Power, Love, and Self-Control: June 2013

No Excuses/No Regrets

"Don't let today's excuses become tomorrow's regrets."

(Steven Furtick)

I'm pretty good at making excuses.
Oh, not outloud, spoken ones.

Just quiet, inner ones.

They're comforting somehow - intially.

But the comfort is short-lived.

Today I will be more cognizant

of this paralyzing habit of excuse-making.

I will beat my excuses to their punch.

Day lilies are called that because their bloom lasts only for one day...

Today is the only "bloom" I'm given.

I will NOT let today's excuses become tomorrow's regrets!

Manage Your Mind

If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind.

(David Chrzan on Twitter)

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable. think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me--everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."

(Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:8-9)

Walk More

Walking was part of our day yesterday....

Around,

past,

and through an older neighbrohood's House and Garden Walk.

I just read this quote with no credit given:

"The sedentary lifestyle is the smoking of our generation"

It is SO easy for me to drift into a sedentary lifestyle.

I need to keep pushing myself to be more active.

Anyone else?

His Part/My Part

6/10/2013
Patience is key to acheiving our goals. It involves the act of placing our concern in the hands of our Lord, and leaving it there.

Just as it appeared in Motivation to Live Well in my sidebar today...spelling error and all. It has particular significance to me this evening. My retreat time last week was an experience in "placing (my) concern in the hands of the Lord, and leaving it there".

Both the scale and blood pressure cuff testify to the faithfulness of God. I have placed my concerns about weight and general health in His hands while I do my part to eat and act in a healthy way.

Worth a Few Pounds

My recent time spent at the Abbey of Gethsemani

were worth a few pounds!
(Giving them up, that is.)

Hiking, simple meals and drinking lots of water

played a role in helping me drop a few (pounds).

I returned home rested and feeling quite healthy!

That Woman is a Success . . .
Found at itsnotaboutfood.blogspot.com

who loves life
and lives it to the fullest;

who has discovered and shared
the strengths and talents
that are uniquely her own;

who puts her best into each task
and leaves each situation
better than she found it;

who seeks and finds
that which is beautiful
in all people and all things;

whose heart is full of love
and warm with compassion;

who has found joy in living
and peace within herself.

~ Barbara J. Burrow ~

To which I add, "who makes God's kingdom and His righteousness her #1 priority"....(rlg)

"A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. . . . there must be a day when, without reservation, we surrender everything to Him--ourselves, our families, our possessions, our business and our time. All we are and have becomes His, to be held henceforth entirely at His disposal. From that day we are no longer our own masters, but only stewards. Not until the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a settled thing in our hearts can the Holy Spirit really operate effectively in us. He cannot direct our lives effectively until all control of them is committed to Him. If we do not give Him absolute authority in our lives, He can be present, but He cannot be powerful. The power of the Spirit is stayed." (Watchman Nee)

"Each day you take a few small steps, then build on them day after day. There may be set backs, everyone has them, but those victories will add up, and then pretty soon you'll be amazed at how different your life has become. And what could be more alluring than the prospect of waking up to your best life? So roll up your sleeves and get to work!"

"Remember, every step you take toward reaching your weight loss goal is really a gift that you give to yourself. When you eat right and exercise, you are taking care of yourself, treating yourself with respect, and acknowledging that you deserve* to be healthy and happy.” (Bob Green, The Best Life)

Rebecca's note: I have trouble with "deserve". I want to care for my body because God Himself cares for it! Do I "deserve" health? No, in light of my sinful inclinations and the fall of mankind, health is a gift. A GRACE-gift directly from the hand of God--a gift to be handled thankfully and thoughtfully.

Pages

No Excuses/No Regrets

Manage Your Mind

Walk More

His Part/My Part

Worth a Few Pounds