No Weights......Desperately Seeking Peace.

In a time when many are searching for meaning and purpose in life...it appears that instead of lightening our loads, we are adding more to our plates on a daily basis--and we wonder why we're so tired.

While the sister in the picture is building up physical strength by lifting weights, our spiritual growth is accelerated as we lay aside weights. As she lifts the 'bar bells' and her biceps after feeling the strain of pain and as the weight is increased, so her muscles respond in strength and in size. As we lay aside weight, we will also experience pain (as we let go of people, places, and things)as our spiritual muscles are flexed, and they too expand in size.

What Weights ????

Worry: So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat, or What shall we drink or What shall we wear? Matthew 6:31.

Stress: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:16.

Fear: God has not given us the spirit of fear! For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7.

Doubt: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13...Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. I John 4:4.

Discouragement: But David encouraged (found strength) himself in the Lord his God. I Samuel 30:6.

I know when we hear that scripture (Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us ( Hebrews 12:1)..we usually think of fornication, adultery...etc. But the things listed above are ...SIN!

We can also allow others to dump weights (gossip,confusion, gripes, and complaints...) on us. Refuse to be a dumpster for others' trash. Don't be a landfill...be a reservoir!

My Motto: No weights- I refuse to carry my own problems...my Daddy's got that!

Any weights you need to lay aside????

The Missing Ingredient: Gratitude !!!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (NLT).>



If you have children you're probably all too familiar with the term...'ungrateful'. All too often it appears that the more we give,the more they want, and the less they want to do in response to what they ask for and what they end up receiving.

Does the average child really consider the sacrifices that are made to get them that brand name pair of shoes that they've just gotta have? Even if they don't whine and moan until you purchase it...then there's the whole psychological-societal guilt trip that if you don't get your child everything they want...you're not a good mommy....and if God-forbid they're not wearing the latest designer labels you're somehow a failure.

In a time when more non-working high-school, middle-school, and even elementary- school children are wearing Guess, ....carrying Coach, Gucci...and have their own cars---and the parents are making the payments...The pressure to keep up with the Jones' (or is it the Kardashians now?)is immense!

How many of us in the name of 'fitting in' and 'lookin' the look' are skipping mortgage and rent, car payments and electrical bills...and the list goes on---yeah I know..not you and me--OK it seems out there, but it's happening. As an educator I can't even tell you how many students I pass in the hallways wearing the aforementioned items, yet don't have paper and pencil to write with, and move more than once a year! Priorities!

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't mind some labels too. I just don't want to lie (Yes, I am the only working adult in the household...), eat PB & J everyday, live in the "ghetto" and drive a BMW just to impress folks who really don't care about me either way.


Sometimes when I'm thinking of how it seems that my own children are ungrateful, I wonder if God is using them to show me how ungrateful I am. While I'm asking for him to do things for me...how often do I whine and complain...have pity parties, and min-tantrums (okay...so they're not mini-tantrums..lol) because things are not going the way I want them to.

If you're like me, you love being able to give...especially to those you love, and feel sad when you're not able to be a blessing because of financial constraints. Abba Father is like that too. He truly desires to give good gifts to his children.

I'm reminded that while God took the children of Israel out of bondage and promised (and fulfilled his promise) them a land flowing with milk and honey, what should have only been a 40 day journey ended up being a 40 year delay because disobedience, murmuring and complaining. Actually the earth opened up and swallowed many because of murmuring and complaining -- and it still is today. The 'earth' (the world system) is swallowing up the gifts and blessings that God bestows upon his children because we are so blinded by what others have that we can't see what we have-therefore we fail to be thankful(Exodus chapters 15-16, Numbers 12, Numbers 16, & 1 Corinthians 10:10).


There's so much to be thankful for:
1. a home - even if it's not a mansion
2. a job - even if it's not the dream job, and doesn't pay nearly enough
3. your family -OK..maybe they're a little off---but they love you-and you know you're a little off too :)
4. children - even when they're ungrateful --some people would kill to have them
5. health - OK you're not a size four---somebody loves your size, but you won't know it till you love you..


And this list goes on...

So in the midst of asking and waiting to receive, let's add the missing ingredient-Gratitude! Let's try at all cost to be thankful for what we have. It may be that when we do so, we will see our desires manifested sooner.

P.S. When you respond to this post continue the 'thankful' list...Stay Blessed!