God's Love, Mercy and Grace...

Grace is defined as: "freely given, unmerited favor and love of God". God shows His mercy by forgiving us of our sins but it is by His grace that this is accomplished. God who is perfect paid the ultimate sacrifice (Christ's death) making a way (the only way) for us to have eternal life with Him. He did this freely, with His unmerited (we do not deserve it) favor showing His love for us. His love for us is unconditional. We can do nothing that can make us deserving of His love, mercy and grace. He loves us in spite of the mess we have made of our lives. Let's look at love, mercy and grace a little further.

1. Love: God loved/loves us so much He was willing to die for us. He proved His love through His painful, slow torture and eventual death taking our place on the cross. We crucify Christ over and over by our rebellion and rejection of this great love.

2. Mercy: God shows his mercy by being willing to forgive us (when we ask) regardless of what we have done. Not only does He forgive us, He also forgets the transgression (sin) and throws it into the sea to never be remembered again. If we ask God to forgive us in the morning and then ask Him (again) to forgive us in the evening... for the same sin... He says: forgive what sin? God took care of it (the sin) the first time we asked.

3. Grace: this is something we do not deserve and can not earn. It's freely given when we ask for it. God's grace may protect us from the outcome (or result) of our sin or wrongdoing. Also, God can heal the guilt feelings we have because of our sin and then speak to the heart of those we've sinned against giving them the strength to forgive us (when we ask). If your sin remains hidden from the world, it is because of God's grace. Sin can and often does destroy lives. God's grace prevents this from happening. Grace is a gift from God to us but we must ask for it. If we do ask He will give it freely. NOTE: This is just one example of God's grace. Also, it is important to understand that not all sin goes unnoticed by the world around us. If you sin against society you will have to answer for your sin. But, even if you are convicted of a crime, God's grace will still be there. The most important thing about grace is in it's relationship to eternity; total forgiveness of your sin by God almighty! If God forgives and then forgets the sin, nothing else really matters!

Take a moment and thank the Lord for His wonderful love, mercy and grace.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4,5

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Losing weight, gaining frustration...

I have been trying to lose some weight for a few months now. After changing my eating habits I lost 23 lbs. Great right? No... I plateaued at 23 lbs and then quickly gained 10 lb back (grrrrrr). Now I've lost 5 of those 10 lbs. and the remaining 5 has been a struggle to lose again. My problem is, I hate to exercise! So I've tried to pick up my activity around the house to help burn some of those hated calories. I eat cereal 2 meals a day and a regular meal either lunch or dinner. Starving myself helps me to lose weight but it's no fun because I LOVE food.

Oh well, you can see I'm frustrated. Below are the 10 rules of weight loss from Military.com (I am going to try this). If you have any ideas for me, I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment below... Thanks!

The 10 Rules of Weight Loss

by Runner's World

Nancy Clark

Nutritionist Nancy Clark shares 10 tips all runners should know if they want to drop some pounds.

1. To lose 10 pounds of body fat a year, you need to eat 100 calories less per day. Cutting too many calories from your daily intake will sap your energy level and increase your hunger, making you more susceptible to splurging on high-calorie foods.

2. Don't skip breakfast. Eat within two hours of waking.

3. In fact, eat more breakfast than you think you should. Trade in some of your dinner calories for more calories at breakfast.

4. Don't allow yourself to get hungry. Eat at least every four hours, and split a meal in half to make sure you properly fuel up pre- and postrun. For example, eat part of your breakfast before your morning run (a banana) and the rest of your breakfast afterward (a bagel with peanut butter).

5. Eat at least three kinds of food each meal from these four categories: breads, cereals, and grains; fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy and soy; and lean meats, fish, and nuts. Breads, cereals, and grains should be the foundation of each meal, with protein as an accompaniment.

6. Shoot for a gradual loss of body fat. You're more likely to put the weight back on (and more) if you drop weight too quickly.

7. Liquid calories add up fast and can lead to weight gain. Minimize the amount of sodas, juices, store-bought smoothies, sports drinks, coffee drinks, and alcohol you consume.

8. Eat closer to the earth, enjoying fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Minimize the amount of processed foods you eat; they tend to offer less fiber and are less satiating.

9. If you can't resist fast food, ask for nutritional information before you make your choices (or check in advance via restaurant Web sites). Avoid any menu items with the words "fried," "crispy," and "special sauce," which are guaranteed to be high calorie.

10. Remember that the calories in the energy bars, sports drinks, and gels you consume during a run add up, even though you're running. Consume them only as needed.

Don't blame Eve...

If Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit we would live in perfect harmony and in a perfect place... right? I don't think so! If eve had not given into temptation I believe that eventually Adam or one of her children or grandchildren would have. Why do we think that Eve failed so bad when we fail (sin) everyday? Why are we so quick to judge others when we ourselves are just as guilty? Our "forbidden fruit" may taste different or it may be a different color but you know what? It's still forbidden!

But what about Adam? If he had stayed single and not acted so lonely, maybe God would have NOT created that greedy fruit loving gal named Eve. Well, I think Mr. Adam would have sinned all by himself. It was just a matter of time. Satan would have tempted him another way. Besides he gave into Eve's request to eat the fruit way too easy. Don't blame Eve, Fred or Steve; obey God and be accountable for your own mistakes, failures and sins.

Now... if you see someone else make a mistake, avoid falling into the hole they have dug. Pray for them and use this example of their failure as an opportunity to change negative areas in your own life. Always be honest with yourself and admit you are a sinner. Christ will forgive you and will help you fight any temptation.

The Bible says: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Fear...

What if you could do anything you wanted to do? I have often thought about his. It's not just the money that keeps me from doing certain things, it is often the fear... the fear of failing or the fear of a negative outcome. Fear prevents many good and bad things from happening. We may choose not to do something because we are afraid and then later find out that our hesitation has saved our life. Fear of reprisal can sometimes keep us from making bad decisions. So fear is not always a bad thing as it is often a compass that governs or directs our actions.

Now, what if God has told you to do something? You must trust him and then move forward. He will replace the fear with his peace.