faith

6 Christian Blogs You don’t want to Miss if You Struggle with Identity, Freedom, and Purpose

Can’t get enough of God’s truth on the web, but your favorite Christian blogger isn’t adding new content fast enough? Then this one is for you!

Wow!  Is it really the end of March already??  Considering the Valentines’ Day hearts went back into storage and the butterflies & bunnies came out, I must face the harsh reality that I have not published a blog post in five months!  To my faithful followers, please accept my heartfelt apology for my lack of content as of late!

Between my daughter’s baby shower, and then the holidays, and then the birth of my new twin preemie grandsons, I have been very wrapped up with “family stuff” over the last several months.  Tackling all of those things back-to-back was no small feat!  But that being said, rest assured, I have never forgotten about you or about my passion to bring you God’s truth!

In times like these, it’s always important to have a Back-Up plan!  So, I decided there is no time like the present to share some of my favorite resources with you that you can turn to whenever you need a little extra encouragement- especially when it seems as though I have fallen off the planet!

The fellow bloggers I will be introducing to you share my same passion- bringing women of God more of His truth about their identity and freedom.  I am overjoyed to have found them, and I know you will be, as well!

Before getting to the goods, I want to let my readers know that I am also creating this post to inform you that I will be taking some time to make some minor adjustments to my website.  My hope is to not only simplify my site for easier navigation, but to also use this time to take some important courses that will help me provide the content that will serve you best!  What better time to share some other blogs with you that will help me to serve you and meet your needs 😊 .

If you are new here, I would strongly encourage you to get “caught up” by learning a little more about my story and why I do what I do.  You can do that by visiting my More About Me page.  If you are not new to Princess and the P, perhaps this is a good time for some review.  I find that every time I open my Bible, I seem to learn something new, regardless of how many times I’ve read the same passages over and over again!  Because I try to ensure that my posts are filled with Scripture, I encourage you to take another look; maybe you will see something that you didn’t catch the first time around!

To read more about this blog’s purpose and my mission, start with His Princess.  This post is chock-full of truth about your identity in Christ and encouragement to help you start believing it! 

To learn of some warning signs that might indicate you are in a toxic relationship, check out Toxic.  This post might open your eyes to an unhealthy relationship you may not have even known you were in!  When you are finished reading that one, follow it up with Food Freedom.  I promise you won’t regret taking some time out of your day to read that one- especially if you are feeling worn out from worrying so much about diet, nutrition, fat free, low-calorie, clean eating, or all of the above!

I have many other insightful posts, and I encourage you to spend some time “clicking around” my site to see if there is anything you might glean from it.  I also have a Resources page that contains some of my personal recommendations, so be sure to check that out when you have a few minutes to spare.  (*I get no monetary compensation for these recommendations, so feel free to explore them thoroughly without feeling skeptical!)  Finally, if you are someone who is seeking the peace and freedom that a relationship with Jesus brings, you definitely want to click on my Jesus and You tab.  (That’s the most important page of all!)

And now, without further ado, I bring you Six Christian Blogs You Don’t Want to Miss if You Struggle with Identity, Freedom, and Purpose!

First of all, if this is not your first time to my website, you know that my history of struggles with food, diet, nutrition, scales, and anything else food, health, or weight related has been the biggest culprit of stealing my joy and stripping me of my identity.  (OK, the enemy is the biggest culprit, but we all know he uses our weaknesses against us.)  Suffice it to say, I was ecstatic to find this gem during my research!       

Let me introduce you to Aubrey Golbek, RD.  Aubrey is a Registered Dietician who loves to coach on Intuitive Eating principles while keeping Christ front and center!  I have to be honest…when I first started looking into Intuitive Eating, I sort of got this “meditation” feel from it, and it made me a bit uncomfortable.  But when I found Aubrey, a Christ-follower who teaches Intuitive Eating, I thought I hit the jackpot!

Aubrey is also a Mom and Author “on a mission to help you ditch shame” and live in Grace.  Her book, Grace, Food, and Everything Between, focuses on helping you combat your struggles with eating and body image.  As a mother, many of Aubrey’s posts also cater to those with littles!  You can find Aubrey and her grace-fueled wisdom here.

I first found this next surprise when it was recommended to me by my new-found friend and accountability partner that I met through the Joyful Health course I signed up for through Aubrey’s website.  I had no idea how much of a game changer the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast would be when I discovered they had their own website that was chock-full of even more resources to help women on this journey!

For starters, they offer a printable workbook/journal that you can choose to purchase and follow as you listen to their podcast episodes.  It’s an Intuitive Eating course in and of itself!  Not only do the hosts of this podcast have the credentials to discuss health and nutrition, but they have the heart and passion to help women follow Jesus, not diets.  You don’t want to miss this one, and you can find it here.

Moving along the food freedom track, I introduce you to Shellie Bowdoin, the author of Find Your Weigh.  Although this professing choco-holic is not a medical professional, she uses her own research and life experiences to inform, enlighten, and encourage women to transform by the renewing of their minds.  Shellie encourages women to find and maintain their healthy, God-designed weight instead of allowing the scale to dictate their success.

But that’s not all you’ll get from Shellie!  As a self-proclaimed “friend and encourager to women,” Shellie’s blog serves you and enlightens you with wisdom, fun facts, advice and much more.  From bible study guidance to fashion tips, Shellie writes on a variety of topics to meet you where you are.  Check out the Fab Journey to learn more.

Ever deal with what is commonly referred to as “Comparititis” when it comes to how you view yourself?  Let’s be honest, ladies…  you know you’ve had a bout of the comparison blues at least a time or two!  Well, Heather Creekmore wants to help you “jump off of the self-improvement treadmill.”  Heather is a motivational speaker and body image coach who helps women stop comparing and start living.

Heather’s ministry is right up our alley when it comes to finding freedom, and she is the author of Compared to Who: A Proven Path to Improve Your Body Image and The Burden of Better: How a Comparison-Free Life Leads to Joy, Peace, and Rest.  I know there are more women than not who struggle with this issue, and I feel so passionate about her ministry that I plan to approach the Women’s Ministry team at my home church to see if we can get her to speak at one of our events!  If you would like to “meet” Heather and see what she’s all about, you can find her here.

If you are a fan of Stasi Eldridge and her ministry but haven’t yet checked out her blog, I encourage you to do so!  She and her husband, John, team up to bring powerful truths to men and women about freedom, identity, and much more!  They have both written several books and bible studies on the heart and soul, relationship and hope, and redemption and restoration.  Their website includes links for their podcasts, so when you don’t have time to sit and read, you can listen!

Stasi is the author of the popular books Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul and Becoming Myself: Embracing God’s Dream of You.  I have read both more than once, and I’ve also purchased the Audible versions, because I can’t get enough of Stasi’s wisdom and encouragement.  She has experienced many of the bondages and struggles that many of us share, and she is very loving, candid, and willing to share her life experiences to teach women how to overcome hurt & sorrow and embrace freedom.  You can find her blog here.

Last but not least, I want you to know that you have a purpose, and Elise from She is Light wants you to know it, too! Elise’s website is filled with great blog posts that cover a variety of topics from purpose, to decision-making, to facing common, everyday fears.  Her posts cover issues like mental health, faith, and friendships, and they are sprinkled throughout with God’s truth.  Elise has her own YouTube channel, as well, if you’d like to follow her by video.

The other thing I love about Elise is that she directs her audience to other great resources, too.  Most of her blog posts end with introducing the reader to another Christian blogger who caters to women, and her Resources page is chock-full of links for other Christian materials, websites, and podcasts.  It’s like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!  Check it out for yourself here.

Well there you have it!  Six Christian blog posts you don’t want to miss if you struggle with identity, freedom, and purpose!  I hope you find this article useful, and keep in mind that I value your feedback!  If you have come across any other great “pots of gold” among your browsing and research, please share it with my community!  We are all in this together, and I believe everyone has something important to say!

God bless, and happy reading!

Locked Doors

The fact that I suddenly had an unexpected, very tearful breakdown, was evidence that there was still much work to be done.  It was clear that the pains from my past were still much bigger than I thought.

I had truly believed that I’d put my past behind me, and I was much better for it.  I was growing in my faith and in my relationship with God, and I was learning about my true identity.  It’s been a very long road, and I knew it wasn’t over yet, but as I embarked on a 21-day Daniel Fast with the start of the new year, God was revealing to me that I was going to have to unlock some doors that have since grown covered in cobwebs due to lack of use.

As I began the 21-day journey, my prayer was to simply grow closer to God.  I wanted to hear from Him as clearly as my Pastor had on the day God told him to take a tuna sandwich to a stranger around the corner.  I wanted to hear from Him as clearly as my Pastor’s wife had on the day she ended up in the ER with a broken finger because God wanted her to stop, not one, but two people there from ending their lives.  God knew the horrible thing they had each been contemplating, and He sent His faithful servant to tell them that their lives mattered.

Of course, God knew the long-time desire of my heart was to be freed from this issue I’ve always had with food, but I purposely did not want to make that the sole focus of my fast this time. 

It was evident that God was with me on each of those 21 days in those quiet moments, because He had been revealing His presence to me time and again, day after day.  He was speaking to me in ways that were so clear, there was no room for doubt!  I spent some time every day journaling about my journey and about the things God had been revealing to me, and I have decided to share this journey with you in a very transparent way.  I would like to share bits and pieces of my journal entries with you, because it’s much easier than trying to explain the way God was making His presence known to me.

About a week into the 21 days, I had already begun looking for the next bible study I would do after the completion of my fast.  I knew it would take me a good week or two to decide, because I would agonize over my choice- wanting to be sure I was making the right one.  I would pour over book descriptions and customer reviews for days on end, praying that God would reveal His choice for me.  It was odd this time, though, as I came across a study called “The Missing Commandment: Love Yourself.”  Without even reading the back cover, I placed the title into my shopping cart and made the purchase.  I never really gave it another thought after that, and then continued to peruse other titles that might pertain to me.

When my package arrived several days later, I placed the study guide on my shelf, intending to “get to it later” because I had still been searching for the title that God wanted me to do next.  Then Day 18 happened.

I was journaling about a conversation I had with my Daniel Fast accountability partner.  I told her about the three new bible study titles I had been kicking around; one was about living to your fullest potential, one was about personal growth, and one was about the power of daily affirmations.  I was excited to hear her response and thought that if one of them sounded interesting to her, we might be able to do it together.  I was a bit taken aback when her reply was, “Hmm, why do you always feel like you can be better?  You are already an amazing wife, mother, and friend.”

Wow.  It had never occurred to me how obsessed I was with “being better.”  I began to jot down my thoughts in a written prayer.  “Am I trying too hard, Lord?  Is it that old lie of never being enough that keeps me striving for perfection and then berating myself when I miss the mark?  I thought I was past all that.  Why can’t I get free from it?  Will I ever be satisfied with just being me?”  Cue the unexpected, tearful breakdown.

Friends, when I started this blog, I made it no secret that I did not have all the answers, and that we would be “learning together.”  This is a perfect example of that truth.  I really did believe I had overcome my past hurts.  I really did believe I had moved on.  And I have; I have made strides in my healing over the years.  I have forgiven and forgotten, and I have risen above my past hurts by doing a lot of learning about my true identity in Christ.  Unfortunately, some of the pain and negative behaviors are still there, and it’s going to take a little more work before they are no longer an issue.

I continued my journaling after I dried my tears and regained my composure: “I see now that the Love Yourself bible study I impulsively bought over a week ago was no accident.  While I was still browsing other titles, Lord, You kept bringing this to my mind, and now I know why.”  I finished writing out my heartfelt prayer with a renewed sense of hope.    

I made a new commitment to depend even more on Jesus as I prepared to delve deeper.  My bookshelves are covered in bible study materials about health, addiction, a desire for God, battles of the mind, bondage and freedom, and so on and so on.  Never once have I ever entertained the thought of doing a bible study about loving myself.  I had finally gotten the memo, and it was settled!  I had made my decision about what bible study was “on deck” after my Daniel Fast was over.  Then Day 21 happened.

As I was journaling in response to Day Twenty-One’s reading, I reflected on that past Sunday’s church service.  I had an incredible moment at the alter that day, and I had been wanting to share with Greg everything that God had been speaking to me over the last three weeks during my fast.

Although my husband loves the Lord and is ever grateful for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, his relationship with the Lord has a different dynamic than my relationship with the Lord.  Although Greg spends his own personal time with God on a regular basis, he rarely has time to “go deep” with God like I desire to do for my own walk with Him.  I wanted to share this part of myself with Greg, but “spiritual” conversations with my husband never really come easy for me; I often feel like he wouldn’t understand.  Greg’s faith and trust aren’t quite, for lack of better terms, on the same “level” as mine, and if I’m being completely honest, I sometimes wondered if it was possible for a husband and wife to grow apart in that area while they are thriving everywhere else.

I decided I needed to talk to Greg about how I was feeling, and while this blog post isn’t about dissecting my husband’s relationship with God, I share this very personal conversation with you because it’s very relevant to what happened next.

When I told Greg that God was supposed to be first in his life, then his spouse, then his children, he said something I never expected.  He looked me dead in the eye and confessed, “Well if that’s true, then I’m in the wrong, because the idea of making you ‘number two’ behind anyone or anything is a foreign concept to me.”

I didn’t know how to react to that statement in the moment, though my gut instinct was to crumble into his arms.  I sat in silence for a minute, because I could tell there was something else he wanted to say.  He was fighting the urge but finally gave in when he realized this conversation wasn’t over.  “When you talk about this stuff,” he began, “it makes me…”  he paused there.  I patiently waited for him to voice what he was apparently afraid to put out into the universe.  Then these words came out of his mouth, “Whenever you start talking like this, I’m afraid you’re going to leave me because you think we’re incompatible or something.”

Oh my.  For a split second, I was speechless, then logic kicked in and made me respond with, “Well that will never happen.  I can’t even imagine my life without you.”  When my own words went out into the universe, my floodgates opened.  Something deep inside of him made him worry I might leave him?  I didn’t even know how to process that.  I was always the one who was afraid of people leaving me.  I had never been ‘number one’ in anyone’s life until now.

I wrapped my arms around Greg and curled up into his chest as I reflected on how blessed I truly was to have him as my life partner.  God knew exactly what He was doing, and suddenly I was overflowing with gratitude….

And chastising myself for being so picky.  God brought me a true, blue knight in shining armor, but leave it to me to focus on the flaws.  Wait, back up, there I go again.  Chastising.  “Rebuking or severely reprimanding.”  Well that negative behavior of beating myself up had reared its ugly head once again.

Perhaps the real question, though, is, “Why did I reprimand myself for bringing up a legitimate concern?”  Was I truly being picky, or was I just trying to have an adult conversation about something that was troubling me?  And why did I feel that doing so was not okay?  Did I feel I didn’t deserve to have my concerns addressed because Greg is so good to me?  Of course I did!  And I felt that way because a part of me still believes I’m not worthy.

I’ve spent several years- more than I can count- learning how to reverse these negative behaviors and learning how to dispel the lies of the enemy, but here I am, still learning.  Evidence of my spiritual growth, though, is that I’m starting to recognize it now.  I am learning to hold those thoughts captive as soon as they come, and I’m learning how to make a conscious effort to combat Satan’s lies with God’s truths.

I returned to my journal a little later, recounting the conversation and documenting my feelings and revelations.  I realized that God must think I’m ready to go back “there” again.  He is ready to use His master key on some of those old, locked doors.

I often talk about baby steps when I’m writing for my blog, and I want to take a moment here to remind you that God is constantly working in and through us now, and He will continue to do so until Christ’s return.  During the many years I’ve been working on my Christian research about facing and overcoming past trauma, trials and tribulations, I learned that if God were to give us everything all at once, we would never be able to handle it.  I believe it is by God’s design that He works on us in baby steps.  In John 15:2, we are told, “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (NLT)

According to Harmony Gardens Landscaping, “Pruning is the cutting away of unwanted parts of a plant for more fruitful growth and shaping.  You should prune a plant or shrub to remove crossed, damaged or diseased branches which will stress the plant. Pruning also improves air flow through the plant and can encourage better branch distribution which results in a healthier, more vigorous plant that is more disease tolerant.”  Is that relevant to how Christ cares for us, or what?

For us to be able to bear good fruit, we need to cut off the “diseased branches” that produce anything opposite of what Galatians 5 teaches us about the Fruits of the Spirit.  And just like a growing tree, it takes times to grow into what God has designed us to be.  Sometimes it will take some pruning and cutting to get there, and that means there will likely be seasons of pain or difficulty.  But consider this truth: “…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV)

That being said, I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”  While this may be comforting in times of suffering, it’s not entirely true.  (Don’t shoot the messenger!)  If you reference 1 Corinthians 10:13, you will see that Paul was specifically referring to temptation when he said that, not trials and tribulations. 

Here is what God does promise us through His pruning process, however:

  • Strength– “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
  • Courage– “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8-9 (NKJV)
  • Comfort– “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalms 23:4 (NKJV)
  • Wisdom- “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”  Proverbs 2:6 (NKJV)
  • Peace- “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NIV)
  • Freedom- “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)
  • Hope- “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 (NIV)

Sharing my journey with you is not meant to make you feel like you’ll never get to the light at the end of the tunnel.  My purpose is to encourage and inspire you.  I can tell you with absolute certainty that, although it might not seem like it right now, something good can, and will, come from whatever it is that the devil used to harm you.  God promises to use our pain for good.  In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT) What a great example of faith and servanthood!

In a nutshell, God helps us to help others.  When we share our stories with the people who need to hear them, we are doing our part to further God’s kingdom by offering hope.  Christ is hope, and that is what my blog is all about.  Letting you know that God is about to do some more “pruning” within me is not meant to discourage you.  My intention is not to diminish your hope, but to ignite it!

We were never promised that our lives would be easy once we’ve turned them over to Jesus, but we are encouraged to stay the course and walk in faith.  Just like a business owner can’t open shop until he gets the loan, and the doctor can’t perform surgery until she gets the education, we can’t bless others until we get an understanding that this isn’t about us.  And don’t think that you have to have it all figured out before you can help others, because that’s just another lie from the pit.  Although we learn our life lessons in baby steps, we can still use what we learned to make a difference in the life of another.

I want to take a moment to thank you for walking through this journey with me, and I want to encourage you to “stay the course!”  God isn’t finished with us yet, so when you feel like you can no longer walk by sight, walk by faith!  He promises that He has a plan for each one of us.  That is the truth I hold onto whenever I begin to feel anxious or discouraged.

*What about you?  What are some of your favorite truths that get you through times of pain, doubt, or fear?  Share them below, because they just might help me out, too!

The Blooming Onion Theory

I suppose I’ll start by explaining how I came up with the title of this post, and no, it has nothing to do with the famous appetizer sold at many popular chain restaurants. I had given this title a lot of thought, and as I was trying to think of something witty that would give some kind of insight as to who I am, I thought of the movie, Shrek. (No, I’m not an ogre.)

All of a sudden, for some unknown reason, I heard donkey saying, “Onion Boy!” I thought about that part of the movie where they were talking about layers. I, like Shrek, am like an onion. There are many, many layers that make up the being that is Alicia Leitzel.

Maybe you will discover those layers sometime in the future in one of my best sellers! But, for now, let me jump ahead to the “Blooming” part. Okay, so I have a past. Who doesn’t, right? Unfortunately for me, I had allowed my past to shape the person I had become. Thank God for sending His Son, because through Jesus, I’ve become a new creation!

One of my favorite promises comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Now I knew this theologically, but it was the emotionally and spiritually that I couldn’t quite grasp. Many people spend a great deal of time and money on the professionals trying to figure out how to rise above the hand they were dealt, and I was no different. But I didn’t truly find victory until I turned to the One who created me and knew me better than I knew myself.

Long story short, I was finally able to completely (and I do mean completely) let go of my past. It was at a retreat of sorts, at the Saturday night anointing service, where I truly surrendered it all to my Savior. I’m not talking about salvation or conversion, here; I had already done that years prior. I’m talking about truly letting go and letting God! I realized I didn’t need my past identity anymore. It was time for me to stop letting my past define me. Freedom no longer evaded me, and another promise became truth to my spirit that night. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJV).

Soon after the experience, I followed up with attending a Ladies’ Conference at my home church. It was confirmed that I was officially an overcomer, and in fact, not just an overcomer, but a beautiful rose just waiting to bloom.

How long this blooming process would take, I didn’t know. But, I can tell you that I’ve since learned it’s an ongoing process. As soon as I was able to embrace that fact, I was on a different path. In fact, the following year, I was one of the speakers at the annual Ladies’ Conference!

I have discovered, albeit the hard way, that when I put my trust in the Lord, everything will work out one way or another. Even if it’s not my idea of the perfect plan, I know it is HIS plan, and I’m going to embrace the journey. I proudly profess to be 45 years old and still Learning Life.

Every day brings a new opportunity to do something productive. Every trial brings a new opportunity to grow in faith. And every interaction brings a new opportunity to show God’s love. That retreat changed my life, and my walk with Jesus has been a priority ever since. He continues to shape the person I will become, and I am learning that examining our layers is what helps us to bloom.

So, in closing, can an onion really bloom? Well, when taken in the right context, yes! I absolutely believe that it can! And I hope that you, too, will one day realize that you are just one of many blooming onions.

** Has there ever been a time where God took you out of your comfort zone? It wasn’t your idea of the perfect plan, but it was HIS plan, and you were glad you were obedient. I’d love to hear about it! Comment with your story below, and happy blooming!