ObesityHelp

Hi, Everyone.
Life is turning up the heat a bit. I have 21 family members coming in beginning Friday, a cookout on Sat., family going home Sunday afternoon, I'm seeing the surgeon Tuesday--one week from today--(to schedule 2 knee-replacement surgeries), and, despite not having had a "cycle" in over 2 years (even before WLS), today is day 6 of what had better be "the last hurrah." I'm scheduled to have the yearly female check a week from this Thursday--which I haven't had since my baby was a newborn (and he turned 28 in January). I know. I know. That's terrible, and you're shocked...but, in my defense, I avoided having those checks because of past sexual trauma. However, it's time to face each and every fear. I am no longer 15, and I am no longer a victim!
With all of the above, I feel like I'm going in 10 different directions, so I hope all of you will understand when I tell you that I've decided to take some time off writing and posting the Life Plan Devotion. Not too long...I plan to post again Monday, August 2nd (2 weeks from yesterday). Please understand, and please don't forget to watch for a post then.
I'd appreciate your prayers, for all of the above. If you have a prayer request, let me hear from you. I'm not taking time off from praying. :)
Blessings,
Mary 
 

Hi, Everyone.
Well, live & learn. I will never take 2 Advil PM at 11 PM ever again. Major brain fog today, manifesting in inability to write. I'll try again, tomorrow. You're all in my prayers.
(((Hugs))) & Blessings,
Mary  

Hi, Everyone.
It's a fabulous Friday here in Kansas. We had some good rain last night, and my lawn looks happy this morning. :)
Let's pray for all those having surgery today, as well as those recovering from surgery. My friend, Rose, went through her surgery well and is recovering. My friend, Sophie, is recovering nicely from her plastic surgery. Thank you for continuing to pray for their complete healing. 
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated June 6, 2007. Let me know how God speaks to you, and if you have a prayer request, feel free to contact me. I am honored to pray for you.
Blessings,
Mary 

Flashback Friday Devotion #59 [Praising...no matter what]


     Shortly after I began hearing from God, about this God Gain Lifestyle (eating with thanksgiving and discipline), God let me know that He would teach me something every day for 60 days. As I was getting ready to go to early prayer this morning, I was telling the Lord that I felt a little afraid, because tomorrow is the last day of "class" for this daily teaching from Him. I know that fear is never of God, so I asked Him to help me. The response was immediate, "Praise Me."
     I continued, "But, Lord, what will I do if things get hard?" The answer was the same, "Praise Me." My mind went back to a conversation I had with Debra (one of my accountability partners) the day before yesterday. She talked about the importance of praising God, no matter what.
     I was reminded of a song sung by The Imperials, called "Praise the Lord!" These are the words, as I recall them:
          When you're up against a struggle
          That seems to shatter all your dreams,
          And your hopes look cruelly crushed
          By Satan's manifested schemes,
          And you feel the urge within you
          To submit to earthly fears,
          Don't let the faith you're standing on
          Seem to disappear!

          Chorus:          
          Praise the Lord!
          He can work through those who praise Him.
          Praise the Lord,
          For our God inhabits praise!
          Praise the Lord,
          For the chains that seem to bind you
          Serve only to remind you
          That they drop powerless behind you
          When you praise Him!

          Now Satan is a liar
          And he wants to make us think that we are paupers
          When he knows himself
          We're children of the King!
          So lift up the mighty Shield of Faith
          For the battle must be won
          We know that Jesus Christ is Risen
          And the work's already done!

          Repeat Chorus

     I read II Chronicles chapter 20, about Jehoshaphat and his army up against a BIG battle. Jehoshaphat sought the Lord, proclaimed a fast, and God calmed his heart, telling him that the battle wasn't his, but God's.
     Verse 21 says that Jehoshaphat "appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy garments, as they went out before the army, saying, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!'" That's how important is praise! It's the key for winning any battle. Praise ushers in victory!
     Just like the song "Praise the Lord!" reminds us, "The work's already done!" Every battle was won at the Cross, already.
     I know there may be difficult days ahead, because it's part of life on a fallen, sinful earth, but when those difficult trials come, I don't have to be imprisoned by them. I can choose, like Paul and Silas, to praise the Lord until the prison doors open and the chains fall off. Praise the Lord!

Today, no matter what you face, I encourage you to praise the Lord anyway! No matter the trial, big (physical, financial, family, etc.) or small (a number on the scale, etc.), turn your thoughts to the Lord and praise Him, whether you feel like it or not. See how much better you will feel, afterward. Listen to Russ Taff sing "Praise the Lord!" (sing along, if you will): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYw_lWwwA8  

Hi, Everyone.
I hope you're enjoying this mini-devotional series on the 23rd Psalm. I know I am. If you miss any devotions, remember that they are saved on my profile blog. 
In thinking about the first part of verse 3, I decided it would be helpful to take 2 days to look at it, so that's what we'll do. Today is part one, and part two will be in Monday's Life Plan Devotion. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I will post the Flashback Friday Devotion. 
Please pray for those having surgery today, as well as those recovering from surgery, and pray for any who read today's devotion and realize that they're in it (see devotion).
Blessings,
Mary 

Life Plan Devotion #249 [My Restoration, part I]

Psalm 23:3a “He restores my soul” (NIV).

     Sheep are apt to wander. They do not understand the danger, but the shepherd knows that a lost sheep is in grave danger. It is the same for the person who is away from the Good Shepherd, for whatever reason.
     Today, let's look at the first type of lost sheep, the person who has not yet given his/her heart to Jesus. Isaiah 59:5 gives an accurate picture of those who live as lost. “Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.” The lost may try to convince themselves and others that their life is full, but in the depths of their soul, they know that there is something missing. That something is Jesus.
     God loves each person, whether or not he/she has accepted Jesus as Savior. It was that great love that sent Jesus to us, that caused Him to be willing to sacrifice His life on the cross, to take our punishment for sins. The gift has been given, but each person must make the choice to receive that gift of forgiveness and salvation. Because we were created with the will to choose, God will not go back on His word and force us to choose. He will, however, pursue the lost with great compassion.
     In Luke 15:3-7, Jesus tells the parable (story) of one sheep who wanders from the fold. Because 100 sheep would be large enough to have at least 2 shepherds, one shepherd will leave, to search for the lost sheep, knowing that the rest are safe. Each sheep is valuable to the shepherd, and that is how precious each lost sheep is to the Good Shepherd.
     Why would Jesus endure crucifixion? I Peter 2:24-25 gives the purpose and the hoped-for result. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (NIV).
     Have you allowed the Lord to restore your soul? Have you given your heart to Him? If not, why not? What is holding you back? The Hebrew meaning for “restore” is “to turn back.” Turn back to your Creator, God, and the Lover of your soul, Jesus. Open up your heart to Him, ask for forgiveness of all the wrong that you've thought, said, done. Ask Him to be the Lord of your life. Forgiveness and restoration of your soul will be immediate, and Lordship will be gradual. Your life will never be the same. For the first time, you will feel absolutely restored, complete, whole, and happy.

What this has to do with weight loss: What caused you to decide that something had to be done? How did you come to realize that your life had become unmanageable? How did you feel, down deep in your heart? You felt lost, I imagine. I know I did. I was weighted down with pounds of pain, and the pain was both literal and figurative. It felt similar to life before salvation, so I went to my Savior and asked Him to save me once again...to save my body from the destruction that I was causing. He did just that—through renewing my mind, healing my heart, and healing my body through opening the door to WLS, providing a plan of eating, and helping me to exercise my body. I could not do this without Him, and I encourage you to include Him in your weight-loss journey, as well.

Prayer for Today:
“Heavenly Father, I once was that one lost sheep, but You found me, and I let myself be found. Thank You for pursuing me, for not giving up on me. Never once will I regret praying, 'Lord, I'm a sinner. I'm sorry for all I've done wrong. Forgive me. I know You died on the cross for me. Come in to my heart, to live in me. I give my life to You, because You gave Your life for me.' Every day, Lord, I am grateful for Your gift of salvation, for the fact that I am no longer lost, no longer wandering aimlessly, no longer in darkness, no longer in grave danger, headed for an eternity apart from You. I love You, and I pray for all those who have yet to be willing to be found, that they will say 'yes' to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”   

Hi, Everyone.
Wonderful Wednesday is upon us! The week is half over, and Friday will be here, before you know it. Hang in there. :)
Please pray for all those having surgery today, including my dear friend, Rose (not WLS, though), and all those recovering from surgery. Let's pray for all who need to find some R & R (see devotion).
Have a blessed day, and thank you for reading the Life Plan Devotion.
Blessings Without Number,
Mary 

Life Plan Devotion #248 [My R & R]

Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,” (NIV).

     Around noon, every day, the shepherd leads his sheep to the best place for rest and refreshment...green grass to lie in and eat, and water to drink. He is particular about choosing the best for his sheep. He uses his staff to loosen rocks, lifts and places them in the running water, and creates a dam, so that the water becomes still and quiet. He knows that his sheep will be too frightened to drink there, otherwise. Our Good Shepherd does the same thing, and He desires that we get alone with Him, to rest, to partake of His Word, and drink in His Holy Spirit (John 4:14), in prayer.
     God's people are busy...sometimes too busy. We can become anxious, bothered, and full of care. Our Heavenly Father will lead us to rest and refreshment. Why? Because He is Jehovah-Shalom, “God my Peace” (Hebrew name for God). His peace is wholeness, where nothing is missing, nothing is broken.
     Are you in need of some R & R today? Find calmness, tranquility, peace, and nourishment in the Lord. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rejoice in the Lord, knowing that He is near (Philippians 4:4), and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

What this has to do with weight loss: What weight-loss journey burdens are you trying to carry today? You are not meant to carry them alone. Go to the Burden Bearer, tell Him all about your troubles and concerns, ask for His help, and then lay those burdens down. Go about your day, knowing that the Lord is helping you find answers and put solutions into practice, in your life and body.

Prayer for Today:
“Heavenly Father, sometimes I find myself in a hard place, where the road is rocky and I feel parched and famished. During those times, help me to remember that I don't have to stay there, that I can run to You, for rest and refreshment. I pray that I will avail myself of the milk and meat of Your Word, and the water and wealth of Your Holy Spirit, through prayer and communion with You. I know that I can get busy...too busy...even when serving You, in ministering to others, but I know I must take time to get away, to rest my body, mind, and heart. Help me to know when I need to do that, without apology. Thank You for the precious peace that only You, Jehovah-Shalom, can give. I pray in the Name of Jesus, who bids me 'Come...and...rest.' Amen.”