Ok, time for full disclosure, I going to come clean. Its the only way this will work.
Two years ago I started a process by which I lost 63lbs. This past July when I got married I was at my lowest weight in a very long time. Here is my confession: On July 19, 2008 I began cooking the "old way" and stopped exercising as much. I have put 18 lbs back on! (this is where if I had a way of recording sound to my blog you would hear great wailing and nashing of teeth) OK ENOUGH!
Moving on. . . today is the day. I have not lost the War on weight! I simple gave up a couple of battles. I will now take up my weapons (food journal, glass of water, tennis shoes) and prepare to reenter the war.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 This was the verse of the day on a friend's site. It was suggested that you blog about this verse I think it fits with this blog very well. My lack of self control is a sin that I need healing for.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Bonne Anniversari
Every morning David goes out 10-15 minutes before I have to leave for work and starts my car. He scrapes the ice or shovels the snow. He always leaves a little patch of ice or snow where he can draw a heart or two in the snow or ice. Who needs flowers?
This morning on the top of my frost covered car where several hearts and a message. Bonne Anniversari. He remembered! Today is 7 months of wedded bliss!I know some of you may be rolling your eyes, thinking, "they'll get over it, their just newly weds." Who says you have to get over it? I hear people in church say the same thing about young christians that are excited and in love with God. Why do we do this? Is it because we have lost that love and passion so in order to make ourselves feel better about our relationship we try dragging the other person down?
I remember Pastor Rob saying near the end of our wedding ceremony. "Let no one seperate you!" I wonder if that should also be said to new Christians. A relationship with Christ is that of a bride and bride groom.
My Dear Beloved Jesus,
Bonne Anniversari! I don't remember the exact date you became my bride groom (approx: May 1973) I have not always been faithful, but you have. Thank you that you always freely give your love and forgiveness and take me back into your arms where there is security, comfort and pure joy.
I Love you with all my heart!
Christy
This morning on the top of my frost covered car where several hearts and a message. Bonne Anniversari. He remembered! Today is 7 months of wedded bliss!I know some of you may be rolling your eyes, thinking, "they'll get over it, their just newly weds." Who says you have to get over it? I hear people in church say the same thing about young christians that are excited and in love with God. Why do we do this? Is it because we have lost that love and passion so in order to make ourselves feel better about our relationship we try dragging the other person down?
I remember Pastor Rob saying near the end of our wedding ceremony. "Let no one seperate you!" I wonder if that should also be said to new Christians. A relationship with Christ is that of a bride and bride groom.
My Dear Beloved Jesus,
Bonne Anniversari! I don't remember the exact date you became my bride groom (approx: May 1973) I have not always been faithful, but you have. Thank you that you always freely give your love and forgiveness and take me back into your arms where there is security, comfort and pure joy.
I Love you with all my heart!
Christy
Monday, February 23, 2009
Happy Sick Day
Satuday afternoon there was a knock on our front door. Hesitantly (because I was still in my PJ's) I opened the door and peeked around the corner. "HAPPY SICK DAY!" in a loud cheerful voice. I wasn't the one sick but since David was and was still in bed and it was a Saturday I hadn't gotten dressed yet. The "Happy Sick Day" was beening extended by our pastor and his wife. I was handed a card and a gift bag for David that contained chicken noodle soup, crackers and mint tea. Renee then handed me a small pkg. with little green & red disks that said "Protectors" in three different languages. I was very confused, it didn't help when she said, "trust me you'll need them." (for any of you that have met Renee you'll understand what I'm about to say, I'm always a little nervious when I hear her say trust me.) My thought was are these suppost to keep me from getting sick? About that time Rob stepped around the corner and handed me a truck battery. O Ooookay the protectors were starting to make sense, they were terminal protectors.
Rob & Renee on behalf of our church family brought David a new battery for his Explorer. We have been having to go out and start the truck everyday if we missed a day; such as over a weekend when we would just use my car or the few days that David had been sick the battery would be dead and we'd have to jump it.
Because David was very sick I didn't invite Rob & Renee in to expose them to the sick germs. I thanked them and they were on their way. I took the gift bag w/ soup and card into David, and told him who it was from. Then I drug the battery into the room and heaved it up onto the bed, and said this is from them also. He looked like he was about to cry. "Wow! I can't believe this," he said. "They really are just like family aren't they?" "I remember you telling me how much of a family your church was before I moved out here."
I have to say David really loves his church family at Emmanuel and on Saturday recieved an expression of that love in return. I'm happy to report that by Sunday afternoon David started feeling better. I guess it is true chicken soup, hot tea, and a new battery cures the cold.
Rob & Renee on behalf of our church family brought David a new battery for his Explorer. We have been having to go out and start the truck everyday if we missed a day; such as over a weekend when we would just use my car or the few days that David had been sick the battery would be dead and we'd have to jump it.
Because David was very sick I didn't invite Rob & Renee in to expose them to the sick germs. I thanked them and they were on their way. I took the gift bag w/ soup and card into David, and told him who it was from. Then I drug the battery into the room and heaved it up onto the bed, and said this is from them also. He looked like he was about to cry. "Wow! I can't believe this," he said. "They really are just like family aren't they?" "I remember you telling me how much of a family your church was before I moved out here."
I have to say David really loves his church family at Emmanuel and on Saturday recieved an expression of that love in return. I'm happy to report that by Sunday afternoon David started feeling better. I guess it is true chicken soup, hot tea, and a new battery cures the cold.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
WHY ME GOD?????
Why O Why? Why Me God? ...ok honestly when you read the first few words did you think, "Oh no what happened?" or "What is she whining about?" if so...gotcha! My, "Why me God?" question is purely one of praise and adoration. Why does he love me so, why does he choose to bless me beyond anything I have ever imagined. He is SOoooo Good to me! I don't deserve all that he does for me. He is ever constant, ever faithful. His love is pure! He will never leave me or forsake me! He disciplines me because he loves me (proverbs 3:12 - we studied this with the children last nightat church)
I don't know about you but I can't recall ever hearing someone question God when he unloads good things into their lives. But look out if pain or suffering should come our way, we whine and complain and question God like nothing else. Man we sound like a bunch of spoiled brats.
Why do we feel entitled to the good things and pitch a fit over the painful things?
I once hear someone say, "What if everything we neglected to thank God for today he took away from us?" I don't believe he works like this . . . but what if?
Please don't think that by my writing this blog I'm claiming to be on top of my game with Praise and Thanksgiving. Far from it. I hope that by writing this it will help me be more mindful to say
"THANK YOU DADDY!" ......."Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above."
Thank you Father for you gift of salvation, my husband, health, my dear family & friends, work . . . this is just the beginning of my list ....what on your list?
I don't know about you but I can't recall ever hearing someone question God when he unloads good things into their lives. But look out if pain or suffering should come our way, we whine and complain and question God like nothing else. Man we sound like a bunch of spoiled brats.
Why do we feel entitled to the good things and pitch a fit over the painful things?
I once hear someone say, "What if everything we neglected to thank God for today he took away from us?" I don't believe he works like this . . . but what if?
Please don't think that by my writing this blog I'm claiming to be on top of my game with Praise and Thanksgiving. Far from it. I hope that by writing this it will help me be more mindful to say
"THANK YOU DADDY!" ......."Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above."
Thank you Father for you gift of salvation, my husband, health, my dear family & friends, work . . . this is just the beginning of my list ....what on your list?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Blood Cake
For Eleven years now I have been a Children's Minister, Ten year prior to Children's Ministry I was a Youth Minister. These two ministries are extremely different. In youth ministry I could say almost anything to teenagers, they could handle, actually they loved the more gruesome Bible stories. I quickly found out that in Children's ministry I had to be very careful in what I said and how I said things and the tone of voice I used or little kids would start crying. I like to think that over 11 years I've gotten pretty good at being able to talk to children about the more sensitive topics that are in the Bible. That is until last night!
Since It is just a few days before Valentines Day I thought it would be an easy... almost no brainer lesson. Thats were I went wrong! I though the obvious lesson would be 1 Corinthians 13 "The Love Chapter" immmediately the Boy were all like ooooo yuck gross, cooties, LOVE Stuff! So I quickly switched gears ( I was quite proud of myself, That should have been another warning sign... pride come before a fall) I went with John 15 :13 "No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friend." I told the boys that the most "Manly" (Godly) thing ever done was an act of Love when Jesus gave himself to die on the cross for us. The boys started perking up and getting into the lesson more at this point. When they mentioned him being beatened and nailed to the cross Lizzy's a little 5 year old was quite concerned, she spoke up and said "I don't think they really nail Jesus' hands to the cross, they nailed his clothes." before I had a chance to respond Hayden a "Cool" 8 year old said "Nope! they nailed his hands because he wasn't wearing any clothes." I did my best to accurately explain everything. We even went back an picked up 1 Cor. 13. Everyone seemed to be handling things well. So on that note we ended our Bible study and transitioned ( a good teacher term) to our activity and snack time. Since Saturday is Valentines day I thought hey lets make a red velvete cup cakes for our treat! Each child got to help add ingredients and mix, upon adding the egg oil & water the cake mix became RED! Hadyen the Cool 8 year old, loudly proclaims WOW! Coooool! Blood Cake!......... you probably can imagine what the girls said.
Since It is just a few days before Valentines Day I thought it would be an easy... almost no brainer lesson. Thats were I went wrong! I though the obvious lesson would be 1 Corinthians 13 "The Love Chapter" immmediately the Boy were all like ooooo yuck gross, cooties, LOVE Stuff! So I quickly switched gears ( I was quite proud of myself, That should have been another warning sign... pride come before a fall) I went with John 15 :13 "No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friend." I told the boys that the most "Manly" (Godly) thing ever done was an act of Love when Jesus gave himself to die on the cross for us. The boys started perking up and getting into the lesson more at this point. When they mentioned him being beatened and nailed to the cross Lizzy's a little 5 year old was quite concerned, she spoke up and said "I don't think they really nail Jesus' hands to the cross, they nailed his clothes." before I had a chance to respond Hayden a "Cool" 8 year old said "Nope! they nailed his hands because he wasn't wearing any clothes." I did my best to accurately explain everything. We even went back an picked up 1 Cor. 13. Everyone seemed to be handling things well. So on that note we ended our Bible study and transitioned ( a good teacher term) to our activity and snack time. Since Saturday is Valentines day I thought hey lets make a red velvete cup cakes for our treat! Each child got to help add ingredients and mix, upon adding the egg oil & water the cake mix became RED! Hadyen the Cool 8 year old, loudly proclaims WOW! Coooool! Blood Cake!......... you probably can imagine what the girls said.
Monday, February 2, 2009
I've Been Thinking
All last week I wanted to write a blog but couldn't for the life of me think of amything to write about. Every time I'd sit down at the computer my mind would go completely blank. I have never been accused of being a great thinker, but come on, a whole week of fogging thinking.
Yesterday these thought started come to me, suprisingly it was during the time I had a terribly sick headache that made thinking about anything very difficult.
I slipped into one of the Adult Sunday School Classes and they were studying psalm 86. Verse 11b reads, "Give me an undivided mind to fear your name." My first thought was about my work at the group home for men with schizophrenia. Being focused and attentive is a key skill they have to work on all the time. Having a divided mind is huge part of their problem.
Later yesterday afternoon my husband David was reading a quote to me from a book that he is reading. (this is my paraphrased version since I don't have the book here to quote from directly)
"The easiest thing in the world to do is think." "The hardest thing in the world to do is to think well."
Wow is that ever true! Again, one of my guys at the group home has been struggling with just letting his mind wonder in the past, to the future and even into never, never land... but rarely is he in the "now" dealing with his life as it really is. Don't just think, think well!
Because of my headache yesterday I struggled to think well. During worship I so wanted to not only hear Rob's sermon but I was trying to take God's word and lay it along side my life in order to compare the two and see where I fell short. I believe that anytime we apply God's word to
areas of our life that the Holy Spirit illuminates we are thinking well. Don't just think,think well!
David was telling me this morning that he was praying and trying to think on the Goodness of God and before he knew it he was off in Japan, then he'd come back to this attribute of God and be off planning the back yard and garden. He commented how disapointed he was in the short amount of time he was able to stay focused on God. Don't just think, think well!
David and I often joked about being an ADD cheif, ADD shopping, ADD cleaning, aka: multitasking. The problem with these are though there is a lot of activity and it may at first appear as though a lot is being accomplished nothing gets our full attention, our best effort, and often is never finished. Don't just think, think well!
Father, I don't want to simple think, I want to THINK WELL! Help me keep my mind steadfast on You! On you word meditate day and night.
Yesterday these thought started come to me, suprisingly it was during the time I had a terribly sick headache that made thinking about anything very difficult.
I slipped into one of the Adult Sunday School Classes and they were studying psalm 86. Verse 11b reads, "Give me an undivided mind to fear your name." My first thought was about my work at the group home for men with schizophrenia. Being focused and attentive is a key skill they have to work on all the time. Having a divided mind is huge part of their problem.
Later yesterday afternoon my husband David was reading a quote to me from a book that he is reading. (this is my paraphrased version since I don't have the book here to quote from directly)
"The easiest thing in the world to do is think." "The hardest thing in the world to do is to think well."
Wow is that ever true! Again, one of my guys at the group home has been struggling with just letting his mind wonder in the past, to the future and even into never, never land... but rarely is he in the "now" dealing with his life as it really is. Don't just think, think well!
Because of my headache yesterday I struggled to think well. During worship I so wanted to not only hear Rob's sermon but I was trying to take God's word and lay it along side my life in order to compare the two and see where I fell short. I believe that anytime we apply God's word to
areas of our life that the Holy Spirit illuminates we are thinking well. Don't just think,think well!
David was telling me this morning that he was praying and trying to think on the Goodness of God and before he knew it he was off in Japan, then he'd come back to this attribute of God and be off planning the back yard and garden. He commented how disapointed he was in the short amount of time he was able to stay focused on God. Don't just think, think well!
David and I often joked about being an ADD cheif, ADD shopping, ADD cleaning, aka: multitasking. The problem with these are though there is a lot of activity and it may at first appear as though a lot is being accomplished nothing gets our full attention, our best effort, and often is never finished. Don't just think, think well!
Father, I don't want to simple think, I want to THINK WELL! Help me keep my mind steadfast on You! On you word meditate day and night.
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