Peace be with you!

Thought for the Week: This week let us focus selfishly on ourselves. Let's feel the peace and presence of God in our lives. When the "stress monster" wants to control our lives let "the peace of God" into our lives. As Christians we deserve peace.

From ― Marianne Williamson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
”

 

Paul said it like this to the Philippians.

Philippians 4 verses 6-8

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving,present your requests to God"
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Fitness II- More about fit Christians!

Fitness II 

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex…

Your workmanship is marvelous.”

(Psalm 139, Vs 13 & 14) 

            More on Fitness from Monday the following three people have been my mentors in spirit, mind and body. Yes, we may all have a compulsive disorder, but we are strong in our faith as well as our bodies.

            Bob D is a friend in Christ that I met in my years of excessive training for triathlons and running. He once had a business career but that went away and became a personal trainer. There was a very difficult transition from a commercial cash flow to that of a club trainer. His strength and faith have kept him a positive role model and he has contributed to people as both a social and physical example. In the challenging financial times we are experiencing today people who can emulate his example will be better for it in spirit, mind and body. Winning the battle has a lot to do with having a strong faith and keeping it in focus.

            George is a church associate who impressed me when we started attending church here in Minnesota. Early on I can remember sitting in an annual meeting when he was talking and thinking that I hoped that someday I could contribute as much to the church. He was a leader that I wanted to emulate. He is a blessing in my Friday bible studies as well as a positive example of both fitness and spirituality.

            Paulette, a Good News associate, is at the Grand Canyon in Arizona as we read this. She and several friends just finished the R2R2R! That is a trail walk/run from Rim to Rim to Rim. She is a great Christian friend and fitness example.           

            In Summary, we are what we are; born in a state of near perfection, we spend a lifetime trying to mess it up. The Lord gave us some marvelous equipment and a marvelous opportunity and he supplies ongoing help. It is a wonderful life and we need to take care of our spirit, mind and bodies in His name. 

Thought for Today: Today let us focus on our physical selves. Let’s park a bit further from the door, say no thanks to the desert tray, walk the stairs as we are able. Let us be as good as we can be. 

Prayer for Today: Father, today we give thanks for who and what we are and the many helpers that you have sent us along the way.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

Fitness 1

Fitness 1

 

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex…

Your workmanship is marvelous.”

(Psalm 139, Vs 13 & 14) 

            We are a wonderful machine/animal, born with feelings, the intellect to apply logic to our lives and without sin. For most of us it is all downhill from there. Society gives us the opportunity to pursue pleasure through wealth, eating great foods and entertaining ourselves while sitting down. The pure hearts that we were born with become hidden by our pursuit of worldly materials and the “…the delicate, inner parts…” become hidden with excess weight. Today I want to address the body rather than the mind.

            There are three people that have meant a lot to me in my life that have taken care of what God gave them better than most. One is my dad’s sister, the others are personal friends that I met when I relocated to Minnesota. They have contributed subliminally and outwardly to who I am today, they have a high level of faith following very different theologies and are similar in other ways.

            The aunt I have written about before. She was a yoga instructor and in the 60’s and she started talking about changing our diets to decrease fat content.  Our family was a roast beef every Sunday type of family that trended toward obesity. She broke the family trend started a life of both physical and mental fitness. She passed this year at age 88 and to the end she was a teacher and role model in her community. 

            We will talk about the other two tomorrow! 

Thought for Today: Today let us focus on our physical selves. Let’s park a bit further from the door, say no thanks to the desert tray, walk the stairs as we are able. Let us be as good as we can be. 

Prayer for Today: Father, today we give thanks for who and what we are and the many helpers that you have sent us along the way.

Amen

Share our Gifts

Thought for the Week: Let us focus on ourselves and our talents. Let us recognize that we have special gifts given to us by the Lord to use for Him. 

John Wesley said it this way: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.

 

Romans 12 verses 10-13

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal,

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and

faithful in prayer.

Share with God’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality

Character

“Now all has been heard;
   here is the conclusion of the matter:
… keep his commandments,
   for this is the duty of all mankind.”

(Ecclesiastes 12 vs. 13) 

            What a wonderful world it would be! We are all aware of the rules and will have a chance to break them daily, weekly etc. Temptation is always around and I frankly succumb to it too often. I guess each morning I need to pray “Dear Lord, for today I pray to be perfect.” No coveting, jealousies, anger, aggressiveness toward others (that must mean complete stops at the stop signs!). Ok, when I am done writing this I will try again!

            There are only ten rules to obey for a great life and a great world. Most of us try, many of us fail. That’s why we go to church on Sunday and pray daily. Somehow we end the day wishing we were better- that we were perfect.

            Each day we strive for perfection; that is we try to build character. We attend church and pray and that generates spiritual growth. Building character is slightly different, but parallels it. The closer we are to the spirit, the easier it is to have that perfect character we all desire.

            Persistence is the word, perfection is the goal. Pray daily, obey the commandments daily and life will be good. Never give up being the best you can be. 

Thoughts for Today: For today let us be aware of the commandments in all of our activities. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and father today we give thanks for our wonderful lives and the hope we have for the future through our belief in Jesus. For today we pray for the strength and judgment to be obedient and of the highest character.

Amen

           

Strebgth!

Thought for Today:  Today there will be times when we need more strength. Let us find it through Him; through prayer and meditation. 

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those

 whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

(2 Chronicles 16 vs. 9) 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today is a day that you have made for me to enjoy. Today is a day where stress and problems are waiting for me. Today I give thanks for the wonderful day, the people around me and the strength to deal with whatever happens. I am blessed through You.

Amen

Plan your Life

Good News 032005 Plan 

^“The plans of the diligent lead to profit

as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

(Proverbs 21:5) 

            In the 40’s and 50’s there was a Boston announcer that used to say “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” Today we live in a fast paced society that seems to demand instant gratification.  In the business world everyone is looking for the proverbial “low hanging fruit”; the diet fads are advertising fast weight reduction; if a trip is more than 400 yards we drive to save time. We want what we want when we want it and often fail to be diligent, persistent and patient.

            In the 80’s at a sales meeting Ty Boyd did a presentation called “The Life Plan” in which he talked about making a plan for life like we do for business. He preached that we needed to set goals for life and keep our focus on attaining those goals.  We all start out with a plan, but many let it go and start reacting to life’s situations rather than implementing the plan.

            A strong factor in keeping a life plan in order is spirituality. Spirituality gives us the ability to focus on the good rather than reacting to the negative. Having the ability to forgive and to pray helps get through the tough days and keep our focus on the plan. In Paul’s message to the Romans in verse twelve he advised, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” We need that to be a part of our life plan. 

Thought for Today: Today let us remember where we want to go. There will be both positive and negative distractions. Today let us focus on our spirituality in both celebration and under stress. Let us give thanks when things go as planned and pray when they do not.  

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord we are busy working our plan every day. Today we pray for success, positive memories and that our plan fits your plan.

Amen