Learning to Love “What”?

Now, I don’t know about you but when I read the chapter title this week from Joyce Meyer’s book, Look Great Feel Great, I choked on it.

Learning to Love Your Body ~ say what? Well, we’ve already explored how important we are to God. He loved us so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us. I think for the most part we get it! But this learning to love your body stuff… well what’s so great to love about it in the shape its in right now?

That’s just it! The message is that we need to love the body we have because it’s the one we’ve got! Our body is not the enemy! If we are Christians, our body is the one that the Holy Spirit chooses to live in. It’s the one that God chooses to use for His glory. Ah… that’s easy to think and say but how do we do it?


Joyce hit the nail on the head when she said that most people don’t like themselves. Maybe we suffer from some of the self-rejection torments that she mentioned. I think most of us have at least one if not more of these mental distractions of self-hate. I’ve listed a few things to think about that were triggered from her book.


Do we live in a constant state of self-rejection and because of this hate our selves (including our bodies) instead of loving our selves? Are we broken from sickness or age? Have we tried beauty products and weight loss “miracles” only to realize that we were ripped off and no miracle happened? Do we look at catalogs and magazines longingly wishing we were different? Did we read scripture and believe that our flesh (body) is despicable and that to live a righteous life we must “punish” it and beat ourselves up for not being “perfect” in the Lord? Are we living with childhood nightmares that just won’t leave us alone that make us feel inferior and useless? What are our reasons for hating our selves so much?



I’m going to be real here. Sometimes just “knowing” that God loves us isn’t enough for us because we don’t feel anything but empty. We feel alone. We feel like we are the only ones in the universe that have experienced our pain and no one knows… no one knows…. but someone else has FELT the same way.



Hear the words of an old hymn, Does Jesus Care? (If you Google it, you’ll even be able to hear it if you like ~ Oh, the wonder of technology!)

The verses:

· Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?

· Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep nightshades, does He care enough to be near?

· Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed to resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the nightlong?

· Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye” to the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—is it aught to Him? Does He see?

The wonderful chorus:

· Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.



There have been those who have gone on before you that felt just like you. There are those living today who are feeling just like you. Yet, the most impressive thing is that Jesus experienced it all!  When He died on that cross, He felt it all at once! Can we ever imagine that kind of pain? It wasn’t a single person’s pain but the pain of the entire world through the ages that He endured. Oh, how He loves us!


WE MUST STOP! THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO SLIDE OVER BUT TO THINK ABOUT. Take some time and examine what is wrong. Maybe your problem is not about health and weight loss, but whatever it is, ask the Lord to help you sort out your life. Ask Him to help you put everything into perspective. Ask Him to give you guidance for making positive changes and then put into practice what He directs to be changed.  Let’s do it to bring Him glory! Isn’t that what we’re here for?



As always, Joyce has some very practical ways to “nurture self-love.” The book is great and I’m sure you’ll read it in a hurry. This time around on my plan of improvement, I’m taking everything a little bit slower. My desire is to make changes that will have a greater chance of lasting out the rest of my life. I’ve learned I can’t do it all at once. God is training me as I go. Sometimes I’m a good student and sometimes a poor one, but I keep coming to class and trying yet again. He never gives up on me and I can always find acceptance in Him. There are times He pushes me. There are times He pulls me. There are times He just walks beside me. The point is… He is always with me! What an amazing thought!


This devotional was inspired by Joyce Meyer’s book, Look Great Feel Great.

Don’t Give Me Anymore ~~Blah! Blah! Blah!

I read an article this week concerning the Apostle John. It was told that when John was at Ephesus and well stricken in age, he had to be carried by his disciples in order to teach. At that time, he was only able to put together a statement of a few words and basically taught the same thing each time. “Little children, love one another.” Finally after his disciples had grown quite tired of his teaching, they asked him why he always said the same thing. His answer was this, “Because it is the Lord’s precept, and if it alone is done, it is enough.” (Jerome, commentary on Galatians, from R. Alan Culpepper, John, the Son of Zebedee)



John’s disciples thought that his teaching was nothing more than blah, blah, blah because they had heard it over and over again. Yet, in truth, his teaching was more important than his disciples were aware. It takes patience and practice to be able to apply this principle of God. You shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18



Today’s devotional is much the same. You and I have heard it before. I needed to hear it even again.  It may sound “blah, blah, blah” to you. But think of this, are you and I applying what we know with patience and practice?  Have we mastered this subject area?  I wonder!



Entering into Joyce Meyer’s book, Look Great Feel Great, I find that she has set 12 keys for great health. Before actually reading anything, I began to think about the significance of the number twelve. It came to mind that twelve was the number of stones on the high priest’s ephod (description from Old Testament scriptures.) Each stone was a different color and signified a different tribe of Israel. This was the founding of a new nation to which, God ruled supreme. So twelve for me represents “government” and in a sense we will be governing our lives to make positive changes if we adhere to the suggestions offered! After I began to read I found that Joyce actually alludes to this governing briefly.



When it comes to the area of becoming healthy, many times we set the stage and go after it on our own. If we need to exercise, we search for the types of exercise to achieve certain goals. We call up our willpower to kick into high gear! We do it ourselves. If it’s diet we need to change, we call upon our own willpower to change our poor eating habits into good ones. There are other habits we sometimes need to change and we determine through our own willpower that we will do it. There’s a problem here! Do you see it yet? What are we actually saying when we use the phrase “our willpower”? You might not like to hear this, but we are saying, “I will do it. I am in control!”



We often don’t realize that we have no power except that which God has given us. Nothing belongs to us. Could it be that the reason we fail so often comes from the fact that we take command when it is not ours to take? Christians, know this, the Kingdom of God is at hand! That means it’s a “right now” happening! It’s not something that is about to happen but it is happening! In this Kingdom, God is the authority. He was the authority, He is the authority and He is the authority yet to come. He is in all these states of being at one time. We don’t know how that can happen because we only understand and experience linear time. But God is in all places at once… past, present and future! What a wonderful mystery!  (We don't have to understand it, just believe it!)



Now, here’s where the blah, blah, blah comes in… We are not respecting the fact that God is the authority over our lives. If we want real change, we must commit ourselves to God’s authority.



How many times have we heard this but never really paid attention to it? In my last three blog-posts, following Joyce’s lead messages, I mentioned just how valuable we are to God. But do we get it yet?

• What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

• Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26

• So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

• Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” Genesis 1:27-30

We are created in His image, blessed and given everything just as Adam and Eve. Do we get it yet? We’re valuable to God! Blah, blah, blah…

• Jesus speaking to Nicodemus: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

• Jesus teaching: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10

We are so valuable that God gave His own Son to pay the price for us. We are so valuable that He continues to give us a rich and satisfying life. We’re important to God! Do we get it yet?   Is it still just blah, blah, blah…





Now, put the two thoughts together:

#1 God made us in His image and we are valuable to Him.
#2 God is the supreme authority and we need to respect and honor Him by asking for His help.



Joyce Meyer’s says the first key is God. In order to respect his authority, we must not leave God out of any area of our lives. Willpower does not factor into the equation with God since “willpower” is all about our selves being in control. Christians, we have been bought with a price. When we have given ourselves to the Lord Jesus, we are not to have a will of our own any longer but strive to always be in the will of God for He dwells within us.



We say, “Oh no, I can’t do this. It’s too hard!” We are right. We can’t do it, but God can! We don’t have any power in ourselves.  This is why we can accomplish something for a while, but then we turn back and make the same mistakes. How long do we have to stay on this lesson to get it? God is merciful and gives us chance after chance to master whatever test is before us. He has make-ups tests, too.  We will take the test again and again until we get it… so why do we continue to turn to anyone or anything except God? Why do we do that?

•  (Jesus speaking) Apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
•  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

We are not free to live the life God intended until we break away from the mental bondage that keeps telling us we are in control!

Recognize God’s authority, call out to Him and ask for help. He is concerned with everything about us and knows everything about us already. Yet, He won’t get involved unless we ask for it.




In her book, Joyce Meyer goes into more detail. But words on the pages are just words on the pages. These words will mean nothing if we don’t activate them with believing action. Put your faith into action.



I heard another little story this week, how an old man took a boy out in a boat. He was using two oars to travel down the river. Imprinted on one oar was the word “faith” and on the other was the word “works”. The young boy asked what those words meant, so the old man said, “Watch.” He put the oar that said “works” inside the boat and began to use only the oar called “faith”. Round and round he went, going nowhere. Then he said again, “Watch.” This time he placed the oar that said “faith” inside the boat and began to use only the ore called “works.” Again round and round he went, going nowhere. Finally he said, “Watch.”   This time he put the oars called “faith” and “works” into the water together. The boat immediately moved in a straightforward direction at which point the young boy was able to understand and said, “I see.”



Do we get it yet? 

I pray we come to realize that knowing God as our authority is not blah...  Let's keep making transforming decisions that He ordains, following guidelines that have already been presented through His Word!







This devotional was inspired by Joyce Meyer’s book, Look Great Feel Great.

Who Cares About Me Anyway?

Bravo, if you’re reading this. You’ve made a choice in search of ways to make your life a better one. Perhaps this will help motivate you and me on to victory over little things that we can manage. Think about the question, “Who cares about me anyway?”


Joyce Meyer’s speaks about reaching two different groups of people in her book, Look Great ~ Feel Great. I think that the characteristics of people from these two very different groups can show up as characteristics in one person during different stages of a life. Certainly most of us probably swing between these two extremes from time to time. Let's examine the groups and compare these to ourselves.



The first group of people are those who have simply given up on themselves. This attitude may not always show outwardly at first. People who have given up on themselves, consider themselves to be of little importance. They stop caring about others first and then they stop caring about themselves. They find no joy in anything and feel that it’s easier not to get involved than to expect anything. They come to this assumption because they do not want to be offended, feel emotional pain or experience disappointment ever again. They live their lives in defeat and depression. Sometimes outside circumstances may cause someone to feel this way, but often it’s something deep within a person rather than circumstances from the outside. When this attitude goes to the extreme, it shows up in the way someone takes care of them selves. Before these people even say a word, we notice that they have stopped taking care of themselves.



The other group of people, are just the opposite and are overachievers at life. They are always in a rush to get something accomplished. There is always a deadline and someone to please. They never learn to say no to anyone. Life is always about someone or something else. Investments are important and money is usually a driving force. The retirement fund has to be sufficient and so they keep working and never rest. They don’t like the slow down of vacation time and most often won’t even take one. They think of exercise and getting enough sleep as obstacles to getting ahead. Their lives are a roller coaster ride. We notice that these people don't take care of themselves either, they just have too much to do.

What is the reason that these two groups of poeple choose not to take care of themselves?  Joyce Meyer tells us they lack self-respect.



In many Christian circles, we often hear that our “flesh” is the biggest enemy that we have to defeat. If we are not careful, we will begin to get the idea that we are not important at all because we always associate "flesh" with "sin". That is far from God’s truth. Yes, "sin" is an enemy and our "flesh" is sometimes guilty, but the two words are not synonymous. Joyce makes the statement, “Looking nice is not a sin.” We really need to think about this... and perhaps readjust our understanding and attitude toward ourselves.



God doesn’t judge us based on our outward appearance. He looks deep within our hearts. So the first place we need to look is deep within us. We need to examine why we behave the way we do and base this examination on biblical truth. Have we bought the lie that we are not important? It is time to feed our spirit from the Word of God!  When we begin this journey of getting into God's Word, true revelation will come and we will begin to understand His great love toward us. We are not insignificant, He cares for everything about our existence.  When we begin to change the way we think of ourselves, then this will show up in our outer appearance.  The key to succes in this area is to begin by feeling great because God made us and He doesn't make junk!  If we begin to feel great emotionally and spiritually then this will show on the outside and we will look great!  (Notice I'm not talking about physically right now.  We need to start with our interior, the part that God sees!)


So who cares about me anyway? Well, my heavenly Father does and I should care about myself, too.

If you have any doubts about God’s love, here is a video graced with words from the Bible. Listen and believe it.  

(Please scroll down and turn off the playlist music before starting the video.)


Sound track of Father's Love Letter - Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2005  http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

These are the Bible scriptures noted in the video:

You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139.1)
I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139.2)
I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139.3)
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10.29-31)
For you were made in my image (Genesis 1.27)
In me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17.28)
For you are my offspring (Acts 17.28)
I knew you even before you were conceived Jeremiah (1.4-5)
I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1.11-12)
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm 139.15-16)
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17.26)
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139.14)
I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139.13)
And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71.6)
I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me (John 8.41-44)
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 John 4.16)
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 John 3.1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father (1 John 3.1)
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7.11)
For I am the perfect father (Matthew 5.48)
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (James 1.17)
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6.31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29.11)
Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31.3)
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore… (Psalms 139.17-18)
And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3.17)
I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32.40)
For you are my treasured possession (Exodus 19.5)
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul Jeremiah (32.41)
And I want to show you great and marvellous things (Jeremiah 33.3)
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4.29)
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37.4)
For it is I who gave you those desires (Philippians 2.13)
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3.20)
For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17)
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1.3-4)
When you are broken-hearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34.18)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart (Isaiah 40.11)
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21.3-4)
And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth (Revelation 21.3-4)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (John 17.23)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (John 17.26)
He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1.3)
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8.31)
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 John 4.10)
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8.31-32)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 John 2.23)
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8.38-39)
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15.7)
I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3.14-15)
My question is “Will you be my child?” (John 1.12-13)
I am waiting for you (Luke 15.11-32)

Now, who cares about us anyway?


Today’s blog was inspired by Joyce Meyer’s ~ Look Great, Feel Great.

http://www.joycemeyer.org/ Joyce Meyer Ministries

Our Grace Gardens ~ His Grace Garden!

[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. Psalms 92:14, Amplified Bible.



It’s so dry and brown out here now in Virginia. The grass is withered and nothing seems to be growing but weeds. Yet when I take the time to look about, there are some who have lush little gardens of fragrant flowers in their yards. There are some who have vegetables growing that are near ready for harvesting. I’ve even seen some patio gardens with ripening tomatoes just ready to pull off and enjoy.



How did they get that way? Duh! They were tended with loving care because someone had faith enough in the tiny seed, or root or plant that these would mature and bear fruit. Would faith alone mature the plant? No! There had to be digging, watering and weeding. But the weeds had to be pulled away when they were tiny enough not to rob the precious seedling of its nutrients. Perhaps the gardener had to apply fertilizer and coat the leaves with some sort of repellent to keep hungry bugs from devouring his precious plant. But eventually one becomes many.



We have been given one body. There will be no fruit if it is not tended carefully. The body’s fruit is to function. We see the outward parts and realize that each one is important to our senses. There are people who have had to deal without sight and/or hearing, but we seldom think of those who have to deal without knowing touch, taste and even smell. Does that sound strange? Well, some diseases such as diabetes or accidents can rob us of our sense of touch. Poor choices can rob us. I know first hand that smoking can deaden your taste buds and your sense of smell.  (Praise God I’ve been delivered of the smoking habit!)  I’ve also heard that chewing and/or snorting can rob your sense of taste and smell, too.  I’m sure there are other things that can cause our senses to become dead. Medical sources are full of information regarding sickness, disease, acidents, etc. The question we must ask ourselves is this: if we have the knowledge to prevent our body from dying early, then why don’t we use it to make the necessary changes to better our present physical lives?



Well, I’ve lived long enough to be able to answer that from my own experience. When I was younger my body would occasionally grunt and groan when I forced it to work without proper nutrition, sleep and/or exercise but it didn’t shut down. So I was able to function and continued abusing it little by little. Now, what I sometimes call old age is nothing more than the previous neglect of what I should have been doing all along. Age doesn’t have as much to do with it as neglect of positive healthy habits that I should have been abiding by, which have caused some partial shut down of my working systems. Oh my! What a revelation God made to me… but I found His promise and when I read it, I knew it was for me. ~  "I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17, New Living Translation.



Joyce Meyer testified that during a period in her life, she worked so hard and took on so much that her body was shutting down. She was constantly sick. I am so glad that she spoke the truth in her book and shared how God turned her around and gave her the tools to make changes.



It seems to me that the first thing He restored to her, was a godly mind! She had to accept that she needed to change no matter how much ministering she did for others! God allowed her to see that she needed to get rid of “stinking thinking” (as she calls it). He showed her what to study with regard to repairing her worn out body. Lastly, with this knowledge and wisdom, He gave her the strength to carry out her duty to repair her temple so that she could bring more glory to Him. Hallelujah!



If her story doesn’t motivate us to positive habit changes, maybe we’re almost dead already! I believe no matter where you are at this moment in time, and you are reading this, God has granted you the breath you are taking so that you might have hope!  No matter what your health is at this time, you and I have been given another chance with each breath we take to make it better.



In the same way that we are given one body, God in His grace has given us one Spirit and that by His Son, Jesus, who paid the ultimate price.  Perhaps you think, as I have sometimes, that when your temple (your body) is ready then you can devote more time to working on the Spirit within you.  Whoa! The Spirit is supposed to work on you.  You are not supposed to work on the Spirit!

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work on us through times of worship, study and prayer. You may have said, as I have before, that when you are better able then you will rededicate your life to His service.  When you have cleaned up your messes and your temple has been repaired completely, then you will devote your time to Him.  Wait a minute!  We don’t have to wait to worship and thank Him!  He delivers us from temptation and we are often unaware of it. Aren't there things in your life that you felt you had to have in times past in order to live, but now they are not important?   Think about it…  He has already brought some deliverance!  He knows how difficult temptation is because He was tempted.  Let’s remember to praise Him for what He’s already brought us through and for what we know we are going to get through!  Amen!



Think on this… when your family or friends send you an email, you can’t hear what they are saying without opening it. In the same way, you can’t hear what God is saying without opening your Bible. The message He will reveal is for you!  God doesn’t send chain mail.  He doesn't want you to get a little word on Sunday.  That won't keep you through the week.  So open His word and hear Him speak to you daily!  After  you listen to Him, then don’t forget to talk to Him, too.  He actually bends down to hear us.   We are His children and He wants to hear from us. We can talk to Him about anything.   ~ Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!   Psalm 116:2 *New Living Translation.





As we tend our natural body and our Spirit in the manner that God prescribes, then we are tending His Grace Garden. The fruit that will be produced will be abundant.




Today’s blog was inspired by Joyce Meyer’s ~ Look Great, Feel Great.

http://www.joycemeyer.org/ Joyce Meyer Ministries



http://www.facebook.com/joycemeyerministries Joyce Meyer Ministries on Facebook


http://www.sparkpeople.com/ Spark People



http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp My Spark Page

You are Valuable!

You are valuable! You ARE the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. God has given this house to you. You are not your own and neither am I. We have been purchased at a high cost, the blood of Jesus! We must give honor to God with our bodies. (my paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 6:19)



Joyce Meyer has given her life in testimony and as encouragement to help all of us attain what God desires for us. As she reminds us, we can’t do this if we do not keep our bodies working properly. We need to make wise choices so that we don’t become sick and unable to serve our Father who loves us so. But where do we begin?



Well, I’ve been on and off like a light switch, as I’m sure many of you have. It’s easy not to think about our health when our bodies are young and working.  But as we make poor choices in diet, exercise, work and rest our bodies have a way of reminding us that we have been neglectful of this home our spirit lives in. When our bodies begin to become a distraction, we cannot recognize God’s presence as readily and we cannot experience the joy He has for us to the degree He wants us to know it!  Peace does not reign in our bodies when we have to get up in the night because of pain and stiffness. Normal functions begin to dwindle and then we must push ever so hard even to tie our shoes and put on our clothes. We don’t want to look into the mirror to see what we have become. Our bodies become a disappointment and then our emotions wave in great storms over us and we are mentally and physically exhausted. Our temple needs repair.



We let ourselves go and we blame it on age. But was it age that ate all those calories? Was it age that sat on our bum and didn’t move about. Even my pretty cat, Mindy still stretches and runs and she’s considered a senior now. She’s not overweight or underweight, but she’s just right. At one point, her fur looked shabby and her eyes were dull. She was beginning to lose weight. We adjusted her food on a senior diet and now she’s gained back her weight and looks like the Mindycat we used to know. She now has some difficulty grooming and sleeps more than she used to.  That's about age according to the vet.  But Mindy can still pounce about like a kitten at times.



In early July, I decided that major changes had to be made for myself and my husband.  These were only some of the questions I asked myself... (maybe you have the same answers).   Have I been sickly? Oh, yeah!  Is my blood gluclose out of control?  Yes.   Have my arms ached when I raise them to do my hair or to praise in worship?  Yes.  Is it difficult to step into the tub or tie my shoes?  Yes.. Is blood pooling in my legs?  Yes.  Can I stretch and run or even feel like playing as a child these days?   Hmmmmm. Something to think about, isn’t it? (If you’re young reading this ~ Be warned! If you’re older~ get up and do something about it!)




Joyce gives her testimony and gives us some basic pointers in her introduction. One of the first things we need to do is get the American media out of our mind! God’s idea of beauty has nothing to do with the world. We are to get up and move our body if we want our bodies to do what they’re meant to do. We must find time for the important things in life, like quiet times with God. We must remember that it’s good to do for others but we must remember to tend to our basic needs as well because we need balance. It’s not all about others. It’s about balance. If we don’t have balance something will break! We need others to help us to be accountable so that we don’t form or keep bad habits. Above all else, we must remember that God values us. We are His daughter or His son. We have a place in His Kingdom that only we can fill.



Let’s do it. Pick something to work on personally and strive to meet that goal. Once you meet it, then readjust and pick something else that needs your attention. One step at a time will get us there. Thank God, He is patient and picks us up when we fall and fail. There is no other who loves us so much. It’s time to make repairs and call on the expert to help us, Our Lord and Savior.



In Psalms 30, David is dedicating the temple. It’s worth reading the entire Psalm but this part stands out in my devotion today:



O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Psalm 30: 2-3


Oh, I'm happy to say that I've begun my journey and my BG is now within my doctor's recommendation. I've lost a little weight and a few inches here and there. I have a ways to go but I'm getting there one step at a time. My wilderness is vast and I don't know how long it will take to get to the promised destination, but I will get there...


This post is based on my understanding for the introduction of Joyce Meyer's book, Look Great Feel Great.  I encourage you to take baby steps and seek out ways to better your health.  May our God of all understanding and wisdom touch us mentally, emotionally and physically that we might be vessels to bring honor to Him always. Amen


Here's a site that might be of help in your journey to better health, Sparkpeople.  It will speak for itself when you visit.  I'm making use of the trackers and support availabe and they are all free at  http://sparkpeople.com/  
My SparkBlog  http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp
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