Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
I am on a weight loss journey, as many know. Each time that I do this, I know that the weight did not magically appear overnight, so I should not expect it to disappear overnight. And honestly, if my weight would disappear that quickly, I would actually go to the doctor. So, my journey has been slow going, but steady. At last weigh-in, I was under 190. Victory. My ultimate goal is between 155-160. I looked really good at that weight, and I felt amazing. I have an understanding in my head and my heart that this transformation back into a healthy weight is a process that will take time and discipline. I am well aware of the requirements of how to get the success that I desire. Sometimes I am not so diligent in my efforts for a host of excuses and reasons, but it does not change the fact that I know what I need to do. I just chose in that moment to do the wrong thing.
In a weight loss journey, there are those who will ‘allow’ a cheat day or two. They count it as a necessity, and if I happen to speak of my journey and that was not very good yesterday or today, I am covered with ‘everyone needs a cheat day’ and ‘you look great, just start again tomorrow’. Both are inspiring and encouraging sentiments meant to be helpful.
I have a question: why is it … then … do we find it necessary to hold people to a different standard if they are trying to stop something different … such as smoking, drinking, drugs, video games (yes, it is an addiction), or even those trying to lose weight but are still very much obese? Why do we decide in that moment that ‘tough’ love is the only way to get through to them? Who decided that after so much time compassion was no longer relevant and a crutch? Or enabling? Why do we think that if ‘we’ get involved and show our love, the problem will instantly go away? Okay, it was several questions. You know I cannot count.
Back in the 80s, I remember that the microwave oven was the hippest thing you could own. You could warm things up easier and faster. You could cook your meal in minutes instead of hours. Your house would not heat up as quickly in the summer. They even came up with a microwave milkshake. I liked them … but I was a kid and it was ice cream. Haha. Instant food. No wait. No prep. No time-consuming preparation. Take it out of the freezer, pop it in, heat it up, and enjoy the tasteless rubber. Haha. And we all loved it. I would bet that everyone on this page has a microwave now. It does have its purpose, and it is convenient, but it does not cook a meal properly and healthily. Good old-fashioned hands-on work prepares the best meals. I had to get old to realize that. And I had to start reading the packages to see just how much ‘not’ food items were in those microwave meals. And where the microwave has a solid use, it is not a cure-all. Why do we expect a microwave solution to our everyday dilemmas?
I know that my weight loss journey is going to take time if it is going to stick. The last time I lost weight slowly, it took over a year to put it all back on … maybe even closer to two. So, doing it the right way is the best way. Just as preparing our food on a stove or slow cooker is better than a microwave. Taking slow steps and claiming the small victories in breaking those chains of addiction are what we need to see when we talk to those who are struggling. Just because we are in the picture for support now does not mean that we are the only thing that they need to walk away. The enemy has his hooks in deep. Physically and mentally. I am talking super deep. Once he gets in that deep, compassion with accountability wrapped in UNCONDITIONAL love is what guides them back to us.
Do you have someone who is struggling with an addiction? Are they not responding to you and your support the way that you think that they should? I urge you to go to Him in prayer and ask the Father to guide you. Do you have someone who struggles with worry and depression? They see your peace but cannot claim it for themselves? Go to the Father in prayer and pray the 91st Psalm over them and again ask for guidance to help them through their slow cooker process. Do you know someone who cannot see spiritual light no matter how bright it is? Go to the Father and ask Him to show you how to take off their blinders.
Remember, the most important thing … We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. That does not mean that I speak it today and it happens in the next microwave minutes. It means that my faith, my unconditional love, my perseverance to believe in the impossible will come to pass, and no matter how much time it takes, I will always believe. The other item to remember is that sometimes, and this is hard to swallow, but sometimes the victory over the addiction is them being called home to escape the devil’s hooks. Where that hurts here in the physical, they won the ultimate victory. We must remember that we do not know God’s plan, but he sees the bigger picture. Stand firm. Do not waver. He is in control. The victory is His. We must hang on to the faith as Noah did when he built the ark … silence the outside voices and stay focused on Him.
Be blessed today.
**Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14
I am on a weight loss journey, as many know. Each time that I do this, I know that the weight did not magically appear overnight, so I should not expect it to disappear overnight. And honestly, if my weight would disappear that quickly, I would actually go to the doctor. So, my journey has been slow going, but steady. At last weigh-in, I was under 190. Victory. My ultimate goal is between 155-160. I looked really good at that weight, and I felt amazing. I have an understanding in my head and my heart that this transformation back into a healthy weight is a process that will take time and discipline. I am well aware of the requirements of how to get the success that I desire. Sometimes I am not so diligent in my efforts for a host of excuses and reasons, but it does not change the fact that I know what I need to do. I just chose in that moment to do the wrong thing.
In a weight loss journey, there are those who will ‘allow’ a cheat day or two. They count it as a necessity, and if I happen to speak of my journey and that was not very good yesterday or today, I am covered with ‘everyone needs a cheat day’ and ‘you look great, just start again tomorrow’. Both are inspiring and encouraging sentiments meant to be helpful.
I have a question: why is it … then … do we find it necessary to hold people to a different standard if they are trying to stop something different … such as smoking, drinking, drugs, video games (yes, it is an addiction), or even those trying to lose weight but are still very much obese? Why do we decide in that moment that ‘tough’ love is the only way to get through to them? Who decided that after so much time compassion was no longer relevant and a crutch? Or enabling? Why do we think that if ‘we’ get involved and show our love, the problem will instantly go away? Okay, it was several questions. You know I cannot count.
Back in the 80s, I remember that the microwave oven was the hippest thing you could own. You could warm things up easier and faster. You could cook your meal in minutes instead of hours. Your house would not heat up as quickly in the summer. They even came up with a microwave milkshake. I liked them … but I was a kid and it was ice cream. Haha. Instant food. No wait. No prep. No time-consuming preparation. Take it out of the freezer, pop it in, heat it up, and enjoy the tasteless rubber. Haha. And we all loved it. I would bet that everyone on this page has a microwave now. It does have its purpose, and it is convenient, but it does not cook a meal properly and healthily. Good old-fashioned hands-on work prepares the best meals. I had to get old to realize that. And I had to start reading the packages to see just how much ‘not’ food items were in those microwave meals. And where the microwave has a solid use, it is not a cure-all. Why do we expect a microwave solution to our everyday dilemmas?
I know that my weight loss journey is going to take time if it is going to stick. The last time I lost weight slowly, it took over a year to put it all back on … maybe even closer to two. So, doing it the right way is the best way. Just as preparing our food on a stove or slow cooker is better than a microwave. Taking slow steps and claiming the small victories in breaking those chains of addiction are what we need to see when we talk to those who are struggling. Just because we are in the picture for support now does not mean that we are the only thing that they need to walk away. The enemy has his hooks in deep. Physically and mentally. I am talking super deep. Once he gets in that deep, compassion with accountability wrapped in UNCONDITIONAL love is what guides them back to us.
Do you have someone who is struggling with an addiction? Are they not responding to you and your support the way that you think that they should? I urge you to go to Him in prayer and ask the Father to guide you. Do you have someone who struggles with worry and depression? They see your peace but cannot claim it for themselves? Go to the Father in prayer and pray the 91st Psalm over them and again ask for guidance to help them through their slow cooker process. Do you know someone who cannot see spiritual light no matter how bright it is? Go to the Father and ask Him to show you how to take off their blinders.
Remember, the most important thing … We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. That does not mean that I speak it today and it happens in the next microwave minutes. It means that my faith, my unconditional love, my perseverance to believe in the impossible will come to pass, and no matter how much time it takes, I will always believe. The other item to remember is that sometimes, and this is hard to swallow, but sometimes the victory over the addiction is them being called home to escape the devil’s hooks. Where that hurts here in the physical, they won the ultimate victory. We must remember that we do not know God’s plan, but he sees the bigger picture. Stand firm. Do not waver. He is in control. The victory is His. We must hang on to the faith as Noah did when he built the ark … silence the outside voices and stay focused on Him.
Be blessed today.
**Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14
Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
I am on a weight loss journey, as many know. Each time that I do this, I know that the weight did not magically appear overnight, so I should not expect it to disappear overnight. And honestly, if my weight would disappear that quickly, I would actually go to the doctor. So, my journey has been slow going, but steady. At last weigh-in, I was under 190. Victory. My ultimate goal is between 155-160. I looked really good at that weight, and I felt amazing. I have an understanding in my head and my heart that this transformation back into a healthy weight is a process that will take time and discipline. I am well aware of the requirements of how to get the success that I desire. Sometimes I am not so diligent in my efforts for a host of excuses and reasons, but it does not change the fact that I know what I need to do. I just chose in that moment to do the wrong thing.
In a weight loss journey, there are those who will ‘allow’ a cheat day or two. They count it as a necessity, and if I happen to speak of my journey and that was not very good yesterday or today, I am covered with ‘everyone needs a cheat day’ and ‘you look great, just start again tomorrow’. Both are inspiring and encouraging sentiments meant to be helpful.
I have a question: why is it … then … do we find it necessary to hold people to a different standard if they are trying to stop something different … such as smoking, drinking, drugs, video games (yes, it is an addiction), or even those trying to lose weight but are still very much obese? Why do we decide in that moment that ‘tough’ love is the only way to get through to them? Who decided that after so much time compassion was no longer relevant and a crutch? Or enabling? Why do we think that if ‘we’ get involved and show our love, the problem will instantly go away? Okay, it was several questions. You know I cannot count.
Back in the 80s, I remember that the microwave oven was the hippest thing you could own. You could warm things up easier and faster. You could cook your meal in minutes instead of hours. Your house would not heat up as quickly in the summer. They even came up with a microwave milkshake. I liked them … but I was a kid and it was ice cream. Haha. Instant food. No wait. No prep. No time-consuming preparation. Take it out of the freezer, pop it in, heat it up, and enjoy the tasteless rubber. Haha. And we all loved it. I would bet that everyone on this page has a microwave now. It does have its purpose, and it is convenient, but it does not cook a meal properly and healthily. Good old-fashioned hands-on work prepares the best meals. I had to get old to realize that. And I had to start reading the packages to see just how much ‘not’ food items were in those microwave meals. And where the microwave has a solid use, it is not a cure-all. Why do we expect a microwave solution to our everyday dilemmas?
I know that my weight loss journey is going to take time if it is going to stick. The last time I lost weight slowly, it took over a year to put it all back on … maybe even closer to two. So, doing it the right way is the best way. Just as preparing our food on a stove or slow cooker is better than a microwave. Taking slow steps and claiming the small victories in breaking those chains of addiction are what we need to see when we talk to those who are struggling. Just because we are in the picture for support now does not mean that we are the only thing that they need to walk away. The enemy has his hooks in deep. Physically and mentally. I am talking super deep. Once he gets in that deep, compassion with accountability wrapped in UNCONDITIONAL love is what guides them back to us.
Do you have someone who is struggling with an addiction? Are they not responding to you and your support the way that you think that they should? I urge you to go to Him in prayer and ask the Father to guide you. Do you have someone who struggles with worry and depression? They see your peace but cannot claim it for themselves? Go to the Father in prayer and pray the 91st Psalm over them and again ask for guidance to help them through their slow cooker process. Do you know someone who cannot see spiritual light no matter how bright it is? Go to the Father and ask Him to show you how to take off their blinders.
Remember, the most important thing … We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. That does not mean that I speak it today and it happens in the next microwave minutes. It means that my faith, my unconditional love, my perseverance to believe in the impossible will come to pass, and no matter how much time it takes, I will always believe. The other item to remember is that sometimes, and this is hard to swallow, but sometimes the victory over the addiction is them being called home to escape the devil’s hooks. Where that hurts here in the physical, they won the ultimate victory. We must remember that we do not know God’s plan, but he sees the bigger picture. Stand firm. Do not waver. He is in control. The victory is His. We must hang on to the faith as Noah did when he built the ark … silence the outside voices and stay focused on Him.
Be blessed today.
**Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14
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