01.02.10

Charm is deceitful,
beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord,
she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

01.01.10 "Restoring the Years of Loss"

(from Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick)

"I hope that these thoughts don't discourage you
or bring you any sense of condemnation.
Perhaps you've never thought about your body in this way before,
and now it seems as though it's almost too late.
Perhaps you are already suffering the effects of neglecting or abusing your body (or life).
Don't give up.
It's never too late to begin serving God.
He can restore and help you.
Listen to these words from the prophet Joel (from the Lord):

"I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the creeping locust,
the stripping locust,
and the gnawing locust,
My great army
which I sent among you."
Joel 2:25

God's people had sinned and they were reaping the consequences of their behavior.
Just think-- God could have said,
"Well, tough luck, guys. I told you not to sin and you went ahead,
so now you'll just have to reap the consequences of your actions."
But that's not what He does.
No, He calls them to repentance,
and THEN He tells them that He will make up for all the losses they have suffered".
(Italics mine)


"These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
John 20:31

New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all!!!! I'm starting mine a day early. I've been thinking about my reading for the coming year. We'll mostly spiritually. I really want to keep myself in the Word. I think I'll start blogging about my scripture reading and supplimental reading that encourage me spiritually.

For today, I'll start with my Operation Christmas Child week 1 memory verse, which I've read many times in the last couple of weeks.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Isn't it AMAZING how he came?

Oh the places....

Dr. Seuss, I believe said it best, "Oh the Places You Can Go". I came across a great passage in The Russians series by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella. Book 1, The Crown and the Crucible, tells the story of a poor peasant girl who is leaving her small village to go to St. Petersburg, Russia. I love her description of how the few books she has had the opportunity to read (which she read over and over and over) have given her a glimpse into a world she otherwise would have had no idea about.

Anna knew more of the outside world than did most of the sixty inhabitants of Katyk. Even though such knowledge came from the pages of romantic books, she knew there were splendors as well as evils to be encountered. Even if from fairy tales, she knew something of the scope of human nature. She realized there were good people and evil. She knew there were choices to be made that would determine her future. She had an idea that a girl's heart, mind, and spirit might be stretched to the very limits.

...In her own small way, Anna felt like a knight in one of the ancient stories, leaving home for distant lands to seek out a dragon in some unknown corner of the empire, thus to prove her mettle and fulfill her destiny.

List of books for boys by a boy!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/09/best-books-for-boys-booklist-written-by.html

Yesterday's post by Ann Voskamp @ aholyexperience.com!

Included is a list of 22 books that her son felt most impacted him as a man. Some I have already wanted to read, some are new to me! Yum! I have 3 boys too!!!

Scattered

I have been scattered. Training for a thiath...starting school...behind on house work....then last night I read this...http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/Stop-cleaning-the-kitchen.html

Then this morning it goes much deeper. (Thanks Bonnie for telling us about this!!)

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/08/prayer-why-we-struggle-and-how-not-to.html

Yes, I started this training putting reading my Bible first...but slowly I have put that off to get my training "in on time". Thanks Ann Voskamp for the reminder of what is truely important!

Lord, I love you!
You are what makes me strong.
I am nothing without you.
No stoke, no ride, no walk/run has meaning apart from you.
I cannot love my husband or children without you.
I cannot even keep the kitchen clean without you.
You are everything.
And all I need...
All I want!
Then everything else will fall into place.
Thanks for taking my eyes off of myself,
And putting them back where they belong,
Adoring You!

Love to Eat Hate to Eat

I have been reading lots, but have had no time for posting. I have been reading Love to Eat Hate to Eat: Breaking th Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I have been blown away with the depth to which she explains my struggle and the incredible biblical advice she gives to help remedy it.

I have learned that my struggle comes down to one of two things usually. They are: Love of Independence ( I want what I want) and Love of Pleasure.

I am starting over today in chapter one in order to read through it again with my dad. We have also started the 6 week total body makeover by Michael Thurmond, which my dad had much success with previously. I will try to blog after a few chapters of Love to Eat Hate to Eat. Not sure how much time I will have.

I am also training for the Ramlin' Rose Triathlon. I have started a new blog for that, http://ramblinrosebound.blogspot.com/ but I cannot figure out how to link them together...anyone have technical advice let me know!!!