Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Reflection - Julie Ackerman Link - The Last Few Pounds

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 90, "The Last Few Pounds", Page 102.
By Julie Ackerman Link, Our Daily Bread Author


 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
PHOTO: In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
Read: Luke 14:25-35

Whatever weight-loss plan you choose, you're bound to lose pounds - at least for a while. But most dieters reach a plateau before they reach their goal, and many get discouraged when the thrill leaves before all the weight does. Many give up and go back to their old ways of eating.

Something similar happens in our Christian lives. When we begin our walk with Jesus, we easily shed many of the sins that have weighed us down. We give dramatic testimonies about being freed from addictive behaviors. Then the attention shifts to another new believer, and we discover that "little" sins like jealousy, resentment, and anger don't drop away as readily as the "big" ones. Some of us get so discouraged that we lose sight of our commitment to Christ and go back to some of our old ways of living.

When Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), He wanted those who heard Him to realize that believing in Him and following Him involves more than starting something that is exciting. It means sticking with something that is difficult.

So whether we're talking about weight loss or spiritual gain, the message is the same: What matters most is not how we start but how we finish.

Perseverance makes the difference between failure and success.
Picture posted by Robert Bateman
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCivLNlfMv-UZRlDxzJ3pikDr0lXmhI881n3cV2w5KCbIm34hFRgvwMeMK_HG6u_bcwKRwnniGX0Fc_bpqOxMTHtUgH2BjtNfCemmDmAQ-GDBx3DDkHMEHENQUSbLu5IosWS_7QZBpPll5eBB2B4AoiMEK6wmD9E5Ty3C-A3J5SUJiXXUMNASfXmoFw4/s850/bateman-giant-panda-in-the-wild-crop_1.jpg
https://www.artcountrycanada.com/images/bateman-giant-panda-in-the-wild-crop.jpg
https://www.artcountrycanada.com/batemang.htm


In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
Read: Luke 14:25-35
 

 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
PHOTO: In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
Picture posted by Pinterest
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKQ5UwmlDsHMOdCL8y_RIX_IjI2U9GMiSJBCflj7E0O136q5R6jdTyVk5TpFl0rEjiGnKW_P8GGjJn460TNHvheYUlb30dzdVqHJ2FZLXZgpo5EElJ2Y6RxDDmkDDyTHIN0gtMTAlnxM8WsbVJYKASRRKFzjVkPglCuy4zKy75thMqoS4WRjzidBJNq8/s735/89e10a2d907820095722516e4c53fccf.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/e1/0a/89e10a2d907820095722516e4c53fccf.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZuO7u_6gtmkt_tm_4r2HPRnYc6ZENjWcIM8talqX2EVjM0oaMZfvi8/


Whatever weight-loss plan you choose, you're bound to lose pounds - at least for a while. But most dieters reach a plateau before they reach their goal, and many get discouraged when the thrill leaves before all the weight does. Many give up and go back to their old ways of eating.


 Whatever weight-loss plan you choose, you're bound to lose pounds - at least for a while.
PHOTO: Whatever weight-loss plan you choose, you're bound to lose pounds - at least for a while. But most dieters reach a plateau before they reach their goal, and many get discouraged when the thrill leaves before all the weight does. Many give up and go back to their old ways of eating.
Picture posted by Olivia Tarantino on 24 April 2017 at 10:28 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3xPbyob4egeJjB06SCBVZHyqecSRP0P9BOPpRYsO32d5fIeXkRCuB9BJ-hWHqVDoULMPptThCVzwCjpP3ywGoeAeSm1m3G0HmOHHqcAEc30hCIhgApfFTq8_ENlEErAmRijWTDR2xVPUTuKSqSDVBIEqSjJ6ry-DkbgCJaI8xHelhiS9N35Fxmy7JcI/s1024/weigh-in-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight.png
https://www.eatthis.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4//media/images/ext/734384996/weigh-in-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight.jpg
https://www.eatthis.com/why-cant-lose-weight/


Something similar happens in our Christian lives. When we begin our walk with Jesus, we easily shed many of the sins that have weighed us down. We give dramatic testimonies about being freed from addictive behaviors. Then the attention shifts to another new believer, and we discover that "little" sins like jealousy, resentment, and anger don't drop away as readily as the "big" ones. Some of us get so discouraged that we lose sight of our commitment to Christ and go back to some of our old ways of living.


 Something similar happens in our Christian lives.
PHOTO: Something similar happens in our Christian lives. When we begin our walk with Jesus, we easily shed many of the sins that have weighed us down. We give dramatic testimonies about being freed from addictive behaviors. Then the attention shifts to another new believer, and we discover that "little" sins like jealousy, resentment, and anger don't drop away as readily as the "big" ones. Some of us get so discouraged that we lose sight of our commitment to Christ and go back to some of our old ways of living.
Picture posted by Sarah Onderdonk
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgXba1_sJUir0cuRujTVyauKa3rBb1keu7jmQ6EJ6-TfV4PCl0jbPGKzwlYJMGfWzbWrqQhqpYv2pY7rlPCxsS-Q_nrfd3aoCsKD3CLqEUB3rpcIT8lRaS2HdNztLmi-4Q2yxSJn4n3voOuVNw19RIrGG9NtQ2bHp1Z9Xymg5raSOX360lwtRaoVrACI/s1360/81m7UEoqhPL._SL1360_.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81m7UEoqhPL._SL1360_.jpg
https://www.amazon.co.jp/Little-Sins-Problems-Sarah-Onderdonk/dp/0899571409


When Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), He wanted those who heard Him to realize that believing in Him and following Him involves more than starting something that is exciting. It means sticking with something that is difficult.


 When Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), He wanted those who heard Him to realize that believing in Him and following Him involves more than starting something that is exciting.
PHOTO: When Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), He wanted those who heard Him to realize that believing in Him and following Him involves more than starting something that is exciting. It means sticking with something that is difficult.
Picture posted by Reddit
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_SVg29As0Zmk_oesK783dEkC2nAEn9Sj7JC6UjxQv91kVm4Rhee_avjZHElBwIT-v8EedEGZJOBf-0s9TCvCaRoRC6qSKgw9AzoEYMfLinT_r4OL-SgF8dfvBVgoxqDEipsvqC-lFo9eXT6FqlnXUHcYRliyL2cRwVOfADhUqlYqoVxk7IQ2fQs5nCE/s1024/i-used-ai-to-generate-images-using-the-hymn-the-spirit-of-v0-mfa3zi1tl0tb1.png
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fi-used-ai-to-generate-images-using-the-hymn-the-spirit-of-v0-mfa3zi1tl0tb1.png%3Fwidth%3D1024%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Db68ed4d6d03d5373fc218ca62ebcf6f73c44d548
https://klublr.com/ena/jesus-reaching-down-from-heaven


So whether we're talking about weight loss or spiritual gain, the message is the same: What matters most is not how we start but how we finish.


 So whether we're talking about weight loss or spiritual gain, the message is the same: What matters most is not how we start but how we finish.
PHOTO: So whether we're talking about weight loss or spiritual gain, the message is the same: What matters most is not how we start but how we finish.
Picture posted by iStock
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AwszYL0LySSCEGb0BIyjKwqD0MQcVJA3qNS9z9RzNyljVAihhY7vZlbfJ9HhLB66MGItHXMaWZ8TRpXYQnx1MAgki5dkgIkz4NuvsMP2ca0Sk5aNq1sVLka_XMc7BIfM7_h-iYXhv3srT5E6JM4rI_zk55EHgb9pUtWxevPGHgAalPWgdFT6CQ8nYIA/s1224/istockphoto-469980126-612x612-1224x1224.jpg
https://media.istockphoto.com/id/469980126/photo/family-on-the-street-with-a-cross.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=YR41eyHFLB2jxiF1HXzX_2GQs6ISwDFPHBIY8_5XJlo=
https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=following+jesus


Perseverance makes the difference between failure and success.

 Perseverance makes the difference between failure and success.
PHOTO: Perseverance makes the difference between failure and success.
Picture posted by Gavin Shaskolsky, Linked in on 18 August 2021
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1kquSqlwErCqT1oMKEXnyNro3WBJs1xSHw0fuUd4TDqN9hi1qzn8PXP-qn8aYcsELjgA-HiIp4kALUxxokkDm8pxq62zp7-4LT9PyagMLBsZI_uisNcw5tzUZQ5wZrus1N-Jp0RWzNeWp5vRG7hH1tbwe6g_53uQtMWoArYv2Vf26kaTxBfL5O2x-sQ/s1081/1629271052944.jpg
https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D12AQFMphoabrDyHw/article-cover_image-shrink_720_1280/0/1629271052944?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=9YiQzoG-L4voZYz92On5gi6og2aQWEYSkFzTAu13Fqw
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mental-focus-sharpens-impact-gavin-shaskolsky
Reflection - Julie Ackerman Link - The Last Few Pounds
Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 90, "The Last Few Pounds", Page 102.
By Julie Ackerman Link, Our Daily Bread Author



"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God",  © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

 Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
 

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html



Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 90, "The Last Few Pounds", Page 102.


Links


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