Here's To Your Health

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Twenty Fourteen!!!
I don't recall who originally said it (or if I ever even knew it in the first place), but I remember hearing the anecdote about how life travels at a direct ratio to your age. For a 5 year old, life creeps slowly along at a mere 5 miles per hour. “Wait til tomorrow” required deep inner strength and a 6 months wait for anything felt like forever. At 20, things are going along at a pretty good clip and it’s exciting. 6 months requires a little patience but you begin to see that things can slip by more easily than once believed. At almost 45, Life is going more than twice as fast than at 20 and I see I’m starting to wish I could slow things down a bit. 6 months is now seems to be a finger snap and instead of waiting, I’m trying to fit more in and make the most of my time.
Although I hadn’t given it much consideration before, my health is now more of an issue. Of course, I used to go to the gym and PT was a real part of the Air Force (though not as strictly enforced as the other services). Still, my fitness regimen was more structured in line with the goal of a ‘certain physique’ rather than “my health”. Now, I consider the benefits of the oatmeal I’ve always enjoyed and I happily pick ‘Greek-style’ yogurt knowing that the probiotics can help prevent leaky gut syndrome. I think you get my point.
Usually, my New Year’s post goes on and on about New Year’s Resolutionaries and how most people lack the stick-to-it-tiveness to realize meaningful change, but this time around – let’s look at what The Scriptures have to say about our health.

Here’s The Word;

Proverbs 3:7 -8 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 4: 20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 12: 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 16: 24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Isaiah 58: 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

3 John 1: 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

So as we dive right in to twenty-fourteen, let’s resolve to live healthier lives: The first couple of Scriptures promote a relationship between physical health and wisdom. This makes sense but I propose we put forth extra effort to learn, live and purpose to share more wisdom in our lives which goes hand in hand with more time in Scripture, because remember Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The next verse speaks to our ability to help the health of others by our disposition or more so our response with edifying words. Even for the people who we have surely exhibited behaviors undeserving of our grace – let’s show grace evidenced by pleasant words anyway. The last passage from Isaiah speaks of our understanding and charity – The Bible speaks highly of charity (or Love) as an action to prosper others. The Bible says let all things be done with charity – the bond of perfectness.

In addition to all of the other things you’ll commit to as you seek to improve your health and overall well-being; stop smoking, walk or run more, or eat better, I pray that we would be more mindful of what Scripture has to say about our health. Of course we don’t do these things IN ORDER TO RECIEVE health, but what a benefit right? So Here’s to a Happy New Year and Here’s to your health!


In Him,
Cros

A Way in a Manger

Merry Christmas All!

Of course I hope this day finds you in good health, high spirits and an overwhelming sense of joy at the realization of God’s greatest gift. Christ, The Lord! I truly love the imagery of Christmas: All of it. From manger scenes, to shepherds keeping their flocks by night with the shining Star of Bethlehem, the journey of the wise men all the way down to smartly wrapped gifts with colorful ribbon and bows and even jolly Ol’ Saint Nick! However, in the midst of all that beauty and splendor, I really can’t help but consider the practicality of The Gift. So often, we do right by not making the situation “about us” but in a very real way, Christmas is about us. Not because we’re special or deserving but because in our desperation and depravity, WE are the recipient of The Greatest Gift ever given.

Here’s The Word;

2 Corinthians 5:18 -19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Every year, I purposefully look to see Christmas in a deeper way. Last year, I was driving from Jacksonville to Valdosta to surprise my family and heard an awesome radio sermon that I’m sure will stick with me throughout the years; The Christmas Story According to Jesus. It was based on Hebrews 10 where Jesus is talking about the body that had been prepared for Him to become the perfect and final offering for sin according to God’s Will. This verse has been in there the whole time and I’d missed it all along, that radio presentation has affected the fundamental meaning of Christmas for me.

Today, as I was looking for images to put on my Facebook page, I came across this picture with a familiar Christmas lyric “Away in a Manger”. I paused and had a thought “That’s exactly what God has provided for us”. It’s the thing we absolutely needed most. We have all like sheep gone astray to the point of no return but God saw the depth of our need and moved with compassion on our behalf. Born as a tender infant, Jesus is “The Way” that God provided…. And from now on, when I hear that song, or see that lyric, I’ll read it as a reflection on the Gift that God has given us….A Way, in a Manger


In Him,
Cros

Whadja Git?

Hello All,
I have a question that I dig up on occasion where I simply “LOVE” hearing the varied responses that come back: “What did you get when you got saved?” Most recently, the question resurfaced on the heels of a discussion where it was mentioned that “We’re all sinners.” Of course I understood the context in that even as Christians trying to live Biblically in Christ, we will hardly live a sin-free life –even though we realize that as Christians we should sin less, and less as we progress in sanctification. However, that statement always reminds me of the difference between Christians who sin and “sinners” which probably more to the point could be identified as unbelievers or ‘the lost’ since ‘sinning’ in itself could apply to both sides. So back to the question: As we look forward to opening Christmas gifts next week, reflect on your most precious gift and consider - What did you get when you got saved? Among the last answers I got, one I remember was “New eyes.” And it’s with those new eyes that I noticed another ‘something I got’ as our Sunday school class reviewed in the first chapter of Ephesians.

Here’s The Word;

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

“…accepted in the Beloved”. I admit to you that I had no idea what that meant but it sure sounds good! As I studied it out, I found just how GOOD it is. I’ve see where more than a few expositors affirm that it is the position of The Anointed. As I looked at the other usages of the word, I see that it’s more than a place of honor, but one of intimacy and delight. I don’t know if my mind heretofore had been blocked by a malformed understanding of God not being a “respecter of persons”. In my previous understanding, it made everything seem rather cold and sterile. You fulfill the requirements and you make the grade. Now because I see ‘The Beloved’ more clearly, I understand that God not being a respecter of persons seems to be more based on the idea that if we could, we would bribe God into getting what we want by puffed up knowledge, or piety or feigned humility– He simply sees through that. But us being in the beloved affords us a passionate desire by God - not us in person, but us in Christ.

So when you find yourself caught in the throws of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, and well into the New Year, take some time to consider the most wonderful gift anyone could ever receive. And then unpack that box called “Salvation” and look inside and discover all of the wonderful things that come with it. Remember to get back to me with whatever you discover but even more so, live – live looking through new eyes at whatchu got when you got saved!


In Him,
Cros