Heaven vs Hell - Love vs Wrath - God & Man

(Words in Italic indicate links you can follow)

I watched a documentary last night about the history of Christianity.  It saddened me as well as enlightened me. It made me painfully aware of certain realities. It makes me sad that Christianity was used to harm people groups. It makes me sad that even today, Christ is misrepresented by fake Christians as well as well intentioned but misled Christians. It happens when we take it upon ourselves to "do for God" instead of being available as the hands and feet for God to use as He leads us and directs us by His Spirit. (Being His instrument of righteousness) This is a foundational issue. Love should be the cornerstone and central theme of our lives. It should motivate us to do what we do and to say what we say. We should act out of love and not condemnation.

In watching this documentary, much of the information was not new to me. I had to appreciate the viewpoint of the author, and at the same time, I had to watch it with great discernment and objectivity so as to not fall into deception and believe lies. I was on guard as I watched it. All that to say, I was saddened by it. Then this morning, I was listening to Adrian Rogers on the radio. It reminded me of the coming judgement.  So the combination of the two is what prompted me to write this today.

It broke my heart when the documentary said that Christians are speaking hate when they say that certain people will go to hell. For those of us who truly believe there will be hell for eternity after death, we also believe everyone deserves to know how to avoid it. Even if you do not believe as I believe, please know this: I believe to the core of my being that there is a destination that exist for those who choose to not believe. That destination in my reality will be eternal agony. Now if I believe this to the core of my being, and I know an alternative to this judgement, MY LOVE is what motivates me to share this with others, not hate. It is purely that I would not want anyone to go to this eternal destination without knowing they had a choice. That is the plain and simple truth about it from my perspective. I wish there was a way to demonstrate how motivated by love this type of sharing is. I do not hate those that believe differently. I love them, but I desire to share with them the truth of what I know. I hear people say truth is relative, but in my heart and my mind, I have settled the matter. I have chosen this day whom I will serve. I have settled where I will live for eternity. I wish all would join me there. However, I will join God in respecting anyone's decision either way. It is each person's own choice.

It is my belief that there is a God who loves me, and there is an enemy who hates me. I choose to spend my eternity with the one who loves me. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sin because I could never be right with God on my own. (I could not satisfy God's wrath toward my sin - only Christ's sacrifice could do that) The God who created me and all the universe, desires to be in relationship with me. This relationship is made possible through His Son's payment for my sinfulness and by His Holy Spirit filling me. (Just as one can be filled with wine and be controlled by it "being unable to control their own behavior" - I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be controlled by Him "being unable to control my own behavior") Once I have accepted this wonderful gift of right standing before a holy God, I am free to live in relationship with Him and His wrath is turned away from me. I am at peace with Him, and that peace is worth more than gold. This is where He equips me to serve and live out my purpose on this earth. My main purpose is to love Him and to love others.  It is not loving to act hateful to the world because of their sin, but it is not loving to know the truth yet not share it with others.

If you are reading this and getting a sick feeling in your gut, (a feeling of guilt or anxiousness)  please do not get offended at me. Instead, confess to God your sinful estate, accept that God made a way for you to live free of your guilt by sending Jesus to die for you, confess with your mouth that He is the Lord of your life, and join me in absolute peace and liberty. I do not judge you. I don't know your heart. I know that even after I accepted Christ as my Savior, I sinned and still fall way short of the glory worthy of God. I messed up more ways than you can count. But the scripture says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, and that is where I am found, in Christ. This in no way gives me permission to sin, it is just an antidote for the human condition. Praise God for that! Being free in Christ, gives me freedom to sin or not to sin. If I choose to live by the Spirit, I am a slave to Christ. Living full of the Holy Spirit (controlled by the Spirit) will enable me to live free from sin, and enable me to crucify my own fleshly desires. If I choose to walk in sin, it means I will be held captive by it, therefore I will be a slave to sin, and my own fleshly desires will control me. (but this is a topic all its own)

If there was a plague sweeping across the earth where everyone who got it, died from it, and I knew about the antidote; Should I tell others? Would it be considered hateful to tell them the plague is going to kill them? Would it be elitist or hateful to say that I have a remedy for their fatal condition? Or would everyone simply want to receive this lifesaving solution?

This is how I see my salvation and eternal destination. I see it as the remedy to what ails us. We are sin-sick, and we are dying. We are held captive and in slavery to our own fleshly demands. If you were born, then you will die. If you are flesh and blood, that flesh will decay, and the blood will dry up one day. However, I believe there is a part of you that will go on for eternity. God says in His Word in Eccl. 3 that He has set eternity in our hearts. Believe as you choose, but if I am correct, wouldn't you want to know about it. How hateful it would be of me to withhold this information from you. If this information, this antidote, could have offered you eternal life instead of eternal torture and torment; I would be the worst kind of person not to share it with you. Now I cannot speak for everyone, but I can tell you that throughout the course of history, many have known this truth and tried to get the word out even at the cost of their own life or livelihood. It is the message of the gospel. It is the good news! It is the reason for the hope I have.

There have been dark times in the history of Christianity. I do not believe God commanded Christians to kill people groups that wouldn't follow Christ, or even stripping them of their rights. Would God want these people groups to know the truth? Yes. But I do not believe He would have led the Christians to exterminate all non-converts. I do not believe that was from God!!!! That is someone taking it upon themselves to do this evil falsely in His name.

God's message remains the same. The message is a message of love, not hate. The only hate is toward that of sin. There is NO room for hate toward the sinner. NONE!!!  Hate the sin of the sinner. The hardest work of the Christian will be determining how to accomplish this task.

There have been and will continue to be wolves in sheep's clothing taking the message of the gospel, and tweaking it to their own advantage. They will use it for their own personal power grabs and gains. Many times, it has been used for behavior modification to control the masses. But I can tell you NOW, the God that I serve and love will never force you to follow Him. He is patient, He will draw you, He will discipline you because of His love for you, He will try to convince you through various avenues motivated by His desire to be with you; but He will not force you to spend eternity with Him nor follow Him in this life. Therefore, I believe His followers should follow in that same manner. However, although He is a God of love, He is also full of wrath toward our sin. His love motivates Him to pursue us, but His perfectness, holiness and righteousness makes it impossible for our sinfulness to be in His presence. That is what I believe creates the wrath in Him; that our sin breaks our connectedness to Him. That is why we need a sacrificial payment-Christ.

Christianity has been hijacked many times in history. The documentary went on to talk about how throughout Christianity's history, there have been times where the Jews have been persecuted for crucifying Christ. I think this is incredibly ironic. According to scripture, gentiles who receive Christ have been grafted into the family as wild olive shoots into the olive tree that represents the Israelites.

Truth is, ALL of our ancestors crucified Jesus. ALL!!! Pontius Pilate sentenced him knowing He was an innocent man. He was a Roman governmental leader (A Gentile). The Roman guards were guilty of ripping His flesh when they beat and flogged Him and nailed Him to the cross. They were the ones to execute the orders handed down by the Roman government. (Gentiles) The Jews were the ones requesting His death. So truly all of our ancestors are guilty of fulfilling the execution of our Lord and Savior. But had they NOT done this, we would all be without hope. So instead of pointing fingers at any people group for the crucifixion, perhaps we should be extremely thankful. Instead of despising the executioner, be thankful. Instead of turning on each other, turn toward the solution, and say THANK YOU JESUS for being willing to do this for me. Thank you God for making a way. Thanks for saving me from myself! Thank you for satisfying the wrath of God since I could not!

SO on behalf of the misguided Christians throughout history, I am sorry for the misrepresentation of the wonderful hope that we have available. Many have come and gone who have harmed the advancement of this good news. Many have done harm in the name of Christ Jesus, and to this I say "I am so so Sorry". I know that is not enough, but it comes from my heart. However, please do not use that as an excuse to reject the One they misrepresent. Any Christian you encounter is only as Christ-like as he is willing to love, surrender, obey and follow the One who saved him.

Each of us will be held accountable for the times we have turned away non-believers by our words and actions. There is a judgement for the believer where God will deal with each of us on this matter. I desire to live a life worthy of God and to not become a stumbling block for those who may come to know Him.

Believers: will you join me in living a life that draws others to Christ.  Let's not be a Christian version of bug repellent. Let's be that sweet aroma mentioned in 2 Cor. 2:14-17. See also this expanded version.

Bedrock and the Living Stones

I decided to try something different in my blog post today.  If you would like to listen to it instead of read it, there is an attachment for you to use.

I am pondering the scripture in Matthew 16 where Peter and Jesus are talking, and Jesus asked the disciples, "who do you say that I am." Peter says, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." Then Jesus tells him that this statement is the foundation He will build His church upon. Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...
I looked at this scripture on Bible Gateway in the  Holman version , it can be noted that below the scripture shows some interesting definitions for Peter and for Rock.  Peter is a rock, but the rock is noted as Bedrock.

Reflect on the fact that Christ is the ROCK, the cornerstone. He is the stone the builders rejected, but He ended up being the perfect fit for the temple.  And we are His living stones, and He is using us to build his church.

I was thinking:  The cornerstone didn't require any carving or chipping away in order to fit.  But the rest of the stones had to be chipped away in order to fit into the building.  Isn't that just like us?  Christ is the only one that is perfect.  He came perfectly packaged. but for the rest of us, through the course of our lives, we have to be chipped away in order to fit into the building that Christ is building.

Food for thought.

Footnotes:  In ancient times the cornerstone was the stone at the corner of two walls that united them. It was the visible corner of the foundation of the building and the starting point of all future building above the foundation. It was the most costly stone because of its beauty and strength. It was also the largest, most solid and carefully constructed stone.

Verses about the cornerstone

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone?

See historical explanation in the 4th paragraph.

Chicken Little or Little Chicken

I have a ache in my heart.  Perhaps a heaviness that others of you may also have. I am wondering if I am the only one.  But of course that is what the enemy always wants me to think.  

I notice how current events follow so closely to the written script we see in the bible.  At times it is frightening.  I can't help but wonder what is next on the kingdom calendar.  I read stories of the significance of the blood moons, solar and lunar eclipse, and their correlations with the Jewish calendar and the feasts.  

I saw an article today about the solar eclipse that is to occur today which is the first day of the first month on the Jewish calendar.  

All of this I share to get to the reason for the title.  If I believe the bible, that it is the word of God and that it is God breathed; then if I believe it, why do I remain silent as historical prophecies unfold?  Is it because I am fearful of how I will look to my loved ones, friends, neighbors and community?  Or is it because I do not want to be Chicken Little who said the sky is falling, and then it doesn't fall.  

I do believe that there will be a time when God will judge sin and the world.  I believe that there will be a time when God will send Christ Jesus back to earth.  I believe that everything in scripture is being fulfilled or has already been fulfilled.  I believe every day we live on the earth, we are one day closer to that return.  

Many current events involving Israel, seem to be heading to a climax.  The story of the ages has been told and just as any great story, there is a point in the plot where it gets very intense.  It feels that way NOW.  

I know I risk a great deal by saying this, but it is time to call for repentance.  It is time to call one another to sanctification and purity.  It is time to pursue righteousness for those that have been straddling the fence.  If you have loved ones that have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, talk to them.  Let today be the day of salvation.  

I risk looking like Chicken Little if nothing changes in the next several years and discarded as an alarmist, but if I am correct and we are beginning to see the beginning of the end, then I would be a BIG Chicken and not just a little chicken if I remained quiet.  

So for the sake of the lost, will we risk the possibility of being a Chicken Little or will we just be a big chicken?

Phalanx: Battlefield Formation (revised)

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

Becoming the Phalanx:


                           
There is a call to action and a call to prayer for the body of Jesus Christ. I think it is time for the Christians to rise up! It is time to suit up for battle. It is time for us to put aside our petty agendas and minor differences and lock arms with fellow believers so we can become the true Body of Christ and do battle with the TRUE enemy of our soul. Our enemy is not fellow believers who may see things a little differently, it is satan. He has done such a fabulous job keeping us busy fighting with each other over baptism, communion, worship style, interpretations of scripture, what we wear, etc. If it is flesh and blood it is not our enemy, it is either our brother and sister in Christ or our mission field.


BUT Our battle is not against flesh and blood. (so remember: if you cut it and it bleeds, it is not your enemy)


Our weapons are not of this world. Our weapons have divine power. They are able to destroy strongholds, and blow up every argument and everything that pretends to be bigger than God. We are able to control our thoughts and make them line up with the word of God which is Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5)

We need to be intentional to get dressed daily in the armor of God. (soldiers would not go into battle without putting on their armor)
We need to be certain of our salvation by guarding our mind with the helmet of our salvation.
We need to be certain of our right to stand before God because we are right with God through Christ's sacrifice if we believe it and receive it.
We need to KNOW the Word/ the TRUTH which is Jesus Christ "word became flesh
We need to be saturated in the word and immersed in all that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. Our belt is the truth which helps us recognize lies from the enemy.
We need to know what we believe, and what we truly believe is our faith. That becomes our shield which will put out the fiery arrows thrown at us by our enemy.

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

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

According to Romans 10:9-10, if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart a man believes and is made righteous or justified, and with the mouth he confesses and is saved.

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

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

Be a word doer!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can just see those weary believers seeking a place of rest and healing under the umbrella of those shields of faith as each of us warriors stand over the weak and fallen. I see the shields of faith joined together by Christ to provide the weary soldiers an opportunity to be strengthened. We must remember when they seek this sanctuary, not to be turning on them and piercing them with your own sword.  Let's become the healing place for the weary.

I pray that as you read the blog today, you were able to see the beautiful picture of the body's phalanx creating a dome like structure for weary soldiers to seek rest. Also, I pray you see that Christ is the glue that holds each shield together to create the unity within the body. Just as with Nehemiah who had the Israelites in Jerusalem to build and/or repair a portion of the stone wall, each of us in the body can be responsible for our part of the spiritual wall within our the body of believers. If we will all take the time to get dressed in our armor and train to use our weapon and shield, we will be joined together by Jesus Christ with others who do the same. We will become the church that Christ refers to as the church He will build and the gates of hell will not overcome it. Matthew 16:17-19

Remember, the battle is on no matter whether you get dressed or not. The battle is raging whether you bring your sword and shield or not. The enemy is not going to go easy on you if you do not have it.  On the contrary, you will become his primary target. The choice is not will you go to battle, the choice is will you be ready!!!!!

This is a revised version of the attached link How We Ought to Live.

Righteousness

Romans 4:20-24

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

When you read these verses, it is just a great reminder that our righteousness, or our right-ness with God is made possible by our believing what God said and says.

The good news is that we are found in Him, not having a righteousness of our own by following the law, but one that is through faith in Jesus; the righteousness from God based on faith. Phil 3:9

Encouragement for the Day: Cloud of Witnesses

Encouragement for the Day: Cloud of Witnesses: Hebrews 12:1 & 2 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses  surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the si...

Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 & 2 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus,[a]the source and perfecter[b] of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him[c]endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.


When I read this verse, although in context, it indicates the cloud of witnesses are the previously mentioned Hall of Faith members, allow me a small liberty with this thought:

What if we as believers lay aside sin because there is a large cloud of current witnesses that are watching us. They are watching to see how we run the race that lies before us. What if they are watching to see if we will keep our eyes on Jesus who is the reason for our belief/faith. 

I pray this is just a simple reminder today that as we live our life, there is a world of unbelieving watchers. I believe as Jesus told the disciples to not keep the children from him, he is telling us that too. Let's live our lives in such a way that we do not keep the "children" - the world from Jesus.  We do not want our freedom and liberty to become a stumbling block for our unbelieving family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. 

Some will say, "they are just using that as an excuse".  My thought is maybe so, but why do we want to give them one? But what if many are just watching in HOPE that it is real, and they may be waiting to see it first in us.  

Our living testimony is the only bible that many unbelievers will read. Many will never pick up the word, but they can watch us. Let us let the word of God be alive and active in us!  

Lessons Learned

Addition 3/4/2015:  Thanks to Lisa Morris, I read the following on Facebook and I just had to tag this blog to this.  12 Bible Verses for the Struggling College Student

It is hard to believe how long I have been seriously walking with Christ. Lately, I have been looking back over my time with Jesus, and it has been enlightening.  It has been good to see the landmarks in my life along, (stones of remembrances) and to think on the faces of those I was walking with during each study.

I have recounted my bible studies over the years, the Christian books I have read, the Christian conferences I attended. Each seems to be marked with lessons I've learned, life stages I've gone through, even trials and a multitude of relationships. As I look back, I can see markers that have helped carve out my course and helped to shape me into the person I am today.

My oldest daughter plans to attend college at my Alma mater. This weekend she and my younger daughter were playing in a tournament in that town. Following the games, on our way home, we took a different route than we have before, and it happened to be the way I drove home from school on breaks when I attended the university. I was flooded with college memories. This drive took us through the town where I attended high school as well which flooded my memory with my high school days. Funny how that drive coincided with the trip down memory lane.

Probably not coincidental. I know God is showing me something.  In times past, He always draws my attention toward things, and then He shows me how it all ties together.  With all this nostalgia, I am really thinking on my life experiences. I began to think through all the lessons learned, the common sense stuff, book knowledge and the overall wisdom that comes with being on this earth for a spell.

So I sat down and made a list of things that I want my girls to know:

1. Be careful in whom you trust and confide -  But do trust and do confide.
2. Be confident but not arrogant. (bold, and courageous - with humility)
3. Do not talk badly about about others.
4. When you're married, do not talk badly about your husband to others.
5. Treat your husband with respect and teach your children to respect him.
6. Do not manipulate people to try to get your way.
7. Do not put people down or be critical.
8. Build up others and encourage them.
9. If you must correct another, do it in love and do it in private.
10. Treat people with respect, treat them the way you would want them to treat you.
11. Recognize the love languages of others and meet it.
12. Relationships are important, but remember according to 1 Cor 15:33 bad company corrupts good character.
13. Respect yourself and only spend time with men who treat you with respect (you deserve it)
14. Don't give yourself too freely no matter the promises.
15. Honor your body.
16. Think of others and put them first.
17. Set aside your right to be right when possible. (so chose your battles) Think of ways to be in agreement without compromising your principles. Never try to "fit in" if it means going against your values and that which you know to be right.  
18. Love Jesus.  He truly did give His life for you.
19. Love and honor Jesus with your body, actions, words, work and study.
20. Read the scripture for it is the road map to navigate this life.
21. Respect all authority that is over you. If authority leads you to go against God's principles, respectfully disobey. God will be with you.
22. Grow up and mature in your walk with the Lord. 
23. Line up your values, morals and principles with God's law.
24. He is your creator and He is an expert in what is best for you.
25. He is not trying to rob the fun out of life. Jesus came so you could have an abundant life and be full of joy. 
26. He knows the traps and pitfalls the enemy has laid out for you. He can protect you if you will obey Him and walk with Him.
27. However, He will not force you to obey. Once you venture away from His protection, He is a gentleman. He will lovingly pursue you, but He will never force Himself on you. This will leave you vulnerable to the enemy, and enemy and world will proceed to consume you

This list is not exhaustive, just exhausting. HAHA. 

So how on earth do I expect them to hold on to this wisdom.  When we love God with all that we are, and love others as we love ourselves, we will do those things and so much more. So I guess you could say, "all we need is love."  (I can hear the Beatles...  and now that song is going to be stuck in my head the rest of the day)

Why do We Need to Exercise?

Accountability is usually a key to long lasting results along with mindset and determination. As a personal

trainer, I can always tell the ones that have determined to be healthier and ready to make lifestyle changes. Making good food choices is a key for weight loss.  We need to be intentional with what goes into our body, that is very important.

I believe exercise is not for the purpose of weight loss.  However, so many people approach exercise that way. I tell my clients that exercise is for our well being and health.  Some studies show that exercise is not an efficient way to lose weight. Per hour we all burn calories just by being alive, the extra effort from exercise will use up some calories above that. Most of the time, we end up eating more to take up that deficit that could have been created. I believe that is because the exercise mentally makes us feel OK to eat even more.  (not always)

So I find that the best approach to answer the question “why we need to exercise “is to feel better, look better, and be healthier.  Basically to be the best we can be.

If a client is wanting to lose weight I always give them a simple calculation based on their current weight and their goal weight to determine how many calories they should be consuming.  Then I always recommend that they begin to journal their caloric intake and in some cases how their emotional state was at the time.  I find many clients eat out of emotional responses rather than hunger.  I also have them record their activity.  I believe that trying to walk approx. 10,000 steps per day is a good goal.  There are all sorts of pedometers on the market, low end around $10 all the way up to $150 for high end that reports to your smart phone. 

My philosophy is “be a body in motion."  The choice of movement is up to you.  I always encourage safety in my classes and with my clients. Start off slower and increase your workouts.

I have believed for some time that interval training should be included in a weekly routine.  I like the idea of two days during the week doing a cardio burst for short segments (for example: warm-up 5 Min. Cardio burst where you go all out for 30 seconds and recover for 1.5  min. continue for 8 segments and cool down -- I recommend building up to the 8 segments if you have not been accustomed to this level of intensity) The remaining days of the week, just try to get in some cardio, muscle work and get your steps in for each day.

No Pain; No Gain???

Oh my head is full as is my heart. I am recovering from my time at church in a good way. 

If you have ever felt the touch of the Holy Spirit, you know what I mean. I have been slightly heavy hearted by many things. I see pain around me, I see sin, I see the decay of creation, and all of it saddens me. I think on the reality that with life comes pain in many versions. I see both believers and non-believers all suffering in the same ways.

Truth is, no one is immune. There is no guarantee that we will forego the suffering of this world because we have received eternal life in Christ Jesus. What sort of ministry could we offer the suffering world, if we never experience it. But we have the assurance of knowing that God will be with us, and that according to scripture what the enemy intended to harm or destroy us, God can use it to mature us and reveal His glory in and through us.

Honestly, my greatest times of maturity and seasoning has come amidst struggle, strife and suffering. Trials become like an olive press that squeezes out the best in us all. Studies show that in times of difficulty, people are kinder, reach out to one another and tend to be the best of themselves.

As I think over this very real fact, I am staring at the reality of my oldest daughter leaving to head off to college in the fall. I constantly am aware of my longing for her to embrace my God as her own God. I long for her to know Him as I do, I want her to desire Him as I do and I ache for her to be matured by Him. I long for her to cling to His word, seek His counsel and embrace His precepts. I want her to have the relationship I have with Him and then some. Then I think on all that I have gone through, and the pain I have experienced that brought me to this place. I stupidly longed for her not to go through any of the pain. Can she know Him as I do without the suffering? Do I long for her to know Him enough to desire that she suffer in order to know Him deeply? That is a message that will never gain in popularity. But isn't it grounded in truth?  The suffering of this world cannot compare to the all surpassing glory of knowing HIM!

There is a way that seems right to humanity, but it truly leads to destruction. However, many must find this out themselves. There is truth that can be learned by study, and by trusting those who teach us, but unfortunately many of the lessons I learn and keep as my own are those that I learned by my mistakes. Mistakes, consequences of our mistakes, and loss of opportunities can be a high price to pay, but if it leads us right into the arms of the wonderful savior, then it is all worth it.

Again, there is a way that SEEMS right to man, but it leads to destruction. Then God's way is what is best. It is not a list of do's and don'ts, but it is a way to live life in victory. A way that will lead to restoration, rejuvenation, revival, renewal and healing. 

I long for my children to embrace His ways by faith, but I live with the knowledge listed above. There is a way that SEEMS right to man, but there is a way that IS right. It is faith in Jesus Christ as our righteousness. 

We will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. We do not have a righteousness of our own by keeping the law, but one that is in Christ because it is the gift from God and we get it through faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection, to fellowship with His suffering and to be conformed to His death. Not that I have attained this goal, but I forget what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead. (Jer. 29:13, Phil. 3:9, 10, 13) Remembering that God counted Abraham as righteous because he believed.  

Yes, much of the last paragraph is a combination of my memory verses for the year so far. I am working on truly memorizing the word, and it is really becoming a part of me. The Word is become alive and active through me.

Although I have studied the Word for years and even tried to memorize for years, this year I have been able to actually find a way to memorize that is working for me. Thanks to the Siesta Scripture Memory Team 2015, I have found a way that works for me. Because it is only one verse that I pick to memorize, and I have two weeks to learn it, I have finally been able to do it. Like eating an elephant; one bite at a time.

Waiting with Eager Expectation

I am having one of those days where weeping of sadness is mixed with tears of joy.

Being a part of the body of Jesus Christ is both painful and one of sheer joy. I feel so mixed up today. I feel as if I get a glimpse of God's truth and it tears me in two. I feel excited yet dreadful. I feel sad but happy. What a weird place I am in.

In our Sunday School class today, we were in Romans 8 and we covered a verse that holds a great history for me. The verse is Romans 8:19

Many years ago, I was walking with a family member through a long battle with her addiction to drugs. She had voiced her longing to attend a Beth Moore conference. She and I had been participating in a Beth Moore study at the time. I asked her to join me in Birmingham AL to attend a conference with Living Proof Ministries where Beth Moore would be speaking. She kept telling me she would go although her mother assured me she had no intention of joining me. I made all the arrangements and even the day before, her mother told me she would not attend, but the daughter continued to reassure me she wanted to go. I remember driving an hour from my house in obedience to God's direction to find she was not at home. I began to call and drive around the town looking to see if I could locate her before I left without her.  I was making every effort to be sure of her decision.

God had been speaking the Romans 8:19 verse to me for several weeks leading up to the event. He told me to wait in eager expectation! That was the key. Eagerly awaiting to see what He was going to do. It is the ONLY thing that got me to press through the next few hours.

I arrived at her home to find she had left her husband and children to join her drug dealer. I sat in the driveway and wrote her a letter.  I am still not certain what all it said, but it was written with a very broken heart.

I decided to go on to the conference alone.  It rained hard the rest of the way there.  I think my eyes did too. What I didn't know as I was praying the entire way to Birmingham, is that the car that was in front of me contained the young woman I was suppose to be picking up. She saw me, and God used it to deal with her.

I arrived late to the conference because I had spent several hours making sure I had not missed her. I had a hard time every where I turned that day, from finding a place to park, a place to sit, you name it. But I arrived at the conference center, made my way to an available seat and to my delight, was seated just to the right of the stage at stage level. Once I was in my seat, Beth Moore turned toward my direction and said " I want you to know that God knows what you've been through to get here today." Honestly, that was all I went there for that weekend. God had acknowledged me through that one statement. I have attended various conferences but to date none have ministered to me quite like that. Did Beth know me or my struggle? No, but the God she and I serve, did. Did she even see me when she made that statement? Probably not, but the God that she and I serve did.

So today when I heard the verse again fresh, those memories began to flood my soul. When I hear it, I am reminded to wait eagerly for Him. I am to expect Him to show up, to work and move in my life. Praise God, He loves me! He sees me! He knows me and knows when I am hurting or struggling. Oh I need Him so dearly in my life.

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I would like to be able to report that the lady has turned her life around, but as with any addict, it is a daily struggle to get free.  She has had periods of times where she walked in victory, but as I write this, she is out in the world being swallowed up by her own desires. I still long for the day that she will be free of it but for now, I wait eagerly expecting what God will do in a life of one surrender to Him.  (That person to be revealed as a daughter of God)

Until that day...