Chapter Two...Attending to Self-Care

Let's Review the highlights on Chapter Two, shall we??

Sandy outlines these 3 circles of care, emphasizing that the outer circles are dependent upon the health of the inner circle, your spiritual health!!

1. Spiritual
Our busyness can mute God's voice.  And when we're busy, that's when we need Him the most!!
We can help nurture our spiritual health through
...Quiet Time-this is SO important, and yet SO hard to carve out this time.  You will be blessed if you do!!
...Attending Church
... Developing godly friendships, ones that will give us sound, Biblical advice.  Have some friends that are spiritually stronger than you to help you rise up!!

2. Emotional
...Uncovering the source of your negative emotions 
Is it me??  then repent, and turn away     Is is someone else??  let it go!!
...Rein in your thoughts
2 Corinthians  10:5 tells us this
**We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Take hold of your thoughts, and place them against the Word of God.  If it doesn't line up, call it what it is (a lie) and replace it with the Truth!!
...Tame your tongue-let's speak life into every situation we are faced with!
...Get the help you need

3. Physical
...Healthy diet
...Exercise
...Rest   Don't be afraid to downsize your schedule, take time to sleep!! and for you time.  For me, my "you time" and quiet time are before my kids get up!!  I need this time to focus first on God, then on the needs for that day before I have 3 little people who need me to help them get started on their day!!  As Sandy said in her book, no one can give you "you time" except you, so do it!!  It is a gift to ourselves, and those around you.  Though you may think of some who overindulge this time to the point of neglecting family duties, most of us neglect this aspect of our lives.

Now onto the Reflection Questions for Chapter 2.

1. What evidence have you seen in your life that your spiritual condition affects your emotional and physical conditions?

2. What do you need to do to ensure regular spiritual self-care?  Write it down.

3. Are you experiencing any of the following emotions:  guilt, shame, envy, anger, sadness, or fear?  If so

*What is your response?  Escape, Medication?

*Can you remember the source of this emotion? If so, record it in your journal.  If not, ask God to reveal it.

*When you're feeling this emotion, what do you tell yourself?  Write your response.  Does it line up with God's Word?  If not, what does God's Word say to correct your response?

4.  What small steps are you willing to take to improve your diet?

5. What motivates you to exercise?  Which steps could you take to follow through?

 The scale motivates me to exercise.  And I can honestly say, I have more energy for the rest of the day than if I would have slept the extra 45 minutes in the morning.  When my alarm goes off in the morning, I'm reminded of this verse...The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41  I don't love exercise, but I love the way I feel and how my body feels.

6. How is your stressful schedule impacting your marriage?   What one activity could you eliminate?  Write the answer in your journal.

We live in a culture that is consumed with busyness.  We wear it like a medal around our necks!  But, we were not designed to run this way.  God has commanded us to REST!  I have gotten better about creating some margin in our schedule, so that when that "emergency" comes up, we have more time to slot that in without the entire schedule going haywire!  Our society says to involve our kids in every activity that comes their way so they will be smart, well-rounded, blah, blah, blah.  But friends, it is eternal??  With our kids, I want to grow them up to by Kingdom movers, Kingdom changers, sold out to God.  I'm not saying my kids will never play baseball or take gymnastics, but church is first for us, where they are being spiritually brought up to love the Lord and follow Him.  The rest is extra!!

7. What prevents you from getting eight hours of sleep?  How does a lack of sleep affect your marriage?   What small step could you take to increase the hours you sleep?  

8.  Which "you time" activity  gives you pleasure and refreshes you?  How often do you participate in this activity?  What could you do to make it a regular part of your day?  Respond in your prayer journal.

I've really tried to carve out some time for me to read.  My best scenario is uninterrupted, but this is not always possible.  It refreshes my soul, whether I'm reading about parenting, marriage, certain Biblical topics...whatever.  Something besides, Elmo Uses the Potty!!'

Truth is, we need this reminder.  Life can be overwhelming....

God did not come just so that we can live forever with Him in heaven.  Jesus said in John 10:10, 

  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  Let's take care of ourselves and grab onto that life that God has for us, right here, right now on earth!!

Remember to look over the First Steps for this Chapter on p. 56.  And have Chapter Three:  Living as the Genuine Article read by our next serving time, February 3rd.  Thanks for sticking with me!!!