A New You

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he [she] is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”--2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Spring is usually known as a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings. People get into the habit of undergoing transformations in their homes and lives with the simple act of spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the new! It is a time to put away anything that reflects the past season to prepare for what is to come. In our spiritual lives, we are expected to do a little “spring cleaning” that will purge our lives of what may hinder growth in our faith journey. We are expected to clothe ourselves with a new understanding of who we are in Christ, and therefore, no longer operate in our old ways of thinking.


Even as a seasoned Christian, we have to be mindful that our speech, actions, and decisions should reflect the nature of Christ. This means not allowing ourselves to do, say, or model any type of behavior that may hinder our ability to witness to non-believers or cause a fellow Christian to stumble in his/her faith journey.


Being a new creation also means changing the way you think about yourself. If Christ can overlook all of your flaws and love you, you have to learn to feel the same about yourself. So put a stop to all of the negative comments about yourself, openly expressing your feelings of inadequacies, and comparing yourself to others. Because Christ lives in you, you can do so much more than you ever thought you could.


Think of it like this—when you place limits on yourself, you are actually limiting what God can do in you and through you. Start speaking the Scriptures over yourself by stating that “You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:37), “You are the head and not the tail” (Deuteronomy 28:13), and “You are the apple of God’s eye” (Psalm 17:8). When you start to believe what God says about you and how God’s sees you, life’s mirror will reveal a new you!

                            Reinventing Your Health

3 John 1:2 (NRSV)

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.”

In your quest for spiritual renewal, keep in mind that good health includes mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Good mental health can be obtained by changing your attitude about the ways you deal with stress. Carefully choose how you will respond to things beyond your control, as well as, not to allow people into your life who bring negative energy along with them. As much as possible, choose to only surround yourself with positive people.

Good physical health begins by setting goals for yourself concerning your eating, sleeping, and exercise habits. No two people are alike, so be gentle with yourself by being aware that what works for one person may not work for you. You are unique, and therefore, there are things that you will need to do that will meet your needs and the everyday demands in your life. Take it one day/one week at a time by planning and implementing better eating habits, consistent sleep patterns, and fun ways to get your heart pumping, lower your blood pressure, and increase your overall energy levels.

Finally, good spiritual health is to be in constant communication with a Source greater than you. Being aware of your life’s journey and the path that God is trying to lead you on will give you a sense of peace that, even when life’s twists and turns don’t make sense to you, you can rest in the knowledge that “your steps are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23). Reinvent your health by staying connected to God and to those whom God places in your path as you grow in your faith.

                                Fanning the Flames

                                                  

 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”--Psalm 51:12 (NRSV)

Let’s take a walk down memory lane. What was life like after you made the decision to give your heart to Christ? For some, it may have been taking a leap of faith, in which you knew that something in your life was supposed to change, but you didn’t know exactly what or how it would happen. Maybe you thought you would wake up one morning and readily identify a change, or you felt that it already happened and you missed it somehow.

For others, it may have been the most significant step you have ever made and you were on fire for God! Everywhere you went, you never passed up an opportunity to tell people about the decision you made to follow Christ and you wanted others to come along with you. As time progresses on, Christians often lose that zeal and their relationship with Christ seems to wane. What does it take to get that fire back?

Start by making it a habit to remind yourself of what Christ has done in your life or in the lives of those around you. Being reminded of how your life has changed as a result of being a Christian can help you understand that all of your hard work and perseverance is not in vain.

Another encouraging thought is understanding that the fire in your heart has not completely been extinguished. It just needs the Holy Spirit to breathe on the embers in your soul to reignite the flames. Growing in your faith journey takes time and patience. The more you grow in your relationship with Christ, the more your joy and passion will be transformed from just a spark to a wildfire!

Step Outside of Yourselves in 2012

It’s a new year! This marks the beginning of resolutions and goals that people hope to accomplish before the year is over. Weight loss, financial gain, time management—these are just a few of the numerous things that seem to become part of everyone’s To-Do list.

But this year, why not make it a goal to do something different. Instead of making a new list of things to accomplish, why not take inventory of the lists you already have, yet have never completed. Why can’t this be the year that you take those lists and begin to scratch off some of those ideas?

Well, I’ve got GREAT news for you—IT CAN!!! This is the year to step outside of yourself and do something different. Something that you have always wanted to do, but have yet to take the necessary steps to make it happen. It is time that people really begin to understand that there is a great need to turn dreams into reality. This is your year!

There may be things on your list that haven’t been accomplished due to lack of resources, support, or confidence. You may feel that you’re not educated or talented enough or that you lack financial resources to turn your dream into a reality. Stop worrying about what you don’t have, and start focusing on what you DO have. This is the time to stop sitting on your assets and start planting seeds.

Everyone’s list will be different. Some will have several things on it and some will have just one. If there’s only one thing on your list, that’s okay because once you do whatever is necessary to reach your goals, you may have the confidence, passion, and drive to do more. If it’s just making a phone call, talking to someone, writing a letter, whatever the task may be, your dream can no longer sit idle or it will die.

Can you imagine how many people go to the grave every day with dreams inside of them that never came to pass? Begin to imagine how many people may have had the cure for cancer, the answer to ending world hunger or the resources to end poverty, yet they died with those resources in them. Do you want to be one of those people? Do you want to live your life knowing that you have something in you that needs to be shared with the world, but you never planted seeds to bring about a harvest? You may feel that what you can offer is minor or insignificant, but it may turn into something that can benefit your family, your community or the world. I believe that God has placed something in you that someone else needs or that could even save a life. The key to finding that out is to begin to tap into what God has placed within you, and ask God what you should do with it.

For too long we have allowed people, life circumstances, and even ourselves to become a hindrance to moving forward and making things happen. Life is too short to just settle for the status quo. If you want more in your life: excitement, adventure, or spontaneity, then you have to do something different and be tenacious in your efforts to reach your goals. There are great things waiting for you around the corner, so don’t let another opportunity pass you by! Make it your goal to step outside of yourself in 2012!!!!



Surviving 30

I made it! November 25, 2010 was an interesting day for two reasons. One reason: My birthday fell on Thanksgiving that year, so I prepared myself once again for my birthday to be overshadowed by the holiday. The second reason: Not only was this my holiday-birthday, but I was celebrating a milestone. I was turning 30! For quite some time before this life-changing event, I gave considerate thought as to how I would handle this new decade in my life.

I asked others in the “30’s Crew” what their experiences were like. Some recall a pleasant and enlightening transition, while others felt that they were next in line for some heavy-duty medication and a strait-jacket! I mean, what’s the big deal? So you turn another year older, but how often do you actually feel a year older on your birthday? Usually the implications of another birthday comes weeks or months later. So I was determined that I was going to embrace 30, make it a memorable day and not overreact.

My “Turkey-Birthday” arrives, and I wake up saying to myself in the mirror, “Happy Birthday. You still look 29!” Seriously, what does that even mean? Whatever it meant, I believed it, dolled myself up, and prepared myself for a delicious meal of pizza, mac & cheese, Dr. Pepper, and red velvet cake.  You may ask, “Where’s the turkey? The dressing? At least some rolls?” For anyone who has ever experienced a holiday-birthday, you may agree that you have to take extra steps to separate your special day from the chaos of the holiday. I did not want my birthday meal to be turkey, but rather, indulge in “a few of my favorite things” and try to make the most of this day without feeling overshadowed.

The day came and went, and I was okay. I turned 30, felt great, and still felt youthful. Everything was alright! That was in November….December….and January. February came and I hit a wall! I do not know if it was related to other significant events going on in my life, but I was sitting in my apartment one night watching TV, and I remember thinking, “Oh my God, I’m 30!” That’s when the floodgates opened, and I began to sob over what I believed to be the death of my youthful existence. What did being 30 mean? Just like “What does being 29 mean”, did being 30 mean that I felt old? Worried that I had not reached some of the goals that I said I would by the time I reached 30? Did it mean that I would wake up the next day, and be in my 40’s or 50’s and feel that life sped up somehow? YES to all of that!  In addition to those fears, I worried that I would feel like a failure in some areas of my life and that others would feel the same about me.

After that February, life sped up again. I finished graduate school, moved 3 times while in transition to my permanent home in Tennessee, got married, and unpacked what seemed to be a Grand Canyon full of boxes that gave a complete testimony of what my life had been like the past 3 years. Before I knew it, November 25^th knocked on my door again to bear what I hoped would be an early start to “glad tidings of great joy!” Today is December 13^th, and for the past 3 weeks, I have been embracing my new age of 31 flavors. Once again, what does that even mean?

I do know that ever since I became a member of the “30’s Crew”, I have felt a great sense of love for myself than I probably did a year ago. But all of that self-love and revelation will come in another blog. For now and for this moment, I am 31, and I love myself more now than I did in my 20’s. And just like Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors, there are surprises that you do not expect, but it leaves you with a satisfaction you have never experienced before!