You Are What You Eat

Have you ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat?” I’ve heard this all my life, and I have found it so true. Especially as I get more mature (aka older), I know this all too well. I am experiencing a whole new realm of how certain foods affect my body – how my digestive system reacts, how certain foods trigger headaches, and how for months and even years I may WEAR those Christmas or Valentine treats – yes, I BECOME what I eat!

Another truth I’m discovering is that I AM what I eat in the realm of my soul.
If I consistently “eat” negative, I become negative. If I eat positive … you got it! I BECOME positive!

The Apostle Paul encourages the reader in Philippians 4:8, “ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Think on these things, friend, so that you BECOME these things.

And again He writes in his second letter to the Corinthians, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

In other words, “What I consistently behold, I become” (Dr. Ray Vinson).

In OTHER, other words, I AM WHAT I EAT.

I’ve asked myself some questions lately, and I challenge you to do the same … and join me in the simple prayer at the end.

Who are my closest friends? Do I surround myself with negative, pessimistic people, or with people who uplift and encourage?

What am I reading, watching? Smut? Depressing songs? Trash TV? Or do I fill my mind with what is good – the stuff of Philippians 4:8?

What am I speaking? The things that come out of my mouth, immediately turn around and go right back into my ears! Am I speaking death, or am I speaking life?

Father, I repent from eating the wrong kinds of food for my soul – foods that bring death. I choose today to surround myself with life, from my choice of friends, to the things I read and watch, to the things that I speak myself. I choose life! Amen!

Peace,

Davina

When the Pressure's On

Did you ever open a bottle of coke after it had been shaken up? Or release the valve on a pressure cooker? Or maybe accidentally stick your finger in a rotten piece of fruit? You can always tell what’s inside when the pressure’s on.

And it is the same way with us. Have you ever used the excuse, “I’ve just been under a lot of pressure lately?” I have, and I’ll be the first to admit that’s a pretty lame excuse, because the pressure is not the problem. The pressure only serves to expose what’s on the inside (which is the problem). If hate and anger are on the inside, that’s what will spill out when pressure is applied. If joy and peace rule, then that’s what will spill out.

When Jesus was crucified, under excruciating pain and pressure, what did He say? He didn’t curse them – He prayed for them: “Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing.”

The Bible and books of Christian history are literally full of stories of those who have been tormented, beaten, crucified, burned, stoned … and who could only find grace and forgiveness in their hearts for their persecutors.

The words of St. Paul, written from a prison cell, testify of the grace and peace available through the most difficult of circumstances: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phip. 4:13). 

Father, help us today to stop making excuses for ourselves when we fall short under pressure. Help us instead reach up to You and receive Your grace and peace, to carry us through any situation that may come our way!

Peace - Davina

Will You Be His Disciples Too?

John Chapter 9 always makes me smile.

Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem. Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath Day, resulting in the outrage of the whole religious community. It was quite a scene. Everybody knew that this man was the one who used to sit and beg. They passed him regularly. Jesus must’ve known about him, too,

but He waited until the time was right to heal him. He waited until a Sabbath day. He could have either healed him the day before the Sabbath, or the day after the Sabbath. After all, the man had been blind all his life. What difference would one day make? I think Jesus did it on that particular day, to show the Pharisees for their true selves. They would have no problem pulling an ox out of a ditch, but healing a blind man? That was preposterous!

The other thing I find humorous is that the Pharisees kept on asking the man how he was able to see. He tells them and tells them again. Finally, he says, “I already told you and you wouldn’t listen. Will you be His Disciples Too?” Then after more rebuke from those crusty old religious fools, he tells them, “Wow! This is amazing! You don’t even know where He’s from, but He opened my eyes!” I don’t know about you, but I sense a bit of sarcasm in this ex-blind man.

Of course, the compassion of Jesus, the mercy, the power ... all these are definitely seen in this passage. But it still makes me smile.

Peace,

Davina

Our Time

Well, here we are again … another day, another dream.  Those who know us know that we have struggled getting past a certain hump, going around our mountain yet again.  Our life story has been one of ups and downs, getting a little inspiration, having an idea, hitting opposition, and falling flat.

What was the problem?  Was it not enough money, or not the right people to join with us, or too little of this, or too much of something else?

We were the problem.  I was the problem.

Now we have another – well, actually, a restoration of an old – dream.  No, we’ll call it a vision, because we have looked into our future and seen what God can accomplish when we get in alignment with Him.  (More info to come on the particulars.)

What, you may ask, is different this time?

We are different.  I am different.

For the past – almost three years – we have been in a time of rest and of character development.  We’ve been learning about self-control, boundaries, love, grace, how to study the Word of God, and so much more!

I am writing today from a place of surrender and humility – true humility being knowledge of who we are in Christ and to what we are called.  I AM NOT FLAWLESS.  And because I am not flawless, I treasure your prayers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  We value your support.  Here’s what we ask of you:

1.    Pray for us.

 

2.    If you have the opportunity to talk about us, please let it be positive.  We’re all on the same team, right?

3.    Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you –

Davina

Happy New Year!

As the big ball dropped in New York, a lot of people had great resolutions for the coming 2014.  Maybe you were one of them.  And maybe you're finding it hard to keep that resolution.  And just maybe you've already become discouraged because you didn't start whatever it was that you resolved to start - exercising, Bible reading, being nicer to whoever it is that "gets your goat" ...

So I thought maybe you could use some encouragement.

Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God's mercies are NEW EVERY MORNING!  To me, this means that with God, it doesn't matter if it's January 1 or July 1.  So He's in his big God-sized kitchen, making up a new batch of mercy EVERY MORNING!  So whatever's in your tomorrow, He's already seen it, and has already baked up just the right amount of mercy for you.  (Remember the Israelites & the manna in the desert - there was just enough for each person, each day.)  He has enough mercy for whatever you need today, and He will have enough tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and forever.

Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20 both tell us that Jesus will not extinguish a DIMLY burning wick.  Maybe you feel like your "little light" is VERY little, almost out, that it doesn't amount to anything.  Maybe you believe it's all the way out.  Not so.  I believe that everyone has the spark of God, and if there's only a spark, that's all you need.  Let Him fan it and do the rest.

And finally, Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid."  And in Matthew 6 He tells us how He takes care of birds and flowers.  Will He not MUCH MORE take care of you?  (This point may have very little to do with New Year's Resolutions, but it's a good one anyway!)  Don't worry!  Be Happy :)

Peace,


Davina

Where the Eyes Go ...

… The body will follow.

Meet Garfield.

I can always tell when he’s getting ready to jump up on my kitchen countertops by his eyes.  At first it’s just a glance.  Then he LOOKS.  And he keeps on LOOKING.  Soon his body begins to crouch down in preparation for the long jump.  Then it’s done.

So it is with you and I.

Whether it’s a new car, or a shiny toy, or an ungodly relationship.  At first it’s just a glance – maybe something on the internet, or a billboard, or a new face at work.  Then we begin to notice it more often, then even begin to seek it out.  Soon the gaze is fixed, and then the body gets engaged.  Very soon, the action will follow.

“When the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she TOOK from its fruit and ATE; and she GAVE also to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen. 3:6 NASB).

She did four things:

1.    She SAW.

2.    She TOOK.

3.    She ATE.

4.    She GAVE. 

It all begins with the eyes.  The Psalmist clearly understood this:

I will LIFT UP MY EYES to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

(Psalm 121 NASB)

 

Peace.

Davina

Something New

I've heard quite a bit of reference to Isaiah 43:18,19 over the past few days:

"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.  Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."

I'm reminded of the famous Woman at the Well (John 4).  Jesus told her that He could give her living water.  To which she replied, "Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well?"  Jesus, the promised Messiah, was right there in front of her, but her mind was so entrenched in the past that she couldn't even recognize Him.  Why?

I've heard it said that she was deliberately changing the subject because of her shameful past.  She didn't want Him to get too personal. 

Or maybe it was because she had made a memorial of Father Jacob's Well.  Father Jacob had dug the well; now here was someone claiming that He could give her LIVING water?!  How could anything be better than what had already been done?
Whatever is in our past, whether it's a memorial of shame or of glory - The Lord is saying to us that we need to let it go so that we can embrace what He is getting ready to do in this new season.

Before we can see what's ahead, we must stop looking behind.

Peace,


Davina