Pressing Forward

I woke up this morning thinking about the goals of my life.  Imagine that ... I have spent so much time focusing on my past failures ... and so needless to say it felt good to think about the future for a bit.  


There are a couple of verses I would like to share with  you from: Philippians 3:12-14 from the New International Version says:


"¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."


I was on the treadmill last night trying to put one step in front of the other and thinking how far back I have come since I put all my weight back on and suddenly, as I was listening to my worship music it was as if the Holy Spirit brought the above verses to my mind.  I started thinking about what I was doing at that moment ... I was pressing forward!  You know, I'm so good at talking about what I need to get done but it fascinates me to see how much I really do get done vs how much I just talk about it.  Last night I was doing something about it and it gave me a new kind of strength from within to keep fighting through the pain.  Have you really ever sat down and done a study on Paul's life?  There was absolutely nothing glamorous about his life.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  He suffered incredible persecution like we could never even imagine.  It's so easy to read about the things he went through for the cause of Christ but to then try and comprehend the pain and suffering he went through to spread the good news of Jesus is just incredible to me.  He says in verse 14 that he presses on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him ... to be in heaven with Christ Jesus.  But the verse that really hit me was 13.  He says Brothers and Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it ... his goal ...but one thing I do; Forgetting what is BEHIND and STRAINING toward what is ahead!!!  I can't even tell you how many times I have read those verses.  Seriously ... and what do I do?  I so easily focus on my past failures rather than truly understanding the GRACE I have been given and focus on today and the future ... setting goals with the idea that I want everyone to know and experience the GRACE of Christ Jesus like I have received.  It's my hearts' passion.


So what do I do?  Exactly what verse 13 tells me to do.  I will press on ... I will press forward and I will forget about all the junk from my past and I will stop feeling sorry for myself.  It's time to starting living on the high road ... I will do this by living each day to the fullest not only working on my spiritual journey with Christ but also working hard on my health.  It doesn't matter that I started in 2006 and lost so much weight!  That was then ... this is now.  I'm starting over and the past is the past.  There's nothing I can do about it.


In closing, I would like to share a devotional that I read today written by Sarah Young. It's in her devotional book titled Jesus Calling - Enjoying peace in His presence ... Published in Nashville, TN in 2004 by Thomas Nelson.  This is on page 29 dated January 28


"I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. These were the last words I spoke before ascending into heaven.  I continue to proclaim this promise to all who will listen.  People respond to My continual Presence in various ways.  Most Christians accept this teaching as truth but ignore it in their daily living.  Some ill-taught or wounded believers fear (and may even resent) My awareness of all they do, say, and think.  A few people center their lives around this glorious promise and find themselves blessed beyond all expectations.  When My presence is the focal point of your consciousness, all the pieces of your life fall into place.  As you gaze at Me through the eyes of your heart, you can see the world around you from My perspective.  The fact that I am with you makes every moment of your life meaningful"


Isn't that powerful!  This is a wonderful devotional written in first person from Jesus to us.  And as I read those words today it just renewed my faith and hope knowing that He does have my back and He does care about everything I do and say.  He loves me so much.  And the most beautiful thing is He loves ALL of us that much!  No matter what we are struggling with we must press forward knowing that He will guide us and protect us every step of the way.  God bless you my friends.  You are loved!

Food for Thought

Wow, I'm truly amazed that it's been a year since I last wrote on this blog ... and what a year it's been!  I have to tell you that I was actually shocked to reread my blog entry from January 10, 2011 because it talks about exactly how I feel today.  Totally defeated!  I wonder why that is?  What is it that causes me to continually beat myself up for not achieving the goals that I have set for myself.  Why do I hold so much in my head rather than typing it out on paper so that I can go back and reread previous entries like I did today?  I can learn so much about myself if I would just do that.  I have talked about writing this blog for three years now and I seem to do OK for a few days but then I just stop ... like so many other lofty goals of mine.  And then I feel like I have failed something else.  Well ... I'm tired of feeling this way and I'm tired of being so hard on myself. I'm the only me that I will ever have and I'm sick and tired of the way I treat myself!  Where's the pride and dignity in who Christ created me to be?  Starting today I will no longer relish in my miseries of the past but rather, I will thank the Lord for His mercies and GRACE which are NEW EVERY morning!  He loves us so much and it hurts Him when I'm so cruel to myself.  I really think it does.

And so it is that once again I will climb back aboard life's journey that's so full of adventure.  Each morning I will wake up reminding myself of God endless love for me and my love for Him.  My prayer is that His love will flow through me to others no matter what it is I'm doing.  Even at the pool swimming, there's always folks to talk with and encourage.  It's time for me to take the focus off of me and focus on Jesus because He has called me to just be me and allow Him to love others through me so that they can see and experience His love for them.  My true hearts desire is to be His hands and feet ... to love and care for others and to share the good news of Jesus' forgiveness and unconditional love. Yes, He has me right where He wants me and I'm going to rejoice in the Lord each day for the opportunities He has given me today! Because I'm gong to Live Today Well!  I'm sure they'll be some bumps and bruises along this journey but you know ... that's OK.  I'm not going to worry about tomorrow.  I'm focusing on today.  And as my priorities get straightened out ... I believe my health will follow because He does love me and He does care about me.  And the same goes for you my friend.  It's time for the discouragement to flee because discouragement is not something from the Lord but rather it's the devil doing everything he can to get us to give up and quit.  Hmmmm how long has he had me trapped in the same spot?  I'm sick of it.  It's time to speak life of ourselves dear friends.  John 10:10 tells us that the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus has come that we might have LIFE and that more abundant!  I'm choosing life ..... How about you?