The Hamster Wheel of Life

Do you ever feel like you are on the hamster wheel of life? You try and you try and you just can't overcome a bad habit? I can so relate to Paul in Romans 7:18 when he says,

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do!

Have you ever felt frustrated about 'knowing what is the right thing to do, yet you still do the bad thing?'

Our life can spin out of control when we think we can sin without consequences and sin is usually outwardly appealing and initially enjoyable. Nothing says in the Bible that David's night spent with Bathsheba wasn't pleasurable? However, the consequences of his sin came after the initial gratification.

Galations 6:7 shares about the consequences of sin.

Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

A recent bad habit that I have tried and tried on my own will power to overcome is poor nutritional habits and lack of exercise. It dawned on me that with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, it is important for me to take can of my body, fueling it with proper nutrition and exercise. However the day I am going to make this dramatic change, I most of the time end up sub cumming to a tasty temptation or 'just don't' feel' like exercising. Then I over indulging on foods not good for me like donuts, candy, cake, cookies, and brownies. Can you tell what I have a weakness for? And I just continue on this hamster wheel of guilt and frustration.

The consequence of this sin has caused me to have a lower confidence about myself and often times will be reflected in my relationships with my husband, my daughters, family, or friends.

I have learned that I can't rely on my own 'will power' to overcome this sinful area of my life, but I need to rely on God's power in my life. I need to recognize and receive His love for me regardless of my past mistakes. I believe that Satan knows my area of weakness and works on me even harder to pull me down. However through the power, forgiveness, and strength of Christ, Satan can and will be over come. I can live in victory over sin!

1 John 1:9 states, 'If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.'

So TODAY I choose God over sin! I repent my sin and KNOW that the slate as been wiped clean. I can step off of the hamster wheel and onto a path already laid out for me, a path filled with abundance and blessings because I KNOW that....

The my LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth will grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28 - 32

Blessings,

Jill

What Goes In, Must Come Out!

Have you ever heard the saying, ' You become like the top 5 people you hang out with?' In the last 18 years of my marriage, I will have to admit that we have grown to become more like the other with every passing year. My OCD tendencies to have everything picked up have relaxed a bit, while Milo has developed some interesting obsessive traits with loading the dishwasher. More times than not, we will both be thinking the same thing even before anything is spoken and we can finish each other's sentences without even trying.

This week we have been looking at David in 2 Samuel 11:2-3.

One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful.

David's sin didn't begin when he noticed a woman bathing, what got him into trouble was when he stopped to take a second, more observant look to see that she was stunningly beautiful. It was the second look that prompted him to act on what he saw, leading to a path of destruction. When you toy with sin, your evil desires often overpower you and this holds true to many areas of our lives.

I will have to admit, I am a junkie when it comes to the magazines you pick up when checking out at the grocery store; People, OK, InTouch, and the list goes on. I always say to myself, 'You are not going to buy a magazine!' as I unload my groceries from the cart. But one glance too long and I start to read the headlines, the teasers that get me curious as to what more is on the inside and more times than not, I toss one in.

I used to say that I only picked them up because I liked looking at the cool dresses, fashions and trends. However if I am truly honest, I am curious to read all of the gossip and probable lies about everyday humans just like you and me. Then I start sizing myself up to the air brushed, perfectly sculpted people inside and everything downward spirals from there. I like David, ponder to take a second look. While you may not think that it could be a sin, in God's eyes there is no ranking of sin. Sin is sin anyway you look at it. If you toy with sin, your evil desires often overpower you.

So I challenge you and myself today to take a good hard look at what you are putting into your mind and your body. After all, what goes in, must come out! Who are you spending your time with? What type of books are you reading? What are you watching on television? Are you becoming like the top 5 people you hang out with?

I love the advice given in Proverbs 4:25 - 27

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

In fact, I believe I am going to write this on at the bottom of my grocery list as a reminder to keep my eyes and thoughts focused on God. May be instead of reading the tabloids, I visit with the checkout person to find out more about them? Always remembering that we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Blessings,

Jill

Just 5 More Minutes PLEASE!

As the weather gets nicer and bedtimes get pushed a bit later and later every night, drawing to the close of the school year mornings are getting tougher and tougher! This morning however it would be mom that was saying, 'Just 5 more minutes, please!' I laid there secretly wishing that my husband would kiss me on the cheek and whisper 'Don't worry honey, I will get the kids off to school. You just sleep.' Ooops. I must have been dreaming!

So as the story unfolds, I drag myself out of bed only to head straight to the coffee maker to reheat what was left over from yesterday, just to get a quick fix before making a new pot! The kids get off to school and now with caffeine on board I suddenly find a new energy to my day and wonder why I would want to sleep the morning away.

Yesterday I shared a bit about David losing control which led to an adulterous affair and then the murder of Bathsheba's husband. We can be ticking along just great and suddenly life spins out of control. As you refer back to the story in 2 Samuel 11:1 - 14, I want to focus today on verse 1.

When that time of year came around again, the anniversary of the Ammonite aggression, David dispatched Joab and his fighting men of Israel in full force to destroy the Ammonites for good. They laid siege to Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem.

Now we don't know why David stayed back. It appears that it was a time of the year when kings, such as he would go off to war with their troops. However this time he sent Joab in his place while he remained in Jerusalem. May be he was worn out, didn't feel like managing his troops, just didn't want to mess with it, and it was 'easier' to stay in Jerusalem. After all, he had the authority to delegate the responsibility.

Then in verse 2 it goes onto explain, One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace.

Whatever the reason for David staying back, it set into motion negative repercussions for him, his family, and his nation. David's choice to stay home was a wrong choice.

I believe that the Holy Spirit often times nudges me along with an inner 'gut' feeling, that voice in my head. However I also have a nudging sometimes that is not of the Holy Spirit that encourages me to make different choices. Choices that are not in my best interest for the short or long term. While I may gain some immediate gratification from a decision, the long term consequences are not good.

So when the comfort of the bed on a cool, damp morning, snuggled under a down comforter with pillows all around persuades you into taking just 5 more minutes, which in turn affects the unfolding of the events of the day: may be you miss your quiet time, you rush to get the kids off to school which leads to harsh spoken words, you don't have time to make a healthy breakfast and instead grab a donut and coffee from the convenient store, or you miss your daily exercise.

Remember God forgives and rebuilds lives, however He does not remove the consequences of uncontrolled actions, a distant relationship with Him, a hurtful word shouted at your child or spouse, or the harmful effects on your body of poor nutrition and lack of exercise.

The first step in getting a life under God's control, beginning to live a life in balance and harmony with God's plan is to pray for discernment and guidance, strength and energy to make the right choice!

When you seek God, He will show you His plans and way for your life so that you can follow Him and avoid sin.

Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths.

Blessings,

Jill

Can You Start A Diet In the Middle of a Bag of Potato Chips?

A good friend and mentor once shared with me that you can start a diet in the middle of a bag of potato chips. I had to laugh thinking, 'Well may be after I finished what I started, I could? After all, I don't want to look like a failure.'

Do you ever feel like your life is out of control?

When things slow down, then I will? When my kids get in school then I will? When my kids get done with school then I will? When I get through the holidays then I will? Once this 'crazy' summer is over then I will?

When I finish this bag of potato chips then I will start my diet.

I have to laugh because I am infamous for thinking to myself, 'Once I finish eating all of the junk food in the house, then I will only eat 'good' food. The problem lies in that junk food somehow always finds it's way back into our house and I am the person who does the grocery shopping.

Well are you ready to stop saying 'WHEN' but NOW?

Over the next 10 weeks, I will be sharing insights into living a life under control. Finding balance and eliminating the WHENS in your life.

David was referred to a 'man after God's own heart' in Acts 13:22 and served God faithfully even during very difficult circumstances. In a matter of a few weeks his life spun out of control. In this short period of time, he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged the murder of her husband to cover up his sin. However, because of God's grace God didn't reject David and He doesn't reject you in light of your most recent mess up. God offers hope for getting our lives under control: a life under control mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, a life lived in harmony.

Romans 8: 5-8 shares that those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them. Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

Are you so absorbed with your calendar, your busy life, your comitments, your agenda that you are not stopping to really ask yourself 'what is God's plan for me?' How should my calendar look according to God?

I pray that you check in frequently over the next 10 weeks to read and also to share your insights into living a more balanced life. A life that starts and ends with an intimate relationship with the Lord. Remember, He understands our struggles and weaknesses, our fears and hang ups. We CAN begin a NEW chapter every day and even in the middle of a bag of potato chips!

Blessings,

Jill

My Views or God's Views?

I realized that as I have been studying the meaning of grace, I had a 'mixed view' of what the process of grace meant. The process of grace includes acceptance, repentance, sanctification, obedience, prayer and meditation. My mixed view coming from the world's interpretation and God's interpretation. Perhaps you may have felt the same or may be struck by a new thought?

Acceptance: When I hear the word acceptance I immediately think of being approved by and like by others. Or what can I do to earn acceptance by others? Look better, do more things for my kids, act a certain way, etc... Or I will be better accepted once I lose a few pounds, fix this problem in a relationship, get better at my job, etc...

God's view of acceptance is right here, right now! He loves me for who, what, and where I am TODAY! Acceptance to God is immediate. When God called some of His disciples in Matthew 4: 18 - 22, they had just finished fishing and God said lets go! They left their catch, their families, and I am sure they may be didn't stop to change clothes and they were off! God took them fish smelling and all!

Repentance: When I hear the word repentance, I immediately think of having done something really bad that I need to fall on my knees and beg for forgiveness. That to whom ever I am asking for forgiveness they will be upset and mad at me for what I have done.

In the study I am working on, Living In Grace the author said 'the heartache your sin inflicts is torture enough.' OUCH! My heart aches over little things and it aches daily.

God's view of repentance is that we must confess our sin over and over again. In doing so we can change our direction, abandon our agenda, and be rid of sinful, bad habits. Not only the BIG stuff, but the daily stuff, gossip, envy, fear, unforgiveness, etc...

Romans 2:4 says, 'God's kindness leads you toward repentance?'

Sanctification: Honestly, until just a year ago I really had no cool what sanctification meant!

God's view is that sanctification is a process, a daily, conscious effort on our part to become more and more like Him. How do we stay fit emotionally, mentally, and physically? We have to daily work at it! How do we grow to be like Christ. We have to daily connect with Him and His Word.

1 Thessalonians 5: 23 - 24 says, 'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. When I think of through and through I vision it over and over and over again.

Obedience: My immediate reaction to obedience is to play by the rules. I also think of discipline. YUCK! I also think that I have the will power to do it myself and when that will power fails, I beat myself up over and over again.

Well, I was happy to read that learning to obey God's commands regardless of how you feel is one of the most difficult processes of grace. WHEW. That made me feel a little bit better! God always provides the support I need to be obedient, so I don't need to rely on my own will power!

John 15: 10 - 11 gives me so much inspiration to follow God's commands. "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

ahhh. At home in my love. Doesn't that sound awesome!

Prayer and Meditation: I immediately think of silence, sitting on the floor with my legs crossed, eyes closed, and thumb and third finger touching. When I hear prayer, I also think of continuous.

Joshua 1: 7 - 8 shares 'Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let the Word of God be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.'

I have come to learn that for me that prayer and meditation doesn't have to be a long, drawn out segment of time that has to be scheduled on my calendar but it can also be an ongoing communication through out the day. May be a passage I read in the morning, I am able to reflect on while waiting to pick up kids from school. A song on Christian radio inspires me to sing at the top of my lungs with praises to God. An upcoming difficult conversation is proceeded by a quick request for the right words to say. The silence as I fall asleep at night offers a great time to thank God for my blessings during the day, leaving me to fall asleep in Him arms.

Blessings,

Jill

Greener Grass or is it Whiter Snow?

Envy. "The grass is always greener on the other side. Or lately one would ask if the snow is whiter in the neighbors yard?" While working through my bible study this week, I came across a great comment on the topic of envy. "But the darker hue you perceive is either an illusion or the result of a lot of hard work." The study I am working with is 'Living In Grace' by Carol Lewis.

Envy or comparison. I can speak for myself to say that I easily fall into the trap! The book goes onto share that 'nothing is exactly the way it appears at first glance, including people's seemingly easier lives. We have no way to know what another person is dealing with emotionally, mentally, physical, or spiritually.' Isn't that true? We are always quick to see only the 'outside'.

In Proverbs 14:30, Solomon shares that envy 'rots the bone'.

The former nurse in me, drove me to look up Osteoporosis, a common occurrence among women as I as I believe the comparison/envy game can be as well. This is want I found.

The strength of your bones depends on their size and density. Bone density depends on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals bones contain. When your bones contain fewer minerals than normal, they're less strong and eventually lose their internal supporting structure. Scientists have yet to learn all the reasons why a process of bone remodeling occurs. The process involves how the bone is made. Bones are continuously changing - new bone is made and old bone is broken down - a process called remodeling, or bone turnover.

In order to avoid my bones from rotting, I must take care of them by filling my body with good nutrition and getting proper exercise. If I don't, then my bones begin to lose their internal supporting structure. If envy and comparison are a part of my thinking and life, I begin to slowly rot away inside, dieing to myself.

If I feed by heart, soul, and mind with God's word and grow in my relationship with Him daily then I can ward off feelings of envy and self doubt and make myself NEW in Christ.

The old self is dead and made NEW in Christ! Just like the old bone is broken down and the new bone is made. Did you know that Osteoporosis CAN be reversed!

So when you catch yourself 'wishing things were this way or that way', remember God loves you and provides for you exactly what you need!

It is impossible to be content when our eyes are focused on ourselves and our selfish desires. But when we focus on Christ, this world and everything in it fades away. We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out, not even our earthly bodies.

We know that we are wonderfully and fearfully made and that the maker of the universe knit us together to be just who we are. Psalm 139: 13 - 14.

So I am content with my grass and my snow!

Jill

Family Fun Ideas

Here are some more family fun ideas that we implemented in February.

For my family night the first of the month, I had everyone put their name into a hat. We drew out a name and to that person we had to write a 'love letter'. The letter had to include what we admired, valued, and loved about that person. When we finished we each read our letter aloud and presented our letter. We then cut up foam hearts with each person having an assigned color. Our mission was to get rid of all of our hearts before Valentines Day. Every time we performed a random act of kindness we left our heart for that person to know who had help him or her in some way. Was our house picked up and clean for a week!

Milo's family night activity included some physical activity. Were he works has a gym and we were able to lace up our tennis shoes for a night of volleyball and basketball. After we finished up our workout, we headed home where he cooked up his 'famous spaghetti'.

Kennedy's family 'day' was very creative and the one this month that entailed spending some money. After church we headed to the mall where we had lunch and then drew a name out of a hat along with a designated 'letter'. We then had 45 minutes to shop for the person. The purchase was limited to $15 and had to either start with or be associated with the letter we drew. The letter was 'T'.

Milo purchased a telephone cover for Kennedy's cell phone.
Jill purchased a necklace with a pendant that said 'trust', Truly Me shower gel, and totally cool sunglasses for Madison
Kennedy purchased a 'thank you' card, taffy, and a Tiger Orange shirt for Milo. AND she still had $4 left over!
Madison purchased a 'thank you' card, tiara, and a Trust In the Lord magnet for Jill.

Madison's family night was a SPA night. We each drew a name and then had to give that person their SPA treatment of choice. Drawing a name became a common theme for the month.

Jill got a back rub.
Kennedy got a manicure.
Madison got a manicure and a pedicure.
Milo got a back rub and a temple massage.

AHHHHHHH...

Look for more ideas in April!

Jill