Encouragement for the Day

My Trip to London

2011-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

One of the common saying in the Tube station

Well my journey to London has ended and many of you have prayed for me through it all. I wanted to take some time to thank each of you and to share a bit of that time with you.

For those that were not aware, I left on Nov 4 and returned on the 14th. It was many things to me. I can honestly say I am not the same girl that I was when I left. My eyes are a little wider to the realities around me. The state of the world and the direction humanity is going is all pressing on my mind.

Many asked me prior to going, "why London". I simply say, because God impressed it on my heart. I sensed this call, and just asked God to clearly lead me if that is what He wanted me to do. I asked God to have a particular woman to ask me and she called within days to ask if I had considered going on the mission trip to London. I just had to laugh. So when asked, I simply say it was because that is where the Lord wanted me.   If I truly believe He is my Lord and that He purchased me by His sacrifice, then who am I that I should ever say NO to His desire for me. Who am I that I should not obey His commands. If I love Him, I will be able to obey Him. My love for Him will drive me to obey!!

Now on the other side of the trip, you may ask me if I know why the Lord called me there and my answer would be multi-faceted.

Perhaps the Lord wanted me to OBEY. Perhaps He wanted to teach me to TRUST HIM!

I believe primarily He wanted to change me. He wanted me to see the world through His eyes. He wanted me to love on people He brought into my life. The relationships that were established were for His glory and for His fame.

But for the most part I don't know exactly why. I know this side of heaven, I may never fully know or understand. It may be seeds were planted, or seeds were watered. It could be that believers needed encouragement. It could be that there were those random people on the tube or bus needed a stranger's smile. It could be that there was a young woman that needed to know she mattered to someone. She needed to know that there are people that will listen and perhaps in doing so, she would meet Jesus in the process.

God really began opening my eyes in ways I do not know I have ever seen before.   I went to see worship at temples of other gods.  One striking insight that I had was when we visited a Gurdwara temple and a Hindu temple as we watched the practices of those we would encounter, I was overwhelmed to watch as these people ritualistically bowed in such reverence to worthless gods. But us who proclaim to serve the ONE TRUE GOD, would treat Him so irreverently and with such casualty. Although He doesn't demand it, He does deserve our utmost devotion, respect, admiration, obedience and LOVE! (and so much more) What a stark revelation and insight that it brought along with much conviction and heart ache. But then an other realization was that man wants to be able to be right and if you give him a list of things to DO he will feel better. But the resistance is in relinquishing authority and allowing another to make you right is where religion and relationship become the great divide. The true measurement of true Christianity is in the surrender and acknowledgement that Christ makes us right by what He did, not by what we do. Our action is faith, acceptance and obedience.

I began to see just how offensive "religious" Christianity really is. I have for some time been concerned over this matter, but the glaring reality of it came crashing in on me as I visited the British museum. I was gazing over much of the church history that is so much a part of England's history. I began to see how Christianity has been historically hi-jacked for the sake of its perceived power over the masses.

You see the entire basis of Christianity is a "relationship" with God our creator by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, through the faith/believing in Jesus as our savior/messiah.   (Jesus is not about controlling the masses but setting them free of the grip of sin in their lives. He is about TRANSFORMING us into a beautiful image of Christ in each of us that surrender to the work of His hand through obedience to His WORD) Historically, rulers looked at the uprising of this power in Christianity, as something to squash or if they couldn't squash it they sought to utilize this power to their political gain. However, the true power is not gained through rules and methods, it is ONLY truly gained by a living daily relationship in Christ through faith. It is not to be used, manipulated or grasped. It is for our individual freedom. No one can mandate it, regulate it, or Lord over it except God himself. One Queen be-heads her own sister because of it. Too often, Christianity is embraced not for the sake of a relationship but because of the POWER it would bring. This is true for many modern churches of today.

This sign was part of the renovation to the city of London in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Quite interesting!

Looking around, I can see scripture prophecy being fulfilled. Is the end of the age at hand? I don't know, but it is closer today than it was yesterday. Every day takes us closer and closer to the end of time. Will Christ return in my lifetime? I don't know. He may call me home tomorrow, and that will be MY personal end of time. But is it possible that the end of time is close at hand? Yes. In London, it was as if EVERY people group was THERE. In 2012, the Olympics will be there and truly every people group will be represented. There is a movement and a sense of bringing a REVIVAL (REBIRTH!) to London therefore the world. It was something I sensed while I was there. There is an eager anticipation of what God is doing and what He is about to do and many sense that London is at the heart of it.

Revelation 3 talks of a church that believes itself to be rich and requiring nothing. Then it goes on to say that the church doesn't realize it is naked, pitiful and wretched. ( ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ) It makes me think of much of Christianity that believes that by their programs, their rules and their "good behavior" they are in need of nothing. But it is our pitiful state and our constant awareness of how messed up we are or would be without Christ that will save us and does continue to save us, transform us and keep us EVER reliant on HIM! AND then we would truly be able to boast in Christ alone. All the work that is done in us would be for His credit and not our own by our good works, deeds and own self Righteousness.

This trip to London was intangible. We didn't go and build a physical church, but we did go and encourage the brethren which is the true church. We didn't go to an orphanage and love on babies, but we did encounter the broken hearted, abandoned and discouraged and loved on them. We entered into the lives of those on the ground doing the plowing of the VERY hard soil of London. We saw how desperately this city is in need of prayer. We became painfully aware of the loneliness that surrounds those that are called to London to bring the good news of our Lord Jesus.

The borders of this country/ this city is opened in law but not opened in heart to Christianity. The heart of the country that sent forth Christianity to the world is now in dire need of the good news. Please keep London in your prayers. Many say that the USA is usually 10 years behind the trends of the UK. If that is the case, we need to be praying fervently for America as well. The face of London and its history is being erased rapidly.

My Personal Devotion on How We Ought to Live

2011-11-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

(The pictures in this blog are pictures of a phalanx formation. This formation was one of the most successful military formations. Perhaps the church could learn a thing or two about this)

Becoming the Phalanx:

Here is something I long to share with you. It is from scripture and the references are there. In some cases it is my interpretation of the scripture so you can go and see it for yourself according to those references.


There is a call to action and a call to prayer. I think it is time for the Christians to rise up like never before. To begin to suit up for battle.

BUT Our battle is not against flesh and blood.

Our weapons are not of this world. Our weapons have divine power. They are able to destroy strongholds, and blow up every argument and everything that pretends to be bigger than God. We are able to control our thoughts and make them line up with the word of God which is Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5) We need to put on our armor daily, which is the armor of God. We need to be certain of our salvation by guarding our mind with the helmet of our salvation. We need to be certain of our right to stand before God because we are right with God through Christ's sacrifice if we believe it and receive it. We need to KNOW the Word/ the TRUTH which is Jesus Christ "word became flesh" & the way, the "TRUTH" and the life.   We need to be saturated in it and immersed in all that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. It is our belt of truth. What we believe (truly believe) is our faith. That becomes our shield which will put out the fiery arrows thrown at us by our enemy.

But then we come back at the enemy with the word of God which is the sword. (Eph 6:13-17) Our salvation guards our mind, our righteousness guards our heart and the truth guards our gut or the seat of emotion if we will not act on our feelings but rather measure our feelings according to the word of God.

In Gen 15:6 and Gal 3:6 the scripture says that Abram/Abraham believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness.
How do we know that he believed God, because the scripture writes of his actions being that which the Lord had commanded him to do. That is obedience - appropriate actions that follow a command)

So our righteousness (being able to stand before God rightly) comes through believing God. Do not say you believe God unless you obey Him. If our actions oppose His commands we do not truly believe Him. Eph 2:8 By grace you have been saved, through faith.

Therefore if we choose to believe Him and His word, we must study the word so that the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly Col 3:16
But do not merely study the word or just listen to the word, so that you deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS James 1:22 In other words, don't just listen, DO IT!!!!

The way we will be able to do this is not by our own merit, ability or determination. We will be able to do this as we dwell on Him, and invite Him to be Lord of our lives. As we surrender to Him and allow Him into our lives we will grow in LOVE for Him and the Love will enable us to obey Him. It will motivate us. John 14:15 (If you love me, you will obey me)

We purify ourselves by obeying the truth and that enables us to love others deeply, and as we crave spiritual milk we will grow up into our salvation. 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:2

But as we reveal our love and devotion to one another in the body of Christ, ALL the world will know we are His disciples John 13:35

You see in Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:21-22

So once we are maturing in our salvation, being fully convinced by His word we then need to GO and make disciples of every nation, immersing THEM in all that GOD is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We need to teach them to also obey His commands. Matthew 29:19-20

You see I believe we are to daily choose to dress in the armor, to love one another in the body. Our shields are to lock together as we stand arm in arm. We go to battle in the spiritual realm together. Many will be able to seek refuge and heal in the safety of our temple that Christ is building up. But people: we have to choose to get on our armor every day. We have to choose to walk in unity with the WHOLE body. A house divide will not stand. The church is SO divided that it cannot stand against the real enemy for warring within its self. We need to recognize the tactic the enemy has used on us all and stop allowing him to do it. We need to wake up, wise up and become the sanctuary we are intended to be for the weary soldiers that are on the front line. They are our missionaries, pastors, pastors wives and children. They are our teachers, the person that sits beside you on the pew. The person who cannot even bring themselves to the physical church. They are the hard working single parents trying to keep their heads above water. And yes it is you or me sometimes. We need to allow Christ to join us together as He intended and stand once and for all against the REAL enemy. The destroyer. The one that comes to steal, kill and destroy. The one that hates us deeply.

I can just see those weary sojourners seeking a place of rest and healing under the umbrella of those shields of faith. As each of us warriors stand over the weak and fallen. Providing them an opportunity to be strengthened. And remember when they seek this sanctuary, not to be turning on them and piercing them with your own sword. Let's become the healing place for the weary.

2011-10-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-law sent these two pictures to me in two separate emails on different days and they just spoke volumes to me. Especially in light of this blog and its web name "Wings as eagles". This is the image I get from the following scripture:

Matthew 23:37 NIV

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

I am willing. I love the idea of Christ gathering me under his wings by his spirit. I love to rest there and be protected and warm.

But I love the image of Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

What a picture of resting and hoping in the Lord.

However often I feel as if I look so different than everyone else and that I don't belong there with the body. Yet I do and I can find rest and security regardless of how I feel.

So sweet!

We have the mind of Christ

2011-09-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

We have the mind of Christ if we have believed and received Him as our savior. So, we are able to discern the things of this world and we are able to discern the will of God. If we have the mind of Christ, we have the ability to discern good and evil. We should then choose that which is good and pleasing to God. I have posted a lot of scripture to read. I have also attached at the end a website to challenge each of us to pray. I believe we need to pray for the Christians to humble themselves and pray. To ask for forgiveness for the sins of our nation. We need to rise up by falling on our knees before our God!

1 Corinthians 2 NIV

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Romans 12 NIV

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^a act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Discernment - 1. The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
Discernment is a term used to describe the activity of determining the value of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgments about that thing. As a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

http://www.greatdanepro.com/Pray%20For%20America/index.htm

Pulling it all together

2011-08-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

It all boils down to "Do you believe God or don't you?" do we BELIEVE what He says?

What is the foundation of our faith/belief/trust - John 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   Look at Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." and vs 18 Jesus says "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

So if I believe in Jesus I am righteous Gen 15:6 and Gal 3:6 says that Abram/Abraham believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.       ( Look at what the serpent said to Eve: Gen 3:1   Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" He tempted her to NOT believe what God said) So how do we know that Abraham believed God because he obeyed God.

So if we believe we are right with God and therefore saved. No longer will we pay for our sin because Jesus paid for it. Eph 2:8 ... by grace you have been saved, through faith...

So if we believe what God says, we will do what he says which is obedience. Obedience is ACTION. According to 1 John 5:10b ...Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. (No wonder God is so offended by our lack of belief) But James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (don't just listen, DO IT!)

So what is it we are to do? We are to be the living word. Living LOVE letters from God to the world. We are to be transformed into the image of Christ. Christ is the Word, he is the way, the truth and the life. He is the bread of life, the cup of living water. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. &; 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (therefore, Christ is the Wordof God.)

So if this is what we are to do, then we need the Word in us. Ps 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Col 3:16a Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...    Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my Word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

According to the word we need to wear the full armor of God Eph 6:11-17 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 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.13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 Pet 1:22-23 ; 2:1-2   22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere LOVE for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.    2: 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,      (The world knows we believe and follow Christ by our LOVE for each other John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another.")

So how do we OBEY?    Luke 10:27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'LOVE your neighbor as yourself.'" John 14:15 If you LOVE me, you WILL obey me.

John 14:3 Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you. and Ephesians 2:21-22 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

So then we are to GO to the world. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing(immerse them) them in the name (of who they are) of the Father and of the Son (the WORD, truth, life, bread of life, cup of living water) and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ...

And then it starts over again with the next and the next as they mature and grow up into the likeness of Christ.

We are building the kingdom of God and becoming the bride of Christ. We are getting ready for the groom. We need more bricks for the building.   Each one of us gathering more stones as Christ, the chief cornerstone joins us together so we become ONE in unity.

He is preparing a PLACE.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him for the temple of god is holy, which temple you are," 1 Cor 3:16-17. "…For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2 Cor 6:16

Psalm 139

2011-08-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXGq3IeImw&feature=related

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. ... 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The enemy came in like a flood

2011-07-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

On Mother's Day this year, after an evening of ministering to a sister in Christ who had fallen to sin years ago and is living there, I awoke the following morning to a flood in my home. I wrote about the flood in other posts. However, a dear sister in Christ told me about the above scripture. I just had to share it with you.

You see years before when my fallen sister was walking with Christ, she had fallen to sin and my family spent time praying with her to be free. That evening over a decade ago, I returned home to a flooded kitchen. HMMM wonder what that is all about? Not really! I know that where the Spirit of the Lord is busy, you will also see the enemy trying to come against it. Although I didn't want to go thru a renovation and all the mess that comes with it. If it means that a sister will be free on the other side, I find great encouragement in the flood. Just like the flood brought destruction to my home, the renovation brought order and great beauty. I look to the day when my sister in Christ is able to look back at the sin that brought destruction in her life and only be able to see the RENOVATION and beauty the Lord made from it.

I look up again at the scripture and where the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

Ready for the good guys to win this one!!!!! Ready to see my sweet sister in Christ to be back up on her feet and walking hand in hand with her savior, her Christ!

One of my Favorite verses!!

2011-07-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.(KJV)

So the joy of the Lord is my strength, and if I wait on the Lord my strength will be renewed. So I can DO for God all day and be exhausted. OR I can wait and allow the Lord to DO thru me and I can run and not grow weary and walk and not faint. HMMM I choose to WAIT on the Lord!!!!!!!!!

to wait - look for, hope, expect, to wait or look eagerly for
Lord - Jehovah = "the existing One" - the proper name of the one true God
renew - to change, substitute, alter, change for better, renew, to show newness (of tree)
strength - strength, power, might, human strength
To mount up - ascend, rise to be lifted up, withdraw, be exalted, to take up, set up, to be offered up, be carried away, to soar

So we eagerly look for the Lord and in doing that we will change for the better, and show newness in our strength. We will be lifted up and carried away on wings like eagles in order to run and walk when needed without growing tired. We will be able to do all that He needs us to do in His strength. We can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us!!!!!

If you look at my last post, you will notice the continual flow. We are filled up by the Lord in order to pour out in our walk/run. But if we seek Him, He continues to fill us up over and over again. This is right where the relationship is built with God by our faith in Jesus Christ in the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Look at the eagle as it flies. It does not continually flap it wings. I opens it wings wide, flaps several times and catches the wind under its wings and SOARS! The wind does the work.

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

As the eagle gets the wind under his wings he goes higher and higher. The work for him is holding out his wings and trusting in the wind.

Filled Up to Pour Out!!!!!!!!

2011-07-08T06:13:00.000-07:00

This morning, I had a fresh revelation of my condition. Oh so refreshing. Why is it we become so convinced of our sufficiency. I believe we are in the most danger when we come to believe in our own supply. We need to cling to the truth that we are NOTHING without the work of Christ on the cross and the filling of the Holy Spirit. We need to be convinced of our deficit. As we come to this conclusion, we fall hopelessly at the feet of Jesus and say fill me once again. Then in obedience to the leading of the Spirit, we pour out in service to those around us those the Spirit places on our heart. So it is a continuous FLOW and reliance on HIM!!!!

The truth is that we need Jesus for our salvation. We cannot save ourselves. But also, we cannot fill ourselves. We must be an empty vessel in order to be useful to the kingdom of God. If you look at II Kings 4:3-4

Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

Notice that the jar that is filled is "put aside". But what happens as we are filled daily and then pour out in service to all around us by the leading of the Spirit of God. If we walk in obedience to that leading daily and He is filling us daily, WE remain useful. It is not by our talent, gifteness or abilities, but by our willingness to see our condition that we have nothing to offer except our EMPTY JAR. As much as we are willing to admit we are NOTHING without Him, to that degree we are THEN useful to Him. That one TRUTH will set us free. (free from performance, free from needing to have the right answer, free from needing to know what to do) Knowing the truth about yourself will set you free to truly be used by God as you surrender to both the fact of your emptiness and surrender to His filling. But as you become satisfied, it is possible that you are not pouring out. I believe we can get settled in the FATNESS of the Word and the Spirit and say I am fine Lord, I have no need to be filled. That should scare us to death. Because if you notice what Elisha says regarding the jars that are full. SET THEM ASIDE! YIKES!

I pray today to be made fully aware of my own insufficiencies. I pray that I am NOT like the church in Laodicea mentioned in Revelations 3:14 - 22

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Meditate today on your condition, ask the Lord to fill you and to use you today. Ask Him to open your eyes to what & where He would like to pour you out today. And repeat again tomorrow, and the next and the next. (REPEAT) This will set you on fire with the FRESH oil of the Holy Spirit flowing thru you. This is where we can have true fellowship with the Lord. Why else would you fill a jar except to pour it out. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE JAR.

We are jars of clay, created to be an empty vessel for the use of our Lord!!!!

Warning: Construction Zone- Christian under Construction!?!

2011-06-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

Looking back over past blogs, I noticed that I had written about having a sick computer and bible study which prevented me from writing here. Well this has been one of those rides that go longer than you hope.

I remember when I was a little girl and my family went to Six Flags over GA. for the 4th of July in 1976. The 200th birthday celebration of the US. We went to the final ride of the night at closing time.   We all rode the "mo mo monster" which spun around as a whole ride and then each individual bucket also spun. Little did we know that the fellow controlling the ride was going to be flirting with some teen girls on the same ride. This ride went on and on and on.   We all felt sick and some expressed that in manners not so decent to share here. We ended the evening with a LONG ride home from the park to north AL.

The current events have given me flash backs to that event. I have written regarding the "little flood" we had in our home. Since then, construction has been ongoing in our house. The house is a mound of dust and disorganization. Items are difficult to find and we have had numerous workers in the house daily.   During the renovation and restoration, our family travelled to NC for a soccer tournament. While there, I attempted to escape the cares that we left back at home. However, on our 8 hour trip home less than an hour from home, a deer ran into the driver side of our car. While we were all safe, and we were able to limp home at 9:30 at night, the damage to the car was pretty extensive. I journeyed once again to the insurance agency to file yet another claim. I found that many body shops are VERY backed up and it would be about a month before anyone would be able to get to my car. While small, I was also dealing with issues with a DVD player in the car that has not worked properly for some time. I discovered that the warranty was just BARELY out on it. As if this were not enough for the time being, then my Internet connection stopped functioning properly. In an effort to troubleshoot it, I went from Internet provider, to router company and back. Each blaming the other and both blaming me. So here I am up and running again. I finally contacted a knowledgeable customer service person who immediately identified the issue, sent a competent technician and it was fixed in minutes. It works better than ever now.  (the problem was a cable connection and a bad modem)

So here I sit today with a new tile floor in my dining room that replaced the damaged hardwoods. The basement is coming along and looks 10 times better than it did. The carpet will be installed by Friday and many things that we would not have done to this house for years is now going to be done because of the "little flood". Am I happy about the flood? NO!   Can I see how some good came from it? YES!

So all this to say, although we never desire trials and difficulties in our lives, much good can come from them when in the hands of the ONE trained and ready to renovate and restore our lives.

As I had mentioned in a previous blog, I spoke in Feb at a ladies gathering. The topic was about maturing in Christ. Although since then I have been overwhelmed with "STUFF", I plan to begin hashing out the topics that I discussed. To begin with, I want to really look at the core scripture.

•1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, … through the living and enduring word of God.

•2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander ... 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation

Break down --

You have purified yourselves (HOW)

By obeying the truth (the proof this is happening will be because)

You have sincere love for your brothers, (YOU) love one another deeply, from the heart.

By it you may grow up in your salvation

So we are to grow up in our salvation. Some of the things to look at will be unity, being built up, getting dressed, being purified by obeying the truth in order to growing up.

Other scriptures to start off with will be from Eph. 4 and 1 Cor. 1:10 .

On the hills of the tornado and my own Little Flood

2011-05-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

As I watched Beth Moore this morning on Life Today, I was overwhelmed with the following scripture that she shared on the hills of the Little Flood I had in my own life and the overwhelming destruction of the tornados in Alabama.

Ps 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me.

We are blessed when we REALIZE our need for Christ. We always need Him but when we have trials or become aware of our own sin and short comings we begin to get a REAL glimpse of our need for CHRIST our SAVIOR our LORD. The trial or sin is NOT a blessing, but the awareness of our need that drives us into the arms of our Lord is!!!! That is when we receive the love and comfort of GOD!

Trials can bring revival of my soul and my spirit.

I visited yesterday with folks up in Harvest where I use to live. I spoke with victims and found stories of hope. I had one lady tell me that she lost "stuff" (she had lost her HOME) She said whatever was in her that didn't trust the Lord before, is GONE. She was praising God. She was counting her blessing. She said that there were so many silver linings in this tragedy that she can hardly even see the storm any more. Can you believe that? God is real!!!! The stories are such blessings in the midst of such suffering and trials. The stories of hope, love, trust and renewal. The overwhelming outpouring of the body of Christ to those in need has been proclaimed OVER AND OVER with everyone I speak to. Allow this to renew your strength today. I know it did mine.

Wonderfully timely devotion sent from my sweet Mother-in-law

2011-05-10T08:54:00.001-07:00

Sinner or saint, we all fall to worry at one time or the other. I Peter 5:7; Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." Well as Christians, that is pretty easy to understand but as humans, it is a little more difficult. The many cares of the world can quickly overwhelm us and make us think we have to do it all ourselves. We read in Mark 4; "The worries of this life come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." As Christians, haven't we given our lives to Jesus; the One who is over all Heaven and earth? Matthew 11:28-29; "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Psalm 55:22; "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." This sounds so easy, but from an earthly prospective it is hard just to let go of a problem. We all feel we have failed and fallen at some time. But in a Heavenly prospective, in the eyes and hands of God, we may have failed but certainly not fallen from His grace. Romans 8:28; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Worry can take away our positive thoughts and leave nothing but negative thoughts. We all feel the need to be in control and this makes it hard to turn everything over to God. Well, be in control; just be in control not of the situation, give that to God, but be in control of the negative thoughts. Say, This is God's will and I am God's child! Don't dwell on it, accept it as God's will and a part of His plan for your life. Trust God. It takes humility and that all important ingredient.....Faith.

God can take care of it much better than you or I.

Isaiah 24

2011-05-10T04:47:00.000-07:00

The LORD's Devastation of the Earth

1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants--NIV

1 Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants. NKJV

I was doing an online study with Kay Arthur and chapter 24 of Isaiah was what I was studying the day before the MASSIVE outbreak of tornadoes occurred in Alabama. I have been struggling with and wrestling with what happened. Then yesterday, I awoke to my own LITTLE flood. The kitchen, dining room (both a little over a year old in renovation) and our downstrairs was flooded. A line to the dishwasher broke loose and we slept right through it.

So in my quiet time with the Lord today, I began to remember a prayer I recently prayed regarding my relationship with Him. I had felt as if the busyness of life had hindered my time and my walk with Him. I wanted to be closer to Him. And THEN the flood. Yesterday amidst the cleanup and MOUNDS of laundry, I took a break to go see several clients at the fitness center to train, followed by a quick lunch. While I waited in line at Firehouse Subs, two ladies were being asked in front of me if they wanted to round up their total to give to the tornado victims. The daughter said you are asking the wrong person. She just lost her home. I immediately interrupted the conversation and asked where her house was. And in common fashion for me, I ended up with a full blown conversation right there in front of the lady waiting patiently to take my order.

So here is the story I was told. The lady told me she lived in Anderson Hills. I told her that I had lived in Harvest (where this subdivision is) back in 95 when the same subdivision was hit. She said she too had lived thru that tornado as well, but her house was destroyed in that tornado then as well. My heart was so overwhelmed with compassion yet she was such a blessing to me. She talked of the goodness of God and said how often does someone GET TO START OVER at 70. She began to count all the blessing and how good everyone had been in helping her. I can't tell you how small my LITTLE flood was at that moment. I asked her for her, her husband, her dog and her daughter's name so I could pray for them regularly. I saw God's glory in HER amidst great trial.

So as I prayed this morning and as I surveyed the damage of my own home, first I thanked God for my home. I thank Him that I get to RETHINK my home. But then as I prayed I began to cry. I was reminded of my earlier prayer and thought why is it trials draw us closer to Him. Why is it His glory is so much more obvious in us during the trials. I began to see the fall in the garden all over again. It seems in the back drop of the garden we don't full appreciate the wonder, the magnificents of God. It appears that human nature draws much closer to God in the midst of the storm. We seem to become more intimate with God and we seem to KNOW Him so much better in the storms of life.

So then, my question is why is it when we pray for our loved ones, we inevidably always pray for the lack of challenge, adversity and pain? It still doesn't mean that I am praying for hardship on my loved ones, it just means I am pondering this matter and human nature in general. I want to be close to my Lord in the good times as well as the bad. I want to fully bask in His glory at all times. I want to learn to grow in the good times and cling to Him in the absence of adversity.

I sure do LOVE my Lord!

Amen!

Calling all to pray

2011-04-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Today will be short and sweet and to the point. I am calling you to pray. Pray for the nation, pray for the church, pray for the individuals in your life and pray for God's spirit to be full in you. Pray that you will have a growing desire for His word. Pray that you will allow the word to grow richly in you. Pray that others will be able to see Christ's reflection in you, and that your life will bring glory (attention to) God. So that by it, they will want to know Him. Be blessed today and know that the power of God we have available to us is not at our finger tips, but rather it is just beneath your bended knees. So for today, GO AND PRAY!!!!!!

This was from Life Today

2011-04-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Disarming Deception

by Beth Moore

Deception is the glue that holds every stronghold together. Let’s reflect on this concept: nothing is bigger or more powerful than God; therefore, anything other than Jesus Christ mastering the Christian’s life can keep its grip only through pretension and deception. Remember, Satan is the father of lies.1 No truth is in him. However, his specialty is twisting a lie until it seems true. The list of lies we often believe when we are held in a stronghold can be unlimited. Consider just a few examples:

I can never be victorious over this compulsion. I’ve had it too long.

I can’t help the mess I'm in. I'm caught, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

It may be a stronghold, but I really need it to get by.

I am absolutely worthless nothing but a failure.

I'm in control here. This is not controlling me.

This isn’t doing me any harm. I can handle it.

I’ll know just when to stop.

After all I’ve been through, I deserve this.

There’s nothing wrong with this relationship. People just don’t understand us.

Everyone thinks these kinds of thoughts most of the time. I'm only human.

God may work for other people, but He doesn’t work for me.

I’ll just have to wait until heaven to get over this. Real victory isn’t possible on earth.

God can’t possibly fill the void in my life. I need something more.

I am too emotionally handicapped to ever be OK.

It’s hopeless. I'm hopeless.

Sometimes we’re very aware of tolerating or even fueling a lie. Other times, we are caught in such a web that we can no longer see ourselves or our situations accurately. It’s not always clear when we’re being deceived, but one sure sign is when we begin to deceive. All you have to do to locate Satan in any situation is look for the lie. How do we recognize a lie? Anything we believe or act on that is contrary to what the truth of God’s Word says about us is a lie. Second Corinthians 4:2 tells us how to respond to such things: “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God.” This passage helps us identify four of Satan’s specialties that must be renounced and rejected by the believer in order for him/her to walk in victory: secrecy, shame, deception, and distortion of Scripture.

As you consider each one, you can readily imagine how deception permeates all four and how interrelated they are. Satan’s plans toward the believer are always the antithesis of God’s. Our Redeemer wants to loose us from the closets of secrecy and bring us to a spacious place of joy, freedom, authenticity, and transparency. Satan wants to keep us bound in secrecy where he can weigh us down in guilt, misery, and shame. Oh, beloved, I know from experience that so much of the shame we experience is wrapped up in the secret. In fact, the enemy knows that once we expose the secret places of our lives to the light of God’s Word, we’re on our way to freedom.

I'm not suggesting that the only way to be free is to stand up before our congregations and tell every detail of every sin we’ve ever committed or considered. The King James Version translates James 5:16 far more accurately than several other versions: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (emphasis mine). Some of the other translations say, “Confess your sins to each other…” (emphasis mine). The original word translated “faults” in the KJV and “sins” in the NIV is paraptoma, which means “fault, lapse, error, mistake, wrongdoing.” Contrast 1 John 1:9 where we are told, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The original word for “sin” in this verse is hamartia, meaning any way in which we miss the mark and any “aberration from the truth.” James 5:16 refers to the confessions we make to others, while 1 John 1:9 refers to the confessions we make to God. Please notice the slight contrast between sharing our faults, weaknesses, and mistakes with others and confessing every detail of every sin to God.

If we’re going to live in freedom, we have no choice but to renounce every single secret place of sin in our lives to God, exposing even the smallest detail to the light of God’s Word. This is the means by which God injects truth in the inner parts.2 I have also found incalculable help and freedom in confessing details of my past sins and strongholds to a few other trustworthy, mature believers for the sake of accountability. There are a couple of people I really trust who basically know every detail of my life.

Living a consistently victorious life takes courage! But this courage leads to a glorious, indescribable liberty! What relief awaits you if you really decide to let God’s truth set you free…then keep you free. Be willing to ask God on a regular basis if you are overlooking or denying a stronghold in your life. Because of my past track record, I’ve had to learn to dialog openly with God about areas of my life that are at risk: areas where I’ve been defeated before or circumstances that suddenly result in anger or insecurity. I also ask Him to help me discern the very first signs of Satan’s deceptions in my life.

Let’s reiterate, however, that the most effective way to veer from deception is to walk in truth. Third John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” The wonderful news is: the joy that results from your walk in truth won’t just be God’s. It will be yours, too. As Christ said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

1 John 8:44

2 Psalm 51:6

Adapted from Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore, © 2000 by Beth Moore, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Balance

2011-03-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Prov 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. NIV
Look how it is translated in The Message: It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you

Live a life of balance. You notice it is indicating not to OVERINDULGE in sweets. I believe self-control is the key here. It is not telling you NOT to eat it. God gave us honey for our enjoyment, but TOO much is not good for you. This applies to everything in your life. Anything can become OUT OF BALANCE. If you have accepted Christ as your savior, you have the fruit of the spirit in you to include self-control. You just have to USE it and EXERCISE it. Just like you have to exercise/use your muscles in order to strengthen them.

Proverbs 25:28 MSG A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

So let's use MODERATION and BALANCE in all areas of our lives.

Returning to the body

2011-03-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

I was talking last night regarding those who know Christ yet are living as if they do not. For those who have fallen into a deep pit of sin where the consequences of their sin affects those around them deeply. I began to discuss how I pray against these people. But what I didn't have time to explain is why. You see, it is for their good and for God's glory that they turn from their sin. Perhaps we do not fully realize the detrimental effects of sin. Maybe we don't accept fully what God says about sin. He says that sin leads to death!

If we could REALLY look at sin for what it is, we would be praying harder for those wandering sheep to be returned to the fold no matter the cost. I know these things seem harsh and unloving. But honestly it may be the MOST loving thing we can do for them. Suffering for a little while for the sake of freedom and relationship with our Lord. (no suffering can compare to the surpassing glory) It was mentioned that we would really need to search ourselves when doing this. I totally agree. But also feel it is important for me to mention that I am in NO WAY above falling. I know that I too could give way to a sinful life. I know this because I did early in my walk with the Lord. I lived in darkness for almost a decade. So as much as I am aware of my own fragile state, I know my redeemer lives. I know that I have been bought by a price and that He can keep me if I will submit to being kept. I am part of His beloved and I am His child. I am a victor and I am serving a mighty and awesome God.

Of course I pray for God's mercy on them as I pray that God would do what it takes to return them back and restore them. I wait with open arms for a loved one who has wandered far away from God. My biggest prayer for her is that she will respond to His prompting quickly. I pray that God will open the eyes of her understanding and heart to see how far away she is. I pray that she will run back into the arms of her savior.

Sin not only tarnishes our ability to reflect Christ it also blocks our ability to see God around us, hear Him and see His perspective.

So my prayer is for the Lord to get their attention in whatever manner necessary, for them to confess their sin, and to repent*. Then my prayer is that the broken relationships both earthly and divinely would be restored. That the land that the locust ate would be restored.
Regarding confession, and repentance (*more simple stated: God breaks them from turning to the world, they agree with God about their sin, they turn from it and walk in righteousness in Christ)

Delays, delays, delays

2011-03-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well I have had a sick computer. Then I have been busy with my girls, work and my bible study with little time to write here. I have been saturated with various thoughts and insights. I am going to try to get them down and see if I can make any sense out of them.

First is the verse Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD ; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

I heard this a different way when I read this scripture this time. Basically saying that the desires of my heart will not be my own worldly desires, but that the desires I have will be the desires that the LORD gives me if I will delight myself in HIM. Totally changed the way I read that verse.

The second verse on my heart is the command for us to GO! Matt 28:19 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. (The translation referring to GO- "as you go".)

And then; Deut 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 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

So put these last two together. As you go, make disciples of every nation baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Baptizing - original greek word is baptizo - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe to overwhelm)

Revelation 19:13 …his name is the Word of God. (Referring to Jesus)

So get this, as you go making disciples, overwhelm them, bathe them, cleanse them, immerse and repeatedly dip them in the NAME of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. So we are to TALK about who He is as we go thru out our day (as we ride down the road, as we sit, we need to impress them upon our children). We are to talk to the nations about the WORD of God.

So we need to delight ourselves in the LORD, and I He will create in us the "DESIRE of our heart" to be for His Word and the people of the world to know Him (to make Him famous - bring Him glory). He will begin to burn in us a desire for others to be BAPTIZED in the WORD of God. That they would KNOW Him and that they too would be immersed in His Word as we are.

How can we hunger for God and His word if we are full of EVERYTHING else in this world. A man who is full will never seek after food. A man who is not thirsty will not seek water. But if we delight in the Lord, I believe He will create in us a HUNGER for His word and an insatiable thirst for His living water.

So as you go about your day, immerse those around you in the Word of God as you sit with them, ride with them or whatever it is your doing. Not that you get out the bible and begin to read to everyone. BE a living example, a living epistle of the Word of God. Not by your own strength but by spending time with the Father thru Christ by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

Be blessed today.

False Perfection or True Fellowship

2011-02-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from an email I wrote to a friend:

I wrote a letter to a church years ago while listening to a sermon. (I never delivered it just was expressing what was heavy on my heart that morning) It was just flowing out onto the paper. It was about "Would you love me if you knew where I had been, what I had done.?" But then it went further to where we are most fearful of rejection. It became about "Would you love me if you knew where I am NOW, what I am struggling with now?" It is difficult to talk about where we have been but immensely more difficult to talk about where we are. There seems to be much more forgiveness for our past than our present. But the present is the only place where we can effect change.

We live in a Christian world of pretense perfection. But honestly, life is messy. We present a package so that it is palatable to those around us. We don't have time for the mess in each others lives so we clean it up and keep our distance hoping no one will notice. (so we can enjoy superficial fellowship with one another) We even busy ourselves in ministry so that we can keep it above suspicion. This is not to condemn any of us in the church it is just what it has become. But this very reason is why the body is not effective in changing lives. It encourages outward conformation to laws instead of a steady diet of inward transformation that comes from being willing to be open, honest and humble. Being open to correction and self awareness. Being vulnerable and real.

You see, I believe the most mature among us is not looking for our own perfection nor to be thought of that way. With maturity we begin to realize that it is our true WEAKNESS that reveals Christ most. We have to bring our sin into the light of God's word.
Quote from Life Today:

"Repent while it is still a secret. Do it (repent) because you heard the call." Then they mentioned that NOT MANY do it this way. They repent only after it has become a public spectacle.

Also from LIFE Today

“If God sheds light on a weed, He’s the only one that can remove it. But it must be removed at the root He’s the only one that can do that!” James

Another Good Reason to Get a Good Nights Sleep

2011-02-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

Fitness Tip of the Week from WorkoutMusic.com

Are You Sabotaging Your Workout Efforts?

Too many late, sleepless, nights has its consequences - illness, breakdown of muscle and even weight gain. Insufficient sleep can actually make you fat!

Your body produces more cortisol, an adrenal-regulated hormone, which turns on a fat-storing enzyme to increase fat storage, thwarting your best exercise endeavors. Cortisol causes cellular breakdown, depleting the energy stores in your muscles and leaving you feeling weak and tired and can mean you're too tired to exercise. Lastly, sleepless fatigue can activate the feelings of hunger, even if you're not hungry, resulting in cravings for high-carb and high-fat junk food.

So what's the final message here? By day be active and exercise, by night take a break for 7 to 9 hours and sleep the night away.

Flaxseed

2011-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

Really excited about a new site I found. So much information available if you want to check it out.

Did you know:

Flaxseeds are high in protein, soluble fiber and contain vitamins B1, B2, C, E and beta carotene. In addition to the omega-3 fatty acid that flaxseeds are also rich in, they contain calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/330229-how-to-eat-flaxseed-with-extra-virgin-olive-oil-for-health/#ixzz1BzemG2MB

Tips for Pursuing Healthier Living

2010-10-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Regarding caloric intake:  Set your calorie intake to be the goal weight times 10 to give you a general idea of the number of cals you should be consuming daily. Begin to journal your food and record the calories.   (note if you are considerably over that goal weight you will want to do this incrementally- You will not want that to be the calories immediately - reduce the weekly calories as you loose the weight)

Roadblocks: After doing the above suggestion for a period of time, if you encounter roadblocks, you may need to play with these numbers.  You can take a week where you ramp up the daily calories by 1-2 hundred calories. Then return back to the original goal weight calories.

Cravings:  After a time, you may develop overwhelming cravings. It may mean you have cut back on those cals too much. It is ok if you have a day where you want to eat. You may need to ramp up your caloric intake for several days when cravings come. Be mindful of not being too drastic. Being too drastic may yield rapid weight loss, but you will have a more unstable emotional state. (also rapid weight loss rarely remains off - you usually gain all of the weight back but it finds some friends to come along when it returns) Being in an emotional state while trying to loose weight is usually a bad combination and will more than likely lead to failure.

Another factor that may be causing cravings is you are at a certain cycle in your month.  So always be aware of the calendar. Hormones can drive us. Cravings in themselves are not bad. It is the bodies way of telling us what it needs. So listen to what your body is crying out for. Ask God to reveal to you what it is your body wants. (scripture says we have not because we ask not) For example, if you are having this insatiable desire for chocolate, you may need magnesium (there is a low fat way to get that and a fattening way) You have the freedom to choose which one. If you are craving tons of butter, your body is probably needing fat. (you can get a handful of almonds -about 5- or avocado is an excellent healthy fat) If you are craving sugary foods you may need to increase your carbs. You can choose multigrains to get that as a healthier alternative to a sugary treat. If you are craving anything at all, there is an underlying biological need driving it. So listen to your body. Is it crying out for a Snickers? You may be needing both the magnesium from the chocolate and the protein from the peanuts the carbs from the caramel. Should you try to satisfy that desire with a healthy choice? You can or just eat the snickers and enjoy it. Record it in your calories and accommodate for it the next day or so. It is not evil and it is not cheating to act on cravings. That is the beauty of this program. You can have what your body desires in moderation and on occasion. You just have to be smart about it.

In this blog, I wrote about focus and how it helps us succeed.  http://on-wings-as-eagles.blogspot.com/2010/10/where-is-your-focus.html I believe that there are many ways to succeed at living a healthier life. If you begin to focus on being healthier and educating yourself to make wiser decisions with what, how much and frequency of food consumption, you will find you will succeed. If you focus on exercise as part of your life, you will find you will succeed.  The good thing about New Years Resolutions is that it gets you focused on the goal. The problem is that most resolution fail because our focus gets quickly diverted.

Ways to develop this focus is what spurs programs like Weight Watchers, personal trainers, and nutritionist. They are just methods to get you to focus and to help you stay focused. The methods themselves are not magical. They are only effective if you use them and they help you keep your focus. As for the methods, you use what works for you. You can get an accountability partner, you can post cards or pictures around your house especially in the kitchen to remind yourself. You can join a fitness center, you can even find someone to design a food plan for you. But your most important part of this method is that you remain focused on it.

Encouraging others to live healthier lives is just part of my passion. I hope you find encouragement in this today.

Where is Your Focus???

2010-10-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a weapon we have! FOCUS!!!

I am just reminded today that where we have our focus is the key to what matters to us. It is the key to how we succeed. It is a big key to life.

For example, if we focus on our past we live in the past. If we are consumed by fear of our future or even anticipation for our future, we are focusing on the future. If we are alert and aware of our present, our focus is on the HERE and NOW!!! The present is the ONLY place where we can affect anything. You cannot change the past or alter the future. So if we live in the present and keep our eyes on the present, fixing our gaze on Jesus, we will live a more satisfied, successful, peaceful, and content life. And we will bring the Father much glory.

Do we focus on our pain, our finances, our schedule, or our sin? Our focus is SO important.

There is a time to look at our pain, our finances and our sin. Plus much more. But my point is that our focus has to be upon the Lord and His word.

Where is your focus?

If we focus on weight loss, getting out of debt, winning a game... or whatever, we are usually successful. Why? We keep our goal before us. The key to weight loss success is always finding ways to keep the goal right in front of you, whether it is thru Weight Watchers, and accountability partner, a group, or refrigerator reminders. The method is rarely ever the key to success. It is that you keep your focus on your goal.

The world is a very distracting place. There are things demanding our attentions. If we are not intentional with our focus, we will drown in a sea of busyness and trivial pursuits. If we want to walk a life that is honoring to God and draws others to Him, we are going to have to keep our eyes SET upon HIM. Jesus is our goal, to be like Christ. But it is not to conform ourselves into the image of Christ. Oh so subtly we can begin to think it is for us to do. But on the contrary, it is for us to set our eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth WILL grow strangely dim, in the light of His GLORY and GRACE. (such a great song, but those words cut to the heart of what I am saying) Listen to me here. FOCUS on Jesus. He is our goal. But it is not for us to do. As you set your eyes upon Him and your focus is neither to the left nor the right, as you emmerse yourself in who HE is. THERE is where the work begins inside of you. It is where the transformation is done. It is not a difficult mathematical equation. It is as simple as where you are focused.

That is why every day we need to seek Christ. We need to keep Him in the forefront of our minds. He is always there. He says He will never leave you. So as we set our eyes on Him, we become increasingly aware of His presence with us. As we become aware of His presence we become strengthen, encouraged, and more like Christ.

I have noticed that whomever I spend the most time with, I begin to pick up there mannerisms and behaviors. I begin to see things from there perspective and even at times pick up there offenses. So as we spend more time with Jesus the more we will be transformed inside out. I want to talk like Him, walk like Him, care about what He cares about. I want the transforming work of Christ in me. We need to look at the world from God's perspective. Ask Him for it.

Daniel 4:27 in the New Living Translation, says "Stop sinning and do what is right." Focus on that scripture. Seems pretty straight forward and simple when you boil it down. But we are able to effectively do this by the enabling power of Christ. We focus on HIM. He will strengthen us to stop our sin and to do what is right.

There is a story in the bible of a King who walked a life of focus. 1Kings 22:1-2 "Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. ... 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. "

Not turning aside to the right or the left. Keep your focus directly on Jesus. I believe it is a key to effective living.

Being the image of Christ to the world

2010-08-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Heard the following statement on the radio the other day yet am unable to quote so forgive me: "Sin corrupts the image of Christ in us". Sounds like a pretty good reason to avoid sin. Our image becomes distorted and we will no longer reflect the image of Christ to the world around us. Isn't that a great reason to flee from sin and the temptations of sin.

Just a little something to chew on. That's all.

The Healing Heart on Life Today

2010-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Is 61 I come to heal the broken hearted.

Luke 4 when he stood up before them, he rolled out the scroll of Isaiah, pointed his finger right to it and spoke these very words straight off of the pages of inspired scripture and he said, “Today, this is fulfilled in your hearing.”

http://lifetoday.tv/qt/2010/07/100728.htm Part 1 "The Healing Heart"
http://lifetoday.tv/qt/2010/08/100804.htm Part 2 "The Healing Heart"