Lanza Letters

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Back from Vacation!

Ahh!! So sorry I've been off the grid for a bit ... the hubby and I took a much needed vacation, and it was great! No vacation would be complete without some coasters, right?!

I am back at it now, though, so new posts are coming!!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Pep Talk - Confidence

Thursday, May 26, 2016

To Succeed, YOU have to start!

To SUCCEED you have to START

In my high school yearbook, I have a picture with the caption "Voted Most Likely to Succeed" and for so many years, I HATED that. Why? In my mind, that did not mean successful, it just meant I was the nerd. I also thought success meant a big office and a big paycheck - neither one of those seemed likely with my future in education. So, that idea never really meant much to me.

MAYBE because I don't think I really believed it in myself. Or maybe because my idea of SUCCESS was all wrong. The Bible says that success comes from service - to be GREAT is to SERVE others (Matt. 20:26).

I may not ever have a big office, ridiculous wealth, or a mansion on a hill, and that is OKAY. That's not what I'm working for. What I do know is that for the first time, I feel successful!

Every day, I get to see over 80 students, and I get to play a small part in helping their lives. Every day, I feel love from one of the most genuine, God-fearing men I've ever met. Every day, God opens new doors for service. And every day, I get to share what I've been given with others through my coaching business.

Hope. Help. A listening ear. A giving hand. A heart to love. An encouraging chat. A praying friend. A comrade to fight the wars of life with....that is SUCCESS, my friends. And I get to do it every day.

So, maybe there was something to that little yearbook. But I didn't reach this point by falling. I'm continuously climbing with God as my safety harness. Serving others is what I love most about this coaching business - a door God opened that I never saw coming.

If you've ever been curious what all goes into it, I'd love to chat more with you about my team and what we do. Who knows? This might be a door that could work for you in helping you help others. Comment below or email me --> courtneylanzafitness@gmail.com

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Pep Talk: Strength on the Tough Days

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Did you save room for dessert?

"Did you save room for dessert?"
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Ah, the famous line from the waiter/waitress after you've stuffed yourself like the turkey on Thanksgiving - to which my answer is always a sad no. Although, give me a couple hours and I'm sure to scarf down a quick cookie or brownie before bedtime just to get my fix in.

Or, maybe you're the responsible kind who only eat the portions you are supposed to, take a doggie bag, and happily agree to dessert at the end. If so, I kind of envy you...and I kind of don't because I'm cheap and those desserts are usually like $8 and could feed a family of 10. Oh, and those buffet lines! Sweet mother of pearl. I am HORRIBLE at portions (hence the fact that I had to do a workout program with portion control, lol), so places like Golden Corral and the Chinese buffet really baffle me as to how I'm supposed to fit all of that on my plate. Thank goodness for plate #2.

The sad truth is that this overflowing plate directly mimics my plate in life. I am the world's worst person at saying "no" - like, seriously, do not invite me to something unless you want me to show up with bells on. If I'm bad at portioning my food, portioning my time is like trying to simultaneously breathe and move in Hot Yoga (still haven't figured that one out). I fill my plate with everything under the sun, and don't get me wrong, many of them are good, GOOD activities. I love volunteering, fitness coaching, teaching, Netflix binging, Bible-journaling, cleaning, figuring out the next perfect shade for my nails, spending time with friends, date nights, family phone calls, pondering my next blog entry and never writing it, playing with the dog, and so on.

But you know what, you can fill up a food plate to overflowing with fruits and veggies, and you still may not be eating healthy. It's all about balance, in food and in life.

Balance. You know I really hate that word because for the life of me I just don't really believe it exists. Then again, standing on one foot was never my top talent for this graceful clutz - I digress.

Regardless, I'm not doing something right because I never seem to have time for dessert (you know those best parts of life). My grandfather used to say that you never know when the Lord is coming back, so eat dessert first....and I think he has a point.

If I fill my plate with all these activities, obligations, and other good stuff, then I run out of room for dessert. I'm stuffed. You know that feeling you get during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays where you've eaten so much that everyone is in that one big lull, lethargic attitude? If we're not careful that becomes our life attitude when the plate is too full. Then, we miss out on the best parts - dessert. What would be your dessert?

For me, it's my marriage, both physical and spiritual. I chose to spend my life with my husband, but most days it also feels like I'm choosing to not spend it with him (when I pile everything else on my plate). I chose to follow Christ and be His bride, but I'm also choosing to not give Him a place. Doing things for someone is not the same as spending it with them. I fill my plate with stuff, and then I cram down my dessert (time with God and husband) right before bed.

I don't think our husbands or our Heavenly Father want our lethargic leftovers from a day filled with overeating on the things of life. So, as we get ready for another week, I leave you (and ME, oh boy am I talking to myself here, first and foremost) with this thought:

It's okay to leave some things on the buffet line of life, and in the event that you find your plate too full, grab a doggie bag. Some things can wait for tomorrow; leftovers won't kill you. And for goodness sake, eat your dessert first!

Until next time...

Monday, January 18, 2016

Illustrating my Faith - Why I love Bible Journaling

Read the Bible in a year. Memorize a Bible verse a week. Study the background and original meanings/language of each verse in the Bible.

Overwhelming, right? Well, these were the type goals I used to set for myself. While these goals are not necessarily wrong, I was missing the point. I did, indeed, read through the Bible in year, and I started memorizing a new verse a week for awhile. However, I still felt that I was missing something.

I was doing it all wrong. I was treating God's Word like a scholarly book to be mastered rather than the greatest love story ever told; after all, I love learning. Yet, the truth is that I will NEVER fully master God's word, nor will I ever understand every nook and cranny meaning within its text. Viewing the Bible as a textbook made God seem so impersonal and far away. I don't think God is impressed by how quickly I can read the Bible or how many scriptures I can quote IF I am not growing in my relationship with him.

This is not that uncommon. The Western way of studying scripture is by breaking down it down verse by verse and analyzing every little meaning. However, the Jewish culture would have read the Bible as one big story (no chapters or verses), and I have tried to take on more of that approach now. My, how liberating that has been!

The message of the Bible in one word is LOVE, and you just don't get that feeling from studying a textbook. Now, I read the Bible as God's love letters, so to speak. What is this love story? How does it all go together? What does it mean for me? How do I fit into this story? What is my role in God's story?

Just like any good storybook, I love the pictures. So much can be told from a simple image. So, I've added images and notes in the margins of my journaling Bible, and I find that I am connecting SO much more with the text. I am such a visual learner, so as I illustrate God's story, my original, defeating goals start to become easier. I remember more scripture after I spend time with it illustrating it.

I know that Bible journaling is not for everyone and that some do not agree with putting markings in a Bible, and I can also see that point of view. However, I am not adding to or taking away from the words of Scripture; I am simply illustrating its deep meaning to me. In fact, some of the first Bible had illustrations in them, how cool is that?!

Here are some that I have done so far:

What's more - I was sent this message the other day with these pictures attached. As a teacher, these are the moments I dream about! My prayer has and will always be: Lord, let them see You in me. This is by far the best compliment I've ever received, and words cannot express how much this means to me! Two of my former students are digging into the Word! 💕 Watching my current and former students study the Bible, be baptized, and grow in God - there is no greater reward!!