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The Goal – Week 24

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dietd

 

 

VACATION!!!

That’s my excuse for this no content post.

There was much family fun.

There was much french fries.

There was no ice cream, funnel cake or anything else though.

I’m not looking for a pat on the back here.  I’m just keeping it real.

My husband took a picture of me and the kids and posted it on Facebook.

In a picture of me and Niagara Falls, I don’t look nearly as small as I should.  It caused me some distress.

I also caught sight of myself in a full length mirror for the first time in…years .  This also caused distress.

And I’m not telling you this so you will feel sorry for me.  I’m telling you because I need you to know that gluttony and addiction and low self esteem don’t ever go on vacation.  I never leave them at home.  I take them with me everywhere I go.

We came home Sunday night.  I climbed back on the bike Monday morning.  And I didn’t do that to pay for my vacation fun.  I didn’t do that to try to erase any damage caused by french fries.

I did it because that’s all I know to do.

Filed Under: Glutton
14 June 2014 The Goal – Week 23

The Goal – Week 23

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dietc

 

 

A ‘friend’ of mine recently posted this on Facebook. (The quotes around friend are merely to indicate that I know this person but we are not best buds.)  She just started a new workout regime and she was calling the day of her first workout ‘the day that changed her life’.  I honestly couldn’t be happier for her.  I hope she succeeds and I hope I do too.  But the post got me thinking about change.

For me, wanting to change was never the problem.  I wake up every day wanting to change.  Not one day in the last twenty odd years have I ever felt like “I’m good here just as I am.”  I long for that day friends because frankly I’m exhausted.

I’m exhausted because the hard truth is that change equals work.  And there is no finish line because I will never be changed. I must keep changing.  Writing down my ridiculous goal was the easy part.  Saying no to the Butterfinger Blast at Sonic three times a week is hard.  (Why is that place located on every route I drive!?)  Going to exercise when I am so sore from the last session that I can barely drive is hard.  Living this goal even when no one is looking is hard.  In fact it’s probably the hardest part.

Change is not one decision made.

Every day is the day that changes my life.

 

 

Filed Under: Glutton
9 June 2014 The Goal – Week 22

The Goal – Week 22

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diet8

 

 

Hello June!

So far, my dog has the stinkiest, most incurable ear infection in the history of basset hounds.

My stepdaughter is still sad, still pregnant and still estranged from arguably the most cowardly punk on the planet.

My stepson is still unemployed. (On a positive note, he is the happiest member of my household right now.)

And my van broke down.

As I stood in the driveway watching the tow truck drive away, I was muttering to myself.  Food won’t fix this.  Food won’t fix this. Food won’t…

As it turns out, I was wrong.

I glanced behind me to my lovely little garden spot where my husband has lovingly tended 6 blackberry bushes.  And lookie what God gave me.

2014-06-09 11.35.13

Maybe you don’t think this is a big deal.  Maybe you attribute this to science and agriculture.  But trust me when I tell you that as I ate that beautiful berry right off the vine, it sure felt like I was eating a miracle.

Filed Under: Glutton

Bible Thursday – 2 Timothy 3

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Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Timothy 3:12-17

Ya’ll, I want to go to seminary and become a preacher just so I can talk about these verses.

Have you ever read so much awesome in one place in your whole dang life?  I know I said I wouldn’t put a bunch of my opinions in Bible Thursday but clearly I’m a big, fat liar so let’s take a look.

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.

This is just true.  I know you don’t like it.  I know you want it to be different.  I want doughnuts to be healthy but we can’t always get what we want, ok?   This doesn’t mean that your entire Christian life will be drudgery, turmoil and horror.  But friends… there will be trouble.  If there isn’t, I just assume you are doing it wrong.

One more thing here.  This is why I feel it is so dangerous to mislead new Christians about the reality of Christian living.  If you think this life is just going to be praise music and potluck dinners, Satan is gonna have a field day with you.

Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

I’m talking to myself here.  It’s good to be reminded of this verse.  Now every time you see some random moron who calls himself a preacher or evangelist or whatever doing something real heathen, just remember that 2000 years ago Paul already knew about this mess.

But don’t let it faze you.

I’m trying but it ain’t easy.

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.

Here’s the scripture that brought me to my current church.  Our pastor preached it the very first day we visited.  I really did plan to visit other churches.  But honestly?  God knows how important this verse is to me and I don’t believe in spiritual coincidence.

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

Can you even stand this?  I mean are you not just having a Jesus moment with this deal?

I claim to be ‘falling apart’ about 8 times per week.  Through the Word, I am put back together every time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Bible Thursday

Bible Tuesday – Revelation Part 35

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Following this I saw another Angel descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with brightness, his voice thunderous:

Revelation 18:1

I just really am curious about this particular angel, aren’t you?

Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined!
    A ghost town for demons is all that’s left!
A garrison of carrion spirits,
    garrison of loathsome, carrion birds.
All nations drank the wild wine of her whoring;
    kings of the earth went whoring with her;
    entrepreneurs made millions exploiting her.

Revelation 18:2-8

It’s all over for Babylon ya’ll.  You can read the whole chapter here.  But trust me when I tell ya, it’s nothing but doom.

But after all this doom, something interesting happens.

I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing,

Hallelujah!
The salvation and glory and power are God’s—
    his judgments true, his judgments just.
He judged the great Whore
    who corrupted the earth with her lust.
He avenged on her the blood of his servants.

Then, more singing:

Hallelujah!
The smoke from her burning billows up
    to high Heaven forever and ever and ever.

The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising,

Amen! Yes! Hallelujah!

From the Throne came a shout, a command:

Praise our God, all you his servants,
All you who fear him, small and great!

Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:

Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
    our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
    let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
    his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
    of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

It appears that there is great rejoicing in Heaven when God finally issues His righteous judgement.  No one is questioning God in this passage.  It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?

Filed Under: Bible Tuesday
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