When did I stop sharing?

MINE! MINE! MINE!

At my workplace, I get to hear adults speak into the hearts of little kids all the time. A big lesson that they always instill is the value of sharing. Sharing toys, sharing snack, sharing space, in the hopes that one day, these kids would learn to share their lives.

So here we are now, as adults, living in a world where we don't share. Seriously, when was the last time you shared for the specific purpose of knowing that we were supposed to do that?

"Share with God's people in need. Practice hospitality." -Romans 12:13

Last night my roommate came back from a rather long trip. She is my accountability partner, she is my favorite friend, she is the person that challenges me the most, so her presence in my daily life was missed, especially in terms of my eating habits.

This morning, her car broke down. And that always throws your schedule into a tailspin. I had a heart issue of not wanting to let her use my car. I didn't want to share. Yes, just like that kid with a new toy that rebelliously declares it MINE MINE MINE!!!!

So I reluctantly decided I need to let her use my car to get to her job in Durham and I said this sentence and immediately wished I could take it back: "You can borrow my car, but I swear to GOD if something happens to it..."

Conditional sharing. Perhaps the worst kind. You share, but with limits and constraints that never REALLY come from a heart of giving.

So Dee took my car today, and I had time to sit at Brueggers for a while and think about what God was trying to show me. It was actually...incredible. Here are a few truths that I figured out about myself, maybe you can relate:

1. That Ford Explorer is not mine. It's God's.
2. I am not allowed to put conditions on my sharing. If I do, it's not coming from the right place, so it just doesn't count.
3. When I share my things, it's awesome. When I share my struggles, it's revolutionary.

Here's the thing about #3...it is good to share. It is, in fact, a revolution to share your struggles. Someone posted on Facebook this morning: "No one is afraid to say I love you. What they are really afraid of is the response."

If I admit I am struggling, what will you say? If I admit that I am screwed up, how will you respond? If I share my pain, will you share yours?

The short answer, which I have found out by keeping this blog, is YES.

Sometimes.

But the sometimes are the times that matter.

-Liz

Sweet little lies

When I started this blog specific to my weight loss journey, it was meant for the sole purpose of holding me accountable to keep at it. I knew that, if I made it known to everyone that I was doing this, that it would be much harder for me to quit.

What it's turned into, is a place for me to be reminded that I am not alone. A lot of us feel the same way, whether or not we've ever admitted it. Today I am struggling with something that I know is universal. It doesn't matter if you're battling weight loss, or if it's something else. Whatever it is, this concept, for me, is all the same:

What happens when you start believing lies?

Over the past few weeks, here are a few lies that I have believed. See, believing in these lies temporarily, even for a moment, creates a setback for me, because it only takes a second for me to fall off the wagon and do something stupid.

Have you ever believed one (or all) of these lies?

1. You can't do it. You'll probably never get to where you want to be, and you've gone pretty far, so give yourself a break.
2. Nobody really knows how you feel.
3. You've talked about this enough with people, they are sick of hearing about it.
4. You deserve this. You need a break. You'll start tomorrow.
5. It's not that big of a deal.
6. _______ doesn't struggle with this, so why should you?

On and on and on, right? I heard a woman in church say something awesome that immediately made me tear up because, she was reading my mind:
"As soon as God asks you to do something, Satan will work overtime to stop you from doing it."

Let me be clear. I believe there is light in this world, and if I believe that, then I have to believe that there is dark in this world. If I believe there is a God, I have to believe there is an enemy. And the enemy doesn't want you to succeed. If you succeed, you will be powerful. You will be closer to God and then darkness loses.

We know that Jesus Christ conquered death. So He has already conquered these lies for us. Yet, we still believe them.

Why do we believe them?

I am learning that it is easier to believe the lies. It is easier to settle. It is easier to do whatever we want. It is easier to believe that we are not worth it, that we were not made for more. It is easier to believe that we, at best, are...

Average.

It is hard for me to say no to cupcakes. It is hard for me to go to meetings where there is a bowl of M&Ms on our table and not eat them (this happened last week, and yes, I ate them). It is hard for me to watch tv at home and not want to snack for hours. It is hard for me to get up in the morning and put on my running shoes and work out. It is hard for me to say no to certain social situations where everyone else can eat whatever they want and not have it directly affect their heart and soul like it does for me.

But it is better.

You and I are not average. We are called to a greater purpose. But there is something that is in the way. Something that prevents us from fully becoming the person the God has made us to be. And when we start to face that thing, that's when we believe the lies and the battle gets serious. It gets serious, because it is truly a BATTLE for your heart and soul. When we lessen the seriousness of the struggle, we lessen our own value and self-worth and before you know it, here we are. Living a paltry version of the abundant life we were created for.

Haven't we been believing lies about ourselves for too long? What would happen if we started believing the truth?

You were made for more than this.

-Liz