Equipped Ministries

Do You Need a Fresh Start? I think we can all answer that question with a resounding “YES” from time to time. A fresh start signifies a new chance, a better opportunity; a clean slate. My mother really believes in the power of fresh starts. Growing up, if I was ever hurting due to a broken relationship, job or school frustration, she would be the first to say, “Why don’t you go get your hair cut or something? It will make you feel better.” She was right (so long as I liked the new do)! A haircut, new outfit or simple change-of-pace, are all small, yet they have more impact than they’re given credit for at times. The problem for most of us is that we wait for the major events in life to start fresh; Mondays, New Year’s Day, college, divorce and even death . In our weight loss meetings at Equipped, we continually remind our members, “You get a fresh start with every bite!” In other words, every time the fork comes to your mouth, you have a new chance to start over, make a new and better

Beauty For Ashes A beautiful song lyric reads, “He gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair.” As I ponder on those lyrics, I am reminded of a verse that also speaks to the blessings of our trials. “And, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love the Lord.” Roman 8:28 (emphasis mine.) “Not my divorce”, you say. “Not my job loss”, you insist. And certainly, “not the loss of my loved one,” you cry. How can that be? How can the pain I experience ever become something good? I have experienced this on more than one occasion in life’s ups and downs. It most recently occurred to me when speaking to a group of teens about their faith. Wanting to really relate and make the message relevant for them, I dug deep into the recesses of my own high school days, only to realize that some of the ugliest and most hurtful times in my life (kids can be so cruel) had now been transformed into the beautiful story of my l

Blinders can be Eye-Opening Have you ever stopped to think of how important blinders are to the horse in a horse race? Absolutely crucial some trainers say. Just as crucial as the jockey and the saddle! Without blinders the horse gets distracted, tripped up and possibly even injured. (Hmm, that sounds a little too much like my life sometimes!) A trainer would never even think of putting their horse on the track without blinders. Certainly not if they expected them to win! Yet, they seem so cumbersome to me. A constant reminder to keep looking straight ahead! What? I’m missing all the action on the sidelines! Exactly the point! Funny, when you’re in a race, a game (or life in general for that matter) success often depends on your ability to “tune out” what’s going on around you and focus simply on what’s in front of you. But, what about the discomfort; the boredom even of just looking at what’s in front of me? Get over it! Your trainer would say; it’s what’s going to help you win! What