tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293396720620011907.post4679187712253295588..comments2023-10-24T05:08:52.189-04:00Comments on Blogging God and Me: Poor Old JobStill Learninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02321505536333057668noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293396720620011907.post-78600065165404670762008-10-21T06:58:00.000-04:002008-10-21T06:58:00.000-04:00Jenny,There's so much I want to tell you that I'm ...Jenny,<BR/><BR/>There's so much I want to tell you that I'm at a loss for words. More than anything, I wish I could just give you a big hug and help you feel God's love envelope you during this difficult time. Last night, i couldn't sleep as I was just thinking about you. I've never read anyone's blog before unless you count Anderson Cooper. I read CNN each day for the most part so I inevitably end up reading Larry King Live or Anderson Cooper as we don't have cable and it keeps me up on what's happening in the world. Today, I have computer training and I will ask Suzy about blogs, what they are, how to subscribe to them, etc. I've spent much time reading your blog and trying to catch up on your life. I'm so glad you've kept a blog. I'll call it a faith journal as that is what it has been for you. It sounds like it has been a safe place for you to share your heart, speak freely, and write raw and uncensored. You go girl! God can handle your honesty, transparency and genuine thoughts and feelings. The Psalms are filled with those who pour out their thoughts and feelings. You joined the Psalmist in writing out poetry to God and bearing your soul to him. I think that's awesome. It's my hope he will show up in your life in some unexpected way and you'll feel his peace and presence. It's my prayer he will meet you where you are at. Continue to seek him and you will find him as he does reveal himself to us when we seek him with all our hearts as you have. Jenny, you have had many losses throughout your life. You have wisely identified that you are grieving a loss. You've named several losses in this blog. You've talked about the loss of your first marriage, the loss of your home to Hurricane Andrew, the loss concerning your daughter, the loss concerning your church, the loss concerning your freedom when your parents moved in and/or when you briefly moved in with your in-laws, the loss concerning your financial freedom, the loss of your figure, and the loss of various relationships or friendships throughout your life. You are grieving many losses and I'm sorry for that. Where is God when it hurts? Is he good? Why me? He's there, Jenn, and he can handle the questions. I've found that at times he calls me to live the questions, and in that, he gives me answers. Maybe he answers differently than I expected, but if you continue to ask him, I believe he will meet you where you are at. Sometimes, remembering how he has proved faithful in times past helps us have faith now. Can you think of ways he has helped you deal with these losses in the past? Can you think of ways he's been faithful when life hurts? This will help you as you continue to face lifes challenges. Jenny, you have chosen to live a BRAVE life. In life, we have a choice to live BRAVE OR SAFE. When you chose to open this business in faith, you chose to live a BRAVE life. Sure, it would have been safer to stay at Publix earning 65k, but at what price? It wasn't working for you.... you took a risk and it involved a leap of faith on your part. God has stretched you and challenged you in ways you couldn't imagine. You've matured and grown in your faith as a result. I'm sure it hasn't been easy or fun, but I sure admire your choice to take the brave route and live out your dream. How much better to risk and find it didn't work out than to never have the experience of owing your store. You have a lot to be proud of regardless of the outcome. You can hold your head high regardless and take pride in the choice you've made. Life is about process not outcome. It's about the journey, not the destination. You really could have had one kid (safe), but you have 4 (brave). You really could have lived with just your husband and kids (safe) but you took a risk and built a house to include your parents with handicap access and all for them (brave). We continually face a choice and what I see is a woman of courage. You have courage, Jenn. You are not some meek, mild woman...you are a woman of faith and courage and I respect and admire that. Now, let's talk about the body image issue just a bit. My hope for you is that you love and accept your body as it is in this moment.... not as it will be when you lose weight but as it is today. Think about the miracle of how it functions and how your legs get you from where you are to where you want to be. Find a way to affirm yourself as you are now. That's so critical. When you put yourself down and say negative things about your body, your telling God that what he made is not adequate. You are created it the image of God. You reflect God's glory. You're not junk. You are the daughter of a king. Christ died for you, Jenn. If there was only one person on earth and it was you, Jesus would have been nailed to that cross and willingly died. Accept your worth in Christ and please don't weigh your self-esteem. I think weekly weigh ins are helpful and accountability is helpful but rejecting yourself hurts you. We live in a fat phobic culture and I hate that. God's ways are not the world's ways. You have full acceptance in Christ. Don't look to the world to tell you who you are. Look to Jesus. Now, I want you to focus on your self-talk and challenge your thoughts when you put yourself down. If you challenge each negative comment inside, it will be easier to challenge ones by size 3 in your gym class. Now here are some practical tips from my weight loss experience. 1. Write everything you eat down including the portion size to increase awareness. 2. Start your day with a fruit or vegetable so you focus on nutrition and not taste throughout the day. 3. Eat when you first wake up as it gets your metablism going. 4. Ideally, walk when you first wake up even if it's 10 minutes for the same reason. 5. Sugarbusters is a book at the library that helped me lose weight. It's the diabetic diet and my doctor recommended it though I am not diabetic. In a nutshell, sugar makes you crave more sugar which leads to weight gain...that's a total oversimplification but if you eat foods low in glycemic index, it helps with weight loss. That's enough of my tips for now. I wish you the best in healthy eating and in reaching your weight loss goals. You have been thin and fit all your life until these recent years and you can use that to motivate you to get there again. That's what I did. I knew what it felt like to be in shape and used that to help me know I could be there again. I think it's great you are using your blog for support and motivation to eat healthy and make good choices. Well, I'm with you, friend. Hang in there! God bless you, Jennifer. TashaTasha Simonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826986616582756338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293396720620011907.post-60597170365869932752008-10-17T18:42:00.000-04:002008-10-17T18:42:00.000-04:00I LOVE YOU, JENNIFER TOMLINSON WALKER. But more i...I LOVE YOU, JENNIFER TOMLINSON WALKER. But more importantly than that, I want you to know something else. GOD LOVES YOU MORE.Tasha Simonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826986616582756338noreply@blogger.com