Hi y'all! I am so delighted that several of you are joining Stephanie, Crystal & I on this adventure of reading through the "Made to Crave" book. {If you haven't already purchased the book but would still like to - please feel free to join us at any point - even if it is just for a week or two!}
{I want to say a word of discretion before I continue. I am so excited to meet with y'all and discuss these chapters. NOT because of anything that we are doing but because of the habits, mindsets, and life changes that we are making to get to know our precious Lord more and more each day. I know I am not alone in the fact that our deepest desire is to know the Lord more and to crave Him and His presence each day. I do want to point out that the reason for doing this study is to grow closer to the Lord and fall more in love with Him. That is the prayer that I have for myself and for all of us in this Bible Study. I do think that there is a fine line that we are walking in this study that can be construed that we are equating weight loss with ones spiritual journey. As I mentioned from the very first week this journey for some might be about surrendering that area to the Lord and for others like myself it may help us examine other areas that need surrender. The goal of this study for me is to fall more in love with the Lord and I hope that will be your main goal too! While I might not agree with everything that is in the book each week I am just pointing out the parts that really spoke to me.}
This week we are discussing chapters three &four of the book. One of the things that stood out to me from chapter four was the idea of having an accountability partner. I am glad that this was mentioned because I do think that there are times where we think that we can do something "alone" and yet the body of Christ is so essential. I love how Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book, Life Together, that there is a "day of being alone" and a "day of being together". We truly need both to bring balance to our lives. Another one of the quotes that has always stood out to me from his book speaks perfectly to this:
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1944)
This concept of being together is so important and I am so thankful that I have dear friends who I can turn to and confide my struggles, hopes, dreams, and fears and that they are faithful to take it to the Lord in prayer. {Thank you so much Jen, Kaara, and Michelle for being such wonderful, Godly, and amazing ladies in my life!} I know for me and many other women sometimes reaching out and sharing our hearts can be such a hard thing. Maybe it is because you have been hurt in the past or wounded by a friend that you thought you trusted. Maybe it is because you feel that you have searched and searched for friendships and still are waiting to find them. I urge you not to live in fear but instead want to encourage you to keep praying (and I will pray with you!) for these friendships to come. I myself continue to ask the Lord for close women and He is always faithful to provide what we need!
So just like last week I am left with lots to continue to pray and think through! What about y'all? If you are a blogger please feel free to link with us below and share your thoughts and if you don't have a blog please leave a comment in the comment section. I am so confident that we can all grow and learn together in this process!
This week we are discussing chapters three &four of the book. One of the things that stood out to me from chapter four was the idea of having an accountability partner. I am glad that this was mentioned because I do think that there are times where we think that we can do something "alone" and yet the body of Christ is so essential. I love how Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book, Life Together, that there is a "day of being alone" and a "day of being together". We truly need both to bring balance to our lives. Another one of the quotes that has always stood out to me from his book speaks perfectly to this:
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1944)
This concept of being together is so important and I am so thankful that I have dear friends who I can turn to and confide my struggles, hopes, dreams, and fears and that they are faithful to take it to the Lord in prayer. {Thank you so much Jen, Kaara, and Michelle for being such wonderful, Godly, and amazing ladies in my life!} I know for me and many other women sometimes reaching out and sharing our hearts can be such a hard thing. Maybe it is because you have been hurt in the past or wounded by a friend that you thought you trusted. Maybe it is because you feel that you have searched and searched for friendships and still are waiting to find them. I urge you not to live in fear but instead want to encourage you to keep praying (and I will pray with you!) for these friendships to come. I myself continue to ask the Lord for close women and He is always faithful to provide what we need!
So just like last week I am left with lots to continue to pray and think through! What about y'all? If you are a blogger please feel free to link with us below and share your thoughts and if you don't have a blog please leave a comment in the comment section. I am so confident that we can all grow and learn together in this process!
P.S.- If you haven't already clicked around the "freebies" page of the Made to Crave website I highly encourage you to spend a few minutes there!
Here is the reading schedule for the rest of the study for those of you that would like to join us :
July 29- Week 4
Chapter 5- Made for More & Chapter 6- Growing Closer to God
August 5- Week 5
Chapter 7- I’m Not Defined by the Numbers & Chapter 8- Making Peace with the Realities of my Body
August 12- Week 6
Chapter 9- But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry& Chapter 10- This Isn’t Fair!
August 19- Week 7
Chapter 11- Stinkin’, Rotten, Horrible, No Good Day & Chapter 12- The Curse of the Skinny Jeans
August 26- Week 8
Chapter 13- Overindulgence & Chapter 14- Emotional Emptiness
September 2- Week 9
Chapter 15- The Demon in the Chips Poster & Chapter 16- Why Diets Don’t Work
September 9- Week 10
Chapter 17- The Very Next Choice We Make& Chapter 18- Things Lost, Better Things Gained
September 16- Week 11
Chapter 19- Live as an Overcomer & Summary/Conclusion
3 comments
Thanks for sharing your stories :) I voted for you. I didn't know that you have cancer! Will be praying for you in that as I pray for our Made to Crave journey as well.
ReplyDeleteI certainly don't think that weightloss for all people is a spiritual thing. And I absolutely don't think that thin = spiritual. However, I do think that if there is anything we're craving over God, then it is a spiritual battle to get rid of it, and for me, that's what this is. I also have a post sharing some other reasons why for ME this weightloss thing really is a spiritual battle...http://www.servingjoyfully.com/2012/09/17/finish-the-race/
So glad you're joining in even if you don't have those struggles with food because you're right we all need to crave God more :)
Hi Crystal! I am so glad to be sharing this experience with you and studying this book with you! Thank you also for your vote and also for your vote!
ReplyDelete:) Rebecca
New follower via Ephesians 5:33 Wife :) This is so cool that you're going through this book because I am just about to start reading it. Since I'm behind, I'll probably catch up with your posts as I go through the book. Glad I found you - love your blog!
ReplyDeleteEllie
www.ChoosingPeaceBlog.com