GET MOVING!!!

Welcome to Freelance Friday. Below is an article related to health and fitness that should encourage you to get moving! I hope you enjoy.

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There are so many people living sedentary lives today. This type of inactivity can lead to being overweight or obese and people are dying everyday because of the illnesses that it brings along with it such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, etc…... This is especially so in the African-American community. There was actually a time when parents would force their kids outside in the hot sweltering sun to play all day long during the summers. Whether you spent summers at your grandparents house in the rural country, or whether you grew up in the city or lived in the suburbs, or you may have simply went to camp every summer. Being outside was a natural part of growing up. Sadly today, there’s not much of that taking place. And as a result, more and more kids are growing up over-weight. These same over-weight kids are growing up to be over-weight parents, teachers, ministers and other positions of leadership which entails being role models for our society. Well, being a role model is not only predicated upon what you say and do but it includes how you look and feel. Remember, before anybody sees what you do and before anybody hears what you say, people see what you look like.

As Christians, we are supposed to teach that our bodies are temples so that they could be used as vessels for God. Well, how can we teach this when there are so many of us are overweight-so obviously harming their bodies by leading non-active lives and embracing bad eating habits? This is clearly not God’s will for our lives. Christ told his disciples “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28: 19. How can we live out this charge if we are constantly being ailed by sickness and disease due to leading non-active lives? How can we live out the more abundant life that Christ speaks of in John 10:10 when we can’t even get out of bed because we have to be hooked up to a machine to monitor our hearts due to all the damage we’ve done to it. As Christians the way we live our life is supposed to be seen as an extraordinary life. A life where our light shines brightly-this should not only be in spirit but physically as well. Our energy level should be high and exciting. We should always have a song of joy in our hearts! People should look at us and say, “Wow, there’s something different about her/him”. Yes, we all have bad days but no one should ever say, “He/she seems like there’s always something wrong”. I believe a large part of the reason why we feel and look sluggish and tired is because of a lack of physical activity and because we’re putting the wrong foods into our bodies. (Lack of water, fiber, and sleep are other culprits for sluggish behavior). We are God’s masterpiece, marvelously made in his image-why wouldn’t we take care of our bodies the way that God wants us to?

Don’t you think it’s time to make a change in your life today? A change that will not only affect you but the people you come in contact with every day. I’m not only speaking to those of you that may be over-weight but to anyone who may be damaging their bodies by indulging in bad habits such as smoking or excessive drinking. Notice not once in this entire article did I mention exercise or diets (that’s another topic). I’m merely speaking of physical activity, whether it’s taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work, taking your family or friends bicycling around-the-neighborhood, parking further away from the grocery store (during the day of course), going to the pool, joining or starting a walking club, joining a flag-football or softball league, taking a hike with friends, and so many other activities that involve moving your body. God wants us to enjoy life at its fullest and you can’t do that by sitting on the couch everyday. Sisters, if we learned to take care of our bodies the way we take care of our hair, we’d be set!!! (I’m sorry, I had to say it.)

To start this new life it is imperative that we change the way we think about ourselves. We must view ourselves the way God view’s us. He sees us as His precious children set apart from the world. This is not only in spiritual matters but physically and mentally. He wants us to be strong and healthy so that we can live out His purpose and plans for us. (Romans 12:2) Do not let a heart-attack, or stroke or bad news from a doctor’s visit be the catalyst for this change. Take a preventive step now by embracing a healthy and active lifestyle and GET MOVING.

Author--Charmain P. Davis

Been There...Done That!!

Been There...Done That - (Isaiah 53:1-4)

No one is a stranger to sadness,grief, trouble, or depression. Regardless of age, sex, race, economic standing, or educational background we have all encountered upsets in our lives. You may find yourself looking at an infant or a child and reminisce on the carefree days of your youth, then breathe a silent prayer for the next generation.

Many of us in the body of Christ have settled into an abyss of grief and pain and have decided to embrace the mantra of "that's life". There is no cure for a virus. One must allow it to run it's course and treat the symptoms. There are those who have concluded that there is no cure for everyday woes and we should just deal with the hand we are dealt until things get better. I beg to differ. In Isaiah 53, God gives us a picture of His suffering servant. This chapter is the prophecy of Christ's coming spoken through Isaiah. Not only is His physical existence displayed, but His emotional turmoil and physical abuse is illustrated. The chapter concludes with purpose, victory, and reward. Isaiah 54 then opens with declarations of encouragement, what I like to call a "shake yourself" declaration.

God is NOT surprised by our sufferings. He knew what we would encounter before we were born. He knows the end from the beginning and all points in between. Before we encounter the problem, God already has the solution. The solution? Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

So then, how do we get beyond the symptoms and embrace the cure? You must know that:

1. Christ has the credentials to cure your calamities. (Isaiah 53: 3-5,7 and Hebrews 4:14,15)
2. Christ is concerned about what concerns you; He cares! (1 Peter 5:7)
3. Christ closed the case on your crisis. (Isaiah 53:11 and John 10:10)

As pilgrims in this barren land we will experience sadness, grief, etc. However we do not have to be overtaken by them. Jesus already paid the price! John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Rejoice my brothers and sisters knowing that Jesus understands our struggles and pains. He's been there, done that!

--Author KG

Is Your Credit Marriage-Worthy?

As a minister and relationship consultant to unmarried adults, I find it very interesting when I come across individuals (men and women) who feel as though they are truly ready for relationship and become consumed by the desire. The first question I typically ask is, “Have you, or are you continuing to develop yourself in all areas (spiritual, physical, social and financial) of life?” The initial response to this question is usually a resounding YES! However, there is often one stone left unturned that many of us hide from, neglect or ignore…CREDIT. Finances are a big reason for the failure of relationships and marriages after the glamour of the wedding and sex have worn off. When two individuals come together they inherit the financial and credit history of their mate. What will your mate inherit when they marry you?

Credit is often the big pink elephant in the corner of the room that no one wants to talk about. I am by no means advocating that you pull a copy of someone’s credit report or offer-up your own credit report on the first or second date. However, I do encourage you to begin working on your credit during your unmarried season and during the early part of courtship. You need to understand your current credit standing in order to develop an action plan for cleaning-up and improving your credit rating. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for you not to assist in the qualification process of obtaining a home or automobile loan because of your credit? Make it a priority to clear up the little items (e.g. $30 past due bill owed to Comcast) on your report and develop an action plan to address any larger items (e.g. $2,000 owed to an apartment complex). Money is the primary excuse many people use to avoid dealing with debt and/or past credit issues. Bishop Bronner (Word of Faith Cathedral) said something very powerful during a seminar I attended and I will share with you as a reader. He mentioned a couple of options to maximize your financial situation:

1) Downsize and downgrade your current lifestyle and spending to accommodate a savings plan. You should never go a month without contributing to a personal savings account. All gurus advocate that you pay yourself first (after God of course :)).
2) Position yourself so your time is more valuable to the market and/or your current employer. Obtain certification, licenses or advanced degrees so employers have to compensate you for your skills/knowledge.
3) Obtain a second job in order to generate additional cashflow to payoff outstanding debt and build a personal savings.

Please use the season that God has you in currently to take care of the little issues that can blossom into big issues when you connect with your lifemate.

5 Steps to Improving Your Credit

1. Start by ordering your credit reports – Visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com or http://www.myfico.com.
2. Examine your reports for errors
3. Dispute and document errors
4. Create a debt elimination plan
5. Add stability to your credit file

If you have really bad credit or even filed for bankruptcy, don't let your credit status go dormant. A secured credit card offers those with no credit and those rebuilding their credit an opportunity to start over and establish a new and solid credit history. Shop around for the best deal available, but limit your applications.

If you have questions or would like assistance going through this process, please visit my credit management website at http://www.integrityconsultinginc.com.

Devotional - 6/10/08

FOR YOU, O LORD, WILL BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS; WITH FAVOR. YOU WILL SURROUND HIM AS WITH A SHIELD. (PSALM 5:12 *NKJV)

In this busy World of ours we often forget to stop and count all of our blessings. If we are not careful we may even take them for granted!

So why not stop and count your blessings today, for when you count them you will find that there are many indeed! Also you will find that counting your blessings is a great way to begin you day!

Now the above verse reminds me of a poem that I very much enjoy. Today I would like to share that poem with you, and it is my hope that you will enjoy it as well!

Your Blessings Are So Many, Lord!

Your blessings are so many, Lord,
To count them one by one
Would take much longer than a day
That has just now begun!

You fill each day with miracles
From dawn to setting sun.
Each night You hear a million prayers
When day's work is done.

You keep this old world spinning
As seasons come and go,
And each one is a masterpiece
That stets our hearts aglow.

You fill the earth with beauty, Lord,
With flowers, shrubs and trees,
And we marvel at Your rainbows
And butterflies and bees.

Your words still give us comfort
For Your promises are true.
Your blessings are so many, Lord,
In everything we do!
Poet, Clay Harrison

Have a wonderful day, and: MAY GOD BE GRACIOUS TO YOU AND BLESS YOU AND MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU. Amen. (PSALM 67:1)

In HIS Love & Service,
Pastor Allen

Guidance

Freelance Friday

This is the first installment of Freelance Friday where I will feature the writing or work of a freelance writer. If you or anyone you know has an interest in submitting an article for review, please send to chatkafe@kennypugh.com. Please review this article submitted by Author KLW.
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The culminating event for all students is graduation. Most see this experience as the ultimate validation for the seemingly endless days of hard work. This past month God blessed me with the opportunity to receive an advanced degree. However, like most of us, I was so excited that it was OVER, that I struggled to focus on the keynote speaker address, until he began to list ten things that should be used for guidance (in relation to disease/illness prevention). I began to think about how this list related to my relationship with God and my personal inner struggle with some of the topics discussed in the top ten list.

1. Confidence (Jeremiah 17: 7-8)
I always equate my confidence in God with my faith in Him and His word. Often, we put our confidence in someone or something else and this usually leads to failure, pain, destruction, etc. Through our firm foundation in God's word, we have all the confidence that we need to succeed in life and in all of our endeavors.

2. Explore outside of your comfort zone (Isaiah 40)
I honestly can't take credit for this one...Minister Pugh (KP) has touched on this topic many times! KP has explained that as followers of God we should avoid complacency, be aware that God is with us along our journey, and acknowledge ourselves as one of His chosen people. I think that these three things sum up this topic in a nut shell. Personally, I am somewhat shy, so I often struggle in settings where I am forced to talk to people that I am unfamiliar with. I have prayed about this issue and lately I have been able to walk up to complete strangers and begin a conversation. We must step outside of our comfort zones in church, school, work and other settings.

3. Passion (Romans 5:8)
Christ died for us even though we were and still are sinners. We are all familiar with this verse, and we know that the passion of Christ saved us, but what is your passion. Is it a reflection of Christ or is it a reflection of your own selfish pursuits? In all of our endeavors, we should constantly strive to serve the Lord and further His kingdom.

4. Listen (Exodus 15:26)
Our inability to hear God can come from distractions in our lives (i.e. friends, family, jobs, ourselves). We have to constantly evaluate our lives, worship God at all times, and learn to listen to God for direction in everything. My cousin explained to me that she wants to increase her discernment because people who devote the time to quiet the mind really do discern what God is communicating to them. Meditation can be a form of hearing God's word by expelling the "filler thoughts" that distract us from God's voice.

5. Climb the next mountain (Philippians 4:13)
No one is perfect and we will all have disappointments at some point in our lives. The most important thing is that we get up, brush ourselves off and try again. We must learn to climb the next mountain knowing that God will be there to help us get to the top!

6. Know where you are going (Romans 3:23; Ezekiel 33:11; II Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38)
As Christians, we strive to follow God's word and his commandments so that we can make sure that we have done everything in our power to be blessed with entry into heaven. It is very important for us to know where we are going to spend our eternal lives. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God so we must repent for our sins, but even more importantly we must recognize God for who He is and what He represents. This requires us to live our lives according to His word and acknowledge our sins.

7. Build a team. ( Proverbs 27:17)
It is extremely important to commune with fellow believers and to form a team of friends you can call on at any moment. In our struggle to become better Christians, we need a support system, or as KP often says, we need our "accountability partners" to help us along our journey and to also keep us going in the right direction.

8. Evidence based decision making
At first, this was a hard point for me to explain, but the more that I thought about it the more it made sense. The Bible illustrates many of the same issues that we are facing today. If we look to God's word, we can find numerous examples of God's saving grace and love for mankind. As a believer, it's still hard to always look to the Bible for answers to my problems, but honestly someone else has already gone through what I'm facing, so why not use the Bible as a guide for evidence based decision making? Just make sure that when using other people's advice that they "know what they are talking about and are people who have earned your respect as a source of wisdom. Then, you need to follow your own heart in light of God's Word and do what you feel is right and good for you" (Joel Osteen).

9. Optimism (Colossians 3:2; 1 Peter 1:13)
A person's level of optimism is directly related to how much faith they have. If someone walks around always thinking that something bad will happen to them, then eventually something terrible will actually happen. The power of positive thinking is real. If you believe that you have God's favor, then God will show up and prove that your faith is not in vain. Something that I have started recently is my affirmation board. The affirmation board is displayed in my room and every morning I reflect on it, pray, and read my daily affirmations. Some of the things that are on my board are: Lord allow me to walk in faith today, Today will be a good day, etc. These sayings allow me to start my day with a positive, optimistic mindset. You should try this, it really works!

10. Persistence (Hebrews 10: 36; Romans 5: 3-5; James 1: 2-4)
In our journey with Christ we need persistence. There are always times when it is so convenient to just give up and go back to our old ways, but we know that our works are not in vain. We must keep going, even when we can't see the end. Persistence goes along with optimism, patience and faith. Although we struggle with our journey, our persistence is the ingredient that constantly gets us over the hump!
I hope that this list has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. These ten bullets are things that I must evaluate in my life constantly so that I can continue on my journey with Christ!

-Author KLW

Can You Afford Not To Forgive? – Part 2

In continuing with the series I started last Thursday, it’s important to realize unforgiveness is a subtle poison that can kill the spirit of the person who is contaminated. When you hold onto something for so long, you oftentimes fail to acknowledge the impact it has over your life. That is why it takes a spiritually mature person to recognize when unforgiveness has a stronghold over their life. Otherwise, it may require an experience/encounter with God or a spiritual accountability partner to help shed light to our situations.

Remember this…forgiveness is God’s way to healing and freedom in our lives. We have to be open to forgive because God forgave us. Recognize the wonderful way God has exercised this in our lives. He forgave us for our sins past, present and future. He forgave us for all transgressions and iniquities. He forgave us before we were ever created. He forgave us for the same hurts that we refuse to release from other people. He forgave us knowing that we would not acknowledge Him in our workplace. He forgave us knowing that we would simulate Christian-like behavior only on Sunday mornings during church service. He forgave us freely and undeserving and as a result, we are to forgive those who have hurt us.

I know you are thinking to yourself, “How can I break free from the bondage of unforgiveness?” Glad you asked…

1. Let God forgive you. (1 John 1:9)
a. Confess your own bitterness; your selfish actions, hateful speech, carnal living (Proverbs 28:13)
b. Agree with God that your feelings of bitterness, wrath, malice, etc. have no place in your life as a Christian.
c. Thank God for the blood of Christ that cleanses you from your sin. (Ephesians 1:6-7, Ephesians 2:13)
2. Forgive your offenders. (Matthew 6:14-15)
a. As an act of your will in faith before God, release them from any obligation to make things right.
b. Extend to them the same grace God has given you.
3. Ask God to take possession of the place in your heart that Satan claimed as his own.

If the Lord has brought someone to mind whom you need to forgive, purpose to do it now. It may be a family member or a person from your past. There may be something in your own past for which you have never forgiven yourself. Perhaps you are saying, “But it happened such a long time ago and it no longer matters.”

If you can remember it, and you know that you have never scripturally forgiven that person, then you need to do it now. Otherwise, Satan will continue to hold that place in your heart.


A Prayer of Forgiveness

Father, thank you for the blood of Christ that cleanses me from sin. I confess that I have sought to get revenge rather than forgive my offenders.

(Confess what you have done right here)

God I forgive (name) for (be specific). In the name of Jesus Christ, and by His blood, I take back the place which Satan possessed in my heart and give it back to you. In Jesus’ name…Amen!

Does Love Really Exist?

Workplace topic for the week...

Does love really exist? Or are we fascinated with the concept of love which none of us will ever experience?

Just for the record...I am a total believer in the concept of LOVE! The questions above are based on a dialog exchange I experienced on another blog.

-KP