10-15-15 Topic of the week: How to Listen to God.

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How to Listen to God

We often come barreling into prayer with our lists and plans and agendas as if the purpose of prayer is to get the things WE want accomplished.
“Lord, bless me,”
“Lord, give me,”
“Lord, help me,”
“Lord, do this,”
“Lord, do that.”
For most of us, prayer is overwhelmingly a one-way street, a monologue instead of a dialogue.
But the key to true prayer—deep, sweet prayer—is the same as the secret of dancing well: one person leads, and one person follows. Guess which one is you?
That’s why the prayer of reflection is such a wonderful way to pray. It is the practice of listening to the Shepherd’s voice. It’s obeying the command of Scripture as we enter the presence of God:
Guard your steps… Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, NIV)
If we do not cultivate the discipline of reflection, we do ourselves–and God–a great disservice. As one writer has said, “Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue recited by men in God’s presence” (Hans Urs von Balthasar, Prayer, trans. by A. V. Littledale, Geoffrey Chapman, Ltd., 1961, p. 12).
And Robert Benson agrees. He says,
I need to listen, listen for the prayer of God that is rising in my heart, perhaps for the prayer that I should be praying rather than the one that I am praying (Robert Benson, Living Prayer, p. 134).
I think that is a large part of what it means to pray “in the name of Jesus”: to think God’s thoughts after Him.
But it doesn’t happen by accident, or even on the way to anyplace else. It happens in the silent moments. After reading, sometimes. Or while listening to birdsong. Or brooksong.
To an onlooker, the prayer of reflection may look suspiciously like a daze, or like daydreaming or even napping. But author Avery Brooke expressed it well:
Deeper, wordless contemplation is something that we may experience either in church, in those blessed pauses between words, or in quiet times alone when we cease our words of prayer, put down our Bibles, and realize that God is both very near and familiar and yet beyond all knowing. We feel that we would like to know God so well that we could sit still for an hour in silent companionship, as with an old friend. (“What is Contemplation?” Weavings, July/August 1992, p. 9)
If you’ve experienced the prayer of reflection, you know what she means. If not, you are in for a wonderful treat, a sublime discovery…if you will take the time, enter the quiet place of your own heart and mind, and sit with God for a few minutes, praying the prayer of reflection.

When God Says ‘No’

How to adjust when the answer to a prayer isn’t what you wanted.
by Bob Hostetler |
My mother was hospitalized with breast cancer the summer of my 14th year. Day after day that summer, I knelt at a crude altar at a church camp in Missouri, praying for her healing, begging God not to let my mother die.
God answered my prayer. The answer was “no.” She died on September 29 that year.
Maybe you can remember similar moments when you prayed, and God answered…with a “no.” And no matter how many testimonies of answers to prayer you may hear, no matter how many books you read extolling the power of prayer, it’s the times when the answer has been “no” that stick in your mind–and in your throat.
But you are not alone. In fact, the Bible records instances when the prayers of even the greatest saints of God were answered with a “no.” And they can teach us a thing or two to help us adjust our prayers at such times.
1) Make sure your heart is right.
Moses was a man of great faith. But after leading his people out of slavery in Egypt right to the very threshold of the land of promise, he prayed, “Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan” (Deuteronomy 3:25, NIV). And God said “no.”
Why? Because the children of Israel–and Moses himself, in fact–had disobeyed God, and that disobedience blocked the answer to Moses’ prayer.
When the answer is “no,” ask yourself if your prayers are being hindered because your heart is not right.
2) Consider whether the time is right.
Few names in the Bible shine as brightly as the prophet Elijah’s. After he routed the prophets of the false god Baal on Mt. Carmel, he took off for the desert and, after a full day’s journey, came to rest under a tree.
There, Elijah–the great champion of God, the great man of faith and prophet of Israel–prayed, “Let me die.” God said “no.”
Why? Apparently God still had things for Elijah to do (1 Kings 19:15-17). And God did eventually answer Elijah’s prayer, in a manner of speaking, by suddenly taking him up to heaven in chariots of fire (2 Kings 2:11, NIV).
Sometimes, when the answer is no, you might consider whether God said no because the timing wasn’t right…and find hope and encouragement in knowing that He knows best.
3) Ponder whether the prayer is right.
More than anyone else, the Apostle Paul was responsible for the rapid and effective spread of Christianity throughout the civilized world of the first century. His inspired writings form the foundation of the doctrine of the church. But he got a “no” from God, too.
He asked three times for God to take away a “thorn in the flesh,” something that caused Paul much trouble and frustration. But God said “no.”
Why? Paul answered the question himself. Because the prayer was not right. Paul did not see–until God pointed it out to him somehow–that his “thorn in the flesh” was being used by God for a purpose.
Sometimes the answer is “no” because the prayer itself is not right. Such instances call for surrender–and revision. There may be a different prayer we need to pray instead.
The solution to unanswered prayers lies not in changing God’s mind (for He is wise and always doing what is best) but in adjusting how we pray.

Here are some prayers that God can’t resist.
by Bob Hostetler |
7 Prayers God Always Answers

Like everyone, I have experienced many answers to prayer. As the axiom goes, “Some were answered ‘yes,’ some ‘no’ and some ‘not now.’”
But I have learned that there are some prayers God can’t resist. Some prayers He answers with alacrity. Some prayers seem to spur God to act. Here are seven such prayers:
1) I surrender.
Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37, ESV). God honors and accepts any act of surrender, large or small.
2) Bring Your kingdom; have Your way.
Jesus taught his followers to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, ESV). Learning to pray this sincerely—and specifically—can transform your praying and your living. It is not only a prayer He taught us to pray, it is one He is anxious to answer
3) Forgive me.
No one who has sincerely asked for God’s forgiveness has ever been denied. He is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon [Him]” (Psalm 86:5, ESV).
4) Lead me.
Do you need guidance in making a decision? Do you crave strength to face a challenge? Do you want God’s purpose to be accomplished in a specific area of your life? Pray like the psalmist: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing” (Psalm 143:10, NLT). Though you may not always feel His hand holding yours, God will always answer when you ask Him to lead you.
5) Draw them to You.
The Bible says that God doesn’t want anyone to perish; He wants everyone to come to repentance and experience new, abundant life in Christ (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, whenever you pray for God to have mercy on someone and draw that person closer to Himself, He will answer. It may not seem that way. It may not happen as quickly as you would like or in the way that you had in mind, but when His will and your praying agree with each other, He will answer.
6) Use me.
The Bible records the earliest Christians praying, not for deliverance from hardship or persecution, but for God to “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29, NIV). And God answered their prayer, as He will respond to any of His servants who pray to be used. However, a warning is in order: Brace yourself when you pray to be used, because you may be surprised at how He answers.
7) Make me like You.
God loves to answer when a follower of Jesus prays to be made to look and act more and more like Jesus Christ, because that is what He wants and a work He has already begun in you (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:2).
These are not the only prayers God can’t resist, perhaps. But I’ve never known Him to turn down a single one of them. He has told us to pray these prayers, and over and over again has proven Himself willing and anxious to hear and answer them.

12 Ingredients You Should Never Eat

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Make sure these “Dirty Dozen” ingredients aren’t in your favorite foods.
byLEAH ZERBEAUGUST 26, 2015

If an ingredient is allowed in food, it’s safe, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Inadequate safety testing and government loopholes have allowed super-shady ingredients, some of them with strong ties to cancer and other serious diseases, to wind up in thousands of popular foods. Luckily, Environmental Working Group (EWG) has come up with another consumer-friendly list that makes it easier to protect your family. The group’s new Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives is designed to help people figure out which additives to avoid and why.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen Ingredients:
1. Nitrites + Nitrates
Nitrites and nitrates, often added to cured meats, including hot dogs, sausages, and lunch meats, made EWG’s list because they are classified as probable human carcinogens when ingested.
2. Potassium Bromate
Used to help dough rise during baking, potassium bromate really has no business in your bread because California has declared it a known carcinogen. Toxic to kidneys and shown to cause DNA damage, small but still detectable amounts have been found in fnished bread products. Both the United Kingdom and Canada ban the use of potassium bromate in food.
3. Propyl Paraben
Used as a preservative in things like tortillas, muffins, and food dyes, this ingredient is a hormone-disrupting chemical. It’s a testosterone killer and has been shown to decrease sperm counts in animal studies. A 2001 study also found that propyl paraben accelerates the growth of breast cancer. More recently, a 2013 study found it damages female fertility.
4. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Hiding out in all sorts of foods, including chips and preserved meats, the National Toxicology Program classifies BHA as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”
Related: The Best (+ Worst) Foods In Your Supermarket
5. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
EWG says rats fed BHT have developed lung and liver tumors. BHT has also been shown to cause developmental effects and thyroid changes in animals, suggesting that it may be able to disrupt endocrine signaling.
6. Propyl Gallate
Another problematic preservative used in fats like sausage and lard, this ingredient is linked to rare brain tumors in rat studies. Some studies suggest it disrupts normal hormone functioning, too.
7. Theobromine
The creator of this ingredient, sometimes used in baked goods, used a government loophole to deem the new ingredient safe, despite the fact that the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t even know if the ingredient is truly safe. “Theobromine is an example of how the GRAS [generally recognized as safe] regulatory system is broken and badly in need of reform,” says Renee Sharp, EWG’s director of research. “Companies are resorting to their own experts and paid consultants for safety approval of food additives, and not the government. This practice has to change.”
8. Secret Flavor Ingredients
“The truth is that when you see the word ‘flavor’ on a food label, you have almost no clue what chemicals may have been added to the food under the umbrella of this vague term,” EWG notes on its website. “For people who have uncommon food allergies or are on restricted diets, this can be a serious concern.”
Secret flavors can also contain solvents, preservatives, or other questionable ingredients. (Even “natural flavors” can contain synthetic chemicals, including solvents. Certified-organic “natural flavors” cannot, though.) To avoid these, choose fresh, organic whole foods as much as possible.
9. Artificial Colors
Completely unnecessary and used for cosmetic purposes only, artificial colors in food aren’t worth the risk. Some caramel colors are contaminated with cancer-causing 4-methylimidazole, while others are linked to hyperactivity in children.
10. Diacetyl
Diacetyl, which sometimes shows up as butter flavoring on microwave popcorn labels, is linked to a severe and irreversible occupational respiratory condition that can cause scarring in the lungs. In fact, former workers at microwave popcorn plants have such damaged lungs they are on wait lists for lung transplants. Make your own popcorn to avoid this nasty ingredient.
11. Phosphate-Based Food Additives
Often found in highly processed foods and baked goods, phosphates are among the most common food additives. That’s upsetting, given their ability to damage the kidneys and other organs, particularly the heart. (Phosphates also make you age faster.)
12. Aluminum-Based Additives
Aluminum builds up in the body, particularly your bones, and couldtrigger Alzheimer’s disease.
To help find healthier foods in the supermarket, use EWG’s newly released Food Scores database and mobile app. The database houses information on more than 80,000 foods and 5,000 ingredients from about 1,500 brands. “It is clear that people are craving this kind of information about their food,” says Ken Cook, president and cofounder of EWG. “Lobbyists for the food industry have long sought a permissive approach to the use of food additives. As long as their views hold sway at FDA, we advise people to use Food Scores and our new Dirty Dozen Guide to make smarter decisions for their families when they shop.”

“Life” Quote

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“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be; it’s the way it is.   The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.”

No-Bake Cinnamon Raisin Almond Butter Oat Bars

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No-Bake Cinnamon Raisin Almond Butter Oat Bars

Prep time 10 mins; Total time 10 mins; Makes 12 bars

Author: BeginWithinNutrition

1½ cup old fashioned oats

½ cup almond butter

¼ cup coconut oil

¼ cup brown rice syrup (I have substituted both pure maple syrup and honey and they worked)

pinch of sea salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup raisins (I have also used half and half mini chocolate chips and carob chips)

 

Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Pulse oats in a food processor a few times to make a course flour and set aside.

In a small saucepan over low heat add almond butter, coconut oil, brown rice syrup, sea salt, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir until melted and well combined. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in oats and raisins.

Press mixture into the lined baking pan. Use fingers to pack dough down well. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours to set. (or place in freezer to speed up the process!)

Remove from parchment paper and cut into 12 bars.

Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

7 SNEAKY THINGS THAT MAKE YOU STRESS EAT WITHOUT REALIZING

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As I was studying my Sunday School lesson, I read these verses and realized how important they are to our journey with The Daniel Plan and also our prayer journey.  Satan doesn’t like to see us grow stronger in our faith or our spiritual life in general.  The enemy sneaks in everywhere he can find a weak place.  It may be through health issues, family issues or even something as simple as distracting us from our focus on God.  Distractions are a big thing with me and I have to be constantly on guard.   It truly is a battle and we have to have our armor in place.

 Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.

 7 SNEAKY THINGS THAT MAKE YOU STRESS EAT WITHOUT REALIZING

 Stress eating, emotional eating, diving face-first into food—whatever you call it, it can creep up when you least expect it. In fact, you may not even realizing that when you’re regularly heating up the oven to bake your co-workers the best batch of pumpkin spice cookies they’ve ever tasted—and taste-testing for proof—you’re actually stress eating (and here you just thought you were being nice). So we turned to the experts to help us ID those subtle habits that could actually mean you’re pushing your limits, and stole their top tips and techniques to help break the cycle.

YOU’RE OVERWHELMED

No matter what’s on your plate, if you feel your back is up against a wall or you’re dealing with a difficult-to-solve problem, you may try to eat your way out of the situation. “It’s often our go-to soothing strategy because it fulfills the 3 E’s that motivate our behavior: it’s easy, effortless, and economical,” says Susan Albers, psychologist and author of 50 More Ways To Soothe Yourself Without Food. Meaning it’s a simple, immediate solution that doesn’t require much thought.

Stress relief: Because it might be such a knee-jerk reaction, it may take longer to break this little habit. So practice makes perfect with this alternative solution from Albers: Create a self-soothing tool kit, filling a box with items like gum, tea bags, and even bubble wrap to squeeze if you get angry. Stash the box in the spot you’re most likely to need it (ie: the place you tend to get stressed most often, like your desk) and use as many of the items as you need until you’re feeling more zen.

YOU’RE CARING FOR A SICK KID

Trying to juggle an under-the-weather child, plus all of your normal responsibilities, makes you turn to ice cream, chips, or a hefty glass of wine for comfort. “When things happen out of our control, we tend to react instead of acting proactively,” says Melissa McCreery, PhD, psychologist and author of TooMuchonHerPlate.com. And that knee-jerk reaction to stress is almost always food, because that’s something you can control.

Stress relief: Think about other things you can do that will help you take back a bit of control, suggests McCreery, like making a to-do list. Then tackle each item one at a time, rather than getting overwhelmed by the big picture. When you need a breather, repeat a mantra like this: “It’s one day, and she’s feeling better. The day feels out of hand, but I’m doing my best.” Research shows that taking the time to do so can help you re-center your emotions and help reduce the urge to pour another glass.

YOU’RE REWARDING YOURSELF

You’re done with a stressful work project and made it through parent-teacher conferences, so you deserve a decadent dessert, right? Ehhh…Research shows that treating yourself for a job well done can affect how your brain works by impairing your ability to learn, and it turns into more of a punishment than reward when the habit makes you gain weight.

Stress relief: When you crave a post-stress nosh, ask yourself if it’s what you really want or need, says Albers. “Pausing for a moment will stop the automatic habit to reach for a bite,” she says. Then do something that’s calming or fun that doesn’t “cost” calories. Scientists found that taking a brief, brisk walk was enough to quash stress-induced chocolate cravings, while another study discovered that watching funny cat videos can recharge your energy and put you in a more positive mood. Nothing guilty about that.

YOU’RE DIETING

All those restrictions you’re implementing to help you lose weight could actually be making you gain. “If you have a lot of food rules about what or how much to eat, you’re more likely to be stressed and preoccupied with food thoughts,” says Alex. And when you break a “rule,” you’re apt to feel guilty, which can make you eat more to soothe your feelings, or cause an “I give up” mentality that could lead to a food binge.

Stress relief: Skip the all-or-nothing mentality when it comes to food, and start by removing the phrase “forbidden” or “can’t” from your eating vocabulary, says Alex. A doughnut is not forbidden, bad or wrong—it’s just a doughnut and you can have one if you’re really craving it every now and then. Repeating that every time you catch yourself depriving can help you break the longtime habit we’ve developed after years of being told what’s good and what’s bad, which in turn can stop destructive behavior like eating (and often overindulging) those foods in secret.

YOU’RE DEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS

Okay, you know that that fight with your husband makes you want to bow down to the land of chocolate chip cookie dough. “Relationship stress is the number one reason we stress eat,” she says. Here’s why: “Other people’s words and actions are so out of our control, and food, once again, is in our control,” says Albers. “During a fight or breakup, it’s common to see people push down their feelings with food because it’s something we have power over,” she says.

Stress relief: If there’s a persistent problem in your relationship that causes you to stress eat so much that you’re gaining weight from it, then you may need professional guidance from a relationship counselor. Whether you go to couples therapy or see someone solo, they’ll be able to help figure out your relationship issues, teach you how to communicate feelings more effectively, and potentially address food issues that may be developing.

YOU’RE EATING TO PLEASE

The holidays are coming up, and while we already know it’s easy to overeat because of the overwhelming abundance of food, most don’t realize that just being around a ton of family members can lead to second or third helpings. “Navigating family situations and certain relationships can be a stress eating minefield,” says McCreery. One study found that people often eat to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings, so if there’s tension in the family, it can make you reach for your fork in order to make them feel a part of the group, or so they don’t feel bad about themselves or the dish they made. You may also do it to appear friendlier, which comes in handy for relatives you see once a year.

Stress relief: If you know that you’ll be in a stressful family situation, plan ways that you can have some time to yourself to get grounded, suggests McCreery. That may be taking a walk, going to the gym (even if you spend more time in the sauna), or just sitting in a room having “quiet” time to yourself. “Practicing regular self-care means you value you own needs,” adds Alex. “As a bonus, it allows you to be more present and patient when you return to the festivities.”

You Need an Outside Power Source

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Today’s topic is one that we discuss in meeting constantly.  We have tried over and over and over to change on our own and over and over and over, we have failed.  On our own, we can’t always overcome the temptations and the physical and emotional struggles that we are met with every day.

 Fortunately, we do have another power source.  Personally, I prefer to call it an INSIDE power source though.  When Jesus is living inside you, there is an infinite amount of power and support, just waiting to be used.

 Are you using your infinite power source or are you still trying to rely on self only?  Maybe it’s time to

“have a little talk with Jesus
(Let us) tell Him all about our troubles
(He will) hear our fainted cry
(He will) answer by and by
(When you) feel a little prayer wheel turning
(And you) will know a little fire is burnin’
(You will) find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”

 I hope you like those old hymns too.  They just perfectly fit in so often!

 Pray Unceasingly!

In His light,

Lois

 You Need an Outside Power Source

Rick Warren

 “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” (Romans 7:24 MSG)

 Have you figured out yet that a lot of times you are your own worst enemy? It’s your own reactions, your own fears, and your own inadequacies that cause you to act in foolish ways. I know that’s true for me.

 I need to be saved from myself because there are things I don’t like about me — things I wish I had done differently, things I’d like to change. But I can’t change them, at least not on my own power. I need an outside power source.

 You may be saying, “I can change.” I hate to say this, but you can’t. Every New Year, you may make a list of resolutions, and by the end of January, that list will be in the dumpster. Why? Because you can’t change on your own; you need God’s power. You need a Savior, someone who can make the changes you can’t make yourself.

The truth is if you are honest about it, sometimes you feel like your life is out of control. That’s a pretty common feeling. Welcome to the human race!

 The apostle Paul felt that way over 2,000 years ago. He says this in the Bible: “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does” (Romans 7:24-25 MSG). That’s the answer!

 You may be looking for that one thing that’s going to give you fulfillment and meaning and peace in life. But if you’re not looking to Jesus for salvation, then you’re looking in all the wrong places, and that’s why you’re frustrated.

 Some of us think that if we could just get married, or get a certain job or a promotion, or attain a certain level of wealth, or have a baby — or if our babies would grow up and graduate! — things would be great. A lot of people are looking for salvation in a self-help book, therapy, a fad, a diet, or a vacation.

If you’re doing that, you’re looking in the wrong places.

 he answer is not in your circumstances. It’s not in a place or a program or a pill. The answer is a person: Jesus Christ. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life is never going to make sense.

Tomato Eggplant Zucchini Bake with Garlic and Parmesan Recipe!

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Tomato Eggplant Zucchini Bake with Garlic and Parmesan

Tomato Eggplant Zucchini Bake is a gorgeous and easy summer side filled with Italian flavor. A great way to bake eggplant or zucchini!

YIELD: Serves 6; PREP TIME: 15 minutes; COOK TIME: 45 minutes; TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

3 medium zucchini (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 small/medium eggplant (about 3/4 pound)

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

4 large cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided (about 2 1/2 ounces)

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, divided

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a deep 9×9-inch baking dish or similar 3 1/2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.

Quarter the zucchini then cut into 1/2-inch slices and place in a large mixing bowl (each piece of zucchini should be roughly 1/2-3/4 inches in size). Next, slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds, then stack the rounds and cut into roughly 3/4-inch pieces. Add to the bowl with the zucchini. Half the cherry tomatoes and add to the bowl. Drizzle the cut vegetables with the olive oil, then add the garlic, salt, pepper, 1/3 cup of the Parmesan cheese, and half of the basil and parsley. Toss gently to combine.

Transfer the vegetables to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes, cover the pan with aluminum foil, then continue baking for 10-20 additional minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley. Serve warm.

God’s Secret to A Total Makeover

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Sometimes I have a week, a day, or even an hour when nothing goes right and I begin to feel like I have failed… again.  Does anyone else ever feel that way?  Is it time for another pity party, already??  Thankfully, I think I have made it beyond the pity parties, but sometimes I do get discouraged.  The scale refuses to cooperate and I have to wonder how I can motivate and encourage anyone else when I fail. 

 As I was thinking about all of this, other things began to come to mind.  (Maybe God’s little nudges.)  Not only has my health and Dennis’ health improved, but two of our members have given me great testimonies in their own health improvements since starting the lifestyle.  I have had the great pleasure of seeing the joy in another’s eyes when she finally had a break through.  It’s a little like the stock market, if you aren’t in it for the long haul, the first dip that comes along will do you in. 

 The Daniel Plan isn’t a miracle pill that you take and are magically transformed into some ideal image that may be stuck in your mind.  It is a healthy lifestyle change and just like God’s transformation, it comes from the inside to the outside.  Our transformation grows in so many ways every week as we study and pray.  Please pray for us as we pray for you.

 Pray Unceasingly!

In His light,

Lois

 

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 God’s Secret to A Total Makeover

Rick Warren

 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 Change is great on the outside, but real change comes from the inside out. It’s more than cosmetic; it’s more than a skinnier version of the same old you. God wants you to be made new from the inside out – spirit, soul, and body.

God puts them in that order in his Word: “May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being – spirit, soul, and body – free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 TEV).

God knows that real change comes from the inside. It’s great’s to clean out the fridge and get rid of the junk food in the pantry. But what about the junk food in your head? The old lies, the empty values, the false perceptions? Ephesians 4:23 says, “Be made new in the attitude of your minds” (NIV).

There are two words in today’s verse from Romans 12 that I want to focus on –

Conform. According to the dictionary, conform means to “make or become the same” or “to behave in a conventional way by accepting without question the customs, traditions and prevailing opinions of others.” How often do we do this? We think, “Oh everybody else is doing it so it must be okay.” But God says, “Don’t conform to the ways of this world. Stop and think about what you’re doing.”

Transform. Transform means “to change the condition, function, nature, character or personality” of something. It means changing from the inside out. In Romans 12, Paul says to transform yourself not by trying to be like the rest of the world, but by renewing your mind, by changing the way you think.

God wants a new you who not only looks different, but who lives and thinks and speaks and acts differently. He wants a new you who has taken a 180-degree turn and is headed in a new direction, no longer pursuing an old way of life, no longer trying to conform and fit in and be like everybody else. He wants a new you who is being transformed by the renewing of your mind – a new you who is being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

The Privilege Of Your Quiet Time

/in /by

I had the privilege of seeing the movie War Room this morning.  I call it a privilege because I was humbled, I laughed and I cried.  I cried a lot.  It is a very powerful movie and If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.

We forget sometimes we are at war.  We have an enemy who is at our back door every minute and every hour.  We need to have a strategy, a battle plan, or the enemy will devour us.  Even though we need a plan, we don’t have to fight the battle alone.  We just have to ask our God and give it to Him and He will do battle for us.

Perhaps we all need a War Room, a place to strategize, a quiet place to pray, to beg forgiveness or to beg for help.  A place to simply give ourselves over to an all powerful, ever loving Father who wants nothing more than to take our yoke upon HIS shoulders.  He hears our cry, He feels our pain.  He loves us.

Pray Unceasingly!

In His light,

Lois

The Privilege Of Your Quiet Time

RICK WARREN

“You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11 NLT)

It’s quite a privilege to have a quiet time. We get to have an audience with the king of the universe, the creator of everything.

What makes our quiet times such a privilege that we wouldn’t want to consider missing it? Here are four miraculous things that happen when we spend time with God.

1. You get to give God your devotion. “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you” (Revelation 3:20, MSG). He’s your creator, redeemer, provider, sustainer, counselor, and comforter. God deserves our worship. We’d have nothing without God. Better yet, God wants your devotion, too! He wants to spend time with you.

2. God gives you direction. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV). You and I need direction on a daily basis. God wants to give that direction to you, but to get the direction you must spend time with him. Your quiet time gives you an opportunity to get a daily mid-course correction in your life.

3. You gain delight in God. “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11 NLT). Spending time with God will actually make you happier. Your quiet time is when you enjoy God. Knowing God is the secret to joy.

4. You grow to be more like God. The more time you spend with God, the godlier you become. Spend time watching television, and your character will be shaped by the people you’re watching. Spend time studying God’s Word and with him in prayer, and your character will be shaped by the character of Christ.

Are you spending time with God every day? Do it, and it will be the best decision you’ve ever made.

Live God’s Way

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Welcome home, Pastor Tom and Jean!

Summer will be drawing to an end before we know it, but living in Florida, our activities don’t have to change drastically, even in the middle of winter!  So, what do you enjoy doing that makes you feel good and by doing it you know you are doing what is good for your body?  There are many ways we can become Daniel Strong AND honor God with our bodies too.

In this area, I know pickleball is very popular, along with golf, dancing, biking, swimming and so many other activities.  Every one of these are wonderful and fun!  Choose an activity that you love and go PLAY LIKE A KID!  Some of us are more limited than others, but there is something we can all do.  Casting Crowns have a popular song right now that seems fitting.

  “We know we were made for so much more 

Than ordinary lives

It’s time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive!”

 
Pray Unceasingly!
 
In His light,
Lois

Live God’s Way

RICK WARREN

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? …. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.” (Galatians 5:22-23 MSG)

Think about this: God wouldn’t have designed your body to need physical exercise and at the same time intend for exercise to be the most grueling, tedious thing you have to do.

God knows we’re all shaped differently, so he provided a variety of physical activities we can take part in. There’s an exercise out there for every one of us.

The best exercise is the one that you will actually do because you enjoy it. So what do you love? What sounds like fun? Ask God to show you what it is, and give it a try, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone.

Galatians 5:22 says, “But what happens when we live God’s way? …. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely” (MSG).

Here’s a good place to start: Move toward joy. If you think of exercise as drudgery, as an “ought to” in your life, your motivation disappears. If you “direct your energies wisely” and do something you enjoy, something you “get to” do, you’ll find that motivation just flows.

 PLAY Like A Kid

 

Picture yourself when you were a fifth grader, probably nine or ten years old. Do you remember … 

Looking into the sky watching clouds morph into zoo animals and cartoon characters? Running with outstretched arms like Superman or Wonder Woman, saving the entire city? Playing tag, getting caught, and laughing so hard you couldn’t breathe? Climbing trees? Running and jumping into a pile of leaves? Not worrying about how much you weighed, what you looked like, what clothes you wore, or how much money you had? Skipping, hiding, seeking, shooting, chasing, swimming, dancing, and catching?

When we were young, moving our bodies was a natural part of our day. We looked forward to recess. We longed for it. We dreamt about it. We waited patiently for the school bell to ring or our next-door neighbor to come home to play. We were always in motion.

Dr. William Sears, “America’s Pediatrician,” is the father of eight children and a best-selling author and, most important, loves kids. He asked fitness expert Foy to co-author a book with him and his son Peter, called Lean Kids.


With the desire to help children combat inactivity and obesity, they set out to create a proven program that would be implemented in schools, after-school facilities, churches, and community centers throughout the United States. They knew that to help kids move more, they would need to come up with a fun way of building activity back into their lives. They thought it would be easy.
What they didn’t realize was how much activity had been removed from our children’s lives. In performing their research, Dr. Sears and Foy looked at movement patterns of youth years ago. They also fondly remembered when they were young, playing outdoors. Today, for our kids, it is just the opposite. With tablets, smart phones, and online games, kids today need to be coaxed to go outside. They spend much of their days sitting down and therefore experience some of the same health and fitness challenges as adults three times their age.

So Foy and the Searses went to work, with a passion and desire to design a curriculum and program geared to help kids get moving again. They created the PLAY program and implemented it in various after-school facilities. After the initial pilot programs, they were pleased to see that children improved not only their strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, weight loss, and overall fitness and health, but also their confidence, self-esteem, emotional well-being, relationships, and quality of life. 

Foy and the Searses knew they were onto something. Today there are more than 1,000 certified LEAN coaches who are helping kids and families get fit throughout the world. That same program is the basis for the PLAY concept of The Daniel Plan.

The Difference a Ride Makes

 “A few years ago I went on a hike with a friend and saw a group of ladies doing a mountain bike clinic. They invited us to join their group, and the next day I signed up online. I had no idea I would have so much fun riding a bike or how much my life would change because of this group activity. It’s become like a sisterhood for me as I learned to take to the trails with people who support and cheer me on every time we ride.

“The leader of The Trail Angels inspires and often encourages us to get out of our comfort zones. With the confidence she has taught me on the bike, I’m now leading beginners on their first rides.”

“Mountain biking has also become a kind of therapy for me. If I’m having a rough day, a quick mountain bike ride with friends changes my outlook and clears my head. Our rides are often filled with laughter. A crash or a flat tire often turns into an opportunity to take funny pictures to post on Facebook. Some rides have themes or costumes, and we’ve been known to do scavenger hunts while riding. This kind of fun with fitness is contagious. I’m always thinking about my next ride and wondering who I can invite to join me!”
—Tracy Jones

Back then we called it play, and we loved every minute of it. Today, for many, we call it exercise and countevery minute of it, longing for it to be over. We frequently find it painful, boring, or dull, and we feel guilty about not doing it. For many of us, the results of tomorrow are just not worth the effort today. Many of us won’t switch to an active lifestyle just because it’s good for us. So what will change us?

Kay Warren said, “You were meant for something more. You were meant to experience a life of joy.” God designed us to experience joy. In fact, we crave it and search for it. Unfortunately, when stress builds up, joy escapes us, and we wind up overeating, overworking, overstressing, overdoing, and even over-sitting. Most of our days are spent with long spans of minimal movement, which impacts not only our joy, but also our bodies.

The Daniel Plan integrates motion with devotion and brings back the fun and joy to your fitness and life.