Truth: I'm a woman.
Truth: I'm a young woman.
Truth: I'm what you might call morbidly obese (someone who has 100+ pounds to lose)
Truth: I'm kind of fed up with that
I did some research online, found a couple of Christian websites (which was awesome!) about how to get in shape if you're obese, morbidly obese, or just fat (I hate that word). What I didn't see was anyone being HONEST (my favorite word) about their struggles, their accomplishments, what works and doesn't work, and how God helped them through it. That's the goal of this page: to share with you my experiences and encourage you - you can do this, God is with you, you are strong and courageous, and together, we can get there :)
Ask me questions, send me responses, tell me your victories, share the love!
Tweet me, reblog me, if you wanna reach me.
Twitter: @HonestEncourage
Tumblr: honestlyencouraging.tumblr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HonestlyEncouraging
Saturday, January 10, 2015
New Year's Revolution
Cutbacks
So it's the start of a new year, and everyone is thinking about cutbacks: cutting calorie intake, cutting people out of your life, cutting leisure time to spend at the gym, cutting back on swearing, cutting back on lies, cutting back your personality so more people will like you, cutting back on drama, cutting back on spending money... The list is endless. What exactly are the goals of these cutbacks? Who is the focus here? Mainly, if we categorize them, other people, or ourselves.
What would happen, I wonder, if we prayed over our resolutions and started making God the example of our cutbacks?
Example: I am typically a "cut calorie intake" kind of resolution-maker. This year, I tried to do a little better, but I still see it as a thinly veiled attempt:
So, what if this year, instead of making my resolution to "lose weight" or "love me the way God loves me," I resolved to use my body as a healthy portrayal of God's love, His design, and His perfect will for us. [Note: I said healthy; "skinny" doesn't always mean healthy, and a higher or lower weight is healthy for some body types because God knew what He was doing when He made us all different shapes and sizes.]
Sacrifice (or fasting) is the action of saying "God, you are more important to me than ___________." Fasting food is telling God that He means more to me than food, and also that I trust Him to provide for my physical needs (check out Matthew 6:25-34).
Do you ever find yourself thinking "Well I could spend more time in prayer if I didn't do [this] so often," or, "Man, I could really be awesome at [this] if [this other thing] weren't in the way." If you catch yourself saying or thinking things like this - WATCH OUT! Pay attention and take note because these statements reveal to us our priorities (Matthew 12:34 - "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak[s]"). When your pastor or youth pastor asks you to write down your priorities on a piece of paper, you can write "God" at the top, no problem. If you go home that week and don't read your Bible for a few days then think to yourself "Wow, I should have read my Bible more, but I got caught up in Season 2 of Doctor Who every night before bed," then that means that on your priority list:
1. Doctor Who
2. God
This ^ right here, is what the Bible calls "idolatry," putting anything as number one in our priorities above God (Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5 have some interesting things to say about idolatry...jus' sayin'.) This video ("Clear the Stage" by Jimmy Needham) is a lyric video depicting some of the ways idolatry affects us today.
We can put quite literally anything as an idol above God: money, music, ourselves, comfort, sleep, food, anger, jealousy, possessions. If it isn't God, we are liable to be tempted to make it an idol, and this is evident all thoughout the Bible. Personally, I don't think anyone is free from this temptation, which is why I think that it is in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) because everything in Exodus 20 common temptations [Note: this is my opinion, not the authoritative written Word of God.]
So, what if we made an honest list of the things we put before God? Maybe it would look a little something like this (in no particular order):
What if, for one week, we checked off one item on this list? One week we give up our morning coffee, a few hours of sleep, or a few hours on Pinterest or Tumblr? Slowly, bit by bit, we would show God with our actions (and not with our lists) that He is the most important thing to us.
Talk about a New Year's Revolution.
Take the challenge with me, let me know how it goes! Make your own list, post it on your mirror, in your Bible, on your phone - somewhere you will see it every day - and commit to yourself to check one thing off the list each week. Notice any major changes? Feel free to leave me feedback and may God bless you!
So it's the start of a new year, and everyone is thinking about cutbacks: cutting calorie intake, cutting people out of your life, cutting leisure time to spend at the gym, cutting back on swearing, cutting back on lies, cutting back your personality so more people will like you, cutting back on drama, cutting back on spending money... The list is endless. What exactly are the goals of these cutbacks? Who is the focus here? Mainly, if we categorize them, other people, or ourselves.
What would happen, I wonder, if we prayed over our resolutions and started making God the example of our cutbacks?
Example: I am typically a "cut calorie intake" kind of resolution-maker. This year, I tried to do a little better, but I still see it as a thinly veiled attempt:
- Continue to pursue ministry
- Seek God for His direction for this year and His plans for my life
- Spend more time on the college campus showing love
- Constantly pray for guidance over the classes I teach
- Try out a new Bible Study
- Continue to learn to use my voice, as well as my silence
- Go on another adventure (even if it's a small one)
- For 2015 to be a year of exploring instead of rest and recoup.
- Stick to a health plan (ie a diet)
- Learn to see myself the way God sees me (ie. I don't like myself, but I know God made me and loves me, so I should too)
- Finish a project
So, what if this year, instead of making my resolution to "lose weight" or "love me the way God loves me," I resolved to use my body as a healthy portrayal of God's love, His design, and His perfect will for us. [Note: I said healthy; "skinny" doesn't always mean healthy, and a higher or lower weight is healthy for some body types because God knew what He was doing when He made us all different shapes and sizes.]
Sacrifice (or fasting) is the action of saying "God, you are more important to me than ___________." Fasting food is telling God that He means more to me than food, and also that I trust Him to provide for my physical needs (check out Matthew 6:25-34).
Do you ever find yourself thinking "Well I could spend more time in prayer if I didn't do [this] so often," or, "Man, I could really be awesome at [this] if [this other thing] weren't in the way." If you catch yourself saying or thinking things like this - WATCH OUT! Pay attention and take note because these statements reveal to us our priorities (Matthew 12:34 - "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak[s]"). When your pastor or youth pastor asks you to write down your priorities on a piece of paper, you can write "God" at the top, no problem. If you go home that week and don't read your Bible for a few days then think to yourself "Wow, I should have read my Bible more, but I got caught up in Season 2 of Doctor Who every night before bed," then that means that on your priority list:
1. Doctor Who
2. God
This ^ right here, is what the Bible calls "idolatry," putting anything as number one in our priorities above God (Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5 have some interesting things to say about idolatry...jus' sayin'.) This video ("Clear the Stage" by Jimmy Needham) is a lyric video depicting some of the ways idolatry affects us today.
We can put quite literally anything as an idol above God: money, music, ourselves, comfort, sleep, food, anger, jealousy, possessions. If it isn't God, we are liable to be tempted to make it an idol, and this is evident all thoughout the Bible. Personally, I don't think anyone is free from this temptation, which is why I think that it is in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) because everything in Exodus 20 common temptations [Note: this is my opinion, not the authoritative written Word of God.]
So, what if we made an honest list of the things we put before God? Maybe it would look a little something like this (in no particular order):
- sleep
- comfort
- food
- my phone (Pinterest!)
- Doctor Who (TV in general)
- comfort (again)
- lust
- sweets
- dairy
- internet
- time with friends
- crafting
- TV
- other books (not meant for instruction in Christianity)
- sleep
- music
- my phone
- movies
- carbs (!)
What if, for one week, we checked off one item on this list? One week we give up our morning coffee, a few hours of sleep, or a few hours on Pinterest or Tumblr? Slowly, bit by bit, we would show God with our actions (and not with our lists) that He is the most important thing to us.
Talk about a New Year's Revolution.
Take the challenge with me, let me know how it goes! Make your own list, post it on your mirror, in your Bible, on your phone - somewhere you will see it every day - and commit to yourself to check one thing off the list each week. Notice any major changes? Feel free to leave me feedback and may God bless you!
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