Starting Over

For 9 years now I have been trying to get rid of the extra baby weight. I know - 9 years is a very long time. My biggest problem is consistency - I start well but seldom finish well. For the amount of money that I have spent since 2000, I should have been very fit but it isn't the case.

I have a gym membership since 2000. I must be Bally's kind-of-customer - you know the one who gets excited at the very beginning - purchased a membership and wait for another year to set foot in the gym again.

I have purchased a treadmill which I later sold because you know - it was not being put to good use.

I had a personal trainer last July and it worked out well and why didn't I continue on my own doing what I learned- I don't any excuse for that either.

Today, I acquired the following:

And this:

and this too:
I started today. Again. And if you are shaking your head in disbelief and can't quite believe this sad tale - I covet your prayers for consistency.

Thank you in advance.

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Jesus Hears...

When You Speak, God Hears
by Max Lucado

Those who pray keep alive the watch fires of faith. For the most part we don't even know their names. Such is the case of someone who prayed on a day long ago. His name is not important. He is important not because of who he was, but because of what he did.

He went to Jesus on behalf of a friend. His friend was sick, and Jesus could help, and someone needed to go to Jesus, so someone went. Others cared for the sick man in other ways. Some brought food; others provided treatment; still others comforted the family. Each role was crucial. Each person was helpful, but no one was more vital than the one who went to Jesus.

John writes: "So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick'" (John 11:3, emphasis mine).

Someone carried the request. Someone walked the trail. Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus. And because someone went, Jesus responded.

In the economy of heaven, the prayers of saints are a valued commodity. John the apostle would agree. He wrote the story of Lazarus and was careful to show the sequence: The healing began when the request was made.

The phrase the friend of Lazarus used is worth noting. When he told Jesus of the illness, he said, "The one you love is sick." The power of the prayer, in other words, does not depend on the one who makes the prayer but on the one who hears the prayer.

We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. "The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed." The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven so he won't miss a word. The Master heard the request. Jesus stopped whatever he was doing and took note of the man's words. This anonymous courier was heard by God.

John's message is critical. You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God--and he listens.

Intently. Carefully. The prayers are honored as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. "The smoke from the incense went up from the angel's hand to God" (Rev. 8:4). Incredible. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.

One call and heaven's fleet appears. Your prayer on earth activates God's power in heaven.

You are the someone of God's kingdom. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don't need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!

When you speak, Jesus hears.

And when Jesus hears, the world is changed.

All because someone prayed.

From
For These Tough Times:
Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope and Healing

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The LORD Is His Name

I am on my 3rd scripture memorization with a goal to hide 2 scriptures every month for the year. This one is from the prophet Jeremiah and reads as follows:

“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:2-3

It’s been a great adventure memorizing scripture for 2009. The accountability is helping me to stay on track. I don’t get to pick which scriptures to hide in my heart – they seem to resonate with me during my Bible study. And Jeremiah 33:2-3 is no exception.

I first set out to memorize verse 3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do know” and in reading the entire portion, I quickly realized I had to add verse 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name”. As I read it over and over – this part stuck: The Lord is his name. I kept pondering over the emphasis of the Lord is his name. I kind of know that but wonder why the Lord wanted His people to know very well that the Lord is his name.

In going over my scripture, I will say something along the line: Myriam call to the Lord and He will answer you but remember the Lord is his name. In the NASB version, it reads “the LORD is his name”. The LORD is the name God first reveals Himself to Moses when He sent him to see Pharaoh. It is God’s covenant Keeping name “Jehovah”. The LORD is his name – in Exodus, He said ‘This is My name forever, and this is My memorial name to all generations”. He is the “I AM WHO I AM”, the Alpha and the Omega, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

When we need assurance, the LORD is there and He will keep His promises because He cannot change. He is the compassionate God, the gracious One who abounds in loving-kindness and truth, and slow to anger.

Trust in His name because the LORD is his name. This is your Jehovah!

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