Made to Crave – Day 5
As I checked my emails this morning at work I found one that informed me that the office copier had a problem and I needed to have a technician come and fix it. Of course, before I called the technician I went over to the copier and tried to see if I could fix the problem myself. Unfortunately, it was something I couldn’t do and so I called to have the technician come. The only problem was that I needed to make a few copies and found that my, to do list now had a road block placed in it. Before I could file anything, I needed to make copies and I couldn’t make copies because the copier wasn’t working. At first I found myself agitated and then aggravated. How was I going to get my work done when the one piece of office equipment I needed wasn’t working? I suddenly felt as if my morning routine was at a stand-still. I found myself sitting at my desk with nothing to do until I realized that just because a road block had been placed in my morning to do list, didn’t mean there wasn’t anything else I could do. I decided to look through my other emails, the calendar and notes that had been left on my desk. Through doing this I found other items I could take care of that didn’t rely on the copier and was able to check off a number of items on my to do list and tackle items that I didn’t think I would have time to do but now realized I did. When we find road blocks in our way we need to see if there isn’t something else we could be doing until the road block is removed or even try to work around it.
One road block that can stop us in our tracks is when we have had all our meals planned out and then someone calls and invites us out to dinner. This can cause anxiety and stress unless we can find away to work around the road block and enjoy an evening out with friends. Don’t let this stop you from continuing on your journey. There are many things you can do to help you when you are faced with this road block. If the restaurant has a website check to see if their menu is on line and decide before you go what you are going to order. If the menu isn’t on line than eat an apple and drink a glass of water before you go so that you aren’t hungry when you arrive. Tell yourself that it isn’t about the food you will eat but the people you will be spending time with. Don’t make food the focus but the conversation and fellowship you will be enjoying.
“You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work.” (James 1:3-4a)
Thought for the Day (from the Made to Crave devotional) – Between any trial and the blessing that comes from that trial, there is a pathway I must walk – that pathway is perseverance.
Blessings,
Jill
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Obeying or Wandering
Made to Crave – Day 3
Obeying God - It should be so easy, a no brainer, you shouldn’t even have to think twice about it. But why is it so hard to obey God when it is so easy to obey everything and everyone else? I’ve heard people explain it by saying, “I’m only human” or “God understands, he’s the one who made me”. But is that how we should be thinking or feeling?
When Moses and the Israelites set out for the promise land, God gave them Ten Commandments. Just ten, so how hard could that have been? I mean, here they were promised a land filled with milk and honey. A land given to them by God to keep them safe and to give them everything they needed. All they needed to do was follow God’s commandments and it would be all theirs.
A trip that should have taken them a small amount of time, turned into 40 years of wandering. 40 years wasted in a wasteland. 40 years that took its toll on them. 40 years of deaths and births in a dry and barren land. God gave them enough food or manna and water when they needed it to sustain them, but they could have had the milk and honey a lot sooner only if they had obeyed God. Instead they looked to others and manmade idols to obey and worship.
When we look to others for acceptance or approval, or to the scale to make us feel good about ourselves, we are no longer obeying God. We are like the Israelites wandering in a wasteland of dislike, disapproval and dismay. Instead of looking to others or objects, turn your face to God and he will give you everything you need.
So the next time you get on the scale and the number isn’t what you expected, ask yourself these questions:
1. Did I overeat this week on any day?
2. Did I move more and exercise regularly?
3. Did I eat in secret or out of anger or frustration?
4. Did I feel that, at any time, I ran to food instead of to God?
If you answered no to these questions don’t worry! You need to define yourself by your obedience, not a number on the scale. Keep continuing on this journey and God will help you reach your goal.
“Peter and the other apostle replied: We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29)
Thought for the day (from the Made to Crave devotional) – “I must obey God rather than the scale!”
Blessings,
Jill
Obeying God - It should be so easy, a no brainer, you shouldn’t even have to think twice about it. But why is it so hard to obey God when it is so easy to obey everything and everyone else? I’ve heard people explain it by saying, “I’m only human” or “God understands, he’s the one who made me”. But is that how we should be thinking or feeling?
When Moses and the Israelites set out for the promise land, God gave them Ten Commandments. Just ten, so how hard could that have been? I mean, here they were promised a land filled with milk and honey. A land given to them by God to keep them safe and to give them everything they needed. All they needed to do was follow God’s commandments and it would be all theirs.
A trip that should have taken them a small amount of time, turned into 40 years of wandering. 40 years wasted in a wasteland. 40 years that took its toll on them. 40 years of deaths and births in a dry and barren land. God gave them enough food or manna and water when they needed it to sustain them, but they could have had the milk and honey a lot sooner only if they had obeyed God. Instead they looked to others and manmade idols to obey and worship.
When we look to others for acceptance or approval, or to the scale to make us feel good about ourselves, we are no longer obeying God. We are like the Israelites wandering in a wasteland of dislike, disapproval and dismay. Instead of looking to others or objects, turn your face to God and he will give you everything you need.
So the next time you get on the scale and the number isn’t what you expected, ask yourself these questions:
1. Did I overeat this week on any day?
2. Did I move more and exercise regularly?
3. Did I eat in secret or out of anger or frustration?
4. Did I feel that, at any time, I ran to food instead of to God?
If you answered no to these questions don’t worry! You need to define yourself by your obedience, not a number on the scale. Keep continuing on this journey and God will help you reach your goal.
“Peter and the other apostle replied: We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29)
Thought for the day (from the Made to Crave devotional) – “I must obey God rather than the scale!”
Blessings,
Jill
Friday, March 2, 2012
Faith is a journey, not a guilt trip
Day 2 - Made to Crave
I found this saying a few weeks ago, “Faith is a journey, not a guilt trip”. This is so true if you are trying to make the right choices but sometimes don’t. Does God really want us to feel guilty because we had that chocolate chip cookie instead of going to Him when we were bored, upset or lonely? Did Christ die on the cross so that we would all feel guilty because of our sins? Christ died on the cross so that we could have forgiveness of our sins. Guilt is a human emotion that can help us to decide to change how we have been doing things. If we make that wrong choice, guilt will help us to change and move on. Don’t let guilt weigh you down to where you just give up and say “What’s the point? I’ll just mess up again anyway.” Just because you had that cookie, piece of chocolate, didn’t exercise today or are carrying around a few extra pounds, don’t be ashamed. Lysa Terkeurst said, “Guilt wrapped in shame is a terrible burden to carry.” If you are carrying around guilt or shame, give it to God and let him carry it. Be assured that God loves you, that God’s grace is freely given to you and the reality of God’s power.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Thought for the Day (from the Made to Crave devotional) - I wept as I realized this would be one of the most significant spiritual journeys of my life. A spiritual journey that would yield great physical benefits.
Blessings,
Jill
I found this saying a few weeks ago, “Faith is a journey, not a guilt trip”. This is so true if you are trying to make the right choices but sometimes don’t. Does God really want us to feel guilty because we had that chocolate chip cookie instead of going to Him when we were bored, upset or lonely? Did Christ die on the cross so that we would all feel guilty because of our sins? Christ died on the cross so that we could have forgiveness of our sins. Guilt is a human emotion that can help us to decide to change how we have been doing things. If we make that wrong choice, guilt will help us to change and move on. Don’t let guilt weigh you down to where you just give up and say “What’s the point? I’ll just mess up again anyway.” Just because you had that cookie, piece of chocolate, didn’t exercise today or are carrying around a few extra pounds, don’t be ashamed. Lysa Terkeurst said, “Guilt wrapped in shame is a terrible burden to carry.” If you are carrying around guilt or shame, give it to God and let him carry it. Be assured that God loves you, that God’s grace is freely given to you and the reality of God’s power.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Thought for the Day (from the Made to Crave devotional) - I wept as I realized this would be one of the most significant spiritual journeys of my life. A spiritual journey that would yield great physical benefits.
Blessings,
Jill
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Empowered!
(For the next 6 weeks I will be using this blog as a way to reach out to the women who are participating in the “Made to Crave” Bible study I am leading. If you are not in the Bible study I hope you will continue to take time and stop by my blog. If you would like to leave a comment or a question, you may do so at the end of each entry.)
Day 1 - Made to Crave
Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up, look at your day planner and think to yourself, “Today isn’t going to be too bad?” But as the day goes along things keep getting added to your day and instead of a smooth ride you encounter twists, turns and quick stops? That’s exactly how my day has been.
Everything was going along as planned until I left my office at noon for lunch and that is when the twists, turns and quick stops started. No emergencies, no drama or chaos, just simple things that were added to my schedule that needed to be done.
As I was coming back from my trip to the post office (which isn’t a very pleasant experience anymore, because it is now the only post office in our community and when you arrive there at 4:45pm you will undoubtedly find yourself waiting in a very long line) I found myself feeling a little bit out of control. I pulled into my driveway, went into my house and found myself standing in the middle of the kitchen. I walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. Then I walked over to the cabinet and looked in it. Was I hungry? No. I stopped and walked out of the kitchen and up to my office. I knew what was happening. I opened my bag and pulled out a piece of paper. On the paper was one word spelled out in red letters, EMPOWERED. I read it out loud, “Empowered”. I read it again and again and again and then I walked back down to the kitchen, took a magnet and placed it smack in the middle of the refrigerator door.
Empowered is a word filled with hope and possibilities. It’s a word that can’t be said in a timid voice. Go ahead try it. It just can’t be done. It’s a word that makes you stand up tall with your shoulders back and your head held high. Empowered.
Being Empowered helps you make right choices. Being Empowered gives you the strength to say “NO”. Being Empowered allows you to look in the mirror and like what you see.
When we turn to God to fill the empty spaces in our lives instead filling it with food we are Empowered. God gave each of us an inner strength, that if we take the time to look deep within ourselves, and are willing to dig through the layers of self-doubt, anger, distrust, sadness, loneliness, despair, ect…, we will find ourselves becoming EMPOWERED.
Thought of the Day (from the Made to Crave devotional) – Unsettle me in the best kind of way. For when I allow your touch to reach the deepest parts of me – dark and dingy and hidden away too long – suddenly, a fresh wind of life twists and twirls and dances through my soul.
Blessings,
Jill
Day 1 - Made to Crave
Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up, look at your day planner and think to yourself, “Today isn’t going to be too bad?” But as the day goes along things keep getting added to your day and instead of a smooth ride you encounter twists, turns and quick stops? That’s exactly how my day has been.
Everything was going along as planned until I left my office at noon for lunch and that is when the twists, turns and quick stops started. No emergencies, no drama or chaos, just simple things that were added to my schedule that needed to be done.
As I was coming back from my trip to the post office (which isn’t a very pleasant experience anymore, because it is now the only post office in our community and when you arrive there at 4:45pm you will undoubtedly find yourself waiting in a very long line) I found myself feeling a little bit out of control. I pulled into my driveway, went into my house and found myself standing in the middle of the kitchen. I walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. Then I walked over to the cabinet and looked in it. Was I hungry? No. I stopped and walked out of the kitchen and up to my office. I knew what was happening. I opened my bag and pulled out a piece of paper. On the paper was one word spelled out in red letters, EMPOWERED. I read it out loud, “Empowered”. I read it again and again and again and then I walked back down to the kitchen, took a magnet and placed it smack in the middle of the refrigerator door.
Empowered is a word filled with hope and possibilities. It’s a word that can’t be said in a timid voice. Go ahead try it. It just can’t be done. It’s a word that makes you stand up tall with your shoulders back and your head held high. Empowered.
Being Empowered helps you make right choices. Being Empowered gives you the strength to say “NO”. Being Empowered allows you to look in the mirror and like what you see.
When we turn to God to fill the empty spaces in our lives instead filling it with food we are Empowered. God gave each of us an inner strength, that if we take the time to look deep within ourselves, and are willing to dig through the layers of self-doubt, anger, distrust, sadness, loneliness, despair, ect…, we will find ourselves becoming EMPOWERED.
Thought of the Day (from the Made to Crave devotional) – Unsettle me in the best kind of way. For when I allow your touch to reach the deepest parts of me – dark and dingy and hidden away too long – suddenly, a fresh wind of life twists and twirls and dances through my soul.
Blessings,
Jill
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
When God Opens a Door
One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” I’ve tried to live this verse each day of my life. Every morning before I place my feet on the floor I pray to God, “Lord I want to be a servant, a disciple of Christ. Lead me and direct me. If you open a door I will walk through and follow. Today Lord, I pray, that I will see those open doors.”
Some days I clearly see the open doors and I walk confidently through them while other days when I go to bed I wonder if there was an open door but I was to wrapped up in the world around me that I didn’t see it. I do know that there have been times when I have seen the open door and it doesn’t look like an easy way and I fight God on going through. March 22, 2011 was one of those days.
But right now I need to give you a little history before I proceed in telling you about that door I was hesitant to enter.
My brother Kirk is married to a wonderful woman named Gloria, who everyone calls Brock. This is my brother’s second marriage and Brock’s first. He has two beautiful teenage daughters, Olivia & Madison, from his first marriage who live a few hundred miles away with their Mom. They visit their Dad at Christmas and during the summer break. My sister-in-law Brock is a wonderful loving step-mom to my nieces and we are so thankful for that. After a few years of being married they decided to have a child of their own together. But after a while it became apparent that something was wrong and after many tests they found that Brock had endiometriosis and sadly it would be impossible for her to have children. With much prayer and thought they decided to have a child through adoption. They became licensed foster parents in hopes of being able to adopt a child and then they waited and waited and waited.
Fast forward to March 22, 2011. I was working in my office at church when I received a phone call from one of our members. He wanted to know if we could help a family who attended the church and who were in need of assistance. He explained that the grandmother had had to go and pick up her grandson who was 3 and his half-brother who was 3 months from a terrible situation in another state. She had nothing for the baby, not even a bed for him to sleep in. I told him that I would call her and we would definitely be able to help.
I made that phone call, made a list of what she needed and headed off to Walmart. I have to say that this was an enjoyable experience. Picking out baby clothes, blankets, bottles, lotion, shampoo, crib and many other items was so much fun!! I purchased the items along with a few gift cards and drove to her home. During the drive there I prayed for the grandparents and for the two little boys. It was during my prayer that God told me to tell her about my brother and sister-in-law wanting to adopt a child. This is what I said to God, “What? You want me to tell her about Kirk and Brock wanting to adopt? I’m not going to say that! I wouldn’t even know how to bring it up. Lord you have got to be kidding me. I’m not a direct person. I can’t do that. Please don’t make me!” But God wouldn’t give up. All the way there he told me to tell her.
When I arrived at her house I took the bags and crib in and was introduced to two of the most adorable little boys. The 3yr. old had the biggest smile and the baby who was 3 months had the biggest brown eyes. The grandmother placed the baby in my arms and I completely melted. She told me the whole story and how she was now the guardian but didn’t know if she was going to be able to keep them and that she was so afraid that they would be put into the “system” and she might not ever see them again. It was clear that their mother and fathers were unable to care for them. During our conversation the “door” opened and I told her about my brother and sister-in-law and how they wanted to adopt, but how difficult it was to adopt a child when they were in the “system”.
That was it, that’s all I said. I left that day thanking God for the opportunity to be able to help her through our church’s assistance fund and went back to work. Two days later I received a call from the grandmother. She told me that ever since my visit she had felt God telling her that the two little boys belonged with my brother and sister-in-law. She had never met them before. They didn’t live in the city that we lived in. I was speechless. I asked her if she was sure about this and she told me she was.
The door that I didn’t want to enter had led straight to the very children who would become my nephews, Jack & Jace.
I called my brother, told him the story and gave him the grandmother’s phone number. On March 26, 2011, I took Kirk and Brock to meet Jack and Jace. As we stepped through the door of her house I introduced them to Jack and I placed Jace in my sister-in-laws arms. It was at that moment I knew that this was all God’s plan. I knew from that moment that they were a family. I spent the next 2 hours watching them play with the boys and watching a bond start to grow between them. It was priceless. That night as I was saying my prayers three pictures appeared in my mind. A picture of Kirk playing catch with Jack, a picture of Kirk and Brock teaching Jace how to walk and a picture of the entire family; Kirk, Brock, Olivia, Madison, Jack & Jace. The next day I described the pictures I had seen to them and I told them that they shouldn’t worry. That this was God’s plan and one day Jack and Jace would be theirs.
Over the next few months there were struggles to overcome and when their patience was running thin, I would remind them about those three pictures and to trust in God, because he is in control and everything would work out.
On February 10, 2012 we celebrated the Adoption Day of Jack & Jace into our family. After the adoption hearing we went back to their home for a celebration and as I walked through their door, I felt a peace come over me and tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that God’s plan had come full circle. God had opened a door 10 ½ months ago that not only had I walked through but so did my brother and sister-in-law, a door that opened to a new life and a new family for two special little boys.
When God calls to you and opens a door, don’t hesitate to enter. He always has something on the other side that is so much better than we can ever imagine.
Some days I clearly see the open doors and I walk confidently through them while other days when I go to bed I wonder if there was an open door but I was to wrapped up in the world around me that I didn’t see it. I do know that there have been times when I have seen the open door and it doesn’t look like an easy way and I fight God on going through. March 22, 2011 was one of those days.
But right now I need to give you a little history before I proceed in telling you about that door I was hesitant to enter.
My brother Kirk is married to a wonderful woman named Gloria, who everyone calls Brock. This is my brother’s second marriage and Brock’s first. He has two beautiful teenage daughters, Olivia & Madison, from his first marriage who live a few hundred miles away with their Mom. They visit their Dad at Christmas and during the summer break. My sister-in-law Brock is a wonderful loving step-mom to my nieces and we are so thankful for that. After a few years of being married they decided to have a child of their own together. But after a while it became apparent that something was wrong and after many tests they found that Brock had endiometriosis and sadly it would be impossible for her to have children. With much prayer and thought they decided to have a child through adoption. They became licensed foster parents in hopes of being able to adopt a child and then they waited and waited and waited.
Fast forward to March 22, 2011. I was working in my office at church when I received a phone call from one of our members. He wanted to know if we could help a family who attended the church and who were in need of assistance. He explained that the grandmother had had to go and pick up her grandson who was 3 and his half-brother who was 3 months from a terrible situation in another state. She had nothing for the baby, not even a bed for him to sleep in. I told him that I would call her and we would definitely be able to help.
I made that phone call, made a list of what she needed and headed off to Walmart. I have to say that this was an enjoyable experience. Picking out baby clothes, blankets, bottles, lotion, shampoo, crib and many other items was so much fun!! I purchased the items along with a few gift cards and drove to her home. During the drive there I prayed for the grandparents and for the two little boys. It was during my prayer that God told me to tell her about my brother and sister-in-law wanting to adopt a child. This is what I said to God, “What? You want me to tell her about Kirk and Brock wanting to adopt? I’m not going to say that! I wouldn’t even know how to bring it up. Lord you have got to be kidding me. I’m not a direct person. I can’t do that. Please don’t make me!” But God wouldn’t give up. All the way there he told me to tell her.
When I arrived at her house I took the bags and crib in and was introduced to two of the most adorable little boys. The 3yr. old had the biggest smile and the baby who was 3 months had the biggest brown eyes. The grandmother placed the baby in my arms and I completely melted. She told me the whole story and how she was now the guardian but didn’t know if she was going to be able to keep them and that she was so afraid that they would be put into the “system” and she might not ever see them again. It was clear that their mother and fathers were unable to care for them. During our conversation the “door” opened and I told her about my brother and sister-in-law and how they wanted to adopt, but how difficult it was to adopt a child when they were in the “system”.
That was it, that’s all I said. I left that day thanking God for the opportunity to be able to help her through our church’s assistance fund and went back to work. Two days later I received a call from the grandmother. She told me that ever since my visit she had felt God telling her that the two little boys belonged with my brother and sister-in-law. She had never met them before. They didn’t live in the city that we lived in. I was speechless. I asked her if she was sure about this and she told me she was.
The door that I didn’t want to enter had led straight to the very children who would become my nephews, Jack & Jace.
I called my brother, told him the story and gave him the grandmother’s phone number. On March 26, 2011, I took Kirk and Brock to meet Jack and Jace. As we stepped through the door of her house I introduced them to Jack and I placed Jace in my sister-in-laws arms. It was at that moment I knew that this was all God’s plan. I knew from that moment that they were a family. I spent the next 2 hours watching them play with the boys and watching a bond start to grow between them. It was priceless. That night as I was saying my prayers three pictures appeared in my mind. A picture of Kirk playing catch with Jack, a picture of Kirk and Brock teaching Jace how to walk and a picture of the entire family; Kirk, Brock, Olivia, Madison, Jack & Jace. The next day I described the pictures I had seen to them and I told them that they shouldn’t worry. That this was God’s plan and one day Jack and Jace would be theirs.
Over the next few months there were struggles to overcome and when their patience was running thin, I would remind them about those three pictures and to trust in God, because he is in control and everything would work out.
On February 10, 2012 we celebrated the Adoption Day of Jack & Jace into our family. After the adoption hearing we went back to their home for a celebration and as I walked through their door, I felt a peace come over me and tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that God’s plan had come full circle. God had opened a door 10 ½ months ago that not only had I walked through but so did my brother and sister-in-law, a door that opened to a new life and a new family for two special little boys.
When God calls to you and opens a door, don’t hesitate to enter. He always has something on the other side that is so much better than we can ever imagine.
February 10, 2012 "Adoption Day"
Blessings,
Jill
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