Losing weight

If you have a metabolism like me than more than likely you have tried all the different ways of losing weight; joining the gym and going hard at it for a couple of weeks, then you realise you’re got a really busy week and you don’t get to go. Before you know it a month has past and a friend (wife for me) reminds you that you haven't been for a while. Or what about the low carbs diet, weight fell of me in that one (it also went back on just as fast). How about this one... you convince yourself you’re going to ride everywhere to lose weight, so you go and buy a bike until winter hits and its cold and dark (so you piked it like I did). Others I know: calorie counting, pilates, The Cabbage Soup diet (Mum and Dad tried that one, it smells like spew) and the list goes on.

All this reminds me of the scripture in Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith". I turn thirty this month and I have been planning to be at a certain weight by my 30th, but more than that I thank God that I’ve looked to Jesus who takes the weights of life.

What weight are you carrying now that you shouldn't be, throw them onto Jesus, cause his word says in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast your cares on him for he cares for you". Don’t live another day carrying weight emotionally or spiritually that u don’t have to because losing that weight is the most important thing.

Change your world today

Ps Jack

A Father's heart...

It was an overcast day, not really cold, but drizzling. I was about 7 or 8 years old, and I had gone fishing for "Shad" (Taylor fish in Australia) with my Dad on Margate Pier (on the Kwa-Zulu Natal south coast in South Africa). I remember the frenetic activity, huge, burly men, in oilskins and raincoats. The most wonderful smell of bait sardines still lingers in my nostrils. I remember feeling really small, and tiny amongst these 'giants'. My Dad told me to 'bait up" under the baiting tables, because I couldn't reach. Hands shaking excitedly I slit the sardine down the middle, placed the hook and trace down the spine, and bound it in cotton thread. I was ready!

As I stood up, I realised that my little bamboo fishing rod was really bent, with the weight of the bait and the lead 'sinker'. Never mind, I'd still be able to catch a huge Shad! My Dad just smiled at me, and led me to the front 'kiddies' section of the pier. I looked at my Dad as he waited patiently for me, and then with a mighty, calculated heave I cast my 'load' out to sea. As the line became taut I peered over the side to see my line hanging directly below me, in the water about 2m out from the rocks below.

"Aw no! I'll never catch anything there! I better cast again!"
"No, don't", replied my Dad, "You'll catch something - just be patient."
"Okay" I mumbled, not really convinced.

I saw my Dad weave his way through the fishermen, and the rods, which looked like reeds waving in the wind. Time dragged on..and on...and on. I peered over the side from time to time. Not even a bite! I often thought about reeling in, re-baiting, and casting again, but I trusted my Dad.

Suddenly, the tip of my rod 'dived' down towards the sea. A bite! A big one!

"Dad!" I screamed.
"Dad!" I was besides myself with excitement, shouting, jumping up and down!

I looked frantically from side to side for my Dad, and also noticed (with pride) how fisherman were looking at me, as I battled this monster Shad from the deep. I wound in the wriggling fish, and as I started to panic about how I was going to lift it over the side, a pair of strong hands covered mine, and hauled the beautiful green and silver fish over the rails.

"Dad!"
"Dad!""Dad!" I screamed, and laughed, and wanted to cry.

I 'wrestled' my fingers into the gills (with a great deal of effort) and carried my catch and my rod back to the baiting tables. I was so proud! My cheeks were cramping from the smiling! I kept looking at my Dad, and beaming. He had a huge grin on his face.

"Well done", "It's massive!", "It's the biggest one today!" - my Dad kept saying. I thought my heart would burst with pride, and love for my Dad.
It is a very special memory...

Shortly after my Dad's funeral, I was talking to my mother, and I reminisced about that special day. My mother laughed! "Oh yes! I forgot about that! Your Dad caught a big Shad, and he snuck down under the pier, nearly killing himself. He grabbed your line and re-hooked the fish on to your line."

At first I was shocked, then disappointed, and then angry! It was a lie! I had been tricked!

A while after that I saw it from a different perspective. I saw things through my father's eyes, and I learned some lessons about my Heavenly Father:

• My Heavenly Father protects me, shields me, and shelters me from my worst enemy - myself.
  
• No matter what 'tools', abilities, and talents I have, my Father stands over me - guiding and encouraging me against all odds.
  
• My Father is doing things behind the scenes, that I am not aware of. To make things happen...to fulfil His will...and to give pleasure to His child, for His Glory.
  
• The lack of patience in stressful times, and against logic, can bring about doubt, which in turn could lead to making poor decisions, and hurtful consequences.
  
• Trust in God the Father, He always has our best interests at heart. He is an encourager, a 'grower', and a father. He knows what's best, and he see the big picture.
  
• My Father in Heaven doesn't reveal all to me at once. He is Truth. His promises are Yes! and Amen! He wants me trust in Him!

So was I deceived? Was one of my fondest childhood memories broken and stained? No...it was enriched by the fact that a father tried to save his son from embarrassment, humiliation, frustration, and defeat. I learned that a fathers love for his son can be unconditional, and that he would endanger himself to provide a moment joy and pride for his son. I learned that my fathers heart on that day...was the Father's heart!

Thanks Dad...

Justin Lippiatt

Environmental Assessment?

If you read the paper, watch the news or interact with any form of the mass media you will understand that “the environment” is a hot topic. Whether it is carbon trading, global warming or water conservation everyone seems to have put a lot of time and effort into their theories for fixing the problem. We know that we don’t want to live in a polluted, filthy environment yet so many people live their lives in that state. Of course I’m not talking about “physical pollution” but pollution of the heart, soul, mind and spirit. Many times we let negativity; doubt, anger and bitterness fill our minds and mouths. Christ said that He came “to bring life and life to the full” yet that life can be choked out by pollution.

In Genesis chapter one we see God creating the universe and one phrase appears eight times “God said”. Why? Why did God create the universe, this environment, by speaking? He is Almighty, All powerful God, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. Surely He could have come up with a more spectacular, creative way to form the universe. However I believe that there is an amazing principle that God wants to communicate to us. Just as He created the environment by His spoken word, we create our environment by the words we speak. God did say “let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. So just as when “God said” something was created, every time we speak we are creating.

So then the question is; what environment are your words creating? Are they words that bring that crystal clean mountain air, the type that when you breathe it in you feel as if anything is possible? Or do your words hang over you like a cloud of smog, choking life, bringing defeat, failure and disappointment? Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue”.

For your family, business, home or ministry the words spoken in conversation, in prayer even in solitude create your world. Let’s commit to being people who let the Word fill our hearts. Then out of that abundance will flow words which create a positive, hope filled environment wherever we are.

Ps Marty I’Anson