tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60881137701234329902024-03-05T02:29:12.419-08:00Pioneer CountryPioneering through failure and brokenness. Holding on to hope. Searching for spirit.joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-30696953236158019192022-08-07T13:10:00.000-07:002022-08-07T13:10:40.188-07:00Always a Pioneer<p>I haven't posted on here for years. I mean, literally, years. And so much has changed over those years; I mean, obviously, right? But when I talk about change, I don't mean the kind of change that is par for the course with ageing: the creep of middle aged spread, grey hair and increased mortgage payments (although I can't deny the reality of any of those things). I'm talking about significant, life-altering changes. I went from being a crunchy home-educating mum to a working mum of schoolchildren. I went from being an evangelical Christian to a liberal, LGBTQ-affirming Christian. I went from being someone who wore long dresses and skirts for modesty to someone with a passion for dungarees, shaved heads, piercings and tattoos. I went from being someone whose idea of Christian thinking was a Joyce Meyer self-help book to someone with a foundation degree in theology. I went from being someone who did the church flowers to someone who led services in a cassock. I went from being someone who had been a Baptist all their adult life to someone who was training for Anglican ministry. </p><p> Big changes were the hallmark of my life over the past five years. And they were good changes. I was progressing, developing, finally fulfilling my potential. And then, just as quickly as things began to change, things began to fall apart.</p><p>How and why they fell apart is complicated and messy and doesn't include any of my finest moments in life, all of which are better left in the annals of time. I will say, however, that I'm waiting for a diagnosis of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and, after an 18 month period of Covid-imposed inability to access medical treatment, I'm also finally receiving treatment for Perimenopause. The two conditions together have wreaked havoc on my mental health. Mostly, now, with a combination of HRT, antidepressant medication and hormonal contraception, I inhabit a place of relative sanity. However, there are days, and nights, during the luteal phase of my menstrual cycle where the dark abyss of hormone-induced fear, paranoia and self-loathing threaten to swallow me up.</p><p>So here I am, no longer a pioneer of Christian motherhood or first generation ministry. I'm more of a pioneer of survival. A pioneer of brutal self-reflection and personal growth. A pioneer of trying to get my shit together and rebuild some kind of life from the rubble of failure. A pioneer of finding faith and spirituality when church has become a toxic and triggering place. </p><p>I don't know where I'm going, but they say that the company on the journey is more important than the destination, so please, come along with me. Join me in my journeying.</p><p>Jo</p>joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-35230025370357932392015-03-14T18:12:00.001-07:002015-03-14T18:12:50.192-07:00EnoughFor so much of my life I have felt that I was not enough. I sincerely believed that my worth was measured in the currency of the world and that the scales showed me lacking. One area of my self esteem which was fractured by doubt and insecurity was that of my appearance, most notably my weight. I was always a rather overweight child and the butt of many a humorous jibe at school and with friends. My family was not unkind to me about my weight but they talked about heredity and the 'fat gene' which plagued our kin as though a terrible fate had befallen me. And so my destructive relationship with food began.<br />
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As a little girl I loved to bake with my grandmother. She made the most awesome fruit cakes,... and melt in the mouth bread rolls which we would eat straight from the oven with melted butter. I loved her so very dearly, a feeling which was beautifully requited. And in her love for me she wanted to give me every good thing, including Horse and Pony magazine, which she bought me every week from the newsagents, and an abundance of baked goods from her repertoire of farmhouse cooking. It was hardly surprising then, that I came to equate love with sitting in front of Grandma's fire, feasting on some delicious home-cooked treat whilst indulging my literary tastebuds to boot.<br />
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My love of food and the non-physical pursuits of reading and crafting (another wonderful inheritance from my grandma) meant that the 'puppy fat' of my childhood had become firmly established by the time I reached puberty. I was a 'fatty'. At school I was subject to bullying and social exclusion. I became depressed and developed a strong sense of loathing towards my body, and so it was that around this time I first induced myself to vomit after a meal.<br />
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I struggled with bulimia until I became a Christian at the age of 21. It may seem unbelievable to some and was miraculous to me but my conversion to the faith saw a total healing of my relationship with food. I seemed to be able to eat purely to satisfy hunger and then stop. I was also on my feet a great deal in my job as a library assistant. When I married at the age of 23 I was slim and healthy and glowing. And once married, I didn't pile on weight like other wives had said I would. It was a golden time for my self esteem.</div>
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The trouble came with babies. There were five of them and with each pregnancy my weight ballooned. Thankfully, the evil of bulimia had truly been slain and I never binged and purged again. Instead of bulimia, however, I began a cycle of overeating and dieting, which gradually took over my life and contributed to the breakdown of my self confidence.</div>
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As a Christian I was well aware that my physical appearance was not important to God. That God sees the heart and not the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Despite this I became trapped in a cycle that, since I was fat, I was ugly and worthless and must therefore eat to medicate my pain. Sometimes the cycle was punctuated by long periods of weightloss, when I signed up to Weightwatchers or Slimming World. The loss was often shortlived, however, as I would become frustrated by the restriction of foods I liked to eat and indulge in increasing numbers of cheat days where I would totally blow out.</div>
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Hope came via Trim and Healthy Mama, a programme which had few restrictions but separated meals including fats from those with carbs. It seemed to suit me very well and I lost six stone over eighteen months but eventually I began to struggle with eating some of the foods from the plan and developed intolerances where there had been none before.</div>
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So here I am. A failed dieter. And today I want to publicly say ENOUGH. Enough with the food restrictions. Enough with value based on my appearance. Enough with the lie that I am not enough.</div>
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The Bible is clear about where beauty comes from; it comes from within. It is also clear about stewardship of the good gifts God has given us; we are to take good care of them. And it is very clear about our value; we are each one made in his image and precious to him. So my mandate today is to treat my body with care and respect, to use it for his purposes and glory and to be thankful every day for the strong and able physique he has given me. This body has experienced beautiful union with one who has loved it through fat and thin. This body has carried and birthed five wonderful children. This body stands in worship and bends in prayer. It scooters up and down the drive with a demanding three year old. It carries our laundry mountain up and down the stairs each week. This body is amazing. I will no longer allow enmity between us. </div>
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I remember today <a href="http://www.mundanefaithfulness.com/" target="_blank">Kara Tippetts</a>, whose body now is failing her as she loses her battle with cancer. I am inspired by her to be thankful for the health of my body, regardless of the number on the scale or my dress size. More than that, I am inspired by her beauty. The beauty of her courage and the grace of the Lord which shines through her, despite her cancer ravaged frame. Another such woman who inspires me is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62Aqdlzvqk" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;" target="_blank">Lizzie Velasquez</a>. Once known as the ugliest woman in the world because of her physiological inability to gain weight, Lizzie has used her high profile suffering to challenge stereotypes of beauty and identity. These women are the examples we should look to when we consider how to present ourselves, not the notions of beauty toted by the prevailing culture. </div>
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From a Christian point of view, this message ought to be indisputable. Sadly, however, there are still too many Christians who believe that we should succumb to the world's model of airbrushed perfection in order to keep our husband's eyes from straying. This is not our remit at all. There are many ways in which we are urged to relate to our husbands, but this is not one of them. Further, to my mind, it does rather assume men to be shallow, fickle and without self control; hardly assumptions to bring out the best in our menfolk. </div>
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What now? Am I just going to become overweight, unhealthy and unkempt in my appearance? I don't know. I hope not. I am trying to listen to my body. Eating what I fancy when I fancy it. Eating to satisfy hunger and then stopping. I believe that not having restrictions will remove the temptation to binge and therefore help to regulate my eating in a way which is sustainable. I have to admit that I am afraid. I have enjoyed the compliments that my slimmer figure has brought me. I am afraid of rejection and mockery should I initially put on weight. I believe, however, that this is part of the process of my liberation from the fear of others' opinions and from my attachment to the shallow caprices of the world; part of the development of my inner beauty. I believe that it is a God thing. And God has plans to prosper me, and not to bring me harm, to give me a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)</div>
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And that's enough of me then. </div>
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Goodnight</div>
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Jo xxx</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="bible-item-title-wrap" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><a class="bible-item-title" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A3-4&version=NIV" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">1 Peter 3:3-4</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">beauty</b> should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">beauty</b> of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.</span></div>
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-38551829327414827502015-03-07T17:40:00.000-08:002015-03-07T17:40:11.409-08:00Experimenting with Young Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have always maintained an interest in Aromatherapy and have sporadically used oils to make cleaners for the home as well as natural hygiene products. Lately I have been using Young Living oils and have been very impressed with their quality and effectiveness. This week, after one scraped knee too many, I decided that there had to be a better alternative to the traditional antiseptic cream and experimented with blending oils to make a BooBoo Balm. I used coconut oil for a base with a little cocoa butter and some beeswax, left over from my previous forays into homemade cosmetics. The oils I chose to use were Peace and Calming, Lavender, Thieves and Valor. Peace and Calming and Valor were obvious choices to help soothe a little one after an accident. Lavender is a powerful antiseptic and Theives is known for its cleansing properties.</div>
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I am very happy with the balm I created. It smells divine and has solidified to a nice consistency, making it easy to apply without fuss. Now we just have to wait for the bumps and grazes to manifest. With five boys, I don't think it will take long.</div>
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I also made some Thieves cleaning spray, using a mixture of white vinegar, water and ten drops of Thieves oil. I don't know whether these are the correct quantities or not as I am still an aromatherapy novice, but it certainly seems to do the job and I feel far more confident using something I know to be entirely natural as opposed to the toxins contained in many commercial cleaning agents. Furthermore, it smells most pleasant and may even entice me to tangle with the dishcloth a little more often.<br />
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If you are at all interested in Young Living oils and the benefits they offer, feel free to post in the comments below.<br />
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<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-71781616633065105782015-03-07T17:09:00.000-08:002015-03-07T17:09:05.534-08:00Ray of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spring has felt like such a long time coming. This winter has been a hard one for me emotionally. It is only recently that our car was fixed so, for the most part, we have been immobile, squirreled away in our snug nest, awaiting the sun. Hibernation sounds like a cosy idyll to begin with but when the incandescent glow of Christmas has faded, and there is not even the excitement of snow to break the monotonous bleakness, it begins to feel more like incarceration. So we held on. Held on to the rituals that guide us through the year: Epiphany, Candlemas, Valentines.... Held on to the hope of light and warmth and community. Held on to Him who is present within every difficult, stir-crazy, ill-tempered moment and yet promises that this is not all, promises to make streams in the desert and a path through the wilderness. And just when the dark and cold seemed most oppressive, just when I needed it most, ...the sun shone. I am sure that there will be many more inclement days around the corner but for today I am thankful for a chance to wake up from my winter sleep, stretch out my arms and welcome the sun. Similarly, even though I know that my long fought battle with depression is likely not over, I grasp the good days and thank God for his mercy. </div>
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<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-40919404533147124142015-03-05T16:16:00.000-08:002015-03-05T16:17:42.732-08:00Easy daffodil garland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pinterest is awesome but some of the crafts on there go rather beyond the capability of my three year old and I. We attempted handprint daffodils the other day and got something more like a daffodil coloured massacre in paint. Maybe we should submit it to the Tate Modern as some kind of abstract masterpiece. Or maybe not. Anyhow, I decided of late that it would be nice if we could decorate for Spring/Easter and that some kind of daffodil bunting or garland would be just the ticket. Joey is really the only one of my boys who is terribly enthusiastic about crafts (TERRIBLY enthusiastic if you know what I mean) so with our joint limitations in mind I decided to design my own based on the resources we had available. And should any of you internet lovelies be quite as challenged as we are when it comes to the cutting and sticking business, I have uploaded our step by step photos below. Enjoy! </div>
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I drew a vague daffodil shape on yellow felt.</div>
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I cut it out. This could have been done by an older child but Joey's scissor skills aren't quite that </div>
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I drew daffodil leaves on green foam and cut them out too.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I tore up lots of orange tissue paper which Joey scrunched up and stuck in the centre of the </span><br />
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daffodil to represent its trumpet </div>
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He also stuck the leaves to the back of each daffodil.</div>
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I threaded each one onto green wool, using an embroidery needle.</div>
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I hung up our lovely garland and basked in the joys of spring.</div>
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Happy Crafting.</div>
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Jo x</div>
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<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-22704024998950768182014-01-01T16:49:00.002-08:002014-01-01T16:52:15.976-08:00Our Christmas in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-81623397479318050542013-10-03T14:53:00.000-07:002013-10-03T15:30:53.325-07:00More Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The view from my back door is telling me that autumn is well and truly here. What a glorious riot of colour greets me as I work in my kitchen each morning!<br />
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If you read my last post you'll know that I've been trying to loosely implement some Waldorf ideas into our unschooling life. One of the ways I do this is to seek activities from the brilliant Hawthorn Press series of Waldorf through the year books. Today I sought inspiration from 'All Year Round' and decided to spend some one to one time with my second son making a Harvest loaf. It is an activity that should really be done at Michaelmas so we were a little late but we still thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole recipe is based around an embellished tale of St Michael from the Bible. It was great fun and provided a much needed meaningful time together.</div>
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The bread turned out really well.</div>
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It was especially tasty with butter. </div>
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Everyone seemed to enjoy it.</div>
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Jo was particularly chilled out whilst eating his.</div>
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So much so that he fell asleep on a kitchen chair. Too cute</div>
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I also tried playing some simple harvest tunes from the book and getting the children to join in but ,alas, it seems that my boys are not for singing. Oh well I'll sing anyway.</div>
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You can find out what else we've been doing today at</div>
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<a href="http://learningwithusborne.blogspot.co.uk/">http://learningwithusborne.blogspot.co.uk/</a></div>
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Enjoy this beautiful season. x</div>
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Jo</div>
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-71923068309181642042013-09-27T14:33:00.001-07:002013-09-27T14:34:32.621-07:00Unschooling RhythmI love unschooling. I love that the children are free to learn what they choose, when they choose to learn it. And it happens most unexpectedly. One minute you'll be overseeing a game of Lego and the next you'll be reading a book about threatened species and discussing climate change. It's fascinating. I do find, however, that I need a little routine in my life, and that I crave to move with the rhythm of the earth,... with it's days and months and seasons. I've always loved the Waldorf approach to seasonal and natural living, though for a while had abandoned it because all my boys wanted was Lego and Horrible Histories with a good serving of Minecraft on the side. Life got a bit chaotic, though, and felt rather aimless and a little housebound. As a result of this I decided to make changes to our routine. To add more focus upon the rhythm of days and seasons. To get out into the outdoors a little more and leave technology behind us for a while. And so, whilst we are still unschooling, we are doing it alongside, and sometimes within, a loose framework of celebrating the earth's movement through time. This week that has included lots of time in the outdoors, looking at how the earth is changing in our new season, being thankful to God for the bounteous plenty we have in this part of the world, considering those who have less, and using that bounty in our cooking and artwork. Here are some pictures from our Autumn journey so far. I hope you enjoy them.<br />
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-4057964130604755542013-06-04T03:34:00.001-07:002013-06-04T03:34:42.282-07:00Trim and Healthy Tuesday: 6 months into the planSorry that I haven't posted in a while. Our whole household has been besieged with illness or injury of one form or another. But it's Tuesday and here I am. <br />
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I've been doing the Trim and Healthy Mama eating plan for six months now. This is how I looked before I began. I had just given birth to Josiah and weighed almost18 stone or 252lbs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_R9OAaS1WKm62KWAxSnXoJPocuw1HR9Hb4-dKxdF4FtzFphQRRtSOq-FPVGAI3oCANsQBqU2PgkEKlYv1Zmum84qsBs9EoYpdr44ALkGxHBwo2jRAI5firNf5bKS5zpkFa3IKyoa7As/s1600/417836_10150622186991159_1271107007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_R9OAaS1WKm62KWAxSnXoJPocuw1HR9Hb4-dKxdF4FtzFphQRRtSOq-FPVGAI3oCANsQBqU2PgkEKlYv1Zmum84qsBs9EoYpdr44ALkGxHBwo2jRAI5firNf5bKS5zpkFa3IKyoa7As/s320/417836_10150622186991159_1271107007_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I did try to lose some weight for his dedication and bought a beautiful Boden dress in a size 20 but it really only fit me because it was super stretchy and really showed off all my lumps and bumps.</div>
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So, six months after starting the plan I have lost around about 4 - 4.5 stone or 56-63lbs. And I look like this.<br />
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To be honest, although I can see an improvement I still feel very overweight. I seem to have lost everywhere except for my tummy area, which is so frustrating. I have now started to do specific targeted exercises in a bid to deal with this problem area. I am still really enjoying the diet. It doesn't feel like a diet at all to me since you are able to have so many yummy foods and treats. Eating out is a breeze too as there always seems to be something on plan on the menu, which is something I've struggled with on other diets. So forwards and hopefully downwards on the scale I go.</div>
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Before I finish this THM Tuesday, I'd like to show you this other photograph from Josiah's dedication. It pictures me and Jo with my totally hunky and gorgeous hubby. </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5M8j2ecol6A5kTjiLhshG12Io7J15kclRdIfU-8NcWNsuJVq9Y2ueIqwapsSMgJzXtsfMIgguLqoU8BJdYAMMcOoVSYvKgP3qtzpAKPWyz_65x3yvnfpiE5IPmtsvysiaMKCCgFwKjM/s320/44264_10151275750746159_2017606101_n.jpg" width="213" /><br />
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And here he is now. He's been following the plan too. Although he hasn't got weighed at all during the process I think you'd have to agree that he has shrunk somewhat in the last six months too. Proof that THM works for Dads too. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSSaOtXyGt6ZR2_vXl0slabKmxNSv5ftZ2zrlU_zqsNsT1_Nefh3pHVYa0W2DZmHAQLxmcONk71so17NL5gcAiQ_X3RYhOHK-eV-NekhQNyzjQ2nr_gScODoanNYVfMitd_zkc4orqBA/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSSaOtXyGt6ZR2_vXl0slabKmxNSv5ftZ2zrlU_zqsNsT1_Nefh3pHVYa0W2DZmHAQLxmcONk71so17NL5gcAiQ_X3RYhOHK-eV-NekhQNyzjQ2nr_gScODoanNYVfMitd_zkc4orqBA/s320/IMG_2630.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
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I have decided to only weigh in once a month as I find that constant weigh ins combined with hormonal related weight fluctuation only serve to hinder my progress. So for the THMTuesdays in between I'm hoping to bring you some tasty recipes or updates on my exercise plan. <br />
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I would love to here from other mums who are doing THM and link to their pages. Please let me know if you are interested. <br />
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Jo<br />
xjoc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-58234772319136382752013-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:002013-04-18T15:59:07.579-07:00On Being an Irregular Quadrilateral in a Round holeChurch is a rather round hole. It ought to be kind of morphous, allowing for the whole spectrum of humanity's idiosyncrasies, but it's really rather fixed,.. in a roundish kind of way. Some people fit very smoothly into that roundish portal; maybe it's because they are super holy and have allowed God to mould them and 'knock off the corners' so to speak. Or maybe they are naturally pliable and middle of the road. I don't say that as a criticism, just an observation. I am not one of those people.<br />
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It's hard being different. We have a natural human inclination to find others who are like us. To find a pack to run with. Fitting in has been my proverbial carrot; something that has dangled in tantalisingly close proximity, yet always been out of reach. It is hardest though, when it comes to church. The Bible talks about the church in terms of a body, and emphasises unity. There is, then, a requirement to play one's part in that unity. And so I do my best. But always there is the reality of not being in the inner circle,... not quite being accepted. Not having the right theology or the right social skills or the right dress code. And it's hard. <br />
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For quite some time I thought I was on my own with this reality, but the more I am open and honest about my isolation, the more I realise that there are many on the fringe of church who feel equally on the periphery. Outside. Alone. Different. And I wonder why and how. I wonder what God's purpose is in this steadily growing number of his people on the margins. And then I realise that the margins are a good place, because that's where he was,... where he ministered. The marginal were high on his list of people to hang out with. And yet for so long the church has ignored these people, often preferring to maintain the status quo rather than engage with difficult outsiders. Because outsiders who don't fit in so easily are often difficult.<br />
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So that's where I am. Knowing in my heart of hearts that the margins, for me, are where it's at. Seeking to minister as best I can in this windswept place. Wondering what will come next....joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-33100737821142488112013-04-17T16:12:00.000-07:002013-04-17T16:17:19.483-07:00Ticking boxes <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My husband is a list maker of old. I am always finding bits of old cereal box with lists written on the back; lists of outstanding DIY; shopping lists; to do lists for his job. He is a list maniac and always has been since I've known him. For me though, lists are a new-ish entity. I don't ever remember lists being made at home, and so I grew up without that most necessary of inventions. However, thanks to the wonders of technology I have now adopted the list as my own; there are so many fabulous organisational sites out there with pretty printables that are just begging to be adorned with a list, how could I not become a list maker?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I think you'll agree that the best thing about lists is ticking them off. It's a tangible sign of achievement and progression. It makes you feel great to see how far you've come. And when the last item on your list is checked,... what a feeling?! Lists are the stuff of addiction, I'm sure, because nothing gives as great a rush as the knowledge that you have done what you set out to do. Staring at a completed list is like eating Green & Blacks 70% cocoa dark chocolate; it just makes me want more. More achievement, more self worth, more self justification for my existence. And that's just the chores list.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So if the chores list gets me this excited, what happens when I turn faith into a checklist? It's absolutely awesome; the progress I can make is astounding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(And just in case you think I am speaking only of conservatives, the charismatic church could equally have a list which includes speaking in tongues and watching the 'right' programmes on God TV. Liberals could create their list with the right theology books and missional experiences. None of these things are bad in themselves; it is when we start to put faith in these things for our righteousness and salvation that there becomes a problem.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Actually, in reality, this isn't progress at all. It's merely ticking boxes. And it leads to a false sense of our own righteousness without any reference to the saving grace of Christ. We cannot become righteous through our own works.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ephesians 2:8 NIV</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have fallen into this trap very recently. I have succumbed to checklist Christianity. I wanted so much to make progress from the broken and inadequate vessel that I believed myself to be, so I decided to pull myself up by my bootstraps and become the kind of Christian I aspired to be. I bought long denim skirts because that was what those ladies who I longed to be like, longed to fit in with, wore. I read the 'right' kind of books, I changed my theology to become more Biblically correct. I knew I was saved by God but I longed to be more righteous and fruitful, and instead of resting in the vine for that fruit I tried to cultivate it for myself. I am reminded of this scripture:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My people have committed two evils: <u>they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters</u>, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">If we forsake God in favour of an easy to achieve checklist we are wronging both Him and ourselves. We rob ourselves of the intimate personal relationship that we might have with the Father if we were attached to the vine, and we rob God by refusing to put our faith in the saving work of His Son on the cross. We are told in Philippians 2:12 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and I believe fully in this exhortation. We should not be sloppy about our faith; it should be the most important part of our lives and radiate from everything that we do. We should, however, remember that we are all individuals and the working out may look different for each of us. The King James Bible refers to working out our 'own' salvation. Christianity is truly about a personal relationship with a personal saviour. So no more check boxes,... not for me anyway. Be who you are; uniquely and wonderfully you. No-one else can have the relationship with God that you have because no-one else is like you: don't rob Him of the joy of your friendship by trying to emulate somebody else's version of what a Christian is like. Be a true friend by revealing your true self to Him and allowing his love to change and mould you into your best self.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 23px;">Who am I that You are mindful of me </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">That You hear me when I call </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">Is it true that You are thinking of me </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">How You love me it's amazing </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 23px;">(Chorus) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">I am a friend of God </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">I am a friend of God </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">I am a friend of God </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">He calls me friend </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 23px;">God Almighty, Lord of Glory </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">You have called me friend </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 23px;">(Repeat Chorus) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 23px;">He calls me friend </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">He calls me friend...</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 23px;">Israel Houghton</span></span><br />
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-27543785392548219562013-04-16T07:46:00.001-07:002013-04-16T07:46:03.958-07:00Trim and Healthy TuesdayMy lovely friend Sarah Dawes over at <a href="http://amothersheart.blogspot.co.uk/">http://amothersheart.blogspot.co.uk/</a> came up with the idea of Trim and Healthy Tuesdays. Each Tuesday we will blog about our experiences of following the Trim and Healthy Mama weightloss programme. I have been following the programme since November last year. You can read my introduction to the programme here: <a href="http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/trim-healthy-mama.html">http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/trim-healthy-mama.html</a>.<br />
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The plan is a little similar to Slimming World in that you have two different types of days or meals. In SW it's red and green whereas in THM it's S and E. S stands for satisfying and E stands for Energising. S meals are meals which rely heavily on fats and non-starchy veggies. Think bacon and eggs and meatloaf,... that kind of thing. E meals are low fat but include some types of carbs that will not cause chaos with your blood sugar, such as porridge oats and brown rice. In addition to sticking to the basic plan of S and E meals you can also choose to follow the Fuel Pull Cycle, which is great for getting your weightloss moving. It's a little complicated to go into the whys and wherefores (I really recommend reading the book; it's excellent) but it does work; the last time I did FP I lost six pounds.<br />
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So here I am at the beginning of week two a two week FP cycle. You would think that a weightloss bootcamp week like Fuel Pull would make you feel deprived and depressed but I have to tell you that isn't so. Today I have eaten so far:<br />
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Breakfast - two fried eggs with sauteed spinach and mushrooms<br />
Mid-morning snack - protein shake<br />
Lunch - Salmon salad with sweet chilli oil dressing followed by two pieces of skinny chocolate.<br />
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Does that sound depressing to you??? I love my food. I love THM. And it's working. I'll leave you with a pic of how my body is changing (please excuse the immodesty of the final picture; it's the only up to date one I have).<br />
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My goal is to be about 10.5 stone so I still have a lot of weight to lose but I am convinced that with THM it is possible.</div>
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Love Jo x</div>
<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-36849123191554075012013-04-15T14:41:00.000-07:002013-04-15T14:41:34.532-07:00Garden Goings On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here are some updates from the garden!</div>
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The compost without the bin.</div>
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In close up.</div>
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Washing the Wendy house.</div>
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Eli was very enthusiastic.</div>
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Especially about making the compost bin into a den.</div>
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My new gardening gloves didn't stay clean for very long.</div>
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Yay; the compost is gone and I now have a new bed to plant up.</div>
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Happy gardening!</div>
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Love Jo x</div>
<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-71901807331057815402013-04-10T06:56:00.002-07:002013-04-10T14:57:49.398-07:00Planning to succeed; freedom from the curse of schedulesMy little William, who is four, was recently asked to help his brothers to tidy the sitting room. His reply made us all laugh: I think I'll draw a plan first, Mum. It was a clever delaying tactic but it did make me think; do we plan to succeed in our housekeeping? We plan to succeed in other areas of life; we plan for exams, family celebrations, finances and holidays,... but do we have a plan to achieve a clean and tidy house??? I must admit that I don't. I have tried Flylady, and made my own schedule of jobs to keep things on a rolling programme of improvement, as you will have seen in an <a href="http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/organisation-and-other-stuff.html" target="_blank">earlier blog post</a>. I even have a Facebook group dedicated to organising and decluttering my house. The problem is that when I make a plan I find it very difficult to stick to. I guess it's human nature; we go on a diet but find it impossible to resist cakes; subscribe to a gym only to find ourselves lazing on the sofa. But maybe it's more than that; maybe we overface ourselves.<br />
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If you make a schedule that is ongoing and therefore seemingly infinite, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. If, however, you make it your goal to achieve one small improvement every day, and try to keep a track of what you have done and what you might do next, I find that much more realistic and workable.<br />
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My garden was a terrible mess after the winter, and after my <a href="http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/coming-out-of-darkness.html" target="_blank">post-natal depression</a> kept me indoors so much last year. It was so bad that I didn't even take any photographs before I started the improvements. Finally I decided that enough was enough. Something had to be done. I started on a weekend and dedicated a whole day to clearing mess from the floor, and pruning the Medusa like tendrils of my climbing plants. It made a huge different and we had a barbeque to celebrate. Next, I dug over and weeded the flowerbeds. Then I spent an afternoon planting up some fruit bushes I bought from Home bargains very inexpensively. And this morning I swept the patio and filled five garden bags with leaves and rubbish (yes, it really was that bad). It looks SOOOO much better. In my head I have a list of the other things that need doing:<br />
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1. Wash and declutter the garden toys. Think about suitable longterm storage.<br />
2. Get rid of the compost bin and replant the area where it has been; deal with the brambles that have grown up in that area.<br />
3. More planting.<br />
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I don't know which I'll do first; I don't want to be slavish about it. But that plan is there, in my head, waiting to be executed. I was thinking of writing it down in a notebook - a kind of ongoing plan of action. I might try it, BUT if those words on the page begin to condemn me and overwhelm me I shall stop immediately. Those of us who are schedule phobic can, I believe, plan to succeed without the lengthy and ongoing to do list. It just takes a little bit of creativity to discover what works for you.<br />
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Happy cleaning, organising, decluttering, making life happy and sparkly and bright.<br />
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Love Jo x<br />
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This is the compost area that needs clearing.</div>
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The patio area is lovely now but I do need to paint that wall.</div>
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The rubbish I collected this morning.</div>
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A wider view of the garden.</div>
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The toy area that needs attention.</div>
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I took down some of the decking rails to make the garden appear more spacious; it really works.</div>
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Petunia plugs!!</div>
joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-46393680812668825462013-04-09T17:28:00.000-07:002013-04-09T17:28:07.135-07:00Storm Clouds Gathering or Getting Rid of Toxic Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wonder if it's because I'm British.... The tendency to watch the horizon for signs of impending bad weather is something akin to my tendency to look towards the future with a sense of foreboding. Both might be seen as British characteristics. Everyone knows we're obsessed with the weather,.. and you'd have to admit we're not the most optimistic of races. Don't get me wrong, I love being British; we are stalwart and resilient, having fought off our (then) enemies in two world wars. Ask Granny if there's cake for tea, though, and even when it's practically bursting out of the Silver Jubilee biscuit tin on the top shelf in the pantry cupboard, she'll look dour and reply: ooh, I don't know about that then. Maybe there's a connection between our lack of optimism and our lack of sunshine; it wouldn't surprise me.<br />
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Recently I've been worrying a lot. Little things have escalated in my mind to become big things which have the potential to destroy all the brightness in my life. There were some clouds. Tiny ones actually. To me they looked brooding and dangerous. I started to panic, to make plans in my mind about how I would deal with such an intense storm in my life; I started to lose control. In the end they turned out to be nothing more than a few wispy cirrus, floating overhead with not even a speck of rain to dampen my day. I breathed a sigh of relief, thanked God and began to think....<br />
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Fear is toxic. If you've seen Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith you'll be familiar with Annakin Skywalker's seduction by the dark side. If you're not familiar with the film you only need to know one thing about Annakin's demise as a Jedi Knight: it begins with fear. He fears that he will lose his beloved wife, Padme, in childbirth. This fear is so strong that it begins to control him and, furthermore, puts him at the mercy of those who would manipulate him for their own ends. We all know what happens next; Padme dies anyway and Annakin loses himself to the dark side. It's very much like the story of Othello by William Shakespeare. Othello listens to the whispers of an enemy and he is rendered murderous with jealousy; death and destruction is his final end. <br />
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Satan has a plan for our life. It is the complete opposite of God's plan. God has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11) whereas Satan is a thief who comes in the night to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). And how does he instigate this vile plan? In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned: <br />
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Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like </div>
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a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. NIV</div>
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The devil has no real power over us if we belong to Jesus BUT he will prowl about us and roar like a lion. And why does a lion roar? To frighten his prey, who will either become immovable with that fear, or frenzied and confused. Either way, they make a much easier object of prey. Satan wants to make you fear; he wants to immobilise you or send you into a frenzied tailspin. He has a plan for your destruction. And his whispers,... those worries that haunt you in the middle of the night when rationality is sleeping; they are lies to entrap you. </div>
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So what is the answer? The answer is always faith and trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ. It sounds trite. Please don't switch off now; it isn't trite. It isn't an easy answer or a fob off. It's the truth. The truth is that sometimes those dark and brooding storm clouds will pass over and sometimes they will send torrents hurtling down upon you when you least expect it. Life is like that; but life is not about what happens to us,... it's about how we respond. We can respond with fear, allowing Satan to have the upper hand, or we can respond with faith in God's promise that he will NEVER leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8 amongst others). Scripture tells us not to fear over one hundred times and we need not fear because God is true to his promises and, even when it seems like life is falling apart, HIS plan for our good and HIS glory is being worked out.</div>
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When you see the storm clouds gathering what should you do? Respond with faith; trust God and walk forward knowing that, whatever happens, He is with you. It's not an easy thing to do; it will require stalwart resilience but it IS possible, for ALL things are possible in Him (Mark 9:23).</div>
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Love and prayers</div>
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Jo x</div>
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<br />joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-30462461538928503592013-04-05T17:36:00.002-07:002013-04-05T17:37:13.135-07:00Celebrate Life: Passover 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">In a new series, Celebrate Life, I want to look at why celebration and ritual are so enriching to our lives, and how we can incorporate them in ways which are meaningful but manageable. This post is about how our family celebrates Passover.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.</span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Romans 9:8</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Because we are Abraham's children we remember the slavery of God's people, and how He led them from Egypt into freedom. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">In Easter week we remembered passover, setting the scene for the biggest 'pass over' of all, when the</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> ultimate sacrificial lamb was given so that our sins might be 'passed over' and we too might be free from slavery. I love the Passover Seder; the symbols, the candlelight, the readings. It feels meaningful and important and exciting. It puts us in touch with our need for a saviour, identifying with a people in slavery. But how do we do it? Isn't it just a massive hassle? Where is the time to plan and prepare?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">I'll let you into a secret; it wasn't as fancy as it sounds. Our meal was roast lamb and salad followed by healthy chocolate brownies. Not that different than we might ordinarily have. And the seder is a very short one that is written with especially wiggly children in mind. You can find it in the book, Homespun Memories for the Heart by Karen Ehman. It only lasts about twenty minutes but does not leave out the most significant symbolism. The most problematic aspect of the whole affair is sending dh out to buy Matzoh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Do you celebrate Passover? Did you blog about it? I'd love you to share your links via the comments section if you did. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">God bless</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Jo x</span></div>
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-69691959648302729022013-04-05T16:23:00.003-07:002013-04-05T16:34:55.420-07:00Lego Duplo Busy Bag - Free PrintablesI have recently been investing some time in creating busy bags for my almost three year old. He is particularly fond of Duplo so I thought I would make him a set of Duplo patterns like the ones featured on this blog <a href="http://allourdays.com/2012/10/legoduplo-building-inspiration-busy-bag-activity-bag.html">http://allourdays.com/2012/10/legoduplo-building-inspiration-busy-bag-activity-bag.html</a> . I didn't quite have the pieces needed for the featured patterns so I made my own with the bricks that I had available. We have LOTS of Duplo so I decided to keep the pieces and patterns together in a bag, separate from the main haul. If you'd like to download my patterns., you can access the pdfs here: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/jo_child_1/documents">http://www.scribd.com/jo_child_1/documents</a> . Have fun!!<br />
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-79142781268485050762013-04-05T09:49:00.001-07:002013-04-05T09:52:23.794-07:00The Many Handed Serpent<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amothersheart.blogspot.co.uk/"><b>http://amothersheart.blogspot.co.uk/</b></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read this post on my friend Sarah's blog and it really struck a chord. I've been meaning to blog on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><b>1 Corinthians 12:12-26</b> </i> for quite some time now. Some of you will know that, having previouusly been of a mind to leave our fertility to God, my husband and I have recently made the very difficult decision not to have any more children. I've posted before </span></span><a href="http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/coming-out-of-darkness.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>http://joc4jesus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/coming-out-of-darkness.html</b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> about my journey to and from the edge of despair. I am sure I don't need to further explain how we came to make our decision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless of our circumstances, there are some who think we should carry on having children in the name of being obedient to God. I beg to differ. I don't believe that being obedient to God comes down to a single interpretation of scripture. I believe that some women are called and convicted to make the very courageous step to become mothers of many blessings. I admire them greatly. I also KNOW that some women are scarred and broken, drug addicted and depressed, needy and dependent,... or maybe they are just single and childless. Are those women any less in the eyes of God? Are they less because motherhood is not for them, or because they can only physically or mentally cope with a smaller number of children. I would say, most definitely, NO. I have searched the heart of God on this issue so much recently. And this is what he says to me:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 12:12-26</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-12"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28647U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup> so it is with Christ.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28647V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-13" id="en-NIV-28648"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>For we were all baptized<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup> by<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28648c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+12&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28648c" style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> one Spirit<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup> so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup>—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-14" id="en-NIV-28649"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">14 </sup>Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28649AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-15" id="en-NIV-28650"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">15 </sup>Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-16" id="en-NIV-28651"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">16 </sup>And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-17" id="en-NIV-28652"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">17 </sup>If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-18" id="en-NIV-28653"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">18 </sup>But in fact God has placed<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28653AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup> the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28653AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-19" id="en-NIV-28654"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">19 </sup>If they were all one part, where would the body be?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-20" id="en-NIV-28655"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">20 </sup>As it is, there are many parts, but one body.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28655AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-21" id="en-NIV-28656"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">21 </sup>The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-22" id="en-NIV-28657"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">22 </sup>On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-23" id="en-NIV-28658"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">23 </sup>and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-24" id="en-NIV-28659"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">24 </sup>while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-25" id="en-NIV-28660"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">25 </sup>so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-26" id="en-NIV-28661"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">26 </sup>If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="text 1Cor-12-27" id="en-NIV-28662" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">27 </sup>Now you are the body of Christ,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28662AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup> and each one of you is a part of it.</i></span></div>
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<span class="text 1Cor-12-27" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We women are all different. We are not all hands. We should not promote feminity in one particular vein. I am all for promoting motherhood and wifedom,... but I also think that we need to accept that some women will tread a different path. And that is OK. In fact it's more than OK; to be the person that God made you to be in all your fullness is marvellous,.. whether you are the mother of many, few or none. BE the you God created you to be,... whoever that is. A body with many hands would be a monstrous creature. We need diversity,... and God needs YOU!!!</span></div>
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-29308063132680219182013-04-05T08:59:00.002-07:002013-04-05T09:09:52.212-07:00The Adventures of a Technology Native<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIawHFWKMcWkAXVY5j-Q3AQU3_dG5cYObj9QItVf2Y8IefQp42uPOqIq18LzO8-rYiv-3Vrpapt-o1MpydYbQYX0axQRhq12rpp58LP8UHZmdhj5A6J32RY2lx4vsQ1Ccpoxqagg9Mms0/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIawHFWKMcWkAXVY5j-Q3AQU3_dG5cYObj9QItVf2Y8IefQp42uPOqIq18LzO8-rYiv-3Vrpapt-o1MpydYbQYX0axQRhq12rpp58LP8UHZmdhj5A6J32RY2lx4vsQ1Ccpoxqagg9Mms0/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Eli is almost three. One of his favourite things to do in the whole world is play on <a href="http://www.starfall.com/">http://www.starfall.com/</a>. If you haven't come across it before it's a US phonics site aimed at preschoolers. We actually pay a subscription to access the additional features of MoreStarfall, which has maths activities, nursery rhymes and stories. All of the three youngest children use it so it is very good value for us as homeschoolers.<br />
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Eli, despite not being able to talk very well yet, can access Starfall completely by himself. He turns on the computer and accesses the internet. When the search box appears he types in ST; from there he chooses starfall from the drop down box. Voila, he's on to his favourite site. And because of the content of the site, he is able to count and recognise letters, completely untaught by me.<br />
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It is so bizarre to think that I learned to read with Peter and Jane, from a book, with the help of my teachers. Here he is, at not yet three, becoming a self-directed learner. I know that there are dangers on the internet, and we are always vigilant to supervise him. BUT, there is also great potential. I think the key is to suspend fear and allow children supervised access within a safe framework. You could set up their own home page with shortcuts on to specific sites that you are happy with. Google and ask on places like <a href="http://www.mumsnet.com/">http://www.mumsnet.com/</a> which sites other parents recommend,... and then sit back and watch. You might even learn a thing or two.<br />
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Jo x<br />
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<a href="http://http//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0006330PS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0006330PS&linkCode=as2&tag=pionecount-21"></a>joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-89190206722780777032013-03-26T17:29:00.001-07:002013-03-26T17:33:34.933-07:00Enough<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1x6iLa_crNkmZ8ZRVEKbTEcogM6W1j2yLviHZTWEbw0kIAP08X_iKu7aQV1Ta2v9eO2v450ahmzIf8BIgTdsDbNwLPz5dCzxOYgLLhd-Qr9F1jl-4BkYkcAmJkfX0K3_e6R_423Sz2Um/s320/loaves-and-fishes+(1).jpg" /><br />
I keep the Jesus Storybook Bible on my pile of devotionals by my favourite armchair. That way, if a small person comes along and wants to join in, I always have something to read them. It's a brilliant book. It looks at the whole Bible through the lens of the promise and fulfilment of the Messiah in the person of Jesus Christ. That sounds a bit complicated and theological but actually, in the very simplest terms, it outlines God's plan for the salvation of humanity from day one.<br />
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Anyway, the other day I was reading Daily Light in my favourite armchair when Elijah came and took up residence on my lap. I dutifully put down my devotional and picked up the Jesus Storybook Bible. I flipped it open to a random page, which just happened to be the story of the loaves and the fishes. It's a familiar story,... so familiar, in fact, that sometimes it's easy to gloss over it and fail to see the amazing truths it contains. I mean, yes, it's one of the miracles of Jesus which help to validate his claims to be divine, but it's also more than that. It's about a young boy who chose to give what he had when, in all honesty, what he had was a mere drop in the ocean. If it was me I'd have been tempted to ask what good my little bit could do and keep it to myself. Isn't that what we do, oftentimes, when faced with situations of great need or injustice?? We think, well my contribution would be so small that it would be completely ineffective,... and so we make no contribution at all.<br />
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It reminds me of the story of a little boy walking along a shoreline where thousands of starfish had been beached. As he walked he picked up single starfish and threw them back into the water. He was challenged by a passing adult who asked him what he hoped to achieve in the face of such an enormous environmental disaster; he couldn't possibly make a difference. The boy, calmly, picked up a starfish, threw it back in and said,... well I made a difference to that one.<br />
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The boy with the loaves and fishes surrendered himself to be used,... but more than that. He had faith that in doing so he could make a difference. God is the God of increase. He can take our measly offerings and make them into something astounding and abundant for his purpose and glory. It doesn't matter how much we have; if we<span style="font-family: inherit;"> give it with a faith filled heart, he will multiply it and use if for his kingdom.<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;"> </em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a mother who has suffered from depression and constantly questioned her ability to raise Godly children, this story gives me great hope. If I surrender myself to this task he has given me; </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;"> if I mother to the best of my God -given ability; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;">if I have faith to believe that my offering is acceptable to God.... </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;">It sounds like a spiritual gymnastics class but in reality I think it comes down to one thing: trust. We entrust ourselves to God and we believe that he has a good plan for us. It's not about us; it's about him. And so I breathe a huge sigh of relief and leave you with the wonderful closing words of the tale of the loaves and fishes from The Jesus Storybook Bible.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.6875px;"><b>But it was the most natural thing in all the world. It's what God had been doing from the beginning, of course. Taking the nothing and making it everything. Taking the emptiness and filling it up. Taking the darkness and making it light.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation)<sup><br />6</sup></span><span style="background-color: white;"> For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.<br /><sup>7</sup> We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.</span></i></span><br />
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joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-45959368887087467212013-03-23T18:03:00.002-07:002013-03-23T18:03:55.612-07:00Trim & Healthy MamaI have been trying to lose weight and improve my health using the Trim and Healthy Mama diet plan. The plan is detailed in a huge tome of a book written by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison. It's a great read. Not only does it outline the health benefits of the THM way of eating, but it also charts Pearl and Serene's diet journey as well as including a whole host of delicious recipes. The main premise of the diet is not to mix fats and carbohydrates and, when you do eat carbs, to keep them to a limited amount. <br />
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I must say that I have thus far found the diet very easy to follow. There are so many delicious meals and treats you are allowed that it doesn't really feel like a diet at all. You can eat chocolate brownies and meringue cookies!!!! It's fabulous.<br />
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I am not a stickler for getting weighed but I think that I have lost slightly in excess of two stone and have dropped from a size 22 to an 18.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21nHNO_sh9omHMjmV8lHhHGQ-2aF5_mEiAKaWC6yDJDSjB-bNhEYE-SHQdaoanoAeMk2Smmg-CkXV8KmgHGdS6nGj1J1tWTWW8bxskvTye-PP0-VqkzYi2XTtMuRVZuzgiCng-TE6Go8/s1600/IMG_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21nHNO_sh9omHMjmV8lHhHGQ-2aF5_mEiAKaWC6yDJDSjB-bNhEYE-SHQdaoanoAeMk2Smmg-CkXV8KmgHGdS6nGj1J1tWTWW8bxskvTye-PP0-VqkzYi2XTtMuRVZuzgiCng-TE6Go8/s320/IMG_6961.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
This is me before I started THM. Look at that spare tyre. Lol.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bkvvJdSc7b2A_17xZgfFmeDHnhqcV4D8cvAAxEdxtVueL5hSnCBRQDMJa9U_MLnarnACNNj8gltVmD1K8VZNPulbpGATqTupciZ4RGDh6Vml88yHiIzoP_EVTb1QCxbKJszxCIFQHmA/s1600/IMG_9569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bkvvJdSc7b2A_17xZgfFmeDHnhqcV4D8cvAAxEdxtVueL5hSnCBRQDMJa9U_MLnarnACNNj8gltVmD1K8VZNPulbpGATqTupciZ4RGDh6Vml88yHiIzoP_EVTb1QCxbKJszxCIFQHmA/s320/IMG_9569.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
I know that I still have a belly but I think you'll agree that you can see I've shrunk somewhat. <br />
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I will definitely be keeping on with the THM style of eating so I hope to keep losing and eventually get my shape back. The main THM website is here: <a href="http://www.trimhealthymama.com/">http://www.trimhealthymama.com</a>/ . You can also buy the book from Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trim-Healthy-Mama-Cravings-Energize/dp/193894500X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364086908&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trim-Healthy-Mama-Cravings-Energize/dp/193894500X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364086908&sr=8-1</a> .</div>
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Keep an eye open for more THM posts in the future.</div>
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God's blessing</div>
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Jo x</div>
joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-21158853112282213002013-03-23T17:14:00.000-07:002013-03-23T17:14:50.721-07:00This boy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgIln43fHmqegrqt1e3mZQjqg3UH8wUKnZaT9vyfCgLqDT-uH4VJwgejVISU0q70qL0bxW2fMXu_WK-FDcP7-PPcona77sY0N-wqYkonAHpPw_dO5lVfWTj-g0k1Xo9_XrJMS2rP-yKs/s1600/IMG_9641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgIln43fHmqegrqt1e3mZQjqg3UH8wUKnZaT9vyfCgLqDT-uH4VJwgejVISU0q70qL0bxW2fMXu_WK-FDcP7-PPcona77sY0N-wqYkonAHpPw_dO5lVfWTj-g0k1Xo9_XrJMS2rP-yKs/s320/IMG_9641.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
This boy is almost three years old.<br />
This boy only eats sweet things. Yogurts, fruit, jam and bread.<br />
This boy climbs on counter tops to steal Easter eggs hidden away for safekeeping.<br />
This boy draws on freshly painted walls with felt tip pens.<br />
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This boy paints the television with nail varnish while his mother is cooking the dinner.<br />
This boy climbs on chairs to climb on furniture to hang out of windows.<br />
This boy breaks his mother's prized heirlooms.<br />
This boy breaks his brother's Lego models.<br />
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This boy has escaped from the house twice and been brought back by an off duty police officer.<br />
This boy causes havoc and mayhem wherever he goes.<br />
This boy has speech and language delay and is being assessed for further developmental delay.<br />
This boy creates lots of hard work.<br />
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This boy is one of the reasons I get up on a morning.<br />
This boy makes my soul sing.<br />
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Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that the mess, the hassle and the strain on your physical and mental health is sooooooooo totally worth it. I love you Eli. xjoc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-13211871823065353042013-03-23T14:56:00.000-07:002013-03-23T14:57:53.928-07:00Coming Out of the Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last year has been hard. Really hard. After my month in hospital when Josiah was born it took a while to get my health back to full strength. However, the trauma of being institutionalised (albeit with excellent care) and, worse still, being separated from Phil and the children, was not quite so easy to put behind me. It's hard to explain post natal depression to anyone. You have a lovely baby, a lovely home, lovely family,... so much to be grateful for. And yet, despite all this potential for great happiness there is, in the depths of your soul, a pervasive blackness which envelops every spark of joy that ought to be yours for the taking. And that's really all there is to it. No reason, no rhyme,... just hopelessness and despair. So there I was. Hiding my soul from the health visitor and striving to hold everything together for the sake of my family and this precious baby I had birthed. And one year later here I am. I don't know how I made it; how, when other people succumb so tragically to the siren of suicide, I managed to ignore her tantalising taunts and walk forward into the light. I can only thank God and my husband for their grace and favour; for not abandoning me in my time of need. So do I have any advice for others going through a similar situation? Take one day at a time and if need be one moment at a time, accept help, take time for yourself, know your limits, be kind to yourself, and a hundred other things that escape me right now. But know this: there is light and hope on the other side. If it takes anti-depressants and a hospital stay to get there, so be it. Whatever it takes, as Jim Morrison said,... break on through to the other side.<br />
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May God's light shine upon you<br />
Jo xjoc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6088113770123432990.post-64249388136599158812012-07-06T12:14:00.004-07:002012-07-24T14:27:33.671-07:00Crafty Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">We have been doing a lot of craft over the past week, mainly due to the inclement weather keeping us indoors. </span>We had a great time painting. We used cut up old credit cards for spreaders and corks, cotton reels and a variety of different shaped lids for printing. What an amazing picture we created!!
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We also did colour mixing by painting each hand a primary colour and then rubbing our hands together to see which new colour was produced. Fun!!!</div>
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One of the things we did was start to make a postbox for playing postmen. We cut a hole in a cardboard box and covered it in gummed tape. What amazing stuff!!! It's like papier mache without the hassle. It means that we'll be able to paint the box easily and without the smeary brush marks you get when painting directly onto glossy cardboard. I'll post a pic of the completed item at a later date.<br />
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Happy Crafting<br />
Jo x<br />
<span id="goog_1705898137"></span><span id="goog_1705898138"></span>joc4jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06540979798063576546noreply@blogger.com0