The Importance Of Your Health, Pt. 3

The Importance Of Your Health,

Your health is very important. Your health is the vehicle that will take you beyond your horizons. It is the vessel that will be there when we achieve our dreams. It is the temple from which God dwells within our life. It is the talent that God wants us to manage to the best of our ability. We have to live with this body, day in, and day out. It is a friend to us. It takes us wherever we go. It tells us when we're pushing it to hard. And it trusts us to take care of it. There are many Christians today. And I might add leaders, and pastors, that feel health is a minor issue. Their sentiment is, "Well, brother, that's not a major concern, for us, uh, uh, right now." But these are the same guys who have diabetes. Have heart issues. Have physical problems. Take medication. Multiple medications, I might add. And sometimes, these are the Christian leaders who will not allow anyone to share wisdom to them concerning this point. I hope you are not at all as this. Once again, I am not perfect. But I am striving. I am doing the best of my ability. I want to do everything within my grasp, to fulfill God's will within my life. I want to serve Him with all I've got. And yet, live a life of abundance in the Lord. Abundance of His presence in my life. I am a pastor. And you pastors know the rigors and pressure of Christian ministry. I am a father. My son needs me. What will he do without me at this point? What if you, as parent, If your kids lost their mama or dad. What if your church lost you to some dreaded disease? If you were no longer around? Can you just picture that? Heh? You are very important!

1. Health biblically, is a major issue. We were born with a purpose. We were made to live life to the fullest. We have been called for such a time as this. For there are many lands to conquer. There are many people to reach. There are broken families standing on the brink. The cry of the hurting in each of our communites has gone up to heaven. And God is looking for a man, a woman, who will walk, and do everything He desires.

2. We cannot fulfill God's will to the ultimate if our health is in shambles. Fulfill God's will to the best we want. Why? Because we're limited, that's why. If you are at a place, where your health is not the best. There is a solution. God is with you. He will help you.

3. We can stop the downward trend, by paying more attention to our health. If you're a young person, now is the time to devlop healthy trends in exercise, eating habits and mindset. If you're a parent, and you do have a healthy lifestyle, begin to develop health as important within your family, spouse and children.

In this our last segment concerning our physical health, I would like to stress 12 things that can help us in the race we run:

1.) Obedience - Obedience to God's word concerning our health. I cannot stress this any stronger.

2.) Eat the righ foods - Lev. 11 There's a good many foods which are very good for us. And, to be very honest with you, here in Southern California, there are good many restauarnts and foods. One of my loves, is Mexican food. But, it might not be the very best for me. You, know the greases, the lard, the fried stuff. So I have to fight to be careful. What about you in the East Coast? The Puerto Rican Food? The Pizza? How about you, down South? Those Ribs? Those Chitlings? Hey, its there. But eat the right foods.

3.) Relax in overeating - Over eating is the cause of obesity. Here you go again, you say? Nope! I'm talking of lifestyle change. Change hurts. It moves us outside of our comfort zone. It move us from the playground into the battle ground. It calls for diligent effort for a goal or a cause. Obesity on the other hand, leads to coronery disease, diabetes, digestive diseases, and the like. God has given us a choice. Gen. 7:1-3

4.) Laugh and have joy - There's too many gloomy Christians. There's too many depressed families. There's too many frustrated leaders. Laugh and have joy. Take time to reflect on God's goodness. Play to win. Don't play not to lose. Play to win. Take a day off. Do something you've wanted to do for a long time. Go fly a kite! Read a good book. Laugh and have joy. I know I'm in that mode. I realize, I only have one life. I want to look back and laugh, and rejoice. Then, probably in the same vein, begin to cry. Cry because of His hand on my life. For allowing me to have a blessed life. Blessing me with a good son, who is going to another level. (Still a work in progress. I have faith.) Allowing me to share a good 17 years with the most beautiful person, my beloved, now in the glories of heaven. For being able to pastor one of the greatest churches I've been a part of. A church of friends, servants of God, restored families. Just a good and quality people. For being a part in one of the greatest purpose driven ministries, the world has ever known. Victory Outreach International. Thank you, Lord! Laugh and have joy!

5.) Exercise and stay active - Do physical work. Did you know that between the ages of 30 - 70, we lose about 30% of our muscle? That it turns to fat? So get out of the house. Plant a garden. Go play basketball, handball. Go bowling. Take walks. Run. When you go shopping, don't park too close to the store. Park a little farther. Why? So you can at least walk a little more. For the exercise. To get your heart pumping. Prov. 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 14:23

6.) Get proper sleep and rest. Now on this, I am most guilty. My feeling is I wish there was more hours in the day. Yet, we must get rested up. Rest goes a long way for our health. We all need our rest. (I'll try a little harder) Exo 20:8-11; Psa. 127:1-2

7.) Fast once a week. Isa 58: 6;

8.) Ask the Lord to heal if you become ill. Jam. 5:14 -15; Matt. 9:20-22

9.) Take supplemental vitamins or minerals. They are natural. They help keep up our immune system. They are supplemental. Now, on the side of every vitamin bottle. there's a disclaimer. It says, 'Well, this product is not approved by the CDC or FDA. It is our product, but is not in compliance, 'with their standards.' Like I said, in part one. These entities are all in cahoots. They are joined at the hip. They want your money, more. So the vitamin people, are taking business away from them. And, now because vitamins are becoming a hot commodity in stores. Where, you even have beverage companies coming up with AntiOxident drinks. Take vitamins daily. Vitamins of your choice. Did you know there's vitamins and mineral supplements, that do the same as medications people take from doctors. Do you think, doctors have a corner on the healing of the physical body alone? Are they smarter than God's natural creation? They act like they are. Many of the medications have side effects. Everything we need for healing, God has already created it. Do your own study. Check it out for yourself. That's all I'm saying. If not, then don't. Don't worry, God still loves you.

10.) Live life as this was your last day on earth. I Love You, Lord!

11.) Don't go around confessing your sickness. Ouch!

12. Worship, Read God's word and pray! Remember, the last shall be first. This here is the most important. Why? Read 1 Tim. 4:7-8. Because, the Bible says train yourself to be godly. Focus on your body, but the spiritual is the more important. Physical is VERY important. But our spiritual is what counts. Remember, the spiritual affects the physical. Read also, James 5: 13-16.

Sorry, for this blog, being so long. Yeah, I know it feels like a book. Anyway, may the Lord bless you. May you heed His voice, and live and leave a legacy millions follow after. The legacy of being a yielded person to the Lord Jesus Christ. D.L. Moody said: "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly yielded to him. With God's help, I will be that man." or woman.

Leave your comments. If you can. Talk to you later.