Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Hope and Faith

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Hope and Faith: "Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! What a beautiful morning here in the sandhills of Nebraska! This will be my la..."

Hope and Faith

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  What a beautiful morning here in the sandhills of Nebraska!

This will be my last blog until after Christmas.  I will be computer free for about three days!

Yesterday, I wrote about my new life resolutions.  This is how I plan on taking back my world from satan.  It's my choice to live or die.  I choose to live.

I am choosing to live a honorable and righteous life.  One that is full of patience, kindness, love, grace, gratitude, forgiveness, and most of all, repentance.

And I'll do this knowing that it is God working in my life.

He has made the changes that needed to be changed.  He is the One working and stirring in me, wanting me to keep pursuing Him.

It's not me.

And so, in order for these spiritual qualities to take root in my soul and heart, I must have confidence and faith.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" Hebrews 11:1.

How can we be confident that something we want is going to happen, especially if all of our hopes have been dashed?

How can we risk believing that the life we hope for is waiting for us around the bend?

the Bible tells us that the key is in the nature of the who we look to.

We are told that "anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him" Hebrews 11:6.

If we see God as One Who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for Him.  If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help.

One man came to Jesus asking Him to help his young son who was afflicted by a demon.  He said to Jesus, "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.'  'What do you mean, "If I can"?'  Jesus asked.  'anything is possible if a person believes.'  The father instantly cried out, 'I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'"   (Mark 9:22-24).  We can start by asking God to help us have more faith.  Then we can ask Him for the courage to hope for a better future.

Jesus was sent to give us a future.

The new year has almost arrived.  Many of us in the past have made countless new years resolutions and have failed.

So how do we keep our hopes up that we can be successful?

By faith and trust.  Remember God has a plan for us.

His plan is more than our usual new year resolutions.  His involves real character changes as well as life style changes.

He's not concerned with our pant size.  But why we can't love ourselves and be healthy and happy with this wonderful and beautiful body He has given us.

He's not really concerned with our dreams of owning a new car.  But as to why we are in financial ruin and have not been faithful with the money He has given to us.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" Hebrews 11:1.

Our faith and trust comes from a process of learning and spending time with our Lord.

And in that process we learn that true freedom and happiness is in obeying God.

When we admit our ways are not working and let God take charge, we come in alignment with Him and His ways.

That's the beauty of it.

Obeying and receiving, they go hand in hand.

Also, when we follow His plan for our lives, we realize what is actually important.  We realize that God knows what we need and what we can handle, and takes care of us.

He is such a wonderful and beautiful God!

So as you enjoy your family gatherings and all the wonders of Christmas, don't forget to celebrate your opportunity to take back your life from satan.

God sent His only begotten son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins.

To give us the chance to reclaim our world!

And as you make your new year resolutions, keep in mind the end.  Keep in mind what's really important and what you plan on explaining to our Father when the time comes when He asks, "What did you do with the life My Son died to give you?"

Choose to live, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 God bless you and keep you as you travel here and there.  Peace be to you in what ever comes your way!

 Merry Christmas!


Blessing and love to you, my friends ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Good day to you all, my brothers and sisters in Ch...

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Good day to you all, my brothers and sisters in Ch...: "Good day to you all, my brothers and sisters in Christ our King! I pray that peace and joy are with you today! Here we are. Thr..."

Good day to you all, my brothers and sisters in Christ our King!  I pray that peace and joy are with you today!

Here we are.  Three days away from Jesus' birthday.  The day when God took power back from satan.

In the beginning, all was good.  The Lord had made a wonderful world for us.  We had everything we could ever need.  But we strayed.  We gave in to satan and gave him our world.

But God, who so loved the world (us), gave His only Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Now, though we have sinned, we can repent and be forgiven.  And even though satan still rules our world with all of his lies, our souls can be free.  I say "can" because it's up to us.

It's up to us to receive this beautiful gift our Almighty God has given!

Blessed are we!

For we are saved!

Now, we are to shine for others!

Forgive those who have hurt you or done you wrong.

And ask for forgiveness from those you have hurt.

Love those who hurt you.

Pray for them.

Take responsibility for your actions.

Respect everyone and everything.

Love one another.

Be a blessing.

Have a thankful heart.

And ask for forgiveness.

Make knowing God and living for Him your first priority.

These are my resolutions for the rest of my life!

Let's take back the world together!  We are so blessed!  Let's not wait a moment more!

God has a plan for you and I.  We are more then any addiction or label.  We are His children.

That doesn't mean that our lives will be smooth and full of rainbows.

But, we are strong and we can to resist the temptations satan puts in our paths. 

Although our world may seem bleak.  And at times there may seem to be no end to misery or suffering.  We can have thankful and hopeful hearts.

And we are always ready to praise the Lord! 

We understand that, as we are not perfect, neither is the world.  We understand that bad things will happen. But as believers in our powerful Lord, we will come through them wiser and stronger.  And through these things our faith grows also.

Because, satan, you see, we are believers. 

It is already written.  God wins.  We win.

Hold on to that, my brothers and sisters.  We win!

What ever is holding you back, let it go!  We win!

Let it go!  We win!

Stop living in the past.  We win!

Stop waiting for tomorrow.  Do not be afraid for the future.  We win!

We win!  And we have already received the prize.

Praise be to God!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!  Thank you for what you have done for me.  You lived so I could learn.  You then died for me, so, being a no body, waste of space, not worthy, always thinking of myself, taking for granted the wondrous things I have been given - could live.

Oh, my heart aches.  I have done you so wrong, my Prince.  And You love me still.

How my eyes tear knowing that I can never repay you.

I fall to my knees, with my face on the floor, knowing that there is such evil around me but you, My Lord and Savior, reign! 

Thank you, Jesus!  Thank you!

Let us be so thankful!

My brothers and sisters, let us be so thankful!

Our savior reigns!

Peace be to you all!

Be a light this Christmas! 

Blessing ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Chr...

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Chr...: "Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ! It's such a beautiful Tuesday! I hope you all are doing well! I would li..."

Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!  It's such a beautiful Tuesday!  I hope you all are doing well!

I would like to apologize for not keeping up with our daily discussions.  Man, my schedule has really been thrown off here lately!  I'm almost done with my school stuff and soon the holidays will be over and I'll get back on track!

Getting back on track!


I'm a very black and white person when it comes to myself.  I give others a break, but for myself I'm like a cruel boss with a wipe!  If things don't go exactly the way I have planned, I fall apart.  It's the truth.  I'm not good at rolling with my punches.  But with others I am.  Weird, huh?

My husband can come home and totally change our plans and I'm okay.  But if I don't get everything done the way I have planned, I, not as much as I used to, through up my hands and give up.  I'm still struggling with following my dreams and following through with the things that I think God wants.  My kids, the dog, anything really that interrupts what I'm doing will soon take precedents.

I don't want to seem selfish.  But maybe I am.

You know, I don't know my place in the world yet.  My place with God and what He wants me to be.  I'm getting there but still being held back by stuff.  I don't know if it was the sexual abuse, but at times I feel trapped as a child kind of.  Let me explain.  I feel like everyone has authority over me.  Or that everyone else is more important.  Or maybe I just need more backbone!

I'm a person who wants everyone to be happy.  If my husband comes home and is uptight or grumpy, you know what, I think it's because of me.  I did something.  And that's a very selfish way to live.  Thinking that everything revolves around ME!  Not that I want it to revolve around me, but I feel like I'm always doing things wrong.  Everyone else has life in order.  Except me.   Is that a childish attitude?.  I'm not sure but I am rewiring my brain, heart, and soul to be in tune with God.  So this too shell pass!

I am getting better.  The reading I've done, the messages I've heard, the love of God shining through others has made such an enormous impact on me!  I feel that I am truly blessed!  But I realize that I have a long ways to go.

But God loves me now and I know that others do also!

I love reading Hosea 11:1-11 - The Lord's love for Israel!

God asks, "Oh, how can I give you up. . . ?  How can I let you go?  How can I destroy you. . . . ?  My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. . . For I am God and not a mere mortal.  I am the Holy One Living among you,(love that!) and I will not come to destroy"

I love that scripture because I know now that He doesn't want me to be perfect.  He knows that I can't.  But, man, He's still giving me the chances to improve!  He loves me and wants whats best for me!

I started out, around Thanksgiving, with a great attitude about the upcoming holidays.  I had these wonderful thoughts of being in control and even though I didn't think that they were expectations, I did make expectations for myself.  And, around the mountain I went again.  Things started getting away from me.  My beautiful and wonderful children got sick with this or that, and I smiled and comforted them.  Because I love them and want them to be better and all this other stuff is just that, other stuff.

But soon I was only smiling on the outside.  Dishes piled up.  The dog went through the trash.  My stinking sink got plugged up and after several bottles of draino, we finally got rid of the clog.  Okay, so I'm a little behind on my baking, it's okay.  Oh, you need me to sew your slipper, okay, I'll do it tonight.  Sorry I forgot about your slipper.  And you need cookies for class tomorrow!? Mom, where is that paper I sat on the table, I need it for class!  I'm sorry, I haven't seen a paper.  Oh you sat it there last week. . . great!  I'm not sure where it's at but we'll find it.  Oh, I mean I'll find it!

My smile, gone!  LOL!  That's life!  I had forgotten what the most important things were.  God was showing me once again that He's in control and I am not!

Things will happen.  Good, bad, and very, very ugly!  But it doesn't matter.  What does matter is our discipline and self-control to stay on God's path.

The cookie idea was awesome, but worldly.  God wants me to give to others, which includes my family!  Let things fall where they may.  If I'm doing what I feel is right to God and being moved by God, then how can I go wrong!

It's important for me to make priorities.  It's great for me to set boundaries.  It's even okay to put myself first, if I do it God's way.

I guess what I'm getting at is that, although, those things that I had romantically set up in my mind were not bad and that I had wanted to do them for others, I should not have gotten so bent out of shape when other things came up!  I forgot to breath.  I skipped my walks with God because I felt I had to much to do.  See, I changed my relationship with God by putting these other things first.

LOL!  

That's the secret!  Learning the balance!  Discipline, respect, self-control, responsibility, love.  If God is in all that, then watch out world!  Here we come!

I have a ton of stuff to do!  And I might get it all done and I might not!  But the most important things are taken care of!  My heart is at peace and God is stirring in it!!  My smile is back, and I can't help it!

My Brothers and Sisters, have peace.  The Good Lord is here and will take care of us!

Part of Hosea 11:9, "I am God and not a mere mortal.  I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy."  I love that!  He is here!

God bless and keep you my friends!  Let yourselves be a light to others in this present darkness!

Love, Peace, and Blessings ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Okay, I'll wait.

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Okay, I'll wait.: "Good afternoon to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! Oh how blessed we are! Well, today I'm thinking about delayed gratification...."

Okay, I'll wait.

Good afternoon to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  Oh how blessed we are!

Well, today I'm thinking about delayed gratification.

I'm Becca.  I am impatient.

I am.  We just got a new computer so I can't complain about that anymore.  But let me tell you, I had really bad computer rage!  Oh yes!  I would click, on let's say Word, and it would take so long!  I bet it took about 10 seconds to load or whatever!  And don't get me started on trying to get on the 'net!

How crazy is that?

And, luckily, I don't have to drive to Rushville, Haysprings, Chadron, or Martin, on a daily basis because I would be a raging alcoholic!

I know, it's terrible.

But humor aside, the world is like that.  I have a phone, well not me personally, that I can get emails and facebook stuff, tweeter, etc, whenever, where ever!  Anyone can reach me and I can reach them.  I'll try their home phone, if no answer, I'll try their cell.  And if I still can't get an answer, I'll try both home and the cell until I have figured that they are not in the bathroom or have just stepped outside.  I will then leave a message wanting an immediate call back, pronto!

And look at all the convenience food!  When you're changing your eating habits it can really be hard to wrap your head around the planning of each healthy meal.  There is prep work.  Meat to be thawed out if frozen.  You have to keep up on the fresh fruits and veggies.  Plan your budget accordingly.  In a world of "give it to me now,"  it's hard to go against the grain.

The apostle Paul said, "So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up"(Galatians 6:9)  Weeds grow quickly.  Good crops grow more slowly and must be tended steadily, even before we can see anything sprout.  It's only in time that we will enjoy the fruit.

You know Jesus tried to get His disciples to expand their perspectives also.  "Jesus said to his disciples, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?'" (Matthew 16:24-26).

It's more than getting that great deal at Walmart.  It's more than eating that whole chocolate cake.  Life is much more than those instant pleasures that are just that, instant and that's it.

Whether you're saving for your retirement.  Or deciding to skip the fad diets and go for the long haul of eating right and exercising.  Maybe putting off that career so that you can stay home with the kids, even when more money would seem to make things easier.  Or giving your life to Christ and slowly but steadily reading and studying the scriptures everyday, not demanding perfection but working to perfect one's life - that's delayed gratification.

It is God's will for us to have a rewarding and fulfilled life.  It may be easier to adjust to our new way of life if we remember that denying our self  immediate pleasures will bring a harvest of rich rewards in this life and in the life to come.

It's about giving up the world and saving our souls.

Delayed Gratification.

Remember my brothers and sisters in Christ that the Good Lord has an excellent plan for us.

It will require us taking a leap of faith and just being.  But while waiting, we can love, work, and share the Good news with others.  And because we have faith, we will finally know what peace is!

It's starting to snow outside.  My kids are laughing and playing.  I didn't get everything that I had wanted to this morning as far as presents for family and friends.  I was sticking to my budget.  But, I'm not worried.  Life is good and our Great and Gracious Lord will provide.  Let there be peace.

I pray that you all will have peace this season of celebrating our Lord, Jesus Christ.  May you enjoy your time with family and friends.  And remember how blessed we are!  Good things are yet to come!

Merry Christmas to you all!  Peace and everlasting joy to you and yours.

Be a light!

Blessings ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: What have I done?

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: What have I done?: "Good day to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! It's Thursday! We are getting so close to Christmas! I'm so excited, I ..."

What have I done?

Good day to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  It's Thursday!  We are getting so close to Christmas!  I'm so excited, I feel like a kid!

Along with all the excitement I've been feeling, I've also been overwhelmed with my past failures.  Not as a "feel sorry for myself" kind of thing.  I'm just sad that it took so long for me to understand this very special and true Gift that I have received.  And sad about the things that are still holding me up. 

I read about Paul's letter to the church in Corinth and how his letter had made them very sad.  See Paul was confronting them about something they were doing wrong.  At first, Paul felt very bad that his letter had hurt them so.  But then he was glad because it woke them up.  He wasn't happy that they were hurt.  He was happy the letter had caused a kind of pain that made them repent and change their ways. 

See, it was the kind of sorrow that God wants his people to have because this experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation.  Paul had no regrets for sending the letter.  God also doesn't regret this kind of pain.  Paul was happy with what this godly sorrow produced in them and God would be so happy to see that in us.  Paul wrote, "You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right"  (2Corinthians 7:9-11)

Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:32-33, "Though God brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love.  For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow."

It's like as a parent.  We don't like the disciplining part.  It's the hardest part of parenting to see hurt in a child's eyes.  But we know that it is necessary for them to grow up and understand right from wrong. 

My grief is good.  It comes from way down deep.  It's from self-evaluation, not a morbid, self-hatred, self-condemnation.  See this kinda of work is due to our excepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  And when we choose to live for Him, we receive the Holy Spirit, our conscience. 

It's taken me a long, long time to learn this, but we have to learn to accept this sorrow as a positive part of renewing our lives and living for God.  It is not a punishment.

And with that, people have hurt us.  People will hurt us.  Let's not forget the love the Good Lord has shown us at our worst.  Let's not punish those for their inadequacies, we have them also and always will!  Let's pray that God will show us how we can change and be better for those who need us.

We have been so blessed!  Look at where we are today!  And pause for a minute to remember where we once were!  What a blessed difference!  Thanks be to God our loving Father!

Merry Christmas to you my brothers and sisters!  May God bless and keep you all this week!

Love and Blessings ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Walk a mile in my shoes

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Walk a mile in my shoes: "Wonderful Wednesday to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! I'm getting to this a little late because. . . . I got to go shopping w..."

Walk a mile in my shoes

Wonderful Wednesday to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

I'm getting to this a little late because. . . . I got to go shopping with my husband!  And we had a great time!  By we I truly do mean we! 

So here I am. 

This morning I read Matthew 7:1-6 and it reminded me of my life before I had found the Truth. 

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?  How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. 
Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don't throw your pearl's to pigs!  They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you."

You know a lot of times in order to make myself feel better, I would point my finger at someone else who was gossiping, using drugs, not wiping their kids nose just right, drinking on a week night, wearing too short of a skirt, etc.  It made me feel better about my own problems and sins. 

Then at times I would blame others for my bad decisions.  If they would have loved me enough I wouldn't have to __________.  If they told me things like I was _________ then I wouldn't __________.  If they hadn't done __________ then I wouldn't ______________.  It was never my fault. 

Just like Adam and Eve in the very beginning. 

When God asked Adam, "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat:"  The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it."  Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?"  She replied, "The serpent deceived me."  It seems to be human nature to blame others as our first line of defense.

We also may avoid our own problems by evaluating and criticizing others.  Jesus tells us, "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?. . . .Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."

While going through this process of cleaning up our life styles and getting healthy on all sorts of levels, we must remember that this is a season of self-examination.  It's been an exciting journey, learning about the Lord's love, kindness, grace, patience, and strength.  We're learning from the good book about what is right and what is wrong.  And it is easy to criticize others for their decisions.  We must guard against blaming and examining the lives of others as we learn to walk the narrow path. 

There will be a time in the future, which will be awesome, where we can help others in a constructive and loving manner.  We will be able to relate to other's sadness and pain.  And because we have made progress, we can share with them our experiences and the good news of our Lord and Savior and how they too can overcome these problems.  But that will only be after we have taken responsibility for our own actions.

Take time this Christmas season to remember where you have once been and where you are now!  Celebrate your success, because you deserve it!  But be sympathetic of others who may still be struggling.  They may not speak up about the things that are bothering or haunting them.  And remember to not boast and be prideful.  Your success is due to our gracious God.

Remember you can be a light for someone who at this point only sees darkness.  Let God's love and grace shine through you.  You will feel it also!

My friends we are blessed!  Remember the simple things this season.  Remember what we're celebrating for!

My the Good Lord Bless and Keep today, and be with you as we go our separate ways!

Blessings to you ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Your mission, if you choose to except it. . . . . ...

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Your mission, if you choose to except it. . . . . ...: "Good morning, good morning! It's a beautiful Monday morning! Did you all get to see that sunrise? Wow, it was pretty! An..."

Your mission, if you choose to except it. . . . . .

Good morning, good morning!  It's a beautiful Monday morning! 

Did you all get to see that sunrise?  Wow, it was pretty!

And by the way, do you happen to see that beautiful reflection in the mirror?  Wow, nice!

Okay, it's time!  We read the good book.  We've prayed.  God has shown us His glory.  We've seen His miracles.  It's time.

There are no more excuses.  No one else to blame.  It's time.

It's time to take back what is yours!  Satan has no power here, anymore.

The Good Lord has blessed us with this earth.  He has taken care of our needs by providing food, water, companionship, and His love.  We have been given life.  Air fills our lungs and our hearts beat strong.  We live.

It's time to take back what is ours!  Satan has no power here, anymore.

We are not falling for his lies anymore!  My weight is not where I want it to be but I am on my way.  His lies about needing to lose weight quickly with out regard for my health no longer affect me.  His lies about beauty will not shake me.  His lies about what I should be will not rule me. 

It's time to take back what is mine! 

This life! 

Even though my sins have given satan a foot hold into my life, he has no control!  I ask my Gracious Lord and Father for forgiveness and I am saved!  And I shut that door on the devil!  I ask the Lord for guidance in my turbulent life, and He takes me by that hand and gives me hope.  The devil gets mad!  I pray to the Lord, "cover my family with the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ and keep them safe" and He does!  Satan is homeless.  My God is my life and satan is powerless!

God has given me the power to choose between life and death.  My God has given me love, peace, security, hope, grace, and the strength to resist the temptations of the devil.  It is my God alone that can give these gifts.  And though I gave them to the devil by believing his lies before I knew better, I am taken them back!

I will resist him!  I will have victory!  And my brothers and sisters you can also! 

Today is the day we take back what the Good Lord has blessed us with!  Today!

Go out into the world today and tomorrow and the next, and be a light.

Satan's power here on earth is coming to a close.  Do you choose life or death?

Take a stand and take back what is ours!  Take back what Jesus died to give us! 

Let's celebrate Jesus' birth with our love and loyalty!  Let us take back what is ours, so His life and death were not in vein.

Take back what is ours and share this Good News with others!  God bless and keep you today! 

Blessings ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Are we worth it?

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Are we worth it?: "Good morning to you all! It's F-r-i-d-a-y! (Imagine me doing the happy dance!) Woohoo! God is good! I want to sing from ..."

Are we worth it?

Good morning to you all!  It's F-r-i-d-a-y!  (Imagine me doing the happy dance!)

Woohoo!  God is good!

I want to sing from the mountain tops or the highest hill in our area!  I have sinned but now I am free!  The Good and Gracious Lord loves me!

I know that I am not where I want to be or where God wants me to be.  But I am so excited to not be where I was!  Woohoo!  I can change!  It's a miracle!  And I want to be even better!  I want to be godly, to serve as Jesus does.  To go the distance!  To fight the good fight!  Come with me on this journey!

"take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." (Ephesians 4:22 Msg)

This is what God has wanted for us since time began.  Along the way, we became twisted and distorted.  But the Lord loving us so, sent His Son!  Jesus was born a human.  He lived with us, lived through all the same temptations, tribulations, and tragedies.  The good and the bad.  He lived for His Father and that was it.

He could have taken a short-cut, bi-passed all the misery of being brutally beaten, hung on a cross and crucified.  But He didn't.

"The devil. . . .showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  'I will give it all to you,' he said, 'if you will kneel down and worship me.'  'Get out of here, Satan,' Jesus told him.  'For the Scriptures say, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him"'"(Matthew 4:8-10).  If Jesus had fallen for this trick, he would have sinned and lost everything.

God wants more from us.  He knows we can do it.  But because He gave us free will, we must decide.  

We need to beware of  "shortcuts" that take us even one step outside of God's will.  We are warned:  "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you"(James 4:7).  We can show this resistance by ignoring offers that are "too good to be true."  And there are a lot of them.  Lose 10 lbs in one week.  Make money instantly!  Be your own boss.  Get the picture.  There are really no quick fixes in life.  The path of losing weight and being healthy, getting out of debt, making more money, quitting drugs and alcohol can be long and hard.  But many have gone before us and have succeeded.  Just look at Jesus!  

Keep on keeping on!  As we stay on this healthy path, taking one day at a time, one step at a time, we'll find the good things in life that God has intended for us!  

Celebrate your success!  Really!  We've come a long way baby!  

Lift yourself up today by reading the Word.  By surrounding yourself with devotions that tell of the promises the Good Lord has made to us!  Oh, it's wonderful to read and the meditate on the love the Lord has for us.

Then, go out and lift some one else up!  Be that smiling person to some one who is having a terrible day.  Be that door holder when some one has their hands full.  Be compassionate to those who are struggling and give a hug.  Give because you have been blessed.  You have the ultimate gift.  Knowing the love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!  Pass it on!

May the Good Lord Bless and keep you close!  May your heart be filled with love.  And may the strength of the Lord lead you through all temptations, all tribulations, and all tragedies today!

And smile!  You're on God's camera!

I love you and God Bless~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: How Great Thou Art

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: How Great Thou Art: "Good morning, good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! It's Wednesday! And what a beautiful Wednesday it is! We'r..."

How Great Thou Art

Good morning, good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  It's Wednesday!  And what a beautiful Wednesday it is!

We're getting closer to Christmas!  I'm so excited!  When I get done chatting with you all, I'm making my list and checking it twice and hope that God will use me to be a blessing to others.  Tis the season for love, laughter, giving, kissing, decorating, and celebrating the birth of the One. 

My heart wants to burst as I think of the beautiful gift Jesus gave to you and I.  He lived so we might learn.  And He died so we might live! 

This morning I got up and felt the warmth of being content.  I don't want anything.  My heart is full of love for my God.  My house was warm.  My children were safe and sleeping like angels.  My husband was safe and well, and left the house by hugging me and kissing my cheek.  I don't wont him to get sick, so the cheek will do for now! 

My house is not as tidy as I would like, but I'm not letting it get me down.  I have today to shape things up.  Yes, today is a new day with new grace, forgiveness, love, patience - all from our loving Father. 

Yes, today is a new day!

I wont let my house get me down.  And my past preoccupation with weight and calories, they are going by the way side.  I'm going to strive to be a better wife, mother, and friend.  My failures are in the past.  Today is my new day.  To be what the Good Lord wants me to be. 

At this point, I feel like there is nothing that can get me down!  I'm so in love with God and this new life that the bad stuff (and there will be bad stuff) is just a blip on the radar! 

These lessons have been hard.  And I know that there is still so much that I need to learn and change to be what God wants me to be.  But He is here in me, working, stirring, showing me the answers to past problems and how to handle problems in the future.

Oh, the Lord has blessed me so!  I am made new!  I can leave that insecurities behind me.  I am new!  I can let go of the sins that have plagued me for so long.  I am new!  I am not my past!  I am new!

How gracious Thou are!  I look back on the pain and suffering I have felt.  The feelings of being alone.  The feeling that I could handle these situations on my own and then failing.  Using food, the approval from others, giving sex for love, hiding from the world, hating myself - all in a feeble attempt to just feel a little relief from the pain in my heart that longed for the Lord.  And through all that wasted time and sin, HE STILL LOVES ME!  The Lord still loves me and has forgiven me!  And He has promised to be here for me forever! 

And what little does He want in return!  He wants my faith.  He wants my love. 

He has given me everything!  And just wants ME in return! 

He says to forget about that other stuff, it's not you.  That He knows who we really are!  And He wants so much good for us!  And. . . ..

All we have to do is ask!

Oh, my brothers and sisters!  We are blessed!  Let us forget the stupid worries of the world!  Forget the getting and remember the giving!  Show your neighbor you love them!  Make peace with yourself and those who have done you wrong.  Make peace with living in moderation.  And rejoice for the simple things that mean so much!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, take care of yourselves.  Be good to that temple that holds your heart, soul, and spirit!  Again, make peace with yourself.  Let's be better than we have been.  Let's strive to be all that God wants us to be!

I believe I can change the world.  You can also!  Let not waste a single second more. 

Go out into the world today.  Let the light of our great and loving Lord shine through you!  Be a blessing because you and I have so truly been blessed!

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep you!  Keep up the good fight!  I love you!

Blessings ~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Oh, the Lord is Good!

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: Oh, the Lord is Good!: "Good day my brothers and sisters in Christ! It has been a beautiful Tuesday! I'm writing this afternoon due to a tooth malfunction. But a..."

Oh, the Lord is Good!

Good day my brothers and sisters in Christ!  It has been a beautiful Tuesday!

I'm writing this afternoon due to a tooth malfunction.  But all is taken care of and so life is great!

This may seem like a silly blog today! 

I'm focusing on how magnificent our bodies are!

For instance the mouth.  I haven't been able to chew or swallow for two weeks now.  And I have come to really appreciate all the mouth has to offer! 

I also have had a hard time speaking!  Which brings me to the subject of speech. 

Through this debacle, I have had to really think about what I have wanted to say and to make the most out of everything I needed to express.  Example, instead of giving a long lecture on why the kids needed to pick-up their room, I bluntly told them to get the job done right.  I was not mean.  But the kids knew what I wanted them to do and they did it!  Maybe frills and fluff are not needed when trying to get someone to do something for me.  Well, at least with my family!

Hmmmm, thinking about what I say before I actually do say it?!  What a deal! 

Now, like I said, I'm being silly!  But in this season of loving, caring, and thankfulness - thinking about what we say and how we say it is just as important as what we give.  Wow, what?

Yes, a loving response can warm the soul!  For the both of you! 

I've been cleaning up myself inside and out.  I've been learning different ways of helping to strengthen my insides by what I do on the outside - mentally and physically.  And vice verse.

It's very simple, or it should be! 

Eat what the Good Lord has intended us to eat:  fresh veggies and fruits, whole grains and beans, meat, cheese, and milk.  Not alot of fluff!  Seasons from the earth, herbs and spices.  Simple.  Drink water.  Save the fluff for special occasions! 

Live a life that is driven by our love for our Father.  In no matter what we are doing, work like we're working for God.  Embrace the bible and all that it has to offer.  Surround yourself with God's word and people who live for God also!

Simple.

The heart is strong.  The soul and spirit are in tune with God's plan.  So now what?

It's the inside out show!  Sorry, being silly again!

But really, the inside shines through!  The goodness of the Lord is now able to come through you in what ever situation your in!  Work, school, church, the store, the table.  Awesome!  It's a circle of life thing!:)

The Lord has provided us with everything we will need now and in the future.  Amazing! 

Everything we need to be strong, healthy, loving, and wise!  Everything we need to be successful! 

But along with that love from our Lord, we need to be responsible for our actions.  Oh, that responsible thing again.  Yes, it's our job!  God gave it to us, so we can do it!  I'm putting my bets on the Big Guy!  He's made things happen from the beginning of time! 

So, what are we going to do!  Well, I'll tell ya! 

We're going to get out of bed tomorrow, knowing that we are blessed!  We're going to put on our fighting faces and be determined to do every single job, task, honey do, the very best we can - we're doing it for God!  And we are going to be determined not to fall for those gimmicks that lead us to believe that we deserve what ever it is right now!  No, we're going to eat healthy, laugh, not charge up our credit cards, smile, give a hug, plan a party with friends, tell our loved ones that we love them, and thank God for every minute of it! 

Back to our mouths.  We can use them for good or evil!  Inside or out!  Use yours wisely. 

They're good for kissing too!  A kiss never hurt anybody!

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep you tonight!  I love you and you are beautiful!  So go on with your amazing self!

Blessings~ Becca

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: The Goodness of the Lord

Healthy Soul, Healthy Heart: The Goodness of the Lord: "Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! Woohoo, it's almost Christmas time! My family and I spent the Thanksgiving holid..."

The Goodness of the Lord

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

Woohoo, it's almost Christmas time! 

My family and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with family in Lincoln and Omaha.  We had a blast!  We visited the zoo and spent time laughing and catching up.  Good for the heart, good for the soul.

Now, after a week of sinus infection misery and a surprise visit from my very unwelcomed wisdom tooth, I'm back in action! 

God is good!

God is Good!  Have you ever thought about what you have?  Have you ever thought about the luxuries we have?  A hot bath when ever we'd like.  An indoor toilet.  A fridge, and maybe a freezer, full of food.  The socks that we pull from the drawer each day, the cereal we have each morning, the paper we buy with coffee, the list is long.  Our lives are so good, why do we need to worry about the clothes we will wear.  The size of the clothes we will wear.  Why do we waste this precious time that we have been allowed by the Good Lord on meaningless things like what we will eat, one more doughnut please! 

It all seems so clear when you take the world out of our lives and focus on working for God.  We live in a time of convenience, don't we?

We're not out in the field each day growing and tending to our only source of food.  We're not cleaning our clothes on a board in a boiling pot of water.  We're not out a the crack of dawn milking our milk cows or drawing water from the well on the hill.  We can hop in our car in a moment and head to the store.  We can wash clothes and dishes while surfing on the net.  We can dry our clothes while drying our hair.  Oh man, things our good!

We have all of this extra time for God, right?!  Was it easier in the quietness of turning the dirt and smelling the earth to talk to Him?  Or when our cell phones are constintly ringing, the kids need dropped off to the next after school activity, at the next committee meeting, etc.  Do we even hear Him? 

I guess what I'm getting at is my frustration with myself, maybe you feel this way also, for letting such unimportant things get in the way of what God has called me to do!  I have it made here.  Food in the kitchen, my house is warm without having to worry about chopping wood, I have clothes to wear, the ability to read what ever I want, go where ever I want (church) and yet, I have wasted time worrying about weight!  Worrying about what others think of me!  What people will say!  Or if I will fail!

OMG!  We do have it so good!  Praise God for His blessings on us! 

Praise God that He hasn't pulled the rug out from under us!  It could all be gone, you know.  And then where would we be?  Probably praying!  Oh, then we would have time!

I don't know about you but I'm done.  This world does not hold me anymore!  My job is the work for the Lord.  To do the best I can.  The best!

He gets me first! 

He put me first when His only Son, Jesus Christ died for me! 

It's almost Christmas!  He gets me first!  The ways of the world will be put aside.  I will celebrate Him!

Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, may you all know the wonder of our dear Lord.  My heart fills with pride to know that JESUS LOVES ME!  Man, my eyes are tearing knowing that His love is forever and ever, and I missed understanding that for so long. 

Let's not waste any more time.  Let's fight this great fight!  We are more than what we have thought!  We are God's beautiful creation.  Let's act like it!

My love to you, my friends!  And God's blessings to you I pray!  Let the Good Lord bless and keep you in all your days!

Blessings ~ Becca

Thankful for everything, including the good, bad, and ugly!

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  It's Thanksgiving week and I feel like a kid!!  Like I'm the one getting out of school early!  And I'm the one santa will be bring gifts to soon!

I'm excited about this life!!  I hope you are too!  Look at what we've been given!  Another chance to see God's wonderful love and to live in His peace!  Oh man, we have lots of bills and things up in the air, but who cares!  I mean really, it will work out!  Because I'm not living for myself anymore!  My name is Becca, and my middle names are responsibility and respect.  With those tools in hand, how can things go wrong?  I have faith in my Lord, Jesus Christ!  He has showed me time and time again that He is with me and will never leave me!

How precious!

What a gift!

This week, let's be giddy and thankful!  Let's not worry about our pant size, the turkey and stuffing, what others are going to say about us behind our backs.  Let's free ourselves from those small, insugnificant irriatants of life.  Let's remember that our hearts are beating, our lungs are filling with air, we're making changes that promote healthy living and a healthy soul.  Let's remember all that the Good Lord has blessed us with and gotten us through!  Amen!

And to quote Joyce Meyers, "I'm not where I want to be, but praise the Lord that I'm not where I used to be!"

This is a journey.  Not a short race, crash diet, etc.  We are implying real life saving changes!  We're refusing to live for this earth and what it says and does.  We are living for God!  Enthusiasticly, whole heartedly, serving others, in which, serves our wonderful Lord!  Paying it forward! 

There is a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground.  A dusting in the trees and on the houses.  Yes, the roads are icy.  And we must remain mindful of our actions when out and about.  But let us not miss the beauty around us.  Oh, that would mean the beauty in the mirror looking back at us also!  Being mindful, respectful, responsible, loving, being thankful and true happiness go hand in hand. 

We might need an attitude adjustment.  It's true. 

We can look at our new lifestyle as a positive, renewing of life, a passport to the life that God has intended for us.  We can be excited each day knowing that we can make the right choices!  Being freed from the shackles of what the world says we should be!  OMG!  That is an awesome way to live life!

Or we can choose to hate discipline.  Hate the fact that we have to be responsible and then allow others to control the choices we make and how we live.  You know peer pressure!  The devil comes in all shapes and sizes!  He wants us to hate ourselves.  He wants us to believe that we're missing out if we don't have those three doughnuts each day, buy that dress in the window, watch that tv program instead exercise, if we choose to live a life God would be proud of. 

That's it right there.  Living a life for God instead of this world.

Boy, that makes the devil made!  He hates when he can't control our actions anymore!  And there's nothing he can do about it!  See we're in control.  We have a choice!

Life or death!  It really is that simple.

Oh, how I pray that you and I, my brothers and sisters in Christ, will build up our temples and prepare our hearts and minds for war.  That we will continue to read our Bibles and find the time each day to praise and worship the Lord.  And that we will be armed with His love and go out into the world serving the Lord and fighting evil in His name!

Oh, how I pray that you and I will not turn from our new ways of living.  That we will remain strong and be a light to those around us.  That we will show others the love of the Good Lord by our actions and how we live!

We have the unending love of our Father!  He is proud of our accomplishments.  And is always there and forever will be even if we fail! 

So get up!  This is your day that the Good Lord has made!  Get up and live!  Get out there and do your thing!  Show others what the Good Lord has done for you!!!

I thank God for you all!  You are my inspiration.  What I want to be.  You are out there truly living the life that God has promised!  I look and see what the Lord has done for you, and I feel blessed!  It truly is a chain reaction!

Don't give up the good fight!  I love you all!  Thank you for being you!  God loves you and you are truly beautiful!!

May the Good Lord bless and keep you as we go our seperate ways.  And may you feel His love and peace in all of your days!

Blessings to you ~ Becca

 

You Rock!

Good afternoon to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  How are we all doing?  IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!

What a week of up and downs!  Today, let's reflect, learn, and appreciate all the good that the Lord has provided.  And you are a good thing!

We are so amazing!  And how quickly we forget.  We have a heart that beats on it's own with out us plugging it in or charging it up.  Our mind is capable of remembering, adjusting, sending correspondences, and maintaining your body and itself.  Amazing!  We have eyes that see and that are so magnificently put together that we see a whole picture without our noses getting in the way.  Our ears can hear and keep us balanced.  Our noses and mouths take in air and let it out, with the help of our lungs.  Which don't get me started on how awesome our lungs are.  I could go on and on!  God made us wonderfully!  Just look at a new born baby!

 God is awesome!

Science is even catching on.  Slowly, but still catching on. 

Faith works.  And study after study proves it.  Did you know that by praying and meditating we can significantly lower our blood pressure and heart rate.  True!  By putting our faith in God, which means worrying less, we can even improve the function of our immune system.  And those who attend church on a weekly basis are more successful at quitting smoking and overcoming alcoholism.  So, if God can help in these areas, He certainly can help with a life style change.  And would love to help, just ask . . . ..


So, get over it!  Stop with the "Well, that just can't apply to me because. . . . " or "But if they knew what I've gone through. . . . " or "But if they would change, do things differently, love me more, compliment me on my new shoes, introduce me to new colleges, buy me fancy stuff, read my mind, hug me when I need a hug, make me feel beautiful," etc.  What if those things never happen?  Are you prepared to stand before God and give these excuses as to way you didn't live a full filled life?  We need a kick in the pants and a loud football coach to say "Get in the game!"


You rock!  So live it, love it, and keep on learning about it!  Do something today or this weekend that you have always wanted to do.  Something that God would want you to do!  Make yourself smile and God!  You're breathing for a reason, so get out there and huff and puff! 


Do your thing!


Love you all!  May the Good Lord bless and Keep you!  And remember, YOU ROCK!


Blessings ~ Becca

How much do I love thee, Let me count the ways. . . . . .

Howdy, partners in Christ!  How you all doing this fine Thursday?

Man, yesterday, I had writers block!  I was more interested in finishing this new book I'm reading by Joyce Meyers.  It's really good.  It's call "Look Great, Feel Great."  I did not finish it however.  You know, priorities! 

So here we go!

Weight lose to me these days is about really loving myself and doing whats right for my body, soul, spirit, and heart.  It used to mean the size of jeans or comparing myself to others.  There was a "mold" that I needed to fit into.  But now I realize that I'm beautiful.  God wants me to love myself, my whole crazy, over-the-top, caring, loving, maybe too mothering, procrastinating, sensitive, logical self! 

We're supposed to be different!!

Isn't it funny that all things can be made better with love!  I mean real love.  Not that "making people happy, and you think you're being loving" way.  But loving self, others, and what we have, etc.  And doing what's right and being loving about it!!  I added that last part because I have in the past felt that I could not be right and loving at the same time - hmmmmmm.  Make sense?  In regards to eating, I felt that if I ate the right stuff, healthy, that I was making myself miss out on all the fun.  Because whether you're obese, bulimic, anorexic, an over eater, you think about food all the time.  Especially when you're on a diet.  How mean! 

So re-wire!  Eating healthy is loving, eating healthy is loving, eating healthy is loving.  Okay, you and I both get the picture. 

This world has made things so messed up.  We can't possibly have fun if we're not drinking tons and getting drunk!  We can't possibly have a family celebration without gorging ourselves with food!  Everything in moderation, whatever!  Come on, use your credit card.  And don't worry about it.  Oh, you need cash now.  Bring me your pay stub and I'll give you a loan.  I want, I want, I want......

The Good Lord warned us about this very thing.  Remember, He said don't put your trust in people or this world.  Have you ever seen that movie, "Fallen?"  Well, it's about an evil spirit that can only stay in this world by inhabiting in a living thing like a human or animal.  The evil spirit can then move through people to get to other people by a simple touch.  Now, I'm not confirming or disputing that there are evil spirits out there.  All I'm saying is that the truth is only through God.  Trust and faith are a need in this world.  You should never give up on others.  But God is the only one we can truly count on.

He gave us a perfect book of instructions.  Right?  And it says to not worry, don't stress.  Live your life following the teachings of Jesus.  Trust and have faith that God knows best.  That there is a season for everything.  God gave us a diet to follow also.  The bible says that we can eat the fruit from any tree in the garden.  It also says that we are to dominate all the animals.  It says not to worry about when or where your next meal will come from.  To eat and drink joyfully, but to not become drunk or gorge ourselves.  Not to worry about tomorrow, today has enough to worry about. 

It, however, does not say to eat from every doughnut shop you come across.  It doesn't say to eat artificial fruits and veggies, so why would we eat artificial colors, sugars, flavors that are in our other foods.  We live in a time of true abundance.  We, most of the world, don't not need to worry about food or water.  So why in the heck are we eating like there's no tomorrow?  We can eat and be satisfied.  Don't worry about your next meal!

These are loving instructions from our Lord.  By implementing them into our lives, we are honoring God and loving this temple that He has allowed us to use.  And by honoring God and loving ourselves, others see that transformation and want that kind of life also!  Wow!  It's a snow ball!

Eating right is more than clothing.  It's more than fitting in.  It's more than helping our country and it's health care crisis.  It's even more than our family and friends.  It's about showing appreciation to God.  He gave us a life.  How are we going to live it?

Well, be good to yourselves today!  May the Good Lord bless and keep you!  And we'll talk again!

Blessings ~ Becca

Love thy self!

Good morning to all of you wonderful people!

How are you doing on this journey we call life?

I am doing very well, thank you.  Life has been very adventurous and inspiring!  Sometimes I wonder if I'm gonna make it through, but I carry on.  And now I have tools to help make the trip a lot more comfortable and joyous! 

What are they do you ask? 

They are the good words of the Bible.  My hope and faith in Jesus Christ.  And my confidence that the Good Lord will see me through!  You can have these also.  In fact, in order to be successful, you better get 'em! 

See, there are three ways that you can go through life.  One, waste it.  Two, spend it.  Three, invest it! 

Most people, as I would have if I had not found the love of the Lord Jesus, would waste it or spend it only thinking about themselves.  What about me?  I should have anything I want!  It's not fair!  What about me?  He/she should love me!  Why can't I do what I want?  And on, and on, and on. . . . .

Sounds like a child to me!  Have you ever read the toddler's creed?  What's mine is mine.  What's yours is mine.  If I had it earlier, it's mine.  If I want it, it's mine.  If a few days ago I had it, it's mine!

Wow!  Kinda thought we'd all grow out of that!  But usually, that's not the case.  Usually we start out wanting to help someone, but it turns easily to what are they going to do for me.  Or, "Why is he/she grouchy with me, don't they realize all I've done for them?"  You know the routine!  So do I!

But unless we learn to be a servant, I don't think we will ever find that "true" happiness!"  Oh, yah, it's hard!  There's selfishness all around us!  But we can brake the cycle.  Smiling, a warm greeting, a hug. . . . all can change the world!  It's investing!

Now what does this have to do with losing weight?  Well, it's simple. 

By helping others and giving our life fully to the Lord, we forget about ourselves.  We start doing things for others and doing things that are right!  We don't worry about what we will get.  And as the Bible says, we will gain everything! 

Then, soon we do what's right for us!  We see the beauty in ourselves.  The beauty the God has always seen.  Now, there is a new reason to live.  Not for ourselves, not for the job, not for the paycheck, not for the food, not for the things we think we deserve.  No, we live to honor God.  And we find that anything that goes against the teachings of the Lord, doesn't appeal to us any more! 

Sure, we're gonna make mistakes!  We're human.  But we'll feel those mistakes.  They will hurt our spirit and soul.  And we will want to learn from that.  Learn and do better the next time.  And always knowing that God is there cheering us on!  So we carry on!

Yesterday, I wanted you to be yourself.  Not to hide your faults.  But to seek help!  And then to help others! 

Invest your time!  Don't waste it on worry, fear, hatred, selfishness.  Invest.  Pay it forward.  Jesus did!  Let's keep it going!

It's important to know that you are not your disease, your addiction, your habit.  You are a beautiful child of God.  And He loves you so very much.  He wants you to have that extremely wonderful life that is full of love and peace! 

It's important to know that you are not the size of your butt.  Or the job that you have.  Or the family history that you grow up in and out of.  You are more, much more.  You are not the color of your hair, the freckles on your face, the scar on your forehead.  You are more!  You are here for a reason! 

Invest your time!  Don't waste it on worry, fear, hatred, selfishness.  Invest.  Pay it forward.  Jesus did!  Let's keep it going!

Today, as you go about your daily business, breathe.  Breathe in the cool fall air, a new season.  A new day for you!  And as you walk down the street, around the office, in the store, be a blessing!  You are beautiful and God loves YOU!  Smile to those who you see.  Let God's love flow through you and cover them!  Be the light, that someone else had been for you, to help show the way!

Love you and pray for God's guidance to touch your life today!  My the Good Lord bless and keep you!


Blessings ~ Becca

How to love your self?!

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  How are we feeling today?  How was your weekend?

Mine was interesting!  I came face to face with responsibility.

You know, God is pretty smart!  He knows exactly what we need, even if it's painful!  But, the good news is that I'm really happy that the Good Lord stepped in when He did.  Before I would have figured He hated me.  That I really was a good for nothin, taking up space, loser.  Now, I actually feel relieved!  He brought an issue out into the open for me to take responsibility for and opened communication up between my husband and I.

See, my husband didn't know how extreme my eating disorder was.  I had taken it upon myself to take care of the problem without letting him in!  I bought a lot of healthy stuff that I thought would help me get over the hump and all it did was charge up our credit card and upset my dear husband.  Needless to say, he was very upset with my purchases and with me.

He still does not fully understand what an eating disorder is.  He feels that it is a habit that can be broken.  Not easily but still a habit that can be taken care of with will-power.  I wish it was that easy.  And I also wish that I had talked to him earlier.  But really, I'm not sure if it would have helped.  Really, I think this has all happened for a reason.  I had, had to read books and strengthen my faith in the Good Lord.  I had to go through these things in order to figure myself out.  I had to learn to take responsibility and find confidence in God's love for me before jumping into the lion's den(talking to the hubby!).

The only thing I would change is the fact that the only reason my disorder came up was because he saw that I had gone over the limit on our card.  I wish, and I did think about doing this, I had the nerve to just sit down with him and tell him about everything.  Man, I'll be honest, I was and still am embarassed by this.  It's hard to admit that your not in control of something, let alone food.  And I thought he would think less of me.  That he would question why he was with me.  One more thing, right!  But that faulty thinking got me a husband that doesn't trust me with money and thinks that I'm very irresponsible.

Yikes!

I have faith in God that everything will work out, though!  I'm thankful for all the teachings I have read in the Bible about life and the decisions I make!  I'm not crying in the corner, wondering if my husband is going to leave me.  As I would have before.  I'm not running for a bag of chips or doughnuts to ease my pain!   What did I do?  I woke up this morning.  I exercised.  The coffee was done, so I got me a cup and sat down to read my Bible!  Then I kissed my husband goodbye as he left for work.  Got the kids ready for school and even took the little guys to school by bike power!  These are my accomplishments.

I feel terrible about the credit card.  I feel worse about the fact that I did this behind my husbands back.  I pray that he will forgive me and trust me again.  I love him!

I know that I have to seek out help with this evil disorder by reading more, learning more, and relying on God.  I know that I'm important and so is my health.  As well as my families.  And that it's okay to make health and wellness a priority.  I just have to do it the right way!

Don't hide today, my friends!  You are special!  Be who you are!  Don't let fear make you do something that you will regret.  Don't let the fear of what others will think sabotage your efforts on being a better, healthier you!  God loves you!  He thinks you are top dog!  Love yourself and love all those around you!  Good things will happen!

Breath, pray, love!  Breath, pray, love!  Breath, pray, love!  Doing it is easier than saying it three times fast!  So do it!

Have a great Monday my friends!  My the Good Lord bless and keep you!

Blessings ~ Becca

Temple of Doom part 3

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

So how are we all feeling today?  I hope that everyone has been having success in their new life reconstruction!  I have been having good days and bad!  Mostly good due to the fact that I put my hope and faith in God and not into myself or others.  It really takes the pressure off!

Today, I am focusing on breathing, living in the moment, taking in all of God's beauty around me.  Through this rewiring of my brain and then redoing my thinking processes, I have still forgotten to stop and smell the roses!  Life can continue to pull us away from our peace so we need to stay grounded in the Word for support. 

Oh how time flies!  As I look back on the short lives of my children and how fast they have grown, it makes me sad to think about all the time I have wasted worrying about weight and food.  And it's different for everyone.  Your focus might be on pleasing others.  Or money in the bank.  Running every day like your neighbor or friend.  Or thinking that because someone else is doing this: hobbies, running, extra jobs, college, etc. that I need to be doing that also.  Being inspired is one thing.  But the timing has to be right for YOU!  God's plan for you is different then His plan for me.  I need to stay in the moment with Him!  He knows what I need and what I am capable of doing!  He wants me to be happy and successful, but not as a carbon copy of someone else!  We do need to strive to be better, to be the best we can be!  But keeping our life's work focused on showing our love for God and others, that is where the problem lies.  Life keeps pulling us in all sorts of different directions, away from our true purpose - learning, hoping, loving, trusting and having faith in God!  So I need to read my Bible!  Pray for God's guidance!  And learn to say "NO!"

So now about health and applying that knowledge of staying in the moment with God to our current situation!

My temple of doom perception is a change'n!  How about you?  I see a different and beautiful shell that is made strong enough to weather any of life's seasons!  I see myself as a shell that is uniquely made just as a shell from the sea!  My shell is different than yours.  It protects my heart, soul and spirit.  I must remember that caring for my shell is showing love for God.  Caring for my shell will heal my insecurities and help me to care for others.  We can't love others or care for them if we don't first do this for ourselves!  We can't share God's love with others, if we don't except God's love, unconditional love for us!

So today, knowing that I am important, not just to my family and friends.  Not just for cleaning my house or exercising.  But to God and my purpose in the world, I am going to love myself and take care of this temple!  I want others to see that I'm serious about having the Good Lord's love flow through me!  I'm going to show love for myself by my actions not just my words.  I'm going to focus on the moments of my day.  Take time to breath, taking time to laugh, taking time to smile at a grumpy stranger, I'm going to do better!  And then tomorrow I'm going to wake up and do better than I did today! 

Finding purpose is a good thing!  Finding that our purpose is living for God makes things so much easier to accomplish!  Takes the fear out of needing acceptance from others.  Takes the worry out of "what to do?"  I pray that you all have peace today, and everyday for that matter.  But focusing on today, I hope you have peace.  I hope you look in the mirror and tell yourself that "I am good!" 

Keep up the good fight, my friends!  For yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift!  Accept your present!! 

Love to you all and blessings ~ Becca

Temple of Doom part 2

Good morning all my brothers and sisters in Christ!  It is a beautiful fallish yet wintery day!  A few snowflakes, a hot cup of coffee, a good book(Bible), life is good!

Well, yesterday was awful!!!  Awful!  Awful!  I'm usually very optimistic but yesterday was, WOW!  But today is looking good!  And I can relay to you that all of this praying, reading, and learning has really helped my attitude when the bad stuff happens.  What a difference a difference can make!

So how are you!  Can you believe that we're on the edge of the holiday season!  Man, I'm so excited!  I can't wait to smell cookies baking and see Christmas lights out and on!  It wasn't always a merry occasion, though.

I wanted so much to love the holidays.  To experience all the joys and fun.  But unfortunately, after trying so hard to not eat cookies and holiday desserts, I would.  And alot of them.  Then feel terrible inside and out.  And I would try so hard to stay in the moment if we were invited to Christmas parties and at school parties.  I wanted it to be about friends and family.  But just like clock work, I would find myself at the dessert table eating.  Eating and talking.  Eating and laughing.  But all the time eating.  It was a safe place, if you can believe that.  And then, feel awful inside and out again.  And again, and again. . . .

The things that are supposed to make gatherings fun can be our(my) worst enemy!  So back to the temple of doom thingy. 

There was a time when I hated myself.  Everything about myself.  From a youngster.  I saw how the teachers and other kids acted toward the cute popular kids.  I even noticed how parents, my parents acted toward those cute kids!  And remember that kid that molested me.  He was always so nice to the cool and cute girls.  I hated that my hair wasn't long and that my mom didn't try new things with my hair.  I hated her hair also.  She was so not in style.  I hated how I dressed and the clothes my mom would buy.  They were not what was popular.  Then as I got older I hated my body.  I hated my period.  I hated getting old.  And, let me tell ya, God does answer prayers and you do need to think about what your praying. 

I was the first girl to get hippy.  You know, my figure was a changen!  I, being extremely insecure due to previous situations, hated it!  I was one of the first girls to need a bra and I remember praying at night that God would not let, you know, them grow any more!!!  Yes, Virginia, He answers prayers.  Thanks God!  As I entered high school and then college I was totally stuck on what I saw in magazines and on TV.  I mean stuck!  I was and could not make myself that way no matter how hard I tried.  I hated it. 

Then I had babies and looked at the pregnant women in pictures and on shows and they were so beautiful and cute.  I was fat.  I loved having a baby inside me.  But I hated that my ankles were not small, thin, and cute in my flats!  I felt like a beached whale surrounded by beautiful angelic women who gracefully floated by with their cute little tummies and their oh so cute clothes.  Awe!  Oh, I hated myself.  Why would anyone love me?  I had nothing with "self" in it!  Don't get me wrong I loved being pregnant, just not my body!  I had a temple of doom.

I wish I knew then what I know now!  I am beautiful and so are you!  My body is not perfect.  But it is perfectly made by God.  I'm able to care for my children and my husband.  I'm able to help and love others.  I am even able to be loved.

So many of our life expectations revolve around these insignificant ideals.  So how do I break through this?

I stopped watching TV for the most part.  I read a lot.  I read the Bible, Joyce Meyers, health books, that kind of stuff.  I have started noticing how my body feels rather then what it looks like.  Instead of worrying about what I'm going to wear, oh my, I dream of hobbies that I could probably dabble in.  I make myself think about fun stuff.  Good stuff.  And I pray.  I have to rewire my brain.  It is possible.  So this body, not so much the temple of doom any more.  It's a work in progress.  It will require up keep for the rest of my life, inside and out.  My heart, soul and spirit will require constant attention.  I am in the process of turning all of my life over to God.  I can't think of a better way of living my life.

So peace to all of you!  Have a great day!  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Blessings ~ Becca

The Temple of Doom?

Good morning to all my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

This week I am focusing on my body as a temple!  1 Corinthians 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received from God?  You are not your own.

Wow!  My body is not mine!  I'm just using it!  It was also bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ!  My body is not mine! 

That puts things into perspective for me.  How would I treat something that I had borrowed from a friend?  Well, I would do my best to take care of it!  Why?  Because I want my friend to know through how I treat their stuff how I feel about them.  That I care about them.  That their friendship is important to me.  That I respect them.  That I would be scared if they were to get upset with me for not taking care of something that was theirs. . . .. . . . . Hmmmmmm.  And then lose them as a friend.

Why is it so easy for us to hurt God!  Is it because we can't see the disappointment on His face?  Is it because we don't have to live with Him physically?  Is it because we have been taught that He loves us and will forgive us no matter what?  I don't want to live like that any more.  God is more important to me than any thing here on earth.  So I need to show Him that in everything I do!  Including how I take care of my body! 

My body is the temple for my spirit and soul; it is the house they dwell in while on this earth.  The best way that I can take care of my spirit and soul is to take care of this body.  This body is what everyone sees.  This body gets me from point A to point B.  This body is what God's love can come through in order to touch others.  I need to be my best and so do you! 

It's more than a weight issue or a style issue.  It's about fighting the good fight.  Being able to be all that God wants us to be.  If we're run down, tired, unable to keep commitments then we have a problem.  We are not being all that we can be.  Not only are we not living up to our full potiential but we are letting others down.  I have been given gifts from the Heavenly Father that He wants me to use to spread His love and make the world a better place.  If I can't use those gifts because I get to winded walking, I'm to tired and need a nap due to all the junk food my body has been consuming, or because my self-esteem is shot, then every one loses out.

Eat right!  Drink your milk!  Eat that fruit and those veggies!  NO MORE SUGAR!  At least for a couple of days!  And stay on track!  Eat chocolate twice a week!  Love your neighbor as the Lord loves you!  Live your life like tomorrow is your last day!  Show God that you care!  Be responsible!  Move your butt!  Enjoy the beauty all around!  And look at the beauty in your mirror!  Show God that you care!

We can do this!  It's about living!  Just do it!

Peace to all of you!  May the good Lord bless and keep you!  And have a great day, beautiful!

Blessings ~ Becca

Monday, Monday!

Good Afternoon, guys and gals!  I'm a little late today - but better late then never!

OOOOHHHHH, how I wish it could be simple!  This weekend was hard!  My husband wanted to go out, yippy, but wanted yummy cheese burgers and fries!  OOOOKKKAAAYYYY, so I wanted cheese burgers and fries!  Dang it!  Why can't I stop myself?  Because.. . . . . .I want a real life.  Making real choices.  Living it!  So I had a cheese burger and fries!  My arteries didn't clog up and cause me to have a heart attack, but the stress of worrying about it could have!  I use to worry like that all the time.  "Well, we're going out!  What am I going to eat?"  "Everyone else gets to eat, but I can't!"  Blah, Blah, Blah!  Enough, stop the madness!  Eat the damn cookie and buy the shoes, that's what I would have put on the cover if I were Joyce Meyers!

It's amazing how life can get so confusing, so out of wack!  The simple pleasures of this life are there to make the days sweeter, celebrations merrier, not to break our spirit.  God wants us to have peace, joy, and love!  He wants us to live full and happy lives.   So all in moderation, that is the key!  When I realize that food isn't it, that my size isn't it, that the way the world views me isn't it, then I will have peace!  Winning this battle is my first priority and I can do it if I rely on God!

I guess the first and most important step for me as well as all of you who are using and abusing substances is to realize how loved we are by our Father.  To know what we mean to Him.  We were given these bodies to full fill God's plan here on earth.  Pretty simple.  He gave us everything we need to make it.  We have a certain look about us that will or has attracted us to our spouses so that we can produce families and make homes.  We were given special, one of a kind gifts that we could use to help others and glorify God.  He gave us instruction on how to live, to defeat the enemy.  And He gave us love, mercy, kindness, grace, and forgiveness, knowing that we would all fall short.  That's pretty outstanding!  So where's the problem? 

The problem is we care to much about the outside world, or at least I have!  My mom used to say terrible things about herself.  She would never take a compliment.  She would always say how ugly she was, how stupid she was, how useless she was.  Others would tell me that I looked so much like my mom - yikes, not good!  I mean, if she was all these things then that meant I was also!  Thank goodness I know differently now!  Already feeling like I was different due to my sexual abuse, these sort of things stuck to me like glue!  I then of course was insecure, and I acted like it!  I would think to myself "why are these people treating me so differently?"  It was because I was acting so differently!  That was yesterday.  Today I have God with me and I can choose to act compassionately, friendly, and lovingly - even when others don't!  Why?  Because I have a choice!!!!!

The choice that I have chosen is to live in God's light!  I want to be healthy, energized, ready to take care of my family and share with my friends.  And I want my children to grow up being secure in God's love for them!  Because they are special, unique, beautiful, and so precious to God.  You are too! 

That cheeseburger was good!  And the laughs and fun that I had with my husband was even better!  So long, old me. I'm living my life not loathing it!  My body is a temple and I'm taking care of it!  I'm going to keep on working on this master piece for as long as I live!

Well, keep up the good fight, my friends!  We will get there!

Blessings ~ Becca

Day 10 - Oh the insanity!

Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!  IT'S FRIDAY!

How are you all feeling?  Are you stressed or have you been able to find rest in the love that Jesus has for you? I hope you have found peace with yourself and with those surrounding you!  These past few days have been amazing!  I've actually had to follow through with the advice I've been posting!  And man what a difference a difference can make!  There have been moments of insanity, but through talking with you all and knowing that I'm not alone has helped.  I hope you have been reassured also!  God loves you!

Today for my devotion I read the story about Jesus healing the demon-possessed man.  It represents to me my internal bondage.  I'll share a little of that chapter with you.  But I encourage you to read it on your own.  It's from the book of Mark 5:1-13.  Here we go:  Jesus helped a man who was acting insanely.  "This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain(my eating disorder and fighting it on my own).  Whenever he was put into chains and shackles - as he often was- he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles.  No one was strong enough to subdue him(nothing I could come up with on my own could help.  I continued to fall back into the trap of binging and purging, and then hating myself).  Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones(my eating disorder had me isolating myself from everyone.  I went through rages thinking that this life was unfair, people didn't treat me like I wanted to be treated.  I then would feel bad about my fits and would feel ashamed, then eat. . . .. )."  Jesus went into the graveyard and assessed the situation.  He dealt with the forces of darkness that were afflicting the man and restored him to sanity.  He then sent him home to his friends to tell them what God had done for him.  (Here I am!)

We may have gone so far into our addictive behaviors that we have broken all restraints.  We struggle to be free from the control of society and even loved ones, only to discover that our bondage doesn't come from the outside world.  All hope seems lost, but where there is still life, there is still hope.  God can touch our insanity and restore us to sanity.

Only God has the power to change us.  He is so amazing!  Unfortunately, I have to do the work!  I have to fight to keep God first in my life.  And it can be damn hard!  My insecurities pop out of no where, and if I'm not fast enough to squash them, they can instantly take over.  So as part of my recovery I am making new habits of singing songs that praise God over and over, even if I don't know the whole song.  I am making the habit to read my bible, read my God messages, anything that has to do with God's love first thing in the morning and then several times through out the day.  Something as small as saying "God is so amazing" over and over again can really change my attitude when things get rough.  I have to do the work!

And also, it's scary for me to admit this, but understanding that when I go ahead and do the things I know God doesn't want me to do, I'm sinning!  Yikes, it was better when I was ignorant, then I felt like I was getting away with it!  Just kidding!  I wouldn't go back to those days for anything.  But God knows that it will be hard and so he has promised to help us and take care of us.  We must keep fighting the good fight!  It will get better, in fact, it will be great! 

I encourage you to read your bible.  I encourage you to put God first.  I'm telling you, you wont regret it! 

Noth'in but love for you all!  Have a great Friday!  And may the Good Lord bless and keep you!

Blessings ~ Becca

Day 9 Is it sinking in?

Good morning to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Man, I feel good this morning!  Today is going to be a great day!  Hope yours is also!

Well, that's the question.  Is it sinking in?  Yes!  I'm on my way to making oh so healthy and loving habits and rewiring my brain!  I'm thinking about what I eat and serve.  I'm thinking about what I say and feel.  And I KNOW that without God I am nothing!!!!!

What a relief!  To finally understand my place!  I'm here on this planet to love, be loving, to share His love with others, to live in His love for me!  I can be mindful, but don't have to figure everything out. I can rest spiritually in Him and know that everything will be great!  God has given me a new perspective.  I now can tell the difference between wants and needs. 

I, like many of you, am on a very tight budget.  And I haven't done that well with sticking with it here lately.  But now that I am in a new state of mind, I realize that what I have been finding importance in, is really not that important!  I see what I have!  My needs and my families needs are met!  I really don't need anything!  And that may seem like I'm just going through this new Christian high, but I'm serious, I have everything!  When you get to that point, life is peaceful.  I feel like I can pursue all the things God has placed on my heart and not worry about if I'll get paid! 

I realize now that parties are more then food traps!  They are wonderful moments of laughs, sharing, stories, etc.  Holidays are more than "Oh the food is so good, I have to have it!"  "So and so is going to be way prettier and thinner than me and will talk about me behind my back!"  It's so much more.  Boy, I was really insecure!  Those were my actual thought for a long time!  Also, how selfish!  To only think about "me!"  I sure did miss a lot.

With God, I am whole!  With God, there is no need to have one up on anyone.  With God, there is no reason to hide, to feel inferior, to worry about what others think!  With God, we are safe, satisfied, alive, living! 

Yes Virginia!  There is a better life out there and it starts and ends with God! 

I now realize that losing weight and being healthy is more than the calories we eat, the exercises we do, the mistakes we make.  It's about being really satisfied!  Which can come from only one place ~ THANK YOU JESUS!

So I'm following the guidelines that I posted a few days ago.  I'm making it simple.  I'm going to be responsible.  And you can too!

God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that we my have everlasting life!  Man, I need to read that again!!  He loves me, all my faults and thoughts and failures!  He's looking at my future not my behind, I mean past!!  He can see what I can't see, so I will trust Him and have faith!

Today is going to be a great day!  Love yourself and let God's love fill you and flow through you to others!

Blessings to you my friends!
Becca

Day 8

Good morning to my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Today is the day that the Good Lord has made!  Let us rejoice!

At this point in my life, realizing that I have so much to learn, I have signed up for many daily messages via email and have become a member to many very insightful web sites.  Joyce Meyers and Rick Warren are just a couple that have really good messages that can be sent to you or found on their sites, daily.  I love getting up, putting the coffee on, exercising while excitingly waiting for the coffee to get done so I can check my email for wonderful messages and then log on to facebook for the "God's Message."  Then, after I send my kids off to school, I fill my cup with coffee and add sugar and cream, and read the sweetness from the Good Book! 

What am I getting at!  Well, so far I have come to the conclusion, God's hand touching my life, that I need to slow down, that those moments to notice His beauty and wonders!  I have realized that I need those quiet times alone with God to strengthen my inner self, to be seated in Christ.  And then, I can have a victorious day!  Not perfect, doing everything right, thou I try.  But mindful of what God is doing, has done, and has promised to do in my life.  That helps me to make better decisions and helps me to have a humble and merciful attitude.

I have also concluded that I am nothing with out God.  I need the Word of God showered over me everyday, all day!  Realizing that God is with me, watching over me, listening to the words I say and my inner most thoughts is scary.  He KNOWS!  I'm a baby Christian, still training my brain, my heart, my attitude, etc.  I need the Word to help make those new habits and connections in my brain.  Like I have said before, praying and making the right decisions will re-wire your brain!  But you have to do it!  You have to give up!  Give up control over your life and let God do the navigating! 

All aspects of life are coming together!  The way I react to problems and conflicts.  My attitude toward others and daily obligations.  How I set my feelings aside, and focus on what God and Jesus would want me to do.  It's all coming together!  Not perfect, although it feels perfect!  I guess that's what God will do for you! 

Take time to read about God, to listen to what He has to tell you, and notice all that He has done for you already!  Take time to notice how beautiful you are.  Really, in the whole scheme of things, all our differences, all of our unique gifts, notice how beautiful you are.  Realize that the Lord has a place for you and I.  The world needs us to step into those places and do our jobs. 

Today, put aside your feelings of "my butt's to big, I have nothing to wear, what will I eat, when will I exercise. . . . . "  Come on, isn't your life more important than your external?  Mine is!  Yes, be healthy!  And do it because God wants you to be healthy!  Not for the size of your pants or how many miles you can run.  Yes, that is a great motivator.  But because you are in it for the long run, the race of your life.

Have a great day!  Enjoy it!  And do the very best that you can!

Blessings ~ Becca