I used to take great ‘pride’ in the word ‘busy.’ If I was busy I could tell other people about it, and then I could give myself a virtual ‘pat on the back.’ Somewhere along the line, God taught me some really hard lessons.
Thank you Kate and Heather for reminding us to be grateful for the lessons of the week with the other ‘Top 5’ and ‘Friday Favorites’ friends! It’s so fun to read about all the things that went on in my friend’s lives. It’s a wonderful way to learn more about them, hurt with them, and heal with them.
Now, what have I learned about being ‘busy.’
One lesson was that pride in myself and my ‘busy’ was not a good thing.
The second lesson was that I had forgotten why I did everything and what I should have been focusing on in the midst my ‘busy’ attitude.
What I’ve been learning this year has been almost exactly along the lines of what Jesus told Martha in Luke 10. He knew how often we need to be reminded of the most important thing.
Luke 10:42, ‘But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’
It wasn’t that Jesus was commanding Martha not to work, but He knew that her heart was anxious and worried about many things, when there was only one thing that was really needful. There was only one thing that would keep her in perfect peace.
He knows my frailty. He knows that I need to sit at His feet, hope in His great works that He has done, and all the great works that He promises to do, instead of worrying about what I can’t do.
Don’t feel bad for not being busy… Instead, stop and behold what God is doing! #Godisamazing
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Psalm 103 describes the frailty of the human constitution and the constant, faithfulness of the Lord’s mercy and pity. It’s a beautiful contrast.
‘Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;’ (Part of the Psalm)
Being ‘busy’ was keeping me from sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from Him. It put my eyes on me trying to be ‘enough’, when I had forgotten that Christ Jesus is abundantly more than enough.
This year was not nearly as busy as last year, but I loved it.
I’ve learned it’s okay to be weak and tired. It’s okay to not be busy and not do everything, because Jesus Christ is mighty. He is working, even when I’m unable. The Holy Trinity is always operating in perfect unity, doing things that I could never humanly do and a year of ‘less busy’ taught me more about God’s mighty work despite my weakness.
Jesus’ divine life is what gives me hope for living, not the amount of things on my to-do list.
It’s okay to be tired, because the Savior of Your Soul knows your frailty. #weak #Christismighty
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The more I’ve admitted my own weakness, the more I’m seeing that God does wondrous things. It’s not that I didn’t see it before, but it’s because I was ‘trying so hard’ instead seeing the amazing work of a gentle, powerful Father.
John 5:24, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.’
With that full assurance of expectant hope, let’s get into the happenings of the week. It has been a week full of answered prayers and simple joys.
Top 3 Foods of the First Week of August
#1) This nut butter tastes just like cookie dough out of a jar. I made cookies with it yesterday, and I ate the rest of it by scooping yogurt into the jar. It was truly a blissful treat.
#2) ZUCCHINI bread with chocolate peanut butter of course. – That is what you do when God blesses you with a neighbor who is a master gardener.
I like vegetables in bread. This zucchini bread really hit the spot yesterday. I was really hungry and tired all day, and I’m really thankful for God’s nourishment of the soul and body.
#3) These ‘German Chocolate Overnight Oats’ – These turned out better than I expected, and they kept me full for hours. Did you enter the giveaway to score some of the nut butter brand I used?
Now for the Top 3 HIGHS of the Week
#1) I LOVED trucking to the hospital with this little girl and her family to pick up their little boy from the hospital. He lived there with his mommy for 11 months, and Monday was the day he came home. This has been a huge test for them, and I have seen the grace of God demonstrated through their lives like never before.
If you want to read the story about their precious little warrior go to his site here at ‘Lion Hearted Charlie.’
#2) All the baking…. Baking has been so fun this week, but I admit that serving does get tiring. However these verses keep coming to my head when I’m tempted to be weary in well doing.
1 John 3:16-18, ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.’
It is not easy to serve others. Yet, when I think about how Jesus Christ laid down His life, I can’t do anything else but serve Him by laying down my life for Him and others.
It’s a gift to be able to serve others and lay your life down for them. #service #gifts #thankful
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#3) Being hungry everyday. I used to not be hungry for so many years during ED, but after recovery, it is like I have a new hunger. It’s amazing. My appetite is here, and I’m so thankful my metabolism is healing. I never imagined I would be this free, and I’m thanking God for every ounce of freedom to finally eat without fear.
I’ve been learning more about how amazing the metabolism really is. I took mine for granted for the first 15 years of my life, until ED came. The Lord miraculously used my struggles with an ED to show me how much I need to be grateful for the way a healthy metabolism works.
Every day my life is proof that God heals. To God be all the glory!
It’s an amazing gift when your metabolism works. #recovery #recoveryispossible
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Psalm 36:9, ‘For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.’
I was going to make this post much longer, but I just looked at the word count. Let us shorten it, and I will shower you with my favorite links from fellow bloggers instead.
Body Care/Body Image/Hunger/Recovery
1. 10 Ways I’m Practicing Self Care This Summer – I was nodding in agreement the whole way through all of this!!!
2. Extreme Hunger in Recovery – This is REAL. The hunger can be crazy.
3. Is Low Calorie Food ‘Healthy?’ – Lyss asks the tough questions.
4. Negative Self Talk – Is the grass always greener?
5. How is the Scale Sabotaging your Health Goals? – YES. No more scale for me here, at least, not for a long time.
6. Hello Healthy August – I love Cailee’s goals.
7. 7 Things that Sabotage Wellness – I have fallen into EVERY single one of these. O_O
8. Size Means NOTHING! – WOOHOO!
Life Lessons/Recipes and more…
1. How to Live a Blessed Life – This girl. This mama is one of my role models.
2. 10 things You Don’t Need in Your Life Anymore – ‘Nods head all the way throughout this post.’
3. 5 Traits I’m Drawn To In Others – I had to ask myself, ‘Do you have these?’
4. The Best GF Cereal Out There – Thank you Heather for doing the research!
5. Greek Egg White Frittata – Natalie is one of the breakfast queens.
6. Banana Berry Beet Smoothie – You will not be able to tear your eyes away from the color of this smoothie.
7. Finding Peace and Joy in a Scary World – Wow, this just so summed up many thoughts that broil in my head after reporting on news 5 days a week. O_O
Check out all Emily’s favorite recovery, life, mental health, and recipe links from the week!…
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I’ll leave you with a hymn that really puts my eyes back on Jesus, when I get so often distracted.
‘I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.’
Do you ever get sucked in by ‘busy?’
How do you balance work, rest, play, and sleep?
Zucchini. I have TONS of it. What should I do with it?
What comforts you in the midst of the chaos? What keeps order and calm in your mind?
The post Top 5 Friday: Why I Stopped Loving ‘Busy’ appeared first on Beauty In Christ - The Book.