My youngest daughter is a fitness freak! She has always been an energetic and enthusiastic sportsman. She could climb our radiator pipes to the ceiling by eighteen months of age, and has not stopped challenging herself or others since!
Last week she dragged me down to the gym and bought me a membership as a combined gift (she was going to get the power tools I wanted so badly for mothers day and my birthday!) . But the furniture refinishing projects I envisioned, never took place because of time constraints. And so she felt that I needed something more personal to challenge myself and prepare myself for a long and strong entrance into middle age.
I must say that I always thought of myself as an active women. Able to rise to physical feats appropriate to age and energy. Let me also say that my daughter is a sophmore in college with the goal of becoming a Physical Therapist. I think she has targeted me to confirm her own gifts and develope her calling.
The first day at the gym was exciting. I put on the cute new workout clothes she bought me, and looked like I belonged there, ready for action. She gave me a tour, as well as instructions on the cardio programmable equipment. She set me up and patted my back and said "Don't stop, push past the pain, you're stronger than you know". Five minutes into the cycle, I thought I needed a break, but with her at my side I didn't dare slow or quit! She kept a constant verbal stream of encouragement coming my way. She didn't leave me for a second. I wanted so badly to do all she had planned and not dissapoint her because of the tremendous oppertunity she was offering me with this gift! But it was harder then I thought, more uncomfortable then I wanted to endure, more difficult then fun.
After a 30 minute cardio workout, I was beet red in the face, saturated in sweat and panting for water to cool my dried throat. I felt all rubbery in my legs, and cramped in my hands from the death grip I had on the handles, the only thing holding me up those last 10 minutes. After a short time of stretching, I was ready to head home. It was then that she announced "phase 2" of the workout. The cardio was the warmup! She then had me do abdominal crunches in 10 different positions until I could not even pick myself up off the floor. Another short break and "phase 3" weight training!!! I finished all that she required of me and she gave me a big hug and told me I surprised her by keeping pace. The only thing she wanted me to grasp and change was the contstant limits I set on myself. She said" You are telling me that you can't do anymore, and that mindset will stop you from pushing the limits, you can stop when you pass out or throw up, otherwise your body does what YOU tell it to do!"
I must admit I was a bit shocked at the harsh attitude she was presenting with that exhortation. But I was also amazed that I had accomplished more then I ever considered. I was a bit sore, but as she reminded me, "get used to it- no pain, no gain"!
In the book of Hebrews, the 12th chapter, verses 1-3, it says" Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up."(NLT)
I recieve this scripture on so many levels today as I meditate on the current challenges set before me, relational, physical, mental, and spiritual. I know I must keep my eyes on Jesus!! I hear the Holy Spirit calling me to walk on water so to speak, to not just stay afloat but to rise up and move in new ways. To allow my spirit to be free of the earthly laws of physics, in limit setting! I truelly understand that there is a joy that will come AFTERWARD! But the discipline of practicing faith without doubt means you must push through the painful earthly forces. Obstacles, added stress, stretching in new directions, can all seem a bit overwhelming. But you don't go it alone. See the face of Christ encouraging,cheering you on. Hear his excited voice say this is the way walk in it. Feel the gift of his prescence by your side as you push harder against the unholy influences that want to derail you today!
He left us with our own personal trainer- The Holy Spirit , who will reveal all things to us, Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Him who has ears, let him hear!
We are all created so intricately. Made with intimate details that only a divine benefactor could have installed. We possess certain endowments that help to define us throughout our journey. I have come to know my "special superpower" as hearing!
I know some of you might find this a bit crazy to say the least, but as a child, I was aware of having big ears! They kind of caused me to feel like a taxi cab with the doors left open. I was teased a bit but learned to wear my hair a little fuller around my head so as not to make them appear so prominent. As I grew I also recognized how sensitive my hearing skills were. I was bothered easily by low level noises around me. I could pick up on many different conversations and background disturbances easily! This is a blessing and a curse. On one hand you can be overwhelmed by the things you are not supposed to be aware of , sharp piercing blasts at high frequencies, slight changes in volume, distinct betrayals of actions taking place around you. On the other hand you have a built in sense of connection to activity on a more conscious level than simple observation.
Absolute silence is a gift to someone like myself. It is a rare moment that all is still and quiet. I find that even in the middle of the night the sound of a light switch coming on can awaken me. If a fan is whirling it creates such a distraction from peace in my space. My children used to wonder how I knew everything going on around me when they were out of sight and range, I could hear the change in there voice frequency and fine tune to their words even when behind closed doors.
The practice of finding a quiet place to unload all the activity in my brain became such an important part of my day, that I needed to awaken before dawn and remain up after the house settled to give myself a space and place to rest.
I grew in the " Be still and know that I am God " place. I began to hear Him speak as I emptied all other daily"noise " out in those early sessions. It was His words I would meditate on and wait for! All the stuff on the outside would slip away. And I would relinquish myself to a peace that cannot be found apart from in His prescence.
God Speaks! He has a voice that is soft, it is warm and tender! You can't hear it while internally ranting, you can't hear it when mentally absent, you won't hear it if always distracted. But when you take the time to allow him to have a say, and you are not desiring a - get to the point, one word answer, I think you'll be amazed at the things He truly wants to share with you personally!
I know some of you might find this a bit crazy to say the least, but as a child, I was aware of having big ears! They kind of caused me to feel like a taxi cab with the doors left open. I was teased a bit but learned to wear my hair a little fuller around my head so as not to make them appear so prominent. As I grew I also recognized how sensitive my hearing skills were. I was bothered easily by low level noises around me. I could pick up on many different conversations and background disturbances easily! This is a blessing and a curse. On one hand you can be overwhelmed by the things you are not supposed to be aware of , sharp piercing blasts at high frequencies, slight changes in volume, distinct betrayals of actions taking place around you. On the other hand you have a built in sense of connection to activity on a more conscious level than simple observation.
Absolute silence is a gift to someone like myself. It is a rare moment that all is still and quiet. I find that even in the middle of the night the sound of a light switch coming on can awaken me. If a fan is whirling it creates such a distraction from peace in my space. My children used to wonder how I knew everything going on around me when they were out of sight and range, I could hear the change in there voice frequency and fine tune to their words even when behind closed doors.
The practice of finding a quiet place to unload all the activity in my brain became such an important part of my day, that I needed to awaken before dawn and remain up after the house settled to give myself a space and place to rest.
I grew in the " Be still and know that I am God " place. I began to hear Him speak as I emptied all other daily"noise " out in those early sessions. It was His words I would meditate on and wait for! All the stuff on the outside would slip away. And I would relinquish myself to a peace that cannot be found apart from in His prescence.
God Speaks! He has a voice that is soft, it is warm and tender! You can't hear it while internally ranting, you can't hear it when mentally absent, you won't hear it if always distracted. But when you take the time to allow him to have a say, and you are not desiring a - get to the point, one word answer, I think you'll be amazed at the things He truly wants to share with you personally!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Selfish people live sorry Lives
I recently bumped into someone (physically) on my way out of a store. I turned around and said "Sorry" while biting my bottem lip. The face glowered back at me! It was an accident, I was distracted. I didn't do it on purpose I was just in a hurry and juggleing a purse and hot coffee as I focused on my exit. I think we've all been preoccupied from time to time,lost in our own thoughts. It is a natural response to the way we have been conditioned in a fast paced,you snooze you loose society.
Well. the polite way to go beyond the offense is to offer an apology for rude or inconsiderate behavior. But what of those people around us that have adopted an apologetic lifestyle. You know, the friend who is always late, the co-worker that fails to help with their share of respondsibility, the spouse that excuses missed occasions with a to busy calander. Or the family member who just had to put their critisism of you out there in front of others. They all have the same response to disappointing you or making you out as a party to the injury! I'M SORRY! As if it will magically remove them from their selfish action against you.
Maybe As you read this YOU are the one always throwing an apology at some situation to get yourself off the hook quickly. There is a pattern to test yourself with, Do you start with I'm sorry but... or perhaps, I'm sorry I needed... or maybe I'm sorry it's just that.... all this really points to is that you or the offender seek to excuse bad behavior instead of change it! That is the center of selfishness. Seeking your own interests above anothers.
In the book of Proverbs the 28th chapter the 25 & 26 verses it says this; "Selfish people cause trouble, but you will live a long life if you trust the Lord. Only fools would trust what they alone think, but if you live by wisdom you will do all right."(cev)
People who cause trouble are always saying they are sorry. Let me repeat myself, people who cause trouble are always saying they are sorry! People who want to stop causing trouble REPENT! They ask forgiveness from those they have offended, they forgive themselves by confessing their respondsibility to the offense & they recieve forgiveness from God by way of Jesus, The Holy Spirit allows them freedom to turn around their thought life toward a Christ centered WAY of thinking. That is WISDOM!!!!
Living a Spirit led life means not focusing on your own agenda, or schematic , or reason! It means living out each thought with the ambition of bringing God glory and praise. What a man thinks, so he is. If you think of Gods love for you, you can love others. If you think of His kindness towards you, you can be kind to others . If you think of His goodness and mercy toward you, you will become good and merciful to others. It is by bringing His thoughts not ours into our minds and actions that produce the life Christ died to give us. An abundant life filled with hope and joy. Not one we will be "Sorry " for !
Sorry is for small children learning from mistakes. We need to be reminded to grow up to the full stature of Christ as mature men and women! Next time you look to remedy a situation, ask yourself and God what in you must be made right to achieve a mind set that will glorify Him. How can you turn your thinking into a God way instead of a my way highway. Remember most road accidents happen because we are careless or lost in our own thoughts! We choose to make a call on the cell phone, we choose to drive when tired or distracted. Then who is SORRY! Being thoughtful of others will cause us to sacrifice our own selfish desire to get what we want when we want it. It will cost us to regard others as equally important. It will create in us an awareness of consequences to our actions that will help us remember to ask The Holy spirit to guide us and renew us. And again I say to you(v. 25) "you will live a long life if you trust the Lord!"
Well. the polite way to go beyond the offense is to offer an apology for rude or inconsiderate behavior. But what of those people around us that have adopted an apologetic lifestyle. You know, the friend who is always late, the co-worker that fails to help with their share of respondsibility, the spouse that excuses missed occasions with a to busy calander. Or the family member who just had to put their critisism of you out there in front of others. They all have the same response to disappointing you or making you out as a party to the injury! I'M SORRY! As if it will magically remove them from their selfish action against you.
Maybe As you read this YOU are the one always throwing an apology at some situation to get yourself off the hook quickly. There is a pattern to test yourself with, Do you start with I'm sorry but... or perhaps, I'm sorry I needed... or maybe I'm sorry it's just that.... all this really points to is that you or the offender seek to excuse bad behavior instead of change it! That is the center of selfishness. Seeking your own interests above anothers.
In the book of Proverbs the 28th chapter the 25 & 26 verses it says this; "Selfish people cause trouble, but you will live a long life if you trust the Lord. Only fools would trust what they alone think, but if you live by wisdom you will do all right."(cev)
People who cause trouble are always saying they are sorry. Let me repeat myself, people who cause trouble are always saying they are sorry! People who want to stop causing trouble REPENT! They ask forgiveness from those they have offended, they forgive themselves by confessing their respondsibility to the offense & they recieve forgiveness from God by way of Jesus, The Holy Spirit allows them freedom to turn around their thought life toward a Christ centered WAY of thinking. That is WISDOM!!!!
Living a Spirit led life means not focusing on your own agenda, or schematic , or reason! It means living out each thought with the ambition of bringing God glory and praise. What a man thinks, so he is. If you think of Gods love for you, you can love others. If you think of His kindness towards you, you can be kind to others . If you think of His goodness and mercy toward you, you will become good and merciful to others. It is by bringing His thoughts not ours into our minds and actions that produce the life Christ died to give us. An abundant life filled with hope and joy. Not one we will be "Sorry " for !
Sorry is for small children learning from mistakes. We need to be reminded to grow up to the full stature of Christ as mature men and women! Next time you look to remedy a situation, ask yourself and God what in you must be made right to achieve a mind set that will glorify Him. How can you turn your thinking into a God way instead of a my way highway. Remember most road accidents happen because we are careless or lost in our own thoughts! We choose to make a call on the cell phone, we choose to drive when tired or distracted. Then who is SORRY! Being thoughtful of others will cause us to sacrifice our own selfish desire to get what we want when we want it. It will cost us to regard others as equally important. It will create in us an awareness of consequences to our actions that will help us remember to ask The Holy spirit to guide us and renew us. And again I say to you(v. 25) "you will live a long life if you trust the Lord!"
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