This is a post I wrote back in 2014. We were attending Willow Creek Community Church back then.

This morning I was sitting on the couch with  mason jar full of fresh living juice. Do you ever have to make yourself do something unpleasant, because you know later on it will produce something good?

This morning I looked at my husband and confessed “I’m at the place where it feels like I’m drinking crap! I don’t want to drink this juice!”

Below is the post I wrote back then.

My  husband and I were out to dinner with my Uncle and when it was time for me to order I decided to ask the waitress for a vegetarian omlet with as many veggies as possible. My Uncle turned to my husband and asked if he was a vegetarian.

My husband laughed a resounding “NO, I’m not!”

At which my Uncle replied, “Oh, I thought you were normal.”

We laughed all the way home and through the evening. We laughed so hard our veins were popping out of our heads and we could barely get a breath. When our laughter died down my husband said, “I know I am NOT NORMAL!”
At which point we were immediately thrown back into hysterics.

As God has been drawing me and molding me to his image He has been cutting away unfruitful areas of my life. Last year when my health took a serious down turn I was forced to decide if I was willing to make some serious lifestyle changes. One of those changes has been cutting out almost all meat and adding in a hoopla of raw fruits and veggies.  A lot of my diet has consisted of juiced kale, dandelions, collard greens……basically dark green leafy veggies JUICED. Lot’s of garlic, cayenne pepper, onions, sprouts, and wheatgrass.

The side effects of this type of a diet have been many, better health, increased energy, weight loss and a whole lot of my families comments.

• What do you eat now Mom?
• Where is all of the food in this house?
• You smell.
• You smell.
• You smell.
• YOU ARE WIERD!
• Please don’t try to force that on me.

I have been making changes and it has been AWKWARD to say the least. I have been encouraged to watch my energy increase, and cholesterol go down. But seriously, I feel like I’m going through puberty. I HATE smelling bad, sweating a lot, and having to learn a new way of life. But I also know that God’s work is perfect.

Today at church our pastor was talking about pottery. He said that when a pot has been molded by the potter it then needs to be dried and put into the Kiln which gets up to 1800 degrees.

This has been exactly where I have been. It has been difficult for me. It’s hot in there. HOT, HOT, HOT! The refining fire is hot and it pushes the impurities out. Yeah God!

That last paragraph is the end of what I wrote back then. We all have ideas about what is normal! Everyone is entitled to their own ridiculous opinion. The truth is that God changes people. He transforms us into a totally new creation. I’ve been learning about butterflies and it turns out the mourning cloak butterfly actually eats rotting fruit, and dung, among other things. They are one of the longest living butterflies! God’s creation is amazing!

“This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”” Zechariah‬ ‭13‬:‭9‬Zechariah‬ ‭13‬:‭9 ‭

“their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬

“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬