1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust GOD to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for HE has promised this end and will do what HE says. HE will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it. [Living Bible translation]
All of us experience trials and temptations. Everyone has a cross--even JESUS---especially JESUS.
The Bible is filled with the trials, temptations, pain and challenges of people GOD used and blessed:
- Paul had a thorn in the flesh (1Cor. 12:7);
- Mary saw her SON suffer and die (John 19:26);
- David suffered the jealousy of Saul (1Samuel 18:11);
- Hosea had an embarrassing, unfaithful and adulterous wife (Book of Hosea);
- Job suffered one catastrophe after another (Book of Job);
- Abraham was faced with what seemed like an impossible situation—to sacrifice his only son (Gen. 22:2);
- Lot lived in a morally corrupt city (Genesis 13:13);
- Joseph was falsely accused and did prison time (Genesis 39:8-2); and
- Ruth and Naomi lost their husbands during worse time ever—in the midst of a famine. (Book of Ruth).
The list goes on and on. If we were to just examine the life of JESUS we would find that:
-Even before HE was born, a murderous king (Herod) tried to kill him (Matthew 2:16-18);
-After HE was born, Herod still tried to kill HIM, forcing Mary and Joseph to flee to Africa (Egypt) (Matthew 2:19);
-JESUS grew up in a neighborhood that had a bad reputation (John 1:46);
-HIS folks (Mary and Joseph) were low income/poor people (Luke 2:7);
-HE was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1)
-HIS friends left HIM when HE needed them most (Matthew 26:40);
-HE was bruised for us (Isaiah 53:5);
-HE was wounded for us (Isaiah 53:5);
-HE was oppressed, accused and slaughtered like a lamb for us (Isaiah 53:7); and
-HE gave up HIS life of us---and never once blamed us (Isaiah 53:6-7).
Yes, ESPECIALLY JESUS.
Yet all of the aforementioned Biblical heroes/sheroes survived the challenges they faced. They were all victorious. Some like Paul learned to live with their thorns. Most suffered mightily---but they came through it! ESPECIALLY JESUS! HE came through it being victorious over death and the grave, with "all power in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18.).
Weight lifting is not easy, but GOD has promised in 1 Cor. 10:13 to not give us more than we can bear. HE also promised to be with us (John 14:18). For HE is our EMANUEL.*
* EMANUEL means "GOD is with us."
WEIGHT BEARING
Osteoporosis is a SERIOUS and unfortunately VERY COMMON bone disease. The word "osteoporosis" means "porous bone." It happens when you lose too much bone, make too little bone or both. When bones become too weak they may break. According to the National Osteoporosis Association, when a person has a serious case of osteoporosis, even simple actions, a sneeze or just bumping into furniture can cause a break. This means that the bones have lost their density or mass so they are more likely to break.
The National Osteoporosis Association estimates that about 54 million Americans have osteoporosis—IT IS COMMON! Studies suggest that approximately one out of two women and approximately one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. IT IS THAT COMMON. It is that serious. See www.nof.org. It is also called a silent disease because people often do not feel their bones getting weaker. It just happens over time. It can also cause a person to lose height and become stooped or hunched over.
WebMD lists three things that help prevent osteoporosis:
- Weight-bearing exercise
- A diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D
- Not smoking and limiting alcohol. [Heavy drinking is a health risk for a number of reasons, including the alcohol's effect on the bones. For more information see "Drink Less for Strong Bones," by Jeanie Lerche Davis, www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/alcohol and www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/tc/osteoporosis-prevention. ]
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, there are two kinds of exercises important for building and maintaining bone density: weight-bearing exercises and muscle-strengthening exercises. Weight-bearing exercises can be high-impact or low-impact exercises. Examples of high-impact weight bearing exercises include:
- Dancing
- Doing high-impact aerobics
- Hiking
- Jogging/running
- Jumping Rope
- Stair climbing
- Tennis
Examples of low-impact weight bearing exercises include:
- Using elliptical training machines [an elliptical trainer or Cross-trainer machine is a machine which simulates stair climbing, walking or running without causing excessive pressure on the joints
- Doing low-impact aerobics
- Using stair-step machines
- Fast walking on a treadmill or outside
If you have never used elliptical equipment be sure to get proper training before using one. Many gyms have trainers or personnel who can assist you. If you are concerned about your bone density, consult your personal physician. Don't be concerned about being concerned. Just ask your doctor or your health care provider your questions. It never hurts to ask. If you have a physically disabling medical condition or have other medical problems, consult your personal physician for the best weight training program for you, given your medical condition.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A spiritual story by Paulo Coelho:
In a certain village in Umbria (Italy), there lived a man who was always bewailing his lot. He was a Christian, and found the weight of his cross too heavy to bear.
One night, before going to sleep, he begged GOD to let him change his burden.
That night he had a dream; the LORD led him to a warehouse. "Go ahead and change it," HE said. The man saw crosses of all sizes and shapes, with the names of their owners. He picked an average size cross -- but when he saw the name of an old friend written on it, he left it aside.
Finally, as GOD had permitted, he chose the smallest cross he could find.
To his surprise, he saw his own name written on it.
Roberta Martin, American Gospel composer, singer, pianist, arranger and choral director wrote a song called "HE Knows Just How Much You Can Bear." The refrain states:
Though the load gets heavy
You're never left alone to bear it all
Just ask for strength and keep on tolling
Tho' the teardrops fall
You have the joy of this assurance
The heavenly FATHER will always answer prayer
And HE knows, Yes HE knows
Just how much you can bear
May we never forget that GREAT CROSS that JESUS carried for us and died upon on Calvary. And may we always remember: HE knows just how much we can bear.
Be strong, be prayerful and BE BLESSED!
