Hi Good Looking!

"You are "fearfully and wonderfully made"...said God. He made you perfect on the day you were born. He knew exactly how He wanted to create you, when He knitted you together in your mother's womb. He knew your eye and hair color, He knew your attributes, He even knew those things which drive you nutty about yourself....He created Beautiful You, just as you are. The perfect package. So why do we allow ourselves to focus on what we don't like about our inner self, our body, our life....when the God of the Universe made us in His image and loves us unconditionally?

He is the artist who painted the perfect portrait of you on the day you were born. He continues daily to do "touch ups", as He is making us more Christ like. Enjoy the process.

Enjoy where you are right now...spiritually, physically, mentally, circumstantially...because you are loved by a perfect God. Receive it, this very moment.

Say "I Like Me" because God loves You!

Check out the following lyrics to "More Beautiful You"...I keep hearing this song....

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but He's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong, can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry, all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light, He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

That there could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be a more beautiful you

{ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jonny-diaz-lyrics/more-beautiful-you-lyrics.html }

"I Like Me"

How was it possible to like myself when I felt so unlovable, so unworthy? I couldn't even look at myself in a mirror. I used food to numb all emotions, all of "Joni" because Joni wasn't good enough. It was much easier to feed my emotions than to face them. Since there was nothing in Joni that was good, I ran to food and savored the "good" tastes, until I was totally numb. What a lie I was living. I was worthy. I was lovable, as the Lord in heaven, the Master Artist of the Universe purposely created ME, and you. He took out His paintbrush, and canvas and began to paint "you" on your birthday...on purpose. He is so detailed orientated that He even numbered the hairs on your head (Matthew 10). Let the words of the following Love Letter, from your "Daddy", penetrate your soul, as it was written for you, by your creator. I still remember the day I read these words and the tears began to flow. I was loved. I was worthy. I was accepted. Remember that it is about what you do, what you look like, what you weigh, it is about "whoSe you are".

Peace my friends, Joni

My Child,



You may not know me, 
but I know everything about you. 
Psam 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. 
Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. 
Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. 
Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring. 
Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived. 
Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. 
Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, 
for all your days are written in my book. 
Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth 
and where you would live. 
Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 
Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb. 
Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born. 
Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented 
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, 
but am the complete expression of love. 
1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 
1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child 
and I am your Father. 
1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. 
Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father. 
Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. 
James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. 
Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. 
Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless 
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing. 
Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you. 
Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession. 
Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul. 
Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things. 
Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, 
you will find me. 
Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you 
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires. 
Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you 
than you could possibly imagine. 
Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager. 
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you 
in all your troubles. 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, 
I am close to you. 
Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, 
I have carried you close to my heart. 
Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away 
every tear from your eyes. 
Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain 
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you 
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. 
John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being. 
Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, 
not against you. 
Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression 
of my love for you. 
1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love. 
Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, 
you receive me. 
1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you 
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party 
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, 
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is…
Will you be my child? 
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. 
Luke 15:11-32



Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

(Taken From the link: My Father's Love Letter)

Week One: You are not Alone

Welcome to the beginning of a new life. A life free from the bondage to food. It is really possible, as I am a living miracle. "Food glorious food”(a song from the movie "Oliver")… you can't live without it, yet at times I know I wish I could. Food was my life. Food was my friend. Food was my god. How scary to rid myself of all that I knew. It wasn't about the food, so no diet could ever free me from my addiction to food. It wasn't about the number on the scale, or the pant size. There was something deeper that I wanted the food to feed. Until I threw diets out the window, and went against the flow of what the world calls normal..."fix the outside and then you will be happy"...and got to the "heart of what really was eating me"...then I became free. Free to be me. Free to enjoy food in a healthy manner. Free to be Joni, as God made me to be.

Welcome to a new life, freedom from the bondage to food. "Chew" on the following statement and take it to heart...."It isn't about the food”. As you begin this journey, BELIEVE that you too can be free from whatever food stronghold is consuming your life. "For nothing is impossible with God"(Luke 1:37) and if God can free me, He can free anyone!

Know that I am with you through this process. Please feel free to ask my anything, as God has made my "mess" my message. Let's Go....

"Come and listen, all you who fear God;

Let me tell you what he has done for me.

I cried out to him with my mouth

His praise was on my tongue

If I had cherished sin in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened;

But God has surely listened

And heard my voice in prayer.

Praise be to God,

who has not rejected my prayer

or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 66:16-20

Peace your way,

Joni

"Trust God. Wait Patiently. Watch Expectantly"

A New Life: Leaving familiar Grounds

A new life. Leaving the familiar and going to the unfamiliar....change...transtion....That is what happens when you choose to make a change in your life. When you choose to say, "I have had enough and I want something better". That is what I said, when I knew that it was time to leave my life of feeding my emotions. It was all I knew, it was what I thought would bring me the comfort, the love, the joy that I so craved...when instead it would always lead me into despair. I felt so weak, so defeated, so ashamed to admit that I had a food addiction. But...it takes a strong person to stand up and face the music. It takes a woman of courage to look in the mirror and want freedom. A scary step, yet a courageous one.
If I took it, and boy am I glad I did. I was terrified.
Scripture commands us, in Joshua 1:9... to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified...". Well, that is much easier said than done. It is scary leaving all that you know. It is scary to begin a new life. How is it possible? Joshua gives you the answer....."...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
I am not alone. You are not alone. The Lord, your God will be with you. How comforting I found that scripture, as food was my God. Food was what I could go to when I was afraid, lonely, frustrated, depressed....I needed to let go of the hand of my buddy food, and take the hand of my Lord. The One who was going to be the driver on this new journey into freedom. It was an action. I had to choose to believe that God was with me through this. I didn't have to fear freedom. I was allowed to enjoy the process, because God would be leading me and was with me.
God was the unfamiliar to me, but I was ready for unfamiliar...as my familiar was not working.
So whenever I am afraid, I rest in the truth of Joshua 1:9....that I don't have to be terrified, or discouraged, with God by my side.
Rest in that truth....even if you don't know God...you will, as you continue through this workbook. I didn't know Him, yet I was ready to take the chance to begin to trust in a new God, as my old one was not working.
It is time to fly....with God.
Peace,
joni