Magnify Christ

Magnify Christ
Someone once said: "There is no way of telling the amount of good we could do if we didn't care who gets the credit."

The movies, TV shows, and the world in general is a competitive battle ground. People "take sides" about every issue and the competitive spirit is honored and encouraged beginning with toddlers and pre-schoolers.

 I just remembered this morning something someone said at Saturday's OA meeting. One of the leaders talked about her first day at a meeting.  She noticed several "heavy" members. When one obese person began to share and indicated that she had been able to control her compulsive eating for several months, surprise set in because the new member (now a leader) did not feel like she could control herself for one day, when she first started!
It is human nature to compare ourselves to be competitive. At most weight loss clinics pictures and pounds lost are posted, with the "biggest loser" for the week spotlighted. I have been down that road so many times. I have found that, if my motivation comes from a competitive spirit - my weight loss will fail in the end. One of the winners of "The Biggest Loser" gained back almost 200 pounds! Why? Because competition is not a lasting motivator or is a "beat others" attitude the answer to filling the void in someone's life. "Self-esteem" or self motivation did not work for me - I have CD's, books, and know Zig Zigler by heart and it all seemed like a lie unless it was God getting ALL the glory.

 Someone asked me why I don't put my name in this blog, post the pictures of my weightloss. The purpose of this blog is to document my search. I am writing down my journey to the wellspring that quenches my thirst, the only place where my hunger can be filled. I want to come back to each post and relive that moment of inspiration from God and how it helped me. Even though I am placing personal thoughts and experiences down - they are flawed, inconsistent ramblings of someone searching for a daily answer; the desperate search of a compulsive overeater to fill the void. Anytime I place my picture, displaying my weightloss progress, up for people to see - it is followed by a spell of overeating. That is because all glory, all honor has to be Christ's - not mine.

 

Over and over again throughout the Bible - God gets the glory - not people.

2 Peter 3:18, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!"

 God and Christ got the glory - not people, not Christians. I am just a "cracked, dirty pot" that has been cleansed. Anything that is good that I do, any success - is Christ in me. That is hard to remember when the world has an "us versus they" attitude.

So I go back to the scriptures to help me fight the influence of the world. Romans 15 Paul talks about success in bringing the Word of God to unbelievers: "Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I'd even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders." (The Message)

So that is the answer to weight loss .... the "powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ" working in the soul of believers.

The words and deeds of Christ magnified in me = the only success that has meaning or substance. Everything else leaves a void and that leads to more uncontrollable hunger and thirst.

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Dear Lord, help me today to be encouraged by the zeal and success in others. Transform my competitive spirit, my inclination to outdo others. Help me to focus on the power of true success ~ Christ in me. Transform me today and everyday and may any success magnify God's glory and diminish my part, my efforts. I am just an earthen vessel begging to be filled with Your power. I don't deserve Your love and mercy. I do want to lose weight so much but I keep trying to do it to please others or myself. I know that is the way of failure. I can only succeed with Your help and if it is Your will for me on this earth. Help me to be open to other people you send into my life. If OA is where you want me to be, please clear a path through my fears of new things. It is in the name of Your glorious Son that I come to you today in prayer, Amen.

Kenosis vs. Fame

"Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. " Philipians 2:5-11

Christ's gift to me can never be matched ~ by anyone, anytime in history. It is the story of God's grace and His love for me ~ His love for everyone who hungers and thirsts for life beyond sin, beyond death. Christ emptied Himself, became man and died for me! Kenosis is the Greek word used by early Christians and Paul. It is the Greek word used in Philipians 2:7. It means self-emptying.

Do I see this very often in everyday life? Not really. But I am always looking for examples of Christ in this world. People willing to empty themselves, humble themselves and let God have all the glory for their actions and successes.

 

Below are two videos about Colt McCoy that demonstrates this "kenosis" in the real world.
(I am not a football fan but can appreciate someone like Colt's faith in the face of the unknown and pain; when peer pressure and media try continually to make you into a hero. Listen to what Colt does with his "fifteen minutes of fame" at this time in his life.).

Lord, I come before you now and ask for your help. I walk in the world, as myself, and I find it difficult to empty myself. I want so much to be Christ-like, or a Christian ~ in the world. Lord, You are worthy to be praised! The gift of Your Son on the cross is a gift beyond comparing. That He fought death and decay and came from the tomb victorious ~ for my sins ~ is unbelievable! Help my unbelief... Just like He was raised from death to walk a new life ~ I have been raised, redeemed from sin's darkness and shackles ~ to walk a new life. Thank you is such an insignificant phrase for such a glorious gift. Lord, I come before you today ~ hungering and thirsting for your words ~ for the retelling of the Salvation Story; the story of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God. With a heart of full of longing and praise, I pray this prayer in Christ's name, Amen.

Temper, Temper...

 

 

Temper, Temper!

Temperment - it is an odd word. It is mostly used to describe the characteristic or habitual inclination that we have in any given situation, it also means - the act or process of tempering or modifying something or someone. It is that definition that I wanted to focus on today, mostly because I need an upgrade, a modification. If I am going to succeed at living a life without eating as a crutch, I will need to be modified greatly.

I Peter 4:12-13, "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner." The Message Version

Same verses in New International version. ^" Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed"

From what I have heard in sermons, the same Greek terminology that is translated as "testing" or "refining" also is used to describe what a blacksmith does when he places the blade of a sword into the fire, over and over again. This is called tempering the metal or modifying it so that it grows stronger and stronger. At this point in my life, that is what I feel is happening to me. I am being tempered or modified. Even if it seems the pain, temptation, and loneliness are overwhelming at times, it is just preparing me for what God has in store for me. God's plan for the future here on earth includes more pain but He makes sure I am well tempered or refined before I am asked to walk through fire. Later Peter writes:

"Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. Stand up to him. Stand firm in what you believe. All over the world you know that your brothers and sisters are going through the same kind of suffering. God always gives you all the grace you need. So you will only have to suffer for a little while. Then God himself will build you up again. He will make you strong and steady. And he has chosen you to share in his eternal glory because you belong to Christ. Give him the power for ever and ever. Amen." I Peter 5:8-11

I have God's promise that no matter what "tempering" or testing I go through ~ He will restore me, build me up again. He will give me a kind of strength that I can't even imagine. Is it worth the pain of being modified, upgraded? Yes! Just think, I am being prepared and changed so that I can share in eternal glory. Not just sit at the pearly gates but actually come to the throne of God and sing praises with the redeemed. Wow!

Lord, I come before you wanting to be tempered, changed, and modified. I am uncertain how that is going to be done and I am also afraid of the process. Give me strength to go back in the fire, if that is what it take to glorify you. Help me not to loose my temper when the pain starts or when others are cruel. Change me into someone who is strong and couragous. Whatever it takes, you are in control of my life. In the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I pray this prayer, Amen.

Majestic Name

God's glory has been everywhere in my life today! What a blessing it is to be alive, surrounded by His love and light.

"O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! "
Psalm 8 NTL