Recently, Focus On The Family, with Dr James Dobson, aired a portion of a talk I gave on The Revolve Tour about my struggle with an eating disorder. Honestly, I never listen to myself speaking. So, I went to the website and listened to the podcast. To hear myself recount my past struggles was more difficult than I had imagined. Immediately I was transported back to that place of brokenness and desperation. I didn’t realize that hearing the truth I was sharing would still hurt so deeply and make me realize that many of those insecurities still haunt me.
I am so grateful that I no longer struggle with an eating disorder and have found healing from that. But I still battle many insecurities, some that plague me everyday. That’s why it is so important to continually renew my mind with God’s truth. It’s His truth, and only that truth, that sets us free. While listening, I was also reminded how easy it is to begin to rely on our own strength. When in the desperate place, it’s easy for me to realize my need for God. It’s in the not-so-desperate place that the danger of self-reliance creeps in. Hearing my own story reminded me that in brokenness, Jesus does his best work.
What is your brokenness? What is your fear? What are you working so hard to camouflage? Embrace it and watch Jesus take the pieces and make an incredible work of art. And as you do, and the things that weigh you down become lighter, never forget the great Artist who did the work.
I didn’t know it would hurt to listen to this podcast today. But the hurt was so worth it, because it reminded me of the healing.
So it’s Memorial Day and I’m home with my family. It feels great to not be traveling. God Bless all of our heroic Veterans for their incredible service to our country.
Why else do I love Memorial Day? Because it seems about everyone I know has a cook-out or picnic of some sort which means there will be some good eating going on! After I twittered that I would be making my pretzel salad for a cookout with our friends, I got an incredible amount of @replies asking for the recipe. So…. You asked. So here it is. I’ve also included the other thing I made which is yummy-for-your-tummy onion dip. Both recipes are courtesy of my sweet sister, Jennifer. Happy cooking and happier eating
Pretzel Jello Salad 2 c. crushed pretzel sticks
3/4 c. melted butter
3 tbsp. sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry or raspberry Jello
2 c. boiling water
1 to 2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen strawberries or raspberries, partially thawed (depending on how much fruit you like)
Mix first three ingredients and press in bottom of a 9″x13″ pan. Bake at 350 degrees (metal pan) or 325 degrees (glass pan) 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Beat 1 cup sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzels. Mix Jello and water until dissolved. Add fruit. Stir into Jello, then set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese mixture. Chill.
Onion Dip
2 sweet onions, chopped
4 tbsp butter
1/4 c vegetable oil
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepperSaute’ over medium heat for about 20 min, allowing onions to brown and completely soften
let cool.
stir the following:
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 c mayo
add onions to mixture and stir well. be sure the onions are completely cool before adding to cream mixture.
refrigerate.
Well, the make it matter tour has come to an end. we had such a blast! i don’t know if you had a chance to see it or not, but i feel like it was a great success. here’s a little recap:
I made 2 new friends - Chris Sligh and Meredith Andrews. Chris is a hilarious human being. I love witty people with a dry sense of humor and he is all that and then some. Granted, he’s got a serious addiction to Dr Pepper, but that just makes me love him all the more! his talent is pretty obvious, but I was pleasantly shocked by his amazing knowledge of music. I mean, all types of music. I would never beat him in name that tune. He would be the all-time champ, for sure.
Meredith is an itty-bitty, with a huge voice and even bigger heart. I knew within 5 seconds of meeting her that we would be friends. I LOVE her voice but it’s her genuine love for Christ and her desire to serve people that is most contagious about her. She’s got all the goods to be around for a long time and we’ll all be better for it.
Of-course we had an amazing crew led by Chris Farnsworth. He really is awesome at what he does and every artist-type needs a Chris Farnsworth in their life and the concert experience wouldn’t be much without my awesome band. We really are a family and it makes all the difference in the world.
Speaking of making a difference in the world, the most exciting thing for me was the response of all of you to the Home Foundation. We raised thousands of dollars, joined hands with hundreds of monthly partners and sold tons of tote bags that were hand-made by rescued victims. Because of your generosity, we will see faith-based shelters in the united states, offering a place of hope and freedom to many. I can’t thank you enough.
I pray we motivated thousands of people to make a difference in their world. Remember, it’s not always about going across the world. It’s most often just about going across the street. We only have one life to live. Make it matter. Love on somebody today.
I had an awesome opportunity to go hang out with some of the girls at Mercy Ministries here in Nashville last week. I love this ministry. Nancy Alcorn is so amazing with what she has done for young girls all around the world. I love how God takes the ordinary and does the extraodinary.
Congrats to the recent graduates of the program. I’m so proud of you girls!!!
Mercy has a really cool opportunity coming up for you to be involved in. This year there is a team running in the Country Music Marathon here in Nashville. It’s called “Run For Mercy”. Visit www.runformercy.com to learn more about how you run (or walk) for mercy.
To learn more about how you can support the work of Mercy Ministries or the services they provide, please click here: www.mercyministries.org
Want to know what really happens behind the scenes at The Revolve Tour? There are 2 stars of the show: Gracie and Bella Herms! This is just a quick snapshot of a tour sing-a-long that lasted for 25 minutes. All of the “adults” starting another song, actions and all. Who are the kids in this equation, anyway?!
It is such a privilege to tour with some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. And I especially love how they love on my daughters. So sweet.
Check it out…
Sorry i have been absent from my blog for the past couple of weeks. life with almost-2 twin toddlers is crazy, to say the least. i did get a few weeks off from traveling, which were pure bliss, but now i’m back at it. and while it is difficult, it is a such a gift to get to do what i was created to do.
I’ve got a new radio single out, “Our Hope Endures”, and it’s been so sweet to hear many stories of how this song is touching such a personal place in many people. i would love to hear your story. we’ve added a place for you to share your stories of hope. Click on the link and tell your story. I will visit the page often and will read every one. your personal stories are always such a great source of encouragement for me.
i will tell you what the song means to me. i was able to write this song with Christa Wells, the incredible song-writer that wrote “Held”. inspired by a story of her dear friend battling cancer, she was reminded of the Hope that endures every situation in life. i offered the truth of scripture: “Emmanuel, God is with us. El-Shaddai, all sufficient.” Timely words for all of us I think.
With our tanked economy, He is sufficient. You may have lost your job or even your house - He’s sufficient. Through divorce and devastation, you are not alone. Emmanuel, God is with us. so many are looking to a new president to bring peace and stability. while I pray he is successful at leading this great nation, our hope is not found in nations, or armies or governments. Our hope is found in the One whom the government rests on his shoulders. In the words of The Message, from Psalm 103:6, “God makes everything come out right. He puts victims back on their feet.”
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Here’s a short interview with WRBS in Baltimore discussing the game today. Two words. “Go Titans”.
1 Timothy 2:2 says, “Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God.”
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in to office. Regardless of your political views, it’s time to pray.
Author/Pastor Max Lucado has come up with an awesome idea. He has started the Pray For Obama initiative. Please visit maxlucado.com/president and sign your name. Then on January 20, 2009–inauguration day–set aside some minutes to pray for our incoming President. Ask God to inspire, direct and protect him. Pray for his wife and daughters. Use your worship time, family time and private time to ask God’s blessings on Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and all the men and women who serve and lead our country.
Ask your family, friends and church to join you. Because it’s time to pray.
Here we are in the last day of 2008. How did that happen so fast? It’s been a great year, but now I’m doing what seemingly everyone else is doing, looking forward and wondering how to get off those extra holiday pounds.
Seriously, I’ve never been much on New Year’s Resolutions, but what are your hopes for the New Year? Here are mine:
1. Attack the Gracie and Bella bulge. It’s been 2 years. The “but I’ve had twins” excuse just doesn’t work any more. Wii Fit, here I come.
2. Read more. I need more books in my life.
3. Memorize scripture. I need to get back in to this great Sunday School ritual. I heard writing scripture on sticky notes and putting them on the bathroom mirror works. I will try it.
4. Pay it forward. My goal is to do 1 random act of kindness every week. Buy a stranger’s lunch. Help a stranger load groceries in to their car.
‘Random’. ‘Kind’. 2 words I will focus on this coming year. Would you join me in number 4? Let’s make “kindness for no reason” popular. I think it could be revolutionary.
Share your dreams for 2009. And many thanks to all of you who helped make 2008 an incredible year for me. Somebody told me I was the most played female Christian artist on the radio this year. Cool. That’s thanks to you. The Home Foundation is exploding and we are helping victims of human trafficking all over the world, especially those in our own neighborhoods with the launch of our domestic shelters program. God is at work. What a privilege to be on His team.
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