G.R.I.T.S.

I love being a Girl Raised In The South!  Wouldn't have it any other way!! 

If this had been THE apple, I could understand Eve.

Okay, one last weird comment..for now. I found these decadent, wonderful, the best ever Magnum chocolate ice cream bars on sale at Publix. And, yes, I ate one on the way home...while thinking about the 'flying' fish in the previous post. As I finished this most delicious, not-on-the-Daniel-Plan treat, I said, 'Lord, surely this fell out of Heaven!' and I'm pretty sure His still small voice said, 'Yes, just like Lucifer did'! :O   Oh dear.

Weird me and fish thoughts

Weird me, on the way home from my appointment, saw a heron fly overhead from the bay clutching a fish. The fish was about six inches long maybe. And, my weird mind got the image of the fish's point of view from up in the air...out of the only home it's ever known, under the water...to high up in the air, flying over grass, cars, tall houses, never having seen those things before... feeling air on it's scales rather than water. How scary was that for the little fish?! Made me want to cry! And, trust me, I like fish....I'm not a vegan. Maybe fish don't have feelings or fears? : ( I wonder if it's okay to pray for a hard heart?

Forward Braveheart!

How often have I cowered and backed away and been a simpering, weak, frail piece of humanity in the face of perhaps displeasing someone I love??  To keep from having a confrontation.  To stop a family argument before it might possibly happen??  Way too often.

I have compromised my beliefs for the sake of 'keeping the peace' and I have listened to language that I detest while weakly whimpering, "Don't talk like that..."    I have accepted from my loved ones what I would not accept from friends or acquaintances.  I have listened while inwardly furious to crude language, hateful speech, drunkenness.  Inside I was boiling with shame and disgrace and ANGER!  But, outside I was weak and I let it go because I wanted peace.  I was raised in a house full of yelling and screaming and fighting because my father was a drunk and a wife beater and my mother was sad and angry and my siblings were afraid and angry.  Everybody was angry.

When I grew up, I was angry, too.  I had my share of yelling, screaming, fighting.  But, I wanted peace.  I wanted it so much that I finally gave up the yelling, etc.  and became weak and without power of my own. 

I'm here to say that I no longer want to appear weak.  The truth is I'm very strong and I know the difference between right and wrong, I know truth and I know a lie.  I know disrespect and I know honor.  I know filth and I know Godliness.  And, I'm not shutting my mouth any longer.  I'm not even saying I'm sorry if you don't like that!!  I'm going to be true to myself and my God.  I'm not to be weak, I'm to stand for what's right.

That I will do.  Be prepared world!!  Be prepared, family!!  Be prepared friends and acquaintances!!  Mary isn't backing down.

Onward, Braveheart!  Fight for the heart of your King!
Either you will understand this, or you won't.

Name change! Sit With Me Under My Magnolia Tree has become Shade Trees and Sweet Tea!

I love the new name.  I love sitting under shade trees and enjoying a tall, cold, glass of sweet tea.  Sitting by myself, enjoying the birds and flowers, the wind through the trees, the bees buzzing by and the stray cat or two snoozing on or under my porch, depending upon the temperature that day!  I love sitting in the shade with friends, sharing stories, hopes, problems, life.   Something about talking it out with a trusted friend makes everything seem better.  And, sometimes it's just me and God and a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea.  The quiet moments when I actually stop and listen to Him instead of just yammering away about what I need and want!! Lord, please..Lord, please..Lord, please...  yikes.  He's so patient with us.  It's when we actually listen and say, 'Yes, Lord'  'Yes, Lord'...that are the most important times spent with him, I think.
God is good.
Ahh well, it's late and I'm headed for the covers and the pillow.  Will wake tomorrow, Lord willing, to a new day and sunny day and a chair in the shade of my tree.
Have a great night everyone!
Be blessed!!

Aint it the truth!

Permissable but not beneficial

I can't tell you how many times that has helped me this past week! I can HAVE whatever I want!! But, it might not be beneficial! So, I choose something better. It's amazing what one little phrase can do to steer you in the right direction.

I've had oral surgery this past week and it has been a struggle. Not the eating, it's difficult to eat with stitches in your mouth. But, my attitude and mood have been difficult. I'm trying to stay upbeat and then one of my grown children takes his frustration and anger out on me. This is when I usually cry and eat. But, not now. I'm angry, and I don't want to be angry. I really have to get in the Word and talk it out with the Lord. That's what I intend to do as soon as I finish this post. I am an emotional eater. Since I can't really do that right now, I find myself very frustrated! This is the part where I MUST crave God!! Why is this so difficult? I know He loves me, He can help me, He WANTS to help me! Why don't I RUN to Him?! I am surprised at myself and confounded by my own actions. Lord help me to run to You and nowhere else when my heart hurts, when I need help, when my emotions are raw. Please, Lord, help me.

Made To Crave...temporary pause..

Hello again, friends. Last week I traveled to Birmingham, AL for surgery on my parotid glands. Although the surgery wasn't severe or long, it has caused me a lot of discomfort. Needless to say, I didn't read the blogs or the Made To Crave book while I was mending. Plus my husband was an ever-present caregiver and so sweet to do everything for me, but I didn't have any time alone. This afternoon, I've had time to catch up a little bit on the book, but haven't been to the blog yet. Just wanted to say that I'm still on this journey, just need to catch up! I will not give up but will make this trip with you to the end!
One issue I've had is that, although it's been easier to make healthy choices for the most part, I haven't necessarily been putting Christ first and working on CRAVING HIM! That's the whole point of this, I want to crave God, to crave time with Jesus, to know Him better and be ever so close to Him!! So, please pray for me, that I will put first things first and that my priorities will be right!!! Thank you!! Be blessed!

Made To Crave Day 1

This morning started out so well. I refreshed my memory by scanning Chapter 1 again and by journaling my responses to the questions posed at the end of the chapter. Those were pretty eye-opening for me. I had a good talk with the Lord; I turned off the television for most of the day; I was able to notice the cravings and not succumb to them, with the Lord's help! My husband baked a pan of cinnamon rolls after supper tonight and I didn't even have one. I reached for a date instead and that was enough sweetness to satisfy me. Also enjoyed a nice bowl of fresh fruit with Greek yogurt instead of my nightly ice cream cone.

But, this afternoon before my husband came home from work, I found myself getting depressed. I'm alone all day, most days so that doesn't generally bother me. After some tears and some prayer and a lot of thinking, I realized that I didn't have my regular foods to comfort me! Stuffing my face wasn't an option today and it made me realize how much I had depended on that to get me through the days!! That was another good eye-opener!

I'm sure the Lord will help me fill my days with good and perfect things that truly satisfy, rather than FOOD! But, it is certainly a wake-up call and a huge change for me...it's disconcerting. But, in a good way.

Jesus Saves

JESUS SAVES was one of four choices of subjects to blog about in the Proverbs 31 Made To Crave online Bible study. I chose this one to begin with because it's the real beginning, in my opinion.

To give you a little background: I grew up without my father, my mother having left him when I was 3 years old because he was a mean alcoholic who beat her. I don't remember all of the chaos from before we left him, my siblings do. The chaos afterwards, I remember. Kids who are raised in painful situations tend to carry some scars. So, we have some stories to tell, but not right now. :)

My siblings and I would catch the Salvation Army bus on Sunday mornings and attend, Mama had to work. But, we didn't go to hear about God!! We went because everyone was given a key when we entered the church. Later, we would go by rows up to the treasure chest and see if our key was the one that unlocked it. One day mine did! The treasure box was full of men's shaving supplies. LOL Just what an 8 year old girl wants. Anyway, it was fun, but I didn't learn a thing about salvation.

In our 'village' a sweet older woman had a Bible study every Saturday. We'd go to her little apartment, listen to her tell a story, get a piece of candy and try to memorize verses. I memorized the whole 23rd Psalm and received a beautiful white zipper Bible. I was so thrilled with that Bible! But, I still never heard about salvation.

Later in the same complex, a little church opened up in one of the apartments. I went every single Sunday, I could walk to it and was happy as I could be to go. I'd encourage my little friends to come along. The folks running the little church called me 'Old Faithful'. A smile still slides up my face when I think about that. :) But, I still didn't learn about salvation.

When I was 17 years old, Mama and I lived in a little house she'd bought while working at Jack's Cookie Company and then for Southern Bell. My siblings had all grown up and moved out. My oldest sister, Judy, called one day and told me that she and her husband, William, had been saved.

"Saved", I said, "What happened?!" My mind had a picture of the two of them standing in a road with a semi truck barreling toward them when someone pushed them out of the way and 'saved' them!! :) LOL She tried to explain to me and told me their pastor would come see us. So, within the week, Mama and I had a visit from Judy's pastor. He explained to us that Jesus was the Son of God, perfect in every way. That Jesus had come to Earth and lived among us and had been crucified on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He had died and been buried and rose again and was now in Heaven with His Father, God. To be 'saved' we only had to repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior. When we were asked if we wanted to do that, Mama and I both said, 'yes' and so right there in that tiny living room, we kneeled and asked God to save us. He did. My life did change after that. I did better in school, my attitude improved, and I really wanted to become a missionary.

Well, life didn't turn out that way for me, I made some dumb choices later...and I learned over time...that part of salvation is really following Jesus. It's not just a prayer, it's turning your life over to Jesus. I'm 62 years old now and have been married for 40 years. We have 4 children, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild who is now 2 months old. We are very blessed! Though I didn't become a full time missionary, I go on short term mission trips and work on the Mission Committee and in the Deaf Ministry in our church. Even at this age, I'm learning more and more about the greatness of God and I desire to be closer to Him. There's so much to learn.

I look forward to this journey of weight loss and closer fellowship with God together with you!
Blessings!!

Made To Crave Study Group through Proverbs 31