Relational Devotion #6 [excuses, excuses]

Hi, Everyone.
Today is Election Day! I know we're all sick of the advertisements and rhetoric (on both sides), but voting is a privilege, something we should not take for granted. If you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain in the future. That's my opinion. Exercise your right and your responsibility, and vote your conscience today.

John 6:5-9
"Jesus saw a huge crowd of people [about 5,000 men plus women and children] coming to look for Him. Turning to Philip, He asked, 'Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?' He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, 'Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them!' Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?'"

     Jesus used a young boy's lunch and fed over 5,000 people with it. I often wonder what an impact that sight must have had on that boy. I have a feeling he took home many of the 12 baskets of leftovers, to feed his entire village.
     God uses people as channels of His grace. He allows us to have a part in what He does. When we willingly dedicate our own small resources--time, talents, or possessions--to God, He can work a miracle for us and through us. God can take our limited resources and multiply them beyond our wildest expectations.

What this has to do with weight loss:  How many excuses have you given for why you cannot be successful on your weight-loss journey? "I can't afford to eat the right kinds of food." "I don't have time to exercise." "The protein shakes and vitamins I have taste yucky."
     What if you gave each of your excuses to God? What if you said to Him, "I have $100 [or whatever] for groceries this week. Please help me find the right foods on sale." What if you said to God, "I have 10 minutes to exercise in the morning and again at night. Please help my metabolism to speed up." What if you said to Him, "The protein shakes and vitamins I have taste awful. Please help me to take them until You provide replacements."  Become a partner with God, rather than an excuse maker, and you will see Him work a miracle!

Today, be honest about excuses you make. Ask God to help you, partner with Him, and see how your cir****tances will change. What could you do in life, if you quit making excuses? Here's an example:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=19d8ac11627107 892b66

Blessings,
Mary