Extravagant (Yet Practical?) Gifts

I’ve always loved to hear the story of the Wise Men who traveled so far to honor baby Jesus with gifts fit for a king.

A few years ago at Christmas time I was struggling to truly trust God’s provision for our family. I believe the Holy Spirit showed me something in the story of the Magi that helped me to see how practical God is when it comes to our day to day lives.

Luke 2:22 says that Mary & Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to be consecrated to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice for their first born (in accordance with the Law of Moses). In those days, if you were poor, you could substitute a lamb for a pair of doves or two young pigeons (Lev. 12:8). This tells us that Mary & Joseph couldn’t afford a lamb.

We know the Wise Men found Jesus and presented him with Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - very valuable gifts!  God didn’t just allow the Wise Men to shower them with gifts just because Jesus was the Son of God, or the future Savior of the World…He was also being very practical and taking care of their needs.

Right after the visit from the Wise Men, an Angel came to warn Joseph of danger – He instructed him to flee to Egypt until it was safe to return because King Herod sought to kill Jesus.

Now the Bible doesn’t say, but since Joseph & Mary were too poor to provide a lamb for a sacrifice, I’ve often wondered if they used the gifts from the Magi to flee to Egypt and live there until Herod died.

It would be just like God to be so practical – He has a purpose behind everything!  When I looked at His provision for a trusting young couple and a helpless baby (who just happened to be His Son), I began to see His provision unfolding in the story of the Wise Men’s gifts. It reminded me of how I can trust Him to keep

His promises (Phil. 4:19).

Live What You Believe

My 13 yr. old son and I were driving down the road the other day and we passed a small church near our house. 

He reminded me that his friend used to go to that church, but has since moved away. I said “I know, I remember his family inviting us to an event there one time”. Then he had this to say about his friend’s family. . .

“they’re really Christians, not like some people that just say they are, they really live it.”  

I assume at some point we had conversations about how just going to church doesn’t necessarily make you a Christian, but it’s always a nice surprise when they let you know they got it! This was an unsolicited nugget of truth coming from my teenager!!!

Thought of the day. . .

Are we really living our walk with Jesus? Can others say that we are doers and not just talkers?

Remember, people are watching, even teenagers!

Do I Look Different ? ? ?

I want to share some exciting news with all my blogging friends. . . in the past I've posted how there are two things that I've struggled with over the years, 1) finances, and 2) my weight.

Well, my friend Beth at "My Destiny Sharing Hope" introduced me to something that would answer both of those problems at the same time! 

It's called Isagenix and it's amazing!

(Watch this 3 minute video to find out more about Isagenix)

Let me tell you, I was the biggest critic of all...and you absolutely will NOT find a pickier eater anywhere! I've tried several weight loss programs and never stuck with anything more than two days, if that. If the shakes or food wasn't good, I didn't even last that long.

Isagenix is not a diet, it's a cleanse (and before you get the wrong idea by hearing the word "cleanse", let me say that you don't end up spending all your time in the bathroom, LOL). It is designed with natural ingredients packed with vitamins and nutrients your body needs, and our normal diets lack!  Once your body finally gets the nutrients it needs, you no longer having cravings.  At the same time, it works to release your body of all the toxins coming from the food we eat and the environment around us.

Now, here's the best part - I just finished my 30 day Cleanse (30 days of taking Isagenix products) and I'm happy to report that I've lost - get ready for it. . .

 19 pounds and 21 1/4 inches ! ! !

I'm so excited, I've been emotional all morning from the time I got off the scale, to the moment I measured, to the telephone call to my friend Beth to give her the good news. Even though I have a long way to go to reach my goal weight, I already know that I am so much healthier.

Here's how I know:

• I haven't had a soda in 30 days. Before I was drinking Diet Dr. Pepper (at least 4 a day, sometimes more.) Now I drink only water

• I was eating Hershey Drops candy (a little bag by myself every other day) - often due to stress of everyday life  (which I don't have anymore, because Ionic Supreme helps with lowering your stress level)

• My wedding ring is loose, my clothes are loose, my face isn't puffy, my ankles aren't retaining water anymore.

• My feet that had been tingling at night due to the on-set of nerve damage from my high blood sugar are not hurting anymore.

• I have energy - I don't crave sugar anymore, I don't really crave anything.

• I no longer have headaches that came on during my monthly cycle (sorry if any guys are reading this) due to a dip in hormones

I could go on and on about the health benefits that I've already experienced in the first 30 days.

The reasons I believe it has worked for me, when so many other things didn't are the following:

• The products actually taste good

• There is a network of people encouraging you and helping with any advice along the way (you don't have to go through it alone, and there's great accountability)

• There's no guess work - I don't have to count calories - its all very straight forward and it makes my life so much easier and doable. 

• There's the added incentive of making it a successful business by simply sharing the news about how it has worked for me. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

Email me if you'd like more info: (amauer@bellsouth.net)

subject line: Isagenix

Here are my BEFORE Isagenix pictures (taken in April 2013) and AFTER 30 days of Isagenix picture


  

A Poor Gospel

Bill Johnson, Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA wrote the following:

 

There is a big difference between preaching the gospel to the poor and preaching a poor gospel! Here are 7 signs of a poor gospel;

1- A poor gospel identifies with people's pain but has no power to deliver them from it.

2- A poor gospel loves the sinner but can't transform them into a saint.
3- A poor gospel has compassion for sick but has no gift to heal them.

4- A poor gospel loves heaven but can't bring it to earth.

5- A poor gospel embraces humility but resists being exalted at the proper time.

6- A poor gospel loves generosity but doesn't understand the principle of reciprocity.

7- A poor gospel embraces the cross but resists the resurrection life it provides to live powerfully.

The poor gospel isn't the gospel Jesus preached! He preached the GOOD NEWS of the kingdom where nothing is impossible with God! Do I believe in a prosperity gospel? You bet...it is the only gospel that has the power to transform us into the image of Jesus and destroy the works of the devil. -

God's Wife

Someone emailed this to me today and it really touched my heart. I thought I'd share it with all my blogging friends.

An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering
With cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'

'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,' was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.

She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes..

She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now..'

As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her:

'Are you God's wife?'

 

What a perfect picture of what the Bride of Christ (the Church) should be like.

 

 

If You Have Teenagers...You Might Appreciate A Laugh

If you have teenagers, (I have two in Middle School), you might appreciate this video...it was good for a laugh

HOME RUN !!!

If you like baseball...if you enjoy movies...if you're looking for entertainment with a positive message about second chances, grace & FREEDOM...

Then you'll find this movie (about so much more than baseball) a real HOME RUN!

(Click here to watch the trailer  www.HomeRunTheMovie.com)

The film is inspiring a wide array of people across the country, including the New York Yankee's pitcher Andy Pettitte, as well as Christian leaders like Max Lucado, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and more, who are rallying behind the film and its message, reminding everyone that with God, it’s never too late to make changes in your life!  You can live the life you were created to live!

Reasons to see this movie THIS WEEKEND:

• Take time out to enjoy an inspiring story with the family

• Invite a friend or loved one and use the movie as a tool to speak into the life of someone you know who needs to make a change or experience freedom.

• Promote & support wholesome movies and Christian entertainment whenever possible to send the message to Hollywood that this type of media is wanted, needed and appreciated.

Click this link to see a listing of theaters & showtimes:  www.HomeRunTheMovie.com/theaters

Losing More Than Weight

We were blessed this past Sunday at Kings Park InternationalChurch to have guest speaker, Danny Cahill share his inspiring story of incredible perseverance. Danny was the 2008 winner of NBC's hit show "The Biggest Loser". He weighed a whopping 460 pounds at the beginning of his journey, but was able to lose 239 pounds in 6 1/2 months!

Danny spoke about how this was so much more than just another
weight loss testimony...

• It was a story of how God has a bigger and better plan for your life. Danny's dream of being a musician was restored, along with new open doors to travel and share his testimony.

• It's an encouraging word to everyone to never give up, even when it doesn't look like you're making progress.  Danny told how on the show, he was given the task of digging a hole in the sand. After digging for quite awhile, it didn't look as if he was making progress because the sand constantly caved into the hole. Later, he reflected on how his life was very much like that hole in the sand - over the years, he'd lost weight, then gained it back, only to repeat the process over and over. He figured up the amount of weight he'd lost in his lifetime of this vicious cycle and discovered it added up to around 1,000 pounds. He thought how difficult the 239 pounds he wanted to lose seemed, but in light of the 1,000 he'd lost over time, it seemed silly how much more effort he'd spent on quitting. This particular part of his testimony really stuck out in my mind and he gave us this point that I hope I'll always remember - he said "you have to let go of your quit."

• It was a reminder that we need one another - everyone needs someone to help them through their journey - holding you accountable, being tough when necessary, and most importantly, cheering you on. Not only did Danny have the coaches on The Biggest Loser driving him to not quit, but he had his wife at home who had been praying for him. Danny said that after the show, his wife, Darci shared how she and her friends had been praying that he would become a contestant on The Biggest Loser. God then showed him ahead of time that he was going to win. But perhaps the most meaningful moment that led up to Danny's success was his 7 yr. old daughter saying she wanted to be just like her Daddy. Danny said that was the moment he got his "why" - which is the motivation we need to make us finish strong. As Danny put it "Everyone needs their 'why' and then the 'how' will follow."

Danny wanted us to know that the battle doesn't end with the weight loss - just like he has to keep fighting to maintain his weight, we have to keep going, never quit, and never go back! In order for it to really "sink in", Danny read this Scripture passage 3 times:

 

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

 

The timing of this message is perfect - as we begin 2013 let's. . .

• "Let go of our Quit"
• Find our "why" motivation
• Allow our loved ones, friends & the church to help us in our journey
• Remember Phil. 3:12-14 - forgetting the past, press on toward the future

check out this BIG LOSER

Do you need to be inspired?

Do you enjoy "happily ever after" stories? (of course you do)

Do you or someone you know NEED to hear a life changing testimony? (who doesn't, right?)


Well, I know of someone who has just what you're looking for . . .

In 2008, Danny Cahill appeared on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" weighing in at 239 pounds. Over the next 6 1/2 months, he lost over half of his body weight, making him the shows biggest loser EVER!

What most people don't know, is the behind the scenes story of Danny's struggles that led up to his appearing on The Biggest Loser. In his book, "Losing Big", Danny and his wife Darci share what he calls "the miraculous journey and divine intervention that took him off his destructive path of addiction, obesity, gambling, a marriage in crisis, and put them on a new course of hope, happiness, and divine purpose."

Danny shares that we have to lose our life in order to find it - based on the Scripture found in Matthew 10:39. - this can all be summed up with one word...SURRENDER.

Are you ready for more great news?

Danny is coming to speak on Sunday, January 13 @ 10 a.m.

at Kings Park International Church

1305 Oddysey Drive
Durham, North Carolina 27713

If you are in the area, please join us...bring a friend...spread the word.

If you live far away and can't make it, be sure to check out Danny's book. In his words "You can have an extraordinary life by Losing Big!"