Monday, September 29, 2008

Women of Faith Nuggets

Oh friends, I'm still floating after this weekend. It was wonderful. Can I share, in a random sort of way, a few of the things that were special to me?

First...prayer IS the battle. I referenced it Saturday evening, but it is the place we get our orders from God! It is SO important and I was so convicted over my lack of time spent in prayer lately.

Second, and this thought just took my breath away: You have never lived an unloved moment in your life. God has always and will always love you. Even when it doesn't feel like it, you are loved.

Then Sheila Walsh said this..."Pouring out sorrow makes space for grace." That made me feel so much better about getting flat and crying my eyes out over a few things.

Sandy Patti commented during her testimony that she had talked about grace for years, but it wasn't until she NEEDED grace that she fully understood it. Amen to that....and let me tell you she did a beautiful job of sharing her story with us.

As powerful and beautiful as each speaker was, and as much as I took from each one I kept thinking that there has to be ONE thing that God wants to impress on me. There was...

Saturday this verse was referenced

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy and you Christians are that temple."


For whatever reason this verse just really stood out to me so I asked God why? I LOVE my fellow believers! But God impressed on me specifically verse 17. "God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy and you Christians are the temple."

For quite sometime I've been led to verses like this. I just "assumed" that God was talking about thoughts, gossip, attitude toward His church...that sort of thing. BUT, the more I prayed asking Him to search my heart and mind to show me where my attitude, actions or thoughts needed to change...the more UNsettled I became.

This weekend however I knew exactly what He has been trying to beat into my brain...

It's my physical body.

I haven't been taking very good care of it. Most days, I drink A LOT of coffee for breakfast, skip lunch and eat dinner with the family. Most nights, I have a popcorn snack before bedtime.

Exercise...well that just doesn't happen. Occasionally I'll take a walk, but for the most part I count playing with the girls in the backyard as my entire exercise routine. As fun as that is, it isn't enough.

I've had this attitude that since I'm not"overweight" I don't really have to be watching what I eat and exercise is optional. I KNOW, I KNOW...I AM WRONG!!! Go on and laugh out loud, I know it sounds ludicrous!

SO....God has been trying to get my attention and I've been ignoring it.

Last Monday on our way home from Charlotte, I started feeling really strange. Just really weak. I attributed it to the heat in the church we were in, the long drive and it being VERY late. Tuesday, the headache came and didn't go away until Friday morning. Then of course, Women of Faith meant a late Friday night and an early Saturday morning. By the time I got home on Saturday evening, I was plum tuckered!

I say all this to say...God is showing me that I need to take better care of the temple He has entrusted to me. How in the world can I keep up the schedule that He is calling me to keep when I'm skipping meals and living on coffee.

Conviction fell hard on me.

So, I've spent sometime today brainstorming on what to eat for breakfast and when I can work in 30 minutes of exercise. Here is what my new schedule looks like.

5:00-5:30 walking on treadmill. I will borrow Chad's MP3 player, listen to praise music and have some prayer time.

5:30-6:00 my time in the word before the girls and Chad get up and need something.
(my coffee maker is set for 6:15 so it will not be ready until AFTER I've exercised AND had my quiet time.)

I will eat breakfast with my girls INSTEAD of starting laundry, emptying the dishwasher and getting a head start on dinner while they sit at the bar and watch me rush through the morning chores!

I've posted this because it will keep my accountable. Feel free to ask me how the schedule is going, you will keep me honest!

I want so badly to as Hebrews 12:1 says run with endurance the race that God has set before me. I want to run it to the best of my ability and right now, my diet and lack of healthy living is keeping me from running my best.

God used this weekend to open my eyes to this. I know that for most of you this won't seem like "much", but it is HUGE to me. It is fresh to me. I questioned posting about it, but God said to do it...so I had to. :)

If you were there last weekend, share your thoughts!

14 comments:

Melinda said...

First of all, I ADORE Women of Faith! I've been to 7 conferences over the years and those women are precious to me...wonderful keepers of the faith!

Secondly, perhaps you remember my "Making a Mockery" post. This reminds me of that, as God so convicted me in this area. I'm happy to report that things are better and I'm making a concerted effort to be able to more effectively run my race. I'm cheering you on sweet girl! Be glad you're getting a start on it at your age, so you're not "making a mockery" at MY age! :o)

Hugs,
Melinda

God's girl said...

Girl that is good stuff. God just recently brought this to my attention too or rather i just "got it". I was doing the deeper still study and Priscilla posed the question something that God has asked you to do that you are procrastinating and that lack of obedience is really just disobedience. I kept asking God what I have been procrastinating. It was the same thing and God brought that verse to me about the body being the temple. SO girl, I am lifting prayers for you! I too am on the same path. So, ask me too how it is going.
Much love,
Angela

connorcolesmom said...

I don't think my last comment posted b/c I clicked the close button and then realized that I had the wrong word verification :(
Anyway you have some fantastic wisdom and insight
I love the last part about your schedule and accountablity
I am so with you on this one :)
I need to do a better job of enjoying life and not rushing through it :)
Love ya sweet friend,
Kim

Patty said...

Actually, I love every bit of what you shared. God has been convicting me to drink more water and I have not, due to issues after my surgeries I can't exercise like I used to and so I haven't done much and that is wrong. Even if I walk a little it is better than none! We have been eating healthier and treating ourselves but in moderation. Thank you so much for sharing this! I am believing God to help me and give me strength in this area!
Have a great day!
Love you,
Patty

BethAnne said...

If I were your neighbor, I would expect to have "Walk around the neighborhood with Beth" added to the list!!! hahhaa No really I WOULD EXPECT THAT!!! ;-)

Glad you had a great time and took away some practical 'nuggets' to share with all your blog friends. I love "pouring out sorrow makes space for grace".....that is GOOOOD.

Kara Akins said...

I wasn't there but it sounds like so much fun. I've been exercising lately. I am walking in the neighborhood. We have a lot of hills so it is some work. I am also taking my vitamins for the first time in my life. Slowly but surely I am getting stronger and gaining ground with my health. When I walk and think of you I'll pray for you and all the siestas out there who are aiming to do better. It amazes me how much God cares about this area of our lives. He is practically forcing me to exercise b/c we only have one car now so there isn't anything else to do while Jack is at work all day! It's almost funny that God has so simplified our schedules to such a degree that our health is getting some much needed attention.

Dorothy Champagne said...

I've never been at one of these conferences - but it sounds great! I am in the "weight loss" industry, so I do have that part under control, just remember to set attainable goals for yourself. If a half hour work out routine every day is too much (it is for me) then just say, "I'm going to walk around the block with the kids or dogs every evening at 5:00". It may only take 10-15 minutes - but it's still exercise, and you start to look forward to it.
My situation was 'quiet time'. How can I fit in all I need to do, get in some exercise, get school stuff ready and still have time to do devotions. Once I made the commitment and asked God for help (that's the big kicker) I naturally wake up about an hour before the kids do (wide awake), I go straight to the computer and hit my morning devotions website - spend some time in prayer and then off with my other daily activities. I just realized this the other day - I actually now have MORE time in my day. I have no idea how, because my schedule is crazy, but God knew I wanted to make Him a priority and blessed me for it - I truly believe that. Anyway - I'm rambling - great post :)

Heather said...

It seems pretty big to me! Anytime God speaks a message so clearly and directly, it's HUGE! So happy to hear about your "word" and I will be praying for you! I love how you love Him, Steph. It encourages me to love Him more!
Have a great rest of the week!

Profbaugh said...

Oh Steph,

Don't you just love it when God speaks so clearly that you're convicted???

He is just so stinkin' good. I love, love, love hearing your story. It encourages me to stay on the path I'm on. Yup, I got a similar wake-up call. . .even hired a spiritual life coach to keep kicking my butt and holding me accountable. And, she's doing one heck of a job.

So, stick to your plan. Otherwise, I might just have to send my life coach over your way. And believe me unless you want one sore rear end, it's best to simply listen to the Master!!

Much love,
~Cheryl

Donna @ Way More Homemade said...

What a precious word God had for you. I love it when He speaks so personally like that... especially when it wasn't necessarily what the speakers were talking about. LOVE IT!

One thing I would add to that schedule... go to bed on time. That's my down-fall. My schedule is similar.

TAMI said...

He's faithful to complete this work He's started in you, and I celebrate that you're still listening and surrendering and moving WITH Him!

Fran said...

I'm so proud of you Steph. Things with my mom and also finishing Beth Moore's study on God's Dwelling Place has turned me around with the whole "lets take care of the body" thing.

I know exactly what you are saying. I'm praying for your committment. We can do this thing together!!!

big hugs,
Fran

Anonymous said...

Whew...Girl! I am so with you on this one. And I see we are not alone with 12 other comments out there. We talked about this just tonight in our ScreamFree Parenting class. The quote reference was "What must last, must come first." Ya hear it all the time, Mom's putting everyone else first. But really, God's been saying it for years! :)

Take care of that temple of yours, y'all!!!

Carol said...

Five AM??? Phew. That's all I can say. You go girl!!