Maintaining

1 Corinthians 3:17, "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred. And you are that temple." NIV

Every Sunday, my family and I pass these buildings pictured in the photos. Driving through the Mississippi Delta has always been intriguing to me for many different reasons, mainly images such as these. Sprawling southern plantations, miles of crops, very few bends in the road, and abandoned buildings largely make up the landscape. You never know what's coming up next.

But the intrigue of these two buildings captivated me for months. Finally, one day, we stopped to take a photo. Every time we would pass the buildings, I wondered what could've happened. The barn surely was at one time alive with activity. I could only imagine what kind of animals this barn could've housed, providing shelter and safety from the elements. And what happened to this building below? Someone surely spent a lot of money constructing the frame of this building, with aspirations of a profitable business. But somewhere along the line, both structures faced abandon. The reasons? One can only speculate. The barn just simply wasn't maintained. As one can visibly see, it's obviously been left to itself for quite some time, judging by the height of the debris that's grown around it. The metal building? Maybe the owner ran out of money...there just simply wasn't enough to finish the job?

I can only imagine what could've been. I love old barns. If the rotting wood could've simply been replaced, and if the land around it could've been maintained, it could still be a viable shelter for farm animals. If the metal building could've been completed, it could've been a sustainable business, providing options and jobs for locals, and providing a great income for the owners.

Either way, their journey wasn't complete. The barn and the metal building are both still standing...but they're in bad shape.

Paul writes in this section of Corinthians again about how we are God's temple. And he speaks also about the Corinthians' lack of maturity. He starts them off "with milk," but still, they haven't grown to the point where they can receive the more solid "food" of the Word. They are still babes, having not grown past the infant stage. Here in this chapter, Paul continues on that just because time has passed, doesn't mean that they've grown in their spiritual maturity, and they haven't grown in wisdom. But in verse, 16-17, he reiterates that as the temple of God, meaning God lives in them, they are to care for themselves spiritually, seeking to grow in maturity, and to grow in wisdom. Therefore, they can't stop where they are! They must press on. Their journey isn't complete. No matter what...their journey isn't ever complete.

Likewise, in our physical journeys, we're never done. I know that's not fun to hear. When I was in the process of losing 90 pounds, all I could think about was my goal number. I naively thought that when I reached that goal, everything would be so much easier. Oh, but it isn't. I'm not trying to be a downer, but it's the truth. Once we reach the goal, we have to maintain it.

Think about the barn pictured above. I'm sure when it was newly constructed, it was beautiful, strong, and lovely to see from the road. But over the years, the neglect took it over. The metal building never really got completed. The owners just stopped somewhere along the way. And look at it now.

Whether we're in the middle of a journey to become healthier than we are at the moment, or whether we've reached our goal and are now maintaining, we can't stop! We must press on.

Where are you? Are you in the middle of a journey, struggling with the attitude of complacency? Or have you reached your goal and are now struck with the realization that maintaining is just as hard as losing it to begin with?Let me reassure you that it's worth it. As someone who has struggled with both concepts, I can reassure you again...it's worth it!

Where are you spiritually? Have you become complacent? Press in to Him. It's worth it!

Interested in more devotions and encouragement like this? Check out my new book FitFaith, a Seven Week Weight-Loss Devotional Journal, now available on Amazon!

What Two Weeks of Being Lazy Does to Your Body

While checking the email this morning, I ran across an interesting article.

"What two Weeks of Being Lazy Does to Your Body," published by Yahoo! Health.

It was interesting to say the least, and confirmed what I already had witnessed in my own experiences. Basically, when you don't use your muscle, you lose it.

It also reminds me of our spiritual lives. When we don't interact with our Savior, lack of prayer, lack of Bible reading, our spiritual strength is diminished. We may feel overwhelming anxiety where peace used to reign. We may be easily frustrated, contrary to when we were walking closely with God.

Summertime is easy to slack off of church attendance, filling our calendars with other exciting things to do. But God is still there, and our souls still need feeding.

To read the actual article:

https://www.yahoo.com/health/what-two-weeks-of-being-lazy-does-to-your-body-124665219252.html

Peace in the Midst of the Chaos

Psalm 143:8 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

This day promises to bring chaos. Before I ever got off the mattress on the floor this morning, I knew that today would be hectic. I promise to share more details later as to why I'm sleeping on a mattress on the floor, but for now, just let me say, life is crazy busy for our family.

We're in transition...and it's a good transition. But it's crazy. I'm uncertain right now where we're spending the night. In fact, I'm uncertain where we're staying for the next 4 weeks! Yikes! Yes, yikes. We have sold our home due to the fact that my husband got a promotion and a transfer at one time. Yay! But then, we sold our house in only a day and a half! We have nowhere to go, and our new house doesn't close for another month. The relocation department doesn't seem to be in a big hurry, and they don't seem to care that we're displaced for the next 4 weeks...starting, ahem...TODAY.

We're hurriedly trying to clean our home and say goodbye to friends we've made. It's sad, hard, exciting, and did I mention...crazy, all at one time!

When I got up this morning, I immediately drank my Advocare Spark and set about cleaning, organizing, throwing out, and loading up things, frantic to get things accomplished. As my family peacefully slept, I couldn't help but feel blessed as I watched them, all in a line on mattresses in my bedroom floor. But I needed their help! Grudgingly, they got up, only to discover that we had nothing for breakfast. In my frantic cleaning mode last night, I gave all of our food away to the neighbor, secretly patting myself on the back for doing a good deed and not letting the food go to waste. I didn't think about the fact that there would be nothing for breakfast. My husband went to grab some biscuits, I barked orders for the kids to get in the tub so that I could clean the bathroom, and I hastily continued my work.

The whole time, though, I'm concerned about the fact that the relocation department hasn't confirmed our temporary housing arrangements. I'm packing to go somewhere....I just don't know where. And for all of you women out there...you know how hard it is to pack to go to an unknown place! We ate our biscuits, my inwardly cringing at the calorie count, but all the while, I kept feeling the pull of the Lord. I have so much to do, yet, I needed, wanted, longed to spend time with my Lord.

So I opened my Bible here to Psalm 143, and I rested on verse 8, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." Immediately I was reminded that every. single. morning. brings me Word of His unfailing love. Long ago, I put my trust in God, and I continue to trust Him every. single. day.

Am I trusting in the relocation department? Am I trusting in two houses, made my brick and wood? Am I trusting in my ability to get it all together? Am I trusting in my bank account to pay all of the unexpected expenses?

But earlier in the chapter, verse 5 speaks as well, "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."

Over and over in my life, I've seen His hands at work. He's worked things out, and moved in ways that I never couldn't imagined for myself. He's blessed me beyond measure and more abundantly than I could've asked. How could I be afraid now?

He's brought us so far. He won't fail now!

What is going on in your life right now? Has your morning been hectic even before you've gotten out of bed? Invest the time to spend with Him. I can't promise that your day with go more smoothly, but I can promise peace in the midst of the chaos.

Pity Party

I'm blogging again today at Joy From Grace! You can check it out at www.joyfromgrace.com

Self-Sufficiency

I'm blogging today over on Joy From Grace!

Check it out at www.joyfromgrace.com

Fit Faith

I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the success of my new Book Fit Faith. I wrote it with the desire to share Scriptures and truths that helped me through my weight loss journey, in hopes that it would inspire others as well with what God can do. You can order your's too through the link to the left on Amazon.

Heritage

Deuteronomy 11:19 “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” ESV

Today is my parents’ 40th anniversary. It doesn’t seem possible in many ways, the chiefest of being that it means they’re getting older. To me, my daddy has always been strong, able-bodied, and steadfast. The fact that they’re getting older pains me. I have to confess, the following thought has crossed my mind more than a few times: When they die, who will pray for me? From my earliest memories, I recall family prayer time, prayers around the table, prayers by the bedside of our sick family members (including me), and a confident assurance of their faith in God. For whatever need we are/were facing, they always have complete faith that God will come through. The spiritual heritage I have is incredible, and I strive every day to pass it on to my children. 

I love the direction given in our Scripture today. We often joke that kids don’t come with instruction manuals, but in a way, we already have the instruction manual. All we have to do is take every available opportunity to teach them about Christ, live it out in our own lives, and trust God to lead and guide them. 

From the time my husband I realized we were going to be parents, we have tried to live out Deuteronomy 11:19 with our children. We talk about our faith, trust, and hope in God every chance we get and are careful to give God glory for all that He does in our lives. Our home is filled with reminders of His Word, music that exalts Him, and opportunities for them to learn about Him. Let me be clear before I go on. NOTHING in this world is more important or can substitute for a spiritual heritage. God designed our society to live in families from the beginning of creation. And He has been clear in His Word that spiritual training is of utmost importance to our children’s upbringing. We only get one chance to raise our children; there are no do-over’s, and we’ve got to get this part right. They desperately need to know that God’s Son died to save them and that His blood will give them strength for whatever they may face in life.

As I’ve grown in my relationship with Christ, and He has confronted me with my need to care for the body He created, I realize that my children also need a physical heritage. The culture in which we live pushes its agenda upon our children to make themselves happy. Whatever feels good, tastes good, looks good, and is comforting must be good, right? Wrong. Our children will not exercise or choose to eat healthy on their own. Let’s face it. When faced with the decision to eat a iced, sprinkle-topped cupcake or apple slices, which one looks more appealing to a child? When faced with the decision to play video games on the couch or ride their bicycle on a hot day, which would you choose? We’ve got to take opportunities to encourage them to care for their bodies, secondary to their souls.

If we are going to raise our children to follow Christ, they need good vehicles with which to minister. I ministered for many years in a broken vehicle, and it was hard. The funny thing about it is, I really didn’t realize how hard life was until I was no longer overweight. How much more I could’ve done for the cause of Christ if I had the energy I have today! How much more I could’ve done for the cause of Christ if I had felt this good all of those years I wasted. 

So as we walk along the walking trail at the park, ride along on our bicycles on the bike trail, and eat healthy dinners together around the table, we talk of God’s goodness. We talk about God’s protection before we get much-needed rest at night, and we pray together, trusting God for our future and praising Him for our past. All the while, we endeavor to model healthy living. I think God is pleased.

Encouragement for Today

Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward.” ESV

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” ESV