Could'a, Would'a, Should'a

Well, now that Christmas is behind us and the new year is approaching......fast, what now? Oh, I suppose we could jump on the "gotta loose 15 lbs News Years resolution" band wagon. In fact, I will likely get back to the gym and tighten up the diet that has spun out of control in the name of holiday celebration. As I was praying last night, I was thinking about how to have a closer relationship with Jesus and how to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The phrase that kept coming to mind was "let it go". No, not the popular song from the Disney movie Frozen (in case you were wondering). Let what go? I could name at least a dozen things that I should let go from my life that have gotten in the way of my relationship with the Lord. Failures, disappointment, frustrations just to name a few. But what does the bible way about the past?

Isaiah 43:18

Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.

Most of us drive, right? Have you ever tried to maneuver the car while in reverse and looking through the rear view mirror; perhaps you were backing out of the drive way or into a parking spot? Of course you have. It's not too difficult. Would you want to drive down the freeway like that; at 70 miles an hour looking through the rear view mirror? If I were to ask my teenage son that question, he'd probably chuckle and be up for the challenge but for most of us, the answer is no. We wouldn't dream of driving that way. So, tell me something. Why do we live our lives that way? We are trying to move forward in life, get from point A to point B, all the while looking in our rear view mirror.

I should have done this. I should have done that. Someone once told me "we can could'a, would'a, should'a until we're blue in the face but it won't change the anything." We tend to go where we are looking. I'm sure you've heard the expression "keep you're eyes on the ball". Well, if you're eyes are on the balls you missed last year, how can you hit a home-run this year? Instead, you're more likely to get hit with a pitch and knocked to the ground. Not only can you miss the opportunities that have been afforded to you but you'll likely repeat the same mistakes and experience the same disappointments simply because you were 'looking' at the them.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

2018 is right around the corner and we are going to see and read multiple stories, reports and TV specials that will review this past year, the tragedies we've faced, the public figures and celebrities we've lost, and the news stories that were in the headlines. I am in no way negating the importance of taking a quick glance back and remembering those who have suffered, those we have lost and celebrating our accomplishments. The past is something we should take a quick look at from time to time, learn from it, testify about it and help someone else who is facing the same struggle but we can't afford to live there. What matters most is NOW and what we do with it. Since God forgives us from our sins, shouldn't we forgive ourselves of our past failures (sin or not).

What does God have in store for you?

As for me, I'm still going to have intentions for the coming year. Yes, I'm going to get back to the gym and eat better with the hopes of taking off 20....alright, 30 pounds. But most importantly, I'll be looking forward with excitement and expectation for what God has in store for me, my family and my church rather than fear of failure. I could'a, would'a, should'a a lot of things but that doesn't matter. We've got a great big God and He is good. His plans for me........His plans for you are far greater than either of us could ever imagine.

Happy New Year!

Sugar is sweet.....

Sugar. I love sugar. I love everything about it. I love its sweet taste. I love white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, raw cane sugar.....you name it, I'm a fan. Not only do I love the taste of sugar and what it can do to my favorite pasty, desert or snack but I like how it makes me feel after eating it. There is just something about the little burst of energy that seems to immediately follow a sweet snack, it's almost a rush. I feel a little warm, a little jazzed.

Of course, eating sugar does have its down falls. It isn't long after eating a candy-bar as an afternoon snack that the fall from the sugar high comes rolling in. That energetic feeling I once had is gone and has left me with an almost lethargic feeling, maybe even a little sleepy. The only way to avoid or reverse the effects of the fall from a sugar-high to have more sugar. Well, isn't that an awesome idea? It's almost impossible to resist. What started out as just one candy-bar has now become a candy-bar, a soda, and a cup cake. Now, not only have I eaten far too many calories and blew my eating plan for the day but now I'm faced with another set of symptoms that come from overindulgence. I get a the jitters, a stomach ache and quite possibly a headache.......and guilt. Doesn't that sound awesome?

I know all of this going in. I know that I'll get a sugar high that will eventually be followed by a fall. I know I'll be tempted to take in more sugar to offset it's effects and then I'll feel sick afterward. But all of that doesn't seem to matter when it all starts because I LOVE SUGAR. Completely rational, right?

The truth is that many times I go looking for a sugary snack when I am bothered by something else. I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm either stressed or tired or maybe even bored. Maybe I'm angry or someone has offended me. The list of things that may 'trigger' a trip to the vending machine is incredibly long. It's not rational to think that a sugary snack (or several of them) is going to resolve what's bothering me yet I search for something to make me feel better.

GREAT NEWS if you struggle like I do. There is a better......perfect way.

1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The bible also says:

Psalms 55:22 (NLT)

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

In the Amplified version is says "He will sustain and uphold you".

The trip to the pantry in search for a sugary treat won't sustain us. It is short lived and temporary. Not only is it temporary, it inevitably make us feel guilty and worse than when we started. 

Food, even sugary treats, are a gift and something that has been given to us for our body to enjoy but it wasn't designed to satisfy our spirit. Only God can do that. This isn't to say that we can't enjoy a piece of birthday cake at a birthday party or a piece of fudge at the company Christmas party but lets make sure that sugar (or any other vise) has it's place and it's place is not to take the place of the Lord. Lets give our stress, our cares, our fatigue to the Lord rather than turning to another handful of gummy bears.