Putty in His Hands

A couple nights ago I had a dream about silly putty. OK, maybe you wouldn't call it a dream....I woke up thinking about it. You might say that's a strange thing for a grown woman with no small children to think about and maybe it is. Silly putty was one of those things that my sisters and I used to play with many Sunday mornings with the newspaper comics sprawled out on the dinning room floor. We'd take impressions of our favorite comic strips-Garfield, the Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes. We'd roll the putty into a ball then press it into a pancake-like flat circle. Then we'd press the putty onto the comic strip. The goal was to lift some of the ink from the paper to make a mirror image of the characters on the putty being careful not to tear the paper or over-stretch the imprint. Then the real fun began. We'd pull on the edges of the putty, stretching Snoopy's nose until he looked like he suffered from an over-bight or stretching Garfield vertically making the once fat cat into something tall and lanky. Once we'd had our fill distorting the impressions until they were barely recognizable, we'd start the process all over again, massaging the silly putty until the ink had disappeared and there was no sign of what had been there before. We'd press the putty around our fingers and up against our palms to make perfect impressions of our unique prints. The putty would take the shape of whatever we pressed it against. It was simple fun that would give us hours of entertainment.

So why was silly putty on my mind? I haven't played with it or even thought about it since my children were small. As I mulled it over on my drive into work that morning, I was reminded of Isaiah 64:8 "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

I don't know if you've ever played with silly putty but it comes in a plastic egg shaped container. When you first open up the egg, the putty is just an unshaped pile of goo, resembling used chewing gum. It's clean, un-stretched, un-touched, un-used but most importantly, un-sharpened. It's not until you take it out of it's protective shell that it can be used. Sometimes when you work with silly putty, it gets dirty, a hair gets stuck to it or it gets stretched until it breaks into two pieces. But, the person molding it can carefully remove the hair or they can press the broken pieces back together until there is no sign, no scare, not even a seam....nothing resembling the once broken, dirty pieces of putty. As the putty is pressed and molded, over time it's color begins to change with the ink of the impressions that have been worked into it and the natural oils from the working hands. It's no longer the original pink, un-used pile of goo that it once was. It's original; mine would be a slightly different shade than my sisters. The longer the putty is massaged, the easier it is to work with. It becomes soft, more pliable and if you leave it, unprotected and un-worked in the open air, it will become stiff, harden and if left long enough, when bent.....it can break.

If we stay in our protective shell, never come out of our comfort zone, never allow ourselves to be placed in the hands of our Father, we are no different than the new and un-used putty. Yes, we are clean, fresh and pink. But, the protective shell that we put around ourselves only prevents the Lord from using us and shaping us. It separates us from Him. There is no risk of getting dirty or stretched-maybe beyond out limits but we also go un-used, un-changed, dare I say, un-original. The enemy would have you believe that you'll be alone and unprotected outside your shell. He'll use fear of getting dirty, fear of getting stretched or broken to keep you within its confines.

But we know.......

Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

We weren't created to simply stay, unchanged, in our protective shells. The full life that Jesus came to give us won't fit inside that itty-bitty shell. God wants to mold us, use us, have fellowship with us. Yes, that means that you might get dirty and you are going to get stretched. But the Lord Jesus, when in His hands, cleans us up and presses us back together leaving no scare, no blemish, perfect and changed, an original. As He leaves His imprint on us, we are changed, no longer what we once were. We no longer need the protection of our plastic shell. He protects us as he molds us and shapes us. We don't become dry, stiff and hard but remain workable, pliable as we are surrounded by the warmth of His hands. As we press against Him, we become imprinted with Him, His likeness and we begin to look more like Him. After all, we are made in His own image (Gen 1:27).....wonderfully and beautifully made.

As I kept coming back to the silly putty, I have asked myself "Am I putty in His hands?" I would like to think so but truth be told, many times, I find myself with my guard up......afraid to step out of my own comfort zone, afraid that I'll make a mistake or that I'll be hurt or disappointed. The putty is nothing except goo until it's placed in the hands of the molder. The putty can no more mold itself into anything than I can mold myself. Just like my sisters and I would press the putty against the morning paper, I need to make myself available to be pressed into the Lord. Bring the walls down, step out and trust Him. Let Him do the molding and truly be putty in His hands.

Could'a, Would'a, Should'a

Well, now that Christmas is behind us and the new year is approaching......fast, what now? Oh, I suppose we could jump on the "gotta loose 15 lbs News Years resolution" band wagon. In fact, I will likely get back to the gym and tighten up the diet that has spun out of control in the name of holiday celebration. As I was praying last night, I was thinking about how to have a closer relationship with Jesus and how to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The phrase that kept coming to mind was "let it go". No, not the popular song from the Disney movie Frozen (in case you were wondering). Let what go? I could name at least a dozen things that I should let go from my life that have gotten in the way of my relationship with the Lord. Failures, disappointment, frustrations just to name a few. But what does the bible way about the past?

Isaiah 43:18

Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.

Most of us drive, right? Have you ever tried to maneuver the car while in reverse and looking through the rear view mirror; perhaps you were backing out of the drive way or into a parking spot? Of course you have. It's not too difficult. Would you want to drive down the freeway like that; at 70 miles an hour looking through the rear view mirror? If I were to ask my teenage son that question, he'd probably chuckle and be up for the challenge but for most of us, the answer is no. We wouldn't dream of driving that way. So, tell me something. Why do we live our lives that way? We are trying to move forward in life, get from point A to point B, all the while looking in our rear view mirror.

I should have done this. I should have done that. Someone once told me "we can could'a, would'a, should'a until we're blue in the face but it won't change the anything." We tend to go where we are looking. I'm sure you've heard the expression "keep you're eyes on the ball". Well, if you're eyes are on the balls you missed last year, how can you hit a home-run this year? Instead, you're more likely to get hit with a pitch and knocked to the ground. Not only can you miss the opportunities that have been afforded to you but you'll likely repeat the same mistakes and experience the same disappointments simply because you were 'looking' at the them.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

2018 is right around the corner and we are going to see and read multiple stories, reports and TV specials that will review this past year, the tragedies we've faced, the public figures and celebrities we've lost, and the news stories that were in the headlines. I am in no way negating the importance of taking a quick glance back and remembering those who have suffered, those we have lost and celebrating our accomplishments. The past is something we should take a quick look at from time to time, learn from it, testify about it and help someone else who is facing the same struggle but we can't afford to live there. What matters most is NOW and what we do with it. Since God forgives us from our sins, shouldn't we forgive ourselves of our past failures (sin or not).

What does God have in store for you?

As for me, I'm still going to have intentions for the coming year. Yes, I'm going to get back to the gym and eat better with the hopes of taking off 20....alright, 30 pounds. But most importantly, I'll be looking forward with excitement and expectation for what God has in store for me, my family and my church rather than fear of failure. I could'a, would'a, should'a a lot of things but that doesn't matter. We've got a great big God and He is good. His plans for me........His plans for you are far greater than either of us could ever imagine.

Happy New Year!

Sugar is sweet.....

Sugar. I love sugar. I love everything about it. I love its sweet taste. I love white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, raw cane sugar.....you name it, I'm a fan. Not only do I love the taste of sugar and what it can do to my favorite pasty, desert or snack but I like how it makes me feel after eating it. There is just something about the little burst of energy that seems to immediately follow a sweet snack, it's almost a rush. I feel a little warm, a little jazzed.

Of course, eating sugar does have its down falls. It isn't long after eating a candy-bar as an afternoon snack that the fall from the sugar high comes rolling in. That energetic feeling I once had is gone and has left me with an almost lethargic feeling, maybe even a little sleepy. The only way to avoid or reverse the effects of the fall from a sugar-high to have more sugar. Well, isn't that an awesome idea? It's almost impossible to resist. What started out as just one candy-bar has now become a candy-bar, a soda, and a cup cake. Now, not only have I eaten far too many calories and blew my eating plan for the day but now I'm faced with another set of symptoms that come from overindulgence. I get a the jitters, a stomach ache and quite possibly a headache.......and guilt. Doesn't that sound awesome?

I know all of this going in. I know that I'll get a sugar high that will eventually be followed by a fall. I know I'll be tempted to take in more sugar to offset it's effects and then I'll feel sick afterward. But all of that doesn't seem to matter when it all starts because I LOVE SUGAR. Completely rational, right?

The truth is that many times I go looking for a sugary snack when I am bothered by something else. I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm either stressed or tired or maybe even bored. Maybe I'm angry or someone has offended me. The list of things that may 'trigger' a trip to the vending machine is incredibly long. It's not rational to think that a sugary snack (or several of them) is going to resolve what's bothering me yet I search for something to make me feel better.

GREAT NEWS if you struggle like I do. There is a better......perfect way.

1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The bible also says:

Psalms 55:22 (NLT)

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

In the Amplified version is says "He will sustain and uphold you".

The trip to the pantry in search for a sugary treat won't sustain us. It is short lived and temporary. Not only is it temporary, it inevitably make us feel guilty and worse than when we started. 

Food, even sugary treats, are a gift and something that has been given to us for our body to enjoy but it wasn't designed to satisfy our spirit. Only God can do that. This isn't to say that we can't enjoy a piece of birthday cake at a birthday party or a piece of fudge at the company Christmas party but lets make sure that sugar (or any other vise) has it's place and it's place is not to take the place of the Lord. Lets give our stress, our cares, our fatigue to the Lord rather than turning to another handful of gummy bears.

A time to give thanks

This is a wonderful time of year. It's a time when many families and friends can come together and reunite after a long year away from each other. The majority of the celebrations, parties and gatherings we will attend between now and the new year will revolve around a plentiful table of rich dishes and decadent deserts. Most of us, including myself, will put our goals of loosing a few pounds on the back-burner in the spirit of celebration and the hopes that the new year will bring us more success. I tend to spend far too much time between Thanksgiving and New Years wishing I had done better obtaining my goals. Sometimes it can be down right depressing. This negative self talk only gives me more fuel to add to the fire when I'm presented with a table full of some of my favorite deserts that I won't likely see again for another year. In a way, I give myself permission to over-eat and indulge in a way that I wouldn't normally. I propose this......rather than making the food at the table of each celebration the focal point or even the reason we're coming together, how about we celebrate the relationships with the people we are with, remember the people that couldn't be with us and be thankful for all the Lord has given us.

Colossians 3:15-17 says:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God gave us food and food is a part of many celebrations in the bible. The bible speaks about feasts celebrating weddings, reunions and harvests, always giving thanks. If we were to take a step back, celebrate our successes of the past year, set goals for the new year and fellowship with the family and friends around us, suddenly the food is secondary. It doesn't matter if you are sitting down at a table with all the traditional Thanksgiving feast favorites, you're quietly sitting with your spouse having a plate of lasagna or you have a job that requires you to work and you simply have a sandwich with a bag of chips. Food isn't a destination; it's a gift.

Isaiah 12:4-5

In that day you will say: "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world."

I pray that each and every person that reads this will take a moment today (and everyday) to be thankful for all the Lord had done for you. There is so much to be thankful for, it is almost overwhelming when you really take the time to think about it. 

1 Timothy 4:4-5

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 

I have asked those that will be sitting at our Thanksgiving table to come up with at least one thing they are thankful for and share it with the rest of us when we sit down to our meal later today. Maybe you'd like to give it a try?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What does God say about you?

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I struggle with self-image. Self-image is so much more than weight problem and many things can contribute to it. I used to think that taking off a few pounds would change everything and make me feel better about myself and my situation. And for a time, it would. As long as things were going well and within myself I was able to maintain my "will-power", I would 'feel' better......but it would be temporary. Something would happen. I'd have a bad day or a stressful week at work or get an unexpected bill in the mail or.....or.....or. You get the picture. I'm sure you can relate. It didn't even have to be something 'bad', it could simply be a change in the daily routine like having to work late or the stress of the holidays. The point is, my willpower would fly out the window and I'd tell myself that I'd do better tomorrow, it's just this one meal or I'll just skip this one trip to the gym. One day would turn into a week, a week would turn into a month and before you know it.....the weight is back on and my self-image is lower than it had been when I started because now, not only was I back at my starting point (or worse) but now I'm a failure. It's a viscous unhealthy cycle and it's exhausting. I'm sure you'd agree.

What if our self-image came from someone other than within ourselves? Measured by a different set of standards than the number on the scale or the size of your waistband?

Genesis 1:27 says:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NIV)

Wow! Just think about for a moment. God created mankind in His image. God had already made all the living creatures and none of them were made in His image until He made man. What does that say about Gods feelings for us? He didn't make us in the image of a horse or a dog or a monkey. He created us in HIS image. And if that wasn't enough, he gave us all that he had created on earth.

Genesis 1:28-30

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Not only were we made in His image but He made us, all of mankind. Our bodies have been designed the way they are on purpose. Not only have our bodies been made to require food for nourishment but they have also been made to enjoy that food.

Psalm 139:13-16 in the Message Bible says:

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

If we could just see ourselves through His eyes and not the number on the scale, the latest picture taken of us or the reflection in the mirror, what would our self-image be then? When that stressful situation comes knocking on the door (and it will) or when we've had that argument with our spouse; rather than seeking temporary satisfaction in a sleeve of Oreo cookies or box of cereal, lets take a moment to remember what God thinks of us and that our self-image was created in Him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray that each person reading this today can see themselves as you see them. Help us to realize that we have been perfectly made in Your image. We take satisfaction in knowing You and being your children. Thank you for the life you've given us and the bodies we've been given to live it.

In Your Holy Name, Amen.

The Goal

I have struggled with my weight the majority of my adult life. I've tried just about every fad diet and weight loss program out there. Of course, I would loose some weight but it was always short lived and the weight would come roaring back leaving me feeling just as discouraged as when I started. Sound familiar? Its the nature of the yo-yo diet. 

Before I go any further, let me tell you right from the start, I know this is not a popular topic. I continue to struggle with this diet, exercise, fall-off-the-wagon roller coaster ride every single day. Truth be told, I'm probably at my heaviest in 5 years. In fact, while pondering the title of this blog, I turned to my kitchen and pantry to find my answers.......they weren't there (if you were wondering). I'm not here to tell you that there is a magic solution to the struggle. I'm also not going to share an eating or exercise program with you that will promise extraordinary results. To be honest, it's not about the weight. It's about drawing closer to God, learning what he says about us and learning to turn to Him rather than our pantry or the treadmill when we need comfort or encouragement. The goal?......To find, within God's word where food, exercise, our bodies and self-esteem fit into His promise and apply it to our lives. 

I hope you'll join me in this journey. Don't take my word for it. I'm not a teacher, a theologian or an expert. Get into Gods word and see for yourself what God says about you. Share your thoughts, your victories, your struggles.