40 Days 4 Thom

This day 2 of 40 on my special journey inspired by reading the account of Noah found in the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Genesis. In Sunday School this year we are studying the Old Testament. I didn't fully prepare for this Sunday's class so this morning I took 40 minutes to complete my study for last week's lesson. OH WHAT I MISSED.

Yesterday I wrote about how Noah went through trials and how it rained 40 days and 40 nights. But I totally missed the reason he got on the ark in the first place. That was until today.

In reading Hebrews 11:7, not only do I find Noah's reason, I find my purpose and motivation to continue my 40 day journey. My life is not in the order of what I would like it to be. So I too must "move with fear". I must prepare my own ark to saving of me and house so that I and my family become "heirs of the righteousness which is by faith."

God has rich blessings in store for me if I just obey. I have been blessed beyond description by God each and every day of my life. But I can hardly comprehend what it will be like to be an "heir of the righteousness". It's definitely more than what I'm experiencing here on earth. And this gives me hope!

So as I read this morning, I ponder what is the "ark" I need to prepare. The thought came to me that Noah's ark provided safety and shelter from ensuing rain and accompanying flood. How does that apply to me? I need to provide safety and shelter for myself and my family. And right now, I'm a little unprotected :-)

As I write this, I see safety and shelter needed in 3 forms

• Gainful employment and financial stability
• Spiritual and emotional wellness
• Improved physical health

So these are the areas in which I will "move with fear" the next 39 days.

By the way, I'm reconsidering a few of my goals.

1. I decided to spend 40 minutes each day studying the Old Testament as opposed to trying to finish the Book of Mormon in 40 days. I've only read the Old Testament in it's entirety once in my life and I feel there are just as valuable lessons for me to learn from it as there are from reading the Book of Mormon for maybe the 12th or 13th time. Plus, I'll be better prepared for Sunday School :-)
2. If I'm going to do exercise and work 40 hours a week at job hunting, I need to change my sleep schedule. So I'm endeavoring to wake up at 5:40 a.m. Monday - Friday, and 6:40 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. My target bedtime is 10:40 p.m. everyday including the weekends. This is a drastic change for me and will probably be the hardest. But I've read so many stories of successful men and women who establish the habit of rising early - why not me.

I'll probably recap/relist/review my goals every few days just to keep me on track.

I'm signing off this morning in hopes of having a transformative and productive Day 2 of 40!

After reading about Noah's ordeal in the bible, I was inspired. I can't imagine what a trial it would have been for a man to leave everyone he knew except for 7 people. And then to get in a boat for 40 days not knowing where he was going or when the rain would end - that's TOUGH!

For whatever reason, when I read that story I thought about the trials and the challenges I'm facing right now. And the inspiration came - after 40 days Noah saw land. The trial of the ark was over. All because he was obedient to what God commanded him to do.

So what if were to the do the same? What if I decided to get out of my comfort zone and do what God wants me to do for 40 days?

Into my mind came a challenge - a 40-day challenge. All dealing with the magical number of "40". Here are some of the ideas of things I'd like to accomplish or do in the next 40 days:

1. Wake up everyday no later than 6:40 am
2. Land a new full-time career in 40 days
3. Spend no less than 40 hours a week job hunting
4. Gain 40 recommendations on LinkedIn within 40 days
5. Read the Book of Mormon in 40 days
6. Listen to 1 talk by a prophet (president) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints each day for 40 days
7. Do 40 hours of volunteer work in the church or the community
8. Drink water only for 40 days
9. Blog each day for 40 days
10. Put $1.00 into our savings account each day for 40 days
11. Walk or exercise for 40 minutes each day (except for Sundays)
12. Complete 40 loads of laundry (wash, dry, fold & put away)
13. Take my wife on 4 dates with no children
14. Spend 40 hours playing with my kids

This is just list off the top of my head. I need to give more thought to it, but for now, I'm just going with it.

If you are reading this blog, I welcome any comments, words of encouragement and suggestions to keep me motivated for the next 40 days. I really see this as a period of transformation for me. I know 40 days changed Noah's situation for the better. And I hope it will change mine.

I have no preset things I'll blog about. This is just an exercise in doing what I want and need to do for the next 40 days. So come back each day for updates. It may not always be entertaining, but it will always be me.

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