Press Through

Today's Scripture
“Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
In Mark, chapter five, there was a woman who had been sick for twelve years. The doctors gave her no hope. But she heard that Jesus was coming through her town. Something deep on the inside said to her, “This is your season. This is your time to get well.” In the natural, when she saw all the people around Him, she thought, “I’ll never get to Him. It’s so crowded and I’m weak. I just don’t think I can do this.” She almost missed her season. But instead of dwelling on those negative thoughts, she started reminding herself, “If I can just get to Jesus, I will be whole.” She made the choice to turn her thoughts in the right direction. She kept pressing her way through the crowd until she got just close enough to Jesus to reach out and touch the edge of His robe. Instantly, she was made whole. Jesus said to her, in Mark 5:34, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Notice it’s our faith that activates God’s power. What have you been believing God for? Don’t give up! Press through! Keep praying! Keep asking! Keep seeking! God is faithful! As you press through, He’ll meet your faith with His miraculous power, and you’ll step forward in the victory He has planned for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. I ask You to fill me with Your strength, peace, and joy so that I can press through to victory today. Show me the good plan You have for me and fill me with Your spirit of faith. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Happy Anniversary

People/Spirits would love to ruin my 9 year wedding anniversary.

Today is our 9th Wedding Anniversary. It has been an awful day. Commotion at the office because the girl across the hall from me had to move stuff out of her "second" office because of a new employee. Then someone quit/got fired. Too bad that didn't happen in the morning, because then the moving wouldn't have had to occur. Sugar Pop had equally annoying things at his work today.

Of course, it is Wednesday which means Honey is coming over for supper. This does not bother me at all. As I do not expect that we HAVE to celebrate our anniverary ON our anniversary. So, the plan is too have supper with Honey and then Sugar Pop will have to go to praise team practice at 7:30. No big deal.

I get home from work and we go for a walk. Sugar Pop got to work the early shift today so he was already home. When we get home there is a message from Honey (left at 5:24) that she is NOT coming over (because her step-sister is in town). She is supposed to be here at 6:00, that is only 36 minutes before her scheduled arrival. HELLO?!?!?! We had plans. She is supposed to be here every Wednesday night. A little notice would be nice! We could have actually gone out to eat for our anniversary. I might have not made so much for dinner if I had known she wasn't going to be here. It just FLEW ALL OVER ME!

Now, if you have been reading my blog for any time, I am sure you have never seen me vent like this! It is not my nature to get so MAD about something.

However, this has been getting more and more common. Yes, this is the consequence of divorce and some of the things that have to be dealt with and suffered through. But, I am quite positive that Sugar Pop's Ex knew about this before 5:24 tonight. She has probably known all day if not for several days or even a week and didn't bother to make arrangements beforehand.

ARGH!!!!

Scriptures before Bingeing

This is a list of scripture for me to review any time I feel the urge to binge. If you have any suggestions for this list, please share them.

Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:12

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak. ~ Matthew 26:41

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. ~ Isaiah 55:2

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take you stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you! ~ Galatians 5:1

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ~ Hebrews 10:36

I discipline my body...training it to do what it should. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27

Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Don't drink too much wine and get drunk; don't eat too much food and get fat. Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row, in a stupor and dressed in rags. ~ Proverbs 23:19

The New Era has Begun

Yesterday we had our last sermon from our interim preacher. He told us that it was officially the end of our transition and that our New Era was beginning as soon as he finished. It was a great sermon for him to leave us with.

Our new pastor won't be here for a couple of more weeks and I'm not sure when his first sermon will be yet. But we also have a new associate pastor in place, so I suppose he will be preaching until then. I am ready for us to begin this new time in our church. I am very excited about it and looking forward to the things God will teach us through our new pastors and seeing the people who will come and join our congregation that do not yet know the Lord. God is going to do wonderful things and it will be fun to watch and to be used by Him.

I bought a new spiral on Friday because I wanted to start with a fresh one when our new preacher arrived. I will start using this coming weekend!

Impulsiveness or Discipleship?

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith." Jude 20
There was nothing either of the nature of impulsiveness or thoughtless action about Our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman -- an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition by discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land. (Mark 14:54) We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises -- human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God -- but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people -- and this is not learned in five minutes.

Appointed Favor

Today's Scripture
“For we are God's handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them, living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live” (Ephesians 2:10).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God has already prepared paths for you to take in your future! When God laid out the plan for your life, He lined up the right people, the right circumstances, and the right breaks. In your future, He’s already released favor, supernatural opportunities, and divine connections. The breaks you need in life have already been preordained to come across your path. If you will stay in faith and go out each day and be a person of excellence, you’ll walk into these appointments of favor. It will be just as if you stumbled into God’s blessings! When you really understand this principal, you’ll begin to get excited about every single day! You’ll have a spring in your step as you think about what blessing is coming next! It could be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be next week. Keep expecting. Keep believing. Stay focused on the fact that God has already released into your future everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Start declaring seasons of increase over your life. Declare that the favor is on you and opportunities are coming. As you do, you’ll move forward into the favor and blessing God has ordered for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for setting up a good life for me. Thank You for ordering good things for my future. Help me to understand Your goodness more so that I can trust You and follow Your path for me all the days of my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Whoa!

This morning in my Beth Moore bible study I read this scripture:

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ~ Psalm 40:2 (NIV)

That was one of scriptures in list and then she asked us "Which of the Scriptures in the activity above most nearly addresses your circumstances right now and why?"

I wrote, "Hopefully Psalm 40:2 as I wait for God to provide my new job that reflects Psalm 127:1." (Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.")

So then I took a bathroom break, had my 5 minutes of silence, and then read the Lose it for Life Devotional for January 24th. It started with this scripture:

I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. ~ Psalm 40:1-2 (The Message)

Whoa! The same verse in two different places on the same day?!? Only God could orchestrate that. To have me sign up for the bible study, have it start on the day it did, have me be one day behind in my homework while at the same time for me be struggling with binging and have me decide to start reading through the Lose it for Life devotional and to make sure I started it on the day necessary so that I would read this same scripture in both places on the same day. Whoa! That can not be an accident.

One Man’s Tale of Tribulation

From C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain:

My own experience is something like this. I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity today, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers that threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down. At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God’s grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys: I am even anxious, God forgive me, to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the misery of those few days. Thus the terrible necessity of tribulation is only too clear. God has had me for but forty-eight hours and then only by dint of taking everything else away from me. Let Him but sheathe that sword for a moment and I behave like a puppy when the hated bath is over—I shake myself as dry as I can and race off to reacquire my comfortable dirtiness, if not in the nearest manure heap, at least in the nearest flower bed. And that is why tribulations cannot cease until God either sees us remade or sees that our remaking is now hopeless.

Clothe Yourself

Today's Scripture
“Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for indulging the flesh. Put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature” (Romans 13:14 AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Is there something in your life that you would like to put a stop to today? Maybe it’s a certain behavior, addiction, or bad attitude that isn’t pleasing to God? Just as Adam and Eve were exposed in their sin and needed to be clothed in the Garden, we need to clothe ourselves to protect us from sin. When you “clothe yourself” with the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be strong against temptation. How do you clothe yourself with Jesus Christ? In the same way you cover yourself in the natural with clothing. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are covered and cleansed by His blood. You are restored and renewed. Then, cover your mind with the Word of God. Cover your ears by listening to the Word. Cover your eyes by watching only what is pleasing to the Lord. Cover your mouth by speaking the Word and encouraging those around you. As you cover yourself with Christ, you will be strong against temptation, and you will walk in the victory the Lord has planned for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to pay the penalty for my sins. Thank You for providing a way out of temptation so that I can stand clean before You. Help me stand strong as I submit every area of my life to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Live in Peace

Today's Scripture
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Did you know there is strength in living at peace? That’s why the Lord commands that we live at peace with those around us. When there’s strife and contention, then the enemy has an open door to move in your life. But when we are at peace with those around us, we are in a position of strength. Being at peace with those around you doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone. It simply means you are walking in love. It means you are patient and kind, not envious, not boastful. It means you are considerate, kind, and gracious because of what the Lord has done in your heart. If you need peace today, ask the Lord to fill your heart so that you can extend peace to those around you. As you do, you’ll live in a position of strength and walk in the daily blessing the Lord has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of peace which is strength. Today, I choose to release any strife or contention in my heart. I ask You to fill me with Your peace so that I can be an instrument of Your glory in the earth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joy

You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory. ~ 1 Peter 1:8

Amen. Yesterday was one of those days where I felt joyous. It was a joy that comes from knowing God and feeling His presence with me. I was trying to think about how I could describe that joy to someone, but I couldn't. This morning I read this verse and it says "you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained." That is true. I can not explain it, but I love it. I pray that you know this same joy.

Fitness Friday

Last Friday I mentioned how tired I was from having my period. That lasted through the weekend. I did not get ANY exercise on Saturday or Sunday. Monday I felt much more rested and back to my normal self. Nothing exciting to report on the exercise front this week. We've been busy, so I have basically just done my minimum exercise (10 minute treadmill at lunch, 10 minute treadmill after work, 5 minutes of abs, 10 minutes of strength, and 5 minutes of stretching). We did make it to the gym last night for 20 minutes. I did the Precor Elliptical (love that machine!) and used the heart rate workout. You chose what heart rate you want to work out at (I did 140) and it adjusts the resistance to keep you there. It was tough, but I needed a good workout.

Yesterday was the last Weight Watchers meeting at work. We only had 1 person make their goal weight (and she made lifetime yesterday). I'm really surprised there were not more who did because there were several people who really didn't have that much to lose. Several people made 10%. The office had prizes for the people who lost the most weight (by body fat %). It was a good thing for them to do and even though I couldn't win anything (because I'm already at my goal weight), I benefited because there has been less tempting food around. Except for those blasted WW snacks, which I binged on THREE times. They are now banned from my diet and I'm sure that once the current stock is gone, we probably won't be getting more.

Clinging to Our Own Lives

If the first and lowest operation of pain shatters the illusion that all is well, the second shatters the illusion that what we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us. Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We ‘have all we want’ is a terrible saying when ‘all’ does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St Augustine says somewhere, ‘God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full—there’s nowhere for Him to put it.’ Or as a friend of mine said, ‘We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.’ Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as he leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call ‘our own life’ remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make ‘our own life’ less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness? — C.S. Lewis from The Problem of Pain via A Year with C.S. Lewis

Blessings in Sleep

Today's Scripture
“He gives blessing to His beloved in sleep” (Psalm 127:2 AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
The Lord longs to pour out blessings on you constantly—even when you sleep! Many people today struggle with sleeping at night. They stay awake or get poor sleep because they are constantly focused on their problems and worrying about tomorrow. But that’s not God’s plan for you! He wants you to enjoy your sleep as a time of blessing and refreshing. Understand that God has His hand on your life even in the midnight hour. He wants to speak to your heart and restore your dreams. He is taking care of those things that concern you. When you cast your cares on Him and trust Him to work out every detail of your life, you’ll be able to enjoy that sweet sleep that He has promised. Make the decision today to enjoy the blessing of the Lord as you sleep tonight. Say a prayer before you go to bed and cast your cares on Him. As you allow the Lord to bless and refresh you in sleep, you’ll see a tremendous change in your waking hours. You’ll be more invigorated, more alert, and full of the blessing of the Lord in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of blessing. I ask that You teach me to receive that blessing even while I sleep. I cast my cares on You and trust that You are working behind the scenes in my life. Thank You for watching over me and protecting me. Thank You for refreshing me as I sleep tonight. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I seldom have problems sleeping, but I am posting this just in case you do and in case I do sometime and need to re-read these words.

"Foods" I Don't Miss

There are some foods I have given up that I don't miss any more. It is now a habit to NOT have them, where as it used to be a habit to have them.

Soda
Gum
Cheezits (The break room at work used to be stocked with these and I would eat cupful after cupful. I finally had to quit eating them completely)
Extra caffeinated coffee (I have one cup of regular coffee in the morning, after that I drink decaf, if I have any more)
Donuts
Fudgesicles
Hot Chocolate packets (I put real cocoa in my coffee in the morning, so it is like have a mocha everyday. If I really wanted a Hot Chocolate I would make it with real cocoa instead of the processed packets - those contain transfats!)
Coffee Creamer (I use powdered milk)
Popcorn (Did you know those bags of microwave popcorn contain transfats?)

How 'bout them Cowboys?

Fed by God

From Lose it for Life Day by Day:

When struck with the kind of overwhelming hunger that grabs all our attention, we may think we'll simply die between meals. This unrealistic fear puts us in danger of making a food choice that is not in our plan or best interest. But there is a spiritual sustenance that will get us through this hunger and fear.

We can ask God to "feed" us between meals. Seeking the "bread" humans know nothing about is a spiritual task. It means resting in the knowledge that He is our true sustenance. It means resting in faith that we will not die between meals; we are merely uncomfortable. It means calming our spirit by drawing closer to Him and humbly letting go of our will when we're around food, even when others urge us to eat. Like the disciples did to Jesus, those around us may urge us to eat things that are not in our plan, but we can remain steady and committed by drawing on spiritual food.

I needed to read this today. The weekends can be difficult for me because I don't always eat like I do on the weekdays and because I am at home where there is a pantry full of food, it is easy to seek after snacks all day. What I need to do instead is seek after Him who fills me with His spirit.

Rhythm by Mercy Me

Even though the world doesn't know each other, we walk in the same direction
Like those lemmings that march off a cliff into the ocean for no apparent reason and no objection
You know that direction, I call it the direction of "me"
My goals, my stuff, how do I get first place, and could somebody up there cut me a break so I can win the lottery?

Then all of a sudden somebody shows up who's totally set apart from the rest.
Well he's heading in the other direction for one and there's a peace in His eyes and a rhythm to His step.

It's as if he has found the answer to life, and come to find out the answer's not me, myself or I.
I think I'm sticking with that guy.

My heart will beat as one
To the beat of a different drum
The rhythm of Your love

My heart is dancing now
In time with what I've found
The rhythm of Your love

As if I didn't say enough in the first verse, there's something else that's bugging me
How can I have just one heart that beats for so many things at the same time continually?
It just doesn't make sense. I mean technically I've only got one heartbeat in there
But I dance with so many things, do so many jigs you'd think I was Fred Astaire

I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems that every time you give a piece of your heart away
It can not be healthy nor can it be as strong as well let's say
When the whole heart is beating as one for one thing one rhythm in unison
Now that my friend is good advice for anyone

I love this song. You may have never heard it because it was only a bonus track on their Coming Up to Breathe album if you bought it at Family Christian.

Fitness Friday

I started the new month off great. I was 100% on my healthy habits on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday. Then that time of the month arrived. I didn't do as well on Thursday. My eating habits were fine, but I was so tired. I did make it to the gym for 20 minutes, but by the time we made supper, ran a couple errands and got home I was exhausted and ended up laying on the couch about 9:15 and going to sleep. I'm still very tired today.

I did something new today. Every week when I get gas I drive by this salon that has a sign "Foot Detox Spa $20." I've been wanting to get one for a few months now and I finally went today at lunch. You stick your feet in a tub of water that has an ionizer or something in it that helps pull toxins from your system. You don't feel anything while you sit there (30 minutes), but the water gets all gross looking - change colors and looks like it has sand floating in it. Weird! Anyway, I can't tell a big difference in how I feel although I don't feel as tired as I was this morning.

Food Rewards

What do you think of food rewards? After my post yesterday about my licorice reward, I was wondering what you might think of it.

I think we need to be careful with food rewards. They should not be a daily thing, as in, "I went for a walk today so I will reward myself with a double scoop peanut butter hot fudge sundae."

However, having a food reward can be an incentive to meet goals and give you an opportunity to "earn" a treat you wouldn't normal have and prevent you from feeling deprived. For example, my Monday weight is almost always higher than my Friday weight. We usually go out to eat once or twice on the weekend or I splurge a little. Well, when my Monday weight is less than Friday, then I treat myself to a fast food lunch that week. This only happens once every few months. Because I have a reward system in place I don't feel deprived of my Taco Villa Burrito since I will eventually earn one and since I have to cut back on my normal weekend eating routine, the calories all even out in the long run.

A Treat to Look Forward To

I have a goal this month to NOT eat any of the Weight Watchers snacks at my office. They are full of nasty high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils and they are a trigger food for me. Once I start, I can't stop.

So, my reward for not having any this month will be a yummy Panda licorice bar. Only 100 calories and 0 fat. No HFCS or PHO. Only molasses, wheat flour, licorice extract, and aniseed oil. I already have my bar, now I am just waiting for Halloween to arrive.

News

From 30 Happiness Tips:

Stop watching and reading depressing news. In the beginning you may worry that you’ll miss something, but think about it – when was the last time you truly needed to know the things covered in the daily news. Being selective about the information you expose yourself to can have an incredible impact on your level of personal happiness.

I gave up watching the national news over a year ago. I don't miss it. I always hear the top news stories on the radio or on our local news without having to hear the national news coverage that goes on and on and on and on.

I also don't watch those "news" shows about celebrities. The public's fascination with them is ridiculous. Well, maybe it is not the "public," but just the media. The media puts it all out there for people to consume because they are interested in making money. However, if they quit publishing it, I don't think anyone would really miss it. What do you think?

Most of what is sold as "news" is actually just gossip. A lot of what is on television is talked about here:

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ~ Romans 1:28-31

Well, maybe that is a little harsh. There are probably some decent things on television. But I do try to avoid most tv. However, I love watching tv shows on DVD because at least I don't have to watch all the commercials trying to sell me something.

October Habits & Goals

October Healthy Habits
Journal Food & Fitness
Blog
5 Min of Quiet
Read Lose It For Life Devotional
Keep in Touch
Ready in less than 50 min
Lunchtime Treadmill
Cardio
Core
Strength
Stretch/Yoga
Produce - 5 servings
Dairy - 2 servings
Healthy Oil
Nuts
Fiber One
Whole Grain
1 Coffee+1 Tea
Alcohol~0-1
No Sugar
No Flour
No Junk Food
No Looking for Houses (except on Sunday)
No Food after 9
Organize something - a drawer, shelf, area
Enter Receipts
Tomorrow's Clothes
Photos - Work on moving photos from albums to boxes
Bedtime Routine
Bed before 11

October Goals
Be 100% on 10 habits
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total
4.5 Hours of Weight Training
Run at least 4 times for at least 10 minutes
Go to the gym at least 4 times
Do yoga at least once
Do Turbo Sculpt at least twice
Do Turbo Jam at least twice
Get the hair removed on my lip (Advice on this? I've never done it before)
Deep Pore Cleansing mask once a week
Buy a navy blue Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt (Go Cowboys!)

September Results

Here were my September Goals - The items in green are my results:
Be 100% on 10 (or more) - 100% on 12 habits
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total - missed 67
4.5 Hours of Weight Training - Close, but only 4.2
Run at least 4 times - only twice
Do pilates at least once - didn't do this
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical (I can't believe I missed this one, it's my favorite, we just didn't go to the gym enough) arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Here is the amount of time I spent on various exercise (this in in hours)
Running 0.3
Cycling - Stationary Trainer 0.3
Yoga 0.3
Aerobics 0.3
Weight Training 4.2
Walking 2.4
Running - Treadmill 1.5
* Elliptical Trainer 0.5
Stair Climber 0.2
Treadmill 4.7
Core Strength 2.4
Stretching 2.6
Totals: 18.5

* This is actualy cardio wave and arch trainer. Fitness journal doesn't have a category for those so I put them on elliptical.

Olive Oil

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. ~ Psalm 104:14-15

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face. ~ Matthew 6:17

I've tried something new this week. I have been using olive oil as a facial moisturizer. A friend had told me she met someone with beautiful skin and that is what she used for a moisturizer. The thought of trying it has been nagging me for a while, so I finally tried it Wednesday night. So far, I am very pleased with the results. It only takes a very small amount and is so much less expensive than facial moisturizers!

Fitness Friday

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, I had another binge this week. It wasn't anything horrible - just 11 points worth of WW snacks. I have recommitted myself to remaining binge-free. My first goal is one year binge-free. I have started re-reading the Lose It for Life Day by Day Devotional. It is one year long, so I will finish it at the same time I am binge-free for one year.

Here is a list of various binge-triggers I have.

Foods
Candy
Fast food
Cookies
Popcorn
More than 1 glass of wine
Restaurant food
Sugar
Sugar Alcohols
Pastries
Carbs without Protein

Environment
Alone at home
Parties
Holidays
Change in Routine
Change in Plans
Staying at work for lunch
Out to eat for lunch
Work

Emotions
Stress
Bored
Depressed
Procrastinating
Fatigue
PMS

Days of the Week
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Weekends - used to be a problem, but not anymore

Physical
Feel sick
Cold
Taking cold medicine
Digestive Pain
Drop in blood sugar - I don't actually check my blood sugar, but I think this is what causes that shaky, "I've got to have food NOW" feeling

Time of Day
Afternoons

Enough about binging....here is where I am at on my goals for September:

Be 100% on 10 (or more) (currently 100% on 17)
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total (have missed 54 so far)
4.5 Hours of Weight Training (4.2 hours so far)
Run at least 4 times (two times)
Do pilates at least once
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical, arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Scriptures about Worry

Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up. ~ Proverbs 12:25

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. ~ James 1:5-8

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. ~ 1 John 3:18-20

Only Grace

by Matthew West

There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday…has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear

There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace

You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun

An’ there's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believe me…it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace…

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, get back up
Get back up again
Ohh…get…back…up…again…


There's only grace…
There's only love…
There's only mercy and believe me it's enough…it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only…there’s only…grace…

There's only mercy and believe
me it's enough…it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There’s only…grace……
So get back up…get back up again…
Get back up again.

I heard this song on the way home from my bible study last night. The words really spoke to me where I was at after an afternoon binge and a recommittment to being binge free.

Ministry

My Dear Sister,
The God of Glory has called you.
You have a ministry.
In Christ, you are enough for that ministry.
Never forget that showing God off is your ministry.
No matter what, keep your heart in your ministry.
Unveil your face and serve others with authenticity.
Always remember that the power is in God's presence.
Let nothing come between you and intimacy with God.
Keep moving forward from glory to glory.
Let God thin that veil.
Remember, ministry is not about position.
It's about people.
Let name after name be written upon your heart.
Do not seek great things for yourself, seek a great God.
As you leave this place, go in a fresh anointing.
He who turns water into wine turns wimps into warriors.
You have a ministry.
Go fulfill it.

Beth Moore at Washington, D.C. Commissioning

Silence is Not an Option

From TorahBytes, Silence it Not an Option post:

In our day there is increasing pressure to keep silent. Western society, which at one time prided itself in the free exchange of ideas, tolerates less and less the clear proclamation of God's Truth. Popular so-called tolerance insists that all ideas are equally valid, thus denying the validity of God's Truth as revealed in the Bible. Followers of the Messiah are increasingly embarrassed to speak up in today's relativistic culture.

Making matters worse are those who use the principle of "actions speak louder than words" to downplay the necessity to speak out. While it is essential to demonstrate the reality of our words through corresponding actions, transformation comes about as people hear God's word.

Silence, therefore, is not an option.

I must admit that I am an "actions speak louder than words" person. Not that I tell others it is not important to speak out, but because I am not confident and comfortable speaking out myself.

Quotes from Magnificat

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. ~ Magnificat 12-3-6

O God of glory, you have sent your only Son into our midst to bear us in joy into your presence. Waken those whose faith slumbers; stir up those whose love has waned into indifference; rouse to fullness of life those who have abandoned their journey toward you amid the hardships they have met along the way. ~ Magnificat 12-10-6

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ~ Magnificat 12-10-6

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the light in which we place our hope. Break open minds clouded by confusion, hearts darkened by self-seeking, spirits dimmed by deadening habits, and set your people free to welcome your coming with joy. ~ Magnificat 12-23-6

You can subscribe to the Magnificat here.

Embrace Your Season

Today's Scripture
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God has ordained seasons in your life. It’s easy to get frustrated when our dreams aren’t coming to pass on our timetable. When that happens, we have to submit our plans to Him and trust that He has a better plan. Understand that in God’s Kingdom, every season is not harvest. There are plowing seasons. There are planting seasons. There are watering seasons. And sure, we would love for every season to be a time of increase, but without the other seasons, we wouldn’t be prepared. It’s during the plowing seasons when God’s bringing issues to light that we need to deal with. He’s getting us prepared for promotion. If you’re not making as much progress as you would like, the key is to not lose any ground. Don’t go backwards. Hold your position by keeping an attitude of faith and expectancy, even when it’s hard. Keep plowing by speaking the Word daily. As you do, you’ll pass the test, and God promises your due season is coming!
A Prayer for Today
Father in Heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness in all seasons of my life. I trust that my time is coming, and I choose to remain faithful. I submit my ways to You today and trust that You have the best plan for my life. I love You and praise Your name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Fitness Friday

I finally got a run in this week. Sunday I tried an outdoor run. It is so much harder than running on the treadmill! I went to the track at the high school and walked one lap then ran four, then walked another lap and tried running another one. I didn't finish that lap because my heart rate got to high (171). My heart rate stays around 153 when I run on the treadmill. I wasn't running faster because I was pacing myself with a Groove Electric Podcast at 147 bph. I use a 149 bph podcast on the treadmill. Next time I run outside I will use a slower podcast and see if I can run longer. Monday I did a 30 minute run on the treadmill. Do I count 2 runs toward my goal this month even though one run didn't last the normal length of time?

Sugar Pop and I went to the fair on Wednesday night and ate plenty of junk food - gorditas, tornado taters, frozen banana, funnel cake, fried smore, and fried Milky Way. That is all the junk food I need for a LONG time.

This is Sugar Pop's early week so I have been doing a 10 minute walk on the treadmill before work plus my 10 minute walk at lunch. The lunchtime treadmill has quickly become a habit. I hope it helps with the winter blues this year.

Here is how I am doing on my goals:
Be 100% on 10 (or more) (currently 100% on 21)
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total (have missed 33 so far)
4.5 Hours of Weight Training (3.3 hours so far)
Run at least 4 times (two times)
Do pilates at least once
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical, arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Quote Day!

The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another. ~ Mother Theresa

Just like when you take a magnifying glass and direct the sun's rays on a piece of paper you can set the paper on fire, so when one prays for someone, they become a human magnifying glass, and focus the grace of God on that person and set them on fire with the Holy Spirit. ~ Father Larry Richards

Our God, before whom the kings of the earth are less than a spark in the full blaze of the sun...this great God, nevertheless, shows himself eager to hear us at any hour of the day or night that suits us to address him. ~ St. Jan Frances de Chantal

Let us be vigilant to see Christ in whatever good is done for us and to make him manifest in the good we do for others. ~ The Magnificat, 12-3-6

Two Days Worth of Joel & Victoria

Seasons of Sowing

Today's Scripture

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

The Scripture talks about seasons of sowing and reaping in your life. In Psalms, it talks about sowing in tears and reaping in joy. That verse is saying that the sowing seasons are usually the most difficult. It’s hard to keep a good attitude when all your friends are being blessed, but you’re not. You may feel like they don’t work as hard as you do. You may feel like they don’t give like you do or don’t deserve the blessing. That’s a time of testing. It’s hard to go through disappointments and stay positive and hopeful. These are seasons of sowing. If you’ll do the right thing even when it’s hard—when you sow in tears—you will always reap in joy! I’m asking you to have a new attitude toward what God has placed in your heart. It may be taking a long time, but God still has a plan to bring it to pass. Don’t give up. Your time is coming. It’s never too late! God is saying, “This is your season. Keep your faith stirred up.” Keep sowing because in due season, you will reap the bountiful harvest with a song of joy in your heart!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to serve You and sow into the lives of those around me. I ask for Your strength today to do Your will and keep a good attitude. Help me recognize my season of sowing so that I can be ready in the time of harvest. I love You and bless Your holy name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God-Ordained Moments

Today's Scripture

"For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord”, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God created every one of us to be successful. Before the foundation of the world, He laid out an exact plan for our life. And in this plan, He has marked moments that are going to come across our paths. These moments are not ordinary. They are destiny-altering moments. They are designed to thrust you years ahead. It says in Ecclesiastes that “time and chance come together for every person.” That means you’ll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities to advance in your career, opportunities to fulfill your dreams. God has already pre-arranged times of increase and blessing. You may not be seeing a lot of good breaks right now, but let me encourage you; there are seasons of favor and seasons of increase marked for your future. There are God-ordained moments planned out for you. Don’t miss these moments! Don’t stop believing, and don’t get distracted by what’s going on in the world around you. Focus on removing the clutter from your life so that you can hear the still, small voice. Approach today with an attitude of faith and expectancy. As you do, you’ll embrace the God-ordained moments that are ordered for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father God, thank You for ordering my steps. Thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way. I choose to step out today with faith and expectancy so that You can move in my life. I trust You with my destiny and thank You for fulfilling every desire of my heart today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Divine Praises

I didn't watch the Emmy's and I don't watch the news, but from what I gather someone took the Lord's name in vain during their acceptance speech. This morning on EWTN Fr. Anthony suggested that we make reparation for the Lord's Name being taken in vain by praying the Divine Praises for nine days.

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

Not Just About Falling Down

Temperance is, unfortunately, one of those words that has changed its meaning. It now usually means teetotalism. But in the days when the second Cardinal virtue was christened ‘Temperance’, it meant nothing of the sort. Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further. It is a mistake to think that Christians ought all to be teetotallers; Mohammedanism, not Christianity, is the teetotal religion. Of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or of any Christian, at a particular time, to abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them by drinking himself. But the whole point is that he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something which he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying. One of the marks of a certain type 0f bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way... One great piece of mischief has been done by the modern restriction of the word Temperance to the question of drink. It helps people to forget that you can be just as intemperate about lots of other things. A man who makes his golf or his motor-bicycle the centre of his life, or a woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog, is being just as ‘intemperate’ as someone who gets drunk every evening. Of course, it does not show on the outside so easily: bridge-mania or golf-mania do not make you fall down in the middle of the road. But God is not deceived by externals. —C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity

House Obsessions

About two months ago, Sugar Pop got the idea to try to find a house outside of town - some place quiet with a view. Now I have been perfectly content with our house. Yes, we are along side a pretty busy street and we can't enjoy siting in the back yard because we hear cars driving by (and the neighbor's dogs barking across the alley). Another downside of the back yard is it is on the west side of the house. We do have more trees up now to give us some shade, but it can still be pretty warm and at times the sun is shining in your face. As far as the house itself, there is not much I would change. It would be nice to have a bathtub in the master for the 2 or 3 times a year I want to take a bath. It would be nice to have a 1/2 bath close to the kitchen. The garage is a little small. Other than those things I love the floor plan and we have done lots of updates. We are very conveniently located (the upside of being next to a busy street).

Even though I really don't want to move, I have now become obsessed with looking at the MLS for houses in our price and size range. It is really a big time waster. It is a bad habit I have quickly developed during the past two months and I need to break it or seriously limit the time I spend on it.

Fitness Friday on Saturday (again)

This has been a good week. I still haven't got a run in yet this month, but I am planning on one tomorrow morning. Sunday is my normal rest day, but I am taking today as my rest day instead.

I am still feeling really motivated right now and I am using that to keep myself on a roll. :) I haven't had a really good cardio workout this week. It's basically been the minimum 10 minute walks on the treadmill, although last night we went for a 20 minute walk outside in the beautiful fall weather. I have been doing the 10 minutes walks on the treadmill at lunch time. They definitely enhance my mood and this is going to be a good habit to have in place as the days get shorter.

This is how I am doing on my monthly goals (the items in green have been completed):

Be 100% on 10 (or more) (currently 100% on 22)
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total (have missed 21 so far)
4.5 Hours of Weight Training (2.9 hours so far)
Run at least 4 times
Do pilates at least once
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical, arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Your Secret Petitions

Surprise! (not) It is yet another Today's Word that spoke to me in my circumstances.

Today's Scripture
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart”(Psalm 37:4 AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows those things that you haven’t told anybody about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today—God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what the verse says, and delight yourself in Him today. That word delight, actually means to make yourself soft and pliable. It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!
A Prayer for Today
Father, You said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly before You. You said because I delight myself in You, You will give me the secret petitions of my heart. So Father, I thank You today for being in control of my life. Thank You for the good things You have in store for my future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Purgatory

Many believers in Christ are shocked and disappointed to realize that we will first be judged by fire. But after we understand the process of our judgment and the purpose of the fire, we should no longer have cause for surprise or dismay." ~ Beth Moore, A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place

This morning I was doing my homework for the Beth Moore study I am doing. I am on Week 3, Day 2. In this part of the study she discusses the various things the tabernacle is made of and then talks about the consuming fire of God and how the precious things we build with -- gold, silver and precious stones -- will not be burned up the in the fire of God. Then she says what I quoted above. I have to wonder if she has any idea that she is describing Purgatory.

To continue with what she says:

Hebrews 12:29 says: "For our 'God is a consuming fire.'" You can see that it would be impossible to be judged by God without being judged by fire. In fact, understanding the role of the fire in our judgment is crucial...

God judges us with fire for two reasons:
1. To cast a revealing light over all our works and the motivations that bore them and to burn away all works of temporal value: the hay, wood, and straw
2. To reward what is left after the fire consumes everything temporal: the imperishable, eternal works of gold, silver, and precious stones

• Works of gold acknowledge that He alone is worthy, that He alone is
  God.
• Works of silver proceed from a heart that responds with inexpressible
  gratitude for our redemption and the inestimable price paid for our
  atonement.
• Works of precious stones result when children of the royal priesthood, serve
  and minister as we are fully equipped with the gifts of the Holy
  Spirit.

If you are a believer, your judgment will not determine your eternal destiny. Christ's finished work on Calvary was applied to you the moment you accepted Christ as Savior. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:1)!

Sounds like a very good explanation of Purgatory to me.

Step Out of the Boat

Today's Scripture
“And Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:28-29 AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Why do you suppose Peter wanted to get out of the boat? Why did he all of the sudden think he could walk on water? Well, you might say, “Joel, it’s because he saw Jesus open the blind eyes and cleanse the lepers.” Yes, that’s true. But the other disciples in the boat saw the same things. Why didn’t they want to get out? I believe it was because Peter understood that it was his time. He stirred his faith up. He believed at that moment that he could do what God placed in his heart. Jesus said, “Peter, do you want to get out of that boat?” He said, “Yes, I do.” Jesus replied, “Well, come on out.” Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, stay in that boat. Don’t you know I’m the Son of God?” No. He said, “Peter, I like your attitude of faith. I like the fact that you believe you can do great things.” I encourage you today to have that same kind of boldness. Start believing that your time is here! All the dreams that you’ve buried, those desires that you thought would never work out, it’s time to start believing again. It’s your time, and it’s time to step out of the boat!
A Prayer for Today
Dear Father, today I choose to believe Your Word. I believe You are faithful to complete the good work You’ve started in my life. I choose to hear Your voice and step out of the boat. Thank You for bringing to pass the dreams in my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Land of Hope

Today's Scripture
“I’ve pitched my tent in the Land of Hope” (Acts 2:26 Message).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Where have you pitched your tent today? What are you expecting to happen in your life? What kind of attitude do you have? If you’re focused on what’s wrong, or what’s not working, it’s time to dig up your tent stakes! It’s time to pack up your belongings and move out of the land of discouragement. Move out of the “Not-going-to-happen” sub-division. Move out of “Can’t-do-it-ville.” It’s time to leave “Self-pity Estates.” Get out of those areas and move into the land of hope, faith, and expectation. Maybe you don’t quite know how to get there, but now’s the time to start looking for that new place. Open your heart to the Lord and ask Him to direct your thoughts and expectations. The Bible says that those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. You can trust God to order your steps. You can trust Him to move you from the land of disappointment to the land of hope today!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for ordering and directing my steps. Thank You for taking me to the land of hope! I release all my past hurts and disappointments to You today and ask that You fill me with Your faith and expectancy for a bright future! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Just Five Minutes

I am working this month on sitting quietly for 5 minutes to listen to the voice of God. It is hard. My thoughts flitter around and I spend most of the 5 minutes telling them to "sshh!" But, I will keep on working on it. I know that with time I will be able to be still and listen for God.

Missionary Weapons - My Utmost for His Highest

"When you were under the fig tree, I saw you." John 1:48

We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but is it not the crisis that builds something within us--it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, ""If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion." Yet you won't rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God's training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closet to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crises comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal s person's true character.
A private relationship of worshipping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathaneal experienced in this passage, that a private "fig-tree" life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshipping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of crises comes you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, "But I can't be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn't come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready"? No, you will not. If you have not been worshipping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God's work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God's training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshipping life of the saint.

Titles or Testimonies

From the Life Lessons sidebar in my Devotional Bible:

On one such Sunday, after half a dozen students had given their reports, my pastor got up and delivered some closing words. "Children," he said, "you are doing to die! You may not think you're going to die. But you're going to die. One of these days, they're going to take you out to the cemetery, drop you in a hole, throw some dirt on your face, and go back to the church and eat potato salad."

"When you were born," he said, "you alone were crying and everybody else was happy. The important question to ask is this: When you die are you alone going to be happy, leaving everybody else crying? The answer depends on whether you live to get titles or you live to get testimonies. When they lay you in the grave, are people going to stand around reciting the fancy titles you earned, or are they going to stand around giving testimonies of the good things you did for them? Will they list your degrees and awards, or will they tell about what a blessing you were to them? Will you leave behind just a newspaper column telling people how important you were, or will you leave crying people who give testimonies of how they've lost the best friend they ever had? There's nothing wrong with titles. Titles are good things to have. But if it ever comes down to a choice between a title or a testimony--go for the testimony." (From Who Switched the Price Tags? by Tony Campolo)

Fitness Friday on Saturday

I forgot that yesterday was supposed to be Fitness Friday and I posted something else that was significant to me for the day.

Anyway, this has been a good fitness week. So far this month I already have 5 hours of exercise and one of the days has been a rest day. :) I am feeling really motivated right now and I want to take advantage of that motivation and work really hard to keep my workouts diverse, get plenty of strength training, eat healthy and get my healthy habits in.

Those are my monthly goals I set for myself to the month (the items in green have been completed):

Heath & Fitness September Goals:
Be 100% on 10 (or more) (currently 100% on 25)
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total (have missed 7 so far)
4.5 Hours of Weight Training (1.2 hours so far)
Run at least 4 times
Do pilates at least once
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical, arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once (plan on doing this today)
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Your Time is Coming

I received this in my email today. I have been waiting for a very long time for a new job. I was whining this morning to God on how long it was taking.

Today's Scripture
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Your time is coming! The dreams and desires, the things you want to accomplish, the situations you want to see changed will happen. Just because it has taken a long time, or because you’ve tried and failed, don’t give up on those dreams. Don’t be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart. I encourage you today — get your fire back! It may be taking a long time, but God is a faithful God. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible it looks, if you’ll stay in faith, your time is coming. Every dream that’s in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God not only put it there, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Start declaring today, “My time is coming… God is working behind the scenes on my behalf… I will fulfill my destiny… I will fulfill the plan God has for my life!” As you declare and expect and wait for the appointed time, your faith will grow. Your hope will grow. And you’ll step into the destiny God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in Heaven, I receive Your truth today. I receive Your promises today. I ask that You ignite my heart with Your holy fire so that I can pursue Your perfect plan for my life. Make my thoughts and words agreeable to Your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bitterness

Bitterness is spiritual cancer, a rapidly-growing malignancy that can consume your life. After is consumes the soul, it begins to eat away at the body. It is so contagious that we can pass it to our children, who are often oblivious to the source of their bitterness. No amount of distractions or busywork--not even church work--can treat this spiritual disease. Countless Christians mask their pain with unceasing activity. Bitterness cannot be ignored but must be healed at the very core, and only Christ can heal bitterness. No one can do it for you, and no one cal tell you exactly what is required for your healing. Others can direct you to Jesus, but you must show up for your appointments. His ultimate goal is not simply for you to be healed but for you to meet the Healer. ~ Beth Moore, A Women's Heart: God's Dwelling Place

Sugar Pop's ex-wife suffers from bitterness. It destroyed their marriage and she has passed it on to her children. Sugar Pop has been healed of the bitterness through the power of Christ. Butterfly has let go of a lot of it, but she needs Christ to remove the rest. Rosebud has let it eat her up and she is estranged from her entire family. Their is hope for Honey, but at times I can see it. Fortunately, Honey has a relationship with Jesus. She wants to pursue that relationship, but her mother does not see the importance of that. Her mother never encourages her to go to church. In fact, like yesterday, she encouraged her to stay home from youth group. But Honey went anyway.

Heavenly Father, please send Jesus to heal this bitterness. Open hearts that they may receive Him and know that joy that comes when bitterness is removed from the heart and Jesus is allowed to dwell there. Amen.

Winter Blues

I know it is only September 5th, but I can already tell the days are getting shorter. It's only 8:00 and it already feels like 9:00. I really have a hard time in the winter. Once the sun goes down in the evening, I don't want to do anything but lay on the couch and go to sleep.

Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with the winter blues?

Last year I took St. John's Wort and I think it helped some. January was a lot better, but February was worse. I think I might have quit taking it too soon. I was expecting the blues to have lifted about Groundhog Day, but they didn't.

I have not tried one of those sunlamps. I am planning on getting a natural light desk lamp (maybe two so I can have one at work and one at home).

How Great is Our God

I started my quiet time off this morning with a worship song - How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin.

Then I started my bible reading and this was included:

Praise the Lord and worship him. Tell everyone what he has done and how great he
is. Sing praise to the Lord, because he has done great things. Let all the world
know what he has done. Shout and sing for joy, you people of Jerusalem, because
the Holy One of Israel does great things before your eyes. ~ Isaiah 12:4-6 (NCV)

How Great is Our God indeed!

Home Updates I would like to do

Here are a few updates that I would like to make to our home:

• Replace built-in desk top in my office with a counter top that matching the kitchen.
• Change pull-chain lights in closets to lights with switches.
• Update the hall bath, preferably putting in a deep tub (although I don't know how we would get a new tub through the door.)
• Replace light fixture in the entryway.
• Scrape off the popcorn ceiling in the living room and texture to match the walls.
• Re-paint the garage.
• Re-paint the shed.
• Replace the remaining six foot fence with 8 foot fence.
• Put new doors on the closet in the hall that used to contain the furnace (this is now in the attic)and removed the old return air vent.
• Paint the back door.
• Re-paint my closet.
• Re-paint the baseboards in my office.

Prayer

What will prayer do for you? My answer is this: Everything that God can do for you. ~ Frederick William Farrar via Streams in the Desert, 11/2

Prayer is the link that connects us with God. It is the bridge that spans every gulf and carries us safely over every chasm of danger or need. ~ Streams in the Desert, 11/2

God baptizes us with holy boldness and divine confidence, for He is looking not for great people but for people who will dare to prove the greatness of their God. ~ Streams in the Desert, 11/2

Our prayers are God's opportunities. ~ Streams in the Desert, 11/2

It's a New Month!

September is here! Time for a new list of health habits:

Jnl Food/Fitness
Blog
5 Min of Quiet
Keep in Touch
Ready < 50 min
Lunch Treadmill (doesn't count toward regular cardio)
Cardio
Core
Strength
Stretch/Yoga
2nd Vitamin
Produce - 5
Dairy - 2
Healthy Oil
Nuts
Fiber One
Whole Grain
1 Coffee+1 Tea
Alcohol~0-1
No Sugar
No Flour
No Junk
No Work Food
No Food after 9
Clean or Fling
Enter Receipts
Clothes
Pampering
Bed Routine
Bed before 11

Heath & Fitness September Goals:
Be 100% on 10 (or more)
Miss less than 100 healthy habits total
4.5 Hours of Weight Training
Run at least 4 times
Do pilates at least once
Do yoga at least once
Do each of these machines at the gym - elliptical, arch trainer, stair mill, expresso bike, cardio wave
Do Turbo Sculpt at least once
Do Turbo Jam at least once

Fitness Friday

It has not been a good week in the world of healthy habits. I had another binge this Wednesday. It was the WW snacks again. They are now on my list of junk food. Adding a food to that list is very helpful. I added Cheez-its to that list a few months ago because I kept binging on those. I haven't eaten them since.

I've also been lazy on my exercise. We have been to the gym this week and we did go for a walk after work yesterday. But I haven't been doing my tv exercises (I do them while we are watching television) - stretching, abs, strength training.

It occurred to me this morning, that my apathy for all things healthy is probably related to PMS. Duh. I knew it was getting close and my breasts were tender. It just hadn't occurred to me that the food cravings and apathy were related to it. Actually, my PMS has been pretty mild the past few months. Probably because I have been eating well. I haven't been eating too well the past couple weeks. Not bad, just more sugar and flour than usual - especially last Wednesday. Anyway, I checked the dates and TOM should be here Saturday or Sunday and then all the cravings will be gone and I will feel better. It is amazing how much better I feel once it arrives, even though I still have to suffer through it.

Saturday is also the beginning of a brand new month and a new "Healthy Habits Spreadsheet." I love the beginning of the month. I'm happy it is starting on Saturday because I am always very motivated at the beginning of the month and that is just what I need to make it through the holiday weekend without over-indulging.

Closer

I am so glad that I signed up for the Beth Moore Bible study. I have felt stagnant in my walk with God lately. I haven't been finding joy in my bible reading, in my devotionals, in listening to Christian music. But now I am. I am really looking forward to these next 10 weeks of doing this study. I am excited to see what God will reveal to me and what He will do in my life during this time.

C.S. Lewis on Forgiving Versus Excusing

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something quite different. I am asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says “Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.” But excusing says “I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.” If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive. In that sense forgiveness and excusing are almost opposites. Of course, in dozens of cases, either between God and man, or between one man and another, there may be a mixture of the two. Part of what seemed at first to be the sins turns out to be really nobody’s fault and is excused; the bit that is left over is forgiven...But the trouble is that what we call “asking God’s forgiveness” very often really consists in asking God to accept our excuses. What leads us into this mistake is the fact that there usually is some amount of excuse, some “extenuating circumstances.” We are so very anxious to point these out to God (and to ourselves) that we are apt to forget the really important thing; that is, the bit left over, the bit which the excuses don’t cover, the bit which is inexcusable but not, thank God, unforgivable. And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves. —from “On Forgiveness” (The Weight of Glory)

Random Acts of Email

I received this in an email at work this week from someone I do not know:

When God closes a door, He opens a window... but at times He shuts both, worry not for he would tear down the roof... so His blessings could overflow. Good Luck and have a nice Day!!

I have been reading it all week and being blessed by it and waiting for the roof to come tearing off!

First Beth Moore Class

I went to the first Beth Moore class last night. I knew one of the ladies facilitating and she asked me to be a table leader. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I feel a little out of place at the table. Five of the ladies already know each other and four of them are young marrieds with children or wanting to have children. But, a lady at work is going to be coming and there is space for her at the table. (She couldn't come last night because she had a prior commitment.)

Something I learned last night. When God showed Moses the vision of the tabernacle that He wanted him to build, it was not just a vision he saw. It was THE heavenly tabernacle. I real place. Not just a picture or a drawing. A real place that someday we will all see.

Rejoicing over spilt coffee

Several things went wrong this morning. I got up and we had forgot to set the dishwasher to run last night so I had to start it. When I went to pour my coffee, it had not been started (in the process of starting the dishwasher, I forgot to start the coffee). When I was preparing my coffee, the big metal 2 TBSP scoop I use to measure my powdered milk dropped on the floor making a loud noise which disturbed my still sleeping husband. After I poured my coffee and sat down to drink it and I had forgotten the sweetner. I got back up for sweetner and on the way to coffee pot, sloshed coffee out of my mug and on the floor. This was the point where I started to get frustrated. But then a thought occurred to me. You know how sometimes when you are taking the right steps in your relationship with God, bad things sometimes happen? I think it is the devil trying to frustrate us, make us mad, and move us away from God. So, instead of getting frustrated, I rejoiced that my relationship with God must be moving in the right direction.

What could have been a bad start to the day, turned into a good start. :)

The Spiritual Search

"What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone?" ~ Matthew 7:9
The illustration of prayer that our Lord uses here is one of a good child asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God heard us regardless of what of our relationship to Him (see Matthew 5:45). Never say it is not God's will to give you what you ask. Don't faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a "good child" in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, "I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings"? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a "good child."
We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God's child among my relatives and friends (see Matthew 7:12).
I am a child of God only by by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I "walk in the light." (1 John 1:7) For most of us, prayer simply becaomse some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong - a friendship, unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, "Everyone who asks receives..." (Matthew 7:8) ~ From My Utmost for His Highest

Ouch! This one convicted me. I have been praying for a new job for a LONG time. This convicted me that I have not been a good employee where I am currently. I have spent too much time checking personal emails, reading blogs, and surfing the net while I am at work. So, if you don't see as many comments from me, please don't be offended. I am just working.

New Bible Study

I am thinking about going to a Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday evenings. It is "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place. I haven't committed to it yet though. It starts this Tuesday. Sugar Pop and I haven't been in a small group since the first of the year and he does not want to join one right now because he is spending a lot of time at the church with the praise team. I would like to do something, but I have heard Beth Moore studies are pretty intense (and have homework!) and I am currently reading through the bible which takes a lot of my quiet time in the morning.

I must make a decision SOON!

Please comment.

Fitness Friday - Part 2

I forgot to mention in my Fitness Friday post that I broke my pedometer this week. It flipped off my pants onto a tile floor and broke. I have been wearing a pedometer for about two years. I also have been recording my daily steps at www.fitnessjournal.org during this same time. My first inclination was to get a new pedometer, but then I decided to stop wearing one for awhile. It is probably "unnecessary striving." I have worn one long enough to have a pretty good idea of how many steps I am getting. To reach 5,000 steps on a workday, I need to walk at least 10 minutes on the treadmill. Desk jobs are horrible for getting high steps. I very seldom would good the 10,000 steps that "they" recommend. That takes at least 40 minutes of cardio - and probably running for me to get there. It was always kind of a pain to record those steps at Fitness Journal, which is why I called it unnecessary striving.

Fitness Friday

I binged this week. I had been 144 days since the last time. So what led to this binge? It was not anything big, probably a lot of little things: overwhelmed at work, finally talked to the guy about the franchise, email from SIL about how nephew is doing, decision/fear to write letter pat, possibility of having friends over to eat this weekend, the chicken on my big salad at lunch, craving for licorice but no licorice to satisfy, trying to satisfy craving with payday bar, having ww snacks in my office for over a week now, giving in to one ww snack which turned into eating 4 more. The binge was on Wednesday. It stopped after the payday and the 5 ww snacks and I have eaten normally since then. Thursday was a struggle. I wanted to binge again, but it was just the processed food talking. I am feeling better today.

We've made it to the gym twice the week. It is Sugar Pop's early week, so I have walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes four mornings this week. I used to hate early week because it threw off my routine and I didn't have any alone time in the house after work. I still don't have the alone time after work, but I have altered my morning routine for the week and walking on the treadmill is something I look forward to on these weeks.

I am still maintaining my weight within my weight range. I was up a little over the range earlier in the week, but that was water retention from the Italian food we had on Saturday night. Even with my mid-week binge, I am still "in the range." It is a great place to be.

Prayer-Battle in "The Secret Place"

From My Utmost for His Highest:

"When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret. place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." ~ Matthew 6:6
Jesus did not say, "Dream about your Father who is in the secret place," but He said, "...pray to your Father who is in the secret place..." Prayer is an effort of the will. After we have entered our secret place and shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray. We cannot seem to get our minds into good working order, and the first thing we have to fight is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is overcoming this problem of our idle and wandering thinking. We have to learn to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful, deliberate prayer.
We must have a specially selected place for prayer, but once we get there this plague of wandering thoughts begins, as we begin to think to ourselves, "This needs to be done, and I have to do that today." Jesus says to "shut your door." Having a secret stillness before God means deliberately shutting the door on our emotions and remembering Him. God is in secret, and He sees us from "the secret place" -- He does not see us as other people do, or as we see ourselves. When we truly live in "the secret place," it becomes impossible for us to doubt God. We become more sure of Him than of anyone or anything else. Enter into "the secret place," and you will find that God was right in the middle of your everyday circumstances all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless you learn to open the door of your life completely and let God in from your first waking moment of each new day, you will be working on the wrong level throughout the day. But if you will swing the door of your life fully open and "pray to your Father who is in the secret place," every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God.

My prayer life has not been great lately. I have my "quiet" time that is spent doing my bible reading, but I am not spending much (really any) time in prayer and silence before the Lord. I will start working on that even if it means setting a timer for 5 minutes to just get myself started.

Utility Closet

Here are the before and after pictures of my utility closet. I love the new green (even if Sugar Pop thinks I'm crazy for painting it that color). I also got rid of a bunch of cleaners that I didn't like (they are in a basket for Sugar Pop to take the next time he buys a house). You can also see that I switched to using Mrs. Meyes Clean Day products. I love these. They do a good job and don't smell like chemicals!

Set Your Hope

Today's Scripture
“Set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed” (I Peter 1:13).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Is your hope set on God’s divine favor in your life today? One translation of this verse says, “Look forward to more and more of God’s favor.” That’s God’s dream—to pour out His goodness and grace upon you. He wants to help you get ahead in this life. He wants to lead you to the right job. [italics and color mine] He wants to lead you to the right relationship. But here’s the key: we have to be on the lookout for more of God’s favor. That tells me that we can’t get stagnant. Don’t ever think that you can’t rise any higher. God wants to do more than you can even ask or think. It says in Ephesians, He wants to show us the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of His free favor. In other words, God wants to go far and above what we’re used to! He wants to show you favor in unusual and extraordinary ways. Set your hopes higher today. Increase your expectations of what God will do in your life. As you open your heart and mind to His unlimited favor, you will experience the abundance He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for your increase in every area of my life today. I choose to set my hope in You knowing that You want to do more in my life than I can ever imagine. Teach me to be a vessel used by You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pray for Restoration

As we grow to become more like Christ, our behavior grows more distinctive from the world. Believers should be known for their eagerness to do good and help others.

Get it straight: Someone who sees grace as permission to sin has missed grace entirely. Mercy understood is holiness desired. "[Jesus] gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him--people who are always wanting to do good deeds" (Titus 2:14)

Note the last phrase: "people who are always wanting to do good deeds." Grace fosters an eagerness for good. Grace doesn't spawn a desire to sin. If one has truly embraced God's gift, he will not mock it. In fact, if a person uses God's mercy as liberty to sin, one might wonder whether the person ever knew God's mercy at all.

When my father gave me his [credit] card, he didn't attach a list of regulations. There was no contract for me to sign or rules for me to read. He didn't tell me to place my hand on the Bible and pledge to reimburse him for any expenses. In fact, he didn't ask for any payment at all. As things turned out, I went a few weeks into the semester without using it. Why? Because he gave me more than a card; he gave me his trust. And where I might break his rules, I wasn't about to abuse his trust.

God's trust makes us eager to do right. Such is the genius of grace. The law can show us where we do wrong, but it can't make us eager to do right. Grace can. Or as Paul answers, "Faith causes us to be what the law truly wants" (Romans 3:31). ~ From In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado via the Life Lessons in my Devotional Bible.

This reminded me of something that happened several years ago. Sugar Pop's daughter Rosebud was driving to visit her sister - a six hour drive. Her car was fairly reliable, but we gave her one of our cell phones just in case she had any problems. We explained that he had limited minutes on our plan and that we just wanted her to have a phone in case she had any problems. She racked up over $300 in charges on the phone during that trip. She totally abused our trust. I could go one at list similar incidents with her, but that would only serve to make me angry. Please just pray for her because she is estranged from her parents, grandparents, siblings, and her own daughter. Mostly she is estranged from God. If her relationship with God is restored, all the other relationships in her life will be restored.

The Favor of God

Today's Scripture
“God earnestly longs to be gracious to you...to have mercy on you and show you His loving-kindness” (Isaiah 30:18).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God longs to pour out His favor upon you. He wants to remove your burdens so you can enjoy life. He wants you to be free and living each day full of peace. He wants to assist you and give you special advantages every single day. Today’s verse talks about God’s grace, mercy, and loving-kindness—which are all part of His favor! When you receive that favor by faith, you’ll have tremendous advantage! God’s favor will cause you to be promoted even though you weren’t the most qualified. God’s favor will open a door for you that may not open for someone else. God’s favor will bring unexpected blessing from unexpected sources. Activate your faith in this area today by declaring God’s favor in your life. Thank Him for his mercy and loving-kindness. As you expect His favor, God will do unusual and extraordinary things in your life and you’ll live the life of victory that God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father, thank you for your favor on my life today. Thank you for guiding me and reminding me of your presence in everything I do. Give me strength and peace today so that I can live in your victory today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bent Appetities

Chastity is the most unpopular of the Christian virtues. There is no getting away from it; the Christian rule is, Either marriage, with complete faithfulness to your partner, or else total abstinence. Now this is so difficult and so contrary to our instincts, that obviously either Christianity is wrong or our sexual instinct, as it now is, has gone wrong. One or the other. Of course, being a Christian, I think it is the instinct which has gone wrong.

But I have other reasons for thinking so. The biological purpose of sex is children, just as the biological purpose of eating is to repair the body. Now if we eat whenever we feel inclined and just as much as we want, it is quite true most of us will eat too much: but not terrifically too much. One man may eat enough for two, but he does not eat enough for ten. The appetite goes a little beyond its biological purpose, but not enormously. But if a healthy young man indulged his sexual appetite whenever he felt inclined, and if each act produced a baby, then in ten years he might easily populate a small village. This appetite is in ludicrous and preposterous excess of its function.

Or take it another way. You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act—that is, to watch a girl undress on the stage. Now suppose you come to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let every one see, just before the lights went out, that it contained a mutton chop or a bit of bacon, would you not think that in that country something had gone wrong with the appetite for food? And would not anyone who had grown up in a different world think there was something equally queer about the state of the sex instinct among us? ~ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity