"Surviving Today's Economy" - An Evening of CONVICTION and HOPE!

WOW! - If you missed last evening's Weigh Down LIVE Webcast, "Surviving Today's Economy," you missed an evening of CONVICTION, REALITY...and ultimately, HOPE. You might ask, "What hope is there in a REALLY DOWN economy...not just here in the United States but on a global scale?" What Gwen explained in such a CLEAR, CONCISE, and POWERFUL way was that OUR hope rests in ADHERING to GOD'S commands and staying within His boundaries in our spending and investments and our FOCUS on putting Him FIRST in EVERYTHING. She charged us to "have FAITH" in GOD'S system of laws and principles. His boundaries SURELY DO fall in "pleasant places," as the great King David wrote in the 16th Psalm.

Gwen's Message was backed up by Testimonies of several participants who have saved LOTS of money and been blessed in so many other ways by putting all of this into practice. AGAIN, it was an evening of CONVICTION to go FURTHER in our relationships with GOD...and an evening with PRACTICAL advice as to HOW we can accomplish this. It was, indeed, "MUST-SEE TV"...via your internet connection of course. You can see it again...or for the first time...by clicking HERE. It has been amazing as a STAFF for us to witness the countless ways that GOD has used Gwen and this Ministry to change lives for the better. It truly is about SO much more than weight. It has something for EVERYBODY!

Remember that today on WDWB LIVE, at 3:30pm CST, we'll be talking about feeling GOD'S pain...HIS grief...HIS sense of loss...what HE goes through on a daily basis. And given last night's eye-opening Webcast about the state of today's economy, it is OBVIOUS that GOD has MANY lessons to teach us. May we see it as a humbling HONOR to learn ANYTHING more about His personality...His joy and His pain...His likes and His dislikes...His Truth and Righteousness!

UPDATE - Now airing an ENCORE Presentation on WDWB LIVE

We're finalizing preparations for TONIGHT'S Weigh Down LIVE Webcast!

And SO, we NOW are airing an ENCORE Presentation of WDWB LIVE...from Wednesday, August 26th with TEDD ANGER - "Chain Reaction." Click here to listen now!

We'll pick back up TOMORROW with our topic discussion - "Grieving for GOD."

Grieving...for GOD and HIS pain

GRIEVING - Every one of us has experienced LOSS. You've lost dearly loved family members and/or friends as they've passed away. You've had a favorite pet that's passed away. You've witnessed tragic events in news coverage - horrible crashes, crimes, and substance-related passings. On a life-still-goes-on scale, you may have experienced grief in losing a job or perhaps you've moved away from your closest family and friends. Perhaps you've had the pain from broken relationships stay with you for a long time. All of this, of course, is very REAL. GOD desires SO VERY MUCH for us to cry out to HIM in this...RATHER than run to ANYTHING ELSE for comfort or to feel better. It's what JESUS did in His painful grief...knowing what He was about to suffer before His crucifixion. But let's look at GRIEF from a perspective that we really OUGHT to...NO, we MUST...look at it like from this day forward (if you haven't already considered this...)

GOD...the LORD and FATHER of all things we see and do not see...the CREATOR of every star, plant, animal, blade of grass, leaf on a tree, drop of water and every MAN, WOMAN, and CHILD...US...experiences LOSS and GRIEF on a cataclysmic scale - ALL day, EVERY day. Every single day, billions of people (remember that WE are the ONLY beings in His Creation who are "made in His image") make CONSCIOUS DECISIONS to ignore His commands, complain to Him, deny Him, curse Him, and gripe about their OWN lives...being mad about what they DON'T have or DON'T like...rather than counting the BILLIONS of BLESSINGS that they DO have...the COUNTLESS JOYS that we GET to share in as human beings who have a CHANCE to be guided by HIS HOLY SPIRIT!!! THAT, dear friends, for our GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY, has GOT to be GRIEVING for HIM! How does He keep it up? How does He not give up on the whole thing? We read about the "fruits of the Spirit" (HIS Spirit) - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. My GOODNESS, does He EVER exemplify those in INFINITE measures! We of course will feel a pain and a loss if ONE thing goes wrong in our lives. CONSIDER though for just one moment...even right now as you're reading this...what HIS day, every day, is like.

• People full of greed...for TOO MUCH food, alcohol, money, sexual feelings...and this happens worldwide all day.
• People NOT giving Him credit when things are "going great" and people BLAMING Him when things happen that they don't understand.
• People conveniently asking for his "help" when they get into a "jam" and then totally forgetting about Him on a daily basis...never asking for His HOUR-by-HOUR leading.
• People treating everything else BUT Him as a "god"...from football to jobs to money to food to alcohol to sex to TV to THEMSELVES...when HE is the ONLY TRUE GOD.

The list of HIS justifiable "grievances" could go on and on for pages and pages and pages. YET, here we are...the world is spinning and we have a CHANCE to CHANGE PERSPECTIVES...starting RIGHT NOW as it needs to for any of us. TODAY is the day to CHOOSE to FEEL for HIM. Let's start every day with PRAISE for even LIFE ITSELF...before even ASKING for anything. Let's tell Him every day how SORRY we are that He DOES experience and endure SO MUCH GRIEF and PAIN every day.

Here's a quote from Gwen - "Grieve FOR GOD...Do not ADD to GOD'S grief."

The next time something happens that feels like a "loss" in any of our lives, let's fall to our knees and worship GOD for the patience He has had with all of us. In the middle of His grief, He has given us the eyes and ears to see and hear what His will is...even to this very day. We'll be discussing this concept...GRIEVING for GOD...on WDWB LIVE today at 3:30pm CST. And DON'T FORGET to set your alarm, double-check your computer and internet connection, block off the time, and do EVERYTHING you CAN do be available to watch TONIGHT'S FREE Weigh Down LIVE Webcast at 7:00pm CST. Gwen and several people testifying will share how to have a GODLY perspective on "Surviving Today's Economy." This perspective will provide HELP and ENCOURAGEMENT for EVERYONE! Please join us on the Web Radio this afternoon and on the Webcast this evening. Until then, let's PRAY to feel more of our GREAT and BEAUTIFUL GOD'S grief...and resolve ourselves to RELIEVE some of it with our own lives...never ADD to it.

TEACHABILITY from GOD - A Golden Virtue, A Key to Salvation

DON'T FORGET! - We have Weigh Down LIVE, our free online webcast, scheduled for TOMORROW (Wednesday) evening at 7:00pm CST! The THEME is "Surviving Today's Economy." We'll have tips, testimonies, and encouragement. CLICK HERE for more info!

Now, on with the Blog...

"TEACHABILITY" - From www.dictionary.com - A couple of strong definitions to get the Blog going this morning - "Able and willing to learn"...also..."Capable of being taught, as a subject."

That's a great launching pad for some thoughts for today...and in fact, that PLAQUE you see at the top of today's Blog is a quote from michelangelo, renowned Italian renaissance artist. He was in his 80s (age-wise) when this quote was recorded.

Have you noticed, whether it's in business, sports, TV, movies, music, medicine, etc......how the "hungry pupil" often times starts in very low, humble, wanting to SOAK UP every bit of learning he or she can absorb circumstances...then rises through the ranks into positions of fame, management, recognition, etc...then because of PRIDE and a love of the PRAISE of MAN, CEASES to become "teachable." Here are some examples from a variety of perspectives...LOSING teachability versus REMAINING teachable...

• LOSING TEACHABILITY - In the most recently released "Star Wars" movie - Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith - Anakin Skywalker goes from humble protege, thankful for Obi Wan Kenobi's teaching, wanting to learn from the "Jedi Council"...to becoming GREEDY for more position and power. He even ADMITS to his wife that the way he's beginning to feel is WRONG. "Something's wrong. I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more. But I know I shouldn't..." He LOST his humility and turned to the dark side. The SUBJECT LOST his ability to be TAUGHT in the RIGHT way.
• LOSING TEACHABILITY - You see and hear the sports stories about hungry-to-learn football players, overcoming odds and difficult upbringings...only to get to the NFL (National Football League), get the big contract, become stars, then HOLD OUT while still UNDER contract because they "want more." Greed...pride...wanting more..."I know better..."
• REMAINING TEACHABLE - King David. We bring his name up FREQUENTLY in these Blogs because he truly was a "man after GOD'S own heart." From a quick rise to fame with the slinging of a stone and the slaying of the giant Goliath, the Israelites were singing SONGS about him! He could have gotten the "big head" and followed a path of pride to his own destruction. But NO, the jealous King Saul pursued David out of JEALOUSY and David SPARED Saul out of fear of the LORD and RESPECT for Saul's position as "GOD'S anointed" King. He wouldn't DARE lay a hand on Saul...even though Saul was in the wrong by pursuing David and trying to kill him. READ the PSALMS! They are FILLED with humility and teachability. He NEVER stops crying out to GOD for MORE wisdom and love and mercy and he gives GOD this never-ending, beautiful PRAISE...to his final days on the earth. And King David did this in even INCREASING measure! TEACHABILITY to the CORE!

Gwen has always led this Ministry...from its very beginning foundations to this very day and even MORESO every day...with a humble spirit of hungering and thirsting for MORE teaching from GOD. With the unparalleled success of Weigh Down, she has SURELY sought GOD MORE and MORE...in INCREASING measure. And He continues to bless all of the teachings, testimonies, and music coming from this Ministry. The example set for us as a Staff is to love and need and want and desire GOD MORE with every passing day. We truly do "need Thee every hour" (as the old hymn goes..."I Need Thee Every Hour.")

Those are just some examples and thoughts to think about as we ALL examine our OWN hearts. "Am I MORE teachable...MORE hungry for wisdom and godly counsel...MORE humble and wanting DIRECTION as I'm getting older?" Or is it, "I'm at a pretty good place...feeling good...moved up the ladder in life...I'm set." That's a very DANGEROUS place to be. Amos 6:1 - "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion..." May we NEVER fall into this UNteachable, horrible COMPLACENCY. TEACHABILITY...examples of the BLESSINGS of EMBRACING it versus the CONSEQUENCES of SHUNNING it...that's what we'll be talking about TODAY on WDWB LIVE at 3:30pm CST. We hope you'll join us!

"Labor Day" - Who SHOULD it be honoring?

"LABOR DAY" history - first celebrated here in the U.S. in 1882 - From the U.S. Government's website information page...

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country."

ALSO from the same website page...

"Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

Lastly, from the concluding comments on the same website page...

"The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership -- the American worker."

SO - here we are...the first Monday of September here in the U.S....another "Labor Day" will pass by in the next few hours. Here's a thought for you to ponder...& some perspective on what this day SHOULD be an HONORING of...as you consider the explanation and history listed above. NOWHERE in that explanation is there any MENTION of THE ONE Who is the TRUE and ONLY "CREATOR of so much of the nation's" (and ANY nation for that matter!) "strength, freedom, and leadership"...GOD ALMIGHTY!!! For those who want GOD to be glorified...GOD to be KING in your lives...GOD to be given "tribute"...there is ONE Who is worthy of this HONOR as the ULTIMATE "laborer." GOD created the heavens and the earth. He made mankind in His image. He doesn't sleep or slumber...

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing..." - Genesis 2:2a.

"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" - spoken by Jesus Christ and recorded in John 5:17.

May another "Labor Day" NEVER again go by when we do not stop, fall to our knees, and thank and praise our GOD for His never-ending LABOR. May we ALL do everything...EVERYTHING...with a motivation to make His job MORE pleasant. Seeing His tireless commitment to teach and train us to be led by His Spirit, may WE be DRIVEN, as He is, to see RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH and PURITY and HOLINESS prevail in our OWN lives. He is SO GOOD and SO VERY MUCH DESERVING of ALL RECOGNITION! May His "labor" in our lives NOT be in vain. All thanks and praise and honor and "tribute" to GOD ALMIGHTY on this "Labor Day." NO ONE deserves it in place of HIM!

CHANGE is in the Air! Learning to Love INTERNAL Change MORE than EXTERNAL Change

CHANGE - EVERYONE loves change on SOME level. Think about it.......

• Football season is about to start here in the U.S. This is a football-obsessed country, and so this is a "welcome" time of year for many.
• The early coolness of Fall weather is starting to set in. Who doesn't love the changing leaf colors and the weather being as comfortable as any time of the year...that transition from Summer to Fall.
• Kids are back in school...back to homework and teachers and reports and recess.
• We just elected a new President in the U.S., and regardless of your agreement or disagreement with his policies, much of the population has anticipated and/or expected "change" on some political level.
• Many like to switch cars on a regular basis. Others move every few years for a "change of home and/or scenery." Statistics on how often people switch JOBS show that we're doing it with more regularity than ever before.
• People shop for new clothes regularly, easily becoming tired of the same wardrobe and wanting something new and different.

You get the point. We tend to LIKE change...EXTERNAL change that is.

What about the kind of change that REALLY matters though? INTERNAL change...the change in our HEARTS' DEVOTION? What about the absolutely eternally NECESSARY changes that HAVE to take place to give us a shot at HEAVEN? We are CHARGED to be more like JESUS CHRIST every day. The Apostle Paul said, in Philippians 3:7-14,

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Look at the HUMILITY and the deep DESIRE Paul had to KEEP CHANGING...from the INSIDE out! It's an okay thing to enjoy VARIETY in our external surroundings, but the CHANGE that lasts ETERNALLY is the CONSTANT PURSUIT to be more and more CHRISTLIKE every day. AGAIN, think about it...we want and even EXPECT changes in our surroundings, but WHO made US? GOD ALMIGHTY! Doesn't HE deserve for HIS surroundings...His people made in His image...to be INCREASINGLY PURE and ever CHANGING to be more and more like His beloved Son Jesus? Doesn't HE deserve for HIS days to look BETTER each day? Which side do you fall on? As GOD looks down on your life, is He increasingly MORE JOYFUL...or increasingly MORE SADDENED, HURT, and DISAPPOINTED? We CAN make this switch if you're on the wrong side of that answer! As we've Blogged about and discussed on our WDWB LIVE segments earlier this week, it starts with a CHOICE. Then we continue to be Spirit-led in making right DECISIONS...one day at a time!

We're talking about CHANGE...today on WDWB LIVE at 3:30pm CST. We sure hope you'll join us. ALSO, remember that our first-ever WDWB ONLINE CHAT is set for 7:30pm CST this evening! You can CLICK HERE, then simply LOG IN with your Weigh Down username and password, and you'll be in the Chat Room. We're going to have fun with this...discussing our favorite Weigh Down Audios, Videos, Music, Messages, etc. You'll get to "WEIGH IN" with your opinions! Enjoy a great day of CHANGE...starting on the INSIDE. It's a BLESSED life!

MORE HISTORY...and the DECISIONS that Affected its Course

REMINDER about today's 3:30pm CST WDWB LIVE segment...

We're talking HISTORY...and how even split-second DECISIONS...CHOICES...can impact not only our OWN lives but also the generations after us.

Remember that if you MISS a LIVE segment, you can visit our PODCASTS site and listen to past segments any time you'd like! CLICK HERE.