals are supposed to be fun and encouraging, not a burden. So I'm sticking with 4 goals for the month and keeping it simple.

Have a wonderful February dear friends.

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 :)