Start Again Tomorrow...

   Good Monday Morning to you all! I just wanted to share something that I have been going through this past weekend. As I told all of you, I started this journey on March 6th. It has been a great journey with slow/steady progress (slow progress means your doing it right).
But, sometimes my desire for instant gratification gets the best of me. Maybe its the desire for accomplishment or maybe to feel like I'm doing something right. Whatever it is, I began this past week doing this journey in my own strength. 
   I have been doing all the same things I normally would do in this study, but my motivation made a switch back to my old ways of thinking. I cannot really pinpoint the exact moment, but I started putting the 'act' of the Bible study ahead of my actual time spent with the Lord in prayer about all of this; ahead of my time seeking His Word for my own heart. That switch in my thinking has caused me to make some old familiar choices this past weekend (yes, several small sessions with the Doritos bag). So, why am I sharing this with you? Were they choices so significant that anyone would be able to tell? Probably not! But, I would know. More importantly, God knows! So, I have to be honest with you. Here's why: Failure is always an option!
   That sounds hard and deflating, I know. But it's true. Just because we're tracking along, doing well, doesn't mean that we won't face those old temptations that led us here in the first place. Will we have moments of weakness? Yes. That's a given. Is this where we throw in the towel and say, "what's the point?" No! We have to do this, not for the physical benefit, not even for the mental changes, but for the time of drawing close to the Father's heart. That's what this is all about! If for one moment our eyes are removed from the actual 'prize', then we run the risk of falling prey to our temptations for unhealthy food.
   Here's my point, I cannot keep you all from stumbling. Heck! I cannot keep myself from stumbling. Only God can do that. That's why we must do this in His strength. Most of all, when we mess up, we must decide to get back up and do this again. Frank Laubach once wrote of his constant struggle to keep God in his every waking thought, "this philosophy that one can begin all over instantly at any moment is proving of great help." He also pointed out this truth, "if this record of a soul struggle to find God is to be complete, it must not omit the story of difficulty and failure." I must adamantly agree. For we have to understand allowing God to pull us back up onto our knees, admit our wrong, accept His mercy and move forward again in His grace. We don't have to wait until tomorrow to start again. We can start in the very next moment. 
I am so thrilled to be doing this with you all. Most of all I'm so thankful that I have a God who never gives up on me, even when I mess up! He is so good! 


I'll post again later today to pick-up with the food suggestions we talked about. 

Days 5 & 6

Hey Ladies! I hope and pray that your week has been eye-opening as you begin this journey. Hopefully you've been able to take this message to heart and have decided to make some lasting changes. I got a little off on my counting, so here are Days 5 & 6 together.


Day 5:
Today she had us read chapter 3 of the book. If you don't have a copy yet, here are some highlights:

• We cannot 'wish' our way to a healthier body - it will take effort, intentionality, sweat equity and determination.
• If we only make temporary changes, we will get temporary results!
• Poor food choices will rat us out - every time!
• Step 1: Get a Plan - Do your research, consult your physician (especially if you have medical conditions) and create a REALISTIC PLAN for yourself
• Step 2: Get Accountability - Our group can act as accountability for each other. That's actually what this blog is all about. Please use this as a tool to voice your opinions, struggles, weaknesses and especially victories!
• The mental and spiritual changes we make now will equip us for the long haul.

Day 6:

This one is self-directed, so jump in! 

***I'll see you ladies tomorrow night at 6:45pm. Please remember to bring your Bibles and $8.00 if you haven't yet paid for your participant's guide. 

Day 3 & Day 4:


Hi Ladies! I hope that you are doing well and that you've been able to keep up with the daily personal study. I'll be honest and tell you that  for the last two days this weather has made it incredibly hard on my eyes to read. So, I have been getting caught up this morning. But, that's part of the grace Lysa talks about in Day 2's study. So, let's start with Day 3. 


If you have the book, you were able to read chapter 2. If you don't, here are some highlights:

• When we make vows to 'do better' in our own strength (not fully surrendered), we make rationalizations, excuses and promises for later. Always later (I have done this for 18 months now with food and with other promptings of the Holy Spirit). 
• "I knew it was something God was challenging me to surrender to His control. Surrender to the point where I'd make radical changes for the sake of my spiritual health more than my physical health." (Did you catch that last phrase? Please don't be deceived and think that this struggle isn't related to your spiritual struggle. This may be the area that God truly needs you to surrender so you can experience your true breakthrough). 
• She asks that raw question - "Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?" At the bottom of page 23(participant's guide - or PG), in Day 4, Lysa puts a quote from chapter 2. This quote should strike our hearts. Read that now. She backs that up with this statement: "I hated admitting that. I felt stupid admitting that. I felt like a spiritual failure."
• Does God really care about our food choices? Yes! But it's more than the food itself. It's deeper. Read Psalm 78:17-19. God's response to the Israelites was anger. It's about our trust in His power and sufficiency to meet our needs, desires, cravings.
• Remember from Day 2's study that our weakness in this area could actually be our best qualification for grace? (I love that positive spin) Well, this is how. We start using our cravings as opportunities to pray. Pray always! It's not easy, but doable. 

And now we move to Day 4. But Day 4 is actually pretty self-explanitory. Just remember:

"God has you covered, head to toe."

Day Two:


How are you all doing today? I hope you're able to get logged in and have been able to start your personal study. Today's study will take a bit more time, but not too much. Lysa is trying to get to some background information with you that maybe you haven't thought about before in your cravings/desires for certain foods as well as give you Biblical basis for tactics the enemy uses to distract and disable us. If you have any comments, feel free to leave one on today's post. Hope you all have a fantastic Saturday and I'll see most of you tomorrow!

Day One

I hope that last night’s study was a jumping point for you in your journey to a healthier YOU. Today, I’d like for you to go back through the participant’s guide and answer the questions we didn’t have time to get to last night. Remember, before you start, pray Psalm 139:23-24. God is faithful to do what you ask in His name!

Next – Do Personal Bible Study (pg.19) from the Participant's Guide.

If you have Made To Crave (the book), go ahead with Day 1.

If you don’t have the book, there is a free copy of the Introduction to Made To Crave at madetocrave.org under the ‘freebies’ section. Reading through the introduction is valuable because she explains more of the Spirit/Soul/Body importance of this journey.

Now, I’d like to open up the discussion board to everyone. If you have a response to a certain question in the guide, or maybe have a thought you’d like to share, please do so. Remember, Satan wins when we isolate ourselves from others. We are not alone in our struggles. That is empowering!