Lead me to green pastures....

In the midst of chaos God always shines His bright light of love on darkness. Last night a dear friend of mine had Gods amazing power shine greatly on a dark situation and used Psalm 23 to bring that light to lead to the green pastures...
I will not fear, you are with me (vs. 4). We need to know God so deeply and personally that NOTHING can separate us from His amazing anointing, goodness and LOVE.
In verse 4 it talks about His rod and staff bringing comfort. What I love about this verse is the rod and staff that David is referring to are shepards tools that the rod was to lead, guide, correct, rescuing the lost sheep and even beating away animals that were going to attack the sheep. Then the Staff was a tool that was meant for support. So just in those few words it says that God is our Leader, Guider, Corrector (which at times can be painful), Rescuer and our Supporter. What a sweet picture that as He does all these things His desire is to lead us to the green pastures and still waters. His desire is to bring REST to our souls.
God is so good and so faithful if you wait and listen for His leading. When we rush God we miss many lessons and miss ALL that He has for us.

Many victories... so here is my update on my journey with the Lord. This week was a few major milestones for me. I am now officially the lowest weight I have been since I gave birth to my youngest. I am at 164.2!!!! AND many small (but HUGE to me) victories this week. I can see my heart being transformed and no longer feel the overwhelming power and pull of the world to food. I am ok with waiting till I am hungry and being content with less. YES sometimes I mess up but the Lords sweet voice uses his Rod to bring correction and leads me back to the green pasture by my obedience to wait until I am hungry next. It's been such a sweet journey and it's not even close to being over but I do feel that this week I climbed some tough terrain and I feel victorious.
Moments of victory for me look like this...
** Being OK with a 3"sub from Subway
** Not even getting a meal when hungry and eating bites off my kids
** Not getting or taking bites of my kids donuts
** Today ends my 30 day fast from sweets and having no desire for them
** Going to the movies and not eating the whole bag of popcorn and not getting candy
** Eating out and having the waiter think that I didn't like the food because it looked like I hardly ate but instead I was just full.
These are all things that God gets the GLORY for because a few months ago I would have failed every moment. God is good and gracious to show up every time you seek Him but your heart has to be ready for the leading and guiding. But first you have to be willing to be honest with yourself and ready to admit you are a work in progress.

I encourage you to read 2 Peter 1: 2-11

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Determination...

Yesterday my son Blake was talking with his Dad and as they were talking about church that morning Blake lifted his shorts to show his Dad his "battle wounds" from that morning at church. Shocked at the broken blood vessels in this thighs I ask Blake what happened and he states that his class was learning about encouragement and he was chosen to hold this box that was really heavy. He said "I didn't want to let my team down, they were counting on me, so I kept holding it even though it hurt!!" This morning I was thinking on his determination and the way that he was persevering through the physical pain to not let people down. I am one proud mama and even though I hate to see my son hurt those are battle wounds that make my heart proud.
How many times do we give up in allowing the Lord to use us or mold us because it "hurts". How much should we value God and others that no matter how hard it got that we would not "put down that box". Or even follow through on what we say we will do.
Blake is one special boy and I love that kids heart to serve and do what he says he will do.
The Lord is so good and so patient in always waiting for that moment of us fully surrendering.

Here is the deal... my last post I was open and vulnerable and it scared me into thinking that I would fail so I neglected my blog and neglected my heart to stay in the game. I guess I kinda rested the box on my knee. So here is my plan... I am going to update once a week with my goals, challenges and struggles every Monday. This way I will be held accountable and not allow myself to slack off. I in no way want this to become a weight loss blog but I know that allowing God to mold this area of my life will be transforming for me and hopefully an encouragement for you to ask the Lord to reveal those places in your life that he is speaking to you about. I can say with 100% assurance that if you are not going through growing pains you cannot grow. So here is where I am at... I have lost one pound in the last few weeks. My goal is to lose 2 a week but will be happy with one.

Alright... let's not put down the box and let the Lord down.... let's do what we say we are going to do because the Lord and other people are counting on us... let's move toward what the Lord is wanting to rid in your life (trust me victory is so much sweeter than walking in the desert for a lifetime).

Hebrews 12 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

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