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Jan 22 2014
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Set Apart as Holy

“You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other  people to be my very own.” Leviticus 20:26

Today I finished reading Leviticus. Throughout this book, I kept seeing verses related to being holy. For example, in addition to the verse above, Leviticus 20:7-8 says, “So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I, the Lord, am your God. Keep all my laws and obey them, for I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” Leviticus 11:44 and 19:2 also contain a similar message.

I’ve thought about God’s holiness throughout the day today. And since I tend to like to think out loud, I thought I’d write a little bit about what I’ve been thinking (not at all in a preachy kind of way – this is obviously something I’m wrestling with myself!). What does it mean or look like to live a life that is “set apart” or “holy” for the Lord?

I’ve been wondering if there are there any rules or regulations from the Old Testament that we’ve dropped in the name of the New Covenant that we maybe shouldn’t have? I see things like ‘permanent regulation’ and wonder why we don’t follow it today. I love that Jesus’ blood covered our sin once and for all – I firmly believe we don’t need additional blood to earn God’s forgiveness. I also am grateful that the New Testament speaks about grace rather than the heavy burden of rule upon rule.

Yet, my question still remains: how should we live our lives to honor a holy God? Chapter 26 of Leviticus talks about blessings for obedience and punishments for disobedience. It struck me that God said He would punish the people for their sin seven times over, and then it said “if you still refuse to obey and remain hostile” (vs. 23), another punishment seven times over would come. Later it said “if you still refuse to listen and still remain hostile” and listed even more punishments (vs. 27). Eventually, though, God said the people would humble themselves and confess their sins and He would remember the covenant with them.

As I read through this book, I thought about my own sin. 😦 Do I treat the Sabbath as holy? Do I treat God’s Name as holy? Do I follow what God asks me to do? What can I do to live humbly before God? How do I treat my life and my body as sacred before Him? As Paul says in the New Testament, while everything may be permissible, not everything is beneficial. My goal for today (and going forward, of course) is to think about what I’m doing and what I’m eating. Am I living as holy, set apart for God? Am I treating myself as the temple where God dwells and therefore honoring God with my body, particularly in what I eat? Am I treating my time as sacred? Am I doing things that would please the Lord (including the sometimes seemingly “mundane” tasks of being a mom, wife, etc) or am I being selfish and treating holy things as common?

What a challenge! I fall so short of the glory of God! But, is there one area where I can try to do a better job of honoring God, showing Him respect and acknowledging His holiness?

How about for you? Is there anything that God has been speaking to you about? How can you live as holy and set apart by God as His child?

Dear Father, we are honored to be your children. You are so holy and worthy of our respect, adoration and praise. Lord, we humbly confess that we have treated holy things as common, including our bodies and our time. We have been unfaithful to You and even ignored Your promptings at times. Lord, we deserve punishment, but we ask that the blood of Jesus would cover our sin. Please help us change direction, focus our attention on You and remember Your holiness when we make our decisions. May we live our lives as set apart and holy because we are Yours. Thank You, God, for all You do for us. Thank You for the blessings for obedience and thank You for your love and just punishment when we disobey. May our lives glorify and honor You. Please make us healthy and thin for Your purposes. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

 

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Jan 02 2014
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What’s Your Motivation?

This is the time of year that people are making resolutions to do better. The idea of a fresh start with a new year gives us all inspiration and hope that we can become better people, accomplish our goals and fulfill new dreams if we make a plan and vow to stick with it.

But as the year goes on, how do we daily stick with it? What do we need to do to make the end of the year as exciting as the beginning? In other words, how do we keep the momentum going?

One verse I read several days ago has stuck with me, and I’m sharing it in hopes that it will help you, too.

To give you context, the Lord had just lead the Israelites out of slavery and He was giving Moses the Ten Commandments. The people had purified themselves for worship (Exodus 19:14) and were standing at the foot of Mount Sinai where they saw God descend on it in the form of fire and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake (Exodus 19:18). The Bible says, “When the people heard the thunder, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear” (Exodus 20:18). They told Moses to tell them what God told him but they feared that they would die if they spoke with God directly (20:19). Moses’ reply was what has stuck with me. He said, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come in this way to show you His awesome power. From now on, let your fear of Him keep you from sinning!” (Exodus 20:20).

What a simple and yet profound thought – allowing our fear of the Lord to keep us from sinning.

If you’d ask me to name ten miracles that God performed, I could respond easily. If you believe the Bible to be true, then you know that He flooded the entire earth to destroy sinful people, that He shut the mouths of lions to save Daniel from being eaten, that He didn’t allow three Hebrews (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) to burn in the fiery furnace, that He sent plagues to Egypt to rescue the Israelites from slavery, that He parted the Red Sea so His people could cross on dry land, that He provided manna from heaven so His people could eat in the wilderness, that He healed barren women (like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Hanna), that He created the entire earth, that He allowed our Savior to be born of a virgin, and that He raised Lazarus back to life. These are only ten of the hundreds of documented miracles in the Bible. I believe every one of them are true and I am in awe at the power and majesty of God.

So, why does my fear of Him not keep me from sinning?

Honestly, I almost didn’t write this post because I didn’t feel worthy. As I mentioned before, I read this verse days ago. I’ve thought about it ever since. When I want to overindulge in eating, why does my fear of God not stop me? When I want to do something I know to be wrong, why don’t I let the fear of God keep me from sinning?

It should. It needs to be my main motivation if I’m going to stay on course this year. So, I start with a repentant heart. I ask God to remind me of who He is – His awesome power and His glory. And I’ve been fervently praying that my fear of Him will allow me to keep from sinning. I’ve begged for His help!

I’ve seen God’s power displayed in my life. And I’ve read in the Bible the consequences for sin. Adam and Eve were forgiven, and yet they reaped what they sowed. They were kicked out of Eden, they were forced to work the land for food, and women were given more pain in childbirth. While God promised a Savior to rescue them from sin, there were still irrevocable consequences for their behavior. Even in the twelve tribes of Israel, while there were three brothers older than Judah, Jesus came from his line because the older three had sinned against their father and not received his blessing. While their lives may not have looked all that different from their behavior, there were greater consequences for their sin than they even realized at the time.

So, where does that leave us? Personally, I want my life to be the best it can be. I want to leave a legacy for my children. I want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I pass from this life to the next. So, I’m trying to allow my fear of God to keep me from sinning. I’ll admit I’ve screwed up royally lately in this area (more than I’m willing to publicly share). But, that said, if humbly sharing what I’m trying to work on will enable one person who reads it to keep from doing even one sin because of their fear of the Lord, then it was worth writing, even if I am the unworthy writer.

So, what is your goal? What are you working on doing better this year? Whether it’s getting healthy, being less angry with your kids or conquering a different sin in your life, when the going gets tough and the temptation grips you, think “From now on, let your fear of Him [God] keep you from sinning!” (Exodus 20:20b).

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for being a holy and worthy God. You are awesome in power and You’ve shared the stories of Your greatness and majesty with us. May we have a close relationship with You. May we know You in all Your splendor and holiness. May we be so close that our fear of You keeps us from sinning. Please forgive us of our past where we have made poor choices and disregarded this fear. We are sorry for our lack of respect and self-indulgence. Blood of Jesus, we ask You to cover our sin that we may again approach the throne of grace. We thank You for the opportunity to try again. May our lives and how we live honor and please You. May we be healthy and thin for Your glory, serving nothing or no one but You alone. In Jesus’ powerful and precious name we pray, AMEN!

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Dec 19 2013
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What’s Your Freedom FOR?

This morning as I was reading my Bible, the phrase that stuck out to me was from Exodus when Moses was conveying the Lord’s message to Pharaoh. God told Moses to go tell Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.” (Exodus 8:1). This same sentence is found multiple times throughout Exodus, but today it reminded me of why we are set free. We are supposed to use that freedom for worship!

If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you know how I’ve begged God to let me be free from my struggle with overeating. I literally felt chained to food and thought that I’d never be free from my habits of indulging in this type of pleasure. I would try to change in my own strength but couldn’t seem to overcome this type of addiction. It wasn’t until reading “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore and really applying the Bible to my life that I could see that God could change ANYBODY. If He has the power to perform the many miracles in the Bible (including a virgin birth!), He could make me healthy and thin.

But today I realized that the purpose of my freedom is much like the Israelites’ when they were freed from slavery. God told Pharaoh to let His people go so that they could worship HIM! Instead of worshiping food or personal pleasure, we are to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God.

I feel like this is something I’ve screwed up lately. I am thrilled to have lost weight, but I haven’t been faithful about turning that back into worship where it belongs. It’s all too easy to begin to take credit for little successes or indulge in other ways like buying new clothes, etc. But, my journey began and needs to remain focused on God. Just like it was the Lord who granted the Israelites their freedom, I believe wholeheartedly that He was the One who freed me from my former life.

This morning I was invited out to breakfast at a big buffet that has all sorts of yummy offerings. My Dad was paying and my sister was going as well. But, I realized that that wasn’t what I needed, particularly this time of year. I wasn’t sure I could say no once I got there, so I decided against going. And I was feeling a little bad about it. But, instead of being out at a restaurant, I went to my piano and literally worshiped the Lord. And I felt SO much better than if I would have gone and indulged in what I knew to be wrong for me personally. God is worth more than anything in my life!

Today, may I encourage you to use your freedom that God is giving you to worship Him. If you still feel like you need more freedom, start with the step of worship. Begin your journey with praising Him and make each step about His righteousness. You’ll find yourself crossing over from slavery to a much better place when you do.

I’m continuing to seek God and asking Him to release me from my desires to indulge in personal pleasure rather than His glory. And I’m going to try to focus on worshiping Him rather than myself. May He receive all the glory and honor from my life!

Dear God, we thank You for being holy and righteous and worthy of praise. Lord, we confess that we are sinful and unworthy of being on your worship team. But, if You’re willing, You can free us from the sin we’ve entangled ourselves in and allow us to stand before You without spot or blemish. Please forgive us! Allow us to journey with You into the place You have for us, so that we can worship You forever. May You be glorified by all we say, do and think. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Aug 13 2013
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Do You Want to Get Well?

“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:6

Have you ever thought about this question? The previous verse tells us that this man had been an invalid for 38 years. But before immediately healing him, Jesus asked him if he wanted to be well.

If you’ve struggled with obesity like I have, then you know this question is more difficult to answer than meets the eye. There are many times I’ve asked myself this question “Do I want to be healthy and thin more than I want to eat this ______?” [You fill in the blank.] And sometimes depending on my mood, I take the immediate gratification of eating what sounds good rather than focusing on my long-term goals.

But, do I want to be well? I mean, really, do I WANT to be well? Do I want it more than chocolate? Do I want it more than pizza? Do I want it more than second helpings on the casserole I worked hard to make?

Notice that the man didn’t just proclaim “YES! Of course!” He first blamed his situation on other folks not helping him or getting in the pool before him. How often do we blame our current situation on others? Last night I was annoyed and immediately dug the chocolate ice cream out of our freezer. But, my bad choice had nothing to do with the other person. It doesn’t even have a ton to do with my genetics. Eventually, we have to take some responsibility for our actions.

That said, Jesus didn’t scold the man. He didn’t judge him. He HEALED him! He said “Take your mat and walk!” He asked the man to believe in Him and to take action. In the same way, we have to believe that we are capable of being healed (we CAN be healthy and thin – no matter if we’ve struggled for 38 years or more!). Then, we have to act according to this belief. We have to listen to what God tells us to do next.

Do you want to be well? Count the cost before saying yes. Are you willing to lay down your life and follow Jesus? Even if that means giving up the food you crave? Even if that means dying to selfishness?

I remember reading the success story of a woman whose husband had asked her to get healthy with him. She [an accountant] told him at first, “It’s tax season! You can’t take food away from me right now!” Sadly, there are many times that while we want to be thin, we want to hold on to the comfort of food rather than take a step of faith. Eventually, when her daughter got made fun of at school because of her fat mom, this woman decided that she wanted to lose weight and took action.

God doesn’t usually force us to get well. Instead, He asks if we want it. He desires our best, but He waits for us to say that we’re willing.

As I’ve been thinking about being willing to get well, two verses jumped out at me in Mark 4:“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” Mark 4:9 and 4:23. We have to be willing to hear God’s voice! Only then will we understand. Jesus continues speaking, saying “And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand – and even more besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given…” (Mark 4:24-25a).

When we are willing to hear, to truly listen, the more we will understand. What a gift!

So, I ask you – are you willing to be healed? Are you willing to truly listen to Jesus and to act upon what He tells you to do? He could be gently whispering in your ear that after all this time, it’s YOUR turn! Take up your mat and WALK in freedom!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us enough to come close and ask us if we want to get well. Thank You for not giving up on us, for not treating us as worthless. Thank You that You love us even when we feel unworthy of it. Lord, I pray like David prayed in Psalm 51:12 that You would “make me willing to obey You.” God, help us all be able to say YES when You ask if we want to be well. And then, we humbly ask that You would heal us. Forgive our sin and help us take up our mat and WALK in the freedom that You have given us from dying on the cross. Help us choose life over ease, abundant life over comfort food. Please help us, God, because even though we do desire to become healthy and thin, walking it out is difficult at times. Please be near us and draw us to You rather than anything else. We humbly ask to be healthy and thin for Your glory and purposes.  We praise You and thank You that You are able to forgive sin and heal us completely. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

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Jul 26 2013
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The ‘Secret’ to Success

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6

I’ve had lots of folks ask me my secret to the success of my weight loss. I sometimes feel like it’s an awkward question because I’m still a work in progress. Sure, I’ve lost weight. But, having been obese most of my life, I still often struggle on this journey to lose and/or maintain my weight. So, while I can share with you some portions of my journey, I am by no means an expert! I am simply a child of God and have left my hopes and dreams at the feet of my Creator.

If you want what has been the key to my weight loss, it’s found in John 14:6 when Jesus said He is the way. For me, He has been the ONLY way. I didn’t see any hope for my future. I was eating and not feeling satisfied (Leviticus 26:26). I loved food. While food is a gift from God to be enjoyed, I was also using it to celebrate or to soothe my anger or to help my boredom or to cheer me up. I would crave something salty, then something sweet would sound even better. I could eat even when I was full. And I didn’t feel like I could ever change. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to give it up…

But, God started working on my heart. I started reading the Bible and seeing what He had to say on being healthy. Was it a worldly matter to want to be thin or was it for God’s glory? I began to journal what I found. I started to write it on the blog. Eventually I made the blog public to share hope with others who were also struggling.

I also read other books on the subject. Some diet plans say cut out all fat. Others suggest cutting out all carbs. Some say to only eat what you can pick off a tree or pull out of the ground or kill with your own hands. Other friends of mine have had tremendous success with pre-packaged foods from a weight loss company. One author promoted fasting as the way, while I’ve heard others say that fasting slows your metabolism. I skipped the diet plans, even though there’s probably truth to most of them. Honestly, if you get overwhelmed or bored with a diet, it’s probably not going to be your ultimate lifestyle.

What I needed was a lifestyle change. What I TRULY needed was a heart change. I begged God to change my heart. I asked Him to satisfy my desires. I asked Him to lead me. What road should I take? How should I start? And, do you know what Jesus answered? He said “Turn from your selfish ways and FOLLOW ME” (Luke 9:23).

It may sound too simple; it may sound too hard. But, it is THE way! In a sermon this past Sunday, the pastor told us that Jesus didn’t give directions like, “Go down the road a couple miles, turn left at the barn, then go straight and turn right at the stop sign and bear left at the Y and then a few more miles go right, then take the second right and….” We would get lost too easy! Instead, He said He’d take us personally. Just like if someone said “instead of giving you directions, I’ll jump in my car and you just follow me there.” He is the way! We need to just follow Him.

So, what does that look like? How do we follow Him and lose weight? Well, again, I’m humbly no expert. But, I’ll give you a few things that have worked for me. (And I say again that I’m still a work in progress!) First, the Lord has been speaking to me lately that I’m not to worry so much about all the details. Only One thing is needed, as He spoke to Martha in Luke 10:41-42 “But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.'” If I’m going to be on the right path, I’m going to have to discover a heart of worship and be in connection with God. So, I start my mornings with reading the Bible and praying. I ask earnestly for Him to speak to me through His Word about this area. And I highlight in different colors the different subjects that I feel He’s speaking to me about.

Then I pray. I ask God what is the “one thing” for the day. I don’t want to miss it! He is the “ONE” thing, but sometimes there’s an area of focus that He asks me to think about. Instead of it being a starve-yourself-until-you-feel-faint-and-work-out-until-you-feel-like-you’re-going-to-vomit solution, I may feel convicted to give up a particular fast food restaurant that I’ve spent too much time at. I may feel like a walk outside with the kids is a good item to put on my schedule. It might be looking at my menu and seeing if there are healthier choices like fruits and vegetables that I can add in for myself and my family. Sometimes God asks me to remember that He is able; even if I feel like I’m failing in the natural, He is working the in the supernatural. If He has the power to raise people from the dead, He can certainly take a few pounds off someone who desperately needs it! I have to believe that He can change me! Maye I wasn’t called to be the fat girl! I need to change my perspective on who I am. The one thing might be fasting. It might be adding more water intake. It might be spending an hour in worship and setting some time aside to be at His feet. My one thing for the day may be different from yours. But, each step is a victory. Each step brings us closer to where we should be.

And I’ll be honest that life has its ups and downs. I’ve gained weight on vacation, I’ve lost a few pounds and then gained them back, and I’ve had some wild successes that I didn’t even think were possible. But, I am still simply a work in the Master’s hands. He created my body and knows what it needs. If I listen to His Spirit when I’m thinking about how to fuel my body, if I’m spending quality time reading the Bible and praying, if I’m open to new things He might show me in my life, then I’m hoping that I’m finding the Way, the Life that I’ve always wanted.

This, my friends, is the key to my success. This quote sums up how I feel: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:12-14.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your compassion for us. Thank You that Jesus said He came for the sick and those who needed help. I’ve felt frustrated (and maybe some of my readers can relate) that I’ve been overweight because of my own selfish sin – why would You care to help? But, we thank You that You do care. Your love for us goes deeper than we could imagine because You have called us to be Your children. Thank You that You sent Jesus to die for our sin and set us free from it. If we’ve committed our lives to You, there is NOTHING impossible for You. We can change at Your hand! Lord, you know our dreams, our desires, our bodies, our will and the plans You have for our life. We ask, sweet Jesus, for You to lead us in the way we should go. Help us follow You. Help us make healthy choices each day to achieve that which You have called us to do. May we glorify and honor You each step of the way. Thank You, Lord, for Your help in making us healthy and thin. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

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Jun 27 2013
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Careful Thought

“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.'” Haggai 1:5

The other morning before reading my Bible, I asked God for a fresh word from heaven. I strongly desired a fresh revelation that would help me as I continue this journey amidst its ups and downs. The above verse was what spoke to me, and I continue to think about. (I thought it may help you, too!)

My devotions that morning were the book of Haggai (which is only two chapters). Four times in this short book, the Lord says “Give careful thought” (1:5, 1:7, and 2:18). It jumped out at me immediately. In Haggai, the Lord’s people had returned from Babylonian exile and were supposed to rebuild God’s house, but their daily life was such a struggle that they neglected to care about God’s greater plan.

I immediately saw the parallel to my own life. I’m supposed to be working on God’s house (or my body) but daily life pulls in so many directions that I often take my eyes off the prize. And what is it exactly that I’m hoping to accomplish?

I had to really think about that. What is my final end goal? My ultimate desire is to glorify God with my body. So, if I’m giving “careful thought” to my actions to accomplish this goal, I can see whether eating too much (or even too little!), exercising too much (or too little), etc is really honoring God with my choices. But, when I give no thought at all, the pendulum can easily swing in one direction (packing back on the pounds) or the other (spending too much time at the gym and not enough time and energy on my family).

Here’s an example from this week. We were meeting friends at the park and I was packing our lunches. Even though I had eaten breakfast, I popped a couple grapes in my mouth as I was filling a sandwich bag with them. Then I ate a couple baby carrots. As I spread the peanut butter on the boys’ sandwiches, I ate a little. All the sudden I stopped and realized that I was mindlessly eating calories that I wasn’t really counting as part of my daily intake. Were any of those options bad? Not necessarily. But, I’ve done the same thing with cookies, snacks, etc. If I’m eating without thinking, the calories can quickly add up!!! And they aren’t even a meal or anything I’ve planned on putting in my body or even really satisfying.

I’m currently reading a book called “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver (2000), which I would highly recommend (if you haven’t read it, put it on your ‘must-read-soon list.’) Do you remember the story of Mary & Martha? I’ve read it hundreds of times, probably, but this is the first time that I really focused on the word “distracted.” Luke 10:40 says “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” If you remember the story, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening and Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen what was better.

Joanna Weaver (2000) notes that the devil often begins his work in our lives by something simple like distraction. “He knows that if we’re overly worried and bogged down by duties, chances are good our hearts will not hear the Savior’s call to come. While distraction may not win the battle for our soul, getting our eyes off of what is important will certainly make us more vulnerable to attack” (Weaver, 2000, p. 18).

That’s why God’s call to “give careful thought to your ways” is so important! I thought about how distraction can keep me from being healthy, keep me from spending quality time with my family, keep me from honoring God with my time and talents. Seemingly ‘little’ distractions can keep us from leading an abundant life if we’re not careful to “give careful thought” instead.

What are your dreams? What are your goals? What is your hope some day when you look back at your life? What are you doing to achieve those goals? What are distractions that take up your time and aren’t important overall? What are some ways you can be more intentional to achieve those goals?

I had to sit back and think about what I truly wanted. Do I want to be skinny at the cost of family time? Or, do I want to honor God with my choices? Do I want to eat mindlessly and weigh more at the end of the week simply because I can’t control my eating? Or do I want to honor God with my choices? Do I want to raise my boys by letting them play video games while I’m on the computer or do I want to give them quality time and instruction? The list goes on. Your list may look different than mine. But, whatever you do, don’t let Satan distract you from the good plans God has for your life! Instead, give careful thought to your ways! See what a difference it can make!

Dear Father God, we humbly come before You and thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your goodness to us even though we don’t deserve it. We confess that we have been distracted by daily life and busyness that isn’t purposeful. May we not waste the time You have blessed us with on earth. Please help us give careful thought to our ways. May we think about what we eat. May we think about how we spend our time. May we focus on our goal to honor You with our choices and not become zealous about things that don’t truly matter at the end of time. Will You tell us what You want for our lives? What matters most to you, God? May we know You more? Please forgive our sin and help us step by step, day by day. May we build Your house and serve You with a worshipful heart rather than a distracted one. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

May 29 2013
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Do You Care More About Appearances Than Truth?

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

How concerned are you about appearances? How important is it to you what others think?

For many of us, we are more concerned about the outward appearance than what’s truly going on in our lives. For me, this has been true in parenting, in losing weight and in many aspects of life. Am I being authentic or am I trying to look like the ideal? How much do I care about what the public thinks about me verses what God thinks?

I must humbly admit that this issue has struck a chord with me lately.

In my own weight loss journey, I realized that I would never look like a super model (has anyone else ever felt the discouragement that comes from this realization?). After three children, my skin will never be perfect, my abs may never have that ultimate six-pack look, and my proportions may never be that of someone who gracefully walks down a runway in 5″ heels. I may never be the perfect tan with the perfect hair and the perfect make-up, wearing the perfect outfit and the perfect jewelry.

As I was feeling the disappointment related to these thoughts, I began overindulging a little here and there again. After all, my husband loves me the way I am, right? I’ll never be perfect, so why not enjoy this snack I’m not even hungry for? I can probably work most of it off anyway…

Then as I realized that it’s still a sin to overindulge. Plain and simple. If I believe that I’m to treat my body as holy because it belongs to God, then giving into temptation is still sin. My working out may keep me from packing on the pounds as quickly, but that’s more about outward appearance than where my heart is.

I just finished reading a book called “Runner’s World COMPLETE BOOK OF WOMEN’S RUNNING: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance” by Dagny Scott Barios (2007). In the nutrition section of the book, the author states “Once you’ve reached your target weight, the calories you burn while running can negate many sins of overindulgence” (Barios, 2007, p. 175). I was surprised that in this secular book on running that the author called it “sins of overindulgence.” It was an expression, but I think it’s more than just that…

I don’t want to focus on just the appearance of doing well – letting my calorie burn hide what’s truly going on. God doesn’t necessarily care about my pants size as much as He cares about my heart and my worship. I can’t focus all my attention on food (whether that’s indulging my cravings OR diet planning) and focus all my attention on God. My heart needs to be worshiping the Lord first and foremost. When my heart is earnestly seeking after Him, I will make better decisions…and for the right reasons.

I may never look ”model perfect’ but my prayer is that God would change my heart and that it would be beautiful. May my outside be a reflection of my inside rather than just a ‘show’ or appearance.

This week, I’ve gone back to examining my original desires for starting this journey. (Can you relate to any of them?)

  • I want to be healthy. I don’t want to die young of something I could have prevented.
  • In being healthy, I truly want to be fit for service. Can I serve others when I don’t feel my best? Not as well…
  • I want to be able to keep up with my kids. I don’t want them to be ashamed of having me come to their school or be around their friends. (Ditto for my husband.)
  • I want to live a life with self-control that comes from the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
  • I want to be able to say no and not have to be chained to temptation.
  • I want to be able to distinguish between what’s holy and what’s common – making every effort to keep myself holy as a sign of thankfulness to God.
  • I want to worship God alone and not ‘stuff’ of this world that can entangle me.

While man looks at outward appearance, God looks at the heart. Let’s remember that this week as we go about our days. Are our actions for appearance? Or are they more important, more relevant, more authentic?

Dear Heavenly Father, we first want to thank You for being holy. You are an amazing God! Thank You for knowing the whole picture – for not just looking at what seems to be true but actually understanding our hearts, our desires and our motivations. Thank You that You are a big God who can change even our heart as well as our outward appearance. We humbly confess that we’ve been too concerned with what people think rather than what You think. Please forgive us for caring more about appearances than our heart condition. We want to repent and do the opposite. May we continue on this journey of weight loss for the right reasons. May we be fit for service and a reflection of Your goodness and glory rather than a selfish  and proud person who desires more recognition. May we serve You faithfully during this journey and lead others to know the hope that is in You alone. We humbly as that you make us healthy and thin for Your purpose and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

May 19 2013
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The Gift We’re Required to Take: REST!

“There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.” Leviticus 23:3

Recently I borrowed the book Marathon: The Ultimate Training and Racing Guide by Hal Higdon (1993) from the library and began to read it. I don’t know that I’ll ever run even a half marathon (maybe!), but I do enjoy running and thought the book might offer some tips on best practices for increasing endurance and steering clear of injury.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve found from this accomplished author is to rest. Throughout his book, Higdon (1993) gives reasons why rest is so critical and tells readers that it is “a commonly overlooked component of any successful training program” (p. 84) and is “more important than most runners know” (p. 13). He says when studying why people failed in the sport, “often it was because they trained too hard and were too unwilling to take days off.” In fact, he says “Knowing when to back off and take a complete day off – or even more – is one of the secrets of marathon success. It is not easy, since the traditional work ethic that has made many people successes suggests that more is better.”  (Higdon, 1993, pp.48-49).

I was surprised to hear that rest is so critical to success even for athletes. Hal Higdon (1993) noted that many of us feel like we need to keep going and pushing ourselves and that we don’t want to give ourselves a break for many reasons, including not wanting to lose conditioning that we’ve accomplished, enjoying the sport and wanting to keep going, and even training with friends who we don’t want to miss.

But, rest is a must. Otherwise we might become “over-trained” and experience injury, sickness such as the common cold, increased pulse rate, sleep problems, a diminished sex drive, a fear of training, sore muscles and the feeling of heavy legs as we try to keep going with our workouts (Higdon, 1993, pp.75-77).

God, who created our bodies, knows our need for rest and wrote to us about it long before Hal Higdon was even born. When He set apart the Israelite nation as His own (and we became adopted into this family through the blood of Jesus), He gave them commandments to live by. He promised to be their God and take care of them if they would follow His rules. Among the many things He told them, He had a “top 10” list that we know as the Ten Commandments. The fourth says “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11. This law was so important to Him that He ordered that anyone who did any work on it should be put to death (Exodus 31:15 and Exodus 35:2).

Just because later in the Bible Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath day doesn’t mean that we are given free reign to do anything we want on God’s holy day, I don’t think. Instead we should humbly ask God what His desire is for us. I think He still desires to give us the GIFT of rest. Truly, it is a gift to take off from the requirements and stresses of life and just find rest in the Lord.

Last month (I believe it was April 20), I felt sore even on my way to the gym on a Saturday morning. My life was also feeling hectic with many papers to grade and an overly loaded busy schedule. We literally had something planned every night of the week between sports and my teaching multiple classes, etc. But, even with tight muscles and a feeling of fatigue, I didn’t listen to my body or my stress level – I wasn’t about to miss my favorite class! A little over half way through, I pulled my calf muscle where it attaches to the Achilles tendon. I was in so much pain I literally picked up my stuff and limped out of the room before the next song started. 😦

The next morning I read the following verse and knew how much I needed this Word from the Lord: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” Jeremiah 31:25. I needed rest. If I wasn’t going to give it to myself, my body was going to take it. I didn’t go to the gym at all the following week and instead took that time to finish the grading I needed to get done before the end of the semester. I finally felt like I could breathe again when my schedule relaxed a bit and I wasn’t pushing myself in every area of life. God used the opportunity to refresh me!

I’m feeling better for the most part and working out again, and I’m trying to recover to be back at a peak performance level. But, I need to remember even now that God has given us a gift that He also notes is a requirement for our lives. My reading has progressed to Ezekiel, and in Ezekiel 20:11 God tells us that the Sabbath day is a sign between God and us (a covenant sign) so that we recognize that it’s God who makes us holy. Ezekiel 20:20 says “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

Last night on Facebook I read that a group of local moms were getting together this morning for a 6-mile run. I’ve been reading a book on marathon training and thought a longer run with new friends sounded like fun! I picked out my outfit (even washing my favorite pair of pants) and got my sneakers ready, even though I knew it was Sunday and all week I’ve pushed my body hard in classes and running, telling myself that Sunday would be my day of rest. I told myself that this was a chance to meet some new folks and go on a course that I hadn’t tried yet. And I love running, so it wasn’t really “working” on the Sabbath was it?

Even though my husband and I stayed up past 11 pm last night, I set my alarm for 5 am. I was up at 4:45 when he woke up and opened our window before falling back to sleep. Perfect! As I listened to the birds happily singing, I was rearing to go. But, when I put both feet out of the bed, I noticed how tight BOTH my Achilles tendons were feeling. My knees were also sore. And, even my back was feeling a little tight. Hmmm…what to do. I had told these gals I might meet them. Was I feeling lazy and just wanting to go back to bed? I was torn. I decided to keep moving and did my devotions first, as I normally do. I prayed after reading the Bible and asked God for His input. And all I could think was “This is a Sabbath day of rest.”

I desperately wanted to go, but instead I went online and told them I needed to rest instead. I was wide awake, but I made myself lay back down for another hour before my kids woke up. And when I turned on the radio that morning, a sermon from LCBC was just beginning and it was on “PRESSURE” – Pastor David Ashcraft noted that we live at a point where we don’t give ourselves any wiggle room, whether it’s with our busy schedules, our finances, or in life in general. He talked about how we are constantly feeling stressed and that wasn’t the way God designed us to live. In fact, He gave us the gift of the Sabbath day of rest. And He required that we honor it. On six days we can work hard, but on the seventh we are to rest. We are also not to glean to the edges, which he likened to living life with no wiggle room.

Without going into too much detail since this post is already long enough (feel free to go online and listen to the podcast -highly worth your time!), the sermon spoke to me as we were getting ready for our day. I want to live life to the fullest and not miss anything. But sometimes intentionally giving things up IS living life to the fullest. When we live the way God intended us to, we automatically have a day of rest built into our schedules. It’s not just a day of rest, it’s a holy day of rest. It’s a sign between us and God that acknowledges that it’s Him who makes us holy. We can’t be everything we want to be on our own. It’s God who makes us who we are, and we say that we trust Him when He promises to take care of us when we submit to His authority and will.

It’s hard for me to take a day off, I’ll admit. But, I want to seek God and honor Him with my choices. So, I plan on seeking His will in this area. Even highly trained athletes need rest; God designed our bodies and our minds to have time to rest and seek Him. Let’s be refreshed today with this gift we’re required to take!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of rest. Thank You for giving it to us as a sign of Your love for us, a sign of Your covenant where You promise to be our God and take care of us if we’ll obey Your commands. We trust You and believe Your Word is true. We desire to honor You with our choices and our lives. May we not neglect this important commandment You’ve given us; instead may we seek to do Your will on the Sabbath. Thank You for giving us the bodies we have and allowing us to run and have fun and live life to the fullest. Thank You also for refreshing us and satisfying us when we feel weary. What would our lives be without You? I shudder at the thought. Please forgive our sin and help us obey Your Word. May we live to please You and not ourselves. We love You and Your Word. Thank You again for the benefit of rest that You offer us. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

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Apr 24 2013
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A Free Ticket: Your Debt is Paid

Can you imagine being completely free of debt? No mortgage, no car payment, no student loans, no credit cards, no bills… you owe not a dime to anyone for anything. How free would you feel?

Let me ask you another question – how would you feel if you were up to your eyeballs in debt (like the commercial!) and someone stepped in and paid your debts for you. Rather than winning the lottery, a person came in and just wrote a check for your personal debts. Can you imagine someone who would do that for you? How would you feel about him?

This happened to a woman who Jesus encountered. Read her story below:

Luke: 7:36-50  Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii [a day’s wage], and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Rather than just paying off a person’s debt, Jesus paid for this woman’s sins and said that because she was a “known sinner” she should feel all the more grateful or loving.

Have you ever felt like maybe you’re not worth saving?

Possibly you think that you’ve been trapped by the sin in your life for too many years that you don’t think you can change. Perhaps you don’t even WANT to live apart from what you know to be wrong at this point. Maybe you don’t want to give something up that you feel God is calling you to let go of. And worse, you know that other folks know and it makes you want to hide from reality all the more.

Today I heard a song on my way home from lunch (which I put below) that says “Who, Oh Lord, could save themselves, their own soul could heal? Our shame was deeper than the sea, Your grace is deeper still.”

I have good news today for anyone willing to listen. God CAN save anyone from any sin. Even the person who was hanging on the cross next to Jesus was promised paradise that same day simply for believing (Luke 23:43). There is no sin that separates us from the love of God (Romans 8:39).

We often start to feel like we’re not worth saving, that God couldn’t possibly love us or change us, simply because we’re focusing on ourselves rather than praising the loving and compassionate God who created us. Sometimes we feel that way because we see “church-going” folks around us pointing their fingers at our less-than-ideal life circumstances.

We need to believe only what Jesus says about us, not what the world says (even those who are in the church who may or may not mean well). We need to remember that we are all sinners, saved by grace. Those of us who have been saved from a life we have royally screwed up have all the more reason to love Jesus and have mercy on others.

If you’re a believer and find yourself pointing your finger, remember the sin and life that God saved you from. Aren’t we all simply blessed with a gift from heaven? Can we love much, both Jesus and those who we are called to minister to in His name?

It is with joy that I can say “My shame was deeper than the sea, but HIS GRACE was deeper still!” I am so in love with God because He cared to save a wretch like me!

If you feel that you want to be saved by this same Jesus who spoke to the woman above, I invite you to pray and ask Jesus to save you from your sin. It was her faith that healed her, so start by believing that God can save even you from your own mistakes. Even if you don’t have the desire to yet change, start by asking Jesus into your heart and allowing Him freedom to change your desires. See the change that ONLY God can make!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing a way out, even while we were still sinners. You didn’t leave us off in a corner by ourselves until we cleaned up our messes. Instead, you allowed us to take the first step to come to you and say “I believe in You.” Then incredibly You allow the blood of Jesus on the cross to pay our debts. We are so in love because we could never save ourselves! We needed the forgiveness of this huge debt to bring us into relationship with You. We don’t have all the answers. We don’t have even half the answers. But, we have You and that’s truly all we need. We invite You to live in our heart. We ask You to change our will and desire. Please help us take the next steps in pleasing You and leaving our life of sin behind. May we go in peace, thankful and joyful that even we can be saved by grace. Thank You, again, for the work of the cross. We humbly rejoice today and ask that you would help us show others a life that’s changed because of You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, AMEN!

 

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Apr 19 2013
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America’s Got Talent – So What’s Yours?

What’s your talent? Take the time now: name something you’re good at (out loud).

We’ve all got things that we’ve been told we do well or that we feel that we excel in. What hobbies do you like? Do you love singing, playing an instrument, playing a sport, or writing? Maybe your talent is something else like collecting coupons, holding babies, making others feel comfortable in a social setting, or knitting. Are you good at juggling or encouraging others or drawing? Can you decorate a room, re-purpose old furniture, cook meals that make mouths water or run faster than the average person?

No matter what your talent, how are you using it for God’s glory?

This morning I was reading a book that my sister had given to my kids. As they listened to the Parable of the Talents, I was feeling convicted.  Here is the story from the Bible:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went to work at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!’

The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!’

Then the man who had received one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and sent out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Matthew 25:14-30

While this passage is obviously talking about money, I think we can relate it to actual “talents” that we possess. How can we use the things that we’re good at (whether it’s a lot of things or a few things) for God’s glory? If you’re good at playing with children, your church can use your help! If you’re good at collecting coupons and getting groceries cheap, maybe you could consider donating to your local food bank. If you have great organizational skills, maybe a local ministry could use an hour or two of your time. If you know how to work a computer, maybe you could help your church’s A/V team. If you know how to crochet, maybe you could consider making baby blankets for the hospital like my mom does.

Even the most time-deprived person can serve the Lord with the gifts He’s given. But do we get started?

  1. Consider the talents God has given you. Write a list of things that you’re good at. It doesn’t have to be related to how you’ll serve yet, but it’s a good start. Chances are that if you’re good at something, you’ll also enjoy it!
  2. Pray about how to use those talents for God’s glory. I recently read in Jeremiah about how he would prophesy. It was interesting to hear him say that he just spoke the words that the Lord would give him or things he had seen that the Lord had showed him. In addition, he said “But if I say, ‘I will not mention [God] or speak any more in His name,’ His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jeremiah 20:9. I’ve been praying for this kind of fire. May we know what we are to do and not be able to NOT do it! May God give us a burning desire to do His will and work on earth!
  3. Take action. Don’t hide it under a bushel – NO! Let it shine! Ask your church leader how you can serve, look up local organizations that may need your help, ask a neighbor or a friend if you can be of service, or look for other ways to give God glory for your talents.

And now’s a great time to remind you that God gives us the talents to start. When we just serve out of the goodness of our heart in a position we’re not called to, it can quickly feel burdensome. But, when we use a talent that God has given us, we can feel great satisfaction in glorifying Him by using our talents for His purposes!

They don’t have to be “showy” talents like preaching on stage or leading worship on your guitar. Maybe you can do something “silly” like balance a pole on the edge of your chin – I just saw a children’s show where a man did exactly that and he talked about the love of Christ to those little ones in the audience. Wow! I heard another friend of mine say that she feels like she is good at counseling young newly married gals; I’m sure there’s a lot of women who could use some advice! I would have loved a mentor! I have another friend who’s a great cook who said she signed up at her church to bless people with meals when they have a need.

Maybe your ministry could be encouragement – are you good at remembering to send cards or postcards (hey, feel free to even leave a comment on a blog post!). Maybe your talent is in math or accounting, writing or proofreading, speaking or even cleaning. If you’re good at something, there is a place for you in God’s kingdom work!

I encourage you to not waste your life in the humdrum of everyday and forget eternity. Who can you bless? How can you glorify God with what He’s given you? What is He calling you to today? Let’s pray and ask!

Dear Father God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for blessing each one of us with talents. Whether we have several things we’re good at or just one thing, we realize that we are to be using our gifts for Your ultimate glory. And Lord, when asked what is most important, You tell us that it’s loving You and then loving others. How can we use our talents to show You love or to bless others on earth? What does it look like to use our talents for Your glory? Where do you want us and how can we serve? Please open doors of opportunity and give us the instinct to immediately obey. May we not lose the eternal for the things that are passing. May our lives be for Your ultimate glory – it would be a joy to hear ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ when You come back for us! Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

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