Detox Challenge Day #2

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. – Psalms 119:9

Day 1 Reflection

I considered yesterday a success. Why do I say so? I found myself satisfied and sustained, not looking for food to fill or kill a craving, In some cases, I had enough leftovers to plan out the next day’s meal options. I will take it as a win, including the time that I was able to work in walking and working out during my mini ten-minute breaks.

Today’s Focus

Focus on Faith

I am careful to put my focus on necessities right now. One of those necessities is to be washed in the Word, cleansed the sense where I am feeling regenerated and renewed. I reflect back to when I read The Unusual Suspect by Stephen Baldwin. That gave me some real, in-your-face rugged and radical Christianity. I could hardly put that book down. Today, I cling to God’s Word with that same desire and determination that once caused me to read the New Testament epistles daily.

Focus on Fuel

Yesterday, I consumed a bulk of legumes and nuts. I technically filled up on them early enough to not have to worry about any other snacks. Today, I am determined to add more fruit to breakfast and lunch. Dinner might include some additional leafy greens like kale and arugula mixed as a salad base.

Focus on Fitness

I liked squeezing in 10-minute breaks yesterday. It kept me on my toes. Today, my main adjustment is to start and end my work-from-home day with breaks as my bookends. One will open up my workday, while the other will act as the closure for it. I will add a bit of stretching and some yoga positions for breathing and digestion. The beauty of such a schedule is that I have total creative control over it.

A good example is the best sermon.

Benjamin franklin

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Giving Thanks by Giving Back Day #2

DAILY THEME: Thank God for His blessings

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever
– Psalm 118:1

Take a moment today and give thanks to God for His enduring mercy and His everlasting goodness. Say it in a prayer. Read the psalm out loud. Say it out loud when you thank Him. Say it with your full heart.

Giving Thanks

Meditate on the many ways God has blessed you. Read Psalm 103:2. It simply says: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Giving Back

Be a blessing to someone else today. Go out of your way to bless somebody at their point of need. Whether it be someone in need of a listening ear or a hand with getting groceries into the house, be that blessing for someone else today. It may call for you to go above and beyond, even out of your way, but it might make a difference and make an impact.

Go Beyond the Norm

Make today the day where you make a move to make a difference in someone else’s day. Make it happen and make it better for that other person. Go so far as to post thankful sticky notes throughout your office or share a simple message on someone’s social media feed and timeline.

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Running like Crazy

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

Isaiah 40:31

Photo by Frank Cone from Pexels

This is Just Part of the Journey

Most of us have read it. We have most probably seen it on a inspirational poster or flyer, even a bookmark. Some have heard it preached before. Still others have gone so far as to study it and made attempts to either dialogue, debate or diatribe its contents and context as well as symbolism and metaphorical mysteries.

Isaiah 40:31 says they will run and not grow weary

It seems as though I am back to where I was a year ago. Memorial Day is here and as we reopen across the nation runners are being enticed to run and run again throughout this month.

#RWRunStreak

As of Memorial Day weekend, if you handle 1 mile per day, then you are bound to keep pace with the Runner’s World summer run streak which ends July 4th.  The streak is simple: run (or walk) at least 1 mile per day and post on social media with the hashtag #RWRunStreak. The runner community will embrace and encircle you with tons of likes and follows as well as some encouraging comments here and there to keep you going strong during your streak.

#RunForGoodRelay

Saucony has a special promotion called Run For Good Relay which allows you to transfer those miles that you run (or walk) into charitable contributions. All that you need to do after completing your mile is snap a selfie and post it via Instagram, tagging 3 friends and including both #RunForGoodRelay and @Saucony.

https://www.saucony.com/en/runforgoodrelay/

Isaiah 40:31 says they will run and not grow weary.

Paul said that we, as believers, run differently. The world runs and competes for a prize only one could receive, but we run differently because we run for a crown. All of us can obtain that. Thus, Paul says encouragingly: So run that you may obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Faith Impact Training (F.I.T.) Ministry Minute No. 4 Run the Race of Faith

Isaiah 40:31 says they will run and not grow weary.

So how does that compare to other places where we are instructed to wait on the Lord? Why wait and then run and walk like here in Isaiah, but the Psalms are spewing with wait patiently on the Lord and repeated advice to wait on the Lord?  Even at one point, we are instructed to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). What gives?

One notion is that our walk with God is no cookie cutter lifestyle. That’s not how the journey works for us. We all have a different encounter with God and we all have a different experience with God. John the Baptist experienced something similar to to what Philip experienced within Samaria and while with the Ethiopian eunuch. Yet, both men had entirely different experiences and encounters. It is personal.

Yeah, I get it. But. . .

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

In both cases, someone is waiting on the Lord with Isaiah and Psalms. In both cases, someone is expecting an encounter with God to enhance or enrich, even enliven, their experience with God.

Are you too eager for God to come along? Be still and know. . .

Are you losing your patience waiting on Him? Wait on the Lord and again I say wait. . .

Are feeling like you will never recover from this and get back on your feet? But those who wait on the Lord. . .

He gives each of us exactly what we need. He does it right when we need it and just how we needed it to come. He might send another message along with it, but you’ll get what you need out of it.

Isaiah 40:31 says they will run and not grow weary.

I believe it and I am going to keep on running with my renewed strength in the Lord.

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Expressions on His Enduring love

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

– Psalm 118:1 (NKJV)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

– Psalm 118:1 (NLT)

I look at these passages and see little difference.  By translation, the New King James Version (NKJV) utilizes mercy and the New Living Translation (NLT) uses love.  Neither is synonymous with the other according to our English dictionary and thesaurus.  However, Our interpretation of the Scriptures must look beyond the surface for our true inspiration and insight.

Mercy (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).

Love (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with “Simon, the son of Jonas,” after his resurrection (John 21:16, 17). When our Lord says, “Lovest thou me?” he uses the Greek word _agapas_; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word _philo_, i.e., “I love.” This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the third our Lord uses Simon’s word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, “_Agapan_ has more of judgment and deliberate choice; _philein_ has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus the ‘Lovest thou’ (Gr. agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the passionate yearning of his heart he desired now to do. Therefore he puts by the word and substitutes his own stronger ‘I love’ (Gr. philo) in its room. A second time he does the same. And now he has conquered; for when the Lord demands a third time whether he loves him, he does it in the word which alone will satisfy Peter (‘Lovest thou,’ Gr. phileis), which alone claims from him that personal attachment and affection with which indeed he knows that his heart is full.”

Mercy is for our misery, it says.  Love is an expression of our relationship more so than a feeling or emotion.  Action springs from love, i.e. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. . .For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17, NIV).  The love sparks an action on God’s part for the benefit of those in misery (that would be us- “the world.”)

Can I justify substituting mercy for love, or vice versa?

I probably couldn’t muster enough searching of the Scriptures and the mysteries of God revealed within them to satisfy the hunger and thirst that many brothers and sisters would have for the answer to this.  After all, it is not my answer.  Ultimately, it is God’s answer.

Yet, let who He is satisfy your quest for such knowledge.  Look at His names.  

Jehovah Jireh means that He is our Provider.

Jehovah Shalom means that He is our Peace.

Jehovah Elohim means that He is the Creator, the Trinity or the Three-in-One plural name of  God revealed to us in Genesis.

He is full of love, mercy, peace, creation and all that we need Him to be to us.

Just based upon who He is to us, He can provide both mercy and love that endure forever.

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Let God Hear

I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. – Psalm 119:147

In the morning and in the evening are times when God should hear from us. It isn’t reserved just for in times of trouble.

However, many people just wait until it is troubling. They wait until then to call on God. They wait until a deadline is fast approaching. They wait until they are backed up against a wall.

Let God hear from you daily. Come before His throne and lay out your heart to Him. He’ll hear you.

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There is a God

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” . . . – Psalm 14:1 (NIV)

From what the Bible says, an atheist is considered a fool.

(Psalm 53:1 says the same thing as Psalm 14:1)

To avoid falling into foolishness, consider the evidence of God’s creative existence.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained – Psalm 8:3 (NASB)

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. – John 1:3 (NIV)

… When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. – Genesis 5:1 (NIV)

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world  and those who dwell therein, – Psalm 24:1 (ESV)

As we go further in our personal Bible study and devotional time, pray and meditate on God’s presence  and seek His confirmation of His own existence in your life as Lord and Master.

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Your Response as You Reflect

If It Had,Not, Been For The Lord, On My Side / Where Would I Be?, Where Would I Be? /

The classic gospel song that is derived from the Scriptures in Psalm 124.  It stems from a personal reflection amid the call for a collection reflection.  Each heart and every soul is to ponder and think deeply about the ways that the Lord has done miraculous things in their own lives as well as those both near and dear to them.  They would collectively look back upon how God had enhanced and enriched the lives of men and women throughout the ages.  In particular, the collective reflection would collide and combine with the personal reflection, bringing about a response from among people.

Think about what your response would be amid such a song of ascents.

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Let Your Problems Prove Profitable

Church folks are constantly sharing some unconventional wisdom that comes in the form of an idiom or something similar.  They will say things about “good problems” and what is or is not in the will of God.  To be honest, we should see god at work with both the good and bad in our lives.

Problems can be profitable when we are faithful of:

• The Presence of God in Our Situation
• The Power of God over Our Situation
• The Purpose of God within Our Situation

For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” – Psalm 38:16 NIV

 

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What is Man

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^c

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

8the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

– Psalm 8:4-7

This psalm causes us to wonder what is man.  We contemplate the very existence of mankind amid all of the wonders of God’s creation.  Then, after all of that, God still allows man to maintain a station of prominence on this earth.  Look at the entire psalm and look into what is man.

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Make Some Noise

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. – Psalm 95:1 (KJV)

The Bible repetively speaks of making a joyful noise in Psalms.  It refers to this “joyful noise” in a sense of reverent praise for the Lord.  It echoes over and over again how we, who believe and trust in the Lord, to make some noise about the Lord.

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. – Psalm 34:2 (NIV)

Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV)

Make a joyful noise as it says in Psalms 66:1, 98:4, and 100:1.  Make a joyful noise and let it be heard.  Let others know that your boast is in the Lord, not anything that you have done for yourself.  Go on and make some noise.

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. – Psalm 119:74 (NIV)

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