Where you can share your struggles, learn about mental health issues and study the Bible
This hymn feels like when I cry out to God for guidance.
“Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light.
When my way grows dreary, precious Lord, linger near, when my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall.
When the darkness appears and the night draws near, and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand.”
My church is big on the love and grace of God. God loved us so much that He sent His own Son to die a horrible death..
Here is a song called Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (ELW 712).
“Lord, whose love in humble Service bore the weight of human need, who upon the cross forsaken, worked your perfect deed: we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone but heart; consecrating to your purpose every gift which you impart.”
I think this verse explains that we love God because He loved us first.
“Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread; still the captives long for freedom: still in grief we mourn our dead. As you, Lord, in deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul, by your Spirit send your power to our world to make it whole.”
This verse describes the suffering that has happened for thousands of years before Jesus came to Earth and after He returned to heaven. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by the knowledge of the suffering in our world. I know that I am praying to a compassionate God. The writer, Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984) lived through world war I, the Great depression and world war II. So, he saw a great deal of suffering in his life.
“As we worship, grant us vision , till your love’s revealing light in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight, making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.”
This verse is a prayer asking God to help us to see the suffering in our world.
“Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go, to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show; hope and health, goodwill and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give, that your servants, Lord in freedom may your mercy know and live.”
This verse describes our response of loving our neighbors. We are called to serve others just as Jesus loved and served us during His lifetime and death. Now, He advocates for us in heaven.
I am participating in a weight loss program called the EVO study. They are comparing the results of a six month program called the Diabetes Prevention Program which is the standard weight loss program recommended by the CDC and an app based program. One of the weekly readings of the app based group shared a summary of a book titled The Intrinsic Exerciser by Jay Kimiecik. I decided to buy a used copy in response to this summary.
He began the book with a comparison of an extrinsic exerciser versus an intrinsic one. I related to the extrinsic exerciser description because I exercise for the health benefits but knew I’d quit once I stopped receiving support from the EVO study staff. He described an intrinsic exerciser as someone who enjoys exercising rather than doing it for the health benefits. This book reminded me of when I was in cross country in high school. I enjoyed my teammates and the challenge of beating my time. I started working on improving my time in my two to three times a week of cardio. The author also encouraged his readers to set goals for each exercise session. I decided to look for pleasurable things about exercising. So far, I have found a few things that I like about jogging at my local park.
I plan on continuing to do this for the next few weeks. I doubt that I will fall in love with exercising but I will be able to increase the pleasure of it. Then, I will be able to continue with it .