Some things we need to die to

Listen friends,  if you truly want to live the life that God has for you.....then you are going to have to die to some things. There was a time in my life that I was so tormented in my mind.  I was locked in chains of fear.  People have asked me how did you get free.  First of all, I want to make sure to give God all the glory.  I truly am a miracle.  I know that he did answer my cries.  I was so tormented with fear that I did not want to live....Have you ever been there? 

One of the things I had to do was meditate on the Word of God continually.  Here is a verse about taking every thought captive.  When the lies and fear would overwhelm my mind...I would have to take every thought captive. 

This is hard work and can be exhausting....it is a constant battle. I don't care what you are battling fear, insecurity, torment, lust...the list can be endless.  If you want victory...you must start taking every thought captive.  You will not be free unless you control your thoughts.  God will give you the strength as you begin to ask him to help you.

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Another verse I want to share with you is:

Romans 8:6

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 

I don't know about your friends but I want a life of peace!  However, did you catch it....if we continue to have the mind of the sinful man...it is death.  If we want to have a life of peace then we must let our minds be controlled by the spirit.

• Die to wrong attitudes
• Die to the wrong thoughts
• Die to the world's standards
• Die to the lies women or men believe
• Die to the lies that media tells you
• Die to yourself and your flesh
• Die to unhealthy relationships
• Die to the wrong friendships
• Die to shame
• Die to fear
• Die to guilt
• Die to sin

You have to give up some things in order to be able to truly live.  Don't hold on to the things that are holding you back from being free.  It's time to let go...it's time to start living your life and being all that God has called you to be. 

Romans 6: 11-13 says that YOU have a choice....
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to live; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 


You can be free...choose life!

Melissa

Another TV update....

What about the movies and television programs you watch?  Does your TV just blare continually all day long, providing a dull background of mindlessness for your life?  Is there so much noise from all these things that you wouldn't hear "the still small voice" of God even if He were yelling at you?

In his book How To Have Good Health Dr E Ted Chandler says that people who watch TV more than four hours each day are "more fearful, anxious, and mistrustful than those viewing less than two hours per day." 

Research has shown that too much TV reduces a child's ability to think for himself and dulls his mind to such an extent that it affects his work in school.  Children who watch more than three hours of TV each day seem to do less well in school than those who watch for a shorter time.

Watching TV too much, or watching poor quality programs, is just as destructive for adults as it is for children.  Be specific about what you're watching and why. 

Always remember that whatever goes into your mind stays there--you have it filed in your memory forever, and although you may forget it for a time, it is still part of you.  So be careful how you feed your mind because that's what will feed your soul, just as what goes into your stomach will feed your body.

If you wouldn't want your kids, spouse or yourself to be doing what you are watching...should you really be watching it?

Phillipians 4: 8

Melissa

TV Challenge

How's your week of choosing to not watch TV going? 

Remember as Zig always says, "You are where you are and what you are because of what's gone into your mind...You can change where you are and change what you are by changing what goes into your mind."

The American Academy of Pedriatrics, doctors have warned that TV viewing can lead to violent behavior, obesity, apathy, lower metabolism, decreased imagination, constipation, and even death-in the even that the TV should topple over and fall on the child.  But this is the first time the association has called for an outright ban.  The study also said that the average child is subjected to 14,000 sexual references on TV a year and is exposed to $2 billion worth of alcohol ads in other media annually."

And remember it's not just because of the kids...you need to be careful of what you are putting in your mind.....if you do choose to watch TV.......... why not try filtering it through this....

"Finallly, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."  Phillipians 4:8

Blessings!
Melissa

Have you hit a plateau?

Not getting any results....try a few of these ideas to get out of your rut:

• HIT training-intervals of walking, running, biking in 30 secs on and 30 secs off
• Go outside and do 20 minutes of sprints (up and down the driveway or sidewalk)
• Add 100 lunges to your routine carrying a plate in front of you
• Do something new-a body pump class, boot camp....do something you never do
• Add stretching, foam roller, yoga-staying flexible is key to getting the best results
• Push yourself...could you have run a little longer...lifted a little more weight...done one more rep?
• Find a workout partner that will push you
• Keep your eating clean
• Try cardio 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach
• Change your workout-lift heavier, lift lighter with more reps, shake it up...get out of your rut
• Eat smaller meals throughout the day
• Run sprints up and down a hill outside in the yard
• Try to do 25 to 50 pushups every day (on your toes!!!)
• Listen to your favorite music while working out
• Focus your mind on what you are doing...this is your time
• Dance with your kids

Get off the couch!

Melissa

Are you pleasing God or people?

I am reading a book by Lou Priolo called "People Pleasing" and here are a few things to think about...
1. He fears the displeasure of man more than the displeasure of God.
2. He desires the praise of man above the praise of God.
3. He studies what it takes to please man as much (if not more than) what it takes to please God.
4. His speech is designed to entice and flatter others into thinking well of him.
5. He is a respecter of persons.
6. He is oversensitive to correction, reproof, and other allusions of dissatisfaction or disapproval on the part of others.
7. He outwardly renders eye service to man rather than inward rendering sincere (from the heart) ministry to the Lord.
8. He selfishly uses the wisdom, abilities, and gifts that have been given to him for God's glory and the benefit of others for his own glory and personal benefit.
9. He invests more of his personal resources in establishing his own honor than he does in establishing God's honor.
10. He is discontented with the condition and proportion that God has appointed for him.

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. (John 12:42-43)

My prayer today is that I would be more concerned about pleasing God.

I will post more about this topic but in the mean time ask yourself "is ever right to please people?"

Rules for Self Discovery

1. What we want most
2. What we think about most
3. How we use our money
4. What we do with our leisure time
5. The company we enjoy
6. Who and what we admire
7. What we laugh at
-AW Tozer in That Incredible Christian

If we truly want to follow God, we must seek to be other-worldy.

Good or Excellent

Today try to choose to do what is excellent. There are many good things that we can spend our time doing but starting today.....let's try to choose what is excellent.

"Therefore, I urge you, sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God---this is your spirtual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12: 1-2

Zig always said...

When I worked for Zig he used to always say, "You are where you are and what you are because of what's gone into your mind but you can change where you are and change what you are by changing what goes into your mind." This is so true and has proved to be true over and over in my life. When I find myself struggling....I don't have to go far to find it has a lot to do with what I have been thinking, watching and putting into my mind. When I am diligent to think of the things that the word of God says and to put the right things in my mind then the proper results are produced.

In the same way...You can change where you are and what you are by changing what you put into your body. If you are feeling sick and tired today then ask yourself...what am I feeding on? Am I feeding myself junk? Am I eating foods that produce energy and life? In the same way we need to take captive our thoughts we need take captive our food if we want to have different results. If you keep doing the same thing over and over...you're going to keep getting the same thing.

Why not try something new today...let's put things into our minds that produce the Godly life we are trying to live. There is so much junk thrown our way every day...let's be careful about the choices we make about what we watch on tv, read in magazines, listen to on the radio and friends that we choose to be around. Let's make wise choices when we choose our food...fresh fruit, whole grains, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats. You can change where you are and what you are by changing what you are feeding your mind and body!

Have a blessed day!

Melissa