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People often decide that God loves or doesn't love them based on their behavior or appearance. Human beings love conditionally - and in many cases, those who struggle with weight issues bear the brunt of teasing, ostracizing, or other displays of love loss. But God loves unconditionally. He looks at your heart, not your physical body. Of course, he cares about your health - but whether or not you "live by the dieting rules" doesn't affect His love for you. God wants to give you His best. This includes great health - both internally and externally. He wants you to be healthy spiritually, but He also wants to provide for you psychologically and emotionally. This is the gift of a loving God. He doesn't change.
One problem the Israelites had as they approached the Promised Land was their fear of crossing the Jordan River. God has brought you this far in your healthy journey. Don't let your fear of the unknown stop you know. Cross on over.
We've always equated the Promised Land with "arriving", It's the proverbial land of milk and honey. When we've reached the Promised Land, we tell ourselves, we can eat anything we want and remain slim and trim. After all, we've crossed the Red Sea with the enemy at our tail. We've marched through the desert, bravely facing the dangers. We've "done our time" at the bitter waters. And we've crossed the Jordan River, prepared for all of the delights of the Promised Land - only to discover the "destination" isn't exactly what we thought it was. When a healthy eater "arrives" at his or her target weight, the journey had not ended. On the contrary, the Promised Land for the healthy eater is not a "place," it's a lifestyle.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Life keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going.
Excusing Ourselves. Sometimes we have legitimate excuses for slipping. Other times we "come up with" excuses to validate our behavior. In many cases, we've been trained since childhood to act this way. It's time to put our excuses behind us and move forward into the future that God has for us.
Do the very best job you can do. Don't compare your weight loss to that of others. This is not a race, nor is it a competition. You are an individual, with your own load to carry. Don't let others talk you into switching plans, unless you're already convinced in your heart you should be shifting gears. You and the Lord, together, make a great team. He will give you the direction, the encouragement, and the stamina. That's not to say you don't need others, but in the long run, they don't have to answer for your health. You do. Stay plugged in to God and keep listening. He will reveal His truth about your situation. Be the individual you are.
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.
He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw
your smoke signal," they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but
we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst
of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you"
I Love this. This really puts things into perspective. What we think we need may not be what GOD has for us. HE has a perfect plan.
This was sent to me in an email. This is a little something to think about.
You are the only Bible that some people will ever read.
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Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it."
Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet."
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door. He then handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."
The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."
When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."
Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian".
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
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\o/ Denna
It is so true that we are the only Bible some people will ever read! This was an awesome story. Thanks for passing it on!
A Holy Man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.
The Lord led the holy man to two doors.
He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of
the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot
of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot
of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell.
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand."
"It is simple," said the Lord.
"It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you.
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak...
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... The only thing that would comfort was this verse ...
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."
When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a
hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."
Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.
"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so ?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence.
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned.. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE (John 3:16)
Don't dwell in the past. God knows what you've been through. He knows exactly where you are today. He does not want you defeated by any challenge, no matter what it is! ~Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood Church in Texas
The Bible declares that "with God all things are possible." It's time to have hope and get ready for the new things God has on the horizon of your life! ~Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood Church in Texas
If you want to be a courageous person who never gives up, you need to squarely face this kind of fear. Fear of failure will keep you from going to the next level in your life, or it will prevent you from even taking the first step toward your goal. It will hold you back from doing and being everything God has for you if you do not confront and conquer it. Always remember,when you take steps to face your fear of failure and deal with it: God is with you! Also, remember that people never fail in less they stop trying. When we do make mistakes along the way, we can always learn from then and allow them to add wisdom to our lives.
Think carefully about
What you will be reading.
This is a new one for me...
Mary! Had a little Lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school each day,
T'wasn't even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.
And then the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name!
Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.
What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!
May God Bless you
(I had received this in an email before and had never seen this)
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