It’s a rainy, cold, generally gloomy day here in Corpus Christi, but my wonderful mama is on the way, bringing with her ample warmth and sunshine. I am so thankful for her wisdom and love and unrivaled example of hard work, strength (the woman is 72 and can outwork most young men I know), and faith in the Lord. While my heart aches over the fact that my dad passed away long before his grandchildren were born, it simultaneously rejoices over my children’s three incredible grandparents, who they’re so blessed to regularly spend time with.

Anyway, I suppose that serves as my gratitude entry for the day, ha!

In this week’s Top 4, I’m sharing about servanthood, personal responsibility, letting our pasts create bright presents, and a fun, quick workout!

DO YOU HAVE A SERVANT’S HEART?

I heard this on the radio on the way to church today. I have no idea who the man is that was preaching, unfortunately, and though I can’t recall what the quote is verbatim, it went a lot like this:

“A good test to see whether you really have a servant’s heart is to see how you respond the next time someone treats you like a servant.”

It’s a heckuva lot easier to serve others when the people we’re serving demonstrate their appreciation. When our kind deeds seemingly go unnoticed, or worse, are criticized and perhaps even derided, it’s much tougher to feel love, humility, and Christlike compassion for those we’ve helped. In those instances, we’d do well to remind ourselves that we’re not primarily serving people, but the Lord Himself. What matters isn’t that we’re thanked or acknowledged by any human, but that we’re obedient to our Creator who has called us to love others more than we love ourselves.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” – Colossians 3:23

GROWTH IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY

I recently saw this quote on @themoneysavingmom’s Instagram and think it’s a short, sweet, tough-love reminder on the importance of personal responsibility:

“Teachers don’t make you learn. Trainers don’t make you fit. Coaches don’t make you rich. At some point, you have to realize that other people can help you, but your growth is your responsibility.” – Unknown

ERASING THE PAST?

My best friend Catherine recently sent me this quote from Philipps Brooks, a 17^th-century American preacher:

“You must let God teach you the only way to get rid of your past is to make a future out of it. God will waste nothing.”

What’s one thing in your past that’s been haunting you? Have you asked God to use its ashes to create something beautiful?

“ … to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” – Isaiah 61:3, KJV

EXCUSE-PROOF WORKOUT

I have been LOVING my “quick and dirty” Crossfit-y workouts lately. One thing CrossFit taught me that I’ll always appreciate: great workout don’t require much time, or much, if any, equipment!

Here’s a bodyweight-only routine that will take you 12 minutes (BE SURE TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST FIVE MINTUES FIRST! DON’T MAKE ME TYPE THIS AGAIN IN BOLD!):

12-min AMRAP (AMRAP = as many rounds as possible):

10 air squats (if you’re not able to squat below parallel without tipping over or leaning forward, only squat to parallel or just above)

10 push-ups (if unable to perform a full push-up on the floor, place your hands on the back of a sofa, or on a bench or table to perform elevated push-ups)

10 stationary lunges, right leg

10 stationary lunges, left leg
5 burpees (to modify, step your legs out instead of jumping them out, and omit the push-up portion)

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Top 4! If you have any questions or prayer request for me, please don’t hesitate to reach out at diana.tyler86@gmail.com. I love hearing from you!

Thank you, as always, for your support of my writing! 

Fiction:
NEW!: Medusa’s Wish
Moonbow: Prequel to The Petros Chronicles
Age of the Ashers
War of the Ashers
Fate of the Ashers
The Petros Chronicles Boxset
Armor for Orchids (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
Orchid Unshaken (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
Orchid Unbound (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
NEW!: Orchid Unfading (Christian Women’s Contemporary)

Non-Fiction:
Fit for Faith: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Total Fitness
Perfect Fit Couples Edition: Workouts and Reflections for a Rock-Solid Relationship
Perfect Fit: Weekly Wisdom and Workouts for Women of Faith and Fitness
Perfect Fit No Excuses: 15-Minute Workouts for Life’s Busiest Days
Immeasurable Fitness Challenge: 18 Days of Total Health for Spirit, Soul, and Body
Immeasurable: Diving in the Depths of God’s Love (a memoir)
Pour Me Out: 30 Days to a More Selfless Life