WE DID IT!!

I would just like to say a few things. First of all, thank you to all the members of Triple F. You all are wonderful and each of you have a special place in my heart. I have learned so much from all of you.

I would also like to thank God! His Holy Spirit certainly has worked through me and will continue to do so. I feel incredibly blessed to have been called to lead this group. I have gained so much spiritually. I actually understand the Bible when I read it now. And I always find the words to say to you on Tuesday nights. I know God will continue to bless us through this group.

So to allow for further blessings, I will be a bit stricter next session. So be prepared for accountability.

Our next book entitled, “Moving Forward Together,” is going to be awesome! I think a lot of us will have that fire relit and we will be raring to go! The class materials will cost a total of $20. That covers your books and bit extra for miscellaneous. I ask that you purchase your own handweights. They can weigh in the range of 2-10lbs. Or 100lbs for our own Goliath, Larry. (For any of you new to the group, please get with me tonight and I will go over any additional costs.)

Now I’d like to read from Thessalonians, Chapter 5. All Biblical readings tonight come from the Message Bible.

1-3I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other—"We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!"—suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

4-8But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

9-11God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

The Way He Wants You to Live

12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

23-24May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

25-27Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don't leave anyone out.

28The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!

Let’s all be fit and ready in spirit, soul and body for the coming of Jesus. Let’s encourage one another and leave no one behind. Allow yourself to be made holy and whole. And thank God for all He does and does not. We know to BEGIN WITH CHRIST. Now it’s time to MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER!


I end with these words from 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

15-17So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

“A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

I want to talk about loving each other. Let’s first talk about the meaning of this love. Merriam-Webster has this definition:

unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God.

So we should have true concern for others. By doing this, we will demonstrate God’s love. People will wonder…why does this person care? We care because God first loved us. He gave us His only son. He showed His love for us through a great sacrifice.

This leads me to this scripture found in Matthew 22:36-40.
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'So first we must love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind—Put Christ First. Then we must love our neighbors as ourselves.

Ok? So what does this have to do with our journey to good health? Well, I believe if along the way, we have people who love us, we will have a greater chance to succeed. And we will definitely succeed if we love the Lord with all of ourselves on the journey.

We’ve all heard this poem but imagine your journey with God as we read “Footprints in the Sand.”

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson

God will carry you in times of trouble. He will give you a way out of temptation. He will help you stand up under it. He will give you success in all that you do if you would only commit to Him. It’s easy…LOVE GOD!!

God demonstrated a different kind of love. He demonstrated what I believe to be the most extreme kind of love. He showed love through sacrifice. He gave His only son. John 4:9-10 reads:

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

God sent His son not because we first loved Him. He sent Him because He loves us. Through His son, we receive eternal life and we are washed free of our sins. Wow!!! This really shows the power of love. What can we sacrifice to demonstrate our love for God?

God also tells us not to love the world. I John 2:15-17 says;

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

If we put aside the ways of the world, it will give our lives room for God. By craving what the world has, we are looking for satisfaction elsewhere. We should find our satisfaction in pleasing God. It pleases God when we take care of ourselves, when we place our lives in His hands and allow Him to guide us along all of our paths. We may think our journey to good health is vain and selfish. But our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit. We are to honor God with our bodies.
What an example we can set by reaching our health goals! We can bring our “brothers” to great spiritual health by encouraging them through witness to join our Bible Study.

I first started this class because I wanted to help fellow church members to lose weight. I never thought it would lead me to a closer relationship with God. I love God and I love all that He has blessed me with through this class. I have met wonderful people who support me and encourage me to be a better Christian. I have become involved with my church and am serving others. I have a strong desire to read God’s word and to love all of His people. I think it is safe to say that, “I love the Lord with all of my heart, soul and mind.”



Let us pray.
God, our Father,
may we love You in all things and above all things.
May we reach the joy which You have prepared for us in
Heaven.
Nothing is good that is against Your Will,
and all that is good comes from Your Hand.
Place in our hearts a desire to please You
and fill our minds with thoughts of Your Love,
so that we may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

New Commitments

Let’s start with defining the word, commitment.
1. dedication to a cause or principle
2. an obligation, responsibility, or promise that restricts freedom of action
3. the act of committing or state of being committed

So we have an obligation, responsibility and promise to God that restricts OUR freedom of action. REALLY…why??? It could be because He gave His only son for us. Jesus had such a commitment to His father, our God that His last words spoke on just that, His commitment.

Luke 23:32-46 (The Message)
32Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.
33When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.
34-35Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"
36-37The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"
38Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.
39One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"
40-41But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." 43He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."
44-46By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.
What a way to die…He was mocked, beaten and crucified by the world He was sent to save. But still He has compassion for the prisoners who are going to be crucified beside Him. He ends His life with these words from the NIV, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”

To be more like Jesus, we need to breathe our last and place our lives in God’s hands and commit our spirits to Him. We need to choose which master to serve, the prince of the world or the king of the world. I choose the king.
These are a few ways I plan to serve Him.

Psalm 37:3-7 (The Message)
3-4 Get insurance with GOD and do a good deed,
settle down and stick to your last.
Keep company with GOD,
get in on the best.

5-6 Open up before GOD, keep nothing back;
he'll do whatever needs to be done:
He'll validate your life in the clear light of day
and stamp you with approval at high noon.

7 Quiet down before GOD,
be prayerful before him.
Don't bother with those who climb the ladder,
who elbow their way to the top.

But how does all this relate to our journey to good health? We have to make a commitment to God and to ourselves. We have to put God first in all our decisions. He wants us to be healthy.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within you, whom was given to you by God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

So let’s honor God with our bodies. Let’s find the energy to do charity runs, let’s have a quiet time with Him once a day, let’s exercise for at least 30 minutes daily, let’s eat what is good and satisfying.

I would like to tell you my commitment to this group.

1. I will put God first.
2. I will teach this class for at least one year.
3. I will have a daily quiet time with God which will include; Bible study, prayer and Bible verse memorization.
4. I will complete my live-it tracker weekly. I will check those of the group’s.
5. I will record weights of group members at the start of each class.
6. I will memorize my Bible verse and listen to the memorization of those in the class.
7. I will exercise 30 minutes daily.

And although, I am committing for one year, I am not concerned.

Matthew 6:34 (The Message)
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

In committing to these things, I look to our memory verse for strength.

Proverbs 13:6
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed.


John 16:16-33
16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.[a] 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

So even though it will be hard and we will have many trials and sorrow, we can commit to God and our plans will be successful…even our plans to lose weight and be healthy. So take the time now to write down your commitments to this class and sign it. Keep some place visible.

Let us pray.
Dear God,
We come to you today with new commitments to you, Lord, and to this class. We want to be healthy so that we can have more energy to spend serving you. We want to honor you with our bodies. Please allow us to feel your presence when we are tempted, Lord. Help us to remember our commitments. Give our plans success. We love you and we want to serve your son, the King of the World.
Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do. Thank you for the promise of your kingdom. Thank you for a way out when we are tempted. Thank you for Jesus’ commitment to you. Thank you for the joy that will make us forget our trials and sorrows. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Amen


I leave you with these words from Romans 15:13 (New Living Translation);
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.