My Diet, My Faith

I have probably tried almost any diet that has come down the hatch.

Cabbage Soup, Grapefruit, High Protein Low Carb, High Carb Low Protein, Vegetarian, Banana, Weight Watcher...and the list goes on.

I hesitate to write this because as I write, it puts spotlight to my struggle...and who wants that?! If you know me at all, you know the last thing I want to do is acknowledge or focus on my faults, my weaknesses. Ick...feeling a little shiver rise in me as I even say this!

However, today, I came to a conclusion I felt needed to be shared.

There are diets. Every diet is a successful diet as long as you stay on it. If you only eat certain things for a period of time, whatever they may be, you will lose weight. However, in walks real life and you find yourself "straying" from the "diet". Birthday parties with yummy cake, Christmas time with lots of parties and social "eating" times, difficulties that cause you to reach for something delicious to "comfort" your soul...(we all know that doesn't work, but feels good at the time). So, you leave whatever that "diet" says to do and you find yourself gaining not only what you've lost, but a few more on top of it...(can I get an "amen" somewhere, please!?) Your body is starving for something more...balance.

The only successful "diet plan", is a life change plan. Something that changes you from the inside out. Something that allows you to be sturdy when the things come along to trip you up.

Similar to those "fad diets", there are "fad religions". We can "do" all that looks good on the outside. Follow all the "rules" of the day. Go to church. Clean up our language (in front of people). Watch "appropriate shows". Support the right things. "Do" all that is required of us to "look" like genuine strong religious people. We can live this way all our lives and never be shaken from it.

But what happens when life throws you a curve? What happens when you are heartbroken? What happens when you or your spouse are out of work? What happens when your children disappoint you? What happens when your family lets you down? What happens when you become very ill? What happens when you find yourself deep in the dark moments of depression, or guilt, or anger, or sadness?

Where is your faith? What sustains you?

Have you been rooted in "doing"? Or rooted in Christ?

Is your faith a faith of what looks good to others? Or a genuine deep heart that follows Christ?

I struggle with my weight. I always will. Forever, until He takes me and gives me a new body. (Praise God!)
I'm losing a tiny bit at a time as I learn to change the way I look at food. I have days that I feel very successful in this journey, as I have days that I feel like a failure.

I struggle with being the best Christ follower I can be. I always will. Forever, until He calls me to Him for eternity. (again, Praise God!)
My walk is an ever changing journey as I seek and discover His will for my life. I have days that I feel very successful in this journey, as I have days that I feel like a failure.

Colossians 2:6-10 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Colossians 3:1-3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

I pray for God to change me from the inside out!

Blessings on your journey.

I Was Going How Fast?!

Let me set the stage...

Driving to Abilene.

Already gone over 1300 miles with just a bit to go.

The G.P.S., (whom we've named "Sheila") tells us to turn onto a particular road that we've not traveled before any of the last 6 times making this trip. But, we've trusted her this far and will trust her until we know better. At this point, we don't know better.

Very long road with NOT ONE OTHER CAR ANYWHERE to be seen, but here we go...
Late afternoon, rolling into evening, still driving this two lane deserted road. Nothing is familiar to daughter or I, but Sheila still stands her ground as to the direction we should be going.

Sun will be setting soon, and if you've not been out in New Mexico or Texas when the sun sets, it's the darkest dark I've ever seen!

I start going faster because I see Sheila says only 27 miles until I change roads and I'm hoping in 27 miles, something will look familiar to me. So I'm going a tad bit fast. Finally, see approaching headlights coming toward us in the opposite lane. Very glad to see other signs of life...until said vehicle just barely passes me and whips a U-turn and turns on his little red and blue lights.

Mama lets out a bit of an exclamation and daughter says..."What are we going to do?"
"Well, sweet girl, we're gonna stop. And don't say a word. Just sit there. Everything will be fine."

Sweet older gentleman sheriff comes walking, (more like moseying) toward our truck...

"Hi" I say.
"Good evening, ma'am." (looking into the window to check out all the "stuff" piled in the back seat for daughter's move)...
"Hi" I say again
"Where are we headed?" he asks
"I'm taking my daughter to Abilene."
"Goin a little fast." he says
"Oh really? I didn't realize that. We've been driving so long I must have lost track. I'm so sorry." I reply
"I clocked you goin about 89" he tells me.
*GASP* (I put my hand over my mouth in disbelief!) "I never drive that fast. I'm so sorry" I say again.
"You can't trust those things" he says pointing to 'Sheila the G.P.S.' in the window. "They aren't accurate when calculating your speed."
"Oh, I didn't know that..." I reply thinking that satellites linking up all over the world are probably fairly accurate, but who am I to argue..

As he pats me on the arm, he says, "well, I'm just gonna give you a warning. Maybe you just needed a 5 minute break. Lemme see your drivers license and I'll be right back. You just sit here for a minute and rest."

So, I hand him my license feeling like I may get through this without a ticket. As he walks away, my daughter says in a quiet panic voice..."What are we gonna do? He's running your license. What's he checking?"

"Oh, honey, don't worry...he's running my license...not my credit history! Everything's fine. Just stay quiet."

He comes back returning my license to me smiling and still patting my arm. "You girls be careful. Slow it down a bit. You're almost there. And if she were mine...I'd have put her on a bus and said 'so long'!"

I laugh politely and reach over to pat my girl who I know wants badly to comment on his "bus" statement. But she, too, is smiling politely...

We roll up the windows, put the thing in Drive and head out.

"Wow" daughter says. "That was something, Mom."

"Yeah, I'm just glad he wasn't any younger. We wouldn't have slipped by with just a warning..."

Guitar Great

Guitar Great Les Paul passed away at 94.
Check out this little clip.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=15034187&ch=130510

Nap Time

Soooooo many things to blog about, however, after a call from my girl, I decided this was priceless...

My daughter is close to finishing her degree at ACU. This is her Senior year, with this semester being the last one of actual class instruction, and next (spring) semester will be devoted strictly to her Student Teaching. She was assigned a local First Grade classroom and was required to "shadow" the teacher the week before school started helping with all things "preparatory" for welcoming in your little charges on the first day of school. She did this, and then today was the first day of school

She just called and said that it was funny, exciting, and exhausting. But this story, I believe, took the blue ribbon as far as I'm concerned.

Little Hannah, a new first grader looked at my daughter and asked, (imagine with a little girl Texas "drawl")

"Do we get naps in first grade, Miss Ashley?"
"No, Hannah," my daughter replied, "you're a big kid now. There are no naps in First Grade."
"Well, who thought of that?!" exclaimed Hannah irritated.
"I don't know", replied Miss Ashley, "but I think whoever it was should be put in 'time out'!"
"Yes ma'am" replied little Hannah.

I'm with Hannah. Who thought to take naps away?

I could go for one right this minute!
Blessings.

Time to Go

Sweet Daughter and I will soon take off for the drive we have become all too familiar with...

Fresno to Abilene, Abilene to Fresno

This is the week, beginning with Saturday, that I say things like, "this is the last Sunday you'll be here for a while, where do you want to go for lunch?" Or, "make sure you give me all those clothes so I can get them washed before we leave.." But the thing she can count on me saying over and over is this...

"Don't Go"

I say it with a twinkle in my eye and a tiny smile, because she knows I don't really mean "Don't Go".

Those two little words really mean a few different things.

"I can't believe my sweet little girl is in college."
"Goodness I miss you when you're gone."
"Of course you have to go...you let God lead your life and this is His direction."
"I am so. . .very. . . proud of you."

Just as she can count on me to say "Don't Go", her response is always the same.

"I love you, too, mama. And I have to go so I can come back."

I sure love that girl.

Blessings.

Bible Depot

Last weekend, my little family and I escaped for a couple of days to the beach for a quick mini vacation before Ashley returns to Texas and Avery gets back in school here. This summer has absolutely flown by.

So, while driving down the main street in Grover Beach, (on our way to a wonderful Frozen Yogurt shop we found) Ashley and I spotted this sign. We went by quickly the first time, turned to each other and asked if we had really seen what we thought we had seen. So, on the way back, we attempted to look again, but weren't quite sure where it was and missed it. We managed throughout the weekend to pass it multiple times, each time exclaiming at the awkwardness of the sign. Not sure why it made us so uncomfortable, and amused, but it did.

Was it the picture of Jesus? Is that a Bible he's holding? I'm fairly certain there weren't any leather bound scriptures while he walked and taught here on earth... Or, is it because the grammar is correct? Really? The apostrophe is in the correct spot and it says "Your" instead of the casual "Yo" typically used in that phrase?

Well, if the purpose of the sign is to catch your attention, it's successful...awkward, but successful.

Blessings!