Just as I am....

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed and out of control. When our situations feel to big for us to handle. In these times it is so easy to turn to what we know feels good and what we know will take us out of our situation. Many times, whatever it is we have always used to cope is no good for us. I know for me the first thing I tend to do is start thinking that I need to get a job and move out of my parents house. I know that I am called to to be a SAHM and that I am called to homeschool my daughter but there are many days that the devil whispers in my ear that I shouldn't be living at home. He will tell me, "You are a single mom. You should be working and taking care of you daughter alone." How crazy is that?!? ALONE! I never have to do anything alone. God did not create us that way. We are not to work alone. We are made for relationships and the greatest of all these relationships is the one we have with Jesus. There is never a time when we are alone. God showed me a great example of this this morning. Hagar felt alone when Sarah had her sent away. Hagar had absolutely no control of her life. First she was used by Sarah to provide her with a baby. Then, when she got pregnant Sarah got mad. It didn't seem fair how her life was going but God saw her pain. God told her to go back to her mistress (Genesis 16:1-15, Life Recovery Bible pg. 25). God does not want us to run from our problems. We have to face them head on AND we have to know that we are NOT alone! God is always with us!

When reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young this morning I was lead to read Psalm 119: 105-112:

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
I've promised it once, and I'll promise it
again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again as you promised.
Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your
instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not run from your
commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart's delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.

That is quite a prayer and one that I will use in the coming days. The Psalmist says, "Restore my life again as you promised." God has promised to restore our life. That is amazing. it doesn't matter where we come from or where we are going. It doesn't matter how rich or poor, big or small, significant or insignificant we are or feel. God will restore our lives! Once I really realized this in my own life my desires slowly lined up with those of God's. What an amazing feeling it is! And when this happens there is a desire to want to make God smile. To want to please God in all we do. This is where I want my number one priority! Even when I think that everything around me is falling apart and I begin to believe what I do doesn't matter that is when I must remember that I am doing what I do unto the Lord and because of that it means everything. Just as the Psalmist says, "Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart's delight." It is great to be a princess! It is great to have a Father so absolutely amazing! I thank God for being all He is and loving me just as I am.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYPQl93zro

You are not in control




"If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

Wow, this statement basically describes my life. I can list for you a ton of times that I thought I was in control. Times that I thought I had it all together. Times that I would have told you everything was okay and there was NO way I would give into certain temptations yet, things would always get all messed up. And when I say messed up I mean in a way in which I would become miserable and cry myself to sleep night after night giving into the very thing that I swore I would never do again. I believe this is what happens to the person that is saved but does not understand what a relationship with Jesus is. I lived for many years saved but not understanding what it meant. I had NO clue that I could have such a close relationship with Jesus. I had no clue that I could turn to Him every time I had a problem and that I should thank Him in everything. I had no idea I needed to pray at all times and rejoice in Him. I thought that yes, there were many things I needed to give up but I had to do it all on my own. I am so glad that now I see that I cannot do any of it on my own. Oh, if I had just learned this a long time ago it would have saved me so much heartache. But, I am glad that my life has turned out as it has because it has made me the person that I today. God tells us that there isn't a hurt wasted (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) and that all things will lead to good (Romans 8:28). I can see that in my life now and it makes me happy. I pray that God will lead me to others that are going through what I went through and that I can, with God's help, help them along the way. Now I know that if I feel like I have it all together I need to go straight to God because we can't have it all together without Him. If I start feeling like I can't fall I RUN to Jesus so that He can catch me because I will fall! Without Him I will fall right on my face every time and it hurts! I know that God will always show me a way out of every problem. This he promises us BUT we have to ask him. We can't just assume we can do it alone.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 9:13

It is worth the wait :)

I know that when I worry I begin to feel anxious and out of control. Also, when I think about the future I begin to feel tense. Always wondering what is going to become of my life. I know that I am called to go to school for professional ministries but why? What will I do? I know that I am called to homeschool my daughter but what will I do when she is graduated? I know that I a called to wait....wait RIGHT where I am at. But why? It is the why that I have to remind myself not to worry about. It will all be done in God's time and I know this. He is the only one that knows these things. He knows what His plans are and will reveal them when the time is right. So, I must live one day at a time! I know this but it can be hard. As matter of fact, with out God leading my every move it cannot be done.

Wednesday night Bible study has taught me alot about this. We are doing the Resolution book right now. We just finished the part on contentment. I always thought I was sooooo content with my life. But, God has shown me that as long as I am worrying about the future ALL the time the contentment is not there. He has to come first in my life in order for there to be contentment. "But godliness with contentment brings great gain." (Colossians 3:13). It says 'godliess with contentment'. It doesnt' say just contentment. This is telling us that without godliness there can be no contentment.

So, what will I do with this knowledge? I will live each day like it is my last not worrying about what the future holds. Does this mean not planning for my future? No, that would be irresponsible. It just means that I will not worry about it. And when things don't go exactly my way I will remember that my life is God's life. I belong to Him and His timing is good!

We Belong to God

Doubting is a very normal thing and happens quite ofen when one is forced to battle some sort of addiction or painful situation. It is hard to believe that God is really a good God and that he lets these things happen to us. I know that I have had doubts in the past and even today doubt my ability in many many things! But I have to remember that when God calls me He gives the grace I need for that calling. One day at a time...sometimes....one minute at a time. He tells us to not worry about tomorrrow so I am chosing not to. I will live in the present.

We all know that there are people all around us that seem to just get get get and never have a need and they live these ridiculous lives and do whatever they want. And we thing, "Wow, if only I could live like that still achieve my goals!" LOL! I laugh because that is just an insane way to think. God has our backs and there is no better way to live.

Psalm 73 is written by one who has struggled with these very things. He doubts and doesn't understand why there are evil people around him that seem to get whatever they want. BUT...he finally realizes that God is good and that his heart was bitter. He belongs to God...just as we do!

Be blessed,
Dawn

(oringinally posted on:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=dawnbelieves)

Another Pound Gained :)

Well, I did it! I went to Weight Watchers Thursday night and weighed in. I know I know...I have been talking about feeling free and not weighing in and all of that BUT I just couldn't help myself :) And...I had gained a pound. Really not to bad as I havein't been keeping a real close eye on what I am eating. I am back to watching what I eat more. I still am not counting points though. I am doing simply filling. For those that don't know what that is it is almost the same as Intuitive eating but you can't eat just any food out there. You have ot eat power foods. You can do a google search of power foods and see what they are. I enjoy it though. I can still eat when I am hungty and eat the amount i want. I just have ot be sure it is a power food. I love many of the power foods so that is not really a problem for me. So, here goes nothing. Still living that healthy lifestyle and gonna see where it takes me. As far as the pound I gained: Suprizingly I am really not worried about it. As long as I am eating healthy and exercising and doing the best I can, well, my weight just doens't matter as much :)

Be blessed,
Dawn

(originally post on: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=dawnbelieves)

My tracker

Here is where I track all my health stuff.....exercise, veges, water. Gotta love some sparkpeople!

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=dawnbelieves

Feeling FREE!

Two days as an intuitive eater and loving it! I think I am actually eating less by doing this. I don't eat a snack because my points require it. And I don't eat lunch at noon even if I am not all that hungry. I wait for my body to tell me that I am hungry then I fuel up! I am still making healthy choices of course. I am making sure to get in my four to five fruits and veges and of course two dairies. I am also making sure to drink lots of water. I am going to start tracking that stuff on the quick track section of my homepage since I am not counting calories or points anymore. It is very freeing!

Now I just have to decide how often I am going to weigh in. I was doing it once a week with Weight watchers but I think I am not going to do it nearly as often. Maybe once a month....or even less....once every two or three months. Not sure yet....gotta pray about it and really think it through. I know that my weight only shows a small part of my progress and when I weigh to much I tend to obsess about it and that is just not healthy. I need to take the focus off of my weight and get it on to things more important. Like just generally taking care of myself. Making good healthy food choices. Remembering that my food is my fuel and I have to eat what my body needst to stay fueled up. And also, exercise. I am going for 750 minutes a month of exercise. I think I can do it most months. But with this yucky cold I have right now I am not sure if I am going to make it this month. We will see. I still haven't decided if I want to do my zumba today. I really don't feel up to it and I have ot start listening to my body more. I think in this case my body is telling me to go one more day without a workout. I can take my dogs on a extra lap in the neighborhood. That is not near as intense as zumba but as least I would still get in some activity.

Be blessed,
Dawn