World War II Remembered

"Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." These were the opening words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech to the United States Congress the day after the Japanese conducted a sneak attack on the Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was this event that threw the United States into World War II. 

The devastation of Pearl Harbor was massive. So many lives were lost. To this day, there are many ships underwater with their contents forever embedded to the ocean floor. There were also bodies that were never recovered. Loved ones were left to wonder if their family and friends were alive or dead. 

The attack happened early on a Sunday morning. At that time, most were in church or had yet to start their day. Soldiers had only begun to file into their ships. Had this attack happened later in the day, more lives would have been lost. 

People tend to overlook the fact that this war had started years previously in Europe. Hitler was on the march seeking to obliterate all Jews. Germany was left vulnerable and broke at the end of the First World War. This left them with a shattered economy and devastated towns and cities. Work was hard to find and food was in short supply. Hitler's promise of prosperity grabbed the nation, giving it hope. However, no one could have predicted what Hitler's reign was going to do. Rather than enriching their country, providing a more stable government, and boosting their lagging economy, World War II had a further devastating effect on Germany.

Newspaper article reporting on the Nazis
 "Kristallnacht" (The Night of the Broken Glass)

United States citizens were only partially aware of the atrocities happening under Hitler. There were murmurs of attacks on Jews. There were rumors of the concentration camps, but that is just what it was... rumors. No one could believe that something that horrible could happen. Why would anyone want to exterminate an entire race of people? It was unheard of. Yet, it was happening. 

As men marched off to war, it left a huge gap in the work force. No longer were there men working in the factories, working in the fields, working in domestic service. It was the women who jumped in to take over the reigns. Not only did they fill necessary employment opportunities, but these jobs helped the women to not only support the troops fighting in the war, but also to support themselves and their families. Women worked in factories helping to manufacture airplane parts, tank parts, weapons manufacturing. Wherever the need, the women were there to fill the spot. These jobs also empowered women. This was a time when many women stayed home to raise the children while their husbands' toiled away at work to support their family. Women took great pride in their work. They were lauded by the government for their willingness to work long hours in an effort to help in the war effort.

Europe saw even more change. They had to cope with enemy attacks on a daily basis. Women and children were sent to countries were there was less of a chance of an attack. There were also children being separated from their families in an effort to keep them safe. Transportation to these outlying places were sporadic at best. Parents had to make a gut wrenching decision. In the end, as parents will do, they decided that what little means of escape there were, the children needed passage more than the adults. Still, though, many families could not make the escape. They were left to deal with war on a daily basis. 

The aristocracy in Europe were not exempt to the ravages of war. Often, their domestic staff were conscripted into the war. Large country homes and estates were commandeered to be used as hospitals and rehabilitation services in which wounded soldiers would receive care before either being shipped home, or sent back to their units to continue the fight. Many a noblewomen became volunteer nurses or any kind of help that was needed. There was no surprise in seeing a Baroness carrying linens or emptying bed pans.  

Once the war ended, Europe had suffered such damage. Entire cities were wiped out. Nothing but bits and pieces of houses remained. Buildings stood precariously, with their blown out walls and fractured foundations. The war may have ended, but the struggle was just beginning. The Soviets took control of Eastern Germany, further declining their war wounds. The Americans were marching through towns where the concentration

Jews being herded into cattle cars being 

sent to the concentration camp

in Auschwitz, Poland.

camps were and were immediately overcome with such heart break to see all these people who were emaciated, who had been victims of cruel "experiments" at the hands of Nazi doctors and psychologists. Whole generations of families were expunged. And the conditions inside the camps were horrific. Huge buildings that served as pyres for burning Jewish bodies once they were of use no more. The soldiers were stupefied and horrified. Who would do such a thing? What kind of sick and twisted mind did these Nazi's have? To this day, you will hear stories denying the fact of the attempt at wiping out the Jewish race.

We need to take cautious steps in this day and age in order to not repeat what happened in World War II. Unfortunately, with weapons and armaments that are able to attack half a world away, if a war were to break out, World War II would seem like a small skirmish compared to the global damage that could occur in this day and age.

I pray that this post will encourage you to look further at the details of World War II. Then, take a good hard look at what is going on today. Winston Churchill used a statement  originally coined by George Santayana, who was a philosopher and literary critic, that says "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". 

A New Creation

When my husband and I got together, we had to get used to each others' ways of doing things. We were both in our 40's with baggage from previous marriage and relationships. I had one way of doing things, and it seemed like the way I did things just didn't gel to his ways. As my husband explained to me, he was "set in his ways". This caused no end of friction and arguments in the beginning. It made me feel like a failure because it hit a nerve with me. I had come from one failed marriage and failed relationships. I had scars from verbal and psychological abuse. My husband was a "druggie" who also liked to drink....A LOT (however, I didn't find this out until AFTER we had had an argument and he disappeared for a few days with what little money we had in the bank). So, more stress was added to the relationship. But we knew we loved each other, so we'd get through this together. It wasn't easy. There were relapses and drunken nights. There were fights and secrets. This was not going to be an easy road, I thought to myself.

It took a lot of compromise, a lot of understanding and patience to make it work. There were still more fights. Still more secrets. I still felt like a failure. All the "I love you"s didn't mean a thing to either of us. It took another major drug relapse for things to change between us.

We had been together just over three years. My ex-husband had passed away and we now had my teenage daughter living with us, which caused even more stress. I had been debating on walking away. No amount of work and prayer were going to change this situation. He saw the rolling down hill of our relationship as well. But we kept trying. Just a few nights before he left, we were at bible study and somehow got on the topic of relationships and other things. My husband had admitted in front of everyone that he was a recovering drug addict, but with all the damage that was done to our relationship, he wouldn't risk ruining everything by going back to drugs and drinking. He promised.

I came home from work that Friday evening to an empty house. No husband, no daughter. Just my cat and my dog. I began getting that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'd been down this road before. But I chose to think that maybe he was just out drinking with his buddy. Which just served to make me angry. I sat looking at the clock. The hours passed by. Still nothing. My daughter called and told me she was spending the night at a friends' house, but if I wanted, she would come home. I told her that it wasn't necessary. I didn't want her to be witness to yet another drunken argument.

The next day I started calling around. I tried everyone I could think of. I posted stuff on facebook, hoping that someone knew something. One of my sons' came down to stay with me. My step-daughter came to spend some time with me. We had a full house and yet I was a miserable wreck. My neighbor across the hall came over to listen to me cry and offer some motherly advice. She'd been down this same road with her ex-husband so she knew what I was going through all too well.

By the time I went back to work, I was an emotional wreck. I couldn't concentrate. It took all my energy just to make it through. I had vowed that when I got home I was going to the police station to file a missing persons' report. I knew he was out on a drug binge. But I started to become really scared. What about his asthma? What about his high blood pressure? What if he were dead somewhere from an overdose? My mind went into a whirlwind of negativity.

About mid-way during my day, he had messaged me on facebook. He was home. I was frantic! I wanted to leave right then. But I couldn't. I had written him a letter and left it on the coffee table in hopes he would finally come home and read it. I poured out my soul. When he messaged me, I asked him to please read the letter and to not move. I would be home in a few hours.

When I got home, I dropped everything in front of the door and just threw my arms around him. We were both in tears. I was so afraid. I was so disappointed. I don't remember much from that night. I know at some point my daughter came home. I remember one of her pastors' coming over because they felt she was in danger. He talked a few minutes with my husband, and then left. I don't remember if my daughter went with him or not.

I told my husband that the only way I would let him stay is if he went to drug rehab. I promised I would support him every step of the way. The next day we went down to outpatient rehab center together. As I sat listening as the counsellor interviewed him, I got shaky and that fear went right into the pit of my stomach. I didn't want to hear what he had done. I didn't want to know. But it was important that I did so I could understand the extent of his addiction and what triggered this latest relapse. We went through the whole process together. Even my husbands' father was extremely supportive. And I believe that between prayer, support from family and friends, and a lot of deal making with God turned it all around.

Today, my husband has been clean for 14 months. He no longer drinks to get drunk. My trust still isn't all there, but he makes sure to reassure me whenever I run into panic mode. He understands. I think it took that horror to reaffirm our relationship. I knew that I loved him with all my being. I knew I still wanted to spend my life with him. He worked hard to change. He's still working hard to change. But we're in a better place now. Things are still tough. Money is tight. Now we have two of my children living with us and we are grandparents. My husband loves being a grandpa. We love spending time together and with  the whole family.

The point to this story is this.... no relationship is perfect. It takes a lot of work to overcome what seems like insurmountable obstacles. It takes love and commitment. It also takes change. It's not good enough if it's one person changing while the other one doesn't. AND... you need to leave it with God. He comforts the sorrows and hurts. He restores hope and love. He guides and supports.

When I set out writing this I was going to talk about our differences in habits, home life, etc. How the little things drove us up a wall. About all the petty arguments and disagreements. The whole shebang. But God stepped in and told me to write about this..a painful memory that brought about growth and change and love.

Our relationship with God is much like this. We can run. We can forget. We can turn our backs. But God is right there, waiting for us to come back to Him. He waits patiently like I waited for my husband to come home. He helped us mend and heal and grow.

When we become new believers, we have to change our old ways. As my husband likes to say "If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep get what you get" In other words, if we keep living in the past, if we keep doing the same things, we're still going to get the same result. A life away from Christ. An emptiness that we seek to fill with damaged relationships, drugs, alcohol. You have to be willing to change. You have to allow God to lead you into this new life. As we do this, we'll see a change. A better, more fulfilling life. A path to the future. Hope.

We are reminded of this change in our lives and ways in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (nlt). We've changed. We're not our old self with the same old ways that just got us further and further from God. He has given us a new beginning. He gives us a clean slate in which to write our new history. It doesn't mean we've forgotten the lessons we learned as our old selves. We use those lessons on which to build our new selves.

If any of you are on this path to destruction, I urge you to seek help. Seek change. Seek hope. It's not an easy process. You have to be WILLING to want to change or else it will never work. And families, if you have this kind of person in your lives, I can tell you that they will need all the support and love from all of you to get it together. Don't keep reminding them of the wrong they did. Encourage them in this path. As painful as it can be, it will be worth it. And they will succeed and thrive. 

I pray for all of you. 
God Bless.
Linda.

Submission God's Way

I swear, sometimes God's timing comes at the worst times. As I'm driving home, I get a sort of revelation. And this always happens. When I don't have the time to write about it. Well, I'm going to make the time because this is important. And God is prompting me to tell the WHOLE story. Not just pieces.

Let me give you some background so you can better understand where I am coming from. Many years ago, before I met my husband, I was involved with a gentleman who introduced me to a whole different lifestyle. One of Dominance and submission. I was learning about becoming a submissive and all it entailed. At that time, I felt like I had found a part of me that was missing. I am a natural born people-pleaser. I want people to like me. I want to always help. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I was pretty happy. I was doing the "mom thing" and taking care of everything. I wanted my home to be like Martha Stewart! 

So this was not a huge stretch for me. The only drawback was that he lived in New Jersey and I lived in upstate NY. He wouldn't travel to come see me. And I couldn't go down there. (I was married to my first husband at the time and neither of us were faithful to the other at that point. Yes, I know that 2 wrongs don't make a right. By that time our marriage had completely broken down.)

It takes A LOT of discipline to do something like that. We made it work for over two years through text messages and phone calls. At that point in my life, it worked for me and it worked for him. You don't have someone watching you, making sure you're doing everything you are asked to do. You are being held on your honor that you are doing what you are supposed to, that you are living within the rules that your master has set about for you. I thrived with that kind of relationship. I didn't have to think, plan, manage. Nothing. Just to obey and be good. (And if you know me, you know that for me that could be difficult at times!!)

How I had longed to be like the others who were "owned", those who were "slaves" with loving masters. I wanted to work hard so I would earn my "collar". When it all fell apart, so did I. There went my dream of being an owned and collared slave. 

However, after I met my second husband I had to choose...him or the lifestyle. How do you give up part of yourself? But here was this man who was REAL. He was with me night and day. He loved me. Obviously, in the end, I chose my husband. Looking back on that relationship, I believe that God used it as a lesson.

I asked my husband to at least TRY to learn to be a Dominant. He had the personality of one. He had all the traits I was looking for in a new master. So we tried a few times with Dominant/submissive thing, but it always ended in disaster. It ended with me being unhappy and feeling taken advantage of. What were we doing wrong?

We weren't doing anything wrong, it's just not what God had intended. At least not in that form. The bible clearly states that the woman is to be submissive to her husband. (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-22; and many others.) Aha! There was the answer! It only took me 3 long years of trial and error, of failing miserably, to finally understand what it was that God intended for me to do.

He indeed wanted me to be submissive. But to my husband. In the biblical sense. Oh boy. After all the things my husband and I had been through, I would have to trust him enough to lead me. And trust in the fact that he was being led by God. I'm not big on trust. I've been burned too many times before. It takes a HUGE leap of faith (yes, faith!) to trust someone. When we believe in God, in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are we not called to trust? It is called faith for a reason. But it's easy to trust God. Not so with people.

Ok, so we're not quite there yet. We are still a work in progress. But it's God's work. He is slowly changing both of us to be His. And that is what's so amazing. Here I was wanting to be owned and loved and wanted and I didn't even realize that I already was all of that and more!

I am owned and loved by the Supreme Master. The Utmost Sir. Jesus Christ. I have been bought and paid for through the blood of Jesus. When He hung on that cross, all had been forgiven. He paid the ultimate price for me. Wow. What a revelation!

My husband and I are in different seasons of our walk of faith. And that's ok. The bible also says that the wife will lead by example. "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives." (1 Peter 3:1) 

I still have my rules that I must follow. They're in this big book that I take with me. It's called The Bible. There I can find any answer, any rule, any guidance that I may need. With Jesus as my Master, I can't go wrong. He won't lead me into where I don't belong.

Yeah..where I don't belong... Satan tried that on me. He made sure he poked me and prodded me. "See what you are missing?" "See..this is what you wanted..." "You can't be happy unless you have this life." He spent the whole weekend doing that. 

Ohhh.... I am so mad! I'm mad at myself for falling into that trap. The devil always will attack at our weakest points. I've been so stressed out about all our problems that I LET myself be dragged into those thoughts. Going to work today, it got me away from those thoughts. I got back into the swing of things. I did all my devotionals, I read, I prayed. And Jesus rewarded me with this revelation. "See, My child, I have given you all you wanted and more. There are so many other ways to serve. But first you need to learn to serve Me." I can not be submissive to my husband without first submitting to Christ. He will lead me and train me to serve Him. Only then will He permit me to learn to serve my husband. 

And with that, my husband is calling...dinner is done. (He likes to do all the cooking.) So, my friends, I will leave you with this. A little slice of who I once was and who I am becoming. 

Much Love & God Bless.

Rejected or Approved

"Remember: rejection from man doesn't mean rejection from God. He loves us unconditionally.” - Lysa TerKeurst

I was just thinking about this last night. I was telling my husband how I was reworking my blog and read him my first entry. I was so proud of myself. I wanted him to see that I've been paying attention and that I'm learning. But, as usual, it sparked a disagreement over my daughter. This had nothing to do with that. I wanted him to SEE that I'm trying to change myself. But, alas, it blew up in my face.

I sat there fuming, until I realized that wasn't getting me anywhere. Why was I so dependent on what he thought of my accomplishments? Yes, he's my husband. Yes, I value his opinion. But I'm putting the wrong emphasis on whose approval I am seeking. What SHOULD matter is that what I'm doing meets with the approval of Jesus Christ. Am I doing this for MY own glory or am I doing this for His glory?

So much of who we are seems to be rooted in what others think of us. It leads to such destruction and frustration. We forget who our Great Designer is. He made each and every one of us unique with all our own qualities. When we seek others opinion of us, we are, in essence, saying that perhaps God did something wrong with us. We don't meet the approval of others. There's something missing. God doesn't make mistakes. As my husband says "God don't like ugly". Which is why He sees each and every one of us as beautiful, unique creations.

If you have children,  you know that feeling that when your children were born how you looked at them and thought "wow, I created this!" That's how God looks at us! He made us! What a miraculous thing He did!

Try to remember that when you compare yourself with others, it is only going to lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. Remember that the only One you need to please is God. Think about the things you do and ask yourself, would this meet with God's approval? Am I doing this for God's glory or my own? If you are doing things for His approval then you will always be on the right track. Let your life and works glorify our Great Creator. At the end of the day don't forget to thank the Lord for who you are and for creating you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

God Bless.
Linda

11 Really Great Reasons to give yourself to Jesus!

The Overflow of Easter: A Whole Theology of Resurrection in One Chapter

April 24, 2011  by John Piper       Topics:  The Resurrection of Christ

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-overflow-of-easter-a-whole-theology-of-resurrection-in-one-chapter

If you haven't accepted Jesus in your heart, if you're on the fence, or if you're the "lukewarm Christian", here are 11 really powerful reasons to accept Him today. Easter is a time of new beginnings. Start it with Jesus in your heart. I promise, you won't be sorry!!   

He is risen! And O the overflow of that single event. It was the cosmic Yes! from God the Father that the death had done all it was meant to do. And it was the beginning of the eternal existence of the God-Man in a glorious new body in which he would finally reign on the earth forever. And so much more.
  
There is a whole theology of the resurrection and its achievements in 1 Corinthians 15. Here’s a summary. Let each of these sink in. Savor each one. Then start your new week (the rest of your life) abounding in the work God calls you to “knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

1. Christ died for us and rose again.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and . . . He was buried, and . . . He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

2. He verified his resurrection by large public appearances.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

3. Because Christ has risen, we are not still in our sins.
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

4. Because Christ has risen, our afflicted lives are not pitiable.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

5. We who trust Christ will be raised from the dead at Christ's second coming.
For as in Adam all [his posterity] die, so also in Christ all will [his posterity] be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

6. Christ now reigns invincibly over the universe.
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)

7. Our resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.
[Our resurrection body] is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

8. Living or dead, we shall be given new bodies in an instant at Christ's coming.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

9. Death now has no sting and will be swallowed up in victory.
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

10. Christ suffered for sin and satisfied the law for us.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

11. Therefore, do huge amounts of Christ-exalting work because none of it is in vain.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
_______________________________________________________________________________

John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 1 "Why Easter Matters"

This is the reading for Wednesday, 4/2.

Read: Matthew 26:21-25 (The Message)
During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators."  They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?"  Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!" Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" Jesus said, "Don't play games with me, Judas."  

S: "In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!"  

O: It is clear here that Jesus is dismayed and somewhat angry. One of the people whom He trusted would turn against Him. Even though Jesus knew for a long time that this was what His fate would be. But somehow, I don't think He knew it would come about by one of His followers turning Him in. Jesus is saying that whoever betrays Him would wish he were never born. 

Can you imagine someone you trust with your life, betraying you? If you've had this happen, you know how hurt it makes you feel. Can you imagine how Jesus must've felt? Even though this fulfilled the prophecy, I would imagine Jesus was hurt down to His core. 

But imagine the guilt that Judas must've felt afterwards. He was a follower of Christ. He was one of His disciples. And here, for a pittance of money, turned Jesus over to be crucified. Was it really worth it? If I could talk to Judas today, that's exactly what I would say. Was it really worth it Judas? What did you get out of it? I bet Judas wished he were never born after that.

A: I've had my trust betrayed numerous times. But this last time has left me angry and hurt. You are always full of questions. Why? How could you? I hope you're happy with yourself Oh, I could go on and on. 

But remember this little phrase.."Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Wow. BUT there's one little phrase that seems to always get forgotten. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Mark 15:34 The Message) Even Jesus had a moment of weakness when He thought that God had abandoned Him. 

Those are some tough emotions to wrestle with. And believe me, every single one of them is at war in my head. Everything from I hate you for what you did to I love you. 

Human emotions dictate how we handle things. But sometimes those emotions can be damaging. They can cloud our judgement. The Bible tells us we are to be level-headed and in charge of our emotion. I found this on a page from Joyce Meyer "First Peter 5:8-9 teaches us to be well-balanced and temperate (self-controlled)"

I need to get my emotions under control. I need to lose the anger and work on controlling how I feel. It's not going to change the situation. What's done is done. All we can do is move forward.

P: Lord Jesus, help me to remain even tempered. Help me to remove my anger and turn it into compassion. You asked Your Father to forgive those who persecuted You; if You can do that, then I can forgive those who have hurt me. I pray for peace in my soul and in my heart. And I pray for those who have hurt me. I pray all this in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Friday Reading

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them;
    I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
    leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
    I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you;
    you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.

With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.

S: 2 Corinthians 7:1 With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. 

O:  God expects us to take care of ourselves. We have been given only body and one life. It's not always easy, though, to keep ourselves in shape. Our lives are busy. It's so easy to just grab some fast food and crash on the couch at the end of a long day. 

We need to take the time and make healthier choices. Not just in our diet and exercise, but in our whole lives. As our pastor mentioned in a recent sermon, we need to take a "moral inventory". How did we get to this point in our lives? Are we living and doing for the glory of God or man? 

If Jesus were to walk up to you today, would you be embarrassed about the choices you've made or would you gladly welcome Him into your life knowing there is nothing there that He would not approve of ? 

Look at your life. Where can you make some good changes? Even small ones. Every little step in the RIGHT direction will lead you to a better outcome.

A: My life is a testament to the disastrous choices I have made. BUT, I am trying to make positive changes in my life. I know if I don't change things, I'll never change my life. I'll just keep circling the desert and not get anywhere. 

I want my life to reflect my beliefs and faith. I want to be the kind of person who has nothing to hide from the world. I want to be one of God's success stories. I know if I keep going in the direction I am now, things will eventually get better. 

P: Lord God, we know that we are not perfect people. We know we are full of flaws. We know that we have all sinned at some point in our lives. But we can rest in knowing that You have forgiven us. We know that with Your love and guidance, You will help us make the changes necessary in order to live a life that glorifies You. 

 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Thursday reading

Since our reading and scripture verse is just this one verse, I decided to add the graphic and go right on to the "O" part.

O: This reading is an interesting one. This is where mans downfall happened. We see Eve giving Adam the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, of which they were not supposed to eat. The serpent promised Eve that if she ate this, then she would be as wise as God. What a mistake! But, Eve, human as we, gave into the promises of more. 

How many times have we eaten something that we just knew that it wasn't good for us? But it just looked too good to pass up. Hence, Eve's dilemma. Oh, that apple looked good. The serpent promised her it would bring wisdom. Oh... just one bite. 

And so the fall of mankind happened. All because of an apple. That's all it takes. Just that one thing that is forbidden. And the more we are told we can't have it, the more we want it.

I've been learning a lot about addiction lately. It's just that one hit, that one toke, that one drink that starts it all. It's all downhill from there. The addict KNOWS it's not good, but they do it anyway. It's fueled by emotion and sensation. It's a way to not feel anything for a while or to forget for a while. They don't think of the long term consequences. They don't think of the people and the life they will lose. 

It's like that a lot in our earthly lives. The promise of better, younger, thinner, richer. It's all of what the flesh says we want. But it's not what God wants. We don't consider the consequences. We're willing to give in to that craving. It's Satan whispering in our ear. In that one moment we fall from grace.

We don't have to give in to that temptation. We can be stronger than Satan's whispers and promises. It's not worth that fall. It's not worth the guilt. When those promises of more start, pray. When Satan starts tugging, cast him out. Tell him to go. Ask Jesus to make him go! It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

A: This is a good lesson to remember. Change doesn't come easy for me. It fuels my anxiety. It makes me feel uncomfortable. But it is in those times that I need to hold onto my faith, the promises that Jesus made for me. Those are the only ones I can believe. 

Everything in my life has been a struggle, a fight. But all of that has made me stronger. It made me rely on Jesus a whole lot. 

I will take things one day at a time. I won't believe the lies that I play out day-to-day in my head. I will believe in what Jesus has promised me! (And, if I'm lucky, as I repeat that over and over, maybe I'll even believe it! lol) And if I do fall, I know Jesus will be there to pick me up and make me start over. 

P: Lord Jesus, You never promised us that it would be easy. This life we are given is precious. You told us how we are to live it,  yet sometimes we fall into the trap of believing the lies we hear. When those negative thoughts start, when the promise of more and better are thrown at me, I pray for You to give me the strength to turn away from them. You are the rock on which I stand. It is through Your Holy Grace that I am still here. I have come too far to give up now. Jesus, give me the strength to stare temptation in the face and say no. I am Your daughter. Your creation. I want to live as You taught us to. I know with You I can do all things. And all the people said AMEN! 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Wednesday Reading

Read: Philippians 3:15-21
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

S: Philippians 3:19-21
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

O: In this, Paul's letter to the church of Philippi, he is telling them that those who live "of the flesh" will be their own destruction. "Their god is their belly "..they fill themselves with all things unhealthy. They are ruled by their sinful nature. They live as they want, without regard to what God intended.

Those of us who keep ourselves in Christ and who obey God's word, He will help us to transform ourselves into beings that He created. No matter how out of shape we are or how broken we are, He can fix us. 

We need to do some of the work, however. We are told that if we do our part, then Jesus will help us with rest. If we look back earlier in Philippians, it says "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Philippians 2:13) We want to look good and feel good because we know it pleases Jesus. When we know we are doing it to glorify Jesus, then it becomes infinitely easier. 

A: As hubby and I embark on a healthier lifestyle, it will make it easier if we remember that we are not only doing it to keep ourselves healthy so we can enjoy a long life, but we are doing it for the glory of the Lord! Perhaps I should write the verse from above and put it on the fridge so we can remember always why we are doing it. 

P: Lord, we need to remember that when we are taking care of our bodies, we are not only doing it for ourselves but for Your glory! Remind us, oh Lord, that You gave us our bodies and we are to take care of it as You take care of us. Help us to remain steadfast in our quest to stay healthy. Help us to remember our bodies are not our own, but are Yours. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Bodies Tuesday reading

I think this is a touchy subject for all of us. But this is a good reminder that we must treat our bodies well, as God intended.

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own body, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 


S: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own body, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

O: If our body is a temple, then I am really in trouble! My temple is falling apart! I think this is something we are all guilty of. The chips, soda, unhealthy snack, junk food, fast foods. The list goes on and on. Our temples are in disrepair. 

We have good intentions. We all know we have to excersize more, eat better, and get enough sleep. Yet, we always have an excuse not to do these things. We don't have enough time, we don't have enough money. The list goes on and on. 

God tells us we need to treat our bodies better. He made us and He doesn't want to see us fall apart. We need to make a plan to treat ourselves better. We need to remember why we were created. We need to remember that when we take care of ourselves we are taking care of God's creation.

A: My husband and I are going on a diet. He needs to lose weight because of the swelling in his legs. I just need to lose weight because I have arthritis in my knees and back and all this extra weight isn't helping things any.

It's never easy when you go on a diet. But this is something we both need to do because we HAVE to. God's temple is falling down around our ears! Just like any building that is falling apart, it can be rebuilt and redone to any way we want. So, we'll set some goals and try our best to lose the weight and remember we are doing it for our health and to glorify God.

P: Lord, You have given us our bodies to glorify Your works. We are built in Your image. But sometimes we forget that. Help us to remember that we need to take care of our bodies that You gave us. Our bodies are a reflection of You. Help us to be strong while we renew our bodies and our souls. Fill us with Your love and peace instead of empty calories and empty food. Our food comes from Your word and Your love. Let us strive to be as You wanted us to be. Amen.

Life's Healing Choices. Healing from lifes hurts, hang-ups and habits Step 2

This program was intended for small-group study, but you can do it alone or with a friend or with a group. I'm going back and doing this by myself as I missed the first 6 sessions. All it takes is a little determination and A LOT of faith! Blessings to you all. 

Catching Up:

In our last session, we prayed for God to give us the willingness and courage to admit we are powerless. How did the concept of admitting powerlessness impact you this week?

Key Verse: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." [Philippians 2:13 NLT]

Acknowledge God's ____________________.
Anyone who comes to [God] must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6 NIV]

The question for most people is not "Is there a God?". The real question is, "What kind of God is He?".

Understand God's _______________________.
Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. [Colossians 1:15 PH]

THREE THINGS WE LEARN ABOUT GOD'S CHARACTER FROM JESUS CHRIST.

1. God ______________ about my situation.
You...have seen the crisis in my soul. [Psalm 31:7 LB]

You know how troubled I am; You have kept a record of my tears. [Psalm 56:8 TEV]

O God, You know how foolish I am. [Psalm 69:5 NLT]

2. God _________________ about my situation.
He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic. [Psalm 103:13 LB]

He knows what we are made of; He remembers that we are dust. [Psalm 103:14 TEV]

"I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love." [Jeremiah 31:3 NIrV]

God's love never fails. He loves you on your good days and your bad days, when you serve Him and when you don't, when you're right, when you're wrong. God even loves you when you're angry, or selfish, or out of control. He loves you even when you're breaking His heart. Why does God keep on loving you? Because His love is unconditional. It is not based on what you do; it's based on who He is.

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [Romans 5:8 NLT]

3. God can___________ me and my situation.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT]

ACCEPT GOD'S _____________ TO HELP YOU.

It's not enough just to believe in God. You've got to plug into His power.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. [Philippians 2:13 NLT]

The only way to get God's power is to surrender to Him and let Him fill you with His Spirit.

The Spirit that God has given us....fills us with power, love and self-control.

You're not really in control until Christ is in control. How do you plug into God's power? Real simple. Believe and receive. First, believe that God exists and that He knows and cares about you, and has the power to help you. Then receive Him into your life--simply say, "Jesus Christ put Your Spirit in me."

There is a higher power you can plug into. His name is Jesus Christ. Make the Hope Choice. Believe and receive. Open your heart and life to Him today.

"Happy are those who mourn, God shall comfort them!" [Matthew 5:4 TEV]
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 NKJV]

"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." [Isaiah 43:2 NLT]

Discovery Questions
1. Pastor Rick said "The question for most people is not "Is there a God? The real question is "What kind of God is He?"  What do you believe about God?
_________________________________________
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2. What part of God's character gives you the most hope?
_________________________________________
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3. God's love for you is not based on your performance. It is based on His character. The Bible says "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." [Romans 5:8 NLT] What does this truth tell you about the nature of God's love?
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4. "The Spirit that God has given us...fills us with power, love, and self-control." Talk about a time in your life when God gave you power, love, or self-control when you faced a tough situation .
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>>LIVING ON PURPOSE: Fellowship
Like physical health, spiritual health is often easier to maintain when you are working out with a partner. As you work out what God is working in you, sometimes you need someone to encourage you and help keep you on target. Prayerfully consider which member of your group you might ask to become your Accountability Partner. Men partner with men and women partner with women. Commit to meet and pray for each other regularly for the duration of this study. Check in throughout the week by phone, or perhaps over coffee to see what each of you is learning and how you can pray for one another.

>>PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
In our last session, you admitted you are powerless. In this session, you discovered God is all-powerful. Think of a challenge you are currently facing: relational, emotional, financial, a hurt, a hang-up, or a habit, etc. How will you apply God's power to your situation this week?

>>PRAYER DIRECTION
Begin your prayer time by thanking God that He is powerful enough to handle any situation you are facing. If you feel comfortable, share your current challenge with the group and pray for each other, inviting God to bring His power to bear in one another's lives.


(c) 2009
John Baker and Rick Warren
Saddleback Resources.
purposedriven.com/recoveryconnection