A Tiger and Her Stripes

I don't look like what I've been through. It's a common phrase said by many Christians, I've said it myself a time or two. However, my mind has been swayed about what that statement should actually be. I'm glad I look like what I've been through. I've been through grace and favor and I have the scars to prove it.

I can remember my first parenting fail like it was yesterday. I was 19 years old with a newborn. My sister also had a newborn. My daughter Jade, started crying in the middle of the night and to keep her from waking my nephew I went and laid down with her on the couch. I remember sleeping so hard I accidentally

I am currently reading the newly published book by my friend Alexis Baker called Love Yourself Unapologetically. I had to stop in the middle of the book and write this post. Not as a review of the book, but as a review of the feelings I have had lately. 

Eisegesis- The interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one's own ideas. Imagine if you will that you are searching for a sermon by your favorite preacher/speaker/teacher and you come across a video saying that person is a false teacher. Do you click on it?

I was asked a question today that really made me stop and think. How do I study the Bible and do I have any helpful tools?

The recurring theme in my life lately has been Moses. He had been heavy on my mind and heart so I started re-reading his story wondering where in my life was the comparison. My focus has not been on the baby in the basket sent up the river and rescued by Pharaoh's daughter or the murder he committed, but the calling of Moses itself. Just like Moses I've asked God "why me?

Sorry : Feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc. Repent : 2. To feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent. Forgive : To grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.  . One of the hardest things to do is forgive. When someone does us wrong the pain of that wrong can linger, sometimes for years causing resentment. Try as we might it can cling to us and prohibit us from moving forward in our lives. This can be more so true when the person who wronged us is not sorry for their actions against us nor expresses any sort of remorse. I want you to stop for a moment and reread that, thos titimtitime envisioning the person that has wrong you as yourself. Can you forgive? It is true that it is difficult to forgive others but it is also true that it is even more difficult to forgive ourselves. We will often times hold on the wrong that we have done to ourselves or others and b...

Through fasting, I have come to realize just how much I hunger for the Lord. How much time I truly have on my hands to devote to getting closer to Christ. Without realizing it, not only did I fast from food, I also found that during my time of fasting I did not watch TV. Something I didn't conscientiously do. The time that I would normally spend watching TV was spent reading and praying, the peace and quiet soothing my soul, allowing me to let go of my worries and my stress and just bask in the glory of the Lord.  The title of my main entry about fasting called Fast To Feast  was originally just a title to catch the eye of the reader, but as I sit here in the breakroom hungry to devour God's word, I recognize the truth within the title. This fast has not left me physically hungry but spiritually. I find I want more, I need more than what I have been getting, and I want to give more of myself than I have been giving. Its opened my eyes to the daily strug...

As you already know I am a writer by nature what started as a chronicle of my fitness fasting experience turned into something spiritual and lead to the blog post Fast To Feast . I encourage you when you fast to write down your prayers and your requests and the Lords response. You may not remember everything you learn during your time of fasting and notes can help you look back and see where it is that God has moved in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through not only you but your pen and paper as well.  Day one proved to be very difficult, unlike my first attempt when I caved and pigged out on Barbecue at my family reunion, my temptation this time would come from the family fish fry. Although I very rarely personally fry foods at home I have a weakness for all things fried. Pork chops, country fried steak, chicken, french fries and the list goes on I'm just a stickler for fried food. I wish I could say I buckled down toughed it out and resisted temptation....

It's been quite a while since I've just sat in silence with the Lord. As I am writing this I am in a quint little break room listening to the fan blow just enjoying the presence I feel over me right now. My spirit is at ease, my heart is at peace, and I find myself thankful for the past three days in which I've had the most energy I can remember having in a long time. Lately, I've had fitness on my mind something heavy and decided a couple of days ago to fast for three days before starting the keto diet. I eagerly jumped right into fasting since it was the first of the month... I failed miserably. I honestly didn't think fasting would be this hard. I never knew that food was such a big comfort for me. I knew that I was an emotional eater but I didn't realize how food controlled my life. The truth is I have no self-control not just with eating but with many aspects of my life, food is just the one I abuse the most. I'm a binge eater. I ...