"A Passionate Message"

Readings

(Acts 4:32-35)(1John5:1-6)(John 20:19-31)

"My strength and courage IS the Lord."

The Lords Mercy endures forever. From Easter came His resurrection; a new birth and living hope. When the world breaks us down, His love sets us free. Through Christ's resurrection our Faith is safeguarded.

We may have to suffer many trials, we may seek the unseen, we may have a path seeking proof...

We all receive and believe differently. That is a fact!

What is your means to the final end? Do you have a goal? Do you seek salvation?

Our means differ; everyone has their own individual path to walk. Some have a path of suffering to honor our Father. And, even perhaps our means change along the different seasons of our life. You see, even when the door seems closed and locked...The Lord is always present and says, "Peace be with you." He stands in your midst at all times.

Whether it is a season in your life that may change or an individual experience, not one is greater than the other. Throughout the Bible one can find examples of the variety in ways one may receive and believe. Although the variety exist, the common denominator is... Peace, Joy, and God's Will.

I encourage us all to reflect on our life trials; to touch them and know that God is present. No matter how hard or dark it may seem...grasp hold and be present in the moment. Do not assume one has to see to believe. Faith IS a gift. Will you reach out? Will you receive? Will you believe?

Wisdom for Life

"May we all gather such wisdom for life and live with LOVE!"
Much love! Be Blessed...

"Motivation Monday" ~ Help

"I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from where comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

When we find ourselves emotionally, physically, or spiritually drained falling down to the bottom, there is only way to go...Up. Rest assured, we can look up and cry for help from our Lord. He awaits our call at all times.

Week 3 of Fit Challenge

Still seeking balance...

I have now completed my 3rd week in my fitness challenge." It is not called a challenge for nothing!" What I find most challenging now, is not the workout part but the food. The one thing I have gotten better at though is eating more frequently. I do my best to eat every 3-4hrs and, I do find a difference. So, anyhow what I am posting is my weekly workout from my 3rd week. I have been writing my workouts down. I find that I feel more accomplished when I do so. So, below you will find my week. Please note: excuse the lack of detail...

Monday- BodyRock, a short & intense burst.

Tuesday- 20min stationary bike on Random.

Wednesday- 30min run/walk.

Thursday- BodyRock, an INTENSE home workout.

Friday- Recovery day

Saturday- Warm Vinyasa Yoga

Sunday- 30min run-sprint/walk

(BodyRock workouts you can find at their website or You Tube. Awesome at home workouts, but really provocative attire.)

"Don't Worry about Tomorrow!"

(Mo Isom)

"He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Psalm 91:4)

Wow! The picture says it all. I stumbled upon this picture paired with this verse on Mo Isom's blog. What perfect timing. The season of Lent has passed, Easter has come, and Spring has arrived. The common beauty in all of the above is, trust in the Lord.

Butterflies have cycled from old to new, and birds soar high through the sky. I stand objectively in nature, trying to take in all the beauty and meaning that surrounds me. The symbolism that I receive is overwhelming at times. My excitement overflows, as I desire to share the vision through my eyes.

"Don't Compromise, Find Balance!"

CHAIR WORK-OUT..."yes, that's right."

 

I sit in the process of life; seeking balance between my health set-backs and my fitness challenge. No matter how old you are, young you are, screwed-up you are, or righteous you think you are...Life is a process. It is in God's timing that your seasons change, the waves come, and you soar on wings like eagles. Right here, right now, I am "seeking" a cause for neurological  symptoms I face. I am also in the midst of a fitness challenge, and seeking a wholistic balance with my Fibro/CFS. I am learning to persevere through my new life style of a tug-a-war. I am learning to accept that once I exhaust "X" amount of energy, I must relax and allow my body "X" amount of recovery. 

Due to circumstances, it was necessary that I do a modified workout. Below you will find my upper-body chair workout:

Dynamic Warm Up

- arm crosses

- windmills

- neck roll

Chair Workout with free weights (interval timing: 50 seconds work/10 seconds rest X 3)

- shoulder press

- frontal raises

- side full extension bicep curls

- hammer bicep curl

- tricep extension

- tricep kick-back

Abs

- full sit up with db row

- weighted crunch

"What is shaping you?" Part 2

What is shaping you along your Journey?

According to Skinner, a psychologist who introduced shaping; it is a conditioning that can be used to analyze and/or modify behavior. These past few weeks was the celebration of the season of lent, and this week is turned to The Passion of Christ. This journey is recognized throughout the world and part of our American calendar. It is a time of self-reflection, purging, and prayer. However, we must not forget...our whole life is a journey. Life IS a process for learning and growing. It is in this life process that we are and can be shaped/conditioned by many things of this world. This is where I ask you, "what is shaping you?"  

What makes us human and separate from all other creatures is our intellect, free will, and capacity to love. What makes us human is indeed the ability to choose and to know what we are choosing, but what makes us most human is when we choose to love God.

When we choose a life with Christ it is not perfect, free from pain, but a shaping process by the Potter, Our Lord. For we are the clay, and He is the Potter. It is up to God to mold, shape, transform, and sanctify us along our journey on this earthly life.

It is when we choose not to be with God, and make bad choices that we move further and further away from Him. However, the Lord forgives, loves, and can heal our wounds. He is forever present and longing for us to unite in relationship with him. Life is not easy. It is even in our struggles that God wants us to turn to him. If we know we are going to suffer and be in pain, how many of us would  choose to submit to it? Not many...but, Christ did. The beauty in "The Passion" is the fact that Jesus knew he was going to suffer, be betrayed, and be denied. Christ knowingly humbled himself into death and  out of a love beyond comparison.

This morning I was without medicine for my Fibromyalgia pain, and sure enough pain quickly crept up on all my joints. I could of easily fallen into the trap of self-pitty allowing myself to move further away from God. But, through such previous experiences I allowed God's love to comfort me and I was able to still put him first. Praise God!

In the first step of pottery, the potter has to add water to the clay to make it pliable. In the Bible, the word Water is symbolic for the Word of God. In other words, the Word of God is like water to our souls. We need His truth to be cleansed with water.

The next thing the potter does with the clay is, put it in the center of an electric wheel. If the clay is not properly centered, then the potter will not be able to shape or mold the clay. We must put Christ as the center of our world, through surrendering completely to his will. When He has the control, the process begins. Note: I did say process because, I myself fall away from the beginning steps. But thanks be to God, for he is always eager to start again. God is always present to help guide and lead the way.

The next thing that is very important for the potter is, how "slow" and "steady" the electric wheel turns as He is using his hands to mold the clay. In our world we are so use to instant gratification and everything being fast-paced. But, it is God's timing and not ours.  If the potter speeds up the wheel to a higher degree, the lump of clay can tear completely apart. In the same way, we have to have patience with the Lord and self-love. Through the power of the Holy Spirit operating in us he can help keep us on God's time.

 To be continued...

(http://www.bible-knowledge.com/potter-and-the-clay/)

So, what is shaping you. Do you allow what surrounds you through this earth to conform you? Or do you surrender to God, as the Potter, and you the clay? It is not easy, by all means! That is what makes us human...we have a choice. And, in just one day we have many opportunities of influence  and choice. So, it is with God's love, mercy, and STRENGTH that we become capable. Surrender to the process; surrender to the Potter.

"What is shaping you?" Part 1

The Way of the Cross

                                                       

      
The journey of Lent has brought us here; to the celebration of Christ's Passion. Where has your journey brought you?
This passion week we are called to recount the journey Jesus made for us through condemnation, the cross, and his burial in the tomb.  This great journey represents His great humility and love for us all. God's love was, is, and everlasting. It is pure, perfect, unwavering, unconditional, and unchanging.