In Denial...

Check out this article:  Obesity in America's Church

For a long time, we've joked about the fact that Christians are so overweight - I've even made the joke that Christians can't drink, smoke, or toke, but we can eat.  ;-)

I believe that the Church is in denial, pure and simple.  We judge others for living 'in sin' and having (too many?) piercings and tattoos and smoking and any number of things, but no one really mentions the sin of the lack of self-control when it comes to food and drink(or, for my Catholic friends, gluttony).

I'm not trying to bash the church at all - on the contrary, I think our leadership should not only lead the flock in spiritual matters, but also physical matters.  

You know, this Bible verse isn't just talking about tattoos and make-up. ;-)  As an obese minister's wife, I realize I'm the pot calling the kettle black, but I hope you can hear my heart in this.  I think we can do so much better than what we're doing right now.

What do you think?  I want to hear!! 

Have a blessed weekend, y'all!!

Are you ready for ANSWERED prayers?

Back in the '90s, when Garth Brooks was at his pinnacle of success, he released a song "Unanswered Prayers".  It's a cute song, and despite the fact that its (gasp!) secular, really did help me as a young Christian put into perspective Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I'm thankful for the unanswered prayers.  I'm also thankful for answers that I didn't even know I had a question for! But that's another post and I want to share with you tonight an answered prayer that I honestly was not prepared to be answered.  I know, I know - I'm the wife of a minister, I should have faith enough for this right?  Well, let me tell you - it's a LOT easier for me to have faith for you in your situation (or any other sister in theirs), but it's a WHOLE 'nother matter for me to have faith for MY situation.

My hubby is out of town for the week at the South GA Church of God Campmeeting. (BTW, I posted a link to watch the services live, but the correct link is 2012 South GA Campmeeting Live Stream)  We have a situation we are praying through right now, and I could sense in his voice one of the 5 millions times I called him today (not really 5 million, but I do miss him) a sort of down-on-myself, I'm-not-worthy kind of attitude about some tasks that the Lord has set before him.  I tried to encourage him, and even quoted scripture to him (Did I really do that?? Seriously, he's a minister.  He knows those scriptures already!! LOL).  I could tell it was going in one ear and out the other.  Maybe he felt that I'm his wife, so I was SUPPOSED to say that, right?  We've all felt that way about some sort of advice someone gave us.

So this evening, before the night service began, I started doing some house work and felt that I should spend that time praying for my husband. (Please don't think I'm June Cleaver for Ruth Graham or anything - it's nothing near as structured as that!)  And I prayed that God would encourage him in this area, and to please "make Yourself REAL to him tonight, Lord." and I prayed that God would send someone to my hubby to encourage him tonight!

Even though I was trying to watch the service, Mommyhood intervened, so I did miss some parts of the awesome message Brother David Price preached at Campmeeting tonight.  When my hubby called me after service (WAAAAY after, but I was trying to be patient, you know...) it turns out that God not only answered my prayer about being REAL to my hubby, but God also sent someone my husband trusts with a word for him AND sent a second person with a confirmation to that word!

Now we are unapologetically pentecostal. So please forgive me if I'm talking about something that makes no sense to you, but when J told me of the events that happened tonight, I was absolutely OVERWHELMED with a sense of shock and unworthiness and just gratefulness because a split-second after he told me that, I realized - Wait a minute!  That's what I prayed for!!  So I started boo-hooing and HAD to raise my hands in the middle of my living room to give thanks to my God!  Oh my Lord - that You would answer a prayer that I prayed for my husband when it's just been recently that I have been feeling led to pray more and more for him....And You answered it about this specific situation, and sent a specific person with that specific word, and I prayed that!  And You answered it!  Who am I, that you'd listen to my prayers??  But You listened!!  and You answered!!!

All this was going through my mind and through my spirit in a matter of seconds.  I'm still in awe that God would answer this prayer I prayed in such an unquestionable way!  And to think that He's the One who nudged me to pray in that way for my husband to begin with!!

Oh, God you truly do cause ALL THINGS to work together for good to me and my family, because we LOVE YOU, and we are CALLED for YOUR purpose!

Are you ready to listen for His still, small voice - nudging you to pray for this person or that situation just so that you can see how He's going to work it out for good?

Saturday List - Blogs & Sites

Yes, I know there's a place on my sidebar for this, but I wanted to give you a list of all kind of blogs and sites  I've found helpful and just plain enjoyable... :-)  They are in no particular order and you'll find all kinds of topics, from fitness to Chrisitanity, to motherhood, to crafting.... I'm sure there's something for (nearly) everyone in this Saturday List!!

fittipdaily.com == This site is a GREAT resource for all kinds of tips - from exercise to nutrition to even style & Hollywood.  I've set it as a favorite and check in every few days for whatever little nuggets the crew at fittipdaily.com have for me.
sparkpeople.com == You've seen me write about this before, but the fact is you can't beat a FREE resource for tracking food and fitness.  Honestly, even though I use my bodybugg and its software/program, I still use sparkpeople for my nutrition tracking.  Sparkpeople's food tracker has probably the LARGEST collection of foods to choose from & will allow you to add a recipe or food that's not listed.  When you do that, it's put into the collection so all the other sparkpeople.com members have access to it, too -- I'm serious.  Mega-Info on this site!
bringingprettyback.blogspot.com == follow Kristen as she continues on her journey to bringing the "pretty" back into her life.  She's already accomplished quite a bit in the fitness/weight loss arena, and she also writes about real-world things and it's really fun just to keep up with her.  Plus, I love her radio shows that she posts!!
moneysavingmom.com == one of the first blogs I started following a couple years ago...I totally have a blogger/mommy crush on Crystal!  The subtitle of her site says "Helping You Be a Better Home Economist" - and she totally does!  She'll alert you to deals - whether they are online, in store (and most times with coupons), but she also gives tips and info for living simpler and (drum roll, please...)  DEBT FREE!  Dave Ramsey is one of her financial 'heros' and he's actually mentioned her on his show and website because she's doing such a great job equipping families today with what they need to survive (and thrive!) in today's economy.  Plus, she's a Christian, which is always refreshing in the blogging world! :-)
fussymonkeybiz.blogspot.com == One of the most recent blogs I've been following.  I LOVE how Crystal (interesting how many Crystal's this list has...) uses Proverbs 31 as part of her header on her blog.  She blogs about her family and events and such like everyone does, but she has such a talent for decorating and shabby-chic craftiness that I feel totally inspired every time I visit!
lysaterkeurst.com/  == Lysa Terkeurst is my hero for helping me to realize that my weight loss battle isn't just a flesh-and-food kind of battle.  You may remember, she is the author of Made to Crave - a book that has totally transformed my life.  On her site, she does a great job at giving day-to-day encouragement on many different topics even though she goes through many hard times herself.  She is an awesome woman of God!
eachdaygodsway.wordpress.com/ == Leah is a good friend of mine, who I'm ashamed to say I don't see NEAR as often as I want.  But she is SUCH an encouragement on her blog!  Leah's a stay-at-home mom and wife who blogs about whatever truths the Lord reveals to her, and I can tell you from experience she is full of God's grace and love for her fellow Christian sisters.
And, last but definitely not least: sharalonghorne.blogspot.com/ == Let me just say it this way:  I want to be a Shara when I grow up! LOL  Shara is full-blooded, unashamed, almost in-your-face Pentecostal & proud of it.  It's so rare to find a Pentecostal woman who is NOT a kook (or "code 24" as some my my old WHC security friends would have said), but who is confident enough in what she believes that she honestly feels like she'd be doing wrong if she DIDN'T share! But she also blogs about things that real parents in the real world are concerned about.  I love her encouragements and her teachings, and I'm sure you will too!

Hope you enjoy!!  Happy reading!!

Blessed Art

I'm getting into craftwork again! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it and how therapeutic it can be! ;) This is a gift I made for my bff's birthday, whichbis today. I got the inspiration for it on the way home from church this morning (what? You think I procrastinate!?!?!) and this verse is super special for us because my sweet BFF is pregnant with her first child! Hope you like it! I know she did! I had to "bling" it up a little bit cause she loves her some bling! ;)

It's kinda hard to tell in this pic, but the plaque is not black-- the color is actually "oiled bronze" which goes so well with the burnt paper the verse is printed on. I also used Mod Podge, hot glue, jute twine, sandpaper to distress the wood after painting, a clear acrylic sealer spray and of course a bling-y pearl, lace, and feather rose. :)

Common - it's a good thing. ;-)

I ran across something just now that I thought might help a lot of people (like me) going through weight loss struggles.  I've posted songs from Mandisa before here on my li'l blog, so hopefully you guys are a *little* familiar with her. ;-) 

For those who aren't - Mandisa auditioned years ago on American Idol and wowed the judges at her audition with her vocals.  Problem was, after she got her "golden ticket", Simon (you know, dear old Simon) said some pretty hurtful things about her size.  She didn't even know he'd said them until AFTER her AI journey was nearly over and she was watching episodes with her family! 

Anyway, she turned that hurt into inspiration, so to speak, and today, she just posted some awesome news on her official FB page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/mandisaofficial

I share with you guys things that help me see that I'm not alone.  And Mandisa's journey has soooo inspired me!  It's because of her that I've stumbled across some major tools for my wieght loss journey: Lisa TerKeurst's Made to Crave, and Beth Moore's Praying God's Word. 

There is a verse that I found through the Mandisa/Lisa/Beth's guidance, that really hit home:

NO temptaion has taken you except what is common to man.  God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of excape, that you may be able to endure it.  I Cor 10:13

Check out that first line: "No temptation has taken you, except what is common to man."  The worst lie the enemy could ever feed us (and sadly, the most effective) is that we are alone in what we're going through.  Can I just tell you, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE?  The creator of the universe - who cares so much about each of us individually that he individually numbered each individual hair on our head - promised YOU that what you're going through someone else is going through.  That temptation you're facing - someone else is facing.  That battle you're fighting -  someone else is fighting.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

We may never meet each other on this side of Heaven, but we can rest assured that we have a fellowship of believers who are right there with us - walking the same path we're walking - united in our goal.

God bless you on your journey - whatever that journey may be.  Here's a last little bit of inspiration for the journey ahead: