I'm Back!

Hi Everyone! We got back from the beach Tuesday night and I am just now getting back to normal...what's normal, anyway?

Thank you so much for your prayers. They were really effective. I was able to walk in His grace and didn't over-indulge except a little bit.

Here is a picture of my daughter, Abigail with one of the 3 hermit crabs the kids found. I just love that expression!

Bye!

We are about to leave for a few days to go to the beach so please pray for me. Vacations are often a time when its easier for me to give into over-indulgence. I will "see" you all when we return!

Repentance

Repentance does not cause a sense of sin— it causes a sense of inexpressible unworthiness. When I repent, I realize that I am absolutely helpless, and I know that through and through I am not worthy even to carry His sandals. Have I repented like that, or do I have a lingering thought of possibly trying to defend my actions? The reason God cannot come into my life is that I am not at the point of complete repentance.

--Oswald Chambers,
"My Utmost for His Highest"
August 22nd

I Can't, But You Can.

I heard somebody say that humility says, "I can't, Lord, but you can."

Is this really true? I struggle with knowing how to depend on God with temptations. It feels like if I admit that I can't, then I am giving into the sin. It's like I don't know how to fully rely on God, I guess. Maybe it shows a lack of trust in my Savior. Ouch.

I think the Lord is teaching me how to obey Him IN Him. I must say that, although I've walked closely with Him for most of my life, this is new for me.

If you have any thoughts or scriptures to share on this topic, I welcome them. Prayer is also much appreciated.

When it seems like God is asking us to give up all of the fun the devil is offering us, let's remember...

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Dieting Is For The Dogs!

We are having a wonderful book discussion on "The Diet Alternative," and I just love the analogy that Laura made between dieting and a mean dog. She graciously allowed me to share it here as well. Thanks, Laura!

Compare and contrast the decision to address overeating as a spiritual issue versus addressing it with dieting.

I fully agree with what Diane says about dieting and the fact that it does not solve the heart issue of overeating. Dieting might work for someone who ate too much on a vacation and gained a few pounds but does not otherwise have any food issues. But if gluttony is the root, then dieting won’t cure it. It’s like putting a mean dog in a fenced yard. The dog can’t hurt anyone while fenced, but when it finds a way to get loose, it will be as mean—or meaner—than it was before. All dieting does is put a temporary “fence” around my eating behavior. But once the fence is gone (the diet is over), I still have the same “me” that couldn’t control my eating to begin with.

Is The Devil Bugging You?

“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7

I'm Still Here

I didn't mean to be "gone" so long, but it's been an extremely busy couple of weeks. Last week was my birthday and it seems like I had a week-long birthday celebration which was wonderful but left me hooked on sugar again and I had to go through 2 days of "detox." I am feeling better now. :-)

This week (actually today) is my oldest son's birthday so I have been busy with that but it has been fun. We went to the museum this morning and went to the Alico building (the tallest building in Waco) hoping to go to the top (Nathan's request,) but they no longer have an observation deck. :-( Still, just to give you an idea of his sweet personality, on the way to the van he said, "I'm glad we got to see the lobby of the Alico building!"

Later we will have a small family party. Get a load of this: His younger brother wanted to check out an Asian cookbook from the library. He loves geography and cooking, so it's a logical choice, I guess...anyways, he found a recipe for a Vietnamese banana cake and Nathan decided he wanted that for his birthday cake tonight. So I made it last night. Looks pretty good!

And I have been taking part in an off-site book discussion of "The Diet Alternative" which has been VERY good.

So, I'm off to HEB now but just wanted to check in and let you all know I am still here, still alive and still thinking of you.

I hope to post something more "Surrender-related" soon! ;-)

Once Free Always Free?

Here is a question on freedom from sin that a member of our book discussion posed recently. I thought it would be good to post it and invite others to address it. It's a great question!

Just a few days ago (after I asked the question about degrees of sin) I did a study on sin. Although I have been a Christian basically my whole life, I came to a deeper realization that Jesus is the way to freedom, (I realized that I hadn't really grasped the concept that we can be free. Before this I had never "experienced" freedom.) Do you think that once you're free you're free? Or is it a daily struggle against sin? Day after day I struggle with my eating habits but now since I'm free do I "stay free" or do I need to ask for freedom every day?

Technical Difficulties

The Book Discussion on the first chapter of "The Diet Alternative" will be up tonight or tomorrow. I am sorry for the delay, but I waited until the last minute (this morning) to post the questions and my techie husband and his friend who created the blog we will be using both have "real" jobs and won't be able to help me out until tonight. Thanks for your patience!

What Is Sin?

I got this from an old Revive Our Hearts podcast. To view the transcript for the entire podcast which is an interview with Joshua Harris on the effects of media, go here. (It's really good, BTW!)

Joshua: When John Wesley was in college, he wrote a letter to his mom asking the question, “What is sin?” I think he was looking for a catalog of activities.

Nancy: “The list.”

Joshua: Exactly; a list. I can imagine somebody listening to this about media, saying something like, “Okay, well, tell me what I’m not allowed to watch. Kind of give me a …”

Nancy: We’re not going to do that.

Joshua: Exactly. And neither did she. Mrs. Wesley wrote him back, and I just want to read what she said. I think it’s so wise. She said,

Take this rule: Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.

Book Discussion Will Happen Monday

Hi Everyone!

I apologize for being absent for most of the week. It has just been a very full week, but I have really been looking forward to beginning the book discussion Monday. And I have been thinking of you all and thanking the Lord for using us to help each other in our personal journeys to total surrender to Him!

So, if you are joining us, make sure you have your chapter read by Monday and be prepared to share your thoughts. Look for a post here on Monday which will have a link to another page with a pass-word protected post. I will e-mail you the password. Make sure I have your e-mail address if you have never gotten an e-mail from me.

And if you don't mind, just comment here if you are planning to join us. If you have time, let us know what you hope to gain through the discussion.

Toodles!