Who or What is Distracting You?

We live in a world full of distractions. Planning parties, vacations, endless TO DO lists at home and at work... I am guilty of making these dreaded statements... "I've been so busy,"... "There isn't enough time in a day,"... "I'm sorry I can't make it, I have a ton of things to do"... The truth is God gave us enough time in all our days to take care of what we need. God gave us what we need to get through the day without having to worry about tomorrow. Have we forgotten God's purpose for our life? Are we rushing around day after day allowing ourselves to become distracted from enjoying fellowship with God? I believe we are missing out on the intimacy God desires by the busyness of life.

Luke 10:38-42... As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

When Jesus visited Martha and Mary, both were serving him. However, Mary understood and sat at the Lord's feet giving him all her attention as he taught. Martha was too busy running around worrying about dinner and other details. She also didn't feel her sister Mary was doing enough while Martha did all the work. Martha didn't realize that she was distracted and was neglecting Jesus. Jesus didn't get angry and accuse or blame Martha of anything, but he basically told her that she had her priorities all wrong and explained she was getting upset over little details. Mary had the right idea and had her priorities right.
We MUST prioritize and eliminate the needless distractions of day to day life, especially if it keeps us from moments of intimacy with God. Today find time for God, time to pray and ask for help to not be so busy that you can't devote time to pray and read God's word. Make a commitment today to NOT be distracted. Choose to NOT let life's distractions pull you away from God's purpose in your life.

Seeking God In Our Plans

Have you ever made plans for your future only to be disappointed when the future gets here and things didn't quite work out as you planned it?  Well, did you consider seeking God's will for these plans?  Probably not... God gave us the ability to reason and think before making decisions, however, God knows what is best for us and we need to trust Him completely with every choice we make.

Did you know that when we acknowledge God in our plans that he guarantees to guide us?  That's a guarantee, not a maybe!  We can do this by praying about our plans and having faith that God will listen and answer.  Psalm 143:8... Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 

Proverbs 3:5-6... Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  The key words in this verse is Trust in the Lord, not trust yourself.  We shouldn't shut God out when making important decisions.  Doing this can lead to unneeded grief and problems.  These important decisions should include all aspects of our lives, especially the areas of our lives where we feel we can't trust anyone.  We should also not trust ourselves to trust our feelings to make decisions.  Our feelings can get us into trouble.  Remember you can trust in the Lord always.


Jeremiah 29:11-12...  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  I know I am encouraged every time I read this verse...  there is boundless hope so long as we let God navigate our route.  This doesn't mean He will spare us pain and suffering, but He does guarantee to finish what he started and to be there with us every step of the way.

So next time you are faced with a decision to make, don't put the added stress upon yourself to figure it out.  Instead pray about it and don't stop praying until you hear God speak to you.  

Love... "The Greatest Gift" one can give and receive

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ... Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is God's greatest gift to us.  It is also the one gift He expects us to share with others.  Love is so much more than a feeling.  We also are capable of loving on so many levels.  We love our pets, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grand parents, spouses... the list goes on and on... and we love each of them differently.

However, there are moments, and even days, when each one of us does not feel too lovable.  We have bad days and say and do all the wrong things.  There are times when those we love aren't lovable.  It is very natural too have bad days.  I have days, sometimes months, when I am faced with situations where I love my family but don't exactly like them at that moment.  I know my family loves me but they don't have to like my crazed outbursts and emotional rantings when I'm not happy about about something either. So to my family or friends... For the times I feel misunderstood and expect you to understand, I'm sorry...  For the times I don't take the time to understand you, I'm sorry.  For exploding when I should have taken the time to explain things better but couldn't, I'm sorry.  I am a work in progress.  I'm not perfect and have my breaking point too.  But I do love you so very much!

It is also the perfect time to remember 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  For me it is the key to living and living together.  For me, it's a constant reminder of God's love and gift...  A reminder of all I have to give if I put love first.

We all spend time with people we love.  We are human and will make many mistakes.  We also have our own way of thinking and expressing ourselves, but if we can remember what Paul is telling us... wow!  It's the secret to life really...  Love is greater than all the faith and sacrifices we make.  Love is the most wonderful and unconditional gift you can share with anyone.  Read and memorize these verses.  Breath, eat, and sleep it!  It will transform your life... your relationships, the way you treat each other...

This beautiful song comes to mind...  take a moment to listen to the words.  It is truly beautiful...

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Devastation... Suffering... Trust... Time

A little long, but please take a few moments to read.  In light of what occurred in Japan last week... 

Saturday night we hung out with friends and the topic of the "devastation" that Japan is going through came up.  My cousin brought up something that hit home with me...  The discussion revolved around how much time the people of Japan had to evacuate before the earthquake and tsunami hit...  Although Japan has worked extremely hard at implementing systems to prepare for early warnings of earthquakes and tsunamis, it exists in the most seismic active area in the world.  Many of the comments we made that night and with other friends is how paralyzed and helpless we would be just imagining such a thing happening to us here in the states.  AND... what would you do if you were told you had 20 minutes to evacuate because an earthquake or tsunami was coming.

Many of us work more than 20 minutes away from home.  We have children in school, family that lives far away... Most of us wouldn't have time to get to them and plan to evacuate together.  It is a very unnerving thought.  Which is what caused deep thought... and my post today.  I know I wouldn't have time to plan to be together with my loved ones and that is why I have to be ready.  I may not be reunited with family.  One of us could die, and all the worrying in the world isn't going to save anyone of us.  I found all the comfort I need in God's word.  My prayer for each person who reads this is for you to do the same.  To realize that we aren't all going to die in our sleep peacefully and tragedy will strike.  It's not a matter of IF but WHEN... And why waste your time and life on things that just don't matter.  I want to live my life to the fullest, doing God's will and sharing God's promises because I want the freedom of not worrying about the "what ifs" of live...  I want to be ready and trust in Lord that He will take me home in the event of any tragedy.  As I was reading my bible I found truth and comfort.  Please take a little bit of time to reflect on your life, decisions you make, and what your future holds.  It's time to wake up!


Don't be afraid to share God's promise with anyone you come across.  Instead you should consider it a selfish act if you keep it to yourself knowing you could have made a difference in someone's life.  Don't wait and cry when they are gone.  It will be too late then.

John 16:33... "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

None of us, believers and non-believers alike, are exempt from tragedies and difficulties.  We can, however, find comfort in the fact that Christ accepted His Father's will to die on the cross so we may be forgiven and have a future.  He guarantees us that death will not have the last word!  Although we can't find peace nor understand disease, tragedy, and world devastation, we can be sure of our future.

1 Peter 5:10 ... "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

We need to understand what Peter is telling us... our suffering is temporary.  I realize it may not seem like that when we are faced with tragedy, but Peter goes on to tell us that God is all we need.  He is sufficient and He loves us.  We are assured eternal life with Christ where there will be no more pain or tears.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18... "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Everyday our bodies grow older, people get sick and die.  It becomes easy to focus on pain and suffering.  I will be the first to admit that I do get down and out and get that "why me" mentality and feel like quitting when things get too hard.  When I focus on Paul's words though, I am reminded to focus on the ultimate goal... the finish line no matter what happens because we all have the assurance of eternal life.  Renew your commitment to the Lord, to serving others, and to sharing God's promise to us.  I love how the Life Application Study Bible explains it... "Don't forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain.  Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.  Our troubles should not diminish our faith..."  There is a purpose for our suffering.  Focus on the reward.

My prayer today... Lord please protect and help the people of Japan during this time of need.  Let us remember that while we have a mouth to speak and a heart to feel, that we can make a difference in the lives of others If we only take the time to share your word and love each other.  What are you waiting for???

Family and our Extended Family... Our Friends

Joshua 25:15... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Our motto in our home is Joshua 25:15... Our priorities are #1... God, #2... Family, then #3...School or Work.   Everything else after that is a bonus.  For those of us who may not be fortunate enough to have our families near us, our friends become our extended family.  Friends are the family you choose, and I have been so blessed with the most amazing friends.

There are times in our life when your family members or friends will look to you for advice, guidance, love, a kind word, to be forgiven, encouragement, or support...  Whatever their needs, take the time to be grateful that your child, husband, wife, sister, brother, friend, or whoever it may be comes to you because they know you will not mislead them and that you truly love them.  Count it as a blessing.

More important, remember WWJD...  What Would Jesus Do?  Never give advice that God himself wouldn't share or give.  Never judge or turn your back on someone because you may not agree with them.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19... "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

Last but not least... realize you aren't perfect and there will be times when you will have your own bad days and trials to contend with.  During those times don't forget to admit your own faults, ask for forgiveness from those you may have offended, accept an apology from those who may have offended or hurt you and need to be forgiven.

Making God your priority and having the right attitude towards God will create a positive and right attitude with your family.

Death

This is a topic I have never been comfortable with.  There truly are no words that can take away someone's pain and suffering when they experience the loss of a loved one.  We all know that death is inevitable.  Good and bad people get sick, get into accidents, and die.

People ask why?  Why me?  Why this person or what that person?  What was the reason to take such a young life?  What was the reason to take such a good person who was doing good things for their friends, family, or community?

Frankly I don't have the answers to all those questions. But what I do know is that time has a way in healing the heart... softening the pain...

What do you say to someone who has just suffered a loss?  If the words don't come, don't force it.  Be honest about it.  Let your friend know that you don't know what to say but you are there for them.  There are times to speak up in life and there are times to listen...  This is one of those times where you want to listen... your friend might want to talk about it, they may not...  open your heart and ears...  Your friend or family will appreciate it.

But imagine this is you would for one moment... that you "go on" to set an example for someone else.  You get to share a little bit of that person who may have been a mentor or strong influence in your life.  Perhaps you can help transform a life and be grateful that you had the pleasure and honor of having this person in your life for as long as you did.  What a blessing!

I know I would rather have lost someone I loved and admired, someone who shared their wisdom, love, kindness, compassion, and joy than having lost someone that didn't share any of those things with me and be left with the feeling of needing and wanting what someone wasn't capable of giving in the first place.  The fact is for those of you who have lost friends or family and you have fond memories of them, consider it a privilege and blessing that you have good memories to take with you.

Death is a very frightening thing to most of us.  It can make you feel helpless.  Life is uncertain so make the most of the people in your lives while they are alive.  Tell them and show them how much you appreciate them.

Know that you are not alone as you grieve.  Know that you can turn to God to get you through these times.  I can't take your pain away my friends, but I can leave you with this...  I hope you find comfort in it.  I always do.

Taken from The Message...  I find this translation absolutely beautiful...

Psalm 23 (The Message)

   God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
   You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
      you find me quiet pools to drink from.
   True to your word,
      you let me catch my breath
      and send me in the right direction.

   Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I'm not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd's crook
      makes me feel secure.

  You serve me a six-course dinner
      right in front of my enemies.
   You revive my drooping head;
      my cup brims with blessing.

  Your beauty and love chase after me
      every day of my life.
   I'm back home in the house of God
      for the rest of my life.

Quiet time...

One of my favorite parts of the day is the "quiet time" I spend with God.  It's that moment that defines how the rest of my day will go (or not)--which is why I love this verse...

Psalm 88:13 "But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you."

1. It's the perfect time to find out what's on God's agenda for me for the day. (not my entire life, but one day and not what I want but what He wants from me).  2. I pray for the needs of others.  3. I ask God to help me deal with everything life will throw at me.  4. I ask for God’s protection over my family and friends.

I can't think of a better way to start the day.  I am focused on God's will for me, and for the day only because I have read Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”  I am putting others first, and trusting Him with my worries.  Now I’m ready to walk out of my home.  Otherwise, I find I get flustered, easily irritated, have no purpose, and waste my time worrying about things I have no control over.  And for those of you who are thinking, “I have no extra time in my life for this!” Please try…  Find 10-15 minutes, that’s all you need to allow God to arm you with what you need—a good attitude and heart that's in the right place.  Jesus did it… Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”  We don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn or leave our home, but find a convenient time and a quiet place, where no one can interrupt you, to start your day with God.  It makes all the difference in the world.

What Does God Say About Profanity (Cursing)

E-mail to me:  I’ve been feeling guilty about cursing so much.  I can’t help it but I want to stop.  What does the bible say about this?  Am I going to go to hell for it?

Dear Friend…  I don’t want to play God here and can’t tell you that you will burn in hell for cursing but, as I mentioned in my previous blog, God knows what is in your heart.  But to refer to your question more specifically, “What does the bible say about cursing?”...

- Proverbs 10:32 “The godly speak words that are helpful, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt.”

- Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

God is obviously telling us that our language should be helpful.  Our language should be used to build others up (or encourage them).  I’m sure you can find kind words, or at least clean words, to express yourself without putting people down or making your point.  Instead, imagine Jesus as he died for our sins.  He didn’t curse people out.  Frankly, you aren’t making your point any more important by cursing.  Whether you are angry and have every reason in the world to be or you are just accustomed to speaking that way, it shouldn’t be what the other person takes away from your conversation or how you mean to express yourself.

I think you could stop cursing if you want to.  If you are feeling guilty it’s because the Holy Spirit is already speaking to you and you are more aware of your cursing than you think you are.   

Take a few moments to breathe and think about what you are going to say.  Ask yourself, did I really listen to what this person had to say to me?  Why is this person upset with me?  You friend, classmate, co-worker, spouse, sibling, boss, or whoever it is will understand how upset you are without all the cursing.  If not, your discussion will escalate into a fight and then no one will be able to understand each other.  The way I see it, if someone is upset, they have the right to express themselves, and they should be able to tell you, “I’m upset and I’d like to talk about it”.  Maybe they really care about you and want you to understand why they feel the way they do.  And you should respect people enough to at least listen.  You don’t have to be confrontational and defensive.  Respect one another.

Don't Judge Me!

I shared a post from Greg Laurie earlier today about Jumping to Conclusions...  one of my readers loved his post and wanted my opinion.

Question to Kat's Big Fish:  Can you explain the difference between judging someone and having an opinion about what someone else does or what they have done wrong. There is such a fine line and I would like your opinion or take on this. I don’t judge people or I think I don’t but I have a strong opinion on some things people do.


Dear Friend… Sometimes our opinions are just strong convictions.  We all can’t think alike.  God has made each one of us unique.  Your convictions or opinions can't hurt anyone unless you’re forcing them on others.  Personally, I’ve learned to only share my opinions when asked for them.  If I think I'm being provoked into a confrontation or argument , I will simply let the person know that I'd be happy to offer my opinion and explain why I feel a certain way as long as they agree to respect it and accept it.  I like to call it, “let’s agree to disagree”.

The bible is pretty clear on judging and criticizing others.  In 1 Corinthians 5:12 Paul tells us, It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.  We shouldn't criticize or judge people by gossiping about them.  But we can judge the action (or sin) that might be hurting another person.  “Hate the sin, not the sinner”...  follow?  This also means you shouldn't get involved in unimportant situations, especially if the situation doesn't involve you.

Luke 17:3-4 tells us, I am warning you!  If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him.  Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks for forgiveness, forgive him.  Read also, Job 19: 3-5... You have already insulted me ten times.  You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.  Even if I have sinned, that is my concern, not yours.  You think you’re better than I am, using my humiliation as evidence of my sin.  The word rebuke doesn't mean to judge or make someone feel ashamed or guilty.  On the contrary, rebuking someone, with love, means you are simply bringing their sin to their attention with the purpose to bring them back to God and those around them.  I would think carefully about your feelings and attitude before pointing out someone else's sinful act or behavior.  Make sure that whatever you do or say is said with love and definitely not an attitude or because you are annoyed or are seeking revenge.

Luke 6:41-42 - How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  The thing to remember here is you don't want to be a hypocrite.  Begin with looking at yourself and your intentions before judging someone else.  Now if someone calls you a hypocrite remember that you aren’t being a hypocrite if you are trying to do the right thing and fail (or sin). We are human and make mistakes.  God knows when we feel badly about our thoughts or actions. God knows what is in our hearts.  You aren't being hypocritical if you are weak but don't put on your holier than thou hat on in order to get someone's attention or to look good in front of others because that is being hypocritical.

Thanks for your question.  I truly hope I have helped you.  When in doubt I shut my mouth.  Think before you speak.  If you open your mouth and all you are filled with is anger and hatred, you may regret what you’ve said and then you can’t take back those words.

We change our lives by changing how we think

Do you carry around guilt, bitterness, or a bad attitude about things that have happened in your your past?  Are you always worried or live in fear from old memories?

A message with a friend made me think about this.  Whatever fears or bad memories you carry can leave terrible scars on your heart and there is something to be said about our pasts.  It is our past and the best thing we can do is learn from our experiences and try the best we can to forgive, forget, and move on.  I realize for some this might be more difficult and I am not trying to be insensitive to whatever you have been through.  For me, not forgetting what has happened or affected me by my past, means protecting myself from allowing certain things to happen again, but only because I can be gullible at times and will forgive you if you say you are sorry.  You have to evaluate the "I'm sorries" in your life and make sure they are sincere in order for the healing to take place.

This verse touched my heart today and I wanted to share it with you... Psalm 13:2 - How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?  What David is telling us is don't be impatient.  God knows you are suffering, but continue to trust in God and focus on God so you can enjoy life and all that God is planning for you.  I know I don't understand why bad things happen, but bad things happen to good and bad people and God's justice will be realized.  Maybe not today or in your lifetime, but it will happen.  And if holding onto an ugly past is affecting your present and potentially your future or the people around you, consider this... satan, our enemy, is the only one who stands to gain anything.  He would want you to not forgive those who hurt you, he would love for you to never forget.  Why? because God can't live in a hardened and unforgiving heart.  Cry out to the Lord and don't let satan win.  Don't let him make you feel inferior or inadequate.  Don't give him that power in your life.  If you've read the bible you know his destiny and so does he...  misery loves company, don't forget that.  Don't allow satan to keep you trapped by your past.

Some other versus to consider reading...
Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Exercise and Eating Right

Taking care of our physical body is a way to honor God and the Holy Spirit, which lives inside us.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul tells us, "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body."
 
This a topic that I both love and hate...  I know, you must be thinking, Kat... hate is such a strong word, but let's be honest, exercise is work!  And you don't see results immediately.  Very frustrating.  I wasn't born with "skinny genes" and I may not be fat, but staying in shape is work for me!  Most people are yo-yo dieters, well, I'm into yo-yo exercising.

I'm also learning more each day about food and how it affects our hormones, and when your hormones are imbalanced so is your quality of life.  I recently met Dr. Neil Rosen of Preventive Medicine of Monmouth, PC in Shrewsbury, NJ who is helping me. I'm reading a couple of books which I'd highly recommend:  "Ageless" by Suzanne Somers and "The Master Your Metabolism Cookbook" by Jillian Michaels.  Eventually I will have a blog on this very topic so... stay tuned...

Christ's death freed us from sin.  What a high price he paid to give us that freedom.  But we no longer own our bodies, therefore we must take care of the body God gave us.  Some of you might be thinking, I can do anything I want with my body, It's mine.  But try to think of it this way...  The home, apartment, or building you own or rent... someone owns it, right?  Whether it's the bank or a landlord, we have rules to follow.  You try not to violate those rules and you do everything in your power to take care of it and respect it.  Well, we can't violate God's standard for living.  We must take care of ourselves (just like you would your home or business).  That doesn't mean you have to exercise for hours every day of the week, but take a little bit of time everyday to exercise and eat healthy.  Remember that it takes great effort and sacrifice to reach your goal and win the prize, but it's not impossible.  1 Corinthians 9:24-25  "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize.  You must run in such a way that you will win.  All Athletes practice strict self-control."  Paul knew that life is hard work.  Without a goal discipline is nothing more than self-punishment.  If one of your goals is to live a life that is more pleasing to God and exercise is not your thing but you know you need it, try to remember God gave us our bodies and we should take care of it.

So perhaps you will begin today by doing two things... set a short-term goal which in turn will help you reach your long-term goal.  Don't get frustrated.  You are not going to see or get immediate results.  You didn't get out of shape overnight and it's going to take a little time and effort to reach your goals, but don't give up.

Find a couple of things you enjoy to do.  If you love to dance, you will have to try Zumba!  It's so much fun and the weight just falls off.  And what's best is you won't feel like you are exercising.  I like to switch it up and get bored very quickly so I also love the Insanity work out!   Beware though!  It's a crazy workout and as my friend Kim says, "there is no way you won't see results!"  Try biking or walking in between to give your body a break and so you don't get bored.  I did mention healthy eating and let's face it, you can't take care of your body without watching what you eat.  We are notorious for eating bad foods and not educating ourselves on how to eat properly.  A great place to start is my cousin's blog.  Gina makes it easy and fun to want to get into shape and you will be eating healthy foods.  You don't have to sacrifice flavor or eat boring foods.  If you love food and want to eat healthier, I'm telling you... stop by her blog and check it out.  (Links for all are provided below...) 

So, set some goals...  start slow but make a decision and commitment to start somewhere... and ask the Lord to help you reach those goals and help eliminate some bad habits and negative thinking.  I've provided you with links below to find Gina's blog, a Zumba class near you and information on the Insanity program.  Let me know how you make out.  I'd love to hear from you!  

Gina's Blog (for eating healthy, delicious foods!)

Find a Zumba class near you!

Insanity Workout

Jealousy

So you just found out that someone likes your old boyfriend or girlfriend?  You hate it when your friends make new friends and they aren’t spending as much time with you anymore?  Admitting you are a jealous person is a very difficult thing to do, but not impossible if you want to change.  The first thing you MUST understand is that you are being controlled by your own desires.

The more we focus on ourselves and those desires, the more we feed our insecurities and fears, the less we are able to become emotionally and spiritually healthy or focus on what’s really important—God.  Instead let the Holy Spirit control your thoughts and actions.  If you do you will experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and that self control you need to deal with and eliminate that jealousy.

Don’t judge a person (or let that jealousy cloud your judgment).  By this I mean figure out the root of what’s really bothering you.  It very well could be that YOU are the one who is controlling people through your fears.  And that fear is NOT going to keep people in your life or make them love you.  All you are doing is pushing the people you love away!

Remember there is nothing or no one in this life worth hanging on to.  Just as God doesn’t want to control our thinking and allows us to make choices, your friends and family do not want or like to be controlled and they want you to accept their choices.  Also, remember that circumstances in our lives can alter our perception due to the lies we believe about ourselves and others.  Don’t be deceived by your bitterness, sense of worthlessness or inadequacies and don't be so quick to believe all the things you hear about others!  Satan would want you to hold on to those feelings so you can continue to be jealous and draw you away from God and what He wants for your life.

Remember that wrong thinking produces wrong living.  Do some soul searching.  Be honest with yourself… Recognize your fears… Confess it to God… Ask God to help you deal with your emotions… Actively read God’s word.  You will be so happy you did!  I have a little note in the visor of my car that says, “YOU First!” and “Others Centered”.  This world will try to sell you the “It’s all about you” or “Me first”…  NO!  Don’t buy it.  Put others first, don’t be self-centered.  Become more like Jesus and learn to be content with what and who you have in your life.

Verses to reflect upon:

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

James 3:14-16   ESV
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Romans 13:13   ESV
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

God's Wisdom

Are you struggling with developing solid and meaningful relationships? There is a great deal of dedication that goes into building and maintaining relationships with your friends, family, and co-workers. For you younger people, this might include classmates, teachers, vice-principals, etc. Whoever it is we are associating with, we must show love and high moral standards. People can only relate with each other if there is honesty, consistency, discretion and discipline (discipline to use wisdom that comes from God). God gives us the wisdom we need so our relationships will thrive. Without that wisdom our relationships will suffer and cease to exist. For my younger readers… to explain it simply, without God’s wisdom, you will have and create much unneeded drama for yourself and those around you and people will not want to be your friend. They won’t be able to trust you.   Also, it is through God AND GOD ONLY that you can love the unlovable and do the impossible.  But you must have faith...

Proverbs 1:7 ~ Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline. We live in a world filled with information. I don’t need to tell you how quickly technology is growing. But I’m afraid wisdom is becoming scarce. It is the very basic things we know that affects our lives and the lives of those around us. Basically put, to honor and respect God and to obey the Lord’s word is understanding “knowledge is fear of the Lord”. The person that hates discipline, God-centered advice and that refuses to learn is foolish. They know it all and will miss out on valuable insight and counsel and will regret it someday. Only God knows it all. Trust in God. He will make you wise. How do I gain wisdom you might be asking? Read the bible. God speaks to us through His word. Make the time. Whether you begin your day with it, or end the day with it, or both—His word is His gift to us. Remember that God should be the only one you reach to for understanding of the world, your attitudes and your actions.

Weigh Your Choices

My status on Face Book the other day was, if you have questions or something you’d like me to blog about, let me know.  So my first comment was…  “Pros/Cons of cannabis as medicine”…

Life isn’t always black or white.  I love the various shades of gray in between… and since I’m human and make mistakes (frequently), I kind of like the margin of error my brain allows for. Some things are black or white and the bible is one of those things.  This wasn’t easy to write about.  I don’t do drugs…  But that’s not to say I haven’t been young and made bad choices.  I don’t have cancer, MS, or AIDS…  But that’s not to say I don’t understand pain.  Obviously, it’s not the type of pain I can relate to with people who suffer from these types of illnesses, so we will have to “agree to disagree” here moving forward.

The Pros—there are none.  This is one of those “black or white” topics for me.  But for those who live, day in and day out, with pain, nausea, and vomiting as a result of their illnesses I might understand why they would love to see Marijuana made legal or use cannabis as medicine.  We can definitely find research that supports the pros in helping people function or deal with their pain, but the cons outweigh the pros.

The Cons—we know the obvious ones:  clouded thinking, questionable choices, drug addiction, etc.  Relief is temporary and there are real and potential consequences… Short-term memory loss, it affects your cognitive ability, depression, anxiety, and damage to your lungs (cannabis used as a smoked product is harmful and habit forming).  A safer, more effective way to use this product is necessary if people do not want to compromise their health any further.  Research also shows that there are negative affects on your reproductive system and negative physiological and psychological consequences.  Even though Marijuana is the least harmful of all drugs, it is still lethal.

So let’s talk bible…  There is no direct scripture or prohibitions regarding the illicit use of drugs.  BUT, there are biblical principals and acceptable behavior that go hand in hand with using drugs (whether it’s recreationally or medicinally) we have to look at if we are followers of Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

You have the right (or freedom) to do what you want with your body, but you are not truly free because you are enslaved by your own desires.  God gave us life and true freedom when he died for our sins.  We should live a life that is pure and pleasing to Him.  Someone owns your home, condo, or apartment, don’t they?  (Perhaps the bank, a parent, or a landlord…)  You try not to violate that dwelling and you live up to certain standards.  Why wouldn’t you set higher standards for your own body? 

Titus 2:12

“It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Jesus died for our sins.  With that death we are free from sin’s control.  We have the power, through God, to live according to His will (not ours) and to do good.  Do not let worldly pleasures deceive you.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—”

Nothing we do should cause another believer to stumble.  Our actions should be motivated by God’s love so that all we do is for His glory (and not ours). 

Live above reproach!  The benefits of your choices should always be weighed—carefully.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

My daughter is in high school.  Fighting seems to be how feelings are expressed in this day and age.  You name it; the kids are fighting about it—all the time!  What every happened to resolving conflicts respectfully and accepting that it’s better to “agree to disagree”.  

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us the things that the Lord hates…  I’d like to focus on the last one He hates which is “A person who sows discord among brothers.”  But we can’t be peacemakers and will continue to have an argumentative spirit if we don’t look at the others… “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, and a false witness who pours out lies.”  Plain and simple the Lord HATES drama!  Those who create it, fuel it, enjoy it, and thrive upon it.  What kind of people get a kick out of stirring up trouble on purpose and love to fight over everything and anything?  I would imagine a very insecure person who feels empowered by the heat of the situation and the discord it creates.  Instead of hating those people in return or devising some plan to get back at them, pray for them!  Matthew tells us in 5:44 to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Easier said than done? Sometimes… But not impossible…  Paul wrote to us in Philippians 4:7 that, “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

People are not going to agree about everything.  We should understand the difference between disagreeing and remaining united.  Maybe this example will help you understand what I mean.  Your company is having its first annual company picnic.  A softball team was created and it’s time to choose the color for the uniforms.  Everyone is voting at a meeting and your choices are red or blue.  There are 50 people voting.  Forty-five people want red, you and four others want blue.  The five of you decide to vote for the red uniforms because you understand the importance of unity and it’s really not a big deal.  It doesn’t mean you agree and it’s not your choice, however, you don’t want to create a problem or be an obstacle to the process.  That is demonstrating spiritual maturity.  Now… if you leave this meeting and start trying to get others on your side to change their vote and make a stink about it, then you’d be sowing discord and the Lord hates that and it’s showing how spiritually immature you are.

If this is what defines you and makes you that person, pray and ask God to help you develop a lifestyle of a peacemaker and not that of a confrontational and argumentative person.

I found three others verses I would like to share with you… have a blessed and “peaceful” day.

Psalm 34:14 – “Turn away from evil and do good.  Work hard at living in peace with others.” 

Proverb 12:20 – “Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”

Romans 12:17-18 – “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.”

See No Evil ~ Hear No Evil

I had to combine these two evils.  They go hand in hand.  Some of the reading material, TV shows, movies, and music out there are garbage and fills our minds and that of our kids with anger, hate, and bad influences. I begin my morning with listening to The Bridge on 89.7 or Star 99.1 (for more info see links below). It inspires me.  I love music—all types!  I just wish that sometimes there were no lyrics or at least clean lyrics.

How many times have we listened to bad advice or even worse, gone to the wrong person for their opinion or direction simply because they will tell us what we want to hear?  How many of us buy self-help books or read magazines for ideas and answers?   AND after all is said and done, we are STILL confused and frustrated.  We don’t have to do that or go that far.  We could seek God first and pray for His wisdom, direction, and guidance for all our concerns and issues.  He has given us His word—the Bible… Our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

The Bible is the book of LIFE.  It was written by 40 inspired authors, from all walks of life, over a period of 1,500 years.   2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”  No other book gives us more insight into our lives or more hope for our future.  This book is a direct path to building a relationship with God (and those around us).  What we put into our minds and hearts is what we eventually share and show to others.   Garbage in… Garbage out! Right?  God sees what is in our hearts.   Psalm 139:1-4 tells us…  “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD."

This reminds me of a song my daughter learned in school years ago.  “O be careful little eyes what you see… O be careful little ears what you hear”… It’s so true.  Don’t be swayed or believe everything you see and hear.  Think about it for one moment.  What is your normal reaction when children are around and you’re switching the channels on your TV and there is sex and cursing?  Or you’re listening to the radio and they are singing about drugs, sex, and cursing?  What do you do?  You shut it off.  Why?  Because they will be negatively influenced by what they see and hear and possibly behave and speak the same way.  Why should that change because we become adults?  Why do we compromise?  Does it become acceptable simply because the world tells us we are old enough or because no one can tell us what to do?  Do you really think you cannot be influenced by all the trash you see and hear?  In Romans 12:2 Paul tells us...  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  I think Paul was on to something.  He is telling us not to copy or adopt the customs of this world.  It can lead to corruption and deep problems.  Let the Holy Spirit renew your heart and redirect your mind.

For more information on how you can listen to The Bridge or Star 99.1, be sure to click on the links below.

The Bridge

Star 99.1

Speak No Evil

Imagine if every time you wanted to talk about somebody you chose to pray for them? Imagine thinking, “What makes me so special? What sets me apart from this person and gives me the right to disrespect or gossip about other people?

Proverbs 25:18 is very clear… “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.” This doesn’t just apply to court proceedings like you may think or interpret. And being at the receiving end of gossip is very hurtful. Gossiping, no matter how you justify it, violates the law of love we should have for one another. And to make it worse, it makes you “feel” superior to others. If that is what you need to do to make yourself FEEL like you fit in and belong, that’s pretty sad. If that is what you need to make yourself appear better than the person you are talking about, that’s even sadder. You don’t have to bash people to fit in. You need to be different and stand up and against gossiping. Put an end to it and instead pray for those people—and while you are at it… ask the Lord to help seek out and destroy the evil thoughts in your heart and mind that make you want to speak about other people.

Pray… Lord, forgive me for speaking poorly about others. Let no evil words come from my lips. Help me to think before I speak Jesus. Teach me to use loving words that will build up people rather than destroy and hurt them. Amen

Pain.... A Great Teacher

Have you ever watched babies take their first steps… at first they are ready to go; then they realize it’s not that easy so they revert back to crawling; then they try again because we carefully persuade them they can do it, as we cheer them on.  Then the pain of falling makes them leery so it’s back to crawling, and finally they try again regardless of the bumps and bruises and eventually they learn to walk!  Ahhh!  What an accomplishment, right?  Even babies know that the pain in learning to walk subsides and disappears.  They learn early on that some tasks maybe uncomfortable and painful, but they get back up and try again.  It shouldn’t change as we grow. 

When troubles come into our life and obstacles are put in our path, we begin to become desperate and wonder, why is this happening to me?  Perhaps God is using these painful experiences to get our attention.  In Psalm 119:71, David wrote, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.”  Is God using your pain and discomfort to lovingly persuade you to change?  The time we spend in pain and in our trials may not be easy, but if we let ourselves be trained by the experience, new growth can and will result.

I Just Don't Feel Like it!!!!

We all have unwanted tasks, chores, and errands that we need to do. We all have those days when we just don’t feel like doing it. We procrastinate or find something better to do. When this happens, we have to find the way to do it anyway. So you are not feeling very motivated or just don’t feel like doing it right now because you are tired. It’s then that we have to choose to be responsible and follow through.

~ Matthew 21:28-31… “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? The first, they answered.”

In the story about the Two Sons, and to answer the question…which son did do what their father wanted? We clearly see that even though the first son told his father he wouldn’t go work in the vineyard, he changed his mind and obeyed his father. When he asked the second son, he said he would go but then didn’t. God values faith and obedience, not our good intentions. So the next time the thought enters your mind, “I don’t feel like it,” stop, pray, and ask God for the grace and strength to do it anyway. It will please Him and you will feel better for having accomplished your duties.

For you teenagers who feel you always have work to do or all these awful responsibilities which take away from your computer time, texting, or down time, try and adjust your attitude and help out… do your part… it will help keep peace in your family so everyone can have a better time together. Learning early on that your responsibilities won’t just disappear by wishing them away is a healthier and more realistic mindset. Besides, you can’t begin to imagine the responsibilities that await you once you are out of school, working, and raising your own families.

From Greg Laurie's Blog: You Can't Hide Your Lying Eyes

Reminds me of the Eagles song.... You can't hide your lying eyes.... But there is a lot of truth behind what Greg shares and goes hand in hand with my blog from the other day... Do The Right Thing. Thought I'd share. Click Link to Read more...

http://blog.greglaurie.com/?p=3157

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...

“Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” 

Here’s a popular little idiom we have heard our entire lives.  We’ve shared it with our children, friends, and even tell ourselves… ignore them, people are ignorant; forget it, pay no attention to what they say...  Sounds convincing, doesn’t it?  The truth is that WORDS can hurt more than an actual punch in the face.  You will forget the pain of a punch long before you forget hurtful and cruel remarks or comments.  You commit murder in your heart long before killing someone.  Killing is the ultimate sin, but have you considered that anger is a sin too?  Anger violates God’s command to Love.  It is an extremely dangerous emotion that, if permitted, can leap out of control and lead to violence, stress, spiritual damage, and even death.  Taking someone’s life is NOT limited to physical murder, and labeling people for their race, nationality, religion, or financial status is wrong on so many levels.  These labels and names we give our neighbors, co-workers, and classmates are used to demean or demote the other person.  All this negative behavior does is insult the God who created us in His image.  Practice compassion, kindness, and generosity.  It shouldn’t take a tragedy like the one that happened on 9/11 to bring people together.  Teach others to love and love others regardless of what they do and who they are.  It’s only through God and some self control obviously, that we can love the unlovable and mean-hearted people in this world.  Don’t become what you don’t like in others.  In the end God will hold us accountable for our attitudes and actions.

 …Matthew 5:21-22 ~ You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Do The Right Thing

Who likes to lose a game or a race? I’m not a very competitive person, but I can recall playing dominoes with my family members on many occasions and not being too happy about losing -- especially when you have some sore winners in your midst. I also recall trying to come up with some “strategies” to ensure that win. Ok, so maybe we cheated… just a little. But… it wasn’t hurting anyone, right? The truth is it was still dishonest and I knew it.

We don’t have to cheat or lie and do underhanded things to win at games or in life. We can still be competitive, yet still play nice and be truthful. After all, it’s not God who puts the idea or thought of lying and cheating in our hearts. Satan is responsible for filling our hearts with all sorts of deceptive plans. Just keep this in mind before carrying out that plan… The sin is not in the thought until the plan is carried out – until you fall. Lying, cheating, and keeping secrets may seem like the best idea at the time but there is a bigger price to pay in the end – and that is death. Jesus can’t live in our hearts or answer our prayers and cries for help if our hearts are impure or if we have ulterior motives. Ask yourself today… is lying and cheating all worth it in the end? Or would you prefer a peaceful heart and clear conscience? Can people trust everything you say and do? Remember, Integrity means never having to look over your shoulder.

Show and Tell For God

…1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Your job on this earth may be to speak to customers all day, cook meals for a living, nurse people back to health, repair computers, teach, or perhaps you are a student… whatever it is that you are doing right at this moment, do you do it for God? And when it’s a good day and things go smooth and you’ve accomplished what you set out to do; do you give God the glory? Have you given thanks to God for the skills and gift he has provided you with? Have you thanked Him for the ability to learn and provide for your family? Well, we should.

God equips us with unique talents and gifts. I am guilty of complaining about work and not giving my all. We all feel that way at times and don’t give 100%. What’s the point in doing anything in life if we can’t utilize our skills and talents and enjoy it? Well there is no point in doing anything without passion, love, and joy! There are people on this earth who are disabled and wish they could provide for their families or do things for themselves. We need to remember to give glory to God in all we do.

There is a purpose and we may not always see that purpose, but what we can see is the opportunity to let others see what God is really like through us! And when they like what they see, we can make sure to let them know who taught us to live like that.