Well, it’s a hard truth to face sometimes when things change quickly and fluctuate constantly.
(This especially applies to your waistline, ladies.)
As I began to get frustrated with how difficult it can be to regulate a healthy lifestyle moving from place to place, country to country, month after month: I turned a new leaf and decided to be thankful.
I am learning that thanksgiving is not an occasional incident, but an attitude. I’m so thankful to have the dilemma of losing weight due to diarrhea for days and then quickly adding it back on after week long carb-fests. It’s not pretty – it’s beautiful!
I am learning that thanksgiving is not an occasional incident, but an attitude. I’m so thankful to have the dilemma of losing weight due to diarrhea for days and then quickly adding it back on after week long carb-fests. It’s not pretty – it’s beautiful!
Seriously, how many people would wish they had my problems while serving God all around the world?
God has been speaking to me so much about godliness and staying focused on what is eternal.
For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
[1 Timothy 4:8-9]
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
[1 Timothy 4:8-9]
Here is my list of gains and losses:
- I’ve gained an African belly from eating carbs religiously while serving God for three months in South Africa and Swaziland.
- I’ve lost the fear of not being beautiful because, I’m precious in the sight of the Lord when I’m obedient in doing His good work around the world.
- I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for babies and small children while serving meals in an afterschool program in South Africa, being a pre-school teacher in Swaziland and caring for special needs orphans in China!
- I’ve lost the sense of shame and regret that comes from not having children of my own yet, and I’ve cast off the lie that I’m not good with kids or good enough to be a mother someday.
- I’ve gained confidence in being prophetically gifted while still being rooted firmly in God’s word.
- I’ve lost the apprehension of walking in the Spirit and becoming the woman God has made me to be – a Jesus loving, freedom singing, Gospel preaching, disciple making, bible thumping, prophesying and praying in tongues woman of the Lord.
- I’ve gained the experience of walking and talking like Jesus in a very dark world where one small light can shine very brightly.
- I’ve lost the need to fit in amongst the crowds where Jesus especially needs to stand out – this includes the American church.
- I’ve gained insight from other people about my blind spots and weaknesses.
- I’ve lost my right to be right and my narrow self-perspective.
- I’ve gained an introduction to having a biblical worldview concerning the global body of Christ.
- I’ve lost the silly notion that every church is as awesome as Calvary Chapel – and realizing that I’ve got it real good being raised in the faith in a bible-teaching church. (I’m so blessed at Calvary Chapel Mountain View! Love you guys! Miss you guys! You’re the best church in the whole wide world!)
- I’ve gained passage via a very narrow way following Jesus into a valley that leads into Kingdom-living forever.
- I’ve lost sight of the trinkets & baubles of the world and even the junk in my trunk because I’m keeping my eyes on my most precious treasure: Jesus.
I am so very thankful when the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
In the grand scheme of things, I’ve gained a lot and I’ve lost a lot too. Blessed be the name of our Lord.
