Tag: God loves us

Beginning the Journey to Achieving Wellness

Beginning the Journey of Achieving Optimal Wellness—This is part one of a six-month series that will be published monthly until June 2023.

One afternoon, I was at Whole Foods enjoying my huge vegan salad. Two tables from where I sat were three children eating their apples with the biggest smiles, expressing whose apple tasted the best. Truthfully, I have never seen children so excited about eating fruit. It was evident that candy or sugar was never a part of their childhood.

Most people who have the chronic diseases of Obesity, Diabetes [Adult-onset], High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol acquire them by eating foods that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Yet, with proper nutrition, these diseases can be brought under control allowing the person to enjoy optimal health.

There are so many misconceptions about achieving optimal wellness. Reaching your peak mental and physical health will never happen with quick-fix diets or exercising until you’re ready to pass out. People who have great health have made an intentional commitment “to do no harm” to their minds and bodies. Achieving and maintaining optimal health requires strength and perseverance. It is a lifelong journey.

When you decide to change your lifestyle, the most significant info that you need to know is that you are the enemy and your body will sabotage your efforts. Food cravings cause most setbacks. Love ice cream? Purchase a blender, and silicone popsicle molds, and make your own with your favorite fruit, agave, vegan whip, almond, or coconut milk [unsweetened], add nuts, coconut pieces, etc.

Misconception: Learned behaviors and taste preferences are almost impossible to change. We agree that food provides enjoyment! Our upbringing has everything to do with our food likes and dislikes and how we prepare our food. The children who enjoyed their apples as if they were slices of apple pie were given nature’s candy–fruit from infancy. Change is possible and will happen if your goals are realistic.

Many of us did not grow up on fast food. Yet, we have made these disease factories a billion-dollar industry. Sadly we have compromised our very existence to enjoy bad health in a bag containing a 1500-calorie meal packed with the recommended amount of sodium for two to three days.

Great News! Our tastebuds can be retrained!

Fact: You are entering a warzone against yourself. Changing your tastes from unhealthy to healthy foods requires continuous strategic planning and implementation. The first thoughts are definitely overwhelming. So, am I throwing away all of the food in my refrigerator? No! Before we subtract food, we are going to bring in some healthy additions.

Choose a fresh, dark leafy green vegetable [kale, collards, mustards, chard, or spinach] that you like or think that you can learn to like because you will eat a large bowl at least once a day. In fact, you will begin dinner by eating your leafy greens. Spinach and kale make great salads. Adding a couple of small slices of [one-inch width] cornbread or cutting two thin slices of a tasty but healthy deli-baked bread will give you something to look forward to and establish the healthy habit of eating veggies that are low-calorie but high in-nutritious value.

Why leafy dark greens? They are power-packed with nutrients that produce a rapid mind and body response of achieving one giant step on the journey to wellness.

Prep and technique for cooking the greens will probably be different from the method you are accustomed to using. Restrictions: No pork products. If you must have meat, use a smoked turkey leg that has been boiled for 20 to 30 minutes to get rid of excess sodium before its added to the greens.

The secret to great-tasting greens is to sauté diced garlic, red onion, and red pepper in olive or avocado oil in your pot first. Add three inches of spring water, add the greens in layers, add salt sparingly to each layer of greens, and put your smoked turkey in the pot. Cover and cook for at least one hour. Greens should not swim in the water–too much water causes loss of their nutritional value. Spinach should not be cooked using this method.

When beginning the journey, you may crave junk food, not because you are hungry, but because random eating between meals is a habit. Eat a bowl of greens!

Two behaviors are guaranteed to sabotage your efforts to change your current lifestyle. 1. Eating while watching anything electronic, including your cell phone–just turn it off. 2. Not eating at the table with a sturdy chair. Do not eat in a recliner, sitting on the sofa, or in an easy chair. All promote the habit of overeating. No table? Buy a nice wooden tray table.

Set up your meal times as if you are in a restaurant. Hopefully, your family can join you at dinner to celebrate your decision to achieve optimal health. If you live alone, then celebrate yourself.

Your assignment: 1. Pray for God’s help. The struggle of changing to achieve optimal health is real. It takes structure and discipline to reduce the intake of high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods that provide little to no nutrients. 2. Keep a daily journal. If you failed to reach your goals for today–do not be hard on yourself. Identify what caused you to eat the entire pie. Next time buy one slice of pie from your local supermarket. Set daily realistic goals that can be accomplished. 3. What is the one food that you would like to keep in your dietary intake?

For example, love macaroni and cheese? Choose one day on the weekend to have 1-2 cups of mac and cheese. Do not cook a large pan or you will eat all of it! Setting limitations by using portion size on foods containing too many calories will enhance your body’s natural response to losing weight.

Along with losing weight, I lost Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Shortness of Breath, and Painful Knee and Ankle Joints. My High Blood Pressure has been stable for two years and I only take one pill.

As you feed your body with the proper foods you will enjoy an increase in mental alertness and physical strength. The greatest joy of enjoying better health is looking at the new you in the mirror! You will have yourself to thank.

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.” –3 John 1:2

Italian Stuffed Collard Greens

Praying for Opportunities

Praying for Opportunities Devotional Reading

The process of progressive discipline by employers did not always exist. Many employees with tenure and excellent job performance were terminated because of personal dislike from their supervisors. Before 1991, we worked under a dark cloud of fear, never knowing if we would have a job from one day to the next.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1991 made major changes in the federal laws against employment discrimination enforced by EEOC.”

Yet, we had those who recognized the opportunity to take a stand. No matter the cost they worked tirelessly for federal laws that protected employees against discrimination and unfair treatment. These forgotten heroes demanded from the government enforced laws that prohibited the practice of immediate termination without progressive discipline [exceptions were extreme infractions against company policy].

Seeking opportunities to help others is God’s expectation of all Christian believers.

To whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48). If you have heard that line of wisdom, you know it means we are held responsible for what we have. If we have been blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we benefit others. https://law.utk.edu/2016/05/10/to-whom-much-is-given-much-will-be-required/

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” –Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 is a clear, crisp, and simple summary of what God expects from you and me. These three things that matter so much to God are the three things God wants to see in us: justice, kindness, and humility. To act justly is to treat people fairly and respectfully. http://www.bible.com

Although it is against our naturally selfish hearts to seek opportunities that benefit others, we are committed to being like Christ. Every day we should pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal opportunities to witness and alleviate the suffering of those who need our help. Random acts of kindness do not fulfill our duty to God and humanity.

Our love for God ensures that we maintain our spiritual connection with our Heavenly Father through prayer and study of the Bible. We form a bonding relationship with Christ that produces a never-ending river of love that flows from His heart to our hearts. Pray for guidance and the humility to willingly accept your assignment to show the love and mercy that Christ gave to others throughout His life on earth.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” –Revelation 22:12

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for having a mindset to seek after our desires. We pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the opportunities that fulfill our daily requirement of discipleship. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

His Strength, Our Weakness

His Strength, Our Weakness

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'” –2 Corinthians 12:9

Focusing on ourselves or our circumstances produces fear and cancels our faith and dependency on the power of Christ. Pride is the seed from which the sin of self-reliance grows. Self-reliance rapidly infiltrates the heart producing the thorns of anxiety, worries, and mental and spiritual instability. Our spiritual outlook changes as we become weaker from the weeds of insecurity and hopelessness that ultimately destroy our faith in God. Although the answer to our dilemma is simple, we are functioning on emotions that leave us feeling overwhelmed. As we try to figure things out, nonexistent faith makes us forget that we have a Savior waiting to help us.

Jesus Christ is Our Foundation–Jesus forewarned us of self-reliance’s consequences: “You can do nothing without me!” Surrendering ourselves to the Vine prevents keeps us nourished with strength, empowers us to face opposition, and binds us closer to Christ. We remain confident as His strength permeates our hearts and soul. Every day, pray to receive strength from our only Source, Jesus Christ.

Receiving Abundant Blessings

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies [laws] and seek Him with all their heart. –Psalm 119:1-2

The truth: We are products of our environment. Learned behaviors have a stronghold on the minds of many people.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear someone say, God, blessed me? Material wealth and possessions which are valued above all else have permeated our very existence. Money–the loss of or the effort to increase it drives many to feel desperate, depressed, and hopeless. How many have taken their own lives with millions in their bank accounts? Then we have others who have led a life of performing illegal activities in their pursuit of wealth.

When does the pursuit of happiness attached to wealth end? Our definition of abundance is to have excess. But, if we love material things above God, eventually, we will end up in a lose-lose situation. The loss of peace and hope leads to a life of misery.

The Best Blessings are Peace, Joy, Grace, and Mercies

God created us to have a spiritual connection with Him that remains until we breathe our last breath. Not one of us is exempt from a life-changing event that causes immense grief and despair. Yet, in the midst of trials and sorrows, neither people nor money can console us or give us inner joy and peace. Only God can bless humanity with daily peace, joy, and His grace, and mercies.

The abundant blessings that flow from God’s loving heart are freely given to the heart that is open to receive them. Live the life that God created you to enjoy. Jesus promises to give us all that we need.

Bible Study: Matthew 6, verses 19-24.

Prayer: Thank You, God. Amen.

Born with the Strength to Overcome

Devotional–Born with the Strength to Overcome From The Struggle of Sanctification by Sonya Johnson

A child has more than the physical appearance of their parents, they also inherit mommy and daddy’s personality traits, and learn their parent’s or caregiver’s observable behaviors and habits.

Whether we agree or not, humanity was made in the image of God. Those who believe in God most likely possess knowledge of the Creation story in Genesis. Still, a profound lack of understanding exists of God’s attributes as evidenced by our natural reaction to feeling defeated in times of adversity.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ” (Genesis 1:26)

For us to have dominion over the animals, we must have the innate characteristics to perform the duty we were given by God. Our Heavenly Father is all-knowing and was aware of the difficulties we would face before He created us. We were born with the necessary attributes to be courageous and to perform the duties that our lives require.

  1. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
  2. “…Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (Romans 12:3 NLT).

Our God-given gifts: Power, Love, a Sound Mind, and a Measure of Faith.

No, we are not demigods nor do we have divine power without asking for divine strength. Nor were we created to function independently without God’s Divine Intervention in our daily lives.

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The human effort of acquiring knowledge of who God is gives us the confidence that we are not alone to fight against spiritual warfare and our daily challenges. When the apostle Paul asked God three times to take away His thorn in the flesh [poor eyesight], Jesus answered with No. God does not give yes answers to prayers that would give us the ability to function without His divine Intervention. Many people choose to live without God, but “…the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).

Faith, love, courage, power, and a sound mind require spiritual nutrients for proper growth. Many of today’s believers rely on the pastor’s sermons to feed their minds and souls. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 timothy 2:15). God has given us the responsibility of studying the Scriptures for ourselves. The importance of studying the Scriptures is we learn of the divinity and power of the Trinity Godhead–God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and God’s will and plans for our lives.

“Pray without ceasing” (2 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is vital! Prayer sustains our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. Pray for the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit in the morning as soon as you awaken. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot discern the spiritual meaning and depth of the Word of God [the Bible]. Prayer is the way in which we communicate and stay connected with the God of the Universe who imparts His Divine power and strength through the Holy Spirit to us every day.

Yet, God does not impose Himself in our lives. If we do not take the time to worship through prayer and study of the Bible, we will be weak and despondent as a babe who does not receive proper nutrition. Anxiety, worry, and depression cannot enter the mind of a believer who stays connected to Jesus, the Source of Life.

The human effort of maintaining our relationship with Christ [He is the only way that we can come to God] prepares us for unexpected times of trials and sorrows. Faith carries us through even in lengthy tribulations because we have faithfully stayed rooted and grounded in the Foundation, the solid Rock–Jesus Christ.

“Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances. You are a child of God. Stand up straight.” Maya Angelou

Prayer: God, thank You for the innate gifts that you have graciously given to us. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and for a stronger relationship with You. Jesus, we thank You for your great sacrifice and for being our Friend. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.

How to Receive God’s Abundant Mercies

Devotional–How to Receive God’s Abundant Mercies–From The Struggle of Sanctification by Sonya Johnson

Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord. –Lamentations 3:22-26

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Who else can proclaim that they will never change? God favors the righteous even during the greatest trials of our lives. We serve a dependable and loving Heavenly Father.

Do you believe in God? Without faith, it is impossible to please God or to receive His promises.

The human effort of praying keeps our relationship with Christ steadfast. We remain hopeful and courageous when we stay connected to the Source of Life.

The Holy Scriptures are the cure-all for all mental and emotional distress. Studying the Bible is the treasure map that provides all the knowledge we need about God, the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

The unexpected and greatest tribulations of loss of employment, a home, a marriage, or even a loved one are never too hard for God if we only believe. Whether we need healing from a broken heart or the provisions to live, God always provides.

God’s Promises

  1. You will never be forsaken! “I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25
  2. When provisions are scarce. God will preserve what you have. “During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5
  3. God opens doors for the diligent. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23
  4. You will reap where you sow. “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17
  5. His supply is more than enough. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

In Matthew chapter 6, verses 25-34, Jesus promises to give us an abundant life. God’s definition of abundant life does not mean receiving excess–beyond our daily needs. God’s provisions include everything we need to sustain our life for the given day including His grace and mercies. Living for the day eliminates unnecessary worry and anxiety that originates from the lack of faith.

We must not think about the things that we lack beyond today. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [who are unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” Matthew 6:31-32.

God will never change which means we have to change. From doubt and disbelief, we intentionally choose to exercise the faith to believe and rely on Christ to fulfill His promises. And from that decision, we will not be shaken when hardships arise. Yes, we can reap the abundant benefits from our Dependable and Good, Good Heavenly Father. Amen!

Prayer: God, we believe, please help our unbelief. Thank You for always being faithful even when we stumble and fall. We love You and praise Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Deception of Self-Help

Yesterday, I witnessed to an individual whose life is restarting due to the dissolution of her marriage of 17 years. As we spoke about the Journey of Healing, she began by giving me the names of several authors of self-help books that she read. Due to her own admission of falling away from God when her marriage ended, she no longer prayed or studied the Bible.

“Although, I have followed the advice of the well-known authors, I still do not have peace. Tell me what you did.” I told her the story of Elijah who ran from Queen Jezebel and God’s loving and divine intervention of sending an angel to feed the run-away prophet. Yes, God, Himself spoke to Elijah while he was in the cave of a mountain. Because that’s what our Great, Father God does for those that He has created in His image. He consoles us and gives us peace when our lives are in chaos.

Worldviews tell us to self-validate, read self-help books, listen to transcendental meditation apps, wear jewelry that promotes peace of mind and stability, practice secular meditation, and the list is endless. Every methodology that promises to bring peace and serenity to our inner being–our souls is part of Satan’s deception.

Even so, while witnessing, I never addressed the confidence that many people have in self-help authors. She was aware that after reading many of the do-it-yourself books and practicing their recommended interventions she still did not have peace.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

Whether we believe in creation or evolution, the fact remains that we were not created to function outside of our spiritual connection to God. The One and Only God who breathed the breath of life into Adam is with whom we have a soul connection that only ends at the cessation of an individual’s life. We are forever connected to God with a spiritual umbilical cord.

God Is the Source of Life and Joy—God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures. And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing.—Steps to Christ, 77 (1892). Ellen White

Sharing the story of Jesus on the cross, and Him telling the disciple John, “Behold your Mother” emphasizes that Jesus has a special place in His heart for the widows, the abandoned wives, the single mothers, and women who are alone and struggling to live productive lives. Does Jesus care? Yes, He does! And I am a living testimony of our Savior’s Divine Intervention of lovingly guiding me through a 2-year journey of healing.

Witness in a manner that the person feels a personal connection to Christ.

And yes, God loves and cares for all of us–men, women, boys, and girls. Yet, when witnessing we must present God on a personal level that reaches the hurting heart of the individual. Whisper a silent prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you. We always require Divine guidance before we speak and represent the love of Christ to others.

I will never know the outcome of witnessing that God is the source of our lives and only through Him can we have peace, joy, healing, and restoration. Yet, her laughter and expression of “Thank you, for taking the time to help me” proves that hurting people need to know that God is not a distant Father who does not care about us. Taking the time to share my personal experience proves that only Christ can give us a life of hope and restoration.

The importance of studying the Scriptures, praying without ceasing, and sharing our victories does make a difference in someone else’s life. As disciples of Christ, it is our duty to represent Him to those who are unaware that we have a Father who loves us. Someone needs to hear “…I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), and “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer: God, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We ask for a heightened awareness of the opportunities to share Your love with others. You are the only One who can give us peace and inner joy. thank You for Your love, grace, and mercies. We pray this prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Steps to Living a Blessed Life

Devotional–Steps to Living a Blessed Life from The Struggle of Sanctification by S. Johnson

If you are over the age of 50 then you can appreciate the innovative changes [technology, strategies to work smarter not harder, work from home, etc.] that have reduced the mental and physical strain we suffered from doing tasks that always required taxing efforts. Yes, change is primarily good, especially when it delivers quality results and allows time for relaxation and restoration of the mind, body, and soul.

God’s Divine Intervention is above and beyond our best efforts to have a better quality of life. Yet some believers do not have God’s joy and peace. They choose to live alternate lifestyles which include following the advice of others, busyness, and the pursuit of personal desires. Relying on their judgment, they create an overall compromise of the mental, emotional, and physical state of equilibrium of their minds and bodies. Not only are they stressed, but their resistance also places them outside of God’s safety net for receiving the benefits of His promises.

Yes, we have the right to make decisions without asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit, but the consequence is suffering from hardship and the additional burden of a failed solution.

We were not created to figure things out! “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

The Warning: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33

The Promise: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit [penitent, humbled by our own sins and failures, seeking after God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:17-19

God is never intrusive. He has given us free will of choice. Yes, God patiently waits for us to ask for His intervention. With His help, we can enjoy peace even when times are hard. Serving God does not stop life’s trials and hardships. Even so, unlike our best efforts of creating solutions, failing, and trying again, His promises are steadfast and provide fail-proof resolution.

With God, we have the opportunity to live a life without suffering the consequences of making unfavorable decisions. “Human Effort plus Divine Intervention always equals Victorious Outcomes!”

The Israelites received this promise: “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace'” (Exodus 14:13-14).

God is waiting to give us our best lives not only now, but also eternally in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Prayer: God, we have chosen the hard life of the transgressor by excluding You. We ask for forgiveness for doing it our way. Yes, we need Your help every day. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ worthy name. Amen.

Love, Adoration, and Praise

God, we thank you that serving You is not a life full of complexities or guesswork. Please guide us and help us to see life through spiritual eyes. We praise your Holy Name because you are Love and your grace and mercies never cease. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.