Have you ever had a moment in your life that needed a
"change", and you needed something to 'mark' it with? How about a
Baptism?
What is Baptism?
bap·tism
/ˈbapˌtizəm/
noun
1.(in the Christian Church) the religious rite of sprinkling water
onto a person's forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or
regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. In many denominations,
baptism is performed on young children and is accompanied by name-giving.
synonyms:
christening, naming
"the baptism ceremony"
oa ceremony or occasion at
which baptism takes place.
plural noun: baptisms
oa person's initiation into
a particular activity or role, typically one perceived as difficult.
"this event constituted his baptism as a
politician"
synonyms:
initiation, debut, introduction, inauguration, launch, rite
of passage
"his baptism as a
politician"
This is the one I am focusing on today. Launching a new
ritual or sorts in choosing health. Something symbolic that can happen right
before changing something. A lifestyle, a habit/ritual, a choice.
Example with weight loss / healthy living:
1.throw out all junk foods or ‘trigger foods’
2.giving away all ‘fat clothes’
3.buying an attractive or expensive water bottle to
encourage hydration
4.letting your “support system” of people know your
changes you are making. You can say something like, “I can’t eat with you guys
in the way I once did, but I still want to figure out a way we can connect.”
Making an actual ceremony of this “rite of passage” to have
something physical to see, feel, hear… in the letting go or cleaning out of
things – is like a new, fresh washing of us! This “initiation” of doing this
activity that is very hard, will be met with success when we have the right
mindset or mind-shift into the newness of this activity.
Kind of a wedding. There is an announcement, then a
ceremony, then celebration, THEN the hard work! So too is it with something
that we need to do or change in our daily routines to be able to better choose
health. Making wise choices is not a natural thing to do for those of us who
have struggled with weight in any way, shape, or form. However, our brains ARE
trainable and it IS possible to create a new habit/ritual for our body and
brain to go to first.
My activity today will be to clean out ALL of my desk area
at work (where I spend most of my waking hours in a day). Cleaning my
environment. Then, I am going to have this little saying of what to say to
co-workers written on an index card, taped to my door/wall and when I am asked
to join or have something, I’m going to politely say this instead. I’m not
afraid to ask for support, but I just don’t speak up that often. Today, I am.
I see the parade of sugar that goes on for MONTHS quickly
approaching. Starting with Bosses Day and the potluck that happened to be 98%
carb type foods! Thank goodness I made an egg casserole with lots of protein!
I want to encourage you today, if you need to make a change
or be “baptized” and made new in a certain area of your life – do it!! Pray and ask the Father to have the Holy Spirit reveal to you what needs to be "cleansed" or "made new" - what you need to do to set
yourself up for success, and make a fresh, clean, new start. Hold your breath, be cleansed, then rise up to the newness of the life Jesus wants for you! I’ll be praying
for you and this special moment. Be well, be safe, and above all be blessed.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life." What an amazing passage!! Even if we are not rich by our standards or the worlds...we CAN be 'rich in good works'! Being generous isn't always about money. It can be time, conversation, love, kindness... Remember, when we 'do to the least of these' we are doing it to/for Jesus. Today, you have the opportunity to 'experience true life' - you do!! How? By being ready, on the alert, to help, share, do good for someone else. Some people may look alright on the outside, ...
Isaiah 21:4 (NIV) My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me. This chapter contains prophecies against Babylon , Edom and Arabia . However, this verse jumped out at me for a different reason. First of all, I had a bit of an MEF (mind’s eye flash) of sitting on a porch overlooking the vast sky towards a big open space. Watching the sun set. Actually sitting there anticipating the setting sun and all of the colors that will be painted across the sky at twilight. How amazing and beautiful the sky becomes each and every night, as God uses it to create a magnificent canvas of art for us to enjoy! I am absolutely amazed each time I see His wonderful sunsets! Then the MEF changed. These verses reminded me of the times I have lost loved ones. How that beautiful night sky became a symbol of the fear, yes even horror of the night to come. The beauty might as well have turned to ashes at that moment ...
The little yet mighty book called "Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is SO awesome!! God's timing is always SO perfect!! She writes from a place of God speaking right to us! It is pretty neat! And, it always seems to fit at just the right time. Here is May 19th I want you to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence. That is a fact, totally independent of your feelings. You are on your way to heaven; nothing can prevent you from reaching that destination. There you will see Me face-to-Face, and your Joy will be off the charts by any earthly standards. Even now, you are never separated from Me, though you must see Me through eyes of faith. I will walk with you till the end of time and onward into eternity. Although My Presence is a guaranteed promise, that does not necessarily change your feelings. When you forget I am with you, you may experience loneliness or fear. It is through awareness of My Presence that Peace displaces negative feelings. Practice the ...
The "air" around us. Even in fog, there is light. I am praying for ANY fog you are experiencing, to be LIFTED today! Romans 1:13-17; 18-23 NLT – 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mer...
Proverbs 24:3-4 NLT "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." What a beautiful MEF (minds eye flash) I had reading these verses. Looking at a piece of land, where a house is going to be built. It is bare, nothing there. Then all of a sudden, there is a foundation. However, the foundation has 'words' all over it! Words and sayings with phrases that are good and wise: foresight, experience, caution, knowledge, balance, learning.... Then there is a person, bent over, smoothing out the last bit of cement, and His name is Wisdom. I can just tell. It exudes from Him without Him even saying a word. In the way He moves, and with each stroke - there is purpose, reason, and a point of "end" that this is being done for. Then as if watching slow-motion, the house starts to build. Each piece, strategic in its placement. First one piece joined with ano...
James 1:22-24 (The Message - MSG) 22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24 (New Living Translation - NLT) 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. Do you remember what you saw this morning in the mirror? Now that you are on with y...
Do you ever feel like you are a character in a play, and you are wearing a "mask" all the time around others? Or do you feel like you are in the audience, and everyone around you is wearing a "mask"? Well, here is what "we" are told to do about that... Romans 12:9-10 NLT – 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. MSG – 9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. TPT – 9 Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. 10 Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family . Try to ...
Who can be ALL of these things: Watcher, Keeper, Protector, Guardian? The Lord of course! Reading Psalms 121 today in 4 different versions of the bible, gave me just a hint of a different perspective of our Lord today! He is called our Lord and that He is where our strength comes from in all four versions. However, just when I needed to remember, that we are all different, and we hear/learn differently - I see the "same" verse in four different ways. Of course - this gave me a MEF (minds eye flash) with each of them. Verse 3 NLT (new living translation) - He will not let you stumble; the One who watches over you will not slumber. MSG (the message) - He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! GNT (good news translation) - He will not let you fall; you Protector is always awake. ESV (English standard version) - He will not let your foot be moved; H e who keeps you will not slumber. ...
Jesus Calling May 25 th Perfect! Just like it is - nothing more to add to it - it fits perfectly in my life today!! Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand. Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Psalm 34:19 (NLT) The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
How do I know which way to go in life? A question I have asked myself MANY times! Isaiah 48:17 (NLT) Scripture – This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Thought – Not just "the Lord" but my Redeemer! He has taken MY place and suffered a death I do not have to suffer when I die. He is THE actual Holy One of Israel – for me!! He is also WILLING to teach and guide me along the path of life teaching me what is good for me and showing me the paths I should follow. He suffered things I will never have to suffer now. He teaches and shows me things that are good for me. When I follow His guidance and direction, I will NOT get lost, turned around, or off track. It is when I try and do things “my own way” that things go wonky. Application – Remember, right now – that the Lord is MY Redeemer! He is the one that i...
Comments