Groovy

Today, I'm feeling more like I'm getting back on track and into the groove. You could say I'm feeling groovy. I'm refining my plan and my focus to get back to basics. I started out last year with a goal to improve my health.

Basically there are two parts to it; food and physical activity. It all comes down to the choices that we make. For me, I'm making better choices to improve my over all life style. I don't want to repeat past cycles of dieting to "lose a few pounds" and then go right back to my old habits. Thus gaining those few pounds back and usually a few more to keep them company. In order to really accomplish this, I had to take a look at my overall life style and ask myself what needs to be "updated". That sounds more appealing than "overhauled".

Step 1: I took a hard look at what foods I was eating on a regular basis and realized that my sodium intake alone was about 5-6 times what it should be. Wow! That is a LOT of salt in my system. Once my taste buds adjusted to the "real" flavor of foods, I now actually PREFER low sodium. Weird, but true. I've also noticed that I'm not as given to cravings as I used to be.

Step 2: Balance - We'll talk about step 2 more tomorrow.

On a side note, I keep track of my food choice and calories that I burn on this awesome site; www.myfooddiary.com. This site also gages the percentage of fat, protien, sodium, fiber and carbs, etc. and lets me know when my food intake is out of balance. They have a great database of foods including restaraunt foods so you don't have to do manual entries of the foods that you like to eat.

Today, my head is back in the game! I'm motivated to renew my outlook and stop wafting around.

Definitions:
Groovy - Groovy is an object-oriented programming language for the Java Platform as an alternative to the Java programming language.
Ok, I was expecting to see Goldie Hawn's picture next to this word in the dictionary.........hahahaha. OOPS. Can I just say I was NOT expecting to find this definition! Anyone???

Rejoice: To feel joyful; be delighted

Scriptures for today:
Psalms 34:2-4: 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord, always and again I say rejoice!

Challenge: What goals have you let fall to the way side? Take a look and see if they need to be brought back to life and take the steps to get back in the groove!

Prayer for today:
Father God, we rejoice in you today! Thank you that your mercies are new every morning and that you have a plan for us. We will boast in you today so that we are overflowing with your goodness. And again I say REJOICE and be groovy!

Are we there yet?

We are an impatient people aren't we. Well, I guess I should speak for myself; I was just hoping to have some company on this one. I AM impatient when I'm working toward something. I fully expect the results to be amazing every step of the way. For example, when I joined the gym a few months ago, I thought it would speed things up to getting me to my weight loss goal. Yes, by the way, I did get to the gym last night in case you were wondering. That was a victory in itself. And it just happened to be the week that I get weighed and measured........eeek! So overall the results are not bad, can you feel the but coming? BUT not that great either so I thought.

I've lost a total of 8 pounds and 11.5 inches. Sounds impressive doesn't it? However, if you stretch that out over the 15 weeks since I started it's .53 lbs and .73 inches lost per week. Now it's not so impressive is it? At least not to me at first glance. I went through my work out a teeny bit bummed out because I stayed EXACTLY the same over the last month.

Then it hit me on the way home. Wait a minute. This is GOOD news! You're making progress girl! That could have been an 8 pound GAIN........easily in days of old. Get rid of this "are we there yet?" attitude and adopt an "I'm on my way" mind set.

Bear with me for a moment........"stay the course, tow the line, steady as she goes, eye on the prize".............I couldn't resist. I'm a sucker for cliche's. Sometimes you just need a good old fashioned pep talk. :)

2 Scriptures for today:

Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Gal 6:8&9
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Prayer for Today: We prayed yesterday to contually be intertwined with you, Father. In all things we need to abide in you including keeping our bodies fit to honor you. If we have our own 'house' in order, we can better minister to others. Your word gives us direction to press on toward the prize which is to be with you one day in heaven for all eternity. While we wait for you, Lord, sustain us so that we don't grow weary. Forgive us for losing site of this truth. I trust you for the harvest that is sure to come!

Wait

Ps 27:14 "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!"

Quote: Hebrew words are best understood in the everyday, simple life of all Believers. When Hebrew turns “lights” on in passages like Isaiah 40:31: “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength….” “Wait” in Isaiah 40:31 is the transliteration from the Hebrew hw"q;, which means ‘to twist, or to bind, whence a rope.’ This verse reveals the active nature of intertwining one’s life with the life of God. When intertwining is being done, that person is made strong.

I found this explanation for the Hebrew definition of the word wait on this site that talks about the importance of understanding Hebrew in the word of God. It certainly sheds new light on these passages in Isaiah for me.

I've been growing a bit weary lately in my excercise routine and in my healthy eating habits. I did not get to the gym once last week. I can really feel it too. Then at church yesterday the pastor asked a question. When was the last time you picked up your bible? I had to really think about that. I quickly thought, I pray a lot; I listen to christian music! But when I really answered the question, I had to admit that it had been quite a awhile since I had actually picked up the bible and fed on the word. No wonder I'm growing weary! No wonder my battery is getting sluggish. I have had no nurishment......duh!

Definitions:

Twist - To wind together (two or more threads, for example) so as to produce a single strand.

Wait - To remain or rest in expectation 2. tarry until another catches up

(Hebrew - to twist or bind or whence a rope)

My Scriptures for today:

Is 40:31 "But those who wait (twists his life with God's) on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Ecclesiastes 4:12 A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

My Prayer for today: Father, teach me to wait (twist my life with yours). I choose to be intertwined with you. Thank you for the wake up call this week!

Challenge: Are you feeling weary and weak? Is your life intertwined with God's? Ask Him to show you the way.

Short but Sweet

Today's post is short, but oh so sweet. I'm reminded today that God's grace abounds more and more. Seeing healing and victory springing up all around me is a great faith builder and a reminder to be thankful for His hand on our lives. Even though "counting our blessings" is important; I believe it is more important to utter the words, "thank you, Lord" to really experience a grateful heart.

Scripture for today: Colossians 2:6 & 7
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness

Prayer for today: I just want to thank you......thank you, Lord.

What Inspires Change in You?

I was listening to the radio station "The Message" XM32 on the way in to work today and the announcer was asking this question. What song inspires change in you? She played the song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me. Definately a change inspiring song that challenges us to think about what it will be like to stand in God's presence one day. I encourage you to listen to it if you've never heard it before. So naturally I had to look up the definition of the word inspire. (See below)

That led me to ask myself what other things inspire change in me. It just so happens that I teach a ladies bible study at on Tuesday nights. We had taken a break over the summer and met for the first time again last night. It immediately struck me that being with these women inspires change in me. We had a fabulous discussion about where we are at and were we want to be. We looked at some scriptures that describe God's character and all agreed that we want to learn more about His nature and His character and what that means in each of our lives. We all wrote down our prayer requests in our new journals, agreed on the next study that we want to tackle and prayed together. Wow! I was left feeling very excited about reconnecting with these very talented women who are all very passionate about drawing closer to God. I'm motivated today to walk in His presence and be a light for Him.

Definitions:
Inspire - 1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence. 2. To stimulate to action; motivate 3. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion 4. To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence

Challenge for today: What inspires change in you? Is there someone in your life, a song or a favorite author. Share it with someone to "bless it forward".

Scripture for today: Hebrews 10: 24 & 25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

My prayer for today: Father, my prayer today is a prayer of thankfulness that you have given us each other for encouragement and inspiration. Each time we get together, You are there in the midst of us. Your word tells us that 2 are better than one and a three fold cord is not quickly broken. Help us to remember to reach out and bless someone today.

Add-ons For a Solid Foundation

Elder Gary Wood delivered a message at Holden Chapel yesterday that really got me thinking about how our minds work. He brought us to 2Peter to remind us to check our foundation and then proceed into the world.

My thoughts went to how we process making changes in our lives. Say for instance to eating behaviors; we usually think about the things we need to stop doing and what we need to take away from our lives. For example, stop eating junk food and get rid of bad habits like inactivity. This passage in Peter directs our thinking in the opposite direction. Add to our faith these things and in this order. If we add these qualities in increasing measure they will keep us brom being ineffective and unproductive.

I've added definitions for more clarity.

• Faith - Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
  2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief, trust
• Goodness - moral excellence or admirableness
• Knowledge - The state or fact of knowing.
  2. Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study; learning
• Self-control - Ability to control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will
• Perseverance - Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.
• Godliness - Having great reverence for God; pious. 2. Divine.
• Brotherly kindness - (I had to break this one into two parts) A. brotherly - like or characteristic of or befitting a brother; "brotherly feelings"; "close fraternal ties" B. Kindness - Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature. 2. Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable: a kind word. 3. Humane; considerate: kind to animals.
  4. Forbearing; tolerant: Our neighbor was very kind about the window we broke. 5. Generous; liberal: kind words of praise. 6. Agreeable; beneficial: a dry climate kind to asthmatics.
• Love - A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness. 2. An intense emotional attachment

These terms leave us with a lot to think about. So where do we start? How could we possibly achieve all of those attributes? 2 Peter helps us to understand the order of priorities to be considered and what the implication to our lives is if we choose not to add to our faith.

Scripture for today: 2 Peter 1:3-14
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My Prayer for today:
Help us Father, to add to our faith to build a solid foundation in you. If we live our lives with confident belief in the truth and moral excellence, continually learning with the ability to control ourselves, being steadfast, reverant, warm hearted with an intense emotional attachment to God we will not fall.

Bless These Hands

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." (Isaiah 49:15-16NIV)

In Praise of Hands

Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.

Blessed be these hands that have touched life.

Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity.

Blessed be these hands that have held pain.

Blessed be these hands that embraced with passion.

Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens.

Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger.

Blessed be these hands that have planted new seeds.

Blessed be these hands that have harvested ripe fields.

Blessed be these hands that have cleaned, washed, mopped and scrubbed.

Blessed be these hands that have become knotty with age.

Blessed be these hands that have become wrinkled and scarred from doing justice.

Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.

Blessed be these hands that hold the promise of the future.

Blessed be the works of Your Hands, O Holy One.
(author Lois Silverman)

May your hands bless this world through the performance of good deeds. May you enjoy good health, sweet melodies and an abundance of love and laughter.

Hold someone's hand and know that you are holding a blessing from God.

2 and a half weeks later

I've been contemplating whether on not to keep up this post. It's a bit of a wonder if it's helping anyone besides me since there is not usually comment or other posting activity. So my conclusion is that, oh, yeah, it is actually helping me to get these thoughts down on "paper" and focus on a scripture and a prayer for the day. So here goes:

Lately I've been truly struggling with keeping up my exercise routine. I've been doing it, but I have to push myself on a daily basis. I can't figure out if it's just a phase I'm going through or maybe it's the weather getting colder so my joints are hurting more or if it's just a plain old lazy flesh thing.

God reminded me today that it's my job to remain vigilant and steadfast in my goals. If I focus on Him and not on my flesh; I remember to focus on seeking Him first, then I will see myself from a different perspective. I see that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. He has entrusted me with a special gift of his Spirit. How then will I receive that gift? This now gives me a renewed vigor to keep myself healthy and continue the battle with my flesh to overcome being overweight and unhealthy.

I have to make the choice every day. Every time I walk the stairs at work, or go to the gym or walk the treadmill I have to make the choice. Will I honor God, my Father and provider; my redeemer and my healer.

Vigilant:
1.to keep watch, stay awake, from vigil awake
: alertly watchful especially to avoid danger
synonyms see watchful

Stead·fast: 1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable b : not subject to change 2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence
synonyms see faithful

My Scripture for today: 1 Peter 5: 8&9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

My Prayer for today:
Father, it's true that we are weak in our flesh and it is sometimes easier that we'd like to admit to become lazy and lose sight of your teachings. Help us Lord, to be overcomers; vigilant and steadfast in our daily lives with each decision that comes our way to honor you. Help us to walk by your spirit who is within us and not by our flesh. We know we are not alone; so help us to remember to encourage one another every day.