Live a Healthy Life-Live for God

Most of us have heard the scripture a million times, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."-1 Corinthians 6:19-20, but do we truly except it in every part of our life. It is not only commanding us to glorify God in our bodies through worship and praise, but also by taking care of his temple. I've always found importance in dressing modestly, having good hygiene, and looking presentable as a lady of God, but what I've recently come to understand is that I was only concerned with my outward body and physical appearance. I somehow neglected or perhaps just overlooked the importance of being presentable inwardly also... which is the Lord's temple and home. I know that I, along with many other ladies, often go into a frenzy when company is coming to visit. I want to make sure that the house is clean and everything is just right. Why is it that I forget to do that for the Lord? I'm not talking about cleaning my home for him, but his home...within me. After all, he is the most honorable, glorious, and magnificent guest of all! I have come to understand the importance of being healthy inwardly and outwardly. We must not only make ourselves presentable to God through our physical appearance but also within. Preparing and cleansing ourselves internally for God is both a spiritual and physical action. We must make sure that we are getting the right spiritual foods as well as the right physical foods. With that said, eating healthy is very important in living for God.

Eating healthy, exercising, and doing other things to live a healthy life are also related to living for God through the concepts of self-control and self-discipline. If we are unable to overcome our fleshly desires to eat excessively or be lazy, then we are not putting Christ first in our lives. For he commands us to "... take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."-Luke 21:34. Therefore, it is dishonoring to God and sinful to lack self-control when eating. Also, Proverbs 25:28 states, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." This verse clearly acknowledges the importance of self-control and self-discipline; it also explains how damaging the lack of can be. By learning self-control and self-discipline in many areas of our lives, there will be a domino effect on EVERY area, including spiritually. If we can gain more self-control in our life, then it will ultimately help us with our self-control spiritually, including prayer, Bible reading, and quality time with God. When training and teaching a child, consistency is a major key. Likewise, it is important when training ourselves. By gaining self-control in many areas, we have consistency of self-control and self-discipline in our lives. It is a way of training ourselves...training ourselves physically....training ourselves spiritually....and training ourselves consistently!

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."-Romans 12:1

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."-1 Corinthians 10:31

Daddy's Little Helper

Isn't this precious?!?! Eliana and her daddy are working on her tricycle!! And they really accomplished something: They moved the seat up so her short legs could reach the pedals. Just thought I would share it...

Wife of a Cop: Affliction & Blessing

There are many things that people don't know and can't understand about being a cop or a cop's wife. I've often caught myself in a whirlwind of feelings and emotions concerning the topic. Although I am very proud of what my husband does, I often become overwhelmed by the extra baggage associated with his job. From the moment my husband made his career choice, I knew about the dangers and emotional stress of the job, but I never gave any thought to the other ways it would affect us.

Affliction

It's hard enough knowing that your husband has to drive fast, come in contact with people that have many contagious diseases, and risks his life for someone he doesn't even know. But the hardest part is dealing with all the stuff that spills over from his work to our home. My husband may get to walk out those tall metal doors every day, but they never truly close. It's as if they are always open and work is constantly following, nipping at his heels. It follows him home, to social events, and ultimately consumes his encounters. From not being able to enjoy a meal at a restaurant to constantly being asked "what happened", it never ends and can honestly become very annoying. Then there are the restaurants that we can't even eat at because he has either served the person a warrant or had to learn a little more about their life than he would ever prefer. Therefore, we are constantly watching our backs for spit-on food and grudge holders. Sounds like fun...huh? And then there are the situations where people want to immaturely make constant cop jokes or complain about what cops do and don't do.

I'll never forget the day I was at the Sheriff's Department visiting my husband and a few of his coworkers when a lady who had a little bit of wealth came in. And oh how she thought she was something! She was ranting and raving about some dogs being on her property and how the people at the Sheriff's Department weren't doing their jobs. But what she didn't realize was that they were doing their jobs; they were dealing with things much bigger and much more important than some dogs that she or her family could easily take care of themselves. But I remember the feeling I got hearing her bash my husband and the other deputies. Part of me wanted to jerk her up and ask her if she would rather her or her husband do the job instead of my husband because it's me that has to watch the man I love walk out the door to help and protect people like her. UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE! People who make big deals out of their little problems and forget all the things these deputies and deputies' families sacrifice for them.

My husband has not been a deputy for long, but I have already lost the number of times he has left in a hurry from our home. There have been many times that he has went in-with no pay by the way-to help the other deputies. Obviously he isn't doing it for himself, but he's doing it for the people he works with and the people in this county-because he has that kind of respect for them. I've watched him go in on his days off-no pay by the way-to finish paperwork and other work duties. All of which cut into our family time.

Blessing

I know that I've spent a lot of time "complaining" about my husband's job, but hey this is my blog and if I need to vent then I will. :) I'm just kidding. I know that although we face many challenges as a result of  his job, we are truly blessed-I AM TRULY BLESSED! I have a husband that goes to work to provide for our family. I also have a husband that has a respectable job; a job that allows him to make a difference in someone's life and gives him the ability to reach out to people that often need it most. And hey...honestly it does have its perks. I mean who doesn't love knowing what's ok and what's not, especially the "speed limit".

It's so good to know that he is on the good side, even if it feels like the bad and crooked are always winning in this world. He gets to stand for what's just and right. And honestly what more could a woman want in a husband? I get to hold my head high, being proud of what my husband's career is. And I get to hold his hand knowing that he is a great man of God who does a little more each day to further God's kingdom. I know that God has put him there for a reason and he is always with him. When I think of all these things all I can say is WOW and I'm once again thankful- thankful for the pains tagging along, the no pay work, and even the ungrateful people because I know that he is making an impact that is much greater than all of these things.

 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-Ephesians 5:20

Big Families in a Small Minded Society

I can't count the number of times my husband and I have been asked how many kids we want to have. Nevertheless, no matter how many times the question is asked it is usually answered with the same words "Well we don't have a set number, but we know that we want a big family." Automatically there is resistance to our response; it never fails. We have to fumble through our ideas of having a family larger than society's "perfect model" while at the same time receiving looks of disapproval.

How is it that our society has become so confused? How is it that they have become so open-minded about some things and closed-minded about others? A world that is full of the acceptance of alcohol abuse, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and greed has now turned its back on the foundation of our society...the family. Some say it's because children are expensive, but so is alcohol abuse. Some say that having many siblings is too hard on children. But who knew that having so many people to love and support you could be such a bad thing? I understand where these arguments come from and I can't say they are completely untrue. In fact, I believe they have some truth in them. However, why is our society so against big families?

What is more precious than a child? Nothing. In Psalm 127:3, it says "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." So how is it that children have become known as burdens and hassles? After all, without children our society would have no future and who knows what our society, families, and individuals have missed out on in their attempts to meet societal preferences.

Poem: From God with Love by Unknown Author

Children are a blessing sent from God above
For us to care and nurture and most of all to love.

God calls us to be parents and gives us all the tools
And when we feel like giving up, our strength He will renew.

Children are a gift from God that He so freely lends
To make it through the childhood years, on Him we must depend.

He must have a presence, you see it must take three
The parents, child and Christ at the center to be a family.

From childhood days to a child full grown
Their joys and hurts are a parent's own.

Times of joy and laughter and those times of tears
The times spent raising a child are surely the best of years.

There comes that time in life when a child will leave the nest
We must send them off with love and a prayer and leave to God the rest.

We've shared the Word of God, we've taught them right from wrong
Now it's time to let them go and let them write their song.

The faith instilled, the examples lived, and the lessons taught
All gifts that we've given our child, which will never be forgot.

There are many paths a child can take, right or wrong will remain unknown
But rest assured that in the end, they all lead back to home.