What does it Mean to Live Life for the Glory of God?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

LEARN

If we are to do all things, even the seemingly insignificant things of eating and drinking for the glory of God what does that mean for our pursuit of a healthy lifestyle? It’s obvious that society emphasizes that we should be healthy and strong. It is also clear that God commands that our bodies be cared for well because they are His temple (1 Cor. 16:19). Though we see similarities in both societal and biblical directives for the care of our body, the motives behind them are world’s apart. Behind the voices of society, there are hearts, a group of people with motives that tells us why we should be desiring this kind of lifestyle. Our why behind everything that we do determines if we will bring God glory while doing it. Confronting our why is the beginning of understanding if we are worshipping God or ourselves.

In Jeremiah 17:9 the Lord calls our heart “desperately wicked”. One can assume then, that it is wise to examine the motives behind goals we make. Is the goal to workout or change our diet ultimately to look a certain way, to gain attention, to be attractive, to find our inner confidence? We may hear from time to time the health benefits of a strong body but what we will most likely see advertised in this world is the physical physique we can have by working out and sticking to a diet. Since we are flawed humans it is easy for our why to be for our own personal glory. Most of us are easily enticed by the vanity of “getting fit.” When the most common thoughts we have are how we want our body to look, it reveals that we want the glory of looking good more than the health of our body. The last thing we tend to think about is actually the most important part of us in need of health, our soul.

To workout for the glory of God means our heart or soul is in a posture of worship towards God. It is not worshiping the workout, the diet or how we look. Though we may be pleased with how we look, feel and what we accomplish, this has to be secondary to the joy we have through using what we’ve gained to serve God. A heart worshipping God may workout and recognize that this workout is possible because of what God has provided- it turns to thank and praise God. It uses self-discipline to meet goals and finds the strength to be disciplined by relying on God through prayer and faith. The strength gained through working out is a tool to further Gods kingdom. Working out allows us to experience more energy, and with that energy we can use it to read God’s word, be a healthy mom, wife, daughter, and most importantly a good steward of His temple. Being healthy and strong is a privilege and blessing that we can pursue as a means to make God look great. When this is our aim, our goals will reach beyond strong muscles, good blood pressure, feeling good and result in the health of a God glorifying soul. This kind of healthy pursuit is one that will count for eternity.

KNOW

To pursue working out, feeling good and looking good more than the pursuit of God reveals who we are really worshiping- ourselves or others. To glorify God while we do anything means putting that anything second and the glory of God first.

If you were to number God and working out in order what do you think you prioritize more?

Do you believe God is more important than your workouts?

DO

Plan your week effectively with intention to make God look great. Using the same commitment and self discipline you have for working out or eating well, use it also to read your bible at a set time for the majority of the week. If working out takes up most of your days and leaves time with God second, pray diligently. Each night before bed write a prayer in a journal. Pray over your heart, ask God to make you a good steward of your days that you may place him first before all things.

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Can We Love God and be Into Health & Fitness?

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

LEARN

When we think of the Christian faith, most of our conversations revolve around how to love God well by growing in relationship with Him and serving others. You don’t usually hear conversations about exercising for the glory of God, and if it is brought up, it is often a divisive topic. Much like any divisive topic, we tend to position ourselves in one camp or another depending on what our preference is. In terms of health and wellness I think the two camps can be summed up as - the “health nuts” or the “not-so health nuts.” A general summary of both views can be summed up like this…

“The Christian Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture references:
“Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and STRENGTH.” (Luke 10:27)
”So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
”Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Belief: Focusing on our health and wellness is a way we can honor God and be the best version of ourselves.
Frustrations About The Other View: Not-so health nuts are lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined.
Potential Drawbacks: To overly focus on self and under-focus on God.

“The Christian Not-So Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture References:
”For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)
Belief: Focusing on our spiritual life and relationship with God is the most important, and focusing too much on self detracts from that, especially since our bodies will be fully restored in heaven.
Frustrations About The Other View: Health nuts are vain and self-focused.
Potential Drawbacks: To neglect stewarding their bodies in the present time to glorify God.

So as you are reading this, being persuaded one way or another, or getting fired up again about your thoughts on the topic, I would ask you to to take a deep breath and think instead on this question. Can the issue about whether we should exercise as a Christian really be answered through agreeing with one camp or the other?

I believe the bible would say no. A healthy, biblical perspective seems to be the sum of both understandings where we are to cautiously examine our sinful tendencies to focus on self. Focusing on self can come in the form of idolizing your body, but it can also come in the form of neglecting your body for your own comfort or pleasure. The extremes of both views ultimately lead away from our main purpose as Christians, that purpose being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

So with that purpose in mind, instead of trying to figure out where you stand on the issue, why not figure out what your motives are for wanting to exercise or not exercise. Our desire to glorify God should always shape our motives and actions. The best way you can do this is to ask yourself 5 things. These 5 things you should ask yourself not just when it comes to exercise but throughout your day as you are working towards being a purposeful Christian. If you can remember before anything you do in life, to pause and reflect on who, what, where, when, and why, you will be able to more fully understand and work towards thoughtful living on mission for God.

KNOW

1. Who? Ask yourself who am I doing this for, really? (Am I doing this for myself, for another person, or am I doing this for God.)

2. What? Ask yourself what am I doing this for? (Will this action draw me closer to God, or will this action draw me closer to getting my needs or desires met.)

3. Where? Ask yourself where you should be doing this? (Is this thing at this place going to be a place where I could fall into temptation with lust, laziness, binging, etc. and if so how can I have better accountability to not fall into temptation in order to glorify God)

4. When? Ask yourself when is an appropriate time to do this? (Am I prioritizing exercise, friends, t.v., jobs, etc. over my relationship with Christ? )

5. Why? Ask yourself why do I want to do it? Is it because I want glory, acceptance, fulfillment, connection, status, _______________ / or is it because I want to glorify God with my actions.

DO

Pray over your motivations to workout or not workout and ask God to forgive your for being selfish. Then re-read the main scripture passage from this blog and reflect on this week how you can be glorifying God more fully with your life.

Can Christians Have an Identity Crisis?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 2:6-10

LEARN

When I was 26 I had what I thought was an identity crisis. I had broken up with my boyfriend of two years and I was lost. I idolized love in that relationship so much that all of who I was, I wrapped up in that relationship. It was when that relationship ended that I had an emotional breakdown because I felt like my whole identity was taken away. I had made my comfort and sense of security, my home, in something that was not secure. I was not rooted in Christ during that time, and that is why the crisis happened. Being a girlfriend, wife, mother, sister, and friend are all parts of our identities, and if those are taken away from us we should feel a sense of loss and sadness at times, but the loss I felt was so deep I was crushed. To answer the question about whether or not Christians can have an identity crisis- the answer to that question should be no, but if we are turning to things outside of God to give us identity, then yes. If God, the creator of the universe made us to glorify him and then we go and try to seek fulfillment through other identities outside of Him, we will feel as if we are in crisis when that identity is stripped from us. When we are rooted in Christ we do not have to worry about coming to a place in our lives where we will have some midlife crisis. It is only in the times like what happened with me when I chose to put my identity in something other than God, that the crisis happens.

So why did I allow this to happen? I thought that what was most important in my life was to be loved by my ex. I thought that giving into pleasure and temporary comfort was ultimately better then the comfort that comes from God. I chose to have my identity be rooted in something that could easily be uprooted. I chose the thing that was most convenient instead of the thing that was best. I was in a relationship that was not growing my faith and I still chose to put everything I had into it. I sinned in order to get my desires met, instead of leaning on God and His promises to sustain me.

I wanted to share my story with you as a reminder that choosing something over God will always end in heartache. We can only get lasting peace, and stability, and joy when we choose God. Anything else pales in comparison to putting our hope in God. So friends, even if the heartache isn’t there now and you feel happy and everything appears to be going well in your life, you will be disappointed if you have placed all of your security in something other than God. And for those of you who say I don’t need someone because I can do it all on my own- you can’t. Even you will let yourself down. You will not measure up to your expectations, and you will only be fulfilled when you realize you are a dependent being needing to find true identity in Christ. We should not be dependent on ourselves, our spouse, or our status, or our job, or our kids. We should be dependent on the one who created us. He created us to depend on him and to be complete in him. Paul Washer sums it up well. “Nothing in this world that is thrown at you ought to be able to take away your joy, and nothing this earth could ever promise you ought to be able to give you joy.”

KNOW

1. What thing or person do you find security in? What are you rooted in?

2. Who do you go to when you need comfort?

3. What are you hoping for in this life to give you joy? What thing do you think will finally give you lasting joy if you were able to get it?

DO

Pray to God over the thing or things you are putting your identity in, apart from Christ. Ask the Lord to forgive you for not trusting that he will satisfy you. Then be bold. Pray big prayers that God would give you the strength to make dramatic changes in order to rightly posture your life in adoration towards Him. Write down what you are choosing to commit to God today and what you are going to work towards taking away in order to do that.

Whose Kids Are We?

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

LEARN

From the day we are born we start the journey of finding our identity. Even at a young age, adults like to ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. Most kids look to who they admired most to imitate. For me as a young girl it started with wanting to be like my mother. Then as I grew I started wanting to be like other people who were a part of my life, like my older sisters, teachers, and coaches. Looking back it’s funny and sad at the same time how even growing up going to church I never thought to say I wanted to be like Jesus. The world made me feel as if I needed to be someone other than who God made me to be. Someone who others would admire because of my talents, accomplishments or job title. I was told if I went to college or would start my own business or get married and have a family I would finally be somebody. Perhaps this sounds familiar?

As time went on I did do all that - college, started several businesses, got married, had a family, but my soul still yearned for more. I wasn’t content.

My Days became months, months became years and before I knew it my children had grown up and moved out on their own, along with my husband and I selling our surfboard business. My identity of being a full-time mom and business partner was no longer needed and I began looking in the mirror asking myself, who am I now? I found myself desperately clinging to my raft as my identity sunk beneath the waves. Maybe you haven't gotten this far in life but you too find yourself looking in the mirror asking who am I ?

I began to look for my identity in the word and found it in 1 John 3:1.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of  God” There it was…. We are His kids!

So why do we still have a hard time believing our identity is only found in Christ? The remainder of this verse helps us understand why we have a hard time finding our identity in Him...“Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

From childhood we are dropped into this world looking for our identity in what the world has to offer us, but the worlds identity is not in Christ, because the world does not know Him. No wonder we find ourselves not feeling complete. 1 John 3:2 shows us “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be”. The truth is, with love, Jesus has bestowed on us our true identity as His kids and we don’t have to search for what we are to be here on earth. The Word tells us to believe our identity is in being a child of God. Now that I believe this I have stopped searching in this world and have contentment. I now know who I am in Jesus Christ and He is who makes me whole!

KNOW

1. Christ in us is who we are  “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
Has Jesus revealed himself to you? Do you believe He alone can give you contentment?

2. “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” 1 John 3:3.  Our souls are purified through our faith by union with Christ and our obedience to His word. Is your hope in Him first and are you being obedient to His word?

DO

1. Take time asking the Lord to show you who you are in Him through His word. Meditate on those truths.

2. Then “(purify) your souls by your obedience to the truth”.  1 Peter 1:22

Continue to believe in what He has revealed to you and take time daily

to trust that you are and will only ever be fulfilled in Christ!  

What is our True Identity?

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

LEARN

Your identity is not what you do, but who you are. This is a statement I have come to realize not many people live by. Society focuses on what you do as far as career and profession as the standard of identity. Think about one of the first questions asked when you meet someone new. “What do you do?” From this point on in the conversation this defines who you are to the person you are talking to and vice versa.

I have seen this happen time and time again and I’ve tried to defer the question or avoid it, but it seems to pop up in every conversation I have. Even with friends I haven’t seen in awhile. In our society, what you do defines who you are. But this, my friends, is not your identity. You should not use what you do as a label for who you are. If you are a blogger, entrepreneur, therapist, doctor, athlete; this is what you do, but it shouldn’t define who you are.

As a child and into my college years, I thought my identity was being an athlete. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing a sport or participating in some form of physical activity. I enjoyed it and it brought me life, it still does, but I allowed it to take over my life and become who I was. In high school, I was voted “Most Athletic” by my senior class.

One day everything changed. I was in a snowboarding accident. I fractured my right humerus (upper arm bone and no it was not funny). I had to be in a cast with a sling for three and a half months unable to do simple things like get dressed or shower normally. I didn’t know if I would ever play sports again. I stood on the sidelines as my college volleyball team continued the season without me. I was devastated and depressed. The person I had thought I was was stripped away from me in an instant.

Through this period of my life, I realized I had labeled myself as an athlete. This was my identity. With the support of friends and family, lots of praying, some journaling (it was hard to write because I broke my dominant arm), physical therapy visits, and the grace and love of Jesus, I was able to redefine my identity in Christ and heal from the inside out.

I am a daughter of the King. I am loved by the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth. I am a co-heir with Christ. God thinks I am beautiful. He views me as special and unique. God made me in His image. He gave me the gifts and talents I have that are specific to me to use for His glory.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

KNOW

Who do you say you are?

Do you believe in the ways God sees you and has created you to be?

Are you living out of fear of what others think of you and what society says your identity is, or are you stepping into your true identity and focusing more on who you are rather than what you do?

This can be hard. I get it. I struggle with this. But we need to remind ourselves who God says we are. I challenge you to look through the Bible and write down who God says you are. Ask God how he sees you and write it down. The act of writing something with a pen on paper is powerful and studies have shown there is a chemical response in our brains when we do this. Try it and see what happens.

DO

Helping people realize their authentic selves and stepping into their true identity has become a passion of mine. I want to shine light on the whole person focusing on their mind, body, and spirit, because you can’t have one without the others. Becoming aware of your whole self is how you discover your true identity. This is why I have started a podcast called “True Identity” which was released this week! We will be discussing topics regarding your health, wellness, business tips, routine, and spiritual growth to name a few. If this sounds interesting to you, check it out. Available on iTunes. If you want to hear more of my story, I share on my website nikkiromani.com.

I’m praying you will step into this journey of discovering your true identity. Remember, your identity is not what you do, but who you are. You are a child of God.   

What is the Point of our Existence as Christians?

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4

LEARN

Who are you and what is the point of you existing? We can all think of the basics when it comes to who we are. There is our name, what we do for a living, where we live, our relationship status, how many kids we have, etc. Those are the little ways that we typically describe ourselves. As Christians, many of us know that the right answer would be to say something about being a child of God but if we are honest, our identity is far more rooted in what our status is on this earth and how it makes us feel.

Here is what the bible says about our identity and what we should be focused on. Colossians 3:1-4 says “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

All of the things we are looking for to fulfill our longings and desires can be found in Christ. The brokenness that we all experience in our lives happens when we try to find our satisfaction, security, and identity in anything other than God.

My Story

From a young age, I have desired to be beautiful, accepted, and recognized. There has never been a conscious time in my life that these desires have not been present. I didn’t find out that I had two huge idols in my life until I was in my 20’s. The number one idol that I worship is control and the other close second is approval. These two idols combined make for a powerful duo, one that has caused me to sin in countless ways, stunted my spiritual growth and hurt many people throughout the years. By God’s grace, I have found myself in a local Gospel-centered church that I have called my home for 5 years. In this time frame, I have received accountability and discipleship in these areas. This community helped me see my sin and in turn also helped support me as I aggressively went to war against these deep-rooted areas of idolatry. However, the war is not over. I still struggle daily, but God is winning my heart and I have hope in the finished work of Christ and his promises.

If you are anything like me and you struggle with putting your identity in worldly things, I want to encourage you to reflect and to ask yourself who the main character is in your life narrative. Our sole purpose on this earth is to make known Christ’s identity. He gave you your unique talents and abilities to show how glorious God is in a wicked and dark world. Those unique talents and abilities were never meant to be worshiped or compared. We were never supposed to seek our own identities outside of God and try to measure up on our own. It’s all about Him. It’s always been about Him.

Dr. Richard Lints, who serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the main campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, north of Boston says it best. “Idolatry is the honoring of things as ultimate which are not ultimate and which, therefore, reshape us after their own image.”

KNOW

1. Where does your hope lie?

2. What do you think gives you significance?

3. What do you really at heart desire to become?

DO

Your challenge this week is to journal about what area or areas you are placing your identity in apart from Christ. Write out verses that will remind you of the identity you have in Christ and place them throughout your house as a daily reminder.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” and Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:15-18

LEARN

Hey Ladies!

Anna here, and good golly, am I excited about something. Preparing to write this post led me into my bible and listening through so many podcasts. I am stirred up! Before I get into it, I want to ask you a couple questions. Who are you? Like broad spectrum, who are you? What are some things that make you who you are? What defines you? What gives you a semblance of identity? Or to put it another way, what or who, is your identity in? For example, are you the nerdy one, the athletic one, the artsy one, the stylish one? Is your identity wrapped up in that thing? If for some reason it was taken away from you, would you still have direction in life?

A couple years ago I bought a 1999 Land Rover Discovery II. It was big and blue, and looked like you could take it out on a safari, amongst the wild creatures, and explore to your hearts content. It was the first car I owned that could really take me up into the mountains and I didn’t have to worry about getting stuck. It was powerful and rugged. This car made me feel free, like the wilderness was mine to explore and no one could stop me. I recently had to sell this big, blue beauty, because it was just old, and it was becoming less likely that I would make it back home from any exploration. I am almost embarrassed to say selling that car nearly broke me. After all, it was just a car. However, this is when I realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in having some type of adventure mobile. Even worse how much of my identity was wrapped up in that specific car. I had to go back to the true source of our identity and ask Jesus, “who do you say that I am?” I felt like He responded first with “well, who do you say I AM?” Woah! So, my bigger question became Who. IS. Jesus. What do I actually believe about Him? Is my thought pattern correct?

This began a process of really renewing my mind, and making sure I was believing rightly about God. I started this by listening to pastors who taught the Word of God, then I really began reading the Bible (it is important to find out for yourself what the Word says). It turns out the more I have dug into reading my Bible and the more time I spend listening to teachers of the Word, the more my original question, “who do you say that I am” has been answered. This is because the more we know about who Jesus is, the more we will find out what He says about us, and why He made us the beautiful way He did.

Who does Jesus say YOU are?

KNOW

1. YOU ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE - There is nothing wrong with being sporty, or girly, or smart, or creative, or talented in any area. Also know, it is very okay to be more than one thing. God made you with a mind, heart and soul, and you are capable of being a great many things through Him. I am totally the sporty one amongst friends, but I so love getting dressed up for a dinner now and again, and I really love challenging my mind and learning new things.

2. YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD - At the center of who God is, love abides. It spreads forth from there. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure (some translations say “convinced”- like the whole world couldn’t change your mind) neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING (emphasis added) else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. At the beginning and the end of every day, you are still loved by God. Not because of anything more than Jesus’ gift to us on the cross and the very nature of God.

3. YOU ARE MADE WHOLE THROUGH CHRIST - God is the master of renewing and repurposing our identity. Do not be afraid or ashamed to come to Him, and ask what He thinks of you. Know that when God looks at you, He sees the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you. Jesus’ death and resurrection have made you new and now you get to walk out becoming whole, with Him by your side.

4. YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU - The Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher. He will teach you and help you in the process of learning, just like He did for Peter in our first verse.

DO

1. It’s a bold prayer, but ask Jesus to fill you with a hunger to find out more about Him.

2. Write down three things you believe about God and ask Him to show you what the truth is about

each thing.

3. Write down three things you believe about yourself, and same, same, ask God to tell you what He thinks about you in these areas.

Here are a couple awesome resources I have loved in my journey to find my identity in Christ.

1. “Captivating” by Jon and Stasi Eldridge
2. “The Power of Right Believing” by Pastor Joseph Prince

What are the Benefits of Confessing Sin?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

1 John 1:9

LEARN

Why is it that we desire to look put together externally, even when everything is internally falling apart? Well, I believe oftentimes we do it because it is the quickest and easiest “solution” to not have our deeper problems get in the way of how people perceive us. We have gotten very good at putting a nice paint job over many layers of filth, old paint, and decaying wood to cover up our imperfections. It is not desirable to rip up and expose all of the dirty layers that are chipping and cracking, because then there is a chance that everything will have to be replaced- and that takes so much more time and effort, but any good carpenter and painter knows that you can’t fix a faulty foundation by simply applying a fresh coat of paint. In the same way, God knows we can’t fix our sin problem by covering it up and hoping we stay intact, and that is why he desires us to confess our sins to Him.

So how can we change our thinking about confession to understand why exposing our foundation is ultimately better than covering it up, even if it isn’t always our desired choice? Let’s look at a few reasons why confessing our sin and exposing our weakness is far better than hiding behind a fresh coat of paint.

Faulty thought #1 - We view confession as a punishment.
Believe: GOD IS A GOOD AND LOVING GOD

When we view confession as God desiring for us to be humiliated or embarrassed in order to learn our lesson, we will be less likely to want to confess. Luckily, the bible would say that thinking is flawed. Our God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God desires us to confess our sins because he is a gracious and loving God who knows that we need an awareness of our sins and accountability from His church to depart from our sin and turn to Him.

Faulty thought #2 - We think God still needs to forgive us, or that he my not forgive us.
Trust: GOD HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN US

God is not waiting for us to confess our sins so he can finally forgive us. We have already been forgiven through Jesus. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We need ongoing forgiveness not for our ultimate justification but for our ongoing sanctification. God knows that when we confess our sins it allows us to feel at peace with Him, and not distant from Him because our confession shows where our heart is at. We are justified in Christ once and for all, but confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness is ongoing until we are glorified in heaven and no longer sin. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (proverbs 28:13).

Faulty thought #3- We have to be perfect in order to be holy, and we have to do it on our own.
Understand: CONFESSING OUR SINS LEADS TOWARDS HOLINESS

Each time we confess our sins because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are reawakened to what Christ has done for us. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). It is such an undeserved gift that when we confess our sin, God makes known our security in him and the assurance of our salvation as we draw closer to Him and he removes the guilt and shame we so desperately try to hide. It is through our confession that our guilt lessens and our hope and strength magnifies in the Lord and we grow in holiness.

KNOW

What is the main thing that keeps you from wanting to confess your sin to God and others?

Do you believe that God is a loving and gracious God? Do you believe he loves you?

What do you need to confess today that you have not wanted to confess? Is there someone in your life you can share your sin with who can pray for you and help you work through your sin?

DO

Memorize, print off and color this scripture to remind you of the promise God gives you when you confess your sin to him!

Are You Giving God Lip Service?

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

LEARN

As I came across this passage in Psalm 95, I had one of those moments where the Holy Spirit convicts you like a ton of bricks. The part that broke me was while I read “let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” My conviction was absent as I read most of the text until I came across the part about kneeling. As I tried to visualize kneeling humbly before the Lord I began to weep. When in the past few weeks has my heart posture actually been focused on kneeling? I focus heavily on worshipping and giving thanks to God, but I often shy away from the parts in my life that require me to actually posture myself as a servant. Even when I am at Church, a place where I should be going to focus on God in community, I want to be seen. I want to be praised, if even for how my hair looks, but more for the ways people view me. I want to be acknowledged for my ability to shepherd other women and speak truth into their lives because I am important. In these times I desire to stand next to God instead of face down before him.

Paul Washer says it well, “most of us in our hearts want to be called a servant, but none of us want to be treated like one.”  I like the idea of humble submission, but not actually playing the part of a servant. The problem with me bowing before God in surrender is that I don’t want to. Worshipping is fine because I am still present for others to see me, but bowing takes the focus off me and onto God. It is humbling and bold and the sin in me says- sorry God thats a bit too dramatic, how about I courtesy instead?

It is ridiculous of me to think I can worship God without actually giving my life to Him, but I do it every day. Worship is not just words or thoughts, but actions. It is a continuous posture, not just a moment. God doesn’t just want our lip service, he wants us to surrender our lives to Him as an act of worship. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we are true worshippers when we can’t even bow down long enough to allow others to look to Christ. “True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” John 4:23.

KNOW

What posture do you have towards God (standing beside Him, blocking Him, or kneeling before Him)?

Are you a true worshipper or just giving God lip service?

What are you not willing to give up in order to be a servant for God (power, approval, status)?

DO

When we idolize ourselves, we desire to take the focus off of God and put in on ourselves.

1. Think about the things you do on a daily basis that focus too much attention on yourself and too little attention on God.

2. Make a list of the things you do each day that are for your own glory.

3. Pray over those things and confess them to God as you seek to put your idols to death.

Here are some great resources for further study on true worship and servanthood.

-Bible:

Read the Psalms

-Read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - focusing specifically on how Jesus acted as a humble servant for God during His time on earth.

-Books:

  When People are Big and God is Small  By Edward T. Welch

  A Taste of Heaven  By R.C. Sproul

Worship: Adoration and Action  By D.A. Carson

What Should Productivity Look Like for Christians?

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

LEARN

We live in a society where time is money and productivity reigns king. In the workplace, efficiency is usually a good gauge at how well someone is doing as an employee, but this also infiltrates into non-workspaces. We as wives, moms, students, siblings, and roommates struggle with this too.

“How come she is able to have a clean home, perfectly kempt hair, and take care of her three kids, while I can barely take care of myself?”

“Why does it take me 2x longer to finish my assignments than my roommate. She always has so much more free time than I do. If only I was able to finish things quicker.”

“My Sister graduated a year after me and is already financially stable and got a promotion and I still don’t know what I want to do.”

We all make these internal comments to ourselves when we feel like other people are more productive and therefore better than we are at managing life. Most of us feel like we have so much to do and so little time to do it, so people who can accomplish more are obviously people we envy right? We read books on productivity and time-management. We multi-task all day and listen to podcasts while driving home so we can fill our time with as much as we can. We believe that if we could just figure out how to manage our time better we wouldn’t be so held back. If we could only get everything checked off our list we would finally get past the rat race- and so we push.

But let’s rewind a bit.

All of these ideas have been built upon the belief that productivity reigns king, but shouldn’t we instead believe that the only one who reigns King is God? So what does God have to say about productivity? As we see in Colossians 3:17, it appears that productivity in God’s view isn’t just about getting things done, it is about getting His things done. The only work that matters is the work that brings Glory to God, and therefore we should be ordering our life around this work. However, when we think about that a bit more we don’t always like hearing that. It is far more desirable to be productive in order to gain relational, financial, and societal status than it is to serve God with our lives. Status allows us to rank ourselves, to feel superior or inferior. Status motivates us, but as children of God, our status will always remain the same- His children whom he loves. What we are commanded to desire instead is to be on the lookout for ways to love others, and glorify God in all areas of our lives. We are to work wholeheartedly for God, and we do that by consciously thinking about the motivations we have behind the all that we do.

It is in our daily tasks at home, work, or school that the bible calls us to love others well because of our love for God. We must understand that relationships are not always efficient but they are important. At times loving others well and glorifying God might mean stopping everything on our to-do list to talk to our neighbor longer and invite them to church. It might mean sacrificing our morning routine to go take a meal to someone who is sick. Or, it might mean taking breaks at work to read the word, in order to focus rightly through our tasks for the day and respond lovingly to people at work we find difficult to be around. Relationships derail us, they mess up our timelines, and they take work- but when we realize that God is King and love rules over productivity, we can then have a better gauge at what we should be doing and how we should be viewing our status as his child, whom he loves and accepts, without needing to find satisfaction or reassurance from societies standards of productivity. True productivity is found in cultivating a right relationship with God.

KNOW

AS CHRISTIANS PRODUCTIVITY LOOKS LIKE….

1. Sharing the gospel. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

2. Doing good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Working wholeheartedly for God. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

4. Making loving God and loving others our motivating factor. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

5. Fighting laziness. “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)

6. Using our time wisely. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

DO

How can you better prioritize God when you think about being productive?

What might change in your internal dialogue when you stop having societies view of productivity rule you and start having scriptures view rule you?

What steps can you take today to focus more on God in your busy life? (maybe you need a mindset change, or you need to actually change some things you shouldn’t be prioritizing)

What first step can you take today?

How To Get out of a Funk When You are Sick and Tired?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

LEARN

Recently I have been sick and tired. No, not the sick and tired of life and its difficulties, although I admit I always struggle with that, but literally and physically sick and tired. Since the start of the year I have being dealing with a wide range of on and off ailments that keep getting worse, and the confusion keeps getting greater. I share this story because I know I am not the only one struggling in some way and feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frankly tired of pain and suffering. Seasons of sickness are not comfortable, and restlessness tends to creep in when we feel trapped due to our limitations. I personally don’t do well with slowing down and resting when my body is telling me to, and perhaps you can relate?

As I have forced myself to slow down and reflect for a moment on something other than my suffering, I’ve realized all I have been wanting during this season is to figure out what is wrong so I can make it right. It is as if I see this time in my life as a hiccup, and until it can be fixed, my life won’t be as complete as it could be. I’ve been praying that God will heal me and give me information as to what is going on, but I also have been worrying and pitying myself. Why God do I have to go through this? What if a diagnosis never comes, and it is not in your plan for me to be healed? What then? It is in these moments I feel the race is far too difficult and the journey is far too long and I don’t like the path I see set before me.

Does this sound like your story? Are you also struggling to trust God and perhaps feeling sorry for yourself?

The best thing to do when we are here is to realize that God is not void and we are not God. Even when suffering and love seem contradictory to us, God is greater than our ability to comprehend the why’s of life. So for a moment, let’s pause the research, put our stress to the side, and remember Christ. His words of life are present, right now, waiting for us to read. He is in control, He is suffering with us, and He loves us. Instead of focusing so much on WHY we are suffering and how to fix it, we can be using this time instead to trust God and ask Him WHAT NOW should we be doing in the midst of our suffering?

What now are you teaching me, Lord?

What now can I do to find rest in you?

What now do you want me to do in the midst of my pain?

What now allows us to seek His guidance and not our own. It redirects our focus from one of entitlement to one of dependence on Him and it gives us joy because no matter where we are in life our purpose will always be the same- to love God and others and magnify His glory. God is ready for us to come to Him to find rest in our restlessness, stop asking why, and start asking him WHAT NOW?

KNOW

1. What are the WHY’s you have been dealing with? Write them on a piece of paper, and then pray for forgiveness and a greater ability to trust God with your WHY’s as you reread Isaiah 40:28-31.

2. Write down the WHAT NOW questions you want to work on asking God when you are going through times of doubt, pain and suffering.

DO

Suffering is draining on our body, mind and spirit. During this season especially, notice the times you may need to rest more than normal and adjust your routine as you see fit.

Turn to God.
Don’t push yourself.
Get good sleep, if you can.
Tell people no.
Eat whole and balanced meals.
Allow others to help you.
Pray.

These are all things we know, yet usually they are the things we fight the most when we are in denial about our limitations.

,

What Makes up our Inner and Outer Self?

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body. 

Romans 7:22-23

LEARN

Don't you hate it when you bite your lip and then it happens over and over again? It is the worst! Yesterday I had that dreadful experience at least three times. I continued to cause my own pain because my immediate desire to devour my food took over any caution I had for what was going on in my mouth. I always get so mad with those types of pain encounters because I essentially inflict the pain on myself. When I am not being intentional in my mind with what is going on in my body I allow my flesh to overrun my soul. 

This happens often though doesn't it? Not just with biting our lips but with our mind not informing our actions. This phenomenon of how God created us is what the bible talks about as the inner- self and the outer-self. The outer self is what makes up our physical body and the inner self is made up of our soul. Our bodies love taking over to indulge in whatever they want when we aren't being conscious about what is best for us. The danger in that though is our bodies are at war with our spirit, so our mind always needs to be on guard with what our body is up to because as Christians this can lead us to sin. It is as if our bodies are toddlers, always getting into mischief, and our minds are the parents trying to correct the behavior. I don't know about you, but knowing my depravity it is exhausting having to constantly look after my toddler self to make sure I am not up to more mischief, and frankly I check out often. I go on a coffee break and let whatever havoc takes place happen to me and I choose to deal with the mess later. I simply allow my body to take over.

But God calls us to more.

He calls us to be constantly at war with our bodies, and he gives us the help we need to overcome our flesh. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that our soul can have the strength each day to stay focused on glorifying him in our thoughts and actions because in our soul he graciously gives us himself. Each day we get to commune with God and be filled up to have the strength to not just check out in life when it gets hard. The Spirit at work in us can make our days that started with pain, end with promise. The promise that each moment God gives us on earth is a gift to be stewarded with intention and hope through Christ. 

KNOW

DO

As you go about your day at work or wherever you are, notice the times where you are wanting to check out, then ask yourself...

1. What causes my body to rule my mind? Is it laziness, exhaustion, carelessness? 

3. What can I do today to be more filled with the Spirit and go to battle with my flesh? 

How Can We Find Wholeness?

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

LEARN

Why do I lack self-discipline and have little victory over my sin struggle when it comes to laying down my life for Christ? When I experienced the healing of knowing Christ for the first time, I found a lot of my fears, shame and idols diminishing. My heart was healed and the most important part of my soul was now replaced with God’s indwelling spirit. Still, after a few years of being saved and enjoying the nature of the Christian culture I began to have a different response to this gratitude for salvation. The realities of being Christ’s, was (and is) the best thing in the world, but my self-centeredness led me to waste this blessing instead of using the blessing on others or to sincerely fight the good fight of faith to bring God the glory. I desired to be obedient to God through difficult moments in life, but only to gain relief from my troubles, not for the sake of His name being praised alone. You see, I can read about the riches of being his, identify myself as a believer, even enjoy the cultural norms of Christian community but struggle to have victory in my own life. My identity was more like those the bible talks about who have an appearance of godliness but deny its power. I may have been healed from a lot of things in my past through coming to know Christ, but idleness became my norm and I failed to keep walking towards holiness.

Being made whole is progressive. It is not a one-time healed, mountain top experience, it is a journey past the one mountain top, down through various valleys and up different peaks through an array of scenery. It is daily walking hand in hand with Christ. This journey to wholeness is what keeps going as long as we keep responding to what Christ has done in his finished work on the cross. We don’t stop when the healing comes or when our issue subsides. His glory is better than our temporary satisfaction. We are healed so we can continue becoming whole.

Wholeness mirrors our sanctification. It is what we are in Christ positionally, but also what we are presently becoming. We are going from less sinful tendencies to even less sinful tendencies while holding in our hearts the promise that powerfully fuels our endurance all together, “where sin abounds grace abounds more” Romans 5:20. The grace of God doesn’t just provide us the forgiveness we need, it transforms us to into Christ’s likeness. As we continue from the initial healing of being Christ’s, we need a continual practice of running to the source of wholeness. Even though our nature is sinful, and at the point of salvation Christ covered us with his righteousness, our souls will always need saving. Healing work is not yet finished. We experience wholeness by experiencing Christ. As we seek to obey Christ we can continually increase in being wholly his. This is not a lofty unreachable concept. The bible outlines practical and concrete ways in which we can experience Christ and know what He is doing and what He promises he will do right now in our lives. Though many brothers and sisters are healed by Christ’s powerful work in that now they see him and long for him, we need his continual healing power to become more and more like him. Join us as we reach to the depths of God’s promises for the power to keep on keeping on; becoming less of us and more of him.

KNOW

Meditate on 2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

DO

What does God say will give us strength for Godliness and life?

What promises of God give you strength for your current season right now?

*Find a friend to keep you accountable to keep going on this venture towards holiness.

Can Self-Love be Biblical?

Check out our first Vlog where we tackle the tough topic of self-love/self-care and how to biblically care for our bodies. 

"For physical training is of some value, but spiritual training is a value for all things."
1 Timothy 4:8

Why are we Overcome By Anxiety, and is it a Sin?

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4

LEARN

The bible commands us to not be anxious about anything, so why do so many people seem overcome by their anxiety? I do believe some people are predisposed to anxiety (like myself), just as some alcoholics have stronger tendencies for addictive behaviors. However, I reached a point in my adult life where I became so used to being anxious I started to believe anxiety wasn’t something to overcome, but something to accept and learn to live with. What I didn’t understand was that having an inclination towards some behavior and acknowledging a weakness was different than being defined by that weakness - and that’s what I did. In any given day I could count at least a dozen times where I would have anxiety about something. For me, it was easier to give into the pull of anxiety then go to war against it. I began to let my anxiety define me, because I accepted it as just a part of who I was. It wasn’t until I read an article from Timothy Keller talking about going to war with our anxiety that I realized my anxiety was controlling me. I looked at my anxiety as a state of being, not a fallen state that God had the power to overcome. Once I started looking at my anxiety as something to overcome, I saw that I wasn’t just an anxious person, I was a person deliberately not trusting Christ.

In our society I see this happening a lot; instead of people being overcome by their struggle with their anxiety, they choose to accept their struggle and define themselves by it. It is a false empowerment. Being an empowered anxious person is a lie, just as being an empowered transgendered person is. We are both trapped in an identity that is not just unhealthy, but is causing us harm. This empowerment is just a facade from owning the fact that we have let “it” overcome us, whatever the “it” is in our lives that we don’t feel like we can control. We do this because we want to feel that we still have power, and so we end up telling people they need to not only accept us as we are but also accept themselves because it makes us feel more normal. It is nice for an alcoholic to have a drinking buddy that accepts his harmful behavior, just like it is nice to accept other anxious people's behavior because we relate to it.

The definition of anxiety is- a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Each time I was anxious I was choosing to be defined by uncertainty and worry. The bible makes it clear there are no uncertain outcomes in our lives that God doesn’t have control over. Our life circumstances might be uncertain from our perspective, but our ultimate security in being with God now and for eternity is always secure from God's perspective. We do not need to base our ultimate security off our temporary situation, because it is fleeting. All we need to do is persevere and trust.  

The God of the bible wants us to be defined by Him, and to be overcomers through Him. God has the ability to overcome my anxiety, even if in this lifetime my anxiety still persists. When I accepted myself as an anxious person, I allowed it to rule me, but friends, we don't have to be ruled by anyone other than our good God. Anxiety has already been overcome through Christ so we can have hope in this promise. We may still struggle with anxiety but we should be intentionally combating our anxiety, not giving into it. We are called to go to war with our fears through Christ, and to go to war with the things we let ourselves be ruled by that are absent of God. We are kept in perfect peace, forever, when our mind is stayed on Christ. Let us not lose sight of true empowerment through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. When we do this we get to focus less on our fears about the world and more on fearing the Lord, the one who is “trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does” (psalm 145:13).  

KNOW

What would it take for you to have a mind that continually trusts in the Lord?

What things are you allowing yourself to be defined by apart from Christ?

DO

The picture below is something I made a few months ago to help me go to battle with my unbelief. Feel free to print it out and post it somewhere that you will see each day. (I have mine on the inside of my vanity and look at it when I brush my teeth).

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 

What Does Trust in God Look Like?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:10-14

Learn

I often find I am my own worst enemy. The devil doesn’t have to go far to scheme against me, because I am easily persuaded by his tactics, even without the help of others. One of the ways his schemes play out is through poking at my insecurities; insecurities about my body, my intelligence, my lack of faith, my marriage. I’m sure we could all think of a long list of daily battles we have with insecurity- and I don’t know about you, but when I am insecure about something I try to overcompensate in unhealthy ways. This usually looks like me for anything I can get my hands on so I don’t have to actually say to myself “Jaime, just admit it- you are insecure.” Instead I give reasons for my struggles that focus on someone or something that caused my insecurity. Instead of clothing myself with the full armor of God I clothe myself with complaints, gossip, anger, frustration and pity. To God I must look like a little girl trying to dress herself, but has no capability to pick out appropriate clothes or even tie her own shoes.   

The devil desires to uproot our trust in God. He wants us to think we can pick out our own clothes and attempt to dress for success because he knows we will fail. He preys on our shortcomings, and he revels in our pity. He does this to distract us and confuse us so we lose sight of God’s truth while we are stuck fixating on what we can’t fix.

It is easy to forget we are fighting a battle beyond what we can see, and we need God to intervene on our behalf so we can replace our insecurity with the full armor of God. It is in properly clothing ourselves that we can move from frustration to gratitude as our Heavenly Father picks out our clothes and ties our shoes for us. We must trust that God is capable of knowing how to best tie our shoes and clothe us for success. When insecurity creeps in, we must remember to ask God for help, and thank him for being a good, good father.

Know

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

Today as you are feeling insecure, interrupt your frustration with gratitude. Whatever present issue is causing you to worry or doubt, re-read the psalm as you work towards trusting and praising God for what he has already done for you and what he promises to continue to do.

 

Do

Draw an outline of yourself on a sheet of paper (a rough outline is fine, for the fellow non-artists like myself!)

Along the outside of your drawing, write 6 things you arm yourself with when you are left to your own capabilities. 

Then, on the inside of your drawing write down the different pieces of the armor in their corresponding places. *Found in Ephesians 6

1. The Belt of Truth

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness

3. The Shield of Faith

4. The Helmet of Salvation

5. The Shoes of the Gospel

6. The Sword of the Spirit

How do I Detox With Diatomaceous Earth?

A while back, a friend told me about her experience with taking diatomaceous earth to supplement her holistic lifestyle.  

Me: "Dia-what?!”

Her: “Diatomaceous earth- it’s like dirt that you drink and it cleans your body out like an air filter.”

That’s all I needed to hear; I love trying new things and I will eat, drink or do almost anything if I think it will optimize my health and bring me closer to the type of body that God intended for me before the Fall.

What is it?

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is a fine powder produced from soft, silica-obtaining sedimentary rocks. They come from the fossilized remains of diatoms, microorganisms found in the world’s oceans, waterways, and soils.

What makes it unique?

• It’s rich in silica: a mineral essential for health bones, teeth, skin, hair and nails.

• It has a very strong negative charge, which attracts it to positively charged bacteria, parasites and viruses, and helps eliminate them from the body.

• It’s very hard, which gives it a beneficial abrasive quality.

Uses

Diatomaceous earth has many uses, and I encourage you to research them more if you decide to try it.

Popular uses:

1. Facial scrub or mask. Mix with water or honey to make a paste, spread onto your face (avoiding eye area), let sit for a few minutes, then remove. DE contains other minerals that can be absorbed through your skin, supplementing a mineral rich diet, which is vital for bone health.

2. Cleans teeth. DE’s abrasive nature helps remove plaque, tartar and stains from your teeth, two of which can present health concerns if not addressed. Sprinkle over your toothpaste and brush.

3. Strengthen bones. Silica works with calcium to increase bone strength and higher silica intake is associated with higher bone mineral density.

4. Strengthen teeth. Silica hardens tooth enamel and can remineralize teeth.

5. Connective tissue and skin health. silica is necessary for collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, and one that provides strength, flexibility and resilience to connective tissue.

6. Strengthen hair. Silica’s mineral content can promote more nourished and healthy hair.

7. Strengthen nails. Silica is essential for strong, healthy nails (I noticed stronger nails and hair within days!).

8. Detoxing/parasites. The negative charge of DE attract it to positively charged bacteria, parasites, and viruses. It’s cylindrical shape causes the pathogens to get trapped inside and carried out of the body.

Parasites?

Yes, parasites. They are almost everywhere and impossible to avoid. This is what convinced me to try DE in the first place, and it was well worth it. Parasites are pathogens that create a waste material that is poisonous to the body. You can contract parasites through contaminated food and water, undercooked meat, sushi, unclean fruits or vegetables, and more. You can even contract parasites through the bottoms of your feet and by touching anything that has been contaminated with parasite eggs: phones, door knobs, cutlery, and more. As you can tell, they’re impossible to avoid (but washing your hands helps!), so before you get down about possibly having a parasite, the good news is detoxing with DE may help or rid you of symptoms that have been plaguing you without explanation, such as:

• Skin irritations such as rashes, hives, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis

• Unexplained constipation, diarrhea or other symptoms of IBS

• Digestive problems

• Leaky Gut Syndrome

• Aching muscles or joints/Arthritis

• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion

• Brain fog

• Depression and anxiety

• Iron deficiency or anemia

• Vitamin deficiencies

• Chron’s Disease

• and more

The by-products parasites emit and the symptoms they present can influence how you feel, think and act. When I detoxed from unwanted parasites and toxins, I was relieved of unexplained fatigue and brain fog that frustrated me and influenced me to sinfully act out toward others. Using DE is one tool I use to stay one step ahead of my tendency to sinfully give in to my frustration and restore my body (as closely as possible) to the state in which it was intended before the Fall.

How to take it

Take DE on an empty stomach. I recommend starting slowly with 1 tsp mixed in water and working your way up to 1-2 TBS.  If the chalky consistency bothers you, you can add to another beverage like a smoothie (but remember that parasites feed on sugar, so drink sugar containing beverages sparingly).

Detox reaction

Some people experience a die-off reaction, which may present as mild flu-like symptom for a couple of days. As your body kills off parasites and yeast, they release by-products that are best removed through your sweat glands. Sweat. I highly recommend exercising or sitting in a sauna or hot tub to rid these toxins faster and prevent them from recirculating in your body. If this isn’t an option, take a break from the DE for a few days and remember to stay well hydrated. Activated Charcoal. I also recommend supplementing with Activated Charcoal from coconut shells, which can be found online or at your local health food store. It also has a negative charge and binds to unwanted toxins and removes them from your body. This is a great way to help your body in its elimination process. I do not take charcoal at the same time as prescription medication or other supplements (wait 2-3 hours after taking), as it binds to the good and the bad stuff.

Food grade vs. Non-food grade

Make sure you’re using food grade DE. Non-food grade DE has a crystalline structure that makes it unsafe for us to ingest or inhale, and is often used as a flea powder and for pest control.

What to buy

Any food grade DE supplement. I use Sila Live brand, but I have also seen more affordable brands with great reviews on Amazon.

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this information is not intended to cure any illnesses. If you have any major health concerns, consult with your doctor before beginning any protocol.

How do we Depend on Christ For Security?

Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Learn

       Having security in the same phrase as dependency feels counterintuitive since most self-assurance in this world is paired with independence, financial well-being, beauty and popularity. I hear this same message from social media making it easy for me to become distracted from what true security really is. Most of the time I find myself fixated on being content with what I don’t have instead of thinking of who Christ is as the basis of my self-confidence or security. As all the things I don’t have in regards to security in this world, play loudly in the back of my mind, I know that the only thing that stops this tune from playing on repeat is the interruption of a louder voice.

      While reading Genesis, I began to hear that louder voice. In this historical moment when God made Adam and Eve, the first counseling experience in human history occurred. God told Adam and Eve who they were and what they were to do and not do, “Be fruitful and multiply” and “do not eat of the tree of good and evil or you will surely die.” God instructed or counseled them and later another voice enters the scene, another counsel. This voice also provided instruction, but it was contrary to that of God’s. In fact, this counsel would make Adam and Eve deny God’s words as being true, making him a liar. It told them that apart from God they could have wisdom. Wisdom is not just knowledge but good judgment and though they were promised by the serpent to know good and evil when they ate the fruit, they would not be wise apart from God. Adam and Even believed Satan but ultimately God’s word trumped Satan’s, they would surely die. Through choosing to listen to wrong counsel, Adam and Eve and all of humanity henceforth would die. If any human could have had a better foundation for filtering through lies it would have been Adam and Eve who walked with God, knew him, and lived in perfection with him in the garden. However, when they listened to the lie of the serpent they were acting out of independence from God versus dependence on God.

      Satan, as the ruler of this world is linked to every falsehood the world expresses and I have to remember that if there is no God in the world then they will be their own God. Independence and self-sufficiency is praised as being the antidote for my insecurity yet when I fail myself where will I turn to then? To who? I am among imperfect people. I need something outside of myself to guide me. I need a perfect being to lean on- God. When I feel insecure I know that if I listen to the voices telling me to find security in anything other than God, I will be left fragile and susceptible to worldly deception as Adam and Eve were. I know that those voices are invitations to live apart from God, not only from his wisdom, but from everything he is; good, faithful, loving, and gracious. If Satan’s voice is the echo of this world, in listening to it I am essentially believing God’s word is not true. God’s word reveals God as my security. The Lord says, do not fear for “I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10). When I feel hopeless I can say “the Lord sustains me” (Psalm 3:5) and when I feel consumed with the opinions of others I can remember God is my refuge (Proverbs 29:25). God has revealed that true security comes from depending on Christ, not in my own understanding or that of the worlds. It also comes from knowing the faithful God in whom I depend on.  

Know

What are characteristics of God that that you can depend on for security?

1. In Control – Isaiah 46:9-10

 “ Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...”

2. Gracious- Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.”

(Add scriptures to these attributes of God) 

3. Loving-

4. Steadfast-

5. Gives Hope-

6. Strengthens me-

7. Faithful-

Do  

Calming Tea recipe 

Recommended as a sleep aid

Recipe:

3 Tablespoons fresh Lavender flowers or 1 1/2 Tablespoons dried Lavender flower

2 cups boiling water

Honey and lemon if desired

Directions:

Put the flowers in a teapot

Add boiling water

Steep for 4 to 5 minutes.

Pour into cups straining if necessary to remove the flower buds.

Serve Lavender flower tea with honey and sliced lemon.

www.thesleepjudge.com

Where Does Ultimate Peace Come From?

 

Philippians 4:11-13

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Learn

             It happens every now again, that anxious moment where I don’t know its happening until it's happened. The one where I am around someone or a group of friends and I say something or do something that haunts me days after. I act in a way that brings feelings of shame, in a way that I did not intend, or simply in an awkward way. I try to connect to others but maybe I am trying too hard.

            Anxious moments can happen as a result of feeling alone or experiencing rejection. I’ve learned that these moments don't happen spontaneously, there is always a reason, if not physical, it is most likely a moment of believing something that exasperates my insecurity. Most of the time I am believing a lie. When I take time to search my heart, God reveals what I am believing and what I am not. Taking my thoughts to the light of scripture I see myself for who I am. How satisfied in God I really am will be evident by the kind of response I have while feeling insecure. Do I attempt to fit the mold I think others will approve of or do I go to the word and be reminded of what actually matters? Our responses are the fruit we bear, the Lord says we will be known by our fruit (Luke 6). Our fruit also makes us known to ourselves.

               In order to uproot insecurity that robs my days of freedom, I must be aware of its home; my heart. Social anxiety is the fruit of a fear that lives within my heart. Most likely, fear of losing something; a friendship, reputation, positive self-image or approval etc. When my heart lacks knowing the kind of peace I have with God and what that means for me, I will hold on tight to my desires and “breakdown” when they are not met. In the end social anxiety has to do with my lack of contentment in the Lord first and foremost. These moments of anxiety in a group or with one other person, are resolved by not making sure I don’t do that something again but by experiencing contentment while being imperfect. Contentment in the Lord is the secure knowing that he is enough and is all satisfying, so everything he has and has not provided in my life is enough too. It’s hard to believe that there is a hope that I can hold on to that even the most disappointing moments in my social life don’t have to shake my peace and joy. Yet, I continue to preach to myself that in Christ this is possible.

Peace with God because of Jesus is the greatest thing we could ever understand in regard to our self-image. It teaches us of his love, his pursuit and his delight in us. When we know God’s approval for us, our desires for worldly approval grows dim. We can know God’s love beyond a Sunday sermon and a verse we read here and there but rather through a knowing that grows in depth by experiencing this love for ourselves.

Know /no/ - have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with.

      Developing a relationship takes time and effort. The peace and love we are hoping will protect us from self-destructive insecurity is a peace and love from a person, Christ. To experience God’s love as most satisfying we first need to spend time knowing him.

Do

Begin moving towards contentment here….

How often have you experienced the following statements from God?

Circle the following descriptions that you have not experienced in the last 6 months

Feeling loved by God        

Joy in being forgiven            

Peace without having desires met

Feeling secure in Christ                                    

Feeling hopeful in Christ    

Let’s P R A Y. Speak to God over wanting to find peace instead of having anxiety. Of wanting to know deeply the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Study his word and spend time with him for a while. Begin to develop or rekindle intimacy with your Creator.

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 4, Philippians 2, Psalm 139, Psalm 23

Gospel- Centered Mindfulness : Breathe In Truth

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