September 21, 2012 - Giving Hope

Did you ever have to do stuff as a kid that you detested? Mom tried to make me eat beets, asparagus, floss my teeth. Sometimes I felt like she was the "nag squad." Today, I see things differently. It's amazing how time focuses our "sight" on the realities of life. AMAZING! I wish I had learned to eat healthy as a child and it was my North Star. Now, most days eating healthy is easy, somedays it's harder. How about you? When I am tired or frustrated, eating cucumbers just doesn't bring me comfort. It's in those times I have to remember that being tested and tried purifies my resolve and strengthens something within me. I have to remember that while healthy eating was not part of my journey until 2 years ago, it is MY LIFE NOW! Someone came to me on Wednesday and said they have a women in ministry whose husband is battling cancer. One of the first things the doctor told her to do for her husband was, "delete ALL SUGAR" from your husband's diet. I know I sound like a broken record, but I feel God is training each of us to offer hope when we hear statements like that. Being told to delete sugar, when sugar is your BEST friend, can send many into a tale spin. But God has allowed us an 18 month "jump on things" so that we can be a life-line to offer hope. We have shared recipes like: cheesecake, red velvet cake, fudge, german chocolate cake, 5 flavor pond cake, chocolate pound cake and a pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese icing - all of which have been made with xylitol and almond flour - AND, they taste good. So when you hear stories like this - speak hope. People can live in a world VOID of sugar and starch. We are proof of that. As hard as times have been in this past 18 months, If I can help someone else with an encouraging word or a sugar free pound cake and a smile - that lights up my day! Rocks me! I love giving hope - you give it away too. God has blessed us by putting us ahead of this medical outbreak about sugar and cancer. We GOT THIS. :) I would ask your prayers as I prepare to travel to Virginia next Thursday to one of our sister churches to speak to their interns, a ladies conference, and preach on Sunday morning. SOOO honored and excited. I am speaking 5 times in 3 days. If you would commit to pray that God would reveal, strengthen, and deliver in every message and that the listeners see Jesus in every story, exhortation, message. My life's message is hope. Thanks for your prayers. Healthy Life Group in TWO WEEKS - October 7th. Come and bring a friend! Much love, PK