Give Love

Having reached a plateau in my weight loss, I press on.  I may not have lost any more  weight, but I feel healthier than I've ever felt in my life.  

Today, in  my exercises, I pondered on things that have been happening in our nation.  Recently, the motto of our nation is "love wins". For me, love already won on the day my savior was crucified for my sin.  Yet, as I was exercising, I looked at my shirt, one of the first shirts I'd ever bought to exercise in.  It reads: "Give love".  Yet, are we, as Christians, really giving love?  Are we showing God's love?

Before I begin, allow me to say, I am a Christian.  Therefore, I believe the Bible in its entirety.  If you want to know what I believe in or don't believe, read the Bible.  I believe what it says. 

Yet, if you knew me before I was 20, you know that I had a past.  Did I partake in the sins that many teenage and young adults partake in? No, I did not.  However, I was the most judgemental Christian I knew.  I condemned a friend who told me he was homosexual.  I never had a chance to witness to him because I cut him away from my life entirely.  I went to a party (which I was completely uncomfortable in) and a friend said, "oh no, we are all going to hell" when he saw me.  Could I witness Christ's love to him? No, because all he saw was my condemnation of his sin.  Even Christian friends that didn't know me then but are friends now tell me that I wouldn't have been their friend then, because of my judgemental attitude.

So, now that you know my past, allow me to continue with my heartbreakening honesty.  I believe we, as Christians, are somehow missing the boat here.  In wanting to be like Proverbs 31, I believe the Proverbs 31 woman is a woman who gives love.  

Recently, I had an opportunity to have a long discussion with my husband about life. He said something I will never forget, "I may be a Christian but I'm not going to join the hate wagon."  So, in these last days... Yes, I believe these are the last days, but I've believed that long before a court decision or what has happened in the media...I want to encourage us all to give love.  Give Christ's love.

My husband and I are youth leaders and recently we had the opportunity to attend a Christian concert.  (I am a music nut... But I especially love music that uplifts God, His Son, and His Word!!). We heard a young man (Colton Dixon) speak to the crowd about it being the last days.  He said something along the lines of: in the last days, the Bible says we will do greater works than Christ.  Then, he said, how many people have you raised from the dead? How many people have you seen healed?  How many people have you lead to Christ?

Ouch! That hurts!  Matthew 24:12 says that because sin will abound, the love of many will grow cold (or fade away).  As a former self-proclaimed judgemental Christian, I believe that's what we are doing.  We are too busy spewing hate to show love.  The bible says that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God.  After that, to love your neighbor.  It doesn't say that our neighbor would share our beliefs.  Moreover, the great commission tells us that we are to take the word of God to the sinner.  So, get out of your comfort zone.  Get off of your social media condemnation and go out and find the sinner.  (Remember Matthew 7 tells us to take care of our own sins--through Christ--before we judge or worry about others' sins.). Go beyond your church walls and find the sinner.  Give them Christ.  Give love.

A Proverbs 31 woman gives love.

In His Image

Lately, so many things have reminded me that we are created in the image of God. From reading a Facebook post about images and how people judge the human body to hearing a new song that talks about not trying to live up to man's suggestion of what our image should be. 

Genesis 1:27 says that God created both man and woman in His image.  How much more should we reflect on this, than on Social media, magazines, the television, or even what our friends might say.  I want to reflect God, not promote the newest beauty or fitness product.

1 Corinthians 6:15 tells us that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Because of such, God calls us to take care of His temple, our bodies.  In pursuing a life of faith and fitness, this is what we are called to do.  In the same chapter, verse 20 tells us that our bodies were bought with a price and that we are to glorify God with our bodies, for they are not ours!

Psalm 139 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  The new living translations says it like this, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it!"   Be proud of who you are!  Rest in the fact that you are His!  His creation! His image!  His love!

Can a Proverbs 31 woman be single?

Hi all, yes I've been away from the computer for a little while.  Without making excuses it's called "end-of-the-year-teacher-syndrome", which is a severe case of being super busy and super tired at the same time.  You don't have to be a teacher to understand this concept.  

Well, a few weeks ago, while looking for an image, I came upon a question that said "Can a Proverbs 31 woman be single?"  Without reading the website related to said image, I pondered on this for weeks.  You may ask why I, a married woman, would think on such things.  I remember being single.  Moreover, I remember being single in church.  I would hear things such as, "I can't wait until you're married so you can do [x] in the church..."  Such statements would make me upset.  I mean, my grandmother was a Pastor.  My grandmother.  Anyway, in my studying, I have found that a Proverbs 31 woman doesn't have to be married.  Allow me to explain. 

One study bible states that the Proverbs 31 woman refers to the church.  Another says that the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman can be found in either gender.  So, in summarizing, a Proverbs 31 woman is a person that seeks after God with purpose. 

A woman (or man) can be complete in God.  I recently attended a women's conference with ladies from my church.  In it, the speaker stated that feminism has no place in Christianity.  She was referring to the modern-day concept of the husband not being the head of the household, but rather that both husband and wife should be equal.  Yet, Biblically, the husband is the head of the household, just as Christ is the head of the church.   

My husband does not complete me.  I was a complete person, made whole through Christ Jesus, long before I met my husband.  My husband does not complete me; he compliments me.  He adds value to my life.  Let me explain.  Recently my husband built a deck on our back porch.  Our house was already completed.  The deck did not complete the house.  But, it did compliment the house and add value to it.  The same is with a husband.  

So, can a Proverbs 31 woman be single?  The bible states that it is better for one to be single.  But, if he/she cannot remain single, then they should marry.  Can you be like the Proverbs 31 woman and be single? YES!  Can you be like the Proverbs 31 woman and be married?  YES!  Can you be like the Proverbs 31 woman and be a man? YES!  Just like that woman, seek after God with your whole heart!  Then, take care of your family.   That is the essence of a Proverbs 31 woman!

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This journey is about faith and fitness and becoming a better me.  You may ask about my fitness.  I'm still working towards becoming fit.  I've always been skinny.  Even after having kids, because of my height, I've been considered by others to be skinny.  Let me say this: skinny is not fit.  I was skinny, but I was not fit!  I'm still working to become a better, stronger version of myself!  Want to work along with me, I've created a youtube playlist of the songs/workouts I do each morning.  Check it out here.