Category Archives: First 100 days

The First 100 Days – Day 21-WLVS

At a Counseling Seminar, Dr. Marcus Warner of Deeper Walk International, taught the WLVS process of working through issues. Here is my first attempt, with references to Job. This is a very personal reflection.

WLVS 06Jan09

This is my first attempt during this journey to follow the Wound/Lie/Vow/Sin process of removing giants. First, I must identify a problem. I found one as I was reading Job today.

Problem:

Suicide, desire death, echoing Job’s cries:

Job 3:1-4 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night [in which] it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

And for 26 verses.

Similar thoughts: Why died I not from the womb? (Vs 11)

My thoughts: The same, or each time I have had a near death experience, I wonder why I was resuscitated. Following every suicide attempt, at the next attack of giants, I’d think “why wasn’t I better at my attempt the last time?” “Long for death but it doth cometh not…”(vs 21)

Job talks about the blessings of the peace of heaven in vs 13-19. Even the wicked cease from troubling (vs 17).

The freedom of heaven….the rest of the next life…to be loosed from the oppression of this life…this has been my cry. The pains that have wracked me mentally, spiritually, and then physically has brought me to the place many times, that I would rather die than live another minute.

NLT follows that with this:

Job 3:20-24 “Oh, why should light be given to the weary, and life to those in misery? They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. It is a blessed relief when they finally die, when they find the grave. Why is life given to those with no future, those destined by God to live in distress? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.

I have cried this…prayed this…..breathed this. Lord, this is too much for me to bear!!!!! (there’s a lie in there I’ll have to deal with!)

Then – here’s Job’s cause:

Job 3:25-26 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

NLT: Job 3:26 I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; instead, only trouble comes.”

So – what is my cause?

Fear…..fear of failure, and in the face of failure, total collapse.

THE WOUND:

What’s my wound? The horrible memories of monsters in the night, then the failure of my mother to protect me, and having to be the adult at 13, and care for my brother…and I had to do it right…because everything I did, had to be right. Nothing was ever good enough…and I was told to go do it again, and get it right. I thought if I was good enough, such things wouldn’t happen to me.

THE LIES:

I didn’t do it right, and monsters came in the night.

I didn’t do it right, and I chose to forsake a scholarship for art and music at OSU

I didn’t do it right, and I went into the Navy, got paralyzed, and was discharged with missing medical papers.

I left my mom and my brother to join the Navy. That wasn’t what I was supposed to do.

I didn’t do it right, and my brother got drunk in high school.

I didn’t do it right, and my mother committed suicide.

I didn’t do it right, and my husband was angry.

I didn’t do it right, and my house wasn’t as clean as Martha Stewart’s.

I didn’t do it right, and my brother fell away from his walk with Jesus for a while.

I didn’t do it right, and my children became free thinkers with minds of their own that did not follow the path of Christ as I had envisioned.

I didn’t do it right, and all three daughters have life long diseases, as well as memories and scars that they will carry forever.

I didn’t do it right, and I turned to food and food and, well, food for my comfort, my emotional support and I am 120 pounds overweight.

I didn’t do it right, and I have health issues.

And, I can go on and on and on…..I can even explain the sin in the world as a failure of mine (oh yes, I can!).

THE VOW

The vow is that I should die, to relieve the world of my burdensome, failing self. Or, I will stop failing, and succeed at ONE thing – to die.

THE SIN

Suicidal thoughts and attempts. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…so even to think of suicide is a sin – if you entertain the thought. Those thoughts that come and were kicked out were just temptations.

Attempts, including – eating stuff that is not good for me, because I’ll eventually die from it, and maybe God won’t notice I killed myself.

Red Lobster’s all you can eat shrimp feast looks like a great way to die! It only takes 6 to start my mouth and tongue to swelling…….

Over dosing on chocolate – 2 pound bags….yes, that says bagS.

A friend’s mom or Dad went to the hospital for heart issues, because of eating too many Fritos…

I could go like that…just get me a bucket of dip or salsa! Maybe a 2 liter of pop to wash it down!

Basically, not taking care of myself has been a passive way of killing myself. And you know what? It hasn’t worked. My heart is strong, just under exercised. “Deconditioned.” My bones have lost density…but I still can turn that around. My liver, though fatty, recovers very well. Gall bladder is fine, lungs have recovered from pneumonia twice. I do have Fibromyalgia (a dormant, then trauma induced, progressive chronic illness). BUT God has gotten me to a doc that prescribed some good meds that are making even that manageable. I barely have an official Dx of Diabetes 2 – my insulin stuff is just messed up.

The messed up parts? My mind.

Other methods have included an overdose, and intense cutting on my arms. Mostly, I have been hospitalized for suicide ideations….my mind has gone wacky and tried to kill me. The spirit within, that has been trained to turn to God, found ways to stop me. I have learned to call out for help when needed. It would have been great if my body had reacted to the pain in the right manner, but like I said, my mind went a bit wacky.

What’s the Solution?

FORGIVE THOSE THAT CAUSED THE WOUND

REPLACE THE LIES WITH TRUTH

RENOUNCE THE VOWS

REPENT OF THE SINS.

FORGIVE THOSE THAT CAUSED THE WOUND – Done(or so I thought)

REPLACE THE LIES:

I didn’t do it right, and monsters came in the night.

No child is responsible for what happens to them in the night, or day by adults.

I didn’t do it right, and I chose to forsake a scholarship for art and music at OSU.

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. Romans 11:29

I didn’t do it right, and I went into the Navy, got paralyzed, and was discharged with missing papers.

There is forgiveness for our sins...1 John 1:9-10

I left my mom and my brother. That wasn’t what I was supposed to do.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

I didn’t do it right, and my brother got drunk in high school.

It was not my responsibility to raise my brother, he had a mother and a father.

I didn’t do it right, and my mother committed suicide.

My mother was an adult, and she made her own decision…I was where I was supposed to be, with my husband.

I didn’t do it right, and my husband was angry.

I cannot make someone happy or sad, angry or calm. That comes from the fruit of the Spirit.

I didn’t do it right, and my house wasn’t as clean as Martha Stewart’s.

I’m still working on this….but I try to remind myself, she has servants. Besides, I am not going to be judged by the cleanliness of my house….but on whether I have trusted the Lord Jesus as my Savior.

I didn’t do it right, and my brother fell away from his walk with Jesus for a while.

But, my prayers, our grandmother’s prayers, and prayers of others brought him back…it wasn’t my responsibility, it was his story with God.

I didn’t do it right, and my children became free thinkers with minds of their own that did not follow the path of Christ as I had planned.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim 1:12 among many promises to save our children.

I didn’t do it right, and all three daughters have life long diseases, as well as memories that they will carry forever.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Rom 8:28

I didn’t do it right, and I turned to food and food and, well, food for my comfort, my emotional support and I am 120 pounds overweight.

I didn’t do it right, and I have health issues.

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Rom 6:22

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 2

Here’s what God can do!

Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,

Eze 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, [there were] very many in the open valley; and, lo, [they were] very dry.

Eze 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

And I still have sinews and flesh and skin…..but this is my ‘put on’(what I need to ‘put on’ to move forward).

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

RENOUNCE THE VOW & REPENT OF THE SIN

In the name of Jesus, I put off the old man’s ways of death, suicide and self destruction.

I renounce my vow of self destruction and declare it of none effect in Jesus’ name. I confess these thoughts and actions as sin, and place them under the blood of Jesus. Please forgive me, cleanse me and make me whole.

In the name of Jesus, I put on Life, and I pray that YOU, Lord will breath upon me, and I shall live, just as the dry bones, just as Elijah and the widow’s son, Just as you did at creation when you breathed life into Adam.

The only person left to forgive in all those wounds and lies is……….ME.

How does one forgive themselves?

Have I repented? Yes, then:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

He Who? The God Who will sit on the white throne of judgment, to judge both the living and the dead.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Moses sinned – and God forgave him, before the law of the sacrifice was known.

David sinned – and God forgave him, before the blood of Christ was shed.

The woman at the well sinned – and Jesus forgave her, when she didn’t even have the promise.

The woman caught in adultery sinned – and Jesus forgave her, and said go and sin no more.

Peter sinned – and Jesus forgave him, before He went to the cross.

The thief sinned – and Jesus forgave him, as they hung dying.

Jhn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Jhn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Rom 8:34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who am I to think that I can hold a grudge against my self – when the Most High God has declared it null and void?

Psalm 103, especially:

Psa 103:8 The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Psa 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

Psa 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

And this was written BEFORE Christ’s blood was shed…so how much more NOW will He deal with me in mercy?

So, I repent of my false humility that held a grudge against myself, which in truth, called God a liar and dismissed the efficacy of Christ’s blood to cover MY sin. What arrogance…and I repent, and ask the Lord for forgiveness….and I accept it, for me, and I release myself from that burden.

Psa 103:1 [[[A Psalm] of David.]] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isai 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Psal 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psal 46:11 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

Lord, I will wait upon you….and believe that you will heal all my diseases, redeem my life from destruction, my youth will be renewed and I will mount up with wings as eagles…I will run and walk and not faint. Lord, upon you, I wait. ~Christi

This was a journal entry that was at a turning point in my life. My suicidal issues did not get resolved until I arrived non-responsive in the ER, November 17th, 2009. That day, something in me died…but it was something that needed to die so that I could move forward. My husband, my pastor Earl and my best friend Sue were instrumental in helping me move forward, and to this day, I have no suicidal thoughts. For the first time, as long as I can remember, I have spent a year with NO suicidal thoughts. The meds aren’t different. The people aren’t different. My head is different, because my heart is set on Jesus.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check walked 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m going to reset my program.
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check – Done.

The First 100 days – day 20 – 20%

WOW! 20% done. 1/5 of the way there.

If this were a marathon, 20% is 5.2 miles….of 26.

If this were an ultra-marathon, 100 miles…this wouldn’t even be the first 26 miles.

Of the people that start the HURT (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team) 100 race, over 20% or so finish. But that is like 21, 22, 29 out of 100!

In my 100 days, I’ve already fallen very behind in my Bible reading. I’ve had to compromise on my Daniel Fast because I need more protein, and I am not getting enough from plant protein. I’ve missed one day of 30 minute movement, because I was so sore from the previous day’s walking on the beach. I’ve messed up my continuous 100 days.

So – quit. Why bother? What’s the point? I’m behind on the race! I can’t catch up!

Ah – diets…a good example of quitting. I have no idea how many other people start diets and then give up because they mess up…BUT, me, well, I know I do. “I ate two cookies, I might as well finish the bag so they aren’t a temptation tomorrow!” HA!

Millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions on Jan 1, and by Feb 1(at the latest) they are broken. Hmm, how did they get broken? Did they fall off the mantle, and crash to the tile floor? Oops! No. They weren’t broken, like some accident, they were thrown away. Sometimes gently, sometimes with full angry force, thrown against the wall with screams of ‘I CAN’T DO THIS!’. But even that scream didn’t BREAK the resolution…the next day broke the resolution, the resolve of the person. Waking up, with the headache, the stomach ache, whatever, and thinking “I’m a failure.” THAT BROKE THE PERSON’S RESOLVE!!

Then there are the little voices in our heads from childhood, and the photos on the magazines of those that kept their resolve and lost 100’s or more…or tackled the Appalachian Trail – barefoot…or climbed a volcanic mountain – while erupting…or whatever. “Wow – that person really had resolve(self-control, will-power)!”

Maybe. Every person that succeeds first fails. Repeatedly fails. The difference is that they get back up, and do it again, and again, and again, until “Oh look! they made it to the top of the mountain!”.

20% doesn’t seem like much.

20 days doesn’t even make a new habit! (referring to, “it takes 21 days of consistent behavior modification to create a new habit”).
The majority of 20 year olds will not make it to be 100 year olds.
20% of a year is 2.4 months…January is only 1/12th, 8%!
20% of the way to my son’s house is 229 miles.
1 in 5(or 20%) of people having gastric bypass surgery will develop severe complications or death.(this was told to me by the doctor that was going to do my gastric bypass – I passed!).
20% off is a good discount, right?

The value of 20% depends upon the circumstances to which it refers. The other way to look at it is, if I were on my way to my son’s house, I would be 229 miles closer than when I started. If I lost 20% of my weight, that would be 50 pounds. THAT’S A FIRST GRADER! And losing 50 pounds would almost get me half way to my goal weight! That 20% would be almost 50% of my goal. 50% is a BIG percentage!

What value is your life? And what in your life do you value? We’re told it’s shown by our priorities.

Priorities….what is the number one thing in my life? I say Jesus, but then I yield to the flesh (or someone inviting me to play a game on facebook, or take me out to dinner, or whatever excuse to turn me away from my focus).

Rom 7:15-17 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Rom 7:18-20 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Rom 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

This is Paul writing – one of the most devoted followers of Christ. He was chosen by Christ…not by men, after Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul shares the story in Acts 26. Paul struggles with doing the right thing! Paul lists all his fleshly credentials in Phil 3.

I want to do the Bible reading in 90 days…to wash my mind with the water of the word in the first 90 days…but I fail. I choose to watch stupid TV shows.

I want to move for 30 minutes of every day. I have a dog that needs a walk every day. I have videos that would get 30 minutes in every day. 30 minutes out of 1440 a day = 2%. I struggle with just sitting down – and doing nothing.

I want to eat right – to take care of my temple(a blog coming) and to glorify God and feel better. I still struggle with wanting whatever is sold to me in commercials, magazines, or even store flyers!

I feel better when I eat right, move right and read right. I thought that positive reinforcement should strengthen my resolve! I feel sick when I eat ice cream. That type of negative reinforcement should strengthen my resolve.

THEN TELL ME WHY AM I CRAVING CHICK-FIL-A PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE CHIP MILKSHAKES?

These photos were my true confession last November…for my 1 time guilty pleasure. Yeah, right. Then another, and another, and another…all through the season. In fact, I even ate one on Dec 31, as my last peppermint chocolate milk shake….like my last meal. I got terribly sick! My stomach told me that ice cream is NOT my friend. And still, we drive past it, and I think, hmmm, do they still have them?

I missed 1 day of movement during this 20 days. 5%

I am 3 days behind in the Bible Reading – 15% of what I’ve supposed to have read. 3% of the whole 90 day reading plan. And it only takes 30 minutes…or 2% of my daily quota of minutes!

So, I’ve messed up…in this 20% of my 100 days. I am tempted to quit. Until I do the math.

DO THE MATH!

People die because they eat the wrong stuff and don’t move. It cuts down a person’s odds for living any kind of life. Just read the statistics for heart disease, diabetes and such that often comes hand-in-hand with life choices.

Christians fail to grow into Christ by not reading His word.

Ps 119:105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Pro 29:18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.

People go to hell because they don’t know the Lord. Matt 7:21-23

We struggle. Period.

Rom 7:22-23 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

At first glance, Paul’s writing here is depressing!

Rom 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

THANK GOD WE HAVE THE ANSWER!

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

HERE IT IS…THE BIGGIE!

Rom 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

AMEN! HALLELUJAH!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Rom 8:10-11 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Jesus said “It is finished.” There’s a period at the end of his statement. He IS the author and the finisher of our faith. All we have to do is run the race. And if we fall, he’ll pick us back up…I said, HE’LL PICK US BACK UP!!! and then, we brush ourselves off, and keep on running.

The one that doesn’t make it in is the one that never got in the race, or the one that quit and walked away.

It doesn’t matter how many times we fall down, what matters is that we keep putting one foot in front of the other…working and walking towards glory, closer and closer each day.

Do I sin like I did when I was 18 and in the Navy? No, sir!

Do I sin like I did when I was an exhausted mom of 5 toddlers? No, Ma’am!

Do I sin? Yes sir and ma’am, every day. But by the grace of God, my sins are forgiven, and I …..well, I’ll say it with Paul:

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

All that matters, once you have that saving relationship with Christ, is that you get back up after you fall down. Grab a hold of HIS words for you, and cling to them like they are your life, for they are.

When the devil comes around to condemn you…find your scripture to answer with. If that’s what was good enough for Jesus did, then it’s good enough for me!(tic) We are seated in the heavenlies..we have been given the victory…let’s not give it away, whether in life, health or spiritual walk. Jesus bought this victory because he said we were worth it – we are worth it because HE chose us – therefore this race is worth running, to the very end.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Rev 2 and 3 talk about all the rewards for overcoming…and holding fast to the end.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

What is 20%? What is 50%? What is 80%? What counts is where we stand on the day we meet Jesus face to face. I’ve written about races before…the crown isn’t to the first…but in our race, everyone that finishes receives a crown..the crown of life. These verses were written by the same Paul that talks about having trouble with his flesh.

1 Cor 9:24-25Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1Cor 9:26-27 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Christianity is a race. A race is hard work. It takes training. It takes a plan. It takes daily, bringing yourself under subjection…which means that something doesn’t want to submit! The race isn’t to the strong…or the pretty…or the most vocal. The race is to those that keep on keeping on…until the end. To Him that overcometh…..

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jude 24-25 Now unto Him that is able to KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. AMEN!

I know this one is VERY long…but I hope it’s been worth it for you, it has for me. I’m going to complete day 20, and walk on to day 21. Then, on day 21, I’m going to walk step by step, until I wake up to day 22. And I’ll just keep doing that over and over until I see Jesus!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check my goal, walk 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m going to reset my program.
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check – 1 more days!

The First 100 Days – day 19 – at a loss for words

As my friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words.

As my closer friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words to speak about the Lord and what He has done in my life.

Today – I’m at a loss for words. When I think of what God has done in just a short year…to enlarge the borders of my tent with mobility, strength and energy…I am at a loss for words.

I am blessed by all that the Lord has done. He has made this lame woman walk ‘on the water’, by the water, on the sand.

These photos are not so good…but this is my praise dance in the water, on the beach at Galveston:

So, here I am, thrilled that I could walk long enough to get a blister.

So, here I am, thankful that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

I may love to walk in sand, but my feet are planted on the Solid Rock.

I hope yours are too.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m still in Joshua – behind a book
50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI walking for 30 minutes
21 days Fasting for Food – check – 2 more days!

The First 100 Days – day 17 – Cut it off!

Our grandson, Brayden, just had a tonsillectomy today. He’s had years of earaches and sore throats and it was keeping him from doing what he needs to do. He has a job to do. He’s a 3 year old. He needs to be playing to learn! If he can’t play, it’s harder for him to learn! So, the doctor said:

CUT THEM OUT!

Years ago, a friend’s son got sick. He didn’t get better. They took him into the doctor, and he rushed him to the hospital…his appendix had ruptured, and the doctor said:

CUT IT OUT!

Twenty-one years ago, I was minding my own business, sitting down on the edge of my bed when something went pop in my knee. When I got to the doctor, he said my meniscus was torn, and the only way to relieve the pain was to:

CUT IT OUT!

Twenty-two years ago, I was in so much pain with cramping that the doctors had me on narcotics 24/7. After a month or so, I asked the doctor what we could do to cure the endometriosis, and he said:

CUT IT OUT!!

Jim’s grandmother couldn’t see – cataracts. When she saw the doctor, he said:

CUT THEM OUT!

One of our daughters found lumps in her breasts. Praise God they were not cancerous, but to make sure the doctor said:

CUT THEM OUT!

Everyone of us, after having the surgeries, were more capable to function. If we had not cut off the troublesome, infected, blinding item, life would not be the same moving forward…if there was life at all.

Matt 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matt 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I like my right eye – especially since I am an artist. I like my right hand – especially since I am right handed! So, they don’t offend me at all!

NKJV takes my excuse away:

“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”Matt 5:30 NKJV

Jesus talked about the eye causing you to sin, following his dissertation about seeing a woman and lusting after her. Body parts can’t cause us to sin…but IF you have a problem lusting after what you see – cut out your eyes so that you will not have that temptation. If you have a problem with taking things that are not yours – cut off your hand so that you will not have that temptation. That used to be the Muslim way of handling thieves! In some areas, they still do!

CUT IT OUT! CUT IT OFF!

Matt 18:8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”

Matt 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

This past summer, I had three surgeries on my right foot/ankle. I ended up actually walking, with out a boot, about 4 to 6 weeks from May 5 through October 30. I spent most of the summer in a wheelchair. I was not able to drive or take myself to my doctor appointments. I was at the mercy of anyone that was willing to help me out. I like my right foot. I like my left foot. Two days ago was the first day I’d been able to walk on the beach without a boot of some sort.

I just walked a mile, Barefoot on the Beach!

I've completed 2 miles in the sand

A wonderful cold walk in the water!

Today, I walked on the beach barefoot.
Today, I skipped on the beach, barefoot.
Today, I waded in the water, barefoot!

Today I could stand because when my doctor looked at my ankle on the MRI, he said “we need to cut out the bad stuff, and graft in good stuff.”

Cut out bad stuff so that it can be replaced with good stuff.

I had horse heart grafts in my ankle for two different shredded tendons.

I had shots in my knees to replace the torn, shredded miniscus.

Jim’s grandmother had lens implants that helped her see.

Our daughter has peace that she’s not going to have to fight breast cancer.

My friend’s son had antibiotics to help fight the infection. He did not die.

Brayden will be able to function. He will be healthy.

As a Christian, we are told that if something is causing us to fail, we should cut it off.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:25-27 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

Col 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

God intends for us to be separated from our sin…

Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We don’t have to cut off our feet, hands or eyes. God’s point is that sin is so detrimental to our relationship with Him, that it would be better to have the sinning part cut out. Of course, we know that it is the heart that is deceitfully wicked….and that our heart motivates our hands, eyes, and mouth.(Jer 17:9)

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

When the surgery healed for my knee, I had to go through rehab…I had to believe that I had a ‘new’ knee.

After Nana’s surgery – she had new sight.

After the horse grafts in my ankle, I have a new ankle.

After Brayden’s surgery, I pray he will have new health.

After choosing Christ, and turning away from sin, we are new creatures.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And God does His part, as the great surgeon:

2 Cor 5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And then we have the duty to do the rehab:

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Eph 4:23 – 24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Infections can kill, breakdowns can lame, lumps can cause fear, malfunctions can immobilize, but God has provided medical knowledge to remove these, fight these.

Sin maims, lames, immobilizes us as Christians. There is a passage that even indicates it could keep us out of the Kingdom.

Rehabilitation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey. I had to learn to walk with my new ankle step by step.

As Christians, we have to learn to walk as Jesus walked, step by step.

Gal 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gabe and I were here!

Even in our walking – we are NOT ALONE!

Ps 37 : 23-24 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

Is 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Some will say that life is a beach…and I say ‘bring it on’….I pray that I will walk each day of the rest of my life walking with Jesus!

Thank you for joining me in my journey!

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check- 60 minutes, 2 mile walk on the beach
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy-will catch up with CDs on the way home.
50 days T-Tapp – check – I did SATI walking – WITH ARMS!
21 days Fasting for Food – check? I have to compromise a little, but I’m staying as total as I can.

The First 100 Days – day 16 – Jesus Rap

For this Sunday, I’m going to share this video…..

The Lord bless you and Keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace!

Thanks for joining me on this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing beneath the shadow of your wings.

The First 100 Days – Day 15 – a day on the Beach

I am at Galveston State Park. Early this morning, we took a walk on the beach.

Early in the morning - Galveston Beach - 15 Jan 2011

I woke up thinking about sand, and how it just blows around – wherever the wind blows it.

Galveston Sand Dunes

Sand does not CHOOSE where it goes…it just goes. If it isn’t the wind blowing it, it’s the water moving it.

waves laying down the sand

Sand Ripples at Galveston Beach

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

As we were driving around the Beach area of Galveston…I saw a construction company sign named “SandCastle Construction.” Really? With the evidences of Hurricane Ike every where, someone would advertise building sand castles! Unbelievable!

Matt 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The foolishness of the world…this beach that I’ve walked on was twice this size before the Hurricane. Here is a photo view of what happened.

Interestingly enough, the Bishop’s Palace and the Moody Mansion, in the middle of Galveston, have withstood many Hurricanes. Why? THEY HAVE A FOUNDATION! And they are made with stone.

We are building a ‘house.’ It will be tested in the end.

1 Cor 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

So, we ought to build it RIGHT! Starting with the foundation.

1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

And use the best materials –

1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Because the building is going to be tested…by fire…..and the test determines the reward.

1 Cor 3:14-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

But if the FOUNDATION is right…even if we mess up, we will be SAVED!

1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

JESUS CHRIST – He is the foundation for everything. He is the ROCK.

Matt 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

When it comes to sand, seas, and power….

Jesus calmed the sea….Luke 8:24

He tells the waters how far they can go ….Job 38:11, Prov 8:29

He was there at creation, as the spirit that moved over the face of the waters Gen 1:2

He rides upon the storm…he dwells in the clouds…he rides the wind…just read about it in Ps 18:1, Ps 93

With a foundation like that…who can fall? The building we are building is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor 3:16

The truth is, we will all fall, somehow. We will all use some wood, hay and stubble, somewhere in our building. And when the tests come…when the winds and storms blow, those parts will not stand. But if we have used more and more of the good stuff – gold, silver and precious stones – and we have based it, rooted it, in the one foundation, we will stand. The promise is we don’t have to do it alone.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

And if we mess up:

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25

God, through the power of Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, chooses to help us…if we just ask.

No matter what comes at us….

God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Ps 46:1-3

The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.Ps 46:7

When the wind, and the rain, and the lightening, and the thunder pass by, there are treasures to be found in the wake.

Washed up Sea Shells

Thanks for joining me in this journey!

foot prints in the sand

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check- 30 minutes+ on the beach
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy
50 days T-Tapp – check – I have the dvds
21 days Fasting for Food – check? I have to compromise a little.

The First 100 days – day 14 – CHALLENGES

I have so many things to do today. I have to do things that I have not stacked together in a long time. Sometimes life is like a storm, with all sorts of responsibilities.

Martin Luther said, as quoted in Good Reads, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

I admit, I am not spending the first three hours in prayer…though, I am convicted to go spend more time in prayer.

In October, 1997 I wrote about being still. And that message rings true today. Enjoy.

I’m a simple Jew, raised in the simple Jewish ways…….but I get sort of fired up at times. Let me tell you a bout a few of those times.

One day, my friends and I were sailing across the sea of Galilee. We were on our way to the other side. Our Lord had just gone up into the mountain to pray, and we were going on without Him. Suddenly a storm came up, and the boat was tossed to and fro. I know what these storms can end up as and there we were, tossed back and forth, waves crashing around up, up and down with the water, rain everywhere, thunder crashing and lightening flashing…….and then we saw a ghost coming on the water right at us, I thought I was going to die and the angels were coming, then I heard “Do not be afraid, It is I”. In the stillness of that voice, I knew it was Jesus, my Lord. His still voice gave my heart peace, and I knew this was my God, and I said, call to me and I will come out on the water to meet you! And His still, quiet voice said, “come” and I came! I was walking on the water, looking at His calm and quiet face, full of peace! I was walking on the water…….in the midst of a storm…..THE STORM! It was all around me, lightening flashing, thunder rolling, water splashing and down I went!

If I had kept my heart quiet, and remembered my Lord, I wouldn’t have sunk.

Another day, we were all in the boat. Jesus was sleeping. Poor guy, He rarely got anytime to just rest, so here He was taking a nap as we sailed across the sea. Then the winds came up, the waves started beating the boat, water was coming in every side, rain was pouring and pouring, lightening was crashing all around, thunder pounding in our ears……How could He sleep! “Master, don’t you know we are going to die?” I screamed! He said quietly “Oh ye of little faith, Peace be still” and the storm stopped. All was quiet. All was peaceful.

If I’d been still and quiet, remembering my Lord, I wouldn’t have feared for my life.

Yet another day, I was with a group of people, they were all talking, yelling, and clacking like chickens around a fire…….Who is he, what is He, where did he come from, crucify him, kill him, and then to me “ aren’t you one of them?”

“No.”

“ Sure, you were with them”

“ NO”

“You’re a Galilean, of course you were one of the ones”

“ NO I DON”T KNOW HIM!”

Then it became deathly quiet, as I heard the cock crow three times, and I looked up and saw my Lord.

If I’d been still and quiet, I would not have denied my Lord.

Scriptures say, Be Still and Know that I am Lord, and through Jesus Christ, we are given the Peace of God which passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When was the last time you and I were still before the Lord in order to be filled with His peace in the midst of the storms?

Taken from Matt 14:22-33; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Matt 26:69-75; Mark14:54-72; Luke22:54-62 and:

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Thank you for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy
50 days T-Tapp – check – 2AL down, taking DVD’s
21 days Fasting for Food – check? how to pack for a campout?

The First 100 days – day 13 – Are you taking your vitamins?

What are the simple things we do every day?

Get up, wash our face, brush our teeth, get dressed, drink coffee, and go to work?

Get up, wash the children’s faces, make breakfast, dress the children…pick up dishes….get the children ready for school, make sure their teeth are brushed…then get dressed and maybe go to work, or go to work teaching the children at home.

I’m focusing on something that the government, society, and all the people that have tested our foods have said. Multi-Vitamins. Just google for “does everyone need a multi-vitamin?” and there are a lot of opinions. One thing is certain – everyone needs vitamins daily. That’s the whole purpose of food! And the government tells us what we should eat with the Food Pyramid and USRDA.

Here’s a food pyramid for diabetics from Diabetes Diabetic Diet:

The Diabetic Food Pyramid

An interesting article on Discovery Health explains a bit about multi-vitamins. They have good points, and bad. The bad being, one can lean on the multivitamin, and become malnourished by not eating.

A vitamin A capsule cannot replace the benefits of a carrot.

A vitamin B complex cannot replace the benefits of whole grains.

A vitamin C tablet cannot take the place of a fresh orange.

They are for supplementing, because, it is hard to gather and eat enough food to provide the complete nutrition. They are to fill in the gaps between good meals and snacks.

BREAD –

Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Jesus said that we needed ‘bread’ daily.

God gave the children of Israel “manna” every day. (Ex 16)

Even as important as bread is, when Jesus was tempted after 40 days of fasting, he said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt4:4)

I have a collection of Daily Vitamins of God’s word:

: Some of my favorite things

These are daily vitamins. When I need some extra help, an extra reminder….here are a few more:

A few more of my favorite things

Those Truth Tags available at CBD are cute, and so easy to keep around. Put the little tag on your key chain, and you will see it all day long. The circle necklace is Ps 23, and this was a very special necklace that helped me to remember Ps 23 through a very hard time. The leather bracelet comes in handy when I am talking about salvation with someone. It keeps me focused on the plan of salvation. I also have a key chain that is an eagle, reminding me that if I wait upon the Lord, I shall renew my strength, I shall mount up with wings as eagles!

There are apps on the phones, FB and twitter that will send you a Bible thought a day. All of these are VERY good! These are like the Vitamin C that we take every day and the Zinc and the Echineacea that we pop when we are sick…these are hiding God’s word in our heart, as Ps 119:11 says:

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

These are like the flashlights we carry in our purses so we can see in the backseat of the car, find the door lock, or read the menu in a dark restaurant.

Ps 119:105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

It is a good thing to keep the Word of God before our eyes….but even better to keep it in the midst of our heart.

Pr 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pr 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pr 4:22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Which would you rather do at a restaurant dinner table?

Eat a great prime rib dinner, with lobster on the side, with a baked potato with sour cream, butter, chives and maybe cheese, perfectly cooked green beans on the side, and a huge portion of triple chocolate cake with fresh made ice cream for dessert.
A multivitamin, maybe some specialty vitamins, and a glass of water.

I think most would rather eat the meal. But so often, I get hung up on the little sound bites of scripture, that I get lax on the memorization. Sometimes I get so hung up on memorizing ONE passage(green beans), that I forget READING(the whole meal plus dessert).

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 24-25.

This is my memory verse for the first two weeks of January. I just flubbed it up, typing it into the computer. Today is the 13th. I’m supposed to be able to recite it on the 15th. This is a GOOD tool…keeping me active in memorizing scripture, but, this is the green beans!

A third option at that dinner table – just a menu.

All you have to ‘eat’ is the menu. Someone else telling you what the food has in it, and what it’s going to taste like. But you walk out, saying the menu says the prime rib is delectable…I’m satisfied that the prime rib is delectable…the menu knows what it’s talking about!

Did you taste the prime rib? No? then how do you KNOW the menu was RIGHT?

Do you read my blog, Beth Moore’s blog, or Billy Graham’s blog, and say “the Bible says this because Beth Moore says it does” or “I know that Jesus lives because Billy Graham’s book says the bible tells us so”?

That’s not nourishment – that’s vicarious – that’s like walking away with the menu…and saying the food was delicious.

Reading the Word is the meal! Faith is a muscle. It needs exercised, yes…but muscles also need to be NOURISHED!

Rom 10:17KJV So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I’ve heard this all my Christian life…hearing, and hearing…what?

Rom10:17 NIV Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Now, that makes sense. Hearing the message of the word of Christ.

A side note…I am so frustrated with the people that go to sporting events and hold up the sign “JOHN 3:16”. That’s like holding up a sign that says “I-10 W”. Only those that have been on I-10 have an idea where that is, but it doesn’t tell them much at all! THE CHAPTERS AND VERSES ARE NOT DIVINELY INSPIRED!!! They are NOT the Word of God!

Another frustration is those that do have signs that say “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”. This is scripture. BUT THERE IS NO MEAT!!! Someone sees this, and, so what? What does repent mean? Which God?

To me, this is like sitting down at that prime rib dinner, and letting someone sit at the table, and only giving them one green bean or giving them a piece of the menu! You have this huge, fantastic meal, and all you hand them is a green bean? They are going to starve to death…and you pat yourself on the back saying “I shared my dinner with them!”

But that is not my point in this blog. My point is are WE eating the whole meal? Jesus said man shall live by every word that proceeds from the fathers mouth. Mat 4:4

EVERY WORD.

The food pyramid falls apart if you don’t eat part of every section. That’s the point of the food pyramid, to show you what you need to eat in what proportions to get WHOLE nutrition.

The Bible falls apart, if you only take one piece, and then another – because you do not get the whole story.

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The word of God, in it’s fullness, provides, from Prov 4:22 and 2 Tim 3:16 –

Life
health(to all our flesh)
wisdom
instruction

Well, here, I’ll let God say it through King Solomon (Ps 19:7-11)

The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul
the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.
More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
[and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.

God has given us a buffet of wondrous words with which to nourish our spiritual selves. God has promised that as we nourish our souls, our bodies will see benefits.

We need the tools to remind us – they are like snacks that help us over difficult or rough times.

We need the tools to help us memorize – they help us build spiritual bones to hang our faith upon.

We also need to read the whole Bible – cover to cover, to get the fullness of the gospel of God. There is milk. There is meat. There is dry toast. And there is the water of the Spirit that will wash over us. It is all necessary.

There are several ways to start reading through the Bible.

Get a Daily Walk Bible – or
Through the Bible.
Daily Walk and One Year both have a Chronological Bible
Stormie Omartian has one called The Power of Praying Through the Bible

Online there are quite a few options. Here are two that I am familiar with:

The Blue Letter Bible has a selection of Bible Reading plans.
I am using YouVersion to do my Read the Bible in 90 days goal. ~I am stuck in Numbers right now…but it is ALL God’s word, I’m working through it.
Stormie Omartian has a blog for praying,
Beth Moore has a blog for Memorizing Scripture,
The Father’s Business has weekly devotionals.

However you choose to nourish your soul and spirit – just do it. A person that is dehydrated doesn’t register thirst – but they are dying all the same. Take time, 10 minutes, 15, 30 – whatever you have and just read the Bible. Your thirsting soul will thank you for it!

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:31-34

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. …The Prince of Peace… Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Numb6:24-26; Phil 4:7; Is 9:6; Phil 1:6; Rom 8:38-39)

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-tackling Numbers, then Deut
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check – I made 15 bean soup!

The First 100 Days – Day 12 – Too Difficult?

This morning, I awoke to a song from many years ago. It’s from Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:

Nothing is too difficult for thee…..

When Sarai laughed about having a baby…the angels said “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:14)

When Moses said he couldn’t talk, God said “Who hath made man’s mouth?” (Ex 4:11)

When the Israelites were up against a huge river, and a huge army and God told Moses “what are you talking to me about…stick out your hand, and walk through the river”(Ex 14)

When Joshua was concerned about taking Moses’ place, God said “Be strong and of a good courage:” (Josh 1:6) AND “Only be thou strong and very courageous,”(Josh 1:7)

When Ruth was faced with a life of an outsider, God did the impossible for her!

Daniel, Nehemiah and Ezra had to face the challenges of returning to, and rebuilding Jerusalem, and the house of God. They were sent to do the work BY THEIR CAPTORS? That’s pretty amazing. One could call it impossible! And for their captors to pay for it? Definitely an improbability.

Esther – being called to go into one of the most cruel leaders of the known world at that time. It was impossible.

The Story of the Maccabees and the pure oil for the temple is another testimony to what is and what is not possible for God.

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple following Judah Maccabee’s victory over the Seleucids. According to Rabbinic tradition, the victorious Maccabees could only find a small jug of oil that had remained uncontaminated by virtue of a seal, and although it only contained enough oil to sustain the Menorah for one day, it miraculously lasted for eight days, by which time further oil could be procured

What is more impossible than a young girl getting pregnant…without a man? And the Angel said “don’t be afraid” (Luke 1:10)

Jesus asked :”Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”(Luke 5:23)

The fullness of this passage is that the pharisees were wondering if Jesus was going to forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins. Apparently, this man’s illness was partly caused by sin in his life.

Which is easier to do? To give someone what they need to cure them, or to forgive someone for some heinous thing they had done to you?

I would go to the aid of even someone I really had an issue with. I would do all I could to save them. But, if I had an issue with them, obviously, it was more difficult for me to forgive them. I know that’s true!

Jesus is saying that it is easier to heal, than to forgive.

On the cross, He did both.

Is 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

God, through Christ has taken what is unholy and made it holy – US! God, through Christ became the created.

The Creator created creation for the Created with a plan.
The Created crossed up the Creators’s plan, and lost the Creator connection.
The Creator became the created with a plan for a cross so that the Created could reconnect with the Creator.
Now the creation has to bear their cross, to fulfill the Creator’s plan.
Creative!
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

God created with “Let there be….”
Jesus healed with “be healed…”
Jesus delivered saying “go….”
Jesus raised the dead saying “Come Forth!”

Jesus said – ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].” (John 14:12-14)

What is impossible to God? Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, Nothing is impossible to God!

So, what is impossible to us? What is too difficult?

Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Heb 13:5 says I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Peter said “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”(Acts 10:34)

So, what in my life, or your life, is too difficult for God to handle?

Rom 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

So, I have this Bible full of examples of how God did the impossible for His people. God did the unthinkable for His rebellious, unloving, filthy creation. And God says He loves me, and wants to do the impossible for me.

Is a 5k too difficult for God? Is writing a post a day too difficult for God?

No – but am I doing it in my strength, or in His?

James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Why are there doubts? Do I doubt HE is able, or do I doubt that I am able? If I believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, totally true – then I have to believe that God did these glorious things through His imperfect people(remember David?). So the question becomes, do I believe He can do it through me. I’m supposed to be living my life in Him Acts 17:28. I’ve sung the song…I’ve confessed that Jesus is Lord of my life…and still, I doubt.

The truth is, my doubt says that I don’t think God is big enough, strong enough, wise enough, or loving enough to do His works through me. My doubt, in God’s ability to use me, is my doubt in God, not in me. I confess this here and now. And I ask God to help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

How did those heroes and heroines of the faith do it? By faith!

Heb 11:1 -3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

And faith is a gift from God!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

God has already done the impossible in my life – He has saved me from the pit. AND He has given me faith to believe. So, now, I just have to believe that Nothing is too difficult for Him, and that I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me! And I praise God that He is willing to put up with one that struggles so much. God has done the hardest thing, and continues. He forgave and forgives me.

Then, he asks me to do the same.

Matt 6:14 – 15For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

What’s more difficult than forgiveness? I forgive, because HE first forgave me. I love, because HE first loved me. And if, through Him I can do the hardest of all things, in Christ, is there anything too difficult for me?

How about you?

Thank you for joining me on this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I will sing beneath the shadow of your wings.