Food for...Thinking

I have not done great this week with my daily reading of the Word, but I will say that my conviction has not lessened. I am slowly becoming more active on these convictions where I will just stop what I'm doing and just have my quiet time with God- not every times mind you, but it's getting there. I still need to stop making these excuses in my head, though, and this is what I am going to reflect on. Thoughts.

I fall prey to the sin of my own thinking. Sometimes I feel like if anyone could hear my thoughts they would see me as such an awful person. But right there is flaw. For one, God knows my thoughts, so I should be just as ashamed if not more so with others, and two, I care too much about what others think. I'm the classic "people pleaser". A friend of mine loaned me a book after we were talking about this "fear of man" many of us struggle with, and I've slowly began to read it (I'm more of a leisure reader of fiction- if I have time/make time to read, easy reading fiction is my first choice). It's called When People are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch. In the introduction, the author goes on to describe very similar experiences that I had from my school years and on. In fact, just the other day, I had the classic middle school worry of if I was walking funny and what others might be thinking about how I walk. So silly, but we all think it one time or another- what do people really think about me. The common remedy for this affliction that the author also talked about trying is the classic thought of "who cares!" The basic line of defense as a believer is the thought that "I have already measured up because of what Christ did for me. He loves me, and He has made me righteous, not others." Like the author I have found the mental recitation of this line to myself not holding much stability for the long haul. But through God's Word there is another way out of this strangling mind set (I have to read more of the book to find out,  but I'll keep you posted, those of you who struggle with this same crippling "fear of man").

I believe these self-esteem problems begin, though, with our thoughts. I'm a very introspective from day to day; often "rehearsing" conversations and reflecting back on discussions (yes, out loud, in my car- I'm sure other drivers think I'm crazy having a full conversation with myself). This may be why many people post uplifting and inspiring quotes. I love quotes as much as the next person (or should I say as the next teacher; we love quotes... and pinterest), but at some point aren't we just trying to fill our thoughts with positivity to make ourselves feel better? When I put it that way, it sounds so selfish- like a shallow, unexamined life of self-destruction. I can't just think positivity all the time; I'm a human, a sinner, like us all, who will eventually fall short. My pastor asked a question (that I found written down on one of my many bulletins) that says "What is going to keep you from believing your own nonsense?" Naturally, apart from God's grace, our tendency is to push aside and "suppress" the truth thinking that we can make our own decisions. Of course we can't. All we need to do for proof of this is to look at the imperfections in our history and society. We need God's Word and other believers around us in order to block out our own nonsensical "solutions".
               Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit , and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

My own discernment is nothing compared to the creator's and my Savior who took care of my biggest problem through His death on the cross. One of the other awesome quotes that I wrote down also ties into this idea of our thoughts - "If you do not control your thinking, you will begin to lose control of your actions." My thoughts are a dangerous pathway to destruction either in hurtful words I may say or actual actions. I need this daily reminder, and I need to continue to dive into God's Word daily because if not I will start believing the nonsense of my own thinking.

Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." 

Time to Declutter

The title for my first post has a double meaning. The literally meaning being… my Bible is stuffed full of bulletins from the past few months and I must clean it out. The second meaning is more personal. Each Sunday I feel the Holy Spirit working in my mind and heart, and I take copious notes on phrases, verses, and thoughts I want to remember. But for any of you like me, I need to communicate and ponder on these things to truly learn and take them to heart. So, that is one of the main purposes for this blog.

I've never really done a blog before. In fact, I feel a little behind the times to now start one so late in the game. I mean, the word "blog" was officially added to the dictionary in 2004 when I was starting high school for crying out loud. Where have I been? Yes, I jumped on the bandwagon a few years back but never really had a driving purpose to keep one up.

Really, this blog is just for me to get out thoughts I've had on messages I've heard or from my daily walk with God and reading His Word. I named this blog Biblical Health Renewal because I've been on a health kick as of late. Two weeks ago, I stepped on the scale and my heart dropped. I had never seen those particular three numbers in that order show up on the dialog screen. Right then I knew I needed to make some sort of change in my eating and exercising habits. I'm not a particularly large person by any means, but I think if you feel "out of shape" or unsatisfied with how you feel after you eat, then it's time for you to do something about it. So I did. Of course nowadays, "there's an app for that", and I took the plunge into the eating healthy pool of salads and low-carb meals. I'm happy to say, I feel great. My appetite has subsided from its usual "I need to eat all the time" mindset. Water has become satisfying to me, and I'm activity working in some type of exercise into my daily routine. But, as great as I feel about my eating habits, I'm not happy with my habits spiritually. Every Sunday I crave The Word and openly give praise for all of the great things He has done. I leave church with this sense of revival and yearning to start my week off soaking my mind in His Word and in meditation and prayer, and yet, it's Friday night and I realize I have maybe opened my Bible twice this week. I somehow come up with excuses for why I don't have the time to read or the right words to pray. My hope is that by using this platform, even if I'm the only one who ever reads it, I will be reminded and committed to write out my thoughts on what I'm reading and learning in the Bible. I don't want my "quiet time" or daily walk with God to be a quick "going through the motions" type of habit. I need to contemplate more on His teachings and how it relates to my life.

So, here it is. I'm getting rid of mindless thoughts and information like celebrity gossip and reading Buzzfeed articles every night before going to bed, and I am going to focus on what truly matters. God's Word and all that He has in store for us as His children. Here is my surrender to Christ and His will for me.

P.S. Since I'm a teacher, oh course I will using wonderful clipart or pictures in my posts because who doesn't learn better with visuals!