Equipped Ministries

                “This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” Psalms 118:24.   A straightforward verse with pretty simple instructions-God made the day, we should rejoice .   Simple enough until “life” enters the picture. Life that begins like, “This is the day” my children have complained and fought all morning.   “This is the day” my husband lost his job.   “This is the day” I received the cancer diagnosis from my doctor.   Or “This is the day” I received the call that my child was gone. How do I rejoice then?   The bible states that our rejoicing should be a result of the day we are living in, not the circumstances that surround it.   Yet, we’ve all experienced times in life that made us feel as though we wouldn’t make it through the day, much less be able to rejoice in it.   The loss of a loved one, in particular can leave us feeli...

In working with hundreds of men and women over the past eight years who have a goal of losing weight and living healthy, the biggest challenge for most to overcome has little to do with knowing what to eat and when to exercise.   Interestingly, the biggest challenge for most is realizing that God wants to be involved in their health and wellness journey and He is capable of having a major impact if He is allowed access. The story about Jonathan and his armor bearer paint a wonderful analogy of what it looks like to realize that God wants what’s best for us and is capable of seeing it through.   1 Samuel 14:6 states, “Perhaps the Lord will work for us.   For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”   In other words, it doesn't matter who is coming against you or tempting you; with God on your side nothing is impossible.   However, there is a catch.   “Of course there is,” you say, but hear me out.   In order for God to be fighting f...

That’s How God Operates                 Lately, I’ve been experiencing feelings I couldn’t really explain to others, and assuming it was just a normal way of life for a mother trying to raise three kids, be a good wife, and serve God in this crazy day and age.   But in attending church and bible study over the last few weeks, two bible teachers I greatly admire, spoke on a subject and very colorfully put into words exactly what I was experiencing.                   They both questioned the listening audience asking, “Do you experience a heaviness of heart throughout your day over situations that have not come to pass?   Are you burdened about the ‘what if’s’ of life?   What if my children get sick?   What if my husband loses his job? What if my wife leaves?   Do you feel pressure to perform, wondering if y...

  As my children get older, it’s becoming very obvious to me, that there will be (already have been) choices they make regarding friends, behaviors, music etc. that are completely out of my control.   After all, I cannot “police” what they are doing online and follow them around 24/7.   (I know this because I’ve already tried and it’s exhausting.   And even then, I still missed a few things.)   Although I am very grateful and praise God when they make good decisions, my heart has already been wounded by some not so great decisions as well.   It’s just proof positive that we live in a fallen world and we (and our children) are prone to sin and no amount of church attendance or bible reading can completely obliterate it from our lives. Yet what is a parent supposed to do?   Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, worry and anxiety can (and will) run rampant every time our children leave home if we are constantly focused on what they’re doing, who...

Looking for comfort and peace in the middle of a storm today?  Or just the hustle and bustle of life? "For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness."  Psalms 107:9 "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Psalms 145:16 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19 Those verses have stirred my soul in recent days.  The shear realization that God is ready and waiting to meet and exceed my needs is overwhelming.  If your soul is hungry, God is waiting to fill it with goodness.  If you have desires, He is waiting with an open hand to satisfy and He will supply ALL your needs. May the God I have come to serve and love show you today that He and He alone can FILL your hungry soul, readily satisfy your every desire and supply all your needs according to HIS riches in glory.  Now that's what I call pure satisfaction! In Him, Julie

“O’ Lord, I pray, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name; and let your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”   Nehemiah 1:11                 There will be many challenges for us in 2014.   (Maybe you’ve already had your fair share in January.)   Challenges regarding our finances, future plans, issues in the workplace, church, or neighborhood.   The list is endless.   Challenges can cause us to do many things; act in haste, run away, become discouraged, remain on edge, or “clam up” and freeze.                 We could learn a lot from a certain man in the bible about how to face challenges.    A man by the name of Nehemiah we’re told was, “the king’s cupbearer.”   Thi...

What Do You Want From Me?                 Relationships are tricky, to say the least.   Navigating moods, rough patches, and the general ups and downs of life (and that’s just with your children) can leave you frazzled.   But what about the other relationships in your life:   the spousal, co-worker, friends, and family?   Attempting to get along in these situations can leave a person wondering, “What do they want from me?” T oo often, we make relationships in our lives more complicated than they need to be.   We tend to “think for the other person.”   Assuming we know what they want from us and feeling frustrated, because we can’t always muster the resources to give it. We assume the spouse would be happier if we lost weight, so we join the gym and the weight loss group.   We think the children would be happier with more “things” so we work overtime five days a week. ...

                We took the plunge into tackle football with our ten-year old son this year.   And for anyone who’s traveled down this path (or any other competitive sport) you know the commitment is serious.   Practice three times a week and two games on the weekend.   Not to mention all the time invested in fundraising.                 Needless to say, if I wasn’t familiar with football before, I am now.   Terminology, plays, equipment; I’ve learned it all in just eight short weeks.                I now watch college and professional football games with a whole new appreciation.   I understand the calls, well most of them.   I see the fouls, well some of them.   Yet, I cheer and “boo” with a new perception that makes the game so muc...

How Do I Know?                 My family is at a crossroads in life right now.    (Actually we are at several crossroads.)   With the kids growing up and friends, and the “outside world” beginning to have more of an impact, my husband and I feel very strongly that the decisions we make over the next several months could have a long term impact on our family.                 Needless to say, we are desperate to make the right decisions and ensure that they are driven by God and not some underlying selfish desire on our part.   So what should we do when we really need to hear from God?                 I know from experience, the answer is multi-faceted.   Think about this; you or your kids may have been able to breeze through grade school...

Worry Less                 Worry less?   An oxymoron for sure, right?   Those two words simply do not belong together.   Is there such a concept?   Is it possible in this world of uncertainties, death, disease and destruction to worry less? Take it from someone, whose bloodline is filled with worriers; YES.   The key is to understand your worries and the power they have in your life.   The topic of worry has been a struggle for humans for thousands of years.   So much so, that Jesus saw it important enough to teach about in his Sermon on the Mount.   We can learn vital lessons about our worries (and save thousands of $$ on prescriptions and doctor visits) by revisiting what Jesus says about worry: 1.        Worry cannot add one single minute to your day, so it truly is useless (Mt. 6:27).   Ironically, one of our biggest worrie...

I’ve often heard stories of men and women literally hearing God speak to them.   Countless books offer near-death experiences and devotions such as Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” tell of personal encounters with a God who longs and yearns to speak   to those that love Him.                 It seems, the more we long for a clearer understanding of God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit, the more we are bombarded with things like the Easter Bunny and planting spring bulbs before it’s too late.                 Before you are overwhelmed with what to put in that Easter Basket, let me share with you what God wants you to know this Easter weekend.   The message is one of hope, not destruction .   It reminds us that with a closer walk with God we can do all things, for we are strengthened.        ...

                My family and I are in the midst of a very real struggle in our lives right now.   One, which involves very real financial burdens and an uncertain future.   One that has put a wedge between my husband and myself and shifted the mood of our home greatly.                 I won’t share the details (I’m sure my husband will feel the above is already too much) but I share the scenario to offer hope and direction to the hundreds of other families facing similar situations.                   Financial burdens, emotional struggles and uncertain futures are an all too common reality for most homes today.                   And for many, the end is divorce, b...

Reduce Your Stress and Lose Weight Automatically                 If one of your resolutions this year was to lose weight, you might want to add reducing stress to calorie counting.   Studies are indicating that people who experience significant amounts of stress on a regular basis weigh significantly more than those who combat stress in healthy ways.                 Science has now proven for us that very specific things happen in our brain when we are under stress.   Our “hunger hormones” get out of whack and send crazy signals prompting us to eat more simple sugars and signaling that we are never full.                 To add insult to injury the stress hormone, cortisol is released in massive doses in our body when we are stressed and resea...

                                                                                              O.K., here we go.   Its resolution time again.   That time of year we begin to make those commitments to better our lives, save our money, and lose those extra pounds.   And if you fear yours won’t last you’re not alone.                   Statistics tell us that our will power and determination to keep our resolutions lasts a whopping two weeks!...

                I know from personal experience that once a family loses a loved one, Christmas is never the same.   We are unable, (nor do we really want) to find the same joy we found in years past in the many traditions of Christmas.   Presents, shopping, baking etc., no longer lighten the mood and get us in the spirit the way they used too.   The one or ones we used to share these traditions with are no longer with us, so doing them brings little joy.                 The above is truer this year than ever before.   An entire community has lost their joy for Christmas.   We have lost little bakers in the kitchen, little voices in the Christmas musical, and quite possibly an entire cast for a holiday play.   Christmas will never be the same in Newtown, Connecticut.      ...

                The other day in our bible study time, the kids and I came across a very familiar verse.   One that I have heard hundreds of times growing up, yet through discussion with my kids, gained a very new perspective. In chapter 7 of the book of Matthew, verses 7 & 8, Jesus is well into his famous Sermon on the Mount.   Some refer to it as God’s call to righteousness, but I like to tell my kids that it is God’s list of “Do’s and don’ts.”                           In this particular section we are told, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.   Keep on seeking and you will find.   Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.   For everyone who seeks, finds.   And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”   Ma...

(This article was taken from freedomyou.com, and written by Ron Lagerquist) "If you struggle with overeating, you will know that addiction is all about detachment and disconnection from your spiritual self and God." In an era of grocery stores and fast food, it's hard to make the connection between your eating and communion with God. But for most of human history, families would sow their seed while praying for rain and protection from pestilence. A household’s welfare was intimately married to seed and soil and wholly dependent on the God of sun and rain. Harvest was a time of celebration. The fruit of their labor would ensure a daily provision from hunger and starvation. To offer a meal to a hungry passerby was a gift of sacrifice. A loaf of bread was an investment of time from the planting of the seed to the harvesting, milling and baking in clay ovens. They understood very well when Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life. One of the great byproducts of changing f...

Craving God                 On the journey of weight loss, one cannot address their “issues” with weight without conquering cravings.   From insatiable cravings for chocolate to unending cravings for French fries, if you’ve tried to lose weight, you’ve had them.                 So how do we fight the battle of cravings to win the war on weight loss?   It all starts with understanding our temptations.   And there’s no better place to learn about temptation than in the bible.                   Take Eve, the first person to ever be tempted.   Surrounded by unimaginable beauty and tranquility, yet she was quickly enticed with the idea of having more.   As we read about Eve’s temptation, we realize that once tempted, her focus was...

“Where is God when an innocent, sweet 4 year old boy is diagnosed with cancer?” “Where is God when a mother loses her son to drug or alcohol addiction?” Where is God when the father of two beautiful girls and a loving wife would rather die than live on this earth and takes his own life?” “Where is God when a Friday night out to watch a new movie turns deadly for more than a dozen innocent people and drastically alters the lives of hundreds of others forever?” The above examples are all true scenarios in the lives of people I either know and love, or have come in contact with over the last few years. All fuel for the burning question of “Where is God in all this?” I used to struggle with this question wondering, why, a God who is supposed to love and protect would allow such tragedy in the lives of those who love him back. Recently I was provided the answer. “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord and the accuser Satan came with them.” ...