Naked and Afraid

This is who we are. This is what we are made of.  – Jeff Zausch, “Naked and Afraid”cast member adventure”? Webster defines it as “an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, activity, such as the exploration of an unknown territory”.  This idea usually revolves around survival, and our culture has become obsessed with the idea of placing strangers in an unknown land and seeing how well they survive against the elements and, let’s be honest, against each other. “Survivor” paved the way for a host of other reality shows, like “The Amazing Race”, “Big Brother”...
and “Man, Woman, Wild”, but the Discovery Channel has taken this reality show genre to another level with “Naked and Afraid”. According to its website, “The ubiquitous survival show theme [goes] to the next level by stripping it to its bare essentials. Two complete strangers — a man and a woman — meet in a very unique way: They’re stranded in a dangerous, desolate location, without food and water, and they’re completely naked. Each episode follows the two as they attempt to survive on their own for 21 days, with nothing but one personal item each, and the knowledge that the only prize is their pride and sense of accomplishment. Because there is no other choice, the couple quickly get to know each other — and their surroundings — and hope that their instincts, survival skills and intestinal fortitude serve them well.”

     Catch that? They do NOT get paid for it. There is no million dollar prize at the end of the 21-day period. A contributor for hitflix.com asked the same question many of us would: Why do people strip naked and suffer for no prize? One of the cast members, Jeff Zausch, says, “This is who we are. This is what we are made of. Some people were made to be race car drivers [or] CEOs of companies. We were made to push the limits of what’s humanly possible. The number one reward of this show was the pride that we got from completing the challenge.” Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But think about this—what do we all do to suffer for no prize other than our pride? “Winning” an argument with a loved one even though we knew we were in the wrong? Withholding love from someone who needs it because we think they don’t deserve it? Keeping a tight grip on a grudge and refusing to forgive, or even putting our jobs ahead of our family? At the root cause of all those actions, albeit not on camera, is pride.

     Pride is a sin. In fact, it’s the heart of sin. It all goes back to the garden of Eden where Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, in direct disobedience towards the only thing God told them not to do, and its effects upon the rest of the human race. This weekend, Senior Pastor Lee Powell discussed how sin is putting ourselves in the place of God, essentially telling God “we know better”, and making ourselves the captain on our own ship. Before that, there was perfect harmony between Adam, Eve and God. Adam and Eve knew God intimately, walked with Him and could give Him what no other part of creation could: praise. They were also immortal, and free from all pain.

     So, what went wrong? What caused the world to spiral down into a pitfall of wars, strife and diseases? The world came under the influence of Satan. He then used Adam and Eve as a catalyst for sin. Taking on the form of a snake, his first approach to Eve was to plant a seed of doubt in her mind about what God had told her. He asked, “Did God really tell you not to eat of any tree in the garden?” Once Satan challenged her with something very tempting: “You will not die. You will be like God.”, Eve ate of the fruit; Adam ate of the fruit and sin came into the world.

     During this series, “The Great Adventure: A Journey Through the Bible”, we are going to embark on a journey that will reveal how the events in the Bible are woven together. Tim Keller, respected speaker, writer and pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City, describes it this way: “The Bible is not a disconnected set of stories, each of which has a little moral about how to live life. Primarily, the Bible is a single story telling us what is wrong with the human race, what God is going to do about it, how history is going to end and how it’s all going to turn out. It is a single story.” When you begin to look at the Bible as a complete story instead of individual ones that are disconnected, you will see the beautiful and complete picture of God’s relentless love and amazing grace. We will not only take the journey, but camp out and unpack several points that will help reveal God’s Word and His ultimate victory. Are you ready to take the adventure?

THIS WEEK’S STUDY BEGINS OUR ADVENTURE THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

Powerful Tools to Stop Over-Eating

I’ve been there. It starts with a handful of carrots, moves to a few pieces of cheese, and the next thing you know, you’re elbow deep in a pint of ice cream.  You go to bed exhausted and sick, feeling out of control and like you’re sabotaging yourself.  Can you relate?

It’s called emotional eating, and it happens more often than you might think. You don’t always have to clean out your fridge in one night to fall victim to emotional eating, either.  This phenomenon can strike at any time, when you find...
yourself eating for reasons other than satisfying actual physical hunger.

When I worked in marketing, it wasn't long before I discovered that food companies constantly strive to make a connection between food and emotion. 

In order to create appeal, food marketing promises an emotional benefit beyond the food itself —  such as comfort, excitement, belonging, etc.

My job as a marketer was to make these connections even more compelling and convincing, by fueling our collective belief that eating certain foods provides us with emotional satisfaction.

When I finally realized the full implications of what I was doing for a living, I quit my job.

I began healing my own relationship with food, and I now help other women do the same by ending their emotional eating patterns and reconnecting with their bodies.

I’ve come up with five powerful tools for how to put an end to emotional eating for good. Following these steps takes practice and a little bravery, but if you follow them not only will you stop eating emotionally, but you'll also learn to start enjoying your food — and your life — in a whole new way.

1. Don't abandon yourself.

Emotional eating provides a release from discomfort, providing a momentary sense of pleasure and satisfaction when you’re feeling something you don’t want to feel. Overeating has a numbing, softening effect on our unwanted sentiments, and takes our attention away from them. The key to ending this pattern is to not abandon yourself when your emotions go awry, but instead to invite them in and allow yourself to feel.

Tell yourself that it's OK to feel sad, mad, scared, tired — you name it. Welcome your negative emotions with kindness and curiosity, and ask them what they want from you. This includes those intense feelings of guilt or anger that tend to follow an emotional eating episode. Approach your feelings with kindness, and your body will begin to understand that it no longer has to overeat to protect you from your feelings. Plus, through listening to your emotions, you’ll discover what it is you truly want, and can create new strategies for deeper satisfaction.

2. Maintain the pleasure principle.

Make pleasure a priority in your life! Flavor your water with fruit, wear soft, comfortable clothes, take bubble baths. Give your body other ways to experience feeling good, aside from eating. If you do find yourself in the middle of a binge, try allowing yourself to fully enjoy it. Sit down and savor every bite. The more focused you are on how good it feels to eat, the harder it will be to eat to the point of pain. Many times emotional eating is just our body’s attempt at experiencing pleasure.

3. Eat only when you're actually hungry.

Emotional eaters tend to not eat when they’re actually hungry, which only makes them want to eat a lot more later. As the author Geneen Roth says, “For every diet, there’s an equal and opposite binge.” So instead, eat real, healthy, and nourishing foods whenever you experience physical hunger. Doing so will teach your body that you are not in what the weight-loss advocate Jon Gabriel calls, "starvation mode.” The Gabriel Method author says,“You become very efficient at storing fat and you lose the ability to burn it.” This means that eating when you’re hungry will not only make you less inclined to binge, but it will also tell your body that it’s safe to lose weight.

4. Prepare for your next binge by knowing your triggers.

Discover your triggers and strategize. If you know you eat when you’re lonely, plan to call a friend or write in your journal instead. Also, always carry food with you so that you never feel deprived. Emotional eating can be your body’s reaction to feeling deprived, so create new ways to nourish yourself. Stock your fridge with delicious, healthy foods, pack your calendar with exciting things to do, and be disciplined about setting aside time for yourself to relax.

5. Wake up to your own beauty.

If you knew how beautiful you were, you wouldn’t deny yourself food to try to change yourself. You also wouldn’t emotionally eat as a release, because there’d be no tension from which to release. Any shift in diet would be out of self-love and care for your beautiful body. We are a culture of gorgeous women expected to fit into an impossible mold for the sake of capital gain. Dr. Gail Dines says, “If tomorrow, women woke up and decided they really liked their bodies, just think how many industries would go out of business.” It’s time to wake up to your beauty and feed your body with the love and tenderness it truly deserves.

Allison Dryja

Allison is a Health and Wellness Coach committed to helping people bring sweet self-care to everyday life.  She spent 7 years working in fast-paced, New York City offices, and understands how important (and challenging) it is to make personal wellness a priority.

Reflexology

Stress is our internal response to external changes and challenges, whether real or imagined — a deadline at work, an upcoming dinner with the in-laws, relationship issues or just our imagination running wild.  We experience stress when we lose faith in our ability to cope, whether with the world in...
general, or with specific people and situations. At some point in a busy day, this feeling of helplessness can strike any of us and we feel "stressed out."

The Adrenaline Rush
Our stress response is a signal that our body and all its major systems have been activated. This classic fight-or-flight reaction is not just in our heads. It's an automatic response that reverberates throughout our entire body. Adrenaline is released, muscles tense up, our stomach tightens, our heart rate quickens, breathing becomes shallower, blood vessels on the skin surface contract, blood pressure rises, and digestion and intestinal processes shut down.  None of these conditions are meant to persist for very long. The body couldn't stand for it. They are short-term responses to immediate perceived dangers. Yet we live in a society that is constantly presenting us with stressful situations. Some are very specific, such as challenges at work, financial pressures, and family issues, while some are rather vague, generalized feelings of being at the mercy of other individuals and forces beyond our control.  Unless we take conscious action, our stress response stays permanently turned on, even at low levels. Such extreme mobilization can only be maintained for so long before our minds and bodies show signs of exhaustion.

Consequences of Chronic Stress
Over time, excessive adrenal stimulation depletes vitamins and minerals from our bodies, including those essential to the functioning of the immune system like vitamins B and C. Elevated adrenal activity can also cause a buildup of fatty substances on blood vessel walls, and damage the functioning of the digestive system. People under chronic stress are prone to more frequent and more severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold, and vaccines, such as flu shots, can be less effective.  The simple truth is that stress breaks down your body's natural support systems and defenses, while relaxation strengthens them.

Natural Stress Relief in Just 3 Minutes
One the most important things you can do to return your body to optimum health is to release stress, whether physical, mental or emotional.  Reflexology, both a science and an art, is a proven method to help you deeply relax and let go of your stress. Reflexology stimulates the reflex areas and soothes the thousands of nerves in your feet, hands, ears and face that enervate each of your organs, glands and every part of your body.  The profound relaxation you experience through Reflexology improves circulation, assists in the release of toxins, increases energy and normalizes body functioning.

A reflexology session can last one hour or more, and you can easily give yourself — or a friend — a 3-minute natural stress release mini-session. You can download a free Foot chart to see the corresponding areas of the body your are affecting. To begin, sit in a comfortable position in a quiet room. Using a light, absorbent greaseless lotion, massage the feet with squeezing, stroking, kneading, wringing motions. Massaging the feet is a great preparation for Reflexology … or anything else!

Next, cross your foot over your knee, and hold the ankle, heel or toes of that foot firmly with the same hand. Place the thumb of your other hand on the sole of that foot. Starting at the heel, apply steady, even pressure with the outer edge or ball of the thumb (keeping the thumb slightly bent at the joint) using a forward, caterpillar-like motion called "thumb walking."  Press into one spot, move a little forward, press again, and so on. When you reach the toes, return to the heel area, pick a new spot and repeat the process. Continue until the entire bottom of the foot has been worked. Using your fingers, press the top of the foot from your toes to your ankle. Repeat on the other foot.

Now you've had a taste of a natural, powerful way to release stress and restore balance to your body, mind and spirit. Enjoy!

By Laura Norman, M.S., LMT - world-renowned Holistic Reflexologist and author of the best-selling book, Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology, offers private Reflexology and Life Wellness Coaching sessions and Holistic Reflexology Training Programs in South Florida and New York City. Laura has created aromatherapy products, unique step-by-step Foot, Hand and Face Reflexology Instructional DVDs to follow along and use at home, and offers beautiful gift certificates instantly online for all occasions. 

Visit lauranorman.com for more information.

Foot Reflexology: 7 Pressure Points To Reduce Stress & Boost Metabolism

BY LAURA NORMAN

Your thoughts and visualizations affect the world around you — starting with your body. If your goal is the best possible version of yourself, picture that person mind's eye.  Your ability to imagine is most effective when you’re relaxed, so try visualizing your best self first thing in the morning and then again before you fall asleep at night.  And of course there's always after a yoga, meditation, massage or reflexology session. Reflexology soothes you into a state of deep rest and relaxation, where you are open to the suggestions you give yourself — much like in hypnosis. You enter a receptive place of allowing your heart’s desires to manifest.  Your brain is just like a computer ... you can program and delete anything about yourself or your life that you choose.  Reflexology gently affects...
your organs, glands, and each part of your body by stimulating reflex areas/points on your feet, hands, face and ears.  There are thousands of nerves in these areas — 15,000 nerves in your feet alone! That’s why the effects of reflexology are so calming and soothing.

Many of us seek comfort in excess, which can have a negative impact on our well-being, so reflexology can be a wonderful, nourishing replacement for harmful self-indulgences. Oftentimes, we overeat as a reaction to stress and tension.  The time you invest to pamper yourself with any form of relaxation will leave you feeling nurtured, loved, grounded and much better about who you truly are. And whether you're trying to shed excess pounds or make better lifestyle choices, reflexology can help. Stimulating the areas on your foot indicated in this chart will have a direct correlation to the glands, organs and nervous system, helping you look and feel your best.

Using your thumb or index finger, simply press for five seconds on each of the following areas indicated above. Note: this chart depicts the sole of the left foot...
• The hypothalamus area of your brain (outside of big toe) controls appetite and thirst.
• The pituitary or "master gland" (center of big toe) stimulates and balances hormonal secretions of all other glands. 
• Your thyroid (bottom of big toe) regulates your metabolism. 
• The solar plexus/diaphragm (under ball of foot) reduces stress.
• The adrenal glands (near inner edge of foot at center sole) help to maintain your energy levels to burn off calories.
• Stimulating the urinary system helps to release water retention.
• The colon and intestines of the digestive system (near bottom of foot at center sole) are stimulated to promote elimination and relieve bloating.

Discover your best self with reflexology as you step forward into spring, one foot at a time.

Foot Reflexology: 7 Pressure Points To Relieve Seasonal Allergies

Has spring greeted you with sniffling, sneezing, congestion and runny, itchy eyes, nose and throat? Experts say that this allergy season is more intense than usual, dubbing as a "pollen tsunami," especially in the Northeast.  After a long, wet winter, everything has seemingly bloomed all at once. Beautiful, yes, but if you have sensitivities to pollen like I do, you're probably suffering from allergies right now.  Allergies are your immune system’s overreaction to pollens and other substances.  While they're not necessarily dangerous...
for those with asthma, allergies can trigger more serious reactions.  You may have also noticed that if you’re experiencing a lot of stress when allergy season arrives, the symptoms can worsen. Anything that relieves stress will therefore help reduce allergy symptoms.  So before you reach for those over-the-counter antihistamines that will often leave you feeling drowsy, plus other unpleasant side effects, there’s a powerful, natural way to find relief.

Reflexology calms the nervous system and transports you to a state of deep rest and relaxation by stimulating reflex points on your feet, hands, face and ears. There are thousands of nerves in these areas — 15,000 in your feet alone! This is why a reflexology session is so very soothing and nurturing, leaving you feeling clear and energized.  While releasing tension and stress, reflexology also affects your organs, glands and pretty much every other part of your body, because each part has its related pressure point/area on the feet, hands, face and ears.

The chart above indicates some reflex points/areas on the feet that when stimulated, will help you breathe easier. Using your thumb or index finger, simply press and hold for five seconds on each of these seven areas:
The sinuses (balls of the toes) open up clogged sinus cavities.
The pituitary or "master gland" (center of big toe) stimulates and balances hormone secretions of all other glands.
The thymus gland (upper inner edge of ball of foot) strengthens your immune system.
Your chest, lungs and bronchials (center of ball of foot) release congestion.
The solar plexus/diaphragm (under ball of foot at center) reduces stress and relaxes breathing.
Your adrenal glands (just above center of foot near inner edge) produce cortisone/cortisol to reduce inflammation. Adrenalin boosts your energy level, often depleted by allergy symptoms.
The ileocecal valve (lower outer edge of foot) regulates mucus production.

Stimulating these points will help to strengthen your immune system, balance the flow of your energy, promote overall wellness and benefit both seasonal allergies and chronic asthma. 

You can also use the power of your mind to help you feel better, both during and after a reflexology session. It's becoming more known that our thoughts and visualizations can have a direct affect on the world around us — and especially our bodies.  In the deep state of relaxation you experience during reflexology, you are very receptive to suggestions you give yourself —much like hypnosis. What a great opportunity to imagine yourself breathing easily and comfortably with clear sinuses!  For an even more powerful experience you can try an affirmation such as, "The Universe is providing me with ease, grace and an abundance of breath." Since allergies are our body’s response to our environment, you could also use, "I am at peace and in harmony with my surroundings."

Spring is such a beautiful time of renewal and new beginnings, so let’s spend these glorious days feeling great and breathing easier. Reflexology is a great tool to help you make the very best of the sweetest of seasons!

Acupressure Video

Taking Health Into Your Own Hands

This is a video from the instructor whose Acupressure Course I just completed. He is the best teacher...you'll enjoy him.  This is Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., he is an excellent, inspiring teacher who combines a friendly, warm, accessible teaching style with precise technical skill. Through his thirty-five years of experience, his groundbreaking self-treatment techniques have brought pain relief and healing to thousands of people.  This Video and {2 other videos coming soon} will help...
you understand a bit more about Acupressure - for yourself and your family.  Acupressure has been very helpful to me.  My Pups love it too.  Enjoy...the Video below!

Michael Reed Gach, Founder of Acupressure.com says:

This is Why I love Acupressure and why I’ve dedicated my life to teaching this healing

1. Anyone can learn the Acupressure points
2. You don’t need needles like Acupuncture
3. It works with the same meridian pathways as Traditional Chinese Medicine
4. It’s super safe to apply
5. You can do it anywhere (at work, school, in line, at home, while you travel)
6. It doesn’t cost a lot of money and actually saves money
7. You can take care of yourself, simply by using your hands
8. Once you learn it you know it forever
9. You can share it with family, friends and loved ones
10. It doesn’t require any equipment
11. You can use it with massage and Reflexology
12. It is complementary to Western medicine
13. No negative side effects
14. You can easily vary the pressure when a point is tight or sore
15. It connects me with my own body’s awareness
16. It’s fun and exciting to learn so many points and their benefits
17. It helps free and release blocked energy
18. It can be used on 100’s of conditions
19. It rebalances the body to its natural state of health
20. It helps my body release stiffness
21. While practicing Acupressure you connect with your breathing
22. There are many point routines for specific health conditions
23. It’s easy to learn
24. It is based on natural instincts
25. It brings me into deep levels of relaxation
26. It leads me into wonderful spiritual experiences
27. It greatly enhances meditation
28. It connects you to the natural healing wisdom of your body
29. It can be used at any age, from babies all the way to seniors
30. Different cultures discovered different ways to stimulate the points
31. Its fun to teach and share with people everywhere
32. You can combine Acupressure with the use of essential oils
33. You can save money on expensive drugs
34. It is the ultimate self-care preventative solution
35. You can use it to rejuvenate when you’re feeling sluggish or tired
36. You can use it to help others
37. It’s a unique form of service to humanity
38. It relieves shoulder and neck tension
39. I love to show children how they can use it
40. It helps me relax to get to sleep
41. It grounds me when I feel dizzy or spaced out
42. Its good to know how to heal yourself when a traumatic experience occurs
43. It’s the ultimate gift to friends who have too many possessions
44. Helps me with my memory and concentration
45. I love to do acupressure while I’m giving a hug
46. It calms me when I am feeling anxious
47. It relieves sports injuries
48. It helps prevent colds and flu
49. It comes from my heart to use Acupressure to heal others
50. It can relieve depression, fatigue and even cold feet

God's Invitation Awaits

Living the Home Run Life ultimately gives the glory to God.

A few years ago, singer songwriter Nichole Nordeman wrote a popular song titled “Legacy”. She sings about how nice it is to hear people say good things about her songs and goes on to say that everyone needs to hear an “atta boy or atta girl”, but that she wanted to hang her hat on more than the “temporary trappings of this world”. In the next verse, she writes about the questions we think about when it comes to the impact that we want to leave on the world.  Do I want to leave a legacy?...
How will they remember me?  Did I choose to love?  Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?  I want to leave an offering, a child of mercy and grace, who blessed Your Name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.

A true legacy that lasts is one that points people to Jesus. “That’s our calling– to be a force for God and for good.” While baseball was the analogy, it’s just a way to see the behavior and plans of our loving God, and how to live for Him each day. The tragedy is that we could get all the way around the bases and actually miss the point—the glory to Him with every step! The truth is that after we’ve made it around every base, our foot needs to hit the bag at home base again to give Him thanks, praise and glory (Psalm 106:1). Then we do it again, and again, and again and again. That’s winning the diamond life.

So, what are we waiting for? We have all that we need to score big, to bring lives to Christ and to do it all to bring glory to God’s name.

READ, THINK and LIVE… Read and apply the Bible.
The apostle Paul told us how to achieve a life with eternal significance.

Question: What are the do’s and don’ts contained in this verse? What does Paul say will be the result of following this advice?

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Answer:

This verse inspired Kevin Myers to find God’s pattern for living and then eventually write the book Home Run. Think back over the series—what is one lesson that inspired you or helped you to know and better understand God’s will for you? What will you do as a result?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Ask God to show you how your time, energies, gifts and talents could be used to make a bigger impact on His kingdom than you ever thought they could.

Grand Slams

The extraordinary gifts He has given us, when used for His purposes, don’t allow for an ordinary life.  Just go out there and do your art. Make something. And do it not just for you…but for the glory of God.

– Makoto Fujimura, Japanese Christian artist

In this weekend’s service, you heard the story of Eric Ward, a Northwest Ohio fourth grade teacher, husband and dad to three children. Eric also loves photography and, several years ago, began taking pictures (mostly of his children and nature) with an iPhone and sharing them on Instagram, the app...
that has become a worldwide social photography platform.

Using the name @littlecoal, Eric gained a few followers who were captivated by his stunning composition and trademark silhouettes. Over the last three years, those “few” followers have grown to nearly 270,000 and more than half are located outside of the United States. This small town school teacher has been featured in the Columbus Museum of Art, Mashable online, and the cover of “Shooter” magazine as well as countless online interviews. Eric even won a brand new car by submitting one of his photos in an Instagram contest.

Even with such a public recognition for his individual talent, Eric has been quick to thank his mom for letting him take and develop so many photos as a child and he hasn’t shied away from sharing his faith throughout the journey either. Many of his posts point people directly to God and he has been quoted in interviews saying, “My biggest inspirations are my children and the beauty of His creation whichsurrounds us every day in so many different ways.”

From editing photos from his living room to finding influence with hundreds of thousands of people, God has taken something ordinary and made it extraordinary. As Kevin Myers shares, “God invites us to live larger. If the only thing you live for on earth is yourself, you will be disappointed.”

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?
We are all uniquely designed by God to accomplish something very specific. In this verse, Jesus is praying to God about his own purpose on earth. Jesus had a very specific calling.

Question: Even though Jesus was fully divine, he came to earth to bring God glory. How did Jesus glorify God with his (Jesus’) life?

John 17:4 (New Living Translation)

I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Answer: 
In Ephesians, Paul writes about our connection to Jesus as the head of the church. God views us as His masterpiece and we should not take our talents for granted. Our relationship with Jesus allows us to live out our God-ordained purpose.

Question: What does God have planned for those who are new in Christ?

Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Answer: 
It is easy for us to limit our God-given talents when we don’t see the possibility God has intended for us. In this verse, Paul reminds us that we should never limit what God can do in our lives.

Question: Who gets the glory when we accomplish extraordinary things, even things that we have never dreamed about or prayed for?

Ephesians 3:20 (New Living Translation)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

What talents and gifts has God given you to use at home, work or as a hobby? How have you used those gifts in a way that gave glory to God and blessed others?

Like Eric Ward, your life could be more extraordinary than ordinary when you allow God to work through your giftedness. Perhaps you’ve already experienced that. When was the last time God “showed off” in your life? Share a time where God’s plan was more than you expected or dreamed.

THINK ABOUT THIS! When we live the Home Run Life, we shouldn’t be surprised when God does something big in us or through us to impact those close to us or to impact a broader audience. Do you ever think that God could do something HUGE through you? Would you consider praying about it and telling a friend?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Thank God for the unique talents He has given you and ask Him to develop them and provide opportunities to share your faith while using them. Ask for help to encourage other people’s gifts while appreciating your own. Give God glory for the work He has already done in your life and pray for the dreams you have.

Score a Legacy

Leading others to Christ can be our legacy.  God will always do great things with people who arewilling to be faithful in the small things.  – Lysa TerKeurst

When you think of leaving a legacy, what comes to mind? Some people may automatically think of leaving a gift or money to their family after they die. Other people may hope to be remembered as someone who “did something big” like...
climb up the corporate ladder, write a book or play major league baseball. “Forbes” magazine says, “Your legacy is putting your stamp on your future. It’s a way to make some meaning of your existence: ‘Yes, world of the future, I was here. Here’s my contribution, here’s why I hope my life mattered.’”

In this series, we’ve learned that in order to live a Home Run Life, we must run the bases in order with gratitude and humility, placing God first 24/7, so that God can use us for His glory. We will not only change our lives and those around us, but also leave an eternal legacy for future generations. What a great thing! However, when we ignore God’s way and choose to run the bases out of order, there is a price to pay. We are all accountable for our actions and one day we will stand before God and answer to those actions.

God says that the most important legacy we can leave is to lead others to Him. Mark 16:15 says, “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” This verse may seem overwhelming, even crazy, but what if we start by spreading the Good News in our own mission field? We can “go into all the world” together – whether that means at work, at the grocery store or when we are talking to our neighbors. Suddenly, when we, as Christians, team up to spread God’s love, the world doesn’t seem quite so big anymore.  

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?
In this verse, Joel is referring to the invasion of locusts God allowed as a judgment and call to the people of Israel to repent of their sins.

Question: What does God promise to redeem for His people if they turn back to Him and glorify Him through their lives?

Joel 2:25-26 (New Living Translation)

²⁵ The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. ²⁶ Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.”

Answer:
In this passage of Scripture, known popularly as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking to the multitudes about how to live, turning what were commonly accepted ways to “rightly” live, upside down.

Question: Who should receive the honor and praise for how we live our lives? What impact does living and glorifying God have on the people around us?

Matthew 5:16 (New Living Translation)

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Answer: 
This passage was written by Paul to explain how the message will be spread throughout the world. It was revealed that the Gospel should be preached to the Gentiles and to nonbelievers everywhere.

Question: While it is up to us to share the Gospel and Good News, who must accept it?

Romans 15:21 (New Living Translation)

I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard about him will understand.”

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

Read Matthew 5:13-16. These verses talk about how Christians are the salt and light in the world. 

After reading, consider:
How am I truly being a light for Christ in this world with everything I do?
Where is my mission field? 
Who are three people I can think of right now that I could spread the Good News to by serving or being a part of their lives?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave? 
One of my own selfish desires that will end shortly after I die? 
Or a legacy of God’s love that will continue on from generation to generation even after I leave this earth? 
If you are blessed to live to a ripe old age, what would you want people to say about your life after you’re gone? 
In which areas of your life do you want people to say that you gave God the most glory? (Hint: How you did your job? 
How you raised your family? 
How you gave? 
How you responded to God’s promptings?)

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Thank God for the amazing opportunity that each of us have to leave a legacy for Him. Pray for Him to reveal those around you who need to know the Good News. Pray also for strength, courage and knowledge when the opportunities arise.

Do What You Were Created To Do

You give God glory when you lean into your giftedness.  Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.  – C.S. Lewis

An old hymn says that if the ocean were made of ink and the sky were made of paper, then it still would not be sufficient to record the amount of God’s love for us. The Lord gives us so much, BUT one thing that He does not share with us is His glory. This is because He is the creator and we are the created. He has made us and He has lavished us with talents, skills and blessings that He desires for us to use for His good.  When...
the purpose of something God has created is fulfilled, God is glorified. We can see this in nature, especially at this time of year. The trees are in bloom and new life is awakening around us. The earth is changing its seasons as God has set it to do. Conversely, if something is used for a purpose contrary to its God-given nature, God is not glorified. This is one reason sin is so damaging in our lives. Sin will waste your life and move you away from God’s purposes. When we do the things God created us to do, we ascribe Him the glory and we point out the greatness of God to the world.

As we get to know God more and more, our love for Him and understanding of who He is leads us to respect, honor and glorify Him. That’s why we start at home base every day and finish there after third base results, to give Him the glory. One way to be mentally prepared for this is to meditate on who God is. Consider the following ABC list of descriptions of God’s character: Able; Beloved; Creator; Deliverer; Everlasting; Faithful; Giver; Holy; Infinite; Just; Kind; Light; Merciful; Nurturer; Omnipotent; Protector; Quiet; Rock; Shepherd; Teacher; Unchangeable; Vindicator; Willing; X-cellent; Yours; Zealous.

This list is just a start for how to focus your thankfulness to the Lord. That’s where glory starts, with our gratitude. He is ALL of these almighty things and we can use our talents to point to His glory.

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?

1. At this point in Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas have been thrown out of several towns for preaching the gospel. In Lystra, however, when they healed a crippled man, the townsfolk decided that Paul and Barnabas were gods and wanted to worship and offer sacrifices to them.

Questions:

1.What is Paul and Barnabas’ reaction to being worshiped?

Acts 14:14-15 (New Living Translation)

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, ¹⁵ “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Answer: 

2. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reviews some history about the dangers of Israel’s idolatry and who they were living their life for. He then offers instructions for Christians on how they can do it differently.

Question: What activities does Paul point to that can give glory to God? What is the significance of the word “all”?

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New Living Translation)

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Answer:

In 1 Peter 4, Peter assures us that we all have been granted spiritual gifts and urges us to use them for the glory of God.

Question: What is the main goal to keep in mind when using our spiritual gifts? 

1 Peter 4:11 (New Living Translation)

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

From the Paul and Barnabas story, we see how important it is to ensure we are using our gifts for God and not for our own gain. What mindset or attitude is needed in order to focus on God’s glory and not on our own? 

What are your current activities that are done for the glory of God? Which activities are driven by selfish motivation? What’s the difference? 

CHALLENGE: Today, challenge yourself to start every task with the goal of honoring God through how you speak and think. Then, glorify God at the end of the task by acknowledging His presence while you work. 

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Spend some time in prayer with the list of God’s attributes. Find a word or two that could represent what God means to you and meditate on it in prayer and then keep the prayer in your heart throughout your day and week.