My Cup Overflows

by: Margaret E. Barber

There is always something "over"
When we trust our gracious Lord;
Every cup is overflowing,
His great rivers all are broad
Nothing narrow, nothing sparing,
Ever springing from His store
To His own He gives full measure,
Overflowing, evermore

There is always something "over"
When we, from the Father's hand
Take our portion with thanksgiving,
Praising for the path he planned.
Satisfaction, full and deepening,
Fills the soul, and lights the eye
When the heart has trusted Jesus
All its needs to satisfy

There is always something "over"
When we tell of all His love
Unreached depths still lie beneath us,
Unscaled heights rise far above;
Human lips can never utter
All His wondrous tenderness,
We can only praise and wonder,
And His name forever bless

WEIGH DOWN DIET week 21

Well, for some reason I just can't seem to get passed the 25 pound mark. I have not given up, but continue to be frustrated as I get on the scales and see no change. I guess, God is placing me in a time of waiting and I need to be patient and follow his guidance.

I do have blessings over flowing in my life right now. Though I cannot go into detail, God has blessed our family beyond measure with an opportunity we so desperately needed. He is teaching me that he will meet our needs. If you are struggling in your life or experiencing a time of waiting or sorrow, take it to God. God delights in taking care of his children just as we delight in taking care of our own children. And something he is teaching me is that HIS plan is perfect, not mine.

Tomorrow I travel down to Kansas for my 15 year class reunion. Though I was hoping to be a bit thinner than I am, God has blessed me with the loss of 25 pounds and for this I cannot complain! I am so looking forward to seeing old friends!

Philippians 4:19
My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


25 POUNDS LOST 1 DAY TO GO

WEIGH DOWN DIET week 20

Hello friends! Thanks to another round of the stomach flu in our home, I am back down my five pounds! As miserable as I was when puking my guts up on Sunday, I found it gave me time to read my Bible and pray. I don't know for sure, but I think God used this time to "re-start" me! I was telling my friend Margery that after this bout with the flu, God truly did "empty" me! Also, I as I stated last week, my walk with Him hasn't been as close. I still do my devotions everyday, but not like I used to - in the early morning hours while the house is asleep. There is something magical about that time and though I have continued to read my Bible and read my devotions and pray, when I do it with two small boys clanking around the house, my focus isn't COMPLETELY on Him. I was able to have that quiet time as I moaned and groaned in bed on Sunday with the flu. (You know how you feel....you want to die, but unfortunately you know you're going to survive it?) Yesterday, I was able to continue to find that "empty" feeling before eating. This morning I was able to have that time with God uninterrupted before the house woke up. Oh, I'm a slow learner, but at least I am still learning! I'm sticking with my Jeremiah verse again this week....it is so uplifting and encouraging. God wants me (and you) to succeed!
Have a great week!

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

25 POUND LOST 9 DAYS TO GO

If you are interested in learning more about the Weigh Down Diet and it's Biblical principles click here.

WIEGH DOWN DIET week 19

Okay, this is going to be short and sweet as I am limited on time this week! (And unfortunately, I am not overly giddy to be reporting again...)

I must really like those five pounds, because I keep adding them back on (and off and on and off and back on again!) UGH! I will admit to you that though two weeks ago I was able to do good and get them off, this last week I have not weighed in the mornings or read much in my Rise Above book. There are no excuses. Just because I have been busy (and will continue to be busy throughout the month of May) does not mean I can't still listen to my body. Instead, I have listened to my head.

I sat down this morning and prayed with all sincerity that God would help me keep him #1 in my mind...not just this week, but throughout the rest of this busy month (well, and obviously throughout the rest of my life!) Last week, God was ranking somewhere around #2 or #3 for me. And, it shows.

So, here I go again....gonna try to lose those blasted five pounds AGAIN!! (You'd think simply because I don't like to repeat awful chores, I'd quit doing this, wouldn't you?)

For a number of reasons, this is the verse God has placed on my heart. For weight loss, it is my reminder that as long as I keep focusing on him, his plan for me will help me succeed in this battle! Until next week, faithful readers!

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

20 POUNDS LOST 15 DAYS TO GO

I FORGOT!!!

I am a dork! I can't believe I forgot!
I didn't mention a gal I really like a LOT!
It is because of this woman I wrote my last post
Then I go and forget her as if she was a ghost
Please check out Lisa at Bombastic Bandicoot
I promise her posts will give you a hoot!
She is a remarkable photographer as you will soon see
A lovable woman, God made perfectly
Visit her blog and I promise you'll be touched
I doubt there's another blogger who ((hugs)) commenters as much!

Readers,
Please do check out Lisa's blog today. She is one of the most precious women I have met in the blogger world. She reaches out to you as much as you reach out to her. And, if any of you have any interest in photography -- she's your gal! I swear that woman can make a bowl of peas interesting! I feel so badly that I forgot to mention her in my last post. I got so caught up making everything rhyme, I didn't give credit to the one who tagged me! Check her out -- truly you won't regret taking the time to pay her a visit!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!

I have been tagged
By a dear blogger friend
In a little blogging game
Five questions she did send
With each question
I must respond five times
With an answer that explains
(And I'm hoping mine rhymes!)
So read on curious friend
If you're intrigued to know more
Facts about this blogger
There's not much, that's for sure!

WHERE WERE YOU FIVE YEARS AGO?
1) My location five years ago
Was Wichita, Kansas (remember Toto?)
2) I was also a new mom full of OOOs and Ahhhs
My precious baby could easily make me pause
3) I was teaching 8th grade science - I loved it, this I swear
Though now that I am home, it's my boys that need my care
4) I graduated in this month almost to the day
A master's degree in counseling - I hope to use it in some way
5) My high school class was celebrating 10 years of being out
Now it's been 15 years - what's this aging stuff all about?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
1) I hope our address forever stays the same
Though many might consider the mid-west a bit lame
We are in love with our modest country home
And I know we are happy and will never want to roam

2) I might be planning another class reunion
It seems our class enjoys the 5 year type communion
Though by then it will be 20 years
And I'll be an age that even now I dread and fear!

3) Maybe I'll be back in the public teaching field
Teaching to my students all that science has to yield
Helping middle schoolers think that school is fun
If I can manage this, I'll consider my life's work as done!

4)Just for fun I will dream a bit big with the number four
Maybe I'll have a best-selling book somewhere in a bookish store
Obviously my book will be the novelty type
Do you think my silly poems could be the next reading hype?!

5)No matter where I am or even what I am doing
The Lord's will and His Word - I will forever be pursuing
God has blessed my life so much - I am lucky enough to say
I'll be thankful and praising His name each and every day!

WHAT IS ON YOUR 'TO DO' LIST TODAY?
1) I have some laundry that needs to be done
2) Followed by laundry I missed in round one
3) Then in case I wanted to do more
There is some laundry I found on the floor
4) I might take a break and add spice to my day
By folding some laundry and then put it away
5) Ahh, the fun things that I get to do
Running around being the mother of two!

WHAT FIVE SNACKS DO YOU ENJOY?
1) I am a lover of the licorice snack Nibs
2) I also like CornNuts - this I can't fib
3) I most always have some type of fruit in my fridge
4)And a blueberry bagel with cream cheese on the ridge
5) Finally, I'm a sucker - no ifs, ands, or buts
For just about any kind of salt coated nut

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE A BILLIONAIRE?
1) First I would wonder, "What in the world?"
"Why would God bless, THIS silly girl?"
2) I would give hefty donations to KLOVE and Family Life
As they brought encouragement to this (sometimes) struggling wife
3) I would want to make sure my loved ones were set
My parents and mother-in-law are as good as they get
4) Pay off any debt, and put the rest in the bank
5) Go on living the same - remembering the ONE I should thank!

These are the facts about little ol' me
Not overly exciting, as you can now see

My turn to tag, oh who will it be?
Let's try Christina, Dana, Sarah, Mike and Tami!

WEIGH DOWN DIET week 18

I have to report first and foremost, that I am back down to the '25 POUNDS LOST' mark once again! Praise God!! I do think God is gettin' in my head and helpin' me out....this is a wonderful thing!

As I mentioned last week, I started reading Rise Above by Gwen Shamblin. It is a wonderful read and very hard to put down. (In fact, I should have written this post yesterday, but used my blogging time to read her book....oops!) So much of what she offers up is so practical. For instance, we (dieters) have made such a big deal about our food. What to eat, what not to eat, what diet to try, what diet not to try...etc. If you think about it though, we don't put any effort or thought into how much air we breathe. We just do it. We don't think, "Hmm, I'm getting a little low on oxygen right now....I'd better take a gulp of air." "Gee, I wonder how much air I should breathe in? Do you think this is too much....(inhale, inhale, inhale!)" We just breathe. We enjoy the fact that God, our creator, designed a perfect body that works as it should. Eating can be the same way so long as we get our focus OFF of food and ON TO God.

She also points out that we have responsibility....the ability to make a response. We have been given a heart that can make a choice. What are we going to fixate on all day? Counting calories? How much food we can binge on? How much exercise we need to stay slim? Or God? (Keep in mind I do not think exercise is wrong or bad, but if it is a means to allow your heart to still be addicted to food, then I do believe you are exercising for the wrong reasons. If exercising is the only way to stay slim, then that means people bound by wheelchairs can never lose weight. As I have seen, those who are unable to exercise CAN LOSE WEIGHT!)

Genesis 4:6-7 tells us: "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.'" I can master the sin of greed for food. I do believe God gave us a heart to be addicted - He just intended the addiction to be for Him!

I am already writing so much more than I intended, but if you can tell, this book has really got the gears in my brain a twitchin'! All of my issues with food (or any other addiction I may have) starts with my mind. My mind should be on God and what He wants. If my mind is on what I want, then I am being controlled by my sinful nature. I need to ask God what He wants EVERY day.

Okay, this may be a lot for some of my readers to take in, but I have just been overwhelmed by the ideas in this book. I hope I wasn't too haphazard in presenting what I read. I would STRONGLY encourage anyone reading this post (who struggles with any addiction) to buy this book. I really do think all of us have some kind of addiction -- there is much to be addicted to! What do you struggle with? Maybe it's not food, but alcohol, cigarettes, materialistic items, money, stealing, lying, being lazy, watching too much TV, etc....the list can go on and on! God can help you with whatever causes you to stumble. (okay, I'm done now...let me kick my soap box back over here in the corner.)

I'm stickin' with my verse from last week -- though it is short, I still believe it is powerful!

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not be like others who are asleep but let us be alert and self-controlled.

25 POUNDS LOST 21 DAYS TO GO!!