My favorite Bible verse is 1 Peter 5:7 and it just so happens that this week's Scripture is 1 Peter 5:7-8a.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant

I broke this verse down to look a little something like this:

Casting = throwing with force, shedding, molting

All = everything, nothing being left out

Your = anything that belongs to me

Care = a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern OR a cause or object of worry, anxiety, concern

Upon = on top of, to place on

Him = Jesus

For = because

He =Jesus

Cares= feels concern or interest, looks after

For = about

You =  me

 Be = remain in a certain state

Sober = not given to excessive indulgence in drink or any other activity, simple or plain

Be = go or become

Vigilant = keenly alert to or heedful of trouble or danger,

The result:

Tami, shed every concern, worry or anxiety on top of Jesus because Jesus feels concern about and looks after Tami. Remain simple (not materialistic) and fee from indulgences of any kind, becoming keenly alert and heedful of trouble or danger. 

What did I learn?  Being sober means remaining simple and free from indulgences of any kind.

 

I have decided to do what I know works for me….to only eat if I am truly hungry and to pray or read Scripture for 10 minutes prior to eating so as to determine if it is indeed stomach hunger or if it is heart hunger. I lost 68 pounds in 2012 using my fitness pal and walking. I then found out I was pregnant and had to stop the weight loss. My son is now 9 months old and unfortunately I have gained back all the weight I worked so hard to lose except 20 pounds (and it is not all from the pregnancy).
 
I want to share a victory I had this morning. I had little sleep last night thanks to my baby wanting to have play time in the middle of the night. To be honest I am just plain exhausted today. Satan loves to attack when I’m not at my best and he did. I ate breakfast at 7am, did my daily Bible reading, journaling and read chapter 3 of M2C. I then went back to sleep for awhile. I woke up “starving”. I fed the baby then went straight to the fridge. I opened it about 20 times before I realized what I was doing (thankfully I had not yet found anything appealing to eat – thank You Jesus!). When I realized what I was doing I immediately started praying asking God to fill whatever void I am feeling and shower me with His presence. He did! I immediately knew this was heart hunger, not stomach hunger. I can’t pinpoint the void I was dealing with, but I do know that He filled it. 

 Satan loses, Jesus wins!!

I am so excited to be on this new journey.  I have the leaders kit headed my way and can't wait to see how God uses my struggles/victories for Him.  I can't wait for March to get here so I can start a group here locally.  I am truly inspired.  

I had an interesting conversation with God this morning.  I was tired and didn't want to get up early, but He had other things in store for me.  It went like this:

God:    Tami
Me:     Yes Lord
God:    Come have quiet time with Me
Me:     I just want to go back to sleep for a while
God:   It's our time
Me:   Just one day to sleep in?  We can study at any time of the day
God:   It won't be quiet later.  Kaleb will be up, the phone might ring.  You have a lot to do today.  and how can you be an example to the husband I've given you if you resist and stay in bed?
Me:   Okay Lord.  I'm getting up.  I know you reward obedience.  and I really do enjoy our time together in the mornings.  Thank you Lord for pushing me to get up to spend my time with You.  I love You!
God:   Remember, sometimes it means taking up your cross, denying self and leaning on Me for strength.

It was so awesome to hear the voice of my Abba Father speaking to me first thing in the morning.  I had just a few minutes prior given the baby a bottle and I so badly just wanted to get another hour of sleep.  I am so thankful that He pursued me and did not just say okay then have it your way.  I so needed my early quiet time with Him.  Old habits are hard to break, but new ones are so worth the effort.  

EMPOWER:  to give official authority or legal power to (Merriam-Webster, 2014).  

Empower - the word of the week for week 1 of our Made to Crave OBS.  How has the word empower empowered me?  

1.  I made a sign that says "You are EMPOWERED through Jesus" and has the Scripture "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.  1 Corinthians 10:23".  I have a copy of this on the front of my journal and another posted on a cupboard door in my kitchen.

2.  I got in the car today to go grocery shopping (which I was dreading), turned on the radio and the first song that was played was Mandisa's "Overcomer".  How awesome is that?!?  The theme song for our group comes on the radio.  Now some would say this is coincidence, but not me.  I knew immediately it was a God thing and that He was EMPOWERING me to OVERCOME buying foods that I don't need.  

3.  Instead of buying the things I love and normally crave I bought healthier alternatives.  

•   Chocolate - replaced with 90 calorie Fiber One bars
•   Red licorice - replaced with low calorie, low fat energy bars
•   Ben & Jerry's ice cream - replaced with weight watchers ice cream bars (already in individual portions) 

4.  Last night I made a blueberry pie for my husband.  I knew making blueberry would be safe so as to not give in and eat any as I hate blueberries.  I made fat-free pudding for myself and placed in individual size servings so as to not overeat.  And thus far I have only had 2 servings, after dinner last night and after dinner tonight.

Thanks  to prayer, submission and the empowerment God has given me, I have VICTORY during the first 5 days of our study.  Thank You Jesus!! 

I believe God is calling me to lead a group of women locally in the Made to Crave Bible Study once I complete the online study.  He has already provided 2 women who are interested and a place to hold the study that works for all our schedules.  I have been praying asking God to guide me in where He wants me to be involved in ministry.  I am so excited!!

Well here we are on day #2 of Made to Crave.  I am loving the study thus far.  I am journaling my way through and really hope to stick with it.  I am not so good when it comes to keeping a journal, but I know I will learn so much more about myself it I stick to it.  God is already revealing things to me about myself.  I look forward to seeing what else He has for me to learn over the next 6 weeks.

Favorite Scripture:

1 Peter 5:7 is my favorite verse in the Bible and has been since I was about 6 years old.  It is special to me because it reminds me that no matter what I am facing I can give it to Jesus because He loves me and wants to carry my burden.  

I really like the direct to the point way it is written in the Complete Jewish Bible - "Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you".  Can't get much simpler than that!!

Well here we are in the middle of January, 2014.  Where did 2013 go?  Seems like just yesterday I was having my baby, yet here he is 9 months old already.  It is so true that the older we get the faster time goes.  Or maybe it is just the anticipation of Jesus coming back that makes time go so fast.  Whatever it is, I know that I am not getting any younger.  

In a few days I will be taking on a new 6 week journey.  Made to Crave.  It is so awesome that Bible studies can be done online.  33,000+ women are joining this study....can you believe it?!?  God is so amazing!!  Can't wait to see what this new journey entails and has in store for me.  I know that God is calling me to do this study and I am eager to see what I learn from it.