If God gave you a To Do list with only two items on it, could you finish it?
Before you speak too quickly, let me show you the list.
Matthew 22:37-40 (King James Version)
37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
I am going to approach this backwards, because most of you have received enough sermons about loving God above all else. All that resulted is guilt that you don't love enough. That's probably true BUT maybe you don't know what love looks like.
What if the people that were set over you to nurture you and love you, either wouldn't or didn't know how or were self-absorbed they chose not to. Even more likely they simply duplicated the love they were given. For most that was a faulty pattern.
So let's look at the real thing.
1 Cor. 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails.
How do I love me? Let me count the ways.
I dare you to make a checklist with following qualities:
1. Longsuffering
2. Kind
3. Does not envy
4. Does not parade itself (Add to that- Does not defend its position)
5. Not puffed up
6. Does not behave rudely
7. Does not seek its own
8. Is not provoked
9. Thinks NO evil
10. Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth
11. Bears all things
12. Believes all things
13. Hopes all things
14. Endures all things
15. Never fails.
Now draw three or four columns to the right. If you have children, you may need more.
At the head of the first column, write your name. How can we ever love another if we are hard on ourselves all of the time and never feel that we have done enough. Now put the people in your life that you interact with at a significant level. This would include your spouse, boss, children etc.
Now for the next seven days, keep track of how you love yourself and others.
Each day I will be back to encourage you in this new discovery of love.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
God's Spiritual Diet Plan (Part 5 of 5)
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
You can take someone who eats perfectly and they have no control over their weight whether too fat or too skinny.
That is because we are a triune being- spirit, soul and body.
We need rightousnesss, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. If the person is on a rigid diet but full of bitternes or unforgivenesss, it will be for naught.
Righteousnes is integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.
One of the definitions of peace in the Strong's is: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.
Examine that. Assured of your salvation. Fears nothing. Content in whatever state you are in.
Joy in the Holy Ghost: Dependent on your relationship from Him. This isn't a joy that comes out of an event, it is a joy that comes out of relationship with Him. You cannot not experience that joy if you are a legalist and are in constant black and white thinking.
If any one of these characteristics-righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost- is missing it will affect you on a physiological level. But we ignore the spiritual and do more exercise, change our diets, and get into more bitterness and frustration which further slows down our metabolism and amps up our cortisol levels so we can't take our peace.
I have learned that in order to establish righteousness in my life, I have to give up my right to be right. I do not have to defend myself. I am to walk in humility before the Lord and He will be my defender.
[Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defense. Psalm 59:9
Because of years of abuse, I lived in a state of hyper-vigilance. Always checking my surroundings even if I was in a store to see that I was safe. Recently I recognized that I was not trusting God to keep me safe. If I used wisdom in where I was going and how I was getting there, he had my back. I could relax.
Living in a continued state of hyper-vigilance keeps your body amped up and your cortisol drips continually. This destroys your immune system. You are prone to disease and have little energy.
Enter Addiction to make you feel good.
Isn't that insidious?
When we put our trust in Him, we can relax, He's got our back. We no longer have to be in charge of everything. We can take our peace. Then our body comes into peace and we are strengthen.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
You can take someone who eats perfectly and they have no control over their weight whether too fat or too skinny.
That is because we are a triune being- spirit, soul and body.
We need rightousnesss, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. If the person is on a rigid diet but full of bitternes or unforgivenesss, it will be for naught.
Righteousnes is integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.
One of the definitions of peace in the Strong's is: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.
Examine that. Assured of your salvation. Fears nothing. Content in whatever state you are in.
Joy in the Holy Ghost: Dependent on your relationship from Him. This isn't a joy that comes out of an event, it is a joy that comes out of relationship with Him. You cannot not experience that joy if you are a legalist and are in constant black and white thinking.
If any one of these characteristics-righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost- is missing it will affect you on a physiological level. But we ignore the spiritual and do more exercise, change our diets, and get into more bitterness and frustration which further slows down our metabolism and amps up our cortisol levels so we can't take our peace.
I have learned that in order to establish righteousness in my life, I have to give up my right to be right. I do not have to defend myself. I am to walk in humility before the Lord and He will be my defender.
[Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defense. Psalm 59:9
Because of years of abuse, I lived in a state of hyper-vigilance. Always checking my surroundings even if I was in a store to see that I was safe. Recently I recognized that I was not trusting God to keep me safe. If I used wisdom in where I was going and how I was getting there, he had my back. I could relax.
Living in a continued state of hyper-vigilance keeps your body amped up and your cortisol drips continually. This destroys your immune system. You are prone to disease and have little energy.
Enter Addiction to make you feel good.
Isn't that insidious?
When we put our trust in Him, we can relax, He's got our back. We no longer have to be in charge of everything. We can take our peace. Then our body comes into peace and we are strengthen.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
Friday, January 14, 2011
God's Spiritual Diet Plan (Part 4 of 5)
Proverbs 4:20-27 (King James Version)
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Ponder here means to prepare the way while path means course of action. So prepare the way of the course of action for your feet.
We are always in such a hurry to get on with our life that we fail to prepare. The best way to prepare your heart for any journey is with worship and digging in His Word. The Bible is not a quick read.
Isaiah 28:9-10 (New King James Version)
9 “ Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
The preparation takes maturity. We cannot be running ahead of God. For years that was the way I did things. I would hear a part of a Word, and run with it. It is "precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."
Rebellion wants the Full Meal Deal and we want it our way.
You will see this in all addictions. The addict thinks they are the exception or this one time won't matter.
In the previous post, I quoted Kathy Helou who said, "Anything that is an enemy to your body is an enemy to God's plan for your life."
I heard that a year ago. Now I am applying it to my life. Why did I take so long?
Again FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of change, fear of not being in control. Fear is a sin because it leaves no room for faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says, " But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Prepare the way by excising every vestige of fear out of your life AS HE REVEALS IT. You don't need to go on a witch hunt. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas of your life where fear reigns. Then be faithful to deal with it. Repent for entertaining it.
If you agree that your body is the temple of the Lord, it is time to evict these illegal squatters. Cast them out.
And if you blow it again, just repent and receive your forgiveness.
Prepare the way by filling the temple with Praise, Worship, Word and His Love. This is how you establish your ways.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
This is your responsibility. You have to choose not to stretch the parameters of what God is calling you to do. For instance, if God calls you to a 21 day Daniel Fast, don't say but I am going to have meat on Sundays. You see that is how an addict thinks. Always looking for an exception and up-sell. If He calls you to a season of eating low gylcemic foods for a season to
bring your body into align after years of a anything goes eating regimen, don't add until He says add.
Isaiah 1:18-20 says, "18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
God is not trying to deprive you of any good thing. His heart for you is an abundant life.
Let us prepare the way.
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Ponder here means to prepare the way while path means course of action. So prepare the way of the course of action for your feet.
We are always in such a hurry to get on with our life that we fail to prepare. The best way to prepare your heart for any journey is with worship and digging in His Word. The Bible is not a quick read.
Isaiah 28:9-10 (New King James Version)
9 “ Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
The preparation takes maturity. We cannot be running ahead of God. For years that was the way I did things. I would hear a part of a Word, and run with it. It is "precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."
Rebellion wants the Full Meal Deal and we want it our way.
You will see this in all addictions. The addict thinks they are the exception or this one time won't matter.
In the previous post, I quoted Kathy Helou who said, "Anything that is an enemy to your body is an enemy to God's plan for your life."
I heard that a year ago. Now I am applying it to my life. Why did I take so long?
Again FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of change, fear of not being in control. Fear is a sin because it leaves no room for faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says, " But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Prepare the way by excising every vestige of fear out of your life AS HE REVEALS IT. You don't need to go on a witch hunt. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas of your life where fear reigns. Then be faithful to deal with it. Repent for entertaining it.
If you agree that your body is the temple of the Lord, it is time to evict these illegal squatters. Cast them out.
And if you blow it again, just repent and receive your forgiveness.
Prepare the way by filling the temple with Praise, Worship, Word and His Love. This is how you establish your ways.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
This is your responsibility. You have to choose not to stretch the parameters of what God is calling you to do. For instance, if God calls you to a 21 day Daniel Fast, don't say but I am going to have meat on Sundays. You see that is how an addict thinks. Always looking for an exception and up-sell. If He calls you to a season of eating low gylcemic foods for a season to
bring your body into align after years of a anything goes eating regimen, don't add until He says add.
Isaiah 1:18-20 says, "18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
God is not trying to deprive you of any good thing. His heart for you is an abundant life.
Let us prepare the way.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
God's Spiritual Diet Plan (Part 3 of 5)
Proverbs 4:20-27 (King James Version)
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
4Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
That is just as we have to guard our heart, we must look at one of the gates to our heart, our mouth. Perverse means fraudulent and deceitful.
Proverbs 19:1 says, "Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool."
In the free online dictionary by Farlex it says, "A false representation of a matter of fact—whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading allegations, or by concealment of what should have been disclosed—that deceives and is intended to deceive another so that the individual will act upon it to her or his legal injury.
Fraud is commonly understood as dishonesty calculated for advantage. A person who is dishonest may be called a fraud."
God's Word is absolute. There are no white lies. Are you living a life of integrity or one of a fraud?
Matt 5:37 says. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
Does your word mean anything or are you saying what you think people want to hear?
Let's bring it a little closer. Do you tell yourself the truth? Sometimes we live in a state of denial with an addiction. We say, "I can quit any time I want>'
Is that really the truth?
Show me. In reality it is that froward mouth.
Why do we boast, exaggerate, tell half truths, accuse? Very simply, it is fear. Fear of man-fear of rejection, fear of not fitting in,, fear of not meeting someone's expectations-. Shouldn't we speak each word as if Father God were listening? He is you know.
I have found that when I speak words that are not pleasing to Him, I have a need to put something sweet in my mouth. It is as if I think/believe that the bitterness of my words will be sweetened by sugar.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
I sometimes get into trouble spiritually because I am looking at others instead of my Father. Whether I am comparing myself to someone else to see if I measure up or critiquing someone else's behavior, it is all sin.
I was in abusive situations over 25 years of my life. I learned to be hyper-vigilant, always checking to see if I was safe. What resulted was that I became in charge of my safety. There was no need to trust God, I was in charge. Having to be in charge all of the time comes from fear. If I don't do, who will? If I don't do it, things will fall apart? If I don't do it, fill in the blank. When I was in that mode, I had become a god to myself.
It was very humbling to recognize that, even more humbling to recognize that even with all of the Word I knew in my head, there was a lack of trust in God to love me, take care of me and protect me.
During part of that that season, I lived in the Dallas, TX area. I was asked to do some interviews at a Christian concert. I don't remember all of the people I interviewed, but I remember the one with Michael W. Smith. When he walked into the room, he brought God with him. He was a vessel of His glory. During the interview, he said quite pointedly that we have a responsibility to take care of our bodies as temples of God. It was said in love and it pierced my heart, but I quickly dismissed it. I did not let my eyes look right on.
I chose not to take to take responsibility for my sin.
Nearly fifteen years later I would hear Mary Kay National Sales Director Kathy Helou say, "Anything that is an enemy to your body, is an enemy to God's plan for your life."
I have an addiction to carbs. I cannot quit without God's help.
I lift my eyes up to the source of my help.
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
4Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
That is just as we have to guard our heart, we must look at one of the gates to our heart, our mouth. Perverse means fraudulent and deceitful.
Proverbs 19:1 says, "Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool."
In the free online dictionary by Farlex it says, "A false representation of a matter of fact—whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading allegations, or by concealment of what should have been disclosed—that deceives and is intended to deceive another so that the individual will act upon it to her or his legal injury.
Fraud is commonly understood as dishonesty calculated for advantage. A person who is dishonest may be called a fraud."
God's Word is absolute. There are no white lies. Are you living a life of integrity or one of a fraud?
Matt 5:37 says. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
Does your word mean anything or are you saying what you think people want to hear?
Let's bring it a little closer. Do you tell yourself the truth? Sometimes we live in a state of denial with an addiction. We say, "I can quit any time I want>'
Is that really the truth?
Show me. In reality it is that froward mouth.
Why do we boast, exaggerate, tell half truths, accuse? Very simply, it is fear. Fear of man-fear of rejection, fear of not fitting in,, fear of not meeting someone's expectations-. Shouldn't we speak each word as if Father God were listening? He is you know.
I have found that when I speak words that are not pleasing to Him, I have a need to put something sweet in my mouth. It is as if I think/believe that the bitterness of my words will be sweetened by sugar.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
I sometimes get into trouble spiritually because I am looking at others instead of my Father. Whether I am comparing myself to someone else to see if I measure up or critiquing someone else's behavior, it is all sin.
I was in abusive situations over 25 years of my life. I learned to be hyper-vigilant, always checking to see if I was safe. What resulted was that I became in charge of my safety. There was no need to trust God, I was in charge. Having to be in charge all of the time comes from fear. If I don't do, who will? If I don't do it, things will fall apart? If I don't do it, fill in the blank. When I was in that mode, I had become a god to myself.
It was very humbling to recognize that, even more humbling to recognize that even with all of the Word I knew in my head, there was a lack of trust in God to love me, take care of me and protect me.
During part of that that season, I lived in the Dallas, TX area. I was asked to do some interviews at a Christian concert. I don't remember all of the people I interviewed, but I remember the one with Michael W. Smith. When he walked into the room, he brought God with him. He was a vessel of His glory. During the interview, he said quite pointedly that we have a responsibility to take care of our bodies as temples of God. It was said in love and it pierced my heart, but I quickly dismissed it. I did not let my eyes look right on.
I chose not to take to take responsibility for my sin.
Nearly fifteen years later I would hear Mary Kay National Sales Director Kathy Helou say, "Anything that is an enemy to your body, is an enemy to God's plan for your life."
I have an addiction to carbs. I cannot quit without God's help.
I lift my eyes up to the source of my help.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God's Spiritual Diet Plan (Part 2 of 5)
Proverbs 4:20-27 (King James Version)
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Today we are going to review with verses 23-24.
It is with your heart that you hear God, not with our physical ears.
Have you ever programmed your cell phone to call people by your voice commands? I can take your cell phone and say the same name and the phone will not recognize my voice. Our voices are as different as our fingerprints.
There are many voices clamoring to get your attention. To hear the voice of God you must keep your heart with all diligence.
That means paying attention to who you are listening to. In Genesis 3:8-11 after eating the fruit, Adam and Eve hid themselves when they heard the voice of God. When He asked why, Adam said because he was naked.
God then asked, "Who told you that?"
When my pastor taught us this illustration, I began making it a practice of challenging some of the things I was hearing in my heart. If it didn't bring me peace, I would challenge myself with "Who told you that?"
I am walking out of a lot of drivenness and performance. Sometimes I feel pushed to do things, even to meet other's expectations, but it is not God asking me to do these things. The person I need to please is God. What is He asking me to do.
With all diligence means to post a guard around your heart. Build a wall around it.
Proverbs 25:28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
No diligence. Yet in verse 23 says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. This is the key to happiness. The issues of life means the fountain of life of happiness according to the Strong's Concordance.
Put a guard on your heart. See it as your personal gated community. Let only those people and things who honor God come in. Yes, there will be times when God will send you out, but your spirit man will be a walled sanctuary where you can commune with your Father.
No matter what addiction you need to overcome whether television and computers or cocaine, we must guard our hearts. When we give our heart back to the Father and realize how precious it is, we will have that "gated community of fellowship".
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Today we are going to review with verses 23-24.
It is with your heart that you hear God, not with our physical ears.
Have you ever programmed your cell phone to call people by your voice commands? I can take your cell phone and say the same name and the phone will not recognize my voice. Our voices are as different as our fingerprints.
There are many voices clamoring to get your attention. To hear the voice of God you must keep your heart with all diligence.
That means paying attention to who you are listening to. In Genesis 3:8-11 after eating the fruit, Adam and Eve hid themselves when they heard the voice of God. When He asked why, Adam said because he was naked.
God then asked, "Who told you that?"
When my pastor taught us this illustration, I began making it a practice of challenging some of the things I was hearing in my heart. If it didn't bring me peace, I would challenge myself with "Who told you that?"
I am walking out of a lot of drivenness and performance. Sometimes I feel pushed to do things, even to meet other's expectations, but it is not God asking me to do these things. The person I need to please is God. What is He asking me to do.
With all diligence means to post a guard around your heart. Build a wall around it.
Proverbs 25:28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
No diligence. Yet in verse 23 says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. This is the key to happiness. The issues of life means the fountain of life of happiness according to the Strong's Concordance.
Put a guard on your heart. See it as your personal gated community. Let only those people and things who honor God come in. Yes, there will be times when God will send you out, but your spirit man will be a walled sanctuary where you can commune with your Father.
No matter what addiction you need to overcome whether television and computers or cocaine, we must guard our hearts. When we give our heart back to the Father and realize how precious it is, we will have that "gated community of fellowship".
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
God's Spiritual Diet Plan (Part 1 of 4)
Proverbs 4:20-27 (King James Version)
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
We are body, soul and spirit. It does no good for me to eat properly if my spirit is deprived and my soul is on a binge.
We have to hear God's voice for ourselves. Verse 20 says attend which says pay attention and incline means to bow. Today I have purposed to pay attention to what He is saying and to come in humility. I am not going through all of these verses today for I assure you they have not all come as rhema to my spirit yet. Yet I am listening.
It is sacred to hear the voice of the Lord. I am not talking about a booming voice, I am talking about that quiet knowing. A peaceful knowing that you know.
Sin will always keep us from hearing the voice of the Lord. In my case, overeating among other things is a besetting sin. I am conquering clutter as I see that it makes me anxious. Anxiety does not allow you to have faith in God for fear and faith are like oil and water.
"Let them (God's words) not depart from thine eyes."
What am I looking at?? How smart is it to watch the Food Network while bringing correction into your eating? Well, that is pretty obvious. But I believe the Lord is asking me during this 28 days to be very careful of what I am focusing on. That includes television, magazines, books, shopping and I am sure more.
Keep them (God's Word) in the midst of thine heart.
Sometimes my heart is so crowded that I don't pay attention to it. (See verse 20) Just as a rotten apple spoils the barrel, the Word of God in the midst of my heart will influence everything else in my heart. Those things that cannot handle the Light of His Word will be exposed and I will have to choose to get rid of them because His Light disperses the darkness.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2
22For they (God's words) are life unto those that find them, That means we have to to look for them. God does not have a drive-thru where i your haste, you drive up and order the word for the day. No, you have to find His instruction, His direction daily. What if you were going on a long trip and you got on the highway without a map or directions, and there are no road signs. You may ultimately get there, but wouldn't it be simpler to have directions?
What if a pilot did not constantly make course corrections? The winds, turbulence, often take the aircraft off course, one degree here, another there. If there are no course corrections, he will not reach his destinations.
So it is with our lives. Yet we want to do our own things and try to figure things out. Who are we listening to? The voice of God or the voice of reason? Are we willing to make corrections or is always being right more important?
"and health to all their flesh." Do you have disease in your body? God's Word has the prescription for healing. That health is our physical body but also our mind.
1) health, healing, cure
a) healing, cure
b) health, profit, sound (of mind)
c) healing
Want to be in your right mind? Then hear the voice of the Lord through His Word. Again this is a daily choice. Remember God doesn't shout at you. His word is one of peace.
20My son, (my daughter) attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
We are body, soul and spirit. It does no good for me to eat properly if my spirit is deprived and my soul is on a binge.
We have to hear God's voice for ourselves. Verse 20 says attend which says pay attention and incline means to bow. Today I have purposed to pay attention to what He is saying and to come in humility. I am not going through all of these verses today for I assure you they have not all come as rhema to my spirit yet. Yet I am listening.
It is sacred to hear the voice of the Lord. I am not talking about a booming voice, I am talking about that quiet knowing. A peaceful knowing that you know.
Sin will always keep us from hearing the voice of the Lord. In my case, overeating among other things is a besetting sin. I am conquering clutter as I see that it makes me anxious. Anxiety does not allow you to have faith in God for fear and faith are like oil and water.
"Let them (God's words) not depart from thine eyes."
What am I looking at?? How smart is it to watch the Food Network while bringing correction into your eating? Well, that is pretty obvious. But I believe the Lord is asking me during this 28 days to be very careful of what I am focusing on. That includes television, magazines, books, shopping and I am sure more.
Keep them (God's Word) in the midst of thine heart.
Sometimes my heart is so crowded that I don't pay attention to it. (See verse 20) Just as a rotten apple spoils the barrel, the Word of God in the midst of my heart will influence everything else in my heart. Those things that cannot handle the Light of His Word will be exposed and I will have to choose to get rid of them because His Light disperses the darkness.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2
22For they (God's words) are life unto those that find them, That means we have to to look for them. God does not have a drive-thru where i your haste, you drive up and order the word for the day. No, you have to find His instruction, His direction daily. What if you were going on a long trip and you got on the highway without a map or directions, and there are no road signs. You may ultimately get there, but wouldn't it be simpler to have directions?
What if a pilot did not constantly make course corrections? The winds, turbulence, often take the aircraft off course, one degree here, another there. If there are no course corrections, he will not reach his destinations.
So it is with our lives. Yet we want to do our own things and try to figure things out. Who are we listening to? The voice of God or the voice of reason? Are we willing to make corrections or is always being right more important?
"and health to all their flesh." Do you have disease in your body? God's Word has the prescription for healing. That health is our physical body but also our mind.
1) health, healing, cure
a) healing, cure
b) health, profit, sound (of mind)
c) healing
Want to be in your right mind? Then hear the voice of the Lord through His Word. Again this is a daily choice. Remember God doesn't shout at you. His word is one of peace.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Twenty-Eight Days
My inbox this morning contained the final part of Addictions from Be in Health today. (www.beinhealth.com) One paragraph said, "A person must choose their freedom or their bondage. God has given us the ability to choose so we must understand how to defeat the strong man behind addiction. A person has to understand that it involves recognition, taking responsibility, repentance, and they are going to have to take a stand no matter how much their body is pitching a fit. It takes 28 days and a change in a person's heart. We can get rid of bad habits by making new good habits. The Bible says choose this day what you shall have, blessings or curses, life or death.
I have an addiction to simple carbs. That includes everything from sugar to a potato. They break down too quickly, spikes my sugar, give me horrendous cravings, which then necessitates the need for a shot of insulin.
I had done exceedingly well on the weekend which is usually my hardest time to correct my eating. Then about 7 pm, Mike walked in with Cheese Nips. I wanted just a few. The few turned to many and then I was off to the races. The cravings kicked in and I ate from an orange to a piece of fruit cake leftover from Christmas to a single piece of Dove chocolate. Finally, I came to my senses.
To those who don't understand addictions and cravings, this was FOUR HOURS after the first Cheese Nip. If the simple carbs had been alcohol or drugs, I would have been flat on the floor. That is the insidiousness of an addiction to simple carbs, shopping, toxic relationships, or other legal choices. Things seem so normal on the outside. Well, if you have an addiction to simple carbs, you are going to get fat. (I am already fat.) But the illusion that you don't have a problem, keeps the addiction intact.
That same article says, "The need to be loved is built within us from creation. The ability to give and receive love is part of our creation. But because of the breakdown in our families, we have not loved God, ourselves or each other. We try to nurture ourselves and it is being driven by the need to be loved."
I have recognized this. It has taken a while. So as I began to recover myself, I repented and I received my forgiveness. That is key, because one of the things that holds addictions in place is that we do not forgive ourselves. Next I brought to remembrance the things I had done right. I lost seven pounds last week. I had eaten correctly until 7 pm and most of the week before. I had walked the dog for exercise. I had deliberately walked more that week in other ways.
You see the enemy comes to remind you that you are a loser and you will never get it right so why bother. That is such a lie!
Lamentations 3:22-23 says: It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Today I begin again, once again. This is not in vanity. (I am over 100 lbs overweight for those who don't know me.) I have to make these changes to preserve my life and live the abundant life He wants me to have.
Today I begin another twenty-eight days. Want to join me with whatever you are struggling with?
If you have blown it, would you choose today to repent, forgive yourself and begin again with me. God is not mad at you. He loves you right where you are.
You don't have to be super woman. When you are weak, He is strong.
Lean on Him and if you are in that miry pit, ask Him to raise you up.
I have an addiction to simple carbs. That includes everything from sugar to a potato. They break down too quickly, spikes my sugar, give me horrendous cravings, which then necessitates the need for a shot of insulin.
I had done exceedingly well on the weekend which is usually my hardest time to correct my eating. Then about 7 pm, Mike walked in with Cheese Nips. I wanted just a few. The few turned to many and then I was off to the races. The cravings kicked in and I ate from an orange to a piece of fruit cake leftover from Christmas to a single piece of Dove chocolate. Finally, I came to my senses.
To those who don't understand addictions and cravings, this was FOUR HOURS after the first Cheese Nip. If the simple carbs had been alcohol or drugs, I would have been flat on the floor. That is the insidiousness of an addiction to simple carbs, shopping, toxic relationships, or other legal choices. Things seem so normal on the outside. Well, if you have an addiction to simple carbs, you are going to get fat. (I am already fat.) But the illusion that you don't have a problem, keeps the addiction intact.
That same article says, "The need to be loved is built within us from creation. The ability to give and receive love is part of our creation. But because of the breakdown in our families, we have not loved God, ourselves or each other. We try to nurture ourselves and it is being driven by the need to be loved."
I have recognized this. It has taken a while. So as I began to recover myself, I repented and I received my forgiveness. That is key, because one of the things that holds addictions in place is that we do not forgive ourselves. Next I brought to remembrance the things I had done right. I lost seven pounds last week. I had eaten correctly until 7 pm and most of the week before. I had walked the dog for exercise. I had deliberately walked more that week in other ways.
You see the enemy comes to remind you that you are a loser and you will never get it right so why bother. That is such a lie!
Lamentations 3:22-23 says: It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Today I begin again, once again. This is not in vanity. (I am over 100 lbs overweight for those who don't know me.) I have to make these changes to preserve my life and live the abundant life He wants me to have.
Today I begin another twenty-eight days. Want to join me with whatever you are struggling with?
If you have blown it, would you choose today to repent, forgive yourself and begin again with me. God is not mad at you. He loves you right where you are.
You don't have to be super woman. When you are weak, He is strong.
Lean on Him and if you are in that miry pit, ask Him to raise you up.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
God Uses Broken Things to Accomplish His Greatest Work
Those were the words I read first thing this morning in a devotional written by Os Hillman. (http://msg4svc.net/cadtc/305680/54/1596/25400/0/S/0/0/tpxb.html)
My first thought was, "Well, then He can use me."
He tells the story of David and how when he was being harassed by Saul no one had any use for him. This when God had told him he would be king.
What has God deposited in your heart and you see no fruit, no forward movement? More than once I have tried to advance God's clock. The result was failure.
In fact, I have failed so many times that I began to fear failure. I hesitated to try things again or anew, because I might fail again. In his devotional, Os said, "God often uses failure to make us useful."
Wow! I must be very useful and all this while the enemy was telling me I was a failure. He is a liar. Why did I listen?
Then Os said, " When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer."
That was a real "aha" moment for me in regards to my building my Mary Kay business. "He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace."
As I move forward to become a director, I need to look for the most willing and those already employed. I need to quit trying to resurrect the dead and look for the willing.
Willing is defined on the internet as "disposed or inclined toward;
volition: the act of making a choice;
uncoerced: not brought about by coercion or force;
Aha!
Well, the other ways I have tried have failed and I can use those failures to make myself more useful to this new team.
Hmmm now there is a thought. I need to chew on that awhile.
My first thought was, "Well, then He can use me."
He tells the story of David and how when he was being harassed by Saul no one had any use for him. This when God had told him he would be king.
What has God deposited in your heart and you see no fruit, no forward movement? More than once I have tried to advance God's clock. The result was failure.
In fact, I have failed so many times that I began to fear failure. I hesitated to try things again or anew, because I might fail again. In his devotional, Os said, "God often uses failure to make us useful."
Wow! I must be very useful and all this while the enemy was telling me I was a failure. He is a liar. Why did I listen?
Then Os said, " When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer."
That was a real "aha" moment for me in regards to my building my Mary Kay business. "He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace."
As I move forward to become a director, I need to look for the most willing and those already employed. I need to quit trying to resurrect the dead and look for the willing.
Willing is defined on the internet as "disposed or inclined toward;
volition: the act of making a choice;
uncoerced: not brought about by coercion or force;
Aha!
Well, the other ways I have tried have failed and I can use those failures to make myself more useful to this new team.
Hmmm now there is a thought. I need to chew on that awhile.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Principle or Preference?
Principle or preference: which of these two words best describes how you make moral decisions? This was the question posed on Charles Stanley's teaching, The Key to Wise Decisions. Sunday. (http://www.intouch.org/resources/this-weeks-sermon-outline)
It really hit at the heart of my journey with food.
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 cor. 6:19-20
So principle or preference?
Am I going to eat what my body needs for fuel or am going with my preferences? Do my preferences line up with the Word says?
Food is not evil. Not even cookies. Overindulgence is the sin. Gluttony is sin.
Paul says in his letter to the Philippians: 19For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul was talking about actual death. For me it has to be death to preferences. Then "in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body."
Can you imagine being in a deep, meaningful relationship with someone but you cannot even see their face because of things piled between you two?
Now I ask myself why are all of these things piled between me and my Heavenly Father when I say I want a deep, meaningful relationship with Him? Who do I really love?
Addictions do not love back. They simply take your life away.
Principle or Preference?
Life or Death?
It really hit at the heart of my journey with food.
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 cor. 6:19-20
So principle or preference?
Am I going to eat what my body needs for fuel or am going with my preferences? Do my preferences line up with the Word says?
Food is not evil. Not even cookies. Overindulgence is the sin. Gluttony is sin.
Paul says in his letter to the Philippians: 19For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul was talking about actual death. For me it has to be death to preferences. Then "in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body."
Can you imagine being in a deep, meaningful relationship with someone but you cannot even see their face because of things piled between you two?
Now I ask myself why are all of these things piled between me and my Heavenly Father when I say I want a deep, meaningful relationship with Him? Who do I really love?
Addictions do not love back. They simply take your life away.
Principle or Preference?
Life or Death?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Time for Me to Take Responsibility for My Life
The last two evenings have been difficult ones where I gave into the sugar in the house. Today we take my mom back to South Carolina and all Missippi Mud cake, sour cream cake, etc. will go. Is it my mom's fault that I ate those things?
Absolutely not.
Although I don't think it is kind to bake those kind of things when someone is making an effort to overcome their sugar addictions, ultimately it is my responsiblity to say. "No, thank you."
N
"No, thank you," when she brings a box of Godiva chocolates to my bed where I am reading a book.
You see part of the work of overcoming an addiction is to take responsibility for yourself and your choices. Not once did anyone force feed me.
I could also whine that unlike alcohol and drugs, food is legal and is everywhere. No one is going to arrest you for disorderly conduct when your sugar has gone through the roof because you overdosed on Mississippi Mud Cake. I can keep my home environment cleaner when Mom leaves, but I still have two guys living with me who don't have the temptations I do and can and will bring unhealthy things into my space.
So it goes back to taking personal responsibility for my life.
Addictions lie. They do not love you. It is rebellion gone mad.
If the following is your song, then it is time to take responsibility for the things that can and like me quit blaming people and circumstances.
So excited for His promise that His mercies are new morning.
No longer choosing rebellion. I am taking back my life.
Absolutely not.
Although I don't think it is kind to bake those kind of things when someone is making an effort to overcome their sugar addictions, ultimately it is my responsiblity to say. "No, thank you."
N
"No, thank you," when she brings a box of Godiva chocolates to my bed where I am reading a book.
You see part of the work of overcoming an addiction is to take responsibility for yourself and your choices. Not once did anyone force feed me.
I could also whine that unlike alcohol and drugs, food is legal and is everywhere. No one is going to arrest you for disorderly conduct when your sugar has gone through the roof because you overdosed on Mississippi Mud Cake. I can keep my home environment cleaner when Mom leaves, but I still have two guys living with me who don't have the temptations I do and can and will bring unhealthy things into my space.
So it goes back to taking personal responsibility for my life.
Addictions lie. They do not love you. It is rebellion gone mad.
If the following is your song, then it is time to take responsibility for the things that can and like me quit blaming people and circumstances.
So excited for His promise that His mercies are new morning.
No longer choosing rebellion. I am taking back my life.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year, New Beginnings
During the last two months of 2010, I received a bad report from a doctor, a dear friend was killed in a car wreck and another friend had a stroke. God got my attention.
I have known for some time (understatement) that my weight was impacting my quality of life, but I had chosen to ignore it.
I had chosen to admit that eating the way I do is a sin.
Since I made the decision to do something about it, I have had such peace. It is all about choices and attitudes.
I am addicted to simple carbs which of course, includes sugar. I have begun cutting back significantly and take responsibility for I do eat instead of mindless eating. Hasn't always ben easy, but I find it getting easier.
Pastor Henry said the other day that the key to longevity is knowing God's Word and doing it.
Knowing AND doing.
I have a lot of head knowledge, but I have failed to "just do it!"
Now is the time!
I have known for some time (understatement) that my weight was impacting my quality of life, but I had chosen to ignore it.
I had chosen to admit that eating the way I do is a sin.
Since I made the decision to do something about it, I have had such peace. It is all about choices and attitudes.
I am addicted to simple carbs which of course, includes sugar. I have begun cutting back significantly and take responsibility for I do eat instead of mindless eating. Hasn't always ben easy, but I find it getting easier.
Pastor Henry said the other day that the key to longevity is knowing God's Word and doing it.
Knowing AND doing.
I have a lot of head knowledge, but I have failed to "just do it!"
Now is the time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
