It’s been over a month since I posted anything. The holidays, a number of unexpected events and well, just life has been almost overwhelming for the past 30 days or so.
I had heard this song earlier, but really LISTENED to the lyrics at WinterJam in Charlotte.
What a reminder that the life we experience here is not our destination.
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. – John 15:19a NLT
I have Psalm 56 bookmarked at YouVersion. Like Psalm 121, it reminds me that no matter what happens, God never leaves us.
O God, have mercy on me,
for people are hounding me.
My foes attack me all day long.I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
and many are boldly attacking me. But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?They are always twisting what I say;
they spend their days plotting to harm me.They come together to spy on me—
watching my every step, eager to kill me.Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;
in your anger, O God, bring them down.You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!I praise God for what he has promised;
yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised.I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light.
My favorite part? “You have collected all my tears in your bottle.” Not only does God know every hair on our head, but he keeps track of every tear we shed.
We do not walk alone.
I was on YouVersion yesterday trying to catch up on my daily reading. Yes, I’m behind on my reading plans. This verse was a part of that day’s reading.
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. – Mark 4:25 NLT
There are times I haven’t understood what God is trying to teach me as I go through struggles. Maybe it was because I wasn’t listening to what He had to say.
God help me to listen to You so I can understand.
But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:15
Do we really believe and live this way?
Ludmilla IND from Deidox on Vimeo.
May God teach us to live in the embassy he has given us.
If you aren’t familiar with Deidox I urge you to visit the site. The producers create amazing short documentaries like the one above for use by individuals and pastors. Each one speaks volumes by itself.
We are the most connected generation in history.
Nothing escapes the ever present gaze of all of us. The 24-hour news cycle constantly searches for new content and now we are “the media”. People are connected via:
Connecting to be heard in a world full of noise.
But are we really misconnected?
Connect from The Veracity Project on Vimeo.
We are so concerned about being connected to everything and everyone except the God who made us.
We long to be heard and feel connected.
But He is the only one that will really listen.
1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.5 The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.7 The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121 (NLT)
Don’t be misconnected.
Wasting time has become an art form.
Channel surfing.
Surfing the web.
Checking Facebook.
Letting time slip by.
We also do that in our relationship with God. Once we meet God and start a relationship we start wasting time.
But, it’s not new. The writer of the book of Hebrews was dealing with the same thing.
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT)
Many people have been believers for years. However, their relationship with God hasn’t gone anywhere. It is the same as it was when they first started. There is no depth, no growth. As a result, these people cannot tell others about who God is because they really don’t know. The writer calls them babies, unable to to eat solid food. A great analogy.
We have been given the greatest gift from God and we waste time staying where we start; unwilling to take steps of faith and grow in our relationship.
If we don’t know much about God, how can we tell others about Him.
I don’t want to be wasting time.
I have a new pal – a helper you might say. I know he’s my new pal because his name says so. Who is it?
A big thank you to my friend Chris Whisonant for introducing us. We seem to be hitting it off so well.
Who is My Fitness Pal? Well, simple – it’s a website (with corresponding apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry) that is helping me lose weight and get in better shape. It seems like my metabolism just stopped when I turned 35 or so. That, in combination with the everyday demands of work, parenthood and other obligations led to some significant weight gain. The picture up in the right hand corner of my blog gives you an idea of where I started. Bear in mind, we worked with how I was standing, facing, etc to minimize my weight (at least I did).
I have tried to lose weight before and posted that progress here. While I lost some, it came right back. The positive part of that last effort was that Charity:Water benefited since people (me, family and friends and readers) donated based on the amount of weight I lost. The problem is that I always become discouraged and start making bad choices again and the weight comes right back. I believe this is where myfitnesspal will be different.
Using this site (and the app) I am given a calorie “budget” for each day. I log my food for each meal and snacks. As a result, I get to see exactly where I stand in real time. The site/app does all the calculations for me. What makes it even easier is the fact that their database is huge and includes almost anything you will be eating. If it’s not in the database – add it! So far, I’ve lost some weight and plan to lose a good bit more. You can follow my progress by watching the badge in the right hand column.
So, why do I need your ideas?
How should I celebrate each pound lost? So, I’m going to let:
Should I donate $1 or more per pound lost to a charity or other group?
If so, which group? Samaritan’s Purse? Charity:Water? Love146? Is there another group you have in mind?
Should I donate a pound of food (ironic isn’t it?) to a local food bank?
Other ideas?
My goal is to lose 20-25 pounds. Maybe we could do this together and make the impact larger.
If you end up using myfitnesspal, my ID is GsimmonsSC.
Many of you have seen the “No Fear” brand of lifestyle clothing. The point behind the brand is that the wearer will accomplish things with no fear. You might say it’s the ultimate power of positive thinking – especially considering that the majority of wearers are young, testosterone filled, energy drinking, caffeine laced men. You know…the ones featured on the latest viral video of the guy jumping from the roof to the kiddie pool on a BMX bike with no helmet (or brains).
I believe the marketing appeals to the part of us that is actually afraid. That part that walks more quickly down a dark street, whistles in the dark, locks the door of the car as soon as we get in, sees the caller ID but doesn’t answer the phone.
We all have fears. But, really, what are we afraid of.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
If God is with me, why am I afraid?
Rap and Hip Hop may not be your thing. That’s ok.
Lecrae is a Rap/Hip Hop artist I really like both because of the music and the lyrics. But, I didn’t know his back story until I saw the video below on I Am Second. Listen to him tell about his life.
Now, listen to a little bit of his music.
Lecrae is using his experiences and his back story to reach others that have the same background and the same struggles.
What is your back story?
HT to Church Mag for sharing this video.
What if some people in church truly sang what was in their heart? What they really felt or believed?
Ouch.
