Stepping Out In Faith... update

So..... I got my pretty summer top in the mail this week. And unfortunately it fits a bit tighter than what I like to wear my tops, but I was able to get it on- so that is good. It is a good thing though- because it is a goal- by next summer I will be able to wear this top. I have a favorite pair of "Smith" capri's that I am working towards wearing as well. I am so very happy to have these things to work towards.

Goals are good. They help keep you on track. When situations arise - you are able to make better choices especially if you have goals. So I continue on in my journey to lose weight.

Oh and since it is almost the beginning of another month - I will give an up date on weight loss. I have lost a total of 12 pounds! Basically about a pound a week which is a pretty good pace. I know that the weight could be lost quicker - but I am doing a life style change - something that will out last the weight loss and in order to stick with the whole journey - I have to live in a way that I can live with the rest of my life. This means that sometimes I will have meals that fall under the title of a cheat meal. And that is alright. Especially if it is special occasions and not all the time. Ever so often my husband and I are in the mood for a soda- so we split a 12 oz can of root beer. Or I am in the mood for dark chocolate(which reminds me - I need to get some put on my grocery list) and so I allow myself to have some. We also get sugar free fudge pops that are low in sugar and fat and that is a desert ever so often.

Losing weight at a slower pace also allows your skin to keep up with the weight lose and you end up with much less skin sagging. Anyway I am thankful for my weight loss and I know it is only because of the help from God. I pray and ask Him to guide and direct me each day and to help me make good choices. I also try to remember to pray before I eat and ask Him to help the meal to be satisfying.

Anyway there you have it - I have a cute outfit that I will have to wear next year. And when I put it on I will instantly be able to see how far I have come in this journey. And I have happy to have lost 12 pounds. I am 38 pounds away from my goal of 50 by 50. Yay!

Beloved names of God.... Alpha and Omega

Beloved Names of God

 

Alpha and Omega

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelations 22:13 KJV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as "Alpha and Omega" four times in the KJV.
• Alpha and Omega are the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet, the language the earliest known versions of the New Testament books were written in.
• While in exile on the Isle of Patmos, John had a two-part vision, or revelation, in which Jesus asked him to take a warning to the seven churches and revealed to him the end times. Jesus begins His important message to John with these words: "I am Alpha and Omega."

 

Jesus isn't shy about proclaiming His divinity in Revelation. As well as being alpha and omega, beginning and end, first and last, HE also tells John He is the Almighty, a term unequivocally reserved for God.

 

Not only was Jesus there when we were born and will be there when we die, likewise He was there when the world was born, and He will bring it all to a glorious end when He finally calls us home.



Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You Life Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good.... Golden Rule 1 part 2

Take 10~

Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You

 Life Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good

by Leo R. Van Dolson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

 

The Cancer Plague Illustrates This Law

Although, at this writing, heart disease still is the number one killer in the United States, cancer is fast catching up and soon may be in first place. Experts in the United States have learned that at least 85 percent of cancer can be prevented by measures that help cut down on the known causes of this terrible plague. How does cancer hit the body? A single cell, triggered by a bit of radiation, a trace of toxic chemical, a virus or a random error in the transcription of the cell's genetic message begins, an abnormal patter of growth. It ay continue to proliferate wildly, forming a tumor that expands into healthy tissue, competing with normal cells for nutrition. Then it may slip away stealthily, extending finger-like probes into the bloodstream finally establishing a beachhead on healthy tissue where it begins to prosper at the expense of neighbor cells, dividing and forming new tumors. It tricks nearby cells into forming blood vessels that feed it and produces a spiny armor that kills marauding immune cells. Eventually it invades and destroys vital organs, incapacitating them and at times bringing death. This dread scenario occurs with increasing frequency. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 600,000 in the U.S. will die each year from cancer and even more new victims will come down with this disease. Does cancer sound like a plague? It is! But there also is GOOD NEWS! Most cancer is preventable. Why this is so can be seen when we look at its causes. 

 

1. Smoking~ Smoking accounts for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Those smoking two or more packs of cigarettes per day have mortality rates 15-25 times that of non-smokers.
2. Nutrition~ Risk for colon, breast, and uterine cancer increases in obese people. High-fat diets may contribute to the development of cancers of the breast, colon, and prostate.
3. Alcohol~ Oral cancers and cancers of the larynx, throat, esophagus, and liver occur more frequently among heavy drinkers of alcohol.
4. Estrogen~ Estrogen treatment to control menopausal symptoms may increase risk endometrial cancer.
5. Radiation~ Excessive exposure to ionizing radiation can increase cancer risk.
6. Sunlight~ Almost all of the more than 600,000 cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer diagnosed every year in the U.S. are considered to be sun-related.

Note that tobacco use and harmful diet account for about two-thirds of cancers. Most of the factors listed above are areas in which cancer can be prevented if we avoid cancer-triggers. Cancers greatest cause is know to be a poor diet which causes about 35 percent of all cancers. The American Cancer Society spells out five protective dietary factors:

 

1. Eat More Cabbage-family vegetables:

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Kale

Protects against:

Colorectal

Stomach

Respiratory Cancers

 

2. Add More High-Fiber Foods:

Whole grains

Fruits

Vegetables

Protects Against:

Colon Cancer

 

3. Choose Foods with Vitamin A:

Carrots

Peaches

Apricots

Squash

Broccoli

Protects Against:

Esophagus

Larynx

Lung Cancers

 

4. Choose Foods With Vitamin C:

Grapefruit

Cantaloupe

Oranges

Strawberries

Red and green peppers

Broccoli

Tomatoes

Protects Against:

Esophagus

Stomach cancers

 

5. Add Weight Control:

Exercise

Low fat

Low calorie diet

Protects Against:

Uterus

Gallbladder

Breast

Colon cancers

 

To summarize, a proper, well-balanced diet is one of the most important means of cutting down the risk of cancer. We need to adopt a low-fat, low cholesterol, low calorie, high-fiber diet that is rich in vitamins and phytochemicals.

 

We need to be aware of the 7 warning signals of cancer. If you notice any of these you should see your doctor right away.

 

CANCER'S 7 WARNING SIGNALS

1. Change in bowel or bladder habits
2. A sore that does not heal
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge
4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
6. Obvious change in wart or mole
7. Nagging cough or hoarseness

 

Considering the astronomical costs associated with cancer treatment, and ounce of prevention is worth thousands of pounds of cure. The more steps you take to prevent cancer, the more years will be added to your life and the more life will be added to your years. Taking control of lifestyle is key to feeling better and reducing cancer risk.

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I would like to add my own two cents to this post - I truly believe that a big factor in cancer is STRESS. And I think that another important way to help prevent cancer is to learn to trust in God more and more.

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6



 

I am going to be working on a study of trusting God and I may be sharing some of it with you all here on my blog.

 

Come back on Friday when we will finish up this chapter and have our Bible Study Guide for this chapter. I will see you then.

Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good...series.... Golden Rule 1 part 1

 

Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help

 You Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good

BY Leo R. Van Dolson, Ph.D, M.P.H.

 

 

Golden Rule 1. The Law of Cause and Effect

The Banquet of Consequences

Susan Soseau goes through life half well. Some days she's "up and at 'em," but all too often she's "down and out." Her doctors can't find anything specific to do about this, other than give her a little extra thyroid. But even taking her pills faithfully doesn't seem to help Susan much. It wouldn't be accurate to say that Susan is really sick, but neither could one say that she's really well. True health and a sense of well-being seem to elude her.

 

Millions limp along through life like Susan. The sad part is that it doesn't have to be this way. It is not God's will that there be so much sickness. In 3 John 2 the inspired writer echoes God's desire for His people: "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health" (R.S.V.)

 

Reasoning from cause to effect, we see that what is done today has quite an effect on what tomorrow will be like. Of course, one of the problems with our understanding of health consequences is t hat even "burning the candle at both ends" doesn't cause hear trouble in one week. Most likely it will take about 20 years of smoking 2 packs of cigarettes per day before a fatal case of lung cancer or emphysema develops. So smokers take out a long term mortgage against health - their most valuable personal asset.

 

Samuel Johnson is quoted as saying that "the present is the consequence of the past" and Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have put it this way: "Sooner or later we must all sit down to a banquet of consequences." What kind of banquet is that? Obviously, it's one that we prepare for ourselves. Will your banquet of consequences be luscious? Or will you merely pick away at the dried bones of bitterness, and hungrily settle for the crumbs of defeat? The consequences are your own.

 

Why is there so much illness and disease everywhere? Simply put, when an individual violates the golden rules God has given for the preservation of life and health he/she, naturally, suffers the consequences. But this is not intended to make you feel guilty. The good news is that YOU can make your banquet of consequences the very best possible if you take the law of cause and effect seriously.

 

The golden rules of life and health are written on every nerve, muscle and faculty which have been entrusted to us. They imply the promise of happiness and well-being, but only if they are understood and applied. It is most important, then to make an honest attempt to understand what these golden rules are all about and put them to work in our lives.

 

In studying the significance of the laws of life to see how each applies to specific areas of life style, we could make suggestions, but they might not be the ones that actually fit your particular circumstances and needs. The best approach will be for you to apply these golden rules for yourself.

 

Cause and Effect

The law of cause and effect underlies all the other golden rules. When we violate the laws the Creator has given for the preservation of health and happiness, the inevitable consequences result. These laws work either for us or against us. By following them carefully, we can expect the most out of life. To know them and use them, to work in harmony with them, is to release undreamed of potential- we feel better, get along with others better, and our lives are brought into focus. Each action produces a result on every aspect of life- affecting the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well being.  

 

There's no need to go into great detail about how the golden rule of cause and effect operates. You know about it already. You've had health rules drummed into your ears. "Don't smoke, you'll get lung cancer." "Don't overeat, you'll get obese and die younger." "Drive safely." Most of us have learned that these warning are too true.

 

Donald John puts the results of our choices as these interesting terms: "God made people to work in a certain way. And he no more slaps them down for eating forbidden apples than Henry For does when we use the wrong kind of gas. Disease, hurt feelings, disappointments, are not the result of an immature God getting mad at capricious creatures. They are simply the natural results of man choosing less than the best. Far less."~ Insight July 1974, p. 8.

Not all disease is preventable. One law of life that we cannot do much about is heredity. The unhealthful practices of previous generations have their effects on each of us today. Of course, geneticists are trying to identify and correct the codes of some of the genes that cause health problems but so far, at least, cannot keep them from forming to start with. There also are health problems that can be linked to factors beyond our personal control, such as pollution and nuclear explosions'. But, in spite of these, much illness results from overt violation of the laws of health. Fortunately, God has endowed the human body with the capacity to resist disease, but we must cooperate by learning the laws of health and using them effectively.

The golden rules for healthful living, when followed consistently, pay rich dividends indeed. Do you want to be able to do whatever you've chosen to do in life consistently well and with real efficiency? Do you want to wake up each morning feeling on top of the world? It is possible if you'll let the law of cause and effect work FOR you instead of AGAINST you.
********************************************************
Come back tomorrow and I will continue with this book in a section about cancer- and things you can do to protect yourself. :O)
 



 

 

 



A MIserable Place to Be

Maybe miserable is too strong of a word to use here, but the truth is I have seen people who have been so self-focused, spending so much time on self-examination that they have been miserable. And to be honest, I think we all can fall into this trap. I have found myself in the pit of self-centeredness before, more often than I would like to admit, in fact. A really good example of this happened last week, I had a really touch weekend. I had some personal issues that I was dealing with, and on top of that a hawk got into our chicken coop. Thankfully I noticed him and was able to get out there and scare him off but not before he had terrorized all of my chickens. It did not help that one year ago, on the same exact week, that dogs had gotten into our chicken pen and had caused carnage all through the pen killing about 20 of our chickens. All of these circumstances made me turn more self-ward and feel sorry for myself.

At this point I decided to work on a quilt that I needed to finish for someone. That helped a  little bit; I wasn't so deep in the pit at this point. But when joy came back into my soul was a couple of days later. And I will share how that happened.

I had the opportunity to help a few people. People who had the means to bless me as well. And then God brought not just one, but two different people into my path that:

 #1 needed my help

and

 #2 did not/do not have the means to bless me or pay me back.

And when I did what I was able to o to help them God blessed me with joy in my soul. No longer was I only concerned with my own well-being, by being self-centered. My head was out of my own naval and I was able to see the needs around me. It was a much better place to be. It reminded me to keep my focus on Jesus- when my focus is turned to self, that is when I am miserable.

 

Do I want to be miserable? No, then the best thing I can do is to not worry so much about my problems, leave those things to Jesus to take care of. He can do a much better job at dealing with my problems than I can. And when I am Jesus focused, I find more joy in my life.

 

Self-centered= miserable

Jesus focused= joy and happiness

 

Come to the Garden...An Invitation to Serenity

Come to the Garden...An Invitation to Serenity

by:

JoAnna O'Keefe

 

 

I

feel rootless

Like rolling tumbleweed, 

Moving, moving, moving

Dizzy, from the speed

 

 

I have no peace, no quietness,

I have no rest, but only turmoil.

Job 3:26

 

My days are swifter than a runner:

they fly away without a glimpse of joy.

Job 9:25

 

The churning inside me never stops;

days of suffering confront me.
Job 30:27

 

Stepping Out In Faith

Hey - two posts in one day! That is something that I have not done in a long time. But I had a great idea about a post and I just had to share.
*********************************
A couple to even several years ago, I found a great red and white sleeveless St. Johns Bay summer top. And it probably only cost me about $3.99. I loved it! I got plenty of wear out of it, until yesterday.....

It's a sad story really. I mean - I am wearing my favorite top. And the fact that I have lost about 10 pounds had made it fit me even better than before, made it even more sad when the unthinkable happened...

I was taking a bag of trash out the door and my storm door handle, maybe, grabbed the top and tore...probably a 5 inch section of the top.....

I was so sad. My sister suggested that I check Ebay out to see if I could find another one. Well I found 2 - one was a 3X like the one I was wearing, but it was black and white. Then I found a 2X one that was white and navy. I debated back and forth on should I get one? If so what size? And then I had a hard time with paying the amount of money they were asking - it was well over the 3.99 I had paid for my red and white one.

Well I ended up listening to a great program on the radio on my way home from a trip to town. And the man was speaking about weight loss and that if you believe you can - you can. And if you believe you can't - you won't. And well... I decided that I would step out in faith and order the 2X top and continue to work towards wearing it. It is brand new with tag and I am so excited that it is navy blue and white- Navy is one of my favorite colors to wear.  Here is a photo of it:

 

I also got a great idea about another blog post that I am hoping to get written up by next week called "The HOV Lane to Weight Loss" be sure to keep on eye out for that one it is sure to be good!

Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good...series...Introduction part 2

Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You

 Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good

 

By Leo R. Van Dolson, Ph.D, M.P.H.

 

 

Introduction part 2

 

Feeling Good and Looking Good

 

The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Obviously, this definition is incomplete as it leave out one significant dimension of life and health- the spiritual. These dimensions of life are so inter-related that what affects one affects all the others. The entire mind, body, and soul is involved when disease strikes. That means that health, too, involves all four dimensions of life. We cannot be complete and whole unless we are well physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. As you make these applications, you will discover that you not only feel better but look better, too.

 

Wilbur Wright arrived in France in 1908 intent on demonstrating the superiority of his flying machine over the experimental French models. Because the French were committed to defending their claim of priority in flight, there was quite a bit of hostility toward Wilbur. When a catapult shot him 30 feet into the air to begin his flight the large crowd of spectators at Le Mans gasped with surprise. They were used to seeing long and often unsuccessful takeoffs. When his flight machine dipped its wing, banking for a turn, the crowd panicked. they'd never seen an aircraft turning life that and thought Wilbur was going to crash. When he continued to gracefully circle the field, their fright turned into wild cheering. After he landed, they mobbed him, everyone trying to shake his hand at once. The Wright brothers clearly had come up with a superior airplane. Something better speaks for itself. BETTER is not something BITTER. Often people think that a good health habit involves that which doesn't taste good or doesn't feel good. But actually what's good for you will make you look good, feel good, and enjoy life more during the additional years you will gain.

 

The Laws of Life and Health

Because the Creator established the golden rules of life and health we are studying, our main source for understanding these laws is the Bible. At the end of each chapter we will append a Bible Study Guide that develops these laws and illustrates their application in the physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions of life.

 

Nearly a century before a  healthful lifestyle became a significant issue in the United States, a remarkable woman named Ellen White wrote and lectured extensively about health. She was so far ahead of her time that many current scholars in the field of nutrition and health marvel at the insights this relatively uneducated writer displayed. Even today, when there is so much controversy over particular areas of emphasis in health research. Ellen White's voluminous writing on these topics are recognized as being remarkably accurate. Her writing challenge the reader to become acquainted with the Biblical laws of health and to apply these principles on a daily basis. What did Ellen White consider constituted a law of life and health? A careful study of what she has written reveals that a natural law applies across the board--physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Thus the law of activity (exercise) can readily be seen to apply to physical development, mental alertness, the development of social graces, and spiritual growth. Without exercising these powers regularly we lose some of our ability to function completely. Either we use these powers or we lose them.

 

We should not confuse the laws of life and health with their limited applications. For example, we need to drink an adequate amount of water daily and use it externally to keep clean and fresh. Nevertheless, proper use of water is an application of the laws of health rather than a natural law in and of itself. several of the laws can be seen to include applications of the use of water as a benefit to health.

 

We have identified ten basic laws of life and health in the Bible and in the writing of Ellen White. These dynamic golden rules that we will be studying include the following:

1. Cause and Effect
2. Rest and Restoration
3. Activity and Growth
4. Temperance and Self-control
5. Order and Cleanliness
6. Regularity and Balance
7. Supply and Distribution
8. Positive Living
9. A Healthy Respect for God's Property
10. Nothing Lives to Itself(Law of Life for the Universe)  

When the capitalized first letters are put together they form an acronym- the Creator's Plan for Health and Happiness.

 

Bible Study Guide

 

In order to get an overall view of the ten great principles of life and health that we will study in this book, we turn to the Scriptures to give us a clue as to what they are. In the first part of Romans Paul outlives the plan of salvation. In Romans 12:1-2 he begins to put the gospel into working clothes. A modern paraphrase helps us understand how interested God is in helping us get the most out of life. "Now that you understand how God's plan works...this is the next step I urge: Accept it. Dedicate yourselves to becoming living, breathing testimonials to His new holy way of life. This demonstration of making God number one in your life will not only please Him, it will make good sense to you too. Because it means that instead of letting the worlds around you shape your thinking, you are opening up your mind and becoming receptive to all the pure and beautiful and fulfilling things God wants you to experience." _ Richard A. Swaney, Out of Darkness, Light!, p. 49.

(The KJV of the Bible is used for these verses)



1. Cause and Effect:

Galatians 6:7, "Whatsoever a man____________________, that shall he also ____________________." 

Every time a seed is sown a harvest results, based on the kind of seed planted. This applies across the board, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. This, and the other great principles of life and health, work for us or against us, depending on how we choose to relate to them.

 

2. Rest and Restoration:

Mark 6:31, "Come ye yourselves apart......, and ____________________ awhile."

Psalm 23:3 "He _________________________ my soul."

Here is a find prescription for the prevention and healing of physical, mental, social, and spiritual ills.

3. Activity and Growth:

2 John 8 "Look to yourselves, that we _____________ not those things which we have wrought, but that we ____________________ a full reward."

Matthew 25:29, " For unto every one that ______________ shall be given, and he shall have __________________ but from him that ________________________________ shall be taken away even that which he hath."

This Bible verse is found in the parable of the talents. Because the servant failed to use what he had been given it was taken away from him. These verses outline the great principle of life that we lose what we do not use. Activity is a law of life. Strength is acquired by effort. Development cannot take place without proper use of our physical, mental, social, or spiritual faculties.

 

4. Temperance and Self- control:

 

1 Corinthians 9:25,27, "Every man that striveth for the mastery is _______________________ in all things....I keep under my body and bring it into _____________________________________."

Much of illness is brought on by intemperate use of those things that even might be good in themselves.

 

5. Order and Cleanliness:

1 Corinthians 14:40. "Let all things be done decently and in _____________."

Isaiah 52:11. "Be ye ____________________."

Pollution of any kind is destructive, but cleanliness and order contribute to many phases of total health.

6. Regularity and Balance:

Genesis 8:22. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and ________________, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and _______________ and night shall not _____________________."

Job 37:16. "Dost thou know the ________________________ of the clouds?"

Built-in mechanisms keep our internal and external environment in as steady a state as possible.

 

7. Supply and Distribution:

Philippians 4:19. "My God shall ______________ all your need."

Without adequate nourishment and proper distribution of the substances essential to life there could be no life. Our challenge is to husband our resources, using what has been provided equitably.

 

8. Positive Living:

Proverbs 17:22. "A merry heart doeth good like a ________________________; but a broken spirit ______________________ the bones."

Psalm 16:11. "Thou wilt shew me the path of _____________; in thy presence is fullness of _____________; at they right hand there are _________________________forevermore."

In every aspect of life, positive attitudes and corresponding actions help prevent and even heal disease.

 

9. Respect for God's Property:

Matthew 22:39. "Thou shalt love they neighbor as ________________________."

A sense of self-worth is basic to health. It motivates us to care for our bodies, gives us a sense of security, thus contributing to mental health, and enables us to love others.

 

10. Nothing Lives To Itself(Law of Live for the Universe):

Luke 6:38. "Give and it shall be ______________ unto you; Good _______________, pressed down, and shaken together, and ________________over."

The more we give, the better we live. To the verse "Cast they bread upon the waters" (Eccl. 11:1) once voice of experience added "it will come back to you buttered!"

 

Beloved Names of God.... Potter

 

Beloved Names of God

Potter

 

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay,

 and thou are potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Isaiah 64:8 KJV

 

• Name of God the Father
• The comparison between God as Creator and the potter as a creator is made several times in the Bible, but God is addressed as the "potter" only once.
• Human potters make useful vessels from he clay of the earth. In creating Adam from the earth, God could be described as the first potter.
• In a vision, Isaiah foresaw times of tribulations for Judah and Jerusalem. Seeing cities destroyed and the people enslaved, Isaiah tells God they deserved it, but also pleads with Him not to punish His people endlessly. 

Life is full of change. We try to resist it, but often the greatest, most positive changes come from the most traumatic events; events that, given the choice, we would probably avoid repeating.

 

In a similar way we can theorize that the clay on a potter's wheel would probably rather stay in the ground. Instead, it is dug out, processed, shipped, sold, soaked, beaten, stretched, and manipulated on its way to becoming something useful- or perhaps even a work of art.

 

In our own lives, what we perceive as punishment often isn't. Like clay, the Potter puts us on His wheel of life and forms us according to the true purpose for which we were created. It may be a messy, difficult process, but we can trust our Potter to build us up to our full potential.

 



Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You LIve Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good.....series introduction part 1

Once again I have found a great book. One that I think many of you would benefit from so I have decided to do a series on this book. There is quite a bit of information in this book and I am hoping that it will be something that will help each and every one of us along this journey called life.

This week we will be looking at the Introduction to the book. I will be dividing it into two parts since it is so long. I have not decided for sure how I will do the chapters - I might divide them into to parts as well since they are lengthy as well.

 

Take 10~

Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You

 Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good

by Leo R. Van Dolson, Ph.D, M.P.H.

 

 

 

How would you like to live longer, feel great, and look good? What's exciting is that you can-- you really can! It's not all that difficult either. All you have to do is to become acquainted with and put into practice the ten simple dynamic golden rules that we share with you in this book. Many of them you probably are aware of and practicing already, even if it's only to a limited extent. But if you're not following them, stop cheating yourself and begin to get the most out of life.

 

Not long ago the chemicals in the human body were estimated to have a total value of about 98 cents. Thanks to inflation, the same chemicals would sell now for about $10.00. Harold Morowitz, a professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, calculated some years ago what the value of the human body would be if constructed from supplies bought in the open market at that time. He came up with the astounding figure of $6,000,015.44 for a medium size human body. What made the difference? He included a number of exotic substances not included in the earlier estimates. One if bradykinin that sells for $12,000 a gram and a follicle-stimulating hormone that retails at $4.8 million on the open market. (See Eternity, Oct., 1980. p.19.) Would you like to be a multi-millionaire? You already are!

 

Our bodies are worth a lot more than we may have thought. The challenge is to get our body's worth-- to begin to appreciate and care for these wonderful and expensive bodies as something very precious.

One way to do this would be to make a heroic effort to learn all possible health rules. But there are so many health choices today that we are perplexed by constantly changing advice as scientist learn more about what's good for us. The easier way is to learn the basic principles that govern life and health and to use common sense in applying them as best we can to various circumstances. This book develops ten golden rules of life and health that are easy to remember and apply.

 

We live in an age when it is unpopular to discuss rules and standards. Somehow people think these rules inhibit their freedom rather than protect it. But there are rules to every game. There has to be, or we wouldn't have games! And there are rules --great principles designed for our good--in winning the game of life. There is but one purpose behind them all, that is to enable us, when we play the game straight, to achieve the highest development of our physical, mental, social, and spiritual potential. Yet too often we see these as rather senseless and arbitrary rules which are challenging to break. And if that's all there is to them it would be a rather exciting game to try to break them and see how much we could get by with. But the trouble with that philosophy is that it isn't just rules that we break, it's ourselves. And often we don't realize this until it's too late.

 

Consider the terrible cost involved in failing to pay attention to these golden rules. Some years ago I was shocked to lean of the unexpected death of a friend who had been my major professor during my doctoral studies. My dissertation was based on research in the field of health education. One area of particular interest was the field of motivation. This professor challenged me to develop a conceptual model that would help predict health-behavior change. We chose smoking cessation to illustrate the model. Although a chain smoker himself, the professor was keenly interested in this project. He made several suggestions that greatly strengthened the model. His enthusiasm emboldened me to ask him why it was that, while he seemed to understand so clearly the reason for stopping smoking, he continued to puff away on cigarettes.

 

"Oh, I enjoy smoking," he said.
I know it doesn't do me any good' in fact, it's detrimental to my health. But I really enjoy smoking and don't want to quit." That was the first of several conversations during which we earnestly discussed his smoking habit. Two years later I learned that he had died at the young age of 45 from lung cancer. What a terrible price to pay for clinging to a death- dealing habit just because he enjoyed

it!

 

Health-destroying habits often seem enjoyable. We wouldn't be doing what we're doing unless we were getting some sort of satisfaction out of them. But who is being hurt? Mainly ourselves. A golden rule of life is not one that we can keep on breaking with impunity. The day of reckoning will come-- and along with it the realization that the person we've cheated the most is self.

 

But that's the negative side. Look at the bright promise on the other side. The rules for healthful living, when followed consistently, pay rich dividends indeed. Do you want to be able to d whatever you've chosen to do in life consistently well and with real efficiency? Do you desire greater strength and energy? Do you want to be happy and cheerful? Who wouldn't?

 

It is possible to be as vital and alive at 61 as at 16. We can enjoy each day to its fullest. We can arise each morning with renewed vigor and strength, bubbling over with enthusiasm and energy. This n not accomplished by he use of some magic potion, elixir, or will-of-the-wisp fountain of youth, but by carefully applying the simple basic principles that govern life and heath. Together we'll discover ten of them. Each discovery will become a magic key that will open a treasure chest full of the riches of life and enable us to get along better and enjoy life much more.

 

It's easy to settle quickly for less than the best in life. As long as we seem to get along all right we can't be bothered about the fact that we're missing so much that is available. Most of us expend more time and strength n taking care of our houses and cars than we do taking care of ourselves. If a few dollars can be saved by poring over a "do-it-yourself" manual for repairing our house or fixing our car we put a lot of time into it. But how much more worth while it is to spend our time to learn how to get more out of life itself.

 

The golden rules we are studying are not just simple mechanical rules like breathing deeply and getting enough rest--important as these are. They are broader principles that include the physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions of life.

Living Longer

 Dr. Lester Breslow, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California at Los Angeles at the time when he and those researchers working with him began a study of 7,000 adult residents of Alameda County, California in 1965. Their studies led to the conclusion that good health practices, rather than the initial health status of those they surveyed, were largely responsible for the fact that those who practiced good health habits lived significantly longer. The seven good health habits they discovered that made the difference were: never smoking, regular physical activity, moderate to no use of alcohol, 7-8 hours of sleep regularly, maintaining proper weight, eating breakfast, and not eating between meals. (See Lester Breslow and James E. Enstrom, "Persistence of Health Habits and Their Relationship to Mortality." Preventive Medicine, 9:469-483(1980).

 

At Loma Linda University School of Health Update Convention in March, 1981, Dr. Breslow presented a report on the then current status of the Alameda County studies. He learned that at every age level, from 20 to 70, those who followed all seven of the health habits had significantly longer life than did those who followed only six of them. Six were better than five, and so on down to zero. This was particularly true for males. Men who were 60 years of age and older and had followed all seven health practices had better health status than men of 30 who followed none to three of the health practices. Dr. Breslow stated that he did not believe his results at first, so he rechecked them until he was convinced that they were accurate. Mortality follow-up of the 7,000 people in the study showed that for males at age 45 who practiced none to three of these good health habits, life expectancy would be another 21.6 years. Men at age 45 who followed four or five of the good health practices could anticipate living 28 more years. But those who followed six to seven of the good health practices could expect to live another 33 years.

 

Dr. Breslow is not  just concerned about longevity. He's plugging for what he calls "optimal health"-- a healthy, happy way of life. One of the most interesting results of the Breslow studies is the demonstration that we need the entire health package, not just bits and pieces of it, if we are to enjoy total health. These multi-million dollar body machines of ours deserve to be treated with the greatest respect possible.

 

Modern researchers have come to understand that disease is not just one-dimensional. Most of us know that the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of life are so interrelated that what affects one part of us affects every other part. With this fact in mind, health scientist have become increasingly aware of the need to treat health problems through a wholistic approach rather than through a fragmented one. How we live-- including what we eat, how and where we work, what we wear, and many other large and small details of our daily lives-- is most important in keeping truly healthy.

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Come to the Garden~ An Invitation to Serenity

Come to the Garden ~ An Invitation to Serenity

by:

JoAnna O'Keefe

 

 

 

 

I've

Poured myself out.

I'm drained, I'm dry;

I sense a discontent

I can't identify.

 

 

...my soul is poured out within me;

days of affliction have taken hold of me.

Job 30:16

 

My strength has dried up

like sun-baked clay...

Psalms 22:15

 

How Love, O Lord!

Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and every day have sorrow in my heart?

Psalms 13:1-2

 

 

This Week Around Here....

Just wanted to check in and let you know that I am working on a new series. It is a long book - so it takes a whole lot of typing on my part- so I am hoping it is something that will bless you guys with better health. Here is a sneak peak at the book:

The name of the book is - Take 10~ Ten Dynamic Golden Rules That Help You Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Good.

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So this week we have had a bit cooler weather- that is a good thing since we are having to clean out our garage. We have been getting rain off and on the last few days and as of this morning - we had gotten about 2 inches. We are very thankful for the rain!

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This week my husband has worked nights several days of the week- which messes with my schedule. And today is a bad traffic day for my husband - there was a fatality wreck and so he has been in traffic for 2 hours...ugh.
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I have spent several hours typing up the first couple of posts in the above book- I will be starting it next week.
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Oh one more thing - so I have read a couple of my favorite blogs but I have had a hard time leaving a comment- It asked me to post as ----and then options- and then won't let me post- so I am going to have to figure that out. I just don't understand why I have had such a hard time. Blogger used to be so easy to use and it seems like they made some changes and now things are challenging. Ugh....

Well I just wanted to check in and up date a bit of things going on around here. Hope you all are doing well.
<3 p=""> 

Beloved Names of God..... Bridegroom

 

Beloved Names of God

Bridegroom

Jesus answered, "How can the guest of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast."

Matthew 9:15 NIV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus refers to Himself as, or is referred to as, the "bridegroom" fourteen times in the NIV.
• The prophet Isaiah tells Israel that "as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you"(Isaiah 62:5NIV). Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.
• In Matthew 9:15, Jesus tells the Pharisees that He will not be bound by normal social expectations. He also predicts His own death and the time His disciples will have to cope without Him. 

 

Is there a love in this world as intense as that between a couple about to be married? It is thrilling, constant, full of anticipation, full of promise. What would a bridegroom not do for his bride?

 

In earthly marriages, sadly, the passion fades a little with time. We are, after all, only human. But notice in Matthew 9:15 that Jesus isn't referring to Himself as the husband yet. The time when He and His followers will be joined as one has yet to come. In the book of Revelation, John describes how Jesus will return in glory to claim His bride, the "true" church. Until then we are left to wait in fervent anticipation, cultivating our relationship with our most devoted, attentive suitor. And what can we look forward to after the great wedding feast He has planned for us? An eternal, intimate love that will truly last the test of time.



Come to the Garden~ And Invitation to Serenity

Come to the Garden~ An Invitation to Serenity

by:

JoAnna O'Keefe

 

Lord,

I feel fragmented

Like a broken pot of clay.

I've lost my focus;

I've lost my way.

 

Give me relief from my distress;

be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

Psalms 4:1

 

Out of the depths I cry to you,

Oh Lord;

O Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

Psalms 130:1-2

 

I am like a broken vessel.

Psalms 31:12

Good News? Bad News? Maybe Both

I am feeling very discouraged right now. Although I got some good news this morning, it doesn't outweigh the negative feelings I am having. And it's all a test for me to learn to trust God more and more. So which news should I start with, the good? or the bad?

I will start with the bad news since at the time of writing this I am crying. When I got my new Malibu 3 years ago, my husband began driving my old Malibu to work. It was a 2004 Malibu. It was a dependable car that hasn't given us hardly any problems at all. And the best part - it gets great gas mileage. At least 31-32 miles per gallon and has really helped our $$ situation ever since he started driving it to work each day. My husband had to commute about 50 miles one way to work. Well this morning on his way home from an over night shift- he was getting off the highway and he said the car felt like it had a blow out. Then the car kind of pulled one direction. Next thing he knows the car flies over a ditch and the car hits the embankment.... There ended up being no blow out. But what he did notice is that if the car hadn't have pulled to one side in the middle of this - there is a good chance that the car could have rolled. We spent several hours at the ER this morning- thankfully nothing is broke - he is just bruised and banged up pretty good. The plan had been to wait until December to get a new car for my husband. There are different details - like another loan that needs to get paid down before we go looking for another car- that made it a much better idea to wait until the end of the year to get another car. And the plan also included us keeping the 2004 Malibu as a emergency vehicle. It has been such a great car - I did not want to let it go. Now there is a super good chance that it will be totaled and we are 4 months out from when we really could get another car easily. So I am grieving the loss of a good, dependable car. And paid off car that got great gas mileage.

Ok -so the good news. Earlier this week I had my blood taken for an up coming dr appointment. My cholesterol level was high and so was my LDL. So my Dr had wanted me to take some medicine to help get the numbers down. Well once I read through the side effects- I just could not bring myself to taking the medicine - not without trying to do it through diet and exercise. So for the last three months I have been trying to live a better lifestyle- the beginning of July _ I got even more serious about it because of my husbands diagnosis. Anyway so this morning I was able to get my results back and guess what? I have brought my total Cholesterol down 50 points and I have also brought that LDL level down 50 points. I am a little disappointed because my HDL had dropped 5 points but I think if I continue to try to get exercise into my routine that I should be able to bring it up. So I will see my Dr on Monday to discuss the results of the blood tests and all. And I am hoping that she will be happy with the improvements I have made and that she will be patient with me as I try to continue to improve the numbers.

Anyway so right now I am feeling discouraged- maybe my husband is too- I am not sure. I know I sure am. We haven't always made the best decisions and I had been so proud of us for making a plan and being patient for it to work out. Now I feel like even if you try to make good choices - things don't always turn out how you want them to turn out. I am trying so hard to trust God.

 

 

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

These are verses that I have been thinking a lot about lately maybe I need to continue to meditate upon them.

 

Single or Final Defeat?

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

I saw this quote on a movie that my husband and I watched this past week end. And as soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to write it in my journal. In fact, I may make a sign of it for a reminder. Too often in this weight lost journey I have made this mistake- I have taken a single defeat and allowed it to be the final defeat. This is where yo-you dieting comes in. And as we all know it's not good or us. This is why it is a good idea for us to make a lifestyle change and not diet. There has to be more to our desires than just weight loss because one day we will get to our desired weights and what will we do? We will stop dieting. When we stop dieting, what happens? Yep- the weight comes back on.

 

Weight loss is a great result of a healthy lifestyle, but it's better to keep the whole picture in mind. By doing so you are able to notice more improvements along the way. You know like:

more energy,

sleeping better at night,

Bowels moving better,

your thinking is clearer,

better results from blood tests,

and the list can go on and on.

 

So remember if you have a bad day, don't take it as a final defeat, It's only a single defeat. Put it behind you and work towards a better tomorrow.

And I can't forget to mention another important thing to keep in mind- even if you have a single defeat ever so often, it doesn't take away from your value. You are still a child of God! He understands and He will continue to be there for us each time we call on Him. It doesn't matter how many times you fall down, He will always help you up when you call on Him for help.

 

The only time that you will get a final defeat is when you give up. SO don't give up. Hold onto Jesus- ask for His help day by day. Learn to depend on Him more and more- when you have a single defeat realize it is only a single defeat and move on. And "Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

 

Health Tidbits

Today I just wanted to share a few tid bits of information that I learned last week. So todays post will have several different topics.

First of all - A concept that I heard was that you can't give up a bad habit unless you replace it with something healthy. Sometimes we might give up one thing that is not so good for us  - but then we end up replacing it with something that is equally as bad for us. I will share a few things that we have done. My husband and I had to give up soda's. We had wanted to go with diet soda's but diet soda's gave me headaches and they made my husband nauseous. So that would not have been that great of a substitute. So now we both ended up drinking more water. And that is a great thing!!

Fiber is a very important part of our diets. In fact, I heard a Dr say that it is important to get at least 10-15 grams of fiber per meal. Animal products and meat do not have fiber, but I will be sharing a list of some great resources of fiber with you all today.

Legumes~ 1/2 cup has 8 grams of fiber
Veggies~ 1 cup has 2 grams of fiber
Grain~ 1/2 cup has 3 grams of fiber
Fruit ~ 1/2 cup has 3 grams of fiber

The above information is an average, some may have more some less. You can look up on Google and find lists of the top fiber foods to eat. By doing so you will be able to make better choices of what you eat.

I was able to hear part of a program talking about Alzheimers. The Dr. explained that there are things that we can do to protect against Alzheimers. Exercising, eating healthfully, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night helps protect against this awful disease.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you. I continue to be a student to better health. And that means learning what I can in order to make better choices about my health. :O)

Come to the Garden.. And Invitation to Serenity...series

My sister gave me a neat little book called ~ Come to the Garden ~ An Invitation to Serenity that I thought would be a good book to go through since our series on the 23rd Psalm is over now. I hope that this series will bless each one of you in a special way. Today I will be sharing the introduction.

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I wrote, "Come to the Garden," at a time in my life when I was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.  I felt along and defeated.

I remember calling my friend Ginger, and sobbing, "I feel like a broken pot of clay." She listened with a loving heart and answered softly. "I understand. Sometimes I feel I have poured myself out and there is nothing left." At that moment I knew I had to write- to sink into the depths of my feelings- and search for serenity.

As I wrote, tears of sorrow and despair dropped onto the blue lined paper and blurred the ink. I poured out my hear to the Lord, begging for relief, for solace, for peace. When I finished, the turbulence within was stilled and calm came over my spirit.

For two days I meditated, wanting to draw close to God, wanting to understand the mystery of suffering. Then, very gently, I was led to pick up my pen and write- "Quiet, quiet, quiet, my child, be still..."

It is my hope, that the meditations in this simple book will lead you to the Garden, that quiet place within, where God speaks in a whisper and miracles happen.

~JoAnna O'Keefe

Don't Expect a Reward Every Single Day...It's Not Gonna Happen

This morning when I weighed I was up 2 pounds since yesterday. I could have reacted in one of two  ways. I could have gotten discouraged(or even decided to give up) or I could have reviewed what yesterday was like- did I exercise? Yes. Did  make good healthy choices in what I ate and drank? Yes. Should I be up 2 pounds? No. But I am not going to let it get me down. When we make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle- we may not see the benefits every sing day, that's ok. When we have these kinds of day it is best to allow God to continue guide us and lead us to the best choices each day whether or not the scales reflect that or not. Don't get so caught up in what the scales say that you lose sight of the end goal. Yes- the scales can reflect the healthier choices that we are making, but some days they will let us down. Stick with your commitment to be a healthier you. You will be glad you did!

50 by 50 Update

At the end of June when my husband was diagnosed with Diabetes, I decided it was time for me to make some major changes to my lifestyle. I had known for a long time that I needed to lose weight and I had even tried several different times with no success. I had even gotten to the point of feeling like maybe there was no hope for me to lose weight. But thankfully when my husband got his bad news - I knew it was time that I made some changes.
I also began to spend a lot of time in prayer asking God to help me. I admitted that I could not do it on my own. I had tried and tried. I knew I needed to be healthier and had made efforts - but had not followed through. I decided that I would allow God to guide me and direct my path as I made changes.

And I am so happy to report that I have lost about 8-10 pounds!! The last two days the scales have been showing the 10 pounds lost but I officially say 8 pounds because weight can fluctuate a few couple of pounds. I have lost 20% or 1/5 of my goal so far. And I am hoping now that I will be able to lose the 50 pounds by next summer. It would be awesome!
I am being more mindful of what I eat and drink. Since my husband has to watch carbs - I have been more careful. I have come to realize that juices are super high in carbs and sugars and just not that good for a person. The same is true for soda. The way my husband and I deal with our random hankering for a soda- is to split a 12 ounce can with each other. So ever so often we each drink about 6 ounces of root beer. And we treat it as a treat. We are both drinking more water. Instead of just eating something or buying what ever because it looks good, I look at the contents of it and I decide if it is a good choice or not. It if is not I move on to something better. It feels good to be more mindful of what I eat and drink.

I will continue to work towards my goal - and no matter how long it takes to reach my goal - I am sure that with God's help that I will be able to make it. It is in His timing. And if I am lucky and reach the goal sooner rather than later- then my new goal will be to maintain my weight and not allow it to go up again. That can be done with God's help!!

Stay tuned for the next 50 by 50 update. :O)



Beloved Names of God ....Jehovah

Beloved Names of God

Jehovah

That men may know that thou,

whose name alone is JEHOVAH,

 art the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18 KJV

 

• Name of God the Father
• "Jehovah" is referred to seven times in the KJV( including three place names).
• The name Jehovah is a translation of the tetragrammaton (a word with four consonants and no vowels) 'YHWH" The name may originally have been pronounced as Yahweh.

Jehovah is the personal name of God. In the Bible it is used adoringly and with great honor. 

 

There is no record of Jesus ever using the name Jehovah-- and for good reason. Scholars have suggested that had He uttered that name in the presence of other Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducces, He would have been subjected to extreme punishment. As God's Son, Jesus knew when He would be arrested He chose His words carefully Instead of Jehovah, Jesus emphasized God the Father. As John wrote, "but as many as received him(Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God(the Father, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12 KJV).

 

Have you ever been introduced to someone and two seconds later forgotten his name? Or, someone talks to you and later you have trouble remembering the gist of the conversation. God, the great Jehovah, isn't like that. He heard every cry of His oppressed people in Egypt. e hears, and remembers, every word of prayer we utter00 and then He responds as only an eternal, compassionate God can. Jehovah's arm is still stretched out to save us.

~ Taken from The Top 100 Names of God  Ellyn Sanna

 

 

 

 

 



You can trust the Man that died for you

And do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.

Romans 6:13

I went one night to hear an address on consecration. No special message came to me from it, but as the speaker kneeled to pray, he dropped this sentence: “O Lord, Thou knowest we can trust the Man that died for us.” And that was my message. I rose and walked down the street to the train; and as I walked, I pondered deeply all that consecration might mean to my life and—I was afraid. And then, above the noise and clatter of the street traffic came to me the message: “You can trust the Man that died for you.”
I got into the train to ride homeward; and as I rode, I thought of the changes, the sacrifices, the disappointments which consecration might mean to me and—I was afraid.
I reached home and sought my room, and there upon my knees I saw my past life. I had been a Christian, an officer in the church, a Sunday-school superintendent, but had never definitely yielded my life to God.

Yet as I thought of the darling plans which might be baffled, of the cherished hopes to be surrendered, and the chosen profession which I might be called upon to abandoned—I was afraid.
I did not see the better things God had for me, so my soul was shrinking back; and then for the last time, with a swift rush of convicting power, came to my innermost heart that searching message:
“My child, you can trust the Man that died for you. If you cannot trust Him whom can you trust?”
That settled it for me, for in a flash I saw that the Man who so loved me as to die for me could be absolutely trusted with all the concerns of the life He had saved.

Friend, you can trust the Man that died for you. You can trust Him to baffle no plan which is not best to be foiled, and to carry out every one which is for God’s glory and your highest good. You can trust Him to lead you in the path which is the very best in this world for you.
—J H. McC

“Just as I am, thy love unknown,
Has broken every barrier down, 
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine ALONE,
O Lamb of God, I come!”

“Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world.”

The Solution to Fear

 

I've had an issue that I've dealt with for years, this past week I finally realized that "fear" was the main cause. Not only did God bring me the reason for my fear, He also helped me with the solution. One of the ways that I know the solution came from Him is that I got the message multiple times.

 

First off in my devotional time I was reminded of the need to trust Him. Then on Sabbath a dear friend gave me this wonderful journal! Less than an hour later in my Sabbath School class some of our reading dealt with our need to spend time in prayer and Bible study, by doing this our faith and trust in God increases. Then this morning in the devotional I found this:

"You can trust the Man that died for you."

 

I have written this awesome sentence in the front of my new journal as a reminder of this lesson.

 

Come back tomorrow when I will share the devotional where I found this sentence. As it blessed me, I trust it will bless you as well. :O)