Mela Kamin – 4:10 Ministries

I saw this great Audrey Hepburn quote on pinterest the other day and created this for my daughter’s room. I’m a huge Audrey fan, so I was happy my daughter liked the quote & it happened to have pink in it (her fave color). Win-win.
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Have you been on pinterest yet? Or should I say, have you been able to step away from pinterest?
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Oh my – it’s full of amazing pictures, DIY tutorials, recipes and tips.
I have to limit myself, though – it’s easy to get sucked in and distracted from what you were originally doing.
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Speaking of, I heard Chip Ingram speak on Living on the Edge about distractions and it really hit me in the gut.
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He said something like when we get clear about what God’s plan for our day or season or life, Satan jumps in and throws distractions at us.
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I believe this wholeheartedly – even projects and events that seem important and good can be awfully distracting to what we are called to be doing.
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Chip says we need to be “someone who is astute, can hear God’s voice, be in the Word – put on the belt of Truth.”
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The LORD is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

Pinterest can be this type of distraction. In this season, I’m not looking for DIY projects and the latest this or that. Still, I pop on there for what I think will be a brief visit and, all of a sudden, I have a folder full of “I should do this!” or “Wouldn’t it be cool if we repainted the bathroom this color?”
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I go out and buy supplies for a project I was never planning and certainly didn’t need.
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I’m not saying it’s bad to have hobbies or interests, but where I am right now – I know God’s calling me to be active in my ministry, Bible study and decluttering my life, house and schedule.
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You’ve think I’d have this down – my song I Need to Be, is about God having a plan for my life. But, sometimes it’s easy to hear other voices and not want to persevere when things get tough.
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I’ve said it before in this space – when I flit about doing this or that, I’m cheating on my true calling. I have songs half-written, melodies unrecorded, blog posts not started and on and on and on.
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My kids are in school all day and I can easily throw away those precious hours looking for the next exciting bandwagon to jump on. Chip says the enemy tries to deceive us by “pulling us into a relationship or [the prospect of] solving something that may not have [our] name on it.”
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As part of the Hello Mornings challenge which officially starts for my group on Monday, I’m also hoping to challenge myself to working on music and writing every day. I’ll still occasionally get on facebook, twitter and yes, even pinterest – but it will be a reward for when I’ve first slain my dragons.
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How about you – do you find yourself losing hours online, or maybe watching TV?
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To download Chip’s talk, click here and look for the session entitled “Keep Pressing Ahead – Facing Personal Attack, Part 1.”

We talk a lot about gifts at 4:10 Ministries and in our home. My kids know that’s what Mom speaks about. They see 1 Peter 4:10 every day, thanks to Dee of Red Letter Words.
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When I see them walking in their gifting, whatever that may be, I take note – whether it’s playing piano or making people laugh or being an encourager (various forms).
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When they use those gifts to share God’s grace with others, I am overjoyed.
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My sweet daughter did just that with another challenge to sell handmade items to raise money for World Vision.
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We are blessed that she is incredibly crafty and enjoys sewing, crocheting, drawing and making things. She is gifted in many ways and right now, at 12, this is one of her passions (along with reading).
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It may seem small, but through the making and selling of hairclips, bracelets and rings, she was able to make a lasting impact and shine God’s light to meet a tangible need.
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Simon and Duncan, our World Vision boys in Zambia were our motivation, along with Nancy whom we sponsor through Compassion International. We are privileged to hear in their letters their joys, prayers and progress. We see their drawings. We get a glimpse into their lives so far away.
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Last year, both my daughter and my oldest son raised enough to partner with World Vision to purchase 2 goats and a chicken for families in need.
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This year, they’ve decided to give 5 ducks and 2 chickens.
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I hope they continue this tradition – even if they later decide to sell lemonade or hot cocoa instead, or wash cars, or something entirely different. It helps us remember all we have and to continually look for ways to give out of that abundance.
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Photo courtesy of ©Greg Kamin Gamut One Studios
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I’m by all accounts a late sleeper, a couch potato, a homebody who isn’t opposed to the occasional nap and likes wrapping up in a blanket & sipping chai tea.
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But, I have three young kids and an adventurous husband, so I’m active, if only in a very non-deliberate way.
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Oddly, I grew up as a morning person and an athlete and with that history and some good genes, I was able (for 34ish years) to get away with little-to-no regular exercise.
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But, as most of you over 30-somethings know, eventually your metabolism says, “That’s it! You’re on your own. I’m tired of doing all the work.”
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I was putting off the inevitable. I’m now 37 and I know it’s just going to get harder for me to stay in shape. I knew I needed to start an exercise regimen and I wasn’t entirely enthused.
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Until … I came across the Hello Mornings challenge from Kat. The registration is now closed, but that’s not to say you can’t take a similar challenge or coordinate something like it with a group of friends.
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Not only would I be working out physically, but I’d be getting up early to read the Bible, staying spiritually fit as well – something else I wasn’t doing with the kind of regularity I desired and needed.
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As, Michael Hyatt wrote in this excellent post, which appropriately landed in my inbox today, slay your dragons before breakfast.

“I face a dragon named Lethargy every morning. It has three heads: Pneuma (spiritual), Soma (physical), and Nous (intellectual).
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If I don’t slay this dragon before breakfast, he usually gets the best of me. After breakfast—when the day’s activities are crowding into my life—my chances of doing battle and winning drop dramatically. Sometimes I can emerge victorious. But rarely.”

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Oh, how I can relate to that.
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So last week, I saw the challenge on twitter & decided to take the plunge – went to bed at 10:30 p.m. (quite the accomplishment, since I’m known for staying up ’til midnight most nights) and woke to my very early alarm at 5:30 a.m. Amazingly, I didn’t snooze the alarm and quietly made my way downstairs. I dove into my Bible reading, jumped on the treadmill, got ready for the day, did the dishes, made breakfast and threw laundry in – all before my kids awoke.
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I was thrilled with how much I got done – all while I usually would be sleeping. What a jump on my day!
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And, the best part is that I’ve kept it up. My exercise goal is to add a 1/10 of a mile each day. I’m starting simple so that I can keep it up.
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My husband and kids have already noticed the difference. I’m less stressed and more productive throughout the day. My creativity has gotten a much-needed boost and I feel more mentally awake.
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Wednesday, my Bible study group starts a new book and I know this schedule will help me keep up with my homework, study and reflection.
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I’m looking forward to being part of a group and encouraging each other in our commitment.
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Thanks, Kat for the inspiration, resources and for helping me become a morning person again!