Jesus' Return

Today I have been thinking a lot about the return of Jesus. Some people believe when Jesus returns, he will come before the tribulation - the seven years under the control of the Antichrist. Others would say Jesus will return at the end. Everyone, Christian or non-Christian, will have to go through this time. I don't know where I stand on this issue or concern for Christ's return, but I know I need to be expecting Him.

I was reading a book, When Christ Comes, by Max Lucado. He made the statement we should be waiting in anticipation for Christ's return. As I started thinking about this, I really had some thoughts about waiting in anticipation.

I can remember a few months back when my sister and brother-in-law were scheduled to come and visit. I remember waiting and waiting for them to get to our house. Watching the door, lisening for the phone to ring, and even calling them to see "where they were" on their journey here is only a short list of things we did that day waiting for them to come. We had tried to ready the house and get their room in order making sure they would be as comfortable as they could be here. And, once they were here, we were glad they had finally arrived and were relaxing and enjoying their presence during their stay. Yes, we had activities planned, but we tried to be as leisure as we possibly could.

As I thought about this, I wondered how excited are we at the arrival of Jesus. Do we sit in anticipation calling on Him wondering when He is returning? Do we stand at the door watching the heavens to see if we might catch a glimpse of Him? Do we ready the house and make sure everything is in order? The Bible says that our bodies are the temple of God - His house. Are our houses ready for Him to stay in? Do we really anticipate Him coming or do we go through everyday not planning? As I thought about all of this, something came to mind - He is the Host to us! He is getting the house ready. He is making sure everything is perfect for our arrival. He is standing at His Father waiting with anticipation for Him to say, "Go, Get My Children!" Do you remember the excitment of the arrival of family or friends at your house? Think about how excited He may be. Do you think He may be asking the question to God, "Is it time, yet?" Do you think He is watching in anticipation for God to give the signal? I believe He is. It excites my heart to think He is waiting in anticipation for me. To come and get me and all of the believers of this world to take them to Heaven to be forever in the presences of God is a marvelous wonder to me. I can hardly wait to see Him! Oh, I want to see Him!

My Daddy

Over the last year, God has allowed some things in my life to come to light. Some hidden things were way down deep came to the surface. I have realized so much about myself. But, God has been working through all of it.

One thing I have always thought about was what it was like to have a Father. My father passed away when I was only 5 years old. Now that I have a child who has been that age, I realize how much I missed him. I realized how much I longed for the relationship that I missed. I think about the times I would have wanted to spend with him. I try to remember times that I did spend with him. I recently wrote down a little song, well, almost a poem, of what I remember. I thought about the things he missed and how my heart grieves for those lost moments. I wondered what it would have been to have him talk to me, to teach me new things, to correct me, to be my friend. Oh, how I missed that. Only until today did I realize I didn't miss out on a thing.

You may ask, "How can you say such a thing?" "Didn't you love your father?" Oh, I do more than you will ever know. But, God has been my father all along. He has corrected me, protected me, gave me guidance, been my provider, my counsel, and my friend. I have worked beside Him, prayed to Him, and cried with Him. He has taught me. When I fall, He picks me up. He doesn't judge me, but loves me through all of my mistakes. He shows me the ways to walk and where not to go. He tells me when I'm not walking with Him.

During all of these things, I realized something else. I didn't have my earthly father here on the day I was married. But, there is coming a day! I am a bride in the body of Christ. One day, God is going to escort me to a wonderful city that has been prepared for me - as Hebrew 11 says, "my homeland. I haven't missed out on anything. He has been my Abba Father all along. I just didn't realize it until today!

Scars

Well, I have not been very successful at posting my diet on here, but I am still growing….not in weight, but in knowledge. I have been doing a Bible Study by Beth Moore which includes study on the fruits of the Spirit. I have had many realizations about my behaviors and my beliefs about different things. I have realized that I have had so much jealousy and envy toward people. Before, I didn't really think I had an issue with these matters, but God has revealed to me so much.

Another thing happened a few weeks ago now – I cut my finger. The story goes like this. I was helping a friend cut some signs out. I was using a straight-edge and a box cutter. I was cutting along the straight-edge when the knife slipped up and over the metal edge right across my right index finger. Seven stitches later and, finally, two weeks later, I have a scar – a three inch, 14-hole scar stretching down the top of my index finger. Well, about a week ago, I was talking to my son. I was talking to him about my finger. I was feeling sorry for myself and thinking my hand would be forever defective. Something like it once was, but it will never be the same. Well, I started telling him that I would have this scar for the rest of my life.

Well, a few minutes later, God brought something to my mind. How many of us walk around with scars from our past? These big, uneven scars that plague our bodies are reminders of our past. Have some of them faded? Are some of them still fresh? Did we even forget about others? Well, I have a few bodily scars, but I have to say I have far too many inner scars to count. Some are still fresh. Some have faded. Others I had even forgot about. Yes, we all walk around with scars. Scars of lost loves, of broken friendships, and maybe, of hurt feelings are still around. As Beth Moore said in her study, are some of those scars or wounds that have never healed? As I looked at those things in my life that have maybe been hidden for a while – the jealousy and the envy – are they open wounds or are they scars? I believe they were wounds that need to be healed. They are mending, and I do have scars, but God has opened my eyes to see that we can all learn lessons from our scars. Yes, we can prevent some of the scars in our lives, but some we will live with for the rest of our lives. We will learn from the scars. We will allow God to take the hurts, pains, and disappointments. Will we allow Him to mend them with His Love and show us how to care for it? How to help it heal? Yes, it does take time for them to heal, but they will!

I'm not sure if my son understood what I was saying when I told him about this, but, one day, he will have a number of wounds and then scars. He will learn lessons that I will never be able to teach him. Yes, we regret having done the mistakes to make the scars. But, it is a reminder of where God has brought us and where He is taking us. But, by His Strips, we are healed!

Diet Diary and Life

Ok, you might be wondering why I'm posting my diet diary on my blog. Well, I have a new outlook and new motivation for my life.

My husband and I have been married for 8 years and 9 months. I want to do a vow renewal on May 28th, 2011 for our 10 year anniversary. I think it would be awesome, but I have gained 80 pounds since we have been married. I lost 40 of that a few years ago and gained it back. I'm motivated now to keep it off. I realized I can do anything I do unto the Lord. I can eat to bring glory to Him. I can clean my house to bring glory to Him, and I believe I've finally realized I can do it. I can lose the weight I've been so unsuccessful at losing by keeping Him as my goal. Yes, the weight coming off will be a plus, but I have to do this unto Him.

Everything else is going ok. Just the everyday that God brings us through. We haven't had too many major hurdles to get over, but God is still working and moving in our lives. Satan is still trying to attack, but we are given all we need if we just use it - the Armor of God. We can put it on and do nothing but stand! Sometimes it may be in a pit, as Beth Moore writes in her book, Get Out of That Pit, but we have to look to God and stand against the fiery darts of the Devil! Praise God Almighty for His Mercy Endureth Forever!

Diet Diary 2/19/2010

I found a wonderful application in Word 2007 that is great! You can type your blog in Word and then, when you are ready to publish it. Just go to the Word menu at the top, go down to publish, and click blog. It will ask what blog group you use, your username and password, and you're done! It publishes it for you!

 

Ok, my eating diary for the day:

Pre Breakfast:

8 oz of Sprite            100 Calories

Breakfast:

Egg White Flatbread Veggie    290 Calories

Diet Pepsi            0 Calories

Lunch:

Turkey and Cheese Sandwich    220 Calories

Carrots                70 Calories

Strawberry Yogurt        60 Calories

Dinner:

Planning to have:

Chicken breast            250 Calories

Salad with little to no dressing    125 Calories

Green Beans            80 Calories

Grand Total:            1195 Calorie

 

Calories given: 1443 a day

Calories remaining: 248 Calories

Hurry, Get Out of That Pit!

Hurry, Get Out of That Pit!

    A few days ago, I was watching my son as he was in his gymnastics class. He had just finished swinging on the uneven bars when he plunged into a giant pit filled with 1 foot by 1 foot foam squares. As he struggled to get out, I watched as he used every muscle to manipulate his body to get through those crazy foam squares and to the side of this giant pit. As he was crawling out, he pulled with his arms, pushed with his legs, and even tried to use his head to help himself out. The coach was standing on the side counting, "1, 2, 3, hurry, hurry, 4, 5 . . . " I saw my son struggle and struggle and try to hurry to get to the side. When he finally made it, he looked up at me in the balcony of the gymnasium and just smiled. He had done it.

    One my way home that day, I was talking to my son about how difficult it was to get out of the foam pit. When I started talking about it, I realized and said, "Satan wants to keep us in a pit." My spirit leapt with joy inside me. I just kept talking to my son and telling him how Satan tries to use different things in our lives to keep us in these pits. He tries to put all of these obstacles, just like those foam squares, in our path to keep us from reaching the side. We struggle and use everything that is in us. We even put our heads down. Satan stands on the side and counts, "1. . . 2. . . 3. . ." But, we need to look up. God will help us get out of those pits. He coaches us and says, "Come on, my child! Just a few more steps! Now move this way and that way. Don't put your head down, keep your eyes on Me!" I wanted to shout right there in the car driving home.

    Our God is so amazing and so wonderful that He wants us to live victoriously in this life. Satan wants us to keep our heads down and struggle with what is going on around us. God says we should keep our eyes on Him. He is our Jehovah-Jirah –our Provider, Jehovah-Rophe – our Healer , Jehovah—Shammah – He is There. He will help us get through and get out of those pits in our lives if we keep our eyes on Him. I am reminded of an old hymn that says: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His Glory and Grace." Turn your eyes to Him today. Ask Him to help you out of that pit you are going through. Look up and see Him telling you to keep going. Brothers and Sisters, Our prize is not too far away!

Old times back around

Well, I have been doing really well until yesterday. I had something happen eariler this week that I probably took too personally, but it hurt. Sometimes the hurts of past experiences can come back within the moment of least expectancy. I really didn't want to spend my day or week feeling the way I did, but I made it through. I believe God will continue to help me fight this battle of the mind that Satan tries to influence me. I have to remember that God is in control, and I need to put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sandels of peace, and, most of all, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. If I can do this, Satan has no control over me.

I have also determined to remember that I have a job to do. God has given me the job of being a homemaker for my family. He has equipped me to do this job to the best of my ability, but He has also given me a responsibility - a responsibility that I have never really thought about until now. The Bible says God gives us things and wants to see how well me manage those things. If we manage them well, He will reward us with more. If we manage them poorly, He will take from us that which he gave. In the parable of the talents, God gave the talents - one 5, one 3, and one 1. The one with 5 hid them. God has given me responsibility to take that which He has given me and do what I am required to do with it. He has given me more than I could have ever imagined, but if I don't manage it well, He can also take it away. My prayer this day is to be found worthy of what God has given me by managing it to the best of my ability. I want to find favor in His sight!

New Year - New Semester

Ok, I just read the last post and realized that I haven't posted since August.

Well, the semester ended up going well. I was enrolled in Introduction to Philosophy and Introduction to Computers. I ended up with a B in Philosophy and an A in Intro to Computers. It was a good semester.

Bayker did well. He had very few days of bad behavior at school which was absolutely awesome. He had a substitute teacher for the first two weeks of school. His real teacher came back, was pregnant, had a baby shower for the kids, and had the baby. He got another teacher different from both the first two. She was awesome but left two weeks before Christmas vacation. He had yet another teacher of which I didn't really care. He ended up with the third teacher again after Christmas break, and, at the end of the month, his original, non-preggers teacher will be back. Whew!

Jaxon ended up qualifying for the 3 year old classroom at Myrtle Beach Primary. He had speech delays and qualified cognitively as well. He has been going on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday since his 3rd birthday. He is still at Gateway Academy which is nice.

Well, as for Stephen, he decided to go back to seminary this semester, so that means I didn't go to school. It's time for me to become the mother and woman I need to be for my family and for myself. I turned 32 years old on Sunday, and this is going to be a great year. I'm not sure what is going to happen, but it's going to be good. I just know it.

I will be posting almost everyday with updates on weight, nutrition, and my goals for the next year. I hope they don't bore you to death, but it will keep me accountable.