April 24, 2019 - Daily Devotion - When we feel helpless

145 I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will observe Your statutes.

146 I cried to You; save me And I shall keep Your testimonies.

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.

148 My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.

149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.

150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near; They are far from Your law.

151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.

152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies That You have founded them forever.

153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law.

154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.

156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your ordinances.

157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.

158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word.

159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.

160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting

Psalm 119:145-160

We love movies that capture our attention with tales of people who are trapped, helpless, and frantically looking for a way of escape. However, this is not something we want in real life. Yet when it happens, we immediately start looking for the way out and beg God for rescue through physical healing, changed circumstances, or additional provision.

Have you ever considered that spiritual rescue is even more important than physical deliverance? Although Jesus has freed us from the penalty and power of sin, there are times when we feel helpless in the face of sinful habits, emotions, rash words, and ungodly thoughts. That’s when we need to follow the example of the psalmist and cry out to God for spiritual rescue.

Admit your helplessness to God. In yourself, you have no power to overcome sin. But God’s Spirit within you is almighty.

Confess any sins, fears, unbelief, or self-reliance. Surrender all further attempts to change by self-effort, and make no provision for sinful desires.

Turn your gaze toward God. Think about who He is, what He desires, and what He has promised.

Fill your mind and heart with God’s Word. Meditate on it. Ask Him for wisdom and strength to follow Him with reliance on and submission to His Spirit.

Trust God, and wait upon Him to change you from the inside out. Although salvation occurs in a moment, sanctification is a lifelong process.

A time will eventually come when the helpless feeling departs and is replaced by the joy of obedience. When that happens, give God the glory.

FEBRUARY 20, 2019 - Stronghold #1 - Emotional Eating

Tuesday, February 20, 2019 - New Bible Class - New Book

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

7:40 AM

https://www.gracefilledplate.com/armor-of-god-overeating-part-1/

Homework assignment

1. Find a scripture, any verse
2. Unpack it meaning, get the subject, ask questions about the subject (when, why, where , How, what)
3. Application - how does it apply to me
4. Make a prayer about it

Scripture: 

1. Philippians 4:6. 7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2. Subject = anxious | Verb = Be | anxious (adjective)
3. Who is anxious?
   Eudoia and Syntyche were co workers with Paul

KJV - 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=KJV>

KJV Philippians 4:3  These women helped Paul and labored with Paul in the gospel

4. Why were they anxious?
   They were anxious because they were not in agreement over a matter.

Amp Version - Philippians 4:2 - I urged Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in Harmony in the Lord.
 

Amp Version - Philippians 4:3 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow works, whose names are in the Book of Life.

ADR - Personally - frustrated when I'm not feeling accomplished at work;  When a problem has me stumped and its taking what I deemed to be a long time to figure it out.

5. What were they anxious about?
   
   About a matter - the bible doesn't specifically say
   
   ADR - Work, failing, disappointing
6. Where were they anxious?  These ladies were instrumental in the Philippian church so it could have been in the church or around the church; The bible doesn't specifically say
7. Paul's purpose for writing this later is to encourage the Christians to stay grounded in Jesus and to stay united for the sake of the progression of the gospel.
8. Solution: Pray about everything and make your request known to God

V7

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Subject : Peace of God (noun)

Peace -

1. freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

2. a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

1. APPLICATION - How does this apply to me?
   
   A stronghold of mine is to eat when I'm emotional, even if I'm not hungry.
    

Why? Because I'm anxious - at work, frustrated, feeling like its taking too long to resolve an issue; worrying about disappointing

I find peace, comfort in food

What should I be doing instead?  Address the root of the problem, which is anxiety about work, failure:

Philippians v6 - tells me not to worry about anything

Phillippians v7 - tells me to pray about it

So if I pray instead of worrying, God's peace will come upon me and there is no need to find peace in food.. Find peace in God.

PRAYER:

Our Father which are in heaven, I worship you because you are true and faithful and you are a promise Keeper.  I worship you because you are the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Holy One of Israel, the Ancient of Days.

I thank you for keeping me, providing and protecting me.  I thank you Lord for providing a steady income so that MY FAMILY IS not homeless, hungry or stealing to make ends meet.

I ask forgiveness for my sins, knowingly and unknowingly.

In your word, you gave us a plan of attack for any anxiety that we may have.  Philippians 4:6-7 tells me to pray about everything and not worry about anything.  I pray that you bring me in peace in my life, my work life and my personal life.  Help me to find Peace in you that surpassing all understanding and not find peace in food.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

===== Extra study notes ======

Msg

6-7 Don’t(contraction) fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Proper noun (i.e. a specific person, place or thing), and proper nouns are capitalized

anx·ious /ˈaNG(k)SHəs/

adjective

experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Noun - Anxiety

distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune:

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something. You can find the subject of a sentence if you can find the verb. Ask the question, "Who or what 'verbs' or 'verbed'?" and the answer to that question is the subject.

All of the nutritional knowledge in the world cannot change us on a spiritual level. I think it is very possible, even very likely, that God has allowed us to fight this battle with food for a greater purpose.

From <https://www.gracefilledplate.com/armor-of-god-overeating-part-1/>

One Strong Hold - Emotional Eating - Unhealthy behavior

If the devil can distract you with food, instead of dealing with your emotions and coming up with a sensible positive plan.  Next, you are over weight, then comes health problems.  Bad knees and the Dr. tells you to work out, but it hurts to workout because of bad knees.. It’s a catch 22..then you become so obsesses with dieting and working out, you have no time for the Lord.

Thursday, January 24, 2019 - Christ's New Teaching

Matthew 25:34-40 The Message (MSG)
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 STUDY THIS
Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14 The Message (MSG)
The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee
9-12 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’

13 “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’”

14 Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 STUDY THIS
Exodus 16:16-22

Exodus 16:16-22 The Message (MSG)
15-16 So Moses told them, “It’s the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God’s instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’”

17-18 The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren’t short—each person had gathered as much as was needed.

19 Moses said to them, “Don’t leave any of it until morning.”

20 But they didn’t listen to Moses. A few of the men kept back some of it until morning. It got wormy and smelled bad. And Moses lost his temper with them.

21-22 They gathered it every morning, each person according to need. Then the sun heated up and it melted. On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, about four quarts per person.

Then the leaders of the company came to Moses and reported.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 STUDY THIS
Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21-35 The Message (MSG)
A Story About Forgiveness
21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

22 Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28 “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 STUDY THIS
Matthew 6:1-13

Matthew 6:1-13 The Message (MSG)
The World Is Not a Stage
6 “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.

2-4 “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

Pray with Simplicity
5 “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
    as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.ervo?

Thursday, January 17, 2019 - Daily Devotion

Knowing God’s Ways
JANUARY 17, 2019


SCRIPTURES
PSALM 25:4-11
4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.

5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your loving kindnesses, For they have been from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your loving kindness remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.

10 All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.


11 For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.


THURSDAY
17
Psalm 25:4-11

Having facts about someone is not the same as truly knowing the person. For instance, if a friend you know relatively well were to come and live with you for several months, you would discover his or her ways—that is, habits, preferences, attitudes, and priorities.

When Scripture speaks of God’s ways, it’s referring to much more than His actions or facts about His nature. His ways include His manner, motivations, desires, thoughts, and purposes. One of the reasons believers often become discouraged is that they don’t understand what God is doing in their life. That’s why it’s essential to learn how the Lord operates. As long as we remain ignorant of His ways as revealed in His Word, we won’t trust or know Him intimately.

The Bible is such a big book that some believers may be tempted to give up, thinking it will take too long to learn how God works. But it’s important to remember that we all have the same starting point. When we’re born again, God doesn’t automatically download everything we need to know about Him into our brains. Learning to understand the Lord and how He does things is a process; He teaches us as we continue to read, obey what we know of Scripture, and spend time with Him.

Do you find yourself longing to grow in intimacy with the Lord? If so, you must live closely with Him by listening as He speaks through His Word—and by humbling yourself to learn, accept, and delight in His ways above your own.

Friday, January 11, 2019 - Daily Devotion - Longing for the Wrod

.
SCRIPTURES
1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.


FRIDAY
11
1 Peter 2:1-3

If you’ve ever had a newborn baby in your home, you understand the concept Peter is conveying in today’s passage. A baby doesn’t care how pretty mom is or how delightfully the nursery is decorated. There is one thing a newborn wants above all else—milk.

Is that how you feel about God’s Word? Do you long for it so that you may grow spiritually mature? Is hearing Scripture explained and taught at church something you look forward to with eagerness? Or have you lost your appetite and gotten used to digesting only on Sundays?

Often, right after someone has come to faith, there’s an initial hunger to read the Bible because everything about salvation is new and exciting. But as time passes, the novelty wears off, the problems and daily pressures of life continue just as they did previously, and passion for the Word may be replaced with the cares of this life.

If someone has truly been saved, a hunger for the Word should be evident. That’s because as believers, we have tasted the kindness of the Lord and, therefore, long to know Him more fully. Habitually nibbling on Scripture doesn’t do much to stimulate our appetite. God’s Word is an acquired taste, and the more we consume it, the greater our hunger for it will become.


If you’ve lost your desire for the Word, ask the Lord to restore your appetite, and begin reading every day. As you become more familiar with Scripture, you’ll notice your understanding and desire for it increase. Best of all, your love and devotion for your Savior and will grow as well.

January 11, 2019 - Breakfast Bites - Day 1

Day 1 - Reading plan invited by Rhonda Michel

Devotional

Make My Day

Seek him first. Why is this such a recurring suggestion, both in the Bible and among Christians? If you regularly begin your day with the Lord, you already know what a day-maker he is. If you haven’t settled into the practice, start today. See how his loving presence affects your days.

Before the day has a chance to disappoint you, before the enemy finds a way to distract you, seek God first. Invite him into every waking moment. Sense him in your interactions and your transactions. Notice the tenderness with which he sees the people you encounter. Invite him to contribute to your decisions. Observe how he consistently places you on the path of love. Allow him to carry your burdens and see if a joyful song doesn’t swell inside you. Allow it to overtake your heart.

Jesus, I invite you to make my day today. Let my words, my thoughts, and my actions be yours. Replace my irritations and frustrations with your patience and compassion. Fill me with your love, so I may reflect it to others. Fill my heart with your song.

New studies are showing that up to 58 percent of the general population skips breakfast at least once a week! Breakfast helps give you the energy you need to make it through the day. And if you are feeling particularly crabby, it’s more important than ever to eat in the morning. A good breakfast helps you face the day with more energy, and it helps you cope with some of those irksome issues that are bound to arise.

Scripture:

Psalms 90:14

14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

A Prayer of Moses the man of God.

1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.A Prayer…: or, A Prayer, being a Psalm of Mosesin…: Heb. in generation and generation

2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.when…: or, when he hath passed them

5Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.groweth…: or, is changed

6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.passed…: Heb. turned awayas a…: or, as a meditation

10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.The days…: Heb. As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years

11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.apply: Heb. cause to come

13Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

17And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. 

Wednesday, January 2, 2019 - Spectator or Participant?

AM Devotion - 3:30 am

AM Workout:  A/B Split - B (Lower Body)

Scriptures
 Romans 12:9-13

ROMANS 12:9-13
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.


Reference Scriptures:

Romans: 12: 9 - 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet.1:22; Ps. 34:14, 36:4; 97:10; Amos 5:15

Romans 12:10 - Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet 1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 2 Pet. 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:5

OBSERVATION

There’s something in human nature that resists having to lean on others for support. In fact, since its very beginnings, our country has been known for an independent spirit and self-sufficiency. But what may be considered beneficial in a national culture is not what Christ advocates for His church. Although we are each saved individually, the Lord doesn’t intend for us to live as if we’re on an island—set apart to ourselves. We are called the body of Christ, and as such, our lives are meant to touch, intersect, and connect with other believers in a local church.

The various ways we support one another are summarized in today’s passage, and they cover a large range of experiences, from rejoicing to suffering. No matter where we find ourselves on this spectrum, God calls us to be devoted to one another through service, prayer, and hospitality. Paul also specifies the attitudes we should have as we care for each other: sincere love, unselfishness, honor, diligence, and eagerness.


As you can see, the church is a place for participants, not spectators. Yet many Christians today think this kind of involvement in others’ lives is too costly. So they come on Sunday, stand to sing, sit to listen, and walk out to get back to their own lives. The term “spectator Christian” doesn’t apply only to those who deliberately avoid going to church. In fact, many churches are filled with observant attendees who sit in the pews each week but never touch a fellow believer’s life. What about you? Are you a spectator seeking what you can get or a participant looking for ways to give to someone else?