An encouraging word

I started on the summer Weight Watchers Biggest Loser Challenge and today I went out and
bought a set of 3pd weights and a set of 5pd weights. I've needed more
ideas of what to do for getting into shape other than just my usual
power walking. I don't dislike power walking but the routine can get old
and I needed to stay motivated. I'm looking foward to trying out some
additional exercises.

Today I wanted to encourage my readers with a story from 2 Kings chapter 7

"3 Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die? 4If
we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we
shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go
over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live,
and if they kill us we shall but die." 5So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired
against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us." 7So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their
horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for
their lives. 8And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them."

( a quick note the lepers in the next verse realize that they are being evil for not sharing in the joy of God's victory so they go back and tell the city)

I laughed so hard when I read these verses here these 4 leprous men were outcast from the city and wondering why they are just standing around to die so they decide to go and see if the Syrians would be merciful...God with his funny sense of humor makes the Syrian army to here what sounds to be like that of numerous armies causing the Syrians to flee for their lives. Can you not picture this seen in a movie and the entire audience breaking out laughing at the sight and irony of it all?

This story encouraged me because first, God uses lepers, outcasts, to deliver the great news to Samaria. How often I have thought of myself as a leper, sometimes i think i have been so consumed with my weight, and my looks, to think that God could never use me. Our society looks down on obese people-they judge a person not really knowing what has happened to cause them to turn to food while forgetting that they themselves worship something else as well. How often I have felt stares or been given a snide remark. This story encouraged me because God uses the least of people in society to often bring the greatest news! I just think of the Gospel of Christ. Talk about the least of society bringing the greatest news to the entire world :)

It hurts, at times, being viewed as a 2nd class citizen to many but truthfully if I am living my life to an audience of one I really need not worry about others. God can still use me to do mighty things but most of the time I wonder if those mighty acts are unknown to me. I can take peace in knowing that my God is pleased with me just as I believe he was pleased with the lepers for doing what was right and telling others of his glorious work.