Sunday, January 9, 2011

Real Resolutions & a Winner

Wow...so after going to church tonight I am excited and have so many thoughts going through my mind. The sermon was looking about the importance of caring for our bodies WHY!! The sermon had many layers and I will try to summarize what jumped out at me. He talked about how we put time into making resolutions: to lose weight, eat better, get stonger, run faster, ect. We all do this but WHY, what motivates us?
Bathing suits, magazines, or six packs, a P.R??

Rarely do we say we want to be healthy so we can serve, share and go where ever God may call us, to be physically able to be His hands and feet in this world. The pastor shared an example of how physically if we ate oreo's everyday and only chose one day to eat a well balanced meal such as fish,veggies,and baked potato we would not be able to be HEALTHY. That just wouldn't work. We would get on the scale and and see no results.

The same is TRUE about our SPIRITUAL health. So many of us...spend all week focused on the world and things that take us away from God and then make time to go to church for an hour and a half and expect to be HEALTHY. I have fallen into this pattern many times. This really is the part that convicted me. I will think about training and running several times a week but will give only minutes to God each day...if that. Is it any surprise that I am not getting the results I want.

Our bodies were created to glorify God!
To be healthy physically we have to eat well, exercise and rest.
To be healthy spiritually we have to get in the Word, exercise our faith through worship, prayer, service, and rest!

So physically I am excited to begin training for my second marathon.

But what am I training for as a believer?
How am I being a good steward of the gift of my body??

He shared some quote by C.S. Lewis that I liked and something you can ponder on.
"you don't have a soul, you are your soul. You have a body, you are not your body."
(this is deep, re-read)

Like I said my mind is still whirling! It seems so clear but not so easy. So like I said the sermon was full of layers and I wish I could share it more clearly but hopefully you get the jist of things.

If you want to ponder this more here are some verses you may want to check out.
3 John 2
2 Corinthians 6:12
Psalm 119
Pslam 139

Here is the verse that really spoke to me.
Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value of for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Timothy 4:8


Thanks for listening....hope this enhances your training plan...would love to hear you thoughts.

CONGRATS Abbi from Higher Miles! You are the RoadID winner!! Woo Hoo!

8 comments:

Kerrie said...

Great post! I love the CS Lewis quote. I also believe running is spiritual. Sometimes it helps me clear my mind of all the unimportant things and focus on what I need to: loving my family, myself, being thankful that I can breath in and out, and that I have a home to go back to with people who love me, etc.

But this year, I have been thinking a lot about religion, too. We got out of the habit of going to church and I want to get back into the habit. In some ways church is like a long run: it sets you up for a good week ahead. Know what I mean?

abbi said...

I love when something really gets you thinking about the underlying reasons. Sounds like it was a great day for you.

And, yay, I won!! Exciting!!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Wonderful post!

I think many of us don't talk in terms of keeping our bodies fit to do God's work because such directness often turns people away. Sad, but true. I share such directness occassionally and try to show His love always. I feel one of my gifts is being able to push myself to lengths that others find impossible or at least to challenging to attempt. I use that as a way to try and inspire people to take better care of themselves as a whole person.

Eryn said...

What a stinking great post! I LOVE IT! What church to you attend in WA? Does your church post the messages online? I'd love to listen if they do.

Really great reminder that my body is not my own :) All I have belongs to the Lord, including my body.

Anonymous said...

Love this. Don't you just love when the sermon falls right in line with what is on your mind/heart?

Erika said...

Great post!
I'm running Nashville April 30th and Kalamazoo May 8th!
Good luck with training, it will be nice to have someone to "train with" :)

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail said...

You deep thinker--so glad the sermon touched you deeply andyou shared with us!

Remind me next week, I would like to join you Sunday evening!

The Hungry Runner Girl said...

WOW!!! I am so glad we are new blog friends. I NEEDED to read this TODAY!! i have been slacking on my spiritual health lately and you are totally inspiring me to spend more time on it. Really, thank you!