Your Habits Say More Then You Think

Over the past few days I've started to realize that the way people act every day doing the mundain things of life, also reflects how they act in their spiritual life. Just like those who procrastinate when completing a project for work they also procrastinate in areas like repenting or giving up a bad and sinful habit. If a person tends to hit the snooze button too many times trying to get a few more minutes of much enjoyed sleep, they most likely hit the snooze button when it comes to speaking up for Christ.

In contrast, those who rise early everymorning eager to get everything done on their "to do" list, also makes it a priority to seek Him early as the Bible commands (Pro. 8:17). People like my mother who deny themselves of things they enjoy because they know it is good for them, also deny themselves of the pleasure of giving into the flesh.

For a long time now I've known that I need to drink more water. It's not that I don't like water, but that I'm just not thirsty. From the time I was a little girl I've never taken in much liquid. I just couldn't make myself see the purpose of drinking if I wasn't thirsty  . . .  unless, of course, there was Kool-Aid in the refrigerator. But this week I finally decided that I was going to start drinking a healthy amount of water. There are so many bennefits that comes with it like, sinus relief, energy boost, detoxination, and I've read it even lessens muscle cramps and sprains. So I've started out by drinking at least 64 ounces a day. It may not be as much as I need, but it is way more then I use to drink! Now I am drinking water from the time I get up in the morning till about two hours before I go to bed. At first it comes as a habit, but after a while I began to crave the water.

But wait, did you think I was changing the subject? Let's look at how we can compare this to our spiritual life. I'm drinking water because I know it will improve my health. I know that if I spend more time with God my spiritual life will be healthier, but do I do it? Saddly, not like I should. Just like I've been drinking water by the hour, I should be seeking God by the hour. A chapter of the Bible here, a verse to think about there, a prayer to God in the morning, a meditation on his goodness in the after noon . . . and before I know it I will be thirsty for more of God. Just like my body will become healthier, so will my spiritual life.

I believe my health is worth the effort I'm putting into it, but isn't my walk with God even more important? Most definately!

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:

for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

A Recipe For a Good Day

from February 23, 2008 . . .

Last week was a very good one for me. Two days specifically, were two of the best days I have had in a long time. Life is so much easier when you are in a good mood and I believe it is easier for God to use you as well because your heart is open. You will have a better chance at having a good day when . .

Your heart is right with God

This is the first step. The Bible says inPsalms 43:5, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." When everthing is right with God I always feel so much better than when things are not. When it has been a while since I read my Bible and I only pray short prayers not from the heart, I start to feel sluggish or listless. But when I turn my heart back to where I should be I feel the life come back to me! Everything is always better when I have God by my side.

You get plenty of sleep

Last week I was . . . well . . .behind in my school. That means I had to work extra hard to catch up before my tests and homework assignments were due. Two nights before they were due I stayed up late to get everything done. When I was finally able to collaps into bed after 11 PM, I fell asleep with no problem and didn't wake up until the alarm went off the next morning. The sleep I got those two nights were so refreshing! I went about my day as happy as can be.

I think for some it is "cool" to go with hardly any sleep. They think that it is mature or adult-like to be so busy that there isn't enough time to get enough sleep that they really need. But when we have a good nights rest we will be able to get a whole lot more done the next day. In the long run, we will make more of our time if we take the time to rest.

You eat healthy

It was a Wednesday afternoon. After I got off work I had to run by the grocery store to buy some baking goods for mama. After I found everything I needed I slowly walked past the bakery section of the store. There were cakes, pies, cookies, cup cakes . . . a lot of deliciouse sweets! Yes, I knew that I had already had snacks the previouse Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but I was craving sugar pretty bad! As I walked towards the checkout lane I thought I might find some kind of candy bar on the self. However, the shortest lane was the only one that didn't have any snacks in the isle. Oh well. As I drove home I considered stopping by Dairy Queen for an ice-cream. A cookie-dough blizard would be really good right now! But do I feel like spending all that time in the drive thru? (They are usually slow.) So I then thought about stopping at a convenient store for a Snickers Bar. That's when I realized just how much trouble I was in. I was addicted to sugar.

The next two days I didn't eat any sugar at all. Since then I have had a little bit on the weekends and maybe a bite or two of a snack durring the week, but not every day. I noticed right off that I had more energy and my mind didn't feel foggy. I was able to think clearer and I got along with everyone so much easier. Amazingly, I even talked slower! I always talk fast, and there are some words that I have tried to say slower but I really couldn't make my mouth slow down. After I (sort of) gave up on the sugar I was able to talk without people saying, "Huh?" This shouldn't be surprizing because sugar is known to cause hyperactivity in children. Now I know that it also makes your mouth hyper too! ; )

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These are a few things that I have been trying to do lately that have really made a differance in me. Of course I still have those days don't go very smooth to say the least, but I don't know if I will ever be rid of them. Other things that will help is exercising a few days a week and getting at least 15 minutes of sunlight every day. I have failed in fitting those two things back into my schedule. : ( But I'm still trying!

But above all, make sure your heart is where it needs to be. Even if you are the healthiest you have ever been, God can make you misserable if you are not obedient to His Word. God always comes first!

Planning Ahead

I use to think that those who always ate whole wheat bread, salads very frequently, only drank water and bought fresh vegetables were overly concerned with their health. I had no appreciation for nutrition whatsoever. This mindset was probably inherited from my parents who use to let us eat whatever we wanted - to an extent. In the past few years however, mama has made a full turn around!

When mama started to have problems with her health she looked for natural ways to heal them. She started reading article after article and many books on healthy eating. Now she is grinding her own wheat that she buys from Bread Beckers and cooks everything in it's most natural state as possible. We eat brown rice, homemade wheat pasta, and very little fried and processed foods. At first we didn't like some of the changes she made, but when she got the recipes just right we loved them! For instance, mama doesn't make our bread with strictly wheat because it is too heavy and has too strong of a wheat flavor, so now she adds a little bit of white flour.I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to go back to white rice, white bread and other foods that are made with strictly white flour. Most foods have a better taste when they are in their most natural state and haven't been bleached and deprived of their nutrition.

Now when it comes to snacks . . . lets just say we don't go without them! Store bought ice-cream still finds it's way into our house . . . pretty frequently! But we try to make our homemade deserts as healthy as possible by using wheat flour, natural white and brown sugar, natural cinnamon, and honey sometimes. Again, if we don't like a particular dessert with all wheat, we will add white flour to the recipe. The same rule goes with honey. Too much of it often makes the dessert taste more like honey than anything else. Mama has found ways to make them a little healthier without substituting taste for nutrition. We all love our desserts.

Now that we eat right and take care of our bodies that God gave us, we feel better, aren't sick as often, and have more energy. I realize that mama has made these changes in our diet because she loves us and wants the best for us.

As I get older, I begin to think more about what I will do one day with my family. Three years ago I didn't give nutritious food any thought except for knowing that I should make my children eat their vegetables (out of the can which is not nourishing). Now I am planning on keeping my precious family healthy. I want them to feel good, (which will put them in a better mood) and live with as few health problems as possible. Because of mama's decision to change our eating habits I will now be able to start my family off right . . . and so could you!