CHOOSE

This last week has been so crazy. Up and down. One step forward a few back. But I gotta give a shout out to the Lord above for answered prayers. I have been praying daily for several people and I am seeing His hand in their lives and it is wonderful. I am just as excited as if it were my life. 

Today I got heckled for being "all God like" Righteous or whatever.  The thing of it was the person said something foul, not about me or even to me and it was immediately like "oh I better watch it Jennifer is here"  I really didn't know how to take it. I didn't know whether to be offended or feel glad that the change in my life was noticeable. Why do people think a relationship with Jesus means a boring life, like they'll never have fun. I am not perfect, but I LOVE life and I LOVE my life. I have and will fall so short all the time, and I can't tell you the guilt I feel because of that, however, Romans 8:1 tells me that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" So why do I feel guilt, shame and condemnation? It's not from the Lord. Oh and fear, let's not ever go there. That is not from the Lord either. It's that evil that wants to keep me bogged down. Thank God that He is a loving, good God full of mercy. I pray I can be a more loving person full of mercy.

I keep trying. It's not easy. There are days when I feel so BG, beginning in God and there are days when I feel so close to Him.  We were just talking about easy. Have you noticed that everything great and worth having does not come easy. It takes work, determination, and dedication. And all three of those things comes down to one word....CHOOSE. Either we choose to or not to do whatever.

I CHOOSE to always give my BEST, the very BEST and let HIM do the REST.

The new normal

I am so proud of myself. I accomplished most of what I set out to do this week. I have met my bestie at the gym Monday and Wednesday and Lord willing we will meet again on Friday. Friday is cardio and then Kenzie and I are going to play racquetball.

Today MacKenzie has a doctors appointment and then we will go to the gym after that as well.  It is only the first week and three days of a new year, I keep telling myself that this is the new normal. It has to be.

The treadmill is much better than I remembered. Last time I got on one of those was years at least four or so years and it hurt my legs so bad. Gave me the worse shin splints. So far, none this time. Praise the Lord.  Of course the elliptical is a crazy beast all on it's on. And lastly, those exercise bikes are not, I repeat not BIG BUTT friendly. But that's ok, my butt is going to get smaller and smaller, although I still don't think I'll be a fan of bikes.

I read in Deuteronomy this morning. Chapter 11:13-26. It says in 13 if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-14-then I will send rain on your land and in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.  So if you just read that and thought "wow, all I get for loving him and serving him is rain, grain, and grass, what kind of a deal is that?" You need to go and reread.
For me he is telling me, he will provide for me in every way in every season of my life. I will not be in lack. He provides steady work, which in turn enables me to provide through Him from which all good things come.

Verse 16 says Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other Gods and bow down to them.17 Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.
In 17 it is speaking of being tempted by things of this world, our fleshly desires and wants.  Bowing down to them would mean giving in to the worldly things.  He will quit providing and that good land, those steady jobs won't come; as a result I will suffer the consequences of turning from him and struggle financially. I mean think about it, picture farmer man standing there staring at an empty field, if there is nothing in the fields, no anything, there isn't a harvest, nothing to gather, just sitting staring at empty land. Nothing to work and no work means no gain.

Does it mean you have to be perfect? Absolutely not! He just wants your pure, honest, humble, and very best you have to give Him. 

Just think about it. Hope you are having a great day.