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My aunt is coming!!

My aunt is coming!!

My aunt is coming!!

Oh, sorry! I'm excited!  I'm so thrilled that she gets to stay longer than one night!! I couldn't remember how long she had said she was staying and didn't want to get my hopes up. We will go to Orlando on Saturday to pick her up. We had thought about spending that day at Disney World with her, but when we figured up the cost for 5 of us, it came to over $300!! YIKES!! Not something we can really swing right now. But at least we will get to have her come stay with us.

Please continue to pray for my friend Mrs. Bee and her husband. He is still in an enormous amout of pain. They've had to inlist the help of a lawer because no doctors want to treat her hubby due to the fact that it's a motorcycle injury. That just makes me angry! I know it's the way of the world but still I can't get over how selfish people are! It shouldn't matter how he got the injury. Doctors should be ready and willing to treat him anyway!

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My best friend called this afternoon in hysterics. Her husband was on his way home from work on his motorcycle when someone clipped the back end of his bike. Apparently he called her right after it happened because she kept saying over and over, "He told me he loves me." I think she was clinging to the thought that he was concious and able to speak. He WAS wearing a helmet. I really don't have any more details than this at the moment.

Please pray, pray, pray!! They have young children. Their oldest son is 10 years old, and they have a 2 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. I'm working to get as many people as I can praying for her husband and them.

It is killing me that I can't go be with her at the hospital. God must want me here sending out updates as I get them.

My dear friend Mary Arnold just called. She had gone to the hospital to be with Mrs. Bee. She went right back home because they told her that Mrs. Bee was bedside with her hubby. Mary said, "From a nursing standpoint, that is good news." It he were in a life threatening situation, they would not allow her bedside. Praise God! Please continue to pray for them!

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Sorry, that it has taken me so long to update. Things have been kind of crazy here. I finished up my fast. Like many of the people who have done this before me, I had mixed emotions about ending it. On the one hand I was glad to be able to eat again. On the other hand, I already miss the way the Lord was right there with me helping me the whole time.

It has not been easy to stay disciplined with my eating. I'm definately going to need to go back on the Phase 1 eating plan!! So far I haven't gotten back to my workout regimin either. I really don't want to undo all the good I've already done. Lord, help me to get back to that!

Seems that we've had almost non-stop parties and baking to do. The parties have been so much fun! I've had to be extra careful not to go overboard with the treats. I have to say that I have eatten far fewer than I would have before. I'm sure that I could do better, but hey, the treats are not the sin, the over eating of them is! And they ARE a big part of the enjoyment of this season.

We are planning to go to the Christmas Eve service at our church. They are going to be holding it out in the parking lot of our church. We are situated along the route of one of the busiest roads in our county. It will be so exciting and fun to celebrate Jesus, the true reason for the season, in such an open and public way!

My Aunt is supposed to be coming to FL the last week of December. She will be participateing in a Missionary Retreat that week. The next week, the plan is for us to go get her and have her with us at least over night. She also wants to go to church with us. We would love to have her stay longer but have to share her with my cousin, her other niece, who lives in northern FL. I can hardly wait to see her!

I'm taking Knight #2 to see his Doctor tomorrow. I am hoping to be able to talk the Dr. into prescribing the generic of the med we were trying. The insurance will not cover the Intuniv. However, from what I understand, it is basically guanfacine only in a time released form. From what I was reading online, other doctors have been prescribing guanfacine for ADHD. We can get a month's supply of that at Walmart for only $4. I don't mind having to give him a second dose during the day.

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day with Knight #2. He simply could NOT sit still. He was actually bouncing off the walls and furniture. not figuratively, but for real! He was making all kinds of noise and in general driving all of us nuts. Not on purpose, I know. He just couldn't help himself. Even he seemed glad when I finally broke down and gave him a dose of his old med. I just couldn't take it anymore. Today was a little better, although he was still very hyper. I don't remember how I dealt with this before he was on the meds! Oh, yeah! I was pretty much at my witts end!

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Today is the first of my two transition out days. This morning I had a banana for breakfast. It was the first solid food I'd had for 16 days. That was the BEST banana I've ever eaten!! I was savoring every bite!! For lunch I had a small veggie salad with Raspberry Hazelnut Vinegrette Dressing. That was really good too! I will be having another salad for dinner tonight.

Hubby and I both went to see the doctor today for follow-up to our bloodwork. Hubby said that the doctor gave him a high-five and said, "I wish all ALL my patients would loose weight like this when they need to." Hubby has lost 25 lbs so far.

When it was my turn to see her, she asked me what we've been doing to loose all this weight and I was able to tell her about The Lord's Table. I told her about how they teach people how to feast on Jesus instead of food. Also about how they teach that overeating is a sin, and how they saturate you in the scriptures. I was really hoping that I would be able to share with her.

Oh, it was funny when I told her that I am just finishing up a 20 day fast. She had this shocked look on her face, then I quickly said that it was a liquid fast. I think she didn't really know how to respond at first. She told me that I've lost 20 lbs since the last time I've seen her. I've actually lost 23 lbs total so far. I still have another 20 to go to get to my goal weight.

We have a Christmas Party at home fellowship tonight. I'm bringing my sweet potato casserole. It will be sooooo hard to not be able to have any myself. At least I get to have my salad!  I also bought enough sweet potatoes to make another casserole after my fast is totally over. Yummmm!

My lesson today was about the last weapon in our arsenal as christians, prayer. I love what they said about prayer, "Any general knows that constant communication with the command center is vital to achieving victory in battle, how much more should we who have an ongoing spiritual battle and constant spiritual enemies be in continual prayer to our Commanding Officer."

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I just finished my lesson for today. I generally try to do it earlier in the day, however I had kids around all day and I wanted to wait until it was quieter so that I could really focus on my lesson.

Today is my last day of liquids only. Tomorrow morning when I get up I will probably have a banana for breakfast. I must admit there is a level of fear at eating again. Will my stomach be able to tolerate food after going without all this time?? I keep reminding myself that is exactly why they have the transition out days of eating only raw fruits and veggies. To give my system a chance to adjust to having food again.

I'm also a little fearful of beyond the transition days. When I'm able to eat again will I go crazy eating all the foods I've been craving during this fast?? I do want to go back to the Phase 1 eating plan. However I do plan to take a week before I go back to that. I want to be back on the same schedule as I was before so if I start up right away it will have me going right into a juice day the day my fast officially ends. I don't think so!! I'm also toying with the thought of simply eating normally with an added fast day once a week.

Today was a pretty good day. I didn't have a lot of strong cravings. When I saw the chicken my family was having for dinner, it looked mighty good and I wanted some. But I quickly pushed the thought from my mind and went to get my liquid "dinner".

My lesson today was all about how the sword of the Spirit can be used wrongly. I hadn't thought about all the different ways that it can be wrongly used. There are a lot.

One of the ways is to take it out of context and use it to say what you want it to say, using it to back up your specific point of view.

Isaiah 8:20
To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

We need to be careful to seek the whole counsel of God, not just pieces from the law or bits from the testament.

Another way it is misused by some is to exhalt themselves rather than Jesus Christ. There were many others ways that God's Word is misused, but I don't have time to cover all of them here.

One that the Lord brought to my mind as I was doing the lesson is mearly reading it as something to check off my to-do list so that I can move on with my day. I'm afraid this is the one that I've been most guilty of most often. Lord, please help me to savor your Words as I read them, not just rush through them so that I can get onto doing what I want to be doing.

I'm still at 167. But this again seems to be my pattern. Spending a day or several at the same weight before dropping another pound. My best friend came to drop her son off to play with my kids today. She said, "You're shrinking! I can tell that you're getting smaller!" I must have been grinning from ear to ear when she said that!!

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I'm sooo tired tonight! I was having such a discouraging day this morning! Well, maybe I should say that I felt very discouraged this morning. I was quite depressed for some reason. I also found out that our insurance will not cover Kight #2's new med. I called and got an appointment to go see the doctor and discuss our options next Wednesday.

I was having a really tough time dealing with the kids. Knight #2 has been such a challenge since we started this new med. I hadn't been out of my house in I don't know how long. But God is sooo good!! He sent hubby home early today. He had to work nearly all day Saturday so his dad said that he could have some time off because of that. I was able to go to Michael's to get some yarn to finish up the project I'm making for Maiden for Christmas. I took my time there while fingering the yarn and paging through crochet books etc. I even helped another lady find coloring books for her grandkids for Christmas!  It was sooo nice to get out and have a break like that!

When I got home hubby was in the middle of doing a "deep cleaning" in our bedroom. He said that everytime he walked in there his sinuses shut down. So he wanted to get all the under the bed bens and other stuff out from under our bed. He also gathered a bunch of clothes and other stuff to give to Salvation Army. I'm so thrilled that he did all this for me because I'm highly allergic to dust mites. If I'd have had to do that I would have been sooooo sick and had a horrible headache.

Well since he was so busy doing all this wonderful stuff, I was commissioned to go out to get them a pizza for dinner. I went to the little Walmart Market Place near here and was also able to get a few more things that we needed. So once again, I was able to get out by myself.

So I had my broth for dinner while the rest of the family had that scrumptious looking pizza. Then Knight #1 needed to be taken to youth group. Daddy was still busy so I had to take him. Ok, this getting out business is starting to get old, can I stay home for the rest of the night?? Daddy gets to go pick him up in a bit. Like I said, "I'm sooo tired tonight!"

Oh, I didn't mention that I also folded several loads of laundry, got more going and worked out on the eliptical for a few minutes today. Ok, I'm not just tired, I'm exhausted!!

But only one more day till I can start eating raw fruit and veggies! I got myself some yummy looking salad fixin's today. Oh, I forgot to get the fruit salad stuff. Oh, well hubby can pick that up for me tomorrow.

It is amazing to me that I have gone for 15 days with nothing but smoothies and broth. I haven't died of malnutrition, haven't even gotten sick from lack of food. I've proven to myself that my flesh will survive if it doesn't get what it wants when it wants it. God gets all the glory for helping me.

Today's lesson was about the sword of the Spirit and how to properly utilize it. It is to be used for making us wise unto salvation, helping us to grow and mature, allowing us to find victory over sin and satisfaction in Jesus Christ, overcoming temptation, finding direction in life, and to teach, reproove, correct and train others. I'm so glad that God has given us His Word!!

I'm down another pound to 167. Woohoo!

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I'm going to try to keep this update short. It has been a long day of dealing with kids and cramps. Due to not feeling well, I didn't get much of anything other than crochet done today. I'm feeling rather discouraged with my self for that. I'm really hoping that I feel better tomorrow so that I can get some stuff done.

I just had to get up from typing this because I heard Knight #2 in his room screaming, "Dad! Dad!" Thankfully this was a pretty mild episode. He calmed down pretty much right away. I pray that this is the only one he has tonight.

I have only 4 days left of this fast. Now I'm beginning to understand why some people regret to see it ending. And yet, it seems to be getting harder because I know the time is short. The cravings seem to be getting more intense again. Please pray that I will continue to have the strength to resist.

I'm going to skip talking about my lesson today because I have a migraine coming on. I plan to take my Rx before going to bed. I'm still sitting at 168. I'm confident that that is not where I will stay for ever though.

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I just read my mentor's note from earlier today. She pointed out that I was at 168 yesterday and now I'm saying that I'm at 178. Ack! I sure hope not!  I'm actually at 168! I'm guessing that I spent so much time at 178 that my mind is having a hard time adjusting. LOL

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I'm feeling so much better today! I hit my netti pot before I went to bed last night and again earlier today. Man, I should have taken my friend's advice and done that much earlier! Amazing how much it helps!

I stayed home from church anyway because I didn't want to be spreading this crud anymore than it is already spreading like wildfire around these parts.

Had a really tough night. Hubby was gone to "Fight Night". A bunch of the guys from church like to get together for the UFC fights. It's a chance for them to have some guy time and just be MEN. I think that is great! My problem here was that Knight #2 was having night terror episodes. Three of them to be exact. My poor little guy cries uncontrollably and also shakes uncontrollably. He kept looking at something I couldn't see and seemed terrified by it. I prayed with him, held him, cuddled him and did all I could to comfort and calm him. I finally ended up leaving the hall light on and his bedroom door open. That seemed to help. He didn't have any more episodes after that.

I'm convinced that the reason he's having these agian is because he has so little medication in his system. Nothing to help him slow those non-stop thoughts of his and help to calm him. His racing thoughts follow him into his dreams. He started the 2 mg dosing today so hopefully we will start to see an improvement not only in what we deal with during the day but also at night. He layed down in his room and slept for quite a while this afternoon. Sure wish I could have done the same!

It is getting easier to ignore my growling stomach. Not that I don't still crave food. I think that is just something that goes with the territory. If it didn't then there would be very little good reason for fasting. It's how I handle that craving that is important. Wow! That's cool! That line of thought just occured to me! That is so encouraging!

Today my lesson was about having the sheild of faith. This was yet another really good lesson. Faith is a gift from God. Faith also comes by hearing. I love what Mike Clevland (Setting Captives Free founder) says, "The important thing to understand is that "faith comes by hearing," not by what we heard. We must ongoingly "hear" the gospel, biblical truths, etc. in order to ongoingly exercise faith. This is the importance of feasting on God’s Word as often as possible, because faith is created in us fresh by hearing (listening to, reading, etc.) God’s Word."

Matthew Henry says, "The beginning, progress, and strength of faith is by hearing. But it is only hearing the word, as the word of God that will strengthen faith."

Ephes. 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Allow me to share one of the flaming darts that Satan tried to hit me with last night: The thought jumped into my head, "I want some freedom to eat what I want!" Then I quickly realized what was going on and told myself, "No you don't! That's not real freedom!" These arrows could easily bring me right back to where I was before starting TLT and worse. Praise God for the shield of faith to fight those arrows with!

I'm still at 178 today and I'm ok with that.

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I'm sitting here with a horrible sinus headache and a growling tummy. I've been feeling pretty miserable all day. It hasn't been a bad day though.

My hubby left early this morning to go help his dad with setting up his stereo. Then he had to go to their work place and help clean up a flood! The pipes in the bathroom had burst leaving about 2 inches of water throughout the shop. After the water was cleared out he had to replace the pipes. Poor thing! He was gone till around 4:30 or 5:00 this evening.

Today in my lesson I studied about how Jesus was tempted and how He overcame those temptations. I enjoyed this lesson today. First Jesus was tempted to doubt the provision of His Father by making bread for Himself, thereby becoming independant of God. It is always a sin to be independant from God.

Next He was tempted to put God to the test by presuming that God would rescue Him if He jumped from the top of the temple. Satan used scripture to try to lie to Jesus. Not that scripture can ever lie, but satan used it out of context and twisted the meaning. Jesus response that "you should never put God to the test" should also be our answer when we are tempted in this way. Satan will even use scripture to try to talk us into sinning.

The last temptation was an attempt by the evil one to get Jesus to worship him. It was pointed out that behind all idol worship there is a demon. Therefore, any idol worship is worship of the evil one.

Interspersed in each lesson are comments by other people who have gone through this fast before. I was convicted by what Carla wrote in answer to question 6:

When we are tempted to overeat or to be lazy and not exercise, or to break our fasts, what lies does the devil place in our minds? What lies have you believed only to discover later that they were indeed lies?

Carla writes, "That I am too tired, to busy, the only one that I hardly ever believe is that I am too lazy! The Lord has been gracious to show this lazy me to myself and I am getting victory over it--with his help. Giving into ourselves is a form of worship--the worship of self--it is funny to me that on both sides of the scale is self-worship. If I do not work out or if I work out too much I am worshiping myself. Only when I stay focused on the Lord and keep my life in balance do I worship him and bring him glory."

Wow!! Giving in to myself is a form of worship?? The worship of self?? This rings only too true in my spirit.

1 Cor. 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

I'm down yet another pound to 168! Praise God!!

Oh, I was also convicted by what Rose wrote, "I am experiencing an extreme victory in these days. I am memorizing God's word on a daily basis, so that I can stand up to the enemy when necessary. God is giving me strength to battle the sin of overeating. GLORY TO HIM ALONE!"

I realized that I had been neglecting to memorize my verses. So I pulled out the verse I'm supposed to be learning for this fast. Let's see if I can type it without having to look at it at all.

Colossians 1:10
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knoweldge of God."

Awww, I got one word wrong! It should read "and increasing in the knowledge of God." Guess I still need work on it!

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I keep reading in testamonies on the Setting Captives Free site that many people at this point in there fast have no desire for food at all. That has been troubling me because I not only still want food, but crave it! Even to the point that I dreamed about eating again last night!

My friend and accountability partner was here this morning and I asked her about it. She suggested that I go on the phase 2 discussion group and ask about it. I posted a question about it just now, but think I already got the answer by reading other posts. The poster also answered another question that has been troubling me.

I thought I was supposed to feel a special intimacy with God during this fast. Why am I not feeling that?? Yes, I feel that He is here helping me, but I don't feel any closer to Him than normal.

So here's the answer I found: " But I do know that have been times in a fast when I felt like I just couldn't connect with the Lord.  But after the fast was over I realized that He had been ministering  to me.  I felt the closeness after the fast instead of during the fast.  Sometimes He wants us to press on in our commitments whether we "feel" anything or not."

Wow!! Now that makes sense! Also, like I responded to someone in the discussion group, I have to remind myself that my main goal is to please God. I feel that by being obedient in sticking with this fast, then I am pleasing Him. This is very much a spiritual battle!!

Ok, onto how today went. I had my breakfast smoothie around 11am so I was intertaining ideas of skipping my lunch smoothie in hopes that I would loose another pound more quickly. Well, by 3pm, my stomach was complaining so loudly that I went in and got my broth to drink. We are hoping to watch "Night at the Museum 2" tonight, if daddy can find it! Everyone else will be having popcorn while watching the movie, so that's when I will have my other smoothie.

I am down to 169 as of this morning! Woohoo!! I am celebrating each pound I loose!

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I'm posting the morning of Day 13 because I didn't get to post lastnight. We sat up and watched "It's A Wonderful Life" with the kids last night. It was after 10 when the movie was over and we got the kids settled into bed. Then it was almost 11 when I was talking with my friend on IM and started talking gibberish to her. She responded, "You need to go to bed!" LOL! 

Yesterday was a pretty decent day...except for being sick. I made broth for myself. It tasted pretty good. Yesterday I learned that I need the belth of belt of truth as part of my armor. I learned that the belt of truth is a simile for the gospel.

Ephes. 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

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I forgot to tell! Last night was the Christmas Party/Board Meeting. I did fine. Just did my best to not even look at all the goodies. Ok, I did sneek a peek!  But I had my smoothie and was fine. Then when I asked for some water our hostess offered me some warm Apple Cider. Oh, Yay!!! A treat that I CAN have!! It was soooo yummy too!

Also forgot to say, I'm still at 170 today. But I seem to have fallen into a pattern of staying at the same weight for a couple days and then dropping to the next lower pound. Really hoping and praying to see 169 on that scale tomorrow morning!

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My throat is all scratchy and sore and my head is hurting. Feels like the beginning of sickies. I plan to load up on vitamin C and whatever else I can find that might help before I go to bed.

Today was a pretty good day. Had issues dealing with the kids, especially since Knight #1 is still only on the lowest dose of his new med. Sunday we go up to 2mg! Woohoo! Hopefully, we'll start to see some improvement!

I forgot to make more broth today so I had the last of my smoothie for dinner. Oh, darn! LOL Can you tell that I like the smoothies better than the broth? Although the broth isn't bad.

In my lesson today they are starting a study of the whole armor of God. Very cool! The focus today was on the Breastplate of Righteousness. This piece is very important because it protects the heart. That is where all our evil starts, so we have to be diligent to guard our hearts. The Breastplate of Righteousness is basically Jesus righteousness covering us. When we turn from sin and embrace God's ways then we are covered with the Breastplate of Righteousness. At least that's the best I can explain it at this late hour and not feeling well.

A couple of verses to post tonight:

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Ephes. 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

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So far today things are going better. Knight #2 is still being a huge challenge, arguing with me at every step, but I seem to be dealing with it a little better anyway. He had dishes left from last night that he hadn't finished. I decided to go in and help him with them rather than beat my head against a brick wall all day. Just not into torturing myself.

After the dishes were done, I made my smoothies for the next couple of days and got it in the fridge. Then I worked out for 15 mins. I'm feeling really sore and weak, but good. Had my broth after I got cleaned up.

Tonight I'm going to the PPEA Board Meeting/Christmas party. It is going to be sooo tempting to want to sample all the treats there! I'm going to bring my smoothie and be good though. I keep reminding myself there will be other treats later. It helps me to feel less like I'm missing out. Besides, my treat is feasting on Jesus!!!

I'm down to 170! That makes a total of 20 lbs lost so far and 4 lbs since I've been on Phase 2! I'm sooo happy! Can't wait to drop below 170!

Today in my lesson I learned that as I abide in God's Word, and in obedience, Jesus continues to pour His love and joy into me till it overflows to others.

John 15:9-14
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you.

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I'm having a horrible day! Have a terrible headache, waiting for hubby to get home with my migraine Rx. Knight #2 is starting a new medication and it is such a low dose to start with it's like he hasn't taken anything. As a result, I have a little boy who is very impulsive, and it's like pulling teeth to get him to do ANYTHING!

He and his brother just got into it and were fighting over a video game, I ended up grounding them both from the TV. Days like this are the days when I would want a big pizza for dinner and some chocolate later in the evening!! These are the days when I would throw caution to the wind and eat whatever and however much I wanted.

Great! Knight #2 just got silly putty stuck in the fur of Knight #1's newest webkin! Knight #1 is understandably upset. Yes, I want the biggest pizza we can find!!!! and a huge bar of dark chocolate!!!

But I will settle for just my broth.

Today we learned about the promise we are given if we abide in Jesus.

John 15:7-8
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

That does not mean that if I ask for a new car then God will just give it to me. But as I abide in Him, my desires change to match His. My desire becomes to glorify Him.

I think I need to go do some feasting on Him and abiding in Him right now. Please pray for us, it is going to take at least a few weeks to get Knight #2 up to the right dosage. In the meantime this is what we get to deal with. Oh, thank you Lord!!! Knight #1 just started some worship music!! That's exactly what I need right now!! Praise You for knowing precisely what I need and when I need it!

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I'm going to bed early tonight. I'm getting a headache. My days have been headache free, but I seem to be getting a headache each night.

The lesson today was a warning to continue abiding in Jesus. Those who do not are cut from the branch and burned.

John 15:6
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

What a good reminder to remain in Jesus and to examine my life to make sure I am indeed abiding in Him.

I'm going to keep this short. I'm heading for bed. Can't afford to get a migraine when I won't have my Rx till tomorrow.

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It's going pretty good. I had my 8 oz. of smoothie for breakfast. Then some herbal tea. Had another smoothie for lunch and my broth for dinner. I'm actually hungry right now, but I'm drinking my water and going to bed soon.

Last night my hubby and I got to go out. We went to this place called Keva Juice. They have all kinds of healthy smoothies. No sugar added, just the natural fruit. They also add vitamins or protien, etc. if you ask for it. I had their Strawberry Detox with vitamins added to it. I asked for a 12 oz because that was their smallest size. They gave me a 24 oz instead. I'm guessing I drank about half of it and gave the rest to my hubby.

I had dropped our kids off at church where the Keepers at Home group was watching them for us. Hubby had stayed home to help our neighbor with some things. On my way home I passed a Burger King. The thought passed through my mind, "If I stopped right now and had something, no one would know." I rejected the thought and kept on driving. Had to pray for help to fight that temptation because the thought would not leave immediately. Whew!! Thank you Lord for helping me to resist!!

I am down to 172!!! Lost 2 lbs yesterday!! I would not have lost those two pounds if I had given in to that temptation to stop at Burger King!!!

Today the lesson was that we can do nothing without Jesus Christ.

John 15:4-5
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus is the vine from whom we get our live blood. Just like a branch cannot produce any fruit if it is chopped off the vine, so we cannot bear fuit unless we abide in Jesus. This lesson made that concept clearer to me that it has ever been before. However much we grab hold of this concept and abide in Christ, that much will we be able to produce fruit.

I also was struck by the thought that as we abide in Christ, others will naturally be drawn to Him.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.

Not that we should never share the gospel with others. Mike the founder of Setting Captives Free says it much better than I can:

Remember, we cannot win souls apart from abiding in Jesus Christ. Winning souls, that is, being a tree of life to others, is the fruit of abiding in Christ. But the most amazing thing happens as we do indeed abide in Jesus. We find that there are others in our life who have come to faith in Jesus, and seem to credit us as God’s instrument for their salvation. We may not have used any evangelistic technique or gimmick on them, we have simply walked with God in our own every-day life, maybe we prayed for them and with them, or possibly we explained the gospel to them.

Wow! How cool is that?? Lord, please help me to abide more and more in YOU! Amen!

www.homeschoolblogger.com/earthenvessel/

Today is a dreary rainy day. I have been hungry pretty much all day. I listened to "Pilgrim's Progress" on my MP3 player for a while as I worked on Christmas gifts for my friends. I have them all finished and ready to give out, praise God!! I still have gifts that I am crocheting for my kids for Christmas to finish.

Hubby and I get to go out tonight! Woohoo!! Looks like we are going Christmas shopping. The Keeper's At Home group at our church is doing a parent's night out this Friday and next. Next Friday I will be helping out since Maiden is now in Keeper's. If you are unfamiliar with them, Keeper's At Home is similar to Girl Scouts. Only they are Biblically based and teach the girls more homey type skills.

Here is the verse I'm posting for today:

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Notice that He comforts us IN our tribulation. I give Him the glory for helping me to continue without solid foods. I made a soup out of the veggies I used for my broth and the broth from yesterday. I added sausage to it. It looked sooooo good I wanted some!! I couldn't help taking a picture of it!