Is this Revival or . . .?

Levels of a Move of God

Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SIGNIFICANT THINGS FROM GOD ARE PRECEDED BY PRAYER, REPENTANCE, HUNGER AND RELIANCE UPON HIM.  YES, GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS WHEN HE WANTS.  YET, THERE IS A “FORMULA” FOR PREPARING THE GROUND OR ATMOSPHERE.

If you create an atmosphere, it develops a climate.  If you establish a climate, it develops a culture.

Please note that verse 14 indicates that in no way can we ever twist God’s arm or force Him to respond.

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

This preparation sets the stage for a potential move of God.  Following this preparation instruction is an outline of 4 levels of a move of God.

1. Refreshing

18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Stage one is refreshing and this is addressed to and for God’s people.  

This involves a time of blessing and increase to remind God’s people who they are and that He is truly their God.

The Lord fights against the enemy of His people and gives His people rest and refreshing.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

God refreshes His people and brings them to a place of rejoicing instead of fear – rejoicing because there is a knowing that He is doing and will continue to do great things.

Anticipation begins to build in this stage as God’s people begin to realize there is more to come.  

There is a promise of an overflowing and abundance.  Hunger is not satisfied but sparked and intensified.

2. Renewal and Restoration

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Stage 2 gets into renewal and restoration.  Not only do God’s people walk in the blessing of His refreshing, they now begin to see lost ground reclaimed.

This transition brings a keen awareness and realization that God is in the midst of His people.

God brings a real satisfaction in His provision.  

Whereas we may not have all that we “want” we are content and pleased in what God has given.  

We will live in praise and thanksgiving, honoring the Lord above our own selves and selfish desires.

The people of God will not lack or be ashamed.  

It is in this time when people will begin to take notice of what God has done and is doing in your life.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

3. Revival

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

This brings us to stage 3 which is revival.  This is when what God is doing begins to really go beyond the people of God.

Revival becomes multi-dimensional, multi-generational, multi-everything.

God in this place is pouring out His Spirit upon all people and not just the people of or within the church.

“Sons and daughters” is at once a reference to natural children as well as a reference to spiritual children.

This place or stage denotes an increase of the Kingdom of God through salvation.  
From a historical standpoint, anything that has been or can be labeled “revival” has ALWAYS been marked by an increase in salvations and the number of people being ministered to by the Spirit of God.

This also involves an increase in the signs and wonders of God in and through His people and those who have been and are being saved.

Revival involves a quicker maturing and usefulness by the believers.

Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

4. Awakening

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

The fourth stage I see is awakening.  

This occurs when what God is doing goes beyond any one location and has national and worldly impact.

Very seldom does something reach this level, often because flesh, fatigue, frustration or fighting get in the way of what God is doing.

This is the extent of what God WILL DO on His own accord in the last days prior to His return.

In acts 19 (listed above) we find that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus.  This was the early hint of an awakening.

After this took place, the 7 sons of Sceva were humiliated by an evil spirit and God’s Word grew in even greater ways.  The revival was deepening and the awakening was in sight.

Acts 19:21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Each stage in the process is more powerful and wonderful than the previous one.  However, many settle for or never move beyond refreshing.

For Mom

My mom passed away on February 20, and today, Monday, February 24, we will lay her to rest. His is my simple memorial for her.

Thank you for your support and love.  We are honored as a family to see first-hand the number of lives that have been touched and impacted by our mom.  Today we celebrate and appreciate the life and legacy of Janet Burton.  Yes, we are saddened by her passing; but, we are also thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a part of her life.

As I have been reflecting on this day and considering what I could possibly say about my mom, there have been several thoughts and ideas come and go.  I was thinking of sharing a story about something and then decided that was the stupidest out.  Another thought I decided against was because it was lob to come out the wrong way.  So I figured I would simply focus on what made mom who she was.

Growing up as one of fourteen children involved some sacrifices for mom and her siblings.  One sacrifice involved a reduction in schooling and education.  Mom’s public education did not extend beyond the 8th grade.  However, anyone who spent any time with her never thought of her as uneducated or under-educated.  Mom was wise and sharp in ways that cannot be taught in books or in a classroom.  

In thinking about this I began to understand some things about my mom and the wisdom in which she walked and carried herself.  Two verses from Proverbs came to light in connection with my mom’s wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  Proverb 9:10

Solomon’s declaration here is that genuine wisdom begins with the fear or respect of the Lord.  I cannot think of a better way to describe mom’s wisdom.  She lived with a healthy fear of God and His power and ability.  In fact I remember many times her doing her part to put that fear of God in my own heart.  I am pretty sure I never deserved it either.  

Growing up at 602 South Holland Street I saw many first-hand examples of the fear or respect of the Lord that mom possessed.  Solomon is not saying here that it is wise to be afraid of God.  Quite the contrary.  The fear of the Lord spoken of here and throughout Scripture speaks of having a respect, awe and appreciation for God that causes you to draw near Him, spend time with Him, and devote your time and energy to His Kingdom.

Of all the things I remember from growing up on Holland Street, there is a plaque that hung in the kitchen for years with a simple statement that is forever engrained in my mind.  The plaque simply said, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past.  Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  That plaque epitomized the life and desire of mom.  It is what drove her.  It is what provided the wisdom in which she lived her life.  That two line statement comes from this poem by C.T. Studd:

“Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ”Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

I cannot think of a more fitting poetic tribute.  Mom lived her life in light of eternity.  She lived in the wisdom that comes from fearing, respecting, and offering herself in worship to her Lord.

The second Proverb that speaks volumes to me in regard to mom’s wisdom is found in the 11th chapter.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.  Proverb 11:30

The declaration is that winning souls to Jesus is a mark and sign of wisdom.  Many times we spend our time, talent and treasure to win everything else in this world, yet continue to find ourselves empty and lacking.  We often work so hard to take care of the outward man while allowing our inner man – our spirit that has been created in the image of God – to waste away.  Our mom had an uncanny ability to see the value of the inner man in every person she met.  

I dare say that most if not all of us who knew her have had at least one conversation with Janet about the Lord, and about your need to invite Him into your heart as your personal Savior.  I am also confident that at some point mom had a conversation with God in prayer about and for you.  For some, like me, she had MANY conversations with God.  I am honored to speak as a minister and at many memorials because of those many conversations with God about me as well as the many conversations with me about God.

I used to get so frustrated whenever mom would tell me or anyone else that when I grew up I was going to be a preacher.  I promised her many times I would be anything but that.  She would smile and tell me we would have to wait and see.  I was confident she was wrong and I would have the last laugh on that subject.  I am glad she was right.  I am glad she did not give up on me.

In a conversation with my mother-in-law she told me that my mom would often approach her asking her to pray for me.  Rozan was wondering if the prayers were ever going to matter, because she was watching my life and the selfish way in which I was living.  But, my mom was convincing (in case you were unaware of that quality), and assured Rozan that I was close to getting my life right with the Lord.  I have never gotten an honest answer from my mother-in-law as to whether she would have prayed as fervently as she did had she known she was praying me into her own family as well as God’s family.  

Mom had this tenacity about her when it came to sharing Jesus with people.  She carried such a burden to see people open their hearts to the Lord and live for Him.  She lived with the realization that our outer man is perishing and we better take care of our inner man.  I can picture mom praying in agreement for so many what Paul told the church in Ephesus he prayed for them:

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit, in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled will all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

Mom was a soul winner.  For that she was wise.  I sat with mom on February 5 and read to her the book of Ruth, her favorite story in the Bible. I caught a glimpse of mom in the story, in the role and person of Naomi. Naomi had such a profound impact on Ruth that she chose to leave her famIly and all that was familiar in order to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi.  Naomi literally had nothing in the natural to offer to Ruth, yet the impact was so strong that Ruth made this powerful and famous declaration:

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16, 17 NKJV)

The impact was not natural or physical. Naomi had left such an impression on Ruth that she was willing to stay with her, follow her God, and model her life after the life of her mother-in-law. That is a Legacy. That  is the type of impact special people have on others. That is the type of impact Janet has had on so many. Mom told me after I read Ruth that she simply wanted God to use her for His glory, to do what He wanted and not what Janet wanted. That was her driving desire. That was her fulfilled purpose. 

If mom were here today, I am sure there are many things she might say to you, to me, or to us.  I am convinced she would say that she loves you.  I am convinced she would “declare” something.  I have a suspicion she might offer to make you something to eat – a cheeseburger, biscuits and gravy, chocolate gravy – whatever happens to be your favorite.  

But what if God in His sovereignty allowed mom to stand before us today and say only three words.  What might those words be today?  Knowing mom and knowing the source of her wisdom and strength, I feel pretty confident that what she would say would simply be this:

DON’T MISS HEAVEN.

I say that because that is who she was.  That is the legacy Janet Burton has left behind.  She was a woman after God’s own heart.  She was a woman after your heart for God.  She was a woman that eight of us had the distinct privilege of calling mom.  She will forever be in our hearts.  She will forever be missed.  May we each carry on the legacy she has left behind.

God bless you.

Receive

Something has occurred to me recently about the average Christian.  Few know how to receive from The Lord.  Instead we work hard to earn what God has given for free.  Consider what Jesus said:

Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Jesus declares that our "requirement" for receiving is asking.  Yet in many ways we have added so much to the simple equation.  God says:

ASKING = RECEIVING

We have decided, however, to "fix" the equation.  Think of some of the things we have added to the asking side.  We say

ASKING +

1. Having the right person pray for us = RECEIVING.

2. Following all of the correct theological stipulations = RECEIVING.

3. Begging and convincing God of our worthiness = RECEIVING.

4. Determining the seriousness of our own need as compared to someone else = RECEIVING.

5. Giving the right amount at the right time = RECEIVING.

The reality is that this is a short list that could go much larger.  We have made difficult so much of what God has declared. He says ask and you shall receive. We must quit adding our thoughts and opinions to the equation. 

Soulish Living

In my previous blog I discussed the concept of walking in a soulish manner as opposed to walking in the Spirit or flesh.  In this blog I want to address some common characteristics that accompany walking in a soulish manner.

1. A person who walks in a soulish manner will have a roller coaster life with  high peaks and low valleys.  The peaks and valleys will also happen rather closely together.

2. A person who walks in a soulish manner will quickly neglect sound biblical truth that does not align with their will, desires or feelings.

3. A person who walks in a soulish manner will pull away from or distance themselves from anyone who speaks truth that is opposed to their stance.

4. A person who walks in a soulish manner will attract others by appearing strong, spiritual and authoritative.  In their opinion others need what they have.

5. A person who walks in a soulish manner will assume their desires and wishes are the voice of God in their life as they have superimposed their will into their prayers.

6. A person who walks in a soulish manner will navigate to and return to whatever gives them the highest peak in their roller coaster ride of life.

There are more characteristics that we will consider in the coming days.  God calls us to walk in the Spirit and to not satisfy their flesh.  Yet many end up living in the middle realm of their soul, and that is a dangerous place to be. 

Walking in the Spirit or . . .

How often do we hear the call to walk in the Spirit? Jesus did it and encouraged it. The first apostles did it and encouraged it.  Paul did it, taught it and encouraged it.

Today we talk about it, but do we do it?

We have come to the place where we are convinced a person either walks in the Spirit or they walk in the flesh.  That causes us to believe that as long as we are not pursuing and constantly gratifying our flesh that WE MUST be walking in the Spirit.

But is that true?

How much of what we call walking in the Spirit is really walking in our souls? How much is driven by the soulish side of us - that which makes up our feelings, our will and our emotions?

We may be free of providing for our flesh and the lusts thereof; but what about our selfish desires and emotionally driven will?  We can so quickly and easily become tied to our soulish nature to where every circumstance of life establishes our spiritual condition. And yet we call that walking in the Spirit. 

We tell ourselves to break through in prayer, but the feelings and drive of our soul can become so strong that we superimpose our own will into our prayer and what we "hear" from God. We find ourselves basing God's leading on our own false pretense.

The answer,  therefore, to this challenge is the Word of God.  The writer of Hebrews says this:

Hebrews 4:12 AMP

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

The Word of God divides the soul and spirit. It brings us to a place of reckoning. It causes us to have our minds renewed. It transforms our lives to a place that is beyond ourselves.

To walk in the Spirit is to walk in God's will. God's will is always found in God's Word.  God's Word possesses the power to get us away from our soulish and selfish desires and into alignment with God's plan.

I Am Losing It

Weight that is . . . .

I had been sensing God dealing with me about being disciplined in all areas of my life, and this was the glaring area of lack.  Therefore, on September 21, 2013, I began a journey of discipline in regards to my eating habits, exercise, and overall physical condition.  I must say it has been the best decision I have made in quite some time.

What Have I Done?

I have not done anything special really.  The primary things that have changed has been portion control and increased exercise and activity.  I have been helped tremendously by a couple of phone apps - MyFitnesPal and Pedometer Pro.

MyFitnessPal has allowed me to track my daily calorie goal and intake as well as cardio and strength exercise.  It helps me to make disciplined decisions on what I eat and how much I eat.  I am so glad I found this app.  I have to give a shout out to Rob Duffie - pastor in Monmouth - who mentioned this app on his Facebook page.  It has been fun to be able to enter lower weight totals and to see my calorie goal shrink as I meet milestones and goals.

Pedometer Pro has been a help in tracking when I walk or jog.  It measures my speed of movement, distance, and calories burned.  When Kim and I first began in September we did quite a bit of outdoor walking and this app was used quite often.  With winter we have not done as much walking, but I am really looking forward to getting back into that come spring.

I must also say that we have "played" The Biggest Loser on Wii as a form of exercise.  This has worked on core, upper & lower body, and even thrown in some Yoga stretching.  I will no longer assume yoga stretching is for sissies.  :)  Recently, we have added a 30-day challenge video by Jillian Michaels.  It is quite intense and I am starting to notice how it is helping tone some areas of my body which is much needed.

I keep saying "WE" because I am excited that my wife decided to join me on this journey.  Very glad we are doing this together.  She encourages me tremendously.

What Do I Eat?

Pretty much whatever I want.  The only thing I have completely eliminated is soda.  I have always been a HUGE fan of Mountain Dew.  Early on, however, I realized a large from Taco Bell was worth 410 of my daily calories and decided I didn't want to drink my daily goal.  :)

Other than that I have become more disciplined in terms of portion control.  MyFitnessPal allows us to see the caloric value of the food we are about to eat.  With that I pre-determine how much I am going to eat.  I have learned that I do not have to leave the table stuffed.  I can leave the table with a slight feel of hunger and that is not going to destroy me.  The hardest portion control for me has been sweets and desserts.  I love desserts.  I still have them from time to time, but not in a binge way like I did many times before.  Moderation is key for me.

Something else I have changed is consistency of having breakfast and adding in healthy snacks.  Who knew I would have such an affinity for granola bars???  Fruit has also become more of a consistent staple in our home.  I do not feel like I am missing out at all in terms of eating.  We still do our fair share of eating out, having pizza, devouring a steak, etc.  I just do not make eating such an adventure any more.  :)

What Are the Results?

Since beginning this journey on September 21, 2013 I have personally lost 35 pounds.  I have gone from a 38 waist pant to a 34 waist.  I have begun buying and wearing Large shirts instead of XL.  I have added many holes to my belts (next on the list to buy).  I have given away suits that no longer fit, as my size changed from 48 Regular to 44 Regular.

Beyond those changes, I feel great.  I have a higher level of energy.  I have more confidence.  I generally feel better.  I have come to greatly enjoy exercise.  I must say that I plan to remain on this journey for the rest of my life.

My goal at the outset was to lose 50 pounds.  I would still like to get to that place, but losing weight has become more difficult.  I find myself focusing in on muscle toning and burning away more fat.  I know if I am going to reach my goal it is going to require greater effort and even more eating discipline.  Plus, I realize it is going to require patience which is not a strength of mine.  :)

I think my most favorite part about this is that I have done this during the last quarter of the year - during holiday season.  I enjoyed Halloween candy, Thanksgiving feasting, and Christmas goodies in a healthy and disciplined way.  I even came home from our Christmas trip to find I had lost 2.5 pounds that week.  That stuff will keep me motivated.

Well, I have had many questions about what I have been doing to lose weight.  I thought this might be the best way in which to give the details and information.  Thanks for your support.  Thanks for reading this blog.  If anyone has any questions or wants more information or even accountability on their own journey, please let me know.  I am not an expert.  I am not a trainer.  I have simply found what works for me and I love it.

Thanks!  God bless!  Happy New Year!
Rodney

Oh How We COULD Harmonize!

For years I have preached, taught and stressed the need for and importance of unity.  While I still adhere to those convictions I have come to realize that we often have a misconstrued understanding of unity.

In many ways we wrongfully assume that in order for there to be unity among a group of people, it means they all must be doing the same thing.  It feeds an idea that any level of disagreement to the established “way” is discord and division, and the person responsible must acquiesce or be shot.  Well maybe not that extreme – but close.

How effective, however, is a unity that is forced?  In what way does that genuinely benefit anyone?  Unity from a standpoint of harmony has become my focus, drive and desire.  Before going any further let me define both words.

Unity can be defined as “a condition of harmony.”  It can also be defined as “the quality or state of being made one,” otherwise known as unification. [1]

Harmony for our purposes is best defined as a “pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts.” [2]

What I believe is often called unity is actually a desire for unification.  While I agree that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, we also must realize that without the parts there would be no whole.  The whole is made better by the characteristics of the parts.  Therefore, genuine unity is a condition based upon a pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts.

In Acts 2 we are told that when the Day of Pentecost came the believers were “with one accord” (2:1).  A look into the Greek of this word “accord” brings this important nugget to light.

A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community.  Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “rush along” and “in unison.”  The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone.  As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church. [3]

This is harmony.  This does not speak of unification or unity that is forced or fabricated.  This is what we as the church are called to by God.  The intent of unity is to meld together the various passions and gifts of each person into a common passion and goal.

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[1] Merriam-Webster

[2] Merriam-Webster

[3] www.blueletterbible.org