"Thank You"

As my piece for offeretory in church this morning, I chose Ray Boltz's song: "Thank You", which speaks of a Christian who touched lives with their testimonies. I hope that this tear jerking song not only makes us remember those who have touched our lives, but that it would make us take our witness more seriously,    

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.

And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.

You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.

Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.

As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Happy New Year and First Guest Post!

Wow! Here is our first guest blog post and what a perfect way to end the year, right? I hope that you all have a very, very happy and healthy New Year. God has given us His love, let's make it our resolution to give His kind of love to those around us. :-)


Matthew 7:2-5 "For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you use, it shall be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye; and, look, a plank is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first remove the plank out of your own eye; and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of thy brother's eye."

There was a story that I heard and wrote down sometime ago when my children were smaller. I have always saved it, and from time to time a would run across it and re-read it. As my grandchildren came and visited this Christmas, the story came back to mind. 

"One day as a little girl was sitting and watching her mother doing the supper dishes at the kitchen sink, she all of a sudden noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out that contrasted her beautiful brown hair. She looked at her mother and in wonderment asked, "Mom, why are some of your hairs white?"  "Well", her mother replied, "every time that you do something wrong that makes me cry or become unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."  The little girl thought about this for a moment or so and then said, "Mom, how come all of Grandma's hairs are white?"

James 1:23-25 says "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

Every time I look into the mirror that God calls me to look into, I see my imperfections, and usually look for some one or something to blame for them. The Lord warned us about the danger of pointing out the faults of others. He said that people with planks in their eyes should not attempt to remove specks out of other people's eyes. Somehow, we lose sight of this so quickly! We are all still growing. None of us has arrived! We need to be aware of how the enemy tries to ensnare us in this way. 

I don't know about you but I tend to agree with the author who said "The only person I want removing splinters out of my eyes is someone with a clear vision and a gentle touch!" Let's ask the Lord to help us to see the ways we've been judgmental and become people with clear vision and a gentle touch! We should be building up one another and encouraging each other so that the work of the Lord may go forward.  May you Be Blessed as you Follow Him in 2015!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ~Pastor Craig

Pastor Craig Lindgren is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Augusta, Wisconsin.

He has also worked for the Department of Corrections (DOC)

for 27 years. He is currently the Senior Chaplain of the DOC, 

and is stationed out of Stanley, WI.
He is married to Julie, his wife of 32 years. They have 5 children

and 7 grandchildren.

Pastor Craig can be reached at Pastor_Craig@Live.com or 715-827-0812.

THANKSgiving

Well, Happy Thanksgiving all you Insight readers!! I know this post is at the end of your Thanksgiving dinner, but hey! Thanksgiving is just one day of the year, but being thankful for the blessings God gives us should be a 365 day remembrance.

And for a little Thanksgiving fun, I'm doing the T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G challenge. So for each letter in the word "Thanksgiving", I'm going to tell you what I'm thankful for. Here goes!


Time. I'm finding out how precious time is and how fast it comes and goes. Time is our worst enemy, but it's what gives us the opportunity to work, spend quality time with family, and do all the fun stuff we enjoy doing in our lives.

Horses. Horses have been my therapists. They always lift my depressed spirits and they bring me joy. God knew exactly what I needed to get through this life somewhat sanely. Haha.

America. I'm grateful for this country we live in. It certainly has its problems, but I'm keeping the Old American pride.

Naps. Some days are so busy and I'm definitely tired by mid-afternoon, so it's really nice to just close my eyes and relax. With that, I hope you all take this four day weekend a little easier, too. :)

K. Yup, I'm thankful for the 11th letter in the alphabet. Haha, no. That's just to throw you off. I'm thankful for my little collie, Keara! I'm thankful for all of our animals, but you know, "K" isn't a really easy letter either. ;-)

Sweet potates. Okay, I'm crazy about sweet potatoes! That is my favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table and I'm most thankful for yams and marshmallows.

Grace. God's grace is sufficient for all and without His mercy, we would be lost forever. Thank God for His love for us!
.

Interests. (aka hobbies) Those nice little activities that keep a person out of trouble. I love writing, working with horses, doing all the other stuff I like to do when I'm home. It's amazing that God gives us individual interests and passions. So basically, I'm thankful for individuality as well.

Violets. This is a hard letter! Okay, though I am not a big fan of flowers, violets are probably my favorite flowers. They bring a beautiful purple flavor to nature and I'm thankful that God creates beautiful things for us to look at.

Internet. Yeah, that's a given, right? Without it, I wouldn't have written this post and you wouldn't be reading it! It's what connects us when we're in different parts of the state, nation, and world.

Nachos. Yes, no county fair is complete without chips and cheese dips! But basically, I'm thankful that God gives us a variety of foods to enjoy. Healthy or yeah, unhealthy. :-P

God. He is the most important part of my life and I wouldn't be here without Him. He's why I exist and I'm thankful to Him for giving me life.

Mmm....sweet potatoes!

I did it! Now it's your turn. Tell your friends how God has blessed you this year and on your hardest days, write down all those blessings and I guarantee you won't think life is quite as bad as it may have felt. :-)

Yours blogever,
Julianna

Rear View Mirror Driving

It might seem weird, but our day-to-day lives can perhaps be compared with that of driving a vehicle. I was driving with my Mom shortly after I got my DL, and a car behind me was just getting way too close for comfort. I don’t even like to be followed almost bumper to bumper in town when we’re going 25 MPH, but out in the country (at approximately 55-60 MPH), I was feeling really cramped for space. Trying to remember to just keep my eyes on the road ahead, I avoided looking into my rear view mirror every few seconds. When the guy finally passed me, I couldn’t help but think of how many times, in my Christian walk, that I kept my eyes glued to the past. I kept looking into that "rear view mirror". Reminiscing on those past mistakes that I've made that sneak up behind me. Those negative memories haunting me, demanding my attention to the point that I don’t focus on what is before me: the Spiritual road. 

If I keep looking into the rear view mirror, I could end up in a ditch or run into another vehicle.  As is in my spiritual walk with Christ, looking back, regretting things, and taking my eyes off of the One Whom I should be looking to, I could seriously hurt myself and others by making more wrong choices. I’ve heard many pastors give this comparison before; but as is with many other things, those words don’t “sink in” until we experience those scenarios and really think about what those messages mean.  

I believe it’s ok to look back at the past sometimes, because then we remember where we've come from and how it's brought us to where we are today. However, I also believe that looking back is something to be careful about. Glancing can be good; but staring draws our attention away from Christ and His perfect plan for us. We will never get fulfillment by looking into the “mirrors” that remind us of our failures; but we can find satisfaction if we keep our eyes on Christ, remembering that He has a perfect plan that we need to be looking towards.

We have already faced many obstacles before. With Christ, we will keep looking straight ahead, because that’s what will keep us on the path that He has laid out for each of His children.

Hebrews 12:2 “..looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Blessings,
Anna

Determination

                       "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;

                         for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,
                         in the grave, whither thou goest." ~Ecclesiastes 9:10


I actually wrote this blog post in 2013 on the other blog that I once co-authored. But I thought it was worth a re-share for everyone who needs an encouragement to keep doing what they're doing.


"Charles F. Kettering, a noted scientist and inventor, believed that the easiest way to overcome defeat was simply to ignore completely the possibility of failure and to keep forging ahead. He once gave an address to Denison University on this theme. He told how he had once given a tough project assignment to a young research worker in a laboratory at General Motors. He wanted to see how the man would react to a difficult problem so he kept from him notes about the project that had been filed in the lab's library. These notes, written by expert researchers, included various sets of statistics and formulas that proved the assignment the young man had been given was impossible to do.

The young research worker set his mind to the project, and worked virtually night and day for weeks. He refused to give up or think the project impossible. One day he came confidently to Kettering to show his work. He had succeeded in doing the impossible!

A little extra time...a little extra effort...a little extra care...a little extra attention sometimes makes all the difference between success and failure, and not only that, but the difference between good and great."

                                                         ~~~

"There once was a Louisville University quarterback who dreamed of playing pro football. Upon graduation, however, no pro team drafted him. So, he wrote to several teams and finally got an opportunity to try out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He gave his best effort, but wasn't chosen. His friends said, 'You got a raw deal...it wasn't meant to be...I guess it's time to hang up your cleats'. But the young athlete didn't give up. He continued to knock on doors and write letters. Finally, he received another invitation. But again, he didn't make the team.

Most people would have given up long before this point, but not Johnny. He was fanatic about his personal dream. From his early days of playing sandlot football, he had been obsessed with this goal. So, patiently and persistently, he continued to pursue try out opportunities. Finally, he was invited to try out for the Baltimore team...and he made the third string! Through training and many long hours of drills and fitness building, he worked his way up to be starting quarterback. Indeed, he became one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL. The dreamer's name? Johnny Unitas.

Keep driving until you arrive at your goal line!"

                                                        ~~~

History is filled with determined people. The 1984 USA All-Around champion, Mary Lou Retton, is another example. She was in therapy constantly for five weeks leading up to the '84 Olympics after a much needed knee surgery had been preformed. That year, she came home with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. With her determination and positive attitude, she not only succeeded what seemed "impossible", she also became the first American to receive an All-Around gold medal. I admire Mary Lou for that determination. Not only for her fighting spirit, but because she was also born with hip dysplasia and still went on to perform amazing acts of agility and balance.

Can you maybe think of some people in history who, though the thought of success seemed impossible, achieved it? Those are the kind of people who are not willing to give up their dreams. They have a vision and chase after it instead of expecting it to just be laid on their doorstep.

"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to."

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

In Christ,
Anna

The Listening Servant

As I was thinking what I should write about this week, the Lord led me to turn the page in my Mom's devotional book and the title was "Your Servant Is Listening". I thought to myself, Yeah, but where could I go with that for a post? Everyone knows that we should listen to the Lord.  And then I opened up my Mom's NKJV Bible and it turned to Jeremiah 22:21, which says the following, "I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, 'I will not hear.' This has been your manner from your youth". So to make this short, I believe God led me to these references to not only encourage you in your walk, but as a reminder to me personally.

So many times (and especially lately), I feel I know what's best for me. I get so independent in my thinking and I don't want to listen to the Lord. He might want me to go in a direction (or away from the one I'm going), and I'd rather resist His counsel and keep doing what I think is best for me. I think every Christian deals with this at some point in their relationship with the Lord. We think our own decisions will turn out alright or we leave God behind most of the time, forgetting to ask Him for an answer. Or we might ask the Lord, but with our own "clocks" ticking away, demanding immediate answers, we jump ahead instead of waiting on the Lord for His answer. And it certainly doesn't help when we live in a secular world where everything is rushed and if you don't grab the chance now, it'll be too late tomorrow. As humans, we feel the decisions we need to make have to be "today or never"; however, we easily forget that the Lord has perfect timing. His time schedule is never "behind" or "runs fast". Yes, my discussion so far has dealt a lot with waiting on the Lord, rather than listening to Him. But you know, they both go hand in hand.

"The realization of our need to listen to the Lord means we are willing to wait for His answer."

So when does God speak to us? When we submit to Him and say "Lord, okay, You know I really want to do this, but I'm not going to move until I hear from You". And how does God speak to us? He speaks to us through His Word. Like I mentioned earlier, God led me to the Jeremiah reference where He gently reminded me to "not move until He speaks". For example, I'm really looking to buy a handheld gun for protection. Though I really think this is the smart thing to do, I need to wait on the Lord. Whether the decision is as small as this or something bigger like marriage, God wants us to "consult" with Him and wait on Him to provide us with His perfect answer. So, we see that He speaks to us through His Word. He also speaks to us through other people, those who counsel us. People like our pastors, youth leaders, parents, other family members, and Christian friends. Those around us who God is speaking through to advise us. He also speaks to us through His Spirit, our "Conscience". You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. That Voice inside of you that says it's wrong to go and do something you will later regret. And quite frankly, He's right every time. In short, God has many modes of communication that He uses to reach us.

But God gives a warning to people who stray away and listen to the counsel of fools. In Proverbs 1:28-32.....

"Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

And then in Proverbs 1:33, God gently tells us what will happen when His children come to Him and listen to His voice. "But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."

How intelligent it is to listen to the Lord! He knows what is best for you. He cares for your life. He has created you. And when we take the time to listen to the Creator of the earth, there is nothing that will stop Him from talking to you. When you listen for Him to answer you, nothing in heaven or earth can keep Him away.

Proverbs 1:5: "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."

Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."


"So when God speaks to you, listen attentively and prepare to submit to whatever He tells you. Obedience pleases your heavenly Father and He desires to bless you for listening well." ~Charles Stanley, life lessons NKJV, pg. 886)


Blessings,
Anna

Potential!

  "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ~Romans 5:8

Some people look at a blank piece of paper and wonder what to write on it. They may start making a checklist of some chores they need to do for the day. They may actually start a story but then become discouraged because they can't think of anything worthwhile to write. Blank papers can sometimes scare people because they have no idea what to fill in the lines with.

When I look at a piece of paper, I see "potential". When you take a piece of paper, it's all about your attitude. How you're going to look at it is vital in keeping a positive spin on it. For example, has it got potential or failure already written on? Any writer will see potential if they see that word already etched in every line. They start writing and keep writing. In their "mind's eye", they see greatness in basically a worthless sheet of paper.

In very much the same way, God saw you in His "mind's eye". You were just like this blank piece of paper. You were empty, formless, and had nothing to offer. Without God, none of us have anything worthwhile to give. In short, though while others may have called you "worthless", do you know what He saw? That's right: potential! God made you, formed you, and made you into something that pleased Him.

You don't have to work to earn God's love, His grace, His mercy. God saw a meaningful purpose in creating you LONG before you were even born. Out of nothing, He made you into the beautiful person that you are today. You were worth creating and God has never stopped loving you.

Psalms 139:13-14:

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well."


You will never be worthless because God says your life is worthwhile.

God bless,
Julianna

Intro to Health pt. 2

Last time, we discussed why we should care what we eat, that eating well along with exercise is essential, health concerns, and what the next step is. So.....what is the next step?

Again, the next step is to take action! Unless we take the first step in anything that we want to achieve, we will never finish. So if our goal is to live a healthy lifestyle, we need to focus on achieving the "result". I think a good look at an excellent source of vitamins is a great place to make our first step.

Vitamins are "an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts." (Wikipedia).  So, we're going to look at a few of the vitamins and look over just some of the fruits and veggies to put on your next grocery list! Where's the best place to start? Let's go with Vitamin B12.


Vitamin B12: 


Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin, and is not only a notable source to aid in the formation of blood, but also plays a key role in our nervous systems and brain functions. The lack of B12 in our systems may result in depression, poor memory, and fatigue. It can also be linked to symptoms such as mania and psychosis. So what are some good sources of B12? Not in food or animals, which are both incapable of producing the vitamin. Instead, B12 is taken from archaea and bacteria, which are then made into tablet form. Local stores carry this product in pill form and I feel that this vitamin is a necessity.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C? Oh yeah, everyone's heard of that one. Isn't another name for that an orange? Well, though the orange is an excellent source to get your C's from, it is only ranked at #7, according to Health Alicious Ness website. There are ten sources of Vitamin C you need to consider. And I never would have guessed the first! 

 1. Yellow Bell Peppers
 2. Guavas
 3. Dark Green Leafy Veggies (like Kale)              
 4. Kiwi
 5. Broccoli
 6. Berries (like strawberries)
 7. Citrus (like oranges)
 8. Tomatoes
 9. Peas
10. Papaya    


Vitamin A:

This vitamin "is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication. Vitamin A is critical for vision as an essential component of rhodopsin, a protein that absorbs light in the retinal receptors, and because it supports the normal differentiation and functioning of the conjunctival membranes and cornea. Vitamin A also supports cell growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the normal formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs." (according to http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/)

Foods that are rich in Vitamin A are found in:

1. Sweet Potatoes--213.5%

2. Carrots --113.2%

3. Spinach--104.8%

4. Kale--98.3%

5. Mustard Greens--96.2%

6. Collard Greens--80.2%

7. Turnip Greens--61%

8. Swiss Chard--59.5%

9. Winter Squash--59.4%

10. Romaine Lettuce--45.4% 

Vitamin E:

Deficiency with this vitamin is rare, but is known to cause conditions such as: neurological, neuromuscular, anemia, retinopathy, and impairment to immune response problems. Though a poor diet can never cause a deficiency in Vitamin E, this substance benefits your body in five ways: helps to prevent sunstroke and coronary artery disorder or heart disease; alleviates fatigue and aids in getting blood to the scalp; can help heal sunburn and just in general, protect your skin from the sun; has an anti-aging effect on your skin; and lastly, makes your skin and cuticles healthy and fresh.

You can find this vitamin in the following ten food items:

1. Tofu
2. Spinach
3. Nuts
4. Sunflower Seeds
5. Avocados
6. Shellfish
7. Fish (like rainbow trout)
8. Plant oils (like olive oil)
9. Broccoli
10. Squash, pumpkin, and butternut squash

(according to Health Aliciousness)

There you have it! A place to start on a healthy diet of fruits and veggies. I do recommend, however, that you continue to eat your lean meats. People who only eat plants (vegetarians) are at risk for problems down the road such as low cholesterol levels (may lead to early death), colorectal cancer, and "lower bone mineral density" (according to Mother Nature Network).

I again urge you to do research for yourself to find a multitude of other healthy treats that God has provided for us. He knew what He was doing when He packed them with so many nutritious goodies! I hope this helps you know what to start looking for at the grocery store and I pray that God blesses you if you decide to take a healthier view on food.

God bless,
Julianna

   

Intro to Health pt. 1

I know it seems rather odd for me to write about healthy living on Anna's Insights, but it's about time to discuss some other topics! When I think back on how much I used to keep active and ate more fruits and veggies, I keep wondering how I got so hooked on Twinkies and root beer. Perhaps, it was the snacks my Grandma would pack in her car for me whenever we would go on road trips. It was almost like keeping that part of the trip hidden from my Mother. I would hurry out to the car first and Grandma would tell me that the "little, black snack pack" was full of goodies. What a child's dream come true, right? I'd grab the bag, jump to the back seat in the van, and open up the delights that were inside. The bag had Velcro to keep the contents inside fresh, so I had to be very careful opening it if Mom was already in the car.  Yes, quite sneaky.

But I fondly remember those times...

And I'm not going to say that I don't have those sugary, delectable treats any more. I enjoy an occasional blueberry pie or raspberry doughnut. However, I also think there is a fine line between an appropriate amount and an excessive amount. Proverbs 25:27 starts by saying, "It is not good to eat much honey..." Honey is a natural sweet creation and even it is stated that one can have too much.  In our day now with stores like Wal-mart having at least one whole row dedicated to the candies of the rainbow, how much less should we be eating of them to not hit that red, excessive mark? So.......

Why care what I eat?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a good place to start:


"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 


As Christians, our body is not our own. God's Spirit lives in us. I doubt that if I remembered this at a fast food restaraunt, I'd want to graze on artificial sweeteners or chicken that's been drowned in trans fats. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we need to watch what we feed our bodies. Our bodies are God's temple. Do I want to fill my stomach with junk food, or should I instead be eating the pure products that God has created for us to enjoy?

Again, an occasional snack does fill my mouth and I don't think it's going to kill you if you partake of them a couple of times a week. However, I believe that 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 answers the question as to why we should care what we eat.

"You are what you eat":

Probably a quote we remember hearing from time to time, right? Although I do believe that what we put into our bodies effects our health 75%, what we eat is not the answer in and of itself. So what makes up for the lacking 25%? Exercise.

Exercise is crucial in having a healthy body. Food that we take into our bodies helps to preserve our organs. Such as bananas that contain a high level of potassium which are excellent for the heart. But walking every day, jogging, bicycling, riding horse, swimming to name a few, are what we need to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As with all things, exercise should be done in moderation. Don't overdo it. Again, eating right is the biggest part of living healthy. I hope to discuss exercise further in the following blog post, but would like to stick to the "why's" of eating healthy for this post.

Health Concerns:

Many people I know stick to Gluten-free products or they may have certain allergies to certain food choices. And still others' stomachs may not be able to tolerate general kinds of foods (like hot and spicy). If you're seriously wanting to get away from the chemicalized foods in the grocery and convenience stores, you should first of all ask your doctor about a healthy diet plan. Remember, eating healthy isn't about losing weight. It's about living a healthy life. Of course, life is not pain or sick-free; but, when eating the way God has designed us to eat, we will be avoiding a lot of the diseases that may have been knocking at our door ten years down the road if we didn't correct our food habits today.

When I first started to seriously think about eating differently, I just wanted to lose weight. I went off on a couple of different tangents--even not eating at all--until I would get caught. People who quit eating entirely or throw up after eating have developed either one of these mental disorders: Anorexia or Bulimia. Compulsive Overeating disorders are just as damaging.

But that's not what eating healthy means. There was a reason mom put broccoli on our plate and milk on the table when we were kids. To build strong bones and again, stay healthy. God has designed our bodies to be healthy, not sick. So I believe that, "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." [1 Corinthians 10:31]. Whether we're sleeping, exercising, reading books, or yes, even eating, all we do should be to the glory of God! 

Next step?

 The next step is to do something about it! Take action and make the change. It's hard to cut out sweets and I don't think a person should give up on them entirely. God has given us so many wonderful things to eat, that in comparison to the food man has processed and ruined to give things a "better" flavor, we need to turn back to the days before processed, artificial, and genetically modified food.

God knew exactly what vitamins and good proteins our bodies needed and continue to need after all generations of farmers. And with this being June Dairy month, let's take the time to not only thank farmers, but to enjoy the food that they harvest.


Next time, we'll be discussing different food choices that are some of the best sources of nutrition.

3 John 1:5 "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

Julianna  

Fact, Not Fiction

A man whispered, "God, speak to me".
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me".
And the thunder and lightning rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see You".
And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see it.

And the man shouted, "God show me a miracle".
And a life was born.
But the man did not notice.

So the man cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and let me know You are here".
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

The man asked God for encouragement.
And an email arrived bringing good news.
But the man deleted it.



God does not have to show His face to us in order for us to know He exists. When we look at the beauty around us, we see God's handiwork. God gives us just a glimpse of His beauty through His creation, letting us see a small portion of His strength in the powerful waves or seeing His gentleness in creating a little bird. God Himself does not need to be seen in order to be believed in, though many times, we humans have problems believing in something that we cannot touch or see.

Yet we know that our cell phones have service, even though we cannot see the power from which it sends and receives messages.  We can think, though we have not seen our own brain waves. We know the power of the wind, and yet the wind has no face to touch, no hand to hold, no arms to hug. There is so much proof around us that this world was designed by a Supreme Being.  We see the majestic, white capped mountains reaching to the skies, the power in a mighty wave crashing against the rocks, and hear the angelic voice of a robin; but yet, many will still doubt that our powerful and Omnipotent God exists.

Fact: We cannot disprove the existence of Almighty God!

Blessings,
Julianna


You are part of God's handiwork! Ephesians 2:10

Encouragements For Your Day

Instead of writing a blog post this time, I wanted to share some encouraging quotes/Bible verses that I found when I was browsing through Google Images this morning. Mondays can always be hard as we get back into our work or school schedules, and an encouraging word is always helpful in starting out a brand new week. Have a great week, folks!

Happy Birthday, Schuyler!

"The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
~Psalm 121:7-8


To start this off with, I'd just like to wish you a great big "happy birthday" that's drowned in chocolate, sprinkled with nuts, and topped off with a maraschino cherry! And I'm talking thick layer of chocolate here, girl. :D

You have been such an inspiration, not only to me through social networking, but to the many young girls that you work with and dedicate your time to through BrightLights. Your cheery smile, your clever comebacks, and your ever increasing love for Christ and others will always make you who you are: Schuyler. In fact, even your name is very special. ;)

Smart. I always looked forward to your comments after the Bible Studies (as Collin does, too, as he knew you would almost always have something to say :D). You look at things and analyze them and you tend to amaze me at just how well you comprehend even the most detailed (and complicated) terminology and theology. The Dutch meaning of your name means "Scholar". You are very witty and knowledgeable. :)

Courageous. You are not willing to back down from where you stand. If you stand for something, you won't just back down because everyone else does. You're willing to fight for what you believe to be right. Even if that means you would stand alone.

Happy. Your happy personality always brighten up my day. The joyful spirit that you have is a blessing and will continue to bless us all. 

Unique. Only you could be Schuyler. No one else could pull off staging themselves as you. You are special and one of a kind; and we love you for that. :)

Young. You will always be young at heart. Your beautiful spirit will never fade or grow old, even as the time passes and you yourself become old. 

Loving. You have that way about you that shows your concern for people, your interest to help them, and your love for them as sisters and brothers in the Lord. 

Eloquent speaker. Even in listening to your comments on the Bible Studies (which can never be rehearsed), you portray your thoughts in a wonderful way. You know what you want to say and you have the God-given ability to say those things in the right way and at the right time.

Real. You aren't like so many other girls who put on "fronts". You are who you are and you don't try to hide that. You let your real self shine through. And what a beautiful self that is. :)


I'm sorry this post is late, but I hope all the best for you. This day alone isn't special; everyday that you're alive is special. :) We celebrate you now and every day we get to know you better. :) Again, happy birthday, Schuyler. :)

Love you lots!
Anna 

Direction After Correction

". . .My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."  Hebrews 12:5,6


The key word here is "love". God doesn't chasten you, because He hates you. Just as when we were kids and were being disobedient, our parents punished us out of love. So God, Whose love is great for us, punishes us when we try to lead our own lives on our own strength. Through chastening, we will most likely find ourselves at a 'dead end road' and find no way to go except back to Who we wandered from: God. Through chastening, we realize our need for God and are reminded that we cannot live a life free from Him. Through chastening, we recognize that our sin is blocking us from having a complete relationship with the Savior and that we must repent in order to rebuild the bridge that separated us.

God never walks away from us. He never chooses to let us out of His hands. He never wants that sin to separate us from Himself. But when we let sin interfere, we ourselves are choosing to be separated from His love and care. We choose to walk away; and hence, why we sometimes don't sense God's presence with us any more.

God isn't always chastising us when life seems to do a back flip; but it's important to eliminate the possibility by examining our lives carefully. Such as when we partake of Communion. We should ask God to show us where we went wrong, and believe that He is faithful to point out the problem(s) that we need to ask forgiveness for and turn away from. He will never close the door in our face or walk away when we desire to repent from whatever sin has been plaguing us.

In a devotional book that I sometimes share stories with you, this one stood out as going along with this post topic very well. "As a professional stock-car racer, Darrell Waltrip was once proud of his image as 'the guy folks loved to hate'. When crowds booed, he'd just kick the dirt and smile. Then things began to change. He miraculously survived a Daytona 500 crash. He began to going to church with his wife, Stevie. He and Stevie began to try to have a family. Stevie, however, suffered four miscarriages. One day their pastor came to visit. He asked, 'Your car is sponsored by a beer company. Is that the image you want?' Darrell had never thought about it. He had always loved watching kids admire his car, but the more he thought about it, he discovered that he did care about his image. He thought, If Stevie's and my prayers were answered for a child, what kind of dad would I be? He remembered his pastor's admonition to 'walk the walk, not just talk the talk'. He didn't know what to do to convince the car owner to change sponsors, but amazingly, an opportunity opened for him to sign with a new racing team sponsored by a laundry detergent company! After much thought and more prayer, he switched teams. Two years later, daughter Jessica was born, and a few years later, daughter Sarah. In 1989, he won Daytona."

As we see in the above story, when Darrell changed his life around by advertising something better on his racing car and refusing to model pictures of beer around the track, God began to answer his and Stevie's prayer regarding their family. Sins truly do block our prayers with God. We cannot believe that God will listen to our cries for help, if we continue to allow the sin to remain in our lives.

God continues to encourage us to live a life pleasing to Him. As in the scene on the famous movie Facing the Giants, Grant pushed his player to do the death crawl across the whole field. Blindfolded, the play cried out in agony as he carried the "140 pound" player on his back to the end zone. Our Spiritual walks are the same. We carry around baggage and it feels that there is no hope in crossing this "field of life". We cry out to God for help, but He seems to be nowhere near us. God is asking us not to give up on Him; but to give up the sin that is separating us from Him. When we do so, we will find ourselves in the "end zone".

"In order to receive the direction from God, you must be able to receive the correction from God."

Sis in Christ,
Anna

Pushing Back the Dark

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." ~Habakkuk 3:17-19


How many of us go through the majority of our lives thinking about negative things that we fear may happen? How many times do we spend during the day letting Satan fill our minds with pessimistic thoughts? This certainly is a problem that we may face or have faced in the past. But how do we get beyond the point and start to think on the brighter side of things? How do we lay aside those heavy doubts, fears, anxieties, in order to believe that our trials aren't the end of something tragic; but the beginning of something beautiful?

Honestly, I've been struggling.with this. I know what's right and what's wrong, but I have been letting the lies of the world drag me down. They may be the same little stories that have plagued you. "You aren't worth loving", "you are just a useless human with nothing good to offer", "You're just living your life for God and getting nothing out of it". These are thoughts from Satan. He plants those little seeds of discouragement in your mind to drag you down.

"There is this legend that tells how a man once stumbled upon a great red barn after wandering for days in a dark, overgrown forest. Seeking refuge from the howling winds of a storm that seemed to rage perpetually in the forest, he let his eyes grow accustomed to the dark and then, to his astonishment, he discovered that this was the barn where Satan kept his storehouse of seeds to be sown into human hearts. More curious than fearful, he lit a match and began to explore the piles and bins of seeds around him. He couldn't help but notice that the containers labeled "seeds of discouragement" far outnumbered any other type of seed. Just as the man had drawn this conclusion, one of Satan's foremost demons arrived to pick up a fresh supply of seed. The man asked him why the great abundance of discouragement seeds. The demon laughed, "Because they are so effective and they take root so quickly!" The man then asked, "Do they grow everywhere?" At this the demon became sullen. He glared at the man and admitted in disgust, "No. They never seem to thrive in the heart of a grateful person."

Friend, don't let your heart be a place where Satan and his helpers can plant those seeds of discouragement. Don't give him the satisfaction. Fight against those thoughts! Be on the constant look-out for those nasty, little thoughts that want to slip into your mind and bring you down.

God has something better for you, so don't get discouraged; be encouraged. :)

Sister in Christ,
Anna

Josh Wilson: Pushing Back the Dark