Made to Crave Online Study- Chapters 9& 10

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 for the last 1/2 of this study!}

This week we are discussing chapters nine and ten of the book. Chapter nine (But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry) and chapter ten (This Isn’t Fair) both had some points to talk about and think through. At the same time though I am curious to hear what everyone learned from these two chapters! 

One quote that stood out to me from chapter nine was from page 9, “I can either be loyal to honoring the Lord with my body or loyal to my cravings, desires, and many excuses for not exercising.” (Made to Crave, page 91) Now, as a young woman who used to love walking for exercise and ballroom dancing several times a week exercise didn't make me cry. I am not like my sister (who is AWESOMELY training for a 1/2 marathon) who likes to run, or like a former co-worker of mine who is doing Cross fit. I am not even going to pretend that was before I got sick let alone would it be now. So here is the thing that I took away from this. Exercise doesn't make me cry, but there are other things that I don't like to do which is incredibly good for my health (i.e.- drinking drinking Cod Liver Oil) and I have the choice everyday on how I choose to treat my body- in the big and little things.

A beautiful verse that gives us encouragement to face whatever our circumstances is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: 
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. 
For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

I said this a couple of weeks ago, but these points are so important to be reminded of once again here: If you are defining yourself by your work, illness, career,  blog, profession, marriage, children, your contribution to society, weight, the dress size you are, the marathon that you just ran, etc. I highly encourage you this week to think through the following definitions of who you truly are. I love these following truths and hope that you do to!

*I am a forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)
I am a set-free child of God. (Romans 8:1-2)
I am accepted child of God.(I Corinthians 1:2)
I am a holy child of God. (I Corinthians 1:30)
I am a made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am a loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)
I am a close child of God. (Ephesians 2:13)
I am a confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)
I am a victorious child of God. (Romans 8:37)*

Have a blessed week y'all - celebrating the small victories as much as the large ones, knowing that we are truly loved by God.

P.S.- Can y'all believe that we are on week six?!? It is hard to believe that we are at this point in this study! Keep up the awesome work y'all! So delighted to be on this journey with you!

* Wording and info taken from Scripture &  "Made to Crave Participant's Guide: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God"  By Lysa TerKeurst

Here is the reading schedule for the rest of the study for those of you that would like to join us :

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