Bricks without straw

    


     Sometimes I have to wonder chuckle because
every single time in my life when I am trying to

make a change for the better it seems as if

everything that can go wrong does go wrong so

that I am left in a huddle on the floor saying in

exhaustion "I give up!" and "You win" to the imaginary forces that conspire against me.


     It is like when Moses was being used by God to make a huge change in the lives of the Hebrews in
Egypt. He wanted to bring them into a new and better way of living. But of course it would not be easy…

Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.' " 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." 14 The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers were beaten and were asked, "Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"

15 Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."


17 Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."


     When I was reading this I was struck by the words “Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are—lazy!”

Wow… Isn’t that what I tell myself all the time. Isn’t that what “the adversary” whispers in my ear night and
day. But what he whispers to me in the dark does not compare to what My God tells me in the Light!!


     The Bible says that " Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) and “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with
peace" (Psalm 29:11).


     It is important to believe that because as
     Karl Graustein says "Our beliefs shape our values, and our values shape our actions" .

     What do I believe? I need to ask myself every morning? Do I believe the lies of the enemy? Or Do I believe that God has given me strength and peace to face ever challenge before me?


     If I do believe that than what will I value today? Will I value foods that are healthy vs. foods that are not? Will I value exercise?


    Because if I do my actions will fall into place.


    So it doesn’t matter if I am faced with making “Bricks without straw” I have all I need to do it well!!!

I Want it NOW!!! or Learning that NO isn't a four letter word!

Right now I am on day three of this life change. I am excited about it but let’s face it I also know that at times it is going to be absolutely no fun whatsoever. But that is ok.


I think as Americans we are so conditioned to believe that we should "Have it All! And Have it Now!!" that if we find that we can't "Have it all Right now" we start to panic.

A lot of the times when I was eating when I shouldn't of, I would say to myself "It's ok because I want to!" Wow! What a load of crap that was!! Remember Veruca salt "I WANT IT NOW DADDY!!!" Remember what happened to her! Not to pretty! Well neither is my state!

Since when did anything ever become ok just because we wanted it? With that thinking I guess it would be OK when Murders killed innocent people or rapists raped innocent people...Hey they wanted to so it must be ok right?...right?...WRONG!

In order to beat this demon I call "gluttony" I have got to teach myself to really "know" that "NO" is not a four letter word (figuratively speaking).

As a matter of fact NO is a great word when speaking sentences such as "No, I will not push you off this cliff." or "No, I will not kick the dog just because you dared me." and then of course, the music to every parents ears, is to hear that our child said "NO! I am waiting until I am married!"

So in this journey of learning to let go of what harms me to hold on too, I am also going to earn to embrace all things put in place for my success ...such as NO. Yes it is positively negative but if used right it can be positively life changing as well.

So if you happen to run into me these days, don't be surprised if in answer to your questions I respond with "NO! NO! NO!" I am just flexing my "I may want it, but it is not good for me, therefore, I don't need it, Muscle!"