So I just finished reading the book Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. This is one of the books my friend Ginger and I were reading in our little long-distance book club:) I wanted to sit down and write my thoughts on it right away before it all leaves this pregnant mind of mine!
Disease-Proof You Child is a book about feeding your children well when they are little in order to lessen illness presently and in their future adulthood. I have been thinking a lot about the epidemic of cancer there seems to be in our country and he talks A LOT about cancer prevention which was very beneficial to me. Basically I had heard most of what he writes about due to the fact that health has definitely been somewhat of a hobby of mine since I was in high school. The main idea of the book was eat real food. Eat vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds predominantly, cut out completely dairy, white flour, sugar, oil and most animal products. He definitely hails saturated fats as an absolute no-no, which I agree with. The thing that was the hardest for me was the thought of giving up cheese and butter both of which I eat moderately but enjoy immensely! I was glad to be encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables and to continue Zoe on her diet of mainly vegetables, beans, fruit and whole grain. The only meat that she eats are the turkey hot dogs I get at the health food store which I am considering phasing out. I have definitely quit giving Zoe cheese and I have started using Earth's Balance instead of butter. The MAIN thing that I got out of the book was EAT MORE VEGETABLES! They contain so many God-given disease fighting compounds that it just makes sense!
One thought before I close this post...I just want to end this by saying that I DO believe that we have a responsibility to take care of our bodies and especially to feed our children as well as possible in order for them to be healthy and able to fight off disease BUT I do not believe in it becoming an obsession...I have been there. A verse in the Daily Light (the little devotional that I read to Zoe every morning while she eats her breakfast) stood out to me in relation to this book I have been reading: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODY THAT IT MAY BE CONFORMED TO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Phil. 3:20-21 The thought crossed my mind as I read the verse...I can do my best health wise for myself and my family but ultimately we dwell in a "lowly body." What we are going to be is not yet revealed and what is in store for us when HE comes back will be GLORIOUS. I am clinging to this and excited for that day. I am excited to pray that my children will grasp this as well, that they will not only be as healthy here as possible (physically) but most importantly spiritually healthy. I pray this for myself and I give all of the rest to the one who created us not for ourselves but for HIMSELF. "All things were created through Him and FOR HIM." Rom 14:9
1.16.2007
1.12.2007
Baggage...
Wednesday night was my first time at "Mrs. in Ministry," a group of women who are wives of seminary students that attend RTS. The reason that I went on this particular evening was because the guest speaker was a professor that Jeremy had whom he had especially enjoyed. Sharon Hersh is a counselor/professor/speaker out of Colorado who comes to our RTS campus and teaches one week crash courses. The class that Jer had taken with her was her addictions class and from the discussions we had over dinner every night that week, I could tell was awesome. All that to say, I was really excited to see that she would be the speaker and made plans to attend...
I had no clue what to expect other than knowing I would meet fellow RTS wives and hear Sharon give something like a talk...of course (so like God) her talk was EXACTLY what I needed to hear.
Sharon spoke on surrender...but not like you think. She spoke about baggage...but not like you usually hear baggage spoken about especially among Christians. It was inspiring to say the least, and yes, convicting. Her points were: 1. You need yourself; but not like you think 2. You need others; a lot more than you think 3. You need communion; much more often than we partake. (communion as in the Lord's Supper)
When speaking of our baggage, the baggage that we ALL have and carry, she used an interesting statement that she had heard during her alcohol addiction treatment: "the question is not whether or not we have baggage, but with what do we carry our baggage." Of course when she said this all of my years of "christianese" ran through my head. Thoughts like, uh oh this can't be right because of course we "leave our baggage at the cross" and surely if you are truly "spiritual" you have dropped that old baggage never to be picked up again! It's so good to have our "thoughts" challenged...and often! Anyway, I didn't tune her out I leaned in to listen harder...what did she mean "carry it?" And how was this "theologically correct" (can you just hear that lovely tint of PRIDE ringing through my reaction...O wretched man!) She listed the ways we carry our baggage...the baggage carriers of 1) Addictions -whether that be the dramatic addictions like alcohol or drugs or maybe just food, shopping, etc. Whatever that thing is that we engage in just "to take the edge off" 2) The Law or Legalism-this is the one that made tears creep down my cheeks...this is the one that carries baggage by keeping all of the "rules" and making sure everything is super in line and that only that which is presentable is shown 3) Self Effort-this is the one where people just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and carry it themselves "thank you very much!" and then 4) The RISEN Christ
She spoke of the different baggage we carry: shame, disfigurement, pain, giftedness, etc... The point she was making was not whether or not we have the baggage but HOW we CARRY IT! She wasn't saying that you don't address things or work through your "baggage" but what she was saying was that Jesus came to be our "baggage carrier!" Consider this "Come to me all you who labor and have a lot of bags and I will give you rest." Isn't that what He said! Also interesting was the point that it is not so much the crucifixion that we are clinging to here in this instance (we are doing that too) but we are clinging to and discovering the wonderful RISEN Christ. The one that has the power to heap our "bags" onto Himself and take us where we need to go.
Wow. There was so much more said. The thing that resonated with me the most is that thought of the Risen Christ...alive, powerful, living in me and reading and willing to carry all of my bags. I am meditating on this. I am not ashamed that I still have "baggage", that, you know, in reality, it's not all in order...and no I am not over it all...I am still on this journey towards the Healer but more importantly I am soaking in the stark reality that I CAN'T carry or order all of these bags, I can't "get it all straight" and perhaps THE most important part- I DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!!" The Risen One uses broken weak vessels...as it says in scripture "to confound the wise." Those that really think they get it...people like I have a tendency to be. Then God goes and uses the least of these...maybe someone who is not quite as polished spiritually or maybe even still trying to kick some "ungodly" habit. That is when our little tidy spirituality is rocked...and you know it is absolutely the way of GOD. He uses all of us in spite of ourselves, baggage and all.
I had no clue what to expect other than knowing I would meet fellow RTS wives and hear Sharon give something like a talk...of course (so like God) her talk was EXACTLY what I needed to hear.
Sharon spoke on surrender...but not like you think. She spoke about baggage...but not like you usually hear baggage spoken about especially among Christians. It was inspiring to say the least, and yes, convicting. Her points were: 1. You need yourself; but not like you think 2. You need others; a lot more than you think 3. You need communion; much more often than we partake. (communion as in the Lord's Supper)
When speaking of our baggage, the baggage that we ALL have and carry, she used an interesting statement that she had heard during her alcohol addiction treatment: "the question is not whether or not we have baggage, but with what do we carry our baggage." Of course when she said this all of my years of "christianese" ran through my head. Thoughts like, uh oh this can't be right because of course we "leave our baggage at the cross" and surely if you are truly "spiritual" you have dropped that old baggage never to be picked up again! It's so good to have our "thoughts" challenged...and often! Anyway, I didn't tune her out I leaned in to listen harder...what did she mean "carry it?" And how was this "theologically correct" (can you just hear that lovely tint of PRIDE ringing through my reaction...O wretched man!) She listed the ways we carry our baggage...the baggage carriers of 1) Addictions -whether that be the dramatic addictions like alcohol or drugs or maybe just food, shopping, etc. Whatever that thing is that we engage in just "to take the edge off" 2) The Law or Legalism-this is the one that made tears creep down my cheeks...this is the one that carries baggage by keeping all of the "rules" and making sure everything is super in line and that only that which is presentable is shown 3) Self Effort-this is the one where people just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and carry it themselves "thank you very much!" and then 4) The RISEN Christ
She spoke of the different baggage we carry: shame, disfigurement, pain, giftedness, etc... The point she was making was not whether or not we have the baggage but HOW we CARRY IT! She wasn't saying that you don't address things or work through your "baggage" but what she was saying was that Jesus came to be our "baggage carrier!" Consider this "Come to me all you who labor and have a lot of bags and I will give you rest." Isn't that what He said! Also interesting was the point that it is not so much the crucifixion that we are clinging to here in this instance (we are doing that too) but we are clinging to and discovering the wonderful RISEN Christ. The one that has the power to heap our "bags" onto Himself and take us where we need to go.
Wow. There was so much more said. The thing that resonated with me the most is that thought of the Risen Christ...alive, powerful, living in me and reading and willing to carry all of my bags. I am meditating on this. I am not ashamed that I still have "baggage", that, you know, in reality, it's not all in order...and no I am not over it all...I am still on this journey towards the Healer but more importantly I am soaking in the stark reality that I CAN'T carry or order all of these bags, I can't "get it all straight" and perhaps THE most important part- I DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!!" The Risen One uses broken weak vessels...as it says in scripture "to confound the wise." Those that really think they get it...people like I have a tendency to be. Then God goes and uses the least of these...maybe someone who is not quite as polished spiritually or maybe even still trying to kick some "ungodly" habit. That is when our little tidy spirituality is rocked...and you know it is absolutely the way of GOD. He uses all of us in spite of ourselves, baggage and all.
1.01.2007
Resolutions...
res-o-lu-tion: the quality of being resolute: firmness, determination (from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
At this time of year many of us make "resolutions." Some serious some not so serious: lose 10 pounds, play with my kids more, spend more time with God, read more books, watch less tv, etc...
I have made so many resolutions in my lifetime but I have noticed that if it's not something that God is behind or with me in my "quality of being resolute" doesn't really measure up! This year I am really going to pray about my "resolutions." Sure I have my aspirations...be more intentional in discipling my daughter, Zoe and my soon to be son Matt, spend significant time cultivating a new friendship or two, get back into Yoga and walking once the baby comes, read more, etc... I just want to make sure that my "resolutions" are in line with the most important one and that is knowing and loving God. If that aspect suffers what does any of the rest really matter? It's easy to get caught up in whatever our "thing" is, so easy. I find myself there often. It is in those moments when I catch myself that I really have to take a deep breath and remember...just remember GOD, and more specifically Jesus.
I have to say my number one plea for 2007 is "Lord, I want to know YOU." The cool thing is that relationship with God is not attained, Biblically speaking, by determination and willpower but by grace...the unconditional, mind-blowing Grace of God. Bring it on Lord...bring it on and by this grace give me the "determination" and "firmness" of purpose to know you better!
At this time of year many of us make "resolutions." Some serious some not so serious: lose 10 pounds, play with my kids more, spend more time with God, read more books, watch less tv, etc...
I have made so many resolutions in my lifetime but I have noticed that if it's not something that God is behind or with me in my "quality of being resolute" doesn't really measure up! This year I am really going to pray about my "resolutions." Sure I have my aspirations...be more intentional in discipling my daughter, Zoe and my soon to be son Matt, spend significant time cultivating a new friendship or two, get back into Yoga and walking once the baby comes, read more, etc... I just want to make sure that my "resolutions" are in line with the most important one and that is knowing and loving God. If that aspect suffers what does any of the rest really matter? It's easy to get caught up in whatever our "thing" is, so easy. I find myself there often. It is in those moments when I catch myself that I really have to take a deep breath and remember...just remember GOD, and more specifically Jesus.
I have to say my number one plea for 2007 is "Lord, I want to know YOU." The cool thing is that relationship with God is not attained, Biblically speaking, by determination and willpower but by grace...the unconditional, mind-blowing Grace of God. Bring it on Lord...bring it on and by this grace give me the "determination" and "firmness" of purpose to know you better!
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