John the Baptist Prepares the Way - Matthew 3 Reflections

1. What does this teach me about God? * "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:2) This is John the Baptist's message to the Israelites. Repent. * "Confessing their sins..." (Matthew 3:6) The response to the message was confession of sin. * "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Repentance brings about fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. * "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) This is what God said after John baptized Jesus. God loves his son and is pleased with him and his obedience. 2. What does this teach me about humanity? * We are all sinful and in need of repentance. Repentance involves confessing our sins and turning from our sin. 3. How can I apply this to my life? * I can repent, which means turn from my sin and run to God. * I will confess my sin. This is hard because I have so much sin. * If I am in continual repentance there will be fruit, namely, self control! Lord, will you bring me to humble repentance? A daily humble repentance. Please team me how to confess sin. Teach me to love you and walk with you. Lord, I pray my desire would be for your holiness to be glorified. For your Name to be made great. Father, I pray for Oz and As to become your children. I pray that you would lead them to Jesus. I ask that you would refine me so that I can be used for your kingdom. Today Lord, I pray that you will give me discipline to say no to processed foods. Help me to honor you with my body and what I put into it. I pray that you would restore a steadfast spirit within me that seeks after you. I pray that your word would change me and make me more holy as you are holy. Lord, I pray for DK today as he goes to get his residence permit. I pray that they would have favor on him and extend it for a year, along with the rest of their family. Please continue with your grace and favor for their family and have Kate sleep through the night. I pray that Den and Ays will make time for you. Clear their schedules so they can come to church Lord and hear your word in their language.

2016 Goals and Blog Purpose

I want to commit to blogging because I am a much faster typer than I am a writer and I want to have the accountability of writing down my prayers, thoughts and progress. I am 203.2 pounds as of January 3rd, 2016. I am 5'7" and will be 32 this year. I have three boys and a husband and am a daughter of the one true king: Jesus Christ. I have been living the last 5 years in a terrible cycle of gluttony. As a Christian, I know that my body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, yet I am not keeping my temple healthy and it is riddled with guilt and deception as I have struggled with placing too much importance on food. I love sugar, however this year, I want to love Christ more. He gave up everything in heaven, even his relationship with his Father while God's wrath was poured out on him while he hung on the cross to pay for my sins. I want to marvel at that and be willing to give up sweets for 30 days and do "clean eating" to start the year off in a more humble and dependent state. I will be reading Matthew this month and will post what I am learning here as well. I don't know what this blog will turn into, but am committing to doing this... so here goes. 2016 Goals: 1. Be in God's presence 2. Know and experience God 3. Believe in God's promises 4. Work out three times a week 5. Eat whole foods and lose 50lbs 6. Read Psalm 91 to my boys every night before bed Lord, hear my prayers and heal me. I want to know and experience you Lord and taste and see that you are good. Thank you for Jesus and for loving me even in my sin. As your daughter, I want to be in the light and allow you to rid me of my sin for your glory. I pray that you would help me lose 50 pounds this year. Give me self control and joy as I attempt to give you more of me.