Hello to everyone reading this!! Although it's been a while since I've written anything here, the need to post has been tugging at my heart - here and there over the years and a lot more frequently within the past few months - I would feel this longing to post, but for various reasons, I would ignore the longings. Why now?
Well, I'm glad you asked. It's like this...have you ever experienced times when it seemed like every time you turned on a Christian program or listened to your pastor's sermon, there was the same underlying message? You tried to ignore it, but time and again, the same message kept coming across in different formats? You felt unsettled when you heard these messages and felt a tugging at your heart or a longing deep down in your spirit? That tugging or longing is God trying to get your attention. He wants to redirect you or reconnect with you.
You may be thinking to yourself, "Yeah, right! That feeling isn't a longing, it's just guilt!! Why would God seek me?" Because He made you and He has a purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Every one of us was designed with our very own built-in Godometer - a longing to not only seek out God but to have a close relationship with Him. Most of us aren't aware of our Godometer so we look for other things to fill the void in our lives. Things like alcohol, drugs, sex, or even food. We were made to crave God, not nicotine, drugs, love or sugar! We were made for a purpose and when you yield to Him to find your purpose, your life will take on a whole new meaning and you'll be elevated to a new level.
So, my friends, I'm going to challenge you. I dare you to go some place where you have no distractions, sit quietly and listen to that longing and feel that tugging at your heart. I dare you to ask God to reveal your purpose. It may not happen right away, but if you consistently and habitually ask Him, He will reveal it to you.
Now, just a bit of advice...do not, I repeat do not allow those voices in your head - I'm talking about the very vocal voices of doubt - you know the ones - they start telling you that you can't do it or that you're not good enough or talented enough. When you start to hear those voices, you need to tell them to "Shut Up"!!! God doesn't make mistakes!! He doesn't put dreams in our hearts that He hasn't already equipped us to do. Every time those voices start to attack you, "You're a loser, you can't do that, you're not smart enough...," you need to start chanting, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13), God has put this dream in my heart and he has given me everything I need to succeed!!" The voice of doubt that was continuously nagging me was..."You're too old", but as my Pastor, John Nuzzo, says, "if you have a pulse, you're not too old!!" Amen, Pastor John, Amen!
Okay, now - go ahead - I dare ya!! I double-dog dare ya to take the next step and learn the dreams and purpose that God has for you!! When you discover what it is, you will be so over-joyed that you might find yourself dancing and shouting!! Post it here and we'll cyber-dance and shout together!! Then come back next week to see what's brewing at the Hope Today Cafe!
Please feel free to forward this to the other people in your life. Have a blessed week finding out your dreams and purpose.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Let the Battle Begin
I had my appointment with Dr. Novak today. After a 2-hour examination, I found that my body type is a Liver type. The different body types are adrenal, ovarian, thyroid and liver. I also learned that my body is craving sleep, hormonal balance, and less inflammation. The one thing that I learned which really made me realize that drastic times call for drastic measures is that I weigh almost 75 pounds more than I did when I met Jack 22 years ago. If that's not a wake-up call, I don't know what is.
I have to take a few minutes here and talk about something that is amazing to me and that's my husband, Jack. He has been such a source of encouragement. He has never made me feel "fat" or unloved. Jack, if you're reading this...thank you for always being there for me and for helping me on the days when my joints are too sore to make dinner or do laundry. You have shown me what unconditional, true love really is. I love you and can't wait to become healthy so I can be the woman you deserve!!
Okay, back to my appointment...I was a bit nervous when we came to the food part of the examination, but I'm actually very encouraged. I'll be allowed the following foods: Turkey, chicken, green leafy lettus, romaine lettuce, celery, beets, green beans, honey, and herbal tea. I go back tomorrow morning to get my actual diet and pick up my supplements. He'll break out what I eat when. I wonder if my breakfast will consist of green beans and a potato? Yum!!
Actually, that's not so bad, right? Well..in front of every silver lining, there's a dark cloud. There are 3 things that I must give up in order to allow my body to heal...sugar, Splenda, and it even hurts to type this one....coffee. Yes, coffee. That's so painful to type let alone read. Coffee has been my constant companion since I can remember. Coffee has gotten me through days where I thought I wouldn't even be able to lift my head up let alone actually function. Coffee has been a good friend. But as Dr. Novak says, it's not a friend if it hurts you.
So tomorrow, the battle officially begins. The battle with my body and mind to convince them that I don't need coffee to be the person I am. I didn't realize how much I relied on coffee until Dr. Novak told me to eliminate it...totally. It takes 72 hours for your body to detox from a substance. Only 72 hours. So why then do people battle addictions their whole lives? It's the habit of using the substance that needs to be broken. You know the old saying, "old habits die hard," well that's because they do. I've not smoked a cigarette in almost 15 years, but after watching my mother die, while driving home, I reached into my purse and realized I was looking for cigarettes - old habits die hard.
To help better equip myself for this battle, I'm arming myself with a few scriptures that I can summon to the battleground when my sugar and coffee cravings rear their ugly heads.
1 Corinthians 8:12 - "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." I will not be mastered by anything - not food, sugar, or any other wordly item.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."
and my absolute favorite:
Matthew 16:23 - "Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Tomorrow my battle begins but I'm ready. Armed with God, the Bible, and supportive friends and family there's no way I'm going to lose - except this excess weight, of course!!
My Prayer:
Lord, I'm so thankful that I don't have to face this battle alone and I'm so thankful that you care about everything in my life, even my sugar and coffee addictions. I pray for anyone who's reading this who has a battle to face, whether physical, mental, or external, that they look to you Lord and know that all battles will be conquered through you. Amen and Amen!!
I have to take a few minutes here and talk about something that is amazing to me and that's my husband, Jack. He has been such a source of encouragement. He has never made me feel "fat" or unloved. Jack, if you're reading this...thank you for always being there for me and for helping me on the days when my joints are too sore to make dinner or do laundry. You have shown me what unconditional, true love really is. I love you and can't wait to become healthy so I can be the woman you deserve!!
Okay, back to my appointment...I was a bit nervous when we came to the food part of the examination, but I'm actually very encouraged. I'll be allowed the following foods: Turkey, chicken, green leafy lettus, romaine lettuce, celery, beets, green beans, honey, and herbal tea. I go back tomorrow morning to get my actual diet and pick up my supplements. He'll break out what I eat when. I wonder if my breakfast will consist of green beans and a potato? Yum!!
Actually, that's not so bad, right? Well..in front of every silver lining, there's a dark cloud. There are 3 things that I must give up in order to allow my body to heal...sugar, Splenda, and it even hurts to type this one....coffee. Yes, coffee. That's so painful to type let alone read. Coffee has been my constant companion since I can remember. Coffee has gotten me through days where I thought I wouldn't even be able to lift my head up let alone actually function. Coffee has been a good friend. But as Dr. Novak says, it's not a friend if it hurts you.
So tomorrow, the battle officially begins. The battle with my body and mind to convince them that I don't need coffee to be the person I am. I didn't realize how much I relied on coffee until Dr. Novak told me to eliminate it...totally. It takes 72 hours for your body to detox from a substance. Only 72 hours. So why then do people battle addictions their whole lives? It's the habit of using the substance that needs to be broken. You know the old saying, "old habits die hard," well that's because they do. I've not smoked a cigarette in almost 15 years, but after watching my mother die, while driving home, I reached into my purse and realized I was looking for cigarettes - old habits die hard.
To help better equip myself for this battle, I'm arming myself with a few scriptures that I can summon to the battleground when my sugar and coffee cravings rear their ugly heads.
1 Corinthians 8:12 - "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." I will not be mastered by anything - not food, sugar, or any other wordly item.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."
and my absolute favorite:
Matthew 16:23 - "Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Tomorrow my battle begins but I'm ready. Armed with God, the Bible, and supportive friends and family there's no way I'm going to lose - except this excess weight, of course!!
My Prayer:
Lord, I'm so thankful that I don't have to face this battle alone and I'm so thankful that you care about everything in my life, even my sugar and coffee addictions. I pray for anyone who's reading this who has a battle to face, whether physical, mental, or external, that they look to you Lord and know that all battles will be conquered through you. Amen and Amen!!
Monday, March 5, 2012
She'll Be Comin' Off that Mountain Yes She Will!!!! YeeHa!!!
Well, today is the last day before my appointment with Dr. Novak tomorrow and I have to tell ya, I've experienced an array of emotions today...apprehension (do I really want to do this? I mean seriously, giving up sugar??), sadness (goodbye chocolate, cookies, and cakes, I will miss you - sniff sniff), anticipation (this actually may be good for me), and hope (need I say more?). I'm trying to not look at this as a doom and gloom time. I'm trying not to feel that I'm slowly walking toward an electric chair. Au contraire, I'll be gaining my life back, not losing it. I mean, seriously, enough is enough already. I've been battling these issues and burdens for years. Sometimes I feel like the Israelites, I'm going around the same old mountain again and again, year after year and getting nowhere. But the Lord showed me that I have hope.
We all have hope. Deuteronomy 1:6 says, "The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, you have dwelt long enough on this mountain." Yes I have - too long. Not only have I been on this mountain, I've been allowing the enemy to feed me lies to keep me on this mountain. You know the kind of lies I'm talking about...the little voices that whisper to you that you're such a failure so why do you think you'll succeed this time? Well, I'm here to tell you today is the day we kick those thoughts out of mind and get rid of that "wilderness thinking." Wilderness thinking is a certain type of thinking that keeps us in bondage. What types of bondage have you been carrying around your mountain again and again for? Some type of addiction? A family member or friend who you refuse to forgive? Bitterness? Jealousy?
Okay, so now that you've identified your burden, you're probably thinking, how are we going to get off this mountain? I'm so glad you asked!!! We're going to kick that wilderness thinking, or that stinkin' thinking right out of our heads and replace it with the only truth we have - and that's God's Word. We're going to renew our minds and our souls with scriptures. Already, you might be letting those little wilderness thoughts creep into your mind, those nagging little nasty thoughts...KICK 'em out...RIGHT now...just tell 'em...we're made for more than going around the same mountain day after day, week after week, year after stinkin' year!!!! God made us to be victorious!!! Still skeptical??? Read on, my friends, read on.
Now, we all know that the only truth is the Word of God, right? Okay, so let's open our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15:57. Here God shows us that all Christians have victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us all victory (making us conquerors) and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loves us." Now do you see? We're all victorious and we're all conquerors!! Isn't that awesome news? Isn't it good to know that there's a way to rise above all the things that bind us?
So tomorrow, I'm jumping off my mountain by going to my appointment with Dr. Novak - how about you? I know it's not going to be easy, but being free will be so worth it. Come on, jump off your moutain with me!!! If you'd like to share your "mountain" or write a comment, I'd love to hear from you, just click on "Comment" below. If you'd like to sign up to receive this blog via email, click on the sign up link to the right.
My Prayer:
Lord, I pray for all of us who are in bondage and stuck in the wilderness going around the same old mountain. But thanks to you, Lord, we know we can break free of this bondage by trusting in you and knowing your Word. Help us to replace our wilderness thinking and the lies of the enemy with your refreshing, renewing truth, Lord. In Jesus's name. Amen and Amen!!!
We all have hope. Deuteronomy 1:6 says, "The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, you have dwelt long enough on this mountain." Yes I have - too long. Not only have I been on this mountain, I've been allowing the enemy to feed me lies to keep me on this mountain. You know the kind of lies I'm talking about...the little voices that whisper to you that you're such a failure so why do you think you'll succeed this time? Well, I'm here to tell you today is the day we kick those thoughts out of mind and get rid of that "wilderness thinking." Wilderness thinking is a certain type of thinking that keeps us in bondage. What types of bondage have you been carrying around your mountain again and again for? Some type of addiction? A family member or friend who you refuse to forgive? Bitterness? Jealousy?
Okay, so now that you've identified your burden, you're probably thinking, how are we going to get off this mountain? I'm so glad you asked!!! We're going to kick that wilderness thinking, or that stinkin' thinking right out of our heads and replace it with the only truth we have - and that's God's Word. We're going to renew our minds and our souls with scriptures. Already, you might be letting those little wilderness thoughts creep into your mind, those nagging little nasty thoughts...KICK 'em out...RIGHT now...just tell 'em...we're made for more than going around the same mountain day after day, week after week, year after stinkin' year!!!! God made us to be victorious!!! Still skeptical??? Read on, my friends, read on.
Now, we all know that the only truth is the Word of God, right? Okay, so let's open our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15:57. Here God shows us that all Christians have victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us all victory (making us conquerors) and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loves us." Now do you see? We're all victorious and we're all conquerors!! Isn't that awesome news? Isn't it good to know that there's a way to rise above all the things that bind us?
So tomorrow, I'm jumping off my mountain by going to my appointment with Dr. Novak - how about you? I know it's not going to be easy, but being free will be so worth it. Come on, jump off your moutain with me!!! If you'd like to share your "mountain" or write a comment, I'd love to hear from you, just click on "Comment" below. If you'd like to sign up to receive this blog via email, click on the sign up link to the right.
My Prayer:
Lord, I pray for all of us who are in bondage and stuck in the wilderness going around the same old mountain. But thanks to you, Lord, we know we can break free of this bondage by trusting in you and knowing your Word. Help us to replace our wilderness thinking and the lies of the enemy with your refreshing, renewing truth, Lord. In Jesus's name. Amen and Amen!!!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
I'm Back and Ready for the Battle!!
During the past few months, our family has had a few difficult issues to deal with and I have to confess that I haven't dealt with them in the stoic, Christian-like fashion that I thought I would have. It's easy to give others hope and encouragement but it's so difficult to take your own advice. So, because I felt that I had no hope to give and no encouragement to offer, I simply stopped blogging and stopped writing.
For those of you who remember why I started this blog in the first place, it was to be obedient to what God was telling me to do. I felt the Lord was leading me to write and, oh, the freedom and joy I feel when I'm obedient is beyond my vocabulary. Having said that, I also feel that when you're not following the path that God has laid for you, that opens up the doorway for the enemy to slither in and just mess with you. And, boy, let me tell you, he's was messing with me and my family big time. But, in the midst of the many storms that Jack, Josh, Jakob and I were enduring, God reached down using a friend who I hadn't spoken to in a long time and through email, this friend asked why I wasn't blogging. I touched on a few of the lighter issues I was facing and after her unrelenting pursuit of meeting with me, I finally agreed to meet her for breakfast. Here, I found myself pouring out to her all of my troubles and she so lovingly and unjudgmentally listened and comforted me. Thank you, Lord, for putting Lorrie in my path, and thank you, my friend, Lorrie, for obeying God's call to reach out to me.
I'm not going to share with you all of the struggles my family and I had faced, but I will share with you my personal struggles which a few of you already know and have been such a huge support and I thank you. I have a 3-fold constant battle going on in my body. Each, by itself, is a battle in itself, but interwined together, it's a horrific storm that rages in my body every day. The components are weight, hormones, and joint pain. Here it's only fair that I admit to you something that's been such a battle and a struggle for me, something that has brought me much shame....
Hi, I'm Alesia and a I'm a sugaraholic.
Some of you might be chuckling at reading that statement and that's because you've never been addicted to sugar. But for some of you, you read that statement and felt something stir in your soul and my prayer is that you will find encouragement and hope in reading this blog.
For those of you who don't have a weight problem, perhaps you're battling another type of addiction...food addiction (carbs), alcohol or drug addiction, pornographic addiction, nicotine addiction, gambling or shopping (yes this is an actual psychological addiction). An addiction is anything that takes precedence over you and I'll be touching on this more in the days and weeks to come. For the rest of you who don't have any types of addiction, this blog is about healing, hope, and encouragement and will be based on scriptures and obeying God so if you've felt the need to start to dive into the Word more or have something that you haven't obeyed God for, then this blog will be a source of encouragement.
Today's blog is a bit long but I need to share a few things to get to the point where I'm at today.
My sister, Cheri, and I have been on a Christian-based eating program called Prism - not prison, although at times I felt like I was in prison. It's a wonderful program where you stop eating sugar and all bad carbs cold turkey. It works if you work it. I had lost 28 pounds 3 years ago in 12 weeks but I fell off the wagon when I stopped allowing God to be the focus and allowed by flesh to take over. Long story short, my sister and I had started back on Prism this past February 1. I feel off the wagon only a few weeks later but my sister is still doing it and you go girl!!! I'm so proud of you!!!
After beating myself up over why I can't stick to this diet and my sister can, I stumbled on a book called, "The Anatomy of a Food Addict." The author explains how sugar and carbs effect your brain's chemical balance in exactly the same way alcohol affects alcholics and drugs affect a drug addict. After reading this book, I now understand why I have such a difficult time not eating sugar. So, factor in the sugar addiction which leads to my joint pain and throw in menopause and no wonder I'm a mess. The hormones alone are enough to drive me over the edge. When they take over my body, I have no control over my cravings or my emotions. I would knock someone over and step on their body to get to a chocolate chip cookie!!! I admit that to you because I'm sure someone reading this can say "Oh, I've done that!!" Come on now, you know who you are!! The good news is I realize that I wouldn't actually kill anybody to get to the cookie - can I get a thank you Jesus!!!
After a few days reading and praying about how I was going to shed the weight, help my joints, and put my hormones in a very much needed time-out, I decided to make an appointment with a doctor who my dear friends, TJ and Linda, go to. I'm not sure how to describe Dr. Novak, and what he does since it's nothing I've ever experienced before. I suppose he's a homeopathic naturalist who utilizes your body's nervous system to determine what foods your body needs to heal itself. If your body needs only lettuce, peppers and green beans, that's what you'll be eating until your next visit. It's extreme, but at this point in my life, I need something extreme (I can hear the whip crack my hormones into remission as I type - ha - take that menopause!).
My main struggle with going to Dr. Novak was this question - was I putting my faith in Dr. Novak instead of putting my faith in God? God being God, who we all know is awesome, especially when things occur supernaturally when we don't expect it - allowed me to came across a book called "Made to Crave, Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food," by Lysa Terkeurst. Lysa discusses her weight loss journey and how she learned to replace her cravings for junk food with craving God's Word. While reading her book, I came to a section where she describes going to a nutritionist who put her on a strict eating plan, no sugar, no refined carbs (is there a theme here??). Then it hit me - the author went to a nutritionist. Let me say that again - the AUTHOR went to a NUTRITIONIST. Dr. Novak wasn't replacing my faith in God. God gave me Dr. Novak to go to but only God will get me through this journey. God and the help of my family and a few friends.
So, my appointment with Dr. Novak is this Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. It will be my evaluation and then at the follow up appointment, I'll be given the foods to eat and the journey will begin.
Join me on this journey daily here at Hope Today Cafe. I'll be serving up my struggles, holding back nothing when it comes to the raw emotions of my screaming flesh not getting its way, putting my faith in and following God with lots of Bible verses to sustain any addiction you might be facing, and finally, I'll be serving up big heaps of hope and encouragement for whatever trials you're facing. Sign up to recevie this blog via email by simply clicking on the link to the right of this post.
If you know someone who needs encouragement in any of the areas above, please forward this on to them - you might just be the "Lorrie" in their life.
Until tomorrow...I leave you with Psalms 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (curing their pains and their sorrows)."
For those of you who remember why I started this blog in the first place, it was to be obedient to what God was telling me to do. I felt the Lord was leading me to write and, oh, the freedom and joy I feel when I'm obedient is beyond my vocabulary. Having said that, I also feel that when you're not following the path that God has laid for you, that opens up the doorway for the enemy to slither in and just mess with you. And, boy, let me tell you, he's was messing with me and my family big time. But, in the midst of the many storms that Jack, Josh, Jakob and I were enduring, God reached down using a friend who I hadn't spoken to in a long time and through email, this friend asked why I wasn't blogging. I touched on a few of the lighter issues I was facing and after her unrelenting pursuit of meeting with me, I finally agreed to meet her for breakfast. Here, I found myself pouring out to her all of my troubles and she so lovingly and unjudgmentally listened and comforted me. Thank you, Lord, for putting Lorrie in my path, and thank you, my friend, Lorrie, for obeying God's call to reach out to me.
I'm not going to share with you all of the struggles my family and I had faced, but I will share with you my personal struggles which a few of you already know and have been such a huge support and I thank you. I have a 3-fold constant battle going on in my body. Each, by itself, is a battle in itself, but interwined together, it's a horrific storm that rages in my body every day. The components are weight, hormones, and joint pain. Here it's only fair that I admit to you something that's been such a battle and a struggle for me, something that has brought me much shame....
Hi, I'm Alesia and a I'm a sugaraholic.
Some of you might be chuckling at reading that statement and that's because you've never been addicted to sugar. But for some of you, you read that statement and felt something stir in your soul and my prayer is that you will find encouragement and hope in reading this blog.
For those of you who don't have a weight problem, perhaps you're battling another type of addiction...food addiction (carbs), alcohol or drug addiction, pornographic addiction, nicotine addiction, gambling or shopping (yes this is an actual psychological addiction). An addiction is anything that takes precedence over you and I'll be touching on this more in the days and weeks to come. For the rest of you who don't have any types of addiction, this blog is about healing, hope, and encouragement and will be based on scriptures and obeying God so if you've felt the need to start to dive into the Word more or have something that you haven't obeyed God for, then this blog will be a source of encouragement.
Today's blog is a bit long but I need to share a few things to get to the point where I'm at today.
My sister, Cheri, and I have been on a Christian-based eating program called Prism - not prison, although at times I felt like I was in prison. It's a wonderful program where you stop eating sugar and all bad carbs cold turkey. It works if you work it. I had lost 28 pounds 3 years ago in 12 weeks but I fell off the wagon when I stopped allowing God to be the focus and allowed by flesh to take over. Long story short, my sister and I had started back on Prism this past February 1. I feel off the wagon only a few weeks later but my sister is still doing it and you go girl!!! I'm so proud of you!!!
After beating myself up over why I can't stick to this diet and my sister can, I stumbled on a book called, "The Anatomy of a Food Addict." The author explains how sugar and carbs effect your brain's chemical balance in exactly the same way alcohol affects alcholics and drugs affect a drug addict. After reading this book, I now understand why I have such a difficult time not eating sugar. So, factor in the sugar addiction which leads to my joint pain and throw in menopause and no wonder I'm a mess. The hormones alone are enough to drive me over the edge. When they take over my body, I have no control over my cravings or my emotions. I would knock someone over and step on their body to get to a chocolate chip cookie!!! I admit that to you because I'm sure someone reading this can say "Oh, I've done that!!" Come on now, you know who you are!! The good news is I realize that I wouldn't actually kill anybody to get to the cookie - can I get a thank you Jesus!!!
After a few days reading and praying about how I was going to shed the weight, help my joints, and put my hormones in a very much needed time-out, I decided to make an appointment with a doctor who my dear friends, TJ and Linda, go to. I'm not sure how to describe Dr. Novak, and what he does since it's nothing I've ever experienced before. I suppose he's a homeopathic naturalist who utilizes your body's nervous system to determine what foods your body needs to heal itself. If your body needs only lettuce, peppers and green beans, that's what you'll be eating until your next visit. It's extreme, but at this point in my life, I need something extreme (I can hear the whip crack my hormones into remission as I type - ha - take that menopause!).
My main struggle with going to Dr. Novak was this question - was I putting my faith in Dr. Novak instead of putting my faith in God? God being God, who we all know is awesome, especially when things occur supernaturally when we don't expect it - allowed me to came across a book called "Made to Crave, Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food," by Lysa Terkeurst. Lysa discusses her weight loss journey and how she learned to replace her cravings for junk food with craving God's Word. While reading her book, I came to a section where she describes going to a nutritionist who put her on a strict eating plan, no sugar, no refined carbs (is there a theme here??). Then it hit me - the author went to a nutritionist. Let me say that again - the AUTHOR went to a NUTRITIONIST. Dr. Novak wasn't replacing my faith in God. God gave me Dr. Novak to go to but only God will get me through this journey. God and the help of my family and a few friends.
So, my appointment with Dr. Novak is this Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. It will be my evaluation and then at the follow up appointment, I'll be given the foods to eat and the journey will begin.
Join me on this journey daily here at Hope Today Cafe. I'll be serving up my struggles, holding back nothing when it comes to the raw emotions of my screaming flesh not getting its way, putting my faith in and following God with lots of Bible verses to sustain any addiction you might be facing, and finally, I'll be serving up big heaps of hope and encouragement for whatever trials you're facing. Sign up to recevie this blog via email by simply clicking on the link to the right of this post.
If you know someone who needs encouragement in any of the areas above, please forward this on to them - you might just be the "Lorrie" in their life.
Until tomorrow...I leave you with Psalms 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (curing their pains and their sorrows)."
Thursday, October 20, 2011
It's War
Well, as some of you might have noticed, I haven't been posting on here twice weekly like I had originally committed, let alone daily posts. As I was sitting quietly this morning, the things that have been happening in my life played themselves out in my brain. Some of you already know these things, but I'm on my third antibiotic for a sinus/bronchial infection that just will not go away, the electrical outlets in our kitchen were malfunctioning which caused us to have no telephone for two days, work became more demanding, and this was on top of the already business going on in our lives. Some of you might be thinking - okay, so what??? So she has an infection, and her kitchen outlets weren't working, work is always demanding, and doesn't she have a cellphone? What's the big deal???
You're so very right - what's the big deal?? But some of you who experience things such as losing keys (and you know who you are, ahem!), being late for work or a meeting, sitting in traffic when you're already late for an appointment allow the little things to ruin part or even your entire day. And to be truthful, most times it IS the little things that infiltrate our lives and steal our joy.
When I was in my 20s, I had bought a new brand new, shiny, red Acura Integra. I had allowed my sister to drive my brand new, shiny, red car while I was in a class at Pitt. When class was over, I came out of the building, saw where Cheri had parked, and started walking toward the car. Immediately, she popped out of the driver's seat, and very quickly came around to the passenger side of the car. Visibly upset, she blurted out, "Alesia, I'm so sorry, I wrecked your car!!!" and she began to choke up. I looked at the front of the car, it was fine, the sides seemed okay, it was the back bumper that had been smashed in - she didn't see a 3-foot pole behind the car when she was backing up and hit it. Believe it or not, I didn't freak out. I looked at the damage, which really wasn't much, looked at Cheri and told her it was okay. It wasn't a big deal. We got in the car and went on with our lives.
Okay, now before you start thinking that I'm a saint for not really getting mad, I need to admit something to you. I've always been "pretty" okay (not perfectly okay understand because I'm human) with the big stuff. It's the little stuff that will drive me over the edge. Jack, my husband, can attest to this and so can my close friends. He lost his job a week before our wedding. Sure, I was concerned but I knew he would find another one and he eventually did, but don't let me come home from being out for the afternoon to find the kitchen filled with dishes that weren't there when I left - you'll definitely see steam coming from my ears.
We all know who Satan is, right? John 10:10 describes Satan as the one who "comes to steal, kill and destroy." There is such a thing as spiritual warfare - it's real and it's powerful. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour." Now I'm not saying that every little thing that happens in our day is caused by the devil. Oftentimes our flesh and our free gets us into sinful situations, but when one circumstance after another after another postpones what God's will is for our lives, let me tell you, it's probably the devil's warfare. He does not want us to do what God's will is for our lives. Ever since I started this blog, something seems to get in my way of writing it.
The good news is the same verse, Ephesians 6:12, goes on to say that Jesus "came to give us life and have it to the full" which is awesome news!! We don't have to be victims of Satan's power. So how do we battle the warfare? By doing what 1 Peter 5:8 above tells us - "be sober, be vigilant." By keeping on and pressing through with continuing to read our Bibles - ooooh, the devil hates when we do that - by learning verses that we can recite when warfare enters our lives. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." There are many good Bible studies on spiritual warfare, my personal favorite is Kay Arthurs, Lord, Is it Warfare? Teach Me to Stand. I had attended this study many years ago and really opened my eyes. It might be worth pulling it out and perhaps starting a study. If any of you who live close by would have any interest in this, give me a holler by posting here on this blog or emailing me at matoteks@comcast.net.
Let me close by saying this - no matter what the devil or life's circumstances throws our way, everything we need for the battle is in the Bible - let's read our Bibles so we know how to stand - isn't that wonderful news?
My prayer for us today: "Lord, you are so good and we thank you for all of the blessings you have given us. We know we can't stand alone in this world. We need you and we desperately need your word, Lord. Make us thirsty for your Word so that we may put on your armor and be ready for any battle." Amen and Amen!!!
You're so very right - what's the big deal?? But some of you who experience things such as losing keys (and you know who you are, ahem!), being late for work or a meeting, sitting in traffic when you're already late for an appointment allow the little things to ruin part or even your entire day. And to be truthful, most times it IS the little things that infiltrate our lives and steal our joy.
When I was in my 20s, I had bought a new brand new, shiny, red Acura Integra. I had allowed my sister to drive my brand new, shiny, red car while I was in a class at Pitt. When class was over, I came out of the building, saw where Cheri had parked, and started walking toward the car. Immediately, she popped out of the driver's seat, and very quickly came around to the passenger side of the car. Visibly upset, she blurted out, "Alesia, I'm so sorry, I wrecked your car!!!" and she began to choke up. I looked at the front of the car, it was fine, the sides seemed okay, it was the back bumper that had been smashed in - she didn't see a 3-foot pole behind the car when she was backing up and hit it. Believe it or not, I didn't freak out. I looked at the damage, which really wasn't much, looked at Cheri and told her it was okay. It wasn't a big deal. We got in the car and went on with our lives.
Okay, now before you start thinking that I'm a saint for not really getting mad, I need to admit something to you. I've always been "pretty" okay (not perfectly okay understand because I'm human) with the big stuff. It's the little stuff that will drive me over the edge. Jack, my husband, can attest to this and so can my close friends. He lost his job a week before our wedding. Sure, I was concerned but I knew he would find another one and he eventually did, but don't let me come home from being out for the afternoon to find the kitchen filled with dishes that weren't there when I left - you'll definitely see steam coming from my ears.
We all know who Satan is, right? John 10:10 describes Satan as the one who "comes to steal, kill and destroy." There is such a thing as spiritual warfare - it's real and it's powerful. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour." Now I'm not saying that every little thing that happens in our day is caused by the devil. Oftentimes our flesh and our free gets us into sinful situations, but when one circumstance after another after another postpones what God's will is for our lives, let me tell you, it's probably the devil's warfare. He does not want us to do what God's will is for our lives. Ever since I started this blog, something seems to get in my way of writing it.
The good news is the same verse, Ephesians 6:12, goes on to say that Jesus "came to give us life and have it to the full" which is awesome news!! We don't have to be victims of Satan's power. So how do we battle the warfare? By doing what 1 Peter 5:8 above tells us - "be sober, be vigilant." By keeping on and pressing through with continuing to read our Bibles - ooooh, the devil hates when we do that - by learning verses that we can recite when warfare enters our lives. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." There are many good Bible studies on spiritual warfare, my personal favorite is Kay Arthurs, Lord, Is it Warfare? Teach Me to Stand. I had attended this study many years ago and really opened my eyes. It might be worth pulling it out and perhaps starting a study. If any of you who live close by would have any interest in this, give me a holler by posting here on this blog or emailing me at matoteks@comcast.net.
Let me close by saying this - no matter what the devil or life's circumstances throws our way, everything we need for the battle is in the Bible - let's read our Bibles so we know how to stand - isn't that wonderful news?
My prayer for us today: "Lord, you are so good and we thank you for all of the blessings you have given us. We know we can't stand alone in this world. We need you and we desperately need your word, Lord. Make us thirsty for your Word so that we may put on your armor and be ready for any battle." Amen and Amen!!!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
In Memory of Bonnie Patterson - please read even if you didn't know her
The entry below this introduction is from our friend, Jim Sydney, who lost his beloved Bonnie to breast cancer in June of this year. Bonnie was only 52 years old. After reading this, I asked Jim if he would mind if I shared his story with my family and friends and he, very graciously said yes, as I know a couple of you had lost your "loves" this past year.
Jim has created a website called friendsofbonnie.org to help others facing the diagnosis of cancer. Here, you can read about Jim and Bonnie's incredible journey from the time of her diagnosis to the current post that I'm including below. Jim also includes a very vital link to read for those diagnosed with cancer and covers issues such as insurance coverage and suggestions when visiting your doctor. There is another important link for caregivers or friends and family helping to care for someone diagnosed with cancer. Please take a minute and visit the site and if you know of anyone who could benefit from Jim and Bonnie's words of wisdom, please feel free to pass the website along. Jim's mission is to help cushion the emotional devastation that this disease produces.
Whether or not we have experienced this kind of tragedy in our lives, we need to know that God is our strength. My prayer is that each and every one of us draws strength from the Lord every single day of our lives but especially during the storms.
This is not only a story of courage, but an incredible love story and is the epitome of how Jesus wants us to love...unconditionally and unselfishly. I will caution you before reading Jim's story - grab a lot of Kleenexes!!!
And now, here's our very couragous, very talented friend Jim's story...
09/22/11 This event transpired Sunday 09/04/11. I mentioned it to a few close friends and they unanimously thought I should share this experience. I hope it helps others that can relate to a "connection".
It was not planned.
I woke up Sunday morning and knew exactly what had to be done.
I set about collecting my bike gear, disassembled the tandem, (bicycle built for two) and mounted it to the car rack.
I grabbed a screwdriver and silently walked upstairs, then pensively, disassembled Bon's urn.
Inside it was plastic bag not unlike the kind that you would put wholesale candy in. It had a dogtag / serial number and was secured with a twist-tie binding it shut. Somehow I felt there should have been something more ornate about the internal containment. It seemed so industrial but it is what it is. That too can not be changed now.
So this is it. I've come to this point.
The mineral essence of Bonnie was now in front of me. I could not help but be impacted by the fact that it is really true. We do weight but a few pounds without water. So just what is "life"?
Back to my task.
I knew that I was going to take her ashes with me.
Bonnie liked to ride our tandem at the Moraine State Park's paved trail. We would ride to the end of the trail, then sit on a particular bench. The bench was inscribed with a plaque. " In loving memory of my husband Bob. We spent many happy hours riding this trail together". The bench and inscription were present before Bon was diagnosed. Long ago we had been immediately touched by the inscription's sincerity and looked forward to visiting this bench. Typically we would have a snack while watching the birds and boats from it's vantage.
The wind was increasing. The air was streaming through my helmet vents to point that it could not be ignored. The sun was shining and the waves were now unusual.
The sunlight was reflecting oddly on the water. At first it looked like a few candles that had their stems illuminated as well as the flame. The visual impression was somewhat like a upside down U or ^ stretching upward. At first there were a few, then within seconds 10, 100, 1000, 2000, 10,000 the lake was aglow with incredible light. It was an absolutely amazing experience that transcends description. I grabbed a tissue to wipe my nose and suddenly I knew.
It was time to move on.
Jim has created a website called friendsofbonnie.org to help others facing the diagnosis of cancer. Here, you can read about Jim and Bonnie's incredible journey from the time of her diagnosis to the current post that I'm including below. Jim also includes a very vital link to read for those diagnosed with cancer and covers issues such as insurance coverage and suggestions when visiting your doctor. There is another important link for caregivers or friends and family helping to care for someone diagnosed with cancer. Please take a minute and visit the site and if you know of anyone who could benefit from Jim and Bonnie's words of wisdom, please feel free to pass the website along. Jim's mission is to help cushion the emotional devastation that this disease produces.
Whether or not we have experienced this kind of tragedy in our lives, we need to know that God is our strength. My prayer is that each and every one of us draws strength from the Lord every single day of our lives but especially during the storms.
This is not only a story of courage, but an incredible love story and is the epitome of how Jesus wants us to love...unconditionally and unselfishly. I will caution you before reading Jim's story - grab a lot of Kleenexes!!!
And now, here's our very couragous, very talented friend Jim's story...
09/22/11 This event transpired Sunday 09/04/11. I mentioned it to a few close friends and they unanimously thought I should share this experience. I hope it helps others that can relate to a "connection".
It was not planned.
I woke up Sunday morning and knew exactly what had to be done.
I set about collecting my bike gear, disassembled the tandem, (bicycle built for two) and mounted it to the car rack.
I grabbed a screwdriver and silently walked upstairs, then pensively, disassembled Bon's urn.
Inside it was plastic bag not unlike the kind that you would put wholesale candy in. It had a dogtag / serial number and was secured with a twist-tie binding it shut. Somehow I felt there should have been something more ornate about the internal containment. It seemed so industrial but it is what it is. That too can not be changed now.
So this is it. I've come to this point.
The mineral essence of Bonnie was now in front of me. I could not help but be impacted by the fact that it is really true. We do weight but a few pounds without water. So just what is "life"?
Back to my task.
I knew that I was going to take her ashes with me.
Bonnie liked to ride our tandem at the Moraine State Park's paved trail. We would ride to the end of the trail, then sit on a particular bench. The bench was inscribed with a plaque. " In loving memory of my husband Bob. We spent many happy hours riding this trail together". The bench and inscription were present before Bon was diagnosed. Long ago we had been immediately touched by the inscription's sincerity and looked forward to visiting this bench. Typically we would have a snack while watching the birds and boats from it's vantage.
Dare I touch the ashes?
Yes.
I wanted to be the transferring agent. The link between here and there.
I grabbed a 'baggie" and carefully untwisted the dogtag, then placed my hand into the ashes - and it hit me. At first I was appalled by the grittiness - reminiscent of pestled bones and teeth- and then the flood gate opened. In a moment a thousand memories flashed to the surface.
Good.
Bad.
All of them almost at once and I broke down crying in sorrow not entirely for my personal loss, but mostly for the unfair circumstances that had been dealt to Bon. She was a wonderful person and a tremendous loss to many people. She didn't deserve this.
I sealed the baggie, placed it in my backpack, sealed the urn and returned the urn to it's resting place.
The drive to the park was uneventful. My eyes stayed dry. I felt comfort in my mission.
At the park I assembled the tandem and hit the trail.
This particular tandem is quite striking with a large, flat black frame with chrome wheels. It looked like a .... hearse!
I was going to ride the tandem in the fashion of the "unmanned horse".
There would be no rear passenger.
As I rode the 7 mile distance one person called to me... "Hey you forgot somebody". Lacking whit but having focus, I yelled back...
"no I didn't. She's right here..". and I tapped my backpack. I know they had no idea what I spoke of. It was not one of my more comedic moments.
At about mile marker 6 of the seven miles to ride I found myself fast encroaching upon a group of older riders. We exchanged short pleasantries as I slowed and passed through their group. Mile seven arrived and the bench was soon in front of me. A lady was sitting on the bench looking out over the lake. I tried to stay distant and allow her the quiet moment that she sought. As she arose I knew it was my turn.Yes.
I wanted to be the transferring agent. The link between here and there.
I grabbed a 'baggie" and carefully untwisted the dogtag, then placed my hand into the ashes - and it hit me. At first I was appalled by the grittiness - reminiscent of pestled bones and teeth- and then the flood gate opened. In a moment a thousand memories flashed to the surface.
Good.
Bad.
All of them almost at once and I broke down crying in sorrow not entirely for my personal loss, but mostly for the unfair circumstances that had been dealt to Bon. She was a wonderful person and a tremendous loss to many people. She didn't deserve this.
I sealed the baggie, placed it in my backpack, sealed the urn and returned the urn to it's resting place.
The drive to the park was uneventful. My eyes stayed dry. I felt comfort in my mission.
At the park I assembled the tandem and hit the trail.
This particular tandem is quite striking with a large, flat black frame with chrome wheels. It looked like a .... hearse!
I was going to ride the tandem in the fashion of the "unmanned horse".
There would be no rear passenger.
As I rode the 7 mile distance one person called to me... "Hey you forgot somebody". Lacking whit but having focus, I yelled back...
"no I didn't. She's right here..". and I tapped my backpack. I know they had no idea what I spoke of. It was not one of my more comedic moments.
What was I going to do?
How was I going to do this?
I had felt no need to plan and now I had my moment to....
I took off my backpack, read the inscription on the bench's plaque, and placed the backpack where Bon would have been sitting.
I sat for a moment waiting for inspiration.
Then, without hesitation, I removed my glove, reached into the backpack and removed the baggie.
Upon opening the baggie ashes were placed in an impromptu amount around the bench.
While walking around the bench I became aware that the group of older people I passed earlier at the 6 mile point were now present. They were seated in the surrounding benches behind me, sitting silently, watching.
I instinctively felt that they knew what was going on. I dared not make eye contact as it was taking all my control to keep from crying aloud.
There were still ashes in the bag.... now what?
The wind at this location usually blows inward from the water to the shore. This places the flow of air in your face as you view the water. The wind today was reversed. I could feel the air flowing through the back of my helmet... strongly as if a fan were placed inches from my head.
Standing at right corner of the bench and facing the water I tossed the now silken ashes into the air. Perfectly they evaporated like smoke carried into a breeze and over the water. A second pinch was perfectly thrown from the center of the bench, and the final perfect amount remained for the dust to carry away from where I was standing at the left side of the bench. "A trinity" came to mind.
I sat on the bench, and ate a granola bar in honor of the traditional snacking done at this bench.How was I going to do this?
I had felt no need to plan and now I had my moment to....
I took off my backpack, read the inscription on the bench's plaque, and placed the backpack where Bon would have been sitting.
I sat for a moment waiting for inspiration.
Then, without hesitation, I removed my glove, reached into the backpack and removed the baggie.
Upon opening the baggie ashes were placed in an impromptu amount around the bench.
While walking around the bench I became aware that the group of older people I passed earlier at the 6 mile point were now present. They were seated in the surrounding benches behind me, sitting silently, watching.
I instinctively felt that they knew what was going on. I dared not make eye contact as it was taking all my control to keep from crying aloud.
There were still ashes in the bag.... now what?
The wind at this location usually blows inward from the water to the shore. This places the flow of air in your face as you view the water. The wind today was reversed. I could feel the air flowing through the back of my helmet... strongly as if a fan were placed inches from my head.
Standing at right corner of the bench and facing the water I tossed the now silken ashes into the air. Perfectly they evaporated like smoke carried into a breeze and over the water. A second pinch was perfectly thrown from the center of the bench, and the final perfect amount remained for the dust to carry away from where I was standing at the left side of the bench. "A trinity" came to mind.
The wind was increasing. The air was streaming through my helmet vents to point that it could not be ignored. The sun was shining and the waves were now unusual.
The sunlight was reflecting oddly on the water. At first it looked like a few candles that had their stems illuminated as well as the flame. The visual impression was somewhat like a upside down U or ^ stretching upward. At first there were a few, then within seconds 10, 100, 1000, 2000, 10,000 the lake was aglow with incredible light. It was an absolutely amazing experience that transcends description. I grabbed a tissue to wipe my nose and suddenly I knew.
It was time to move on.
I stood slowly and once again avoided direct eye contact.-out of self preservation.
In my peripheral vision I could see the others look, and not look.
I mentally thanked them all for sharing this moment.
Upon approaching the tandem I observed that somehow, somewhere on the way from the car to this point, a pedal had spun off the crank and the pedal was now missing. The thought occurred to me. Yes, I am incomplete, but I'm still whole. A part of this (bike) is missing but it will go on!
I climbed aboard the tandem and never looked back. A few emergency stops had to be made on the return ride to utilize the remaining soggy tissues as best as possible. I never did find the missing pedal.
The ride home was also uneventful, but the morning obviously was not. There was a sense of.... the word is not closure... but completion that settled upon me (us) and I was at a comfortable point of acceptance.
In Loving Memory of Bonnie Patterson, April 26, 1959 - June 25, 2011.
In my peripheral vision I could see the others look, and not look.
I mentally thanked them all for sharing this moment.
Upon approaching the tandem I observed that somehow, somewhere on the way from the car to this point, a pedal had spun off the crank and the pedal was now missing. The thought occurred to me. Yes, I am incomplete, but I'm still whole. A part of this (bike) is missing but it will go on!
I climbed aboard the tandem and never looked back. A few emergency stops had to be made on the return ride to utilize the remaining soggy tissues as best as possible. I never did find the missing pedal.
The ride home was also uneventful, but the morning obviously was not. There was a sense of.... the word is not closure... but completion that settled upon me (us) and I was at a comfortable point of acceptance.
In Loving Memory of Bonnie Patterson, April 26, 1959 - June 25, 2011.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Make Me!!
A few weeks ago, before I started this blog, I was watching Joyce Meyers on TV and she had a message that struck my heart so strongly - instead of saying, "God, give me..." Joyce dared everyone to say, "God, make me...make me into what you want me to be." After her program had ended, I sat there mulling this over in my mind. I wonder what would happen if I asked God to make me into what He wanted me to be? I wonder what He'd have me do? Would I be able? Would I be ready? I thought, "What could I, a middle-aged, work-at-home, mom of 2 boys and wife possibly have to offer God that He doesn't already have people doing for Him?" And a little whisper in my heart replied, "Say it and see." Closing my eyes, bowing my head and gripping the arms of my chair, I whispered very softly, "God, make me into what you want me to be." I opened my eyes. I didn't feel any different, but then again, did He really hear me? After all, I barely whispered it. I turned my eyes upward through one of the skylights in my family room and searched the sky. "Did you hear me, Lord?" I took a deep breath, closed my eyes again, and said it again but louder..."God, make me into what you want me to be!." Wow, this was so freeing. "God, make me into what YOU want me to be!!" I won't have to worry about what I'm going to do with my life. "God make ME into what YOU want me to be!!!" God is in total control. "God, make ME into what YOU want ME to BE!!!!" I felt such joy and such freedom. Over the next few days, an overwhelming need came over me to write. This need was stronger than an itch that you can't reach. It was a nagging, a tugging on my heart leading me to my paper and pen and then to the computer where this blog was born. Was I scared? Absolutely. Terrified? You betcha!! Terrified of what people would think. Terrified of putting myself out there. But all the while I knew this is what God wanted me to do. He would equip me to learn how to blog and He would give me the right words to say. After all, God used every day people to do great things in the Bible. I'm sure Joshua was a bit shaky as he stepped into Moses's shoes, but what did God tell him? "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5). Sometimes our "equipment" is hidden inside of us bursting to get out and sometimes our "equipment" doesn't show up until the very last minute, but God will equip us. So, today, my friends. I'm gonna dare you!! I dare you to go to a quiet place today and ask God to make you into what He wants you to be. Go ahead, I dare you, I'll even double-dog dare ya!!! Don't be afraid. But remember to have something close by to hold onto, because God just might start moving you right where you are!!
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