Don't let your "Well" - ness run dry!

If someone secretly recorded you of your behavior and showed you what it’s like living with someone deeply hurt but don’t see it; and how it is not just damaging to you, but is damaging to those around you, how would you receive that? Would you be willing to work on your spiritual and mental well-being or would you go deeper into a pit of destruction with denial? 

Overlooking the Ohio River that flows into the
Mississippi River into the Atlantic Ocean from
the Gulf of Mexico.

Becoming defensive is another form of denial. It is not God’s way of how to improve your well-being; but it is human nature to think you are protecting yourself from more harm by pushing away unwanted counseling, help, and love that others want to give you; as well as God who knocks gently at your door and receives no answer. 

Revelation 3:17-22 AMPC

17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.

21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

No one can heal themselves; although we think we are able to by removing unwanted people and events that have hurt us in the past; however, we don’t welcome the good that we need. So your actually stagnant. There is no movement in the right direction to clear all the stink and junk that is harming you - and keeps you shackled to the past.

 

It’s like a creek that flows into a river, and a river flows into another river that flows into an ocean. If the water is constantly moving in the right direction their are good things that happen, and it carries with it the unwanted things; but in the end it washes away the negative things overtime. Creeks however, that become stagnant from lack of rain, develop a horrible odor, and the water, without movement, will become contaminated.

A small creek that runs over a cliff into 
the Ohio River during rainy seasons.

Many of us complain about rain. We hear things like, "It's an ugly rainy day", or "I wish this rain would go away", or "Be careful out there, it's a nasty day out"! When I hear those things, it hurts my heart deeply; whereas, rain washes away everything and fresh water cleanses all things. It’s good medicine for the creeks and rivers that keeps movement flowing and it helps cleanse the water from diseases that can endanger the fish and other wildlife that rely on the creek for food and water to drink. It also keeps our trees, wildlife, flowers, and grass looking vibrant, beautiful and healthy - in addition it replenishes our own water supply for us for drinking, showering, and swimming in - among other things.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 AMPC

5 Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like a shrub or a person naked and destitute in the desert; and he shall not see any good come, but shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

7 [Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?

10 I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

Believe it or not, growth spiritually, physically, and mentally, with the help of Jesus, overtime will heal your past hurt and pain and get rid of what you keep holding on to that is contaminating your mental and spiritual health. Without movement in the “right” direction and cleansing of all unrighteousness, growth is null and void. John said, I baptize you with water, which is the symbol of cleansing, but Jesus baptizes with the gift of the Holy Spirit that lives in your heart forever.

Matthew 3:11 AMPC 

11 I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Count the Cost of "What" you Eat!

Being Healthy starts in the mind, and then moves to the body. Recently I was watching a documentary that said, Americans work 47 hours more a week than any other country; in addition, we are the most obese, addicted, in debt, and stressed out country overall. There are many factors as to why this is so; however, the majority of us live above our means, and complicate life ourselves by being overzealous of what others have, so we strive to have it also by working long hours, or perhaps two jobs – for our kids and ourselves. With this in mind, we are already unhealthy in our thinking that will transpire to our physical well-being.

Fresh Herbs, such as this mint leaf,  provides natural oils, vitamins, and 

  antioxidants the body needs to fight off germs and boost your immune 

  system.

6Proverbs 23:6-7 AMP 

6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
7 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].

Health plays a major factor in what you can and cannot do, along with our habits and choices we make on a daily basis. For example: Many people who smoke cigarettes over a long period of time will damage their lungs and shrink their arteries that can result in a heart attack. Some along the journey will also develop COPD – unless they quit early enough to counteract the damage. It also affects and infects those around you because they are inhaling the damaging effects smoking causes.  

It clearly has a “WARNING” on the package of cigarettes of what damage it can do to your body, and you read it; but in your mind, you believe you are exempt - and choose to indulge in smoking regardless of the outcome. Not mentioning the ongoing doctor visits, the doctor bills, and the medication that comes with keeping you alive or at least stable enough to be mobile and moveable. 

Proverbs 12:15 AMPC 

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

Now there are unforeseen things we can’t see that goes on inside our bodies from other debilitating habits. You could be someone who eats fast food at least 3 times a week or more, drinking caffeinated sodas, and supply your pantry with Little Debbie cakes, any kind of potato chips, or something easy to grab; but again, it is not healthy for the body or teeth.  

None of us that practice any bad eating habits can blame no one when the scales show you have gained weight and you can’t figure out what happened in a month’s time; not mentioning buying new clothes to fit your body so you can camouflage the excess bulge you carry around. And may I add, your dental and doctor visits will not be good either. 

Read the labels so you are aware of 

the sugar and sodium contents. 

Proverbs 15:10 AMPC

10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God’s way; and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally, and spiritually].

This is not about being thin; because we are all unique in our body’s makeup. It is about being healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. Yes I have written about this several times before; but God is putting it on my heart to write about it again. Obviously, we are not listening. God wants to bless you, and you obviously want to be blessed, but it begins with the right attitude and you putting in the work! Nothing is hard, unless we resist it! Resisting any type of Wisdom results in a prideful and arrogant attitude that blocks good from getting to you. You have all the answers; but your life clearly shows it is not producing good things. Let’s turn that thinking around and become Victorious, which says, I can do ALL things with God, who strengthens me. With Him, you rise to the top, without Him,    you fall and sometimes it’s fast and furious! 

I’m not sure about you, but it is worth the effort to focus on what my food intake is that I am putting in my body to have a quality of life after I am retired. I also want to briefly mention, I was on the road of falling apart; but I confided in God and ask Him to help me. If you are not ready to change, then don’t bother asking God; because you must be committed and obedient. You can’t allow that inner voice or a friend to say; “Oh it won’t hurt to eat one cookie”.  Well one cookie becomes a dozen. It’s either do or do not, there is not in between. 

It is possible to have good health at any age; but most people view getting old as falling apart, broke down, and ready for the glue factory - an old cliché I have heard from my Mother. No we all are not going to live forever, and our body will slow down due to age; however, it doesn’t have to be at the expense of neglect and abuse to our bodies that causes more of the problem than “Gracefully” growing old. 

James 2:14-24 AMPC

4 What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,

16 And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?

17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

18 But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!

20 Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?

21 Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?

22 You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.

23 And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed), and he was called God’s friend.

24 You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].

Fresh fruit supplies many vitamins, antioxidants
and natural sugars your body needs to stay healthy!

If you haven’t already, begin today being mindful of what it is you do to keep your life out of balance, physically, mentally, and spiritually. They all go hand in hand. Just a little advice, “Keep life simple!” You will find you are happier, healthier, and content! Nothing is impossible when you lean on the Lord!

Healthy Time!

Physical Health 

Health is a word we as people compromise theses days. We don’t take it serious enough until we develop a “common” (as we call it) disease among us like diabetes, high blood pressure (Hypertension), Crohn’s disease, high cholesterol, anxiety, and much more - that we view as getting old. 

We are unhealthy spiritually and physically, no matter what age. Both go hand in hand. When you eat unhealthy you have an unhealthy body and it tells on you; whereas, you will develop some sort of debilitating disease that keeps you going to the doctor regularly with medication daily. When you have unhealthy emotions and an unhealthy environment, you have unhealthy relationships and make unhealthy life choices. 

There is no such thing as going on a diet. What you eat is your diet. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God provided food from Heaven called Manna that was healthy for their body. Over the 40 years eating what God provided, their feet did not swell nor did their clothes become tattered or worn. That means no disease was able to infect or affect them and they maintained a healthy weight, a healthy digestive system, and energy and stamina to make the trip without weakening. 

Deuteronomy 8:2-6 AMP

2 And you shall remember [always] all the ways which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart (mind), whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry and fed you with manna, [a substance] which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you understand [by personal experience] that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your feet swell these forty years. 5 Therefore, know in your heart (be fully cognizant) that the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you just as a man disciplines and instructs his son. 6 Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in His ways and fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect].

There is such a thing as changing your eating habits though. That saying, “You are what you eat” is very true - and I’m going to add what you drink (soda, energy drinks, alcohol, etc,). Water is the most healthy liquid for the human body! 

Those cupcakes sure are good! It is good to
the pallet; but too many decays the teeth!
My grandson at his 6th birthday party. 

Women we carry our weight in our stomach anyway and the more fat and carbohydrates we consume, the more our bodies “don’t” digest or breakdown as quick so it turns into fat that is stored in our bodies and it is usually not good fat. You can try all the diets known to man and binge diet, take pills, drugs, etc, however, until you are healthy and disciplined in your mind and Spirit, there is no success. 

Once you reach your goal, your thinking is, “Now I can drink soda pop and eat sweets again” - and you do. That is not self control; therefore, you are worse off than you was before. The interesting thing is we know what to do; and that’s where it all starts. Knowing what to do and not doing it opens the door for Satan to get in and attack your body. He has no power over determination, discipline, and self-control. You have that power; but so many won’t use the authority God has given them; even over a big piece of a double chocolate piece of cheesecake covered in caramel. 

What goes in the body either nourishes it or it will destroy it over time. It is also very good to take care of your teeth, your hygiene, and exercise regularly that also benefits your health. Brushing and flossing is very important so you are able to chew your food properly that helps with your digestion of your food. In addition, your teeth can rot and poison your blood stream very fast if not attended to. 

Spiritual Health

Now let’s talk about our Spiritual health. It has to be maintained daily also. It’s the same as neglecting your body and eating healthy; so your Spiritual well-being strengthens each day you read and study scripture. When you neglect it, it also opens the door for Satan to attack you and your life.

Proverbs 4:20-25 AMP 

20 My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;
Open your ears to my sayings.

21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them,

And healing and health to all their flesh.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

24 Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth,
And put devious lips far from you.

25 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

Notice the words underlined in the scripture. God's Word is healing and health to your flesh. It nourishes the body and the spirit and you know, with confidence, what His will and purpose is. Therefore,  you will not be easily led astray or bow down to temptations in regards to anything; especially unhealthy eating and drinking habits.