Lord, I Need You

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Good morning and I hope yours is blessed!

Do you feel blessed?  Or have the burdens of the world landed on your shoulders?

If you have the TV on for more than a few minutes a day, I can almost guarantee that some of those burdens are weighing you down.  I just turned mine on for the weather report and instead got all the latest details on yet another shooting.

I guess we need to know what’s going on, but is anyone else just getting tired?  Tired of the violence, the ignorance, the hate, the political bickering, the virus and the unbelievable obnoxiousness and sensationalism of the media.

One thing you don’t see, unless you go digging for it, is the good things that are happening.  Groups of people coming together to clean up the messes left by the ones who are doing their best to destroy everything they can get to, even if it’s their own neighborhood.  Groups of people and individuals who purposely stop and pray for our law enforcement officers and other first responders.  Groups of people and individuals who provide food, coffee and supplies for the previously mentioned, along with healthcare workers who have worked seemingly never ending shifts and just want to go home and be with their families.  Groups of people who are petitioning God for mercy, restoration and revival for our country.

You don’t see a lot of that on the news.  Instead they wear us down with everything bad and sad.

Do you feel blessed?

Do you have a place to live, food to eat and a TV to watch, if you so choose?

I am blessed beyond measure!  It is my option to watch all the bad or better yet, to NOT watch it.  I choose to help when I can and pray unceasingly!  I choose to be happy.

You know how I love my lyrics and this song has been a standby for me since the first time I heard it.  I need it every day and it reminds me where my strength comes from.  This is the first two verses and chorus.  I pray you are all blessed by it too.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher

 

Lord, I come, I confess                                                             Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Bowing here I find my rest                                                      Where grace is found is where You are
Without You I fall apart                                                           Where You are, Lord, I am free
You’re the One that guides my heart                                    Holiness is Christ in me

 

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Living More Intentionally

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Happy Monday!

With all the changes we have experienced recently, I have thought a lot about my lifestyle.  Am I just going day to day or am I spending each day intentionally?

I am not one to have every day planned out to the minute, I’m not saying that at all.  Actually, I really like spontaneity!   The freedom to do something at the spur of the moment, just because the opportunity arises, is a blessing that I don’t want to take for granted.

I believe living intentionally calls for me to stop and really consider my lifestyle, not just how I spend my free time – but also how I spend my money, who I am hanging around and what I am feeding my body and soul.  Have I formed bad habits that I wasn’t even aware of?  If so, it may be time to make some changes or reassess my priorities.

Maybe I need to do a little tweaking, I may even need a major upheaval, aside from the current circumstances.  Maybe instead of doing more or doing different, I need to get back to the basics.  I believe the most important thing is finding what in my life is worth giving my all to.

For me, this is my relationship with Jesus, my husband and my family, my friends and my church.  These are very special and worth putting my time and energy into.

One of the things my dad always told me was that if I did something, do it like you were doing it for Jesus Himself! (Does that sound a little familiar?)  It is very easy to forget that and just casually perform my duties or activities.  How does that glorify God?

My hope is to live more intentionally, be it worship, love or work, giving it my all, just like I am doing it for Jesus Himself.  Because I am!

“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

Another Virus – Sin

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Good morning!  Wishing you all a very blessed one.

Maybe you have noticed, but there is a virus going around.  It’s a pretty serious one too.  You all know it as Covid 19 or maybe the corona virus.  There are a lot of precautions and extra measures being taken to prevent its spreading more.

Did you know there is another virus going around though?  It isn’t new and it doesn’t go away.  That’s what makes this virus so terribly dangerous.  This virus is better known by the name “sin”.  This virus takes a multitude of lives every day.  It also makes that many people sick, every single day.  It can be deceiving because it goes by many names.  Some you may have heard are wrong doing, crime, evil, immorality, lust, trespass, transgression, gluttony, wickedness or iniquity.  Does it sound more familiar now?  After all, some of these things don’t sound so bad, right?  There is one thing I didn’t mention in that list though.  It is the original and forever sin.  It first came in the form of a serpent.  Maybe Satan, the devil or Lucifer sounds more familiar.  He is the originator.

This virus has many side effects that someone who is afflicted needs to be aware of.  Dark things like hate, alcoholism, bullying and prejudice.  These side effects ALSO have side effects!  Hate can perpetrate death, physical, mental and emotional illness.  Alcoholism can bring about physical, mental and emotional abuse.  It can also kill the alcoholic.  Bullying has caused far too many suicides and is a major destroyer of self esteem which can affect a person for the rest of their life.  And what about prejudice?  Are we not living witnesses to the effects of prejudice every day?

This breaks my heart to even talk about it, but it needs to be talked about.  It can’t become just another elephant in the room.

A man was killed.  He didn’t just die, he was killed.  He wasn’t just a man, he was a black man.  Personally, I don’t care what color he was, a man was murdered.  God forgive them, and us, had he not been black, chances are pretty good that it wouldn’t have happened.  What has happened since though, is a travesty.  And it isn’t the first time.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a man that I admired.  He demonstrated righteous anger.  He led protests against injustice and promoted unity and peace.

There are others, however, that pretend to be campaigning for justice but use it as an excuse for rioting, looting, vandalism and murder.  That, like the aforementioned viruses, is contagious.

So, what is the answer?  Well, in my humble opinion, the short answer is Jesus Christ.  To overcome darkness, we must have light and Jesus IS the Light.  Where there is Light, there can be no darkness.  As a Christian this opinion will never change.

Jesus is also LOVE.  Not love for the white man, the black man, the yellow, red or brown man, but EVERY man (Woman)!  We are ALL children of God and we are ALL equal in God’s sight.  If it’s good enough for God, shouldn’t it be good enough for us, ALL of us?

I have friends of different colors and it isn’t anything I even think about.  I know many others of different colors that are good Christians or at the very least good people.  I also know some bad black people.  They are out there right along with the bad white, brown, yellow or red people.  Evil/sin is just that.  It isn’t prejudiced.  It will devour all that it can.

Are we taking extra measures and precautions to prevent the spread of this second virus, sin?  There will never be another one that can compare to it.  If we don’t prevent the spread, it will continue to grow and murder and destroy countless other individuals.  Are we really okay with this?  WWJD?

Until we begin to see people as just PEOPLE, no matter what the color of their skin is, and love them, how can we call ourselves Christians or even a decent human being?  Until we begin to SHARE this love and act like Christians, it is useless.  We don’t have to preach or beat them down with the righteous stick.  Just love them and let them know where that love comes from, a loving Savior who loves them too.  If we would all do this, we could overcome that darkness.

Now, as always,

Pray Unceasingly!!

 Lois

If I Were the Devil

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Good morning and welcome June!   I pray every day draws us nearer to God and resolution.

As if the past few months haven’t been enough, this past week has poured gasoline onto an out of control fire.  You only see the bad news, the sensationalism that sells TV stations, newspapers and magazines.  It is so sad that you rarely see or hear all of the good things happening.  People pulling together to try to heal the hurt and clean up the mess.  The devil is hard at work but our mighty God is too and He WILL overcome!

As intellectual historian, Gertrude Himmelfarb, has summarized, “What was once stigmatized as deviant behavior is now tolerated and even sanctioned; what was once regarded as abnormal has been normalized , as deviancy is normalized, so what was once normal becomes deviant. The kind of family that has been regarded for centuries as natural and moral – the ‘bourgeois’ family as it is invidiously called – is now seen as pathological.”

I’m sure most of you have read this before but it is even more true now than it was then.  Look at each individual item and really think about it.  It was happening then and is even worse now.  Our country, our morals, every standard of good and all that we believe in has been touted as old fashioned/outdated, mythology or ignorance.

There comes a time when we have to stop riding the fence and pick a side.  There are two sides – God and Satan.  Which side do you choose?

Joshua 24:14-15 King James Version (KJV)

14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

“If I Were the Devil,” by Paul Harvey ran originally in 1964, but he updated it several times over the years, and the version detailed below aired in 1996.

If I Were the Devil

“If I were the prince of darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness. I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — thee. So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.

“I’d subvert the churches first, and I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

“To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince the children that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d confide that what’s bad is good and what’s good is square. And the old, I would teach to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington …’

“Then, I’d get organized, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

“If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellect but neglect to discipline emotions. I’d tell teachers to let those students run wild. And before you knew it, you’d have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. With a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing and judges promoting pornography. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and then from the houses of Congress. In his own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I’d lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.

“If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?

“I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun and that what you see on television is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases for which there are no cures.

“In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.”

 

 

Blessed

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We are reminded every so often of just how blessed we really are.  No matter what is going on out in the world, be it pandemic or politics, both my least favorite subjects, our lives are blessed in so many ways!

Two of our beloved church family members have lost their husbands this week.  It is a loss of their companion and loved one and we will mourn, along with them.  BUT, for those who passed from this earthly world, it was GRADUATION DAY!!  A day when all of their sickness, pain and tears ended.  A day when they graduated from a fallen earth to standing in the presence of Jesus!   I call that a blessing!  I pray for comfort for those families but rejoice for the graduates.  Does that make sense?  I will never forget my mother telling us that after my dad went home, she missed him so much, but she would never call him back to the pain and suffering he was in before.

This virus has taken the lives of so many but at the same time, so many have survived.  We are blessed.  Many have lost jobs and recovery won’t be immediate but many have found family once again and some may have even taken the opportunity to pursue a dream that had been put on a back burner!  They are blessed.  I understand it isn’t easy.  Sometimes, pride has to be set aside to see the blessing.  I pray we never fail to see ours.

Charles Swindoll tells us that “life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.”  I find this to be truer than ever in this time we are living in.

Jesus has this to say in Matthew 5:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

Blessed

by Ruth Smith (Alliance Women)

While reading through the book of Matthew, the Holy Spirit has graciously led me to glimpse the heart of Jesus, especially through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

In the first few verses, we see Jesus’ comforting words of blessing concerning the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who mourn. For the poor in spirit—those lacking in courage or vigor—He says the Kingdom of Heaven will be theirs. The meek—those who are gentle and humble—will inherit the earth. And those who mourn will be comforted.

Christ’s message to them is a message of hope. Each of them will receive the longing of their hearts. This seems almost contradictory. We usually think that only those who are outwardly courageous and fight will receive the reward. But Jesus sees the hearts of the poor, meek, and mournful. He knows the strength it takes them to keep their eyes on Him, and He desires to give them their reward.

Next, we see Jesus’ words of encouragement to those who are deeply desiring to follow hard after God. They have the strong desire to pursue the Spirit-filled, Spirit-controlled life. For those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled! Satisfied! Those who are merciful—who show compassion towards an offender or enemy—will likewise receive mercy and compassion when they offend.

Our first thought when offended might be to seek revenge, to hurt the person as they have hurt us. But Jesus’ words encourage us to show mercy, which often times requires a change of heart. We aren’t to worry that someone might take advantage of us. Jesus says if we show mercy, we will be shown mercy when we need it.

Those who are pure in heart—innocent, untainted by evil, who see the best in others—will see God! And the peacemakers—those who bring harmony—will be called the sons of God. Jesus calls all of them blessed and all will receive their reward from God!

When we dwell in Christ, we don’t fight with the weapons of the world. We listen to the voice of God; we allow Him to transform our hearts to be like His. Even if all seems wrong on the outside, on the inside we can live in the peace of God that surpasses all our understanding. Isn’t that the very definition of blessed?

It’s Not Cancelled

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Good Morning!

Sometimes, the person that I used to be, tries to come back and haunt me.  Does that ever happen to you?  That person no longer exists but you know what?  That person did contribute to who I am today.

I learned to make the best of bad situations and work hard to make them better.  I learned that, other than my Heavenly Father, the most important opinion of me was my own.  There was a time when my own self opinion wasn’t good.  I felt  like a failure as a wife, mother and human being.  I thank God every day that I had family and friends who stood with me until I was able to pull my life together again.

It wasn’t always easy, setting aside who I had been so I could become who I wanted to be.  But then I think of some that are a bit more well known than me.  Moses, Rahab, David, the Samaritan woman at the well, all mentioned below.  Another notable is Paul, formerly Saul.  I can only imagine what he faced as a new convert to a society that he had actively persecuted.

The thing of it is, God used each and every one of them for His perfect purpose.  SO, if God prefers ragamuffins, here I am Lord!  It is only through His grace and unconditional love that I am here today.

So many things have been cancelled in this time that we are plowing through.  One thing that you can always count on though is that God will never cancel your purpose, and you can’t cancel it either.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

It’s Not Cancelled…

Cassie Barrentine

Devotions, Faith, God’s Love, Insecurity, Jesus, Mercy, Purpose, Redemption, Spiritual Growth, Trust

“Oh, what we could be if we stopped carrying the remains of who we were.” – Tyler Knott Gregson

Moses, David, Rahab the prostitute, the Samaritan woman at the well… just to name a few.

God used them in amazing ways despite their pasts, despite who they were or what they were working out within themselves.

He was well aware of their pasts. He was well aware of their weaknesses. He knew their struggles. He knew them. And despite all this, they still carried out His purpose for their lives.

God didn’t stop and decide to choose someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He could have. But He didn’t. And in Exodus 4:13, Moses basically asks to tag out. Asking God if He could just send someone else. (I’m paraphrasing)

Sometimes it’s tempting to ask God if we can tag out too. “Send someone else, Lord. I don’t have it all together, I probably won’t be able to do it. Seems like a pretty lofty goal, I think we both know I shouldn’t aim that high. I could never reach, Lord. I don’t have what it takes. And you remember who I used to be, Lord.”

We often forget that God can’t work through the “perfect” people. Not because He lacks the ability but because they don’t leave any room for Him. He prefers us ragamuffins. His strength works wonders through our weaknesses.

God didn’t decide to have Samuel anoint one of David’s older brothers. They were all right there. But David was the chosen one. And he certainly made his share of mistakes, but God still used Him.

And Rahab… my goodness. God used the fact that men were often seen “frequenting her house” to carry out His plan. She hid the Israelite spies, and found favor with God and she and her family were spared. And in Matthew she’s mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

God gave Rahab grace. It’s beautiful how He looks at hearts. It’s overwhelming how He waits for us to hand Him our sins. It’s ridiculous how we think He wants to hold them over our heads. We do that on our own.

When Jesus intentionally sought the Samaritan woman at the well, being there at the time she went to draw water (to avoid the other women because of her lifestyle) it’s clear that she is the person He wanted to use to tell others about the Living Water.

Jesus saw her sin. Jesus still actively pursued her and showed her love. He then sought to reconcile her to Him. Jesus didn’t tell her how unworthy she was, because she wasn’t unworthy.

All of these people at some point had to be carrying the guilt and shame of their past sins. Some of them even carrying the shame of their current struggles.

But God used them anyway. He wants to use you, too. I know you think He can’t. You may even be audacious enough that you’ve decided that He won’t use you because of __________________.

Just fill in the blank with whatever it is that you think you’ve done or struggle with. The thing you have decided is so terrible that God has cancelled your purpose.

God hasn’t cancelled your purpose. And guess what, you can’t cancel it either. Trust me, I have certainly tried. If you haven’t repented for whatever it is… right now is the perfect time.

And if you have repented. Please stop dragging it around and dwelling on it. That’s just the enemy making you think you have to keep punishing yourself.

Remember how scripture tells us that on the cross, Jesus said. “It is finished.” Well, it’s finished. All the stuff you did or didn’t do, buried with Christ. So, let it go. In Christ, you are made new.

There’s freedom in laying it all down at His feet and running to embrace your purpose. God created you to be amazing.

So, go be amazing. Reach for the stars.

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 (NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for not accepting your forgiveness when you offer it to us. Help us each become the person you created us to be. I ask that you show us how to get out of our own way. We hand you our struggles, our sins, and the remains of who we used to be. Guide us forward in the freedom of your love and forgiveness. Help us embrace the beautiful purpose you have for us. Help us to remember that our past cannot stop Your future.

In Jesus name,

Amen

How to Combat Weight Gain During the Pandemic

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Hello Monday!

I hope you are faring well with all the precautions and different lifestyles that the past couple of months has brought us to.

I put fear and worry out of my mind pretty fast.  I have no time to spend on that when I can spend my time by making calls to those who might need something, even if it is just an ear to listen.  I have worked on projects I had put off for no particular reason and worked on my relationship with Jesus, because otherwise, I would be worried and fearful!

One of my biggest challenges during this time though is, once again, I have gained some weight back.  I try to exercise a lot at home, but don’t get the same effects as I do with the pool.  I have fallen back into some bad habits of eating and it’s time for it to stop!  It’s time to hitch up my bootstraps and get serious!

My love to all of you and stand strong and be safe!

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

How to combat weight gain during the pandemic (beyond diet and exercise) By Dr. Melina Jampolis

Quarantine life is challenging, to say the least, and all of us are struggling mentally, emotionally and physically. And no one would blame you for being tempted to abandon your diet and exercise plan and reach for the tub of ice cream while binge-watching that tiger show that everyone is talking about.

But health experts strongly recommend you do your best to prevent excess weight gain during this historic and scary time.

Dr. David Buchin, director of bariatric surgery at Huntington Hospital, is seeing that a large percentage of the patients battling Covid-19 in the medical center’s intensive care unit are obese. Patients who are obese are especially challenging to care for, he said, as treatment involves rolling them from their back to their front regularly to optimize lung function. In addition, a recent study found that in patients under the age of 60, obesity doubled the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization.

I’m not suggesting starting a strict diet or intense exercise program while sheltering in place, but there are some simple things you can do to prevent weight gain and protect yourself not only from Covid-19-related complications, but also from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that will remain two of the top causes of death after we get through this pandemic.

When it comes to quarantine shopping, it’s important to be organized, especially when it comes to eating enough fruits and vegetables (aim for five servings per day if you can). Buy a combination of fresh, frozen and canned to last you at least a week or more.

Consume fresh products first and then move on to frozen and canned. Rinse canned vegetables to reduce sodium, and be sure to consume fresh or frozen fruit daily as the vitamin C content of canned fruits and vegetables, which is important for immunity health, is lower than fresh or frozen.

Foods to boost your mood, now that you really need it

Chef Devin Alexander, who has maintained a 70-pound weight loss for decades, has some terrific tips for shopping on a budget and managing quarantine cravings. When buying produce, for example, unlike most other items, she suggested looking for the items on sale.

Watermelon and berries go on sale in the summer because they’re in season and thus very plentiful. That’s also when they taste the best, so you can make amazing desserts without the need for a ton of added sugar.

Alexander also recommended having coleslaw on hand for when the salty cravings hit. Her recipe for Orange Cilantro Cole Slaw, available on her website, satisfies that salty, crunchy hankering in a way that’s actually good for you. It helps get in a serving or two of vegetables, and just might keep you from “needing” to eat a bag of chips. In addition, cabbage and carrots are budget-friendly, last for weeks and are loaded with immune-supporting nutrients.

When you come home from the store, make sure to put the healthier foods in more easily seen locations in your kitchen. Food cravings and hunger can be triggered by just seeing food, so keep more indulgent foods out of sight — and hopefully out of mind — on upper shelves in your cupboard, in the back of the fridge or the bottom of the freezer.

Manage stress

During this global crisis it’s even more important than ever to find ways to conquer stress and manage anxiety.

I know, it isn’t easy. Balancing homeschooling, financial challenges, cabin fever, social isolation and illness is stressful, but stress can contribute to poor eating choices and increase fat deep in your belly (underneath the muscle) that can contribute to heart disease and diabetes even more than the pinchable fat that lies directly underneath your skin.

Creating an effective family routine when homebound for coronavirus

Practice mindfulness, meaning doing your best trying to live in the present versus worrying too much about the future. That’s the advice from Joanne Koegl, a licensed marriage and family therapist who tells clients to take time out of their day to focus on simple things such as the warmth of the sun, the beauty of a flower, the taste of a bite of chocolate or the laugh of a child.

Koegl recommended apps and websites such as Headspace, Calm, The Tapping Solution (a self-administered therapy based on Chinese acupressure that can help calm the nervous system) and Breathe by anxiety expert Dr. Jud Brewer. These resources and others are offering free services focused on managing Covid-19-related anxiety and stress.

You can also practice basic self-care to manage anxiety and relieve stress. Take a hot bath, find a quiet place in your house and sip a cup of tea, exercise, call an old friend or consider volunteering if it’s safe. Helping others also gives you a sense of purpose and joy.

If you are really struggling with anxiety, there are mental health telemedicine options such as Doctor on Demand and crisis hotlines available in major cities across the country. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to reach out for professional help.

Sleep right

Sleep anxiety and daylight saving time can exacerbate insomnia, but stretching may help

Both excess sleep and inadequate sleep have been linked to weight gain, increased appetite and worsening blood sugar control, so try your best not to completely abandon your sleep schedule by staying up late, sleeping until noon or staying up all night watching television.

Try to stay on a relatively normal sleep schedule, experts recommend. This is much easier to do if you follow basic sleep principles including avoiding excess alcohol before bed, keeping your room as dark as possible and at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit and exercising regularly. And turn off the news (and put down your phones) in the hours before bed.

Move more

Spending so much time at home has another unforeseen consequence. You are burning far fewer calories going about your daily life than you were pre-quarantine, regardless of whether you exercise daily.

Sitting at the computer for hours, whether doing Zoom work calls or socializing, and staying inside on evenings and weekends binge-watching television, along with shopping and socializing online, easily all add up to several hundred fewer calories burned per day through non-exercise activity, which is often higher than intentional exercise for most people. It’s essential to incorporate more movement and less sitting every day.

Buchin tells his patients to commit to a certain amount of exercise to “earn” their television viewing. For example, for each movie they watch they should incorporate 20 minutes of some form of activity which could be cleaning, playing with your family, gardening or even simply standing while talking on the phone or participating in a Zoom call.

I have been using my Apple Watch more than ever lately. I appreciate the reminder to stand up every hour for at least one minute and the ability to track my general daily activity in addition to exercise.

If you don’t have a fitness device, set a timer on your phone or even your microwave to remind you to get up every hour and walk around the house, up and down the stairs a few times or just do some stretching in place before sitting down again.

As we hear repeatedly on the news, we are all in this together, and my hope is that with these tips, you and your loved ones can maintain your weight and stay fit, healthy and maybe even a little less stressed during this global pandemic.

Is Something Other Than Christ Controlling Your Life?

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Happy May!

We have officially arrived in a new month!  Because so many things are going on right now in our world, it’s hard to keep track of time, at least for me.

Most of us have semi adjusted to a new routine.  The biggest adjustment has probably been for those who still work outside the home and have now lost that income.  That brings the dilemma of how to pay the bills and put food on the table.  I pray for these people all the time and help where I can.

Those in the healthcare profession may be working every hour they can stay awake and meanwhile have had to set aside seeing their families in order to protect them from everything they are exposed to continuously.  First responder’s lives haven’t had a chance to slow down either and they see, and touch it all.  The people who make sure that we are supplied with as much as they can keep stocked, work steadily, despite having to put up with the likes of us.  There are others who put themselves in jeopardy for those who need help in various ways.  As far as I’m concerned, they are all heroes.

And then, there is me, and maybe some more of you, who doesn’t like the fact that our apple cart has been upset because we like to do what we like to do?

My life has been upset because (especially due to pollen) I am in the house more and I love to cook, so I cook.  That is well and good except if I cook it, I will probably eat it and for me, that’s not a good thing.  What are my idols?  I am trying to exercise as much as possible but I can’t exercise nearly as much now as I can when I can go to the pool.  And I really LOVE my water exercise!  What are my idols?  I love just going to the stores and checking out new fashions, new décor, new anything.  What are my idols?  My idols are exactly what I allow them to be…

On a different note, I practice my dulcimer more.  I probably will never be good, I can’t read music and I don’t have the best finger dexterity but you know what?  I really enjoy it.  It is relaxing and challenges me to keep trying.

There is really nothing worth watching on the television but we are reading more, we are studying our Bibles more and keeping up with our Bible Study classes even when they don’t meet.  I have learned to just relax and see what God has for me on any given day.  Maybe we have a few too many idols and don’t even realize it.

A pandemic is a bad thing, but maybe God wants us to take this time to reorganize our priorities and take the idols off the shelf and get rid of them, once and for all.

Be safe and Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

Is Something Other Than Christ Controlling Your Life?

Rick Warren

 ‘‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)

The Bible is full of wisdom for decision-making. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (ESV).

When deciding whether to allow something into your life, you can think of this as the Independence Test.

Ask yourself: Could this begin to control and dominate my life? Could it become addicting to me? Could I become dependent on it?

No matter how fun something is, it’s bad for you if it becomes an addiction.

Why is this so important? Because whatever dominates your life eventually becomes your god. The first of God’s Ten Commandments—says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 NIV).

God knew how easily you could slip into worshiping other things. He knew you could get addicted to your idols.

What are idols? You likely think of idols as something in the past—maybe little stone statues that people put on a shelf and worshiped. But people still have idols today. Maybe you worship the maker of your car, the label in your clothing, or the corner office in your building.

That’s not to mention all of the things you can become addicted to: Work. Sex. Money. The Internet. The list is endless.

How do you know if you’ve fallen into an addiction? How do you know if something is starting to dominate your life—when you no longer are independent of it? Ask yourself: What do I think about the most? When I’m alone, where does my mind go?

For most of us, it’s hard to be honest about the things that dominate our lives. If you’re thinking, “This is not what I’m addicted to. It couldn’t be that.” Guess what? It’s probably that. That’s probably the thing you’re struggling with.

In another translation of 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to” (TLB).

Paul decided not to let anything—other than Christ—control his life. Jesus is the only one that’s worthy of that place in your life, too. Anything else that you put in that place will eventually dominate and ruin your life. But when Christ is in control, he encourages, enables, and empowers you.

The next time you’re deciding whether something is in its proper place in your life, use the Independence Test. Christ is the only one who deserves your dependence.

Tim Tebow – Sharing Love

/in /by

Good morning!

Here we are, just a few days on the shady side of May.  I don’t know about anyone else but sometimes, it seems as if the past two months have flown by!  Other days, it’s as if it has been a surreal, slow motion dream. (Or nightmare, depending on your outlook)

I remember, as a kid, on May 1st, “May Day”, we would make paper baskets with handles and fill them with wildflowers for our mothers.  There was a May Pole with crepe paper streamers.  It was a time of innocence and actually getting to be a kid.  I miss those days.

Today, we are adults, no more paper baskets of flowers or May Poles.  We live in a new reality, especially right now.

One thing that I believe remains the same everywhere and all the time, is the need to know someone cares.  For some, that is taken for granted.  We are surrounded by family and friends, even if it virtual for now.

There are many others who are alone.  They have no family and they feel totally alone.  In times like these, this is especially hard because of the isolation.  Maybe, just maybe, if each of us reach out, in some small way, we could make a difference in someone’s life.  We can be the hands and feet of Jesus by showing compassion and love.

I challenge you this week to make a phone call, send a text, a card, or (gasp) write a letter!  We may know someone, but never really know what that person may be going through and just how badly they need to hear a voice, and even more, have an ear that will take the time to listen.  You may be the only person they talk to this week.

Tom Tebow says it well.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

“Hey fam, I just wanted to share something that has been on my heart the past week or so… I hope it encourages & inspires you!

Right now in this time of uncertainty there are a lot of people hurting, a lot of people facing anxiety and a lot of people that feel alone.

Let’s not just say that we love people. Let’s not just quote Scripture. Let’s not just say we love the world. Let’s demonstrate it. God gave us the example, He demonstrated his love for us. Let’s demonstrate our love to the hurting people around us.

I know you can’t go around just hugging everybody and holding hands because of social distancing; but guys, you can send out texts to your family, friends or neighbors. You can pray for them and with them. You can send them food or gifts. You can connect through a Face Time or Zoom call. There’s something you can do right now to actively demonstrate your love for the people around you.

There’s a couple not far from where Demi & I live still recovering from COVID-19 that we’ve been friends with for a long time. We can’t go over there and give them hugs, we can’t really even bring them meals because of not trying to get too close; but we can send texts, we can encourage them, we can talk on the phone, we can Face Time with them, we can still let them know that they are loved, that they’re not alone… Even though sometimes they’re feeling alone.

Who is that person, who is that family, or the people in your life that you can demonstrate your love to right now? That’s my encouragement and that’s my motivation to you and to us today. Let’s demonstrate our love to people that need it. Every day we share the Gospel but every now and then we use words. Let’s share the Gospel with how we demonstrate our love for people.

God bless!”
Tim Tebow

Can’t Handle It?  God Already Knows

/in /by

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)

I don’t know what you are going through today.  I don’t know what pain, be it physical, emotional or spiritual, you are suffering right now.  I don’t know, but I know it’s there.  Why?  Because we all suffer from some sort of pain most days.

So many of us paste that smile on our face and go about life.  Others don’t manage that well.  There is a common factor though.  No matter what the situation and no matter how we are handling it, God is there.  If you haven’t turned to Him yet, He is there waiting.  If you have, He is handling it and He is SO much more capable than we are.  We may not see the solution right away.  Our time is not God’s time.  Rest assured.

I think that is the hard part so often.  We feel helpless if we aren’t “handling “it.  And yet, God is there.  He is waiting for us to hand over our burdens to Him so He give you relief and peace.

Yes, there is peace to be had.  But it can only come from He, our Creator, the Alpha and Omega, who sees all and knows all.

Rest in His arms and know all is well.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

Can’t Handle It?  God Already Knows

 “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  (1 Peter 5:5 CSB)

If you start thinking about all the problems you’ve ever had, then you’ll realize that they all have one thing in common: you. When you reach that point, the best choice is to humble yourself and confess your inadequacy.

This is what King Jehoshaphat did when three powerful armies were coming to wage war against him. He said, “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT).  When he confessed, he was able to worship instead of worry.

Confessing your inadequacy can be hard. Humbling yourself is rarely easy or fun.

God wants you to humble yourself because the Bible says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 CSB).

Pride repels God’s grace, but humility attracts it. God wants to pour his grace into your life, but he won’t do it as long as pride is in the way. So, you have to humble yourself and confess your inadequacy.

Here’s the great thing about confessing your inadequacy: You’re just telling God what he already knows! When you tell him, “I can’t handle this,” that is no surprise to God. In fact, Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).

But Philippians 4:13 tells the rest of the story: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV).

Christ is powerful; you are powerless. There is no middle ground. But like the verse says, when we rely on him, Christ will give us strength.

So, when you find yourself facing the impossible, you have to confess your inadequacy. He won’t force himself into your situation. But he is ready and waiting to respond to your confession.