You Are What You Eat!

I feel "blah" ...  I did not eat the way I normally eat and I feel like I have been dragging all week. (My body is quietly moaning.) 


The past few years I have been extremely committed to calorie counting, exercising and eating well.  For some reason, this week was a "no go" on all counts. (I guess we all have those days.)  Because of my lack of motivation and commitment to my body, I wake up today not feeling like my normal self.


 While reading in Matthew, I was reminded that not only do we have a physical health to maintain, but there is our mental and spiritual health that must but treated with equal or even greater care.


(Is our mind and spirit healthy?) When I run, I must admit, I listen to some HEAVY stuff. Its hard, fast and most of the time I can't understand the lyrics. (thankfully) But, this music has proven to keep me energized and focused enough to complete my workout. (I have found some alternatives to this music.)


If I am not careful, my attitude can quickly reflect those of the artist I start my mornings with. That's why it is important to me to feed my self (mentally and spiritually) some healthy food.


All of us at some point of the day, will hear music, or news reports, or see images in ads that try to define (or direct us on) the way we should feel or make decisions about certain issues or beliefs. These "directions" are sometimes completely opposite of how God has directed us to truly go.  IF we do not read the Bible, how will we know what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God?


In the computer world there is a saying, "Garbage in, Garbage out," meaning that if invalid data is entered into a system, the resulting output will also be... invalid. 


Matthew 12:33-37:“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.   A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

What we watch, listen to or read. Turns in to how we think, react and believe. 


Not only is today a new day for me Physically (and I will be on the treadmill in the next couple hours...) but it's also a new day for me to focus on what is coming into my mind and heart. 


“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

With Love,

~Adam

Today was Tomorrow, Yesterday.

My Bucket list got a little smaller this week.  My amazing wife surprised me with tickets to see Paul McCartney in Concert.  A dream of mine and something that  I thought I would never get to do.

As I sat in the stadium and listen to him talk between songs, I noticed his demeanor changing just a little bit. He was talking about John Lennon and the things he didn’t get to say before he died.  He then sang a song he had written after John’s death.  The song ended and he left us with this, “Please don’t put off saying something to your friends or loved ones. You never know if you will get a chance again. “

This thought has been on my mind for a few years now. We never know when our or someone else’s last day on earth is and yet we sometimes choose not to forgive, not to say “I love you,” or  get so angry with them that we drive a wedge in the relationship.

It doesn’t have to be just the threat of Death, it could also just be them moving away, or being diagnosed with an illness that may not allow them to communicate to you any more.

The book I meditated on this week was Ephesians, Paul (not McCartney) writes in  Ephesians 4:25-32

~Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.~

A great and constant reminder on how to Be, Today. (I should keep these verses on my desk, in my car and in my guitar case… Post them everywhere I go.)

And if I ever say to myself , I can wait until tomorrow I can go to Matthew 24:36

~“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”~

 We may not get a tomorrow.  Tell Someone you love them today and if you have past arguments or problems to settle, Pray about fixing them. 

With love,

-adam

This is All I Have!

~You are unemployed, you've spent your last stash of money on that suit you're wearing and to fill up your car to get to the 10th interview you've had in the last 2 months.  As you enter the company's parking garage you steal a few moments in your car crying on the steering wheel saying, "this is all I have..."
~Or you've just planted your crop and know that if this season doesn't go well for you, your family won't make it... as you end your day in the field you drop to your knees and scream to the sky, "THIS IS ALL I HAVE!"

Many friends of mine and myself have  experienced these or similar scenarios. It doesn't have to be money related.  Ever been down to your last "Nerve?"  You've given all your time to something and feel like it's getting you nowhere and you don't have enough energy to go on?

At those moments, we must give our worries and cares to God and TRUST that he will take care of us.

I landed on the Old Testament this week and hovered over the Book of Psalms, Chapters 125, 126 and 127.

(bouncing around to some highlights)

Psalms 125:1 Starts off, "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be shaken."

God is consistent and when we trust in God we will have that consistency with us.

Psalms 126:5-6 "Those who sow in tears, will reap with songs of Joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him."

Although it may feel like we are giving our last bit of energy, time or money to a Need,  once we give it   with faith that God will provide, we will receive our Need.

Lastly, Psalms 127:1-2 "Unless the Lord builds the House, it's the builders labor in vain. Unless, the Lord watches the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In Vain you rise early, stay up late, toiling for food to eat- He grants sleep to those he loves.

Simply put, in everything we do, the Lord must be a part of it or we are doing it in vain. So when we are down to our last bit of hope, give that hope to God. He's got this!

This is all I have, That is all God needs.
-Adam

Am I Loving?

Reading in 1 Corinthians this week,  I landed on the old "Love Chapter" 1 Corinthians 13.  Normally I hear this chapter at weddings or in discussions on how couples should act. But very seldom have a I read it as a book. In the prior chapters Paul discusses spiritual gifts and proper functions of "the body" or church. 

Once he explains these functions and the importance of them, he then explains "the most excellent way..."

LOVE.

In church I can sing the greatest worship songs and give money to charities, but if have not loved I am nothing.  I can pray, say all the right things and have faith that moves mountains but if i have not loved, I have nothing. 

After Paul explains if we do things without love,  we gain nothing. He goes on to define love very clearly:

(i have separated the "love is and love is not")

Love is:  Patient, Kind, Protecting, Trusting, Truthful, Hopeful, Persevering.

Love is not: Envious, Boastful, Proud, Rude, Self-seeking, easily-angered, recording wrong doings,           delightful in evil, failing.

Looking at chapter 13 verses 4- 8 in a list setting, really allows me to focus on what love should be and how I need to approach every action. Wether, I am singing songs, helping others, walking down the street or talking to a friend... I can ask myself these daily questions...

Am I being patient, kind, protective, trusting, truthful, hopeful and persevering? Am I loving?

I can tell you its a lot easier for me to be what love is not sometimes...  

Let's all challenge ourselves to keep the list of what LOVE IS close to our hearts and remember it daily as we try to be a light in a darkening world.

With Love - Adam