Many of you know my heart and passion to serve and love to my best ability. This includes what I allow into my home whether it be food products, cleaning products, books, etc. I have stood my ground in some areas and even switched our toxic cleaners to natural health building ones once I saw the research but other areas ... time and the constant action of others have worn me down and I have accepted into my life and world.
With my history in Western medicine and Natural wellness, I am well aware of how one Introduces a very small amount of a substance and then builds from there to create a tolerance in our bodies. That applies to more than chemicals.
And the story goes ...
My wife and I have been talking about cancelling Netflix because of all the issues with one of their recent movies.
We are doing our homework to be well informed about our decision but I ran across this very timely story which seems to put it in a very sobering perspective!
Some years ago when I was a pastor, I walked into my church office after a Sunday morning service to find a little brown bag on my desk containing three chocolate brownies.
Some thoughtful and anonymous saint who knew my love for chocolate had placed them there, along with a piece of paper that had a short story written on it.
I immediately sat down and began eating the first brownie as I read the following story:
Two teenagers asked their father if they could go to the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about the movie on the internet, he denied their request.
“Aw dad, why not?” they complained. “It’s rated PG-13, and we’re both older than thirteen!”
Dad replied: “Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality—which is something that God hates—as being normal and acceptable behavior.”
“But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That’s what our friends who’ve seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It’s based on a true story, and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the Christian movie review websites say that!”
“My answer is ‘no,’ and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that film. End of discussion.”
The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch.
As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, “Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he’s going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all.”
About that time I began eating the second brownie from the little brown bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story. I kept reading…
The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies which he offered to his kids. They each took one.
The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening.
“That is why I’ve made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I’ve made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium vanilla and chocolate.”
The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad’s long speech.
“But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you needn’t worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think.”
“Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?”
“Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won’t even taste it.”
“Come on, dad, just tell us what that ingredient is.”
“Don’t worry! It’s organic, just like the other ingredients.”
“Dad!”
“Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic…dog poop.”
I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the waste basket by my desk. I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.
Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.
“DAD! Why did you do that? You’ve tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can’t eat these brownies!”
“Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won’t hurt you. It’s been cooked right along with the other ingredients. You won’t even taste it. It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!”
“No, Dad…NEVER!”
“And that is the same reason I won’t allow you to go watch that movie. You won’t tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies?
We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?”
I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire untouched third brownie.
What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn’t…but I couldn’t convince myself.)
What a good lesson about purity!
Why do we tolerate any sin?
On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes. Sin is like leaven—a little bit leavens the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6).
Help us, Lord, to “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).
Hate evil, you who love the Lord (Ps. 97:10)
This was shared by a gentleman named Randy Hicks.
Accountability Check!
What are you allowing into your life that is desensitizing or weakening your foundation?
It Monday and a Marvelous day to reach out and share to gain support and motivation from all of us here.
What’s one area you would like encouragement, support and accountability on this week?
I’ll start!
I need encouragement and support in prioritizing all the things on my to do want to do list and hearing what my top 3 things are to focus on.
I have many loved ones and clients asking for and needing knowledge and wisdom that I have that I need to know how best and what to share first. I also need to get reorganized and resituated after our relocation. When you live in an RV full time and take it in the road ... well, things can get messy. Lol. Especially if the road is really bumpy and twisty.
Hmmm ... it’s the same way with day to day life! Yet another ponder point for me today.
Looking forward to seeing how we can support you this week!
I adore sowing seeds into you especially when the harvest comes in for each of us!
Be blessed and filled with extra joy today!
Here’s the link to register for the Prayer Bible Course Study by Kenneth E Hagin and hosted by Michelle Wendt.
http://standingthegap.com/events/8738/bible-study-prayer
It’s online via Zoom on Tuesday evenings 7 pm MT / 8 pm CT
Starts October 6, 2020 with intro and get to know each other then first chapter discussion on October 13, 2020.
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#MindsetMatters #MichelleWendt
Our minds are so powerful. Be honest now, did you smell the snickerdoodles when you saw the above picture?I can smell it and have happy emotions released instantly because it triggers happy memories of family celebrations and special times with my mom.
Snickerdoodles were a favorite of my parents and one of my grandpa's. But I must be honest ... I only like the SMELL of snickerdoodles, I really do NOT like the TASTE.
Which makes me smile with memories of trying to eat them and like them when I was little out my love and desire to be like the ones I love so much.
Who knows, maybe that's where all my elaborate facial expressions that my family gets a kick out of watching started! (Can you relate with a smell you like but don't like the taste or texture?)
I always have so much fun watching your faces as I can tell who likes the smell and taste of lemon and who does not from the uniquely different expressions.
It helps to explain why my client sessions where we are breaking blocks from the past to move forward in freedom are effective and long lasting.
This is why essential oils are an important tool in my Healthy Toolbox for myself, my family and my clients.
Some people have a recipe box filled with favorite cooking recipes ... me, I have recipe BOXES of my family's favorite diffuser blends with memories noted to go with them. Quirky? Yes.
However, on those days where I need an extra boost or I just want to have some sweet memories of my mom or a walk in the forest ... well, diffusing can take me to higher levels and fill my heart and being.
I adore getting to be the facilitator and watching the transformations. It blesses me to my core to help you break free from things that have held you in bondage and kept you from living life freely as you desire and yearn to.
Welcome to Michelle's Marvelous Monday Marvel!
This weekend was packed with affirming and stretching information as I attended a Functional and Integrative Medicine Conference. You know it’s a beneficial conference when it aligns with what you are already focusing on in your own life.
A lot of information and decision points where addressed which I am in the process of seeking my trusted counsel for the answers for my speciality and the direction I am to go forward in.
The video is very prophetically reflective of where I am today.
Today I am pondering and planning my future steps and focus. I am revisiting my self-care plan and protocol for myself and quite honestly … its falling shy of where it should be at minimum and I want to excel at being the Best Me I was Created to be … so this has got to be amped up and ASAP.
I also am assessing and seeking the direction of my trusted counsel in the focus of my life, ministry, and practice. I don’t want to be like my dog, Tobias, in my video. I don’t want to be spending my energy going from “tree to tree, bush to bush and anything in between” marking the territory with a small “sprinkle” of knowledge, insight, and wisdom. I don’t want to have given out so much in vast amounts of different places that I have nothing to give and only go through the motions during times of the journey.
Which is why re-assessing my Self-Care program and protocols has taken a priority in my life. Why I am assessing and seeking from my wise counsel the focus I am to move forward in.
You can sprinkle a lot of area with water and nutriments; however, little is the overall accomplishment and impact. Yes, some sprinkling is good to help encourage and educate people that there is a way that will edify and build them up to accomplish the desires and goals they have. However, the main impact life changing, mindset shifting comes from saturating the soil in one specific area and allowing those that need and desire to come and absorb what is there’s to better themselves and assist in achieving their intentions and life purpose.
TIME for YOU to TAKE ACTION:
What is your self-care plan and protocol? Is it supporting your Greatest Good for You or supporting the bare minimum or not there at all?
What is your life focus? Are you on track or are you going through the motions running around sprinkling a little bit of yourself here and there until you have nothing left to sprinkle and then just go through the motions until you crash and burn or reach a place to replenish and renew? Are you bearing good fruits? Or not fruit at all?
As always, I am here for those that are Divinely led to support you on your journey. If you are at an impasse and need some assistance, please contact me and schedule a time to facilitate you focusing in on your intention and forming a plan to support you For Such A Time As This.
I am passionate about Standing The Gap from where You Are to where You Can and Want to be.
Be Blessed!
