Well, as some of your know, I love Cadbury Creme Eggs. I only buy them at Easter time, because, well, that is the only time the stores carry them. Lately, they are carrying them earlier and earlier in the season. Some of you know my recent, humbling experience with the eggs. About 2 months ago I bought 6 of the little sweet things and put them in my freezer. First of all, why are they carrying Easter eggs in January???? Anyway, by the 3rd day, all of them were gone except for one or two. I can't remember the number--that doesn't really matter, does it? I had asked a dear SP friend of mine if I should throw the last one away or keep it to practice self-control. She asked me, "Does an alcoholic keep wine in the house to practice self-control or "just in case"?" I thought to myself, hummm, in MY case, I would keep it around "just in case". YUCK!!!! What a revelation. I got so disgusted with myself for eating so many in such a short period of time, AND knowing that I really wanted to keep that last one around "just in case", that I threw the remainder in the garbage with a fury. I said, "THERE! You go to the trash". I thought I had seen the last of that CCE. BUT, by the end of the night, (remember I am humbling myself here), I couldn't stand it and dug out the grocery bag which the last CCE was tied up in, from the trash and ATE IT. Yes, I did that. I really did that. I can't believe I am telling you my dirty laundry. I pulled the thing out of the trash and ate it. Confession is good for the soul. I learned a LOT about myself that night. I learned that I am definitely not perfect. I learned that all or nothing is not always a good thing. I learned that anything that controls ME is not in my best interest. Soon after this, in February, I had a word from God to me. It was simple but He said, "LOVE IS THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU". I am not sure why this was so profound to me but it was. Since January, I have passed by the Cadbury Creme Eggs many, many times at the grocery store and said "NO, thank you". It has been relatively easy to do so. I know this is the grace of God. Today, March 21, 2011, I was in HEB food store shopping. I passed down the aisle with the Easter candy, BOLDLY on display. There in flashing NEON lights was the CADBURY CREME EGGS! I glanced in their direction and acknowledged their presence. Then, something rose up within me that very resolutely said, "If God wants me to have a Cadbury Creme Egg, HE will bring me a Cadbury Creme Egg", and I walked past those babies without a second thought. Tonight, just before my group of ladies arrived at my house for Discipleship class, a friend of mine rang the doorbell. It was her and her daughter Samantha with a gift. Her daughter said they had just been shopping at the drugstore and spotted some miniature Cadbury Creme Eggs in a carton. Samantha told her mom, "Hey mom! Ms. Leeanna loves Cadbury Creme Eggs, let's get her some". So they did. And then, Samantha said, "Hey mom, Ms. Leeanna lives just a couple of blocks away, let's go give them to her now!" So, they did. Samantha did not know the story I have just shared with you. She had no idea that I had just two hours before said "If God wants me to have a CCE He will bring me a CCE." I have walked 30 years with God, as of this year. I am still in awe of His many ways of showing me His loveingkindnesses. I am shocked and awed at the way He provided me with the desire of my heart tonight. I am going to bed with a thankful heart and a new appreciation for the "Hand that feeds me". It was worth waiting for, my friends!
It is good to reflect! (THIS POST WAS DATED JANUARY 2, 2011)
Since January 2008, I am down 6 pant sizes (from a 14 to a 2/4 depending on brand),
and down about 30 lbs.
I am 5'1" so every pound counts a lot.
I have done this naturally without pills or surgery.
On September 7th, my DH and I started the Michael Thurman 6 Week Body Makeover Plan.
He has arrived at his goal weight, which is what he weighed when he was 20 years old!
He looks amazing.
I lost about 17 lbs using this plan. I absolutely love the Michael Thurman way of eating and never once felt deprived.
In the beginning, as with any new eating plan, setting the mind was the hardest part.
I have a few more pounds to go until I start maintenance,
and tomorrow is my re-start day on healthy eating.
I enjoyed the holidays this year like never before and allowed myself to eat what was presented without saying,
"No thanks, I am on a diet"
and then feeling deprived.
This was my 2010 goal and it was a great feeling to see it come to pass.
I have to say, to God be the glory.
My goal for 2011, weight-wise, is to get to goal weight and maintain it.
I also want to learn what it would mean to love myself unconditionally,
and to believe God for greater things according to His promises this year.
In all, I feel it was a successful year for achieving my goals
and I have to thank God for without Him, it would not have been possible.
The battle (over temptation, ETC.) belongs to the Lord.
As we acknowledge His presence dwells within us, we are one step closer to true victory.
Looking to Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, we can believe God who instructs our hearts:
“Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s”.
His promises are yes and amen.
God always hears us when we pray according to His will.
His will is for us to bring Him glory and to believe and take Him at His word--
Jesus is His Word made flesh.
We have not because we ask not.
We have not because we ask with selfish motives.
If our motive is to glorify God in our bodies, we can have the desire of our hearts.
Worship is the key to minute by minute victory.
God inhabits the praises of His people.
His perfect love casts out ALL fear.
Faith is the opposite of fear.
Fear has no room to operate when our heart and mind is set on Him.
The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him
[who revere and worship Him with awe]
and each of them He delivers. ~ Psalm 34:7
Let's use the next 24 hours--minute by minute, to worship Him
and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus-the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Let us not look at the problem, nor even meditate on any negative thing;
but let us only look to and BELIEVE the One who can give us the victory.
It is my prayer tonight that each and every person who reads this blog and desires to experience victory,
WILL have it in Jesus' name.
To God be the glory, great things He has already done--in us, and for us!
Aren't you glad each day is a new day and the old has passed away?
New things are in store for us THIS YEAR.
Nothing is impossible to those who believe.
I am working on memorizing this verse and applying it to my life daily.
I hope you will consider doing the same!
And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord sent ambushments against (their enemies). 2Chronicles 20:22
My enemy is the flesh that is constantly trying to get me to conform to the world, and the devil, with all his empty promises and constant temptations...
Who are your enemies, my friends?
Who or what do you need the Lord to defeat for you?
God is not a man that He would lie to us.
Every man is a liar, but God is not.
God will perform His Word towards us.
He is faithful to keep His Word.
He said if we do our part (sing and praise), He will do His part,
send ambushments against our enemies!
Let's try Him at His Word over the next 24 hours and see what happens...what do we have to lose?
I praise you God, first of all, because YOU are always with us--you NEVER leave us or forsake us.
You are a good GOD; You are Love; You are kind!
I am full of praise just knowing that there is nothing that will happen to me or the ones I love today,
or any other day,
that does not first have to pass your inspection
and your permission.
You use everything,
both bad and good,
to draw us closer to you.
I praise you that you gave us the book of Job as a confirmation
that bad things only happen to us
to draw us into a right eternal relationship with YOU;
because when this life is over and done,
relationship with You is all that will really count.
You have taught me, through Job, to see trials differently.
I love how, at the end of his great trial,
Job said "I admit I once lived by rumors of You; now I have it all firsthand--from my own eyes and ears!"
In otherwords, Job's trials took him from head knowledge about you, God,
to heart knowledge
leading to personal relationship.
LORD GOD! I praise you for all the good AND bad things that have come into my life,
because every last one of them have shown me something new about You
and strengthened our love-relationship!
I love you Father! I will praise and worship You forever! Amen.
Hab 2:1 I will climb my watchtower and wait to see what the LORD will tell me to say and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Hab 2:2 The LORD gave me this answer: "Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance.
Hab 2:3 Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.
What God seems to be saying to my heart through this passage,
is to listen to what He has to say and then write it down...
Write down my vision.
Make my plans (from Him) plain on paper.
Believe what He is showing me WILL COME TO PASS.
It may seem like it will never happen, but it certainly will take place.
So, I am going to write down my goals
and make a list of my God-given hopes and dreams.
Will you do it too?
Jesus is Immanuel, Word of God, made flesh,
and who Tabernacled among us.
We beheld His Glory; like Father, Like Son.
God dwelling with us in the Divine tabernacle of His Body; revealed the fullness of God.
He explained the Father. Jesus, in us, is God, The Cloud, The Glory, The Shekinah Glory, dwelling within us!
We are His Temple; His Cloud, His fire, is in us!
Oh God, help us to comprehend this awesomeness! Help us to behold and sense This Power, and to live as though YOU dwell and Tabernacle within us!
Oh LORD, allow us to behold your Manifest Presence and visibly see you, even as Israel saw you in Exodus, on the Mountain of God, and in the Temple.
LORD let us visibly see you and feel your power within. May we glorify you in these temples of flesh and KNOW what a treasure we contain in these "arks of flesh", containers of the Living God!
What a mystery...
what a privilege...
what a responsibility!
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!