crap in, crap out

One of the most encouraging things in the world is a friend who makes you want to love Jesus more.  I am blessed with several people in my life like this.

I spent tonight with one of these very special people. Julie was one of the first people I met when I got to UT.  She has remained a faithful and consistent friend since the day we met at the Crusade house more than four years ago.

We spent hours catching up, talking about God, boys, friends, gas, and running.  Every time I talk with Julie I am challenged. Challenged to dive deeper into the Word. Challenged to pursue God and seek Him in a way I haven't already.  I am so thankful for that friendship.

Something we talked about that has been on my heart lately is my mind. More specifically, what is going through it.  It is so easy to let my mind dwell on things, and go places that it just does not need to go. Unfortunately, those thoughts are not limited to just one topic. 

But I've found that whatever I put in my mind consistently is what I am dwelling on.  

My track coach in high school had a favorite phrase: "you put crap in and crap is gunna come out!"

This was how she told us to eat well. Meaning if we were eating bad (which almost any high schooler can get away with because their metabolism is lightning fast), we were going to run poorly.  

Well, the same goes for my mind. When I am putting junk in, I have less control of my thoughts.  

Watching four episodes in a row of Friday Night Lights is going to have me focused on relationships, being quick to get angry, yelling (no joke, every serious conversation ends in people yelling at each other) and romanticizing a life in a small town married to a high school football coach. Seriously. That is ridiculous.  

But if I am spending time in the Word, I am focused on truth, I am trusting the Lord for my future, I am less likely to get upset, and I have a much healthier perspective of the world.  

Here is the kicker:

"But we have the mind of Christ"

1 Corinthians 2:16

I encourage you to read this whole passage (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

We have been given the wisdom of the Spirit and are not controlled by the flesh. We have the mind of Christ and we need to let him rule! Take every thought captive to Him! Let Him make those lies obedient to the truth (see previous blog war).

Live in and believe that truth today! You have the mind of Christ!!

21 days to normalcy

I've heard before that it takes 21 times of doing something to form a habit.
Its been just over a month into the semester and I've started to see lots of BAD habits beginning to take root. So after finally having enough of myself, I decided that I'm going on a 21 day trek to a normal routine.

One big reason for doing this is that fall is one of the worst seasons for me for migraines. I've had several in the last 2 weeks that have been awful. Having a normal routine, specifically normal sleep patterns, significantly helps migraines.

Another reason is that I want to try to get into a routine of having a "job." School is technically my job (only for 3 more months, praise JESUS!!) but I want to get into that routine.  I do well on routines, and college is definitely one of those times in life when no two days are the same.

I don't like having to do homework at home. I'd rather stay on campus, get my work done, and relax when I get home.  Having a routine will help that because I'll know what needs to get done at school, and then it won't feel as though school is running my life.

Lastly, I was very inspired by a Nutirgrain commercial.  It was all about making good decisions, and how one good decision leads to a whole bunch of other good decisions (watch it).  Its totally true. If I wake up and pull myself out of bed and go work out, I feel better all day, I eat better all day, I'm more productive, and I even go to bed better.  It goes the same with my relationship with God. If I get up and spend time in the Word, I am more focused on the Spirit, more in tune to what He is saying to me, and more apt to run to Him with every need.

For whatever reason I'm not so good at being regular with running right now. And I always have a tendency, like most runners, to increase my mileage, which just takes more and more time.  SO, because of that I'm going to let my friends Billy Blanks and Jillian Michaels help me out.  Yeah, thats right. Billy's Boot Camp or The 30 Day Shred every morning for the next 21 (well, 30 I guess) days.

This could turn out to be a very hilarious endeavor.
Well call today day 0. I'm also very curious to see if this habit thing works too.

Bring it on discipline!!

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  

Well, I'm off to coach some flag football. My friend's team is playing the all campus champions from last year. I made them some brownies to soften the blow . . . pray it doesn't end as I'm anticipating.  :)

Skinned Knees

Flag Football season has officially started.

Gosh. I just love it so much! And I am playing AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Ha, I don't admit this often, but when I was about 7 years-old I told my parents I didn't want to play any sports with balls. So I tried gymnastics, ballet, and swimming. Then I retreated back to soccer. Dad says I could always get to the ball first, but then would let the other team have it. I just didn't want to get hurt. Well, 15 years later, I don't feel like I've played well unless I leave the field with some sort of injury. Who would've thought.

I tried to take a picture of my skinned leg just now. Unfortunately it doesn't look cool enough to post. Sorry. I'm sure at some point this season I'll have some great skinned knees to show off. Get ready.

Today was a little crazy. I got a really bad migraine this afternoon. I haven't had one this bad in awhile. So I took some of my meds and took a 2 hour nap. About an hour after I woke up I headed back to campus to play some flag football. Probably not the best idea but it was worth it.

The game wasn't our best. It was our first co-rec game and we just have some things to work out. We'll get there, I have no doubt. Playing tonight with a migraine just made me very in tune with my body. And  it got me to thinking.

We put so much focus on our bodies in this world. From exercising to eating well, to all of these crazy new doctors and health theories. But thinking about it, our bodies dictate so much of our lives.

I have recently realized just how often I get headaches and it is really frustrating (it is like every day). Sometimes it is so bad I just have to sleep, and sometimes I can get through it.
Some days I wake up and am so unhappy with the way my body looks I would rather just trade it in. Honestly. Other days, by the grace of Jesus, I wake up and am so thankful for the way He made me, every part of it.
There are days that everything that goes into my body is incredibly beneficial to its functioning; water, milk, gatorade, salad, fruit, carbs, protein, even dark chocolate (yes, I've heard that in small portions that is good for your heart).
There are days I choose to eat donuts, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate cake. And then I sit on the couch and watch a movie.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says "Do you no know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from god? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Well, where is the line between honoring God with your body and worshiping our body?

I'll be honest here. This is definitely a struggle. I love being in shape and healthy, but sometimes my motivation for exercise and eating healthy is because I want to look good. Where is the line though?
Unfortunately there is not a clear answer for that. I think we all have to examine our hearts before the Lord and ask Him to reveal to us what our motives truly are.

Philippians 3:18-19
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.

I think thats the kicker. Where is my mind? Is it on earthly things? Because according to this verse, if I am making my stomach my god, my destiny is destruction and I am living as an enemy of Christ. I don't want that to be my mindset.

But keep going in Philippians. Verses 20 and 21 say "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

He promises to transform my lowly body and make it like his glorious one.  Yes, please.
He is in control of these headaches. He is in control of how I look. Gosh, he made me this way. I mean as hard as I try to get toned or lose weight, he is still in control. This is so humbling.

I don't have it figured out. I can't spell out to you where the line is between honoring God with my body and worshiping it. But I can choose to cling to this truth. He promises to transform me and give me a new body.  And I can choose to believe this:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

Psalm 139:14-16