Living Life in Limbo

Living Life in Limbo

bannerI have had a lot of different, but big things happening (or are on the brink of happening ) with my family.  Several things have made me feel as if I am in limbo as we are facing some life changes  over the next few months.

Limbo is not a good place for me.  I like order.  I like to know what is coming.  I am not a “surprise” kinda gal.  So as I sit here in this place of “not knowing”….I find myself slipping back into a place of worry.

I am trying not to be afraid and to trust that God will provide. I know He will, but it’s hard for me to not wonder what will happen.

I have learned that the best way to battle worry and wondering about the future is for me is to  renew my mind everyday with scripture about God providing and  about trusting in Him.

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Scripture Truths 

 

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.  ~Proverbs 3:5-6

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. ~Psalm 9:10

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. ~ Psalm 37:4-6 

 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. ~Isaiah 26:3

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. ~Psalm 28:7

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Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah keep-calm-and-don-t-worry-8517:7-8

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“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ~Matthew 6:25 

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Do not worry or be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~Joshua 1:9

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Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the PicsArt_05-10-12.13.26Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~Jeremiah 29:11

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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ~Isaiah 43:2-3
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~Psalm 46:1
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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ~Psalm 23:1-2

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Look Up!

Renewing my mind keeps me from grabbing food to numb the fear or anxiety. Or for escape. When I turn to the Lord instead and BELIEVE what He says to me “fear not for I am with You”….I look UP and not around me.

I look UP

I reach UP

AND

I don’t reach for things that won’t satisfy.

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What Path Are You On?

What Path Are You On?

Recently I did a small group study that had us identify one or two deep core beliefs from a list of a hundred or more.  Wow!  This was really hard to do!  But, after much prayer, soul searching and thinking, I came up with my two.  They are FAITH (in Christ as in He will do what He promises, will take care of me, has my back, has my future….etc.) and FREEDOM (from anything that holds me captive….)

After identifying these core beliefs, I then was to look at what behaviors keep these beliefs safe and strong in my life.  Also, what actions do I do that lets me know I am not protecting these beliefs in my life.

 

 

TWO PATHS

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When I started thinking about it, I started envisioning a picture of two paths I can follow.

PATH ONE: I am walking hand in hand with Jesus.  This is the path of FAITH and FREEDOM.  This is the path where I am full of His joy and love.  To stay on this path, I need to do some pretty important things each day (and probably several times a day).

  • Renew my mind with HIS truth
  • Be involved in Bible Study
  • Write in my prayer journal
  • Talk to Jesus throughout the day

I  have found that I need to stay pretty vigilant and disciplined to do these things, or I tend to  wander off to another path.

PATH TWO: This one seems easy and comfortable but is is full of my own destructive behavior.  It is one of SELFISHNESS, GREED AND SIN.  Although I am saved and this trail doesn’t lead to eternal death, it is a path that leads away from a full life in Christ like the first path does.  I know I have slipped off that narrow way when I find myself

  • full of worry and anxiety
  • obsessing about things
  • trying to control situations
  • overeating or loosening my eating boundaries
  • feeling down about my appearance

 

So, which path am I on right now?

I need to examine my actions and my thoughts.  This will help me see which path I’m following….the one that leads back to that prison or the one of freedom. I know I’m on the bad path if I am overeating or obsessing or worrying… etc…

I stay on the path to freedom if I am praying, in bible study, journalling  to renew my mind…and staying within my boundaries for mindful eating.

TAKE A MINUTE AND THINKBLACK-WOMAN-THINKING

What actions and thoughts keep you on the path that leads to abundant life?  
What are your warning signs that you have slipped back on the path of self destructiveness?

No matter what, dear friend, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, You are already on the road to heaven.  You are SAVED, but He wants us to have abundant life with Him RIGHT NOW on this earth!  He wants us to walk with Him on the path of freedom  RIGHT NOW.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

So, as we walk this journey called life…

Lets examine our thoughts and our behavior.

Lets heed the warning signs that we are slipping back on that destructive trail.

Let’s plan to daily BE with Jesus and do the things HE calls us to do to remain IN HIM.

He calls  to us. 

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Fat Is Not a Feeling!

FAt is not a feeling

Last week I saw a video on Facebook where a girl was talking about how we all feel fat sometimes. You know that feeling. You wake up and just feel fat. Well, she said something that really stuck with me.

FAT IS NOT A FEELING

Ok, so today I have been feeling fat. Bloated. Icky. Like I am gaining weight. What is going on with me? Just the other day I was feeling thinner, like I am losing weight.

Since Fat Is Not a Feeling, I need to look deeper and ask this question:

What I am REALLY feeling?


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I am tired.

I am bloated.

I feel too full.

I examine what I have been doing differently lately. Oh…the weekend. I have been eating beyond 5 all weekend and not listening to the Lord. Oh…and I was rebellious when I was at one of my favorite restaurants. I heard the Lord’s voice when it was time to stop and I just kept on going. Oh Lord, I did this just because I wanted to!

I had seen some pictures of myself from the weekend and I didn’t like the way I looked. OUCH. That is why I wanted to keep on eating at the restaurant the other day.

Yes, I am getting closer to what’s been going on with me.

Even today I have been thinking about those pictures. I have looked at those pictures of me over and over. Do I really look like that? I don’t like it.

Ugh. I know I need to pray. I know that “feeling” fat means something deeper is going on. So, Lord, what am I really feeling? Unattractive. Flabby. Blah. Why? Well, I am tired. My body feels different because I ate differently this weekend. I haven’t been drinking enough water and that does make a difference.

Lord, what are you teaching me in all of this? What do You want me to see in this? Deep down, I am afraid that people will see these pictures and see how “ugly” I look. Wow. Really? Why do I see myself as ugly by the way I look in these pictures? By what standards am I comparing myself? Am I comparing myself to the way I was just a few years ago before I gained this weight? Before starting back to Thin Within? I am not the same person as I was then. You have done so much in me through Hunger Within. I no longer obsess over my eating and exercise and Lord that is a BIG layer you have removed from me. It clung so tightly and was part of my identity.

But, Lord, sometimes I still obsessing about my appearance.

Lord, when will I truly see myself as You see me? As Your beautiful daughter despite how I look in pictures or how an outfit may or may not look on me? You look at my heart and what do you see, Oh Lord?

Am I really able to accept myself the way YOU want me to be? Am I really beautiful in Your eyes right now? Am I acceptable? Am I attractive to You? Is the way YOU see me all that matters to my heart?

Oh, Lord, it is hard to peel away this layer of grave clothes that bind so tightly. This desire to look good to others and to be attractive still holds me captive at times. Have I gained weight in the last few years? Yes. Do I need to be ashamed of that? Well, I am on a journey to healing with Hunger Within. The changes in my heart are beautiful to You.

It didn’t seem to take much time to gain the weight. Lord, I know it will take time to release the weight and become my God given size. You are doing much more in me than just shaping my body. You are shaping my heart.

“Lord, You are showing me that I need to surrendering how I look to You. Yes, Lord this means even giving to YOU how I look in pictures and how I think others see me. Yes even that ….turned over to You, Oh Lord.”

Create in me a clean heart, Oh God and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Help me see things through Your eyes, Oh Lord. Help me see through Your lens of Love and Grace that is extended to me. Your grace, acceptance and love is given regardless of what a number says on a scale or a pair of pants. It is there for me regardless of how I look in a picture. It is there regardless of how I think others see me. Oh Lord, Thank You for new beginnings and for grace.

What about you? Have you been struggling with how to look to others? Have you been struggling with what others might think of you? Can you accept the love and grace God has for you right now wherever you are in shape or size? Are you ready to surrender this area to the LORD?

The Last Bite

The Last Bite

coffeeAs I sat down this morning with my coffee,

I breathed a sigh of longing to be with the Lord.

Lord, I come in the quiet of this morning-

it is is a time of surrender.

Letting go.

Emptying out.

Giving to You

  • my desire for more food and
  • my desire to put more food on my plate than I really need
  • my desire to be skinny
  • my desire to be liked by others

I open up my hands, Jesus.  I release my fear and want of control.  

AND IN THE PLACE OF ALL THIS, I CLAIM YOUR TRUTH!

…..and You remind me….

to keep my eyes on YOU. that I need to TRUST YOU more than I trust MYSELF.  

I need to LOVE YOU more than I love MYSELF.

But, Lord.  Do I really do this?  Am I really faithful?  Oh Lord, my own desires always seem to get in the way. Yet….You remind me that I can come to You each moment….each day…each blink of an eye.  and YOU are there…..”

Your mercies are new each morning. 

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So, there I was.

I had just finished reading a wonderful devotion and had some great journalling time with the Lord. I had written about daily surrendering the food and worry and control to Him.

I was at a zero and so had my breakfast.

Coffee, bite…yumm. repeat. again. and again and….oh!

 THEN IT HAPPENED. I felt that familiar sensation that I was no longer hungry.  I felt it AFTER  I HAD PUT THAT LAST BITE IN MY MOUTH. Yes, that was going to be the last bite. Food was left on my plate, but I was no longer hungry.

BUT BEFORE I COULD EVEN CHEW that last bite, I had a prick in my spirit.  Would I be willing to give up that bite?  Would I be willing to surrender it?

I knew I just couldn’t eat that bite. There I sat with a mouth full of food and thinking what to do with this food….I went to trash and spit it out.

 

Oh, Dear Reader!  It is now that we must be very careful!

 This can go down the legalistic slippery slope VERY QUICKLY if not taken in the context of the whole experience.  I had JUST HAD A DEEP TIME OF SURRENDERING  with the Lord.  And it was in that aftermath of that time that the Lord asked me if I would be willing to even surrender something as small as one bite.

Does He ask me to do this at every meal?  No.  But it showed me that IF I CAN SURRENDER THAT ONE LAST BITE THAT IS ALREADY IN MY MOUTH…I can certainly surrender the desire to eat before I am all the way hungry.  If I can not even CHEW that last bite and spit it out of my mouth because God asked me to do it, I can have the strength in HIM to push my plate away when I feel that comfortable sensation and know I’m done.

QuestionMarksHere are some questions.

Am I WILLING to truly give up my love of food?  Am I REALLY ready to surrender when and how much I am eating? I say I am.  I say I love God more than anything.  But the test comes when I am tempted…..what will I REALLY do?

What will you do?

No matter what, dear reader….if we choose our own way, we are forgiven and there is grace.  For most of us it is a daily….or hourly….surrender of our love affair with food!.  It is a choice we make.  BUT IN HIM and in HIS strength, we can do it!

Let’s live in TRUTH and FREEDOM!

Fat Shaming

Fat Shaming

I heard the term “Fat Shaming” for the first time a few months ago in an article on Facebook.  It was written by a woman who has endured comments mainly from doctors that automatically assumed that she was unhealthy just because she was considered “obese” by the BMI scale. 150666859 All her blood work showed that her cholesterol levels were great, and all other “levels” that doctors look for in that type of test.  Her blood pressure was perfect.  She even ran several miles a week and was training for a 5K run! There really wasn’t anything wrong with her health other than she might have an illness every now and then like most of us endure when needing to see a doctor.

That led me to these questions:

Why do people automatically think that  a BMI scale, weight scale, fat pinch meter or a number on a pair of pants dictates how healthy I am?

Why is it that I know several “thin” people who have high blood pressure and some avid runners who are the outward picture of health have high cholesterol?

Ok…let me give this disclaimer: YES, it is true that obesity does lend itself to diabetes and high cholesterol. BUT really?  Is it the size of a person or is it the AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT IS CONSUMED that causes the health problem? Overeating does cause obesity.  That is a fact. But let’s put the focus where it should lie.  It isn’t the size or shape of our bodies that causes us to be unhealthy. It is too much food.  Too much fat, too much salt, too much sugar….but TOO MUCH. EXCESS.

No-body-shaming-beauty-redefinedSo let’s go back to the whole FAT SHAMING thing.  

The author of the article that introduced me to this term was simply saying that just because someone is considered overweight and the wrong shape or size by society, generally society frowns upon them. How many of us can relate to that? If you haven’t experienced that, just think back to the last time you were at the beach and might have been surrounded by bikini-clad and young beauties, some of whom look down their perfectly perky noses at you!

 

Fat shaming IS a real thing in our society.  

Dear readers, I am here to tell you that the biggest and strongest and loudest voice to fat shame you is YOURSELF! Yes, I said it.  It’s us!  We do the MOST shaming of all, don’t we?

But guess what?  THERE’S GOOD NEWS!!

In Christ we have no condemnation.  IN Christ we have no shame.  In Christ, we are loved the way we are.  In Christ we have a chance to be accepted and loved no matter our shape, size or number on a scale or pair of pants or BMI chart!

Romans 8:1

Therefore now there is NO COMDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus!

I believe it was Heidi Bylsma who once said “Jesus is not nearly as concerned about your size as He is concerned about your heart!”

Oh Dear Reader!

It is time for this FAT SHAMING to END!PicsArt_04-11-06.23.32

WE DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT!

It’s time to FIGHT!!!  It’s time to tell those shaming thoughts to “get packing!”

Tell the evil one that YOU WILL NOT LISTEN ANYMORE!

Renew our minds with HIS TRUTH!

 ….Goodbye SHAME…..

Hello FREEDOM!

 

How about you?  Would you like to learn more about kicking “shame” to the curb?  In Hunger Within, we learn ways to destroy shame and how it plays a part in our cycle of diet slavery.  You can order a copy to read or join a workbook study for tools to help with defeating shame.  Meantime, why not make a list of your identity in Christ? Here are a few scriptures to get you started fighting LIES with GOD’S truth about you:

I have loved you with an everlasting love, with unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself. ~Jeremiah 31:3

See how much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are.        ~1 John 3:1

The Lord our God is with you.  He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you.  He will dance over you with singing.  ~ Zephaniah 3:17

I am complete in Him. ~Colossians 2:10

You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made ~Psalm 139:14

If anyone is in Christ, they are a NEW CREATION.  ~ 2 Corinthians 2:17

 

Legalism VS Grace

legalism vs. grace

 

Sometimes I question the reasons why I eat 0-5 or follow the Keys to Conscious Eating.It’s not that I want to stop living this way. It’s the motive behind living this way. What’s my reasons for doing what I do?  If I’m not seeing the results *I* think I should, I may start do doubt if I’m doing this “program” right.  I sometimes start to place my identity in how I look or if I’ve “lost enough weight” to be considered “successful”. When I start feeling and thinking this way, it actually comes down to that old struggle between grace and legalism.

—Old Diet LIES

Sometimes those old voices from my dieting days tell me I must “succeed” or I have to follow every rule. I may start to connect my identity with a number on a little metal box (the scale) or in the shape of my body.  When I start down this road of thinking, I start to become legalistic.  I start slipping back into my diet mentality of good vs. bad or black and white…and rules, rules, rules!

In a previous blog post, I admitted that  I really haven’t been releasing much weight. My body has been going through shifting and changing over the last few years due to menopause, but that isn’t the only reason why I haven’t released.  As I examine my heart and my boundaries, I have to be careful  that I don’t  fall into that diet mindset that says “I’m not doing it right”.

 

PRAYER AND SURRENDER

So, I pray about it and look back over my journal. Once again….

I surrender my body shape, that scale number and my food over to the Lord.

PicsArt_03-18-12.29.33 As I do this, the Lord shows me all the things that He has changed in me. He reminds me that as I surrender more and more to Him that He is CONTINUING to set me free.

Areas such as my attitude toward food, the way I look at my body and where I place my identity are under God’s gentle surgical knife and healing hand.

I examine again my reasons for eating 0-5 or following the Keys to Conscious Eating. If I’m not releasing weight am I still eating too much? What am I doing wrong? If I try to eat even less, am I going back to legalism and turning this into a diet? I don’t want grace to be an excuse for me to sin and just do what I want .

Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

~~~AGAIN~~~

I get back on my knees and ask God to guide me.

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As He always is faithful to do, He showed me areas where He is working in me. He also showed me areas that I needed to change some things. Grabbing bites here or there or eating in front of the TV has kept me in mindless eating.

He showed me that I don’t need to eat less, but to SURRENDER MORE.

I need to give up the food to Him. Pray for help when I eat. But mostly trust that HE knows what is best for my body including the size.

Giving up the food to Him most likely WILL result in eating less. It may result in releasing weight, BUT…..

God is showing me that the weight should not be my focus. He is to be my focus.

How different this is from legalism! It isn’t about doing it perfectly, but about leaning more on Him. It’s about learning from the mistakes I make. It’s about His love for me right where I am.

Why do I try to eat from 0-5? Why do I live the “Thin Within” way? I do this to break the chains of dieting! It is to break the chains of ANYTHING that has my heart captive! I do this to walk in the abundant life on this journey with Jesus. I do it because giving up any area of my life that is keeping me captive is the only way I can truly be free! It is all about God’s healing of me in every area of my life.  Food, weight, body image, identity, people pleasing, control, worry, fear…..the list goes on and on. In EVERY area, God is placing HIS healing touch as I give Him permission and surrender it up.

Lord, I want to do all of it. I want this obsession with food and weight and the mindless eating out of my life! I want anything that is holding me captive to be removed.  I want to be closer to You, oh Lord.

One step at a time

“Just take one step at a time, child.

You don’t have to be perfect.

Listen to My voice.

Turn to Me for every step.

I am with you.

I love you even if you mess up.”

 

 

How about you? When you examine your reasons for living the “Thin Within” way, what do you find is your motive? Have you found yourself leaning too much into legalism? Have you found yourself using grace as an excuse to break your boundaries? Let’s pray for God’s leading to show us what HE wants us to do. Let’s pray that our motives and our hearts are in His grace alone. Let’s remember that this is a journey to healing and wholeness in Him.

 

 

Extreme Makeover – Soul Addition!

Extreme Makeover – Soul Addition!

Let’s be honest.  We all go thru times when we feel defeated, discouraged and tired.  We might feel like we should turn back to a diet.  I know when I feel this way, I tend to go right back to eating mindlessly because of this attitude. The Lord have shown me that when I start down this path of defeated thinking, my eyes usually are on my weight – that scale number- and then on my body- how it looks.  When this happens, I tend to experience shame over my body.  My focus is on ME!  ME! ME!

I was feeling this way not long ago, of all mornings, but Easter Sunday.  Yes, this day where we celebrate the most amazing thing Jesus did to prove His power, I was focused on how ugly I felt! I was focused on myself and didn’t even realize it. Then we sang a song that started to crack that shell of discouragement.

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As we sang that portion of the song over and over, a light began to seep into the darkness that was in my soul that day. It was just a preparation for what was to come next thru the words of my pastor.

The title of the message was “The Power of the Cross”

POWER. OVERCOME. JESUS.  That struck me.  Here I was sitting in my own puddle of discouragement and Jesus was gently telling me that HE has the power to do all things!

 

Matt. 28:18

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.

I realized that I had been focusing on ME and not on HIM!  (ouch!) I had not been focusing on Jesus and His power. Right there, in the middle of the sermon Jesus whispered to my heart that He no only has, overcome  death- but He has also overcome this “living death” that is my shame!

Jesus has overcome

  • my body shape
  • my size
  • my scale number
  • my turning to food to escape or comfort
  • any and all strongholds
  • all of what society might think is beauty and acceptable

Right then I heard my pastor say that we all need to have anExtreme-Makeover-Background2_Shortened

“Extreme Makeover – Soul Edition”!! 

That is what I knew I needed.  That is what I need every day!

I had been focusing on getting  an

Extreme Makeover – “Please Can I at Least Look Good Enough to Not Be Considered Old and Fat?” Edition

My focus had been on my outward appearance!  Jesus showed me, ever so gently that He is doing a work in my heart.  I could let go of the outward appearance and surrender it over to Him to create in the way He sees fit.

Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Oh, I was taking furious notes in my journal that day in church!  I thought my pen might catch fire!  But Jesus was bringing a new fire to my soul.  Yes!  As I heard the pastor say “We need to not just KNOW about the resurrection, we need to EXPERIENCE resurrection in our life!”

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That was it.  I felt that day as if I WAS resurrected.  And each day I need to be resurrected in His newness of life.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes open to You and Your power.

Resurrect me!  

Give me NEW LIFE!

So, now I ask myself….am I denying (pushing away) His truth in my life by believing lies…these old lies about my identity….that being a certain number on a scale or a certain shape or size is the only way to be acceptable?  Lies about what he CAN and WILL do?

Oh dear Readers, may we all listen to HIS truth of who we really are! We are HIS CHILDREN who are dearly loved no matter our shape or size.  Let’s trust that HE can and WILL take us where we need to be in our outward appearance if we truly follow Him with our eating and our lives.

Amen.  May it be so!

 

He Loves Me Despite My Struggles!

He Loves Me Despite My Struggles!

PicsArt_03-24-12.29.07Lately, I have really been dealing with some big and deep things in my life that God is wanting to heal. I have to admit that sometimes this causes me to turn to food or at least my boundaries get a bit loose. It’s hard for me to admit that I may not be releasing weight or maybe have even picked up some….especially since I write a weekly blog article on here AND I am co-leading a class!

But, I have to be REAL.  I am a REAL person who struggles just like you.  (sigh…isn’t THAT a relief?!)

So, dear reader, I wanted to share with you today what the Lord spoke so gently to my heart as I have been struggling. I hope it touches your heart as it did mine.


 

Oh My Beloved Child,

You search for Me, but I am not far away.  You long for My love for you as if you have to act a certain way, be a certain size or shape or just be someone else for Me to love you.

This is not so.

This is a lie.

Listen to Me now.

I….LOVE….YOU. aaa123

Right NOW.

THE WAY YOU ARE.

  • With every curve.
  • With every imperfection.
  • With every struggle.
  • With every breath and every step and every trip and fall.
I…..LOVE…..YOU.

Yes, I call You to follow me in everything You do. But I also know you don’t have it all together, yet. And that is ok.

If you had it all together and could follow me perfectly, I would not have given my Son for your redemption.

BUT I DID.  And He came. And He died.

FOR YOU.

See how I love you, my child?  Do you see?

Do you see how I have created You with love?  Just the way You are?

Oh my Child, I want what is best for you. That is why I call you onward to follow Me.1811317highres

And I lead you onward.  Forward. Into my arms.

Do you fall sometimes?  Do you skin your knee? Do you feel like giving up?  Do you feel like I’m not there?  or have stopped loving you?

Oh child.  Listen to me know.

I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU.

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

I WILL NEVER STOP.

So now, Dear One. Take my hand.  Just reach up for me.  Turn your eyes off of yourself and on to my eyes.

I am here.

I am waiting.

I will NEVER stop loving you, My Beloved One.

Choosing Jesus

Choosing Jesus

Recently while teaching my music classes, I was using a book that came with a CD.  It is an adaptation of the song “If You’re Happy And You Know It” (how many of you automatically sang in your head and next came “clap your hands”? )

I love this book and so do the children. The only thing I would change is on the CD is the book is read to music and not sung.   (I can always just sing it myself, but sometimes it is nice to have a vocal break and let a CD do it for me.)

PicsArt_02-23-07.58.32I have used this book for several years now and although it has two tracks on the CD, I always go to the first track because it has the “turn the page” signals on it.  It just makes it easier to read to a group.

Well, the other day I was using this book in my lessons and for some reason I accidentally skipped over to track 2 instead of the first track that I usually use.

GUESS WHAT?

THE SECOND TRACK SANG THE SONG! This is what I had been wishing I had for years and IT WAS ON THE CD ALL ALONG!  I just didn’t know it because I had never thought to go to the second track!PicsArt_01-05-10.11.14

Right there, in the middle of my lesson with my class….right there in the middle of the book CD singing away and me turning pages….Right there….GOD WHISPERED TO MY HEART.

 

That is Me, my child.  So often You try to do things on your own.  You automatically go to the things you think will work.  You try to draw upon your own power and intellect.  You go to what feels safe. BUT child, ALL ALONG what YOU really long for is RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.  It is ME.  I am there.  I am with YOU.  I give you the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you. Look for me and you will find me, for I am never too far from you.

How many times have I run back to the familiar?  To the food? To  the diet that has “worked” before to just take that number down on the scale, but nothing changed in my heart?

How many times have I chosen “track 1” over and over again because it is just what I always have done…..not thinking to even try “track 2”?

Right then I realized that just like that “track 1” on the CD was close to what I wanted and did the job, so it is with anything I try to do on my own.  I might be able to ‘do the job’…the diet might be able to ‘do the job’ but it will NEVER be what I REALLY want.  It will never truly fulfill.

Isaiah 55: 1-3

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.

Did you notice that no matter how many times I chose the first track on the CD that the second one didn’t just disappear?  It was there “waiting” to be chosen.

So it is with Jesus.  No matter how many times I choose my own way…turn to food….eat outside my boundaries….think about dieting again…worry about my body shape…(fill in YOUR track 1 here)….

HE IS ALWAYS THERE, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ME TO CHOSE HIM.

PicsArt_02-27-10.15.01Jesus tells us in His word that He will never leave us! (Matthew 28:20) He will never forsake us! (Deuteronomy 31:6,8)

His love and His way is always there for us. He reaches out to us with open arms, ready to embrace us and gently lead us on the path HE has laid out for us.

Oh, Dear Sisters (and Brothers), let’s examine our hearts today. Are we settling into our own comfortable ways?  Are we turning to things that truly do not satisfy?

Let’s run and jump into the Master’s Arms and surrender up these things. Let’s walk this path to freedom from diets and scales and body image and food obsession…..together.