A New Way to Live

In a matter of 8 months, my mother and my aunt (my mom's sister) have both been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, my aunt had a double mastectomy a couple months ago and my mom's is so progressed that surgery wasn't even considered, it has spread to her bones and she just finished radiation and is now preparing for chemo therapy.  They are both doing remarkably well and seem to be feeling pretty good considering what they are going through.

This has changed my perspective in several ways, the most of which is what I'm putting into my body.  I really don't want to fight the battle of cancer, nobody does but if there is even the tiniest way that I can prevent it or postpone it, I feel like I should try.  I have read a lot about what kind of food I should be eating and the biggest thing I have found is lots of fruits and vegetables and no sugar.  So, I gave up sugar.  Bread has been the hardest thing to find without sugar, I did find some that has less than 1 gram but still haven't eaten much of it either.  I was also an avid diet soda drinker...I did away with that as well.

I have had stints of eating healthy off and on throughout the years and usually go up and down about 10 lbs every year or so but this new awareness of breast cancer has given me a new motivation. It really hasn't seemed like much of a sacrifice at all, my thoughts of food has changed from mmmm to a necessity to keep me alive and healthy.  There are things I want to do in my lifetime and I want to make the most of it for Jesus.  Yes, I know that God is in control and I may have to fight this cancer thing one day and I know it can be used for His glory, I have seen that first hand in the life of my aunt.  But I know that He gave me this earthly body and I need to take care of it. 

God is going to teach me lots of things through this journey with my mom and my aunt and I praise Him for every lesson and for every bit of growth and I will thank Him for every day He gives me with them and every day He gives me to live for Him.

Living Well is Over

Well that title sounds great doesn't it? My 3D Bible Study met for the last time yesterday. Am I going to be able to keep this up? I will try :) I have learned a lot about Eating Right, Living Well, and Loving God. It is a great study and I highly recommend it. I leave you with this...it's the 3D Prayer.

Dear Lord,

This is a new day

That means I can expect

from your hand

all I need to live.

Help me to know

Your grace is sufficient

Your power is overwhelming

and your peace and joy

are here for the asking.

I need you in so many

practical ways, Lord

I need you to help me choose

the right spirit

at the beginning of the day

I need you to help me

with my family

the work I need to get done

and the pressures that come at me

before my eyes are even open.

I need you to go ahead of me

every step of the way

You will that

This day is Yours

I am Yours.

Thank you for loving me

and giving me

the gift of life today.

When I am ready to close my eyes

at the end of this day

May I say with a steady voice:

I have loved You more today

than I did yesterday

But not as much as I will tomorrow..

Make is so, dear Lord.

Amen.

Your Whole Life - Week 10

This upcoming week’s challenge is about loving yourself and writing a list of ten things that are “good” about you. This can seem like a daunting, impossible task or a conceited task or that’s what I first though anyway. But when you look at who you are with Christ in your life it doesn’t seem daunting, impossible, or conceited. Because He is marvelous and amazing and perfect and He lives in me. He made me who I am, He grows and changes me every day when I am obedient to His calling and plan. It’s only gonna get better! So I challenge you to compile a list of ten “good” things about you.

Ten “Good” Things About Me
1. I am compassionate about people and their need for Jesus. I love people.
2. I am a good singer.
3. I am strong. (physically and spiritually)
4. I am a servant.
5. I feel beautiful, inside and out.
6. I help women with their spiritual growth and make them feel loved.
7. I am funny.
8. I am a hard worker.
9. I am not easily offended.
10. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

By the way, I feel great this week! I will weigh in tonight but I have lost almost 6 lbs and feel stronger and healthier.

Am I Living Well?

Every Thursday I attend a Bible Study called 'Your Whole Life'. The theme is Eat Right, Live Well, Love God. Each week we talk about how we ate that week, lived well, and loved God. We know what to say about eating right and we "try" to love God by showing love to others, our family, serving...but I want to talk about the Live Well part. This is supposed to be something that we do for us, for instance, getting fresh flowers for your table, getting a pedicure, a massage, going to a movie with the girls, etc. We have had many good discussions but this week when the Live Well portion came up this blog popped in my brain, this is something I am doing for me, and for all of you, okay...just kidding. But perhaps someday I might have something insightful to say. I have been thinking about this blogging thing and if I'm gonna do it, then I'm really gonna get into it and do it! I need to pour my heart into it! And this brings me to my realization tonight about how I have been participating in this bible study.

I go to two Bible studies on Thursdays, this one (Your Whole Life) led by a lovely redhead from church and another one at 7 pm that I lead with a different group of women, I am sure I will talk about that sometime or another. Tonight I was thinking how disconnected I've been to the 'Your Whole Life' study, I have been eating better, reading my daily devotions, filling out my food log, and sometimes exercising which has had its benefits, I have lost about 5 lbs in the last 5 weeks but I have not been committed to it. I haven't answered any of the questions at the end of each day's devotion and I haven't memorized the scripture reference for the week. What's worse, I have barely even tried!?! I know what I should be doing, I don't want to just go through the motions, I want to be all God wants me to be, to be used by Him to accomplish His plan, to bring Honor and Glory to Him in everything I do. I don't know why I have been "rebellious" on this but His mercies are new every morning and I'm going to cling to that.