Today

The New Year’s resolutions I failed to make are taunting me.

- Lose 30 lbs.

- Begin attending women’s Bible study again.

- Pray for my husband every day.

- Pray with my husband every day.

- Pray for and with my children every day.

- Really figure out how to teach our children to be more loving to each other.

- Have a better attitude.

- Get out of debt (starting by developing better spending habits).

I could go on…

I guess that’s why I don’t make “resolutions” at New Year’s. I can’t seem to focus on just one thing. Instead, I feel like I must change my whole life in one fell swoop.

And when I try to change my whole life like that, I inevitably fail.

But if I could just take things “one day at a time…”

So today, I will do my best. Today, I will seek God and ask for His leading. Today, I will pray for my family. Today, I will ask Him to help me make wise choices when it comes to what I eat and what I spend. Today, I will ask Him to help keep my attitude in check.

Just for today.

And if I fail or fall, well, tomorrow is another today.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” ~Lamentations 3:22-24

Filed Under: my walk, parenting, praying for, real life, weight loss February 21, 2012 By 4 Comments



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Overflowing…with sporadic thoughts and thankfulness

Sitting in church on Sunday mornings, or in the midst of reading a great book, my mind is full of words that I want to write here. However, at 6:30am when I get myself settled into my office chair, creativity eludes me.

And you know what you get when that happens…

A LIST. :)

So here is a list of random things I’ve been thinking about. And if any of those things sound interesting to you, let me know (I’ll try to write a post or a series just for you).

1. Short-term missions trips really do make a difference (they don’t have to be long-term to have long-lasting results).

2. Why fundraising for your missions trip is necessary (even if you can afford to pay for it yourself).

3. How we’re revamping our family plan to truly impact our kids lives for Christ.

4. The sermon illustration that inspired #3.

5. My attempts to get us debt free, why I want us to get there, and what’s been working (and what hasn’t).

6. Another rant about my painful lack of motivation to lose weight, and some random ideas I have (that I haven’t yet put into action).

7. Spiritual gifts – understanding them, figuring out yours, using them to serve God.

8. Why I decided to say “yes” to another thing in my life and am now mentoring a friend.

9. What I love about my new job.

10. How much I miss my bestie since I’ve started working (looking for advice on friendships for working moms).

11. Books I’m reading or have recently read: Radical (David Platt), Priceless (Tom Davis), Foreign to Familiar (Sarah A. Lanier), the book of Ruth, Her Daughter’s Dream (Francine Rivers).

12. The new after-school routine around here.

13. Can anyone tell me how to find time to read friends’ blogs and Facebook when working?

14. Why I chose day care over other childcare options.

15. How I’m sure that some people are judging my decision to go to work and put my baby in day care, and my response to their unspoken judgement.

16. Why we’ve decided to stay at a church that isn’t perfect for us.

17. What I’m serving for supper tonight…this week…next week.

18. Why I haven’t had to clean my house in months.

19. How leading our small group has become a surprising joy.

20. How we try to keep Christmas affordable with a big family.

I have many other things I’m thinking about, too. But I thought a list of 20 random topics was more than enough for you to choose from.

And, as I’ve been doing a lot lately, I’d like to leave you with a note from the devotional book I’m reading (Jesus Calling, Sarah Young).

Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances).

An appropriate quote, with my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend.

So I’ll leave you with two questions:

1. Do any of those sporadic statements above warrant an entire post?

2. What are you thankful for today (even if it’s a negative, or maybe especially if that’s the case)?

I am thankful that I can’t put thoughts together to write a blog post, that I can’t seem to find time to visit with people I love (Hi Mom! Hi Deb! Hi Kelly! Hi Pat!), and that my brain will not shut off.

I thank God for these “troubles” because they are signs of a life that is full. A life full of opportunities. And I am especially grateful for those people who still love me and forgive my temporary neglect as I learn to manage all these opportunities.

Many people have to work. Many people work at jobs they can’t stand. I get to work, and at a job that is a ministry, with people who share my faith, doing things that are fun and use my gifts. Thank You, Lord, for a life that overflows!

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Filed Under: blogging, budgeting, family, housework, just because, ministry, missions, organizing, parenting, radical, reading, spritual gifts, weight loss, working November 24, 2011 By 4 Comments



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The Thing I Need To Do

I procrastinate.

I put off doing what needs to be done until the last possible moment. College papers. Studying. Making dinner. Cleaning the house. Blogging. (It’s 6:40 am, which means I have 20 minutes to get off this computer!)

There’s lots of things that I can put off and have no major ill effect. No one will will experience trauma or tragedy if this post doesn’t get finished or if my bathrooms don’t get cleaned.

But there are a few things I’ve been procrastinating on that could have more serious results. They all involve self-control and discipline. Which are pretty much on the other end of the spectrum from procrastination.

I need to get my weight under control. It’s no longer a “wish.” I am tired, grumpy, generally icky feeling every day. If I don’t start eating well and exercising, I will continue to get heavier and more unhealthy. Bad results for me and for my children (bad example, sick mom, etc.)

I also need to get my finances under control. I wouldn’t categorize them as “out of control” at this point, but I know from past experience that it’s a slippery slope. Take a couple poor decisions, add in a couple difficult circumstances, and next thing you know you’re in the red. Bad results for me, for sure. But what about the many people in my community and throughout the world that I could be helping with my excess (were I not using that extra for me)?

And, I need to get my children under control. They’re not bad kids. They’re not in trouble. But I often wonder if they can’t treat each other with love and kindness, can they really, truly be loving and kind to others? The picking and pecking is pushing me to my limit, and my limit isn’t very far these days (partly due to the life changes of working outside the home, partly due to the increased irritability of being overweight and financially frustrated).

It seems like I have several major lifestyle changes to make in order to get…in order. You’ve heard the phrase “lifestyle change.” Well changing those three things at once would be more like a whole-life makeover. Can anyone say overwhelming?!

Ultimately, though, I think it comes down to one thing that I need to do. I need to strengthen my self-control muscles.

It’s going to be a process in learning and leaning on God. I have no illusions that it will be easy. But I do believe that change is possible. Self-control is attainable through Holy Spirit-control.

What is the one thing you need to do that you’ve been putting off too long?

Alternately, if you are a reformed procrastinator, share some tips, tidbits, and verses that helped you change your ways.

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Filed Under: budgeting, crave God, my walk, obedience, parenting, real life, weight loss November 17, 2011 By 4 Comments



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Get Out of the Way

This morning, I was emailing back and forth with a friend about some current struggles in my life. Nothing serious, so don’t worry, but stuff that needs dealing with.

I shared with her how I try to do the things I feel God has told me to do, but when the results don’t seem to be coming I get frustrated and discouraged. I tell myself, “Why bother? Just give up.”

Maybe it’s not really me saying those words. They sound a lot more like lies from the enemy of my soul. (Hang on while I ponder this light bulb moment.)

Anyway, she wrote some words that I needed to hear:

God can use your obedience better when you obey and stay out of His way.

Obey. Then get out of the way.

Simple yet profound. Another light bulb moment in my day. Her words remind me of the words of one of my mentors, Shannon Ethridge (Author, Speaker, Life Coach, and BLAST mentor)…

Your job is obedience. God’s job is results.

I keep getting hung up on results. I see that I don’t have any more speaking engagements this year than I had last year, and I feel discouraged. I see that, in spite of a lot of effort with our kids, they still prefer to bicker almost constantly, and I feel frustrated. I see my credit card balance going down, down, down, then back up again, and I feel trapped. I see the number on the scale creep down by 6 lbs only to go back up by 8, and I feel defeated.

The problem with thinking this way is that anything that can be viewed as failure results in feeling discouraged, frustrated, trapped and defeated.

How I needed the reminder today that God is not an all-or-nothing God. He doesn’t say, “Give me perfection or just give up.” No, He just wants me to keep moving forward in faith. Trusting His promises, obeying His commands, and waiting on Him for the results.

Obey, then get out of the way, so He can do His job.

Sometimes the fruit of that obedience may result in internal change, or have impact for someone else I’ll never know about. Those times when He chooses to let me experience successful results in a tangible way are a gift.

My success or failure is not defined by the tangible results. If I obey my Father, that is success.

Maybe some of you are experiencing a similar struggle right now, where you keep on doing what you feel Him asking you to do, but it just doesn’t seem to be making a difference. Might I allow my friend’s words to encourage you today?

Just obey.
Then get out of the way.
Your job is obedience.
God’s job is results.

Filed Under: BLAST, budgeting, ministry, parenting, real life, speaking, weight loss, writing June 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment



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Cravings, Talking to God, and Bathrooms

* Hold on! You may not care to read about my weight loss challenges, and that’s cool. But before you just skip over this post, I thought you should know that there’s some important info about our new series at the end of this post. Just this very moment I named the new series Forty Questions for Jesus. *

I don’t know what week I’m on, and I’ve not been doing my best. I haven’t gained, but I’m not really losing. I’m not thinking about what I put in my mouth, nor am I particularly motivated to exercise. Sigh.

Tomorrow, a friend and I are going to begin studying Made to Crave together. We have both been reading it on our own and finding it so encouraging and helpful…when we are consistent. Our hope is that working on it together will hold us both accountable to stay consistent, not only in working through the study, but in tracking our food and getting enough exercise.

We both feel that our “issues” with food are getting in the way of our relationship with God, and our hope is that by getting our habits under control, we will grow closer in our walk with the Lord together.

All that to say, this little series of posts will be retiring. But I will keep you updated on my progress and share little tidbits of encouragement for others on this journey. Mkay?

In more exciting news, our new Lent series, Forty Questions for Jesus is going to be starting up on Thursday and running for seven weeks! Starting this Wednesday (Ash Wed), I am going to take a pause during my morning quiet time for listening. I’m going to blog about what I learn, and of course I hope that you will join in.

Given that Thursday is our first post, and we’re only beginning Wednesday, I thought I’d offer some inspiration. How about we all begin this week with three questions?

Wednesday – Lord, what do You think/feel about me?
Thursday – Lord, what are Your plans and purposes for my life?
Friday – Jesus, if we could play a game together, what game would You play with me and why?
(These questions are from Donna Jordan’s Listening to God curriculum.)

I find it helpful to journal the response I “hear” in my heart when I ask God questions, that way I’m not adding my own thoughts into the mix. And it’s always nice to save those answers and re-read them from time to time.

If you and God take a different direction in your time of listening prayer, that’s fine too! It is less about asking Him the “right” questions than it is about simply learning to ask and listen. I can’t wait to go deeper with Him and with you!

I also just had to tell you…I spent over an hour this morning cleaning one shower stall! Crazy, eh? I am proud to announce that every bit of layered soap scum has been obliterated and you can once again see through the glass doors. (Us homemakers need to share the little accomplishments some days. *grin*)

Filed Under: carnivals, housework, Made to Crave, real life, weight loss, without question March 7, 2011 By 2 Comments



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Crave God, Not Food – week 7

What’s the difference between the person who successfully loses weight and keeps it off and the rest of us?

Is it strategy? I don’t think so. I’ve seen people succeed on all sorts of plans, from Weight Watchers to South Beach, from Curves to P90X. There are “how to” books, videos, and programs to be found around every corner. We are not lacking for information on how to lose weight and get healthy.

For those of us who struggle and whose weight sometimes comes off but often returns, the missing ingredient seems to be the “want to.” We lack the motivation to do what needs to be done, or the commitment to keep doing what needs to be done over and over. We fabricate excuses so that we can blame external factors for our struggle (I can’t find time to exercise with all these small children…Eating healthy costs too much…My body just prefers to be this weight…) instead of looking for the internal issues that are holding us back.

I’ve identified a few of the things that keep dragging me back to my old habits (of eating bad foods and living a sedentary life):

Perfectionism
I tend to think “all or nothing,” so when I have a small slip-up or a weak moment it’s easy to convince myself that I am incapable of getting it just right. If you can’t do something well, don’t do it at all. Sound familiar?

Comparison
I watch others who are succeeding, or who have never experienced this struggle, and I hold up my measuring stick. Mine is always shorter. Beautiful friends who’ve had numerous babies still looking as amazing as they did before the first pregnancy… Contestants on The Biggest Loser who rock out dropping ten plus pounds in a week… And then there’s me. And I feel about two inches tall. And I think, “Why bother?”

These two internal issues reveal the third…

Wrong Motivations
Am I losing weight to be skinny, to see a certain number on the scale, to wear a particular size of jeans? Do I believe that, by losing weight, I will somehow “measure up” in a new way and feel more beautiful? Or more worthy? What, really, is the goal that drives me?

So I need to remind myself of some truths. Maybe you need a reminder today, too.

The number on the scale does not define me. That number is simply an external indicator of an internal problem.

While looking great and wearing those size eights hidden away in the back of my closet would be fantastic, my appearance is nothing more than a side-benefit (the icing on the cake, if you will). The real benefit is how I will feel, not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally.

The goal is not measurable in pounds, inches, or sizes. Rather, my daily measure of success needs to be obedience. Moment by moment, decision by decision, asking God what He desires for me and then doing it.

For me, carrying this extra weight is symbolic of the burden I am hauling around that weighs me down from serving God and my family fully, completely, wholeheartedly, and with supernatural energy.

It’s not about me.

I hope you needed a pep talk this morning, in whatever area your struggle lies. What is your struggle today? Did any of those truths resonate with you, too?

* This post is part of my Crave God, Not Food series, where I’m holding myself accountable to you and to Him on my quest for better health. Much of what I’m learning is based on Lysa TerKeurst’s Made to Crave: satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food.

Filed Under: crave God, Made to Crave, my walk, real life, weight loss February 28, 2011 By 3 Comments



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Crave God, Not Food – week 6

Report Card time…

Since last week:
- weight – down 1 lb
- body fat – same
- waist – down 0.75″

Since I began (January 10th):
- weight – down 5.4 lbs
- body fat – down 2%
- waist – down 2″

I have mixed feelings…
Good – progress in the right direction
Bad – slower progress than I’d hoped for
Fired up – to exercise more and harder to speed up the progress
Deflated – realizing that this is unrealistic
Good – that I feel better, healthier, prettier, stronger
Bad – that I haven’t shrunk enough to expand my wardrobe options (two pairs of jeans that I am just a couple inches away from wearing)
Excited – that I am only 4.4 lbs away from breaking down below a nasty weight barrier that’s had me stuck for 3 years
Discouraged – the barrier would appear to be about 4 weeks away

So, what’s a girl to do with such an emotional roller coaster?

I continually remind myself that my emotions are not trustworthy. Nine times out of ten, following my emotions will lead me astray. Instead, I must remember to stick with the plan, make good choices, and press on. Sometimes that’s hard to do. So then I remind myself that this plan isn’t just for me; I am doing this for God. Not that God needs me to be skinnier, but that He is able to use me more if I am stronger, healthier, and have more energy. The better my health, the greater my ability to serve Him – at home, at church, and out in the community.

While I can’t deny how wonderful it will be to feel fit, healthy, and slim, my ultimate goal is (and needs to remain) to honour God.

Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.
~ Romans 6:13 (GW)

Filed Under: crave God, my walk, real life, weight loss February 14, 2011 By 4 Comments



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Crave God, Not Food – week 5

This week I learned something. It’s nothing ground-breaking or revolutionary, yet this knowledge will revolutionize my weight loss journey. Here is what I’ve discovered:

When I don’t pray about making choices that honor God, I tend to forget that my choices have anything to do with Him.

Riding on the success of last week, I became confident. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, except when self-confidence overtakes God-confidence. Too much self-confidence leads to “I” thinking. I did great this week! Look how well I am managing my eating! I worked out hard. I lost weight. I did it! I, I, I… All that “I” thinking left no room for God – no room for His glory and no room for Him to work.

It’s risky to say that my eating (and thus my weight) is tied to my spiritual walk. Because if I fail at getting my eating under control, I am essentially failing God. At least that’s how some people may view it. But I know that I cannot fail God. Whether I have success or not, whether I lose weight or not, whether I learn to manage my anger or not, whether I use swear words or not… I cannot fail Him.

The only way I fail is if I give up. If I give up my efforts to know Him better, to understand Him more clearly, to honor Him in more areas of my life - then I will have failed.

So this week, though I did not lose weight (I didn’t gain either, and I did lose 1% body fat), I neither failed myself nor God. I had a momentary distraction and lost my purpose. I got to thinking that this was all about me, forgetting that it’s truly about Him and me – our relationship.

Today, my prayer is that what I put in my mouth will be beneficial for my body, for my calling, and for those I’m called to serve. I pray that I will remember to come to Him for help when I face temptation. Mostly I pray that I will feel more intimately acquainted with Him and His love as each day passes.

“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive.~ 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV, 1984)

Is there something you feel called to do - something that is permissible, but not beneficial (whether change your eating habits, give up TV, start a daily quiet time, get organized, etc.) - that you were distracted from this week? It would be an honor to pray for you this week; how can I pray?

Filed Under: crave God, Made to Crave, my walk, real life, weight loss February 7, 2011 By 3 Comments



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Crave God, Not Food – week 4

I have been following a healthier eating plan now for three whole weeks. I have been exercising more than in the past (though not as much as I think I should). There have been moments of temptation that “caught” me, and others that I conquered. The conquering has happened more than the being caught, and the results are proving it.

Weight down this week:
3.2 lbs

Total weight down:
4.4 lbs

Want to know what puts a great big smile on my face? It’s not that number on the scale. I smile because I feel good! As in, not bloated, over-full, gassy, nauseous, and disgusting. I smile because I feel victorious! Not out-of-control, weak, lazy, and trapped.

And for the record, those feelings are not because I am strong or have amazing will power. They are not because I am dedicated and committed. (I’ve pretty much proven that I am none of those things these past few years!) These feelings are because God is strong and is empowering me, because I am dedicated to Him and He is committed to me.

It’s hard to explain… I mean, how can weight loss be a spiritual issue? Yet when I put it in that perspective – when my desire is to honour God with my body, my obedience, and my transformation – it feels more important somehow. More meaningful. Vital, even.

If you’re on this journey too, how was your week? Share you victories and your struggles so we can encourage one another. And thanks for letting me share my journey with you.

Filed Under: crave God, Made to Crave, real life, weight loss January 31, 2011 By 2 Comments



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Crave God, Not Food – week 3

You’ve heard me talking for the past couple weeks about Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, Made to Crave. Today I have the unbelievable opportunity to not only share with you the impact this book is having on me, but to give away two copies that Lysa sent my way! And because I believe in this message so much, one of you will also have the chance to win the six-session teaching DVDs as a special gift from yours truly.

If you’re like me, you are probably thinking, “Sure, as if I need another diet book! South beach, Dr. Phil, Cabbage Soup, blah, blah, blah.” If there is one thing I want you to know, it’s this: Made to Crave is NOT a diet book! Not even close! What you will find between those pretty blue covers are pages rich with spiritual truths – not only what God’s Word says about our relationship with food, but how our relationship with God can make all the difference in changing our “issues” with food.

Here’s a quick video from Lysa explaining (in a way I never could!) how Made to Crave is different.


Lysa answers other questions here.

Just in case you’re not convinced, let me tell you a bit about my weight loss progress these past two weeks. I have been following my healthy eating and exercise plan, reading the book and working through the study questions, as well as watching the weekly webcasts. I have lost 1.2 lbs, 1% body fat, and 1″ around my waist. (No, it’s not the wild and crazy progress promised by some diet programs, but I’ve had that before and always ended up back here. This time, I want slow and consistent.)

Here’s the more important thing, though – I feel great! I feel empowered, strong, committed, in control, confident, and beautiful. Yup, even beautiful. Having barely changed my body composition at all, I feel prettier by the sheer fact that I am not being a lazy, junk-food eating girl. Don’t you want to find your “want to,” too?! After all, you (and I) were made for more than this. More than this failure, more than this cycle, more than being ruled by taste buds. We were made for victory. (ch. 4)

Okay, time for the fun!

The grab (3 prizes):
- Made to Crave book
- Made to Crave book
- Made to Crave teaching DVD

Enter to win:
- just leave a comment between now and noon (MST) on Wednesday (Jan. 26): 1 entry
You can increase your odds of winning by doing the following…
- subscribe to the blog, whether by “following,” email subscription, or another feed reader; don’t forget to leave me a comment letting me know you subscribed (or that you are already a subscriber): 50 entries
- “like” on facebook: 25 entries
- “follow” on twitter: 25 entries
- “share” this post on facebook: 10 entries
- “retweet” this post on twitter: 10 entries
- send a friend to either like/follow/subscribe (and have that friend mention your name): 30 entries
Your name can be entered up to 151 times! So if you really, really want to win… *wink*
Remember to leave a comment on this post letting me know if/when you’ve done each of the above. (I don’t want to miss any entries!)

 And just so you don’t worry about hitting subscribe/like/follow only to discover you’ve wasted your time, here’s a sampling of what you’ll find here at Titus 2:3-5…
* When God Messes up Your Plans
* Seven Steps to Stop Anger in its Tracks
* How to Repair a Cracked Vase

Later this week we’ll be talking about (among other things)…
* Tough Parenting Moments: When Your Own Kid is the “Problem”
* Making Your Faith Real

Thanks for stopping by! I am so excited to spend the next few weeks getting to know you better! And hey – if you just can’t wait to get your hands on Made to Crave, you can order it here.

Be blessed,

Filed Under: crave God, giveaways, Made to Crave, real life, weight loss January 24, 2011 By 18 Comments



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