Embracing Your Weakness

We all know that our weight issue really boils down to an obedience issue. Our bodies are Temples and Tabernacles of the One True Living God, Triune in One! (2Peter, 1: 13-14) What a miracle that is, that our Creator is also our Indweller. Somehow, I tend to forget that when I'm competeing aginst myself in the "All You Can Eat Zebra Cake" contest that occurs between the "Ice Cream Guzzle" and "Chip 'Fest '08".

In Mass, the priest often discusses not offending your Guardian Angel, by what you watch, read, say or even think on. I wondcer if he is offended by my overeating and the eventual sluggishness that sets in? I know the evil one is thrilled by it because if I am exhausted from my latest binge, I don't want to read the Bible, pray, or sing praise songs. I want to curl up an take a nice, long nap. So, by my sin of PERPETUAL overeating, I am rendered ineffectual to the Kingdom.

So what then are we to do with ourselves? With this besetting sin of overindulgence? As we know, we all have sins that seem to constantly hinder us. As Paul said in Romans 7:24"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" But do not despair my dear ones. We have the Victory!!! Jesus has come to save us, and the Spirit is here to strengthen us.

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

No matter our condition, we have the ability to have Christ magnified in us, all the time, no matter our weight or height or color. We can do all things through Christ!!!! Abide in the indwelling Trinity and He will abide in you. That is the key to our struggle with weight....and marriage....and relationships....and ourselves.

My dearest friends, this is not about a number on the scale or about fitting into a size 6. This is about letting Jesus work in our spirits and letting ourselves be BROKEN! This is a brokeness that must not be mended. Only in our brokeness can Jesus and the Holy Spirit work in and through us. The moment we begin to rely on ourselves is when the whole thing implodes on us.

So, beloved of God, the next time you reach for a twinkie, or think the dollar menu at McDonalds is really a good value. Consider the words of St. Paul...

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Glory and revel in your weakness and let the power of Jesus Christ rest upon you, then nothing will be impossible to you!!!

Gratitude

Gratitude: The state of being grateful; thankfulness.
Thankful :Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful. Expressive of gratitude



It is said by many wise men and women to always live in a state of gratitude. A nice sentiment and certainly words to live by, but what does it truly mean? To be, meaning to exist, in a state of complete contentment and thankfulness is not something that fits in with our schedule. We have so much to do and so little time, and money to do it with. There is always something to buy, to fix, to get, to leave, it seems we are always in the past (regretting) or in the future (worrying).



When was the last time you stopped and let gratitude fill your entire being, so much so that it seemed to overwhelm you? To let love and compassion and mercy overtake your soul until nothing is left. It's in you but are you in it? We have unending peace, love, joy, happiness, faithfulness, kindness and compassion walled up inside us, but we keep it there because bliss doesn't seem to be very efficient in running our daily lives. I mean, if we lived in the moment and walked around in perfect peace and contentment who would do the laundry or cook or clean or pay the bills or get the dry cleaning? Really, is being filled to the brim practical in a forward moving world?



On the other hand, if we dig deep into that part of us where true joy and oneness with our Lord exist, do we think we can handle it? Are we ready for that kind of trust, intimacy, fire and passion? To abandon ourselves to our present moment, good, bad or indifferent, means to abandon ourselves to Him. That kind of intimacy will not be experienced with anyone in our lifetimes, not even our spouses. In that moment of unity with Him we are closer to Him than we are to our mothers in their wombs, or our children in ours. We are more intimate with Him than a husband and wife in their marriage chamber. When we are in our moments, we are in Him. In Him we live and move and have our being. Be in Him and great moments will happen. Beyond your wildest imagining...

Why Am I So Rebellious

I have been going through a rough patch. My husband was recently diagnosed with Diabetes and I have the begginings of an ulcer. It has been a hard month or so, and I have felt almost like God has removed his presence from me. I couldn't pray, keep focused in church, or even think about God for any length of time. For me, this is not normal.

I was really thinking about it yesterday and I came to the realization, God had not moved, I had moved. God had set me up to be a keeper at home and I rebelled and went back to work. God had put the conviction in my heart to wear a covering at church, and I stopped because no one else was doing it. God gave me a heart to serve my husband, but when things didn't go my way I blamed him. God didn't change, I changed.

I think God let these past few things happen not to punish me, but to wake me up to the sin I was falling into. God litereally gave me the push I needed! I fell at work and hurt my wrist, not severely, but enough to get my attention and keep me from work . Now, I am back at home, where I belong for now.

So, I say "Okay God, I'm tired of running and doing things my way. I will do what you give me the heart to do. I will be a keeper at home, a lover of my husband, a kind smile in a hard world, the odd one with the covering at church. Lord, I want to do it your way, the only way."

Pursuit

I hear your Word
I call your name,
I try to do better
Am I the one to blame?

I go to Church, I praise you
I’m so devout
I worship you, I love you
Won’t you hear me out?

Give me some sign
Make something better
A forgotten rhyme
A hidden letter

Lord, you gotta help me
Just make it real
Make me see the truth
Lord, help me feel

Cause the way things are going
I don’t understand
Which way this rivers flowing
Falling through my hand

From On High

"Where are you going?" she asks me.

"I'm going to the mainland," I reply, "There's something there to learn."

"What is it you wish to learn?"

"I want to know where the rock is," I say, "Then I will have my answer."

"What is the question, child?"

"I can't say now. It's not for me to know the question, only the answer."

"Why do you speak with cryptic effigy and sacred faces?"

"That is how you taught me, and the pupil has learned well."

"Write it down and store it up, so the passers won't know why."

"I've done that already, and still they know me. The heat flows from my hands."

Queen of Swords

The guarded virgins in their castle keep
Watch in jaded silence
The revolt of the masses dreamless sleep
Tells of times in violence

Unconquerable fortress, cold stone wall
Reflect in hardened eyes
Mesmerized by the good man's fall
The fools will greet the wise

Generous hearts are thrown aside
For greed and jealous lust
Truth is now a slippery slide
Their faith has turned to rust

The guarded virgins in their castle keep
Speak a cryptic warning
The forgotten kingdom and her people weep
The time has come for mourning

Illumination

Shine on me Sun of my heart,
Make the shore of sorrow glisten,
Beneath your cheeful gaze,
Help this Red Sea part

Smile on me Moon of my night,
Soften the earth and her shapes,
With your silver rays of Grace,
And your tender, forgiving light

Burn for me Star of my grieving,
Let me forget what you were about,
Twinkle and dance for me no more,
Your glory was so decieving