Being fit in all 4 areas is important for any number of reasons. The one I want to address today is being fit 2 fight! Yep! You heard me right! This life is a beautiful ride with some painful bumps in the road, at times, and when we get "out of shape" in any of the 4 areas of our being, we are vulnerable to getting sucker punched!
Any of you who have read my blogs, or if we have chatted more than once or twice, know that I believe we must remain "fit" and growing in all 4 areas of life: spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical in order to live a passionate life of excellence!
If we are "out of shape," spiritually, when a tough opponent comes along in the form of temptation or discouragement, we will forget to lean into prayer and be unable to recall verses and readings that, had we been taking them in and meditating on them during the week, we might not find ourselves tapping out in those tough rounds where important moral and ethical decisions are made!
If we are "out of shape," intellectually, and have been feeding out of the trash bin with too many mind numbing, valueless TV shows and books, negative conversations or gossip or if we have just been "starving" ourselves instead of taking in enlightening and brain stimulating growth opportunities and conversations, we will find ourselves "dumbed down" in dealing with the complexities that may come our way or blind-sided to career and personal growth opportunites, since we have made ourselves dull of hearing! Remember to keep your diet clean for optimal fight ready health!
If we are "out of shape," emotionally, when something happens that hurts our feelings or jars our healthy self perception, instead of being emotionally healthy enough to accept what is helpful in our pursuit of growth, and discarding the rest, we will take it as a personal assault and become bogged down in being people pleasers or take on the feeling of worthlessness from some careless words or someone else's bad day! We must feed ourselves with positive thoughts, surround ourselves with positive people and build ourselves up by taking care with what we allow into our minds through our ears and eyes! This will prepare us for a face off with those moments when our emotions are under attack!
Lastly, if we are "out of shape," physically, not getting enough rest, carrying extra weight, eating junk food and not taking time to dress ourselves in an attractive way that makes us feel confident and prepared for each day, we will find ourselves at a disadvantage in the ring when it comes to being able to fight lethargy, depression, a nagging lack of self-confidence and the constant need for the approval of others. We must strive to be in fighting condition!
If you have been on the sidelines, it's not too late! It takes a commitment and self discipline to get into fighting condition and we need each other for support and encouragement but it CAN be done without a doubt! Come with me on this journey of a life lived with passion and in the pursuit of excellence!
I Tim. 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith."
Still Climbing With You!
Cher
Tuesday
For He Knew All Men John 2:23
"Many people saw the miraculous things he (Jesus) was doing and believed in him. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them for he knew all men."
Why do we try to "hide" from God? Don't we understand he knows us in the truest sense of the word. I Samual 16:7 says "Man looks on the outward appearance but God sees into the heart." I never read that without getting chills down my spine - he sees right into my heart, my motives, my thoughts....and he loves me, still.
Come to God with all your truth, the good, bad and ugly! He KNOWS you and because he does, he can cut right through that facad or mask you often wear and get down to business! See this as a good thing and embrace his desire to forgive, guide. lead and direct your footsteps. He created you and has a purpose for your life so ask him what it is and wait expectantly for him to reveal it.
Don't hide from God. He wants you to come into the light and confess those dark places he already knows about so he can heal and restore you.
Still Climbing,
Cher
Why do we try to "hide" from God? Don't we understand he knows us in the truest sense of the word. I Samual 16:7 says "Man looks on the outward appearance but God sees into the heart." I never read that without getting chills down my spine - he sees right into my heart, my motives, my thoughts....and he loves me, still.
Come to God with all your truth, the good, bad and ugly! He KNOWS you and because he does, he can cut right through that facad or mask you often wear and get down to business! See this as a good thing and embrace his desire to forgive, guide. lead and direct your footsteps. He created you and has a purpose for your life so ask him what it is and wait expectantly for him to reveal it.
Don't hide from God. He wants you to come into the light and confess those dark places he already knows about so he can heal and restore you.
Still Climbing,
Cher
Monday
What Are You Seeking?
Web friends! Grab your favorite cup of coffee and let's chat for a few. I have something exciting I want to share with you and it begins with a question.
What are you seeking? I mean beyond your second cup of coffee!:-p
In my quiet time, this morning, I was reading in John chapter 1 and this phrase struck me in verse 38...Jesus looked at them (the disciples) and said, "What are you seeking?" One version says, "What do you want?"
I prayed for God to speak to my heart and change my life with the passage I was about to read (as is my custom when I get ready to read my Bible). I consider it an opportunity to have a real encounter with the Lord of the universe so I open his Word with expectation and he always honors my request to know more of him and for the Holy Spirit to grow me in some area of my life. If you aren't already practicing this, I encourage you to try it! I'm convinced you'll be glad you did!
So....what are you seeking? How do you answer that question? Let's begin with the word "seeking." You know I'm a word geek! :-)
Seek:
To try to locate or discover; search for.
To endeavor to obtain or reach
To go to or toward:
In other words, was Jesus asking, "What are you trying to locate or discover in your life? What are you searching for? What is it that you are endeavoring to reach or obtain? What are you going toward?
How do we know the answer to this question? I believe that the key is in this definition. Would the people who see you most often and know you best, family, close friends, co-workers, guess what you are seeking, what you are trying to obtain or reach? Can they see what you "go toward?" It seems logical that the things we are seeking most come to light based on what we are doing. If I could stand back and observe my habits, what kind of "seeking" would they reveal? How do I spend my time, my resources, my talents?
If I'm doing as Jesus instructed, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...." then I think I'm going to have some skin in the game, don't you? What is showing up as the affection(s)of my heart? What do I spend my time away from work doing? What kinds of things do I talk about and how do I talk? Does that depend on who I'm talking with? What do I enjoy for entertainment? Where do my thoughts wander when I have a few free moments? Do I pray as I go through my day? None of us is perfect in any of these areas! But what characterizes me? What is the pattern of my day to day? Good thoughts to consider on a beautiful day!
I pray our God be gracious to each of us and lead us into right seeking!
Still Climbing,
Cher
What are you seeking? I mean beyond your second cup of coffee!:-p
In my quiet time, this morning, I was reading in John chapter 1 and this phrase struck me in verse 38...Jesus looked at them (the disciples) and said, "What are you seeking?" One version says, "What do you want?"
I prayed for God to speak to my heart and change my life with the passage I was about to read (as is my custom when I get ready to read my Bible). I consider it an opportunity to have a real encounter with the Lord of the universe so I open his Word with expectation and he always honors my request to know more of him and for the Holy Spirit to grow me in some area of my life. If you aren't already practicing this, I encourage you to try it! I'm convinced you'll be glad you did!
So....what are you seeking? How do you answer that question? Let's begin with the word "seeking." You know I'm a word geek! :-)
Seek:
To try to locate or discover; search for.
To endeavor to obtain or reach
To go to or toward:
In other words, was Jesus asking, "What are you trying to locate or discover in your life? What are you searching for? What is it that you are endeavoring to reach or obtain? What are you going toward?
How do we know the answer to this question? I believe that the key is in this definition. Would the people who see you most often and know you best, family, close friends, co-workers, guess what you are seeking, what you are trying to obtain or reach? Can they see what you "go toward?" It seems logical that the things we are seeking most come to light based on what we are doing. If I could stand back and observe my habits, what kind of "seeking" would they reveal? How do I spend my time, my resources, my talents?
If I'm doing as Jesus instructed, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...." then I think I'm going to have some skin in the game, don't you? What is showing up as the affection(s)of my heart? What do I spend my time away from work doing? What kinds of things do I talk about and how do I talk? Does that depend on who I'm talking with? What do I enjoy for entertainment? Where do my thoughts wander when I have a few free moments? Do I pray as I go through my day? None of us is perfect in any of these areas! But what characterizes me? What is the pattern of my day to day? Good thoughts to consider on a beautiful day!
I pray our God be gracious to each of us and lead us into right seeking!
Still Climbing,
Cher
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