Exercise progression is a new way of life

This is week 9 of my fitness program with JillianMichaels.  I’ve gained and lost weight, gotten a little muscle tone, clothes are fitting better and breathing meds are no longer needed.  My legs no longer cramp up during the night and the tingling & numbness in my hands have gone.  It’s a marathon and not a sprint.  It’s also a new way of life.  I do the exercises with wisdom and if I can’t jump, I raise up on my toes.  I forge ahead and don’t give up.  Sure, my muscles ache at times, but not enough to make me quit.  I eat wisely and often, but don’t deprive myself of everything.

My New Exercise Prayer:

Now I lay me on my mat,

I pray the Lord, I get rid of this fat.

If I should ache when I awake,

I pray I have enough Motrin to take ;)

"Listen & Do"

After six years, I finally went on vacation.  “I’ve been to the mountain top & back”.  I forgot how beautiful Arizona and Southern New Mexico could be.  Everywhere you look there are mountains in the background.  At night the sky cascades with millions of lights, so clear to the eye.  My bus ride was a wonderful way to appreciate the beauty that God has given us, and also some time to catch up on needed rest.

I asked the Lord if He would grant me time alone.  Not to have to witness (strike up a conversation) with anyone on the trip to Phoenix.  He was most gracious, but didn’t I see some guy reading, “Divine Revelation of Hell”?  I immediately wanted to inquire about his salvation, but I did ask to be to myself.  Don’t get judgmental.  I prayed that God would send another laborer.  I was tired and I started feeling a little guilty.  I witness at work, at the gym and at church.  Besides I had homework to catch up on and I was on a mini vacation.

Bus terminals are sometimes cold and unfriendly.  There are many different classes of people taking buses from those who hang around airports, yet we’re all God’s children.  His creations.  He desires all to come to repentance and eventually to “come home’.  Put it like this — if you are not saved and filled with the Holy Ghost and a doer of God’s Word — don’t take the bus.  Fear & worry could be your traveling companion.  I saw faces of fear, hopelessness and those who were not mentally all there.

After a sixteen-hour journey I was two hours away from my arrival to a ‘promise land’ and I was starting to feel a bit guilty about not approaching the man reading the book.  He was a prime candidate for God’s wonderful gift of salvation if he wasn’t already saved.  He was already getting fed and all I had to do was cast my line and let the Lord ‘reel him in’.  One more catch for the kingdom that I allowed to get away.  I looked behind me and he was not there.  He must have gotten off at one of our many rest areas.  I looked again, but to avail.  My opportunity was gone.  That jewel for my crown was not to be mine any more…

To read the rest of this story – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for July 22, 2013 – Aug. 5, 2013 are:

   Florida

   California

   New York

   Texas

   North Carolina

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new question in my “Guest Book”! 

   

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Prayer & concern needed in senseless deaths

In the wake of so many senseless deaths that have occurred in Jacksonville Florida, there is a greater need for prayer and a higher concern for our youth who may be subject to people who act before they think.  From the “Stand Your Ground Law”, to “Vehicular Manslaughter”, or just plain “Murder”, there have been numerous acts of violence that left parents without their children and the guilty parties serving time in prison or walking the streets to live their lives.

Trayvon Martin

Do you recall the criminal cases that happened a little more than a year ago?  The families have not forgotten.

• Parents of Trayvon Martin send thank you letter to son’s supporters
• Somer Thompson killer is finally sentenced, but not to death
  
  • Makia Coney's murder case, update July 2012
• Jordan Davis is killed & another statistic for the 'Stand Your Ground Law'
• JaNay Jackson is killed as a van plows into her bedroom

Jordan Davis

Some people are upset and want to blame racial profiling, but some of the crimes listed above were not White on White, or Black on White, or Hispanic on Black crimes; they were crimes committed by people who were not thinking before they acted.  None of the offenders were charged with premeditated murder.

Travon Martin will be remembered in love, but what about the other deaths that have taken children away from this earth too soon?  After the news media have moved on to other cases, what about the families who hold the memory of their loved ones deep in their hearts?  What about the crimes that are committed and there is no consolation?  What about the families who are left behind?  What is the solution?

JaNay Jackson

The answer is not in having a gun to protect oneself; nor is it in a “vigilantly movement”.  The only answer is to turn to God in times like this.  2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  Heal the hurt, heal the confusion, heal the injustice and heal the people of this land.  We tried everything else and it’s not working.

To read similar stories – get the book: “Where Did That Come From?” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

NEW!  Top 5 Google Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for July 9 – July 22, 2013 are:

• Orange Park, FL

• Jacksonville, FL

• Orlando, FL

• New York, NY

• Mobile, AL

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new questions in my “Guest Book”!

“Mr. And Mrs. Fix It”

The transmission was going out on our Volvo, which God blessed us with in 1991.  It was our very first brand new car (you know how even a used car is new to you, well this was brand spanking new!), yet God kept it running.  He corrected what was wrong.  Yep, it still needed a ‘check-up’, but God maintained the car until the time came when we could have it fixed.  During this time I also remembered:  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).

What has been a "Spiritual Band Aid" for you?

I was upset with God, just as children sometimes get annoyed with their earthly parents.  No disrespect, but yes, I was ‘perturbed'.  I continued to go to church, but no, I didn’t feel like praising God.  I felt that He had let me down, yet, in spite of my feelings, I knew that there was victory and comfort in praising God.  Worship was hard too nevertheless; I still loved God as children still love their parents when things don’t go their way.  Even if there was a lesson to be learned, I continued to love and respect God.  Later, I realized that it wasn’t God I was upset with, as much as it was myself, for having allowed the stress of the situation to get to me.

Well, the transmission in the car received a band aid from the Lord (a spiritual band aid).  It still needed to be fixed, but He put a little salve on the hurt because He knew that we couldn’t afford to fix it.  I thank God that my husband was blessed with the ability to tinker with machinery.  God has given us a self-help attitude, and we utilize that manpower when necessary…

What has been a “Spiritual Band Aids” in your life?

To read the rest of this story – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for June 25, 2013 – July 8, 2013 are:

   Florida

   California

   New York

   Texas

   North Carolina

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new question in my “Guest Book”! 

   

***Please Check the “Reaction” box at the bottom***   

Stranger – Danger; Wise Counsel

Cherish Perrywinkle's life ended at 8 years

There was a tragedy this past weekend which highlights the fact of protection our children (to the best of our ability) without succumbing to ‘fear’.  The incident was the abduction of a little eight year old girl (Cherish Perrywinkle) from inside a local Walmart, by a recently released ‘registered sex offender’ (May 31, 2013).  You can read the details of the story (Here).

For those of us who have children in our care, it is direly important that we safeguard them as much as we can without being smothering and paranoid.  There are a few tips that may help keep more children from being statistics.

1. When children travel to and from school, make sure they walk with another child.  Have them be aware of their surroundings and to “come straight home”.
2. Never talk with ‘strangers’.  A stranger is someone who comes up to the child when a parent or guardian is NOT around.  Children will have to be taught who to trust: i.e. teachers, caregivers, and some authority figures.  If they have to submit to someone in uniform, make sure another person knows about where the child is going.  This can be real ‘ify’.
3. Establish a “password” with your child that only you and they know.  This is in case of an emergency and someone, other that you or your spouse, has to pick them up.  This should not be used often.
4. Sometimes, even some family members should be scrutinized.  Be aware of relatives with whom you’re not familiar.
5. Watch naming your children in pictures, on social networks.  A predator will take your child’s name and try to lure them away to a car, house or other place and then take advantage of them.  If a child hears their name, they may have the false security that the person knows them.  Same thing with having your children wear their names on apparel.  Don’t give a stranger any extra information that they can use.

As parents, we must protect the precious property that God has given to us.  It’s our duty.  Child endangerment has been a concern to this Examiner for a while, but the problem still exists and it's something that ‘we the people’ should continue to address while we continue to “Do Something!”  Don't forget to cover them in prayer daily.  It may take a village to raise a child, but in today's society, you've got to know those who live and walk in your village.

Below are some articles that will refresh your memory of “Little Children Lost”.

• Sexual Predators in Florida
• Protecting children during troubled times
• Children are our responsibility
• Registered sex offender is behind pulpit while children are not allowed inside
• Somer Thompson's killer found
• Somer Thompson killer is finally sentenced, but not to death
• Cell phone pictures could cause an intrusion

To read more from this author – get the books: “Bent But Not Broken” and “Where Did That Come From?” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for June 11, 2013 – June 24, 2013 are:

•   Florida
•   California
•   Ukraine
•   Tennessee
•   Arizona

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new question in my “Guest Book”! 

   

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Little Dog Lost – God does care

Tonya Poller Lost and Found Pets NE Florida

“I'm looking for my Mini-Pin who just got out today, June 09 around 5 PM. Her name is Starr and she is microchipped with our address. She was last seen at 606 Park Ave across from the Orange Park Kennel Club. She is 7 years old and on a special diet of dog food she's been on since she was a puppy. PLEASE PLEASE call any hour if you see her or have any information. I'm a single parent and that's my daughters best friend. (Phone number) if I don't answer please leave a message. She's very sweet just call get by name. Please share with anyone you can!”

On Sunday afternoon, my Daughter lost her dog.  The dog escaped from her collar, so she wasn’t wearing any tags.  My Daughter Tonya and her Dad drove through her neighborhood, but they did not find the dog.  She then put the note above on Face Book.

Let’s backtrack and discover what had happened prior to the incident.  We had a wonderful morning at church service with praise & worship, and an enlightening sermon from our Pastor.  Well, my Daughter has been taught to tithe, even when the funds don’t seem to be there.

We had to leave service a little early, to go to a matinee downtown, and grab some lunch on the way.  As we began to leave the church grounds, my Daughter had me drive up to the church door so that she could drop off her tithes before we left.  She took the money from her savings to honor God with what was due to Him.

Our day went wonderfully and the play was enjoyed by all.  I dropped my Daughter & Granddaughter off at their home, knowing that Tonya had to walk her dog.  The dog escaped from her leash and collar & ran.

Trying to make a long story short; one of my church members suggested that we put the information on “Craigslist”.  Don’t you know that through prayer, good advice, being obedient to God and trusting in God – the dog was found Sunday night, by the Director of the Pet Shelter?

Here is the text message from God’s answer to our prayers:

Subject: Lost MINI-PIN (Orange Park, Fl)

“I found your dog running across 17 last night.  Her chip does not read so I'm happy to find your Craigslist post!  I have her at Safe Animal Shelter at 2913 CR 220 Middleburg.  Please claim her today.  (904) 276-7233”

Barbara Sprague
Executive Director Safe Animal Shelter

God not only cares about us, but He cares about the things that are dear to our hearts.  Nonetheless, we have to believe that He will give us the desires of our hearts when we pray to Him and have a covenant with Him.  #TBR (Trust, Believe, Receive).  The best of all "No Charge"!!!  God is so wonderful.

If you'd like to make an animal food or monetary donation, bring it to:
Safe Animal Shelter
2913 County Road 220
Middleburg, FL. 32068
(904) 276-7233

To read similar stories – get the book: “Where Did That Come From?” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

NEW!  Top 5 Google Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for May 28 – June 10, 2013 are:

• Florida

• Georgia

• Illinois

• California

• New York

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new questions in my “Guest Book”!

   

   

Desire The Best From God

Have you noticed that some people talk about preachers making money off their congregation and are living ‘high off the hog’ while they themselves live from paycheck to paycheck?  Have you noticed that some pastors teach about prosperity and “the good life”?  How dare they tell us how to live an enjoyable life here on this earth?

Well, they are telling us how we can have the best that God desires for His people.  He will make our way prosperous in order for us to be successful.  It’s our inheritance to desire the best things that are available on this earth: good health, promotion, wealth, fame, companionship and much more.  There’s nothing wrong with getting a better car, better job, good friends, nice clothes – and for most of this we need more money.

Can you see a similarity?  God has allowed us to share a part in building His kingdom, and increasing the number of laborers to proclaim the Word of God.  I’ve had a car that took “Band-Aids” to help hold it together until a better ‘used’ car could be obtained.  Sure, it took time and a better job in order to get better things.  There are times that I still find bargains at ‘resale’ shops and I’ve never turned up my nose to second-hand items.  Life is all about being “good stewards” of what God gives to us.

So don’t covet, don’t go overboard by being greedy; but do expect better.  Don’t settle for a mediocre, ‘just-getting-by’ lifestyle.  If you own a “Hooptie”, start saving and begin to profess a better car.  If you want nicer things; start acting now.  Whatever you want – ask God for it and #TBR.

Don't settle for a "Hooptie" unless it's a ride that's been "Pimped"

To read more stories – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for May 21, 2013 – May 27, 2013 are:

• Florida
• Pennsylvania
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut

 Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new cities, states and countries to her site.

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