1. guilt - Ps 103:9-14
There are 2 definitions of guilt: 1- the fact of having committed a specific or implied offense or crime & 2- a feeling of having done something wrong or failed in an obligation.
We sometimes get immense pleasure in guilt; it's called the poor mes. However, let's talk about confessed, forgiven sin. Ps 103:9-14 is a great passage telling us to stop wallowing in the past; forgiven sin and move on. In vs 12 the psalmist tells us that God removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. Dr. McGee says this is important because God doesn't say north from south. If you go North eventually you will go South whereas if you go east you will never go west and visa versa. So why would we ever want to dwell on our past sin? God doesn't! Satan knows the best way to keep us from living spiritually effective is Guilt! Beth Moore in her Patriarch study says this "God never has an ugly thought toward us". So we to need to remember to forget our past sin.
2. Fear - 2 Timothy 1:7 - the fear God is referring to here is not a healthy reverent fear; it is the Greek word which could be translated as timidity whic denotes cowardness. A shameful fear caused by a weak, selfish character. The verse gives a positive attribute that comes from God a spirit of power, love & sound mind. As believers we are filled with the Holy Spirit & He gives us this spitirual resource for every trial & threat. This also talks of a sound mind which refers, as per Dr. McGee, to discipline. God doesn't want us to live a life of defeat; one that is driven by emotion, which is an unhealthy fear is just that, an emotion. Conquering fear is not to get rid of fear but to know that fear will not stop me from achieving any goals. This can be a fear of failure or success. If I don't do then I can't fail or if I don't do then I won't succeed which could but me in the spot light.
Ps. 27:1-3 speaks for itself.
3. Unwillingness to Sacrifice - Gal. 2:20 We live in a country of instant gratification. We want what we want without slot of sacrifice. I believe this is the third thing that holds us back. You've heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again & expecting a different result. Well this is an unwillingness to sacrifice. We want to be able to eat the same way but still loose weight. Let me in on a little secret if you are still eating the same as you were but haven't lost any weight in the last 3 weeks, you are taking in too many and/or the wrong kind of calories and not doing enough excercise.
You need to change something. If your children would continue to walk into the door hitting it every time and you ask them what they are doing and they said I was sure that our door had an automatic sensor that would open it just like at the grocery store. You would assume your child had lost his marbles! But that is exactly what we do with food. It's ok I'll just have a bite or two of that cake, I don't eat it everyday but yet we "treat" ourselves all the time. We keep looking for the quick & easy fix. Well, let's look at Esther. Here is a women who sacrificed her own chance at a normal happy marriage; to marry a king that had just banished his first queen because she stood up to him. This doesn't seem like the ideal situation. Chapter 4 is her chance, Mordicia comes to her to tell her to go to the king and petition for her people's lives, knowing how the king tended to be. Esther 4:13-14 - We need to be responsible, God is not going to produce a miracle over night where your metabolism changes so you can eat the way you want and loose weight. If you want to be an effective believer you need to understand that sacrifice is involved. I don't like the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" however we can't sit back and expect Him to spoon feed us miracles. I don't know why God gave you a weight challenge but I do know that when we let fear, guilt, and an unwillingness to sacrifice block our path to success then we take ourselves out of the running to be blessed by a God that loves us and wants to see us succeed spiritually and be an effective witness. I will finish with this thought from Beth Moore's Esther study, "God's Will will get done with or without me! But I will not be blessed if I am not doing God's Will!"
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Excuses, Excuses!!
I want to say that you will get the most out of this if you read through the book of Amos. It is 9 short chapters. You will understand more that way.
We sit here in our plush homes in Johnson County whining because we can't help but give into the temptations that surround us, when there are people starving to death everyday. I want to take a look at a warning that was given by Amos. He was a minor prophet that lived in Tekoa and was sent by God to Israel during the time between when Jeroboam II and the death of Uzziah. Amos 1:1 says specifically 2 years before the earthquake. Tekoa was a small village southeast of Bethlehem in Judah. Remember this is when the country is split. Amos was a Shepherd; the lowest of the low coming to speak to the rich and famous. It would be like one of the Hispanic transient workers going to those in our government and warning them.
Amos starts out with a warning to Israel's neighbors about the coming Assyrian government. Then he moves to Israel. Amos reminds them that these are God's words not his. In Chap. 3 he is telling them that without immediate change on their part God's judgement will fall on them. Chap. 4 explains that their worship was false and not genuine. They were going through the motions of the Mosaic Law however they were worshipping idols as well. God is a jealous God and expects from His children complete respect. It also is telling them that their wealth will not save them. As He did to Egypt He sent plagues and drought and such. They still didn't seek God. In Chap. 5 we see God pleading for them to return to Him, that even with the Assyrian government breathing down on them it is not too late. This shows God's great love for His children. By verse 21 He is telling them that their worship means nothing because they are just going through the motions. When you go to church God is the only one who can truly see your heart. What would He say about your worship is it genuine or are you going through the motions? Chap. 6 shows us how the wealthy were eating and living it up and not giving a second thought to what God through Amos was saying. We can sit back and say how could they be so blind but we do the same thing. "I don't know why....." Maybe it is because God is trying to tell you something but instead you just make excuses. Chap. 7 gives a vision of what is to come. All the awful thing that will happen since Israel refuses to turn from evil. Chap. 8 speaks of mourning and 9 has 2 parts the 2nd is a restoration of Israel; a promise of God's blessing that was given to Abraham and his descendants. We buzzed through that to get here to this promise. This is the time when Jesus will return as King no longer will Israel have to fight to protect her borders. God will forgive, come, rule and reign. Please read Amos 9:11-15
You may say; so what does that have to do with anything we have been talking about. This is what I will say to you: God does 3 things over and over in scripture. He promises a blessing for obedience; He gives a warning for disobedience and then He acts. We tend to have the same sin issues over and over just like the Israelites. Rarely; in fact I'm not sure I have ever heard any one say; "You know a funny thing happened yesterday I was envious of my neighbor's new car and I've never been envious before. God knows our hearts and our struggles. My challenges this week are no different than the ones I had last week. What God is asking of us is to be repentant and striving to live better daily. I do better about keeping my mouth in check when I am praying daily and in His Word daily seeking Him. I do better because I am surrendering to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me. IT IS NOTHING I DO ON MY OWN! He has promised that one day he will return, that we will get a new body; a perfect one. We will rule, reign, and praise Him forever. This life is fleeting and we need to work at serving Him daily.
You need to ask yourself; "Am I like Israel? Acting like a spoiled rich kid that thinks that everything should be handed to me on a silver platter? Well, I didn't eat... I should be rewarded with weight loss because I deserve it. After all its not my fault that I could only workout one day this week. I had to run kids around I should get some down time of my own to read a book or watch my favorite TV show (I do DVR it so I am not wasting time watching commercials). Its not my fault it was Father's Day and we needed to celebrate that with my husband's favorite meal or by going out to eat at a restaurant that didn't have healthy choices, after all he got to pick. We need to stop acting like spoiled rich kids. There was a song long time ago called Excuses, excuses.
REMEMBER: The difference between living a life of excellence and living a life of mediocrity is 1-2 hours of laziness.
We sit here in our plush homes in Johnson County whining because we can't help but give into the temptations that surround us, when there are people starving to death everyday. I want to take a look at a warning that was given by Amos. He was a minor prophet that lived in Tekoa and was sent by God to Israel during the time between when Jeroboam II and the death of Uzziah. Amos 1:1 says specifically 2 years before the earthquake. Tekoa was a small village southeast of Bethlehem in Judah. Remember this is when the country is split. Amos was a Shepherd; the lowest of the low coming to speak to the rich and famous. It would be like one of the Hispanic transient workers going to those in our government and warning them.
Amos starts out with a warning to Israel's neighbors about the coming Assyrian government. Then he moves to Israel. Amos reminds them that these are God's words not his. In Chap. 3 he is telling them that without immediate change on their part God's judgement will fall on them. Chap. 4 explains that their worship was false and not genuine. They were going through the motions of the Mosaic Law however they were worshipping idols as well. God is a jealous God and expects from His children complete respect. It also is telling them that their wealth will not save them. As He did to Egypt He sent plagues and drought and such. They still didn't seek God. In Chap. 5 we see God pleading for them to return to Him, that even with the Assyrian government breathing down on them it is not too late. This shows God's great love for His children. By verse 21 He is telling them that their worship means nothing because they are just going through the motions. When you go to church God is the only one who can truly see your heart. What would He say about your worship is it genuine or are you going through the motions? Chap. 6 shows us how the wealthy were eating and living it up and not giving a second thought to what God through Amos was saying. We can sit back and say how could they be so blind but we do the same thing. "I don't know why....." Maybe it is because God is trying to tell you something but instead you just make excuses. Chap. 7 gives a vision of what is to come. All the awful thing that will happen since Israel refuses to turn from evil. Chap. 8 speaks of mourning and 9 has 2 parts the 2nd is a restoration of Israel; a promise of God's blessing that was given to Abraham and his descendants. We buzzed through that to get here to this promise. This is the time when Jesus will return as King no longer will Israel have to fight to protect her borders. God will forgive, come, rule and reign. Please read Amos 9:11-15
You may say; so what does that have to do with anything we have been talking about. This is what I will say to you: God does 3 things over and over in scripture. He promises a blessing for obedience; He gives a warning for disobedience and then He acts. We tend to have the same sin issues over and over just like the Israelites. Rarely; in fact I'm not sure I have ever heard any one say; "You know a funny thing happened yesterday I was envious of my neighbor's new car and I've never been envious before. God knows our hearts and our struggles. My challenges this week are no different than the ones I had last week. What God is asking of us is to be repentant and striving to live better daily. I do better about keeping my mouth in check when I am praying daily and in His Word daily seeking Him. I do better because I am surrendering to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me. IT IS NOTHING I DO ON MY OWN! He has promised that one day he will return, that we will get a new body; a perfect one. We will rule, reign, and praise Him forever. This life is fleeting and we need to work at serving Him daily.
You need to ask yourself; "Am I like Israel? Acting like a spoiled rich kid that thinks that everything should be handed to me on a silver platter? Well, I didn't eat... I should be rewarded with weight loss because I deserve it. After all its not my fault that I could only workout one day this week. I had to run kids around I should get some down time of my own to read a book or watch my favorite TV show (I do DVR it so I am not wasting time watching commercials). Its not my fault it was Father's Day and we needed to celebrate that with my husband's favorite meal or by going out to eat at a restaurant that didn't have healthy choices, after all he got to pick. We need to stop acting like spoiled rich kids. There was a song long time ago called Excuses, excuses.
REMEMBER: The difference between living a life of excellence and living a life of mediocrity is 1-2 hours of laziness.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Food Pornography
At the height of my Coke-a-cola addiction I would find myself at Sonic between 2pm-4pm because I could get a large coke for 92 cents; (yes I do know the exact amount for the Sonic closest to my house.) I didn't usually get a Route 44 coke because that would be very indulgent. I hope the sarcasm is not lost on those reading this. I sometimes would stop almost without realizing it; I would crave it so much. One could say I lusted after it. Do you have a food or drink that you lust after? That if it is in your reach, as the Lays commercial used to say "you can't stop at one"? Well this is sin plain and simple.
Have you ever gotten mad because your husband looked too long at a woman that you would say was prettier and skinnier than you? What would happen if you husband would get mad at you for doing the same thing but with a food that you both know you should not eat.
DO NOT misunderstand me! I know the consequences are much more severe for a man who follows through with sexual lusts, but there are consequences to following our food lusts that do affect our marriages. I know our bodies change as we get older, but we are called to take care of our earthly bodies.
Proverbs 11:6 says "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught be their lust." The NKJV uses the word naughtiness for lust. Their is always consequences for sin. We can run or hind from it. So lets look at the word lust. It has 5 noun meaning and 2 verb meanings according to dictionary.com.
"1. intense sexual desire or appetite
2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness
3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for); a lust for power
4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life
5. obsolete a.) pleasure or delight b.) desire; inclination; wish
6. to have intense sexual desire
7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often followed by for or after)."
So "to lust" is not always bad or sexual. We are going to concentrate on definitions 3 and 1.
I believe God is calling us out on this. Let's go to I Thess. 4:3-6 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified."
We are told to not live as unbelievers, giving ourselves over to sexual immorality. Most of us would say "Well, that isn't hard. I don't even feel pretty, or sexy enough to have sex with my own husband, let alone some other man." If we look at it this way. We too many times in our marriages thrive in the chase and when that is over we get lazy and stop trying to look great for our husbands. We then wonder why their eyes wonder. If you can't stand in front of the mirror in a pretty pair of panties and bra and say "I'm sexy" then get to where you can. Go back and read Song of Solomon. God gives a beautiful account of love within the bounds of marriage. I want you to understand that I am not saying that if your husband cheats it is your fault because we are all in charge of our own decisions.
Lets talk about the other definition of lust. The one that is more applicable.
James 1:14 says "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." The ESV uses the word lured. Dr McGee states it so sell when he explains that no one else is to blame. We give in to sin because we are not perfect, however that which tempts us may be different for each one of us. It is within our DNA; our back round or our personal choices past or present. This Greek word lured or lust is a fishing or hunting term which means to draw out with bait. Satan knows how to bait each one of us.
Do not let you weakness be your defeat, but instead defeat you weakness and conquer sin.
In conclusion, lets not be like the Israelites who continually ignored God. Ps 81:12 says "So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."
We need to stop giving in to sin and walk boldly to the throne of grace and kneel and worship the King.
Go and read Psalm 15 and substitute "Do I" for "who may". Can you do that and know that is truly what is in your heart.
Have you ever gotten mad because your husband looked too long at a woman that you would say was prettier and skinnier than you? What would happen if you husband would get mad at you for doing the same thing but with a food that you both know you should not eat.
DO NOT misunderstand me! I know the consequences are much more severe for a man who follows through with sexual lusts, but there are consequences to following our food lusts that do affect our marriages. I know our bodies change as we get older, but we are called to take care of our earthly bodies.
Proverbs 11:6 says "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught be their lust." The NKJV uses the word naughtiness for lust. Their is always consequences for sin. We can run or hind from it. So lets look at the word lust. It has 5 noun meaning and 2 verb meanings according to dictionary.com.
"1. intense sexual desire or appetite
2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness
3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for); a lust for power
4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life
5. obsolete a.) pleasure or delight b.) desire; inclination; wish
6. to have intense sexual desire
7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often followed by for or after)."
So "to lust" is not always bad or sexual. We are going to concentrate on definitions 3 and 1.
I believe God is calling us out on this. Let's go to I Thess. 4:3-6 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified."
We are told to not live as unbelievers, giving ourselves over to sexual immorality. Most of us would say "Well, that isn't hard. I don't even feel pretty, or sexy enough to have sex with my own husband, let alone some other man." If we look at it this way. We too many times in our marriages thrive in the chase and when that is over we get lazy and stop trying to look great for our husbands. We then wonder why their eyes wonder. If you can't stand in front of the mirror in a pretty pair of panties and bra and say "I'm sexy" then get to where you can. Go back and read Song of Solomon. God gives a beautiful account of love within the bounds of marriage. I want you to understand that I am not saying that if your husband cheats it is your fault because we are all in charge of our own decisions.
Lets talk about the other definition of lust. The one that is more applicable.
James 1:14 says "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." The ESV uses the word lured. Dr McGee states it so sell when he explains that no one else is to blame. We give in to sin because we are not perfect, however that which tempts us may be different for each one of us. It is within our DNA; our back round or our personal choices past or present. This Greek word lured or lust is a fishing or hunting term which means to draw out with bait. Satan knows how to bait each one of us.
Do not let you weakness be your defeat, but instead defeat you weakness and conquer sin.
In conclusion, lets not be like the Israelites who continually ignored God. Ps 81:12 says "So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."
We need to stop giving in to sin and walk boldly to the throne of grace and kneel and worship the King.
Go and read Psalm 15 and substitute "Do I" for "who may". Can you do that and know that is truly what is in your heart.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Building and Maintaining the Temple
Exodus 25: 1-9 "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."
Pastor Chuck Swindoll was preaching on this passage this morning (the day I wrote this) as I was coming to work. He was talking about how we are to be willing givers. We are to tithe but to do it willingly. As I thought about this passage my mind went a different direction. How does this apply to my battle with weight and does it relate to I Corinthians 6: 19-20 which states "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefor glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
I want to be careful not to read into scripture but I do think this can apply. So here is how.
As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, as Paul tells us in I Corinthians each one of our bodies are a temple because of this indwelling. This is a fundamental belief that if you don't grasp then the rest of what I am about to say means nothing.
First we are told to give willingly. I think that without too much stretch we can say we are to willingly care for this personal temple that God now indwells. We have talked about the ineffectiveness of believers who can't control there eating habits in past studies well without a willing heart not eating certain foods become a chore and it is not a pleasing offering to our Savior.
The second thing we can take from this is that God then spent 6 chapters explaining a detailed plan on how to build the temple. This tells me that I too need a detailed plan. This plan includes foods, both meal planning and snack planning. It includes a plan for water consumption and finally it includes an exercise plan for strength training and cardio.
I know that as Ecclesiastes says in 3:2a that this is "a time to be born and a time to die", however, I also know that when I sin there is consequences for that sin. The last thing I want is for my consequence for poor living is to be taken from this earthly world before my perfect time because anything less than perfect timing would not glorify God.
So here is the 4 step application:
1. Set a workout goal. For example, I will walk briskly for 30 minutes 4 days a week.
2. Meal and snack plan for the week.
3. Know the amount of water you need to drink daily (half your body weight in ounces of water) and then break that down into drinkable amounts threw out the day.
4. Start a food, drink and exercise log.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll was preaching on this passage this morning (the day I wrote this) as I was coming to work. He was talking about how we are to be willing givers. We are to tithe but to do it willingly. As I thought about this passage my mind went a different direction. How does this apply to my battle with weight and does it relate to I Corinthians 6: 19-20 which states "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefor glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
I want to be careful not to read into scripture but I do think this can apply. So here is how.
As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, as Paul tells us in I Corinthians each one of our bodies are a temple because of this indwelling. This is a fundamental belief that if you don't grasp then the rest of what I am about to say means nothing.
First we are told to give willingly. I think that without too much stretch we can say we are to willingly care for this personal temple that God now indwells. We have talked about the ineffectiveness of believers who can't control there eating habits in past studies well without a willing heart not eating certain foods become a chore and it is not a pleasing offering to our Savior.
The second thing we can take from this is that God then spent 6 chapters explaining a detailed plan on how to build the temple. This tells me that I too need a detailed plan. This plan includes foods, both meal planning and snack planning. It includes a plan for water consumption and finally it includes an exercise plan for strength training and cardio.
I know that as Ecclesiastes says in 3:2a that this is "a time to be born and a time to die", however, I also know that when I sin there is consequences for that sin. The last thing I want is for my consequence for poor living is to be taken from this earthly world before my perfect time because anything less than perfect timing would not glorify God.
So here is the 4 step application:
1. Set a workout goal. For example, I will walk briskly for 30 minutes 4 days a week.
2. Meal and snack plan for the week.
3. Know the amount of water you need to drink daily (half your body weight in ounces of water) and then break that down into drinkable amounts threw out the day.
4. Start a food, drink and exercise log.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Water - Essential for Life
When I was nursing my first child she was what many would call a lazy sucker, because she was my first child I didn't realize what was happening. I did realize that if I drank a lot of water every 4 hours I had enough milk to feed her. Since then my body craves water and is very sensitive to dehydration. I say this to show that water is essential to how our bodies work and we need to been so in tune with it that we can tell when we are out of balance.
Our bodies are 70% water. As per The Water Cure website muscles are 75%, blood 82%, lungs 90%, brain 76%, and bones are 25% water. (Dr F. Batmanghelidj)
Another great resource, www.mercola.com, this is a very simple break down of how water is used in the human body:
- essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and elimination
- aids circulation
- helps control body temperature
- lubricates and cushions joints
- keeps skin healthy
- helps remove toxins from the body.
Symptoms of mild dehydration are: fatigue, dry skin, headaches, and constipation.
Symptoms of severe dehydration are: can effect blood pressure, circulation, digestion and kidney function.
In her book Joyce Meyer tells us that in an average day Americans drink more than 400 calories a day; this can add 40 pounds per year. My point is that getting our "water" in sugary (artificial or real) drinks like juice, sweet tea, and soda does NOT count! She also reminds us that sometimes when we think we are hungry we are actually thirsty. So no wonder Jesus speaks of Himself as living water. Just as water is essential for physical functions; Jesus Christ is essential for spiritual function.
John 4:1-26
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" ( For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." 13Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14
16Jesus said to her,"Go, call your husband, and come here." 17The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 "I who speak to you am he." There are several important points we need to see in these scriptures:
1) (vs.4) John most likely is saying that Jesus had a definite plan that was God-given. He was to have a conversation with this particular Samaritan woman who was shameful even with in the Samaritan community.
2) (vs.7) Jesus broke protocol - not only did he speak to a woman but to a Samaritan woman. This woman would be the equivalent of a mouthy, trashy woman today who was rude and dirty in look and spirit.
3) (vs.15) Jesus pricks her spiritual thirst but she doesn't quite get it at first. She just sees a possible way to avoid drawing water everyday.
4) (vs.16) She didn't see her need until Christ pointed it out. (How often do we need to let God show us our imperfections and our need for Him.)
5) (vs.19-21) When her sin was pointed out she tried to divert attention by explaining where her forefathers worshipped. (Boy, does that sound familiar. "But God I do go to church to but I didn't do...") Sin is sin and it is shameful for me when God points is out even when I'm the only one who knows.
6) (vs.23) This verse refers to the fact that Jesus knew soon he would die and be resurrected and no longer would it be necessary to sacrifice in the temple because the spirit of God would live in the lives of those who believe. We are told we can worship anywhere as long as it is "in spirit and in truth".
7) (vs.25&26) She states that she is looking for the Messiah and stepping out of the norm Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah. With the Jewish leaders, He often side-stepped this answer. By using the phrase "I AM", He is telling her He is Yahweh the God of the Old Testament.
So lets apply this:
- We need to seek God to fill our spiritual thirst.
- We need God to take a magnifying glass to the dark recesses of our hearts.
- We need to water those around us spiritually. I sponge can only take in so much liquid before it needs to be squeezed to release the liquid to sop up more.
- We need to challenge the unbelieving around us that what if the Bible is true, what if the worldly things they are craving is not the real thing they are craving. (Like when we think we are hungry instead we are thirsty.)
- Physically we need to drink more water, filtered or spring is best. A good rule of thumb is to take your body weight and divide it in half and that number is the amount of ounces you need to drink daily. For example, if you weight 140 divide it by 2 = 70. So 70 oz. a day is what you need to drink. You shouldn't drink this all at the same time. Space it out throughout the day.
Make the change today.
Our bodies are 70% water. As per The Water Cure website muscles are 75%, blood 82%, lungs 90%, brain 76%, and bones are 25% water. (Dr F. Batmanghelidj)
Another great resource, www.mercola.com, this is a very simple break down of how water is used in the human body:
- essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and elimination
- aids circulation
- helps control body temperature
- lubricates and cushions joints
- keeps skin healthy
- helps remove toxins from the body.
Symptoms of mild dehydration are: fatigue, dry skin, headaches, and constipation.
Symptoms of severe dehydration are: can effect blood pressure, circulation, digestion and kidney function.
In her book Joyce Meyer tells us that in an average day Americans drink more than 400 calories a day; this can add 40 pounds per year. My point is that getting our "water" in sugary (artificial or real) drinks like juice, sweet tea, and soda does NOT count! She also reminds us that sometimes when we think we are hungry we are actually thirsty. So no wonder Jesus speaks of Himself as living water. Just as water is essential for physical functions; Jesus Christ is essential for spiritual function.
John 4:1-26
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her,
16Jesus said to her,
1) (vs.4) John most likely is saying that Jesus had a definite plan that was God-given. He was to have a conversation with this particular Samaritan woman who was shameful even with in the Samaritan community.
2) (vs.7) Jesus broke protocol - not only did he speak to a woman but to a Samaritan woman. This woman would be the equivalent of a mouthy, trashy woman today who was rude and dirty in look and spirit.
3) (vs.15) Jesus pricks her spiritual thirst but she doesn't quite get it at first. She just sees a possible way to avoid drawing water everyday.
4) (vs.16) She didn't see her need until Christ pointed it out. (How often do we need to let God show us our imperfections and our need for Him.)
5) (vs.19-21) When her sin was pointed out she tried to divert attention by explaining where her forefathers worshipped. (Boy, does that sound familiar. "But God I do go to church to but I didn't do...") Sin is sin and it is shameful for me when God points is out even when I'm the only one who knows.
6) (vs.23) This verse refers to the fact that Jesus knew soon he would die and be resurrected and no longer would it be necessary to sacrifice in the temple because the spirit of God would live in the lives of those who believe. We are told we can worship anywhere as long as it is "in spirit and in truth".
7) (vs.25&26) She states that she is looking for the Messiah and stepping out of the norm Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah. With the Jewish leaders, He often side-stepped this answer. By using the phrase "I AM", He is telling her He is Yahweh the God of the Old Testament.
So lets apply this:
- We need to seek God to fill our spiritual thirst.
- We need God to take a magnifying glass to the dark recesses of our hearts.
- We need to water those around us spiritually. I sponge can only take in so much liquid before it needs to be squeezed to release the liquid to sop up more.
- We need to challenge the unbelieving around us that what if the Bible is true, what if the worldly things they are craving is not the real thing they are craving. (Like when we think we are hungry instead we are thirsty.)
- Physically we need to drink more water, filtered or spring is best. A good rule of thumb is to take your body weight and divide it in half and that number is the amount of ounces you need to drink daily. For example, if you weight 140 divide it by 2 = 70. So 70 oz. a day is what you need to drink. You shouldn't drink this all at the same time. Space it out throughout the day.
Make the change today.
Monday, April 25, 2011
This Isn't Suffering!
It has been brought to my attention this week about how we are truly blessed. I spend so much time complaining about what I can't eat when there are millions around the world who are starving to death. Shame on me for not caring more. The only difference between them and me is that God chose for me to be here, to have this family, these parents. Some may say that we were lucky to be born here but luck has nothing to do with it. It was by the grace of God. I need to stop complaining about the fact that it is unfair that so and so can eat anything they want and not gain weight or when so and so walks just 30 minutes a day she loses weight easily, I could go on and on.
James 1:2-8 (HCS) "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, but endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways."
We aren't to whine and complain. We are to be thankful that God gave us this trial and to overcome it. We may have put ourselves in a worse way with uncontrolled eating but we would have had to watch our eating habits our whole lives because our bodies don't work the same as someone who is thin and can eat whatever they want. I really hesitate to call this a "trial" because of what so many have faced. Verse 3 goes on to tell us "that the trying of your faith worketh patience". Dr McGee says God doesn't bring challenges in our lives because He loves to watch us struggle. He does it to grow our faith, to make us stronger to give us patience. As a parent we give chores to our kids because we like to see them complain, cry and throw fits, right? No! It is to teach them skills and responsibilities that they will need later on in life to live as mature adults. This is the same concept. God wants us to mature as believers to live in such a way that we are a testimony to the unbelievers in our lives. So that they can see Jesus through our submission to God.
I Peter 1:6&7 "You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Our trials will last for but a season. We get so caught up in the world that we forget it is but a season compared to eternity. So, we may deal with certain trials our whole lives, it may be our weight, an illness, a disability or a personality conflict with a family member. However, even if it lasts our entire lifetime it will still just be a season of our life. Let us find joy when we walk away from foods we aren't to eat, find joy when God gives us victory on the scale. As we celebrate Easter and reflect on the suffering our Lord and Saviour endured for our salvation; take time to thank Him for this selfless act this week. Pray for an opportunity to share with an unbelieving friend or relative what God is teaching you through the trials you are facing now in this season of your life.
James 1:2-8 (HCS) "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, but endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways."
We aren't to whine and complain. We are to be thankful that God gave us this trial and to overcome it. We may have put ourselves in a worse way with uncontrolled eating but we would have had to watch our eating habits our whole lives because our bodies don't work the same as someone who is thin and can eat whatever they want. I really hesitate to call this a "trial" because of what so many have faced. Verse 3 goes on to tell us "that the trying of your faith worketh patience". Dr McGee says God doesn't bring challenges in our lives because He loves to watch us struggle. He does it to grow our faith, to make us stronger to give us patience. As a parent we give chores to our kids because we like to see them complain, cry and throw fits, right? No! It is to teach them skills and responsibilities that they will need later on in life to live as mature adults. This is the same concept. God wants us to mature as believers to live in such a way that we are a testimony to the unbelievers in our lives. So that they can see Jesus through our submission to God.
I Peter 1:6&7 "You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Our trials will last for but a season. We get so caught up in the world that we forget it is but a season compared to eternity. So, we may deal with certain trials our whole lives, it may be our weight, an illness, a disability or a personality conflict with a family member. However, even if it lasts our entire lifetime it will still just be a season of our life. Let us find joy when we walk away from foods we aren't to eat, find joy when God gives us victory on the scale. As we celebrate Easter and reflect on the suffering our Lord and Saviour endured for our salvation; take time to thank Him for this selfless act this week. Pray for an opportunity to share with an unbelieving friend or relative what God is teaching you through the trials you are facing now in this season of your life.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Claiming the Power of God
When I was a little girl my grandparents had chickens; my parents too would get 50-100 chicks that we would raise to use as food. When these chickens were full grown we would butcher them. We did this by lopping off their heads but when this was done you had to hold them down or for a very short time the chicken would run around without its head because it took a little bit for the muscles to realize that they were no longer getting information from the brain. This looked so funny but this is where the phrase "running around like a chicken with its head cutoff" came from.
In the busyness of life we begin to look a little like a chicken with its head cut off. We are running and running while worrying if our kids have this or that. I think that if we could stand above ourselves we would laugh at how funny we look. We worry, half the time, about things that are totally irrelevant in the big scheme of life. We worry about the big stuff to but as we worry we forget to call on the Power of God.
Lets look at Psalms 62 NIV
"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed of the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work."
David is under attack once again, some feel it is from Absalom, and he is resolved to wait for God's salvation. Vs. 2 & 6 show us a similar phrase the first time he says he might move a little but not greatly but in 6 he changes his mind and states that he will not be moved at all. This is the resolve we need to have in the food we take into our bodies. We need to stand and say to the cake, chips or whatever you have an addiction to, "Not only will I avoid eating a whole piece or several chips; I will not even take ONE bite!" This is the resolve we need to make. At the end of this psalm he is praising God and reminding himself that the power belongs to God. We can only do this if we claim the power of our Lord and Saviour. We need to wait on God's salvation form our addictions knowing our power comes from God. If He can save us from eternal separation from Him; saving us from our daily struggles is easy for Him if we just let Him take over our problems. We have talked about resting in Him, while we rest we need to claim His power.
Psalms 66: 1-4
"Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name.' Selah"
This is a praise to God's mighty works but lets focus in on vs 3. We are told that it is by God's power our enemies shall submit to Him. There are foods that are our enemies. Our selfish desires are our enemies. We need to claim the power of God and bring these under God's submission.
Psalms 106 speaks of Israel's sin and God's forgiveness of this sin over and over again. Specifically lets look at vs 8 "Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known."
Look at the why behind saving them. It is so that He would be glorified and that His power would be known to all. Praise God for that. We know God is powerful to overcome our sinful desires because we see His victories time and time again in the lives of the Israelites and then in the New believers in the church.
Jeremiah 27:5 " ' " I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me." ' " Please read this entire chapter, it is Jeremiah's warning to Jehoiakim king of Judah and to the surrounding kings that God had given Nebuchadnezzar the land and to avoid death and be able to stay in their homes, they should submit willingly. This should be a reminder to us to repent of our sin and turn our hearts to God. Because it was due to rebellion that God was putting them under foreign rule again. It also shows the need to submit willingly as Judah was to submit to Babylon. God is trying to save them from a more severe punishment. We talked how if we would have submitted to God from the get go and wouldn't have relied on food to comfort us we would not be in a position now where we had to deny ourselves of so many foods.
Micah 3:8
"But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin." Micah is telling the rulers of Israel that he unlike the false prophets in chap. 2 has the power of God to back up what he was saying. We need to listen to what the Lord is saying to us and follow him because His words have authority and truth.
We need to ask God to be Micah's. Children of God who exude the power of the one true God, speaking in confidence and not allowing sin to be an all consuming power over us.
Remember Zech. 4:6b " 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit', Says the Lord of hosts."
This is key it is not my power but it is the power we receive through the Holy Spirit. Claim God's power over the sin in your life this week that is threatening to stifle your spiritual growth that you may live victorious and be a shining testimony to God's grace and goodness.
In the busyness of life we begin to look a little like a chicken with its head cut off. We are running and running while worrying if our kids have this or that. I think that if we could stand above ourselves we would laugh at how funny we look. We worry, half the time, about things that are totally irrelevant in the big scheme of life. We worry about the big stuff to but as we worry we forget to call on the Power of God.
Lets look at Psalms 62 NIV
"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed of the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work."
David is under attack once again, some feel it is from Absalom, and he is resolved to wait for God's salvation. Vs. 2 & 6 show us a similar phrase the first time he says he might move a little but not greatly but in 6 he changes his mind and states that he will not be moved at all. This is the resolve we need to have in the food we take into our bodies. We need to stand and say to the cake, chips or whatever you have an addiction to, "Not only will I avoid eating a whole piece or several chips; I will not even take ONE bite!" This is the resolve we need to make. At the end of this psalm he is praising God and reminding himself that the power belongs to God. We can only do this if we claim the power of our Lord and Saviour. We need to wait on God's salvation form our addictions knowing our power comes from God. If He can save us from eternal separation from Him; saving us from our daily struggles is easy for Him if we just let Him take over our problems. We have talked about resting in Him, while we rest we need to claim His power.
Psalms 66: 1-4
"Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name.' Selah"
This is a praise to God's mighty works but lets focus in on vs 3. We are told that it is by God's power our enemies shall submit to Him. There are foods that are our enemies. Our selfish desires are our enemies. We need to claim the power of God and bring these under God's submission.
Psalms 106 speaks of Israel's sin and God's forgiveness of this sin over and over again. Specifically lets look at vs 8 "Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known."
Look at the why behind saving them. It is so that He would be glorified and that His power would be known to all. Praise God for that. We know God is powerful to overcome our sinful desires because we see His victories time and time again in the lives of the Israelites and then in the New believers in the church.
Jeremiah 27:5 " ' " I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me." ' " Please read this entire chapter, it is Jeremiah's warning to Jehoiakim king of Judah and to the surrounding kings that God had given Nebuchadnezzar the land and to avoid death and be able to stay in their homes, they should submit willingly. This should be a reminder to us to repent of our sin and turn our hearts to God. Because it was due to rebellion that God was putting them under foreign rule again. It also shows the need to submit willingly as Judah was to submit to Babylon. God is trying to save them from a more severe punishment. We talked how if we would have submitted to God from the get go and wouldn't have relied on food to comfort us we would not be in a position now where we had to deny ourselves of so many foods.
Micah 3:8
"But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin." Micah is telling the rulers of Israel that he unlike the false prophets in chap. 2 has the power of God to back up what he was saying. We need to listen to what the Lord is saying to us and follow him because His words have authority and truth.
We need to ask God to be Micah's. Children of God who exude the power of the one true God, speaking in confidence and not allowing sin to be an all consuming power over us.
Remember Zech. 4:6b " 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit', Says the Lord of hosts."
This is key it is not my power but it is the power we receive through the Holy Spirit. Claim God's power over the sin in your life this week that is threatening to stifle your spiritual growth that you may live victorious and be a shining testimony to God's grace and goodness.
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