Self Improvement Journey

I recently looked over my blog layout and had to laugh.  I have a list of great food ideas, ha. What did I know about cooking? I mean, I was only one person living in a one room apartment with the smallest kitchen that you couldn't move without hitting your elbows on something. I have a bunch of cookbooks and maybe only used one out of the 15 I have; "Easy Cooking for Today." Do I even know how to cook? I was helping in the church kitchen one day with my friend Andy and found that I can't cook instant potatoes for 20-25 people; I made them soggy.  I can cook instant potatoes for one though.
Just about a month ago, I moved into a bigger one bedroom apartment. I am in a little piece of heaven. I have a big kitchen and I am cooking more. I LOVE IT!
I am beginning to take notice of what I am cooking and eating. I see my friend, Robin, losing weight, eating healthy, and being active. I think I've begun to pick up the pounds she is dropping. This isn't good on my part. I've been more tired, lazy, and complacent.
Today, I began reading about a life value goal of making the best use of the body God gave me. I started indulging in the words of Paul, Solomon, and Daniel and have begun thinking more about what I am taking in my body through food and other indulgences in life. I read my friend's blog on eating and eating healthy and have started to change my stinking thinking "in order to lose weight, I have to give up my favorite foods, eat boring things," but what I have found to be true is that I need to ask myself "in what way am I using body and health to glorify God?" Where do I draw the line for consuming unhealthy foods? I have learned that this is a self decision and journey.
I did work out, but I didn't pay attention to what I was/am eating and drinking. I see all these adds on television about weight loss, eating right foods, and joining a program. I don't know what it is going to take for me because I have a busy schedule. I tried working at Curves and love it, but I have a lot on my plate right now.
I believe that if the Lord has opened my eyes in seeing that I need to take better care of my body that I will seek him to help me along this journey. I will hitch my wagon onto others that have succeeded in living healthy lives.
The best part about all of this is that I am no longer alone on this journey of self improvement. I have someone else willing and able to exercise with me.
I don't know how long it will last since I have a difficult time with self discipline, but I believe in trying and watching the results from it.

If you too are on this journey of self improvement and it has worked for you, I hope you will share your success with me.


Romans 13:12-14
Proverbs 23:20-21
Daniel 1:8,11-16
I found it interesting that if you look in Genesis 1:29; 9:3 most of the original inhabitants of the earth were vegetarians until after the flood. I am not a vegetarian by no means, but it did make me wonder what is good and bad meat?
I am on another journey to learn more about the foods I eat.


What kind of journey are you on for this coming new year, 2012? Please share.

How Good or Bad Do You Have It?

As I was eating a bowl of spaghetti, I was reading a story about a young woman who was tortured for 30 days because she was overheard by another woman praying to God. The story reads how she was raped by her owners, became pregnant, then fled from North Korea with a friend. Her friend later died from cold and hunger. Sister Yang's story has much more to tell, however this one woman became a believer in a non-believer's world and then was persecuted for her faith. She in turn looked to the Father of Creation for help. She experienced "faith under pressure," wouldn't you agree?
I looked at my bowl of almost eaten spaghetti and thought "someone is hungry today." My next thought was "she has a purpose in her life."
It raised questions for myself. I know that people have questioned my walk by faith, but I was never hungry to the point of death, I have not been tortured to the extreme of my body turning black and blue, and yet I wonder "what is my purpose Lord?".
We sing "How Great is Our God" without truly knowing Him as a friend or a provider in the darkest times of our lives. We are concerned when our washing machines break or our computers stop working and we want it fixed "NOOOW;" we are a spoiled country. We do not know what it is like to be without sometimes; we forget that there are others without and perishing.
However, with the way our economy in our Putnam County is right now, we are experiencing cold and hunger.
I have seen people in tears; not sure of what will happen tomorrow. Yet have faith enough to know that God will provide and they will experience Him.
Then there are others who mock Him and say "yeah right" under their breathe.
If you are questioning if God cares, He does. If you are desiring more in your life; God is there. If you are willing to surrender, He will hold on to you.
I encourage you to come to know this God of Creation, this Father who loves not like an earthly father, this friend who will never leave you in your darkest times, and wants the BEST for you.
If you know Him and are questioning Him; He already knows you. He hasn't left you. Have you left Him?
I encourage you my friend to grow in the knowledge of God Almighty and allow Him to fill you with truth and healing.

~Be Encouraged
Marjorie

PS. As you walk through your day; would you pray for someone else in the world?