Saturday, July 24, 2010

Sometimes I Just Need a Song

I'm thankful God put it on the hearts of musicians. This one brings peace and comfort to me.



Friday, July 23, 2010

Why Do I Do That?

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! ~~ Romans 7:21-25 NIV

I confess--I want to do what is right and what is good all the time. Okay, okay, most of the time. Well, some of most of the time.

But I do not always make the right choices. Why do I do that?

I am thankful for God's word that shows me that I'm not the only one who struggled with this issue. The Apostle Paul described in Romans 7 his struggle with sin. He stated in Romans 7:15-20:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.c]"> For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (NIV)

That's what I've been doing this July. Struggling. Why?

Because I have been doing what I hate to do and not doing what I want to do. That's the flesh warring with the spirit. How has this happened to me?

Others may not struggle with this, but this is my open and honest confession. I have struggled with mild depression and anxiety off and on for years. I realized in the last few years that these emotional struggles are related to dietary choices. (I realize not all people struggle in this area, such as my husband who cannot even begin to understand.)

I have a food nemesis. It's called SUGAR.

Sugar works in me like alcohol or drugs. It affects my blood sugar levels and turns me into a different person. I've read various books and reports on it. The consumption sugar increases my insulin levels, which in turn affect my hormone levels and causes all sorts of emotional distress.

I spent the last two days out of commission with a migraine (caused by out of balance hormones because of increased sugar consumption). While down and out, I spent some glorious time with the Lord. I realized it was my poor choices that put me down and out and that my choices have consequences.

I'm back up today and I realize it is part of my personal spiritual warfare to walk in obedience in my dietary choices.

Why do I have to do that? I have sin nature that is at work in my body. But thanks be to God who through Jesus Christ overcame for me. I confess and He is faithful to forgive. (1 John 1:9) With Jesus, I can live a life by the Spirit, not gratifying the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16)

We all can. Thanks be to our Lord and Savior! I start again today, even though I did that.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Launching into New Adventures

This summer my focus has changed to new and exciting adventures. I haven't been to exotic places or taken on thrilling endeavors. Though I do dream of having adrenaline rushing trips. You know the type like in the Indiana Jones movies.

Yet, I wonder if it would be to much excitement for me in reality. After all, Willie Scott did say, "I'm going home to Missouri, where they never ever feed you snake before ripping your heart out and lowering you into hot pits. This is not my idea of a swell time!"

So I'll let the adrenaline rushing adventures just be a dream.

However, my adventure is much milder and less risky. My partner, Shona Neff, and I started a blog site and services to benefit new writers and speakers who feel called by God to get started in what can be sometimes (or oftentimes) overwhelming world of writing and speaking. Our site is located at StepUPWritingandSpeaking.com. We have various posts up for readers to glean lots of insights.

Today, I have an article posted called, "Why Nonfiction Writers Should Read Fiction." Here's a peek:


"I don’t have time to read fiction."

Oh, that common statement crossed my lips many times. My attitude was that if I was going to take time out of my busy day to sit down with a book, I wanted to read something that would impact my life. How to improve my marriage, my kids, my walk with God. I wanted answers to life questions. I didn’t want to stop and enjoy a book.

But then God literally placed a book in my hands. While attending a weekly Bible study, my name was drawn to win a prize. I collected my prize and went home. I tore through the gift wrap to reveal a book--a fiction book.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I prepared lunch. Started some laundry. I decided to sit down for a few minutes and investigate this book. I planned to read about ten minutes and then move on with the to-do list. I thought after a few pages of the introduction, I would be finished exploring and could turn my focus back to the important issues of the day.

Once I started reading, I could not pull myself away from the story grabbing me from the pages.
To continue reading, click on over. And when you do, be sure to join our Facebook and Twitter page for updates.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Happy 4th of July

What plans to you have for this weekend? Picnics? Bar-b-que? Boating? Fireworks?

Whatever this day brings, I hope you take a few minutes to remember why Americans celebrate the 4th of July. It commemorates the day the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. No longer did the colonies want to be under the tyranny of the British government.

After the declaration, the colonists fought for another two years to secure the freedoms of the American people. Peoples homes were destroyed. Wives lost husbands. Mothers lost sons. Blood was sacrificed so we can be free. Freedom is NEVER free.

In America, we have the right to choose where we live, where we work, what we'll eat, how we'll dress, where we want to go, and where we want to worship all because others have paid price.

It is my hope and prayer that "whosoever" will choose to worship Christ this weekend. For he was the sacrifice that set us free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus paid the price, therefore, we are free!

"So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed" (John 8:36, NIV).

Enjoy this song by the Newsboys! And enjoy your FREEDOM in Christ weekend!