Category Archives: Faith

Book Review

The Middle Matters – It Really Does!

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The Middle Matters by Lisa-Jo Baker

Who in their right mind says they love their muffin top figure? Someone who is obviously happy with who they are in their own skin, and that someone is Lisa-Jo Baker. Lisa-Jo has written a book called “The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Good On You”. 

The lowdown on the book (courtesy of Amazon)

In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, or the magazines say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most of us are thinking about marriage, parenting, the bathroom scale, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs.

Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is, because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, kids, faith, doubt, marriage, failure, wonder, and the muffin top—and that these are all good things. She’s not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it for all its wildly ordinary glory.

When I heard someone was happy with the way they looked, including the muffin top thing, I just had to read this book. I would be lying if I said I loved my figure, especially after having five kids (my body is a little bit squidgy around the middle!)

I had to find out what her secret was.

My expectations were set a little awry. I was hoping to find a book that gave a “how-to” guide on coping with mid-life. Living in the thick of it all, I wanted to be revitalised.  This is NOT one of those books! I’m so pleased it wasn’t as I always fail on the first hurdle of trying to make myself better.

Lisa-Jo has helped me to realise I don’t need to make myself better. I just need to love myself more. 

@lisajobaker has helped me to realise I don’t need to make myself better. I just need to love myself more.  Share on X

Through her well-crafted stories, Baker has helped me to look at myself “through the sparkling, wild and wonderful eyes of my children”. All 5 of them!  

I have hated my muffin top figure so much because it reminds me of the figure I no longer have. My children often comment though on how much they love my squishy belly. Why? Because it’s a reminder to them that I carried each and every one of them into this world.

How can I forget such a privilege?

Lisa-Jo has helped me to realise I should not be ashamed of my figure. A figure which has housed each of my children safely into this world. More importantly, my squishy body still continues to hold each and every single one of them safely. 

Lisa-Jo writes with emotion and you will find yourself being drawn alongside her saying in your mind, “Yes, me too!” You won’t feel like you are coping with your middle on your own anymore. 

She writes with such love about how proud she is of her children. I found myself feeling proud along side her with my own children. Every time she cheered her children on, I could feel myself cheering inside willing my own children on. 

The heart touching moments Lisa-Jo revealed in her words brought tears to my eyes. Moments that made her look up and realise her children were turning out just right. 

Isn’t that every parents dream?

I also felt the warm love of her friendships in my own living room. It left me feeling wanting of my own friendships to be like that. 

I recommend this book to anyone who feels they are needing some reassurances on how well they are coping in their middle. You may even find, as you read, you will look at what you’re in the middle of right now in your own life and apply some of what Lisa-Jo has tried out. It’s a bit like a good friend giving you a little bit of friendly advice. 

 “The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Good On You” by Lisa-Jo Baker is available to buy now through Amazon. 

Disclaimer: I was given an advanced readers copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Abuse, Faith

God Loves a Willing Heart

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God loves a willing heart

God called Mary. He called her to do the unthinkable. I’m not referring to giving birth to the Son of God although, that was pretty major! No, I’m referring to God calling Mary to be willing and God loves a willing heart.

Think about it. 

Mary had to be willing to do as God called her in the face of adversity. She was going to face her hardest trial yet. Mary was young, poor, not yet married…and was pregnant! People she knew and loved would turn their backs on her.

Mary had never been intimate with a man before therefore, how can she be pregnant? Can you imagine the gossip going around? The looks. The innuendos. People talking behind her back. 

What would you do if you were in her shoes? 

Well, I feel a little like Mary at the moment. No, I am not pregnant! I feel God is asking me if I am ready to take the next step in carrying out His purpose in my life. 

I’ve had a stirring in my heart now for about 3-4 years. I said yes to God for Him to use me and to use what I had been through in my past. It’s been a long period of cultivating my heart and waiting on what God wants me to do.

It’s not been easy. Sometimes it’s been a painful learning process but, God has strengthened me in my healing. He gave me opportunities at various times to share my story.

Over the last 3-4 years, how He has wanted to use me has remained unanswered, and at times this has been frustrating. I want to help other people who have been through similar situations to my own and I know what I have been through in my life will make a difference for others. 

Well, this has changed over the last month. I feel a big stirring inside me that something big is going to happen. I’ll be honest though…I am scared!

I’m on the launch team for Mary DeMuth’s book “We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crises”. When I saw what this book was about, I realised I had to jump at the chance to be on the launch team. I am passionate about helping people who have been sexually abused.

The scary bit? Being a voice for those who need to be heard. This means being vulnerable and leaving myself open. And that is scary. 

I have questioned if this is the right thing for me to do. After all, I could just keep quiet and have an easier life! However, I feel I have this deep stirring in my heart and I need to be willing. No matter how scared I feel. This is what it means to have a willing heart in the moment when God asks something of you. 

Could you be like Mary?

Have you been praying for God to use you in some way and has He asked you to do the unthinkable? What would you honestly do?

Are you scared and would you respond by hiding away? Well, God will give you strength. 

Isaiah 41:10

Would you say you are not worthy to be chosen? Well, God says you are so worthy. 

John 15:16

Or, would you be like Mary and say, “Here I am, Lord”?

Luke 1:38

If you are scared, don’t be. We just need to have a willing heart. God will do the rest. He will prepare us for what is to come next. 

If you are scared, don’t be. We just need to have a willing heart. God will do the rest. Share on X

This post was originally written for the Five Minute Friday Community which is where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt. We write to our hearts content and only for five minutes (or there abouts). 

I couldn’t stick to five minutes on this one and ended up missing the link up! Doh!! The word prompt was “willing” and you can click here to view what other people have written. 

Faith, Five Minute Friday

There is only One Answer when facing Difficult questions

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Life is one big question. Wouldn’t you agree? We are facing difficult questions at every stage of life. Many uncertainties. We thought we had it hard when we were kids, but we soon realise it doesn’t get any easier as we become adults. 

Sometimes, it feels like there is a big question mark hanging over our heads. And from time to time, it feels like the hook on that question mark slips down and is hanging around our necks. It grips so tight, it almost feels like we’re suffocating. 

When faced with too many life changing questions, it can cause a whole heap of anxiety. One of the questions I often ask when I feel the weight of all this hanging around my neck is, why? Being a Christian, I thought dealing with life’s challenges would be easier. 

So why do I suffer then when I am a Christian?

Why is it when I choose to try and live well, I then suffer?

Why is it I feel under attack when I try to do the next right thing?

We are not protected from suffering when we become a Christian. It’s totally the opposite. I have learnt this so much in my own life. In whatever situation we face, when we step out in faith there will always be something around the corner ready to trip us up. 

It’s how we deal with these encounters that helps us to get up and face what is ahead, rather than to fall down and fail. (And even when we fall down, we have not yet failed because we know we can always get back up! *wink*)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

The Answer to our difficult questions

When we face a big question, know that you are not on your own. Satan is always waiting around to taunt you on this. When you feel you can’t take anymore, he is always there ready to pile something else on.

You know those days when it just feels like it’s one thing after the other? That’s him alright! He is trying to get in the way of you realising what you truly need to rely on. 

Lean into the One who can provide you with the Answer. 

Jesus. 

Jesus is the Answer. Don’t let that question mark hang around your neck for it to suffocate you. Turn to Jesus, the One who hung on the cross for all our questions. We will lack nothing if we let Jesus be the One to provide the answers. 

Turn to Jesus, the One who hung on the cross for all our questions. Share on X We will lack nothing if we let Jesus be the One to provide the answers.  Share on X

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content. Usually we free-write for 5 minutes, but it’s ok to go over this or just use the word as a general prompt.

This weeks word prompt is ‘question’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘question’?

Faith, Five Minute Friday

Holding On To The Promises From God

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In the same way the sun never grows weary of shining, nor a stream of flowing, it is God’s nature to keep His promises. Therefore, go immediately to His throne and say, ‘Do as You promised.’

Charles Spurgeon

A promise is where someone makes a pledge to do something. If someone promises something, it is guaranteed they will do it. You can rely on that person to carry through what they said they would do. 

So, what happens when a promise is not kept? 

When our friends or family let us down, it hurts. Depending on how big the promise was, the hurt is probably so deep we may feel rejected. It’s hard to then wonder if we can trust them again. 

There are many promises in the Bible about how God will take care of us and look after us. We should be able to rely on God because He will carry through what He has promised. 

But what about when we feel God let’s us down?

I have had people let me down in life, time and time again. Friends say they will be by your side, but when it comes to it, their promises are empty. People promise to “have your back”, but when the time comes, they turn their back on you instead.

And because I think God is like any other human being, why wouldn’t He do this too? Surely, at some point, God let’s us down? After all, if God promises to keep us safe, then why do we go through times of trouble? 

I know how hard it can be when you are thrown into a situation beyond your control. In these moments, the promises of God seem a little far fetched. But He is not like any other human being though, is He? God is not in the habit of making and breaking promises.

God is not in the habit of making and breaking promises. #promisesofGod Share on X

So, what promise can we hold on to?

I was recently reminded that God does not promise to keep us safe. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean we have this protective bubble placed over our lives and nothing can pierce it. 

He knows we are going to face afflictions in our lives. God promises that when we are faced with trials, He will be there with us. God will be behind us pushing us forward, by our side walking our journey, and in front leading the way. 

God will be behind us pushing us forward, by our side walking our journey, and in front leading the way. #Godiswithus Share on X

He promises to send His Spirit to provide us with the necessary resources to get through life. We just need to seek Him out. This is the crucial bit I often forget. 

Are you going through something and you feel you have been abandoned by God? Why not take it to God right now? Maybe start by saying the prayer below. When you feel ready, mention what you are going through at the end of the prayer. 

Lord, thank you for the promise you have given to me that you would never leave me. Please give me the knowledge that you are always with me, even if I don’t feel you there. Instil a sense of peace within me today. Help me to stand firm when I feel I am falling. Amen. 

This was originally written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).

I couldn’t stick to five minutes on this one though and ended up missing the link up! Doh!! The word prompt though was “promise”. You can click here to view what other people have written.

Faith, Five Minute Friday

When all is lost, don’t lack patience

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I snapped at a friend once. Straight away I apologised for the use of my sharp tongue. I was getting frustrated and impatient at situations and I just ended up lashing out. 

Anyone ever done that? 

She looked at me graciously and told me not to worry. She thought I was one of the most patient people going, considering I had 5 kids and a ton of things to do. 

I probably would agree with her on that point. I think I am quite patient with people. I tolerate a whole heap before I end up biting someone’s head off. It’s usually with people I am close to that gets a whip of my tongue! 

The reason I am patient with people is because I can see them. I can gauge, more or less, how people may respond and how I would need to respond back accordingly. Plus, I may never see a certain person again for a while, so being patient with them in the moment is easier. 

However, when it comes to situations I find myself in where I am waiting for something to happen, I find myself being like a little girl in a sweet shop wanting what she wants…and now!

At first, I am ok. Slowly though as time progresses and I am still waiting for answers and situations to resolve, I find myself getting restless. When it doesn’t go my way or how I planned, I start to feel angst. I feel I lose control. 

That’s when I start to snap with people. Not because of them, but because of what I am going through. 

I am impatient!

I forget at these times who has me when I lack patience. 

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26

In these moments, I forget who walks by my side when I lose my patience. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I forget in these situations who I can turn to when I feel anxious.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

This is what I need to remember next time I lack patience in a situation which does not go my way:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).

This weeks word prompt is ‘lack’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘lack ’?