Equipped Ministries

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything? Seriously? It's Monday morning you know! The day set aside just for worry, I thought! I need to worry, don't I? Worry about all that I have to accomplish this week. Worry about the house that needs cleaning, the laundry that needs doing, the kids that need teaching (homeschooler!! Out of my mind, I know!) The gas prices that are getting way, way to high for a family that pulls a camper to take a vacation this year! (Or a trip to the grocery store for that matter!) Oh, that reminds me, we need groceries and toilet paper! (Worry...worry...) So how does one not worry? As we speak, I am worried that my bathroom floor is being flooded by the splashing of water from two young children having wayyyy too much fun in the bathtub right now!! But I have a devotion to write and God's message on my heart, s

"So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 Really? Boast and brag about something I am NOT good at? Who does that? I know Plenty (notice the capitol "P"?) of people (including yours truly) who are thrilled to boast about things we are good at, have accomplished, overcome etc. But brag about something we are not good at? Not a chance! What good will that do? That just brings me down a notch in your eyes, lets you see the "real me." Not a very pretty picture either (especially without the make-up..) So why would I do that? For exactly the reason Paul states: so that the Power of Christ can work through me! 2 Corinthinans has been identified as Paul's most personal letter. A very human account of the trials, sufferings and weaknesses of one early christians most authoritative leaders. Weaknesses he tells us can be transformed into strength only through admitting them openly and allo

"But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people." Jude 1:3 The book of Jude. One short chapter written by Jesus' brother. Did you know that Jude (as well as most of the rest of his family) misunderstood Jesus and were even skeptical of his identity as the Messiah while he was alive? Many scholars believe that most of Jesus's family were not even followers while he was alive! Oh, how I relate. How often do we appreciate the knowledge, character traits, abilities and wisdom of our family members only after they are gone. How we wish we had them with us to teach us, guide us, and love us now that they are in heaven, as they did when they were here on Earth. I misunderstood my brother while he was here on this earth. But after he passed, I vowed to keep him alive through sharing his message and his story. We are called to do the same where Jesus is concerned. Keep him alive

"Seek His will in all you do, and He will keep your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6 Have you had an encounter with a pothole lately. Thankfully, I have not. But my husband drives a thirty-five minute stretch of interstate 75 everyday, and he says it's full of them. "And they get worse everyday." Hmm, sounds a little like my battles in weight loss and life sometimes?! Although my husband, is a very careful and focused driver, these skills are not even enough to avoid the potential of falling prey to another pothole. How does he do it? "By keeping my eyes on the driver I am following." "If he hits one, I can swerve and miss it, if he doesn't, I just follow right along." A two-fold message for me: First, follow the ones who have been there, they can help you avoid the pitfalls and potholes. Learn from their mistakes. Seek their counsel, friendship and accountability. Got a friend who has maneuvered a "pothole" successfully? And now y

"But I say, 'Love your enemies!' 'Pray for those who persecute you!'" Matthew 5:44 Are you an emotional eater? Me too! Have you ever really wondered what drives us to eat emotionally? Often times, we find ourselves eating our feelings. "It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you!" Sound about right?! Last time I checked it was right on the money for me. "You have disappointed me!" "Crunch! crunch!" "I am so worried about......(son, brother, child, spouse, finances..") "Drink drink!" "You make me so mad!" "Bite! bite" Yesterday marked the anniversary of the day my dear, sweet, loving, kind, and wonderfully funny brother went to heaven just two short years ago. My brother lived a life haunted and tormented by alcoholism. And we, his family were haunted and tormented by emotions. Emotions some of us ate, and some of us drank on a regular basis. I felt at times, I was enemies with

"For you have been called to live in freedom , my brothers and sisters..." Galatians 5:13 Freedom? Well, can anyone tell me why losing weight feels like prison to me sometimes? Can't have this! Shouldn't eat that! Ought to work out now! So many "shoulds" and "can'ts!" What's a girl to do?! Change your perception someone once said. Life is 5% what happens to you and 95% how you react! I have found this to be true in my own life...Take any given Monday morning for example: same kids, same cluttered living room, same dirty dishes in the sink. Yet, why on some Mondays do I respond with a smile and a hot cup of coffee, and others, a growl and a strong desire to return to bed! Outlook for sure, and starting the day in deep conversation with God and His word! I found an old and very dear poem that sums it up beautifully: The Difference I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish, I didn't have time to

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 It's early! (For me it is...) 6:40am. Too early to be sitting in front of a computer screen. How I wish I could send this devotion to you from my notebook (pen and paper kind, not computer) on my comfy couch, wrapped in my warm, snuggly blanket, coffee close by! Instead, I sit at the kitchen table, high back chair, too close to the patio doors (can you say draft!) And, coffee out of arm's reach just in case of a spill! I resist technology. I still balance my checkbook with a calculator, (which by the way, I am off only by $.79 at the moment), write in my journal, look up phone numbers in the phone book, and, yes we have paper maps in our cars. How often I am told, "your life would be so much easier if you used your computer for that...," "it's not as hard as you are making it..," "You can do it.." I believe the same is true

"Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 The weekend wasn't quite long enough. I did not get the rest I so needed and hoped for. (Did I mention that I have a three year old who still gets up every night and wants me to come to bed with her? And did I mention that she is a very, very restless sleeper and talks in her sleep too?) Nonetheless, Monday is here and the tasks beckon. My first inclination is to make my to-do list in order of necessity, and begin my plan of attack. The problem? I've too much to do and not enough time in the day. Sound familiar? Did I mention I was tired? My head is pounding, and my children are rowdy. Matthew 11:28 comes to mind. Come to me.....Have I done that? I think so. I said my prayers, asked for a good day, protection over my husband, children, family and friends....Why do I still feel so burdened? Maybe because I have not truly "come" to the Lord in the sense that he mean

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." Hebrews 12:11 I have to plan to lose weight? That's too much work! I can't do that! I don't have the time! I don't have the energy! Sound familiar? Me too. Immediately upon deciding to lose weight, I determined that if it was too much work, I would quit! It's just not worth it, if it takes work! Let me say that again; It's just not worth it, if it takes work! Did I really say that? YES! Did I really mean it at the time? YES! Does it sound crazy now? YES! YES! YES! Now, I realize anything worth accomplishing takes work; my marriage, my children, school, my walk with the Lord. All take a tremendous amount of work and time and planning if I want to be successful! But, when I put forth the effort, oh the rewards I reap! And, of course the reverse is true too! No energy to invest in school

How Bad Do I Want This? "Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2 So, we all know we want it fast, but just how bad do we want it? There is a Tim McGraw song, titled just that; "How Bad Do You Want It?" In the song are lyrics that go like this, "How bad do you want it? How bad do you want it? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming with that one thing on your mind? How bad do you want it, 'cause if you want it bad, you're gonna lay it all out on the line!" How much do I lay on the line though? I say I want it! But all I can think about is chocolate and french fries! What's my problem? The bible says I will become a better Christian by keeping my focus on Christ. The same is true for any other battles or challenges I face in life. If I want success, I must eat, sleep, and dream with success on my mind! Am I struggling in the b

Lose Weight FAST! That gets our attention doesn't it? If you are reading this, we probably have something in common. We want (or have wanted in the past) to lose weight, and we want it gone yesterday. I have always been a firm believer in losing weight FAST! However, thanks to God's great work in my life, my definition of Fast has changed somewhat over time. May you be blessed with a new understanding of FAST and may God grant you wonderful health and wellness (and weight loss:) through this journey! Here's what I think FAST means today: F-Foods I eat do make a difference A-Attitude makes a difference S-Scipture meditation is crucial T-Team Up! Accountability ensures success I pray you will join me on this journey and commit to reading the blog everyday (I vow to keep them short) for the next 21 days and memorizing the accompanying scripture as your armor yourself in fighting temptation and fear, and uncover how losing weight FAST can be accomplished! We all know, if we do

Is God calling you to lose weight and get healthy? Do you struggle to find the motivation? Do you need accountability? Do you struggle to find the time? Bring Equipped to your workplace! Equipped will come to your place of employment for one-day seminars, or 12 weekly, 30-minute motivation meetings to educate and inspire you and your co-workers toward healthier and more productive lifestyles. Did you know that by losing 10% of your weight you are increasing your productivity and energy at work by more than 30%? Did you know that by losing 10% of your weight you are decreasing your absenteeism by at least 20%? Did you know that by losing 10% of your weight you are able to accomplish more tasks in less time! Since we are spending 8-10 hours a day at work, it is vital that these are healthy hours. By improving our health, we are improving our quality of life at work, and investing in our family life too! We can't afford NOT to! Schedule your FREE information session with Equipped to

START A REVOLUTION, DON’T MAKE ANOTHER RESOLUTION Has 2011 already found you fighting to keep the resolutions you swore you’d keep this year? If so, in 2011, it’s time to take a different approach to the New Year’s behaviors you are hoping to implement (or rid yourself of.) Change is difficult, even when for the better. And year after year, Americans take the same approach to making changes that will improve their lives: The infamous New Year’s Resolution. The problem? Not to state the obvious, but overwhelmingly it doesn’t work. Over 75% of us will give up on every New Year’s Resolution before the end of January! So, if you really want to stop smoking, lose 25lbs., save more, love more, give more etc., it’s time for a REVOLUTION, not a RESOLUTION! Take a minute to ponder the difference: 1. Resolutions have beginnings and endings. Revolutions begin with small changes and keep growing until whole lives are changed. 2. Resolutions usually begin with something we don’t really want t