The Veruca Salt of Prayer

Yes.  I am he Veruca Salt of prayer.  I want it and I want it NOW!

I can honestly say that I depend on God to provide for me in the long-term.  Time after time, I have witnessed His mercy in my life as He makes everything OK.
However, I forget that He is providing for me daily as He prepares me for the long-term.
I want it and I want it NOW!

In Exodus, God provides manna for the Israelites.  He gives them just enough to make it through each day.  As I read about how greedy some of them were, I cannot believe they would act that way after He has just delivered them from slavery in Egypt through all sorts of miracles!  Why wouldn't they just trust him???

Um…I'm just like them.  Oopsies.

How can my soul be satisfied when I don't have what I want?  Last time I checked, there is no manna falling from the sky!!!

He is still our manna.  He continues to be my daily portion of manna as He prepares my Israel.

My daily manna is peace in knowing He has a better plan that I do.

My daily manna is patience as His plan unfolds before me.

My daily manna is the self-control He provides so that I am able to continue in His will.

My daily manna is the love I am privileged to share with others because of He who lives in me.

My daily manna is the joy I experience every day even when I don't have what I want (but I have what I need).

My daily manna is the kindness I express to others even when I don't feel like being kind.

My daily manna is the goodness that comes out of my life - in spite of all the "badness".

My daily manna is the faithfulness that allows me to know that there is a source of all of this manna that I need every moment of every day.

My manna is the gentleness that I use in dealing with others who need manna too - and dealing with my own weaknesses.

Even when I have an "I want an oompa-loompa and I want it NOW" moment, I can find my daily portion with God's promises.  He is giving me just what I need for each day.  I just need to stop stomping my foot and ask for my daily portion.

So, here is my prayer: Daddy, I do want it all!  You know all of my heart's desires.  Whether I get exactly what I want or something completely different, I trust in Your will for my life.  Please be my daily portion.  Protect me from an attitude of greed and self-importance.  I know You love me and You want the best for me.  Amen.

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Made to Crave - Week 1 of the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study

I thought I'd share my reflections from my first week this fabulous Bible study.
But I've got about 7 pages of notes and too much to say about all of it!
So I will share some of my thoughts from the week.

Introduction:

"My weight is a direct reflection of my choices and the state of my health." pg 16
Well, that hurt my feelings.  It's true.  I'm not only self-conscious about my appearance and size, but more about what it says about me. I'm a walking billboard that shows people that I have no self-control.  I, in fact, do not have it all together.
SHAME
This is a mental/spiritual/emotional battle even more than it is a physical one.

Chapter 1:

I am made for more than this!  How can I possibly do what God is calling me to do if I am constantly nagged by how lethargic I feel, or how I look in my clothes, or how uncomfortable I am because my jeans are digging in?  I'm made to be a warrior for God!  Warriors can get up off the couch quickly - without adjusting the waistband of their pants!
"Truth is powerful.  The more saturated we are with truth, the more powerful we'll be in resisting our temptations." pg 24
Getting into the Word is essential.  In order to replace my thoughts of self-doubt and self-defeat, I have to KNOW what the Word says about me. What does God say about my health? my body? my habits?

Reflections: You know the WW commercials with the orange monster?  He represents cravings, chasing you around with sweets and unhealthy treats - jerk!  The question presented asked what my monster looks like. I was shocked at my own answer.
I don't see a little hyper monster.  I see a giant dark figure blocking my way to anything healthy and bullying me toward the wrong foods.  It's like the Grimm Reaper!
Then the question asks what conversation I'd have with my cravings monster.  And I couldn't think of anything.  I can't imagine it talking to me. I can only imagine over-powering it and making it shrink bit-by-bit by harnessing the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now - who want to analyze that?

Chapter 2:

CRAVING IS A PROMPT TO PRAY!  That was the biggest thing I got out of this week. Every time I craving strikes - pray!  At first, I prayed about my craving and about my desire to lose weight and eat healthy foods.  But now I take try prompt as a time to pray for others.  I've already grown in my prayer life!

Reflections: I had to reflect on my reasons for eating over the last week.  After listing all the times I've eaten when it wasn't just about nutrition, I would say my biggest weakness with food is INDULGENCE.  I eat to make myself feel better, to celebrate, or just to really enjoy way too much of the wrong foods!  I'm being indulgent - time to get in the Word about over-indulgence!
I welcome your input on verses I can look at for that!

After reading chapter 2, there was a Facebook event with several questions and activities.  I am working on memorizing this verse.  I used the unpacking method on this one too!

Chapter 3:

Gardens bloom into beautiful flowers because the gardener has invested time and energy.  Same with my own outer beauty - it will take time and energy.  There's no magic fix.

Time to make my plan.  One that I can stick to. One that I will invest in.

Reflections: I was asked if having a plan in other areas of my life works well for me.  My initial reaction was no.  I'm more of a spontaneous, let's see what tomorrow brings, kind of person.  I see plans as rigid, difficult, restrictive.  I do know that structure and preparation usually help me.  

As I wrote more and more about this question, I realize that I CAN do a plan!

Planning is actually more empowering than restrictive!

I am thankful to God for revealing that to me.

I also made my plan: Back to basically clean eating - no white sugars or starches.  Limited whole grains.  A lean protein, fruits, veggies, and whole-grain plan.

So…I have a plan about food.

I have a plan to pray more.

I have a plan to read and LEARN more about the Word.

I Love My Husband 2

Today I wan to focus on changing myself.
Do I think I need to change?  Of course not!  I'm a perfect wife and my husband should thank God every day for a woman like me! :)  Right?
I can think of things that my husband needs to change to make me happy, but I can't change him.  And every time I try to force him to be different, it backfires.
Please tell me I'm not alone on this!

So, today I will try to see what I can change to cultivate more peace in my marriage.

I cannot control his tone of voice.  BUT I can control my own reaction to it.
I cannot control what time he gets home for dinner.  BUT I can change how much of my mood depends on the hands of the clock.
I cannot change whether he rinses his dishes or not.  BUT I can control whether I give him the silent treatment for  "not respecting my job as homemaker."
Now, I know that these are all minor details, but I promise they feel major when I'm letting them rob my household and my marriage of peace.
Today I focus on peace and MY role in that peace.

Father, please bring your peace into our home.  Help us be aware of our own moods and attitudes.  Help us desire Your perfect peace above our own pride.  Remove the hurt, attitudes, and misconceptions that create distress.  Help us treat each other with respect without judgment.  Keep our expectations of each other realistic.  Protect us from elevating stress that can lead to fights.  Thank you for loving us and for giving us each other.  We love you, Lord.

Amen!

I Love My Husband

I really really really love my husband, BUT...
Marriage ain't easy.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about relationships of all kinds lately.  I'm truly blessed with a good man for a husband, parents and siblings who love me, amazing girlfriends who would do anything for me, and step-daughters who I adore.

I am blessed with relationships.

But they are hard!

Especially marriage!
This week, I want to focus on praying, not only for my own marriage, but for marriage as an institution.  Of course, I'll focus on the wife's perspective because...well, because I am one!

***Let me remind you that I am no marriage expert/counselor/Biblical Scholar.  I'm just a plain old housewife with a desire to make my marriage the best it can be and I'm inviting you to come along!***

I think we live in a very interesting time in society.  While I appreciate a lot about the feminist movement (mostly that women were created with as much value as men), there are a lot of things about it that have damaged relationships between men and women.
While we ARE created equal, we are NOT created the same.  Men and women are just different!  It is a fact and it gives the world balance.  I'm not saying that every man or every woman can be put in the same box either...which adds even more complication!  I am saying that there are things that are typically "male" and typically "female" and putting those things together can be both beautiful and disastrous.

So...onto my focus for today!

Think about the days when you first met each other.  Maybe it was love at first sight.  Maybe a friendship (like our relationship).  Maybe you couldn't stand the sight of him!  No matter the start, we all had those first few months, maybe even years, of romantic "perfection" (a.k.a. infatuation).  Think about when you fell in love.  Look at pictures, listen to music, visit a place - do whatever it takes to remember those days.  Try to revive some of those giddy feelings.  Remember the butterflies in your stomach or the way you couldn't fall asleep without thinking about him.  

Now try to hold onto those memories and those feelings all day today.  Try to have that same giddy attitude when you see your husband today.  No matter what his mood is!

Father, I love you.  I know you love my husband more than I ever could.  Please pour your love for him through me today.  Let me be an instrument of your amazing mercy and grace and adoring love to him.  Help me remember the way I so easily adored him in the beginning. Protect us from being jaded by the mess of life.  Protect us from distractions from each other.  Protect us from distractions of being one in You.  Help me make my husband feel the way I did when we first met.  Please give us that spark  of romance and excitement.  Let it return at the right time in the future as well. Thank you for creating marriage and giving us a partner through this life.  You are the author of it all.  Your will be done in our marriage and in all marriages.

AMEN

Praying Through the 5k

I'm so excited to participate with my church family in the Race for the Cure in honor of our sweet sister Cathy as she so gracefully battles cancer.  She's a beautiful woman inside and out and deserves every bit of love she's been receiving.

The Holy Spirit has taken me over and organized this team through me.  I take no credit for any work I've done or ideas that have come to me.

His latest idea was for us to pray through each km of the race.  I know most of us will be walking with Cathy, so there will be lots of socializing going on.  Even if you don't pray through the whole race, each km marker can be a reminder to pray in a specific way for Cathy and her comrades in this fight.

Starting line/km 1: Begin the race with a thankful heart.  Thank God for Cathy, our church family, and the ability we each have to participate in this race.  Thank God for the people who work so hard to find a cure - the medical teams, volunteers, and supporters.
Romans 1:8

km 2: Pray for Cathy's family and medical staff - all caretakers.  Pray for their discernment, sensitivity, and strength.  Include Brad, Liam, Tabitha, their parents, and her doctors and nurses.  They all need the Holy Spirit to guide them through her care - what to do and what to say.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31

km 3: Pray for Cathy's complete and total restoration here on earth.  Cry out to God for healing of her body - and for the healing of all the Survivors running/walking with us and for the many brothers and sisters in our own church family battling cancer.
Matt 7:7-11

km 4: Pray for Cathy's spiritual/emotional/mental battle.  Her body is being attacked, but so is her peace.  Pray for peace that surpasses all understanding.  Pray for her to be stronger and stronger in her faith.  She's already been so strong, faithful, and graceful - give God the glory for that too!
Philippians 4:7

km 5: Ask God to reveal your role in Cathy's life.  Ask for clarity in what you are to learn from her and do to support her - and all of our brothers and sisters.  Pray for protection over our church family against anymore cancer or disease.
Romans 12:10

Finish Line: Praise God for his sovereignty.  No matter what trials we go through on this earth, he still reigns and we will all be with him one day!!!
Psalm 115:1

Week 2: Be Still

Week 2 Challenge: Be Still
That sounds weird for a fitness challenge, doesn't it?  I had this idea last week at church when the worship leader put those two words up on the screen.

I'm horrible at being still.  Being still implies doing nothing.  Not thinking.  Not moving forward.  Not getting anything done.

Ooh.  Scary!

I wish I had thought of this challenge before.  I should have started here.  But, I was too busy thinking, moving, and doing to come up with it.

This week, we will take 7 minutes a day - all at once, or a few minutes at a time - to be still. Just sit.  

Breathe in.  

Breathe out.

Pray or meditate.

Take this time to think about why you need to worry about your health and your fitness. Why are you doing this work?  Who are you doing it for?  Do you really see your body as a temple?  

Ask God to help you when you feel weak or tired or hungry.  Ask Him to help you understand your body and how He created it to do His work.  Tell Him what you need.

Just be still.  No TV.  No email.  Nobody else.

Every day.

Be Still.
7 minutes.

It is amazing how simple the act of being still is and what a profound impact it can have on your day - even your life. 

I truly believe that anything you do in life starts with your thinking.  Losing weight and being fit is a mindset.  You've got to make up your mind about your choices before you make them.  Asking your Creator to change your mind will change your actions.
This is a lesson in self control.
This is a lesson in discipline.
This is a lesson in using your deepest desires to control your actions.

PLEASE share with us when you do this.  I can't wait to hear how He speaks to you during this time!

***For past challenges, click the CHALLENGES tab at the top of my blog.