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Assuming Makes an A**... ::: No donkeys allowed :::

"The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?...The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day.  If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account."  ~ Joshua 22: 16, 22-23


It is very easy to look at the actions of others and assume that they are doing something with evil intent or wrongful hearts, but this is not always the case.  In the book of Joshua, several clans of Israel were accused of turning away from God because they had built an altar in a different land than where the altar of the Lord was instructed to be built.  Because they did this, the other clans assumed that they were offering sacrifices to other gods and rebelling from the true God.  When they confronted the tribes about their rebellion they were met with a shocking response; "God knows!"  They knew that God was aware of the purity of their hearts.  They knew that God understood that the altar they built was only a tribute to God and not an altar on which they would be sacrificing to idols, or anything else.  The assumptions of the others tribes on the hearts of their kinsmen made them look like fools.  Only God can know the true hearts of people, whether their actions reflect evil or good.


I recently heard of a disturbing situation where a fellow Beachbody coach was accused of flaunting his success and rubbing it in the faces of others, merely because he makes posts on Facebook about it!  This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, especially since I have never, ever seen anything to make me believe that there is some prideful exhibit occurring.  Quite the contrary, the couple who has had great success has accomplished that success through diligence, perseverance, and triumphing through many difficult times!  How sad and disappointing for such heartfelt people of character to be attacked for showing others what truly can be brought to fruition through hard work and consistence.  


When we see the successes of others, we should be careful not to come to conclusions too quickly.  There is far too much we do not know about the lives of others, and there is certainly  plenty we can not possibly know about the heart and intentions behind the actions.  We must be certain to act as adults and not children.  


In my morning bible study I have begun the book of Ruth.  In today's reading I watched as Ruth came along Naomi to support and assist her.  I also saw as she offered to glean food for both of them from the fields in the area: 


"Let me go to the fields and pick up the left over grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor," (Ruth 2:2).  


The footnote for the scripture was surprisingly applicable to this topic that was on my heart.  It reads, "Instead of depending on Naomi or waiting for good fortune to happen, she took the initiative.  She went to work.  She was not afraid of admitting her need or working heard to supply it.  When Ruth went out to the fields, God provided for her.  If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this: He may be waiting for you to take the first step to demonstrate just how important your need is."  How easy it would have been for Naomi and Ruth to sit on their haunches and be victims to their situation.  They could have looked all around them and seen loads of farmers working to harvest the fields and been jealous of all the success and blessing "everyone else" was experiencing, while they suffered with difficult times.  But, Ruth took the initiative.  She saw what needed to be done and she got up and did it, no questions asked.  And because of her diligence and consistent hard work she was greatly rewarded by the farm owner, Boaz.  Because of Ruth's determination to find solutions to their problems, she experienced blessing.


Instead of looking to the successes of others as a reason to be jealous and callous, we should celebrate!  When we respond with petty arguments, accusations, assumptions, and jealousy, we act as children involved in a fight over a mutually loved toy; "I want that, so you can't have it."  We must be adults and act with maturity, showing happiness and joy for the successes of others.  The next and best step in this progression is to act wisely, not only showing joy for another's success but then saying, "what can I do to achieve the same successes for myself?"  Wisdom turns lessons into application and action.  


Are there areas in your life where you could be a bit more wise and take the initiative to achieve the results you seek?  God does not usually provide miracles in places where we already have everything we need to get the job done because He has already provided it.  We must not be lazy or prone to flights of fancy, but hard-working, diligent, and committed to success, no matter what the task at hand.  Maybe you want to lose weight.  Maybe you want to make more money, or get out of debt, or have a better marriage or relationship with your kids, etc.  All of these things can be accomplished, but we must be certain to do our part in achieving the goal.


I have a scripture on the wall in front of my desk which reads, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed," (Proverbs 16:3).  I had heard the scripture many times before, but what caught my eye to put it on the wall was the footnote:


"We must maintain a delicate balance; trusting God as if everything depended on him, while working as if everything depended on us."


We cannot forget our part in achieving our goals.  We cannot expect God to do everything while we sit and do nothing.  When we work in partnership with God, beautiful things happen and we experience His wonderful provision and blessing in our lives.  There is just nothing better than walking with Him and getting to know Him better.  Ask God what areas in your life need action, and then follow through with getting to work!  You may be surprised at what you can achieve!

Changing Lives, One at a Time

When difficulties come up in life, sometimes it is an opportunity to look at your life and see what can be changed to make you a better stewardship in life. We have chosen Beachbody to help us accomplish this goal, and so have many, many others. Blessings abound with Beachbody!

Pt. 2: Loving Your Neighbor

Yesterday I discussed the application of Mark 12:30, which states the Great Commandment.  The second portion to the Great Commandment is also paramount in healthy living; "Love your neighbor as yourself," (Mark 12:31).  We cannot adequately say we are living healthy if we ignore the second portion of the Greatest Commandments.

To show we love ourselves, we treat our bodies with respect and honor by supplying adequate and appropriate nutrition, as well as doing regular activity in order to keep the body in good condition and functioning well.  We feed our minds with Godly input, listening to uplifting and inspirational audio (music or speech) and reading sound and wholesome books.  We consistently meet with God in daily bible study and prayer to fill our hearts with His Word and truth.  We identify areas in our lives that are weak and need focus to grow in discipline and self-control.  We identify the healthy places in our life, to continue to keep them strong and to repeatedly see ourselves as the precious and special people that God created us to be.

If these are things that we do in order to love ourselves, it seems selfish to me to withhold this same type of love from our brothers and sisters.  When we see a friend or family member engaging in a destructive behavior, it is not loving to say nothing.  It enables that person to continue to lead a life that is hurtful, to themselves and/or others.  By speaking the truth in love, we act as Jesus did to call out the areas of inappropriate behavior (or sin) and invite that person to begin living a better and more healthy life without those behaviors.  We show them what true love looks like when we tell them that something they are doing is hurtful and needs to stop.  We reflect the love of God in a very distinct and direct way.  When the woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned by judgmental men, Jesus stepped in on her behalf.  He stopped the men from killing her, but he did not just let her "off the hook."  Once the men left, he helped her to her feet, told her her sins were forgiven, and then said, "Go now and leave your life of sin," (John 8: 11).  He did not tell her she was free to go and just continue on with such behavior!  Neither did he judge her for her sin.  But, he did call a spade a spade.  

This is the example set time and time again by God in the Bible.  He called people to righteous living so that they could experience a free life.  Bondage to unhealthy habits is destructive!  It's also idolatry!  And, far too many people in this world are suffering from its chains.  Obesity is not hitting epidemic proportions!  You think bird flu is bad?  Check this out.  More than 60% of adults in America are obese or overweight, and now nearly 1 out of 3 children are suffering with obesity!  Obesity is linked with cancer, early death, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, etc.  All of these deadly diseases are preventable when it comes to obesity.  To think that it is harmless for our friends to continue to eat whatever they crave, drink whatever they want, and sit on the couch all day makes us just as guilty in enabling the behavior as the person actually doing it.  It is not God's Will for His creations to suffer from immobility, self-esteem issues, self-image problems, joint pains, constant sickness, lack of sleep, and other related daily problems that just make life unbearable.  On the flip side, He also does not want his creations to be so burdened by their body that they are willing to beat it to death, eating next to nothing and wasting away to a skeletal structure.  Both sides of the coin are damning and incredibly dangerous.

We are to honor God with our bodies, and the only way to do that is by forming our self-image through His eye's lens.  God sees us as precious.  God sees us as awesome.  God sees us as more valuable than rubies.  God sees us as strong and capable.  God sees us as beautiful.  God sees us as His children.  The question is, do we see ourselves like that?  We are to be so completely dependent on Him that these characteristics become our truth!  And, when that becomes our truth, we can help other people make it their truth.  This is true love.  This is the best way to be a Christ follower.  When we withhold such truth from those we "love" we are being selfish, because we are focused on our own discomfort or potential embarrassment, rather than how we can bless someone else.  Ask God today how you can better live in love.

Pt. 1: Showing Love to God

A common struggle I have noticed, and experienced, is thinking that in order to experience gains in strength, we must do hours and hours of an activity every single day.  But this type of thought process is likely to discourage even beginning an activity, and also is likely to cause burnout!  

With workouts, for some reason so many people think that they need to spend hours in the gym, sweating their brains out, every single day without fail, in order to lose weight or tone up.  It is a ridiculous thought process and yet, MANY people believe it.  The truth is that initially only about 30-45 minutes of activity 4-5 days a week is going to provide MASSIVE gains to the cardiovascular system and overall health!  And, you can even break it up into smaller increments if needed!  The goal of the workouts is to have a heart rate of about 60-80% of your max heart rate (220 - age) and keep it there for the workout.  Once this becomes easy for you, you can take it up a notch and extend the workout length to about an hour a day, 6 days a week, with one rest day.  A couple times a week you can do a bit higher intensity activity that brings the heart rate closer to 85-90%, which is called anaerobic activity.  The overall goal, though, is not just the focused exercise time each day, but also incorporating physical activities into your daily living, like taking the stairs vice the elevator, mowing the lawn, playing with the kids, washing the car, going for a bike ride, etc.  All of these things continue to add onto the benefits of the daily workouts, and make health and fitness a lifestyle choice.

These types of activities can also be applied to bible study.  You know, that's the thing I love about truth!  It's ALWAYS applicable!  I have heard so many people make comments about not having "enough time to sit down and do an hour of bible study a day."  Well, I have good news; an hour is not necessary in order to benefit greatly from daily bible study!  Even 10 minutes each day helps you connect with God.  Don't underestimate the blessings He pours out to those who earnestly seek Him.  He will help you to grow when you give Him what you've got!  Be sure, also, to not undermine the value of such focused time.  The long-term benefits of even 10 minutes a day spent with God will bless you for a lifetime!  In addition, it is natural to gradually flow into a longer regular bible study, but this need not be forced.  As you grow in your faith, it will happen as needed, sometimes being longer and others shorter.  God is just looking for your heart to get to know more about Him so that you can follow Him better each day.  He WILL bless any activity that seeks to accomplish this goal.

Fitness (or wellness) can be accomplished in all areas of life.  It is not just about external appearance!  Jesus said, "The most important [command] is this: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,'" (Mark 12: 30).  When we take care of our bodies with regular physical activity and exercise, feeding it foods that are beneficial and not destructive, and provide our minds ample opportunity to increase in the knowledge of God, we fulfill this command and experience God's blessings.  Take time today to focus on responding in obedience to this Great Commandment.

Follow up tomorrow to learn more about the second portion of the Great Commandment; "Love your neighbor as yourself...."

P90X intimidates most people, but this 60 year old man completed this awesome program and got amazing results!  He absolutely had it right, "Do your best and forget the rest!"

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Success Should Never be Undermined!

ALWAYS celebrate the small victories! That's what leads to the huge wins!

How to Get Fit

 I had an epiphany this morning as I sat contemplating some of the common misnomers about getting physically fit and how often they parallel common misunderstandings about how to become spiritually "fit."  It is very common for people to think that in order to get in shape they must spend hours in the gym or working out, literally kill their bodies, sweat their brains out, and be breathing so hard they can barely think.  The truth, though, is that there is a time for this kind of activity, but it is not until you are already at an good level of fitness.  For most individuals who are looking to get to a healthy fitness level, there is a general process that moves gradually to accommodate the physiological changes in the body and it's abilities.  The process does not need to be pushed or rushed, but done in response to the body's growing capabilities.  For those who are coming from a sedentary lifestyle, it is great to begin with 20-30 minutes 5-6 times a week, and working at a level of 40-60% of their maximum heart rate.  This is not an incredibly "intense" level, but it is exactly what the body and heart need to get things moving in the right direction.  Once this level is done with ease, it is time to step it up a notch.  Moving to about 45 or so minutes a day, 6 days a week, with a goal of 60-80% maximum heart rate will accomplish this goal.  At this pace, talking is more difficult, sweat is coming regularly, and the heart gets a great workout.  Mixed in with this activity should be a few days of weight training to ensure the muscles also get a proper workout.  Anywhere past this heart rate action is considered anaerobic activity, which is great in small doses, but if continued for longer periods of time it does not offer the same gains as sticking with a range of 60-80%.  The typical reason for such activity is to experience specific physical gains and changes, such as to complete a marathon.  The average person does not need to work to this level to get great results.  Thankfully, Beachbody knows all about this and has designed programs to accommodate for these changes and to facilitate an easy transition as your body gets stronger and more capable of higher intensity.  They provide basic, intermediate, and advanced programs, but you need to be realistic with your current level of fitness.  If you get a program or follow a workout regime that is too intense too fast, it is easy to burn out from exhaustion, mental intensity, and physical injury.  Getting the right program for your level of fitness is critical!


In a similar way, I understand that many people tend to think that they need to do bible study for hours a day in order to grow.  This is not the truth, either.  The truth is that starting small and regular is more important!  Spending 10-15 minutes in study 6-7 days a week will provide immense gains in spiritual understanding.  Gradually, as this understanding naturally progresses, it is typical to spend more time studying, but this happens naturally and gradually.  Again, it should not be "pushed."  Your spiritual muscles will let you know when it is best to "advance to the next level."  The most important thing, though, is to be in study almost every day.  Getting study, or a workout, for 3-4 hours one day a week will not benefit you nearly as much as 6-7 days of a shorter dose!

Meet Beachbody's CEO, Carl Daikeler

Beachbody produces the top-selling fitness programs available. They have more heart and bravado to fight for the health of people than any entity I have ever seen! This is why I have partnered with them to help fight this Fitness Revolution. Enjoy this video to learn a little more.

The Origin of Unmet Needs - In Touch Ministries - Dr. Charles Stanley 2010

I am such a huge fan of getting a regular intake of Godly messages. One way I do this is through email devotions. They are short, to the point, and cover topics of great significance. I listen to WAVA on 105.1 in the DC metro area, and I got a tip from them for this devotional ministry from In Touch. Dr. Charles Stanley, you ROCK! I always get something out of these devotionals, and today's was no exception. I hope you too will benefit from this very important message about God's love, and how we look for love and validation in all the wrong places. I have struggled with this for a long time, but by the grace of God, He is seeing me through so that I become the person He designed me to be, rather than one pent up by fear. My you too begin to be free from the crushing blow that inevitably comes from seeking your value from man! God bless.

The Origin of Unmet Needs - In Touch Ministries - Dr. Charles Stanley 2010

No More Doubting Thomas

"Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?...The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.'" ~ Judges 6: 14, 16

"Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me. Let me make one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.' That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew." ~ Judges 6: 39-40

Footnote: "...Demanding extra signs was an indication of unbelief. Fear often makes us wait for more confirmation when we should be taking action. Visible signs are unnecessary if they only confirm what we already know to be true. Today the greatest means of God's guidance is his Word, the Bible. Unlike Gideon, we have God's complete, revealed Word. If you want to have more of God's guidance, don't ask for signs; study the Bible."

Wow, do I struggle with this same thing as Gideon, and later Thomas. I know what I am "supposed" to be doing, but it is so easy to get caught up in my fear and then keep asking God to "make it clear to me." I do this with so many different things, but definitely most often with things that might be perceived "negatively" by others. But, we are not supposed to be fearful of man's judgement, but of God's, so ultimately, when He tells me to do something and I don't because I am scared of what someone else might think, I am putting their value and importance higher than God's...ugh! Today is a new day though. Today we get another chance to begin doing what God is asking, whether or not we are fearful. Fear does not have to stop us...and I venture to say that the more we walk, even in fear, the less fear we continue to have because we experience God's provision and company. He is so great! I just love His promise to Gideon; "Go in the strength you have...I will be with you." What more do we need?!

The clear connection I see with this is the fact that we all know we are supposed to eat healthier foods and exercise regularly in order to keep our bodies healthy, but do we do that? Sadly, as a nation, we are becoming more and more overweight, obese, and morbidly obese...we are literally eating ourselves to death! This type of behavior does not honor God, nor does it honor His creation; our bodies. God has made His promise; He will be with us, so now we need to walk in obedience (no pun intended) and begin the process of living healthy, physically active lives. Doing so will show honor to God and the life He has given each and every one of us, as well as benefit us in amazing ways. God rewards the faithful and blesses obedience. This is definitely an area where the rewards are great and the blessings are known! Start today with changing your life, developing healthy habits, and becoming the you God designed you to be.

Of Great Worth

I have recently been thinking a lot about our culture and how much of a preoccupation we have with external appearance and fitting into a very specific set of expectations without much room for deviation. Seeing the far reaching downward spiral of this pushed mentality is eye-opening and disturbing because it reaches into our inmost being and attacks the very core of who God has called us to be. With images of naked beauties covering the pages of nearly every magazine on the shelves lining the checkout counter, or pictures condemning the hint of cellulite, wrinkles, or gray hair, it is nearly impossible to escape this endless barrage of lies that are constantly thrown our way.

One of the side effects for this type of unending imagery is our inability to know what true beauty looks like. We are always seeing the “fantasy” or the “lie” presented as truth, but instead of recognizing these things for what they are, we turn around and question the reality; “Should my body look this way?” “Should my hair be turning this color?” “Should my face be changing like this?” The distortion of our beliefs has led to unhealthy remedies to counter the lies, while nursing the pains caused so deep within. We turn to things of this world for healing, whether it is food, pornography, sexual encounters, fantasy, rigid control, etc, and all end with us continuing to walk the downward spiral of disintegration until we are left in a heap on the floor, feeling hopeless and damned. C.S. Lewis wrote it masterfully in “The Screwtape Letters” when he wrote:

“Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy’s (God’s) ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula. It is more certain; and it’s better style. To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return- that is what really gladdens our Father’s (Satan’s) heart.” [Lewis, C.S., “The Screwtape Letters,” IX]

We are having our joy stolen from us because of a twisted and evil enemy that wishes for us to remain pitted in the depths of our despair. He does not want us to experience freedom. He does not want us to experience the feeling of being loved and valued. Satan wants us to believe the lies that he has warped into the mind of the media. And he wants us to stay there and never get up.

But, our God is a redeeming God. He will not leave us in the valleys, but always continues to push us forward to the relief of the mountaintops to see the beautiful view. He counters the lies of the enemy with Truth and the truth shall set you free! Our God shouts our value to Him from the Heavens, spreading His message throughout His Word; “All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you,” (Song of Solomon 4:7). He pours Himself into our hearts and into our lives that we “…being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (emph. mine),” (Ephesians 3:18-19). Only when we really cleave to this Truth, lining up all thoughts and actions to this core belief, will we be in a position to experience Godly victory over the Enemy’s ploys. We are to be “rooted and established in love,” not questioning and doubtful of God’s eternal love for us and extreme value for each of us. We are to “be filled” with this love and, therefore, experience “all the fullness of God!” When we are full of God, we cease the endless search for being defined by anything else. Our world wants to put a label on each of us, as fat, thin, pretty, ugly, smart, stupid, etc, all based on the values that have been set by an evil being of the underworld. In all truth, these do not hold up to the scrutiny of God, as He searches the heart to determine where we are with Him. Our true beauty comes from within, as the “unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight,” (1 Peter 3:4). The buck stops with God, and it is only in Him that we can get an accurate understanding of who we are, for what we were created, and what we are called to do. If the foundation of our being, our self-identity, is not founded and centered upon His Word, we are like the “foolish man who built his house on sand,” (Matthew 7:26). You are beautiful. You are wonderfully made. You are lovely and valuable. You are of great worth! You are deserving of love. You are a child of God, co-heir with Christ, and, therefore, considered royalty.

So, what does this mean for our lives? Well, if we are worth more than rubies, and loved beyond measure, than our treatment of ourselves, whether in thought or deed, must reflect that high position of value! We are not our own; we were bought at a price (1 Cor. 6: 19-20). We must treat our bodies as we would treat something on loan from a King, for that is exactly what we are. Would we feed royalty mediocre food, ill-prepared and malnutritious? Would we expect royalty to be sluggish and dilapidated in form, or strong and capable? Or would we feed someone of high esteem the very best, prepared with attention and knowledge of nutritious benefit, and praise the sight of them keeping healthy with physical activity to meet their demands? Not everyone needs to have a six-pack, but we should all seek to maintain healthy lifestyles, eating healthy foods, and getting daily activity into our days. We should not all look the same, but we should all feel lively, energetic, and full of vitality. God created food for energy, to fuel our bodies and make us capable to live to the fullest each day. He provided activities to strengthen our bodies, work out our minds, and challenge us to push ourselves to the next level, whether that be in lifting weights, gardening, skiing, dancing, etc. We are of great worth, and our lives should reflect this internal value system, created and placed there by God Himself; not one of pride or conceit, but humility, honor, and love of our Father. May your thoughts and actions be held to the standard of our Lord, carrying you through each day, and bringing you to fulfillment in Him.

Physical Health and Spiritual Health

I have recently had my eyes opened to the relationship between physical health and spiritual health. The fact is, our responses to both can be ridiculously alike. Some of us learn something new about an area in our lives that needs attention and immediately get to work in chipping away the rocky areas to reveal the smooth stone underneath. Others of us may hear what we need to do, but not want to face the effort that we know will go into changing our condition, and therefore ourselves. Then there are those of us who hear what we need to do and completely deny the fact that we need to do it. We blatantly say, “Well, that may work for others, but it is not going to work for me so I am going to keep doing what I am doing.”

God’s hope, obviously is that we all respond to His revelations with wholehearted obedience, because of our relationship with Him; one which is built upon knowing that we know that we know that God loves us and wants only the best for us, even if He is leading us down a path that will clearly bring some pain or discomfort. He is able to see the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” for us, even if we cannot see anything clearly yet. He knows that even though we will need to endure and persevere through a trying time, the life that will emerge from the difficult time will be a beautiful diamond, full of fulfillment and true happiness, where He has allowed us to partner with Him in writing us into His story and revealing His glory. Those of us who are able to keep our eyes on God and His vision for our lives will be able to withstand trials of this world, because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).” Only in our trust of God can we truly begin to follow Him without hesitation. The critical element in being able to trust God, though, is first understanding the character of God. If we have trust issues with God, it is because we do not yet know His character and that He alone is trustworthy. Our God is such an awesome and wonderful God, and when we really embrace how much He loves us, how desperately He wants us to be whole in this world of brokenness, we will be able to willingly follow and obey His leading, even in times of uncertainty and fear.

When God calls us to behave a certain way, He is doing so because He knows that it will result in us experiencing true freedom in this world and therefore true happiness, found in joy. God does not tell us to obey so that we can be respected, or brought into positions of authority or influence, or so that we can become wealthy. His goals are deeper than that for us. He is not focused on the external, but the internal condition. It is for this reason that the Pharisees were rejected by Christ; their actions may have been obedient to the law, but their hearts were selfish and greedy with a wrong motivation. They sought prestige and power, not closeness and relationship with God. He understands that when we seek to know Him more intimately through our daily bible study and quiet time with Him throughout the day, in prayer, we will begin to be transformed from the inside out, naturally flowing with compassion for others, respect for our spouses, patience with our children, and many other displays of spiritual fruit. We will no longer have to “try” to live in the spirit, because the spirit will just flow freely through us in our actions. James 2: 18 says, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James understood that his faith and relationship with God naturally flowed and showed in his behavior and his actions. He lived a lifestyle that resulted in Godly behavior.
So, what does this have to do with fitness? Plenty! If our motivation to lose weight is so that we can be more lovable, sexier, thinner, etc. than we are aiming for a goal that is too focused on the surface. Gaining abs for abs sake should not be the goal, but living a lifestyle of predictable discipline (both in exercise and nutrition), which will naturally result in a healthy looking body, should be the intention. When we view our exercise as a means of conditioning our bodies so that they can be stronger and more capable to handle daily tasks, we are thinking of things in truth. When we eat foods because they fuel our bodies with the necessary energy to live each day, knowing that we will in turn have more energy and feel better overall (both mentally and physically), we are living with a truth-focused mindset.

God’s love and offer for TRUE happiness and fulfillment can only be found through walking with Him each day and applying His Word. Our walk with Him prepares us for difficult situations and keeps us “at the ready” for tests and temptations that may arise. Similarly, our food and exercise choices offer us the chance to live a life where we are comfortable in our skin, are able to move about freely, and can face the years with confidence and focus, no matter what circumstances lay ahead. As a result of healthy nutrition and regular exercise, we have more vitality, energy, and feel good about ourselves. Our bodies begin to show on the outside what is happening inside. Our God-given physique begins to emerge, that which God knit together when we were in our mother’s womb, and that body may or may not look like the bodies on the cover of “Shape” magazine. I pray that we all seek to develop a lifestyle of discipline and predictable patterns of health, understanding that our bodies will reflect our choices, but not be the motivation for those choices. Let us each take care of the body that God has given us; we only have one.

"Train a child up in the way he should go...."

With the media coverage of the Swine Flu illness that has been seen in addition to the normal seasonal flu, and found to be present in the deaths of several children in this country and around the world, I found it necessary to further educate myself on the condition of the people who were found to be most susceptible to the sickness; to the point of death.

After searching around for statistics on the internet to see what was available, I was able to find a medical research paper on the flu, its victims, and their conditions prior to becoming sick with the swine flu. Majority of the children had been suffering with very serious conditions that clearly weakened their immune system and obviously effected their ability to fight the bug. I was surprised to see that one of the conditions listed on the sheet as pre-existing, and an obvious factor in the body's ability to effectively fight off the illness, was obesity. OBESITY! A completely preventable "disease"! And this got me thinking, "God, we must do a better job at raising our children in the way they should go; taking care of their bodies, and treating them with the same love and respect that You show us in your design and creation!" But, I praise our Lord who has given us a path to follow to help rear our children and protect them with the knowledge of healthy living that they may be girded with the best chance for physical success. Thank you Lord that there are some areas we can "control" with the wisdom and knowledge that You have provided for us to use in our lives.

Although this topic is pressing at this time, because of it being the season for sickness, the information is valuable all throughout the year. First of all, we as parents, are the teachers our children will learn from the most, whether or not they are in school out of the house. We have been sanctioned, by God, to teach them "the way they should go", (Proverbs 22:6); not teachers, not principles, not bus drivers, pastors, youth leaders, etc. Us! Deuteronomy 6:7 says, "Impress [God's commands] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." So, to me, this looks like let your lifestyle be a teaching tool. This is not a subtle request; it is a mandate, one about which I am sure God is very serious. So, when we are regularly taking our children to McDonald's for fried foods, Burger King for a milk shake, or indulging them with their pleas for "more" candy, dessert, etc. or allowing excess tv watching and not enough active play time, whether indoors or out, we are preparing them for an adulthood of the same habits. I know there is not a parent alive that wants to prepare their child for weight struggles, but this kind of habitual and regularly malnourished food and lack of health activity will lead to just such an adult existence. I'm not talking about the "once-in-a-whilers" either, because even complete refraining from things such as fast food or a fun movie-going experience can have backwards effects on the mind of a child, especially if the "why" of refraining is not explained as the intellect of a child increases. Complete denial of these things is not the answer either.

The goal is to find the healthy balance. "Do not swerve to the left or to the right; keep your foot from evil," Proverbs 4:27. We must learn to develop nutritious meals that we enjoy as a family, so that we can teach our children the benefits and the enjoyment that can be gained in eating the wonderfully delicious foods God Himself created! We can also enjoy the occasional treat to the candy store, or ice cream shop, knowing that it is a treat, and not something that should be put into our bodies on a routine basis. What is the point of a decadent chocolate cheesecake if you cannot enjoy it since you eat it all the time? It is awesome to teach our children how to enjoy the things that we can enjoy once in a while; what a valuable lesson that is in life.

In addition to nutrition, we can all, both adults and children alike, benefit from adding activity into our lives. I must admit, I definitely understand the difficulty of this as a family in today's indoor and high-tech lifestyles, but a return to traditional enjoyment can still benefit us today. Family bike rides, walks, trips to the playground, games of tag, and other fun activities are a lively way to increase the pulse and get loads of laughs. We do not just need to teach our children that activity means doing 1000 sit-ups or climbing a Stairmaster for an hour. I do not know many children that would jump for joy at the thought of sharing in such an activity (nor do I know many adults who would....) Other great ways to increase activity, and build up the family togetherness, is through a common labor project outdoors, such as gardening, painting, building something, etc. I envy the farmers of the field, who so easily have a valuable teaching tool at their disposal each and every day.

But, it is not too late to increase the knowledge and wisdom of our children, so that they too can grow to be health conscious and life loving adults when their childhood is behind them. I most definitely believe that we all as mothers will look on with much joy knowing that the lifestyles that we worked so hard to develop within ourselves did not ring back empty, but nurtured fertile soil which sprouted into trees bearing fruit. What a great day when it will be said, "May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!" Proverbs 23:25. Now, that is a reason to eat-in.

Ready to Fly!

It has come to my attention that some people think that pursuing fitness is a vain or ungodly endeavor; that anyone who desires to be fit must be doing so for the reasons of vanity and wanting to get attention. Some people think that muscles are built for the reasons of pride and that beauty should be muted as much as possible.

As I reflect on the thoughts of some, it comes to mind that God created our bodies and has asked us to partner with Him in caring for them. In yesteryear this was easy to do, since nearly all work was manual labor, and the foods eaten were grown right in your yard, but today that has all changed. Is this a bad thing? No, but it certainly changes the way it looks to take care of God's beautiful creation; man. Today we must be more mindful about getting in activity, because most of us are in cars or at desks day in and day out to make a living. We must be evermore aware of what we put into our mouths, because most of us are time-crunched and need foods that are available quickly. Is this awareness evil? Of course not...it is wise! Should it be all-consuming? Absolutely not, but it should be a factor in the minds of every God-fearing individual each day.

In order to maintain a healthy and fit body, we must be living healthy and fit lifestyles, which means eating healthy foods and getting regular activity. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). What does your body say to God?

Of course, there are definitely other sides of this factor, like our mindset with everything. Is there a possibility that when getting fit and healthy that temptations for pride, lust, vanity, etc can come? Yes, absolutely, but just because there is a temptation does not mean there will be a fall, and just because there may be a temptation does NOT mean that one should not follow that path at all. Living healthy, getting fit, having muscles, etc is not evil in and of itself. It is not against God, in and of itself. The bible even uses athletes as some of the best examples for us to look at to see how we should discipline our lives! "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified," (1 Corinthians 9:27). Is getting fit the be all and end all of existence? No, absolutely not! "All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize," (1 Corinthians 9:25).

But, what can be gained through getting fit and healthy? Well, there is certainly the aspect of discipline that is learned. If you learn how to discipline yourself you can apply that in every area of your life! What lost cause is that?! You can also learn plenty of information about self-control, contentment, patience, perseverance, and more. All of these are beautiful qualities of the character of God, and they are available to the person who desires them! Can a person go into physical training with purely superficial intent? Of course, but can God use it to teach them even deeper lessons for His great pleasure and use? MOST DEFINITELY!

But, someone may be thinking that it is safer to stay unchanged in the safe little life that has been created around you. "After all, I know this life, and I am prepared for this life, so I can handle any temptations and tests that fall within this structure." But, where is the faith in that? Where is the challenge to grow and press forward, and strive, and mature, and prosper?! The life that remains unchanged becomes a cage to restrict us from becoming more and more influential for Christ! Staying put is a fear-based decision of not wanting to rock the boat. Jesus wants us to walk on water! Stop looking at the enormous waves crashing around you (i.e. the potential for failure, or pain, or hurting others, etc) and keep your eyes of Him who makes you able to walk!

I have been held back by my own mind, stagnant in my life and comfortable where I was, but I realized that it was exactly where Satan wanted me, because I my sphere of influence was severely limited! Do I still struggle with this? Yes, absolutely, but I am willing to walk with God to get me through this tunnel, because I want to be used by Him! By dealing with my weight issues, I have received such immense freedom! By trusting God's leading to take control of my health, I have gained so much energy!!! I am now so much more usable for Him, because I have vitality in my day! I have life to offer Him! Do I believe God will finish what He begins? Absolutely! "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..." (Philippians 1:6). But, do I also believe that it is up to me to take care of my body so that I am able to do the things God asks me to complete? Most definitely!

If we want to have healthy bodies, should they just magically change? Or should we use the minds that God put in us to tend to our lives, take a hold of the self-control that is in us through the Holy Spirit, and discipline our bodies to act according to our knowledge? Should we manage our days effectively to allow for adequate time to have physical activity, and ensure that it is part of the normal daily routine? Absolutely! That sounds a whole lot more like what God teaches throughout His Book. We have the ability to take a hold of our lives, working within His creation, to "reap what we sow"; sowing healthy foods into our bodies and regular activity into our days and reaping increased energy, healthier bodies/minds, and a longer presence on this planet. These are the things we can control. God has given us all the tools necessary to take care of ourselves, but we must use them! And, as always, there are certainly plenty of people along the same path who want a partner to walk with them. We should be encouraging such endeavors as this, knowing the difference between healthy intentions and idolizing a particular physique result. If we know our brothers and sisters are healthy in their intent, lets show support and offer a helping hand! We can all serve each other in this way, too!

Be the Hero!

I have come to recognize in recent days that we are often given two choices in our lives for how we can proceed with the paths we take. We can either make a choice and follow through, or we can make excuses for why we have not done something that we say we want to do. Those who follow the first example are normally seen as those with a strong-will, and those who follow the second "do not." But, the reality of these two paths is that one takes a mindful approach to decisions and then makes everything in life reflect that choice, while the other approach becomes the victim where things just "happen" to them to hold them back. I call these roads either having a hero-mentality or a victim-mentality.

The person who chooses to have the victim-mentality is always stuck in a rut. There is always something about which to complain, someone did something to them, or something came up that stopped them from proceeding with their plans. It's never their fault that they did not do what they said they were going to do, because there is always someone or something else to blame. Little responsibility is taken in their lives because they make themselves none responsible for the consequences (I mean, if you take responsibility for something that means that you have the power to fix it, right?) It is easier for these people to point the finger at someone else than to look at themselves to see what they personally can do to amend the situation. They will likely stick with what they know, never really widening the scope of their lives, or pushing the bar, because they are comfortable in their known lives, even if they are miserable or lonely, etc. Rarely is change seen in the mentality or lifestyles of these people, because change means facing some area of themselves and accepting responsibility, which a victim does not do. They likely will have a negative self-image because they "can't do anything right," and therefore become the victim again (the "woe is me" mindset). Their attitudes are usually spikes and valleys of emotion and little disruptions to their plans through everything out of whack. In my experience, it is the life that "talks the talk" but rarely "walks the walk."

Those who have a hero-mentality take charge of their own lives, knowing that they are in control of the decisions that are made and the consequences of those decisions. They realize that they are responsible for making the outcomes of their days exactly what they want through the little decisions that are made throughout their days. Although they may have a slip-up here or there, or some random event through a wrench in their plans, they immediately pick-up where they were, and ask themselves, "Okay, what can I do right now to get back on track to reach my goal?" They do not make a habit of making excuses. They make decisions and then their lives noticeably change because of those decisions. Everything they do is purposeful and intentional, and they are rarely surprised by the results they get. These people are doers, not just talkers. They usually have a positive self-image and are confident in their ability to accomplish the task they set out to do. They make commitments and stick with them. They usually have no problem reflecting on their decisions to see what they did right and wrong, and then making adjustments accordingly, as they feel no condemnation for those decisions because they are what they are. They view events in the large scheme of things, knowing what is just "spilled milk" and what is actually a big deal. Their attitudes are usually very temperate, calm, and controlled.

These two mentalities play into every facet of our days, and most of us oscillate between the two. Obviously, the goal would be to more regularly adopt a hero-mentality, because more gets accomplished and lives begin to come together. If we look at these perspectives through spiritual eyes, the victim-mentality is felt by a person who is still consumed with their "old life" and has put back on the heavy yoke of slavery. But, Christ says that we can go to Him to get rest. His rest is all-consuming, so it is not just the kind where we lay down on the couch and sleep or do nothing, but it is a mental rest, one of peace and comfort, knowing that no matter what happens He is in control. He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light," (Matthew 11:28-30). Those who are secure in Christ's control over their lives will be more "even-Steven" in their handling of life's ups and downs.

Always being secure in the fact that Christ is in control will play into the fabric of our day. Everything will play against this truth, and our reactions will span accordingly. Will we adapt this mindset in one foul swoop? Heavens no! It takes time to really be secure in the truth of Christ's control, but the more we focus on it and the more we gauge everything against it, we slowly but surely begin to see everything through spiritual eyes. Eyes that can say, "Well, big picture, this does not matter so much...It's just _____." Will we still struggle sometimes with our old, fleshly mindset? Of course, because it takes time and diligence to mature. But, we can be assured that the more we make it a priority to respond (which is mindful) to events instead of react (which is emotional) we will find our maturing process moving steadily ahead.

So, how does this play into a decision to get healthy and fit? It plays into everything! For one thing, to be the hero of our own lives, we must take responsibility for the areas in which we have not effectively succeeded. We must recognize where we need to focus and then plan accordingly. If we have not been diligent in exercising, we must begin to structure that into our day and plan around it, not allowing for it to be an option (because if it is optional it will not get accomplished). If we have been weak in healthy eating, we must begin to make steps to clean up the food we eat, even if only one small step at a time. Just like someone who is engaged in overtly sinful behaviors needs to stop doing to sinful behavior (like pre-marital sex or alcoholism), we need to immediately cut out those larger acts that hurt us the most (like binge eating, or regularly eating incredibly high calorie/fat foods). We must begin to plan out our meals for the day so that there are few surprises, if any, and stick to our guns when presented with temptation. We should begin to see that temptations of all kinds (whether food, laziness, pornography, affairs, drugs, alcohol, etc.) are purposed to stop us from following through with our decisions to abstain from something. They all test our self-control and dedication to actually sacrificing our fleshly desire to satisfy ourselves. And, the ultimate fact: Truth can be applied ANYWHERE at ANYTIME in ANYTHING. One truth that a wise woman once told me regarding commitment to a decision was to "do the right things and the right feelings will follow." The fact is, sometimes we will not WANT to do what we have committed to do. Sometimes we might feel like we should just give in to the temptation to stray from our goal-path, but if we make the decision to continue to do the right things (things that follow the necessary path to achieve our goals) we will begin to have an easier time doing them because we will begin to prefer that way. A common statement I have heard from those who begin to implement a healthier lifestyle is "Wow, I just feel so good, now that I'm eating healthier foods and working out regularly," and on the contrary, when they miss a workout or eat something that is lacking in nutrition, "Wow, I noticed that when I did not workout I felt so sluggish the next day," or "I ate some fried food last night and I feel totally drained and bloated today! I am so not going to do that again." It's amazing the results that can follow determination that is not dictated by an emotional or feeling-fueled engine.

The moral of the story is BE THE HERO OF YOUR OWN LIFE! Decide today that you are ready for more. Do not let excuses hold you back any longer, but begin being purposeful with your time and actions, making everything move like a well-oiled machine. If things pop up and get you off track, or if you encounter a season of "falling off the wagon," get back up and jump back in. Who cares if the time frame for achieving the goal has changed! Better late than never! God wants what is best for us, and healthy living certainly falls into that category. He sees us as valuable and worthy, so we must view ourselves through His eyes and take care of the things with which He has blessed us (i.e. our bodies, minds, etc.) We know that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so shouldn't we make it a habitable place both inside and out? Shouldn't we make choices to keep our bodies healthy? Don't get me wrong, there should be no pride or vanity included in this mentality. We really have little value without God as our redeemer. But, He has given us free-will and a charge over our own lives, the ability to make decisions and to reap the benefits or to destruction of those decisions. As always, in all things, "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously," (2 Corinthians 9:6). Put in the effort, be diligent, and you will experience great results!

I Just Won $1000!!!!

I just found out that I have won $1000 for my weight loss thus far with Beachbody! I am so excited and I just had to post about it! Healthy living is something that we all should keep in mind in order to take good care of the bodies God has given us on this earth. What better way to say "thank you" than to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly? For a long time I only had half the equation. I ate healthy foods, but did not really do a lick of exercise. I knew I needed to exercise, but there was a disconnect between knowing it and doing it. Finally, though, my head knowledge became heart knowledge and the ACTION began! James 2:17 makes it clear, "...faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead." This is where head vs. heart comes in. All the knowledge in the world cannot save you unless it is put to action! This is true in faith and life! There are no exceptions! If you want to begin seeing results in your life, whether in your weight, relationships, spiritual life, etc, you must put your focus on doing the things you already know you should be doing! Start there and you will reap wonderful results. As 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

Truth...What is truth?!

It is crazy how mentally wearing weight loss can be, and not just committing to the process and following through with the lifestyle changes that make it possible, but the aftermath of changing from the old to the new you! It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" With weight loss, we so often get bogged down with guilt and incorrect perceptions. We still see the people we were in the mirror, even though 20, 40, or 100 pounds has been lost. The same is true with our walk in Christ. We get saved and cannot seem to stop seeing ourselves as the sinner, the evil person, and are weighed down by our guilt and former life! But, THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME! This is where that glorious phrase, "...We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:5) comes into play. As we lose weight and get healthy and fit, we must continue to filter our thoughts with the truth; "No, I am not fat! I am a size 4!" or "No, I am not a horrible eater! It was 5 M&Ms!" This is the same concept regarding our walk with Christ; "No, I am not guilty! Christ already paid that price for my sins! I am clean!" and "I have no reason to be ashamed of my past. It brought me to where I now am, and I have learned so much, even with the pain! Thank you Jesus!" The truth is truly beautiful and we must be always training our minds to reflect the truth and to learn the truth, growing in really knowing and believing it! Practice makes perfect though! So, start talking to yourself in truth today!