Wisdom

"If you look at a half-finished house that is under construction, you don't condemn it for its unfinished condition.  You don't say it's inferior to another house, nor are you concerned with its appearance.  All you do is realize its need for additional work.  Adopt this way of thinking toward yourself.  Whatever your present condition, just realize the need for more construction.  Be patient with yourself, but firm toward the neccessary work that needs to be done."

Robert Anthony
Beyond Positive Thinking

Diet Devotional

March 17

"He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye."

Deuteronomy 32:10

It is vital that we remember how pleasing it is to God when we choose to lose weight. No matter how we look or act, God loves us, but just like earthly parents, when we do our best and look our best, we are most pleasing. God is proud of us when we sacrifice and learn self-discipline. He watches our every move, our every struggle, and He loves us. He will be with us continually. Let us follow His teachings and do all in our power to make Him proud of us; not only in our diets, but in every undertaking.

Today's thought

I am the nonfattening apple of God's eye!

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March 18

". . .I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

2 Timothy 1:12

'You can't lose weight. You've never stuck with anything in your whole life.' Those words haunt me all the time-every time I slip and eat something I know I shouldn't. I hate it when people think I'm too weak to succeed in my diet. I hate it even more when I prove them right. Still, being ashamed of failing at my diet is often good for me. If I am ashamed enough, then it helps me stick with it the next time. God has helped me a lot to conquer negative shame. I have committed my diet to Him, and He is true to help me keep on track.

Today's thought

I'll prove to all my skeptical friends that I am capable of losing weight.

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"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:31

Let's not call it our diet; let's call it God's diet. No, that doesn't mean God has to lose the weight. It means that we diet because it's what God wants of us. If it's God's diet, then God will help make sure that it goes well. He will bless those who diet in His name. It may sound silly to diet for God, but, as Christians, we are called to do everything in His name. When we live our lives as an offering to God, then we let the whole world know who gives us our strength and courage. If God is for us, then nothing can stand against us.

Today's thought

Dieting for God is a joy and a comfort!

 

Diet Devotional

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

Psalm 33:21

The Psalms are a wonderful example of what it means to put trust in the Lord. David shared both his trials and his triumphs with his God. In every situation, David turned to God for guidance and support. David was a spiritual giant because he recognized the source of all that he was and could ever hope to be. We can be like David. If we will turn to God for His strength and courage in the face of our trials, He will provide for our every need. When we diet, we can rejoice in the fact that God will honor and bless our trust in Him.

Today's thought

The diet I keep will bring me joy and fulfillment!

Devotions For Dieters

Dan R. dick

Affirmation

I Am Lovable At Every Age

As a child, I was at once fascinated and repelled by old people. Their wrinkly rough faces were so different from smooth glowing cheeks. They smelled of sour milk or heavy perfume. An old smell. They couldn’t move as quickly as I could. They ran out of energy. They hated noise. Their future held only sickness and death. I swore I would never grow old.

At this unique moment in my adult life. I take the opportunity to look at both the past and the future with clear vision. As I look back at my child self, I respect the feelings I had then. Yet I see them for what they are: the perceptions of a child made through the distorted lens of childhood. As I look forward to my aged self, I respect the self I will become, the self who unashamedly wears the scares and signs of having lived a full life.

At this moment I love and respect all of what I was, am and will be. We are joined forever in a warm, loving embrace.

Wisdom

DUCK!!!!

It is amazing how many people believe they must have an appropriate response to any and every thing that goes on. They seem to measure their personal growth and spiritual acumen by the number of adverse conditions they are able to live with and move through. For some, it is a measure of their faith and trust in good and God. There is a belief that if they can love through and forgive through most dastardly deeds they will somehow be rewarded with peace and enlightenment. While this may be one path, there is a short cut- Duck!

I’ve learned to duck behind God when the crazy starts flying. There are some experiences I no longer choose to have. I accept that some people will not like me. They will not agree with me and they do not choose to see me as an enlightened being. Perhaps we have karma that must be worked out. However, I reserve my right to choose how I will participate. I choose to duck! Some people want to fight, argue, and be upset. I no longer consider it a necessity to stand with them in the midst of “conflama” (conflict laced with drama).

When family and friends know you have a spiritual outlook, they want to include you in their problem solving. We train people to come to us by always knowing what to say and what to do. Just because we can handle it, doesn’t mean we must handle it or that it is in our or their best interest to do so. Instead, we can choose to duck.

I know God is in charge! This means, I can keep my mouth shut. I need not offer affirmations or prayers. I no longer assume it is my responsibility to inspire or enlighten people who fight me. Rather, I bow out gracefully, knowing that there is a higher Mind, much more capable of working on the situation. Don’t be ashamed to duck- there are instances when it is the wisest choice to make.

Iyanla Vanzant
Science of the Mind
July 2007, vol.80 No.7

Wisdom- Essay

A Radical Panther Spits Wisdom of Revolutionary Coalitions

A Letter from Huey Newton to the Revolutionary Brothers and Sisters about the Women’s Liberation and Gay Liberation Movements

During the past few years strong movements have developed among women and among homosexuals seeking their liberation. There has been some uncertainty about how to relate to these movements.

Whatever your personal opinions and your insecurities about homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals and women (and I speak of the homosexuals and women as oppressed groups), we should try to unite with them in a revolutionary fashion. I say "whatever your insecurities are" because as we very well know, sometimes our first instinct is to want to hit a homosexual in the mouth, and want a woman to be quiet. We want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid that we might be homosexual; and we want to hit the women or shut her up because we are afraid that she might castrate us, or take the nuts that we might not have to start with.

We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for all oppressed people. We must not use the racist attitude that the White racists use against our people because they are Black and poor. Many times the poorest White person is the most racist because he is afraid that he might lose something, or discover something that he does not have. So you're some kind of a threat to him. This kind of psychology is in operation when we view oppressed people and we are angry with them because of their particular kind of behavior, or their particular kind of deviation from the established norm.

Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are only in the process of establishing it. I do not remember our ever constituting any value that said that a revolutionary must say offensive things towards homosexuals, or that a revolutionary should make sure that women do not speak out about their own particular kind of oppression. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite: we say that we recognize the women's right to be free. We have not said much about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the most oppressed people in the society.

And what made them homosexual? Perhaps it's a phenomenon that I don't understand entirely. Some people say that it is the decadence of capitalism. I don't know if that is the case; I rather doubt it. But whatever the case is, we know that homosexuality is a fact that exists, and we must understand it in its purest form: that is, a person should have the freedom to use his body in whatever way he wants.

That is not endorsing things in homosexuality that we wouldn't view as revolutionary. But there is nothing to say that a homosexual cannot also be a revolutionary. And maybe I'm now injecting some of my prejudice by saying that "even a homosexual can be a revolutionary." Quite the contrary, maybe a homosexual could be the most revolutionary.

When we have revolutionary conferences, rallies, and demonstrations, there should be full participation of the gay liberation movement and the women's liberation movement. Some groups might be more revolutionary than others. We should not use the actions of a few to say that they are all reactionary or counterrevolutionary, because they are not.

We should deal with the factions just as we deal with any other group or party that claims to be revolutionary. We should try to judge, somehow, whether they are operating in a sincere revolutionary fashion and from a really oppressed situation. (And we will grant that if they are women they are probably oppressed.) If they do things that are unrevolutionary or counterrevolutionary, then criticize that action. If we feel that the group in spirit means to be revolutionary in practice, but they make mistakes in interpretation of the revolutionary philosophy, or they do not understand the dialectics of the social forces in operation, we should criticize that and not criticize them because they are women trying to be free. And the same is true for homosexuals. We should never say a whole movement is dishonest when in fact they are trying to be honest. They are just making honest mistakes. Friends are allowed to make mistakes. The enemy is not allowed to make mistakes because his whole existence is a mistake, and we suffer from it. But the women's liberation front and gay liberation front are our friends, they are our potential allies, and we need as many allies as possible.

We should be willing to discuss the insecurities that many people have about homosexuality. When I say "insecurities," I mean the fear that they are some kind of threat to our manhood. I can understand this fear. Because of the long conditioning process which builds insecurity in the American male, homosexuality might produce certain hang-ups in us. I have hang-ups myself about male homosexuality. But on the other hand, I have no hang-up about female homosexuality. And that is a phenomenon in itself. I think it is probably because male homosexuality is a threat to me and female homosexuality is not.

We should be careful about using those terms that might turn our friends off. The terms "faggot" and "punk" should be deleted from our vocabulary, and especially we should not attach names normally designed for homosexuals to men who are enemies of the people, such as Nixon or Mitchell. Homosexuals are not enemies of the people.

We should try to form a working coalition with the gay liberation and women's liberation groups. We must always handle social forces in the most appropriate manner.

Eye Candy

This Just In!!!!

Brady Quinn Signs With The Bills!

(Nothing earth shattering, I just wanted an excuse to post his pic)

SMH!

LOL!

Diet Devotional

"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord"

2 Corinthians 5:6

David had never been able to stick to a diet. He had tried a number of times, but nothing seemed to help him lose weight. Then he met Jennifer. She was cute, and friendly, and thin. David was suddenly more ashamed of the way he looked than he had ever been before. He began a new diet, and this one worked. David's whole personality changed. He gained a new confidence and strength of will. What we struggle with at one point becomes easy when we receive the right incentive. With God as our incentive, we can do wonders. Without God, we are helpless. With God, we can do all things.

Today's thought

I will make sure to keep God close by all day!

 Devotions for Dieters: A 365-Day Guide to a Lighter You

Dan R. Dick

Affirmation

"The key to meaningful connections with the people in your life is making yourself whole by honoring your body, mind, and spirit- filling the voids that cause you not to love yourself. You can’t give love if you don’t have it. And can’t receive love (or even perceive) it because you won’t recognize it when it shows up, you’ve got to care for yourself in order to be able to care for others."

Oprah

Wisdom

Clarity and Direction

In spite of our best efforts to work our programs and lean on God’s guidance, we sometimes don’t understand what’s going on in our life. We trust, wait, pray, listen to people, listen to ourselves, and the answer still does not come.

During those times, we need to understand that we are right where we need to be, even though that place may feel awkward and uncomfortable. Our life does have purpose and direction.

We are being changed, healed, and transformed at levels deeper than we can imagine. Good things, beyond our capacity to imagine, are being prepared and brought to us. We are being led and guided.

We can become peaceful. We do not have to act in haste or urgency just to relieve our discomfort, just to get an answer. We can wait until our mind is peaceful. We can wait for clear direction. Clarity will come. The answer will come and it will be good for us and those around us.
Melody Beattie
The Language of Letting Go

Wisdom

Duality of Perfection & Flaws Within One

=

Beauty

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty,

Only because there is ugliness.

All can know God as good because there is evil.

Being and non-being produce each other.

The difficult is born in the easy.

Long is defined by short, the high by the low.

Before and after go along with each other.

So the sage lives openly with apparent duality

And paradoxical unity.

The sage can act without effort

And teach without words

Nurturing things without possessing them,

He works, but not for rewards;

He competes, but not for results.

When the work is done, it is forgotten

That is why it lasts forever.

Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life (Living the Wisdom of the Tao)

Dr Wayne W Dyer

Diet Devotional

March 12

'. . .The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.'

2 Chronicles 15:2

In this day and age, promises are made easily and just as easily broken. We promise ourselves that we are going to lose weight, then we turn around and cheat at every possible chance. For this reason, we ought to include God in our diets. Whereas we might break promises that we make to ourselves, we stand a much better chance of keeping the promises we make to God. When we break promises to ourselves, we have no one to answer to, but when we break our promises to God, He expects us to explain. Promising God that we will lose weight makes dieting much easier.

Today's thought

I will lose weight for God's sake!

March 13

"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

Proverbs 1:33

Jesus faced many terrible experiences in His lifetime. The Bible tells of many incidents where crowds of people sought to kill our Lord. Whenever the pressures got too great, Jesus withdrew and spent time in prayer. That is an important lesson for us to learn. There will be times when the pressures build up while we try to lose weight. When the pressures get too much for us to handle, we should turn to the Lord in prayer. He will comfort us, strengthen us, and give us the courage we need to face every new day.

Today's thought:

Jesus will take my mind off my diet!

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"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isaiah 41:10

Will the diet ever end? That question gets asked an awful lot. What starts out as a good idea soon becomes torture. Giving up seems to be such a good idea. It's at those times that we need the most strength. We need something to pull us through the really tough times. The love of God is just what we need. God will give us strength and courage and will help us fight off the temptation to quit. Call upon the Lord, and He will uphold you, He will strengthen you, He will stay with you, no matter how tough the diet gets.

Today's thought

If I can make it through the tough times, I can make it through anything!

Devotions for Dieters: A 365-Day Guide to a Lighter You

Dan R. Dick

Diet Devotional

"And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."

Genesis 28:15

When I was little, I just hated to be alone. I was afraid of being by myself. When my family got a dog, it made my fear go away. There was never a time when I was alone again. Just having some other presence with me made a huge difference. Now that I'm grown up I still have a constant companion who will never leave me alone. That companion is God. No matter what I do, I know I am not alone in the endeavor. My diet is no exception. When I feel the most alone, I just rely on the support of the Lord, and He gives me strength beyond measure.

Today's thought

God helps us to be the best we can be!

R.I.P

A Sad End To A Troubled Life

Anyone with family and friends who struggle

with addiction perhaps understands the hope

that "they" will overcome the disease of addiction

and the challenges of life

it is always painful when

one who struggles

loses the battle

R.I.P

Lucas!

Corey Haim

1972 - 2009

Diet Devotional

Strive Toward Perfection in Everything U Do

"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled."

1 Peter 3:14

If the example of Jesus teaches us anything, it should be that suffering is a noble and good thing when it leads to a better way. Our diets are definitely the source of suffering, but there is great blessing awaiting all who stick with them. God has promised special blessing to those who keep courage in the face of suffering and don't give in. Losing weight not only makes us look and feel better, but it draws us closer to God and His divine plan for us. Our suffering is not in vain. It is all to the glory of the Lord.

Today's thought

I will fear nothing, as long as Jesus is with me!

Wisdom

Life is a Game

Some people play the game of struggle. Some people play the game of sickness. Some people play the game of poverty. Some people play the game of being right all the time. Some people play the game of being late. But some people play the game of happiness, abundance, and health. It just helps to understand that each individual plays a game that he or she sets up, and that no one game is necessarily better than another. If the game were not bringing us some sort of a playoff, we’d stop playing.
Robert Anthony
Beyond Positive Thinking

Affirmation

My Promise

I always find joy, love, and empowerment in the process. Growth is never my enemy. Gracefully and willingly I rise to every challenge knowing that I am blossoming within each challenge and other souls eagerly await my successful arrival.

Wisdom

"Remember that the shortest way to get anywhere is to have good company traveling with you."

Wisdom

Fear

“It is the source of most of our personal pain and needless suffering in the world. It has been linked to physical maladies from ulcers to cancers. It lies at the root of greed and aggression, racism and sexism, bigotry, bad blood, and trouble between neighborhoods and nations. We fear not only for ourselves, but for our families, friends, and the world. We fear rejection and loneliness, commitment, failure, and even success. We fear that we won’t be able to measure up to the competition or the expectation of others, or even our own expectations of ourselves. We fear that we may be perceived as not smart enough, fine enough, thin enough, black enough; that our pockets aren’t deep enough, or that they are and everyone is trying to get something from us.”

Susan L. Taylor
Confirmation: The spiritual wisdom that has shaped our lives

"Thought I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me."

Psalm 138:7

I went through a terrible time when I first started dieting. Every once in awhile, I would get light-headed and my knees would buckle. It was not only embarrassing, but a bit frightening. When I spoke to the doctor about it, he told me it was just my mind playing tricks on me. He said my stomach was 'mad at me' for taking away its extra food. I didn't need as much food, but psychologically, I wanted it. I left the doctor and went out to my car to pray. Whenever I felt the light-headedness start to creep in, I asked the Lord to revive me, and He did!

Today's thought:

God is all the pick-me-up I need!

Wisdom

A Chaotic Mind Breeds Further Chaos

We believe that we perceived, what is your perception of the picture above?  I find it beautiful and spiritual and peaceful.

and you?

The Picture is neutral however our perceptions are real

“If we speak our word long enough, it becomes law in the universe. Pronounce your limitations vigorously enough and they’re yours. Whether your beliefs are true or totally insane, if you accept them, then that’s what your life will be about.”

Robert Anthony
Beyond Positive Thinking

Journal Entry

My Core Beliefs

A key ingredient I’ve overlooked lately, is the fact that the universe is neutral. Like anxiety being a new state for you, rolling with/within my emotions- validating, embracing, acknowledging, feeling them is new to me. I’ve been “vacationing” in this new wondrous and foreign land of emotions. Embracing this world of emotions to the point that I’ve “gone native” (assimilated/become complacent/adjusted). So while I’ve vacationed in/and practiced feeling my emotions and analyzing how the effect my actions, my results, my reality- I’ve forgotten that the universe is neutral and operates off of cause and effect. The universe responds to my actions. The universe doesn’t care about my co-dependency, the milk I spilt at age 3, how many graduate programs I’ve failed to complete, the universe is simply going to respond to my efforts or lack of effort. As Marianne Williamson put it, “if the sun is shining and I step out into the sun, the sun will shine on me. If Hitler stepped out into the sun, the sun will shine on Hitler. The universe is neutral.” furthermore by this law, if I decide to stay in the house because I believe I don’t deserve fresh air and sunlight, I will not receive fresh air and sunlight. The universe didn’t make that choice, I made that choice. I have to get out of the mindset of fixing my/purifying/debating/fearing if I deserve change, transformation, happiness, success and go back into the mindset and actions of making it happen- in other words, receiving! And of course, it goes without saying… thoughts/believes lead to emotions, emotions lead to actions, and our actions are the fuel which ignites and cause and effects! I simply realize it isn’t the receiving I need to work on but the core believes.

Diet Devotional

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear"

Isaiah 65:24

When we feel the weakest and most vulnerable, then is the time to turn to God. God knows what we are up against, even before we call upon Him. There is no one who cares more about how we feel and how we do than God does. He is our staunchest supporter. He also realizes how difficult it is to face our diets alone. He waits for us to call on Him, but He will not force Himself on us until we call. When we do call, He will act quickly to help us, since He already knows what it is we will be asking. Don't hesitate! Call on God when you need Him most.

Today's thought:

"I am never out from under Gods' watchful eye!"

Dan R. Dick

Devotions for Dieters

I can act on my Ideas

Today I can act on my ideas. My ideas are worthy of exploration and action.

The creative spirit of my inner child comes up with all sorts of good ideas. They fill my mind like a bunch of gaily colored balloons. But cutting voices from my past often come to puncture them: “You could never do that; that’s too hard. Someone else could do that much better than you can.” deflated and defeated, my good ideas disappear without a trace.

At this moment I acknowledge my creativity and my ability. I’m capable of so much more than I ever give myself credit for. Today I take pleasure in figuring out how to implement my good ideas.

Affirmations for the inner child
Rokelle Lerner