Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

 I just found out that my Babe is "Leavin' on a jet plane" {insert great old song!} to go to Frankfurt, Germany. The kicker? He had just been told last week that he wasn't going to Germany this year... It would just be one guy. Brian was relieved, and came home and told the kids he didn't have to go! The next day he told me (thought i heard him tell kiddos). I was ecstatic. I absolutely hate it when he has to fly. Yes, i trust God to care for him. and for us. i still hate it.  Yesterday i received a call from Brian informing me that he would be going to Frankfurt, as well as 2 other people.

i cried.
yes i did.

Funny thing is, i have been missing a disc i really enjoy listening to...Painted Red by JJ Heller. one of the best discs, seriously! All about how Jesus is everything. i was looking for something in the office when i came across it!! i set it out in the family room to listen to later. Well, i hung up from talking Brian (getting the news) and i prayed. Then i put the disc on. and it was just what i needed to hear. every.song.  There was a reason i couldn't find it!! it was so i could find it and hear it when the Lord wanted me to!

So, i was able to accept it. But guess what? The enemy of my soul wanted me to eat, eat, eat my way through the stress. i had to keep saying "NO! I WILL NOT EAT MY WAY THROUGH THIS!" 
And you know what?
i'm not. 
i am choosing to pray and go to God when i am feeling the stress, instead of going to food. He is such an amazing Comforter! 

O.k. So, why does he have to go to Germany anyway? I will tell you...there is a special Christmas Village-type show that is there where companies can go and see the new materials, trends, styles, etc. for seasonal decorations. It's a pretty big deal, actually. He will be gone for 4 nights, which doesn't sound like a lot to some, i am sure. But the kids miss him something awful when he is gone, as do i.

The picture with the Santa's is from the convention. Brian is the manager of product design for a private company. He designs Christmas and other holiday decorations for retailers. One of their big customers is Target Stores. So, it is always good to go and find inspiration, new materials, see vendors that make their designs, and everything else.

I am at peace with him going. gonna miss him. a lot.

praying through it...not eating through it ~ THAT is growth!! M2C (Made to Crave) has really made a difference for me...turning to God, not food. i am pretty sure i allowed food to be my comforter last year when he went.... THANKS, Lord, for growth!! 

All I Need ~ JJ Heller

M2C Monday

Good Day, Fellow Cravers!!

cuz that is what we are. whether or not you are working the book by Lysa or not, we are ALL cravers. We all crave something: food, clothes, sex, money.... on and on it can go.

The goal? to CRAVE God, alone! When i am feeling like i want to go shopping (b/c i have had a bad day, 1/2 day, hour) it is because i am trying to satisfy my craving for peace, happiness, belonging. When i turn to the kitchen and i am NOT hungry, i am trying to satisfy a craving. Maybe it is even because i am bored. So in that moment, what am i craving? meaning, activity, purpose? Where can i go for that, instead of to food? I can go to GOD, in His Word.... and there are no regrets. no guilt. no fear when i am turning to my Lord to satisfy my cravings.

I worked on the introduction more this past week. We may have M2C Mondays for a LONG time!!! Here is a quote from page 16 in the intro:

"God made us capable of craving so we'd have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone. Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only one capable of satisfying them.   Getting healthy insn't just about losing weight. It's not limited to adjusting our diet and hoping for good physical results. It's about recalibrating our souls, so that we want to change--spiritually, physically, and mentally. And the battle really is in all three areas."  ~Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave, pg. 16

So, i have been asking God to give me the "want to" to make the changes that are needed. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to all of us to make the changes we need/want to make. Spiritual changes.. Going to God first, not food or shopping, or other people.

I have been eating less (eating til i am satisfied, not overly-full), and choosing more healthy foods. Simple changes, really... like adding a banana in the morning. Adding fruits/veggies definitely helps! There are practical things i am doing, so that changes are being made in the physical areas.

Making changes in my thinking (mentally) has been the most exhausting, to be honest! I am constantly thinking about WHY am i wanting to eat! I want my reasons to be right. And until it becomes second nature, i am going to have to ask myself the "why" questions. i am standing on the promises of God...they are for me, and for you!  We were not made to be in bondage to food (or whatever else we turn to). We were made for FREEDOM in Christ!!

ok... here is my Monday weigh in: 184 (This is my week...and i literally gain about 2-4 lbs. in water weight!)   the scale cannot reflect the changes inside me, and to be honest i was a bit disappointed (even though i know where i am in my cycle). I can't pay too much attention to the numbers :)  The numbers are not what matters....
my jeans are roomier (a little!). sometimes our weight may remain the same, but we are losing!
My husband and a couple other people have noticed a change in my body size!! And it DOES feel good to hear "wow... have you been losing weight?" But that is my opportunity to say "Yes, because i am turning to God, and not food." AND I DO SAY THAT!!!!

To GOD alone be the GLORY, for GREAT things He has DONE!

How was your week? 

Fridays with Frances

I am always challenged and encouraged, uplifted and awakened from apathy, when i read the writings of Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879). She is best known for her beautiful hymn Take My Life And Let it Be. She wrote many poems, hymns, letters, and books. I would like to post her writings on Fridays here at Never Forsaken. What follows today is from a book that is a compilation and abbreviation of some of her writings, called Opened Treasures...Enjoy her thoughts on the beautiful Word of God!

Make It Personal

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.       Exodus 34:6 

Every part of God's Word is a revelation, more of less clear, of Himself. When we do not see this, it is only that we miss it, no that it is not there. Do we not know how very possible it is to read the historical parts merely as history, and the prophetical merely as prophecy, and the doctrinal merely as doctrine, and miss the vision of God which everywhere shines through the glass darkly, if only His good Spirit opens our eyes to see it! And even when we do trace out God Himself in His recorded works and ways, how often we miss the personal comfort of remembering our own close and personal interest in what we see of His character and attributes. I questions if there is a single chapter, from the first of Genesis to the twenty-second of Revelation, which will not reflect the light of this beautiful little lamp. Whether your gaze is turned upon a promise which reveals Him as the loving One or a warning which reveals Him as the loving One, or a warning which reveals Him as the Just and Holy One; whether you read a history which shows His grand grasp in ordering the centuries, or a verse which shows His delicate touch upon the turn of  a moment--as you admire say, "This God is our God." When you read, "Great things doeth He which we cannot comprehend," and the splendid variety of His Book gives a glimpse of His power and glory in upholding the things which are seen, from the hosts of million-aged stars to the fleeting flakes of the "treasures of the snow," say, "This God is our God."

Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises,

Who shall not fear Thee, and who shall not laud?

Anthems of glory Thy universe raises, 

Holy and Infinite! Father and God!

Pure Love...whoa.

The goodness of human love is taken for granted

We turn it into a lust that tears us apart

We give up God's gifts for dust and ashes

And blame him for the pain growing in our hearts

~Sara Groves from the song Song of Solomon

Was walking the dogs when this song came on my nano. i was thunder-struck by the line: "We give up God's gifts for dust and ashes, and blame him for the pain growing in our hearts." It almost hurt to hear it. it forced me to look and question if i have given up any of God's gifts, for things that will fade away.... My answer was troubling. 

yes. i have. many times.

i have given up the wonderful gifts He has given me. i have forfeited true, real, lasting peace by not turning to Jesus, but turning to shopping or food to fill my ache. doesn't work. the guilt i feel afterwards is awful. is it worth it? no. i feel just as empty and restless as i did before, with added guilt. great.

there are many other things that i could list, but won't. you get the picture. the chorus of the song goes:

Sweet song of Solomon
Remind us of love much purer than our own

I was reminded of just how amazing God's love is for me. For my children. Reminded of how PURE His love is. i cannot grasp it in my finite mind. a pure love. no ulterior motive. no perversion in it. unadulterated. not jaded. not a love that gives something in order to get something. PURE love. Pure. His love is so much purer than mine. Thank You, Jesus!

And in remembering, i realize that i truly want to embrace the gifts that He given me...

And through it all, in my imperfections, He loves me. and i am NEVER FORSAKEN!

(I didn't meant to highlight the txt...sorry!!)

Made to Crave Monday (M2C Monday)

WELCOME to Made to Crave Monday!!  This is where i commit to posting about my journey through Lysa TerKeurst's book, Made to Crave. From now on, look for M2C, as that is what i am calling it for short :-)

i read the introduction last night. i am good. could sit on that for a week!

i may have a friend join in on the journey through the book, which is pretty exciting, since everything is better when you can have accountability :)

Okay... here are my stats... and YOU can keep me accountable as well!

Height: 5feet 6 1/2inches

Weight: 182 lbs. this morning

Goal: Healthy!! According to my doctor, I should shoot for about 155-160 lbs. I have moderately-high cholesterol, and I DO NOT want to take medication for it. Losing excess weight will help. Also, my biggest goal is to turn to Jesus for my needs, instead of to food, shopping, other people, music, or whatever else i may look to for comfort. 

M2C is NOT a weight-loss program. I want to be VERY clear about that. It is a lifestyle change...acknowledging that i have allowed OTHER THINGS to fill me, outside of God. From what i understand, if i am turning to food, shopping, music, etc. instead of turning to God and His Word, i have made those things idols.

TIME TO DETHRONE those things and ENTHRONE the King of kings!!!

pic from here

In the introduction to her book, Lysa shares how there are things that she knew needed changing, but that it was easier to rationalize all the reasons to NOT change. This resonated with me, for sure! My big excuses have been:

* i deserve this BIG bowl of ice-cream. Do you know what the kids were like today????

* my metabolism is just low.

* it really isn't THAT big of a deal, is it?

* i sorta eat healthy

* i don't turn to food ALL the time, just some of the time

Now you know what my excuses/rationalizations have been! it is all out there :) 

it is a little frightening to hit "publish post" now!

What are the biggest excuses you use to keep from making needed changes (not just with food! i had to go a number of months NOT shopping at Old Navy, as it was my "happy place")?

fresh...Craving Oranges now!

The new look for the New YEAR!! hopefully it reflects a little bit more of my personality than the drab grey did!! :-) 


Looking forward to hearing from ya'll..


FYI: I am re-reading a GREAT book called Made to Crave. i will be sharing my journey through it here...(& abbreviating it M2C) 


stay tuned!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!! 

we had a wonderful season of remembering our Lord's coming: His birth, life, death, and resurrection. 

During the break from school, my 2nd grader, Magdalene, let us know that she wants to be homeschooled next year! wow... i truly wasn't ready for that, though i DID sense some stress for her at school. We talked about it, and now next school year i will be homeschooling a 7th, 4th, & 3rd grader! whoa... i can't believe i just wrote that. and i am so confident that this is what God desires for us. to have Maddie ask,well, that HAD to be the Lord directing! 

i am actually LOOKING FORWARD to it, even though i know that it means a bit more work on my end. God will strengthen me; He will uphold me. 

I BELIEVE! 

As i have committed to knowing Him better, He is making so many things so clear. i PRAISE Him for His goodness. For the Word...The Bible. For how He speaks through it..

Looking forward with HOPE and PEACE this year :)

~jeanette

F-R-E-E !!

I am just havin' this in my head! my girls got this for Christmas, and i LOVE this song! i am all about singin' it OUT and LOUD!!!

my Sis and Me

This is from our cookie bake this weekend. Had SO much fun with my Family... Mom (Pam), Shelli (sis) & Tim, and Amber, Kelsey, Sha, Dakota, Parker, and all my kiddos: Hudson, Jeremiah, Magdalene, and Grace. 


Goes down in history as just one of the BEST! seriously ;-)

Hub-Bub

hopefully this is not what you are looking like, or feeling like. 


yes. it is December 8th. Seventeen days til the 25th. 


if you are on facebook, you have read the posts of what everyone has been doing. how crazy things are. how frantic their days and weekends are. 
All the hub-bub, for lack of  a better description. 


But i wonder...


What if we didn't: stress, over-spend, over-plan, over-indulge, over- ____?


What if we actually took the time to savor? to recall that, although it is not the ACTUAL day that our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born, it is a season that we remember His coming? And in this focused time of remembering, we can't help but realize that He came to seek and to save that which was lost (you and me), to die a violent death as the price for our sins, and to rise from the grave on the 3rd day. 


Lately i have been absolutely struck by those who were present at the birth of our King. Think about it: Who was there? Mary (duh), Joseph, maybe a female "helper" from the inn, some animals, and.... some shepherds. 

from the book Fit For a King, which
my husband, Brian York, illustrated

shepherds. 


a despised, low-class group of people. they smelled like sheep (oh yes they did!). They were tough. They knew sheep. THEY were the ones who were there THE NIGHT Christ was born. an angel appeared to the shepherds out in the fields of Bethlehem. The shepherds were "sore afraid." In today's words, they were terrified! these shepherds were tough men, able to fight off packs of wolves, panthers, bears, and thieves. These men were MANLY men. you didn't mess with a shepherd. 


Yet these tough men (and maybe women, as there were some shepherdesses), were SORE AFRAID. okay then. The angel had to say to them “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)
After that, the sky filled with a myriad of angels singing:

"Glory to God in the highest, 

And on earth peace, 

goodwill toward men!”

Just soak that in. here the angels of the Most High God appeared to the lowliest shepherds, who were despised among men, and told them to REJOICE! for the Savior had come! Think forward to how Christ Himself was despised and rejected, and is called the Good Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd, the Shepherd of our souls. 

Here, the shepherds' response (Luke 2:15-20):

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

No wonder that people wondered! the shepherds, of all people, had had the birth declared to them by angels! 

This season, i wonder if we have wondered at the fact:

 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.. 1 Peter 3:18

 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15

This season, let's intentionally slow down. let's be different. let's be focused.


I close with a quote from Michael Card's book A Violent Grace:

"Jesus was born to die...so that I could be born again to new life. It is the miracle of a violent grace: God securing for us the priceless treasures of His grace---One violence at a time. Will you open your heart to receive now these costly gifts from your loving Savior?"