Getting healthy

Growing up I loved to jump, run, skip, hop, and walk.  But walking was my last choice.  I was always moving.  I played hard until I went to bed.  I never had to wonder if I had moved enough to be healthy. 

     Today, I know that in order to be healthy I have move.  When I searched the internet I found that it was recommended to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.  10,000 steps!  That seemed a lot to me. 

     In order to know you are accomplishing a goal, you must establish a beginning and an end.  On my phone I have a pedometer.  The first day I walked 3375 steps.  Pitiful.   So I determined that every day I would walk at least one step more than the day before.

     To get physically healthy I had to know where I was, where I wanted to go, how I would get there, and know when I got there.  To get spiritually healthy I have to know and do the same thing.  One of the best tools to spiritual health is the Bible.  The Bible says in Proverbs 6:21-23  “Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life”.

     Today I know if I only sit on the couch I won’t be getting healthier and I won’t be increasing the steps I take.  Staying at my sad amount of 3375 steps can’t do for me what 10,000 can do.  To pretend that they would is a lie to myself.  In the same way, it is a lie if we tell ourselves that we can be spiritually healthy without growing in the time spent in the Word of God. 

     So as I put my donut down to take a walk (1 mile=2000 steps) and take more steps than yesterday, I let the Word I read earlier soak into my heart.  So I challenge myself and you to get Healthy.  Walk more today than yesterday and read your Bible every day.  Let God speak to you and then do what He says.  By doing that you will grow spiritually. 

I wonder, is it o.k. to eat my donut while I'm walking? 

Headache Time

    Have you ever had a headache.  I mean a shot in the head, light and noise like lightning bolts, sick to your stomach kind of headache?  Even though I have had a true migraine that has put me to bed, I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about a person or situation that knocks your lights out. 
    Some days can leave you on the floor.  A knock out that leaves you not thinking or feeling right.  But what is to be done?  Only one thing-get back up.  Life wants to suck the life out of you.  The good news is- God doesn't.
    The Bible says in Rom 8:6-7  "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."  I know even when I am drooling on the floor knocked out, I can get back up.  The reason is because in God there is forgiveness and peace.  Only in God is true forgiveness is found, for yourself and others.  Peace comes when we let go of what the flesh wants.  To get back up I need to put my mind back on the leading of the Spirit of God.  God is a healer in more than one way.

Joyful Days and Nights- Part Two

    During this time of vacation (and the reason for my lack of blogging) I have had endless moments of joy and happiness. Sun, water, and family can hardly be beat in the fun and happiness category.  A beautiful lake, jet skis, a speed boat all add to a happy setting.  But my favorite moments were when I had a chance to just float in the water with my daughter and talk. 

    Now that I’m not on the lake, the happiness I felt has subsided.  But not my joy or the time floating, talking about nothing and everything, with my daughter.  A sunset can end but joyful times building a relationship has eternal value.

     The Bible says in Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”  Family time builds me up because I can see the strength in our once one family, is now four families.

    My family is growing and I place my trust in God.  Joy is the result of a life trusting in Him instead of running from one “Happy” moment to another.  Joy comes through an abundance of time “floating on the water and talking”.

Joyful Days and Nights- Part One

Today my husband and I went fishing.  O.K. I mean my husband fished and I read a book.  It was a beautiful summer evening on the lake.  This is one of my favorite activities.  Sun, water, and family is a perfect equation for happiness.  My husband is happy because he is fishing and I am within arm’s reach.  I am happy because he is happy.  While he is fishing – I am reading.

    However, the happiness I enjoyed on the gently rocking boat ended when at sunset the mosquitoes chased us off the lake.   Happiness only lasts for a short time because it is a feeling based on circumstances. Because circumstances are constantly changing, happiness can come and go. But I’m fine with that because I have something even better. JOY.

    Joy is not a feeling.  It is an attribute of our spirit man and the Spirit of God.  It is a constant because it “springs” up out of our relationship with God and His nature.  The Bible says in Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

   Joy is an expression of God’s strength that is available for anyone who will trust in Him.  So even when I am walking through difficult times and I am not “feeling happy”, joy is always with me.  Joy fills my heart and my mouth with a song.  So if you hear me singing, you know why.

around the kitchen table: I did not see this coming

around the kitchen table: I did not see this coming: " When, a little over 23 years ago, I gave birth to my third daughter, I did not see this day coming. I may have seen a Cinderella d..."

I did not see this coming

    When, a little over 23 years ago, I gave birth to my third daughter, I did not see this day coming.
     I may have seen a Cinderella dress, amazing flowers, smiling guests, and a great cake. I saw a sweet flower girl, an adorable ring bearer and beautiful attendants.  I hoped the food would be good.  I also knew having daughters would probably come with a hefty bill.  
     I did not know, as a young mother, what the very best would be on the days my three daughters married.  I did not know I would now have SONS.
    The three young men who are the husbands of my daughters are now my sons.  Thankfully God knew and brought to our family just the sons I needed.  I needed men who loved God and then my daughter.  I needed ones who saw the girls for who they are, and for who they are not.  I needed men who would cry when they saw them walk down the isle, and yet would die to protect them.
    Some may feel that when their children marry it is a loss.  My family has only grown, been fruitful and is multiplying.  Just as the Bible says.  I know our family is very blessed. 
I love being a mother, a mother of sons and daughters. 

WHAT ARE YOU BREATHING?

    My dad was a dentist.  As you can imagine, good dental hygiene was a must.  Every night, before bed, we were sent to brush our teeth.  Our teeth were checked and my dad would actually smell our breath.  Only a clean “Crest Toothpaste” breath was acceptable.  If our teeth or breath didn’t pass, we were sent back upstairs for another try.  These habits from childhood have followed me my whole life. 

    As important as that habit was to pass on to my children, there was a new habit that was even more important- God breathed Scripture.  In the Bible, it says in 2 Tim 3:14-17  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

    With our girls, my husband and I,worked hard to keep God first and family second.  Everything came after our first two priorities.  Daily we allowed God to breathe on us through His Word.  The Bible always has a fresh word on every area of life.  Still today, God is first and family is second.  Even more important than “Crest” breath is “God’s Word” breath.