We hear it all the time: "You are what you eat!" It is true. Eat junk; feel junky: tired, listless, grumpy. Eat healthy: feel energized, well, positive. I love those segments on "Eat this, not that." There are so many hidden dangers in processed and fast food that it amazes me. Some of the things we think are ok are not at all. Yes, it behooves us to think carefully about most everything that goes into our mouths.
I am learning that most things that are fresh and natural are best...fruit, veggies, whole grains, nuts, organics. I am living proof that this type eating is healing. When I was 40+something, I wasn't half as healthy as I am now. Making a conscious effort to scrutinize before I eat has made a huge difference in my life and my health. I am better physically, mentally, and emotionally. I really am!
As much as I love thinking about this as a physical thing, it is also true spiritually. For what goes in is what we are, spiritually-speaking. For example, I fill myself with trash, junk, or questionable, and I am negative, grumpy, judgmental, and condescending. Fill myself with God and his truthes, and I am far better at discerning, thinking positively, and acting in a Christ-like manner. If I find myself "wandering in the desert," I can no more than turn on Christian CDs than I find myself calming down, cheering up, thinking more clearly. Try it! It works!
So, as we strive for the healthy life, let's not only emphasize the physical; let's go for the gold, spiritually, as well. Let's read, watch, listen to things of Christ. Can you imagine the positive influence we'd have on our families, friends, acquaintances, strangers alike? It might just make a difference in our world! We are what we eat!
CONCORD CHRONICLE - Dedicated to God, the author of peace and lover of concord
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
I think I can...I think I can...I think I can!
For me, technology is a never-ending challenge. Just ask my family: poor hubby, who has to listen to me whine when I can't get the computer...or my phone...or the camera...or the printer...or the clocks, any of the clocks, which need resetting...or my watch...or the security system...working or running easily. You get the picture!
Well, my latest adventure into technology is trying to convert all the old Chronicles, back to about 2004, into a form where they can be stored and accessed in some sort of orderly fashion. My son, the guy with his Masters in Information Technology, finds it "interesting" that this is so difficult for me! I must pick his brain (again) about how to do this...and THIS TIME I'm going to do it, yes I am!
The problems are: we went to a new laptop a couple years ago, and the export of all that was on the two old desktops did not go well at all. The Chronicles, which were in email, came across as untitled documents, not in chronological order...just numbers...lots of oddly numbered documents. When I went to a blog fairly recently, that created another set of potential problems for me the technologically-challenged-one! It's a far better way to write and publish for sure...but I still have questions without obvious answers, when I try to change things up, on the blogsite, etc...and I just wish I had everything in one pot, so to speak, with all the things I've written.
For a gal who has practically just learned to cut and paste, this may be a challenge; for I have about 300+ Chronicles which need to be organized. What got me going (again) on this huge task was the anniversary of my mother's death and my desire to reprint a blog that was extra-special to me. I had to go through many of the above-mentioned "numbers" to find it. There was no other way, since I've been so tardy and inept at converting them. Frustrating to the nth!
Pat Summitt's courageous battle with Alzheimers ... and my prayer at my mother's passing...are more-than-coincidentally coming-together, in a way that only God could orchestrate. Who would have thought, 4 years ago on May 15, that the simple prayer of a grieving daughter, might be answered as a throng of loyal Lady Vol fans and folk all around the country and world who have been touched by Pat's very public voice. As an advocate for research into the cause, treatment, cure and preventive to this dreadful disease, she has brought the disease into the forefront; the articles in the local newspaper show clearly that great strides are being made and that folk need not despair as even we did just 4 years ago. New treatments are in clinical trials; folk are responding to new drugs; tests for diagnosis and early detection are promising!
Maybe by next Mother's Day, 2013, I'll have my conversions made...that's a goal anyway! Who knows: maybe I'll join Nike and "just do it!" That would be a great big "check, check" off my list. Stay tuned!
Well, my latest adventure into technology is trying to convert all the old Chronicles, back to about 2004, into a form where they can be stored and accessed in some sort of orderly fashion. My son, the guy with his Masters in Information Technology, finds it "interesting" that this is so difficult for me! I must pick his brain (again) about how to do this...and THIS TIME I'm going to do it, yes I am!
The problems are: we went to a new laptop a couple years ago, and the export of all that was on the two old desktops did not go well at all. The Chronicles, which were in email, came across as untitled documents, not in chronological order...just numbers...lots of oddly numbered documents. When I went to a blog fairly recently, that created another set of potential problems for me the technologically-challenged-one! It's a far better way to write and publish for sure...but I still have questions without obvious answers, when I try to change things up, on the blogsite, etc...and I just wish I had everything in one pot, so to speak, with all the things I've written.
For a gal who has practically just learned to cut and paste, this may be a challenge; for I have about 300+ Chronicles which need to be organized. What got me going (again) on this huge task was the anniversary of my mother's death and my desire to reprint a blog that was extra-special to me. I had to go through many of the above-mentioned "numbers" to find it. There was no other way, since I've been so tardy and inept at converting them. Frustrating to the nth!
Pat Summitt's courageous battle with Alzheimers ... and my prayer at my mother's passing...are more-than-coincidentally coming-together, in a way that only God could orchestrate. Who would have thought, 4 years ago on May 15, that the simple prayer of a grieving daughter, might be answered as a throng of loyal Lady Vol fans and folk all around the country and world who have been touched by Pat's very public voice. As an advocate for research into the cause, treatment, cure and preventive to this dreadful disease, she has brought the disease into the forefront; the articles in the local newspaper show clearly that great strides are being made and that folk need not despair as even we did just 4 years ago. New treatments are in clinical trials; folk are responding to new drugs; tests for diagnosis and early detection are promising!
Maybe by next Mother's Day, 2013, I'll have my conversions made...that's a goal anyway! Who knows: maybe I'll join Nike and "just do it!" That would be a great big "check, check" off my list. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Watching the Olympics has been so great...on many levels. I so appreciate the athleticism...sportsmanship...human interest stories...competition. I for one will be sad when the games are over. I have LOVED watching.
It's made me think about something, too. How each sport has its participants that are so accomplished and dedicated to that particular sport. Swimming has Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin, to name two. Gymnastics: Gabby and her four friends. Track and Field its heroes. They each are gifted in their particular sport...the one they excel in...the one they enjoy. I imagine that, on that level, they could cross-over and be pretty good in other sports. But, for the most part, they do what they do in just one.
I imagine Michael enjoyed water and swimming as a very young child. He, being tall, could have been a basketballer. But he didn't go there...he stayed in the pool. The Jamaican runners aren't swimmers. The 65 year old rider is still going strong and in his 10 Olympics...he and his horse! He would have long since aged out of running or swimming or diving. He does what he does best.
There is a lesson here, for each of us. We usually do best at what we enjoy. And that's perfect! We can exercise our gifts and talents in an area we enjoy. Not just in sports but in life...we can serve best in areas where we are comfortable and happy.
For example, at church: do you enjoy children? There are countless opportunities to be around them: teaching Sunday School, keeping the nursery, leading a children's choir, helping with VBS, missions groups, etc. Is working with teenagers where you enjoy being? Then there's Wednesday night LIFE groups...youth choir...scouts...coaching teams of all sorts. Visiting those who are ill or in nursing homes? What a blessing to use your compassionate sides and gift of mercy spending time with those folk who need visitors and friends so much.
So...let's take a lesson from our Olympians and bloom where we are planted. There's a world of good to be done out there...folks who need us, each and every one. There's a job to be done in every realm of society. Let's use our God-given talents and gifts to serve Him and our fellowman. It's a win/win for sure! Maybe no medals but blessings galore!
It's made me think about something, too. How each sport has its participants that are so accomplished and dedicated to that particular sport. Swimming has Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin, to name two. Gymnastics: Gabby and her four friends. Track and Field its heroes. They each are gifted in their particular sport...the one they excel in...the one they enjoy. I imagine that, on that level, they could cross-over and be pretty good in other sports. But, for the most part, they do what they do in just one.
I imagine Michael enjoyed water and swimming as a very young child. He, being tall, could have been a basketballer. But he didn't go there...he stayed in the pool. The Jamaican runners aren't swimmers. The 65 year old rider is still going strong and in his 10 Olympics...he and his horse! He would have long since aged out of running or swimming or diving. He does what he does best.
There is a lesson here, for each of us. We usually do best at what we enjoy. And that's perfect! We can exercise our gifts and talents in an area we enjoy. Not just in sports but in life...we can serve best in areas where we are comfortable and happy.
For example, at church: do you enjoy children? There are countless opportunities to be around them: teaching Sunday School, keeping the nursery, leading a children's choir, helping with VBS, missions groups, etc. Is working with teenagers where you enjoy being? Then there's Wednesday night LIFE groups...youth choir...scouts...coaching teams of all sorts. Visiting those who are ill or in nursing homes? What a blessing to use your compassionate sides and gift of mercy spending time with those folk who need visitors and friends so much.
So...let's take a lesson from our Olympians and bloom where we are planted. There's a world of good to be done out there...folks who need us, each and every one. There's a job to be done in every realm of society. Let's use our God-given talents and gifts to serve Him and our fellowman. It's a win/win for sure! Maybe no medals but blessings galore!
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