My heading says A Joy that is shared is a joy made double- I’m hoping my struggle that’s shared is a struggle made lighter- thanks for letting me be transparent!

I am in a Battle with my stronghold

Dear Friends,

I have not been around lately- I have been enjoying good things= grandbabies!

I can’t contain the joy of a day with any of them-I could bottle the smell and feeling of a new little baby and be a millionare!

But at the the same time deep inside me, I’m in a battle.

A battle in my mind. I am studying Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind and I sure need it.

I started off the year with great plans and efforts at losing weight and being healthy. It is such a struggle. I know why –it is a stronghold for me.

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
2 Corinthians 10:4,5

Through careful strategy and cunning deceit, Satan attempts to set up “strongholds” in our mind. A stronghold is an area in which we are held in bondage (in prison) due to a certain way of thinking.

Since the age of 12, I have thought of myself as a FAT person. I may have defined myself in many ways- a daughter, a student and later a wife and a mother- now the sweetest of all a MeMe! But the one constant has always been a fat girl. Even when I weighed 130 pounds at 5’5” I felt overweight. I am not proud of this but I know it’s true.

Proverbs 23:7 (King James Version)

⁷For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

So because I think of myself as a fat girl- I am. I am staying there in the land of over weight and over eating. I take two steps forward and three steps backward.

I need your prayers and encouragement as I keep working on this until  I define myself as a healthy beautiful daughter of the King.

I long for the day when I am truly living out the words of Psalms 27:1 and living as the Lord is the stronghold of my life.This is my hearts desire. But for now I am in a battle…

Psalm 27:¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear?
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

A  girl at work…

Be blessed!

Hello-I’m alive and well!

So, last week I was carless. I gave mine to Bama Princess, so I could have peace of mind that she is driving a dependable safe car while she is away from home and coming back and forth. I rode to work and back with Hubby everyday. I also was sick the whole week with the “CRUD” or otherwise known as upper respitory trouble. I barely made it to work and went to bed early every night- No grandbabies , no blogging.

That was last week- I am better, I have a new car and Grandbabies ~ take a look – The beautiful weekend gave me some good time with 3 of my little squirts.

They wanted to have some play time in their Princess Castle that Meme And Papa gave them for Christmas.

Fun outdoor time!

How about some fun bathtime….

 

Bed time- the best slumber is laying next to this…

Sunday morning is Church time~

Then Abby came to visit…

How Beautiful- 5 weeks has passed like a snap of my finger!

So listen to the words of this song and let them sink in- Be sure and turn off the music at the bottom of my page.

It really fits my life… Listen and enjoy!

 

Be blessed!I am!

Interviews anyone!

My sweet blog friend Brenda had this on her site and I sent her a comment to "Interview me"- If you'd like to participate just include "Interview Me" in your comment. I'll shoot over 5 questions along with the rules.
Here are her questions.
1. What is the biggest piece of advise you would share with your child as they embark into the world?
I think of a few off the top of my head. Guard their heart- many friends, and people who claim to care about them can turn their head, but they are in control of themselves.
-Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."
They must have goals. Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
Contentment doesn’t come from things- You are not defined by what car you drive, house you live in or even what job you have. The character you have –the way you do your job and how you let the things of this world affect you, defines you. -Phil 4:11-13 "For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Remember whose they are- First, before anything else, they are God’s - Children of the King
2. If time and money were not an issue, what would your ideal vacation be? I have always had a desire to drive across the country with no agenda, with like my best friend to see places I would like to see –(probably now meet bloggers I would like to meet) and have a leisure amount of time to do whatever we like. I would have a convertible and start in the South where I live and see all I want to see, then head North and go to New York –DC, Campobella Island Canada, Maine, then go full circle around this country- I would see Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I‘d like to see Las Vegas and Jackson Hole Wyoming. Just to name a few.
3. If you were stranded on a desert island for one week with one other person, besides your spouse but someone you personally know, who would that person be and why? I would like one week on a desert island with my 3 kids and 4 grandkids, so we could have solitude and make memories and do wonderful things together with no TV, video, cell phones or outside influences.
Okay, so that's more than one person, but I can't narrow it down-it's my interview and I'll booger up the answers if I want to.
4. Who is your favorite woman in the Bible and why?
The Sinful woman- the woman with the expensive oil who’s story is told in Luke 7:36-50, Matthew 26:6-13,and Mark 14:3-9.This story is one of my favorites, because it so clearly displays God's love for us. The woman is defined as "one who lived a sinful life." She was said to be a prostitute. Haven't we all lived a sinful life? Don't we all have things in our lives that we don't want to share with others? I certainly do. That's why this story is so special to me. Jesus knew this woman's chosen path, but He didn't focus on that. He focused on her actions – her expression of love and sacrifice to Him. I’m thankful God looks at me with eyes of love and Mercy, instead of what I deserve.
5. Hot air balloon? Sky Diving? or free trip to the Moon (and back!)? I won a Hot air Balloon trip once and didn’t take it- I’m scared of heights-I don’t desire to sky Dive- I’d probably have a heart attack or at least mess my britches!!!~ I’m not even sure I’d like to go to the moon and back. I wish my husband could go because he’d like to. The closest thing to all these is a trip to Heaven and I’ve made my reservation- I’m going there someday and I won’t be afraid.
I tried to think about these answers and answer honestly- I felt like they probably do when they are put on the spot in the MS. America pageant and they want to give these profound answers to the question set before them and the answer comes off HUH?
It was fun and I will sure give you some questions I can think of if you just say the word...
Be blessed!

I am a bad blogger!

Would it help if I said I have been dealing with a lot of new in my life? A new grandbaby, a new way of life-diet and discipline and hopefully a new lease on being a better me. Remember when you had a new love and it consumed your time- that’s the way it’s been with my life lately. I am so in love with my Little Abby girl- hopefully I will have new pictures to share soon.

I am working on myself- in some areas I am doing okay and in others –it’s like the Ol’ Devil is working overtime to slip me up. Some days it seems I focus on every bite I put in my mouth and then a few days have passed and I realize I haven’t been doing my quiet time. I have lost 7 pounds in the first 3 weeks since I started Weight Watchers.

Last weekend I spent Saturday with my two oldest grandgirls and Donny and his Mom. Emma had cheerleading Competition in Birmingham- we left at 6:30 am and went to see her and her team win 2nd place. How proud I was! Look how precious…

Emma is second from the left on top row.

More highlights from the day

Look at this sweet face-Meme loves her big girl…

Anna had a fun day and was so good.

I’m so glad I got to go.

I’ve had work- one sick day-church –meetings-Bunco-Weight Watcher meetings- time spent with Abby-(there’s something therapeutic about holding a new baby for hours)-Last Sunday I had all 4 of my grandbabies with me and no camera-how bad is that?

Thursday, Emma and I took a quick trip down to TTown to pick up Bama Princess- her title came in and she is looking for a new vehicle this weekend-(I’m praying we find one.) Emma was so cute –we went to the Ferg Center and to the Library with Whit and she told everyone that she is going to Alabama when she grows up. She will start Kindergarten next year. I had a great day with my two girls and we went to dinner at the Iguana Grill, which was a cool place with great food.

That was just yesterday- then I packed a lot into today-work-helping Whit look for a car- lunch at Red Lobster-broiled Flounder and broccoli for this Meme-oh how the Fried shrimp was beckoning me- Tomorrow will be more of the same-hopefully with Papa’s help.

I will get better at my time management skills and blogging –including commenting and visiting my favorites. I have some good things to share and I miss all of my blog friends when there’s no love going back and forth.

Say a little prayer for me- I can use it- I am weak but He is strong!

Be blessed and I mean it!!!!

I have goals, for such a time as this

Yesterday, History was made. For my part in this, I pray I will be what Gods word tells me to be.
One passage that comes to mind is Romans 2.
Romans 2
1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.
12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. 
17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

So for my part I will obey the law of the land and I will respect my President. I am a Christian. I am an American. I want to honor God with how I live.
All that said, my personal goals are get healthy- I have started that process and with God's help I can keep moving in that direction. My name is Lorie -I am addicted to food and unlike a drug addict or an alcoholic I still need food to survive. So my big task is to make sure that I put it in it's proper place. Food is the fuel that keeps me running-not the thing that gives me joy or comforts me when something’s wrong. I can learn to appreciate the right food in the right amounts and this is my task.
My other goal this year is most important- besides weight, it is always on my mind. I have friends and loved ones who need to hear the truth. So first off  I need to make sure my heart is right and I am always in the word, so I am ready. Listen to Mark Hall share from his heart because it is my heart- I lay awake at night and pray for those who I love that need to hear the word. Don’t forget to mute my music!

I saw this on Pam’s blog and it is what is on my heart this year- wouldn’t it be awesome if we all made it our goal, just like people do weight loss at the start of each year.

Just some thoughts on my mind in this time of HOPE!

Be blessed!

Just a little Email I got today...Better than the Inaugural

Who is Jesus

He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

He is the Architect of the Universe and the Manager of All Times.

Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated and Never Outdone,

He is the Keeper of Creation and the Creator of All!

He always was, He always is, He always will be!

He was persecuted and brought freedom;

He was bruised and brought healing.

He was pierced and eased pain.

He was dead and brought life.

He is risen and brings power.

He reigns and brings peace.

The leaders can't ignore Him,

The armies can't defeat Him,

The schools can't explain Him,

The world can't understand Him.

The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,

The people couldn't hold Him!

Herod couldn't kill Him,

Nero couldn't crush Him,

Hitler couldn't silence Him,

The New Age can't replace Him,

And Donahue can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is goodness, kindness, gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful, and Pure.

His ways are right,

His Word is Eternal,

His Will is Unchanging,

And His mind is on me!

He is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Guide, and my Peace!

He is my Joy, my Comfort, my Lord and Ruler of my Life!

I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light,

His goal for me is Abundant Life.

I follow Him because He is theWisdom of the wise, the Power of the powerful,

the Ancient of Days,The Ruler of rulers,

the Leader of leaders, the Overseer of overcomers,

The Sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come,

He willNever leave me, nor forsake me;

He will never mislead me,Never forget me and never overlook me!

He is Everything for everybodyEverywhere, every time,In every way.

When I fall, He lifts me up.

When I am weak, He is my strength.

When I am lost, He is The Way.

When I am afraid, He is my courage.

When I stumble, He steadies me.

When I am hurt, He heals me.

When I am broken, He mends me.

When I am blind, He leads me.

When I am hungry, He feeds me.

When I face trials, He is with me.

When I face persecution, He shields me.

When I face problems, He comforts me.

When I face loss, He provides for me.

When I face death, He carries me home.

Every day is a blessing, for God IS!

Author Unknown

Dear Friends, I don't know about you, but this is my HOPE, and this is why I don't fear!

Christ in me the hope of Glory! Amen and Amen!

Be blessed!