ENCOURAGED IN HEART

A personal revolution or midlife crisis???

You decide.

Rollerblading is no joke. Well, watching me rollerblade is a joke (as evidenced by those around me).

Cal learned how to ride on his two-wheeled bike while his Momma learned how to inch along pavement with wheels on her feet. The Finkster was Cal’s personal coach and Jake was mine.

I don’t know if rollerblading is here to stay or just a phase, but I am enjoying learning something new. As a bonus round, I’ve single-handedly have brought a new level of laughter into my family. Sure, it’s laughter more at me and less with me but laughter is good nonetheless.

Have you ever rollerbladed? What’s something new that you’ve tried or thinking of trying this year? Did you enjoy it?

I just wanted you to know that I’ve been avoiding typing this post for oh, only about THREE MONTHS.

Addicts are exceptionally gifted at avoiding.

We use our vice (such a smooth sounding word for sin) to escape and avoid the truth.

Here’s the truth.

I’ve avoided Lucy.

I’ve avoided writing about my monthly bling and having fun watching my weight because of five stinkin’ pounds.

So, I’ve avoided writing about it all together.

Oh yeah, and I’ve made excuses. Extremely good (okay, lame) excuses.

A “busy life” is the top excuse I default to. The same life that I schedule. The same life that I own and am responsible for.

These past listening prayer times with God have been refining times. God’s asking both the Finkster and I to refine and align our lives more towards His heart instead of our schedule.

Not make Him around our schedules but to make our schedules about Him, not around Him.

Schedules and business can be idols if they keep me from pursuing God’s best.

I think it’s odd, but incredibly special in an oddly special kind of way, that God spoke to me through dead flowers.

Dig in, dig out the old and choose a new life.

I’m no quitter.

I used to be ashamed that I was 70 pounds overweight. Today, I’m ashamed that I’m missing my goal by 5 pounds.

If my emotional eating addiction is what brings me closer to the heart of Christ and ultimately dependent on Him, then what else can I really say but, “Thanks, Lord!” The gift of snow in spring is a gift.

And so is the colorful new life that greets me each morning!

Do you schedule God around your plans or plan your schedule around God?

Last night I begged God for help.

A brownie box beckoned and it spoke loud. It urged me to get my eat on’. But I wasn’t hungry. I was just laying there on the couch, quietly reading a book and BLAM-O…the brownie box busted the blissful silence.

It was the perfect set up.

The boys were in bed and the Finkster was at the fire department. No one would know.

Addiction is secretive.

Calories eaten alone don’t “count”.

Addiction is isolating.

I missed my monthly goal weight this month. There’s no bling.

Addiction is intense.

What’s a little taste gonna do to hurt me now?

Addiction is persuasive.

My former pastor spoke about how he’d grab a spoon and eat straight from a bag of sugar. There’s no way I could judge the dude cause I’d crack open a brownie mix, add water and go for it. Yeah, that’s right…no oven involved. Addicts find different ways to get their “fix”. And last night, I wanted a “fix”.

Addiction is not pretty.

I have a very difficult time asking for help.

But I did. I asked God for help.

And God hooked me up.

I know this post won’t generate comments.

Addiction is shameful.

But I’m writing it anyway; because I’m grateful.

Yesterday morning I read Psalm 107 in my private time. Three points jumped off the page.
1. Call out to God in your desperate condition
2. He’ll get you out in the nick of time
3. Give thanks to the LORD for his marvelous love

Then the sermon yesterday reminded me that Jesus was tempted in everyway, but he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

God gave me the weapons of warfare in the morning because He knew I’d be doing battle that night. How’s that for some seriously sweet detailed love? This post is my thanks for His marvelous love. We all need a helping hand from time to time. Brownie boxes can be very loud ya know.

Maybe you’re addicted to food…
Or shopping.
Or pride.
Or alcohol.
Or worry.
Or pornography.
Or gossip.
Or rage.
Or work.
Or sex.
Or drugs.
Or being right all the time.
Or anger.
Or smoking.
Or big spiffy titles.

God silenced a very loud brownie box last night.

I want to encourage you today, whatever you struggle with, invite God in. Ask Him for help. Okay?

Okay.

Then, find a way to pay it forward…to give thanks to God.

I just did and I hope you will too.