Integrity

It has been said that integrity is essentially the unity between my character and God's.  When my character mirrors His, my heart, mind and actions will be pure, reflecting His nature.  I long to reach that point, but I often fall short.  My character takes center stage and I act in ways that disappoint Him.  How can I develop more integrity? I want to achieve it instantly, but the truth is that it's a process.  Just as fire is necessary for refining gold, God is refining me through the heat of pressure and troubles.

Lord,
Help me to look at every day as a refining process that tests how pure I am becoming.  May I not complain about the trails that come but welcome them, knowing that they are forming my character.  As I develop in integrity, may I thank you for giving me the power, privilege  and direction to live according to your ways. Amen.

"I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure.  I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold.  They will call on my name, and I will answer them.  I will say, 'There are my people.' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'" Zechariah 13:9

God's Care

When I feel frustrated or distressed, I start to doubt God's love for me.  Does He really care? I turn to His Word and am reassured by the many passages that speak of His deeply personal love for me.  He loved me before I was even born! He created me to have a relationship with Him and He gives me the opportunity to live with Him and be loved by Him forever.

Lord,
In what greater way could you show you care for me? You know me intimately and treat me as an individual.  I'm so grateful that you urge me to bring my needs and worries to you.  You care about what happens to me! Thank you that no matter what obstacles I encounter in life, you can break through my feelings of doubt and stress tending to my deepest needs and worries with incredible compassion. Amen.

"O Lord, you alone are my hope.  I've trusted you... Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me.  No wonder I am always praising you!" Psalm 71:5-6

Finishing

Often I have good intentions, but I don't always follow through on them.  Then I'm disappointed that I didn't do something worthwhile.  I continually need God's help to develop the self-discipline to finish what I start.  I know that having a clear picture of the end goal will help me; when I see where I'm going and what my good intentions can accomplish, I am more motivated to follow through.

Lord,
I want to set goals to make changes in my life - to be healthier, spend more time with my family and read your Word more consistently.  Please empower me with the perseverance to follow through until these intentions become a reality.  My I finish all that tasks you set before me. Amen

"Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

Beauty

Things are loveliest and best when they are blooming at their right time.  I know that people have many seasons, too, and beauty changes in each one.  There are differences in beauty as a woman ages, from a young adolescent to a blossoming woman to that of an older woman. Each phase has it's own beauty.  But the aura that comes from grace, sweetness, and charm flows from one season of life to the next.

Lord, 
I know that those who closely follow you reflect your beauty of holiness, love, and wisdom.  Please keep me from envying those in a different time of life; instead, help me to accept the season in which I'm now living and reflect you to the fullest.  As you work in my heart, may I exhibit grace.  I want others to see your unfading beauty in me. Amen

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.  you should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Excellence

God sets the standard for excellence.  His creation is marvelously complex and amazingly beautiful.  No artist could ever paint a picture that rivals one of His real-life sunsets! He initiated excellence, and He calls us to pursue it in our own life.  When we do, others get a glimpse of His character and will be inspired to pursue excellence in themselves.

Lord,
If ever I'm unsure what excellence looks like in this life, remind me of Hebrews 12:2, which says to fix my eyes on you, the author and perfecter of my faith.  May I model myself after you, working to reflect your character and accomplish your will.  When I do shoddy work, it's often because I feel apathetic.  Teach me always to do my best with the tasks before me.  May I be committed to doing things the right way and helping others to the best of my ability.  Amen.

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.  We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." 2 Peter 1:3

Loneliness

The greater my troubles, the further away God sometimes seems.  In my darkest hours, I'm afraid that God has left me all alone.  But in times like these, I ask God to teach me not to trust my feelings.  Instead I need to trust His promise that He will never leave me - I need to rely on what His Word tells me is true.

Lord,
You are near, alongside me. After all, one of your names is Immanuel, God with us! Thank you that when I am hurting the most, you understand and will ease my pain. Even in my loneliest moments, I find peace and comfort in your presence. Amen.

"You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Psalm 139:2-5

Amazing Video: Must watch wether you're a parent or not!

The Future Belongs to the Healthy Youth

"You're just not strong enough..."

Have you ever been deep in thought and began talking to yourself, maybe as you walk down the aisles of the grocery store or mumble to yourself as you throw dirty clothes into the washer?  What about in your head...what kinds of things do you say?  How do you treat yourself?

Several months ago I read a book by Jennifer Rothschild that really got me thinking, "Me, Myself & Lies".  I had never really paid much attention to the things that I was saying to myself.  The words that no one else could hear but me until I read this book & realized I'm so mean...to myself.  

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

I began by thinking about the types of things I say to myself, which I was a little afraid to share, but I believe that everyone struggles with self-talk from time to time.  

"You're just not strong enough."

"You think you can do this...but you can't"

"You shouldn't even try."

"Go ahead & just eat it, you deserve it."

"You never learn, do you?"

"You are so stupid."

"Two pounds....that's not enough! You're never going to meet your goal weight...ever!"

"PCOS is going to rule your life."

"You're PCOS makes you different and you're all alone."

I could go on & on.  The worst part is these are the things I say to myself when I need encouragement, when I'm really feeling down.  I would never dream of saying any of these hurtful things to my friends.  I would tell them the exact opposite! I would never talk to my husband like this and I would be so sad if my daughter ever said these things to herself...and yet day in and day out, this is what I feed myself.  We cannot assume only the words we speak aloud bring life or invite death.  As Jennifer says, "Even silently spoken words have great influence.  It matters how you use them."  These silent words are destructive to who we are, how we relate to others & influence our actions.  Telling myself repeatedly I"m to weak to run a mile will consistently keep my behind on the couch!!  These thoughts turn into actions that hold us back in life! "Who you are and what's in your heart are revealed in the words you speak." These are not just words, at one point in my life these are statements that I truly believed about myself. I had to realize that, "Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing."  It was time to backtrack and begin to study what God thought of me.  I had to aline my thoughts with His so that I could see myself for who I really am and who I want to be.  We have the ability to makeover our thoughts, all it takes is awareness & commitment to change.  We can't assume it's a small task, just take it one thought at a time. Below are some verses that I have cherished, the thoughts that God has for us. Begin to compare every thought you have to God's thoughts for you. Let His thoughts win & accept them as who & what you really are.

"That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you!" Isaiah 43:4

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Psalm 139:7

"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You.  If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count." Psalm 40:5

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8

"What marvelous love the Father has for us! Just look at it - we're called children of God! That's who we really are!" 1 John 3:1

I hope that by being transparent with my health journey, I've created a place where others can read, be inspired & share their own experiences.  I have received so many private emails from friends, family & people I've never met, sharing their successes and failures.  Let's share them together on this blog.  Let's reach out to one another with tips, ideas and struggles in hopes that what we are going through or have success in can help someone else.

Risk It All

"That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. 

Play it safe and end up holding the bag."  Luke 19:26 (The Message Bible)

In the 19th Chapter of Luke, A Ruler had given 10 of his servants money while he was away on business.  He instructed each of his servants to use this money to live while he was traveling.  When he returned he asked each of the men to show them what money they had left & what they had done with the money.  The first servant had doubled is money, the second gained a 50% profit and the final servant had hidden his money to keep it safe.  The Ruler applauded the first servant for doubling his money and gave him rule over 10 towns, the second he gave 5 towns, but the third disappointed...he took his money and gave it to the first servant saying, "That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag."  Luke 19:26 (The Message Bible)


I believe in life we are all given abilities and opportunities.  Some of us break out of the fear of failure, use our abilities and take hold of opportunities and change the world.  While some of us out of fear of losing it all have hidden our abilities, our God given treasures and what do we have to show for it? In this risk, there is something amazing that happens.  When we give of ourselves, openly and freely to the abilities that God has given us, he steps in and his faithfulness abounds.  Give all you have, because where your abilities end, God's faithfulness begins.


Today, I am going to give freely of myself for God's plan.  I pray that every ability that I have God can find a use for.  I pray that I am alert and receptive to His plan and the needs of His people around me.  Today, I'll risk it all and get more than I have ever dreamed...


~ Jessica