It is amazing how many preach about integrity as if they walk such a straight path. We all have our issues and when someone points out another it makes you wonder; how straight is their path. Many just choose to walk a path that had different pattern of crookedness (sin). SMH. I remember a story of a Christian man had separated from his wife and 8years passed they never divorced however, he met someone else. His friend ridiculed him. But the friend that was telling him he is in sin was a homosexual. WOW! Now this is interesting. Both are in sin yet the man that is a homosexual was calling the other out on his sin. Need I type more. All I am saying is we can help one another by walking our own straight path.
I have asked asked God to help me make my path straight, then He reminds me everyday to keep on walking with him and by choice my path will become straight and easier to walk.
This has allowed me to see just what God has for us to see and what the Devil does not want us to see. Allow this to help you to stop, look and learn to love the child that God loves...YOU! Explained perfectly
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
—2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
The Bible tells us to examine ourselves, and I wholeheartedly agree that we need to do so. We should examine ourselves to see if we have sin, and if so, we should sincerely repent, then move on to living without that sin in our lives.
There is a great difference between examination and condemnation. Examination helps us prove to ourselves that we are in Christ and He is in us, and that in Him we have been set free from sin. Condemnation keeps us mired in the very sin we feel condemned about. It does not deliver us—it traps us! It weakens us and saps all our spiritual strength. We give our energy to feeling condemned rather than living righteously.
There is such a thing as excessive self-examination, and I personally believe it opens the door for much of the unbalance we see today in this area among God's children. To be overly introspective and continually examining our every move opens a door to Satan. In the past I experienced multiple problems in this area, and I know for a fact that you and I will never be confident in prayer until the problem is dealt with thoroughly and completely.
Lord, I ask You to search my heart and expose any sin in my life. I refuse to get trapped in endless introspection and condemnation. Set me free from all sin. Amen.
This has allowed me to see just what God has for us to see and what the Devil does not want us to see. Allow this to help you to stop, look and learn to love the child that God loves...YOU!
Those who are thankful will always be blessed
This is re-post of my archived blogs and reminder to myself to always be thankful -MJ FitChik4Life
Learning to give thanks in ALL things(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
My prayer today is that you'll always be blessed even in your trials and tribulations. Some may ask how can you be blessed in a tribulation? Here is a perfect example, I lost my father in 2005 and it was and still is hard, but somehow God has given me this comfort that I know a human being could not provide. I still miss him and holidays are hard for me because he enjoyed holidays and he past 1week after New Years day, so though I think of him often I miss him most around the holidays.
I have chosen to be thankful for all the years God had him with us. I do miss him but the bible says in ALL, not some but ALL things be thankful.
So this week as I remind myself, I wanted to share with you and remind you that regardless of what things look like in ALL things give thanks for there is someone out there that have not what you have. There is someone out there that lost a friend and you still have yours, there is someone that had no food to eat and you just finished eating, there is someone that has no awareness of there faculties and you have all of yours. You don't want to go to the gym today and there is someone who can't go even if they wanted to. My friends look around you there is so much to be thankful for. Inspired from 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Don't be thankful when its sunny if you can't be thankful when it rains. A thankful heart is a soul that will forever be blessed-MJ
Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
— Galatians 1:10
The apostle Paul said that in his ministry he had to choose between pleasing men and pleasing God. That is a choice you also must make.
If your goal is to build a name for yourself and win favor with people, it will cause you to live in fear of man rather than in fear of God.
For years I tried to build my own reputation among believers by striving to win the favor of men. But through bitter experience I learned I was submitting to a sort of slavery to people. God helped me realize I could only be truly free in Him.
If you are trying to build your reputation with people, it’s time to give up all your own human efforts and simply trust God. He will give you supernatural favor with the people that are right for you.
I own my own business, many asked MJ are you open today? I replied of course, if it wasn't for leaders like Dr. King and the grace of God I wouldn't even be able to open a business;The dream lives in me and YOU and YOU and YOU
On Dr. King Day as I was working the juice bar and serving shakes, then it dawned on me that I was serving whites, blacks, light and dark sitting at the counter drinking shakes TOGETHER. On this day of all days this meant so much to me. It has been less than fifty years since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 that prohibits discrimination. An act that would make me equal. That is equal on paper. Before this signing my ancestors where persevering through hell, some made it and some did not. But after this signing there was more hell in America and today my heart goes out to all who endured for me to have this business where I serve people of all color. There are many that still are terrorized by the devastating affects from the hate and horror. God has shown my brothers and sisters mercy in many ways and still he shows mercy on our country both whites and black.
WHEN will we realize that In the final analysis the weakness of Black Power is its failure to see that the black man needs the white man and the white man needs the black man. ~Martin Luther King, Jr., From: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967
It's not the color it's the power of being one-MJ Fox MLK Lives in me
Some may disagree but I am honored to be open on a day such as Dr. King Day because it shows his dream is ALIVE!
“Don't become a victim of yourself. Forget about the thief waiting in the alley; what about the thief in your mind?”
I am having a wake up call. I have held myself to a higher standard of perfection because people look up to me and I find that when I fall short of this standard I allow the enemy and my mind to torment me as being less than God says I am. A special friend, I know loves me and I love him very much,shared with me this very subject and I must say it was very true. What hurt is the fact that I felt I was letting others down by not being perfect and letting myself down also.
Now some may relate to this and some may not but as I said my blogs are about learning and growing. I have stumbled fallen and now God is saying get up and who cares what man thinks just learn, hold on to my unchanging hand and press forward. Pick your head up and do not allow the weapons to prosper.
What is the weapon? you may ask. I have learned it can be your mind as well as circumstances, things and others. I have allowed what others think of me to become my thoughts and this self hate is NOT of God. I realize that the weapons that are formed against us can only prosper if we allow them. Unfortunately, I have allowed them. NO MORE will I be a victim or look at myself as such. NO I will not have self pity for myself and my wrongs or what people think.
Again, I have said when you pray for God to use you be sure to pray for strength. It's one thing to be used by God however, when we get personally involved our flesh can intervene in what he has us to do and this is where the chaos and a big mess is made.
God I praise you for your teaching I don't want to be right I just want to be right in you. When I am wrong if I repent then I will be right in you. I will not be able to please this world but I can please you. Lord, I surrender to you and all your ways. I will no longer lean on my own understanding I will listen to you. If I fall I know you will pick me up and allow me to repent, for this I say thank you in advance and I praise you for your unconditional love.
Inspired from the sermon at The Park Ministries by Bishop Claude Richard Alexander, Jr. titled :A Piece of Work! Yes I am a piece of work. I thank him daily for what he is teaching me, showing me and molding to be. I am a under construction.
God you are SOOOOOO AWESOME!
I have learned that when I am feeling alone or like no one understands-God does.
He gives me comfort in spite of myself. He accepts me and loves me unconditionally and this my friends takes the FEELING of loneliness away.
Loneliness is a feeling
Loneliness is one of the scourges of humanity. It seems to affect everyone regardless of age or ethnicity. Whether you're a PhD or high school dropout, rich or poor, you're equally vulnerable. What exactly is loneliness? It is a FEELING that intimacy, understanding, friendship, and acceptance are missing from one's life. It is a FEELING of isolation or separation from others, a FEELING of being all alone. We need to realize that loneliness is nothing more than a feeling. After all, you are not your arms or legs, for they are just parts of your body. Similarly, you are not your feelings, which are just parts of your psyche.
Talk to God about this feeling of loneliness. Allow his love to envelope your physical as well as your mental
My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night,
yes,my spirit within me seeks You earnestly.
— Isaiah 26:9
Have you ever noticed that in the quiet darkness of night there seems to be something special about the presence of God?
He is always with you, even during the daytime, and you can talk to Him anytime, even when you’re busy. But during the day there are many distractions that keep you from focusing on His presence for an extended period of time. And by the end of the day you’ve often experienced problems and frustrations that can cause you to feel lonely and needy. It is then that you can finally give time and attention to the one who is the answer to your needs.
When you yearn for God in the night, seek Him earnestly, and you’ll find He will minister to you in a special way. He will provide answers to any problems you may have, and He will give you peace and rest.
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
I used to want to make a difference and make a change in this world and now I realize I must be the change I wish to see in the world.
We can get so caught up in the big picture that we lose focus of the small important details that make the big picture.
When I am growing in Christ there is a sense of assurance no man or women can provide no matter what I'm faced with. However, when I am drifting away or losing focus he has a tendency to strip away all the distractions and obstacles. Not sure if people understand that God is a jealous God and when Christians start to focus on man or things He will shake things up to get your attention that HE provides all our needs and gives us our desires (wants) of our hearts. It's sometimes painful because the truth comes out and the truth is how he can set us free.
At times, I want something to work so bad that I fight what he is showing me and telling me. The saying to thine own self be true. Well when you are a child of God, self is Christ. Because He lives in every child of God.
So today I will refocus on my heavenly Father as I have in the past. I'm ever so grateful that he does not lose focus of my life the way I have lost focus on him. That's the kind of God I serve and will serve him in spirit and in truth.
Thank you Father for reminding me that I am never alone and you are with me regardless.
Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.
— Psalm 119:35
Go to sleep at night with a plan in mind for the next day. Don’t be vague about what you hope to accomplish. One morning I was lying in bed when the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “Stop being ambiguous.” The dictionary defines ambiguous as “doubtful or uncertain,” and “capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways.”
Don’t be double-minded. Don’t just wait to see what happens. Wake up with a plan that puts God first in all you do. God’s Word is a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path (See Psalm 119:105). Talk to Him before you even get out of bed; ask Him to make clear what you need to achieve today.
I was asked what Easter means to me and it was an opportunity to tell someone what he did for us.
Many of you know I am a Christian. I don't shout it at the top of my lungs or lay hands on everyone I see, but I try to never block the light that is in me. The light of the Lord. Easter is a very important time of year to many and to Christians it is a renewal. Just as Spring is to many. Life has been a bit rough for me and so much has been happening lately. Lots of good and I wont call the rest bad I will say it has been learning curves. Today, Good Friday is a reminder to me that God loves me regardless. God thought enough of us that he sacrificed his ONLY son just for you and me. Jesus was crucified and it hurts my heart, but I feel so loved today. To know that he loved me enough to die for me, for my sins.
2010 has been full of endings and new beginnings in my life and the crucifixion of Jesus seemed like the end however, the resurrection proves the beginning. The beginning of a new life. Eternity.
I feel forever loved due to his sacrifice. I am so thankful that His love is unconditional.
The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.
Today is Good (Holy) Friday-I am grateful, for my Father thought enough to die for my (our) sins. When I feel down, I ask, Jesus you love me this much, that you died for me. Don't know if you know someone that would do that, but today I remind you that there is someone that did. Just for you and me Now that’s love.
Many heartfilled blessings to you all to today, tomorrow and everyday.
Hoping all of you had a wonderful weekend. I have been going through a learning phase and thought I would share it with you, as I know many can relate. I am learning to say no. I have found that I'm always so willing to help and many times I sacrifice my sanity to do so. I am not alone on this. Many of us do this and we tend to find we are not getting the satisfaction or joy from the action of doing.
Is this a bad thing? Well, yes in some cases. I truly believe, that there should be an automatic sense of joy when you do for others, not a sigh of relief. Even when there is no thank you in return or appreciation you should feel good with just the fact that you gave of yourself to something or someone. I'm learning that when I put me on the back burner to long, I tend to not get joy in doing for others. Now, some are reading this and maybe saying oh no! that's wrong as a Christian you should always have joy doing for others. The bible does state we should not grow weary in well doing. However, it also states that we must take time for Him. I feel if Christ is in my heart then is that not a part of my temple which is my body? So if I am taking care of my temple (body and mind) then it is not just for me it is for him also. When I speak on doing for me, I am referring to things like not taking my devotional time away from Christ. Being sure of getting my workouts in which is part of my therapy to handle this thing called life. Taking a short vacation away from the chaos. I think taking care of the outside is important and taking care of the inside is even more so. At the young age of 39 (smile) God is showing me some powerful things. I would not be able to see them if I don't slow down sometimes. I am so grateful for those he is placing in my path both good and bad because it is really making me stronger and better than I've been.
So I say ALL this to say, MJ is officially doing her and in return I know I will be able to do so much more for others. Yes God is so good, all the time.
A well cared for tree bares good fruit. However, a diseased and malnourished tree may not bare any fruit at all and the if it does how healthy is it, considering it's source.
Blessings to you all this week. BTW Update on my training- I am now 18weeks out from shine time on stage. My back has been tight but nothing major and I am steadily able to increase weight and or intensity in my workouts. My diet is starting to be more consistent. Ya know I am always gonna keep it real for you all. Updated progress pics soon to come. I say in advance, thanks so much for your support.
Remember Live discussion on the FitChik4Life fan page every Mon 9pm est. TALKING FIT! You got questions, we got answers. Join Us!
Love Love Love! What does it mean to you?
It is something different to each one of us. But it is not rude. It trust and it comforts. It is giving and not expecting anything in return. It is unconditional. Unfortunately, some have been taught about love in the wrong way so we have grown up with the wrong definition. Love is something that is indescribable, but I have found in my spiritual journey, that it is best described as what Christ shows us daily- compassion(mercy), forgiving(sins), reassuring (faith), comfort (grace) and joy.
It is our choice to repeat this same love back to others, even when they hurt us. Yes it means love your enemies. You can kill hate with love. It is hard sometimes, but I always say wow God you still love me, WELL, I have no other choice but to love and love unconditionally. I feel there is no other way. Love does not come with conditions, either you love or you don't. That's it. It's not complicated and its not rocket science.
This is a song I enjoy so much and can here it over and over 100x and it still refreshes me, I hope it can do the same for you. The words say it all.
What is love? It's Jesus. What is love? it is Jesus Christ in you an me.
Love is you-Chrisette Michele
What's your definition of it?
How's it make you feel?
Tell me what you say that truly makes it real
Kings and Queens, Philosophers have tried so hard to find
Tell me what it means to you dear, never mind
Love is kind when the world is cold
Love stays strong when the fight gets old
Love's a shoulder to lean on
Love is you
Love's like the water when the well runs dry
Quench my thirst, keep me alive
Just need one sip baby
Love is you
Love is you, love is you,
Love is you, love is you
Is it possible, there is a kiss that's so divine
Or am I just a fool, is it all in my mind?
Is there something chemical
A scientist might say
Well love must be a drug
To make me feel this way
Cause love's my permission to be who I am
No inhibitions cause you understand
Freedom to breathe oh baby
Love is you
Love's like a kiss when the sun goes down
Holds me tight when no one's around
Love's what I want to hold on to
Love is you
Love is you, Love is you, Love is you,
Love is you, Love is you,
Love is you, Love is you,
Love is kind, it makes me stronger
I don't have to look no longer
You're the one I cling to
Love is you
When the chips are down
Love will stick around
I'm so glad I found
Love is you
As much as I've tried to clarify
Love's quite simple, he's just my guy
Perfect definition
Love is you
Love is you, love is you
Love is you... is you...
My prayer today is that you'll always be blessed even in your trials and tribulations. Some may ask how can you be blessed in a tribulation? Here is a perfect example, I lost my father in 2005 and it was and still is hard, but somehow God has given me this comfort that I know a human being could not provide. I still miss him and holidays are hard for me because he enjoyed holidays and he past 1week after New Years day, so though I think of him often I miss him most around the holidays.
I have chosen to be thankful for all the years God had him with us. I do miss him but the bible says in ALL, not some but ALL things be thankful.
So this week as I remind myself, I wanted to share with you and remind you that regardless of what things look like in ALL things give thanks for there is someone out there that has not what you have. There is someone out there that lost a friend and you still have yours, there is someone that had no food to eat and you just finished eating, there is someone that has no awareness of there faculties and you have all of yours. You don't want to go to the gym today and there is someone who can't go even if they wanted to. My friends look around you there is so much to be thankful for.
Don't be thankful when its sunny if you can't be thankful when it rains. A thankful heart is a soul that will forever be blessed-MJ
Merry Christmas to you all and may the peace of God be with you always
Hugs to all of you-MJ FitChik4Life
Believing in a dream can sometimes be harder than said. At times the road to that dream can seem unreachable. You stumble, you fall, but we all get up and when you do just keep stepping forward.You have heard me say, fall seven times, so what, get up eight.
You have heard the saying anything worth having is worth working for. Well my friends this includes your dream. As as an entrepreneur I realized that when you work for yourself you will work the hardest you have ever worked, if you want it to be successful. You are the marketing department, labor department, payroll, housekeeping, customer service department and what ever else your company needs. Yes, you are all of these and the hardest job of all, you're the CEO. What I am saying is you are the chief and the Indian, until you successfully grow to hire others and even then you will still have to be an Indian at times.
Action and effort is key in making your dreams come true but without the belief in your dream, yourself and the faith to know it is possible, all the action and effort can come to a halt. What I'm saying is they all go hand in hand to work together. If you have all the effort in the world and something doesn't work out the first, second, third time well, one can get discouraged. BUT if you believe in your heart that it can work then that will fuel the action to put fourth the effort for the fourth, fifth , tenth time.
Never lose sight of your goals. Believe that you can do anything and with Christ on your side you CANNOT fail. I always use myself as an example when talking to clients. I'm no different than them and have desires and dreams too. I have always wanted to compete. Years ago there was no figure category only fitness and I wanted to do it since my 20's. In 2005 I was blessed at age thirty-five to get on stage and do it. After many setbacks and weight gain there I was competing at age thirty-five and doing it well. Placed 1st in masters and 2nd in open. Here I am just four years later one year shy of forty years old and am a professional athlete. WOW!
When you believe you can do it. You can. Success comes in cans, not cant's.God has not failed me yet and he will not fail you. Just believe
Too often we underestimate the power of the truth, listening, a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
The holidays are upon us and many are worried about their finances. To often the worry is, how am I going to pay for Christmas? Well, I'm concerned about my finances too, but I'm not worrying about paying for Christmas. My friends, when are we going to realize what God is showing us and allowing to happen. Economical times have people losing there minds and depression is at an all time high. For years we have been losing sight of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Getting caught up in stuff and it's easy to get caught up in it the way our society is today. This is a time of memories, joys, fellowship and giving. Not giving because you have it but giving because you want to give and when you don't have. We can all give in some way regardless of our finances.
If you are not financially able to give monetary funds, I am sure you have some STUFF around the house just collecting dust. Ya know, one mans junk is another mans treasure. If you have already spring cleaned your house and you don't have any extra stuff, how about your time. Yes, your time is priceless. Take an early Saturday and go to your local homeless shelter to aid in serving those that are much less fortunate than you. Please never think yourself better than a homeless person. Some of us are only one months pay away from being homeless and those that have a bit saved well what if something happened and you could not work for the next 6 to 7 moths and your back up savings is now used on monthly expenses. Now what? Yes, I know the people you see on the street some say can get a job. Well have you seen the current job market and have you looked at your monthly expenses. It's tight for many and businesses are hurting too, so pay is not to high these days. If you could only get a job at Walmart or McDonalds would that minimum pay cover your families expenses? Your mortgage, your car note. Hmmm, I dont think it would. I am not trying to scare you BUT we should never judge the other man or women unless you have walked in their shoes. A guy was talking to me about the economics of our world today and he said "I don't understand homeless people, MJ. I mean the bible says God helps those who help themselves" My response was maybe the God in you is suppose to be the help from God. He said yeah yeah it could be. Some peoples thoughts blow me away when they speak out loud.
God uses people on a daily basis to fulfill His work. You may say why me? Well, why not you? Giving back to someone is a feeling that can't be bought it is priceless. So today or within next two weeks would you meditate on helping a local charity or someone in need. They are everywhere, from battered womens shelters, children that are left behind, those that have lost love ones or incarceration of a parent, perhaps our American soldiers families could use a little love from you. Nursing homes are another area around the holidays can be sad for our elderly some have families that don't care you can be that vessel that makes the difference. Look around your town, I know there is someone that would appreciate your helping hand.
You are a vessel to be used for good however, God gives us free will and it is your choice to choose to take action to care. I'm telling you it will warm your soul when you do.
Today I learned something about myself. Many tell me MJ you care to much. Well I did not think so but today I guess I do. I always think as a Christian we should do what Christ would do. Ya know, forgive, give, except, love, care, donate, understand or empathize with our brother or sister
What puzzles and saddens my heart is how selfish, and hateful we as humans can be. Yet how God created us to have the ability to be extremely compassionate. My friends to care and love is a choice. I hope the things I blog about though they are about my life and my views I pray that they will touch a soul to embrace the goodness that we all have in us. Please today call a friend you have not spoke to in a while. Maybe you are not close or have not talked to a family member in a while. Just reach out and let them know you thought about them. What about the friend or co worker that had a death in the family a last month or even last year the holidays are coming and it will be hard for some. Ya know someone is going through right now. Please pick up the phone and say hello I was thinking of you. Trust me you can make a difference.
A bell is no bell 'til you ring it, A song is no song 'til you sing it, And love in your heart Wasn’t put there to stay - Love isn’t love 'Til you give it away.
