Cool Stuff

So it has been a few days..i find myself dreaming about my jury duty trial. I think mostly that is because it illuminated concepts I had never considered and hope to one day forget. It is exciting in it's own right to be involved in a process that has been used since the foundation of our country and how is still works.

I have been listening to a few tapes that my counselor gave me from the Lose It For Life Conference (New Life). I wanted to share some things that have got me thinking. The first tape was basically an introduction and discussed the topic of connection. He mentioned that connection keeps us from failing. I guess the thing that stuck me the most was to not give up on God cause he hasn't given up on you. Don't stop-- god wants something better for your life. I relate this most to my weight. It has always been a battle, something I feel I've never really gotten under control. An issue that has continues to dominate my life and actions. the above hit me hard because I find myself wanting to give up-- to stop trying. But the minute I stop trying is the minute I stop living. I may fail or I may succeed, but if i lose hope and stop trying, I am putting a limit on God and His healing grace. God wants something better for my life-- I can't stop trying.

Tonight i listened to another tape entitled "Surrending to the Truth that Frees". Here are some things that make me think: There is a misconception that a sin should be instantly healed. However, healing is a process. Sometimes I forget the idea of a process. We live in a society of immediate gratification. Cause you know if i eat good today and exercise I should lose 10 pounds by tomorrow, RIGHT? The same concept is true with discipline. If I want it shouldn't I just have it. John 8:31-32 says, "If you follow my teachings you are truly my disciples..." It isn't in reading it out of a book-- it's LIVING it and becoming a disciple of Christ that we finally KNOW the truth that sets us free. Freedom doesn't come from reading it, it comes from living it, following Jesus and sometimes saying "no" to ourselves. I love to read, especially self- help kind of books. I have a lot of knowledge about useless things (however I forget more than i retain). many of those books are on ebay now. I am continually reading new different books rather than applying the ones I have already read.

The comment that really got me thinking follows.. no matter what we have done or what sin we're involved in we serve a God of grace. God will give you the grace to overcome that and restore to you the things you have lost and make your life even better because of your struggle. Praise God!! God is inviting us to be His. Every limitation that we have is an invitation from Him to let Him do what we can not do. Every experience of failure is an invitation from Him to succeed with Him. This life was meant to be an experience. To step out of our comfort zones and trust Him with where we land. To rely on Him to pull us through our struggles and addictions.


Any thoughts????

cheryl