This is my before and after picture after losing 145 pounds by God's grace. I'm finding it easier to chase after the dreams God has put in my heart since I've reached my healthy BMI range. Anyone else who has a lot of weight to lose, please be encouraged, stay strict on your diet plan, and you can have great results! I lost 145 lbs in 19 months. The end result is worth every single sacrifice- I promise!
In the picture on the left I was battling depression, self-image issues, knee problems, back problems, stomach problems, and plantar fasciitis. In the picture on the right I was just about to walk into my interview to become a licensed minister. I passed the interview and my license will arrive in the mail any time. Praise God. (I went to globaluniversity.edu to the Berean School of the Bible if anyone has thought about going to online Bible school.) That was another of my goals, and with God's help I reached it. Let's draw closer to God and chase after our goals today!
This morning I received an email from a beautiful lady, and I feel the same way she does about this and love the way she worded it. She gave me permission to share about the spiritual refinement and closeness with God she finds when honoring the Lord with her health:
"I find myself so much more open to the spirit of God when I am honoring my physical body by eating right and am at a healthy weight. And it is a striking difference. I feel love, joy and peace much more abundantly and I praise God naturally. I also feel more love for others. The only word that comes to mind when I try to describe it is a spiritual refinement - being more connected with my own spirit, and thereby God's."
I'm thankful for this sweet lady, and for her honesty. Isn't it true that it is easier to draw close to God and to reach our goals when we are making healthy choices for our bodies? If you have found this to be true in your own life, please share about it in the comments or send me an email.
What's your next big goal? Feel free to share it in the comments or email me about it at mrs.marlene.bishop@gmail.com.
Change
isn't easy. Whether we are moving to a new place, starting a new job, or
adjusting to life without someone we loved, change brings with it a specific
pain and struggle. God's Word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus." A grateful heart can handle life's changing winds more
easily.
Lauren Daigle's song "Trust in You" reminds me that when life
is changing in a really confusing way and God doesn't appear to be answering
our prayers the way we had hoped He would, we can still trust Him. Here
are some of the lyrics from her song:
"Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings; There’s not a day ahead
You have not seen; Your plans are always good; There’s not a place where I’ll
go, You’ve not already stood; I will trust in You! Truth is, You know what
tomorrow brings; There’s not a day ahead You have not seen; Your plans are
always good; There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood; I
will trust in You! When You
don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move; When You don’t part the
waters I wish I could walk through; When You don’t give the answers as I cry
out to You; I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!"
Job gives us a beautiful example of praising God and hoping in Him
in spite of disappointment and change (he had lost almost everything) in Job
1:21: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name
of the Lord be praised.” In
Job 13:15, he said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in
him." I am going through a season of change in my life right now so
when I read an article earlier this morning about three things to do when
struggling with change, my heart stirred because Abby Perry had written so
exquisitely about things I could relate to, and she had given advice for
dealing with the struggle.
Here is a quote from the article from the section where Perry encourages
us to look for new opportunities to serve others inside the new seasons we
encounter in life, "Change often brings a new group of people or issues
into our view. When our second child was born with special needs, I suddenly
“saw” a whole group of mothers I hadn’t seen before, at least not as clearly. I
suddenly had doctors and specialists orbiting around my son, many of whom do
not know Jesus. I suddenly had the opportunity to embody reliance on the Spirit
in a new way. None of these were (or are) easy, but by the Spirit’s power, I
have been able to write and serve in new ways because of this change. Keep your
eyes open for ways to contribute to kingdom flourishing in your changing
season, and put your hands to the plow. He is with you."
Her
article is very encouraging. Read more
here: http://www.ibelieve.com/faith/3-things-to-do-when-you-are-struggling-with-change.html I
am determined to be grateful for the opportunities that change gives me to
truly "see" whole groups of people I had never truly seen or
understood before. I will embrace change because it will give me new
things to write about! It will give me new ways to serve and new things
to praise God for! Let’s thank God for the truth of Malachi 3:6: "I
the LORD do not change.” Even when life is shifting underneath us, our
God remains steady. Let's embrace gratefulness by faith today so that when
change and disappointment comes, we are ready.
7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
I want to remind you that God is deeply concerned about your troubles, and it honors Him when you choose to have faith and trust Him instead of giving in to worry and fear. If you are battling anxiety, ask yourself whether you are taking responsibility for things God never intended or handling situations in a way that God never asked you to handle them. We often become burned out because we are taking on things that God never ask us to shoulder.
I am determined to make it my habit to cast my cares on the Lord! And I'm not going to pick them up again! I'm resolved not to tell God how to deal with my problems- He doesn't need my help. Praise God! Our God is in control and He sustains us!
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
It is my prayer that instead of desperately striving to to feel like our little lives are under our control, that we would sit back, relax, and know that our God has it all under control and that He is faithful. In His presence, we can become detached from the crazy going on around us because instead of focusing on our circumstances, our souls are becoming more deeply rooted and grounded in the eternal rather then in the temporal.
Nothing in this world can touch the peace we have in Christ. Let's seek God's face so that we will have His perspective for our lives. These Brandon Heath lyrics come to mind, "Give me Your eyes for just one second, Give me Your eyes so I can see, Everything that I keep missing" Let's ask God to give us His eyes so we can see our lives from His perspective today. I am so thankful that we serve a God who we can trust and cling to even when our days are frazzled and confusing. The Prince of Peace gives us an inner calm that is not dependent on what is going on around us.
We can be encouraged in the midst of exhausting seasons of life because the God we are depending on has overcome the world, so we can too- by His strength. Psalms 105:3b-4 (NIV) "3 Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Let's retrain our minds so that right when our stress levels begin to rise, instead of turning to our electronic devices for contact or distraction, we automatically look to the LORD and His strength and seek His face with joy in our hearts. Let's unplug from electronics more often and just drink a cup of coffee or tea while pouring out our souls to the God who loves us so much that He died to save us. He deserves our undivided affections, and He is faithful when we depend on Him. This verse is both an invitation to enjoy the comforting presence of the Lord as well as a gentle reminder that we can come to Him for the strength we need each day.
Let's choose to live in the power of the Holy Spirit today instead of giving in to defeat and discouragement. We must make it our steady choice each day to rely on God and on His grace in our weakness so that we can be victorious. As we spend time drawing closer to God in prayer, we will become closer to Him and more connected to Him for all that we need. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Instead, let's joyfully expect to see God's power at work in our lives!
I don't understand why I'm going through what I'm going through, but I know my Almighty God, and He has a purpose for my struggle. I don't know what your burdens are, but I want to encourage you to cast your cares on the LORD today, and trust Him to sustain you! He won't let you be shaken! My pastor reminded me on Sunday of this beautiful hymn chorus: "Jesus is the answer, for the world today, Above Him there's no other, Jesus is the way." He is the Way: choose the peace of resting in Jesus today.
After watching this video of an adorable, wise little 6-year-old girl named Tiana trying to convince her mom to get along with her dad this morning, my heart broke for families going through any of the stages of divorce. Because of this, I decided to post the article below about how to help children to heal after divorce. The article below is written by Laura Petherbridge of Focus on the Family:
Healing after divorce is a lengthy process, and it begins with you. Children can emotionally survive divorce with fewer scars if you stabilize yourself, then your child. Here are some suggestions on how the healing process can unfold for both of you: Find a support group. The best way for your child to heal is for you to get healthy and strong first. The group should offer encouragement, tools and coping skills. It should also provide the camaraderie you need so your child isn't forced to be your comforter and counselor. A role like that isn't healthy for a child and only compounds his pain. Look for a church that offers a divorce support group for kids, too. Communicate the truth. Make it clear that your child had nothing to do with the divorce. Explain that this is between you and your former spouse and not his fault. Reassure him that he is loved and wanted by both parents.
In an age-appropriate manner, tell him the truth. If you don't discuss things openly, you will create anxiety for your child and cause him to question your honesty about other issues. If your wife has left the home for another relationship, say something like, "Your mom has decided she doesn't want to live with me anymore. She wants to be with another man, but she still loves you very much."
Most important, communicate that God is your family's protector and provider. Let your child know that God hates divorce and understands his pain. Make changes slowly. Give your child a chance to adjust to your new family structure. It's difficult enough for a child to be separated from a parent, but if she loses family members, familiar sights and sounds of home, school, friends, church and neighbors, it's even more traumatic. Some of these adjustments might be necessary, but try to prevent as many as possible. Wait to date. It's best to let at least two years pass before getting involved in another relationship, giving you and your child time to heal from the divorce. At the very least, don't date until the divorce is final. You are still married. Honor God and your marriage vows. This will model personal integrity to your child. Even after the divorce is final, focus on your healing and your child's needs. You are highly vulnerable, and another relationship too soon could cause more hurt and confusion for everyone.
Give God time to mend your heart, restore you and teach you how to forgive yourself and your ex-spouse. Ask God to give you a new vision for your life. Let your child love the other parent. Don't allow insecurity or hurt to hinder your child's relationship with your former spouse. Help your child pick out birthday cards and gifts when necessary. Your child will be relieved that you are giving her permission to love the other parent.
Never bash the other parent. This may be difficult, but you must refrain from negative talk about your ex-spouse for the sake of your child. Discipline consistently. Don't let any self-imposed guilt related to your child's loss hinder you from being a diligent parent. Remember, trials and perseverance build character. Consistent discipline, healthy boundaries and chores make a child feel safe. Let kids be kids. Keep conversations about finances, visitation schedules, family disputes and other difficult issues away from your child. Do not use him to relay information or put him in the center of disputes. Preserve and protect his innocence.
Divorce deals a devastating blow to a child, no matter what the world may say about it. Remain sensitive to your child and make her healing a priority.
Remember, God is sufficient to heal and restore hope to every heart — even your child's. Your job is to provide a safe, stable and godly home. The rest is up to Him.
(A Devotional Note Based on Scripture Written to you for your Encouragement as Though it is from the Lord)
When you pray, do you
take time to draw close to Me and pour your heart out to Me?I miss the closeness that we used to
have.When you read My Word, are you
giving Me any time to speak to you personally about what you are learning and
studying?Are you too busy to do that
which is best: take time to be alone with Me and listen to Me?Let Me refill you when you are depleted!Pray about every facet of your life so that
you will stay spiritually anchored to Me: I will keep you safe and still in the
storm.Let Me use My Word to remind you
what My promises are for your life.Let
me remind you who you are as opposed to the labels the accuser claims you
bear.Don’t be weighted down by burdens
I have said are not yours to carry!Draw
close to Me; feel my arms around you.Take
time to get to know Me: I am the most important part.
Luke 10:38-42; James 4:8; Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me.It’s not that I don’t read your Word at all;
sometimes I even read it for hours doing research for a project or a Bible
study, but I am so sorry that I often
do not stop and listen to what You might be trying to say to me through Your
Word.Please teach me to get still in
Your presence and sit at your feet during our alone time together.Thank You.
A Note Based on Scripture That Has Been Written to You and as Though it was from God:
Be still and wait patiently for Me. Trust in Me and do good; live in safety and peace. I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind! Give thanks in all circumstances- this is My will for you. Delight yourself in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. Confess with your mouth that I am LORD and believe in your heart that I was raised from the dead, and be saved. If you are in Me, you are a new creation! Old things are passed away. Look! All things have become new! Commit your way to Me; trust in Me and I will do this: I will make your righteousness and justice shine like the dawn! I will make your innocence like the noonday sun!
Father, thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. I love You so much and I want to be closer to You! Thank You that Your Word comes alive and comforts me when I read it- I love the way it applies perfectly to what I am going through. Thank You so much Father!
