STOP IT!!!!

Warrior, Not Worrier

Happy Thanksgivukkah!!

Inhabiting Praises (A Thanksgiving Reality Check)

Thanksgiving has a lot to do with inhabiting. Either people inhabit our homes or we invade someone else’s place. Regardless, there’s the cliché stress, family issues and close proximity which makes us want to throw the turkey through the plate glass window. And that’s if we’re feeling generous. Let’s get real. Most of the time, we want to aim it at a family member’s skull. Or is that only me? Hello out there? We all give mental assent to how Thanksgiving should have an emphasis on gratitude. But practicing that? Well… So, Psalm 22:3 doesn’t feel so great, especially when we’re this close to tearing Aunt Mabel’s hair out, strand by strand. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” It’s hard to experience gratitude, let alone, be vessels for God to inhabit our giddy praises. But we’re instructed NOT to grumble, complain, hair pull or throw any feast out of any portal. “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.” Philippians 2:14 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” James 5:9 Not feeling great, are we about that, huh? We’re not the only ones feeling a bit miffed by the grumbling issue. After all, let’s do a reality check. Aside from anyone within earshot of the family table, who else is hearing us mutter away? Two guesses. The family dog? The family cat? How about God? Oh, yeah. Forget about Him… God has a history of dealing with this behavior… “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” Exodus 16:12 “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Now who wants to engage in a food fight? Yep, in the middle of every hustle and bustle, holiday party and excruciating family member, there is God, hearing about ALL of it. And how often does He REALLY hear the words “thank you?” Are those crickets I’m hearing? I’m all too guilty of it as well. I admit it- I don’t thank God NEARLY as much as I SHOULD. Despicable… shameful… petty…human… Sigh. Yeah. But before we all go and crawl under some rocks, let’s just stop and think on a few scriptures. God does not want us to be garden slugs. He does, however, want us to be mindful-not perfect-just mindful. That’s where it starts. And it doesn’t have to take that much time or effort. So, let’s be MINDFUL of these scriptures, even in spite of ourselves, even in spite of an irritating family get together. Doable. “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” Psalm 7:17 “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” Psalm 147:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 And even that last one, Psalm 34:1, is achievable if we look at it and separate the scripture from our feelings. They don’t always have to match. We don’t necessarily need to feel all oo-ey goo-ey. If all we can do is “go through the motions,” out of obedience to God, I believe He will honor that. And I believe He starts with us WHEREVER we are in the process, let alone, holiday. So, let’s start, wherever we are this Thanksgiving; let’s be mindful of thanking God. Just start by saying those two little words today. We’re all capable of at least doing that. Happy Thanksgiving; God bless!!! And yes, Thank You, God, for being soooooo good! I give You praise! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

(What If) Everything that happens...

Happy Hanukkah!!!

Insidious Secrets, "In Recovery"

God is so good! “Insidious Secrets,” published in the Winter 2013 issue of “In Recovery” Magazine, discusses the generational impact of shame and secrecy as it pertains to addictions, dysfunction and disordered eating.

Holiday Help For Eating Disorder Sufferers

Holidays and special occasions are often very stressful periods for individuals with food and weight problems. The emphasis on spending time with family and on celebrating with food can be very difficult. Based on past experience, and an understanding of yourself and of the people close to you, you may be able to avoid, or cope constructively with, uncomfortable situations. For example: • Predict high stress times and places; decide which events you will and won't attend, and plan to have some time to yourself to restore yourself and take care of your own needs. • Predict which people might make you most uncomfortable and plan appropriate ways of excusing yourself from their company. • If at all possible, allow yourself to enjoy a moderate amount of "special occasion foods." • Predict what people might say that would lead you to feel uncomfortable. Plan and practice responses. Ask people not to comment on your body, appearance, or eating habits. • Predict negative thoughts that you might have during the holidays, and practice thinking differently. • Carry with you a list of phone numbers of friends and crisis lines, and a list of self-soothing activities. It may be helpful to realize that the "picture-book" holiday sense is not a reality for many people. Some cannot afford it, there are many single people who are not close to their families or do not have a family, and there are many families that do not fit into the dominant cultural model of "family". Do not blame yourself for family or friendship conflicts. People are not different during the holidays than any other time of the year. Remember that you are responsible only for your own actions and for taking care of yourself. For more info: NEDIC Bulletin: Vol. 7, Coping With the Holidays

Home For the Holidays

In order to get myself prepared for the holiday season, I watched “Home For the Holidays.” It’s glorious in all of its dysfunctional family splendor, much like most of our real, less than Norman Rockwell-esque lives. God bless and help us all. Just breathe. We will get through this.

Purrspective...

Whatever...Think...

Isaiah 55...

About Being Thinner...

Selfie (CIR)

Could You be a "Selfie?" This article discusses the self-image issue. What is a healthy self-concept? What is a narcissistic self-consumed attitude? It appears in the November 21st issue of Christians In Recovery.

Braid: Enmeshment?

I’ve been working on an application for a speakers’ conference, dealing with the mother/daughter enmeshment issue. So, you know it’s fun times ahead. A large part of what kicked this off for me involves the magnitude of the issue in my eating disorder situation. It’s not about blame; it’s about explaining its impact. And it is a factor for a lot of us out there. As if the mother/daughter relationship was not complicated enough. Anyway, the prep brought me back to a drawing I did years ago, encapsulating, for me, the enmeshment factor. This drawing, entitled “Braids” addresses how both Mom and I are joined by a linking braid.

The back story is as follows. Mom was photographed at age five with two braids. And, when I was the same age, Mom was inspired to, likewise, have me photographed with the same hairstyle. The thought, I’m sure, was innocent at the time. But it seems to underscore a more murky reality: individuality was not encouraged. “Sameness,” however, was. And that played out for me throughout my childhood and adolescence as stifled individuality, frustration, resentment and, eventually, a declaration of independence, known as eating disorders erupted. Self-expression, anger, rebellion and cries for help were part of why the eating disorder behaviors began and thrived as they did. I wanted to be separate; I didn’t want to be “her.” I wanted to be ME! Simple enough, right? Unfortunately, whether things like family image and loyalty, abuse or unresolved situations are present, the enmeshing can happen all too quickly and awaken the beast. Throughout years of therapy, having a relationship with God and learning who I am, apart from my mother, I’ve come to learn just how being yourself is not a sin or a betrayal. For years, I thought it was exactly that. It’s about learning- and embracing- the truth and granting ourselves permission to be who we are, even if that is nothing like our mothers. John 8:32 is exactly right: “The truth shall set you free.” I’ve been learning a few things, years later about my mother and myself. They’re not easy lessons, but they have been blessings, all the same. Some of these include… You are not responsible or to blame for your mother’s decisions or issues. You have a responsibility to respect your mother, even if you don’t like her. You have a responsibility to forgive your mother. You are not your mother; you are your own unique person, created by God. You need to address not only eating disorder issues, but also issues of abuse, trauma and addiction (both as individuals and as a family). God as specifically created each one of us to be unique individuals. We may resemble our mothers. I’ve had traits which are like her (looking in the mirror can sometimes be startling). But, nevertheless, I am a woman in my own right. I am a human being, with distinct attributes, talents and characteristics. I have my very own soul, mind and spirit. It’s not braided to my mother’s; it is within me. And it is within you. The sum of a mother/daughter braid is not greater than its parts. You are your own braid, splendid in its entirety. No matter what kind of relationship issues you have with your mother, you are one of a kind. Don’t fight it; embrace it. And give yourself permission to be yourself. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14 It’s exactly who God created you to be! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Cured Versus Healing

I often get asked the question, as a Christian, “Does God heal instantly?” My response is, “Yes He can; He has that Power.” I encounter the frustration, however, as, it appears MOST of the time, He works in process, instead of an instantaneous “poof” moment. A big word I often hear from others in recovery is “cured.” And I hear it the most with eating disorder recovery, from individuals, often perfectionistic (like myself), who want instant recovery. The “poof-ta-dah” kind of result is desired. However, that isn’t exactly how complex issues are resolved (more fun news). “Cure” is defined in the following ways: Restoration of health; recovery from disease. A method or course of medical treatment used to restore health. An agent, such as a drug, that restores health; a remedy. Something that corrects or relieves a harmful or disturbing situation. And it is often used in place of “healing.” And that definition reads as follows: To restore to health or soundness; cure. To set right; repair. To restore (a person) to spiritual wholeness. To become whole and sound; return to health. Are they then, therefore, the same? Not necessarily… Healing is a big word often mentioned in the Bible; it’s God’s specialty… “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalms 107:20 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 “And Jesus saith unto him, ‘I will come and heal him.’” Matthew 8:7 “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD...” Jeremiah 30:17 That’s just for starters. So what are we to do with ourselves, “the cure” and healing?” Where does one start and another end? In my own recovery, I’ve experienced gradual healing, over years. I have had some advancing moments which have altered my life. But, in my recovery, it’s been about gradual unfolding, when I was at a point ready for the particular kind of healing. “But let patience have her perfect work...” James 1:4 I may have thought I was ready and wanted to be instantly cured, but the gradual healing dealt with deeper issues, things which took longer to process fully and get fuller benefits from. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” John 16:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known...” 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 “He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 And that doesn’t come from thirty seconds in a microwave. I think, when it comes to recovery and to our imperfect selves at large, we’d do ourselves a favor to embrace the unfolding healing process, rather than an instant “cure-all” moment. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 We are in process; none of us have “arrived.” We are going from one glory to another… “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 We are, indeed, going from healing to healing. It’s not about the cure; it’s about an ongoing life. Let’s live it then! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Miep Gies- Worth knowing about

Am I Pretty? (CIR)

“Am I Pretty?” is featured in the November 14th issue of Christians In Recovery, exploring the emphasis of the “pretty” word in an image-obsessed culture.

Knead Me

In this image-obsessed culture, we’re often focused on sculpting our physiques. We have countless diet and fitness programs to prove it. We tend to view ourselves as this lump of dough.

And, for those of us with eating disorders, there can exist the obsessive perfectionistic thought of sculpture. We tweak, fine-tune and carve- whatever you want to call it. The desired result, however, it always the same; we will be “thin enough,” “acceptable,” and yes, “perfect,” whatever that means to us. Jeremiah has something to say about sculpting: “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.’ 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the LORD. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’” Jeremiah 18: 1-6 It’s not dependent upon a gym or an obsessive exercise regimen. It’s all about God. Hmmm. There’s that theme again. And along with it, there’s the focus on being in process. Yes, we’re being sculpted, but it has nothing to do with perfect abs, a perfect derriere or any other chiseled feature. It has to do with our eternal significance and purpose. That goes beyond the physical. A favorite scripture of mine is 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” It’s not about obtaining and maintaining a perfect form. Rather, it’s an ongoing, sometimes frustrating process of unfolding and discovering who God has created us to be. That goes beyond the gym, beyond any diet. With God, there’s more. Do we want more? The striving- whether it shows up as eating disorders, addictions, compulsions, obsessions or any form of “gnawing” within us- appears to answer, “yes.” Can we stop trying to be the Sculptor then and allow ourselves to be God’s clay? He, after all, makes incredible creations, doesn’t HE? What if we responded to God, “Knead me?” Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Jennifer Lopez doll

Mattel has introduced two Jennifer Lopez Barbie dolls. I was cautiously optimistic. After all, J-Lo has curves, right? And then I saw the dolls. And then the disappointment set in. Robert Best, the Barbie director of design, told Yahoo Shine!, “We created a specialty sculpt that has more enhanced curves.” Really? I guess that’s a matter of opinion. Barbie isn’t exactly known for realism. It’s a start, but c’mon, Mattel, you can do better than this. This is still far from a “real woman’s body.”

Carefully Taught (Blaze Ministry)

So blessed! Have the honor of guest blogging for Harvest Ministry! God is good!

Commemorating An Anniversary

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 Today is our wedding anniversary. God has blessed my wonderful husband, Russell and I in so many ways over the years. And one of those incredible blessings for me personally has been the acceptance and the freedom from my eating disorder secrecy. Each wedding anniversary, I’m reminded of how I wasn’t able to tell Russell about my struggles, for fear of his rejection. And, each anniversary, as well as on a daily basis, I’m reminded just how loving, kind and accepting Russell has been. The truth does set you free. Confessing the eating disorder truth doesn’t make everything perfect, but it does release you from the prison of deceit and the worst case scenario of being “found out.” I’m including an excerpt from my book, “Thin Enough: My Spiritual Journey Through the Living Death of an Eating Disorder” in honor of my wonderful husband and the freedom God has given me. “Although I was craving love, I was determined to avoid it. I’d seen unhealthy relationships galore. I’d focused my life on achievement, convincing myself that the goals, awards and prizes would be more than enough for me. And besides, college was demanding enough; I didn’t need any more hassle. Still, I couldn’t deny, I did want that hassle. In college, I was pursuing a theatre degree. My best performances weren’t on the stage, but in my everyday life, protecting my secrets. Acting, lying: what’s the difference, anyway? It was through theatre that I met Russell, the first guy that I couldn’t push away. He was there for me. I met Russell when I transferred schools. We were both theatre students and met in the college drama department when I was a junior. We stayed on friendly, acquaintance-level terms through my graduation. He was sweet to me, and possessed a dry sense of humor. It made for supportive, interesting and funny conversations. Still, I looked at him the way I looked at other guys: a nice friend, but still someone who must never know all of my ugly weaknesses. Even though we didn’t start dating until after I graduated, our friendship was gradually changing while I was still in school. During my senior year of college, he was very thoughtful. For example, on Valentine’s Day, he stopped by my dorm room. Of course, I had been on my stair stepper for hours and wouldn’t come to the door. I kept yelling over the music, “I’m not done yet!” He waited as long as he could, but eventually he had to leave for work. When I finally finished my routine, I got my stuff together and headed for the dorm showers. When I opened my door, there was an overwhelmingly huge bouquet of balloons and a card. He had waited for at least a half-hour for me, just to give me this sweet gift. All I said to him was “I’m not done yet.” I felt like the biggest jerk in the world. When we did fall in love and start to date, I added new fears to my already long list. The prospect of someone being close enough to truly know me was scary. I knew that, sooner or later, I would have to tell him the ugly truth about myself. Moving from dating to engagement was difficult for me. I had yet to tell him any of what I’d experienced, and I felt more and more guilty about lying to him. Every time we went out to eat, I’d pretend not to have issues with food and weight. I hated feeling like a liar, but I was scared that he’d reject me if he knew the truth. What man, in his right mind, looks for all of this mess in a mate? I knew when I told him that he wouldn’t want me anymore. It bothered me constantly. He sensed something was wrong, of course, asked me about it. What do I tell him? As we prepared for our wedding, I finally mentioned to him that I had a secret I wasn’t ready to share with him yet. Of course, he was curious and wanted to know right then and there, but he displayed patient understanding. He told me that he loved me and that it didn’t matter what it was. He didn’t pressure me to tell him. He knew there was a secret and left it at that. Even though his response helped me feel freer and safer, I still felt guilt pulling at me. I began wanting to tell him. After all, he’d been so incredible with everything else I’d told him. He knew about my family secrets. He knew all about my weaknesses aside from the eating disorders. He knew about all that yet still chose to love me. But I kept thinking, “don’t press your luck.” Remember the bridesmaid dress story from my cousin’s wedding? Well, when it was my own wedding, multiply those insecurities and feelings by a thousand. The wedding dress alone was enough of a challenge. However, this time I wasn’t able to go to extremes to lose weight for the wedding. Physically, there wasn’t any way that I could reach that low weight from years earlier. It was a gift, though, that for the first time in a long time, I weighed a relatively “normal,” 125 pounds on my wedding day. I was thankful for that. I don’t endorse my secrecy from my husband. I believe it is vital any young woman suffering from eating disorders be honest and forthcoming with her future husband. Marriage is a holy covenant and a serious commitment, and I believe you need to share all of the truth. Even now, I now look back and often wonder how many tears, how many problems, and how much pain I could have avoided if I just simply told him. The truth really does set you free. And in telling him, once again, I discovered, the worst did not happen. The time for truth came a couple of weeks after we were married. It was our first Thanksgiving together, and we had been married for only twelve days. I was still feeling relieved that I made it through the nuptials. Russ and I did the cutesy newlywed couple “this is the first mashed potatoes we’ve made together” and “this is our first stuffing and cranberry sauce” thing. We both ate our holiday feast, and I had tried not to think about all of the calories. True to form, however, I proceeded to exercise after the meal, trying to burn off “the damage.” Russell thought this was strange and unnecessary; it was a holiday, after all. He told me to just relax and enjoy the day. I, of course, repeatedly told him that I couldn’t until I’d exercised. The conversation continued while I was on the stair stepper for two hours. But I saw a new look on his face: hurt. I was forfeiting my time with him, my brand new husband, to climb steps that weren’t going anywhere? I was so tired of keeping this secret, and I wanted to explain myself so badly to him. The only way I could explain it was to tell him the whole story from the beginning. First, I played an alternative rock song, an anthem, a coping mechanism for me to deal with the eating disorders. It was an angry loud song of rage, and I thought that it would tell him clearly what I’d been through. It didn’t. He didn’t understand it. I took a deep breath, realizing, “No, Sheryle, the song isn’t going to tell him. You are.” And so I did. And the worst didn’t happen. He didn’t leave me, throw me out in the street, call me worthless and tell me how much he hated me. No. He looked at me, asked me, “This is the big secret?” He hugged me, told me he loved me, and told me I was beautiful. I didn’t have to lie, hide, and pretend anymore in front of the man I loved. I felt a little freer. Since then, Russell has been an incredible support to me as I’ve continued my path in dealing with my food, weight, and body image issues. It sounds so cliché, but it’s true: he loves me just as I am.” “The truth does set you free” (John 8:32). And “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Never be afraid or ashamed to tell your loved ones the truthful reality of your struggles. The freedom from the secrecy is incredible! Free yourself today! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Thank you, Veterans!

Take It From The Kitty...

When God Is Bigger...

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

A "Plus Size" Model's Take (Please Watch)

http://www.upworthy.com/some-say-this-model-is-fat-she-gives-such-a-perfect-response-that-even-ellen-applauds This clip speaks for itself.

Nothing good comes from beating yourself up

The real enemy...

What if we believed it- Really?

What if, WHAT IF we believed this Truth, every person, every single day? God's saying this to us all.

A Mask? More perpetuating eating disorder and body image issues?

I saw this and immediately thought “triggering.” After all, how many of us with disordered eating issues have shame/guilt/fear of eating in front of others? The article below reminds us we still have unhealthy ideas about what is attractive. “Too embarrassed to eat a burger? Japanese restaurant invents a mask to hide women’s faces as they scoff… and sees sales triple” By Simon Tomlinson

For a nation that prides itself on having impeccable table manners, gorging on a juicy burger can prove more than a little tricky when it comes to maintaining your decorum. So much so, in fact, that one Japanese fast food chain found that sales were flagging because women had been avoiding the cultural faux pas of showing their open mouths in public. In Japan, it is regarded as attractive to have what's known as 'Ochobo' - a small and modest mouth - whereas doing the opposite is frowned upon as rude an ugly.

Now Freshness Burger has come up with simple solution to free women from the 'spell of Ochobo' - and sales have gone through the roof. The Liberation Wrapper is a paper 'napkin' which holds the burger and covers the mouth with a picture of a polite smile as you take a bite. According to Dentsu East Japan, the company hired to come up with The Liberation Wrapper: 'Their (Freshness Burger) largest and best-tasting Classic Burger was amongst the least chosen by their female customers. 'One of the major reasons seems to relate to Japanese manner.... It is good manner to cover their mouth when they have to largely open up their mouth. 'Our female customers had a frustration of not being able to do it. 'Freshness Burger decided to challenge convention, freeing women from the spell of Ochobo mouth'. The company said sales have soared 213 per cent in just one month since introducing it.

This Excruciating Business of Food (And God's Hope Concerning It) In CIR...

This Excruciating Business of Food (And God's Hope Concerning It), featured in the November 7th issue of Christians In Recovery, looks at the how loved ones can support the eating disorder sufferer, while promoting healthy recovery.

Not overnight

You are so much!!!

Lady Gaga: Again, the Vague “Right Weight” Question...

Recently, Lady Gaga has made waves about body image and her struggles with eating disorders in the latest Glamour magazine. “I always have been [conflicted about my body]," And some days are better than others, you know? Some days I feel fantastic. Today’s good. [But] at the end of the day, I’m a tortured soul." Known as quite the visual recording artist, we’ve seen some of her creations: the meat dress, the alien egg and the Joan of Arc look. But regardless of how many artistic visual expressions she puts out there, insecurity is still a painful reality. Like a lot of us out there, struggling with eating disorders, Lady Gaga was once bullied. And you just need to look at your nearest gossip magazine to read how she’s scrutinized. Last summer, tongues went wagging as she did, supposedly, the most outrageous thing: she gained twenty-five pounds. Here, in my head, is where I hear the phrase, “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” It was a few years again, when I heard rumblings she was “too thin,” perhaps even anorexic. It got me thinking, for Lady Gaga, what’s message? What exactly IS that “right weight?” Aren’t we still, celebrity by celebrity, person by person, demanding a “right (perfect) weight” standard which is elusive, impossible to achieve, let alone, maintain? I hear those words not just from my childhood, but for us at large today. It’s a whisper; it’s a scream. It’s a snarky remark. But somewhere, those words linger, don’t they? Again, I trot out good ole’ Song of Solomon 2:14… “O my dove…let me see your form…for your form is lovely.” Form. Whatever it is, whatever size and shape it is. God is not confining it to a limited definition. Why are we? Words are powerful, healing or deadly because they are ideas. And, whether or not “right weight” is audible, its message and influence are still strong. We have the idea there is such a thing as “right weight” and we spend our entire lives chasing it and even, perhaps, hating ourselves. This was not what God created our forms to be. Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

It's not always a straight line...

God says there's hope; believe Him!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

John Corbett As Well...

Here we go again. Remember a few weeks ago when actor Chris Noth admitted he was asked to lose weight for the “Sex and the City” movie? Well, now another actor reveals a similar story, actor John Corbett. According to a recent article, he admits the show’s executives wanted him to lose weight between seasons three and four, in order to be irresistible to the show’s lead character, Carrie Bradshaw: “We told Corbett to lose weight between seasons three and four. When we talked about whether or not we wanted to see John come back, we basically said we want him to come back so hot that she cannot believe it. Like, he looks so much better after she left him. And we made him lose weight. And then we made Chris lose weight for the movie." Producer Amy B. Harris So, a-dieting Corbett went. Harris further tells Eonline.com how funny it was that the male stars were the only ones placed under pressure to watch their figures: "It's hilarious. The women were, like, perfection, and no one ever mentioned anything about their weight ever. It was just the two guys! I think the women were just predisposed to be lucky and didn't have to worry." Hmmm. I’m not exactly laughing. I know that most of the time, the pressure is on females to lose weight, especially in Hollywood. But damage is still damage, regardless of the gender. The male population can develop eating disorders, body image issues and unhealthy patterns just as much as women. I get uncomfortable when “better than ever” is the message automatically associated with losing weight. Once again I cite a couple of troubling facts: “1 in 10 cases involve males.” “Males are less likely to be diagnosed early with an eating disorder.” (The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders) It’s not amusing or empowering to hear about men being asked to change their bodies, in the name of being “aesthetically pleasing” by Hollywood standards. It’s demoralizing, giving yet further credibility to “thinner is better.” We seem to keep harping on how, until we look a certain way, we’re not valuable. Lie! Yet again, I hope we can learn, live and apply God’s Truth about each of us, male and female: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14 I guess we’re not there yet. Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

In honor of a recovery piece I'm working on...

Amen...Keep going...

Reinvention Ridgewater College Photos

Some photos from the Ridgewater College Engagement...

God is so good!!!