Loving Jesus, Loving Others

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Cor. 1:4

My christian friends mean the world to me. It's a new lesson that I am learning and I don't know why it took me so long to get here. I love all my friends but my christian friends are the ones I can turn to in times of trouble, stress, anxiety and hurt.

I used to read blogs and stories, or watch t.v. shows and movies and cry because I longed for the relationships that I saw in them. The best friends who grew up together, or the sisters who depended upon each other, the moms who were there for their kids all the time, or the groups of friends that did everything together.

For years, I defined myself by the pain I had suffered, losses endured, hurt feelings caused by harsh words from loved ones. I missed out on a lot of living because I was engulfed in believing lies about who I am. I missed out on relationships because I was too broken to be able to trust anyone or because I was too miserable to care.

But that's not what God wants for us. God created us to live in community with others. God longs us to love others and to be loved by others.

It's my belief, that God works through people to show himself to others. I have seen this happen time and time again in my life. 2 Corinthians 2:4 is the perfect example of what I am talking about.

I recently had experience with such a situation.

I had been struggling with an issue of faith and because of that my anxiety was starting to act up. I had a friend who was also struggling with some of the same issues. I was trying to be encouraging and positive to her, when I felt like I was drowning myself. I had an older and wiser christian friend who I turned to and asked for prayer from and our conversation gave me great comfort and peace, so I, in turn, was able to be a little more helpful to my other friend and try to encourage her more.

This is how the family of God is supposed to work. This is why God created us for community. He knows that it's going to be hard for us as humans to be strong and always remember to depend on him. But if we surround ourselves with his people and work to create strong relationships with each other, then we become stronger people, stronger Christians, and a stronger church.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. Ecc. 4:9-10

It took me a long time to reach this place. It took a lot of prayer and time spent with God. It took a lot of healing within myself by him.

What I realized is to be in relationship with others is easier when I am in relationship with Jesus because it's all about his love. Jesus is the very epitome of love, mercy, kindness, and grace and when we are walking with him and depending on him it's so much easier to extend that same love, mercy, kindness and grace to other people.

I am definitely not perfect at this. There are times when I have to pray to keep my mouth shut because I may not agree with something someone said, but my opinion about something is not as important as my relationship with someone or showing them love, and understanding and providing comfort.

To tell the truth, when I can help someone, either by listening to them and letting them hurt or be frustrated, or by trying to provide encouragement or comfort, I am helped, I am comforted. It helps ground my faith.

I believe so much that these are the kind of relationships that God wants for all of his people. He wants us to live together in love and harmony. He wants us to "bear each others burdens" and strengthen one another in the faith.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galations 6:2

I believe that we must be able to do this within our churches in order to bring others to Christ. Our churches must be filled with strong relationships filled with love to overflowing so that others will want what we have... the love of Christ Jesus.

"Forgiveness for Health"

There're parts about life and living that I know, but don't understand. Forgiveness is one of those lessons that everyone has learned about growing up, and they know about, but sometimes it's hard to understand what it means and why it's important.

I was reminded of why forgiveness is important earlier this week. My daughter and I were at a doctor's appointment when in a glance I saw someone from my past; someone who reminded me of past hurts and embarrassing situations. In that moment, I turned into someone else and started talking about this person and making fun of something that was different from when I knew them before. I can't bring myself to write down the cruel words that came from my mouth that day but after we were called back to an exam room I was astounded by what had come over me.

That morning I had spent my time in my Bible and reading lessons about the importance of relationships, spent time in prayer and communing with God, and I was so full of peace and comfortable with where my spirit was that it came as a shock when I turned into a witch and was being purposefully cruel and enjoying it.

While I was driving home, I was struggling to get the memories out of my head from the past, memories that were not happy and were threatening to take away my joy for the day.

That's when a voice whispered in my head, "This is why forgiveness is so important to you and your health."

What happens to our bodies when we hang onto anger, bitterness and unforgivingness? Our bodies can become sick. We can develop ulcers, indigestion and stomach problems, anger directly affects the heart muscle and weaken it.

The author of the book, Deadly Emotions, Dr. Don Colbert, M.D. states that anger can damage your health and that certain emotions such as anger, depression, self-condemnation can be toxic to your body.

What happens to our hearts when we are unforgiving and holding on to our past? Personally, I know that it makes it hard to connect with people because it makes it hard to trust anyone. Emotionally you can become lonely or react to people unkindly or even be downright mean. This makes a person unhappy or it would most people.

What happens spiritually when we hang onto bitterness and unforgivingness in our spiritual lives? I know that it makes it hard to connect with God, the Father. It can even make it hard to not be angry with God. Sometimes it can make us feel unworthy of what God has done for us.

Those are some reasons why forgiveness is so important in a person's life.

Choosing to forgive is healthy but can also be a process. In the long run it's better for your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

The other thing about what happened in the doctor's office that day? I realized that all the memories that I had about that person and about how much that person's actions affected my life was that they probably had no clue. They probably didn't remember what they did or how it affected me. Then why should I continue to let it affect me? Food for thought. Choices to make.

I chose to take it to my God and let it go. I'm happy that I did and I feel better for it and I will not let bitterness, anger or guilt control me anymore. This is my path to physical, emotional and spiritual health, and I am choosing to take it.

Why Keto?

Before I ever knew about keto, I had tried to eat healthy, tried to do portion control and I was never satisfied.  I never felt like I could accomplish it.  I would do okay for awhile, but then it was either too hard or too discouraging and I wasn't feeling better, only hungry or deprived so I would not be too excited about continuing.  I think that is why dieting or trying to change to a healthy lifestyle can be so difficult.

When I first really heard about keto, it was on the film, "The Magic Pill" on Netflix so I did research and more research and even more research.  Believe me, with the internet and youtube there is so much information about keto that it can be overwhelming.  

I chose to do keto because it has been proven to improve health and reverse type 2 diabetes.  One of the people that I have started to follow is Dr. Ken D Berry.  

Of course, he is not the only person I follow or listen to or get information from. I follow him because he is a doctor and I like what he has to say about keto.

That being said. I have already talked about the benefits that I have seen in my own life just from eating keto.  

So here is a sample of some of the things that I eat.  This was my breakfast this morning.

I decided to do some scrambled eggs, but a little differently than I normally do.  I used unsweetened almond milk, instead of cows milk, and I added mushrooms and spinach.

I melted the butter and cooked the mushrooms and spinach a little first and then added my scrambled eggs and stirred.  

To finish it off I topped it with mozzarella cheese and let it melt.  

Add a side of bacon and it was very, very good.  Although it ended up being too much.  So next time I won't make as much.  Because this was definitely too much.  

That is another thing about keto.  Once you have been consistent for awhile, you start to get full faster or you just are not as hungry.  It took me awhile to get there, but I am definitely starting to notice it more and more.  I just can't eat the same amount of food that I used to.  Which is a good thing.  

Because I am seeing success while eating keto, I am excited to keep going.  I am not discouraged, I don't feel like a failure and the improvements that I have seen in my daily life have been exciting.  

Since I feel better and am more healthy, I am doing better emotionally and spiritually.  I get up every morning and am able to get out of bed without a lot of struggle, do my Bible study and prayer time and get lots more around my house done during the day. 

I feel like I am building my home up, physically and literally.  I am more available to my kids now than I have been in the past and I feel more confident in myself.  

I am grateful for keto.  I am grateful for the changes it is helping me make in my life.  I am grateful that I can focus my brain and my heart on things that matter more now, like my relationship with Jesus and my family and friends.  I am grateful that I am not exhausted and having to nap during the day most of the time and I am grateful that I am starting to not just catch up, but keep up on all the daily chores that I have not been able to do as well on in the past.  

All in all, this is starting to be a wonderful, positive journey that I have started.  I hope to stay on it, but I know that if I mess up, I can just get up and start again.  

I'm happy!!!!!!