Spiritual Sculpting

Judah & Samuel with their buddy, Benaiah, on New Year's Eve

*Disclaimer: I know some of my readers are not Christians. But, you're interested in my life, right? None of what I write is meant to offend, but only to, first of all, express myself through writing. Second, to give you something to think about. If you ever have any questions or comments feel free to email me or leave them in the comment section!

As most of you know, I work out at the gym. My regular routine consits of going on the ellipital or treadmill followed by the same weight routine. I like working out, but it doesn't really challenge me and I hardly ever sweat. Last Thursday I went to a full body sculpting class with my mother in law. I was sore for about 5 days afterwards. It was challenging, I was sore, but it felt SO good. It was obviously doing something and that's what I needed. I needed to be challenged. It wasn't that I hadn't been working out, but I'd definitely hit a plateau.

As I was spending time reading my Bible this afternoon God showed me that this is what is happening in my spiritual life. I've always read my Bible, prayed, and led my cell group, but I'd kind of gotten into a rut. Nothing big was happening. I was comfortable in my little bubble.

With in the last few weeks God was taken me into the spiritual sculpting class. He/I am stepping it up a notch and, although challenging, it's also invigorating and definitely what I need. As I was hanging out with a friend this morning I told her how God was showing me (again!) that this life really is a vapor. What is this moment in relation to eternity? What is this day? This month? This year? Things that seem so huge in the moment are really so small. What someone thinks of me doesn't really matter if I am sharing with them about Jesus. Something small that Eric does that annoys me doesn't really matter. It's not eternal. It can be used to take my focus off of what really matters. Nothing in this world is forever, except having a relationship with Jesus.

Well, I really could go on forever, but I'll spare you. In honor of the new year, I'll break what God is doing in my heart into 3 "resolutions":

-Thoughts: To take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Since having kids I've become such a worrier. What does worrying do? Does it add one moment to your life? Does it change circumstances? No, it only negatively affects you emotionally AND physically. I've decided to choose to TRULY trust God in all things. This is easy to say, but as I've started doing it I've seen how amazing it is. I'm free from worrying about my kids. I'm free from worrying about the girls in my cell group.

-Emotions: Being led by our emotions is like being on a roller coaster you can never get off. (Wow, pretty witty, huh? I just made that up) Seriously though, I no longer want to be a slave to my emotions. My emotions will be led by the Holy Spirit. Things that may seem and feel so true, just aren't. Emotions aren't always truth, they're just a feeling. Feeling things deeply is good, but not if it doesn't life up with the Word.

-Words: I want everything that comes out of my mouth to be helpful in building others up according to their needs. That it may BENEFIT those who listen. I don't want one negative thought to enter my mind or one negative word to come out of my mouth. I want a flow of positive and encouraging words to come out. I want my words to build up my husband, my children, the girls in my cell group, and everyone I come in contact with.