Hi Everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog today. I am beginning a journey to wholeness with my granddaughter, Rhea Pollard. Take a few minutes and listen to my video blog (click the link below) so you can understand what it is we are trying to accomplish.
As I headed out to the hospital I already had in mind this journey. God was preparing my heart to purposely live this journey in the public eye. Not because I’m special, by no means, but because this journey is not just for my benefit but for the benefit of others. There are multiple thousands of people who face difficulties everyday and are just waiting for someone to care, to guide and to encourage them to change. God wants me to share the good, bad and ugly because that’s real life. I won’t walk this journey perfectly and neither will you. Don’t even put that unrealistic expectation on your shoulders or mine. We will walk this journey as God leads with all the bumps along the way and you know what, we will make progress! We need to encourage one another and understand we are not alone.
So Rhea and I want to walk this journey arm in arm with you. I know her heart’s desire is to help someone live a healthy life, and mine is to help someone draw closer to Jesus. We may cry and stumble along the way, but overall, we will make progress toward the wholeness God wants us to attain.
If you listened to my video then you know it does us no good to work on a healthy body and neglect the mind and spirit. God created us so that all aspects of our lives should honor and glorify Him. So each week we will set our goals for the body, mind and spirit.
Week One Goals: (Remember: small goals accomplished create healthy habits for life)
Body: Drink more water. 
Sip all day long and have one full glass (at least 8 oz.) prior to each meal. Water cleans out toxins, hydrates the body, and gives you a feeling of fullness prior to eating. So drink up! If you drink soft drinks, try to replace some of those with the water and shoot to drink mostly water. Hint: add some fresh lemon or lime to flavor your water naturally.
Mind: Make it a point to spend more time in God’s word this week. If you’re faithful to read the Bible daily, great, maybe you can amp up your time, or at least keep up the good work. If you tend to hit and miss time in the Bible each week, set an appointment with God and His word and show up. If you’ve never really buckled down and read God’s word, well, this is a good day to start. Below, I will give you some scriptures and study questions to help you focus on your time in the Bible.
Spirit: Come on this journey with a willing heart. Approach God in prayer and let Him know you’re willing and opened to Him and His leading.
Bible Study (For our Minds): Israel’s Journey to the Promised Land
The children of Israel had moved into Egypt because of a famine sweeping across the land. Israel’s son, Joseph, had been sold years earlier into slavery by his brothers, but was eventually raised to the throne under Pharaoh due to his wise direction in how to prepare for that coming famine. Because Joseph saved the people from starvation and actually increased the coffers of the Pharaoh his family was allowed to move to Goshen (a part of Egypt) and were to dwell there in safety.
Read Exodus Chapters 1 & 2 then answer these study questions:
- According to verse 7 how did the Israelites fare in Egypt?
- Why do you think it was significant that the new king in verse 8 didn’t know about Joseph? What was this king afraid of (vs. 9-10)?
- The new king created great burdens for the children of Israel. Their venture to Egypt began as good thing. It was a place of abundance and affluence; but now it had turned to a place of affliction. What correlation, if any, can you draw between the situation the Israelites find themselves in and the health, mental or spiritual situation you find yourself in? Have you now found yourself in a place of affliction? Are you crying out under the load of your oppression?
- God always has a people willing to honor Him in all they do. According to vs. 20-21, how did God bless the midwives who refused to follow the king’s order to kill all male Hebrew children?
- In Chapter 2 we see God’s protection of a male child who grew up in Pharaoh’s house. His name was Moses. God strategically prepared Moses for the greatest calling He could impose on a man. Moses was called to be Israel’s deliverer. God had been preparing Moses for this calling from the day of his birth. In verse 23, what did Israel do because of their bondage? Who heard them? Do you know that God hears you when you cry out to Him?
Today, as we begin this journey have faith in God, trusting Him to hear your distress, to be moved by your tears, and to act on your behalf. He will send deliverance. He will help you through the difficulties. He will guide you through those hard places. He has risen up our Deliverer for this day: Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart of every believer. He will bestow power on you to overcome your obstacles and live in triumphant victory with Him. That doesn’t mean we’re exempt from hardship; it does mean His presence will be real in the midst of our trials. He makes the bitter waters sweet. (Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself in this study with that last statement, but it really fires me up!).
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For my next post I’ll share the picture journey through my surgery.
Let’s finish today with pray (For our Spirits):
Dear Father, Thank you for your presence with us. Thank you that you see every need we have and are concerned about everything that concerns us. The very hairs of our heads are numbered by you. I bring you my willing heart and ask that you take it and mold me in the image of your Dear Son. Help me to lean on my Deliverer in the days ahead and walk by faith the path of this journey to wholeness: body, mind and spirit. Help my dear friends who choose to join us on this journey. WE give you all the praise and glory. In Jesus’ wonderful Name we pray. Amen.