What Is Your Faith Speaking?

I was emailed a site that had the below article. It's amazing. Here is the link to the website so that you can check out more from this author: Coach Doug Reese

Believe That!
The U.S. women's gymnastic team was loaded with talent in 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta with names such as; Dominique Dawes and Shannon Miller. Never had a U.S. team won the gold medal in the team competition. Now on the last day of team competition, on the last apparatus, the gold medal came down to Kerri Strug and her vault.

Strug landed early on her first vault causing a serious ankle injury. The pressure was on.

Kerri went to Bela Karolyi and told him that she could not feel her leg. Bela told her that she had to go one more time.

"Do I have to do this again?" she asked.

"Can you, can you?" Bela responded.

She hesitated, "I don't know yet." Then she concluded, "I will do it, I will, I will."

Kerri Strug's affirmation cut through the building pressure of the moment - the pressure of hitting a winning vault, the pressure of doing it on an injured leg, the pressure of knowing it was up to her alone to capture the gold medal.

On her second vault with a painful injury she hit a powerful vault and stuck the landing on one leg and held it. Strug's vault captured what the USA Today proclaimed as the "greatest American team victory in the Olympics since the U.S. hockey team upset the Soviet Union in 1980."

In the gold medal ceremony, Bela Karolyi carried Kerri Strug to the podium, where her teammates supported her while she stood on one leg for the playing of the national anthem. It was the first time in Olympic history that the U.S. women's gymnastics team won the gold - it was done while defeating terrifying pressure, but that is what champions train to do!

One has to be careful what leaves their mouth. There are words of defeat, "Do I have to do this again?," and there are words of victory, "I will do it, I will, I will." What is your faith speaking?

Our faith has to speak if we are going to see results. God calls "those thing which be not as they were," (Romans 4:17). Abraham understood and operated in that principle. Certainly if our Heavenly Father and the father of our faith operated in this kind of faith, we ought to do the same!

"Speaks of things that do not exist as if they do exist (NIRV)"... is to call, to say, to speak aloud, calling those things which are not in your life as though they were.

Which of God's blessing are not in your life? Is healing not in your life? Then call it as though it were: "Everywhere I go healing and health are overtaking me. My body is strong. I am healthy! I am whole!" You have to affirm with your words that which is in your heart.

Someone may say, "Is that scriptural?" Believe that! Joel said, "Let the weak one throw out his chest and say, "I'm tough, I'm a fighter," (Joel 3:10 THE MESSAGE). Joel didn't write, "Let the weak say, 'I am feeble and I can't make it.'" No, the weak are suppose to say they are STRONG! So calling those things that be not as though they were is very scriptural!

The weak are not suppose to wait until they feel strong. If they did, they would never feel it. No, let the weak, "I am strong," (NIV), while they still feel the weakness.

Faith is not enough, faith has to be plugged in - and acted upon. When fully connected, the tongue verbalizes and the body acts on the belief in one's heart. How many times did you hear Mohammed Ali say, "I am the greatest!" And how many times did he predict to the media what round he would knock out his opponent? Ali was plugged in!

There is a familiar quote in sports, "Believe to Achieve." That statement of three words is so true no matter what you do.

As children you might remember the book, The Engine that Could. The story was about a train engine that was climbing a hill. The engine kept repeating over and over again, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can," as it struggled to climb a steep hill. That simple affirmation statement, "I think I can," changed to, "I know I can," when the engine realized that it could climb that hill.

Are you plugged in? I hope you are. If not, start calling out the matters of your life as it they were. The time will come when you will experience the spoken truth. Stay plugged in to God's truths - He wants you to taste victory that comes from experiencing His Word - Believe that!

Wow!!! I was impressed...enough said. What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them.

Being Content

I was praying and looking for scripture to help me in my current situation right now and I came across an amazing piece of scripture, that I've heard several times before, but today it had a profound impact.


"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13
TNIV

Right now I am in the middle of being switched from a second grade classroom to a one, two combo. I am feeling very overwhelmed and sort of in panic mode. This is only my third year teaching and I'm just a little bit nervous about how I'm suppose to teach two different sets of curriculum when there is hardly enough time in the day to teach one set.

When I read this piece of scripture, I felt like I had just been put in my place. No matter what the circumstance I can do it through Christ who strengthens me. In fact, that's the only way I'm going to be able to do it. But what really convicted me was the part that talks about being content in all situations because I am so far from that right now.

Today while I was running I prayed that God would help me see the big picture and how this is all suppose to work, having two different grades in the classroom, essentially I was asking for contentment. Well, when I got home from the run, this is the verse I found.

God is Good!

Speechless

I feel as though I am in a rut. I'm at a loss for words. I have a lot on my mind, but not the words to express them. I have enjoyed reading many different blog entries. Hope to be writing soon. If you have any ideas or topics for discussion feel free to share :)

Never Forget

In light of September 11th, let's take a moment and remember our fellow Americans who lost their lives on the day the terrorists attacked our great country.

Let's think about the little girls and boys who no longer have a mother or father because of what happened. When we think about these things, let's pray for them to have strength to continue carrying on and a great memory so that they can still hold their loved ones close.

Let's remember those who lost a spouse or significant other four years ago today. Let's pray that God comforts and continues to heal their broken heart.

Remember all of the brave heroes who stepped up to help dig people out of the rubbish, who donated blood, who steered the plane away to prevent one more disaster, who cared for those who were mourning, who risked their lives to save others.


Today, let's take a moment and remember what happened to our country and how we need to continue to prevent that from ever happening again, in our country or anywhere else.

Look to the ones you love and be grateful that we have been blessed with yet another day of life, another day of love, another day of grace.

The Melting Pot

Oh my gosh....went to the most fabulous restaurant last night!!! My husband took me to The Melting Pot for my birthday. For those of you who have never heard of it before, it is a Fondu restaurant. Everything, and I mean everything, is fondu style. We went to the one located in Irvine.

I had heard several amazing things about the restaurant, but had never actually been there. I can now officially say that everything I had heard about it was true.

Alex and I had such a blast from start to finish! We started with a Spinach and Artichoke Cheese Fondu appetizer. This came with mixed breads, apples and veggies to dip in it. Then we had yummy salads. Next, we had the entree. Our entree included 5 different types of meat and a yummy cooking broth. We had filet, lobster, pork, chicken, and there was an option of bass, but we asked for more filet instead. Mmmmmm!!! This also came with delicious veggies to cook and then as if that wasn't enough we were also given spinach and gorganzola filled ravioli to cook as well.

After all of that delicious food, yes...there's more, we had the most amazing desert. We had a snickers fondu....this came with strawberries, pineapples, bananas, cheesecake, brownies, marshmallows, and pound cake. We ate it all....you have to!! It's so incredible.

I already want to go back, but there are no special occasions coming up...may have to just go for that yummy spinach and artichoke dip.

Well, you can't just take my word for it...you have to go try this yummy restaurant!!! Mind you, it is a little pricey, thus my comment about special occasions...but well worth it!!!!

Why?

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard for people to love each other? I mean really, WHY is it that people have a hard time doing this?

Here we (the United States) are in the midst of a terrible tragedy from the aftermath of Katrina and people are avoiding the OBVIOUS need: love. Instead, people are trying to figure out who is to blame, arguing about the gas prices, shooting rescue helicopters, looting/trashing stores, going on TV and making fools out of themselves such as West's comment, "Bush hates blacks," etc....

I mean seriously why is it that people can't just put their own agendas aside and step up to the plate and help these people. They need love right now....many of these people have lost everything: their spouse, children, pets, home, job, memories/keepsakes (photos), dignity.

Why is it that at times like these our country is so quick to criticize rather than deal with the situation and then maybe go back and rehash the details of what "really" happened?

I have a poster that I keep in my classroom that says, "Why can't people just get along?" I wonder this all of the time. What is it that makes us feel like we always have to be right or always have to prove someone else is wrong? Why do we have to assume that everything that happens, even natural disasters, is always someone's wrong doing?

There are people all along the Gulf Coast who are hurting right now. I have heard they are in need of plus sized clothes and underwear for all ages. There are several organizations that are collecting items. I know that Feed the Children, an amazing organization, is sending 7 pounds of necessary items for every dollar that is donated to their charity. Let's break the cycle of all these crazed lunatics who aren't staying focused on the issue at hand...let's get out there and help these people whether it be through monetary donations, specific item donations, blood donations (which they are in dire need of), time donations, etc.


Let's love on these people like they've never seen before and get all the other people to shut up because they are so overwhelmed with the love being showered on these people that their agendas get pushed to the back of their mind because they are so boggled as to WHY people would step up to the plate. Let's be Jesus to those He came to save....

Katrina

With everything that has happened due to Katrina, let's unite and help those in need. Hugh Hewitt (there's a link to him on the side of my blog) proposed that today, Thursday, all bloggers post something asking people to help out in this situation. I think it's a great idea. My aunt lives in New Orleans and is now currently in Mississippi staying with someone she doesn't even know.

I've talked to my new school, and we are going to be adopting a school out there and seeing how we can help. I know my church is trying to do the same thing with a church down there. My husband has found an animal rescue sight and has posted it on his blog that is also tending to the animals that have been hurt or lost in this whole mess.

Hope you all have a great day. God Bless you all!!!!