Foolish Moments Of Contending With GOD

Dear Lord, forgive me please for daring to contend with you. You are God, I am not. You are the Boss, I am your servant. You call the shots, I humbly desire to obey. Please create in me a pure heart, one that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Solomon wisely reminds us that the irreverent contending with God is a foolish and dangerous endeavor, one that brings about no blessings or victories. 

Yet why is it that we as humans continue to question and contend with GOD?  He is infinite in His being and perfection, while we are finite and imperfect.  Yet if the truth be told we have all had our foolish moments when we dare to contend with GOD.  

We contend that GOD has ignored our prayers for healing and the righting of perceived wrongs in our lives.  Perhaps we feel that GOD doesn't care  because he has not answered our appeals to HIS goodness. 

We tell ourselves that GOD hasn't come through for us before so why should he now?  We wonder why allow things to happen if he cares so much us.  However, if you examine your circumstances in faith, you will see that GOD is working for your good despite how things appear.  

God doesn't owe you anything but he's gracefully given a sinful world EVERYTHING in Jesus.  In those moments that you are struggling tell GOD that you know He is always right and asking Him to show you his will.  Assure Him that you will do whatever He wants you to do, and will endure any suffering with His grace and power.  Then, GOD can bless your life abundantly.  

Marker Moments

Psalm 89:1  I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Singing praises to God can do God’s work when other avenues have failed.  Music is a precious gift from God, planted in the depths of our souls, then set free from our lips to reach God in Heaven, to bring glory to His Name.

Think about the importance of music in your own life? Music softens our hearts and allows God to speak to us. We receive solace, encouragement, and renewed strength rom the truths of God set to music.

When was the last time you sang "to the LORD" in unashamedly corporate worship? Did you worry about what the person next to you, or in front of you, or behind you in church thought of you worship?  Go ahead and sing. Go ahead and cry. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Even if we don’t have a pretty voice, we need to be a people who love to sing… because we have a reason to sing.

 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your priceless gift of salvation to me.  Thank You for patiently waiting for me to accept this gift.  The price You paid is more than this world could ever equal.  I thank You for opening my heart to Your goodness, Your kindness and the love You have for me.  Help me to help others see the priceless gift You hold out in Your Precious Hands.  When I doubt, help me to be strong, when I am scared and worried, send me Your Holy Spirit to lift me up.  When I am weak, restore to me vigilance in the uncertain times of this life.  I will hold on and never turn away from Your goodness for I know You will carry me through to victory one day. I pray this through Your name, Jesus Christ

So Whatever Happened To Melissa Dilan?

For those of you who were following the "craddle-snatching" love story of TJ Sinavage and Melisa Dilan-Hernandez here's the rest of the story.

The case of Melissa vs. TJ was adjudicated and she did NOT go to jail.  She did get married though to a man in the US Air Force.  (His name will not be released as he has nothing to do with the prosecution of the case).

Melissa and her new husband have moved about an eight hour drive from TJ making visitation very difficult.

 From my communications with TJ I believe that he would be the first to say that he has made a number of mistakes in his life.  If you are or ever were young once, I'm sure that you realize that missteps and bad choices are often a consequence of youth.

While I never met, knew, or spoke with Melissa her actions and words seemed manipulative.  She did not seem to make decisions from a mature vantage point. Let's face it Melissa had more life experience and should have been able to walk away from such a relationship once she learned TJ's age.  Instead, she insisted that TJ lie to others about her age because she knew it was LEGALLY wrong.

TJ acknowledges he was no angel but Melissa never saw herself as anything other than the victim in this relationship.  In the end it is the child that pays for the decisions that have been made.  That seems to be a point that some people forget.

Crappy Run

Crappy run this morning.  I ran a different route and part of it had me dodging cars and jumping into the shrubbery for about a half a mile.

*  I ran 5.82 miles pace 14:11 min/mile
*  Russian crunch 38 reps
*  1 legged seated shimmies 16 reps each side
*  V-crunch 18 reps
*  ab crunch 18 reps
*  Single legged v-ups 8 reps each side
*  Single leg drop 18 reps
*  Reverse crunch 16 reps

All the crunches are leading me on with their promise of having a Victoria Secret body, but in truth while I may be working out like an Angel I feel like the Devil when I'm through.

Step-By-Step Progress

Today's post is about making progress step-by-step.  My relationship with GOD is one that I must continue to work on each and every day.  I've placed a morning Bible study on my schedule forces me to incorporate time with GOD in my day.

Today's Bible study involves Proverbs 3:5-6.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6.

GOD reveals HIS will as we trust and obey HIM day by day.  GOD does not drop down from heaven a simple blueprint for our life from heaven.  As we walk with the LORD he shows us the way.  It is like walking in the dark with a powerful flashlight.  As we walk forward we see the way ahead.  From time to time GOD gives a flash of light that allows us to see miles ahead, but normally we walk in step by step obedience.

Keeping track of my exercise is helping me see progress.  I realize that if I'm really serious about making a healthy change in my life and get in shape then I MUST track my progress.  It sure makes me feel better than stepping on a scale every morning and agonizing any upward movement l might see on the scale..  

With that in mind here is my work-out for today:

* stair stepper - 2.08 miles - 1.90 calories

* Row machine - 5.09 minutes - 35 calories
* 30 pull-ups
* Pec fly - 25 lbs - 25 reps
* stationary bike - 15.06 minutes - 71 calories
* lateral raise - 20 lbs - 25 reps
* Dual cable - 12.5 lbs - 25 reps
* torso rotation - 20 lbs - 30 reps
* ab crunch - 20 lbs - 30 reps
* Nitro ab 35 lbs - 30 reps

Got the car today

Hebrews 13:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

I had the car today so I went to the gym:

* stair stepper 25 minutes 2.09 miles 190.5 calories
* elliptical 15 minutes 1.35 miles calories 120
* ab crunch machine 20 lbs 30 reps 
* nitro ab machine 35 lbs 30 reps 
* ab crunch MTS machine 10 lbs 25 reps 
* torso rotation machine 30 lbs 30 reps 
* dual cable machine 15 lbs 25 reps 
* overhead triceps machine 20 lbs 25 reps 
* chest press machine 30 lbs 25 reps

Second Glance

Who knew that Grand Prairie had so many desperate men.  Today after Darryl and I had loaded the groceries into the car, I walked the buggy to one of the stalls located in the parking lot.  I came back to the car and the first words out of Darryl's mouth were, "That guy was checking you out." 

I laughed a little.  After all I am 54 years old.  Let's face it NO ONE gives women of my age admiring glances from admiring glances from the opposite sex.  Needless to say the fact that my husband said some man swiveled his head to watch me go by took me by surprise.  I kind of wondered if I had toilet paper dragging behind my shoe or my clothes were on inside out.

Then I remembered the guy at Kroger who was so anxious to help me find my car in the parking lot.  He even drove his car over to me after he finished loading his vehicle to ask me if I'd found it.  I had indeed found it so I laughed and said, "Thank you for being so nice to try to help an old lady find her car."  His whole face lit up  he smiled.  "Oh you're not old at all." he said.

I didn't tell Darryl about this because I considered it a fluke.  Now after today's incident, I wonder if that means that all this working out has actually done some good and perhaps I'm not as invisible as I might. believe.