So who feels like they are running constantly but accomplishing nothing?
Who’s waking in the morning ready for a nap or a break before even getting out of bed?
The photo below has some great tips from Brandon Burchard.
As I am sharing with more and more people opportunities to partner with me in business I am so filled with excitement at watching their dreams come true that I am at times not getting myself enough nutrition, exercise and rest.
Fortunately, I have some amazing things in my Healthy Toolbox to help support my health, nutrition and mental emotional needs in this season of running all out.
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?
Click here for Michelle's Daily Insights Video or go to https://youtu.be/FbBUBOxh_Fk
Today's Diving Board: Colossians 3:8 WEB
Today’s For Such A Time as This Garden of Eden:
Essence: Clarity, Acceptance, Geranium, Citronella, Citrus Fresh, Spearmint, Hinoki, Mastrante, Rose, GeneYus, Lemon Myrtle, Patchouli, Eucalyptus Radiata, Peppermint
Emotional & Mental Support:
Overcomes Negative Perspective – Emotional stress, Guilt, Repression, Don’t belong, Embarrassed, Insecurity, Misperception, Sorrow, Self-centered, Wanting to please, Lazy, Incapacitated, Disintegrated, Fear of Intimacy, Apathy, Brain fog, Procrastination, Physical stress, Failure, Fear of Dependence, Restriction, Rigidity
Promotes Positive Growth Perspective – Harmony, Deserve what get, Learn from experiences, Creativity, New perspective, Acceptance, Self value, Embraced, Success, Understanding, Peace, Balance, Respect, Detachment, Direction, Focus, Being alive, Initiative, Motivated, Empowered, Centered, Unity, Wholeness, Trust, Enthusiasm, Awareness, Come together, Action, Creative, Vibrantly alive, Fun, Unfoldment, Growth, Freedom, Mobility, Open to new, Amusement, Big picture
Don’t you just adore how when you seek where to go, that it takes you to a place in scripture that was written well before your time … but is just like it is written for exactly where you are at right now, today?
Well, today is one of those days. I’ve read this verse many times but today I had such an intense desire to dig in and dive deeper to see what was mine to get FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS. Sometimes, it just feels like a two-by-four right between the eyes. Looking up the meaning of the words and the synonyms pulled it straight into and out of my gut. Can you say “sucker punch”? Before today I would have said that I have rarely if ever had anger, wrath or malice … BUT GOD … It’s so easy to take a word at the meaning that you define it as in your head that fits with your life and keeps things comfortable and honorable. However, progress does not come without refinement. Refinement without the fire of truth. I am ever grateful for the refiner’s fire. I’m thankful to be refined and deal with this now rather than later. To receive and live with my blessings now rather than never.
I am ever grateful for His Garden of Eden* today during my study time to support my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being as I am being challenged and stretched during my time of study For Such A Time As This. I am grateful for these declarations to stand on in preparing for and during the midst of the battle.
I know, I say this almost every time, some would say its "random" selection but I know who leads me and prepares my daily Garden for me to walk with Him in. My heart is so filled with joy at how much I am loved and trusted to do what He is leading me to do. I am humbled at the care He took in creating the emotional and mental growth support for today. It was as always … spot on with where I am walking in life today.
Thank you for honoring me with your time. Besides following my Standing The Gap blog, subscribing to my Standing The Gap YouTube channel, attending a class or retreat, purchasing written materials, your purchase of any of the above essential oils from myself or one of our Be Healthy His Way Associates helps support our family business which helps support my being able to freely walk in my purposed calling in SEEING (Supporting, Educating, Empowering, Inspiring, Nurturing and Growing) others.
Blessings to You!
Oil Information/Connection:
Smart Spectrum CBD: (Solution for people who want the health but need to 100% pass a drug test.)
My heart is squeezed. Accountability for how I invest my time and energy is audited yet again. Time to be more focused and purposeful about what I say YES to with my time and energy.
FOCUS and BALANCE are my current words. The past couple weeks have driven home the urgency to:
💜 Know my identity
💜 Know my purpose
💜 Focus on my purpose goal of “Well Done”
💜 Be accountable that I’m doing MY purpose and not neglecting it to help or do someone else’s expectations or demands.
Do you know your identity and life purpose?
Are you Doing Your Best daily in the smallest details to steward wisely?
Words of wisdom and knowledge on living life abundantly and fully as Christ intended are more than welcome.
Do you have an “ahha moment” that keeps you focused and centered or balanced in your endeavors?
