My UGLY Truth

"So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet." James 4:10

Whew. This is a tough one to even begin to type. It was hard to even say out loud and confess this to friends today. I have allowed myself to keep an ugly sin in my heart. In fact, I would even say that I cherish this sin--I don't really want to let go of it.

I love to eat. And I eat all the time. When I am happy, sad, lonely, tired, stressed, you name the main course of emotion, and I will tell you the food that I will have on the side.

I have gotten to the point that I run to food first before I even contemplate taking an issue to God. Or I will be heavy in prayer with something, while I feed my emotions with food without even giving God that chance. It is incredibly humbling to admit this...because it is just ugly.

Actually today, I had to confess that this is actually a major sin in my life. And it was really hard to verbalize those words out loud. I would even venture to say that if I analyzed this issue with a doctor or psychiatrist, they would probably say that I have an (over)eating disorder--but in God's grace to me--I know He showed me that FOR ME this is a heart disorder. This is an area in my life that I cherish the sin. To be honest, for years, I have made the choice to harden my heart to Christ in that area of my life.

I am in a mode of life that when I feel ANY sort of emotion-whether is be good, bad, tired, or overwhelmed--whatever!--I eat. And I totally eat in secret, alone and very rarely in front of people. (this is me being Eve trying to cover my sin with a fig leaf--as IF that is going to really cover anything at all!) I run to food FIRST versus running to Christ first. And a hard truth I had to confess this morning, and I don't even honestly want to type, is that in my relationship with Christ, I desire to boldly to say, "I love Jesus more than anything." But it is a lie because the ugliness of it all is I love food more than I love Jesus right now. That totally kills me to see that written out! So that is my bottom, as James 4:10 talks about: that sentence I just typed. I am sad and disappointed that I have not given my whole life over to Christ. The frustrating thing too, is that God has called me for some BIG things...filled my heart with that passion...(Almost to the point of driving me crazy!) but I know that He has not allowed it to be yet BECAUSE of my lack of full-surrender.

Galatians 5:19-23 screamed at my heart this week:

"It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage (ME!); frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness (ME!); trinket gods (FOOD FOR ME!); magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness (ME WHEN I REFUSE TO EAT IN FRONT OF OTHERS); cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants (FOOD!); a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved (MY INSECURITIES WITH MY WEIGHT/LOOKS); divided homes and divided lives (I GIVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST, AND YET ALSO AM LOYAL TO MY FOOD ISSUES); small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions (HELLO--ME AGAIN!); ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom."

(AND HERE IS MY HOPE:)

"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."

Whew. Talk about being brutally honest. So my heart prayer is now that I have confessed this...that God will breakdown this area in my life and let me fully surrender to Him. My heart is to serve Him everyday, but I need to stop feeding this sin in my life first.

I know I am not the only one either. I truly feel (and this is a big statement!) that this is an area that is SO cliche to speak to women about...so sensitive...and most women don't want to hear it. (I know I don't want to hear about it because I feel the huge blinking arrow over my head!) I feel that this is like porn for men. (I know that is a big comparison)! But for years and years, the church did not really touch this subject when speaking to men. I think we (as the church) knew OF the problem...but not the number of men that struggled with it. I think the "Food instead of God" issue is just as big, if not bigger for women. It's hard to talk about...I feel ashamed, and just plain gross about it.

My desire is not to lose weight (great if happens) or to fit into certain jeans, or even, honestly, for my physical heart to be healthy. My desire is that my heart (in terms of my relationship with my Savior) will be healthy, strong, and trimmed of unneeded fat (which is sin). I am praying that God will just honor that. I am at the point of having to pray before every meal, pray with every bite I take that God will help me stop when I need to stop...and not start when I need to turn to Him.

So I totally just laid all of this out there! I know some of you are questioning why bare my soul and sin? Here is why:

"Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again." James 5:16

I have confessed to Christ...and now I am publicly confessing, so I can have the honor of your prayers through this battle of sin in my heart. It seems silly to ask for prayers to stop eating--but really my prayer is the God will be my priority on everything I do--including my eating. That I will NOT continue to allow anything to be a barrier to what Christ can do in my life and in my heart. I want to serve God, I want to lead others to Him, I want to live passionately in Christ, and a life above reproach. And just like James 4 says...I am getting serious, really serious...by putting this all "out there" I am also humbling myself so I can be held accountable.

I am excited about what God is going to do...and seriously appreciate your prayers.

What Jesus Does for Me...

...He takes the shattered pieces of my life and makes a beautiful mosaic with His grace.

...He turns my cries of pain into tears of joy.

...He turns the water of numbness in my heart to the wine of His love.

...He takes burdens that are crushing my soul and carries them for me.

...He parted the Red Sea in my life when I had no where else to turn.

...He promises me not only will my boys be okay--they will soar with the eagles.

...He gives me hope when the world says I have none.

...He makes a tomorrow for me when I thought I could not make it another day.

...He pulled me up when I was drowning.

...He allows me to walk on water with Him through my storms of life.

...He saved me from the grips of eternal death and gives me the promise of eternal life.

...He took my empty cup of loneliness and sadness and makes it overflow with joy and laughter.

...He took my feelings of worthlessness and called me His daughter.

...He tells me I can stop seeking, because He has already found me.

...He shuts the mouth to the Lion of Depression. I know it is there, but I also I know it will not devour me.

...He breathed laughter into my Noah....and I am so thankful.

...He shields my children from the flaming arrows of hurt and rejection.

...He carefully put us into a family that embraces us.

...He lets me stand in the wide open spaces of His grace when I am suffocating in my box of selfishness.

...He heals me...not in a way the the world would say is healed, but so much better.

...He takes my breath away with His kindness when I could not breath because of sadness.

...He forgives me when I should not be forgiven.

...He builds beauty from the ashes left from the fires of my sins.

...He is the Light in my darkness.

...He gives me purpose in everything.

...He gives me everything that I do not deserve.

...He does not give me what I do deserve.

...He said, "Take me instead."

THIS is what Jesus does for me.

Beyond Thankful

So I am having a hard time even beginning to type this blog. I am truly without words...but overflowing with tears...

I am just overwhelmed at the profound love my children and I were shown today. Psalm 68:6 just keeps running in my head over and over as I try to wrap my brain around the events that have transpired. "God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." I know it is kind of an odd verse to be thinking of in this moment of sheer gratitude, but really it is not, and here is why: This church...Keystone Church...is, without doubt family to me. I was just telling a sweet friend of mine, that every weekend when I am in the building, I feel that I am surrounded by people that I absolutely love, and who love me back. I just think back six and seven years ago to how incredibly lonely I was! Please believe me when I say that I am not trying to make a sob story here...I just want you to be able to see my heart journey and WHY I am totally touched beyond description. Now onto the blessing of blessings...

Yesterday was such an awesome day for the boys and me. We were still excited about being able to participate in a God-given opportunity to bless an amazing family. I was excited, as a mother, that my children were able to really experience the JOY of giving to others, and the lessons it entailed. A wonderful friend called me and asked if she could stop by our house--after fair warning of my lack of make-up and that my boys tend to run around in underwear--I was excited to see her! She arrived with a Christmas tree and ornaments! We were pumped! When we moved this year, we had to get rid of a lot of things...and our tree was one of the first to go. So, how excited were we to have a beautiful tree now decorating our home! I was touched, really.

To be honest, I have not done anything for Christmas... The boys and I are in such an amazing place this year, especially compared to last year. This time last year, we were ALL struggling with heavy burdens. Struggling, honestly, to feel joy. God has been amazing in His love, compassion and teachings to us through out this crazy year to each of us. And through some really tough times, oddly enough, the boys and I have found total joy. Total happiness. Total contentment. So much so, that honestly, I just did not feel anxious about Christmas. Every time I thought about it, I just had a feeling in my heart that God has the boys and I exactly where we need to be, and I am just simply thankful for that! Each of us is so happy to be able to be back at Keystone, and back with our familyfriends...that I just could not think of anything beyond that!

The boys and I did our family devotional by the Christmas tree this morning, and as I was finishing up, I had the most ridiculous thought to check the front door. Weird, I know. I was thinking that too as I peeped through the peep hole. AND SURE ENOUGH there were two large bags on the porch! I was SHOCKED to see a new outfit for me, and brand-new Nike shoes for each of the boys, complete with socks. (Let me just pause right here and let you know, that who ever did this must really know how much I value shoes for my kids. I am not kidding at all. And to send SOCKS too...you are a true friend who knows me really well! If you have ever struggled financially, you know that shoes are a big source of worry!) The boys laughed and were so excited because "magically" they could all run super fast with the new shoes. (Don't you just love the way that works!) Sweet Caleb (my minister-in-training) comes back a few minutes later with a huge grin on his face and says,

"I feel so blessed...I know God does this so we will bless others."

Thus began my sob-filled day!

A few hours later, I remembered I had to put something in the car, and I walk out my front door to see a lovely white gift bag! Why hello! I was thrilled, and humored, to see the bag filled with Bath and Body Works "Stress Relief" lotions and potions! I LOVED it! I giggled and felt very loved and special. What a fun day this was turning out to be...

About an hour later, the door bell rings...of course, in my house that is code for "Elephant stampede to the front door." I hurdle over the boys (remember that I happen to be very competitive!) and open the door to see the faces of my VERY dear heart friends. I really do not have words for what I was thinking because I don't think I was thinking. The next few minutes are a blur in my mind. I guess I was trying to figure out if this was an intervention for my movie theater popcorn habit or something. I just know that all of a sudden my friends are putting gifts under our "blessing tree" (Editors note: the tears are flowing again as I think about these next few moments.). The boys are excited and one of my sweet friends says they want to show me something outside. I follow them out, and one of them is explaining they have a gift from my friends at Keystone. She opens her car to reveal a basketball goal for my boys. I lost it. I sobbed. I wish I could tell you how it makes me feel to know that my children are loved at this church. Not only are they loved but VALUED. What a thoughtful, caring gift for my children. They have had a tough, tough year...and honestly, I feel have experienced rejection more than they should at their little ages. It has always been a very sore, bruised spot in my heart. And to know that not only have they not been rejected...but embraced, and loved and and CARED for...I just can not explain how overcome with emotion I am. I am so excited to see them play with this over the years and know it was such a gift of love!

My sweet friends, then explained that they have arranged a Girl's Night for me! YIPPEEE! I am beyond thrilled!! Bless their hearts, I know they said other things to me before they left...but I was still crying about the gift for the boys, and still in shock! I do remember that they encouraged me to look through the basket that was made for me...

I went back inside and shared a sweet moment with the boys as we looked at the gifts under our tree. It was awesome. I know I thought, "It just does not get any better than this!" Now in reflection, I have to wonder if God sort of chuckled at that moment...as I began to look at the basket I was FLOORED by the number of gift cards and monetary gifts. FLOORED. I wept to see some of the names of those involved with this blessing to our family. And when I say 'wept,' please know I do not use that word lightly! I was crying SO hard that my little Shimmy (Jimmy, my 3 year old) kept coming over to console me! I think I scared him!

I am just so thankful. I am thankful for this family of believers...I am thankful that you love my children. I am so beyond blessed by each of you. Truly, truly from my heart and the center of who I am THANK YOU.

My eyes are beginning to swell shut because of the tears... Good night for now!

"God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy."

Excuse me, please

Somehow I have messed with my blog, and cannot figure out how to make it presentable again...so please excuse the mess. :o)