MADE TO CRAVE!

I am a part of a small group of Jesus-girls who are doing the ‘MADE TO CRAVE’ bible study by Lysa Terkeurst. In Lysa’s book she emphasis ‘satisfying your deepest desire with GOD, not FOOD. I did not realize that I was putting my food and food issues and all related to it ‘before’ God. How many times do we go throughout the day in whatever we do and ask ourselves, ‘are we keeping God first and center’? I try to do that consistently throughout the week; but I never considered that with food; and yes, I have a HUGE issue with food.


So this is what I gained this week, “He knew even before I was born that I could easily allow food to be an idol in my life, that I would go to food, instead of Him, to fulfill my needs. And in His great wisdom, He created my body so that it would experience the consequence of such a choice, so that I would continually be drawn back into His arms. He wants me to come to Him for fulfillment, emotional healing, comfort – and if I could go to food for that and never gain an ounce, well then, what would I need God for”? (Made to Crave, Chapter10).

Since beginning this journey, I have gained a stronger and deeper relationship with God. I am thirstier now than I have ever been. The only thing I have not gained is weight. I have actually lost 12 pounds. It is in my weakness that He is growing me building me for something awesome, to be used for His purpose! “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

By no means has this journey been an easy one but; with God it is possible. The next step is to exercise! Now that I am finally on the road to getting my craving under control and in proper prospective, now the issue of exercise! But you see my friend, it is the same process. I will take the lies and excuses and covering them with God’s truth and operate in faith out of those truths. So here is the truth that I am using to cover my excuses for not exercising, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor (glorify) God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

No more excuses!

Tell Me A Story ….

He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:27

Children love to hear stories, even in this highly technological age we are in today. I recently got an ipad and the apps for kids on this thing are amazing! I have downloaded a few, although I do not have kids, I am always in the presence of kids. I find it the perfect opportunity to share stories about Jesus.


I challenge you to consider ways to be creative and to be excited about teaching your children or others biblical truths. Come on! Let your hair down and get innovative. Trust me; it is perfectly fine to turn off the TV.

Dramatizations are great; let me help you get started:

• Prepare dinner dressed like a biblical character – go all out – you know bathrobe, towel and headband for your hair, flip flops for the shoes and tell the kids a biblical story (truthfully) using a voice that you perceive that character would use.


• Get a children’s CD and act out the songs on them! They will laugh and get in on the fun or they will tell someone and have you committed to an asylum!


• Get out to a local park, take a picnic meal and talk about one of Jesus’ miracles.


Listen!! Don’t let Sunday school be the only Christian impact in their lives. Seriously take the time to reflect to see if you are doing everything possible to further your children’s spiritual training.


I want my children and generation to come to know that Nana was a Jesus-Girl. I think I would like this said about me by family:


• She loved and celebrated Easter like most would celebrate Christmas because she knew that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus were the cornerstone of her faith. She called Easter Resurrection Sunday!

Or how about this one …

• In the face of adversity, she prayed and she did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

But, in reality I think it will go something like this …

• “Do you remember that time she went into that dressing room at the store to try something on and when she came out to get a different size, she forgot to put her pants back on over her tights”?!


• “Do you remember the time Mom left the sandwiches for the homeless guy that kept coming around. He took the sandwiches and we never saw him again. I wonder if she killed the homeless guy with those sandwiches”?

Yes my dear friends these stories are true!! But my initial point was to let you know how important it is to provide our youth with sound, relevant biblical instruction and that you are allowed to have fun doing so!!

Blessings!

Spring Fever!!!!

Warmer weather and longer days means –IT’S PLANTING TIME!!

I still have the same small vegetable garden from last year that did quite well I might add. I do plan to expand and plant some new things this year. The problem is –not enough sunshine in the yard. There are pine trees on community property that the sun hides behind.

In the meantime, we enjoy our evenings with the firepit and some soft music. Lately the stars and moon have been amazing. I have two apps on my ipad that tells me about the deep sky objects overhead (constellations, stars, planets). After enabling this app, all you have to do is hold your device over your head or towards the sky and a lot of things we cannot see and many that we can see come into focus. It is totally cool.

The next time you are out, look up and be amazed!!

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:1-7