Tag Archives: God

Familiarity, Part 2

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In my previous post I challenged others to let go of the familiarity they held with cherished possessions. To put them on hold for a season. Though this wisdom certainly applies to places and things it runs contrary to maintaining relationships with the people we cherish.

Take my wife for example. If I disassociate myself from her, this would not have a desirable outcome. The same would hold true of my relationship with my children, devoted friends, and God.

When I let go of my familiarity with possessions, it frees me to focus on relationships. It serves to elevate relationships over possessions. That brings me back to the season of Lent, and why so many people choose to do without favorite objects, and focus on their relationship with God and the suffering Jesus endured for all our sakes.

Don’t let familiarity with a relationship you hold dear breed contempt. Instead disassociate yourself from anything that stands in the way.

God is Enough

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When I am tempted to yield to doubt during troubled times, I have to remind myself that God is enough. The moment I believe God is not enough, I need to ask myself, what is my “plan B.” God’s got me covered!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Providence

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I’ve been mulling over the word providence this week. Perhaps it’s because the word has a prominent place in one of the chapters I am writing. The word makes me think of providing evidence. My iPhone defines providence as “the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.” When I put these two ideas together, it raises an interesting question. Is there evidence of God working in my life?

Perhaps you have asked yourself the same question. It has been helpful for me to take a look back over the course of my life to see when and where God may have had a hand in certain situations. This could be evidence of some good coming out of a bad situation.

Did a past disappointment spare me from an even worse situation? Were there any blessings in my past that I brushed aside or blindly took credit for? Whatever the evidence, consider that God was involved. Let it serve as a reminder that God is continually at work in our lives and knows what our future holds.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

2nd Update: weight loss

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Wow, it’s been several months since I last posted an update on my weight loss campaign. I am happy to report I am still at it, though life has been busy for me. I reported back in March that I achieved my first milestone (losing three pounds). Well over a month ago I passed my second milestone, losing four additional pounds making it a total of seven.

The lag in my reporting had more to do with my crazy schedule than anything else. I became embroiled in my spring chores (mowing, pruning, planting and weeding) and found less time to monitor my progress.

Here are my self-evaluation grades for the since the first milestone.

Steps on Fitbit A (I strung together 40+ days over 10,000 steps) Additional Exercise A- (6-7 days, of additional exercise per week) Portion Control B- (slipped a bit on this one) Water intake B (should drink more water) Snacking B- (still fighting this one; overall good results) Cheating C (probably why weight loss takes so long to accomplish) Devotion C+ (still room for improvement, Spring season has helped)

Morale is high. I’m looking forward to breaking through the next barrier, which is five additional pounds.

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 NLT