SPRING INTO FITNESS (BODY and SPIRIT)

Today it’s cold in the Midwest even though the calendar says it is spring. It may be chilly but I know that summer will be here soon and I can’t hide behind my jackets and bulky winter clothes anymore.  Do you dread coming out of your camouflage?

Renewed Commitment

Since we have more daylight, I want to be outdoors enjoying activities, not on the sofa watching TV with my favorites snacks. This is crunch time and I have to make a renewed commitment to exercise on a regular schedule and make it a priority!

Exercise and Healthy Eating 

It’s not only about how I look but also how I feel health wise. Every doctor and health advisor will tell you that exercise and right eating is the key to good health. Barring any health issues, there’s nothing like feeling great because you are taking proper care of yourself.

Spiritual Exercise 

While exercise and care for the body is important, we don’t want to forget or lessen the importance of exercise for our spirit.  To bring out the best in you, 1 Tim 4:8 gives us the reminder: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  (NIV)

Spiritual Eating

As in the natural, we can reap great benefits if we apply spiritual exercise and spiritual eating. We exercise spiritually by spending quality time in prayer, fellowshipping with other believers. Reading and studying the word of God is like to eating a healthy diet. (Matt 4:4, Isa 55:1, 1 Pet 2:2)

Physical and spiritual exercise has some similarities in that we know it’s good for us but we sometimes don’t want to do it.  It requires making a commitment to the discipline, then making it a priority in your life.

Consistency 

Consistency is the secret to success. Both types of exercise should be a lifestyle, but as Paul indicated when writing to Timothy - strive for spiritual exercise, which will give you the benefits of looking good (within) and feeling good (joy and peace) and that means less stress, giving us a physical advantage.

Abundant Benefits 

Becoming spiritually fit benefits us emotionally, mentally, physically, financially and ETERNALLY. With the extra bonus of a life blooming with the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.  It’s time to get fit. Do you have an exercise and healthy eating plan for your body and spirit?

THE POWER OF FORGIVING AND HEALTH - PART 2

The benefits of forgiving make it a healthy choice!  For every negative effect of un-forgiveness, there is a benefit when you forgive. 

MOTIVATING BENEFITS TO FORGIVE 

• Forgiving is good for your heart, lowers your blood pressure. 
• Forgiveness relieves stress
• It improves your immune system
• Recent studies show that forgiving improves overall health - you get better sleep quality, more physical energy, peace of mind and more emotional energy.
• Forgiveness also heals relationships.  Which brings a happier state of mind
• There was an article in the other day in USA Today which says that happy people live 35% longer.  That’s a good healthy motivator to forgive. 
    

4 TIPS TO APPLY THE BENEFITS 

You may ask “How do I apply for these benefits”?  Let me share with you from my personal experience a few tips that I’ve learned about how to begin the process of forgiveness.

• Decide to forgive.  It is not an emotional decision; it is an act of the will. 
• Guard your thoughts and guard your words.  Try not to replay it in your mind and repeat and rehearse the offences.  Replace negativity with positive words and positive thoughts as Phil 4:8 encourages us to do:  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Take Action - In some relationships, like marriage, you should take positive actions, such as giving flowers, cooking a special meal or showing affection.   I know someone who took action by writing a letter to her deceased mother forgiving her and releasing her.
• Require no strings attached.  Can you forgive someone without an apology from them?  Yes, you can.  Don’t expect certain behaviors to be contingent on your forgiveness.  Let it go.
  
  

FORGIVING BENEFITS ARE FOR YOU

I like the quote that says “Forgiveness is like setting a prisoner free only to discover that the prisoner was you.”

We have looked at the some of the damage un-forgiveness can cause.  We considered the benefits of forgiveness and explored some tips to begin the process of forgiveness and it is just that - a process.  So don’t be discouraged if you don’t instantly feel warm and fuzzy and loving - continue the process.  Remember, ultimately forgiveness is the gift you give to yourself.   Even the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s officially made peace!  They also played on the game show “Family Feud” - They competed for a cash prize and a hog – one of their original major issues.

Another common quote says:  “To err is human, to forgive is divine”.  What that means to me is - Offences (sometimes intentional, sometimes not) and disagreements are part of the human experience, there will be plenty of opportunity to forgive.  It also means that I need to ask for God’s grace to lubricate relationships with His forgiveness.  Just ask Him.  He already told us in Ephesians 4:32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  The motto hanging over the door when we leave out of the sanctuary says FORGIVE, FORGET AND RELEASE. He will show us how if we let Him. 

THE POWER OF FORGIVING AND HEALTH - PART 1

The benefits of forgiving make it a healthy choice!  For every negative effect of un-forgiveness, there is a benefit when you forgive. 

When I was a child we watched Looney tunes cartoons.  There were some characters that were mortal enemies.   Like Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat, Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny.  Bugs Bunny had a lot of enemies:  Yosemite Sam, the Tasmanian devil and Wile E Coyote.  They had rifles shooting at one another and blowing up things.   In those crazy cartoons they can have gigantic explosions and make long standing feuds give you a good belly laugh. 

A cartoon is where I first heard of the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s family feud.  Their feud is part of America folklore.  It involved two families; one from West Virginia and the other from Kentucky.  When I researched it I found that it wasn’t funny at all.

FAMILY FEUD

It began because they held grudges about different political views during the Civil War, later there was a dispute and lawsuit over the ownership of a hog, along with marital issues between the families.  The bitterness escalated so much that the State had to get involved to bring order.  Between 1865 and 1890 twelve family members had been killed, 10 wounded, 9 got life sentences and 1 member was hanged for his offenses   

A willingness to forgive could have brought peace, health and life in that situation.  They could have benefitted from the word in Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger (wrath)”.   Their legendary feud is an example of what could happen when anger and resentment goes unchecked and is not cut off by forgiveness.  Not forgiving can wield some damaging blows to all but especially to the one that has been offended.  That is why our God and loving Father urges us to forgive.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON YOUR HEALTH

When a person does not forgive or holds a grudge, it can have negative effects on their health.  Studies have found that it can cause

• High blood pressure and rapid heartbeat. 
• Un-forgiveness causes stress which can tighten muscles and intensify pain.
• It also interferes with your immune system -  all of these have an effect on arthritis says an article in “Arthritis Today”
• Depression symptoms can result from prolonged un-forgiveness.  It's not only un-forgiveness of others that can affect our depression. Sometimes, we need to forgive ourselves.

AVOID REPEATED ABUSE

Un-forgiveness brings anger and bitterness to relationships But …. Forgiving does not mean that you allow yourself to be abused, or that you must continue to subject yourself to the hurtful actions of others. You should forgive, but continued relationship with the person who repeatedly hurts you is not necessarily the best thing to do.

REVERSE THE DAMAGE

We have seen that un-forgiveness can damage our health.  Forgiving can avoid or reverse that damage.  Let's continue this conversation next week in THE POWER OF FORGIVING AND HEALTH PART 2

DEAR GOD, I NEED SOME JEANS

          Guest Post by Andrea Kortenhoven

Just a few weeks ago and I shared with a woman how I used to be a person who would tell God that I needed some jeans and expect him to answer my prayers. My new company of believers would scoff at such madness. But He sent someone to my house a few days later with a bag of nice, fashionable, gently worn clothes. Three pairs of jeans. Perfect fit. That really happened. 

I shared with her another instance. I decided to pray for a chest of drawers.  I didn't have the money and wasn't even shopping, and several days later, he brought one to my window.  Just yards from my bedroom window, one morning I spied a perfectly clean and well-made 6-drawer chest that someone had plainly decided not to take when they emptied their apartment.

I thought about how wonderful it was to really and truly believe that God hears and answers.  At times like these I'd believed so much that it didn't occur to me to doubt. I wasn't believing anymore--just thinking, and talking, listening, asking, waiting.  I didn't always get what I wanted, but I trusted God implicitly. I knew that in the end, he would do what was best and help me see.

I also thought about how, coincidentally, here I am 10 years later, and *needing* a dresser.  And what I really wanted was not a dresser, but a wardrobe. Not greedy, just grown and wanting what I thought would be pretty in my room in my home that Jesus gave me.

I decided to do some pricing.  I knew we couldn't afford it. I'd price it by faith. And when I did, I thought, okay. Good.  And I let it go.

My husband, already behind schedule, decided to stop at a Wednesday morning garage sale to check for tools.  And lo and behold, what did he discover around back by the garage? My wardrobe. Solid rough wood, just as I wanted.  And $100.

It's the little things. Right? He leads me tenderly.

 Guest Post by Andrea Kortenhoven

It's Not How You FEEL, It's What You DO That Matters

Have you ever been afraid or angry or sad?  In moments of strong emotions, we tend to think this is our reality but emotions are temporary. 
Emotions or feelings can make you do and say things you may regret or they can paralyze you and keep you from doing anything at all. 

When do emotions flare up?

Emotions are at their strongest when events happen or when situations develop that are out of our control.  It could be a lost loved one, a lost dream, a lost career or lost self-esteem, a failed relationship, a friend’s betrayal, or just a time of frustration when things are not working as expected.

Our emotions are powerful. They are like the waves of the sea; they roll upon you like a tidal wave.  They scare you into feeling that you will be overwhelmed - but if you don’t panic, they recede back into the great water where they belong and eventually calmness will prevail.  

Why are emotions important?

We cannot and should not try to avoid our feelings.  Some emotions do us good. It’s with emotions we sense love and joy and - healthy fear.  Life without feelings is like food with no seasoning.  We can even worship with emotion. I enjoy dancing before the Lord in praise.

What should we do with unruly feelings? 

When feelings are trying to dominate, encourage yourself with the truth. Emotions are noisy and loud in our thinking but we are to rule them, not let our feelings rule us. 

Better to be patient than a warrior and better to have self-control than to capture a city (Proverbs 16:32 CEB).   These words indicates the you are better than a powerful warrior that conquers a city when you can rule your own spirit.

Choose truth over feelings.

Recognize that your feelings are not YOU.  They can’t determine your destiny. You don’t have to feel good - to do good or do what is best for you and your future. Find out what God says in His word and apply that truth to your feelings. 

No matter how you feel, it’s WHAT YOU DO that matters. Do you feel like praying? Do you feel like praising, do you feel like forgiving? Do you feel like going to fellowship with other believers? Do you feel like writing that blog post (I have to smile at that). 

Here in lies success: when we override our feelings with His truth, we create the success He has already designed for us. When you forsake negative feelings, then you can embrace and walk in the authority of truth.