The Experiment

For awhile, I was blogging about my weight struggles and how I lived my faith at work.

And, intermixed with those posts were more devotional style postings about my grandkids or something interesting or exciting that happened in my relationship with Jesus.

There are all sorts of blogs and columns out there and lots and lots of advice on what to do and what not to do with a blog. Advice is offered about ways to approach a blog, and how to write in such a way as to get more readers.

But what it all came down to for me was too much pressure to get readers and not enough of just flowing from my heart.

So, today, I'm starting a new experiment. 

And if you like you can join me. 

Instead of trying to write on a certain topic, or with certain key words that will get the search engines attention. I'm just going to write what Jesus is showing me, dealing with me on,  or teaching me.

The experiment will be that if this 'just being myself' approach pleases God then the readership will increase and so will the comments without any special effort on my own.

My act of faith will be the writing from my heart.

I will do this until the end of the year and together we will see what the Lord does.

But you know what?

Even  this experiment is an exciting aspect of living every day with Jesus.

Why?

Because Jesus is alive and I have a relationship with Him so I can ask His help just like I would a friend.

He is a living, breathing, thinking, knowing, seeing, God who has many, many incredible attributes. For example:

Jesus is all powerful.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)


And Jesus can change our life in an instant.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)


And He loves us.

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3)

And His intentions towards us are always good.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)



And  Jesus longs for us to love Him so much that we joyfully obey Him.

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: ...And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6)

Oh to be His peculiar treasure.

To love Jesus and be loved by Him is the most incredible experience in all the world.

Knowing Jesus and having his holy spirit living inside of me doesn't mean I don't have struggles, but it does mean that I don't have to figure out my problems on my own.

So often I meet people who are dealing with incredibly difficult circumstances all by themselves.

To them God is abstract.

An uncaring, distant diety that is not involved in their day-to-day lives.

Well, I'm here to tell you that Jesus is very real and very involved in every aspect of my life.

If I lose my car keys, I ask Jesus to help me.

If I'm sick, I ask Him to heal me.

If my work day is difficult, I ask Him to fill me with His peace.

If I lose my temper, or struggle with attitudes, I ask Him to forgive me and help me do better the next time.

The whole point is that living every day with Jesus means I live every day with hope.

And you can too.

The Holy Bible says in Psalm 33: 17-18 "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine"

Do you need a car?

Look to Jesus!

Do you need grocery money?

Look to Jesus!

Do you need a job?

Look to Jesus!

Do you need your marriage restored?

Look to Jesus!

Whatever your need, the God of hope will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

What do you hope for today?

Leave a comment so we can pray together about it.

-Debbie

Fuzzy Fur Coats and Putting On Christ



Mikayla



My grandaughter Mikayla loves to wear her pink fuzzy coat. 

She loves the pink. 

She loves the fur.

And she especially loves the way the white faux fur sheds.

When she waves her arms, the fur sheddings float around her like a dandelion puff.

And everytime she hugs someone with her coat on,

she leaves her love marks - the white fluffy shedding - all over them.

Whenever she spots someone new to bestow her fur hug on,

Mikayla's eyes sparkle and she dances with delight.

Her fuzzy fur coat hugs are a token of her affection.

An  expression of her love.

Mikayla doesn't realize that people may not want to be

covered in fuzzy white polyester hair.

So she keeps on hugging unsuspecting churchgoers and family members.

And she keeps on squealing with delight each

time she sees some white fur clinging to them.

A quiet reminder that they had been hugged by Mikayla.

The Holy Bible actually talks about Mikayla's kind of love expression in Romans 13:14

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

The apostle Paul told Christian believers to put on Christ.

To choose to wear Christ, in much the same way

that Mikayla chose to wear her fuzzy pink coat.

Mikayla wears her fuzzy pink coat because she likes it,

 and because she can sprinkle people with white fur.

Likewise, as Christians we are to wear Christ because we love Him, and

because we can affect those around us for the kingdom of God.

Consider what 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says:

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing...To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (King James Version)

The Message translation explains it this way:

"In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No— but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.

So in a sense,  as Chrisitans, we are to put on Christ with the intent of being so full of Christ's love that His spirit sticks to those around us just like the fur from Mikayla's fuzzy fur coat.

Because spreading the love of Christ is an important part of living every day with Jesus.

How do you spread God's love through the week?

What do you do to put on Christ each day?

Leave a comment.

I'd love to hear from you! 

 

Knowing God

"The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God." -O. Chambers

Do you know God, the sovereign Lord, the creator of the universe?

He knows you.

He knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

He was there when you took your first steps.

He grieved when you grieved.

He hurt when you hurt.

He lovingly stood by at each triumph and failure in your life.

And more than anything else in this world, He longs for you to know Him.

To have a relationship with Him.

To be His friend. And to let Him be yours.


If you've never met Him, let me introduce you:

His name is Jesus. ( Isaiah 9:5-7, Matthew 1:20-22, Romans 14:10-12 )

I remember the first time I was aware of Jesus' presence.

I was 10 years old and playing outside with my friends. Halter tops were popular back then and I had one on under a button down shirt. I took off my outer shirt, to be like my friends, and immediately felt a deep sense that I needed to be covered.

It was a protective feeling. Like being outside in the cold without a coat and your mother and father bringing you a warm blanket.

I didn't understand at that moment that it was God reaching to me, but I knew it was something greater than I'd ever felt. And I knew instinctively that I needed to put my shirt back on. I learned much later through the study of the Holy Bible that there is a special safety and protection from God when one chooses to dress modestly and holy. (I Peter 1:15-17)

Not long after that, I started going to the Pentecostal church with my grandfather. The teaching I recieved there in the Sunday School classes taught me about God's reaching love and His desire for everyone on the earth to serve Him and be filled with His spirit.

I was 11 years old when I recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost as evidenced with speaking in tongues just like the apostles did in the book of Acts. (Acts 2:1-4)

What about you my dear friend?

When did Jesus first become real to you?

Have you yet experienced the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost?

If you haven't and are curious about what this incredible experience is all about,  I highly recommend a CD  called "Have You Recieved the Holy Ghost Since You Believed?" by Reverend Jason Sciscoe. It is only $10.00 and well worth the investment. You can order it by clicking here.

Jesus Christ seeks us out like an impassioned lover. His ways of wooing us to Him are always unique and personal. Have you felt him drawing you?
Share your experience with Jesus Christ in the comment section  so that others who are seeking may read it and believe.

Because you see, telling others about what Christ has done for you is a very real part of living every day with Jesus. (Revelation 12:11)

Love Notes

Do you remember your first crush?

Those all too common grade school notes that said "I love you, do you love me...yes or no?"

Although, I'd had a few gradeschool crushes, the one that is imbedded in my memory is when I was in high school.

His name was David.

In my 14-year-old mind, he looked like Elvis Presley.

 I swooned every time he walked by.

I wrote 'Mrs. David __________" over and over again all over my spiral notebooks.

I begged someone who knew him well to get me one of his school pictures.

All during my highschool years, David was the object of my affection - although I don't think he ever understood how infatuated I really was with him.

Oh, I dated other guys, even went steady with some of them. But none of them ignited my heart like David.

My heart was set on him...just as Jesus Christ's heart is set on us.

Jesus Christ has a crush on you that is way more than the strongest childhood crush you've ever experienced.

And He sends you love notes.

Consider what it says in the Holy Bible in Jeremiah 31:3:

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Or in Hebrews 13:5, also in the Holy Bible:

"...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

According to the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ knows how many hairs you have on your head, He's written your name in the palm of His hand, and He's watched over you since you were a speck in your mother's womb.

If that's not love, I don't what is.

But just as the object of my childhood affection ignored my advances, you also can choose to ignore Jesus.

The choice is yours.

Jesus Christ, in all His might and power could force us to love Him. But then that wouldn't really be love would it?

So instead, He watches you and sends you love messages through the Holy Bible, through others around you, and perhaps even through this blog.

And then He waits longingly for you to respond. To notice His advances. To seek out a relationship with Him.

Why?

Because Jesus Christ loves you. Completely. Totally. Unconditionally.

His love is the most incredible benefit of living every day with Jesus.

Once you enter into a love relationship with Jesus Christ, your whole life will change.

Joy and peace will be in your heart.

And even when hard times come you will have a deep sense of never being alone because Jesus is watching over you.


 How will you respond?

(Please leave a comment and share with others ways that Jesus Christ has sent you love messages)

WEDNESDAY WEIGH-IN: Support System

Last year, I launched Wednesday Weigh-In on this blog.

Every Wednesday, (or most Wednesdays anyway) I wrote about my struggle to lose well over 100 pounds.

Well  here it is a year later, and to be honest, I thought about not blogging on Wednesdays anymore because I only lost 20 pounds last year.

But then I remembered all of you.

Your willingness to encourage me.

To leave a comment.

To say a prayer.

To share your stories of struggle.

And I remembered the other wonderful support systems Jesus gave me.

Like my dad.

He shows me off to his friends just the same as if I was a  size 5. (I love him for that.)

But he does worry about the effects the extra weight has on my health.

"I'm just worried about your ticker." my dad will say.

Or my precious husband Buddy.

When we got married, I was a size 14, now I'm almost double that. Yet he's loved me through all my sizes and always treats me like a princess.

Having a support system in place when trying to lose weight is crucial. Any weight loss expert will confirm this.

That's why most national weight loss programs offer some sort of group meetings or one-on-one counseling.

Jesus knew this.

He designed us as communal beings.

We function better when we have others around us who love us and believe in us. The Holy Bible confirms this in Psalm 68:6:

"God setteth the solitary in families: ..."
And Jesus even made provision for us if our families were not capable of being there for us:

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." (Psalm 27:9)


"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you..." (John 14:18)


Having an infallible support system is just one of the many benefits of living every day with Jesus. Because even if friends and family fail you, Jesus is always there. He said so in  Hebrews 13:5:

"“I will never leave you nor forsake you..."

So tell me, who is your support system?

What is it about them that makes them someone you can lean on?

Let's talk about the wonderful benefits of community this week and learn  from one another.

Because, as I said, drawing strength from community is just another wonderful benefit of living every day with Jesus!

Work Hard ~ Pray Hard

If the demands of your job seem exceptionally intense this week, consider praying more to prepare for it.

That's what Martin Luther, the German reformist did. He said:

"Tomorrow I plan to work, work, work, from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer."

Luther understood that the greater the demands of his job, the harder he must pray to prepare for it.

What a concept!

Think what would happen if we applied that same principal to our lives today.

The lawyer who had a difficult case would first spend hours consulting the Lord's wisdom through prayer and meditation.

The electrician who had a deadline to meet, would pray first about every minute detail of the project and would finish ahead of schedule.

The child-care worker would spend enough time in prayer to be able to call out each child's name individually and the kids would be so filled with a holy calm that her days would be filled with peace.

And on my job in volunteer management the  stress from the  myraid of meetings, training sessions, and tabletop drills in preparation of the hospital where I work moving across town would dissipate.

The more we pray about and for our jobs the freer Jesus is to move on our behalf.

Prayer softens the disposition of even the toughest manager.

Prayer, by it's very nature promotes teamwork.

Prayer creates an atmosphere of love.

But most of all prayer transforms us into Christlike beings who serve with joy and esteem our fellow man better than ourselves.

Perhaps that is why Luther found it so necessary to pray so much. So that he could work hard with Christ like attitude.

What about you?

What work do you have to do this week?

And what prayers do you need to pray in order to get the job done?


"...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

Imagine

Imagine if Jesus had complete control of your workplace today.

You would anticipate what new and exciting miracles Jesus was going to perform this week.

You would walk with a spring in your step and a gleam in your eye because your great big God was handling every potential problem.

If Jesus was in absolute control of where you work, employees would be so busy helping each other to excel that your companies productivity would skyrocket.

And if Jesus was in control you would be more concerned about your co-worker getting the accolades and promotions than you would about yourself.

There would be joy in servitude.

There would be peace and harmony.

Stress would be a thing of the past.

Integrity and fairness would reign.

Sick days would all but disappear.

Managers would recognize a job well done.

And transperancy and trust would so permeate the hearts and minds of men and women that the local newspapers would want to investigate the source of such harmony and wellbeing.

If Jesus could have His way today.

History provides great examples of what happens when  great men and women of God prayed until their communities were shaken.

Men like Johnathan Edwards who preached "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and sparked a huge revival. Or George Whitfield who prayed until he shook under the power of God. Or the great Welsh Revival where 180,000 men came to God over a two year period.

And all of this is still possible today!

If we will but pray and allow Jesus to flow through us to those around us then our jobs can be transformed.

Peace, joy and love can be the order of the day - every day.

If we will but pray.

We must pray earnestly, fervantly and consistently.

But if we will, then God will answer in ways that we can only imagine.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

How can I pray for your workplace today?

What are the most pressing needs?

What is the corporate climate?

What human ways of thinking needs to be saturated with the love of God?

Post a comment and let's pray about this together.

Or, if you prefer, email me directly at dsimlergoff@sbcglobal.net.

Let's make 2011 the year we imagined together for revival and transformation in our workplace!

-Debbie