by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I was recently reading an excerpt from Jillian Michael’s new book, Unlimited – How To Build An Exceptional Life.
I am a big Jillian fan, as I have watched her help many struggling people throughout her time on The Biggest Loser. She hasn’t just helped them burn the fat away; she gets to the root of things. Love that!
She makes a great point in the introduction by saying “When you live in fear of your own desires and ambitions, you lose sight of your true calling and your true self.” Agreed.
Then she says, “All you need to begin is courage, conviction, and faith.” Again, agreed. Faith in what though? “Both
in yourself and in me as your guide.” Insert STOP sign here. We do have to faith in those leading us, yes, but that’s not where our faith should ultimately be. Our faith should be in God, who, according to Ephesians 3:20 is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Jillian makes some great points in the book. The downside, however, is that like most self-help books, God is left out of the center. It’s not about self-help, it’s about God-help.
Chapter One ends like this:
Listen to me very carefully: it’s time to start living your life the way God, or (insert whatever greater power you believe in here), intended—HAPPILY.
Say what? No, no, no, no. It can’t be one or the other. There isn’t more than one choice. It’s God or nothing… Simple as that.
I’m not writing this to bash Jillian, or her book. In fact, I am still very interested in reading it. It sounds like there are many things in the book she has right, but not the most important part.
For more information on Unlimited, you can visit Amazon to pre-order. The book will be released in stores on April 5.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Meet my friend Jennifer. She doesn’t know a stranger. I met her almost three years ago after I signed up to be on the prayer team at church. I haven’t been able to get rid of her since, and trust me I’ve tried. I count it as a blessing, by the way, that I haven’t been able to get rid of her.
I have never known anyone quite like Jennifer. Jesus’ grace, mercy and understanding shine through her. She is a 1 Corinthians woman to the core.
She has seen me at my best, and has definitely seen me at my worst. At my worst, she didn’t leave. She stayed by my side, held my hand, and offered me help, with a side of truth and grace. I hated and loved her for it at the same time. She too held my hand, as my friend Jammie did, the day she drove me to the Table Rock Freedom Center.
As I have been going through some struggles lately, she remains a prayer warrior for me. Hiding things from her is virtually impossible, as the moment I make eye contact she is well aware that I am struggling with something. She’s a “no bullcrap” kinda gal. Gotta love friends like that. Trying to stay mad at her is pretty impossible too.
God has used Jennifer in mighty ways to change my heart. She has shown me how to be a woman. She has taught me how to be comfortable with myself. She has taught me how to be confident in who God created me to be. The list could go on and on.
There is action in her love. She doesn’t just talk the talk. She walks the walk. Her smile comforts me and her hugs energize me. I love Jesus in her.
Tell me about the Jennifer in your life.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
February is the month of love. Of course, we all know that. I want to devote this week of blogs to some wonderful friends in my life who truly show me what love means. They back their words up with action. That’s what I love about LOVE – seeing the action behind it.
Tuesday-Thursday I’ll have posts about some amazing peeps in my life. Some great friends who live 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 out loud.
Stay tuned…
What does love mean to you?
by | Faith Lived Out
God has been doing some serious talking to me about having RADICAL faith, as I stated in a recent blog post. He did it again recently when I visited Brand New Church in Bergman, AR.
Pastor Shannon O’ Dell spoke on a touchy subject. Yes, you guessed it – HELL. It was a sobering sermon.
Here are some statistics about eternity:
- Over 55 million people will walk into eternity in 2011
- That breaks down to 150,968 per day
- 6,792 per hour
- 95 people per minute
Where do you think the majority of those people are going? Heaven or hell. Shannon talks about it here.
The window of reality has been opened even wider to me lately. People I love are going to hell. What am I doing about it?
God didn’t create hell for people. He created it for Satan and his fall angels. Shannon says, “God doesn’t send people to hell. They choose to go there.” How does that resonate with you? People choose that destination. Before I came to know Christ my choice was hell, because of the life I was living.
When I first became a Christian I was still following my old ways. I had made a decision for my eternity, which was to be with Jesus. But my daily decisions did not show evidence of my destiny. God had to change that in me. I wanted it changed in me.
Eternity is real. Sin is real. Death is real. Hell is real.
Romans 6:23 says For the wages(paycheck) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When do we stop worrying about whose religion is better? When do we stop arguing over the logo of a church? When do we start worrying about eternity of those around us? Friends. Family. Co-workers. People we pass by on the street. What about the people who make us grit our teeth? What about those who slander?
I want people to see heaven in me. I want my daily decisions to show where my eternity is.
What message is your daily decisions speaking to others?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
There are several songs I listen to almost everyday. Some days or more of a struggle than others, and that’s when the music stays cranked up on repeat. I would love to share them with you.
Safe (Phil Wickham) – Reminds me when everything is falling apart, I will be safe in His arms.
Worth It All (Rita Springer) – Even though I don’t always understand, I know God’s got it under control.
Remedy (John Tibbs) – Reminds me to stop and feel His love.
Jesus Over Me (Kathleen Carnali) – The title says it all.
Washed By The Water (NeedToBreathe) – The beat of this song just moves me. I never get tired of it.
My Savior My God (Aaron Shust) – My FAVORITE! God reassures me of his promise through this song.
I Need You Jesus (Eddie James) – Jesus my source. No one else will do.
Give Me Jesus (Jeremy Camp) – You can have all this world. Just give me Jesus.
Father Will You Come (Unhindered) – Redemption calls and I want to be consumed with His majesty.
Those are just a few soul-stirring songs I love to hear throughout the day.
What songs do you love that I need to add?
by | Faith Lived Out
My friend Carolyn serves on the worship team at Woodland Hills Family Church almost every Sunday. Every time she stands on that stage and sings, she isn’t just singing a song – she is in true worship. I love it!
Recently, as the service was closing, Carolyn was in worship as usual. Her little boy ran onto the stage and clinged to her waist. She could have done two things that moment: told him she was busy, or embrace him. She chose the latter. I watched her wrap one arm around him while holding onto the microphone with the other. She smiled at him and kept praising God in song.
It gave me a glimpse of God that morning, and just how much He loves us. He is never too busy for us. There isn’t a moment He isn’t willing to wrap His arms around us and love us. Just as Carolyn made time to love on her son, God never runs out of time to love on us. He is always willing to embrace us, if we just let Him. There’s nothing like a hug from God.
Are you letting Him embrace you?
in yourself and in me as your guide.” Insert STOP sign here. We do have to faith in those leading us, yes, but that’s not where our faith should ultimately be. Our faith should be in God, who, according to Ephesians 3:20 is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
