Posted in God In My Life

Food wasn’t an issue for me as a youngster.  When my sweet husband and I got married, food was something we "did".  I started gaining weight.  It wasn’t long until I realized I had a problem.  So, in came the fad diets and meetings to lose weight.  I was successful at times, in terms of losing weight, but before long, I was back up to my original weight plus some.  I had pretty much come to the point that I was saying that Jesus made me this way, or that this is the way I would always be.  But, I knew that wasn't true.  I knew that when I would run to the fridge late at night searching and searching for food, as I was bored, alone, or stressed, this is not what God wanted for me.

 

I even got on the healthy kick for a while.  I was doing everything healthy - you name it, we were doing it.  I was the "healthiest" fat person I knew!  I had high hopes that our whole foods diet would magically pull the pounds right off my body, but it didn't happen.

 

My best girlfriend told me that she was starting The Lord's Table and started sending me her lessons as she submitted them.  I wasn’t sure about joining, because I didn't want another diet program.  I had been in two Christian programs, and was frustrated about them.  So, I prayed about it and waited. 

 

My heart was so distant from God.  I felt like I didn't even know Him, and that He didn't know me.  I didn't feel like I could talk to Him, pray, or worship, and I knew that I wasn't honoring Him with anything that I did.  This was my cry.  I wanted to be close to my Savior.  And it was The Lord's Table course that taught me that I separated myself from Christ by my sin of gluttony.  When I ran to the food for comfort, instead of to God, I was separating myself from Him.

 

He has delivered me from the sin of gluttony.  I still have much to lose, but for the first time in my adult life, I haven't been overwhelmed at the amount left.  The key is the fact that I have grown closer to Christ.  He is carrying this burden for me.  My relationship with Christ has become something that I never imagined it could be.  I love Him so much and enjoy feasting on Him daily.

 

It is hard to find real Biblical teaching that doesn't approach the hard areas without tiptoeing around.  I'm thankful that Setting Captives Free is addressing the hard issues - the ones that no one else wants to talk about.  They are teaching the Word and that is exactly what I needed!

 

Total Lost: 28.5 pounds!!  Praise God!!!

And my journey will continue as I do Phase I of The Lord's Table again.  I know that God has much more to share with me and for me to learn, as I'm starting this time with my heart completely turned to Him.

Please consider checking out the free Bible studies at www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Posted in God In My Life

Okay, so I didn't really lay hands on my appliances, but only because I had them full of L.5mo.B. the other night trying to get him to sleep.

We are using BJ Homesat this year for the majority of our homeschool curriculum.  We are so excited about it and have been getting everything together for it.  We've had some issues with the DVR - Digital Video Recorder, though.  We thought we had the thing working, then all of a sudden, it wouldn't record right.  We went through about 7 disks and it just wasn't recording.

I was so frustrated!!  We don't know where the receipt is (we are working on this area of organization in our lives) and knew we couldn't return it.  So, needless to say, I was in freak out mode!!

My best girlfriend, b, and I were IMing when I was stressing out over this.  And Big P and I were on the phone talking about what we needed to do.  I was really in panic mode.  He told me to relax.  Ha!  b said she was going to pray for the situation, and I went to my room to look for the receipt. 

While I was in there, I woke up L.5 mo.B. accidentally.  He didn't want to go back to sleep and I was still in stress mode.  b, told me to relax and go pray and that she would pray as well.

So, that's what I did.  I took my little nursling into the rocking chair and just sat there and talked to God, praying over my day, thanking Him for His goodness, and graciousness, and asking Him to fix the problem in the DVR or show us an alternative.  When I finished nursing and praying, I had a peace about the whole situation.  I knew that we could just record to VHS if necessary and that was that.

The technology isn't quite up to par in this area, and so, there are issues, as Big P was finding out while researching the possible problems.  I asked him to purchase a couple different brands of DVDs on his break.  I gave him the list of the ones that it said worked with the DVR and off he went.

I tried to get the thing to work one more time, hoping that God had heard my prayer about fixing it.  It didn't work again.  Okay, off to bed I was.

When he got home that morning, he put in a DVD and started trying to record.  He was using a Sony DVD.  This one was not on the list as ones that worked, but it was all he could find - they didn't carry any of the other possibilities.

We sat up and talked and had a precious time just talking without interruption and it was just a precious quiet time in the wee hours of the morning with my dear sweet hubby.  And guess what - the DVD worked - the Sony DVD - the one that was not on the list - the one that really wasn't supposed to work - it worked!!

I was so excited, I was recording all the next day!  I was so excited about what I knew the Lord had done.  Many would say that it was a coincidence, but I know different!  I know that my Lord is all powerful.  I know that my Lord loves me!  And I know that my Lord didn't want me to be stressed.  When I took that problem to my Lord, He remedied the situation perfectly, as only He could do!!

And so it goes, that I will now be praying over all my appliances, or anything in my home that we use a lot.  I think I'll also pray that he destroys the extra clutter in our home!  Or, at the very least, He provides me the gumption to get rid of it!

With all the electrical equipment that we have had break in the last few months, I think this is a good idea!!

Posted in God In My Life

Have you ever said - right before a big meal "Let's say the prayer real quick!"?  As if we have to thank God really quick (almost as an obligation than a heartfelt thank you), before devouring the delicious meal set before us (or in our laps in the car).  I think we said this on and off, at certain times, for years before Big P corrected himself one time and said "why do I say that?"  It wasn't until that point that I realized what we were actually saying.

So, all that to say that I was going to start this entry with "Let me tell you real quick about God's blessings on my family this week."  I wasn't trying to minimize God's awesomeness, but just have so much going on right now, that my computer time (internet/email at least) is very limited right now.  I think we can say what we need to say quickly, without minimizing the awesome power of God - by just testifying about what He has done for us - without saying "real quick".  Maybe it won't give such a hurried or unthankful impression.  Now, some may be able to do this - but not me! LOL  I don't think I can say anything quickly - I'm a "details, please" type of person.

This week, God's awesomness has been very evident in our lives.  Here are some of the ways we have seen His blessings this week:

Bartering - I have recently discovered the art of bartering.  Bartering is just trading something you have or can do, with something someone else has or can do for you.  I have a grain mill and grain, and can mill fresh flour - which is a commodity to most - pretty readily in my home. 

So, I'm bartering fresh flour with my friend T, for her fresh veggies.  Yesterday she brought over a huge bowl of tomatoes and a cantalope from her garden.  She went home with flour and a fresh (but frozen) loaf of bread.
Blessing = fresh veggies

Then, another friend of mine - K - is coming over next week.  She canned a bunch of goodies this year and is going to trade for fresh flour.  Now, we can afford to buy a jar of preserves for our family - but when you see God providing in such a way - why get in the way?!  P.S. - we are out of jam, jelly, and preserves!
Blessing = homemade jam

This same friend, K, emailed me yesterday and said "do you need some 3 ring binders, notebook paper, glue, or crayons?  I overbought and need to clear some of this out."  I definitely could use some binders and paper.  I offered to take her other extras to our church - where they will bless some children in a local neighborhood with school supplies, who can't afford them.  She also offered to bring over fixings for pizza if I made pizza dough. 
Blessing = school supplies & lunch

As I'm replying to her email, another friend emailed me at the same time and said "we have an extra T.V. and knew that you were in need".  Now, usually a T.V. is a want, not a need, but this year we are doing BJU Homesat and we are in NEED of another T.V. for P.7.G. for school.  We were going ot have to buy one.  When I asked her how much she wanted for it and that I would talk to Big P, she replied and said "we want to give it to you!".  What????  She also offered dinner for our family.  We are going to have to coordinate the dinner when Big P is off call.
Blessing = T.V. & dinner

A few weeks ago, my Mother-in-Love emailed me and asked if we were interested in going to a water park with the kids.  Well, it just not in the budget to do something like this, but she was offering to buy tickets, we would bring lunch and have a great day.  Well, today was that day.  We've been planning it without the kids knowing, for weeks now.  We brough the ice chest, ice, and water.  Mr. and Mrs. B (my in-laws) brought all the snack fixin's and dessert, bought our tickets, and helped us with the kids.  What a blessing this was for our family to get to do this very special thing together!!  We had a great time.  Everyone got some sun, some of us pink even, even though we LATHERED on the sunscreen and we had a great time riding the rides, and going through the lazy river.
Blessing = Time with my precious in-laws, Big P, and kids & a great time at Hawaiian Falls

*I'm editing here*
One blessing that I forgot about (I need to write these things down) is the bread maker that I got from my mom the other day.  We had switched last year when I needed a bigger machine (for our growing family).  When mine went out, I was desperate and kneading my own bread - and not getting it right, still.  So, the other day I begged (litterally) my mom to let me have the other back, and she did!!  I've made (kneaded) 5 loaves of bread in it already. I have to do it one loaf at a time but I can leave it!!
Blessing = I don't have to knead bread!

I was sharing some of these blessings with my friend, T, yesterday.  She said something that makes so much sense.  Why are we so surprised at these blessings?  God works in our lives like this all time, it is just not often enough that we really recognize it as it really is - and take the time to thank God and appreciate what He is doing.  I think much of it has to do with being content in all things.  When we are content with where we are at, we are able to be very thankful for the "extras".  When we take the extras for granted, we think we've done something to deserve them.  I think I'm going to be much more aware of God's blessings now.

Oh, as I was walking through the kitchen, I noticed another blessing - maybe you can attest to this one, too - lots of goodies from your kitchen for the compost pile!! :)

Posted in God In My Life

Recently I received my newest Above Rubies magazine.  If you haven't checked this magazine out, you really must.  It is a magazine run on donations and has been strong for something like 28 years.  It's a magazine that is geared towards being the wife and mother that God called you to be.  This isn't a magazine for just new mothers, or young mothers.  My MIL reads the ones that I give her from front to back and she doesn't have one child left at home.  My Mom reads these magazines, too.

I will say that God is going to work on your heart about how you feel about your children and your husband (in a great way) when you read this magazine.  The Holy Spirit is moving through this ministry.  If you want to see a tremendous work in your life, read this magazine after reading The Word daily and you will simply be amazed!!  This magazine is about lifting up mothers, not about making fun of those of us who have chosen to allow God to plan our families - and I love that about this ministry!

So, anyway, when I get the magazine, I flip through once to see if any of my friends have written an article.  I read those first to see how God is working in their lives and then I go back to the beginning and see everything that is going on in Ms. Nancy's life and her family.

This time, I was totally in awe at the front cover where a mother is smiling at her laughing baby.  It brought tears to my eyes in it's beauty and how God has given me such an incredible gift in allowing me to be a mother!!  As I did my initial flip through, I saw my friend Holly.  Holly and I met at the 2005 retreat and clicked when I was wearing my crocs.  She had just ordered some and wanted to know how they felt.  We clicked! :)  I asked her about her precious little girl, Murren, who has the cutest little curly hair - it is just beautiful!  She is sweet and polite!!

I had heard Holly's story before, but it really touched my heart, when she shared it in the recent issue of AR.  Holly has cystic fibrosis.  It was a miracle that she conceived Murren and that Murren was born happy and healthy.  Even though Holly and her husband have continued to allow God to plan their family, He has chosen not to bless them with another baby - YET!

When I was reading it, my Serene and Pearl CD - Soothe Me, was playing in the background.  This CD is going all the time.  I'm just positive that Big P is going to let me order the other one, soon, so that he can hear something different!  LOL  It's on repeat, and repeat, and repeat!  I just love it because it is so soothing, and reminds me at the perfect timing (when I happen to walk in my room) about how blessed I am to be a mother and a wife. 

So, back to the story - as I was reading the article, Joyful Mother, was playing.  This is a song about Sarah and how God turned her from a barren woman into a joyful mother!

Was this coincidence that it was playing just as I was reading this article about Holly?  No!  I think not!

One thing that Holly expressed in the article - Trusting God in Infertility - is that as we have committed to trusting God with our family size, that means trusting God with our family size, even when He chooses not to increase our family size. 

I think of days when I wonder if I will be able to manage more children, and a growing household.  And then I wonder how I would handle not having more children and a growing household.  God designed us to always long for more children.  He designed our hearts and our bodies in sync with each other that our longing for more children would always be filled with our own children, adopted children, and grandchildren, and any combination of these.

So, when I wonder how I will manage what God gives me, I remember that He designed me and that when I think I can't handle anymore, He reminds me that I can't handle Not having anymore!  Oh, how my heart would ache, as Holly's is, if He chose not to bless us again.

Thank You Holly for your sweet message and opening your heart to all of us "Rubies". :)

Posted in God In My Life

Last night, at Bible study, our pastor challenged us to read Colossians all the way through every day this week.  It's only 95 verses, so it's not a long read.  He said that many people refer to it as one of Paul's postcards, verses one of his letters to the churches, because it is so much shorter than most - but it is a great book of the Bible with how we should live as Christians.

Who's up for a challenge?  I started this morning and am going to go for it every day.  I was actually able to read while nursing a baby and having a toddler (and his big clunky Thomas toy) on my lap!  Praise God for motherhood!!!