Finding Your Strength

Finding one’s strength, how does one come about in finding their strength?

It was on Tuesday November 24th, 2020, I was feeling discouraged. Afterwards I saw that an article that I had written and was accepted, is going to be published in a British magazine for the Embassy. It made me feel a little better but not a hundred percent.

Although it has been a challenging year for everyone, I knew the reason I was sad, it was tied to a sense of how, I think I am perceived by others; partly to do with my growth in Christ meaning I know I have made mistakes.

On Wednesday I had my head bowed down on top of the counter then the scripture came up from within me “I will lift up mine eyes…My help cometh from the Lord found in Psalm 121. This led me to read the rest of it; I hadn’t read the bible for a few days. In addition to that, it caused me to ponder the entire chapter which in total has eight verses.

One truth that I think must be told is a quote from my younger sister “you are a beautiful lady”, this I know the Lord has made me into. All of what I have said has brought me to the realisation that I am better at writing articles and daily devotionals, although I have written a couple hardcopy books and a softcopy.

One last struggle was to do with whether or not I thought I was a good writer. Well, I have already answered this and it leads me to tell a very small piece of my mother’s story in this light, from a God perspective of Psalm 121.

Interject- The more I get older in age, the more I realise that there are very limited Cinderella’s stories as part of people’s day to day lives.    

Psalms 121 is my mother’s story (Jennifer), her mother died when she was around six to seven years of age. At one point in her childhood, she was very sickly that the extended family thought she would die but she lives to tell the tale. Afterwards my mother went to live with her aunt who was at times abusive towards her; despite this she enjoyed her childhood when spent with her brothers.  

One of the things my mother advised me on, was to be careful in not having my children change school too aften because she had that done to her and she knows what it is like and the effects it could have on a child for example having to adjust to a new environment and having to make new friends.

In my mother’s adult life there were other challenges but old ones were still there for example my mother is physically beautiful and an educated lady and some of her peers saw that as a threat but it did not stop her from exceeding in life. 

Jennifer went through domestic abuse and came out of it. She has managed to work for almost her entire adult life.

One other challenge I guess was being a mother and raising her children. I know my mother thought that she was giving, my older sister a better life living abroad with her father and the same for my brother when she allowed him to live with her father and stepmother; and at that time was told, it was the right thing to do, at the age of around 24.

My mother raised my younger sister and I, sharing with us what is in the bible. 

By Kerri-Ann

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Third Camping Trip: Elk Neck State Park, North East MD. 

 The day was perfect, not too hot or cold. The family even went for a swim, the children splashed and had fun. 

The day continued to pass, soon we ate and washed up, time for bed.

It began to rain, the children fell a sleep, soon after I retired to bed. I drifted in and out of light sleep. My husband eventually retired to bed. I tried to drift off to sleep but could not because of the heavy patter of rain drops. I closed my eyes, my husband managed to sleep a bit but awoke after sometime; both of us awake. As I open my eyes I realised he had fallen back to sleep. I on the other hand noticed the sound of the wind with the heavy rain drops batter the canvas of the caravan so began to talk with my Lord until it was nearly day break.

 There are two faith points I see. First point- the scripture says Psalms 91:1 “he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide…”  What does it mean? I read a commentary that said we as Christians are not visitors to the secret place. Talking with my mother, she hit the nail on the head, we are meant to live there! How does this come about? By making a choice to stay there, making our minds up to stay there! Back to the caravan I stayed inside it. What if I had gone out, something bad more likely could have happened. I stayed inside where it was safe, although I was hearing the noises.

 The following day late afternoon my daughter and I went back to the Elk River where it feeds into the sea. We went to the spot where the day before we had sat on a log in the sand; this time the water had risen closer to land. My daughter automatically bent her knees and stooped playing in the sand. I looked across the water, it has beautiful landscaping, brought my eyes back to the shore when I spotted the head of what looks like a turtle. Looking to see its shell, as it was swimming across the top of the water when I realised it was a snake. I quickly bent and pick my daughter up to show her the snake. By the time I did that and look the snake was in front of us, across in the water. It looked as if, it was about to turn it’s head to look when we basically had our feet in our hands.

 The second point of faith. My family and I were at the same spot the day before. It was scenic, no obvious harm or danger but I know that there are snakes in Maryland. Not because I don’t see them, it does not mean they do not exist. I also know my Lord protects my family because I am dwelling in the secret place of the Most high.

When we stay under the Lord’s umbrella then we are protected automatically and His promises fall into place.

By Kerri-Ann

Belief and the Bible

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” 

Proverbs 17:22

The truth of Jesus Christ is the anchor to our souls. This truth directs us to what is best for our lives. It leads us to be good to ourselves, to do good for others, and expect all that is good from our lives. It guides us in a healthy direction.

Searching Heart

Our belief in the truth is what matters to our whole being because it harmonizes our whole being. We need to search our hearts and determine what we believe, and as it says in the gospel “Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15).  Seeking God is a very personal process and it is guided by our experiences in life- the people we meet, our experiences of right and wrong, good and evil. God guides us into truth and leads us to a place where we find Him. He develops an interest within us to understand Him and to pursue Him. Do you feel that call, that desire to know Him more? To know more and more of the truth? 

One of the best places to start is in the word of God that teaches us that Jesus is the way the truth and the life- belief comes from hearing the good news about Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5).

The word of God in our bible is one of God’s most glorious gifts! It uncovers the truth and teaches us how to live, how to overcome, and how to prosper. “For the word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12).

Believing Heart

Learning the truth that is God’s word is how we anchor our soul and bring our body (heart), soul, and mind into harmony.  As it says in the gospel “and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Lets strive to be free from bad habits and negativity that inhibit our growth and our best health.  Anything that abridges our harmony impacts our efforts to be useful for God.

Start. Take a stand to determine what you believe. Search your heart, soul, and mind and listen to its call- the gospel says “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 10:16).  We grew up with the things that are known in the Bible, and if we didn’t grow up with it, it came to our knowledge in some divine way- as the gospel says, “For everyone, from the least to the greatest will know me already” (Hebrews 8:11).  Trust God as firmly as you did when you first believed.  Connect with the truth of the word of God through church, bible studies, bible journaling, TV or radio ministry, or any other way you can learn more about God.  Jesus is calling…. calling you for the first time, calling you back, or calling you deeper. Listen, learn, follow, believe. 

Healthy foods and the Bible

“Because He holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.” 

Colossians 2:19

Nutritional Foods

The way you nourish your body is an essential factor in taking care of your body. God provided us with an abundance of nutrient rich sources to help our bodies grow healthy and strong for the very purposeful work He has planned for our lives. As the gospel says, “I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food” (Genesis 1:29). The food that we eat is meant to do good things for our bodies. That was what God intended. However, the majority of our food has now become unhealthy and lacking in nutrients due to being altered, manufactured, and processed for different reasons including being quick and easy, cheap, and getting more for less. These shortcuts equates to greed, neglect, and laziness for many of us, and these qualities are not of God. The fact also is that some consumers of these products purchase because of socioeconomic reasons, and cannot help it. Healthier alternatives like fresh fruits and vegetables are either not as available in certain communities or are too expensive. Everyone should have the option to eat healthy the way God intended and we should not opt for unhealthy foods because manufactured ingredients make it more appealing to our senses.

Purposeful Eating

We know food can be a rich and satisfying thing for our body but we have to be aware that depending on how we utilize food, it can work against us, negatively impacting the harmony of our body with our soul and mind. Food can be harmful not only when it is nutritionally unhealthy but also if it is associated with an eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia), and if it is used for emotional eating (turning to food for comfort, not because you’re hungry). However, if we are conscious of the purpose of food for being a delicious and nutritious gift from God which should be used to maintain a healthy body, and follow what the gospel says, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) we will be on the right track. Also remember as you feed your body also feed your soul and your mind “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Start. In order to begin achieving your healthy food goals you must pay attention to your nutrition. Learn about the foods you are eating and why certain things are bad for you and good for you. Read your nutrition labels and let that information guide your purchases. Cut out unhealthy foods and substitute with healthier alternatives. Learn about the health benefits of different foods and the types of things they are responsible for in the body. Be well informed about your nutrition and apply it to your eating habits.  

Exercise and the Bible

“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God” 

1 Corinthians 6:19

Exercise Regimen

An exercise regimen is an important inclusion to your way of life if you want to improve and maintain your overall health. Having this routine is not only good for your body but it is also good for your soul and mind. People who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and improved self esteem. This is due to the release of endorphins in the body that trigger positive feelings. Exercise also reduces risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. God wants us to maintain a healthy body strong enough to fight diseases and resilient enough to heal from hurt. We are God’s loving creation and we should appreciate how intricate and remarkable our bodies were made, and how intelligently it functions. The specific way God built our bodies enables us to strengthen it through exercise and physical activity. God means for us to be active and purposeful, that is why our bodies react positively to physical activity and poorly to inactivity. Finally, the act of exercising in itself is good affirmation for the soul. By taking care of it, it confirms your belief and love for God.

Start.  A good way to maintain a continuous exercise regimen is to choose something that is enjoyable and something that you can handle, whether its running, walking, swimming, strength training, or a combination of all. Then create a flexible schedule that you can stick with. Set your goals moderate at first and set goals in which you are optimistic of not giving up. As Paul says in the gospel, “run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). When you begin to incorporate this routine into your life, do it not only for yourself, but as a living sacrifice to God. As it says in the gospels, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). This is a part of your success.