God Wants to BLESS me??!!?!

Well here it is Saturday August 14, 2010, Wow how did that happen, just the other
day the kids were getting out of school for summer, and now here we go again they are
getting ready for a new year. The workout and diet continue, today at men's group
it became the discussion, a new friend of mine from work emailed me a bunch of
stuff on something called the Hallalujiah Diet. Basically it says God created everything
and man has messed it all up. To be healthy and whole you have to go back to God's original
plan: Fruits, Veggies, Nuts, Fish, etc. Anyways in our group there is a mixture of people
struggling with weight and health concerns and fit/healthy types. The group is open to including exercise and accountability with nutrition. I actually weighed myself today @ men's group along
with another guy. I was very much encouraged by my friends concern and willingness to enter
into the journey with me. So my plan is to take one week off work in September and implement a new eating plan. I am going to prep myself for it over the next couple weeks. Will keep you posted. Anyways the truth or light that keeps repeatedly coming to me in all kinds of different messages lately is : God the Creator of the Universe wants to BLESS me. He demonstrated that by sending Jesus into his creation and while we were still enemies and rebellious he took on our sin and died for us and made peace available to us so that we might have LIFE/SALVATION/FULLNESS/WHOLENESS: I am gonna say it, it is not God's desire in any way shape or form to see me suffer with this weight, in this body, dragged down by any disease. I am hereby repenting and renouncing my weak, compartmentalized, mental, intellectual, conceptual faith and trading it in for A REAL FAITH THAT WORKS AND OPERATES IN THE NASTY NOW AND NOW, I am asking God to grow my faith to get to a place where I know deep inside that HE is for me not against me and that I am complete, whole and healed in Jesus. I am learning to rebuke lies and speak and live in TRUTH. I am sick and tired of shaming the blessings of God, I want to actually experience and live and see Him @ work in me and through me so others might see Him. So get away from me you sarcastic, lying, doubting, dark spirits I am embracing the One who is Life, whose spirit is ALIVE in me therefore I am Alive in HIM. As DC TALK says: Seperated I cut myself clean from a past that comes back in the darkest of dreams-Now branded by a spirtual force, someting, something, something oh yeah... Anyways I am consciously starting to evaluate my thoughts, what I watch and read and think on. As I think on Truth, Read Truth, Worship Truth, Speak Truth I find lies harder to live with. I wanna speak truth, hope, faith, love into myself and others no more doubt, foolishness and sarcasm that has yielded nothing but darkness. Jesus suffered, died, and raised from the dead for me to be healed, empowered and filled with Him to experience Life not misery and poor me and lack. Hope this encouraged someone today, will be back sooner rather than later.

JC OUT

The daily grind

Well, well, well, the real work of lifestyle change continues. Have not blogged in several days. Need to get back to daily journal of food and exercise. Must confess I have missed a day or two of walking. I am also considering on going extreme with veggies and fruits and cutting way back on meats, cheese, dairy products. A friend gave me some info about something called the Hallelujah Diet she is doing. I need to do something more intentional in this area. W/O cutting back I will never get this weight off. Walked with my wife last night. We also visited a church Sunday night and both were encouraged to begin aggressively believing and listening to God daily. We both want changes in our family, health and finances. The pastor preached a good message on quit shaming the blessings of God, I can't give out what I don't have whether that is Love, Forgiveness, Encouragement, Finances, etc. good stuff. Will update you guys more tomorrow.

Jim

Outta the Dark into the Light

Oh I turned a major corner yesterday eight days into the journey. I had a major breakthrough
with my exercise routine and had much more energy to pick up the pace and go the distance.
I have not felt that good in a long time. I guess its partially due to diet and increased energy.
It felt so good to be able to increase my speed without fear. I am looking forward to tonight's workout. Look out Lake Hollingsworth you are next. I am up to 35-40 minutes, next week Lake Hollingsworth.

The other day I happened across a FB mutual acquaintance who is checking out universalism.
The person quoted an author I used to read many, many moons ago. This author was a hero
in the 60's and 70's as a journalist for Rolling Stone and writer following political campaigns. To paraphrase the quote: I make a brute/beast of myself to kill the pain of being a man. In otherwords I do all things in excess: drinking, drugging, etc. And am proud of it. This individual went on to commit suicide and leave behind family and friends. The ultimate in selfish self destruction. I thought how many different masks the enemy wears to rob, kill and destroy and am thankful that I have been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and now am I resident in the kingdom of Light. That as a stranger in this world, nothing in this world can remotely come close to satisfying me. I am pressing in and getting in touch with the rhythm of heaven,
having fallen short of the Glory, but now being beckoned by the Glory to come and behold and as I behold I am transformed.

JC

WEEKEND WARRIOR

Now that I am on a four day work week, I get a long three day weekend. I have Monday's off. Time to choose Life and the Narrow Way or the Broad Way that leads to you know...
So this weekend has gone ok, I did not eat to bad Saturday I managed to make it through breakfast at mens group in moderation, but not so hot the rest of the day, a little too much snacking. Today was the exact oppoiste, my wife worked late and she and the kids slept in, I got up and spent some time in the Word. Meditating on Romans 8 life in the spirit. And read through some psalms. Got my friends car back and walked home about a mile or so at noon, musta been close to 100 degrees. Later I worked in the yard and went for a second walk when the sun went down. Got to talk to my friend Dan who is planting a church in Rochester NY. He listened and provided some good counsel. Thanks Dan!! I needed to hear that. I am going forward in this and on. As John Wimber said the way in is the way on. Meaning as I entered into Christ by believing I must continue to believe. I am limitted, God is unlimitted, I have continual need. I came to Christ needing forgiveness, and I will continue to need forgiveness. The way in is the way on. Ya know what I mean??/