HOLDING UP THE BANNER

God is still in the miracle business!

2011-02-22T04:45:00.000-08:00

Last week I humbly came before my family and friends and asked for help. It was a very difficult thing for me to do, but I could not ignore the tug on my heart to do it. As a result God pulled people together to rise up and support me and within 3 days I had reached my goal! I actually had to change the number on the website because gifts were coming in from the outside as well! God moved a huge mountain in my life last week, and He used people to do it!

I was so overwhelmed by this outpouring of support and love that I spent many days in tears and prayer. I could not imagine being any more blessed. It was such an emotional experience for me.

While praying, and listening to the testimonies of those who love me I realized that this experience was not just about me...it is about all of us...and it's not just about this situation, it's about everything we come up against!

This is about more than a woman who, in desperation, asked for help to pay rent.This is about faith and unity and brotherhood. It's about people coming together united in one accord, regardless of race or religion and reaching out to their fellow man when they are in need.
This is about love and kindness and charity.
It's about picking one another up when we are down. It's about believing that miracles DO still happen and prayers are still heard. It's about mountains being moved and storms being calmed. It's about building up, not tearing down. It's about edifying one another and glorifying God. It's about making a difference in the live's of our fellow man during this short time we have on earth. It's about so many things! Most of all, however, it's about love... Love for one another.
In 1 Corinthians 13: 13 it says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

If a small group of people could band together to come up with enough money to pay three months of back rent so a family was not evicted from their home, imagine the way lives would change if we all came together to help one another every time there was a need! Imagine the miracles that we could see every single day!

On that note, I just want to share a little something I found while sorting through some papers a few days AFTER I reached my goal. It was from around 1996-1997. It was scratched on an envelope with a lot of other notes I was taking at the time. It said this: "Believe that you hear God and be sure to reach the grass roots-the people-because the will and wishes of God must reach everyone." I'd say that was pretty profound after what I just went through!

God is still in the miracle business my friends, and He loves us enough to want to include us in making them happen. Don't miss the chance to be a part of a miracle!

God bless you as you help make miracles happen!

It takes a village!

2011-02-17T03:54:00.000-08:00

For quite some time now the Lord has been impressing upon my heart that famous old saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." Because of that, I have made some changes in my son's school routines and gatherings (I homeschool). I believe it is making a big difference, and I can see why so many people reflect on it. What I didn't think about until very recently, however, was how it doesn't just take a village to raise a child. It takes a village to sustain a people.

A friend and I spent some time together yesterday discussing this very thing. Tribes rely on one another and the gifts each possesses and they use their time, talents and treasures for the growth and development of the tribe.
In this modern society, we often forget the importance of working together for the better of the whole. We all have time,talents and treasures to offer, and it's when we use them to help one another that we see the greatest rewards.

My father used to say, "United we stand, divided we fall." He said it so often I could never forget those words, and I think of how strong he felt about that truth whenever I hear them. There's a great song called "The Brotherhood of Man" that sends a strong message as the chorus echoes that powerful line.

A recent example of this line in action is the unity displayed in The People Revolution in Egypt It's amazing what people can do when they stand united.

If you read my last post then you know that I called upon my family and friends to come to my aide during my time of financial distress. When God put it on my heart to "go to the people" I was as afraid as Jonah when he told him to go to Nineveh. My fears have often left me in the belly of a whale, and I continually learn to fight through the fear and listen to what the Lord places on my heart.

The result of me sharing my plea was nothing short of miraculous. From people I don't know to people I haven't seen in years to people who spend a lot of time with me, people rose up in unity and donated to my cause. I never saw anything like it. In 1 day I was more than 1/2 way to my goal, and the funds continue to come in. I was reminded of the promise I just heard in church when I recently returned to giving my tithe, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
God certainly threw open the floodgates for me! Not only have I received an overwhelming amount of financial support, but the spiritual support and encouragement is priceless. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion that I cannot keep up with it all!

Last night before I went to bed I received a message from a very dear friend. She reminded me of a conversation I had with her not long ago in which I told her God gave me a vision that my rent was going to be paid. I remembered the vision after she brought it to the forefront of my mind. I remembered the peace and utter joy I received when I heard that promise. I believed it as soon as I received it. There were actually a few areas we each had thought at the time that God would move in. But He didn't move in either of those areas. He had a greater plan.

I believe God is trying to impress upon us the importance of standing together. I believe He does not want us to lose heart or give up faith. I believe that each of us has the power to change the life of our brother and I believe that we should use our time, talents and treasures to bless one another. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor." If we will heed this call, then I believe that there is NOTHING we can't do TOGETHER!

God bless you as you bless others!

Putting pride aside

2011-02-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
No scripture verse could hold more true than this one during this season of my life.

After a long and tumultous time of financial hardship I was placed in a position of great distress. My husband's physical situation had caused us to get very behind in our rent and all seemed hopeless. I continued to pray for a miracle while working various odd jobs and asking God to bless the works of my hands. Every day I would cling tight to hope that "this" would be the day & I would place my trust in Him as I asked Him to guide the way. Each day I would continue to feed my mind positive thoughts as I continued my ministry of lifting others up with encouragement and words of hope. Each day would end with me still struggling financially, and some days I would find myself even deeper in the hole than I was the day before. But I refused to lose hope. I refused to give in. I refused to allow negativity to consume me. I continued to trust & hold on to the hope for my miracle. I knew in my heart that God was still in the miracle business!

Today marks the 3rd month of rent not getting paid. With my husband just recently returning to work, the new money is being put aside for March's rent, but there was no promise of the rent that had been piling up since December. Each time I thought we could have something to add to it we would get hit with a financial dart and we would be back to square one again. While clinging to hope for a miracle, today my landord was forced to pay me a visit and tell me that my time was running short and something had to be done.
In walked desperation.

I was desperate for sure, and this desperation would force me to place pride aside completely & do the one thing I was most uncomfortable doing. Asking for help.

There's nothing like a crisis to keep you humble!
It's easy to feel like a beggar or a burden when you have to ask for help. I used to pride myself on being the one who helped, not the one who needed help. But God continues to show me that in order to be great at helping others, you have to also be able to ask for help yourself. In order to recieve grace, you must be humble. Humble. God continues to press that on my heart.

Today I created a website to "solicit" help from my friends and family. I fought my fear that some would think I looked like a beggar or a burden, and that there would be some that would focus on my situation and see me as a failure. I knew that could happen. But I also knew that I was desperate. And desperate times called for desperate measures. These desperate measures would force me to put my pride aside & depend on God's grace.

What I didn't realize at first was that God was also using my hardship to bless others. Some would feel less alone because they would see that I was struggling too. Some would be inspired by my faith. Some would see the importance of keeping positive. Some would heed the call placed on their hearts to help their fellow sister, and all who gave would be fasted and prayed for by the recipient of their unselfish act of love. Most importantly, however, is that ALL would learn that with humility comes grace, and grace is something that all of the money in the world can't buy.

I have been blessed through this humbling situation with more love and support than I ever could have asked for. The beautiful emails of encouragement and the monetary gifts from dear friends as well as some I have never met are strong reminders that God is alive and well and working through His people. He will never leave nor forsake us. He promises that. He also promises this:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
The scripture continues with this:
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:9-12

So I have asked. And the Lord has answered me. Friends are rising up & hearkening to the golden rule, "Do unto others." They are blessing me in ways that can only guarantee their cup will overflow. God will bless them as they have blessed me, and I know He will continue to bless me through his people until my goal is reached and my rent is paid. I believe He will not leave me. Most of all I believe that as I remain humble, I will continue to receive His grace, and His grace is sufficient for me.

God bless you as you walk in humility!

New Year, New Commitment!

2010-01-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends! As I sit here writing for what, again, has been a large window of time, I am once again reminded of how much I am blessed when I sit alone and share. I seem to have found a ministry of encouragement in the ever popular Facebook and that has honestly left me without the desire to post in my blog. That sounds so awful, doesn't it? I would, however, be lying if I said anything other than that because it is the truth and it's not meant to sound awful, I guess it just does *smile*
As this new year begins, however, I realize that the small words of encouragement I leave on my facebook status updates is simply not enough for me anymore. I have so much more I want to say (more than the 421 characters they allow) and I realize it's simply a lack of discipline that has allowed me to be satisfied with little bytes thus far. God has asked more of me, of that I'm sure, and I know that I am just beginning to fulfill the call He has placed on me in this season of my life.
Within the past 6 months, God has really impressed upon my heart that He wants me to use my gift of encouragement to bless those around me. He wants me to be the heart of Christ as I listen and show compassion and understanding for my fellow brothers and sisters, as well as those who are searching and hurting. I have so often wondered what my purpose in life was. I was always waiting for it to be something "big" and life changing. All the while God has impressed on my heart continually that it's the "little things" that are life changing. I sometimes forget that He is asking me to do something little in order that I might do something big. Matthew 25:21 reminds me always that when I am faithful in what little God asks of me, He will give me more, "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"
When I was younger I did not truly understand why I needed to put others before myself. I knew it, and often I did it, but I don't believe it was selfless, and quite often I allowed my own selfishness to allow me to complain and do things without a pure heart. As I grow older I learn that I truly CAN care for others more than myself, and that in caring for them I have learned to love myself even more. Not in a prideful way, but in a way that feels I am pleasing God in fulfilling the call He has placed on my life. I long to hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant". It means more to me now than anything else I have ever pursued. All of the things I have believed brought success at any point in my life pale in comparison to that one thing. I love Christ so much, and seek God's blessings on my life more than anything this world has to offer.
This is a new year, a chance to start all over again. A chance to pick up the pieces of the past and start afresh. A chance to conquer new ground, open new doors and follow dreams (old and new). This is a chance to make a new commitment, one where what God asks is the most important thing, and hearing those words "Well done" from the mouth of Christ becomes top priority.
This year I seek to be the hands and heart of Christ. To be the prayer warrior He has asked me to be. To follow the light on the path that leads me to where He would have me walk. What other goal could be more important than to please my Lord and Savior? I can't think of anything. Can you?
God bless you as you commit to pleasing Him first above all things!

Joy in the Journey

2008-10-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...." Ecclesiates 3:1-2a

The moment we're born we begin a fabulous journey toward death. When we are young, the death walk seems so far away we hardly think of it at all. We are carefree and full of life. Joy is all around us. As time goes on, however, and we take on the responsibilities of life, we become painfully aware that we don't have as much time as we thought we had. Sometimes this knowledge alone can rob us of our joy.

I'm not as old as I will be, but not as young as I once was. Seems simple enough. And it would be IF I didn't find myself thinking so much about the changes that are taking place in me as I grow older. Every day I find a new wrinkle or blemish. Every day I become aware of some new pain or fault. Every day I am reminded that my days are growing shorter. My life is most likely at it's half way point. Right now the first half of my life might just be longer than the second depending on how long the Lord has chosen for my days to be. This knowledge often makes me somber and I find myself wanting to retreat to a place where people cannot watch the changes that are taking place in me physically. I'm not yet ready to accept the certainty of them myself. I used to have a hard time looking at myself in the mirror because I was overweight and I didn't want to see it. Now that I've conquered that obstacle I've recently acquired another. I've been finding it even harder to look into my aging face. It hurt to look at it. I'd break down almost every time. I knew it was just vanity, and I knew that I had to overcome it, but I confess that until today those words brought me no comfort. I could not bear to look into the face that is slowly changing into a sea of wrinkles and loose skin. I'm changing, and I am having a very hard time accepting it. Yet I know I must.

I thought that if I focused on changing my body and making it more healthy, the journey toward death would be much sweeter. Unfortunately, this is not the case. All I've done is traded one focus for another, only this one I cannot do anything about. I can change my body, but I cannot change my face.

The knowledge of how these changes are affecting me really hit home during our Masquerade Ball the other night. I wore a mask that my daughter made, and it covered all but my eyes. Here's a picture:

I must confess that I was happier that night than I've been in a long time. I was so relaxed & felt so free. That mask gave me a freedom that came from hiding my face. I know it's sad, but it's true. I could laugh and smile without being self conscious of my teeth, my smile or my wrinkles. I laughed and talked without inhibition. It's been such a long time since I felt that free that I almost forgot what it felt like. When I had to remove it, everything changed for me again. I didn't want anyone to look at me. I just wanted to hide my face. Isn't that just pathetic? I know it is, but it's true nonetheless.

My grandmother died a slow and painful death. She spent years bedridden as each part of her body died, a little at a time. I spent the last year of her life taking care of her, and I remember something she said that I never forgot. She said, "Michelle, I'm dying by the inches". A little portion of her body died and she couldn't do anything about it. With each new pain, she had to find a new way to accept it. She was sad, and she felt so awfully helpless sitting there while her body died, knowing there was nothing she could do about it.
I dare not compare myself to my grandmother, yet I now understand at least the helplessness she felt. I can't stop myself from aging. And each new wrinkle reminds me that my body is a temporal casing that really does die by the inches, and that soon I will leave this place & the Lord will give me a new one and I'll never feel this way again. And the thought of that does brings me such joy. But the joy does not always last, for when I look into the mirror once again I am reminded that nothing has changed. I'm still me walking around in this body of death. I find myself crying out just as Paul did in Romans 7:24, " What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" And so I struggle in this cocoon, desperately trying to break free from it. I'm in another sort of bondage now, and I've allowed it to rob me of my joy.

I praise God that even in the midst of out sin, He is faithful. In humility I confessed my sin of vanity. In my confession there is an accountability that allows me to let go of this sin and turn it over to Jesus Christ where it belongs. I've never really thought about my preoccupation with my appearance as a sin that I'm carrying around with me constantly. It causes me to focus on something that is not of God. I never realized that I'm acting just like Lucifer did when he allowed his beauty to consume him with pride. Since I always see myself so negatively, I never realized that I pick myself apart because of vanity. Why should I care whether or not I have wrinkles? Yet I do. I'm focusing too much on my appearance and that is an open door that the devil can walk into. By allowing myself to be consumed with my appearance, I am allowing the devil to weaken me. I'm giving the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27 "do not give the devil a foothold.") In my preoccupation with my appearance, I forgot what the Word says in 1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." I knew this as truth, yet I dismissed it until I was reminded about Jesus in Isaiah 53:2 "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him."

After reading that I thought to myself, "Who do you think you are? You dare care about your appearance when Jesus Himself, the epitome of kindness and love & all that is beautiful had no physical beauty?" Then I snapped into the reality that my behavior pleased the devil and disappointed the Lord. I saw myself like this:

I am vain! I am consumed with vanity at the last stage of my life when I should be wise enough to know that vanity is a snare & not something that I should be focused on.

"An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad." Proverbs 29:6

I've been caught in the snare of my own sin of vanity. Praise God that I can be righteous through Christ, so in my repentance I can sing & be glad!

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind

To all who've been born in the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time
And weary of struggling with sin

Forget not the hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

And freedom for those who obey...

(Joy in the Journey, Michael Card)

God bless you as you find joy in the journey!

For the love of a child

2008-10-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

Matthew 21:13-17 "But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"

I've been in a very terrible place financially for a few months now. I'm forced to reevaluate my life & the way I spend my time. I've never had to do that before, no matter how much I struggled financially. I almost went to my church to ask for help, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. My pit is just soooooo deep right now, If I didn't trust God completely, I'd honestly & truthfully have no idea how I was going to get out of it. Every day I am faced with a new shut off notice. Catching up after you fall behind is so difficult to do. But God is faithful. It only takes that reminder to erase any of the fears or doubts I'm facing.

Today I was especially sad because I realized that I may have to give up some of my volunteer positions. I've always volunteered in one thing or another, and it almost always involves children. However, because of all of the time I put into the various avenues of volunteering I do, I don't have the time necessary to focus on making money to help provide for my family. This has become an issue now because things are getting more difficult, and my volunteer obligations have increased as the needs have increased. It's just as the Bible says in Matthew 9:37 , "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." I know that there is such a great need for volunteers to work with children, and this being the "forgotten generation" we need them now more than ever. I answered the call and it has continued to bless me. To think that I may have to give up the time I put into children just tears me up more than anything. Much more than the financial struggle, which I have overcome time and again by trusting in God's provision for me.

I truly live by Matthew 6:25-34 which says:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

When I think of seeking His Kingdom first, I think of my passion for showing children His love. Honestly, I don't even feel the need to teach them, as I've seen many teachers who are great at teaching lack the love needed to simply encourage & edify the child. They may have book knowledge, but children need more than that. Nothing gives me a greater pleasure than when I put a smile on the face of a child. If I could just spend a few moments with a child & build him or her up I feel as if I've accomplished something great.

I read this excerpt years ago and I never forgot it. I've always tried to keep it as my "snap into reality" reminder as well as a motto to live by:

One Hundred Years from now
(excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft)

One Hundred Years from now
It will not matter
what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
how much money was in my bank account
nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a better place because
I was important in the life of a child.

This past Sunday I saw that this motto I've tried to live by is something I've actually achieved.

I was at Kid's Ave (Our church's "Sunday School") and I went into the bathroom. When I went to wash my hands, there was a little girl at the sink washing her hands too. I recognized her as the daughter of a woman I met while serving at Vacation Bible School 2 years ago. I developed a deep fondness for this woman, and so every time I see her I embrace her and spend a few minutes in fellowship with her. Several weeks ago she asked me how things were going & I shared some of my plight with her. She promised to pray for me and we parted ways. I only saw her 2 times briefly since then, but still she brings a smile to my face whenever I see her. Here I am standing in the bathroom with her daughter, who I haven't seen in a very long time, and even then I have not spent much individual time with her. I do, however, encourage her with kind words every time I see her, and today was no different. I told her how cute she looked and asked her how she was doing. She said, "You know my mom". I said, "Yes, I do! I love your mom". What happened next was something I never could have prepared myself for. This beautiful child walked over to me & embraced me. She hugged me tightly and poured her love into me. I looked down into her loving eyes, and said, "Thank you, you just made my day" but her response was something that overwhelmed me in such a way that to this day I cannot repeat it without being flooded with tears. She said, "We pray for you every night with my Mom". Even now, as I type out those words tears are streaming down my face. This child & her family pray for ME, an insignificant person in the grand scheme of things. They care so much for me that they spend some of their most precious time with our Lord offering up prayers for me. I don't deserve their love, but they give it to me anyway.

When I think of how rich I am in friendship, it brings me to my knees. My financial position may never be any higher than the poverty level, but in love & friendship I am truly rich.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mathew 5:3)
One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(Proverbs 13:7)

I've never felt that I was doing enough for the Lord. I always feel like I have to do something "over the top" or spectacular for it to matter. The simple expression of love that child showed to me on Sunday taught me that it's not about all of that. What I received from her is exactly what children receive from me when I hug them & encourage them & edify them, just as Jesus would. He gives me that love that through me, a truly broken vessel, they can know the love of their Savior. I've been ridiculed in the past for always feeling the need to hug people, but when I read the scriptures, I know that is exactly what God calls us to do.

1 Peter 5:14 says: "Greet one another with a kiss of love."
1 Thessalonians 5:26 says: "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss."
2 Corinthians 13:12 says: "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
1 Corinthians 16:20b says, "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
Romans 16:16 says:"Greet one another with a holy kiss."

And so greet one another with the love of God I will continue to do. If for a season I am forced to remove myself from areas of service until I am not so overwhelmed with financial responsibilities then so be it. I trust God to work it all out. Whether I'm working in a specific area or not, I will always answer my call by showing love to the children God places before me. He has shown me that my life matters, for the love of a child.

God bless you as you see love through a child's eyes!

Surrender

2008-10-11T05:01:00.000-07:00

As you can see by the length of time between this post & the last, I've been busy! My grandmother used to say, "I'm busier than a one armed paper hanger"! I hear that a lot in my head these days.

While the storms of life have been overwhelming, I've been standing on the Solid Rock, and therefor have not sunk in the sand yet. Each day has given me a new challenge, and there were several times I wanted to just "throw in the towel" like a boxer in a ring just so that I could stop having to take the blows. It would be so easy to fold up into the fetal position and forget that I have responsibilities. But that's not how God wants us to be.

Yesterday was the last day of my 40 day "Proclaim Liberty" fast. It ended with a "bang" that's for sure! I should have expected it, but I still claim ignorance! *smile*

While in the midst of an overwhelming attack yesterday I was plagued with thoughts of giving up. My mind was in a whirl trying to fight the feelings I so desperately wanted to give in to. I pictured myself running toward Jesus with a white flag in my hand saying, "I surrender, I surrender!" and I begged Him to get the devil off of my back. From deep within I heard a voice say, "No retreat, No surrender!"

It's a proven fact that whatever you take in your mind eventually comes out. Back in the 80's Bruce Springsteen wrote a song called "No surrender" and it was one of my favorites.
The chorus said,
Once we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Blood brothers in a stormy night
With a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Funny that my mind would bring that old song (which I haven't heard in many years) to the forefront. Though the song had a different subject than what I was going through, they were perfect motivational words to remind me that I cannot give in to the enemy's attack. I made a vow to trust Jesus & if I gave in I only proved that I didn't trust Him completely. Even though I knew it was the enemy throwing these darts at me, I was just too weary to fight anymore.
My strength was just about depleted.

Stephen Curtis Chapman put it like this:
"His strength is perfect when our strength is gone; He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong; His strength is perfect"

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Recognizing my weakness & my desire to surrender, the Lord brought to mind another great song of the church, "I Surrender All". I began to hear those words deep within my Spirit, and they ministered to me.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

I again pictured myself running toward Jesus with a white flag in my hand saying, "I surrender, I surrender!" Only this time when I reached Jesus I found comfort in His arms. I was not surrendering to the enemy, I was surrendering to Jesus. I was recognizing my need for His strength & my need to let go of all I was holding on to in order to receive the peace He offers. The peace that "passes all understanding".

There are two forms of surrender. One, is to surrender to your enemy, and one is to surrender to your Lord. The devil will torment you continually to get you to surrender to him. To him you say, "No retreat, No surrender!" and you stand strong! The Lord has defeated the devil and waits for you to surrender ALL completely to HIM so that you can overcome the enemy's attack!! To Him you say, "I surrender All!" By surrendering all to Jesus, you will gain the strength needed to avoid surrendering to the enemy!

God bless you as you surrender all!

Is it well?

2008-09-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. "

I was reflecting on 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 during my worship time today, and I was consumed with a myriad of emotions. The biggest reality that overcame me was the fact that at any time at all Jesus could come. I thought about what I might be doing at that time. I thought once again about my life and what I'm doing with it. I wondered what things I'm doing might be wasteful and worldly.

I listened to a great worship song written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, "It is well with my soul". When I was listening to it on youtube, I was completely overwhelmed by the story that came alive on the screen. It was the story of a great tragedy that spurred Spafford to pen the words of that now legendary song of the church. To add to this tragic tale, the man who wrote the music just 3 years later, Philip P. Bliss, died in a train wreck not long after writing it!

These are the things that jolt us into reality. As we measure our successes by the accomplishments & acheivements we make in this life, we rob ourselves of the much more worthy accomplishments we can make for the next. Horatio Spafford was a modern day Job who lost everything. Because he was active in his church, and was aware of the importance of doing the things of God, there's no doubt in my mind that the devil did what he does best and got permission to ruin this man's life in hopes that he would give up his allegience to his Lord. Much to the devil's dismay, however, while in the midst of great mourning, this man declaired that it was well with his soul and that was all that mattered!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

He said WHATEVER his lot He learned from the Lord to care more about his soul. He knew that Satan would buffet him. He knew it, just as we should know it. He knew his attacker, and he was aware of the trials that would come, but he did not focus on them. He focused on all being "well with his soul"! His mind was not focused on earthly things. His mind was focused on heavenly things. He knew that one day the clouds would roll back and the Lord would descend, and He knew that he had no worries because he was a believer! So, too, is it with us if we are believers. We need to be aware of what's most important. We can know it is well with our souls!

As important as that knowledge is, however, we must also remember that time is short. Jesus is coming, and it's gonna be quick. The bible says it will be "in the twinkling of an eye".
1 Corinthians 15:52
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

This is the time for us to be preparing. We are to be busy doing the Lord's work, yet how many of us are busy satisfying our own carnal desires. How much time do we lose chasing dreams that will never bear fruit for Christ. Running to & fro oblivious to the work we should be doing. Is it well with us? Will the Lord say, "well done my good & faithful servant" when he sees us?

After Spafford lost everything, he and his wife went to Jerusalem & started a mission that still exists today. They showed the love of Christ to people that were hurting. Despite their own pain & loss, they were able to focus on the one most important thing, the love of their precious Savior who "shed His own blood for thier souls".

How often do we allow the pains of this world to overcome us & overwhelm us? Is our focus on what is most important? What are we doing with our lives? Is it well?

Take a moment to watch the video for "It is well" and if you feel so led, read the great story of Horatio Spafford. You can find it here:
Horatio Spafford, It is well.

May you be blessed & inspired to take your own life & turn it into a great work for the Lord!

God bless you as you take comfort in knowing, "It is well"

Gain Control by Submitting

2008-09-27T04:30:00.000-07:00

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves" Matt: 10:16

As I've been enjoying the freedoms that have been bestowed upon me while exercising obedience, I've also been getting attacked on other fronts. The enemy does not want to see me win, that's for sure! He sees me overcome a struggle & he's right at the door waiting to pounce on the next thing I struggle with. The great thing about this, however, is that though he intends it for evil, God will use it for good. And the beauty of it is that after going through it, the Lord is glorified and I grow deeper as a Christian. Every rose has it's thorn and the thorns that are attached to us "roses" are the things that keep us completely dependent on God. They keep us humble . 2 Corinthians 12:7 remind us of the thorn Paul had. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure".
The messenger of Satan was sent to strike Paul, to attack him, if you will. Evil men, unbelievers, and the like are all messengers of Satan, and he will use them to persecute and attack us. I even believe he can use "religious" people, because though a man may be religious that does not mean he has a relationship with God. Likewise, there are the misguided people. In their ignorance they do not see, and therefore are able to be used by the devil. Perfect example is those who put Jesus on the cross. Jesus said to God, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

It is important to note what areas you are weak in , because that is from where your attack will come. Matthew 10:16 tells us we are "Sheep in the midst of wolves." I find that interesting, because wolves, like most other animals stalking prey, will often search out the weak and the sick. The wolf waits & watches, a part of his stalking behavior, and will pounce at the perfect opportunity. It is always the weakest that are the easiest to catch. If we are not in tune to our weak areas, submitting them to the Lord, we can be assured that we will never gain any control over them. The wolf will overtake us every time. Jesus is our Shepherd. In John 10:11 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." He does not run when the wolf comes. He laid His life down for us, why, then, would we not submit to Him?

The devil can use things in our lives against us, even people, and we have to be very careful. It's often overlooked how the devil can use the people we care about most against us because we always believe they have our best interest at heart. We have to remember, however, that people are people and we should submit to God in all things, even in our dealings with man. I've been dealing with a lot of contention in my life regarding people and I've been daily trying to give them over to God. I am very much in tune to the fact that people can often be the "messengers of Satan" that he has sent to "buffet" me. Though they, themselves, don't even know it. I'm not saying anything bad about people, so please don't misunderstand that. This is not an attack on others. When I say they are messengers of Satan, I acknowledge only that Satan can use them against me & if he can, he will, which is why we must be very careful about the people we surround ourselves with. Most recently I have been very very convicted about my "circle of friends".

Psalm 56:11 says, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."
Jeremiah 17:5-10:

This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

"I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."

Many people will get insulted at the fact that I am saying man cannot be trusted, but God Himself said, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure." It is not wrong for me to acknowledge that sometimes man cannot even trust Himself.

Recently I have had to stand my ground on things I believe in and not allow the enemy to gain a foothold over me by placing myself underneath of a person that in not in submission to God. It's tough when you are trying to be a witness to others, but you have to take stands against them at the same time. It's a fine line, and we need God to help us cross it. As a person who has always needed to control situations, I have learned to put my pride aside and allow God to take care of it. It always works out so much better that way.

By submitting to God every time, we gain control of every situation because we relinquish our own need for control & give it the One who controls the universe. Victory comes when we surrender our lives to God's control.

God bless you as you submit to God!

What matters most

2008-09-26T02:14:00.000-07:00

I've been focusing on a lot of things lately, and it seems I'm in "information overload mode". There's working, homeschooling, taking care of my house, focusing on exercise/weight loss/health, bible studies, volunteer work, field trip planning, trying to connect with my extended family, preparing for the upcoming holidays, bill paying, being a good wife & mother, church activities, friendships and the list goes on!! I read Proverbs 31 and I'm trying to figure out how she did it all without actually breaking down and I could only come up with one thing...she must have kept her focus on God as her #1 priority, and the other things must have lined up.

Matthew 6:33 says "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." I have to honestly say, I do not believe that I do that!! It saddens me to confess that, but I just don't think I seek the things of God first, and I really feel the need to change that.

I sat down & took a look at all of the things I do and realized that in the long run very few of them will matter much. My mind is so filled with information sometimes it feels it will blow, and more & more just keeps filtering in. This "information overload" can be very distracting sometimes and it often sucks the life right out of me.

I grew up Catholic, and though I no longer practice the faith, there are a lot of things about it that I am still drawn to. One of the things is the lives of some of the so called "Saints". While I believe we are all saints when we claim faith in Jesus, there is something very different about the way we live. We live in a state of grace, yet that often becomes a license to sin, even if not consciously.

When I was a young girl I had aspirations to become a nun. I only ever saw them as women who loved God so much that they wanted to live only for Him. Even at a young age I understood the importance of that. Being brought up Catholic, that was the ultimate love for God in my eyes. My parents told me I was too "bad" to be a nun and that they would never take me. If I had understood grace and forgiveness, my life may have been very different right now.

Still today I am enamored by Nuns & Monks. Their dedication to God and their obedience and humility is something I so strongly desire.On the flip side I've never been drawn to, or trusting of priests. I always felt that they were trying to be middle men for God and that Jesus was our only middle man. It was actually that belief that caused me to seek a deeper relationship with God in my early 20's and once I started actually reading the bible I learned that the need for a middle man truly WAS no longer necessary as we only needed Christ to have an audience with God. I soon left my Catholic religion, but I never lost my love and admiration for those within the Catholic church who had a great reverence for God.

These days I find myself drawn deeply to the Monks & nuns for some reason. They have something that I desire. I was reading about Monks vs Friars etc. and came across this from Wikipedia:

"A monk (Greek: μοναχός, monachos), derived from Greek monos (alone), in modern parlance also referred to as a monastic, is a person who practices religious asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit, and does so living either alone or with any number of like-minded people, whilst always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy.

In the Greek language the term can apply to men or women; but in modern English it is in use only for men, while nun is used for female monastics."

A Monk I've been most impressed by is St. Benedict. I've read a lot about his life and his philosophy, and I find myself drawn to it. It's very interesting that I was not brought up to understand how much these monks loved Christ and dedicated their lives to Him. In my church we didn't focus much on the monks. Perhaps it is because Benedict wrote his rule for laymen. Check this out from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

1. Before studying St. Benedict's Rule it is necessary to point out that it is written for laymen, not for clerics. The saint's purpose was not to institute an order of clerics with clerical duties and offices, but an organization and a set of rules for the domestic life of such laymen as wished to live as fully as possible the type of life presented in the Gospel. "My words", he says, "are addressed to thee, whoever thou art, that, renouncing thine own will, dost put on the strong and bright armour of obedience in order to fight for the Lord Christ, our true King." (Prol. to Rule.)

I love his words, "renouncing thine own will, dost put on the strong and bright armour of obedience in order to fight for the Lord Christ, our true King." The "armour of obedience". I never thought of obedience as a form of armor, and yet, I can see how it could be. When we are obedient to Christ, we acknowledge our allegiance to Him and in doing so we are living our faith. God protects us, and all throughout His word He asks us to obey.

"Obedience is to accept the authority of Scripture and willingly follow its teachings. It means submitting your actions, words and thoughts to God. To be obedient is to be in agreement with God, allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Rebellion and distrust of God is disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22,23). It is wanting your own way instead of surrendering to God and desiring His will in all things. God expects obedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). To choose Christ is to choose obedience (John 14:15,21). " (taken from http://www.crossroads.ca/response/obedient.htm)

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 says, "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods, which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

John 14:15,21, "If you love Me, keep My commandments...He who has My commandments, and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and manifest Myself to him"

If you consider the truth of John 14, that Jesus will manifest Himself to us, you can see how great a piece of armor that is!!

Luke 6:46 poses a rather sad question that Jesus asked and it actually breaks me to tears when I read it, "But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say". I ask myself that question and I find myself heartbroken to think that I can call Him Lord, acknowledge that He is my King, and then at the same time denounce Him by my disobedience. I need to memorize James 1:22, "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" and make it a part of who I am. I feel I have been deceiving myself for far too long, and that must be breaking the heart of God.

Benedict the Monk knew the importance of obedience, humility & prayer. I read in the Catholic Online organization, the following:

"Benedict realized the strongest and truest foundation for the power of words was the Word of God itself: "For what page or word of the Bible is not a perfect rule for temporal life?" He had experienced the power of God's word as expressed in Scripture: "For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

For prayer, Benedict turned to the psalms, the very songs and poems from the Jewish liturgy that Jesus himself had prayed. To join our voices with Jesus in praise of God during the day was so important that Benedict called it the "Work of God." And nothing was to be put before the work of God. "Immediately upon hearing the signal for the Divine Office all work will cease." Benedict believed with Jesus that "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4).

But it wasn't enough to just speak the words. Benedict instructed his followers to practice sacred reading -- the study of the very Scriptures they would be praying in the Work of God. In this lectio divina, he and his monks memorized the Scripture, studied it, and contemplated it until it became part of their being. Four to six hours were set aside each day for this sacred reading. If monks had free time it "should be used by the brothers to practice psalms." Lessons from Scripture were to be spoken from memory not read from a book. On Benedict's list of "Instruments of Good Works" is "to enjoy holy readings."

This sacred reading, however, was a study in love, not intellect. Not just an exercise of the mind, it was an exercise of contemplation so that "our voices and hearts harmonize." Each word of God would soak into their minds, their hearts, their very souls, so that the prayers would spring up from the depths of their being, not just from their memory. "We realize that we will be heard for our pure and sorrowful hearts, not for the numbers of our spoken words." A heart was pure when it was empty of all but God's Word and our desire to remain in God's Word.

First came the lectio, reading the Scripture until a phrase was found that inspired the person to stop. Our natural tendency would be to read the phrase and think about what it means, what it has to do with our lives and then move on. But that was not part of sacred reading.

The next step was to memorize the phrase, repeat it over and over and over from memory without reading it, without thinking about it, just repeating it, until it seemed to be coming from the heart not the voice, until the power of the Word of God could take over.

When the phrase had lost all meaning except that power, the person would fall silent, still not thinking, but letting the inspiration of the Holy Spirit speak about the meaning in the heart. And finally the person would sink into contemplation, going beyond the voice, beyond the intellectual understanding, to sit in the presence of God in the divine Word."

That reading was so powerful to me. I was taught & and am surrounded by others who are impressed by the wordly successes of man. I wish I had understood how important it is to put our relationship with God first. Today I find myself not really caring about the worldly success of people. Today I'm most impressed by the spiritual practices of people that are drawn close to and fully committed to God. They are the people I have been watching & learning from. They are the ones willing to die for their faith, and they are the ones who know what matters most...a deep rooted strong relationship with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

God bless you as you seek His kingdom first!

Wonderful Worship

2008-09-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

Who am I?
Casting Crowns

Song Lyrics

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours

I am Yours

God bless you as you realize that you are His!

Thankful Thursdays

2008-09-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
(Psalm 100:1-5).

Today I raise my voice unto the Lord. I sing praises to His Holy name. I am grateful that He is God and that I am His. No greater Shepherd could I have. He never leaves me, nor forsakes me. I go before Him with a grateful heart, for in my time of trial, He has lifted me up.
He is good, and worthy to be praised.

Today I am thankful for God's forgiveness and His mercy. In a great financial trial He is upholding my family, providing our needs. In a great physical attack, He has overcome the enemy & in a day of prayer & thanksgiving He has healed me & saved me from the devil's snare.

I am thankful that in the midst of a consuming fire, I was not burned. The God who was with Shadrach, Meshach & Abednigo in the burning fire is with me too.
Praise God that when we walk with Him the fire cannot consume us!

Today & every day I am thankful for the Mighty God I serve!

God bless you as you give thanks to God for who He is & what He's done for us!

When The Devil Attacks

2008-09-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

When I wrote my last two posts "Be Raised Up" & "Wonderful Worship", I should have been expecting the enemy's attack. I know how he operates, and I should have seen it coming. I didn't because I wasn't looking for it. That said, I wasn't really surprised either.

Since 4am yesterday morning, I have been laden with a headache that has simply increased as time goes by. My eye sockets hurt, my neck hurts and I'm very very tired. No matter how I try, I cannot rest. Every time I fall asleep, something wakes me up. Today I did not go to my co-op to teach because I simply could not handle any sort of noise level. I found myself snappy and easily irritated. Not only did I choose to stay home to spare myself more pain, but I believe I'm sparing others as well! *wink* I've decided not to complain about it, however, for I know that as a Christian I am to "rejoice in all things", even this. I did what I felt was the wisest thing to do. I made sure my classes were covered and then I purposed myself to rest. Unfortunately 1/2 the day is gone at this point and I still have not found rest. Once again, every time I try to sleep, something wakes me up. The devil is hard at work.

I know I've angered my enemy. Whenever he has to accept that there is somebody worshiping God and not him, he gets very angry. When I decided to change my attitude and make worship the important practice that it is, the devil started to throw his fiery darts at me. I'm not allowing those darts to penetrate, for I know Luke 10:19 says I have been given authority & nothing can harm me. I also know that God allows these attacks so that I can grow in Him and learn from them. In the past, I would have allowed this attack to bring me to me knees in pain, complaining tirelessly. Because I have gone through things like this before & I know the fruit it will bear, I simply accept it and trust God to get me through it.

I have learned that the most important thing you can do when the enemy attacks is to put your armor on. This is war & God gave us the weapons for this Spiritual warfare!! Ephesians 6:10-18;
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Check out:
Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Book 4:- Spiritual Warfare: Winning the Daily Battle with Satan, By Dr. Ray C. Stedman
It's got a lot of wonderful detailed stuff in it and it has really blessed me a lot.

In Luke 22:31, Jesus told Simon (Peter) that Satan had ASKED to sift him as wheat. ("Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.") and I know that in the book of Job, Satan asks God to smite Job, ( Job 2:3 says, "Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.") (emphasis mine)

Taking just these 2 instances into consideration, and what I know about the character of the enemy, there is no doubt in my mind that when I decided to focus on worship, he lunged forth at me and God allowed it. Well I have no intention on ceasing to worship the Lord, and if that means that I keep this headache & I get no sleep, I will simply rest in the fact that "by his stripes I am healed" and wait for my healing!

Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

1 Peter 2:24 says, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

I know that my prayers were heard as soon as they went up. I also know that my angel just might be fighting to get through.
Daniel 10:12-13, " "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."

I will persevere.

James 5:11 says, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

God is great & right to be praised. In the middle of this battle, I will praise His Holy name & Worship Him in Spirit & in truth!!

God bless you as you worship Him even in the midst of the devil's attack!

Wonderful Worship

2008-09-22T03:48:00.000-07:00

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." Psalm 95:6

Have you ever considered that you & I were made to worship? Psalm 66:4 "All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah."

The first commandment God gave Moses was to worship Him and Him alone.

When the Israelites were in bondage, the Lord gave this word: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." (Exodus 9:1) Several times in Exodus this was repeated. It occurred to me that God did not give Moses the words, "Let my people go so they can live their lives as they choose & no longer be in bondage to you". No, He said, "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." SO THEY MAY WORSHIP ME!!!! Worship is so important to God, that He wanted the freedom of the Israelites for that very reason.

Worship not only blesses God, but it blesses us.

Exodus 23:25-26 "Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span."

On top of the physical blessings He gives us, He also gives us blessings of peace.
Psalm 89:15, "Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord."

I've been strongly convicted of the need to be in a constant state of praising & worshiping God. When I am worshiping Him, I feel connected to Him. I feel like I can remain humble because I am acknowledging God as Holy and I remember that my place is at His feet.
Sometimes when I worship, I bow, and sometimes I get on my knees. I have never once bowed in worship that a lump has not welled up within my throat and many times I have cried tears of love for my Lord. Worship is like a direct connection to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God created us for His pleasure, and He deserves our worship for He alone is worthy.

John 4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

I read a great quote today from a Christian Writer named Patricia Bankhead. It said, "Through worship God is glorified, Christians are purified, the church is edified and the lost are evangelized." Amen to that!!!

Here's another great worship song to remind us that we were indeed
"Made To Worship"!

Chris Tomlin

May God richly bless you as you acknowledge the importance of praising & worshiping Him every day!!

Be raised up!

2008-09-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

In the past two posts I've spoken of refreshment by drinking "Living Water" and the "The Importance of a Quiet Place". This post mixes a little of both.

In my quiet time this morning, I was seeking to be uplifted. I went to the media player towards to bottom of this blog to listen to some of my favorite inspirational Christian music. Music always has a way of cutting through everything else & speaks directly to my soul. I listened to a few, and then I listened to one of my all time favorites, "You raise me up" by Josh Groban. As I began to listen to it, my spirit welled up within me & I was immediately reduced to tears. The very first verse talks of "being still", just as I shared in yesterday's post. I started to think of all of the times our Lord has lifted me up when I was deep in the pits of despair. I had visual images of Him reaching His hand out to me that I might just grab it. I was reminded of my recent post, "Rising from the ashes". It was as if all of the posts I've made this past week were confirmed in one time of worship. I felt a sense of security as I reflected on the words of the song and after a complete time of worship I felt I had really sat at the feet of our Lord. See, not only did I listen to that song once, but I listened to it twice. The first time I listened to it, I meditated on the words, and some images of Christ. The second time I watched a youtube video in which there were more images. Some spoke to my heart as they were pictures of our America & they spoke to the part of me that is partaking in the Proclaim Liberty fast. In addition to that, scripture verses flashed over the screen. They were scriptures that confirmed all the song was saying. It was truly an emotional, yet uplifting time of worship for me.

In the spirit of brotherly love, I wanted to share that experience with you so I dedicated this post to all of those readers who want to sit at the feet of the Lord today & worship Him in spirit & in truth. For those who need to be reminded that He is a lifter of burdens, whatever they be, this song is powerful. I added one of the images that really touched me. The image of Christ as He reaches His hand out to Peter in the water. How often our lack of trust causes us to stumble, yet He reaches His hand out to us that we might not drown. When I looked at that image as I listened to the song, I was filled with thoughts of times I did not trust Him, and I felt even closer to Him as I recognized my need for His hand. I included the lyrics to the song, in case you do not know them. Reading them really speaks to the inner man, for as you say those words you confirm their truth. Lastly, I included the youtube video I spoke of. When you watch it, you will be moved in the Spirit as you see God's truths written in His Word. It is my desire that we all spend a very meaningful time at the feet of our Lord. That we allow Him to wash our fears away during that time & we are truly able to embrace Him as we recognize our complete dependence on Him.

I pray that we continue to remember that we were created to worship Him, and that we learn that it should be the most important thing we do.

Song Lyrics

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

God bless you as you let Him raise you up to more than you can be!!

The Importance of a Quiet Place

2008-09-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

“Be still, and know that I am God”
(Psalm 46:10a)

Have you ever considered that this scripture is not a suggestion, but a command? Yet, how can we "be still" when the world surrounding us is filled with an overwhelming amount of noise?

“Quiet used to be as common as clean air and pure water," says Gordon Hempton, a Grammy-winning natural sounds recording artist. "And it was part of the everyday environment of our ancestors, and today it’s extremely scarce.”
What a sad truth. Today we are surrounded in every avenue with noise. From the tv to the radio, to the cars outside to the airplanes above, it is awfully difficult to find a place in which we can simply sit & "be still".

E. Readicker-Henderson wrote something regarding the effects of noise in his web article for "The World's Quietest Places". "Noise isn't good for you, pure and simple. In excess it raises stress levels, can potentially cause heart and immune system problems and even raise blood pressure. Some studies show noise can alter brain chemistry in less than fun ways. According to Dr. Cheryl Fraser, registered psychologist and Buddhist meditation teacher, "Our psychology and physiology are not designed to keep up with the hyper pace and sound of our 24/7, multitasking, multiple input modern world.""

Ouch! I didn't even realize that! Is it any wonder then, why everyone around us seems so stressed out all of the time, even when they're not doing anything?

There is a "spiritual calm" that we receive when we are "still". Being still is a state of mind as well as an attitude of our hearts. It is a confidence that God can do anything, and in His perfect timing, He will. When we experience that "spiritual calm" we quiet those voices in our head that cause us to worry & be filled with anxiety, both feelings that are discouraged in the scriptures.
Matthew 6:25-36,
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Philippians 4:6-7,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God never intended for us to get ourselves all worked up over these temporal things. He wants us to set our eyes on spiritual things, yet we've allowed the world to blind us.

When we feel overwhelmed by the stresses of this life and the noises of our surroundings, it is then that we must retreat to a quiet place. Consider what the bible says in Matthew 6:30-32:

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. "
Unfortunately the people followed them (vs 33) "But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. "

I'll bet that's what it's like in a lot of your lives. You try to get away to spend some time alone in a quiet place only to be followed by your children, or someone else who "needs" you. It doesn't have to be that way. Consider what Jesus did...
Mark 1:35 says:
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Here is the part that will be key to you having a quiet place:
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark"

Jesus knew that this was the best time for Him to get some time alone to pray. He even left the house to do it. There's no reason whatsoever that we, as followers of the example of our LORD, Jesus Christ, cannot do just what He did. If it is our desire to be more like Him, then we must learn from Him.

My life has always been very busy. Many years ago, I was convicted that I needed to have a quiet place & a quiet time. A time just for me. A time in which I could meditate and "be still". I tried a lot of different methods, but nothing was working. Until the Lord convicted me to "rise before the dawn".
Psalm 119:147-148, "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises"
Proverbs 31:15, " She gets up while it is still dark".

At 5am where I live, it's pretty dark. My world is very quiet. I am able to pray and meditate & "be still". I can think, or speak, or read, or just breathe. Sometimes my quiet place includes tranquil music without words. Sometimes it includes candles and sometimes it includes wonderful scents that are therapudic to me. Sometimes it includes nothing but the dark & the smells of the grass, or the warmth of my room. Each time it's different, but every time it's the same. I always come away from my quiet time with a renewed sense of peace & trust. The days I don't take that quiet time are days that truly become hectic & overwhelming. I'm not walking in the stillness of the Lord when I do not spend that time alone in quiet meditation. God performs His greatest works in my life when I sit at His feet.

Since I'm still on the 40 day "Proclaim Liberty Fast" for America, I'd like to end my post with the second part of the scripture I started it with.

Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

KNOW that He is God. He WILL be exalted in ALL the earth. Knowing that should help us to trust that no matter what happens with our America, no matter how many people try to remove God from it, thus destroying the great principles this country was founded on, we do not need to be anxious. We need only KNOW that no matter what they do they CANNOT quench the Spirit of our Living God. He WILL be exalted among the nations, even those nations that deny Him now. He WILL be exalted in ALL the earth!

God bless you as you find your quiet place, and become "still".

P.S.
I just finished reading a blog post from my dear sister in the Lord and I was very encouraged by something I read & so I wanted to share it, as it is an encouragement for those of you that are seeking to spend time alone with the Lord but just can't seem to get it no matter how you try.
She says:

"My car has become my favored sanctuary; it seems that I am always in it, and it has morphed into a traveling prayer closet! So, I found a quiet spot in the school parking lot, moved my seat back, and settled in for some time with the Lord before the school chapel began."
2 things to note... she found a "quiet spot" and "settled in for some time with the Lord".
Even when we think we cannot find the time to spend in quiet mediation, there is always a way to make time if that is a desire of our heart!

You can read more wonderful encouraging posts from Kathryn at her blog "Fan into Flame".
Be blessed!

Living Water

2008-09-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

As I shared yesterday, I was not "up to par". I knew I needed to sit at the feet of the Savior, and so at some point yesterday, I did just that. I felt like life was sucking me dry & I was dehydrated.
If a persons physical body is dehydrated, he must drink or die. The Lord showed me that so, too is it with the spirit.

To avoid dehydration a person must drink water. Water quenches thirst like nothing else. Is it any wonder that the Lord would have chosen water as an example when He taught us about "thirsting" for Him? The only thing that can quench the thirst of the spirit is the living water, Jesus Christ.

John 7:38 says: "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Water is the most important necessity in life. It is a need required by every living thing. The earth could not exist without water.

When we fast, we can go up to 40 days without food before our body will begin to shut down. Not so with water. Several days without water & we will surely die, that's how important it is to us. It's more precious than gold, or silver, or any precious stone. Water is the source of all things living.

Not only do we need water to live on this earth, but we also need water to gain eternal life. Consider John 4: 7-14:
"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The living water Jesus was referring to represents eternal life. It is what we receive when we put our faith in Him as our personal Savior. Likewise, if we do not "drink" of His "living water" daily through the reading & studying of His word, we cannot sustain our spiritual growth and development, nor can we bless other with the "streams of living water" that "flow from within" us. (John 7:38)

The Bible speaks of those that reject this thirst quenching water.

Jeremiah 2:13 says, "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 17:13 says, "O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water."

God is the "Fountain of Living Water"! Who in their right mind, when thirsty, would walk away from a fountain! In fact, wouldn't you be looking for that fountain when you were thirsty?
I know when I take my son to the zoo & he gets running around his thirst becomes such that he starts looking for the nearest fountain to satisfy his thirst.
So, too, should it be with us. When we are feeling drained, mentally, physically or emotionally, we should run right to the "fountain of life" and drink freely from it.

John 7:37-38 , "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Well I know that I believe in Jesus, so I know that I will have the eternal life promised to me, but what happens when I feel overwhelmed & "dehydrated"? I must go to God's word be refreshed & renewed. I must spend time at the feet of my Savior & "drink" until I'm satisfied.

I believe a man's well runs dry sometimes. When we keep taking water out of it to quench the thirst of those around us but we don't refill it with the abundant, overflowing well of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we can become empty & weary and not have the strength to go on. These are the same physical problems we also experience when we do not physically drink water. We have to realize how very necessary it is to "drink" from the well spring of Jesus Christ every day. We cannot function in the spirit without that drink. And reading God's word as well as spending time in prayer & mediation gives us the opportunity to take a LONG drink from the "Fountain of Life".

Yesterday I felt like my well had run dry. Praise God that He never leaves us. The Holy Spirit had convicted me yesterday that I had to "drink from the fountain of living water". Today I am strengthened and refreshed and back to "Living well".

God's well never runs dry. It is an endless reservoir. When you feel weak & dehydrated, like you cannot go on another step, stop and drink from the streams of living waters and you, too, will experiences a quenching and refreshment like none other!

God bless you as you drink from the Fountain of the living God!

Revelation 7:13-17

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Live Well Wednesdays

2008-09-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

If I'm going to be honest, I confess that I'm not "living well" today. I feel like I'm being pulled in too many directions and I need to sit at the feet of my Father & simply just "be". I wish I didn't have so many necessary commitments today, but alas, I do. My plan is to "retreat at His feet" for some much needed renewal at the end of this day. In the meantime, I am grateful for the encouragement & promises found in His word!

God bless you as you find your own "retreat at His feet"!!

Rising From The Ashes

2008-09-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of the Phoenix? The Phoenix is a bird and in legends, it is long-lived and experiences rebirth out of fire. The Phoenix became popular in early Christian art, literature and Christian symbolism, as a symbol of Christ, and further, represented the resurrection, immortality, and the life-after-death of Jesus Christ.It has been used as a form of symbolism for "rising up" after devastation. Wikipedia notes the following references:

"The phoenix is also a prominent symbol on the flag and seal of the City and County of San Francisco, symbolizing the city rising from the ashes of the devastation caused by the 1906 earthquake. Similarly, the phoenix is also the central feature of the seal and flag of the City of Atlanta, along with the word Resurgens (Latin for having been restored/rebuilt, revived, rose up/appeared again; rared up again, lifted oneself), symbolizing the seemingly continual rebirth of the city after several devastating fires, most notable of which are General Sherman's burning of the city during the American Civil War on November 15, 1864 and the Great Atlanta fire of 1917. In New York, 7 weeks after 9/11, in a widely-televised event, a giant illuminated Phoenix puppet led New York's Village Halloween Parade as a symbol of the city's rebirth from the ashes (the puppet was designed by Parade designer Sophia Michahelles of the group Superior Concept Monsters)

Phoenix, Arizona was so named due to the town's usage of old Hohokam (Native American) canal paths, and the fact that the area contained the remains of various Hohokam settlements. It is believed that this group migrated out of the area due to devastating floods and droughts between 1300-1450 AD. The establishment of modern Phoenix was seen as a rebirth of this older civilization. The new city itself suffered damage from several large floods in its early years, such as in 1900, but eventually grew into one of the US's largest metropolitan areas as of the 21st century. The mythological bird is present on the city's flag and logo."

Now that I've given you a little history lesson *smile* let me tell you why I've chosen to focus on this theme today....

My husband has been out of work for 1 month now. Not only is he out of work, but I lost the income from childcare due to the child reaching school age at the very same time. To add insult to injury, my daughter just turned 18 which means she has been "emancipated" and no longer receives the Social Security she has been getting since her birth father died. In less than 1 month we went from being comfortable with extra money, to being below the poverty level. Last week we sold things and made enough money to put food on the table & gas in our cars as well manage to pay a bill. This week we had absolutely no money come in at all & we had to stretch 40.00 for gas & food. My Gas & Electric is due to be shut off today & they wont make a payment arrangement because I broke one over a year ago. My daughters college tuition is due today & if it's not paid she has to drop out of her class. We don't qualify for aid because our tax forms say we made too much last year. My oldest daughters harp payment is overdue and if I don't pay it they will "repossess" it. My phone is due to be shut off & I have no dog food to feed my dogs, who can't help that we have no money coming in. I definitely qualify for welfare but my husband won't allow it. He tried to collect unemployment so we'd have a check this week, but there just so happened to be a computer gliche on the day he called so now he has to mail it in.

My circumstances seem terribly dismal, don't they? It would be so easy for me to just give up & say, "I've had enough and I can't do this anymore" then let the chips fall where they may. But faith in God does not produce an attitude of defeat. It produces an attitude of victory, even in the midst of the darkest days. Faith says "God can, so God will!" and all we need to do is believe it!

Today my husband started a new job. He'll be making considerable less money than he had before, but it's something. I was asked just yesterday if I would care for another child in my home. The last thing I wanted to do was childcare again, but apparently I'm good at it *wink* and the Lord keeps opening that door. This Sunday my husband & I will be taking over the kitchen at our local firehouse. The profits from that will surely help. My website for my t-shirt company is almost up & running & I'm just about finished the first book of my children's book series, all I need now is an illustrator. It will take time for all of these efforts to produce fruit, and so my circumstances will not change right away, however, they WILL change.

Galatians 6:9 promises: "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

The phoenix rising is wonderful symbolism for me. It rises from fire & ash. The Lord refines those He loves through trials of fire as well, and like the Phonex, we live on. We become stronger & more beautiful.

Have you ever thought about the way people adorn themselves with beautiful trinkets of gold & silver? Jewelry being a thing of beauty, each different "grade" is more expensive than the next. Gold jewelry is made from 14-karat, 18-karat, 22-karat, or 24-karat gold.Do you know what the difference is? Each one goes through a refining process, and it includes fire.

In the dictionary, “Refine” means several things. Here is the first meaning: "to reduce to a pure state, as with sugar, metal, or oil" Notice what it is "reduced to...a "pure" state! Funny to assosciate the word "reduced" with "pure"! We often think of being reduced to something as a negative concept, but it's not! Consider what the bible has to say ( I took this from a short bible study on refining):

Metal is refined and purified in a furnace; the Lord purifies and tests the heart. (Read Proverbs 17:3)
We must be refined before our offerings are acceptable to the Lord. (Read Malachi 3:2-4)
The Lord’s people will be tested in the furnace of affliction (or great suffering). (Read Isaiah 1:25, 4:4, 48:10 and Jeremiah 9:7)
The Lord examines your heart and mind. (Read Jeremiah 17:10)
Those who survive will be refined and tested by the Lord. (Read Zechariah 13:9)

I have asked the Lord to bless me. I have desired to serve Him. He knows me & He knows what I need. He knows what refining process I need to go through in order for me to become the person He wants me to be.

When I was reflecting on a song that I used to sing, I was reminded of a post I made back in January, "The Light At The End Of The Tunnel". It said this:
Remember, there IS a light at the end of EVERY tunnel. Some tunnels are longer than others, as sometimes we have further to go on our journey & much more to learn. Rest assured, however, that "When you walk through the water, He will be with you and the river will NOT overflow you. Though you walk through deep water, He will be with you. Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned. He is the God who lifts you up & He'll NEVER let you down!"

Those words come from a song written by Alison Durham. As I know I'm in the midst of a great fire right now, I also know I will not be burned. Just as God protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and in the fire they were not burned (see Daniel 3), so, too, will He protect me!!

I stand on the promise in Gods word:
1 Peter 1:7
"These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Amen!! And at that I have chosen to praise God through this firey trial & "rise up" from the ashes!!! With that theme in mind I leave you with this great worship song:

I will Rise Up

You·re calling me to a deeper place
You·re calling me to come away
This is the day that You have made
To walk in Your love and Your grace

And I will sing
To You, my King
Forever
And ever

I will rise up and worship Your holiness
I will sing a song of Your faithfulness
On the mountains, through the valleys
Your love will be my peace
And I will sing of Your love for me

©1997 Doulos Publishing, division of Maranatha! Music 
Words and Music by Mike Ash

God bless you as you trust Him even in the midst of the fire!

Tagged! Eight Random Facts About Me...

2008-09-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

I met a wonderful friend in the blogosphere, Kathryn, who has become one of my constant cheerleaders & inspirations while doing the "Proclaim Liberty" fast with trumpet & torch ministries. She has tagged me (a new concept for me) to share eight random facts about myself.

I'm not sure which 8 facts to put out there, as I'm such an interesting person (not! LOL) but I'm going to give it a shot. Here goes!.....

1. First & foremost I am a child of the King. Jesus Christ is my Saviour & without Him I would be lost & wandering in this world.

2. I have a wonderful family...My husband Walt (who I've known since I was 11), my oldest daughter Brittany(on the far left), My "middle child" Brighton(on the far right) and my youngest, my 6 year old son Walter (sitting next to dad).

3. I've been involved in pet rescue for years. Most all the animals I've had are/were rescues. I work with South Jersey Animal rescue whenever they need me to help them find a home for an "unwanted" animal. That's how I got Hawkyn(1st picture, dog on the right). My dogs are Hennah, a flat coat saddle back German Shepherd (1st picture, 1st dog on left), Hawkyn, a long coat blanket back German Shepherd & Harley, a one eyed wonder of a Corgi! We also have 2 rescued cockateils and a new addition kitten that followed my son home on our walk last night!

4. I serve God in my church through 252 kids Avenue, where I'm a coach. My job is to "engage kids in meaningful discussions and hands on activities".

5. I'm a WAHM with too much work, too many ideas & not enough money coming in *smile* but I trust God to provide and He never lets me down!

6. I am working on a Christian based children's book series, as well as a Fairy Tale Based child's curriculum for homeschoolers.

7. I've been a homeschool mom for 10 years & I am actively involved in a Homeschooling Co-op. I graduated my daughters together last year and now have the great pleasure of homeschooling my overactive but fun loving son! (Lot's of prayers needed for the next 12 years!! *smile*)

8. I'm a recovering food addict who is Holding up the banner of victory! Hence the name of my blog!

And now for the next step.... I tag:

1. Denise at "Shortybears Place"
2. Marsha at "Marsha's Musings
3. Suzanne at "I was thinking"
4. Tami at "Desires of Thine Heart"
5. Bill at "The Hughes Family"
6. Tami at "Valley Girl"
7. Sunny at "A Wife's Biblical Submission"
8.L.L Barkat at "Green Inventions Central"

Here are the guidelines:
1. Post eight random facts/habits about yourself. Choose eight others to "tag", and include the guidelines in your post.
2. Let your "taggees" know that they've been tagged!
3. Enjoy learning more about your cyber-sisters/brothers. :-)

The Trail of Tears

2008-09-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

As I'm still on my 40 day fast for America, I was getting ready to put a post out regarding blessings. Ironically, while searching for a picture to include, I was led in a different direction and my heart grew heavy with sorrow.

I've been an American Citizen all of my life. The only person I know in my particular family who wasn't always was my grandmother. She was brought here from Italy when she was a child on a boat filled with other immigrants. She had an appreciation for America, as it was a promised land for her. I believe that I have taken it for granted.

Today I stumbled upon a poem written by a native American. It was included in a book titled, "Cherokee Legends And The Trail Of Tears", adapted by Thomas Bryan Underwood.

THE NEVER ENDING TRAIL

The whites honor the "Heritage"
And the man who once lived there -

But, that leader of our Nation
Was cruel, unjust, unfair -

He ordered the removal
Of the Cherokee from their land

And forced them on a trek
That the Devil must have planned -

One thousand miles of misery -
Of pain and suffering -

Because greed of man
Could not even wait till spring -

We should bow our heads in shame
Even unto this day

About "The Trail Of Tears"
And those who died along the way.

It was October, eighteen thirty-eight
When seven thousand troops in blue

Began the story of the "Trail"
Which, so sadly, is so true -

Jackson ordered General Scott
To rout the Indian from their home -

The "Center Of The World" they loved -
The only one they'd known -

The Braves working in the fields
Arrested, placed in a stockade -

Women and children dragged from home
In the bluecoats shameful raid -

Some were prodded with bayonets
When, they were deemed to move too slow

To where the Sky was their blanket
And the cold Earth, their pillow -

In one home a Babe had died
Sometime in the night before -

And women mourning, planning burial
Were cruelly herded out the door -

In another, a frail Mother -
Papoose on back and two in tow

Was told she must leave her home
Was told that she must go -

She uttered a quiet prayer -
Told the old family dog good-bye -

Then, her broken heart gave out
And she sank slowly down to die -

Chief Junaluska witnessed this -
Tears streaming down his face -

Said if he could have known this
It would have never taken place -

For, at the battle of Horse Shoe
With five hundred Warriors, his best -

Helped Andrew Jackson win that battle
And lay thirty-three Braves to rest -

And the Chief drove his tomahawk
Through a Creek Warrior's head

Who was about to kill Jackson -
But whose life was saved, instead -

Chief John Ross knew this story
And once sent Junaluska to plead -

Thinking Jackson would listen to
This Chief who did that deed -

But, Jackson was cold, indifferent
To the one he owed his life to

Said, "The Cherokee's fate is sealed -
There's nothing, I can do."

Washington, D.C. had decreed
They must be moved Westward -

And all their pleas and protests
To this day still go unheard.

On November, the seventeenth
Old Man Winter reared his head -

And freezing cold, sleet and snow
Littered that trail with the dead

On one night, at least twenty-two
Were released from their torment

To join that Great Spirit in the Sky
Where all good souls are sent -

Many humane, heroic stories
Were written 'long the way -

A monument, for one of them -
Still stands until this day -

It seems one noble woman
It was Chief Ross' wife -

Gave her blanket to a sick child
And in so doing, gave her life -

She is buried in an unmarked grave -
Dug shallow near the "Trail" -

Just one more tragic ending
In this tragic, shameful tale -

Mother Nature showed no mercy
Till they reached the end of the line

When that fateful journey ended
On March twenty-sixth, eighteen thirty-nine.

Each mile of this infamous "Trail"
Marks the graves of four who died -

Four thousand poor souls in all
Marks the shame we try to hide -

You still can hear them crying
Along "The Trail Of Tears"

If you listen with your heart
And not with just your ears.

There were just so many things that had affected me when I read that poem. I have a lot of respect for the American Indian, and I've always thought of them as the "native" Americans, as they were here first. I wonder how God viewed the injustices that was done to them, and in many cases still is. I wonder how hard it was for them to forgive those who had wronged them, and taken away the land THEY loved. And now we call this the land WE love, and I know how we would feel if it was taken from us. There are so many people I hear in the area in which I live who continually complain that the "Indians" (not native American, but the ones from India) are "taking over America". They throw out words of hatred toward them, and some do things to try to hurt them. I was actually reading a blog post today that said:

"I have been telling everyone that the gas stations should not be owned all over America by the same people who want to kill us. Personally I feel gas stations have been outsourced and Indian etc. are paid to come here and run them to keep from hiring Americans. I have stopped driving and I am using a bus pass. No matter where I travel in America, Muslims own the gas stations and Koreans the Beauty Supply Shops. Our leaders have sold us out."

I don't talk politics, but I do know a lot of people who feel this way. I have my own opinions about things, but by trusting God I can remove my opinions and simply pray for His Sovereignty in all of it. When I look back at the injustices done to American Indians, and I see the way people feel about the injustices they believe are being done to today's Americans by the "Indians" (Arabs and the like) I find it a strange "twist of fate" and I am reminded of how desperate we are for Divine intervention. I'd hate to see us walking our own "trail of tears" and without dependence upon God as a nation, we cannot guarantee what fate might befall us!

God bless you as you trust completely in God's sovereignty!

PS...check out the video, "Wiping The Tears Of Seven Generations"

Metamorphosis revisited

2008-09-11T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ever since yesterday's post I've been hung up on this whole concept of metamorphosis. I found myself thinking of it throughout the day & into the night. Why is it affecting me so? I searched my heart this morning & found a couple of reasons.

First & foremost I was affected deeply by Ovid's recollection of the mass destruction that took place in the world as it "morphed" from a time/place of peace & serenity to a time/place of war & trouble. I related a lot of it to the way our America has become over the years if you look at it's humble beginnings to it's rise to greatness to it's removal of God (which I believe began it's downfall). When reading Ovid's Metamorphoses and it's description of the fall of Rome and the like, it doesn't take much to see the parallels with that time & the time we live in right now. No nation can thrive on it's own without the protective umbrella of it's Creator. I feel like we, as Christians have to BE the change America needs, and we were made "for such a time as this". We must be strong, follow through & take this nation back from the enemy or we will surely see America's demise as well. We need this time of prayer and fasting if we want to see a "metamorphosis" from something ugly to something beautiful. Which brings me to the second reason I think the concept has remained with me....my body.

I have truly destroyed this body through gluttony and bad eating habits. To know me is to love me *wink* but to truly know my body is to pity it's current state. Let's face it, we were not supposed to have bodies that are out of shape and cushioned with layers of fat. Our bodies should serve us well and mine doesn't.

Think on this.... How far do you think a horse working the plow would get if it was overweight? How far do you think he could carry a man? Horses are used to work. They have magnificent strong bodies that rise to the occasion when needed. We are impressed with their size & strength and because we assosciate both those qualities with the horse, we pity it if it's underweight, underfed or overworked and undernourished. We know that is not the way God intended the horse to be. So, too, it is with us. Man is supposed to be tending the earth. Look at our friends in countries that truly do work the land hard. They don't need gyms & spas to whip their bodies into shape. Their bodies are strong & muscular simply because they eat from the earth and they tend it. Their bodies serve them well because they serve their bodies well. We pity those in countries that do not get enough to eat. We see their underfed bodies as an atrocity, yet we do not pity our own when the consequences of bad diets leave our bodies almost unuseable. The American diet is atrocious, and our country is paying for it. Drastic times call for drastic measures. We really need to whip our bodies into shape if we are going to run the race the Lord has set before us.

So I am left pondering the fact that a metamorphoses might be nice about now. If there can be a metamorphoses from good to bad, then it stands to reason that there can be a metamorphoses from bad to good and I can't shake the feeling that a raw vegan diet is exactly the "cocoon" needed to usher me into my own bodily metamorphosis. And if it's not 100% raw, wouldn't even 75% raw 25% cooked be a big enough cocoon to wrap myself in? I do believe so. Perhaps with that goal in mind I could eventually become 100% raw, who knows.
What I do know is that I've read & seen some pretty amazing transformations in people who've gone raw and I like the metamorphosis I see in them. They are no longer filled with sickness, their bodies are strong & clean and their mind & spirits are filled with clarity.

I recognize also that it's scary to think of going raw. Thinking of the withdrawl from our diets, and the temptations we will be fighting is not exactly what we want to deal with. Yet, I wonder if there's pain in the birth canal when the child is ready to make it's entrance into this world. Or how about the beautiful butterfly, once an ugly caterpillar, emerging from it's crysalis. Have you ever seen one emerge? It's a wonderous sight to behold. Who knows if the butterfly experiences any discomfort during the process? I don't know, but I've seen butterflies emerge before & it doesn't look too "easy".

There is a story of a man who watches a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon and thought he was doing it a favor by helping break the cocoon. The butterfly emerged and attempted to fly but the strength it would have gained by breaking its cocoon by itself had been taken away and the butterfly died.

Struggling & discomfort bring us strength whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The strength & beauty we can live in after "emerging" from a new change we decide to embrace in our lives is so worth the discomfort of the change. More & more I am being led toward a raw diet. For myself... for my world... for my God.

God bless you as you discern what metamorphosis He is calling YOU to!

Live Well Wednesday: Metamorphosis

2008-09-10T03:26:00.000-07:00

The Websters Dictionary has several meanings for the word metamorphosis. The following one is what I am focusing on today:
"a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances"

If you've been following my blog, you will know that I'm in the midst of a 40 day fast with trumpet & torch ministries. I've been following a liquid fast of juice and water. Because my body is now cleaning itself, it's hard to think of going back to the way I'm used to eating. Even when I'm only eating vegetables & fruits, I find myself consuming too much olive oil when I'm cooking. Yesterday I was once again revisiting the desire to become a raw vegan. I've been trying to get to that point for a little while, but have not been dedicated enough to do it. I'd like to say that at the end of this 40 day juice & water fast I'll commit to it, but honestly I don't know if that will truly happen. I still have a few weeks to go before I make that attempt.

Anyway, while I was reading some of my raw food resources, I happened upon (by no accident, I believe) a portion of a piece of Latin Literature written by Ovid called "The Metamorphoses". This poem was so beautiful I was completely moved, and convicted at the same time, when I read several portions. *

Since I've been fasting for America, and been burdened by the way the world has become, this following portion struck both chords for me :

And happy mortals, unconcern'd for more,
Confin'd their wishes to their native shore.
No walls were yet; nor fence, nor mote, nor mound,
Nor drum was heard, nor trumpet's angry sound:
Nor swords were forg'd; but void of care and crime,
The soft creation slept away their time.
The teeming Earth, yet guiltless of the plough,
And unprovok'd, did fruitful stores allow:
Content with food, which Nature freely bred,
On wildings and on strawberries they fed;
Cornels and bramble-berries gave the rest,
And falling acorns furnish'd out a feast.
The flow'rs unsown, in fields and meadows reign'd:
And Western winds immortal spring maintain'd.
In following years, the bearded corn ensu'd
From Earth unask'd, nor was that Earth renew'd.
From veins of vallies, milk and nectar broke;
And honey sweating through the pores of oak.

The author is speaking of the world in the beginning of it's creation. He calls it "The Golden Age". When you read that portion, it's hard not to long for a world like that. A world without crime in which man was content. A world in which man feasted on the foods the earth provided.

Now see this next portion, taken from chapter 15 of the poem under the title Pythagoras, this is the one that really convicted me regarding the raw vegan diet:

There was a time, the golden age we call it, happy in fruits and herbs, when no men tainted their lips with blood, and birds went flying safely through the air, and the fields rabbits wandered unfrightened, and no fish was ever hooked by it's own credulity: all things were free from treachery and fear and cunning, and all was peaceful. But some innovative, a good for nothing, whoever he was, decided, in envy, that what lions ate was better, stuffed meat into his belly like a furnace, and paved the way for crime... one crime leads to another.

There is so much to reflect upon regarding that piece. So many things to say regarding the statements that were made. But I'll leave you to your own reflection. Each person will take something different from everything they read. It is my hope, however, that if you see nothing else you see the connection between what man eats & the way man behaves.

I find it interesting that Ovid's piece in it's entirety is called Metamorphoses. Once I read it, that word hung on my tongue, and I was unable to let go of it. I kept making the connection between his work and the dictionary meaning of the word. I started reflecting on it.
"A striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances". Though Ovid's piece is a metamorphosis of the world, his lines on eating foods from the earth caused me to reflect upon the physical metamorphosis that takes place when man eats that way.

Check out some before & after pictures of people who've become raw vegans:
Before & Afters: Pictures and stories of raw food enthusiasts

Today, as I continue my fast, along with commitment to live well, I pray that the Lord will give me clarity in everything He wants to show me today.

God bless you as you consider a raw foods diet!

* From Wikipedia: The Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid is a narrative poem in fifteen books that describes the creation and history of the world. Completed in 8 AD, it has remained one of the most popular works of mythology, being the Classical work best known to medieval writers and thus having a great deal of influence on medieval poetry.

Being a servant

2008-09-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! I never did get to post yesterday because there just was no time. I felt so bad, but I just couldn't squeeze even one more thing in.

Saturday I hosted a dinner "murder mystery" party for my daughter's 18th birthday. It was a wonderful evening, but I confess it was exhausting. I, along with a good friend of mine, had to play the part of the servants. As such, one of my jobs was to cook & serve a 5 course meal for a group of 11 teenagers. In doing so, I was awakened to what servant hood really is. As those kids demanded things from me (playing their roles as rich upper crust Hollywood film people) I had to develop an attitude of submission. My friend & I would go into the kitchen after serving each course and find ourselves complaining about how tiring it was & how rude and bossy those people were. We found ourselves looking at the kids as though they were their real characters (they played it to the hilt, so it was easy to forget who they really were) and we started making comments about how rude and demanding people who have servants can be. Then we focused for a while on the reality of people in that upper crust world and how there are two different kinds of masters. One speaks with kindness and treats their servants well, therefore the servant is blessed and grateful to serve. The other kind is bossy, arrogant & demanding and his servants find themselves complaining about him and not wanting to serve him to their fullest capacity.

These truths made me think of our service to God. He bought us with a price & our life is no longer our own. We are called to serve Christ, not ourselves. In serving Christ, we are also called to serve others. We don't serve a God who mistreats us, and therefore we have no reason to complain. We have to look at our lives & check our attitudes because we need to see service as a blessing, not a burden. It is our Christian duty to serve the Lord by serving His people, just as it is an American's patriotic duty to serve his country.

We are blessed to live in this country and I wonder how often we forget that as we complain about our Government & the things we have issues with, like taxes, insurance & the like. I wonder how often we think about those in other countries who do not have the freedom to worship Christ & therefore are put in a position to hide the time they spend with the Lord otherwise they will be killed. These suffering servants know that they serve a God who is mightier than all and that if they should die for their faith, then it is an honorable death.
I think it is the same way for many of our soldiers who serve America. They are no longer their own, and they serve their country knowing that fighting for it could result in death, yet it is an honorable death.

Our soldiers, as well as the suffering servants in countries that are not free to worship need our prayers. The prayers of the faithful are a pleasing aroma to God and they do not fall on deaf ears.
It is our Christian duty to serve God & our patriotic duty to serve America. How better to do it than to fast & pray?

For my daughter's party Saturday night, I had to make 2 different meals. My 20 year old daughter has joined me in the "Proclaim Liberty" fast, and so all she could have was vegetables & fruits. It was a challenge (especially with a desert called "death by chocolate"!) but she rose to it. Since I chose to eat over the weekend, I ate the same dinner as her (in the servants quarters, of course *wink*) and I have to confess I did a good job providing a full course all vegan meal! (I impressed myself if you want the truth *smile*) But I tell you this, even though I ate wonderful life giving foods which made me feel clean & whole & kept me in a good place spiritually, I looked forward to today when I go back to only liquids. I never thought I'd say this, and it seems even stranger to write it, but as I told God this morning, "I am experiencing a freedom in not eating". It is true, there is an actual freedom in not eating. The freedom to focus on God and the cause for which I'm fasting. The freedom to say no to temptation. The freedom to watch others eat, yet not want what they have. The freedom to...well...be free!

Today my conviction is to be a better servant to my country by being a prayer warrior for this "Land that I love".

God bless America! And God bless all who serve this country we are blessed to live in!

God bless you as you serve it in prayer!

If my people...

2008-09-06T03:56:00.000-07:00

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

The image above is called "The Prayer At Valley Forge" and was painted by Arnold Friberg.
It portrays a leader who knew that he needed the help of Almighty God for victory.

George Washington spoke the following as he resigned his commission as general of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping."

George Washington knew the importance of this nations need for God.

Historic Valley Forge has a wonderful page regarding
 George Washington's prayer at Valley Forge.
If you have a little extra time, it is definitely worth the read.
You can find it here:
Washington in Prayer

Our nation is in crisis, and
when in crisis God's people are called to pray.
Prayer is necessary if we want to see change in our country.

1 Tim 2:1-4, " I urge, then, first of all, that
requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and
quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases
God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth."

God's word has the following to say
about blessing or cursing nations:

Psalm 33:12,
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

Acts 10: 34-35, "Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."

Proverbs 15:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Isaiah 60:12, "For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined."

This nation we live in has given itself over to sin and has become morally corrupt.
The prince & power of this world has been having his way with us and it's time for us to get on our knees and pray.

One of the great examples of a man of God praying for his nation was Nehemiah.
He was convicted of the sins of his nation, and he asked God's forgiveness for them. He spoke to God in "proxy" for his people.

Nehemiah 1:5-7, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and
obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear
the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your
servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites,
including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We
have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands,
decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses."

Nehemiah 9:16-17, "But, our forefathers, became arrogant
and stiff-necked, and did not obey your commands. They refused to
listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them . .
. . But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and abounding in love."

2 Chronicles 7:14 is God's promise to us that IF His people WILL humbly pray, then He WILL hear us & He WILL heal our land. If is the condition, healing our land is the promise. However there is another condition in that verse. He says we must seek His face & turn away from ALL our wicked ways. THEN He will hear us & move His hand.

God is waiting for us to take action for our nation. This 40 day "Proclaim Liberty" fast is changing the way I view the world around me. I find myself more aware of the fact that though I may feel helpless, I CAN do something! I can pray!!

The past few days I have been consuming only liquids. I have not felt weak, but fully aware of my surroundings and more in tune to them. I have been very very busy and have not had much time to connect with friends and family, but I have not neglected connecting with the Lord. In the past I have tried so hard to make sure all those close to me did not feel I was neglecting or forgetting them, that I took what little free time I had & spent it with them. I promised myself that during this 40 day fast I would take what time I had & if it was only little I would spend every free minute I had with Him. That's not to say that I am not spending time with others, caring for them etc., but it is to say that I recognize that God must come first above all things and I must make spending time with Him my first priority. These days I am so busy, that unfortunately leaves little time for chatting. I haven't even had time to read all my emails! (Currently there are over 1000 unread emails in my inbox!) I have learned through this fast that I spent so much time reading & responding to emails, that I have not spent as much time in prayer & worship. During this 40 days I had to reprioritise and that has been a challenge in itself! But I believe God's word, and I want to follow His command to "humble myself & pray & seek His face". More importantly, however, I want to meet the condition to "turn away from all my wicked ways" and that includes putting others before Him. It may not seem like a wicked thing to do, but anytime we put other things/people before God we open the door for the devil to blind our hearts and minds to the influences around us that pull us away from following the path God has designed for us.

God really spoke to me today through 2 Chronicles. If you feel so led, read the post below this one. It's titled, "Heal Our Land". It's some really great worship in prayer through song.

I also encourage you to join The Presidential Prayer Team. Our country needs all the prayer it can get!

God bless you as you humble yourself, pray & seek His face!!

Heal Our Land

2008-09-06T03:44:00.000-07:00

Because today God placed upon my heart the prayer "Heal our Land", I spent a little time in prayer with a song that was written by Michael Card called "Heal Our Land". What a great song...what a great prayer. It's based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and really opens our hearts to worship the Lord in prayer & song. I included the lyrics below the you tube player so you could follow along if you wanted. I pray it blesses you as much as it does me.

Michael Card Lyrics

"Michael Card Heal Our Land lyrics"
Forgive oh Lord - and heal our land
And give us eyes to seek your face - and hearts to understand
That you alone - make all things new
And the blessing of the land we love - are really gifts from you

Refrain:
If my people - Will humbly pray
And seek my face and turn away - From all their wicked ways
Then I will hear them - And move my hand
And freely then will I forgive - and I will heal their land.

Unite our hearts - in one accord
And make us hungry for your peace - and burdened for the poor
And grant us hope - that we might see
The future for the land we love - our life, our liberty

Refrain:
If my people - Will humbly pray
And seek my face and turn away - From all their wicked ways
Then I will hear them - And move my hand
And freely then will I forgive - And I will heal their land
And I will heal their land
Heal their land

As for me & my house...

2008-09-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

When I was spending time with the Lord today, I was seeking what He would have me hear. I wanted to hear from Him directly. In my worship time, He gave me 1 word....surrender.

I began to study the word regarding surrendering and I was led to look at the example of Joshua.

Joshua made a commitment for him & his house to serve the Lord. "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

Joshua made the choice to serve God rather than himself. Because of that, everything that God had desired for him to accomplish in his lifetime came to fruition.

In this life, we so often get caught up in the world & all it has to offer. We give our children every convenience and we allow them to be "occupied" with the things of this world. We don't put first the things of the Lord. After studying Joshua 24:15, I was strongly convicted regarding the raising of my son. How can I allow him to spend 2 hours watching television, but only 15 minutes reading & studying the word? How can I expect him to put God first when I allow him to put television first?

I teach a Sunday school class that at many times can have up to 25 kids, and as a teacher I've spoken with them about their worship time as well as their bible reading/study time. I was amazed to learn that most don't even read their bibles much less study them and only 2 percent even listen to worship music. These are children being raised in a Christian home! To top it all off, almost every one of these kids has a cell phone, a Nintendo DS, Playstation or some other kind of game system and many have their own computers or have access to their parent's. Oh how sad to think they have so much time to spend with these things but so little time to spend with the Lord.

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

Wow! That about sums it up! How can we expect our children to adequately serve the Lord if they are so caught up in this world? The worst part is that it is us that has allowed it to happen! Did we not make the commitment as Joshua did to serve the Lord? What about our "house"? Do we not realize what is going to happen if our children turn from the Lord? Do we not realize that we are making it easier for them to do so? See, the world's standard does not line up with God's standard. We need to teach our children the importance of the faith that our country was founded on.

At church this weekend the youth leader referred to the children of this age as the "abandoned generation". In a world where they are offered so much more than we ever were, is it any wonder why they would be considered "abandoned"? Will God turn His eyes from them because they have turned their backs on Him? What will our America be like when the torch is passed to this generation?

"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." (John 12:26)

We must teach our children to follow the Lord. We must teach them to serve Him first above all other things. The best way we can teach them that is by example. Are we so caught up in the world that we, too, forget to put Him first?

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass ... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:4-7)

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand ..." (Psalm 31:14)

If we call the Lord our God, then we must pledge our allegiance to Him, not just in word but in deed.

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matthew 12:30)

Are we "with" Him? Do we connect to Him? Is He our first love? Are we sowing the seeds that will change our world as we know it? Or are we hoping against hope that something will change without us ever stepping up to change ourselves from within? If we want to see change in the world, we have to start right in our own household first. Just as if we want to see change in our lives we need to see change in our hearts first. If we cannot get the members in our household to unite, how can we expect the outside world to do so? Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 10:34;
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' And 'a man's foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."

"a man's foes will be those of his own household"!! Ouch! Oh wow is that an ouch! Who wants to raise children only to know that they may one day be your "foe"? I remember reading the account of David when his son was trying to kill him. It broke my heart. But this is a reality that we must not try to dismiss. My own relationship with my earthly father was broken because we were so different. It was not until his surrender to God through Christ that it changed.

We must get our households in order. It is our duty as Christians. If we believe that we are at war here, then we must also acknowledge that there are battle plans that we must follow. The commander of our army, Jesus Christ commands us to "follow" Him.

When a household is following God as a whole, they are blessed as a whole. Unfortunately that means they can also be cursed as a whole. Look at Genesis 20:18 It says, " for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah."

Look also at Genesis 34:30, "Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed." Jacob did not only fear for himself, but he knew that his whole house would be affected.

On the flip side, Genesis 39:5 shows how a household could be blessed because of 1 person,
" From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field."

Consider then Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." I do not believe this means that once you believe on Jesus, your family members are automatically saved. What I do believe it means is that you have opened the door for God to move in your family’s life and because of that He will reveal Himself to the members of your family, often through you and that is good news!

Today God showed me that I do not take seriously enough the importance of my household serving him and I do not put Him first in all things, therefore I am not being a good example to my children. If we want to "take back America" we must start with it's children. What better children to begin with than the ones in our own household?!

Proverbs 22:6 is a promise from God, " Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 really spoke strongly today, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

God gave His life for us my friends. Our offering to Him should be ourselves. As we offer ourselves, we also offer Him our families. He has given us an awesome responsibility and it should be our great joy and pleasure to fulfill it. If we want to take back the world we must first start with our own households. What a great & wonderful sight for our Lord to see us serving & worshiping Him as a family. What glorious words to fall on His ears "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

God bless you as you & your house serve the Lord!!

Powerful Worship

2008-09-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

I was just worshiping the Lord through music, and I was completely filled with an overwhelming love for our Lord. I wonder how often God's children forget the importance of praise & worship. I know I am guilty of it myself. When I really partake of heartfelt praise & worship in the midst of a fast, I can honestly tell you that there are absolutely no words that can describe it. I can only imagine what heaven is going to be like!!!

I thought I'd share what I was watching/listening to. I hope it humbles you and exhalts Him as much as it did for me!

All the Heavens
Third Day

As Your children gather in peace
All the angels sing in Heaven
In Your temple all that I seek
Is to glimpse Your holy presence
All the heavens cannot hold You, Lord
How much less to dwell in me?
I can only make my one desire
Holding on to Thee

All the angels exalt You on high
What a kingdom to depart!
But You left Your throne in the sky
Just to live inside my heart
All the heavens cannot hold You, Lord
How much less to dwell in me?
I can only make my one desire
Holding on to Thee
I will always make my one desire
Holding on to Thee
__________________________________

God bless you as you Exalt Him on High!!

Embracing the Fast

2008-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

- Ephesians 6:12

I finally figured it out!!

Yesterday I followed through with only liquids and it confirmed just what I expected. The liquid fast is definitely the way to go for me. I still drank juices, so I never felt weak, but I was not plagued with thoughts of food at all and my concentration was much better. Now I admit that, as with all liquid fasts, there are times I find myself a little irritated and sensitive but that's when I'm reminded of what I'm doing & why. It's those little bouts of annoyance that cause me to stop, reflect & pray.

I decided that I should just stick with the liquids during the week, and do fruit & salad on the weekend. I may change my mind on the weekend thing once I test it and see if it works or not. The last thing I want to feel is distracted by food, and if that happens I'll go back to only liquids.

The thing I like most about a liquid fast is that I find myself in a state of constant awareness. There's no other time that I can be as alert and ready. It truly makes me feel strong, and connected to my commander, Jesus Christ.
Consider the following scriptures on being alert:
1 Corinthians 16:13; "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving"
Mark 13:33, "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come."
Luke 21:36, "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Matthew 24:42, "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
Ephesians 6:18, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints"
1 Thessalonians 5:6, "so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."
1 Peter 5:8, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Mark 13:37, "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"

Our country began as a Christian nation. When man removes God, he removes His protection. If we believe that God honored this countries allegiance to Him, then we must also believe that once He is removed, so will His protection be. In considering the command to be alert, we must also consider what the Bible says in Psalm 127:1b "If the LORD does not protect a city, it is useless for the guard to stay alert."

We are at war people! This 40 day "Proclaim Liberty" fast is being undertaken to "heal our land" and to draw us closer to God. God has really put the world we live in on my heart and when I think about how He freed me from gluttony through fasting, I understand His awesome power knows no bounds.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says:

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Our weapons are mighty through God and they have the power to pull down strongholds.
In addition to the power we have through the Holy Spirit to conquer the enemy that wages battle in our mind, Ephesians 6: 10-17 gives us clear battle gear that we must put on every day in order to fight this enemy we are up against. It is the armor of God, and we need to put it on if we are going to succeed in this war. What soldier in his right mind would go out to the front lines of war without any weapons or protective gear? Only one who has a death wish. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Those are some very powerful weapons, and we cannot be effective soldiers if we do not take them up.

I know the importance of arming myself with the Word of God. I know that without it I will not be able to get through this. If we do not read the WORD, we will never know what God has to say & we cannot be blessed by the knowledge He can give us. The bible assures us that the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Oh how weak it is!

Take up your swords, a new day has dawned! Keep your eyes on Christ, and don't take them off of Him, for He will lead us into victory!

In the words of Arthur Sullivan,
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

God Bless you as you fight the good fight!!!

Live Well Wednesdays~Finding my fast

2008-09-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

If you've been following along with me, you'll know that on September 1st I started a 40 day fast called "Proclaim Liberty" with trumpet & torch ministries. Since I've started, I've been trying to find the "right" fast for me. Daniel's fast didn't make me feel like I was fasting, so yesterday I tried juice for breakfast & lunch, then I had vegetables for dinner. While I thought that was going to work great, I wasn't happy. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what, but for me it seems that the only way that I feel as though I'm really fasting is if I consume only liquids. I was hoping that wasn't the case if you want the honest truth. I do love to eat, I won't deny that. The problem is that though I love to eat, it gets in the way of my devotional time. It may sound silly, but once thoughts of ANY kind of food get in my way, it's hard to stop thinking about when I'll be able to consume them. If I know I'm going to be "allowed" to eat dinner, then thoughts of eating dinner will enter my mind right after lunch's juice. It's been truly a confusing thing for me because as soon as I was given "permission" to eat by being allowed to choose my fast, I tried to figure out how I could eat, even if it was only the one meal. I never felt convicted to go without actual food for the 40 days, even though I knew I'd be better off, but somehow between today & Monday a lot has changed in my mind. I know that I can fight those thoughts of food, but believe it or not it's actually easier for me to fight not eating at all than to push thoughts of an upcoming meal out of my mind. Thoughts of food get in my way when I'm trying to focus my thoughts only on spending time with God. Perhaps that's why Jesus ate nothing for those 40 days.

If I had no experience with fasting without food, these feelings might seem scary to me. As it is, however, I did get the great (perhaps once in a lifetime for me) experience of fasting with only water for 40 days just 2 years ago. There was nothing I've ever experienced that could ever compare to it. After the 3rd day of my body fighting, I actually stopped getting hunger pains and anything that I felt was stopped by me drinking water or laying down & meditating. It was truly a blessed time. Perhaps that is what I'm looking to feel now, and I'm just not achieving it. Perhaps it's that comparison that makes me feel as if this fast I'm undertaking now just isn't "right" yet.
As a result of these thoughts and feelings, I'm tweaking once again today.

I've decided to go back to just liquids, at least for now. I want to see if it makes a difference.
Who'd have known that being given permission to eat would have made things so difficult! *smile*

I'll check in tomorrow and let you know how things work out. Until then, stay strong in the Lord & today, purpose yourself to make one small change on your path to "Live Well"!

God bless you as you continue to follow His lead!

1st Day of the 40 day fast for America

2008-09-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first day of my fast with Trumpet & Torch ministries. It seems the devil is at work because I tried to access my reading of the word "menu" and it will not come up, it keeps saying the server is down. Typical ploy of the enemy that I know will not last.
Anyway...
I had decided to go with the Daniel fast (minus the whole grains) for my first day. I have to tell you, I was not in "fast mode" by doing that. Since I typically eat that way (for the most part) anyway, it didn't feel very sacrificial. In fact, after 3 days of a juice fast (in which I drank very little juice, btw) I couldn't get past the feeling that everything was just "normal".

So today I decided to try something different. I decided to have a juice for breakfast, a juice for lunch & then have a large salad with some fruit for dinner. I'll drink only water for the rest of the day, no snacks. I'm hoping that will satisfy my desire to abstain from food while I feast on the word, yet allow me the opportunity to partake of family dinner. I'm not sure if this is how I'll continue on the fast. I may have to tweak it again, but I'll continue to tweak until I find what works best. I may feel led to juice during the week & follow Daniel on the weekend. I have no idea, but I'll post changes as they come!

I covet your prayers as I seek to do what little I can to help change the face of America!Please seek God to see what He would have YOU do to help!

God bless you as you seek His face!

Fasting another day

2008-08-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

I went into yesterday's fast with great reluctance, but finished it with great peace. If the body could survive without food, the world would be a much more spiritual place!

Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 4:1-4 , " Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

He knew what God's word had said, and so He quoted Deuteronomy 8: 3;

Read it with the verse preceding it: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

Fasting has a way of putting things into perspective. When you fast, you are channeled into a whole different realm, and the things of this world take on a completely different meaning. Things that seemed so important suddenly lose their place & you are connected with the God of the universe. You hunger for His word, you long to hear what He has to say. You no longer care about what the world thinks is important for it no longer matters. It's a freedom you can't get any other way. To relate to the feeling I'm trying to describe, I'd call it a spiritual "high". There truly is nothing else like it in the world.

Last night I was given the opportunity in my prayer time, to unload a great many things that have been weighing me down lately. It's been far too long since I've partaken of a fast in the correct manner, and so it only makes sense now in looking back, why I was feeling so reluctant to fast yesterday. The devil doesn't want me (or any of us for that matter) to experience the blessings of a fast. He wants to keep us down, and we let him do it too. We really have to remember Luke 10:19 which says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." We have authority people!! Authority that came right from Jesus Himself! Why then, don't we use it? What are we afraid of? What are we waiting for?

Consider what Jesus said & did in Matthew 9:1-9; "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."

See, through Jesus Christ, God has given authority to men, and in doing that, He receives much deserved praise!
In Matthew 10:1, Jesus gave authority to His disciples. "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."

Consider the great commission that Jesus gave in Matthew 28: 18-20, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This was not just for His disciples of that time friends! No, this is for ALL of us who call ourselves disciples of Christ! We were ALL given authority in Jesus' name & it's about time we started to exercise it! Jesus promises to be with us to the end! He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8, " The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Joshua 1:5, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.")

God is with us always and we need to understand the importance of getting closer to Him. The fast provides just such a way to do it. Fasting is something that so many people are afraid of, but wouldn't it make sense that the enemy would put such fear into the hearts of men? It's an unfounded fear, but it keeps men from taking that next step of closeness to the Lord.

I have 2 days left before I undertake the 40 day fast with the trumpet & torch ministry.
At this point I am supposed to be preparing my heart for the 40 day fast. I still haven't decided on what type of fast I will undertake for those 40 days, but I did decide that I will continue with the juice fast I started yesterday for the next 2 days in order that I might have 3 days to prepare for it. I believe that God worked it out that way & that the Lord is going to do a mighty work in my life during those 40 days. I know I cannot undertake a 40 day water only fast, as I just don't feel led in my spirit to do it. When I fasted for 40 days for my father 2 years ago I DID feel led to only have water, so I know how to listen for the Spirit's lead. I will seek Him for the fast He ordains for this one as well.
In the mean time, I am going to enjoy another day of juice fasting, and experience all the Lord wants to show me. If you feel so led, won't you consider joining me on the 40 day fast with Trumpet & Torch?

God bless you as you continue to grow closer to the Lord!

Fasting Day

2008-08-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a bible study called "The Lord's Table" and today calls for a fast day. Normally I love to fast, and I get excited about the prospect, but I confess that today I am just not up for it.

One of the reasons is because I already planned a canoing day with a few friends and our children, and I hate the thought of not being able to eat after some strenuous activity. Another reason is because it's harder for me to stay focused when I'm around that many people. I've been so far removed from complete quiet these past 2 weeks that I would just love to take this day to be quiet & alone as I fast. Unfortunately that's not going to happen, so I have to refocus on how I'm going to honor God on this fast today.

I decided to do a juice fast, as that will replenish me if I get weak. Not eating food on a picnic day will certainly be rather challenging, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's good to be challenged sometimes. I'll bring some scripture verses with me in my lunch sack & I can look at them when I get tempted. I will also let my friends know I'm fasting today so that I can get their support instead of having them offer me food *smile*.

The one thing I intend to do today regarding this fast is simply to keep my focus on Jesus. I want to see Him in everything and everyone. The one thing I do NOT want to do is undertake this fast the wrong way. It would be a complete waste if I did. Isaiah 58: 3-4 gives an example of a "wrong" way to fast. It says, "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high."
Yow! I know the devil will try to slip in on me, so I gotta be fully aware & focused. Sometimes when you deprive yourself of food, you get easily agitated and annoyed. Instead of being calm & peaceful, you allow your desire for food to make you angry & quarrelsome. Your focus becomes on you and God does not like that. It becomes a futile fast in which you waste your time even partaking of. I must remember to check my attitude many times today.

Another example of a "wrong" fast is found in Matthew 6:16-18. It says, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
This is a fast that is done to make others think you are more "spiritual" and that's wrong. I do intend on sharing my fast with my good friends today, however it is not so that I can draw attention to myself, it is so I can draw support from them. I even believe it can be a good witnessing tool. I think the thing God cares about more than anything else is the attitude of your heart. Why else would He focus on the fact that David was "a man after God's own heart" when David was clearly a sinner just like us.

Isaiah 58: 6 talks about one of God's intentions when He asked His people to fast. It says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?"
We are all oppressed with something, and if you are a food addict you are yoked with an addiction. God promises that by focusing on Him through fasting, He will break this yoke & set us (the captives) free!! That is exciting to think of! No matter what you are in bondage too, He promises that He will set you free! That's good news! Fasting breaks the power of sin in our lives & should be looked at as a great tool in which we gain freedom, not as something we dread out of fear of going without food!

The next verses in Isaiah 58, (7-9) teach us that we need to be focused on others, not just ourselves. They say, "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
God calls us to take care of others before ourselves. He says when we do this, "our healing will QUICKLY appear"!! He says our righteousness (Jesus) will go before us and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. A rear guard protects the rear of a (retreating) military body. Is it any wonder that God would use this word to show us that "He's got our back"!! To elaborate on that, the definition of "having our back" is this: "From sports or military activity, it literally means to protect the side of someone that they cannot protect themselves."

That's reassuring, huh? What better confidence could we have than to know that the Lord of the universe is protecting us from all sides!

Verses 9-11 of Isaiah 58 go on to say, "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
Now here is an issue I have a REAL hard time with. When I get angry with someone, I immediately find myself complaining about them. I know that I am guilty of " the pointing finger and malicious talk". Even if I justify it by saying I'm just "venting" it remains to be wrong. During my fast today, I am going to be especially conscious of that.

In addition to this consciousness, I also need to remember important parts of the fast. Daniel gives us a good example in chapter 9 verses 3-5. He sought the Lord by studying God's word, praying & confessing sin. God asks us all to do these things when we fast, they are important parts of spiritual growth.

In my bible study today I was asked to look at two verses of scripture. 1 was Acts 13:1-3, in which the church was worshiping & fasting. The other was Luke 2:36-38 in which Anna "served God" with fasting. I'm going to look at fasting today as my spiritual act of worship & service, and I believe that is scripturally sound.

So today though I begin this fast with a bit of reluctance, I'm ready to see the changes it will bring about. Being obedient has blessings of it's own, so I know that if nothing else, the Lord will honor my obedience & I will become closer to Him!

God bless you as you consider fasting!

Listening to God

2008-08-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

" I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels." Psalm 81:10-12

How many times have you heard a word from the Lord and not obeyed? How many times have you known the truth & chose to ignore it? If I was asking for a show of hands, you could rest assured mine would be up.

What is it that makes us do these things?

From the beginning, God wanted to fill His people from within. He wanted to give His people everything they asked for so that they might be satisfied. We were born with an emptiness only He could fill, but we try to fill it with other things. For gluttons, like myself, we try to fill it with food. Some use television, gossip magazines, work, play & various other venues to fill a part of themselves that only God can fill. Since we choose to ignore what He is saying to us, He will often turn us over to our own "wicked ways". Since we refuse to be satisfied in Him, He allows us to try & fill ourselves up on that which will never satisfy just so we will see that only HE can give us what we need.

Once we learn the importance of listening to Him, we will be satisfied within & we will no longer need to seek satisfaction in those things that have consumed us for so long.

Hebrews 4:7 says, "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." I think of the many times that God's people didn't listen & their hearts were hardened. They brought calamity upon themselves because they refused to turn to the Lord. That is definitely not what I want for myself, and so I must check myself to be sure that I have not hardened my heart against what God has been saying to me. I have ignored the truth He has given to me so many times I would not be surprised if He hardened my heart Himself!

Today I learned an important principal called "replacement". It's something I've known but have not applied the way I should. Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" teaches the principle of "replacement". It teaches us to replace that which causes us to sin with that which brings us closer to God. So if you tend to use food for comfort (evil) then you replace it by using God's word for comfort (good). You don't allow evil (gluttony) to overcome you, but you overcome it with good (God's Word)!

One of the things I struggle most with is eating at night. I could go all day eating great, but at night when I sit to relax by watching a movie with my family the scenario goes something like this:

I go to the cabinet to pick a "movie snack". There are good choices in there (like natural popcorn) but there are also some choices that are fine for my 6 year old son (whole grain goldfish) but not for me. So I look at the choices, and that goldfish box looks so much more appealing than that popcorn bag and I want to consume the entire box! I try to convince myself that the serving size won't hurt me, but honestly, I know that I cannot stop at the serving size. I can't count the times I have given in to those night time temptations. Knowing this is a problem for me, I pray for strength to overcome this temptation. The best way to handle this, for me, is to tape a scripture verse in my cabinet so that when I open it I can see it. One of my favorites is Hebrews 2:18, "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
This jolts me back into reality and helps remind me that I don't want to give in to that temptation, it's just not worth it!

The bible speaks of "eating" God's word. In my Bible study, I'm learning how important that is, especially for the glutton. Here are some verses I reflected on today:

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty" (Jer. 15:16) As soon as Jeremiah heard a word from God he took it in. He listened to what God was saying and meditated on it. It became the thing that made him happiest. He experienced a close relationship with the Lord because he heard & listened.
"I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12).
Job cared more about what God had to say than anything else. He heard and he obeyed.
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)
The Psalmist knew that there was nothing more satisfying than the word of God.
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Pro. 16:24).
God's word brings healing to our inner man.

God’s words should be our joy and our heart’s delight. We need to hear & listen to what God's word has to say. We need to read the Bible every day. Not only do we need to read it, but we need to study it and we need to make it a regular practice to memorize scripture. We need to meditate on God's word. It's important that we pay attention to what God is teaching us in His word. If we do these things, we can be assured that we will be motivated to change. I am going to heed the words in James 1:22, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Today my bible study at The Lord's Table said this:
"We need to love the Word of God more than pizza, popcorn, burgers, cheesecake or any food. We need to seek after reading the Word of God more faithfully than we seek after eating our meals. We need to treasure the Words from God’s lips, even His commands, more than we treasure our favorite foods. As gluttons, we have had images of food fixed in our minds. No longer--we must have the Words of Jesus Christ fixed in our minds. Pray that God may take the images of food out of your mind, and replace them with sweet promises from His lips. Victory over gluttony only comes when we gain a delight in the Word of God. Until you relish reading the Word of God, and make it a priority over eating, you cannot overcome sinful eating habits. You may be able, by the flesh, to trade the sin of gluttony for another equally deadly sin, but you will not be able to have freedom from it without loving the Word of God. "

Amen & Amen! what more can I say than that??!!

God bless you as you listen to God's word & DO what it says!

What could be preventing my weight loss?

2008-08-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Well here I am over 40 days after I accepted yet another challenge to eat right & reap the benefits of losing weight. I've eaten fruits & vegetables, exercised some, not as much as I'd like to, but I live a very active lifestyle & I don't just sit around doing nothing. After all of this time I expected I'd lose at least a pound, but still, nothing. I'm trying not to let it bother me, but I can't lie, it does. So now I'm wondering if I have a thyroid problem or something else that might be preventing me from losing weight. Could my metabolism be that slow? Or is the devil just having a field day with me and this is another of my many attacks?

I'm not sure exactly what is going on, but I do know this. I will not give up on this new lifestyle. I will not give up on eating right. I will not allow the way I feel right now determine how I will act. If something is wrong I will seek it out & the Lord will reveal it to me. Too many times I have buckled under the pressure of the enemy, and I've allowed the scale to control how I viewed my success. I can't do that this time. I've come too far to allow the enemy to rob me of my joy. So I will push on, and I will spend time getting closer to the Lord and I will prepare my heart for all of the great & wonderful things He has in store for me.

If you are feeling like me today, remember Galatians 6:9, "Let's not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest-if we do not give up." God made that promise to us, and He never breaks His promises!

God bless you as you continue to eat right & trust God for weight loss!

How Important is your appearance?

2008-08-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

We live in a world where looks are everything. The people who look the best get picked first, are the most popular & they always seem to have something everyone else wants. Even in the bible looks had their place. There were several instances where one person looked at another then "loved them". It's obvious that we are attracted to that which is lovely.Here are a few examples from the scriptures:

Genesis 6:2, " the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose."

Genesis 12:11, " As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are."

Genesis 12:14; " When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman."

Genesis 26:7, "When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful."

Genesis 29:17, " Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful."

Deuteronomy 21:11, " if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife."

However, The bible also says this in 1 Samuel 16:7 , " But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Ezekiel 28:17 says of the fallen angel Lucifer, " Your heart became proud on account of your beauty and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings."

It's clear that though man is attracted to beauty, it's important that he not get so caught up in it that he is deceived by it.

Proverbs 31:30 says, " Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

This little study in scripture was very important in how I handled the fact that at a party tonight a person actually said I looked like someone who was unattractive. She compared me with someone that we both greed was unattractive and then told me she understood why I would feel bad about it. She said I didn't look like that when I wore make up, but I still I had the overall appearance of the person. I couldn't disagree, I knew that she wasn't wrong. Others have compared me to this person before, only they didn't put the unattractive part in.
I was overwhelmed with grief. I didn't want to accept this truth. I know that I am getting older and therefore my face is aging. I also know I can do nothing about it. It wasn't too long ago that a young boy at Sunday school also compared me to an unattractive obese woman from a hit movie. That was a blow to me that only got stronger with this new one.

Who doesn't want to be attractive? Even God's people chose Saul when they asked for a king because of his "warrior like" appearance. But I am what I am, I look like what I look like & there's nothing I can do to change it. I KNOW God looks within. I KNOW He cares more about what's inside of my heart. When Saul proved to be a disappointment as king, God chose David because he was "a man after God's own heart", not because of his appearance.

I need to accept this new found truth, and that isn't so easy for me. I will have to refocus. I have to begin to look at people the way God sees them. I have to stop getting hung up on who is attractive and start looking at their hearts. I have to let go of vanity, and stop focusing on the appearances of others. It will be difficult in this world filled with focus on physical beauty, but I know that with God all things are possible.

I can't control the looks I was given, however I can control how I dress & how I present myself. I can still be unattractive, but yet not be unappealing. Another thing I CAN control is my weight. It's one thing to be unattractive, but to be overweight along with it only increases my lack of self worth. The devil can use that against me. I know that God does not love me any less because of my weight, but I also know that He intended us to take good care of our temples and an overweight person such as myself is clearly not doing that.

So today I will teach myself not to focus on my appearance as much, and I will search my heart to see what other distractions I have within me that cause me to be more worldly minded. I need to realize that even if my face was burned & filled with scars Jesus would still love me & He would still be able to use me. That is what's most important.

Isaiah 53:2 says of Jesus, "For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him." Though the world has painted beautiful pictures of Jesus as we know Him today, the bible does not describe Him that way. If Jesus had no "appearance that we should be attracted to Him", then why should I give a second thought to mine?

God bless you as you reflect on the importance of your OWN appearance!

Being the Leader God wants you to be

2008-08-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

While reading some inspiring material today, I was truly inspired by a quote that was used in a fitness blog. It was from John Quincy Adams & it said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, your are a leader”.

What a wonderfully put statement!
I've never been very comfortable being a leader. I am always afraid that I'm going to lead someone the wrong way. My father was a leader, but he was in the habit of degrading & demeaning those who followed him. Those who admired him simply overlooked those things, however, I just don't see how it's the right way to lead. I re-read that quote & well to be honest there were some that were inspired to dream because of Him, some wanted to learn more because of Him and some wanted to do more & become more, so without running the risk of taking that quote out of context, my father was the kind of leader JQA was talking about. Or was he?

When I think of a leader who inspires, I don't think of one who degrades. I could certainly look at Hitler, who was also a leader. The world idolizes leaders, so it's important to pay close attention to what kind of a leader you are following. As so many people are needy in this world, they are always looking for hope. Unfortunately that often means that they will follow a leader that does not lead them to Christ. Our only hope is in Him, and if a man is not leading a person to look to Christ he may unfortunately have people looking at him instead.

Recently I've been convicted that my personality is too big and I need to die to myself. (See my previous post Dying to One's Self). I don't want people to focus on "me", I want them to see Christ in me. When a leader's personality is so big that the people cease to see God, then God will need to correct that leader in order to keep him humble. Unfortunately some leader's don't accept the correction, and things are thrown off balance. If God has truly appointed me to lead, as I've been told so many times over the years by people, secular & Christian alike, then I have to take this appointment seriously & remember to never allow myself to get so big that God gets squashed down. I need to fast, to pray, to submit & to obey. Paul was one of the greatest leaders in the Bible and he did those 4 things consistently. God gave us His Word for direction and that's where leaders should go for advice. He also tells us to encourage one another & spur one another on. As Christian leaders, we must always make it a point to do that. The enemy is out to deceive God's people, and he will use leaders to do it whenever he gets the chance. When the door is open, you can be assured he will walk in.

We need to be strong & take heart. The devil has been very successful at using poor diet habits to tear God's people down & make them feel worthless. He has been throwing darts of lies to make us believe that we can never achieve our weight loss goals. If we feel hopeless, then we will give in & continue to destroy the temples God has given us. He hates us so much that he will use anything to destroy us and we play into his hands by leaving the door open. We follow the latest trend & when it doesn't work we feel defeated. We pick ourselves up (because God will never leave nor forsake us) and we try again, but we make the same mistakes & the vicious cycle continues. Are we perhaps following the wrong leader?

There are many inspiring people out there, and God has placed them there for us knowing that we needed something to follow. His intention is always that these leaders direct men to Him. Truth be known, He is the only leader we need, but He loved us enough that He gave certain people certain skills to lead those who were not yet strong enough down the right path. Today, when you think about what program you are following and how focused you are on achieving your dreams remember that God has given you all you need to succeed. Everyone can be a leader in some capacity or another if only he is willing to be a follower first. Follow Jesus, read & study His word, fast & pray, apply what you learn and you will soon see that you have become just the kind of leader that God wants you to be!

God bless you as you lead others to Him!

Fighting Hypocrisy

2008-08-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Matthew 23:28 ; “Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Once again I find myself searching my heart to be sure I'm honoring God. One thing I struggle with a lot is making sure that I am not a hypocrite.
I see it everywhere, people contradicting their convictions by their actions, people living double lives. I know far too many of them, and I don't want to be like that. At the same time, I acknowledge that I am human...a sinner saved by grace. There will undoubtebly be times that I, too, will be considered a hypocrite.

I never want to focus so much on caring what people see when they look at me as I want to be sure that my heart is pure before God. It is a good think to search our hearts, and an even better thing to ask God to do it. (Psalm 139a, "Search me, O God, and know my heart")

We will all fall short of the mark & there will be plenty of times that a person can point out some of the things in our lives that show our own hypocrisy. It's not usually intentional, and we must remember that we have sinful hearts. The thing we must do when we're convicted of hypocrisy is to repent immediately and thank God for the Holy Spirit's conviction! When we do this, we get closer to God and we grow deeper in our Christian walk.

As I continue on this weight loss journey, people watch what I eat & how much I exercise. I'm ok with that because I find it to be a good way to remain accountable. The problem is that sometimes I may make a bad food choice and I will have some people thinking I am being a hypocrite for straying from what I know is the right way to eat. It seems right to consider that if I say it is better to eat fruits nuts & vegetables, yet one day I eat a donut that I am being a hypocrite. The only way I can explain that, (and I hope that I am not justifying it, because I could be) is to look at it as a choice. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me." So if I choose to eat the donut, it is not sinful. However, I must accept the consequences of eating that donut. Provided that I do not let the eating of the donut control me by leading me back to eating a bad diet, then I'm simply exercising my right to choose and my knowledge of eating right does not leave me.
I hope there comes a day that I can refuse a donut simply because I no longer desire it. Until that day comes, the best I can hope for is to follow a diet that I know is good and keep my donut eating to a bare minimum. If I acknowledge that "everything is permissible" then I believe I'm not being a hypocrite when I make a choice that isn't a part of my "regular" diet. I will always believe that eating a diet of fruits, vegetables & nuts is the best choice for optimal health. My desire is to achieve that goal. If, by allowing myself the occasional "treat" I am being a hypocrite, then I pray that God convicts me so that I can repent & move on. I never want to be a slave to food again. If we focus too much on the "right & wrong" of food eating, we're a slave to it anyway and EVERYTHING we do regarding eating will fall under the label of hypocrisy!

God bless you as you fight hypocrisy in your own life!

Dying to Ones Self

2008-08-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

To follow Christ is to die to yourself and to live for Him. I know that, but I do not believe that I've made it practical. Every time I struggle with something it immediately becomes about me & about what I'm going through. I can't honestly say that I always think about the other person/people involved. That makes me sad because that means that I am selfish. I never wanted to think of myself as selfish, but apparently I am.

Philippians 2:3-4 says;
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Recently I was hurt by something. It involved several people. I let God take the pain away, until I allowed others to feed it. Of course then it grew. It slowly took over my mind & I snatched it back from God. I decided to try to take care of it myself. In the process I hurt other people. It was no longer an issue of my pain, but I had now dragged others into it. What was I hoping to gain? Did I want to hurt others the way I was hurt? Only God knows my heart, but whether or not I wanted to, the fact was that I did. At some point the Holy Spirit had convicted me of what I had done, and I was ashamed & humbled.
I believe what happened to me there is that I was being selfish. It was about me. God can't use us when we have a "me" complex. I never even knew I had one. As much as it hurt me I needed to accept God's correction.

I am a loud & often times obnoxious person. A dear friend of mine says I am like a "Rock Star".
I grew up in a loud Italian family where we had to fight to get a word in. I never really thought there was anything wrong with that, but it did influence the way I am. To top that off my father, a public personality was always in the public eye. He was bold & opinionated and everybody knew when he was in the room. I got my "larger than life" personalty from him. Unfortunately this causes me to stay in the forefront, and to be honest, I don't like it there. I'd much prefer going into the background and not being seen.
I love 1 Thessalonians 4:11; " Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you". I've tried to do that but it never works for me. Unfortunately because I can't stay quiet, some people perceive me as a person that craves attention. Now THAT part I don't feel is true, yet people have said it about me. Even as recently as today.
On top of learning that some people think I crave attention, I was also enlightened to the fact that there are some people who think I ramble on when I talk & they never know what I'm talking about. Boy those words were stinging. They really hurt, and I didn't want them to be true so I began to search my heart to see if there was any truth to them.
Upon my search, I found that perhaps there IS some truth to those statements. As hard as that is to accept, if there's ANY inkling of these things in me they need to be corrected. It's not really about what others think of me, only what Christ sees when He looks at me.
There's no room for pride, selfishness or self absorption in the life of a follower of Christ.
I think because I get a "high" off of my accomplishments, I can be misunderstood. I should never allow my accomplishments to increase my self worth, but only to increase the knowledge of Christ in me.

A very dear friend said this to me when I sought her advice on this matter:

"You do have a strong personality and yes if you are talking about something that you are passionate about a person with a weak or quiet spirit is probably not going to get a word in unless they speak up loud enough. Now that being said you don't go on and on and never let a person talk but what I have seen you do is go on stream of consciousness tangents where one thought leads to another in a totally different direction" OUCH! She also said I " can monopolize conversations" DOUBLE OUCH!!!

So having already been convicted, my convictions were confirmed by someone who I knew would only tell me the truth. I know I speak too much & have too much to say. I somehow take everything I am passionate about & use it to have others focus on me. Even if I don't do it consciously, I do it nonetheless.
I now understand that I need to step back more & more so people see less of me & more of Him. Too many people focus on me, and it's not right. I try my best to always point people to Jesus but apparently they either ignore that part, or I've just made myself too big & squashed Him down too far so people can't see Him.

Unfortunately, as soon as I step back, people will start to say, "What's wrong with you?" and "you're not yourself", and I hate both those things. It's not natural for me to say nothing, or to speak quietly. I know it's good to correct myself in matters that draw the focus of attention to myself. Jesus says we must die to self. Perhaps its finally my time to do that.

If, through what I'm learning about fasting, dieting & weight loss is going to help others, than it's GOT to be Him they see & not me. People idolize others when they lose weight & make good lifestyle changes, and then it becomes all about the person. Through this whole journey, it is my desire that when people look at me they see Him & what my obedience to Him can produce. If they see anything else then all my witness has been in vain.

God bless you as you die to self & live for Him!!

Live Well Wednesdays

2008-08-13T05:11:00.001-07:00

Today I reflected on Isaiah 55:2-3,
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."

How many times I have spent hard earned money to satisfy my cravings for some type of food or drink. Fast food restaurants used to be my favorite stops on busy days. Unfortunately the foods I ate on those stops never satisfied me. They usually left me wishing I had more to eat! Not because I was hungry, but just because they tasted so good!

We work hard for our money. In today's economy, the averages person spends a good portion of their paycheck on food and on eating out. Because we're so busy today, we by "quick foods" to make our lives easier. Most times if we bought whole foods, we could get much more food for our money. Have you ever considered that a whole bag of rice is 1.00 and provides days of meals for several people, but 1 pouch of a "rice & sauce" side dish costs that same dollar but only provides a side dish for 2 people (even though the pouch says it serves 4!) for 1 meal! Yikes! That's frightening!

And how about "diet foods"? They are all over, everywhere. From energy drinks, to power bars, to frozen meals & deserts. The list goes on & on. They are almost always more expensive than their natural alternatives and they often pollute the body with ingredients God never intended us to consume!

When Isaiah says, "eat what is good", he is referring to the bread of life, Jesus. However, we can also look at it from the perspective of eating foods that are good for you. Foods that bring life. God gave us an abundance of foods to enjoy and they all bring life to our physical bodies. They provide us with the nutrition we need to be healthy & strong. Why, then, would we choose to throw our money away on foods that only bring our bodies death? Foods that leave our bodies addicted to things that are unnatural and leave us wanting more & more. Foods that weigh us down & keep us on the vicious dieting cycle. I believe that this is all a trap from the enemy to keep us focused on our bellies & what satisfies our inner cravings, and to take our mind off of what we truly need, a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ!

God bless you as you consume the bread of life!

Feasting on Jesus!

2008-08-12T11:58:00.001-07:00

John 6:55-58 says, "For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

Jesus calls Himself "real meat" & "bread of life". Because we are born with a desire to be satisfied by "consuming Him" it only makes sense that feeding our bellies can never fully satisfy us. Food is for fuel & meant to provide nutrition to our PHYSICAL bodies. We confuse the need to be fulfilled with the need to be full! Until we realize that Jesus satisfies our soul, we will be left forever longing & forever searching.

Getting closer to Jesus is key to overcome any addictions we are struggling with. We have an empty part of us that we were born with & only He can fill it. We believe we can fill it with food, but we are never satisfied. In fact, most times after overeating we feel worse, not better. Since we NEED to feel full, we NEED to feed on Christ. We need to change our focus. When our souls are filled, we no longer have a void to fill.

Fasting is one of my favorite ways to get closer to Jesus. When we decide to fast, we enter into a feast! We spend that time alone with Jesus, feasting on His word & getting closer to Him. We turn to Him to satisfy our hunger. There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing that you are fully dependent on Him and watching Him work in your life is something that can only be described as a euphoric high!

If we could all spend at least one day feasting on Jesus rather than feasting on food, we would open the door to changes in our lives that we never thought possible!

God bless you as you feast on the lamb!

Weigh in day #4

2008-08-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

As you may know by reading my previous blog posts, I just passed through a difficult time. During that time I did not log food or exercise. Some days I did not even pay attention to my portions. Unfortunately, that means I did not lose even 1 pound. The good news, however, is that I didn't gain a pound either.

Normally I would really beat myself up over this. I would get frustrated because I don't look any better now than when I first started. I've learned, however, that this is not about me. It's not about how good I can look or how thin I can get.

Losing weight has to be about God's glory & not my own vain glory. If it becomes about me, then I rob God of His glory. If I focus on the glory of God, then I will be transformed. I can do that by getting closer to Jesus Christ & focusing on Him as He is the radiance of God's glory. God has really been impressing that on my heart & even today when I started a new bible study he confirmed all of it in the very first lesson! It really is so awesome when God does that. It's like I always say, if you are willing to follow Him, He will be sure to lead!

God bless you as you focus on His glory & not your own!

Getting closer to God

2008-08-10T07:11:00.001-07:00

I've been convicted so much lately that the most important thing I need to do in this season of my life is to simply focus my energy on getting closer to God. I'm involved in a lot of things, and they don't have to take me away from God. On the contrary, I can use them to get closer to Him. I can trust Him to help me with things I am struggling with & I can talk to Him as I try to figure things out. I can ask Him for advice & I can lean on Him for direction. He is my friend, and I can rely on Him for everything.

How can we develop deeper friendships with others if we don't spend time with them & get to know them better? We can't! Likewise, how can we develop a deeper relationship with Jesus if we don't spend time with Him and get to know Him better? Our life is really worthless & void without Him.

God has been putting things in front of me continually to show me that He wants me to develop a closer relationship with Him through His Son. As I shared the other day, John 17 had a deep impact on me. To confirm that God had a lot to say to me regarding that, He used a John 17 reference at my church service the very day I read it! He is just so good. To top it all off, our church service also talked about getting to know God better! Isn't it wonderful when you never have to wonder what God is asking of you?

When you commit to walking with Him, and you tell Him that you want Him to be the LORD of your life, He is sure to use everything & anything to get you to see what He is saying to you!

God bless you as you get closer to Him!

Peace of Mind

2008-08-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

This past year has truly been a year of reflection for me. Never before have I looked so constantly & consistently at life, death & the purposes of both. I finally understand so much more than I ever did before, but still I'm faced with watching people blatantly disregard things that the bible tells me are true. Often I feel as though I'm wandering through this life because I truly do understand the scripture in 1 Peter 2 in which we are referred to as strangers to this world.
I did a wonderful study today on John 17. It affected me pretty deeply. Much deeper than I expected. The connection between us & Christ, the fact that we are not of this world, yet Jesus does not want God to take us out of it yet, only to protect us from the evil one. Look at verses 14-16:
" I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "

We were given such a great commission, and often we can get dissuaded by the world and all the pleasures in it. We can get confused and think we are to achieve success by our possessions. What a lie from the enemy. I have wrestled with things so often, as I live in a constant state of financial distress. It took an old song from a popular secular group called Boston to give me back something I so often lose when I'm wrestling with being in the world & not of it --peace of mind.

Check out these lyrics:

Now if you're feelin kinda low bout the dues you've been paying
Futures coming much too slow
And you wanna run but somehow you just keep on stayin
Cant decide on which way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Now you're climbin to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can't cha you see there'll come a day when it wont matter
Come a day when you'll be gone

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lots of people out to make-believe they're livin
Cant decide who they should be.

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead. look ahead.

What a great reminder for all of those who run the rat race on a wheel that never stops spinning. I can't imagine that they'll ever achieve the success the world says they should have, and I somehow doubt they'll every truly have peace of mind.

God bless you as you keep your mind set on things above!

Refreshment at the river

2008-08-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

Commitments are funny. Sometimes you try desperately to get out of them & then other times you are so grateful for them because your desire to honor them keeps you from completely falling down.

Today I am grateful for my commitment to kickball. Perhaps if I did not have it I would not have so quickly ran to the river of life to drink myself whole again. To renew & refresh my spirit. To get up when all I wanted to do was lay down. Sure, I know eventually I would have gone to the river, but I sure was enjoying just wading in the stream!

When we feel tired & weary, it is very easy to give in to those feelings & just wallow in them. It takes effort to push through & move forward. Sometimes we need a little push from someone else. The great thing about living your life for Jesus is that once you commit to Him, He makes sure that you get all you need, including the pushes to get up when you are down and sometimes he uses the most unlikely things to do it. Who would have known that my commitment to 25 kids playing kickball today would have been just the push that caused me to run forward and soak my whole body in the river receiving the refreshment I so desperately needed!!

God bless you as you run full force into the river & become fully refreshed!!!

The weariest day in a very long time

2008-08-07T14:05:00.001-07:00

Today I am weary. I'm just so physically spent. Last night I spent 4 hours writing a blog post regarding this whole situation surrounding my step mothers death. I mostly did it for my brother and sister. They needed some kind of closure & they were crying our for justice. I tried to stay back & adapt the passive attitude, but sometimes things need to be said, and sometimes the Lord chooses you to say them. In writing it for them, I found healing in also writing it for me.

I wrote so much, it took me 4 long hours of writing. I completely submitted myself to the Holy Spirit and allowed Him to place the words in my spirit so that I could in turn write them out. Here is the link if you are at all interested in reading what The Holy Spirit led me to write:
Father Forgive Them

It was a very draining experience, and today I'm tired. I feel like a boxer who has decided simply to sit on the stool, towel in hand, until he has the strength to get up. I have no strength left today. People keep coming at me from all sides, needing me, wanting me, draining me. And I draw what little I have left & give it to them.

I need rest. I need refreshment. I need to take care of me. I need to have a Jesus experience in which He goes away from His disciples & rests. I have no desire to watch my food today. No desire to eat right. No desire to fight. I'm weary. I'm drained. I'm exhausted.

God bless you as you find rest when you are weary!

Live Well Wednesdays ~ Getting back on track

2008-08-06T05:51:00.000-07:00

I've just been through an awful ordeal in my family. Coupled with my regular load of chores & fullness of life, it left me weary & exhausted. I'm desperately trying to get back on track. I've not logged my food or exercised for about a whole week now. I'm in need of rising out of the ashes. Counseling my family through my step mothers death & our rejection in the midst of it has taken a lot out of me. I need to refresh my soul & drink from the living waters so I can refuel myself. Today I hope to do that!

Getting through tough times

2008-08-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today was my stepmother's funeral. It was a very taxing experience for myself & my family as we faced the day that was filled with scorn & rejection. People we loved over the years, people we thought were our friends talking badly about us & spreading lies. Rejecting us and causing us to feel the sting of their vengeance.

I learned a lot today, but the thing that stands out most is I learned how true the scriptures are. The things I experienced today should not have shocked me. They should not have surprised me. You only have to read your bible to know that this kind of thing is common in man. Especially man that does not walk closely with the Lord. The bible warns of it, and it tells us how to handle it. Jesus was so stranger to scorn, rejection & revenge. He gave us all we need to deal with it.

The way food addicts, like myself, like to deal with this kind of thing is to go on a feeding frenzy. I did not do that this day, but I do not know what tomorrow will hold. Today I made good food choices to combat the desires to make bad ones. Getting through tough times is much easier if you don't add unnecessary obstacles. There is enough to overcome without making this harder on yourself by having more than 1 battle to fight!

God bless you as you turn to Him in tough times!

Stand strong!

2008-08-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today was the day of my step mother's viewing. That caused me to spend the day reflecting on her life and what her death meant. I was not looking forward to the viewing. Who ever does.

I went to the funeral home to pay my respects and it was not as I had expected. There were family issues that I was unaware of that had cause a lot of anger, bitterness & resentment. Imagine my surprise when I learned that my family & I were not really welcome there.

Things like this cause one to reflect upon the cruelty of man & their lack of forgiveness & understanding. Jesus warned us about the hearts of man. In Matthew 24: 10 Jesus said, "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." In verse 12 it says, ""And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." It's not something we like to accept, but the devil is really trying harder as his days grow shorter, and we, as Christians must stand firm until the end.

Sometimes things like this cause us to go back to our habits of comfort eating. This is a trap of the enemy. It's easy to get caught up & you may allow the effects of such scorn cause you to fall into a depression or a funk. If you do decide to look to food as your comfort, simply because you haven't broken the chains yet, or because you want to go to a place that is familiar to you, well then just be sure your visit is short. It's much easier to walk away if you don't re visit that old place & decide you aren't going to leave it!

God bless you as you stand strong!

Accepting the consequences

2008-08-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today I enjoyed a wonderful day with friends at a birthday party. I was able to eat whatever I wanted if I considered that my "cheat" day (boy I hate that reference! Cheating just seems so dishonest!). Nevertheless, I was able to eat what I wanted, and so though I ate mostly the fruit that was offered, I did enjoy one of my favorite treats, South Philly Soft pretzels. I knew there would be the consequence of bloating, but I was willing to accept the consequences of that if only to enjoy those pretzels for that one day. And enjoy them I did. And pay consequences of bloating, I did that too. But I chose it.

There are days I choose not to cheat & days I just "need" a cheat. I know that all I had to do was call upon the strength of the Lord to resist them if I truly wanted to, but I felt pretty laid back & just wanted to exercise my right to eat wrong if I wanted to. Control is all about choices, and one of the things about making choices is that there are always consequences. Some good, some bad.

Paul says "Everything is permissible, though not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but I will not be mastered by anything."
There was a time that thoughts of eating an abundance of soft pretzels would have filled my mind once I started to eat them. Today, they did not master me, but I mastered them as I did not consume more than I should have. I was thankful to simply enjoy a "normal" portion of them. HOWEVER, there were definitely consequences to pay. I felt like I gained 10 pounds after eating those carb filled treats. And I won't lie to you my friends, those consequences were definitely worth it! I knew I hadn't really gained 10 lbs, and I also knew that tomorrow was a fresh new day. I'd have different choices to make.
As long as you can accept the consequences of your actions, you can move forward with the peace to know that you are STILL in control of what you put in your mouth.

God bless you as you decide what consequences you are willing to accept!

The blessing of friendship

2008-08-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

I spent today with friends as I do every Friday during kickball season. My life can often times feel harried & busy, but I never fail to stop & reflect on the blessing's I have in the love that those who surround me pour out upon me. My cup truly runneth over with wonderful friends, but I believe that the reason that God has surrounded with such an abundance of them is because before I call any man friend, I call Jesus friend.

If you are feeling low, and the world seems to be running you over. If you are feeling like you cannot get out from under the piles of bills, or the sickness, or the burdens you are bearing, please remember this one thing...Jesus came to bring you life. He is your friend. He gave you everything that is important in this life. Money matters not, trials will not cease and truthfully, sickness will pass, even if it's not until it's taken from you during the death sleep. This life is temporary & so is everything that is in it. The one thing that is always going to be there for you, even after all else fails, is your friendship with Jesus. It will live on into eternity. You trust in Him & I promise that He will never let you down.
John 15:13 says this: "Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends." He gave His life for you, when then, therefore would you not call him friend?

Make Jesus your friend first & He will give you all that you need & then some!

God bless you as you enjoy the blessing of friendship!

Dealing With Loss

2008-07-31T05:29:00.001-07:00

My Stepmother died yesterday. We weren't really shocked, as she was sick with cancer & has been fighting it for a long time, but still, the reality of death has a way of making you reflect upon your own life.
I spent yesterday, the day she died, with a friend & her boys as well as my son & my nephew. I thought about canceling it to mourn, but somehow I just couldn't. My stepmother had died, but somehow I couldn't be sad. I felt peace for her, relief from her suffering. I knew she felt alone since my dad died 2 years ago of the same thing. I knew she was saved, as we'd had that talk, so there was nothing more that needed to be done. In my mind, she was finally free of the burdens of this world & the pain & suffering that God had allowed.

Death is a fact of life that we often put away because we just can't deal with the pain of the loss. We can't possibly feel bad for the one who died if we believe they are with Jesus because we know they are in a much better place than we are. It's the pain WE feel when we miss them. When we think of them it just hurts & sometimes the pain is unbearable. It doesn't need to be.

Pastor Bob Woolfolk presents death this way: "Death is a part of life just like breathing, just like each day is a part of death. We prepare for death by living the best lives that we can, by being the best examples that we can in our daily lives so that those around us can see us living each day of our lives as a preparation for the death that ultimately is going to come. So, you live the best you can without hurting anybody, but caring for yourself and others, and that prepares you to die."

If we believe in Jesus, and we believe we are going to heaven when we die, there is absolutely no reason to fear death. In fact, it's quite the opposite, we embrace it. It's the next necessary step in our journey to be closer to Him. When we believe in Jesus, our death is not the end, it is just the beginning! Physical death only affects our body, not our spirit. Physical death does not kill our soul, nor does it separate it from God. Mourning the loss of a person is not wrong, in fact, it is a natural part of letting go. The problem lies in the part of you that just can't let go. There are a lot of people that spend the rest of their lives mourning the loss of someone that they were very close to. It affects their life in such a deep way that in a sense a part of them dies with that person. With each subsequent death, another part of them dies. Eventually they have nothing left to give to anyone else, or what they do have left is sparse. I started to mourn my stepmothers death long before she died. I accepted it and then, per her request, I prayed for it. I knew that as a believer, her death was only the next step in her journey toward eternal life.

God created us for His pleasure. He gave us the ability to increase & multiply, then encouraged us to be witnesses so His kingdom in heaven could grow. I believe it was part of His design to fill the heavens with believers. If that is true, then how can heaven, our final resting place, be the ultimate destination if we don't first die to this world? We must do that in order to get there! Those that have gone before us are not gone, they have simply moved on to the next stage of their life & we should be happy for them! Yes, we will miss them. Yes, a part of us goes missing when they are gone, but we must fill that part with love for another so we can pass the love of Jesus on. We are given a great responsibility to increase the number in heaven by sharing our faith. If we believe that death brings life, we are among the privileged who have only just begun this wonderful journey. I envy those who now sit at the feet of Christ & look forward to the day that I, too, can hear those wonderful encouraging words, "Well done my good & faithful servant"

God bless you as you find as much joy in the prospect of death as you do in life!

Live Well Wednesdays~Eating from the bountiful earth

2008-07-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

Last night I ate at a friend's house. I had such an enjoyable day hanging at the beach & then going to her house for dinner. The one thing about sitting at the beach, however, is that I can't just sit. I'm conditioned to eat. One day I'll work on that, but for now it was enough for me to control the choices I made regarding WHAT to eat.
I packed a huge variety of fruits, lots of water and a bag of fresh nuts. I was in heaven, truly. I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to enjoy the fruits of the earth. God has given us so many wonderful foods to choose from it seems a pity that we are usually conditioned to choose them last rather than first and often times simply for the sake of convenience. Grapes, strawberries, oranges, bananas, watermelon, carrots dipped in honey and nuts in their natural state were all foods I enjoyed while I sat on the beach under the shade of a tree chatting with dear friends & watching my son play in the water. To me it was a little taste of heaven I sometimes overlook.

When it was time for dinner, I was challenged with making something feel as if I was eating pasta, which is what the family was eating. Boy did that crockpot of meatballs smell good when I walked into the house. I had brought a spaghetti squash with me, as well as some green peppers, onions & tomatoes. I never cooked (or even eaten for that matter) a spaghetti squash, so I relied on my friend to teach me how to prepare it. Wow was it surprisingly easy! Watching it slide right off in strings like spaghetti as she shredded the squash with a fork was so awesome! I put a nice helping of it on my plate & covered it with the sauteed peppers onions & tomatoes and honestly I felt as if I was eating a plate of al dente spaghetti! It was WONDERFUL!!

God has given us an abundance of foods to choose from. It was His intention for us to enjoy the fruitful bounty of His earth. There are endless possibilities to the wonderful foods we can enjoy if we'll simply look for them!

God bless you as you eat from the bountiful earth!

Is you house full of detestable things?

2008-07-29T03:53:00.001-07:00

Deuteronomy 7:26 says: "Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction"

I realize that this particular scripture was written to the Israelites on how they should behave once they entered the land God gave them, HOWEVER, there is a valuable lesson we can take from this scripture regarding food.

When we have foods in our homes that are filled with junk and addictive ingredients, we are keeping a temptation right there in our very household. In a sense, having them there gives the enemy a foothold. See, for those of us that are emotional eaters, we are used to running to the cabinet or the refrigerator to find comfort in food. We don't go looking for the fresh fruit or the salad when we're on a binge. We look for junk food. Sometimes it seems to "call our name" from the cabinet! We have to fight the temptation to eat these foods so that we do not become oppressed by them.

If we’re trying to break free of an addiction, the devil looks especially hard for any foothold he can find so that he can use it against us & keep us in our sin. God wants us to be careful about what we bring into our homes, and that includes food. He gave us food to bring us life, but the very thing that brings us life can also bring us death depending on the choices we make. Food can become an idol to us & it can cause us to fall into the sin trap of gluttony. We love food, but why would we love something that can hurt us so bad, or bring dishonor to God by destroying our temple? The desire for foods that are not good for us keep us bound to the sin we are trying to escape from. It only makes sense to remove the temptation by removing the food.

God told the Israelites not to bring a detestable thing into their homes. What are some examples of detestable things regarding food? How about snack foods filled with fake ingredients. Or fattening foods that clog your arteries and make you feel lethargic after eating them. Some of us justify having these things by saying they are for our children or our spouse. So we bring these things in that we know are poison to ourselves & we feed them to our family! Ouch!! What the heck are we doing people??!!

God also told the Israelites that if they DID bring those detestable things into their homes, they would be set apart for destruction. Philippians 3:19 says, "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." If our god is our stomach, we are destined for destruction. That's pretty obvious if you look at the state our country is in regarding obesity & food related health issues like diabetes & coronary diseases. Fake processed food is killing us & we are killing our families by serving it to them as well!

God told the Israelites to "Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction" He wanted them to hate these things that would lead them into destruction. He loved them. He didn't want them to bring something into their homes that would destroy them. He loves us as much as He loved them. Does it not stand to reason that He would want us to keep our houses clean as well? If we're bringing things into our homes that are going to cause us to fall back into our addiction and tempt us to eat wrong as well as destroy those we love by bringing sickness to their bodies then we are aiding the enemy in the his desire to destroy God's children as well as ignoring God's request to honor Him with our bodies.

It's time to clean house! Go to your cabinets & your refrigerator & read the ingredients on the things you have in there. If it's something that doesn't belong there, get rid of it! Achan held onto items God warned against, and as a result he brought a curse into the camp. God told Joshua to get rid of the accursed thing and all would be well. I believe that if we would clean our houses out of the things that give the enemy a foothold, we would receive God's blessings as well!

God bless you as you remove the detestable things from your home!!

Weigh in day #3

2008-07-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

Well today was the 3rd week & I was hoping to have lost 3 more pounds bringing my total up to 9. Unfortunately I not only DIDN'T lose even one pound, I actually gained a pound. I'm still struggling with the bloatedness that started a week ago, so I've no doubt that this extra weight is coming from that. I'm definitely fighting any self defeating feelings because I will not allow the enemy to infiltrate this commitment I've made by sabotaging me through water weight gain. In the past, a "defeat" like this would have put me out for the count. I'd have thrown in the towel & decided to take a break from fighting and sat in a corner to nurse my wounds. Not this time. This time I'm simply going to get back in the ring & duke it out. I'm in it to win it & though I may be down, I'm certainly not out.

I've got to figure out why I'm holding all of this water. Today my fingers feel tight when I bend them and my middle feels like a blown up inner tube. I think I may be in the middle of some kind of personal storm. I know it's gotta pass eventually. Storm clouds always do. For now, however, I think I'm just going to dance in the rain a little bit. No sense letting a perfectly good learning experience go to waste!

God bless you as you fight through your own storms!

The power of standing in agreement

2008-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Back in March I posted a blog entry entitled "We don't get well by ourselves". In it, I stressed the importance of fellowship & accountability. Today I'd like to examine a scripture that takes those things 1 step further. Matthew 18: 18-20, "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

This scripture suggests 3 things:
1) Jesus is with us when we gather in His name. In our Fight4Freedom group, that is exactly what we are doing every time we gather together even if it's online. Likewise, if you have joined us by following this blog & accepting the weight loss challenge with us, you are a part of the same gathering.
2)We have the ability to hold on to things (bind them) or let them go (loose them). If we bind them, we stop God from working. If we loose them, we release them for Him to take care of. Being a part of this weight loss group gives us the opportunity to let go of things we've been holding on to, therefore allowing God to work in our individual lives.
3) When we agree on something (in our case, our freedom from food addiction & our victory for weight loss) we are assured that we will receive it.

We have a lot of power when we stand in agreement. Once we agree to let go of everything we've held onto that has stopped us from receiving victory before, we free it up (or loose it) for God to take care of & we receive whatever we ask for (in our case victory over the enemy regarding our weight loss). We are walking in that power if we are united in this weight loss commitment. When we pray for one another & uphold one another, we are united in Christ & the devil cannot penetrate us.

The following is from a post shared by a Fight4Freedom group member;

" I feel a big change in me the past few days. I really feel that the
spirit is moving. In my flesh I would have continued to eat a few
foods that I really shouldn't have eaten. I have started the Weight
Watchers counting points system again. Even though I am staying in the
guideline of points, I know a few things still shouldn't have gotten
into my mouth. So, I praise God that He gives us the "Helper" (The
Holy Spirit), because now I have changed course. I pray that I
continue to follow The Holy Spirit and God's ways because they are
always the right ways. Please continue with your prayers for our group
because it makes a BIG difference. Thank You"

Amen Sister! When we pray for one another & stand in agreement there's nothing we cannot achieve TOGETHER!!

God bless you as you continue to gather together with us in His name!

Oh for the Love of chicken! (and fish smile)

2008-07-26T13:20:00.001-07:00

Today I'm craving chicken. I love chicken. I also love fish. But Daniel's diet doesn't allow for chicken or fish, so what's a girl to do?
In an effort to curb this craving that often returns, I decided to look up foods that vegetarians use as meat replacements. I was surprised to learn that there were several. I'm unaccustomed to some of them, and I'm squeamish about trying new things, but I've got to stay one step ahead of my cravings & find healthy alternatives if I'm going to make this new lifestyle I'm trying to adopt work.

After much research, I found the following foods listed as good meat replacements:

Tofu (I do eat this, but haven't recently)
Tempeh (Heard of but never tried)
Seiten (never heard of until today. Not sure about it, but I'm trying to keep an open mind)
Eggplant (I already do eat this)
Portabello Mushrooms (Fearful of trying them! I've got a mushroom phobia!)

So I'm going to delve into the new world I've been looking into & see if any of these foods can satisfy my cravings. Change is good. In a world that's physically unfit, where unhealthy food is all around us and people die from clogged arteries & heart disease, I want to do my best to do be a good steward of the temple God has entrusted to me. I have grossly neglected what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:20, "honor God with your body." I simply haven't been a good steward of my temple & as a result, my body does not honor God.

Let's be honest, for those of us who have food addictions, it isn't easy to discipline ourselves to take better care of our bodies & make better choices. We simply love food so much that we have made food our god. We put thoughts of food in front of so many other things. Philippians 3:19 says, "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things" I can assure you that my mind has been preoccupied more times than not with visions of fried chicken fingers dancing in my head! Forget the sugarplums!! But this preoccupation with foods that kill is a trap from the enemy to bring sickness to our temples. Discipline isn't easy, but it must be done! Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

What kind of example are we setting for our children & those who look to us for direction?

So in keeping with the retraining of my mind, I'm going to learn all about the life giving foods that are out there. The more I learn about healthy eating alternatives, the less the enemy can use against me! If knowledge is power, then I want to gain as much of it as I can!

God bless you as you learn to make better choices!

Changing your focus

2008-07-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

So today, I feel fat. I'm sure it's the bloating (which hasn't yet gone away) but never mind the cause, feeling fat is the pits no matter what the reason!

So how do you stop yourself from giving in to the feelings of depression & urges to eat that come with feeling fat?

There's only one way that has worked for me & I've only recently found it. It's controlling the thoughts in your mind through meditation. If you don't take those thoughts captive, the enemy will have a field day with them & you'll find yourself right back where you started.

In my blog "Fight4Freedom" I have a post titled, "If we can think it, we can become it". It's a good read that talks about retraining your mind according to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
I wrote that post back in March when I was just beginning to exercise this power that God gave us to change our thoughts.
In addition to that, I have learned that finding something physical to do to really helps change your focus from negative to positive. Expending your energy somehow gives you a sense of physical strength & power over your body. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." Paul knew how important it was to make his body serve him. He knew that his body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 he asks the question, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple" In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 he reminds us again to honor God with our body. He says: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

If we don't gain control over ourselves we open up the door for the enemy to step in & destroy us. It only makes sense that he would try to destroy us physically because our physical body houses the Holy Spirit whom he hates.

If you're struggling today with feelings that come from your physical afflictions, fight them. Take those thoughts captive & turn them over to Christ. It's then you will continue to walk victoriously!

God bless you as you change your focus!

Trust your Shepherd!

2008-07-24T04:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't taken this weeks picture yet because I've been bloated all week. Though my 3 lb loss is still there, my body is very "puffy". I'm not sure why. My fingers feel like sausages & my belly is really sticking out. Another strange thing is that my right arm keeps going numb on me & pins & needles keep shooting through it sporatically. This, of course, has had me feeling a little low.
When physical attacks like this happen, it's easy to give in to your feelings of helplessness. Because I'm in the peri menopausal season of my life, I can tend to get more emotional than usual. But these are all obstacles that can be overcome. I do not have to give in to the way they make me feel. In fact, this is a perfect opportunity to turn my eyes upon Jesus. There's a great old hymn of the same name that includes the following words:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory & grace

When things like this happen to us, it's only natural to feel low. The natural man is born to operate on feelings and is easily led astray. But the Spiritual man, he knows different. He doesn't allow these things that are insignificant in the big picture, rob him of his joy. When we get attacked with physical ailments we become easy prey for the enemy. We are like the wounded sheep in the herd and the wolf is watching for us to fall so he can pounce & devour. But see, Jesus comes back for even that one sheep. He is our protector. Matthew 18:12-14 says, "If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

Jesus laid down His life for us. He is our shepherd & he will protect us from the wolf. We need to submit to the spirit & listen for his voice. I love John 10:1-18. Read it & let it soak in:

The Shepherd and His Flock

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. (or kept safe) He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

In the book of Acts 20:29 Luke warns, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."

We are safest when we follow the voice of our shepherd. Scripture makes it clear that the "wolf" wants to devour us. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be clear-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

The devil has been compared to a lion & a wolf as well as other wild animals. The picture is that he is a predator & we are his prey. Predators such as these will often look for the weakest one in the herd, for they are the easiest to catch. When we suffer from physical ailments of any kind, it is very easy to give in to our feelings of weakness. However, just because we are physically weak, doesn't mean we can't be spiritually strong. It's all a matter of what we submit to. Will we submit to the Spirit? Or will we submit to the flesh?

Today, as I am faced with physical affliction, I will meditate on the words of Paul found in Romans 8:6, "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace". I will submit to the Spirit & allow my Shepherd to deal with the wolf. He's far better at it than I am anyway!

God bless you as you trust your Shepherd!

Live Well Wednesdays

2008-07-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today is the day where I go over to one of my favorite places, Christian Women Online to draw from the strength of others as well as encourage others myself. I find it such a blessing to have support as we grow closer to our goals. The greatest pleasure I will get in doing things with God at the head is the knowledge that He alone will receive the glory. Not me, not a diet or exercise program, but God & God alone. There are as many diet programs as there are people, and it can get confusing as to which one to use. It's important to realize that it's not the program that's important (I find most all of them work in one way or another) but the submission to the Lord which will allow us to succeed in whatever diet program/plan we choose.

God bless you as you give Him glory!

The blessing of brokenness

2008-07-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

I've been encouraging a person who has been beating themselves up lately for mistakes they've made. Since I have always been the type that has beat myself up over mistakes & bad choices, I wondered why God would choose me to be an encourager.
I suppose it has something to do with the fact that God is always looking for broken vessels. The more broken we are, the more God can use us. When God chooses us, and we surrender to Him, he begins to break us. He breaks us so that we are no longer preoccupied with the things of man & the things of this world. He needs us to be completely surrendered to Him in order to bring His message forth to man. God wants to remove the pride and self seeking behaviors from us. When we allow ourselves to be affected by this world because of our love for it, we are not broken vessels & therefore God cannot use us to the fullest. We must die to self and let go of our desires of this world. He wants us to become nothing so He can become everything.
I fall short in this area, as I'm not broken in all things. God continues to purge the things from me that He does not want me to hold on to. I find it a blessing that in encouraging someone else in an area I am weak in myself strengthens me!

Mistakes are an important part of change. I've learned that when I make a mistake I'm not a failure, but I've afforded myself the opportunity to learn. As I learn, I grow, and I get closer to becoming the person I want to be. In the past I would let mistakes consume me & I'd go right back to where I started. These days the knowledge of a mistake I've made will only stick with me for the moment. I survey it, and have learned to change my response to it. My initial reaction is usually anger with myself, but I've learned to close my eyes, take a deep breath & surrender myself to the Lord. It is then that my mind is transformed & the Holy Spirit can change my heart.

Psalm 37:23-24 says, "If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall for the LORD upholds him with His hand."

When we are broken for the Lord in any area of our lives, it is that area that will bear the most fruit.

God bless you as you experience the blessing of brokenness!

Weigh in day #2

2008-07-21T04:42:00.001-07:00

I'm not excited for weigh in day today. I have not exercised as much as I'd have liked to this week. I neglected my daily walks & I have learned that they make a difference in my weight loss. I did stay active in other ways, but I know those daily walks make a difference.
I suppose I could be happy with the scale staying the same, but I confess, even a 1 pound loss would be nice!!

Oh well, let me go get it over with!!

Are you ready??

I'm amazed & happy to say that I have lost another 3 pounds! I'm really surprised, I truly am! And I'm so happy at the same time. My goal this week was to lose another 3 pounds and I reached it!
God is good!! Now lets see if I can keep the momentum going! I hope you are doing well on your own challenge!

God bless you as you reach your own weight loss goals!

Trusting God even when you don't want to

2008-07-20T02:20:00.001-07:00

I'm in the middle of a severe attack right now. It's as if the enemy has been loosed upon me & I'm continually throwing him off of my back. My human side wants to handle it much differently. My Spirit knows I must trust the Lord.
I know I would receive much more satisfaction if I could handle things MY way. I confess that this is a time in which I CAN do something, but my Spirit knows it would be wrong to do it. So I battle through, trusting God even when I want to handle it in my own strength. I know He is far better equipped to deal with this than I am.
So I will use it as an opportunity to lean on Him once again. To trust Him & watch Him work things out.
Proverbs 3:5 says; "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
I will cease trying to understand & philosophize through this. That's tough for me, but if I don't stop, I can't let go and I'm not trusting with my WHOLE heart.

Today, I purposed myself to look up the scriptures regarding trusting the Lord. I've learned that meditating on the truth of His word builds a mighty fortress around my heart & mind.

Here are some scriptures I found. They are wonderful tidbits to meditate on if you are struggling with trusting God completely for anything.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 25:2
in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 31:14
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 55:23
But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 56:11
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 78:7
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Psalm 86:2
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

I pray these scriptures have blessed you as they have me. Read them over & over. Let them change your thoughts & your attitude.

God bless you as you trust God, even when you don't want to

Lazy Grazing Dayz

2008-07-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today I felt very lazy. I'm not really sure I was actually BEING lazy, but I sure felt it. I didn't do much in the way of anything physical and that makes me feel lazy.

When I was younger, if I was ever just sitting around talking, or watching television my father would tell me that I was being lazy & that nothing would ever get done if I just sat around doing nothing. I heard that so often that it began to reshape the way I thought. I started to feel guilty if I was sitting & relaxing in any form. I'd sit & look around at what needed to be done, then get up & go do something, very often pushing myself beyond my physical capabilities.

I'm no longer so hard on myself. The work I do some days makes up for what I don't do on others and I've found that I NEED to take days to just feel lazy. Today it was very hot & humid, making it near impossible for me to accomplish much out in the yard. The inside of the house was clean, so I just enjoyed some time with my children, then went to my mom's for a long visit & got to have some meaningful conversation with my 80 year old aunt. My son painted pictures for them & made them both quite happy. My daughter's spent the day out with their friends and everything seemed "right with the world" (at least my world).

The unfortunate thing about being inactive is that I tend to "graze". Without doing something physical, I feel the need to do SOMETHING, so I eat. I believe they call that "eating out of boredom" but today I didn't feel bored, just lazily relaxed. I actually enjoyed eating, like I was at a party or something. I was eating things that were good for me, but eating nonetheless. I had to remind myself that we were able to eat fruits & vegetables in abundance in order to avoid feeling guilty for eating. I kind of felt like a cow grazing in a field. Wondering lazily from section to section eating fresh grass from the bountiful earth. It was hard for me not to give in to feeling gluttonous. In the past my gluttony would lead me to eat until my stomach hurt, an abundance of fattening foods that called out to me from every corner. Somehow, this "grazing" felt much different than that. Perhaps it was because what I was eating was whole, "clean" foods and eating them didn't leave me with feeling of depression. I enjoyed them, just as God intended me to.

Tomorrow I will most likely juice fast, however, to get myself back on track & stop the drive to chew. Did you ever notice that as cows graze, they "chew the cud" and it seems like they are never going to stop chewing? That's what happens to me once I spend a day grazing. I have a hard time resisting the urge to chew after that, which leads me to start eating for chewing satisfaction. Since getting in touch with myself, I know myself & if I start to justify "grazing" too much, I'll do it too often. When you're trying to lose weight, you have to cut calories or increase exercise. On lazy grazing days you don't do either, so they can therefore be an open door for the enemy to get a hold of you if you're not alert & careful.

I'm grateful for my new found freedom. It's a freedom to choose and in turn make decisions that I can live with. I'm happy that I'm aware of myself & my needs. Today I felt the need to have a "lazy grazing day". Tomorrow I will feel the need to gain control of myself so I keep myself in line.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." I feel it necessary to keep my body in submission so that I can stay on track. It's like a child after a day at a birthday party where they got to eat lots of candy, cake & ice cream. We allow them to do that knowing it's just a treat. I know with my son, after a day like that it's hard for him to go back to eating "normal", but I have to discipline him to do so. Imagine what would become of him if I let him eat that way every day?

Being free is the power to act without compulsion. It's being liberated from the slavery & bondage of our addiction to food. To keep our freedom, we often have to fight small battles and if we don't discipline our body then we will surely fall prey to the enemy & find ourselves right back where we started. The day we cease to enjoy our freedom & everything that entails, is the day we forfeit the right to have it.

God bless you as you keep yourself disciplined!

Running the race to win

2008-07-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

I've been dreaming of running a lot recently. It's worse on Friday's because it's kickball day. I love pitching so much for those kids, and I envy watching them run from base to base with the feeling that they are accomplishing something. The sense of pride on their faces when they come all the way home is priceless. I want to feel what they feel.

I used to jog in the early morning or late at night, when the world around me was at it's quietest. When I would get home from my jog, I always felt as if I'd accomplished something big for my body. My mind was at peace & my body felt strong. It's been a long time since I've taken a run of any kind and I haven't missed it until recently. I get so supercharged playing kickball with the kids, that I just want to run the bases with them, or run around the whole field to psyche myself up. Unfortunately that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'm in absolutely no shape to run. If I attempted it at this point, I think they'd have to come pick me off the ground because I'd most likely collapse!!

1 Corinthians tell me that I should run, however. And I should run as if I'm going to get the prize. I know they are only using running as an example of the parallel of the "life" race we are in. Our prize is in our high calling. Philippians 3:14 says: "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." and Hebrews 12:1 says: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"
But still, I can't help but read that verse & something in my Spirit just wants to get up & run.

To run to win we must set aside goals for ourselves. We can trust God to help us achieve these goals if we are disciplined and self controlled. We need to order our lives and plan activities towards spiritual goals. We also need to remember that it's important to set physical goals for ourselves. We need to take care of our bodies so that we can live our lives to the fullest and be strong enough to accomplish all that we set out to do.

God bless you as you run the race to win!

Confirming the need for strength exercise

2008-07-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today I purchased a television from a friend of mine. I went to pick it up with my daughter. My friend warned me that it was VERY heavy (at least 200lbs) but I felt as if my daughter & myself could handle it. Famous last words.

In the past I've been like a work horse. I was very strong at one time. I could lift things with very little effort. Of course I used to work out with weights & picking up children daily was a part of my job. I guess I've been in such denial that I never really thought my strength would diminish. I guess I forgot the "use it or lose it" mantra I've heard so many times over the years.

The reality of the fact that I am no longer strong hit me harder than I expected. I now get to be big, but physically weak. Most times people associate big people with strength. "Big & Strong" being a description used often. But big definitely doesn't mean strong. When I was big AND strong, I had an easier time accepting my size. Not that I liked it, but I at least felt like there was something positive about it. I always admired the pictures of Amazon women and in my mind I figured I'd one day look as close to one as I could. Being strong put me mentally at the half way point. Now that I know I'm weak, I have another challenge to meet. I have to regain my strength.

So I'll add weight training to my ever growing regime of exercising.

As you grow on your journey, you will need to find exercise regimes that work for you that will help transform your body into what you want it to be. Add a little at a time until you are ready to add more. We're moving from the crawling to the walking phase so we're still just taking baby steps.

God bless you as you get in touch with your body's ever changing needs!

Passing the toughest test

2008-07-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today I'm tired. No, that's not true. I'm EXHAUSTED. I've been through tests & trials of enormous proportions the past couple of days & today I need to rest. I won't be able to, however, because I have to babysit 4 rambunctious boys (1 is mine).

Since Monday I've gotten attacked with so many fiery darts of the enemy I lost count. Just a few of these came in the way of a flat tire, a stolen van and a letter from unemployment saying they overpaid us 10,000 & we now have to pay it back. I have been stretched like a rubber band. Every time I dodged one dart, another one was thrown at me. There were so many I actually lost count.

I usually handle these types of attacks with a less than valient defense. I go to my favorite place, the kitchen, & seek what I can eat to comfort me & make me feel better. This time I didn't. I prayed and I worshiped God. I truly trusted Him without trusting myself. I'm amazed that food never became an issue. In fact, it was the LAST thing I wanted. I've finally crossed the bridge & there's no going back to my old ways. I explained it to my daughter like this:
It's like I've been in school learning all I needed to learn to be free from the bondage of food. I got tested each time I learned something new. Sometimes I passed, sometimes I failed. Then it came time for exams. This would determine whether or not I would get my degree & graduate. After passing the hardest test of all, I finally graduated! FINALLY I TRULY am free!! It's a feeling that I cannot explain. A feeling of security that I've never had before. Food no longer masters me, but I master IT. It's a feeling that I cannot adequately describe. I finally feel whole.

Since I started the fight for freedom, the enemy has waged such a war against me. The closer I got to my true freedom, the more he attacked me. The more his hatred for me grew. But God allowed it. He knew how important it was for me to pass this test. He knew that I would never feel truly free until I completed this. He was right, for He knows me better than I know myself. God is faithful. He never once left my side. He went before me ALWAYS. He truly loves me. This is the very first time that I put God before food in an attack of this magnitude. I allowed Him to be my comforter. I let Him do what He does best.

The next time you are being attacked by the enemy, cry out to Jesus. He's all you will ever need.

God bless you as you let God fight your battles & experience TRUE freedom!

Making Little Changes

2008-07-15T03:32:00.000-07:00

I'm on the second day of my second week of this challenge. I've been making little changes to help me be more comfortable. This change that we are committing to takes time and effort. For me, I'm so busy most of the time that it's an effort to find the time to work out & cook differently. In the past I've used that as an excuse to stay where I was and not move forward. Unfortunately, that only added to my depression over how I feel about how I look.
I'm 43 years old & people around me are dying from diseases that might have been prevented if they took better care of their bodies. I look at myself in the mirror & I can hardly believe what I've done to myself. I ask myself , "Where did the last 20 years go?" and "I thought I had more time!". Well time is running out & I'm on the trek toward heaven. I don't want to leave my children with a legacy of obesity. It only takes a small effort to make a little change. A change we can live with. After we make that change & we get comfortable with it, we can add another. The important thing is to make the changes, no matter how small they are because they will ultimately be the changes that help us become the people that we want to be. We CAN win this battle with our weight, we just have to DO something about it.

When choosing my little change, I decided to pick something that I was really struggling with, so my little change has been to incorporate exercise into my life every day, no matter how small. I know that exercise is a key factor for my own personal weight loss success, and that's the little change that's most beneficial for me right now. I figured that if I could change the thing that was hardest for me, I'd have an easier time in the long run.
Take a minute to reflect on your own life & decide what little changes you need to make to accomplish your long term goal. It may be as simple as cutting out a food that you feel is a problem for you in your diet. Whatever it is, I can assure you that making little changes add up to the big change that you have been so looking forward to!

God bless you as you learn to make little changes!

Weigh In day

2008-07-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

Well today is the day. The first week completed in this weight loss challenge. I am a little reluctant to get on the scale because I don't really feel like I've lost anything this week. What I DO feel is stronger, however, and so the number really should not be so important to me. But alas, I confess, it is.
I know that muscle weighs more than fat & that when you build muscle, the scale won't always go down. I've worked out a lot this week, and so I've prepared myself that the number may not have moved on the scale. My old self certainly would not have been able to do that! If the scale didn't move I was abandoning my diet!
The daily plate says that according to my weight & calculated number of calories, I should lose 3 pounds a week. I was hoping for 5, but I'll take three! I can tell you this, whatever the number on that scale when I get on it, I KNOW I lost inches. Let me share this little story...

Last night when I was going to the concert at church, my daughter discovered that my jeans had a nice hole in them right on the butt cheek! I was at my sisters and was going to church right from there so I had no change of clothes. I was on my way out the door when she noticed this & home was just too far to go back to for a change of clothes. I figured we couldn't go to the concert.
In steps my other daughter.
My oldest daughter is 2 sizes smaller than me. She's been dieting as well, and so her pants have started to get a little big for her. We've said that we can move down the ladder together and I could get her jeans when she grows out of them. I figured that would take a few weeks.
She sees that I'm upset and she suggests that I try a pair of her jeans. (she had several, as she was dog sitting at my sisters for a few days). I was reluctant, because I knew I hadn't lost that much weight yet. She kept pushing me to at least try.
I went into the bathroom & tried the pants on. I was shocked to find that they fit!! Not comfortably, of course. Those babies were skin tight! But the fact that I could get them up & button them was exciting for me! The last time I tried them on I could not get them over my butt completely to even pull together to snap at the waist. Needless to say, I felt very good about that!
That said, I think I may add inches to my tracker, because that might just be a more effective way of keeping track than the scale number. We'll see.

And now...without further adieu...I will go weigh myself & come back here to post the results!
patience...
patience...
are you ready??
I am happy to announce that I am now 3 pounds lighter! Just as the daily plate predicted I would be!! I'm very happy this morning! VERY happy!! Woohooo! Praise God!

And so now, I officially begin my second week of the challenge. I am going to fast today in celebration and preparation for the week ahead. I enjoyed my once a week fast from my last commitment and would like to continue experiencing the closeness I feel to the Lord on those days. I am going to work hard to reach the goal of losing another 3 pounds for next week! With God at the head, I'm certain I can do it!

God bless you as you reach your own weight loss goals!

I could, but SHOULD I?

2008-07-13T06:50:00.001-07:00

It's Sunday, the day of rest. I like to rest from everything if I can & just bask in God's glory. There are still things to do on Sunday, but I try my best to rest from thinking of things that draw me FROM God. I've set Sunday apart as a day that I can really stop focusing on what to eat & just eat what I want. When I say that I don't mean gobble everything I see like a glutton, but I mean relax in really paying attention to what I'm eating as rigidly as I do all week. Sunday is the day I could eat a piece of birthday cake at a party without feeling like I was straying from my eating plan.
So knowing I can, I struggle with whether or no I SHOULD. I'm starting to dislike eating the way I used to. It makes me feel dirty inside. I feel heavy & sluggish. That's not to say I won't ever eat that way on a Sunday, but I'll most likely do it a lot less than I ever did before. I'm thinking perhaps little "treats" rather than full blown eating binges. The way we teach our little children to eat. Candy is a treat, we don't eat the entire basket of Easter candy the day we get it!

I never thought I'd get to the point in which I didn't want to take advantage of eating every "bad" food I could get my hands on. My tastes are changing, and I am gaining control in an area I never thought I could.
The irony of getting in touch with this change that is taking place is that the Lord is confirming it in other places, just as He always does. I went to church tonight for a concert, and they were acknowledging all volunteers, of which I am one. They gave each person a free sandwich, soda, bag of chips & cookie. It was my chance to eat what I wanted, but I chose not to. I just didn't want it. Now here's the best part....
During the concert, the singer speaks. He talks about craving God & he uses food to point out his example. He says, "what you consume is what you crave. So if you eat vegetables all the time, you will crave vegetables. If you read the Word of God all the time, you will crave the Word of God." That could not have made more sense to me than it did at that moment. I realized that this is exactly what is happening to me, on both counts.

God is good, and He is faithful. Just because He tells us we CAN do something, doesn't mean we SHOULD. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says it best: ""Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive."
So yes, I COULD, but I need to be willing to take the consequences of feeling yucky afterward before I make the decision that I SHOULD.

God bless you as decide between could & should!

Facing Temptation

2008-07-12T07:52:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning realizing that it was Saturday. Saturday's were always fun days for me, the day where anything goes. Unfortunately that usually meant anything goes in the way of eating as well! Once I sat down to do my morning writing, I started to get cravings for the pizza & poppers my husband had brought home from work last night. It was as if they were calling me from the refrigerator. I even began to make excuses in my mind to eat them. But in my heart I knew it just wasn't right and so I decided to fight it. I knew if I continued to sit in the position I was in I would very possible cave. Fortunately I was writing something about exercise and so immediately I knew what I had to do. I would conquer my temptation with some sort of physical exercise. I knew that giving in to the craving would make me feel awful but doing something physical would make me feel good, so I got up and went right outside to do a little yard work. Being in the outside air and working my body physically really did take that temptation away. I drank an ice cold water afterwards & ate a big salad & I felt like I had conquered Mount Everest! Beating a strong temptation is very gratifying, I have to tell you!

Later in the day I added some water aerobics. Having focused on the physical benefits of exercise, I was no longer being pulled by the lure of those foods I wanted so badly. But I do want to say this. IF I had eaten a slice of pizza & IF I had eaten a popper at any other time I would not have beaten myself up over it. Once we do that we fall prey to the enemy by being discouraged and it's very possible we will go on a "beat myself up eating binge" leaving ourselves with more damage than that one piece of pizza & the popper would have done! I didn't want to succumb at that point because I could actually feel the battle raging & I could feel the presence of the enemy taunting me. If I had planned on eating freely that day, it would have been different for me.

If you find yourself to the point where you eat something you shouldn't, don't beat yourself up over it. You are, after all, human. It's easier to just go take a long walk to burn it off and you'll feel even better. Put on some worship music and go on a prayer walk. You'll find that you've thwarted the enemy's plans!!

God bless you as you fight temptation and win!

Enjoying Physical Activity

2008-07-11T06:24:00.001-07:00

Since this weight loss challenge began, the one thing I've tried hardest to focus on is physical exercise. At 43 years old & very out of shape, there's not much I've liked to do physically. I've learned to enjoy walking, but it took me a while to get to that point. Even still, it is not my favorite thing to do. I do love yoga & I love my weights, but still, they don't make me feel the way I'm looking to feel. I want to feel athletic again.

When I was a young girl, I played softball, basketball and I ran. I loved all three things. When I was older, I still loved softball and running, so I played for a while on an adult softball team and I used to run in the early mornings or late nights. About 8 years ago I was into Racquetball at the gym I belonged to. That was the LAST athletic season of my life.

Every Friday I play kickball with my co-op group. I actually like playing kickball, and today it occurred to me that I like it enough that I wish I played with older people. I don't have a lot of time in my schedule during this season of my life, but I wonder if I purposed myself to make time would I be able to pull it off? It's not out of the question, it will just require some re-prioritizing. Making time for exercise if definitely worth it, but up until now I have had no desire whatsoever. Since this weight loss challenge, however, I now find myself thinking daily of ways I can burn calories. I actually feel alive again, and I want to bring life back to this dead body of mine. I have started enjoying yard work (something I've always hated) for the way it makes my body feel. I feel strong, like I've accomplished something big. It also makes me feel like I'm doing something to make MY world a better place and I enjoy the tranquil moments I get when I sit out & look at the beauty I've created within my peaceful garden.

Each one of has something physical that we love doing, or that we used to love during another season of our lives. Whether you know it, or whether you have to revisit your past or seek out something new to find it, it's there. It might take a little push to get yourself back into it, but once you do it you will find that it brings you back to life! I encourage you today to seek out something physical that you can enjoy. You just might find that it reignites passions within you that you thought were dead forever!

God bless you as you get physical!

Finding what works for you

2008-07-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to make a real lifestyle change for a very long time. I've always envied others who knew what they wanted & could make it happen. I, unfortunately, was never one of them.
Since I've always had some inner struggle, there was always something I was fighting against & I was always looking for "new & improved" ways to deal with it. Once I found the Lord & really developed a solid relationship with Him, I was able to get things under control in many areas of my life. The one thing, however, that I never put my complete trust in Him for was my gluttony. My love for food had consumed my thoughts and there wasn't a day I didn't use it for comfort or reward. I'd spent years trying to figure out how to get past it and the answer was always staring me right in the face, I simply CHOSE to ignore it. Perhaps it was because I just WANTED to stay in my sin and self pity. It was a safe place & definitely familiar to me. But it was like a ball & chain and it weighed me down every day.

I feel that I've finally found what works for me. Prayer, meditation, clean eating & exercise has made me feel like a "whole" person. I feel very in tune to who I am & what God is saying to me. I feel a sense of freedom every morning that I wake up. I no longer fear I will revert to my old way of eating. In the past I have continually returned to my old lifestyle. I know that is the case for so many of us who have fought food addictions. The Bible compares us to dogs and it isn't pretty! Proverbs 26:11 says, "Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly." I have been a fool for a greater part of my life.
But these days I feel different. I feel renewed. I know that trusting God has been the key to that. Spending time with Him daily, talking to Him when I am upset, meditating on His Word as well as in my quiet place has really transformed my mind & that is where the battle is.
Trusting God really makes us new. It recreates us from the dead place within to the place of life & freedom.
In Revelation 21:5 He says, "...Behold, I make all things new..." Today I feel new!!

I know that not every person will see things the way I do. I know that they will choose different paths to freedom, and that is their right. The important thing is to find what works best for you. Not every diet plan will be one that you can live with. I believe, however, that to stay on any plan it has to become a complete lifestyle change or it will never work. That's why it's so important to adopt a change that you can commit to. No matter what diet plan you choose, I will always believe that trusting God is the key to complete freedom.

God bless you as you find what works for you!

The Divided Man

2008-07-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

It is evident in our lives the areas in which the enemy dominates. It seems such a shame to waste so much of our precious time here on this earth following a path that leads to self destruction. We all do it in one way or another, and it must grieve our Lord so to see us make our lives more difficult than He ever intended. For me it has been the issue of gluttony & physical abuse of my body. The past two days of eating clean & exercising has made me feel so much better. This is not the first time I have felt this way. In fact, I've lost count of how many times I've followed the right path and felt great only to deviate from it in the long run. Every time I eat this way I feel strong & renewed, yet the pull to eat wrong so often slips in. I look back at my life & wonder why it was never as important to me as it is now to take care of my body. Why, if I feel so good when I eat good & exercise, would I WANT to feel bad eating the other way & NOT exercising? It seems to be a common sense issue, but yet, the pull to do wrong is always great. I guess that's why Adam & Eve sinned from the beginning. There is something enticing about doing the wrong thing. When you look at it, it just seems down right stupid. Yet, here we are as a human race constantly struggling between right & wrong.

I've done several 40 day commissions lately(the one before this one ends this upcoming Friday, 7/11), and each one blesses me more than the last. The weight I lost a few months ago has returned, but the things I learned while spending that 40 days eating right have stuck with me. I ate clean, but at some point I ate too many high carb vegetables & didn't do enough exercise to let those carbs be fuel to my body. Instead, they caused me to gain back what I'd lost. So technically though I was eating right & clean, I was not choosing foods that were right for my particular metabolism. Getting in touch with your own body is very important in this weight loss journey.
Eating right coupled with exercise is just the right combination to battle weight gain once you have your food addiction under control. It's not that I didn't know that, but knowing & doing are so often in battle with one another. It's an epidemic of great proportions. Paul makes us feel as if it is a "matter of fact" part of every life when he writes in Romans 7:14-25:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

How many times I've quoted that verse! It has given me perspective so many times. It is a fact that we must accept, yet we must continue to fight. We wrestle with things that we are not always in touch with. Ephesians 6:12 says this:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

When reading that there are many feelings you may encounter. Fear is one such feeling. So many people don't want to deal with spiritual warfare or things of a "demonic" nature because they are so afraid of it. We can be in denial all we want & we can avoid the issues all we want, but the fact remains that there ARE spiritual forces of evil and we DO wrestle with them. The thing we must not forget is that if we are in Christ, they have no chance of harming us. That should take all fear away.

I've definitely wrestled with the enemy over my food addiction more times than I care to admit! Because of it I find that my weight loss journey never seems to end. I've had so many positive experiences over the years, but I've always yielded to the flesh and undone all the good & all the hard work I accomplished. This time seems different to me. I pray I'm right. I somehow feel that these 40 day desert experiences have strengthened me and brought me to a different level in my spiritual walk. The reality of being in the last half of my earthly life has impacted me deeply, and knowing that I need my Lord to walk through them with me has enabled me to lean more on Him & cling much more tightly to Him. This last half of my life's journey I feel safest holding His hand as I walk.

Day 3 has been a blessing to me. I look to day 4 with anticipation! I'm learning to embrace the day & all it will teach me!

God bless you as you embrace the day!

HOLDING UP THE BANNER

God is still in the miracle business!

It takes a village!

Putting pride aside

New Year, New Commitment!

Joy in the Journey

For the love of a child

Surrender

Is it well?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Gain Control by Submitting

What matters most

Wonderful Worship

Thankful Thursdays

When The Devil Attacks

Wonderful Worship

Be raised up!

The Importance of a Quiet Place

Living Water

Live Well Wednesdays

Rising From The Ashes

Tagged! Eight Random Facts About Me...

The Trail of Tears

Metamorphosis revisited

Live Well Wednesday: Metamorphosis

Being a servant

If my people...

2 Chronicles 7:14

Heal Our Land

As for me & my house...

Powerful Worship

Embracing the Fast

Live Well Wednesdays~Finding my fast

1st Day of the 40 day fast for America

Fasting another day

Fasting Day

Listening to God

What could be preventing my weight loss?

How Important is your appearance?

Being the Leader God wants you to be

Fighting Hypocrisy

Dying to Ones Self

Live Well Wednesdays

Feasting on Jesus!

Weigh in day #4

Getting closer to God

Peace of Mind

Refreshment at the river

The weariest day in a very long time

Live Well Wednesdays ~ Getting back on track

Getting through tough times

Stand strong!

Accepting the consequences

The blessing of friendship

Dealing With Loss

Live Well Wednesdays~Eating from the bountiful earth

Is you house full of detestable things?

Weigh in day #3

The power of standing in agreement

Oh for the Love of chicken! (and fish *smile*)

Changing your focus

Trust your Shepherd!

The Shepherd and His Flock

Live Well Wednesdays

The blessing of brokenness

Weigh in day #2

Trusting God even when you don't want to

Lazy Grazing Dayz

Running the race to win

Confirming the need for strength exercise

Passing the toughest test

Making Little Changes

Weigh In day

I could, but SHOULD I?

Facing Temptation

Enjoying Physical Activity

Finding what works for you

The Divided Man

Oh for the Love of chicken! (and fish smile)