...continued

God's Sovereignty: supreme power.

I'm so thankful for His supreme power. I sure do need it this week. Since I've started this new journey in this Bible study and losing weight, I've lost 12 lbs and have learned so much about God. And I feel closer to Him. This has been a very stressful week. I haven't lost a pound! Stress makes me want to eat! But, Thank God, I have not gained. :)

So much is traveling through my mind, I don't know where to begin. And I'm sitting here watching "Biggest Loser," and it encourages me but for some reason I want to eat! LOL. Talking about God helps me focus. So...

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 tells me EVERYTHING comes from Him! He IS all powerful. So, I need to look to Him for strength for losing weight and not overeating. He is the only place I can find the power for that.

Psalm 115:3 tells me He does what He pleases. So, I know He pleases for me to lose weight and be healthy so I know He will help me when I call on Him. That's the key: I have to call on Him. He will not force Himself on me.

Isaiah 46:9-10 tells me there is none like Him. So, no one can help me like He can. No one can feel a void like He can. No one can give me the will power Like God.

Colossians 1:15-17 tells me He is Creator of ALL. He created me. I am made in His image. He is not overweight or unhealthy so...I can be healthy and not overweight. Only with His help. :)

Jeremiah 29:11 tells me He has great plans for me. Prosper. No harm. Hope. Future. I have got to be in good health to be here for the plans God has for me. If I'm overweight and miserable and unhealthy, I can't enjoy anything or be here long enough for it.

John 16:33 tells me He has overcome the world. He gives me peace in trouble. So, with Him, I can overcome this food addiction! And He will give me peace in the process.

Romans 8:28 tells me He works for my good in ALL things. So, even though I've gotten myself to this place, He will help me get to a good place. Thank You, Lord!

He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! He's always there and working and fixing and doing.

• In affliction, God gives me comfort.
• I am blinded so that the work of God might be displayed in my life and my eyes opened and I see.
• I am hard pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.
• All this power comes from God for my suffering.
• I have a thorn in my flesh to keep me humble.
• In my weaknesses, Christ makes me strong.
• This is to ensure I don't become conceited for what God does for me.

All the water in all the oceans cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside. Nor can all the trouble in the world harm us unless it gets within us...Eugene Peterson.

Notes to self: no other Gods before Him (food). Pay attention to His commands. Obey Him.

If I'm not obedient, God immediately reprimands me, and I know it real quick. If my motives aren't pure, He lets me know instantly.

He protects me, feeds me, waters me. He provides for me. I am His sheep. I don't have to worry about anything. He's got my back. He is my light and my salvation and my stronghold. No fear! Because I love God and call on His name, He will rescue me, protect, answer, and give me a long life. He gives me all things. Because of His divine power, I can escape the corruption of the world.

Be assured, if you walk with Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you....George Mueller.

"Because of my security and worth in Jesus Christ, I do not have to look to people or things to feel of value or loved. I am now free to love and serve because I can trust my needs to be met by my heavenly Father". :)

A Woman's Work Is Never Done! :)

Becoming A Woman Of Excellence by Cynthia Heald

Chapter 2 - Excellence: God's Character, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1

God's character, hmmm...Creator, God Alone, Enough, Always On Time, Bringer Of Laughter, Watching, God Almighty, The Interpreter, The Blesser, All Powerful...and I could go on and on.

Well, I can't create the universe and everything in it but I can create things. I can create an atmosphere around me that shines His light instead of being miserable and unhappy. God Alone...God inside me may be the only 'God' some people see. Enough...God's light that shines through me can be enough to touch someone's life. Always On Time...well, I'm not always on time for things but God may have an 'On Time' word for me to share with someone. Anywho, you get the point. :)

I can display the character of God if I just think about it. "He is my source and model of excellence. Having a proper view of God is necessary if I am going to live a life pleasing to Him. A life with the goal of excellence cannot be lived on my own merit or in my own strength." Ain't that the truth!

I'm not perfect. I have failed so many times and so determined to be who God wants me to be and that's why I keep getting up everytime something knocks me down. Sometimes it takes me longer to get up than others, but I always get up.

Thank You, Lord, for Your unconditional, unfailing LOVE! How excellent is Your lovingkindness...Psalm 36:7.

Psalm 103: 1-18: holy, forgives, healer, redeemer, loves, compassionate, satisfies us, renewer, righteous, justice, gracious, slow to anger. Hmmm...as I read this scripture, I see some characteristics I could show myself. But it won't always be easy. Lord, You DO know I'm human, right? I know, I know...You will give me strength and REMIND me to reflect You. Boy, do I need a lot of reminding. Sometimes my mouth opens before my brain processes what's going to come out!

"Truly believing that God is love is key to any response we have to Him." It can be difficult sometimes to accept that God Is my Provider and Protector. Things have just been so hard at times and that's why it's hard to accept this. Sometimes I don't see what He is doing in the midst of my storm and it feels like He has forsaken me. Even though I believe Him, He will never leave me nor forsake me, It FEELS like I'm abandoned at times...left for dead...no provision or protection from the roaring lion coming to stea,l kill, and destroy. At times I feel very vulnerable. That's when the Holy Spirit reminds me. :) He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! I have that scripture on my wall to be a reminder.

Unconditional - without conditions or limitations; absolute.

What am I unconditional about? I can honestly say, without hesitation or thinking, I have unconditional love for my children. My husband? Most of the time. Well, probably all the time, but when he hurts me or makes me mad, it's hard to admit. And, of course, my parents and my best friends. But God has unconditional love for EVERYBODY! Everybody on this earth! I can't imagine! This world is hard and cruel and mean! But He loves anyway.

Anywho, I will leave that thought with you for now (to be continued!). Gotta go get ready and put clothes in the dryer. A woman's work is never done! :)

A Post The Devil Does Not Want Me To Post!!!

I have started 3 times to post something on here, and everytime, I have mysteriously lost it! The devil does not want me to do this one! Well, I'm doing it anyway no matter how many tries it takes!!!

Becoming A Woman Of Excellence" by Cynthia Heard. LOVE this Bible study!!! I started it awhile ago and never finished it, like so many other things, and this time, I'm determined to finish it! And lose weight!

I'm trying to lose weight and thought 'I need a Bible study to focus on' so I went to looking for one. I found this Bible study laying on a table and thought 'Perfect! Just what I need!'.

Chapter 1...Excellence...A Goal Worth Pursuing. So that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ...Philipians 1:10.

No pressure! Wow...sincere...blameless. That's a tall order for such a human as me. Ruth was called a woman of excellence by the people of her city. What does my city think of me? Certainly not that! I probably don't want to know what some think. Ruth was noble in character, was strong, and worthy. Boy do I NOT measure up! So, here I am, striving for all that and can only measure up because of God.

"Excellence - the possession of good qualities in an unusual degree; surpassing virtue, merit, worth, value."

My definition of excellence: excel, above and beyond, surpassing.

The world's definition of excellence: the perfect house, money, car, job, etc.

To make me feel even worse about myself, I think the church sometimes views excellence the way the world does. But that's the church, NOT God. God's view of excellence is, like Ruth, noble in character, strong, and worthy. And only in God can I measure up. I measure up because of Him. In Him, I am noble, strong, and worthy.

A woman of strength - worthy, bravery, capability. I find my worth in God. Not what the world or my city thinks of me. I am brave because if God is for me who can stand against me. I am capable because I can do ALL things in Christ Who gives me strength. And losing weight is where I need that strength right now.

A virtuous and worthy wife - earnest and strong in character. I am determined to be the wife God wants me to be no matter what the world says. Too many attitudes floating around this world today. Too many bad influences. I am determined for my marriage to work and last until Jesus comes. And I have learned to be quiet too...choke, choke...that was...is a dificult one because I AM so strong in character. :)

Capable, intelligent and virtuous woman. I am very well and able to do what I need to do, inspite of some health issues that God is taking care of. And I AM intelligent, more than I like people to know. Tony tells me I'm book smart but have no commom sense...lol. Well I have the schooling of the Holy Spirit what do I need common sense for...just kidding. Anywho... Virtuous woman...hmmm.

A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.

Even in all my humaness I am still virtuous in the Lord. God brings out the virtuous qualities I have.

• I want to glorify God in all I do...1 Corinthians 10:31.
• I want to abound in love, knowledge, and discernment...Philipians 1:9-10.
• I want to think on good things...Philipians 4:8.

"If the goal of our pursuit is unclear, we risk losing sight of what it is we're striving for."

• Love God with all my heart, soul, and mind, and love my neighbor as myself...Matthew 22;36-39.
• Do not conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind...Romans 12:2.
• Pray for knowledge and God's will. Walk worthy of the Lord and please Him. Be fruitful of good works...Colossians 1:9-10.
• Be refined. Be straight. Handle God's Truth accurately...2 Timothy 2:15.

My definition of excellence to a friend - to be virtuous, true, noble, trustworthy, and love.

I'm NOT saying to be perfect. I'm saying to do to the best of our ability (as Cynthia Heald shares in her book). As I read this Bible study, I have some of the same feelings as Cynthia. I look back at all that has happened and all I've been through and all I've done, and I see where I have settled for second best...from myself and from others...where I have all but given up. But, like Ruth, I trust God with my life and will NOT allow my circumstances to dictate my behavior or responses. Lord, help me to strive to be and to have all You will have me to be and have...FOR YOUR GLORY.

• Press toward the goal...Philipians 3:12-14.  
• Go on to perfection. Maturity...Hebrews 6:1.

Lord, give me a heart for Your Word. Psalm 40:8.