What Do You Crave More?

Hey guys, we were originally going to take turns reviewing each chapter of Made to Crave, but Celeste has a lot of stuff going on right now.  Like a pipe bursting and flooding her kitchen and bathroom.  Add to that 5 boys and there's a good reason for me to go ahead and write this one in her stead.

Chapter 2 of Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst is titled Replacing My Cravings. It made me laugh and kinda hurt my feelings all at the same time.  I like that.  There are a few things I want to touch on that impacted me.

She said something that I have probably said to myself 200 times.  For real.  "Tomorrow will be a much better day to keep my promises to eat healthier.  And since this is my last day to eat what I want, I better live it up."  I cannot tell you how many days have been my "last day to eat bad."  They never really are.

Lysa tells about her realization that things had to change in her life.  Not just because she was overweight (she wasn't huge by any means, just not healthy) but it was more about her heart.  It was all about surrendering to what God wanted for her.  It was more for her spiritual health than her physical health.  She asked herself a real tough question.  Then she asked me, her reader, the same question.  I did not enjoy my answer.

So here's the question:

"Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?"

Aww man.

When I first read that, I got real honest and had to answer, yes.  Today, my answer is different because God has done a work in my heart.  I have repented and accepted his forgiveness and allowed his grace to change me.  I must ask if your answer is no, could you replace the word food with something else?  Money, facebook, your spouse, beauty, security, tv, iPhone?  The list could go on.  What is the thing you go to for comfort, reward, or joy?  How about when you're stressed or sad?  Allow God to search your heart and illuminate anything you might rely on and love more than him.  I know it's hard.  It's even harder to blog about it.

God gave Lysa a very valuable key to unlocking the door to freedom.  She said, "Each time I craved something I knew wasn't part of my plan, I used that craving as a prompt to pray.  I craved a lot.  So, I found myself praying a lot."  That was such a revelation for me!  That is the difference in doing this thing my way and allowing God to draw me closer to him through my struggle.  Do you get how huge that is?

If you haven't gotten this book yet, you should!  I just realized it kinda sounds like I'm getting paid to plug the book but I'm not.  It's just so good.

If you're feeling brave, go ahead and leave your answer to the question in the comment section.

Monica

Lay It Down

Nehemiah 9:17 (ESV)  "..But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love"

You know what you need to do today?  You need to forgive yourself.  You want to know how I know this?  Because I need to forgive myself.  I have made an executive decision and we are just going to get this taken care of today.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you have made quite a mess of things just like I have. I don't know about you, but I can beat myself up like nobody's business. I can literally lay awake at night replaying events from the past over and over in my head, just wishing I could go back and do things differently. Why is it that I can forgive other people but not myself?

In my Christian walk, I tend to lean toward works rather than grace.  If things aren't going right, my first thought is, "What have I done wrong?" or I immediately come up with a plan to fix the problem.  Let me tell you, trying to fix mistakes on your own just leads to a bunch of little Ishmaels running the show.  We all know how that story turned out.  The problem with works-based salvation is this: you eliminate the need for Jesus.  If your salvation is solely based on whether or not you prayed your 30 minutes today or read your 3 chapters, what was the point of Jesus dying on the cross? Apparently, you've got this. On the flip side, when you mess up, you feel like God is mad at you and you aren't worthy to be called His own.  The bad news is: you are going to mess up.  Even worse than that is the eventual guilt you are going to feel when you do mess up.

Living in a perpetual state of guilt is the perfect set up for a fall.  If you feel like you are already a failure, what's the point of even trying?  You are a self-fulfilling prophecy.  This is the trick that keeps so many people like you and me bound up in addiction.  When you look in the mirror you won't see anything but a failure until you can forgive yourself.

I am really thinking that this is the key to turning the corner. We need to start seeing ourselves through eyes of faith.  "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1) I can't see it right now, but through faith I know that I am forgiven, blameless, renewed, and whole.  I know that a huge part of getting over my issues with food is learning to forgive myself.  

Here is the "To Do" list for today and every day:

1.  Forgive yourself for whatever it is that you have done 

2.  Walk in the confidence that only faith can bring

3.  Lay down the guilt and don't pick it back up

I think this video perfectly sums up what I am feeling tonight.

Much love,

Celeste

 

On The Road

Hello, there.  I am Celeste.  I'm just going to go ahead and say it:  I don't like to talk about things.  Seriously.  Please note the extreme irony here - me writing a blog, talking about things.  I am usually the one people come to when they need to talk about things.  *more irony.  The reason why I know that God is at the forefront of this project is the fact that I do not, with every fiber of my being, want to be sharing all my business with you. No offense.  I'm sure you are great.

So yesterday was my "Day 1" of giving up control.  I have to admit, the strange thing about all of this is not having a plan.  I love plans.  Well, let me clarify:  I love the idea of having a plan.  Follow through on those plans much, you ask?  Oh, mostly never.  Anyway, waking up without a rigid plan was really strange.  I mean, what is this - a diet, a program?  Can it be this simple?  Just listen to God?  Everyone in the house was still asleep so I decided to get outside & go for a walk.  I turned on some music and headed down the road.

Then it happened.  I don't really know how to describe this but to say that it was as if I had stepped out of my house and into the very presence of God. Bethel Redding's song "One Thing Remains" filled my ears with the promises that I so easily forget.  "Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me" - "My debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love."

Then I saw him. I could see God standing on the road, arms open wide, waiting for me.  I wanted to run toward him.  He was waiting for me out there, on the road.  Tears were running down my face as I was reminded that I am not forgotten and no matter how big a mess I have made of my life, His love is never going to run out on me.  For a person like myself, who lives with guilt & condemnation, this is a big deal.  With every step I was reminded that He is enough.  He has this under control.  Needless to say, best walk ever.

Side note: I am also thankful for sunglasses big enough to hide my emotional breakdown from my neighbors.  Lord knows they were probably shocked enough just seeing me exercise.

So, here it is. I'm excited and terrified at the same time but I know that God is close by.  He is waiting for me on the road.

Celeste