Equipped Ministries

No, I am not talking about your Christmas list. (Aren’t you relieved)? I am referring to your “Thanksgiving List.” More and more every year our culture goes straight from Halloween to Christmas. Understandably for those with long shopping lists for children, friends and family, we need the extra few weeks to get all the bargains; yet it also provides the answers for why many of us experience less joy around the holidays and more stress. The holiday of Thanksgiving was never meant to be celebrated for just a day, and it’s not all about the turkey, either. The first Thanksgiving was an extended time of fellowship and growth. A season of learning, changing, and sharing the gifts God gave you with others, to enhance their lives. All of these are things I long to cultivate in my own life and in the lives of my husband and children. The problem is that they are not created out of a day of overeating sweet potato soufflé and pumpkin pie. The characteristics we long for, especially during the ...

Hope & Healing for the Holidays Are you: Reeling in pain from the loss of a loved one? Struggling with the thought of the upcoming Holiday Season? Does a small part of you wish you could sleep from Thanksgiving until the New Year? If so, there is Hope and Equipped Ministries wants to help God did not plan for your Holiday Season to be filled with grief, remorse and sorrow. He wants you to experience the True Joy of the Holidays Attend an Equipped Ministries Hope and Healing for the Holidays workshop and allow God to work in your life revealing to you: Where there is Joy in so much pain How to “Let go & Let God” Find a “new normal” and experience the peace & happiness He has in store for you Contact Equipped Ministries today to bring this Life Changing workshop to your church group or place of business Equipped Ministries Julie House Founder and Workshop Facilitator 859/802-8965 Equipped4him@yahoo.com

Please Don’t Forget As the anniversary of 9/11 passes, I begin to reflect on a statement one of the firemen who made it safely out of the south tower made over ten years ago; “I hope people don’t forget.” Although, in recent weeks, memorial services and TV programs provided us the somber reminders, I do fear forgetting. I felt that way a little over two years ago as well. On January 26, 2009, my family lost my dear, sweet, loving, kind and generous brother. Lost to a brutal illness; a killer with an ugly face. Alcohol. He battled the disease for as long as I can remember and experienced wonderful periods of sobriety, wrecked by years of job loss, broken relationships and even homelessness. It was this tragic loss in life that taught me so many lessons. I vowed to share his story every chance I was given. A story of hope in tragedy, a story of survival of the human spirit, and a story of God’s true grace, love and mercy in turmoil. In this way, I hope to “pay forward” to others experien...

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 ...

The Equipped Ministries all healthy cookbook is coming! 101 Reciped and Devotions to FEED Your Journey" will soon be available! This has a been a true labor of love and will be dedicated, in part, to my sweet brother Jimmy. The cookbook will combine healthy recipes and devotions, designed to inspire and "equip" you on your weight loss journey. The book is preselling for $12!..Perfect for birthday, wedding, or other special occasion..We have a goal to presell 150 cookbooks! We still need to sell 95 more! Please help us meet our goal by the end of July! Order one for you and four of your closest friends and family members and provide them a lifetime of healthy recipes and devotions that are sure to motivate and inspire them....Thank you in advance, and may God bless you for supporting and praying for Equipped Ministries! Love, Julie