by Cathy Baker | Faith |
“I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.”
– Alanis Morisette
Our body, God’s instrument. His temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Countless weight-loss resolutions have fallen by the proverbial wayside of my life. Intentions that began strong on January 1st grew weary by February 1st and toppled over from exhaustion by March. My goal always focused on a number on a scale, fitting into a particular pair of pants, or avoiding the forbidden food list.
Not this year.
God placed two specific women in my life in 2012. Amy and Patti Jo — two women crazy in love with their God who desire to glorify Him in every way, including how they care for their bodies. Both have a profound understanding of how God desires to use the physical body as His instruments of love, grace, peace and mercy. He is certainly using them to be all these things in my life. (Thank You, Lord)
Both Amy and Patti Jo are my accountability partners as we kick off 2013. One, I meet with once a week and the other I will touch base with, or personally meet with, every other week. (Thank you, friends!) Oh, the beauty discovered in true community.
SEEKing God’s ultimate glory by the way I care for my body is a new mindset. Will I fail at times? Yes.
My goal, however, no longer revolves around my weight loss, but rather, God’s gain.
I have a feeling I’m not alone on this journey so I’ve listed a few links you may also enjoy.
- Only A Breath. Melanie designed the One-Word button above for free (and she’s as sweet as they come!). A recent post includes an announcement that she’s beginning a new blog, Real Food Experiment.
- 8 Weeks To A Better Body. Check out the healthy banana bread and spinach smoothies!
- Raw Energy, by Stephanie Tourles. It’s a Kindle January special – $2.99.
Do you have any tips or links you’d like to share? I’d love to hear about them!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Jesus is the best gift of all. Jesus is THE gift. Today and every day.
Merry Christmas!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
(I’m teaching Piper colors via vintage Shiny Brites!)
Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
It may be Piper’s second Christmas (She’s 13 months today!) but in many ways it’s her very first, for this year she marvels at the Christmas lights, Grammy’s Shiny Brites and her daddy’s handmade ornaments, crafted during his childhood.
The wonder of a child. It’s a beautiful thing.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you
planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of
them, they would be too many to declare. -Psalm 40:5
Father, help us to rediscover our child-like wonder as we consider You and the many unspeakable things You are doing in and around us today.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Who would guess that an empty twenty-year old box of Nestle Quik could still evoke a smile with every December glance? Perhaps this post from 2008 will answer the question. The last paragraph is especially meaningful now that we have our sweet granddaughter (and a grandson on the way!) to share it with.
————————-
To most, this is a simple (and bare) Nestle Quik container. To me,
however, this brightly lidded container represents a priceless treasury
trove of memories.
When the boys were little, we created a
Christmas tradition that if they behaved throughout the day, they could
draw one or two slips of paper from the container and we, as a family,
would have to do whatever it said. Good behavior + family activities =
success! I’m not sure what it is with me and slips of paper, but here
were some of the activities they found inside:
- Ride through Fountain Inn and look at the lights
- Work on the Christmas puzzle (we tried to complete one a season – I think we need to reintroduce this one!)
- Rent a Christmas movie or watch one of ours. Make some popcorn and cocoa. Change seats during commercials.
- Family Instrument Night! (Can anyone say ear plugs?)
- Sleep on couch bed (this folded out in our den where they could fall asleep watching Christmas movies)
- Turn off all the lights in the house except for the tree lights and watch the classic “Santa Claus” together as a family.
- Make up your own version of the “12 Days” and share it with everyone.
- Each
family member does an acrostic for the word “Christmas”. Time limit:
10 minutes. Share it with the group and then display them in the house.
- Pray for all those who have sent us Christmas cards.
- Make a pallet for sleeping under the Christmas tree, turn on the tree lights and turn off all others. (The boys loved this!)
- Choose your favorite Christmas CD to play. TV off!
Brian
and I enjoyed creating traditions for the boys while they were growing
up. We felt it gave them a sense of security and stability — something I
could never offer them during their very early years when I had no
relationship with Jesus.
We had a lot of fun, great memories were
made, and one day (in the future!) I hope to pull out the Quik canister
again. Can anyone say grandchildren? 🙂
What’s one of your favorite family traditions — past or present?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Favorite “seasonal” quotes followed by small offerings of prayer.
God is the friend of silence. See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grow in silence? The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. -Mother Teresa
Lord, how can we give from an empty reservoir? In silence, strengthen us from the inside out. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. -Luke 2:19
Lord, forgive us when the thoughts of perfect decorating and the pressure of picking out just-the-right gift weigh heavier within than the celebration of You.
Beauty is God’s handwriting. -Charles Kingsley
Oh Lord, how we love Your penmanship! Awaken us to each curvature and sweep of Your creative hand this season. We will be quick to give You praise.
Miss Piggy has two hundred sprigs of mistletoe–and I try to avoid them. -Kermit The Frog
Lord, empower me to run hard towards those in need of love and not to give in to the temptation of avoidance. Help me to embrace Your boldness.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
Lord, You are with us even when we don’t see, feel, or sense Your nearness. May we never take the unspeakable gift of Your presence in our lives for granted. Help us to rest in Your truth when our flesh tempts us to believe otherwise.
Advent is primarily about the coming of God, and only in a secondary way about our asking, seeking, waiting, and longing. There is hope, because we are unconditionally loved, whatever may be our failures, our tepidity, or our secret despair. -Maria Boulding
Oh, the sweet release Your unconditional love brings, Father. Love that covers our deepest fears and darkest failures, ushering in hope and exposing light where darkness once called home.
