"So that you may know"

What do you know for sure? That your house is paid for. That you graduated from school in 1977? That 2 plus 2 = 4. Those are all important things to know, but what about knowing things that you can not see, hear, feel, touch, smell, or perceive with the senses? Some would say, you can not know if you can not perceive with the senses. But that's not what the Bible says. 1 John 5:13 says, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."

Our loving Heavenly Father wants us to know that we are loved. He wants us to sleep well at night, trusting Him for great and mighty things.

I have decided that I am going to do a Biblical Word study of the phrase, "so that you may know". It will be like finding buried treasure!

In the Weight Room, I hope you know that consistency is the best predictor of your fitness success. Be faithful, master the basics, and don't ever stop!

Ice, Ice, Baby

Our little north Texas stomping ground will soon be covered with ice. The grocery stores are running low on supplies. Crackers and cans of Chunky Campbell's soups are prominently displayed; not too many loaves of bread are left on the shelves. We got the last gallon of 2% milk at Braum's, and the Health Club was super busy today from 10AM until 1PM. What does that tell you? We are all getting ready to hunker down and be ready for....the ICE.

In Matthew 25, The Bible talks about being prepared and ready. Some friends of the bridegroom were waiting for him to return back to his own home so they can resume the celebration. Some of these friends brought extra oil for their lamps, and some didn't. The ones that didn't asked if they could borrow some. The ones that did bring the extra oil knew that if they gave the ones that didn't, some of their oil, there wouldn't be enough for either lamps. So the ones that brought extra told them to do the logical thing--go and buy some from the oil store keeper. While they were gone, the bridgegroom and bride came back. The ones with the oil were invited in, and the door was shut. After a while, the others that had gone to purchase more oil, came back, and asked to be let in. They were declined because they had not been ready when it counted.

I guess the trick in life is to know when it is really important to be ready. About the most important thing I can think of that you need to be ready for is the opportunity to be with the Lord--whether it be at the Rapture or in death. If you are ready for that, you can handle a little old ice storm.

Good cookies--good daughter!

I just had a chocolate-chip oatmeal cookie that my daughter, Faith had made. I don't mean to brag, but I make really, really, really good chocolate chip cookies. Faith's cookies, tonight, were just as good if not better than mine. I am proud of her! We are alike in some ways and not so much in others. When I was in my late teens, I, chose to walk with the Lord, and grow in my relationship with Him. Faith has also chosen to build her relationship with the Lord. She leads a Bible study group at OU, participates in several of the Baptist Student Union activities at Norman, and enjoys being with friends from Crossroads Bible Church. I like the choices she is making and the woman she is becoming.

"Train up a child in the way that they should go, and even when they are old,they will not depart far from it." (Proverbs 22:6) Thanks Mom & Dad--your training has not been in vain. We are starting another generation!

Candle of Light

In the winter, and even in the summer, sometimes, I love to burn candles. I usually buy the combo special from the Old Virginia Candle Company. The candles that I like, are made from 3 different colors of wax and have 3 different distinct scents. For example, the one that I had for Christmas was red, white, and green. It was called, "The Merry Christmas Candle" and had scents of Mistletoe, Evergreen, and Holly Berry. The candles fill the room with a warm glow and a wonderful aroma--you feel secure and content. Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." I want my life to be like that candle and I want to glorify the Candlemaker of Men.

Angels Watching Over Me

Hebrews 1:3 says, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name they they."

Angels fascinate me. They must be something to behold. Everytime a human comes in close contact with one, the first thing the angel tells the human is, "Do not be afraid." The study Bible that I like to read from has some interesting things to say, too.....

All angels were originally created in a holy state, but some followed Satan in his revolt against God and became the demons. Some demons are loose, and some are confined. Angels are created things who must ultimately answer to their Creator. Since they are spirit beings, they are not bound by some of the restrictions that limit human beings. They are organized and ranked. Angels ministered to Christ often and will accompany Him at His return. They serve believers and observe them. Did you catch that??? They serve believers (Heb. 1:14--"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?") and they are watching us.

Isn't God wonderful!! Not only does He share His Son with us, but also His angels!

They are watching. Make the Heavenly Father proud!

Fingerprints of the Lord

Psalms 42:8 says, "The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life." I love this verse. It says to me that as I live my life, from the time I get up until the time I am finished with the days' activities, God's fingerprints of lovingkindess are everywhere. They command notice. I pray for each of us that we might see those fingerprints and then at night, marvel in awe--reviewing, verse by verse, as if singing the chorus of a song over and over, each and every loving act of kindness He did for us that day. Sleep well--think of Him and how much He loves us.

Beginning and Perfecting

There is so much joy in seeing a project completed until the end--especially if the project is a person. As a Personal Trainer, I have had the privilege of seeing the end product of a lot of dedication, consistency, and hard work paying off, big time. Self-esteem built up as weight loss goals are met, the ability to walk without fear of falling, and the ability to do a sport or activity that hadn't been done for 10 years or more are just few of the wonderful things that I have witnessed and been able to be a part of. Yesterday, one of my clients broke his all-time best record for a 5K run on the treadmill. His goal was to finish at under 24 minutes. He came through with a run of 23:16. He faced oxygen deprivation and that fear of not being able to finish the last part of the mile at the pace he had set. But he did it--we worked hard to train him to this point and he did it! His official race is this coming Saturday and I know he will do an excellent job. Go Art!

We are all a work in progress, but I believe our Heavenly Father just loves it, when He can check off some of the character qualities He has been wanting to develop and see in us. He puts us in situations to build our faith and our endurance so that when the real "race"/trial comes, we will run the race well and finish strong.

Philippians 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

It's Never Too Late

It's been a busy day at the Weight Room. Lots of folks are coming back to deal with the consequences of making some bad eating and exercise choices over the holidays.
Some of these people I haven't seen for several years, but they are back, and I am glad to see them. Some of the folks that I used to see often, I don't see anymore and that makes me sad. Life is about choices.

It's never too late to start making the right choices and decisions. If you don't know how to make good choices/decisions, pray for God to send a friend that can be a good influence. Read the Bible--it is the best problem solver in the world!

Verse for the day: Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Fruit Stand (Standard)

Did you have a good day today? I have just adopted a new measuring stick to determine what kind of day I had. It's the FRUIT standard (Fruit Stand for short). Fruit coming from "the fruit of the Spirit" talked about in Galatians 5:22,23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control--against such things there is no law."

Today, did I show love by doing something unselfish (especially when I didn't feel like it)? Was I joyful (because I chose to dwell on the positive rather than the negative)? Did I choose to "quiet" an unsettling situation rather than stir it up? Was I patient (especially when I was in a hurry)? Did I do something nice (kind) for someone today, not expecting anything back in return? Was I good to my friend, spouse, child--did I make them feel like they had value and worth? Was I faithful in the "small things" so that God could entrust me with the big things? Was I gentle in my response even though I had every reason not to be? Did I conduct myself in such a way that I have no regrets. embarrassment or guilt, for what I thought, said, or did, today?

At the end of the day, I hope you had a great fruit stand and I hope tomorrows' is even better!

Promises

I have decided that blogging sharpens my mind and soul, much like exercise benefits my body. So if I want to get the most benefit out of it, I need to do it at least 5 to 6 times a week. We will help each other be accountable. Me to you through my blogs and you to me through your comments. I had no idea how many of you are reading my blog and enjoying it. That alone is enough to inspire to keep blogging!

I have made a commitment to read and study the Word (Bible) more each day. So I would like to share a verse--sometimes it might apply to what I'm writing about, and sometimes it might simply be my accountability promise to you.

I don't want to take my promises lightly. I challenge you not to either. We learn to trust others by their ability to follow through. We label people as "dependable" if they deliver and "unreliable" if they do not. God's children should reflect their Heavenly Father. God keeps His promises. God is trustworthy and reliable. There will be times in this new year when we will really need to know that. Circumstances ("storms" of life) will come our way that will cause us to doubt Him and question His trustworthiness. That is why the Word (Bible) is so important. It tells us what is true. It tells us what God is like and how we can know Him. The Bible tells us of how we can be assured of our relationship with Him. It tells us what we need to know and hear when those storms come.

So here is the verse of the day, from Jeremiah 29:11-13, "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."