The die to it diet!

So I feel like The Lord wakes me up this morning with the phrase in reference to a diet; Die To It. We have to crucify the flesh with it's passions, and most of us Love food! (Gal 5:24) So if we are able to put to death our fleshly passions, then we will be able to focus on those things we actually should be passionate about, like feeding the starving, or taking care of orphans. God wants us to have passions, He just wants them to be just passions. Holy passions, blameless passions.

Gluttony

It all started by chocking on a piece of turkey, on Thanksgiving day. Nice start. Then I got on the scale and I am officially heavier than I have ever been. 267. Just a number right? Just the largest number I've personally attained to. Not a good number at all. Then I eat late, and so much, that I wake up chocking on acid reflux at 2 am. Nice. Then I opened my bible and came up with Isaiah 55: Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— Then I looked up the definition of gluttany, and here's what Wikipedia has to say: Who wants to admit to this right? Church leaders from the deeply-ascetic Middle Ages (e.g., St. Gregory the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas) took a more expansive view of gluttony, arguing that it also consists of an anticipation of meals, the eating of delicacies, and costly foods, seeking after sauces and seasonings, and eating too eagerly.[2] St. Gregory the Great, a doctor of the Church, described five ways by which one can commit sin of gluttony, and corresponding biblical examples for each of them:[3] 1. Eating before the time of meals in order to satisfy the palate. Biblical example: Jonathan eating a little honey, when his father Saul commanded no food to be taken before the evening.[1Sa 14:29] 2. Seeking delicacies and better quality of food to gratify the "vile sense of taste." Biblical example: When Israelites escaping from Egypt complained, "Who shall give us flesh to eat ? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely ; the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks and the onions and the garlic," God rained fowls for them to eat but punished them 500 years later.[Num 11:4] 3. Seeking after sauces and seasonings for the enjoyment of the palate. Biblical example: Two sons of Eli the high priest made the sacrificial meat to be cooked in one manner rather than another. They were met with death.[1Sa 4:11] 4. Exceeding the necessary amount of food. Biblical example: One of the sins of Sodom was "fullness of bread."[Eze 16:49] 5. Taking food with too much eagerness, even when eating the proper amount, and even if the food is not luxurious. Biblical example: Esau selling his birthright for ordinary food of bread and pottage of lentils. His punishment was that the "profane person . . . who, for a morsel of meat sold his birthright," we learn that "he found no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully, with tears." [Gen 25:30] The fifth way is worse than all others, said St. Gregory, because it shows attachment to pleasure most clearly. To recapitulate, St Gregory the Great said that one may succumb to the sin of gluttony by: 1. Time (when); 2. Quality; 3. Stimulants; 4. Quantity; 5. Eagerness In his Summa Theologica (Part 2-2, Question 148, Article 4), St. Thomas Aquinas reiterated the list of five ways to commit gluttony: Laute - eating food that is too luxurious, exotic, or costly Nimis - eating food that is excessive in quantity Studiose - eating food that is too daintily or elaborately prepared Praepropere - eating too soon, or at an inappropriate time Ardenter - eating too eagerly. Aquinas notes that the first three ways are related to the nature of the food itself, while the last two have to do with the time or manner in which it is consumed ...it is a defect to eat, like beasts, through the sole motive of sensual gratification, and without any reasonable object. Hence, the most delicious meats may be eaten without sin, if the motive be good and worthy of a rational creature; and, in taking the coarsest food through attachment to pleasure, there may be a fault."[4] in the Bible (King James Version)== Proverbs 23:20-21 "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." Proverbs 23:2 "And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite." Wow, what do you say to that, except, I am sorry Lord, please forgive me, I repent, you alone are God, and I will exalt You!

267 and counting

I eat too much. I know, everyone can say that right? Especially coming off our most ravenous holiday, thanksgiving. Here is a definition I hate looking up, something I've never wanted or allowed to be applied to me:

glut·tony

 noun \ˈglət-nē, ˈglə-tə-nē\

plural glut·ton·ies

Definition of GLUTTONY

1

: excess in eating or drinking

2

: greedy or excessive indulgence

But that definition actually fits me. It fits what I or anyone else does when we over eat, especially excessively. In fact there are many areas of my life where this definition could fit, but either way, it has to effect all areas of my life as well. I can't run as fast, I'm not supposed to live as long. All because I eat too much. If I obey my flesh, walk in my flesh, what will that lead me to? Won't it lead me to death? If I continue to walk according to my fleshly lusts, I will die in them.
I must choose life in every area of my life. Think about what I am over eating. It's not lettuce, though if I put enough dressing on it, that can apply too. It is't apples, or oranges. It's candy, cake, and here's the big one, holding more american hearts than almost any food; Ice Cream. I capitalize that on purpose, but I should really cap it all; ICE CREAM. It is too important, it holds too many hearts. There's others: CHOCOLATE. COFFEE. I am sure there are thousands that we could do this too, but the point is there should be none.
"No other god's before Him." Isn't this food thing a god, with a little g? Isn't it something we exult and make way too important? I think so. But it's sad. To me it's one of the more disgusting sins. Look at the outcome, look at how it affects people. It's not glorious at all.
I am 267 pounds and counting. That is officially the heaviest I have ever been in my life. If I continue that number will go up. If I stop, and repent, turn away from this sin, and do it no more. That number will go down. If I work at it really hard, that number can even go down fast.
God has called me to a life of prayer and fasting, that's what makes this even more sad. If my life showed disobedience, it could not show it more, than with a big belly. I can't hide that baby. It's there for the whole world to see. It's not mine though, it's not the real me. It is not who God made me to be. But isn't that what happens when we exult things above the real God. It messes everything up. It alters things, makes things dark instead of light. It transforms from light to darkness, even to death. Life, to death. The exact opposite that Jesus offers us. He, through His sacrifice, brings us out of death into a glorious life, an abundant life. So I have chosen to walk this abundant life out in my flesh, and cater to it, give in to it, and alter the abundance of love, joy, peace, over into gluttony. One produces life, the other death. One brings peace, joy, love. The other lust, pain and death. What kind of a trade is that?
I choose life. I choose to live that life God, the real God, intended me to. THat life filled with the purpose of God, and not self. A live lived for HIm and not me. I choose to exult Him as God instead of me.
In Jesus name, amen.

Diamonds or Love from a pure heart, which one will we choose.

I met a man who owned a diamond mine. It's funny, he actually didn't come out and say he owned one, in fact, he really never told me that he did. It was in an airport, not even sure where, Chicago, somewhere in Tx. It was somewhere I had never been before. We both had a long layover, and I sat at a table right next to his, both of us watching as the first presidential debate was ending. This man was in his sixties, and seemed to be in good shape. He spent quite a bit of his time in Africa, and it was a dangerous place. The food he had to watch out for, the people, and he could hardly keep employees, most of the people he could not trust.
This man was willing to risk his life to mine for diamonds in a country he really wasn't wanted in. He felt the prize was worth it. He was willing to give up on relationships here in the states, risk his life in a violent, foreign country, live in relative poverty when traveling there, in Africa, all because of the prize, the prize of diamonds.
He also had dealings in Dubai. Another country where it was safe, but you had to have the right relationships to operate in. Being a white American put him in jeopardy in both countries. Once he had the right relationships, he was able to operate safely, at least in Dubai. His business dealings helped him get the right relationships in the one country, but not really in the other.
Are we willing to risk our lives for the cross of Christ? Do we even take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow after Him? We need to. There's something much more precious than jewels at stake in this life of mine. Christ wants to bring in the riches of love, joy, peace, all the things money can't buy. All of this we have here on this planet, no matter how much of it we have, will all fade away, except those things that really matter.
Let us pursue Love with a pure heart. Not mining for gold, silver, rubies or diamonds, but the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin, that makes us have entrance into heaven. No dirty mines there, just no more tears. This man I met, the one with a diamond mine, he had no relationships, no kids, no immediate family, and the girl he had, they just broke up. Seems this mine is not good for relationships. Which one will we choose, the path that leads to life, where there are few that find it? Or will we be passionate about this world, and the things of this world. Cashing after our diamond mines instead of pursuing Christ, passionately.
I hope we choose life, it's so much better than riches of this life.

God speaks today, as He did before.

Yesterday at 5am I heard God audibly speak my name. We were all as a family sleeping in a hotel room, and when I heard it, everyone stirred, but all stayed asleep! One of my daughters the other day also heard their name called, and turned and saw no one there. I believe God is calling us and like 2,000 years ago as He visited the earth, He is visiting again, and His saints who are His will be receiving an audible voice, calling us by name to follow Him. WIll we say "Speak now, for your servant hears.?" 1 Samuel 3:7-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”

Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle." What will the Lord speak to you?

The USS Cole was bombed October 12, 2000, before Sept 11th, 2001, now known as 911. It killed 17 members of this crew. Before the bombing there were warnings that were ignored, including a group that was allowed on the ship to sell their wares. They were on the boat and noticed a lot of the crew gathering for lunch. The captain of this vessel "Felt strange about them." He now he believes they were spys sent before the bombing. How are we ignoring the warnings of God in our lives?
When God changes us, and we are willing, it's always a good thing. When we harden our hearts and won't listen to his warnings, look out, things get broken. The doctor for the USS Cole was about to have his lunch. After sitting down and praying for his meal, he heard The Lord say "You don't belong here." The good doctor ignored His warning, so He spoke it again. He ignored it again, dismissed it. Then The Lord said "Leave." The doctor did and within 90 seconds a boat loaded with explosives hit right about where the doctor was sitting. God is in control, we just have to listen, and obey. Be like the good doctor and listen, if you're not hearing, then listen better, or get those things out of your life that are causing you not to hear God's voice.

Quiver Full

Psalm 127

New King James Version (NKJV)

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³ Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Wow do I love this chapter. The fruit of the womb is a reward, who turns down that? Reward: Strongs 7939 Hebrew word Sakar: Payment of contract, salary...what is owed you. Who would turn down a pay check? If you work 40 plus hours a week, you wouldn't go in on payday and refuse a paycheck, or turn down a raise. Most of us consider money, or a raise, a blessing, and most of us would never consider turning that down, why would we, it is what is due to us. And yet the Lord does not call money a blessing, but He does call children a blessing. So why do we turn that down, children, a blessing from God? Because we're selfish. 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior...happy is the man whose quiver is full of them....then it talks about speaking with their enemies at the gate, which is an opening where things come out, and things go in. If we give our inheritance away, to be plundered by the enemy, or to be spent on ourselves, what will we have left? 

Goodbye to Beethoven? 

Many people have talked about Beethoven. How his parents chose to have him even though their previous children were born with serious problems. Many people have speculated that if that same situation were to happen today that no one in the right minds would allow that child to even be considered because there had been so many problems with their previous births. So, goodbye Beethoven? There have been studies that show some of our greatest contributors have been the sixth, seventh or even eighth child in a family. Many have wondered what we have missed out on by choosing ourselves to only have 2.5 children. 

It has been said that the average family size is 2.5 children in industrialized nations like America. If we are choosing to not receive the blessing of an eighth child, what type of reward are we turning down? Could it be the one child that would have cared for us enough to take care of us in our old age? Would he or she have discovered the cure for cancer? What did we miss out on by now allowing The Lord full control of how many children we have? 

It is not mine to fashion the arrow. The Lord Himself "molds us and shapes us in our mothers womb." (psalm 119:73. Jeremiah 1:5) If the arrow does not fly true, is it something I as a father have mistakenly placed on them that has caused their miss flight? An arrow is a simply designed thing, much like a mousetrap. It only has 4 parts and each is crucial to it's purpose. There is the head, shaft, fletching (The feathers in back) and notch. (The part where the arrow connects to the bow string)

I do not need to improve on it's design, nor do I =need to add anything to it for its intended purpose. 

But as a dad, I try and do that with my children. I correct them in ways they were never meant to be corrected I end up changing their very design so they no longer fly straight "As an arrow." Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them. 

When I change things with my fleshly understanding instead of the hand of Almighty God doing the fashioning, there can be no good that will come if it. Children, if everything goes right, come out fully fashioned and formed, ready to be those cute little arrows God has planned for them from the beginning. He even has their purposes all laid out, all we have to do as dads is get out of the way and allow Him full control of how, and when they fly.

Think of a falcon about to be release by its master. The falcon sits on the glove, or the post and waits to be released. When it is, it flys and is free. There are no encumbrances to it's take off, just a glove to protect the hand of the master, or a post that it perches on so it's flight is not impeded. 

We impede the flight f our little arrows by our controlling and manipulating them into things that they were not created to be. Isn't it easier to work with the metal when it's hot and ready to be formed rather than a piece of steel that is already hardened and fashioned. God has our children in His hands. If we just listen to His voice and follow His instructions, our little arrows will turn out just fine. 

But what about the prodigal arrow? 

Is it our arrow, or God's? Who fashioned those little arrows, us or Him? Who can add or take away from what God has done? I am reminded of watching a movie that was based on a book by C.S Lewis. They changed it. I heartily dislike that when they do that. You have one of the most gifted writers of our time, and yet someone can come along and think they can make his story better. Do we really think we are better than the Master? Do we really believe we can improve on His design! If we add or take away from God's design it will never be better, and usually it will be a disaster. An arrow was fashioned with one thing in mind. To hit it's intended target. If we try and change the design of our children, who they were made to be, it will never work for their better. If we think we can control their lives and make it better than GOd could if He were in charge, we will never get it right, because He already has it right. he has all their plans already fashioned,He has their lives already mapped out, we just need to come along side His plan or them and support them in what they are supposed to do, and gently, humbly correct them when they get off His track. 

Why do we hold to the first part of the verse above, and not employ the last part? This is a stand alone chapter, this is it, it's very short, and it's all there. There's no misinterpreting, it's all there. Unless The Lord builds the house, we will labor in vain! Unless God guards the city of our hearts and lives, we will watch in vain. God ties children into this verse. How many of us feel heavy burdens that The Lord never intended us to bear simply because we didn't let Him choose our family, and how He wanted it to turn out? What happens when I overstep my bounds and not let my wife do what she was intended to do. Look out, we're in for danger! My wife is one of the most gifted, lovely, honorable, humble women I have ever met. She fulfills the Proverbs 31 version of what a wife and mother are to be as good as anyone I have ever seen. And because God picked her out for me, she is also better suited than anyone in all of creation to fulfill her roll as wife and mother of our children. You know, those sweet little arrows we've been talking about. Their not mine, and their not my wife's, so whose are they anyway? 

I keep think ing it's all about me, and it never has been, or was meant to be. How many of the things do I do, just for me? Tons. What I eat, what I wear, what I watch, listen to. Most of the things throughout my life are for me, but I've always wanted to live my life to serve others, to bless others, so what stops me? My flesh, my old man that was supposed to be crucified with Christ so it's not longer me living, but Christ in me. (Gal 2:20) 

What more do I need? God's building blocks for our house. 

Am I happy my quiver is full of them, children, or am I burdened to even think of having another, after only two have come? Back to Psalm 127. I don't want to labor in vain, yet why am I not willing to fulfill the last part of that scripture, while praying the first part. Think of it. If I don't want more kids, or kids at all, am I being selfish with my time or resources? Have I chose what my family size is based on my perception of God's provision, or am I worried about His lack of provision? Isn't The God who placed the stars in the sky to shine, without even thinking about it, they just shine. Isn't he able to do the same with us? Does He have the authority in your life to build the house the way He wants? If we are interfering with His plans with our lives, do we actually expect God to provide for us, to meet our needs, or should we expect to be laboring in vain? 

How can adding to my already overburdened load, make my load lighter? 

God promises that; Matt 11:"  ²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

This verse is true. No matter what is happening in my life this is true. If we receive His yoke (The work that He has fashioned for us) and receive only His burden for us, it will be easy and light. So this is not baed on a numbering system. So if we allow Him control how many kids we have, it will be an easy yoke and a light burden, it is His promise for us, just like He promises we will labor in vain unless He builds our house. 

What have I done? 

If I am a selfish man, can I really expect my son to be any different? If I am totally given to pride or lust, should I really expect my children to be any different. They will follow my example now matter what I say. Our lives are supposed to examples of "Christ in us the hope of glory." (Col 1:27) If we examine our children, they are like mirrors of ourselves. Look in the mirror, (2 Cor 13:5) examine yourself, are you who God made you to be, that bright shining star whom God has made to shine brightly so that people may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. All of our examples of what we should be is found in Christ, there is not other. So we need to let Him shine through us, let Him work through us, so we can bring glory God, the reason why we're made.