365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 205

As you know, I have been on this weight loss roller coaster. Not that I am super overweight. I am just over the border on weight for my height and frankly with acid reflux and not fitting into half my clothes, 5-8lbs is a big issue. I came upon this book called Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss by Kara Davis, MD. It is a Christian solution for weight loss. Ironically, her chapters are broken down by the fruits of the spirit. The first chapter on the fruit of love has really gotten me. She discusses the definition of agape love which is a godly love that is unconditional. She goes on to explain how agape love is also sacrificing. This makes complete sense in that God’s only son was crucified for us. Jesus could have stopped his execution at any time but because of his love for his Father and for us he was obedient and sacrificed himself. Our bodies are the temples that hold our soul and spirit and should be revered and taken care of. The Israelites took great care of their temple because God’s presence was there. God’s presence is within us as well as the Holy Spirit. So, to truly be loving God with the agape love means sacrificing those things that do not care for our bodies or do not glorify God. Being a coach potato night after night does not glorify God. Eating dessert everyday does not take care of your body. Maybe you can come up with your own things that you need to put under the magnifying glass of agape love?

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  This is your spiritual act of worship.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 53

This verse in Luke had me imagining all the angels and people that have gone to Heaven up there just cheering super loud and enthusiastically like the Broncos at a football game. The Broncos go nuts when a touchdown happens. Heaven is rejoicing in the biggest way possible every time a lost soul is redeemed. I just smile when I think that they were up there cheering mightily the day I sought forgiveness for my secret sins and accepted that I truly needed God. The truth is we all need God but like I was blind to the truth, others are having that same struggle with their need for God that they probably don’t even realize is there and their desire to do it themselves. I was this way last evening going through my mind what possible solution can I come up with to do my new task at work without it creating pain in my shoulder which is slowing the progress of healing. I finally sought refuge with my one and only who will help me. “Okay stop analyzing it to death and give it to the Lord”, I told myself. I asked the Lord to figure this out for me and than I went peacefully off to sleep. Just because I am a believer in Jesus Christ does not stop the evil one from using whatever he can to keep me from the Lord, including my own God-given temperament. I am an analyzer which has kept me awake on many nights. It can be a weakness in my temperament when I let it keep me from going to God. But the truth set me free again. I don’t know that the cheering in Heaven is as loud as when I first acknowledge Jesus as my savior but I am sure that God was smiling.

Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.