Selfishness

First off, I want to say selfishness is something that we all struggle with by being self-centered, arrogant, prideful, and we will see it in our family firsthand.

What does the Bible say about being selfish?

This past Sunday, we visited a church, and he was talking about 1 Samuel 15. He mentioned the arrogance of Saul. God explained to King Saul what to do and he went about it his own way And, after he made his own selfish decisions God regretted that he made Saul king.

This regret is different from human regret.

When we think of regret, we think we didn’t mean for something to happen, but God’s regret is talking about mourning.

It’s like when we discipline our children as parents. We don’t want to punish our children but we have to in order to teach them right from wrong and that’s how God looks at us on a daily basis. He doesn’t want to punish us, but He has to. He’s our parent that needs to teach us right from wrong.

We are constantly wondering why God lets bad things happen, but there’s certain consequences in life when we make poor decisions. Bad things are gonna happen, but it’s how we go about handling those bad situations; how we react at that time. Are we still focusing on Christ or are we trying to take care of it our own selves?

When we are self-centered, we are pushing God away from us. In James 4:6 it says, “ but He gives more grace. Therefore, it says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

We need to turn our intentions on others around us in a caring way, and take care of others around us. Stop thinking you are owed something. Stop putting ourselves as a god in our life; we need to submit ourselves to the Lord. Putting ourself first causes so much hurt, pain, guilt, shame, and chaos. Our families take a lot of pain from each other. Some family members take advantage of that.

As it goes on in verse 7 “ submit yourselves therefore, to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

If we don’t submit our life to God, the devil is there to always seek kill and destroy as it says in the book of John 10:10

“ the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy by came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

and those are in RED letters, which means it is God speaking.

But if we submit ourselves to the Lord, the devil will flee.

In James 4:8 it says

“draw near to God and he will draw near to you cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double minded.”

This is why I always draw to the book of James. He is always on point, direct, and blunt. If you’re not drawing near to God, you’re a double minded person. You need to purify your heart instead of living by this world.

I see it firsthand in my family. People using each other for things that they didn’t even earn themselves.

My grandparents, for instance, are very hard-working. They have earned every penny that they have made in their pocket not anybody else. I don’t ask them for money. I don’t want their money, but yet I have family members that use and abuse them. My grandparents are the most giving people (family wise) I’ve ever met. They will do anything for anybody but people take advantage of that and it takes a lot of me not to say anything. This is the reason I’m writing this blog because I’m sure there is someone out there that is going or has gone through the same thing. It’s ridiculous to see your family torn apart.

Can’t get along together and just downright evil.

Always out to try to do something for themselves.

If they do something for someone they’re expecting something in return and it’s downright disgusting.

When it comes to your family, you should be able to do things for them and not expect anything in return. We should be helping each other out of the kindness of our hearts. Not abusing our family.

My mom and her husband (step father) has worked so hard to help my grandparents move into a smaller home. They got them to where they are comfortably living in their new place. They have both been on the phone constantly trying to get things connected and switched over. They have taken care of their old house to get it ready for the buyer. They don’t ask for anything. I am very thankful for my step father. He has done so much for my mom and my grandparents. No other person has done anything like he has done. Other family members get jealous because he is over there doing things to help my grandparents and mother, but he’s doing it out of the kindness of his heart not to get something out of it in return. If it was not for my mother and my stepfather, my grandparents would not be where they are today and I am very humbled to have them as my family members.

I am tired of the selfishness, and the jealousy that comes with money, attention, and pride. It just shows the guilt that they feel in their heart and I pray that they come to know who Jesus is so they can submit themselves to God and resist the devil that is causing them to be as selfish as they are.

Faith with works

Do you call yourself a Christian? If you do what are the “requirements”? Is it a check off the list, be a “good enough” person, or maybe just go to church on the holidays everyone seems to HAVE to go to on just those holidays? (You know the ones I’m talking about). It can be confusing with all these different brothers and sisters preaching what they call the truth but do you take the time yourself to read the scripture again when you get home and study it?

This world falls short of God everyday and it hurts my heart. I do as well, but I see so many people watching these false teachers and that really scares me. If one would go home and open their bible and ask God to open their mind to the scripture maybe something will make them think, “I don’ t see what they are talking about.” Let me ask you these questions, Do you believe that if you are saved you will never have any suffering ever again? Do you believe that you will never go through trials? Do you believe that you will have more money, better job, no sickness, or even no worries EVER!! If you believe that you have been taught completely wrong. You best walk… NO RUN out of that building and find a truth teacher.

Finding a truth teaching church nowadays is so hard to find. I am extremely thankful to have found Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church. They not only preach the truth but they also hold everyone accountable. But, not like other church’s I have known if you are held accountable they do not turn their back on the individual. They simply pray and try to find ways to help that individual work through their sin. Now if they do not want help then they will take the steps of no longer being members of the church but our doors are ALWAYS open. This is what I love about this church. They teach, preach, and execute.

James explains it so well in James 2:14-26.

“¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe —and shudder!

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”– and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

So you see…. You can not simply go to church, have faith. You need to live out your faith. If we have the faith as we say we do our works will follow naturally. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be worthless as James explains. The world does a good enough job trying to tell us that. But God tells us we are worthy. Let’s show the world God’s light through us. It’s time to help this world see love and not hate.

Put down the mop

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It has been so long since I have written and I am needing this more today than ever. There have been many times that I wanted to write in here and help myself get through the pain that I hide and then my busy life happens. All the distractions that come my way get me irritable, angry, agitated, unbearable, and etc. I could keep name calling myself but I believe I bashed myself enough. All these distractions keep me out of being in the word of God and Satan is working in me overtime. So, I am going to use this time to help me get my thoughts out and hopefully it can help someone else along the way. If you have a hurt heart and can’t bear it at times please hear me out and stick with me for just a little bit… Here we go….

I have been walking a lonely path the last few years. I feel like I reach out to a few people to try and build a relationship with someone and it is very hard when relationships are already built and you are an “add on”. Everywhere I go and try to build a friendship they already have a close friend and don’t need another. I feel lost when we talk about certain things in Sunday school because I really don’t know anyone. But I continue to smile and nod letting them know that I understood. Now I am not saying all this to make you think we have an awful church and such. We have an amazing God filled, truth teaching church that I LOVE very dearly. I just have not made a connection with someone. It is due to my work schedule was completely opposite than anyone else. I do NOT reach out like I did when I was in Indiana. I wanted this time to not speak as much (which if you know me is almost impossible, lol). None of these ladies know my testimony, they really don’t know me at all. I don’t reach out anymore. I believe I am like this today because of my past. I was the one who reached out all the time. And I have reached out here and nothing ever gets accomplished. I plant the seed and there is never a follow up. This makes me feel that maybe they don’t want to hang out. And to be honest I really don’t have the time or family to watch kiddos while I do what I need or want. And let’s face it… Ladies, we ALWAYS feel GUILTY when we do something for ourselves. But we NEED this!!

We need time with our girlfriends to relieve our stress, fill us with God’s word, relate to issues to build each other up. So why can’t we just set the stupid mop down for one day, delay our dusting, wait on laundry till tomorrow? Because Satan makes us think that it will be more than overwhelming to make ONE day up to be close to Godly friends. Satan makes us think we are unworthy of God’s presence. He turns our day of being with the girls or making quiet time with God into “I have too much to get done”, “Now the kids made a bigger mess and that was definitely not on my schedule”, ETC.  He tries to turn our eyes away from the prize and make us stressed, vulnerable, agitated, angry, impatient.  He gives us a feeling of failure.  Ladies, we really need to stop and think about our hearts.  I don’t know about you but my heart is filled with anger, remorse, doubt, and loss of self esteem.  Let’s begin to build each other up and check in from time to time with just a simple text or phone call. Sometimes that means more to someone more than you would ever know.

I am going to end with this Psalm.  It’s Psalm 86. A prayer of David.  It really hit my heart this morning.

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Rejoice the soul of they servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive: and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer: and attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; netiher are there any works like unto thy works.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul form the lowest hell.

O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Emotions go a long way

If anyone of you know me, you know that I don’t do feelings very well.  I tend to bottle up my feelings and then one day……. I EXPLODE!!!  This is something that I have been recently working on.  Is it easy?  NO!!  Is it impossible to change the way I need to be for myself and others around me?  Absolutely Not!  I started reading a book called “Enemies of the Heart” by Andy Stanley.  I am currently on Chapter 7 but had it on my heart to share what I have so far.

Chapter 1 is titled “It Came from Within”.  Needless to say this chapter really brought out all my feelings.  As I have been reading this I am keeping a journal.  I highly recommend journaling.  It opened my eyes up more than I knew what I am going through.  One of the questions asked “How are things with my heart?”  It states to write down a few words that would serve as accurate descriptors of my inner condition at the time of writing.  I am going to give you the TEN words or sayings that was going through my heart at that moment.

1. Depressed
2. Hurt
3. Not Wanted
4. Angry
5. Insecure
6. Jealous
7. Not a good mother
8. Used
9. Pain
10. Don’t care to die

After I wrote those down, I broke out into tears.  See, the reason I have been feeling this way is for a few reasons but one inpeticular…..

I chose 5 years ago to move out-of-state.  My husband landed a great job and financially it was a good decision.  Since moving here, I have also landed a wonderful job which pays more than I have made in the past as well.  You may think then what is with all the emotions? Well….. Moving meant moving away from family.  I have a son from a previous marriage whom was with me all the time.  He was 9 years old when we moved.  I asked my son where he wanted to live and he chose to live with his dad.  For awhile I was doing well with it.  Then, slowly I started getting depressed.  Granted a lot of things have happened in between the time to now that I don’t intend on sharing right now.  As soon as my son turned 14 he stated he was moving down with me and I couldn’t count the days, hours, minutes, and seconds fast enough.  He told me how much he missed me and told his dad he wanted to live with me and his dad refused. My son does not like arguing so, he just goes with whatever is best for the person who yells so he don’t have to hear it. I hated missing the activities he was involved in and just time spent that was missed.  I felt as if our memories….. we would never have any.  The terms of me moving out-of-state was that I have him every time there was an extended time off from school.  This means all summer, fall and spring break.  As a mother this is never enough time.  When my son is now 14 he changed his mind again on moving with me.  The years of lies that I have had to deal with this has now become a life living nightmare. My son now will be 16 and every year we go through him moving down.

Another question he asks in the book is “In what ways do you tend to modify your behavior to avoid pain?”  I tend to play the fake card A LOT!! My husband is not aware of my life-ending thoughts.  I tend to “act” happy and think of other things.  I feel like my problems are not “problem” enough.  This is something everyone in the family knows what I am dealing with and not that big of deal right?  I don’t want people “worrying” about me.  Then, I start to think people would be better off with out me because my husband has said I complain a lot.  And people at work has said that too.  So, maybe everyone would be happier with out me around?  I tend to also use sarcasm to prevent my feelings from coming out. (This is something I am VERY good at.)  I don’t want to talk about certain things in life because I don’t want to get hurt or hurt anyone else’s feelings for that matter. I don’t like crying in front of people either. I was always told as I was growing up that it makes you look weak. I am want that never wants to look weak…. As I look back on my thoughts and have known people to end their life; I don’t honestly know how they finished.  I tend to look at others lives and think about their life would be if I was not around.  How much my son would hurt.  How much my dad and step-mom would be angry at me.  We have had someone in my family recently took their life and I have seen the hurt it has had towards the whole family.  I could not even bear.  My thoughts have not completely been suicidal, mine are more of if something happened to me it wouldn’t matter anyway kind of thoughts.  (If that makes sense) .

As I continue to read this book a verse caught my eye…

God cares so much about me that He provides me with the love I need to not feel empty anymore.  I just need to choose God.  Is it hard? Some days are better than others.  I find it encouraging that He will take my pain away.  And I know that He can.  But, I feel like I won’t have a relationship my son.  How is giving birth to a child and leaving them a good thing?  I hurt a lot from my own dad doing that same thing to me and yet here I am doing it to my son also.  And now my son does not even want to live with me.  He PROMISED me!  And yet he LIED! How can I trust? Why should I trust? I moved to better myself and the life of my son and yet he denies me.

BUT…… Look how many denied Jesus.  I now look at the perspective of how God feels when we deny Him.  Maybe that is what God is doing to show me His love for me.  Satan knows well that I am very passionate about family.  And my son is at the top of the list.  And the enemy is using that.  But, I can now see how God is using this as well.  He is showing me how he feels as us humans deny Him.  And His feelings run more deeply than mine do.  I can’t imagine what He must see and go through on a daily basis. He watches His children everyday deny Him; and I am only having to worry about one child I gave birth to, not the whole world. I can only imagine His pain He feels about His children denying Him.

I pray today that if you are having troubles in life that you reach out to someone.  Are you going to change over night? No!  Is your pain going to last forever?  Never!  Our minds tell us the bad when we should be searching for our hearts that God has restored.  God will restore your heart we just need to let Him in.  Read the prayer below.  I will be praying for you as well.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you today to help restore my heart.  Help me see myself through your eyes.  Change my heart to better serve you.  If I start to feel down help me to remember Ezekeil 36:26 “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.  And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  Help my eyes to stay focused on You on a daily basis.  Thank you Lord for being a forgiving Father.  Your love shows daily and I miss out on the daily blessings that You provide me.  I take them for granted.  Lord, I ask that if anyone is reading this prayer that you direct their heart to You and Clean their heart and Create a new one.  Thank you for your many blessings.

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Have you ever prayed and couldn’t tell if God was talking to you or if you were just losing your mind? Have you ever felt God tugging at you telling you to do something but don’t know what it is?

This has been going on for the past month for me. I started a new study on prayer. I am currently going through the “Fervent” book by Priscilla Shirer. I was at a place in my walk with God that I was not happy with. My prayer life has been, as one would say, lukewarm. I was missing my fire. I was missing my joy. I was missing my Father.

As I started reading I made a challenge to myself, that everyday I would be in the word and pray. No matter where or when I needed to make this happen. Sometimes it is not convenient on the time of having my quiet time, but I make it happen. And since then God has been tugging at my heart. I have been getting songs, reading material, and scripture brought to my attention about doing something. Do I know what it is yet? I have not a clue. So, I phoned a friend about my encounters. I explained that I had been praying more and asking God to change my heart and fix me. I told her I have been working on my prayer life and that I have been really focusing more on Him. And every time I am out and about the song “Do Something” by Matthew West comes on. Then, The Lord’s Prayer is popped into my head. So, she suggested that I not ignore God and me doing something and to write out the Lords prayer and then in my own words.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in Heaven,

Hallowed by thy name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

AMEN

(Matthew 6:9-13)

This prayer, if you were like me, was always told in church. It was also posted on walls and said so many times that eventually I memorized it and didn’t even know it. Now it’s great to memorize scripture. But, it’s not great to memorize scripture and have no idea what it means or take time to pull it apart to really “get it”. As a kid I memorized because my Sunday School teacher told me too. If they explained what it meant I do not remember. But, I had it memorized so if I was called upon I would be ready and proudly say my “homework”. It wasn’t the Lords prayer at this time in my life, it was something I was told to do by a teacher that said to memorize this by next week. So, I did. I had the paper that was received in class and I just read it off the 8 1/2x 11 sheet of paper not the bible.

Now some would say, “What’s the big deal? Your youth teacher gave you the scripture!” There is a key word there though did you catch it? The “youth teacher” gave me the scripture. My job after receiving that paper of God’s word was to go home and open my bible and at the very least double check the wording and the scripture was correct. As I was typing this and went back to proof read I spelled out “bread” in scripture “break”. We are human we all make mistakes but us humans really need to follow up on our own and open our bibles. This is how we interrupt scripture in the wrong ways. Now back to Matthew 6: 9-13.

So this is what God is touching my heart with… This is in my own words.

My Father in heaven

make my name holy

have Your Kingdom come

and Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven

Give us You (our daily bread)

and forgive my sins, as I forgave

others who have sinned against me.

Lead us away from all our temptations

and help the evil to flee from me

For Your Kingdom, Your Power, and Your Glory is with me FOREVER.

Now again that is in my own words. For most the hardest part is forgiving others who have sinned against ourselves. But, this is actually one of my easier things to do. I tend to look at others perspective on things. (And no there are days I wish God did not make me this way.) Do I get angry? Absolutely! Do I want to retaliate? What human being wouldn’t? BUT…. There is something by far so much greater than being angry, retaliating, getting even as one would say. The name is JESUS! Though it may not be natural for you to forgive. Maybe you want to hold the grudge. But, all that is doing is letting the enemy win over you. Imagine a world where everyone forgave and as ones would say “Kill them with kindness”? Just think of the next time someone cuts you off in their car, cuts in line, puts their needs before yours that maybe that is the time Jesus sent that person to you to interrupt your time and show them an act of kindness and show Jesus love through you. Always remember God created YOU TO DO SOMETHING!!!!!

Day 24-This Isn’t Fair

How is everyone doing?  We are on day 24 and started Day 2 on page 90 of our participants guide.  If you have been following right along what has been your struggles and/or rewards?  If you are a little behind, no worries.  You do this on your time.  This is why I did this the way I did.  I have life happen to me to and I completely understand.  Sometimes life just takes us on a journey and we don’t know where we are headed. lol.

I like the question Lysa asked, ” If you could make an exchange, what kind of temptation do you think you might choose to have instead of your struggles with food?  Why does this temptation seem easier or more appealing to you?”  Well, first I did used to think like Lysa talked about in Chapter 10.  The I would rather be addicted to alcohol or something else besides food.  But, to be honest, right now I really would want to be addicted to lifting.  I really love picking up those weights and going to town.  Pushing myself with more weight and more reps to see what my body can do.  I have found a passion in that.  But, as I type this I should ask for the addiction of cardio because I can’t stand cardio.  I’d rather lift all day and night with no sleep or breaks instead of running/burpees/mountain climbers etc. I hate the thought of doing them and today is cardio day as a matter of fact. BLAH. Lifting tends to calm me and makes me strong and that is why it is more appealing to me.

My weakness is when my household is not on the same page nor do they help you in anyway to eat healthier.  This past weekend we decided to have a bonfire and have s’mores.  Which I will not deny the 2 that I had.  But we also ate hot dogs.  Then Monday my husband walks into the bedroom and asks what do you want for super?  I told him just to worry about him and his daughter and not me.  (I planned on cleansing after the weekend I had of bad eating.)  Later he comes back into the bedroom and says, “I got you something special for dinner!”  Ugh, What is it, I wonder?  I told him I needed to get my workout in to go ahead and eat.  After my workout he shows me my special dinner…. PIZZA!  (But it had chicken and all veggies on it)  As I am a pizza lover, I had pizza for dinner but told my husband thank you but tomorrow don’t worry about me because I have to cleanse.  I planned on doing that today but I didn’t tell him that.  I was half asleep when he asked the first time.  Maybe I need to chart out my cleanse days so he will know.  But, see it is hard when the rest of the household is not trying to be healthier.  But, I need to keep my mind and heart right with sticking with HEALTHY! I have came too far to go backwards.

What are your weakness/struggles that you have been facing?  Let me know and we will pray for you.

Day 23- Read and Reflect Chapter 10- This Isn’t Fair

Life just takes us on a journey doesn’t it?  We tend to look at others like our life is not fair compared to others.  We tend to look at others houses, cars, spouses, smaller waists, good behavior kids, beautiful family, and the list could go on and on.  But, Like Lysa stated, They don’t have it all together themselves.  And as a matter of fact,  I have met a lot of fake people in my life.

Have you ever had that friend that plays the I love my life card.  And I am talking she/he loves EVERYTHING about themselves.  They brag about getting a pool, a bigger house, losing weight, working out at the gym, etc.  Once you really get to know his/her family life it is not all it’s cracked up to be.  FAKE!  I have never been good with that word.  Yet, I have a tendency of finding just those kind of friends everyone I go.  Like the ones who brag and you are going out of your way for your friend but it’s never a 50-50 relationship.  It’s more like an 80-20 and I am giving 80% and the other person is giving 20.  Now,   the excuses I have gotten since I started working has always been, “I just don’t know when to call you.  I don’t want to wake you so I wait to see if you call me.”  I could think of others.  But, as you read those all you heard was excuses.  Just like us with “IT’S NOT FAIR.”  Just another excuse.  But, Let me tell ya Quaker has more oats than we have excuses and God is tired of listening to His children complain about what we can’t have.  When the bible clearly tells us that He gives us what we are in need of.  Why can’t we just be happy?

God provides always.  He will always give us the material that we need to survive and go about our day.  Look down at your well fed belly, God has provided.  There are other parts of the world that does not have that luxury. Feel blessed.  But, use that blessing to show God you are truly grateful for the extra meal for lunches to take. (Instead of eating more portions)  God is providing you a way to save money.  He does not want us to be burden with anything.  It’s time to show Him that we are grateful for the food He has provided.  “God is good all the time; all the time God is good”.

You have more strength than you can even imagine.  Our bodies are capable of doing so much more than our minds will let us.  Check out this clip from facing the giants…

 

What is the first thing he does to him?  Blindfolds him.  Why do you think that is?  Our eyes deceive our needs/wants/desires.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could pray to have God “blindfold” us from all the junk?  Now if you didn’t cry during this…. Well I would ask you if your heart was even ticking.  This clip from this movie gets me every time.  But, when he tells him he is the most influential person on the team and he needs him that makes me think of how God sees each and everyone of us.  If we always looked defeated and that life just isn’t fair all the time, how do you think others will look at us.  Or even the vibe they are naturally getting from you.  Just like any team on any court or field; if you have one bad egg it reflects off on the whole team.  But that one that is the most influential; you are an example of God.  Remember always you are a Child from God whom people look up to.  Even if you are not looking, someone is.  Rather it be your children, nieces, nephews, friends children, youth groups, or just a random person at any store.  Someone is looking up to you.

Who are you going to influence today?  Let’s try ourselves first and take that joy that you are feeling from it and spread it to someone else today.  It’s Monday and everyone complains about a Monday but not today because you are going to shine and make it to that end zone just like Brock in this movie clip.  You GOT this!! The best feeling is making someone else’s day.  You never know what someone else is going through even if it seems they have it all together.

Day 22- From Triggers to Truth

Do you get a lot of triggers throughout the day?  Right now we just got over Halloween and this is the start of most people to start their bad habits.  I believe this is why the so called “holiday” lands specifically when it does.  Satan is not a fool for sure.  He wants you to fail, he wants you to forget those bible verses we have been going over and just eat that Reese cup.  I love peanut butter and chocolate together.  Hint is why I have chocolate and peanut butter protein shakes.  And man they are good.  I feel like I get a dessert in on a daily basis.  When I get that trigger I lean towards finding something in the house that is healthy and decide from that.  I did have to get rid of all that bad stuff that could be tempting out of the house.  It took some time.  And I have learned something about myself…. If I put it in the cupboard; I forget I even have it.  Out of sight out of mind.

What are your triggers?  Hopefully Halloween didn’t tempt you too much.  I like how Lysa talks about how long it would take to burn off 800 calories just because you decided to eat a brownie and wash it down with a milkshake.  YIKES!! Makes you really think about what you put in your mouth! I don’t want to work any harder on my workouts right now as it is.  Autumn is already killing me.

    

Speaking of Autumn… Yesterday was Cardio day and I thought I was going to croak over.  If you know me at all, I HATE CARDIO! The only cardio that I like is playing volleyball and softball.  Maybe even some basketball, but not jumping jacks, not burpees, not mountain climbers, not whatever that plank down to elbow and up move she called.  It was brutal.  Did I want to stop?  Heck Yes I did! But did I?  NO! Did you see her abs in those pics yesterday?  I WANT THOSE BAD!! And you have to work hard for what you want in life.  Job, house, health, relationships, etc.  Everything you have to put time into.  Mind you during this workout yesterday my husband was alarmed when he found out my heart rate got up to the highest its been. 220! So, I really need to tame myself a little better.  He may start working out with me now though.. lol. Sacrifices I have to make in life… LOL!!

I just wanted to write a quick note and say we got this! Just need to feed our triggers with Gods word and He will provide us with the strength to succeed. Love you all and Keep the hard work going.  You are doing GREAT!!!

 

Day 21- But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry

It’s questions or reality day… These questions in this participants guide is rocking my world.  I love it!! I want so much for all of us to focus on God more than anything else in life.

I love Psalm 86:11-12

“Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify your name forever.”

I read this verse and I can feel my body screaming at me to do what this verse says!  It is telling me to get my act in gear and put all my Faith in God and He will Teach me, Help me walk in HIS truth, Set my heart on fire for Him, and then I will remember to give thanks to Him on a daily everyday second basis and lastly continue to Glorify Only HIM!  I have to confess I am not the greatest at praying.  I am best with my head in the bible and digging in.  But, I really need to work on my prayer life.

The other verse she throws at us is…

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

I don’t know about you but when I first read this verse I was in absolute fear!  I felt like I had betrayed my own Father.  He looks down on me and yet I treat myself with such disrespect.  Why?  The world says I am my own worst enemy and this is nothing but the truth.  The devil likes to sneak into our minds and change our thoughts about how Jesus feels about us.  He makes us feel like we have done God wrong and does not want us.  Devil also let’s us believe that we are not strong enough to do anything about it.  He makes us feel like we can’t get strength from anywhere but our own body and our will power is not strong enough.  But,  Did you catch these verses?  God will give us the strength we need to take care of the body God provided us.  Just think if we work hard to glorify God; He will provide what we need.  Which will be strength, guidance, love, power, joy, and best of all awesome results.

Autumn Calabrese is her name!  The above quotes are hers and she says these many times in her videos.  She points to one girls ABS and says you gotta work hard to get these; it don’t come easy.  (Or at least close to that.)  As my body is screaming for me to stop, these quotes remind me of what I need to do to love the body God is letting me borrow.  And I need to respect Him.  Have you ever disrespected your parents here on earth?  I bet it wasn’t pretty.  And I aim to bet God is much more MIGHTY than your earthly parents that I don’t want to get on God’s bad side.

So, What do you say?  Repeat that last quote because it is crucial!!!

RESPECT your BODY.

FUEL your BODY

CHALLENGE your BODY

MOVE your BODY

AND MOST of ALL,

LOVE your BODY.

Loving our body is the most important process we can do for ourselves.  God gave us this body as a gift and we should show Him how much we LOVE, CHERISH, HONOR His gift.

 

You are EMPOWERED

How is everyone doing with this study?  Have you gotten down a routine?  Do you have a plan?  Has this helped you realize that craving God is far more important than craving anything else in the world?

I want to take today to reflect on you.  What are your inspirational quotes?  What is the song that you hear every time and jam out to?  What do you do to mentally get prepared for your day?  What is going on in your heart?  Is there still some struggle going on?  Is there more of a desire for God?  How have you been dealing with it?   Have you ever thought about creating a prayer journal?  What is something that you have taken out of your day to replace God with?

Remember that we are all in this together and if you are needing prayer, let us know.  I will pray for you as I hope you would help pray for me.  My prayer request is here the last week I have ran out of my “stress potion” and have been very irritable with everything.  I finally got my order today but I will be needing prayer on my temper and not get so irate when I’m behind the wheel.  lol.   Below I made a prayer journal page that you may print off and a calendar for the whole year to help you put on paper to reach your goals.  Hope you enjoy and remember

you are a child of God and you are EMPOWERED by HIS strength!!

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