Satisfaction

The question God has prompted in me over and over again this week is this:

Am I truly satisfied with God?  

Let's face it - often times we are not.  That is why we try to find something else to fill ourselves.  In our culture it isn't just food,  it is relationships, television, pornography,  alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc. In fact, it is anything we find that fulfills the immediate need we have.  Tonight, mine was cookies.  I was frustrated, tired, annoyed, irritated, and cookies were IN MY FACE!

I know 2 cookies won't "kill" me.  It was the point.  What was I really doing with those cookies.  I certainly didn't sit and enjoy eating them.  I ate them at the speed of light - to fulfill what?  

So, there is my confession and my question.  It is a question I think we all need to truly examine for ourselves:  

Are YOU satisfied with God?  If you had nothing would he be enough?  

Why?

The question I am pondering today is the question why?  More specifically, why do I want to lose weight and get healthy?  Seems like a question that would be easy to answer.  However, today, my morning devotions were about that question.  Mike Cleveland's book The Lord's Table starts with asking yourself what is the proper motivation for losing weight?  So often we are taught that if we aren't losing weight for ourselves it will never work.  This is typical of our culture.  Mike suggestions that we should be looking to change our lifestyle and lose weight for the glory of God.  That lead to my second question - does God care what I look like?  No, I don't think so, but I think he cares about disciplined choices.  As it was pointed out by a friend - "when my spiritual life is right, everything else seems to fall in line".  So true.  When we spend time with God, we tend to be more satisfied in our lives and stop trying to fill ourselves something else.

So, returning to the original question?  Why are we doing this?  Can we say it is for the glory of God?  For myself, when I answer that question, it is to treat the body God gave me in the way it deserves to be treated.  I have abused this body and have not taken care of it, so, it is only honoring to Him if I begin to act in a way that honors my body.

Think on that and I will see you in the morning!

Challenges

"Life comes at you fast" the widely recognized tag line for an insurance company works because it is true.      In our lives we face illnesses, time restraints, demands of the family and work - all the things that can stop us in our tracks and cause us to eat for comfort.  As I was reminded by a member of the Devonshire Accountability Ladies (DAL) that God should be our comfort.  But he isn't tangible - not like a bowl of ice cream or cookies.  It takes effort to feel touched by God.  It takes purposeful intent and searching.  When things get hard, purposeful intent and quiet time are not our first choice.  However, I feel that God responds to our cries.  If in a moment of challenge we cry to God I feel he will give us what we need - we just have to be open to what He has to offer and be satisfied.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curse.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to Him."

Donna Patrow says "who you are right now is largely the sum of the daily choices you've been making for years."  True?  Probably.  Hard to admit?  Definitely.

This week is about making new choices, better choices, God pleasing choices!  Go Ladies - Glorify God in all you Do!

Accountability

God calls us to hold one another accountable.  It doesn't mean that we have to be malicious or tear one another down, but it means in a loving way.  This week, the accountability group at Devonshire Memorial Church set small goals.  Mine was to exercise three times this week.  So, if you have not set your goal be sure to set it and let the group know what you are trying to accomplish!  


Also, be sure to pray.  Don't underestimate the power of prayer.  


Our memory verse this week is 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  


More important than anything is to remember to put God first in all that we do!

A Whole New World

Maybe I have been watching too many Disney movies, hence the title of my very first blog.  However, I am entering a world I am not yet familiar with as a way to communicate information.  My intention with this blog spot is to connect with the accountability group.  Eventually, I would like to just post about education, thoughts, books, and anything that comes to mind.  We'll see how this goes!