A Well-Watered Garden

I know I post a lot and blog about fitness and food but to me. It’s my way and my calling to reach others where the world has hurt them and told them they are not worthy or maybe you have said that to yourself a time or two. I’m here to say it's so much more than an exercise program or the right food to eat. You are more than a number on a scale, the person in the picture or the one on the couch at night that doesn't know who to turn to for help, for support and for honest encouragement.  

I know that girl I’ve met her several times in my own head and heart why? Because we live in a sad society where we are told we cannot be happy or filled with something as simple and yet so amazing as God’s love and protection. 

The Lord will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58:11

 

To feel your best to live the life you were made to live you've got to stop filling yourself up with empty promises the world offers of happiness of fulfillment, the pleasure of food, a certain lifestyle or body type.

 

You can do the right things, say the right words be the “perfect picture” on the outside. But until you sit near that stream everyday and drink the water until your roots are soaked in His grace, in His love and His mercy you will not be complete. You will be searching for the next thing to “fill” you up to complete your desires at this moment.

Picture a flower  or a small tree when the roots are emerged in water the stem is transporting that water to every part of that plant to help it live, to stand tall and strengthen its frame so it can reach high into the direction of the sunlight.

 

 I pray for you today that you allow the living water the ever flowing Spring of Jesus Christ to fill you to transport the love in you that you may be strengthened and stand tall so that you too can reach high in the direction of the Sun’s light. He is there and wants you come and sit allow your life to be filled with the only thing that can and will complete you, His love, grace and forgiveness.   

Joy for fitness – Glorifying God through Faith, Family, Fitness and Food.

P.S if you have no idea where to start or where to sit and be filled but it sounds like something you want and need please comment here or find me on Facebook JoyforFitness.  I want to talk to you to show you how to sit and be filled with the Spring that never runs dry.

Taking Action!

If I had a penny for every time I heard “I wish” or “It’s not fair”, “if finances where different”,  you don’t know my background”  I think there are more sayings but those are my top 3 for now  I know I’d be rolling in the dough. Why? Because making excuses is what we do best.  We are constantly passing the blame onto our situations or our circumstances. But as I look at the above excuses and so many more it’s hard not to think that those are just words that need to be turned into actions. And I ask the questions, do you want something different? Do you want change in your life?  are you happy and comfortable in your daily excuses?  

From personal experience I’m usually the one that wakes up with the next idea in her head but I’m also the girl that spends a lot of my day in conversations with myself about why it is not going to work or It’s a great idea but…Why?  I don’t want it bad enough? No! Maybe it cost too much money? No, that’s not it, perhaps it seems out of my field and I have to learn more about it? No, the issue is it takes some work, some creativity and some time. Too often we want things to just happen and that isn’t reality anything worth having usually takes time, a marriage, a job, a home, your children. The time you put into something is directly related to the outcome you receive, both positive and negative. 

How do you spend your time? Is the focus on the things you most want to achieve and nurture or are you sitting on the corner “dreaming” of the next move the next big idea, but afraid to step up and take that first step to walk out of your comfort zone and look head on into your goals and your future.  Stepping up is nothing new in the research no big scientific data out there telling us how to accomplish things, it come down to 3 simple steps: 

1.       ASK – Pray and ask God to lead you to the place He has planned for you. Then ask yourself are you willing to go to the place or situation God has planned for you in a month, a year and in 5 years?

2.       ACTIONS - What steps are you going to take to get there (pay your bills on time? Complete that class you keep dropping out of? Stop the yo-yo diets and get a plan that works, stop the blame game and take responsibility for your own actions (you’re not 5 anymore) write your prayers & thoughts out, write out the bible verses that will hold you up when you’re ready to fall or the ones that assure you that you are on that path He has chosen, then write out your steps and your actions to reach that place. 

3.       ACTIVITY - Start moving in that direction – yes, you have to actually move from where you are and I know this is the hardest part, the physical action to take your steps out of your head and move your feet to get it done.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives u

s power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

It doesn’t happen overnight but if you continue to actively take those steps you will look back over time to see how far you’ve come and the goals you have placed before you are coming into your reach and your life is changing you will have no need for those excuses because you have stepped outside of yourself and allowed God to direct, guide and be your comforter through the entire process.  

Start taking action for your future,

Joyforfitness   “Glorifying God in Faith, Health and Fitness”

Hearing God's Voice Amongst The Noise

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve gotten time to sit and blog, why? Because too often I let the “Noise of life” overtake me. Last night God called out loud and clear to me as He often does when I’m distracted and focused on the external issues in my life, I’m glad I listened. 

This morning as I read my devotional book “Made to Crave”.  I knew He already went before me and had prepared this verse, not last night, but when he formed me long ago, he knew that this morning I would read this verse and my spirit would be lifted to Him. 

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God, we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 

Are you often quick to argue for the sake of arguing? Are you baffled at the things others say?  I used to be a spitfire with an Irish temper to boot! I would argue for fun but now I feel I often get tongue tied these days, why? I don’t know but maybe because I’m afraid that I’m not strong enough or know enough to stand up for my thoughts and actions anymore or I’ve lost credibility along the way. This is the devil putting that noise in my head, because He doesn’t want me to follow the calling God has placed on my heart or the success and freedom that God has planned for me and my family.”I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and I need to say that every time I think I’m not worth my own thoughts but in that I must also remember 2 Cor. 10:5 and ask myself:

• -          Are my thoughts obedient to God?

• -          Am I doing this for His glory or my own?

• -          Where do I place my value, on the external or internal? 

God has a plan for each of us, so today I urge you to let the ‘Noise of life” go and be prepared to listen to the voice of God. He is waiting patiently for you to turn to Him and say here I am Lord.

Be yourself and trust that He doesn’t make mistakes

Joy

Joyforfitness  “Glorifying God in Faith, Health and Fitness”

Desires of Your Heart

Hello, I hope you have had a wonderful start to your new year. We've had new blessings along with new surprise and while each day brings new ideas and dreams my goal for the year stands firm; to lean on God wholeheartedly and just be in Him while living my life for Him, which leads me to something I think of often and I wanted to share it with you.

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

That verse has been a verse I've known all my life but until about last year, I guess I didn't truly grasp all that it meant and thankfully I do now. It has changed me and my desires for my life, my family, my marriage and my mission here on earth.

The verse is simply saying when you delight in the Lord first and foremost your desires are His desires for you. It's a circle that is worth staying in if you ask me. I think about this daily, because I am challenged and confronted often about what my "role" should be as a mom and wife. I used to come home or stew on certain comments, not because I was convicted or felt guilty but I was asking myself where does someone get the right to tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing in my situation, they don't know my heart and my mission that I feel God has given me.

Bringing me back to the verse, the only one I should ever allow to occupy my thoughts about my actions is God. The fact in itself that the delight of just HIM is good enough, but in return He gives us the desires we have buried in our hearts because they are no longer ours in human nature they are ours through getting close and personal with Him, we should want nothing more than to honor, love and live the life He has called us to live.

I have a calling, I know I do. I have had one for many years and it has been a long road and worth taking with some side trips, and now I see not the end but God's confirmation daily that I am in fact right where I'm supposed to be. It takes conscious thoughts and actions everyday to do my devotions, to write out a schedule that works for homeschooling and my other things, while keeping the house in order but it is so worth it. To see my children read, do math equations and play creatively and they know what I love to do also, they enjoy talking and being a part with me just a much as I love playing with them barbies and Lego. I get to listen to them laugh all day long, we get to explore new places and on cold winter days we like movie time and at bedtime there is no greater feeling than to snuggle with my husband and relax while telling him everything we did during the day and when I say everything I mean it, poor guy.

The point of my thoughts and why I'm sharing them is don't compare, don't let the words of others distract you from doing what God has placed on your heart and in your mind to do. But caution "good things" and "great ideas" pop into our minds all the time. So, before you stand firm on your "situation and calling" spend some time with God and start delighting in Him, because I guarantee once you do that, those comments will be defended on the Word of the Lord and you will be living the life He really has planned for you.

All He wants is for you to spend some time with Him and find your Delight in Him. It is the best place to be, so go and start with prayer and reading His word, all verses have been inspired by Him a personal story or letter just for us and then find a great devotional that speaks to your heart on (motherhood, wife, marriage, personal struggles, trusting, praying) dig deep because you'll end up finding the Desires of Your Heart through Him.

God Bless!
Joy