Day One

June 1, 2011

Surprisingly enough, today has been really good so far!  Just on my way to work listening to 89.5 I was completely blessed by the music being played!

You are God alone

You are not a god
created by human hands
You are not a god
dependent on any mortal man
You are not a god

in need of anything we can give
By your plan, that's just the way it is

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone
-You Are God Alone by Phillips, Craig & Dean

When I start to think about God and how He was just HERE and created every thing out of NOTHING... It hurts my head.  I can't comprehend it... but I guess that is how it is supposed to be!

Strong Enough -Matthew West

You must think I'm strong

To give me what I'm going through

Well, forgive me

Forgive me if I'm wrong

But this looks like more than I can do

On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be

everything that I'm supposed to be

I give up

I'm not strong enough

Hands of mercy won't you cover me

Lord right now I'm asking you to be

Strong enough

Strong enough

For both of us

Well, maybe

Maybe that's the point

To reach the point of giving up

Cause when I'm finally

Finally at rock bottom

Well, that's when I start looking up

And reaching out

Cause I'm broken

Down to nothing

But I'm still holding on to the one thing

You are God

And you are strong

When I am weak

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

And I don't have to be Strong enough

Stronger -Mandisa

Don't sink your head
It's gonna end

God's right there

Even if it's hard to see Him

I promise You that He's still there

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger

The pain ain't gonna last forever
Things can only get better
Believe me this is gonna make you
Gonna make you stronger

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let me hold your hand
Go on and fall into the of arms Jesus

'Cause if He's strong in His Word
He'll be faithful to complete it
He's strong when you believe
He knows how much it hurts and
For sure He's gonna help you get through this

Listen to the Sound -Building 429

Are you in over your head?
Are you on water so deep you're drowning?
Do you think you've been left, and there is no one to feel your hurting?

Well everybody has been there and everybody's felt lost
If you're in over your head
Lift it up

 

Listen to the sound of hope that's rising up over your old horizon
And listen to the sound of a new beginning of this is where the old is ending

I hear you say you're alone
I hear you sayin' that you'll never make it
I've got to tell you, you're wrong 'cause I have been down this path you're taking

You'll never know what Faith is 'til you don't understand
Sometimes it takes the silence to finally hear His plans

 Okay, so that I was just on the drive to work!  

I can't remember the last time I had a good cry... and to anyone who knows me I usually cry at way too much.  I had always hoped that I couldn't cry anymore... but it happened... and I don't like it.  Call me strange, I KNOW!  I've been praying that God would break me.  I have hardened my heart towards everyone.  It's just easier to NOT feel anything then to acknowledge all the bad stuff going on around me.  I have been hurt WAY to much in my life... which I am sure will come out during this blog at one time or another.

"Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me.
When will my reflection show who I am inside?"

Maybe  that is why things suck a lot... because I've chosen to ignore my problems instead of dealing with them.  It's becoming apparent that I can no long ignore them because they are taking over my life.

A comment from Melanie...

Samantha, it's wonderful! ♥ If I can help, let me know! I totally understand, relate and feel your story! You got a GREAT support group! MY one piece of advice that I can share is this: Get lost in someone else's story (while being ACTIVE). Each time I look into someone else's strength and desire for great achievements, I find myself accomplishing more than I dreamed of! YOU are doing it, keep up the FAITH. ♥

I was trying to think of someone that has an incredible story of determination, courage, and faith... the first two people I thought of were Sherri & Kristi.  They were both in very bad car accidents & are both very special to me.

Kristi has been a dear friend of mine for the longest time.  At the end of the first semester of our senior year, she was in a very awful car accident that left her in the hospital for months in a coma.  People all over the world were praying for her.  We never gave up praying for her or having faith that God was going to heal her body.  And God did just what we were asking Him to do.  He healed this precious girl.  She was, and still is an amazing miracle.  She has an incredible testimony!  God is using her in so many ways.  She is such a leader at church.  She has a passion for the Lord and people.  She is college and taking classes... which at the time of the accident, no one would have guess she would have come as far as she has.  What the devil meant for bad, God has turned into good.  

The next time I think things are awful and don't seem to be getting better... Kristi is a wonderful example of determination... she NEVER GAVE UP!  She pushed through having to do physical therapy and learning how to walk again. 

Thank you Melanie for making me realize that I am blesses and can do anything if I just believe in myself and rely on God's strength.

We tend to ask for the answers and it's starring you in the face.
We tend to over look the signs to choose what we want to see!
–Angela Davis

 

And that is only the beginning of what today's post is about. :)  Here is awesome quotes, Bible verses, and things I have learned today from my devotional.

Day 1: 21 Days to a New and Improved YOU

 

FOCUS FOR TODAY:
When you form a deeper relationship with God, you can start establishing healthier habits, starting now.

During the next 21 days, you will be asked to depend less upon your own willpower and more upon God’s power.  When you form a working relationship with the creator, there is NO limit to the things that the two of you, working together, can do!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Very big portions make very little sense

Most restaurants serve big portions, most are high in calories, sugar, and fat.  You will probably eat healthier meals if you prepare those meals at home instead of eating out.

Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. -3 John 1:2 HCSB

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from god? You are no your own, for you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 HCSB

THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR HABITS

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. –John Maxwell

He, who does not overcome small faults, shall fall little by little into greater ones. –Thomas a Kempis

If you want to form a new habit, get to work.
If you want to break a bad habit, get on your knees.
-Marie T. Freeman

FORMING HEALTHY HABITS

 First, you make your habits, and then your habits make you.  If you sincerely desire to improve your spiritual health, you must honestly examine the habits that make up the fabric of your day.  And you must abandon those habits that are displeasing to God.  If you trust God, and if you keep asking for His help, He can transform your life.  If you sincerely ask Him to help you, the same God who created the universe will help your defeat the harmful habits that have heretofore defeated you.  So, if at first you don’t succeed, keep praying!  God is listening, and He is ready to help you become a better person if you ask Him… so ask today!

MOVING MOUNTAINS

Every step of the way, through every triumph and tragedy, God will stand by your side and strengthen you… IF you have faith in Him.  When you place your faith, your trust, indeed your life in the hands of Christ Jesus, you’ll be amazed at the marvelous things He can do with you and through you.  So strengthen your faith through praise, through worship, through Bible study, and through prayer.  And trust God’s plans!  With Him, ALL things are possible!  He stands ready to open a world of possibilities to you... IF you have faith.

If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all. –Isaiah 7:9 HCSB

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong. –I Corinthians 16:13 HCSB

For we walk by faith, not by sight. -2 Corinthians 5:7 HCSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. –Hebrews 11:1 HCSB

STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH:
Integrating God’s Word into your life

God intends for us to integrate His commandments into every aspect of our life, and that includes our physical and emotional health, too.

“You can build up a set of good habits so that you habitually take the Christian way without thought.” –E. Stanley Jones

NOTES TO YOURSELF (AKA GETTING HONEST)

Make notes about the health habits that you’d like to establish –and the unhealthy habits you’d like to change –during the next 21 days.

Healthy Habits:
-Eating more fruits and veggies!
-Cooking healthier meals.
-Reading my Bible more!
-Working out!
-Walking the dogs!

Habits to break:
-Watching too much tv/being lazy!
-Not taking care of myself!

-Binge eating!

 

Okay well that was more than enough for the first day!  At least for the next 21 days I will be posting something everyday, so check it out!  Thank you for the encouragement so far!  PLEASE keep it coming!!