HOPE

Have you ever felt hope for the future slipping away? I have in many circumstances! There are many disappointments and failures I've faced and will continue to face. One failure is maintaining a healthy weight. I am sick and tired of feeling gross about myself. No matter how hard I try to stick to a regular routine or diet, I always FAIL! It is so easy for me to give into temptation when it comes to food. I have said many times I want to change. I keep making excuses (just like when it comes time to spending time with the Lord). Now, I am ready to conquer something I have never been able to do. I am ready to start with learning how to have self control. After all, self control is where it starts!! I am also going to continue learning patience. I know I have to be patient as losing weight will not happen overnight!

I know it sounds silly to ask for prayers to help me stay away from junk food and everything that is bad for me. Yet, God tells us to pray for everything! I know the only way I can overcome my terrible habit is to go to God in prayer. God is the only one to give me the strength I need to practice self-control and watch what I eat.

Some may ask why I want to lose weight?? Well, there are several reasons. My body fat is higher than what it should be for my age as well as being a female. I want to be healthy, so I can live longer and see my son have children one day. I also do not want our son to pick up bad habits from the way I eat. I know that exercising and eating healthy will keep a healthy heart.

Here are a couple of scriptures I read this morning. I will be keeping these scriptures handy as I start the weight loss process!

"I wait for the Lord; I wait, and put my hope in His word." Psalm 130:5

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40: 29-31

Priorities

It has been difficult to get up early enough to type as well as read my bible. I want to pick up the house or piddle through the mail. I am to the point now where I need to take a step back and look at my priorities. It is almost March and most people tend to stop any resolution that they have made around this time. I believe it is because we give up. We do not see immediate results, so we no longer want to work hard at things we so desperately desire.

Hebrews 12:2 came to mind this morning. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I pray that God will help me prioritize my life. I pray that I will continue to seek His will first every morning (even when I am just not that into it!).

Elisabeth Elliot once said, "The work of God is appointed. There is always enough time to do the will of God."

Are we willing to do the work?

In the Life Application Study Bible (NIV), Hebrews 12:2 says, "That the Christian life requires hard work. It requires us to give up things that endanger our relationship with God. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep him in sight!"

Exactly One Week....

It has been exactly one week since I have posted anything on the blog. I am truly sorry! We just received internet connection for the computer yesterday. However, I am so excited I have only missed my quiet time with God ONCE! The past week has been C-R-A-Z-Y! Unloading boxes...arranging furniture...filling drawers...organizing closets...It is amazing how much you can accumulate over a short period of time.

I would like to share with you this morning Psalm 121. The devil got the best of me over the past couple of days. Richard was working and I was home alone with our son. We do not have anything covering the front windows yet. There are blinds all across the back, but not the front. Some of the windows look beautiful from the street without anything on them, but I need something on the windows for security purposes.

I was unpacking boxes and my brain kept thinking of all these horrible things. I called it a night and went to bed. I did not sleep well as it is a new house and I am in unfamiliar territory. The next morning I woke up and read Psalm 121. If only I would have opened my bible right then (when I was scared), then I would have slept in peace. Why is it so hard to go to God with our problems at that moment? Especially when you need him the most...

Psalm 121 is assurance in God's protection.

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

I had chill bumps the next morning after reading verses 5-8. God will watch over our lives! God will watch over us no matter if we are coming and going! I promise to pray Psalm 121 whenever I am scared of not being protected. We can always depend on God. I encourage you to pray this same verse! Have a wonderful day!

Patience....

I was trying to think of one word this morning to describe the last several weeks of my life. The first word that came to mind was PATIENCE.

Richard and I were challenged over the past few weeks with trying to find a house. We searched all over the county. We looked at over 1,000 houses online as well as at least 40 in person. We came to the realization that we were not going to find a house. Or would we?

Our main goal was to find a place where we could let Collin roam without worrying about cars zipping up and down the street. Over the past couple of years...cars seemed to treat our street as if it were a "drag strip". I would get worried every time I walked Collin outside the front door. We also wanted a house where we had room to grow. We could not find any of the houses to meet the above criteria as well as in our budget.

I put everything in God's hands from the beginning and he was able to do the IMPOSSIBLE! Just when Richard and I thought we were going to have to rent a house or purchase a home that we would just "deal" with and make changes to....God had already "hand-picked" a house for us. God was preparing a house for us as we were looking the whole time. I get chill bumps just thinking about it.

The pastor's wife, who I work with, approached me about a house that was for sale next to them. I drove by the house and looked at it. I immediately drove off as I knew we would never be able to afford this beautiful house. I was encouraged to look at the house anyway (regardless, if I thought it was too much). **The seller did not have a $ figure in mind.

To make a long story short---We made an offer and it was declined. I knew this house was for us, but I also knew we would have to move on as we were not spending more than our budget. I prayed and kept looking at other houses. The seller (of the house we loved) called us back and confirmed our offer.

The seller said he had been praying and he felt like God wanted us to have this house. I could not believe my eyes as I saw God's hands literally make the IMPOSSIBLE...POSSIBLE!!!!!! Thank you, Lord!!!!

Literally--every detail from the contract to the closing, God had his hands in every bit of it. Richard and I came to the conclusion that we were going to be homeless for a few short weeks until we could close on this new house. However, God had better intentions. He was able to make everything work out to where we were able to close on both houses in one day. AMAZING! We had less than two weeks to fill out paperwork and get everything processed & completed. We thank God every minute of our lives for blessing us with an incredible deal and a beautiful house...(we never thought could be ours)!

So, I mentioned the word Patience. God taught both of us to not jump too soon and to be patient. Waiting on God's will for your life is soooooo worth it. God is truly amazing and he did the impossible for us!!!

"I wait for the Lord; I wait, and put my hope in his word." Psalm 130:5
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." Psalm 31
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Psalm 139

God is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful and is PRESENT EVERYWHERE! God is with us through every situation and in every trial of life. God protects us, loves, us and guides us!

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths,

you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you blood thirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,

and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Run the Race....

This morning I read Hebrews Chapter 12. A few things came to mind as I was reading.

The year before last, I signed up to run a half marathon for St. Jude. I have always wanted to run a half marathon and 2008 was the year! I signed up and promised myself to train for the upcoming race.

I had good intentions, but I never trained like I was supposed to. I would run a couple of miles here and there. I did not watch my diet, which is beneficial in running long distance races. (It is best to lose weight prior to race day, so you are not carrying more weight.)

It was the day before race day and I got sick. I was running a fever and coughing. I did not listen to my body and ran the race anyway. After all, I paid for the race and I promised myself I would run. I completed the race in a decent time (considering that I did not train for it). However, my body sure paid for the price of 13.1 miles! My hips, ankles, legs, and every joint in my body was sore for days. I could barely walk!

I am sharing this story because most long distance runners build strength and endurance prior to race day. The runners try to get their bodies lean. They do not wear much clothing, even in 30 degree weather.

In Hebrews 12, we are to run the race God has set before us. "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross." (12:1-2)

In order to run the race God has in store for us, we must get rid of excess baggage in our lives. Just like long distance runners...they must get rid of excess fat and heavy weight clothing.

Excess baggage will slow us down!

Some things I will examine in my life and get rid of:

1. FRIENDS: Choosing friends who are committed to run the race. Friends that share the same values. Ones that are involved in Christian activities and who can be an accountability partner.
2. ADDICTIONS: My addiction would be overeating. I am a "stress-eater" and I would like to change! This means changing what I buy at the store as well as watching what I put in my mouth.

I am sure I have much more baggage, but those are a couple I would like to focus on first.

Just like runners have to prepare to run the race...I must also do some prep work to run God's race....getting rid of excess baggage will be the first thing on my list.

I pray God will speak to me about all the areas in my life where I carry excess baggage.

Disappointed....

I missed the contemporary service yesterday at church. However, I made myself go to the second service, the traditional service. I was not in the best mood. I know my mood was because I was out of my routine and I missed the first service.

The second service is just so much different. The music reminds me of when I was little. The traditional service does not move me like the contemporary service.

I opened up the church bulletin to see that our church was having a guest speaker. Ewww...guest speakers! There's a 50/50 chance with guest speakers. The guest speakers are either really, really good or they are so incredibly boring that you can not pay attention.

My problem is that I went to church with high expectations. I was hoping our associate pastor would preach. (Just to fill you in...our church is currently looking for a new pastor...) There were many times where I would love to hear our associate pastor preach over our own pastor. The associate pastor just has a way of sharing God's word.

I was soon disappointed as our associate pastor introduced the guest speaker. Instead of listening to God's word and what the guest speaker was preaching...I found myself drifting away and thinking about the day's activities and what all I need to accomplish. It was as if I tuned out the guest speaker because I was unhappy he was preaching. I wanted to hear someone else preach.

Does it really matter? In all honesty, no matter who preaches....I should be there to hear what God's word says. So, this morning...I decided to go back over the scripture that our guest speaker discussed yesterday. I can not tell you anything he said other than the scripture verse he read. Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...(v. 26) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

This sermon really was perfect for me if only I would have listened. Right now, I am not sure what the Education budget cuts have in store for me. I know some things in my life where I have prayed to do God's will, yet he has not allowed me to do those things. It could be that I God has something else planned for my life or it could be that it is not time for God to fulfill those promises. Everything is done in God's time...not our time! I really could have benefited from the sermon if only I would not have tuned out the preacher!

This comes straight from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV)--Rom 8:28--"God works in all things, not just isolated incidents. It is for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. God is able to turn EVERY circumstance around for our long-range goal. God is not working to make us happy, but to fulfill HIS PURPOSE! God's promise is NOT for everybody. It is only for those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

In verse 29, God's goal for us is to make us more like him. If we discover ourselves and be a true follower of Christ, God will continue to work in our lives and help us to be more Christ-like.

I pray that I will have an open ear next time instead of being disappointed in who is "relaying" the message. After all, it should not matter who is preaching...it is all coming from the same book--THE BIBLE...God's word is God's word!

God never said life would be easy....

This week has been extremely difficult and stressful for many people. The entire school district has been affected by budget cuts in the state of Mississippi. There were many concerns as well as thousands of unanswered questions pouring in from faculty and staff.
A sweet Christian teacher at school shared some scripture verses as well as the first chapter of Joshua in lieu of our situation. I would like to share the same scriptures this teacher shared with us.

Joshua 1-God commands Joshua to lead the people across the Jordan into the promise land (after Moses died). God tells Joshua in verse 5-"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Throughout Chapter 1 of Joshua, God tells Joshua to be STRONG & COURAGEOUS several times(these words are repeated in v. 7, v. 9, & v. 18)!!

During uncertain times--We all need to be strong! We all need to depend on God to take care of us and rely only on God for his strength and power to guide us as well as get us through tough times.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

No matter what our circumstances---we need to TRUST in the Lord to take care of us because his word PROMISES us he will watch over us. God will never leave us nor forsake us!!

Good Intentions!

Well, I had wonderful intentions this morning. I left yesterday morning in a rush and I prayed on the way to work in my car. I actually did it this time!!! In times past, I would always promise myself I would pray in the car, but never would.

This morning was a lot like yesterday morning. I ran out of time and did not have time to read God's word or write a post. It is so easy to get out of a ROUTINE of doing things! I pray that God will help me tomorrow to read his word first thing in the morning before I start rushing around trying to get things done before leaving.

The truth is our "honey-to-do" list CAN WAIT! Yes, it is hard to let all of our chores sit when we could be busy checking everything off. Jesus wants us to spend time with him and we must make time for him! I pray that God will forgive me for not spending time in his word today & yesterday.

God is doing some AMAZING things right now. I can not wait to share all of it with you once everything is all said and done! I have attached a beautiful song by Chris Tomlin from YouTube....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OsyiGgSlqY