Freedom Reigns

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." Isaiah 61:1-4 I love this verse. I believe if Jesus had a mission statement, this would be it. This is what he came to earth to do. There is a class that my church does a couple of times a year called Free Indeed. I was re-reading my materials from Free Indeed, and God reminded me of something; As a child of God, I am already free. Freedom isn't something I am waiting for, it has already happened. Jesus unlocked my cell, it is up to me to walk out and live free, or to stay in my cell and live like a prisoner. I am free. I am free! Praise Jesus! I don't have to wait for it..it has already come. My favorite part of the above scripture is verse 4 "They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations". I believe that, aside from freedom, Jesus came to bring healing and restoration. There are areas in my life that have been wounded. I am a very visual person, so I look at the hurt as something that has literally been demolished, or devastated. God is working in my life right now to rebuild the ancient ruins. I have lived in bondage for 15 years. Those things that were destroyed long ago, the things that brought me so much pain, God is rebuilding and restoring all of that. Jesus doesn't save us and then leave us to clean up our mess on our own. He wants us to let him work. We have a role and a part that we play in all of this, but I believe that we are to surrender to him and let him work. That is where healing happens. I will end with a quote from the Free Indeed materials that I am reading; "The church, in recent decades, has preached the saving grace of Jesus with passion, but too often, has stopped short of the transforming power of Jesus. Many believers are saved but remain in bondage to sin, addictions, and emotional brokenness. Each of these hinders their ability to receive love or give love in their relationships with God and others. God's word declares that every believer is now a citizen of Heaven. As a believer, the kingdom of God has come to you along with kingdom privileges and responsibilities-including healing and freedom." Amen!

Eating disorders

I am writing this blog because I read an article today that has me fuming. The article was entitled "5 Reasons to Date a Girl with an Eating Disorder." I will let you find the article on your own and read it if you choose. Eating disorders affect millions of men and women in the United States. According to statistics, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS)(http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-facts-eating-disorders). It is commonly believed that eating disorders only affect women, and specifically white, middle to upper class women. The truth is, eating disorders do not discriminate. It doesn't matter your gender, race, or income level, anyone at any time can be affected. Eating disorders are not diets. They are not fads, or lifestyles...They are serious illnesses that, can and do kill people. This topic is near and dear to my heart, because I had an bulimia for 10 years. I have many dear friends who have or have had an eating disorder. I know people who have died because of these disorders. The bible says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." This is how I know that eating disorders are from satan. Eating disorders steal lives long before a person physically dies. A person becomes consumed by the disorder, thinking of nothing else. People often become unable to maintain friendships or any significant relationships. Eating disorders put a strain on families, often tearing them apart. Eating disorders kill physically. A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. For females between fifteen to twenty-four years old who suffer from anorexia nervosa, the mortality rate associated with the illness is twelve times higher than the death rate of all other causes of death. This is sad and scary! Eating disorders destroy lives, families friendships, and even if a person doesn't die, their bodies are often destroyed. This is serious and scary stuff!!! We live in a world that is so thin obsessed! There are so many products on the market geared toward losing weight. There is a dangerous lie being taught to our children, particularly our daughters, that they have to be thin to be beautiful, or important, or desirable. Girls in 1st-3rd grade are dieting. These are girls from ages 6-9 years old!!!! This is ridiculous!!!! I hear so many comments and jokes about eating disorders. Most people don't take them seriously, but they are serious. They are so serious. EATING DISORDERS KILL!!!!!!! This isn't something to be taken lightly or to be pushed aside, this is LITERALLY a matter of life and death!!! I feel like this is where my ministry is supposed to be, or at least part of it. I just don't know what I am supposed to do. On March 1st, I am planning on having a walk for eating disorder awareness. I am hoping that I can find people who want to get involved and make a difference. This is something that is heavy on my heart and that I am passionate about. I am praying that God will show me what I am supposed to do with it. For more information about eating disorders, or where to get help if you or someone you know is struggling, go to www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. Also, to hear stories of hope or to get help visit www.mercyministries.org.

Poem

So judgmental So quick to condemn You think you are perfect You think you don't sin If you want compassion You have to show it too You should treat other people The way you want them to treat you

29 things

There is the status that people are posting on facebook where they are given a number and have to share that many things about themselves. If you "like" or comment on their status, they give you a number and you are supposed to do the same. I forget about that part and have "liked" several. I have been given the number 7, 8, and 6, which is 21. I thought since I will be turning 29 soon, I would just list 29 things about myself. Some are repeats from facebook. 1. I'm terrified of clowns 2 I am also terrified or fire works. 3. I love tennis, and am surprisingly good at it. 4. There was a time in my life when I spoke with a New England accent...because I lived in New England. 5. I do not like poinsettias 6. I don't like to drive. If I had the money to pay someone to drive me around, I would. 7. You will probably never see me cry. 8. I love the cold so much, and I would be happy if we got snow all winter 9. I love Jesus. I want to tell the world about him so that they can love him like I do. 10. I love the smell of new books. 11. I love the sound the keys on a keyboard make when someone is typing 12. I could eat chips and salsa 3 meals a day every day (if calories and sodium weren't an issue) 13. My dream car is a 1966 mustang. 14. I think hominy is the most disgusting food on the planet. Well, the most disgusting food I have tried on the planet so far, anyway. 15. I drove a mini van to school during high school. 16. I met my husband on facebook. 17. When I was a child and got scared at night, I would put my head under the covers and I was ok. I still do this as an adult. 18. I've been to Europe and would love to go back and visit other places. 19. I would be totally and completely lost without my mom. I love her more than she could possibly ever know. 20. I have 2 brothers with the last name Simmons, and they are not related to each other. 21. I recently found out that I have brothers I have never met. 22. I have camped out on a trampoline. 21. I fractured my neck when I was 14 22. I should not be alive. 23. My sister is my best friend (besides my husband) 24. I love karaoke 25. I have absolutely no rhythm. I cannot even keep a beat when I am clapping. 26. I was in choir for 8 years of school and never learned to read music 27. I can catch almost anything you can throw at me, but I cannot throw it back. 28. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and for some reason it's also really depressing.

Will God bless your bad attitude?

There are many promises in the Bible. God says "if you do this thing, you will get this blessing." I was reading James today and I got stuck on verse 12 of chapter 1. It says " Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." What does it mean to persevere? The definition of persevere is: "continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success." Persevere, then, means that you don't give up, no matter what. I have to wonder, though...will God bless you if you persevere but you complain and have a bad attitude the whole time? Can you do God's work with a bad attitude and the outcome still be the same. I like to think that we as Christians are supposed to be like Jesus. Jesus didn't complain about doing what God told him to do. He came and he did what he was supposed to do. Sure, he prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."(Luke 22:42 NIV). He wanted to not have to be crucified and die on the cross, but he wanted God's will to be done more than his. He did not complain, and pout, and have a bad attitude about it, he just did it. I believe that God's work will be done regardless of your attitude, but it may take longer and the blessing may not be the same. The Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, when it should have only taken them 11 days to get to the promised land. They complained the whole time. God still got them there, but very few of them actually got to live in the promised land. So no, I don't think you will be blessed if you complain, and pout, and have a bad attitude while you do the thing you are supposed to do. I think that God's work will be done and his plan will be fulfilled, but you will miss your blessing. This is my opinion anyway. I haven't backed it up with a lot of biblical research. I just wanted to share my thoughts with whomever is interested in hearing them.