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Life Is Too Short

  • June 6, 2010 at 8:09 pm

Haven’t we all had disagreements with friends, family conflicts, or issues that arise among friends or others from time to time?  Most all of us have been a party to these conflicts but it is the handling of the conflict that makes all the difference. As we accept the grace and forgiveness from God, we should also be willing to forgive others. Often times, this is not easy to do but we are commanded to forgive others just as Christ has forgiven us in the Bible. It is our responsibility to pray about the situation and ask God to help us understand and resolve the conflict.

Too often, each person tends to dwell on the issue rather than trying to understand the situation or simply to forgive and forget. Often the conflict is allowed to drive a wedge between the relationships that seems insurmountable with either party willing to take the initiative to resolve the situation. We tend to forget about forgiving as Christ has forgiven us. We fail to focus on the important things in life, being obedient to Christ as well as the relationship with family and friends, but rather allow the feelings of hurt and anger to overtake our lives.  Many times there is not a sincere effort to understand or a willingness to seek to settle the conflict. We say we are willing to forgive with our mouth, but the willingness to forgive is not present in our hearts. We do not rely on God to help us and we continue to hold on to the underlying causes that have a hold on us.

The first step in resolving the conflict should be to pray. Let God help you as you seek to understand the situation and develop a willingness to forgive.  However, when the anger and hurt is harbored so deep inside and forgiveness is not present in your heart, it is difficult to ask even ask God to intervene. It is like asking God to resolve a situation that you really  do not want to resolve. Naturally, in order to totally resolve the conflict, both parties must make an effort. However, even if the other person is not willing to forgive, it is important that you truly forgive the other person so that you can replace the turmoil in your life with an inner peace.

Often times those involved are too prideful to simply say, “I’m sorry,” because they do not feel responsible and they feel that another family member should apologize first. Maybe one of the family members has done something wrong, but haven’t we all done something wrong at one time or another.  We want to blame the other person, while finding no fault in our own actions. We must be willing to try to see the other side of the story and understand their reasoning as we seek to forgive. Pray that God will help you to understand and that you will develop willingness in your heart to make amends.

It is best to resolve the situation immediately rather than allowing the wounds to fester out of control. Don’t allow yourself to become too prideful to be able to restore an important relationship. Don’t place other things, such as money or pride, before the relationship. Don’t continually try to place the blame on others, thus not allowing the relationship to mend. Even if it is not family or close friends, we are commanded to forgive and forget. Experience a peace that only Christ can give as you call out to him and seek to be obedient to his command to forgive others as Christ has forgiven you.

Life is simply too short to dwell on such distractions. We are not promised a tomorrow. Forgive now before it is too late.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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The Lord’s Prayer

  • May 27, 2010 at 5:56 pm

THE LORD’S PRAYER

How many times have you recited the Lord’s Prayer without understanding the complete meaning or putting much thought into it? Recently I received the following email which I thought was very cleverly done. It definitely makes you stop and think. It  is in two parts, the prayer in blue type, the prayer’s response in black type, and GOD’s response in red type.

“Our Father Who Art In Heaven.”

Yes?

Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.

But — you called ME!

Called you? No, I didn’t call you. I’m praying.

“Our Father who art in Heaven.”

There — you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME. You said,  “Our Father who art in Heaven” Well, here I am… What’s on your mind?

But I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord’s Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right. Go on.

Okay, “Hallowed be thy name .”

Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?

By what?

By “Hallowed be thy name”?

It means, it means . . good grief. I don’t know what it means. How in the world should I know?  It’s just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense.. I never thought about what ‘hallowed’ meant before. Thanks.

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control,of everything down here like you have up there.We’re kinda in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.

That isn’t what I asked you. What about your bad temper?  You’ve really got a problem there, you know. And then there’s the way you spend your money — all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read ?

Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I’m just as good as some of the rest of those People at church!

Excuse ME.. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones

who are praying for it. Like you — for example …

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.

So could I.

I haven’t thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free..

Good. Now we’re getting somewhere. We’ll work together — You and ME. I’m proud of You..

Look, Lord, if you don’t mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.

“Give us this day, our daily bread.”

You need to cut out the bread.. You’re overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME — and here I am. It’s too late to stop now. Keep praying. ( pause . . ) Well, go on.

I’m scared to.

Scared? Of what?

I know what you’ll say.

Try ME.

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”

What about Ann?

See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she’s told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I’ve sworn to get even with her!

But — your prayer — What about your prayer?

I didn’t — mean it..

Well, at least you’re honest. But, it’s quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn’t it?

Yes, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She’ll wish she had never been born.

No, you won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse. Revenge isn’t sweet. You know how unhappy you are — Well, I can change that.

You can? How?

Forgive Ann. Then, I’ll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann’s problem — not yoursYou will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.

Oh, you know, you’re right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . . (sigh). All right, all right . . I forgive her.

There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?

Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don’t think I’ll go to bed uptight tonight.

I haven’t been getting much rest, you know.

Yeah, I know. But, you’re not through with your prayer, are you? Go on.

Oh, all right.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Good! Good! I’ll do that. Just don’t put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.

Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Do you know what would bring me glory — What would really make me happy?

No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you now. I’ve really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you.. I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me . . . How do I make you happy?

YOU JUST DID!!!

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Temptation…

  • May 23, 2010 at 2:31 pm

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Have you ever felt that you are the only person being faced with temptation? You look at others and think that God doesn’t allow them to be tempted. The above scripture helps us to realize that every temptation we face is also faced by others. Too often, we think that we are the only person facing such temptation. We often feel guilty when just faced with the temptation even without succumbing to it.

We must remember that being tempted in itself is not a sin. It is how we choose to deal with the temptation that makes all the difference.  We must immediately turn from that temptation rather than entertaining the thought. Immediately redirect your focus away from the temptation. Entertaining the thoughts of the sin will eventually result in giving in to the sin which can lead you down a path of destruction.

When faced with temptation, it is important to be prepared in advance.  If you have a temptation with which you know that you struggle, develop a plan to deal with the temptation whenever it occurs. A part of the plan should include prayer and relying on God. Go over this plan in your mind before the temptation ever presents itself. Therefore, when the temptation does occur, you are prepared to act. As a believer, we know that God is with us each and every step of the way but we must recognize his presence and  rely on him so we can overcome the temptation.

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Romans 8:28 . . .

  • December 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm

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.

God is working through each of us to fulfill His ultimate purpose. God does not promise us a life without trials and struggles here on earth.  However, heaven awaits each of us that have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. Ultimately, God’s goodness will overcome all evil but for now we live in a fallen world and not everything that happens in life will be good but if we rely on God each day, He will guide us through the storm.

Unfortunately not everyone has been willing to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. They have not received the Holy Spirit within them. As we learn to trust in God rather than in worldly treasures, we know that our reward comes to us in heaven.  Even though we do not know when our final breath will be breathed, we can live each day trusting God to be with us in everything that we do.

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Matthew 6:25-33

  • November 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-33

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “Andy why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Worry according to dictionary.com is to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts, cares, or anxieties. So often we find our lives filled with disturbing thoughts and we are overcome with anxiety and worry. We worry about what to wear, what to eat, what is going to happen, what if … and many more. We can let worry overtake us and take control of our lives if we allow it.It can overwhelm you and destroy the peace, joy, and contentment that you should have present in your life.

God commands us not to worry. He tells us that we should not worry about anything. Worry cannot change any given  situation. Therefore, what is the point in worrying? Instead, rely on God and ask that His will be done. Then put your worries and cares in God’s hands and trust Him. We know that God has a purpose and a plan for each of us. Sometimes it is difficult to turn our lives over to Him. But when we hold on to our worries, it only dominates our lives. Let God give you peace and contentment about the situation.

Worry doesn’t change anything.

Prayer can change your life.

Let prayer change your life today!!!

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Psalm 46:10

  • November 14, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted amont the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

It is important for us to just stop each and every day and take time think about the wonderful God who created us into being. Take time to be still and know that God is there. He is waiting and listening for you to call on him in prayer.

As I ponder about God and how marvelous and powerful He is, I often wonder, “Why, why would the marvelous, powerful God be there for me? Why would He listen as I call out to him? Why would He comfort me in my sorrow? Why would He reach out to me and carry me? Why?” Then I  tell myself, “Why would He not do all these things for me? He created me with a plan for my life. He formed me in my mother’s womb. He chose me to be His child. I was created by Him to give Him praise and glory.  So, why would He not be there waiting for me?

He is there for each of us. We were created to give Him glory. He created us with a plan and a purpose. We do not always follow  His plan but He still loves us. His love is unconditional. So, do not hesitate to call on Him today.

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Nehemiah 8:10

  • November 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

When Nehemiah said to enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, it is telling us that there are no food that are off limits. All foods are permissible. It is our society that has imposed the rules on permissible foods and established diets that limit the choices of food that we eat. It is not the food that we eat, but rather it is when we eat and how much we eat.

How many of you eat just because it is mealtime and you are not really hungry? You eat just because it is time to eat. Most of us eat larger portions than is necessary to satisfy our hunger. Therefore, when you continue eating when you are not even hungry and you eat larger portions than necessary to satisfy your hunger, you tend to gain weight. Once you become accustomed to eating in this way, it is very difficult to return to the godly principles of eating.

Too often we focus on the food rather than the occasion. Food is to satisfy your hunger. So, when eating, eat enough to satisfy your hunger, but focus on others around you or the occasion rather than the food. Food has taken control of too many lives. We finish eating and then begin talking about what we are going to eat next. Our social circles revolve around serving food or eating out as we socialize. There is nothing wrong with this but should learn to focus on the reason for the get-together rather than the food. Just because we are eating to socialize, does not mean that we must overeat.

We must remember that all foods are permissible but not all foods are beneficial. Therefore, it helps to make some wiser food choices as we mature in our godly eating.

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Hebrews 13:8

  • November 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus does not change. Can you think of anyone else that does not change and is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Our life all around us my change and be in turmoil, but Jesus  is always the same and He is always there to listen to our prayers and concerns. He is waiting for you to call on Him now.

This verse just give me such peace knowing that Jesus doesn’t change even when my circumstances seem in turmoil. When I am having a bad day, Jesus is still there for me. When I don’t know where to turn, He is still there for me. Jesus never condemns me or turns me away. He doesn’t judge me or make me feel as if I am a failure. He just patiently waits for me to call on Him in prayer. Have you called on Him today?

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I Will Not Be Mastered . . .

  • November 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm

1 Corinthians 6:12

“Everything is permissible for me” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” — but I will not be mastered by anything.

As I think about this scripture, I think back to a few years ago when Dave and I lost an incredible amount of weight. At that time God helped me to understand that even though all foods were permissible for me to eat,  not all foods were beneficial. Some foods were better for us than others which we already knew. However, God also helped me to understand that we should not let anything other than Him control our lives. We had actually been mastered by food. Food controlled our lives. It is amazing how we can let food control our life without even realizing it. We eat when we are not even hungry just to be eating. We see food and we want to eat. We crave certain foods such as sweets. We eat much larger portions than our bodies need to survive. Food is only one of many areas that we can allow to control our lives. Do you have any area in your life that controls you?

Why can  we not let God be our master and depend on Hin to help us overcome any temptations that we need to overcome? For me it is still the temptation of eating when my body is not physically hungry. I want to depend on the marvelous body that God created to signal me when I am  hungry and need to eat. Why don’t I rely on God to help me recognize true hunger? We live in a fallen world and we will be tempted repeatedly. Don’t dwell on the past failures, but rather begin today to take control of those areas of your life that have become your master. Seek God and He will answer.

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Temptation . . .

  • October 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will always provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

This is a very inspiring scripture to share with those who are seeking to change their lifestyle to the grace-based approach to lasting weight loss. This scripture tells us that the temptation that we face are not unique to us but rather they are common to man. Many times we feel that we are burdened by temptations that are unique to us and we are left alone in the battle. We feel isolated and defeated before we begin. We must realize that God is always there for us to help us overcome any temptation that we face. However, it is up to us to call on Him for that help. However, there are times when we simply do not want His help. We become defiant because we want to eat that blackberry cobbler or hot fudge sundae even though we are not even hungry. Therefore, we ignore the signals that are sent our way through our conscience.

What temptation are you currently facing? Do you want to overcome that temptation or are you defiantly holding on to it? Remember — God is there at all times just waiting for you to call on Him. We must rely on God to get through the struggles and temptations in our daily life. He is willing and able to help when we seek Him with all our heart. You must do your part and call on Him. Cry out to Him in prayer. Seek Him with all your heart. He will hear your prayer and He will answer. Have you called on Him today?



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