| WELCOME TO GRACE TODAY DIETERS! You are currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you can only view a few of our forums. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use the many member-only features such as post, reply, upload, view, customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast and completely free. Simply click on the 'Register' option in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and input your information as prompted. You must use a valid, traceable e-mail account. Your registration will be validated by the board Administrator, editor and you will receive a welcome e-mail message. You will then be free to login and enjoy the blessings of our Grace Today Dieters family. NOTE: If you have an e-mail service that blocks spam, our welcome e-mail may be automatically sent to your "spam" folder or immediately deleted. Please check the settings on your spam blocker in your e-mail system. If you do not receive a welcome e-mail from Grace Today Dieters within a few days, please come back and try logging in with the user name and password selected. Thank you. Please, no spammers or those joining to promote their own web sites, ministries or other charitable endeavors. Thank you. |
| Faithfully Fit | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 4 2005, 03:58 AM (37 Views) | |
| ed-gracetoday | Apr 4 2005, 03:58 AM Post #1 |
Elder
|
From "Faithfully Fit," by Claire Cloninger & Laura Barr Keeping On Keeping On Winston Churchill was once asked to deliver the commencement address at a school where he had been a student long years before. The graduates and their families waited in great anticipation for the wise words of this elder statesman. Churchill stood, walked to the podium, looked out over his audience for a long moment, and began to speak. "To you who are going out into the world today, I have three important things to say." The crowd leaned forward in their seats. "Never give up!" he said. "Never give up! NEVER give up!" Winston Churchill sat down. This oft-repeated anecdote is very applicable to us as we strive to change our eating habits. Perseverance is a must as we allow the Lord to remold the attitudes and behaviors of a lifetime. In our struggle to conquer overeating, we must keep on keeping on. I remember my favorite eighth-grade teacher's saying that often a person's success is determined by his or her tenacity. Many times the outstanding achiever is merely the person who did not quit on her dreams. There are so many things to dissuade us on the way. We must decide early on the journey that we will not be turned back. Our sons Curt and Andy both ran track in high school. Their championship coach, Jim Tate, believes that track is an excellent character builder, and Curt concurs with this assessment. He says that in his college career to date, it has been track more than any other discipline which has taught him to dig in and keep going. In the New Testament, Paul often speaks of life as a race. He likens our need to "hang in there" to the discipline of a runner who never turns back. He speaks often of the finish line. ("I forget all that lies behind me and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal----my reward the honour of my high calling by God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14, Phillips). We need this kind of determination as we pursue the goal of living obediently before God in the area of eating and exercise. There is no mystery to where we'll be if we give up now----right back where we started. We already know how that felt, and it wasn't good. That's why we started this journey in the first place. Perhaps you were gung ho in the beginning of your commitment, but lately you've felt your enthusiasm wane. If so, this is an excellent time to take steps to get "recharged"! The assignment for today offers some practical suggestions. Prayer; Father, I thank you that you never quit on us. You never swerve from your purposes, and you never change from age to age. I confess to you that I am in need of a touch from you. My strength runs out, and my determination sags at times. But you have boundless energy and power. I thank you that the very same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me because I believe in you. Help me to live out of that power. Keep me strong and on course. Revitalize my commitment. In Jesus' name, Amen. Scripture: "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance [patience] the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV. Affirmation: I will keep my eyes on Jesus as I move toward my goal. Suggestions: Rewards are a tremendous motivator. Many rewards and benefits will be yours as a result of changed eating behavior. Make a list of these rewards and benefits. Examples: feeling better physically, improved appearance, increased self-esteem, and so on. Make your list very personal by including your own details. In addition to these intrinsic rewards, you may wish to schedule an external "treat" for yourself at the end of each week as a reward for perseverance. (No food rewards, please!) Suggestions; a new scarf or earrings, a visit with someone you love, a trip to a library or to a museum, or a long-distance call. If you're using the buddy system, call your buddy and share how you're feeling. Confide your need for support and prayer as you persevere toward your goals. If you don't have a buddy, make a point of talking to someone about how you feel. Don't try to be a Robinson Crusoe Christian or a Lone Ranger Reformer. We all need each other. Get on your knees. Be real with God so he can be real to you. Tell him you need a fresh touch of enthusiasm. The word ENTHUSIASM comes from the Greek words "en theos", which literally mean "in God." Apart from him, our spirits fail us. But his Spirit never fails. In him, our engines get revved! |
![]() |
|
| angelic | Apr 4 2005, 05:48 AM Post #2 |
Trustee
|
[ Get on your knees. Be real with God so he can be real to you. Tell him you need a fresh touch of enthusiasm. The word ENTHUSIASM comes from the Greek words "en theos", which literally mean "in God." Apart from him, our spirits fail us. But his Spirit never fails. In him, our engines get revved! ] This is, I think, the key. I remember a time when I couldn't get on my knees -- literally. My grandma finally said something, that has stuck with me.... she said, 'In my old age, my knees hurt when I am on them longer than2 min. , but my heart can be on its knees, even if my body is sitting on a chair or a bed. ' Then she added, 'afterall, God looks on the inside and that's where my heart is, better for that to be on its knees, than my outside to be on its knees while my heart is standing in rebellion.' ... :rah: .... :rah: ..... :rah: ..... :rah: ..... :rah: ..... :rah: ..... :rah: [The word ENTHUSIASM comes from the Greek words "en theos", which literally mean "in God." ] ..... I didn't know that.....But I like knowing it....I am going to share that with my co=worker...we're down to the last 8 weeks so we still need to keep looking up..... |
![]() |
|
| ed-gracetoday | Apr 4 2005, 05:51 AM Post #3 |
Elder
|
Excellent! |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Daily Devotions And Inspiration · Next Topic » |





8:25 PM Jul 10