Whats Your BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool to diagnose an individual as underweight, overweight or obese. This is also referred to as the "fatness" or "thinness" of individuals.  The purpose of computing an individual's BMI is to make them more conscious of where they stand heath wise so that they can make adjustments to move into a more healthy lifestyle. We should always, in every part of our lives, evaluate where we are to ensure we are living healthy. 

Spiritually speaking I want to ask you what is your BMI? Over the past year, I have shared with individuals that there are three types of Christians. There are anorexic Christians, obese Christians and then there are healthy Christians. According to Webster.com, someone who is "obese" is overweight. They define "anorexic" as extremely thin and "healthy" as fit. I submit to you that someone who is "obese" consumes too much of something and someone who is "anorexic" consumes to little. 

The first type of Christian that I will describe is one who is anorexic. This is the Christian who just lives off of just enough. Sometimes someone who is anorexic will drink an energy drink or take the necessary vitamins for survival but not for growth. As a Christian, you may attend church, become event driven and thus live off of these spiritual highs that has no long-term benefit. Your body is hungry for the Word and Intimacy with our Heavenly Father. The problem with "just enough" is that if something comes up during the day that requires extra energy you are not equipped to handle it effectively and the symptoms are usually: dizziness, mood swings, headaches and fatigue. How can God use you or how can you share your life with others with mood swings and being fatigue? The Bible is very clear that we are to get into the Word. Joshua 1:8 tells us to, "meditate on the word day and night." The Word of God is the believer's spiritual food. You would never go a few days with out feeding your physical body, so why should we cause our spiritual body to starve? In the physical, food gives us energy, causes us to grow, gives us strength and is a necessity for survival. In the spiritual, the Word of God is for many reasons such as: guidance, wisdom, correction, growth, equipping, and holistic prosperity. Jesus makes a bold statement in John 6:35 that says, "He is the Bread of Life and that if you go to Him, (through his Word, prayer, fellowship and worship), you will NEVER go hungry or thirsty again." He is implying that if we don't commune (fellowship) with him, you WILL go hungry and thirsty and the outcome of that is...Spiritual Death; just as physical death would be the outcome if you do not drink or eat natural food. 

Secondly, there is the obese Christian. And you may be thinking, if the anorexic Christian is not in the word, the obese one must really be in the word...What's wrong with that? You are right. The obese Christian is one who knows scripture front and back. Lets think in the natural. A person who is physically obese is one who eats more than they burn, thus excess fat builds up which leads to a high BMI. The Bible tells us in Matthew 28:18 to "GO YE THEREFORE...!" That means action. To go somewhere means to move. There are two types of obese Christians. and I'm going to use the two types of Diabetes to illustrate my point. The first type of Diabetes (type 1) is caused by a lack of insulin needed to break down sugar. When sugar enters, the body cannot respond, although its suppose to naturally. The type 1 obese christian is one who consumes the word, yet when it gets in situation they cannot apply it. They cant produce the word needed in real life situations just as the body cannot produce insulin to break down the sugars that will enter the body. The second type, Type 2 diabetes, is normally acquired by an unhealthy lifestyle and the inability to delay SELF-gratification. Type 2 Christian's are the ones who isolate themselves. They don't go anywhere to share their faith or to help others along their journey. They normally surround themselves in "holy huddles" and are about the progression of themselves and themselves only. They are fat with the word but to no Kingdom benefit.

The third and last type of Christian is a healthy Christian. This Christian is in their word daily to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). In addition to being in the word, they understand Holy Spirit's power while being tempted (Jude 1:24). They are equipped for battle. In the military, an individual has to go through intense training which is not always reading a book but preparing for action in the battlefield.  They practice with their equipment on daily to get used to wearing it, so in the day of battle they will not be overwhelmed with their attire. A healthy Christian understands and becomes comfortable walking daily with, "the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, their feet fitted with readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit (the word of God)." A healthy Christian DOES feed itself on the Word, has fellowship and sweet communion with our Father BUT ALSO understands the concept of Walking by Faith. That walking by faith is an action word. So although, they may be feeding themselves on the word they are constantly looking fit because they are making deposits along the way. 

So I ask you again: What is your BMI?

Trust God for Your Restoration

Many times we give our hearts to people without knowing what is going to happen and experience hurt after a piece of our heart is taken away. Today, I read someone's status that asked God to heal her heart. By Holy Spirit's direction, I just commented on her status, letting her know that only God can SuperNaturally restore it. I then wanted to see why Holy Spirit inclined me to chose the word restore, and not heal. I furthered this notion by looking up the definition of those words on Webster.com: To be healed is to cause a wound to be sound or healthy again. To be restored is to bring back to its original condition. Now you may ask, what is the difference?

When I was in high school and college, I played sports. While playing, I hurt my shoulder so bad that i had to sit out, go through therapy and then become cleared to participate again. Now my injury was so extreme that even today I have pain in my shoulder while doing certain things. Upon being cleared, the doctor gave me a list of things to do so that I could continue to strengthen my shoulder as well as some activities I should take caution about.  When you are healed, there may be some side effects that may come that causes you to feel the pain again.

On the contrary, with restoration, it turns something that was perfect, then damaged, back to perfection again. It doesn't have side effects, and pain will not come if something reminds it of it's past misery If you are restored, you go back to your original condition. Your heart is full and complete. There is nothing that can bring you back to your former pain. You may remember the past and what you were involved in, but the pain is not attached to it.

I encourage you to ask God to restore your heart from what was taken or given away. I promise you, He will do that and more! Just trust and cling to His word and His promise for your life!

Abstinence vs. Purity

Has God called us as believers to a lifestyle of abstinence or purity? 

Many times, in the public school setting we hear about absentee only programs. But is that what we should look at as the standard for how we live our lifestyles? When I think of someone choosing abstinence I can come up with various reasons of why an individual may choose this route. A person may lack a mate, and therefore chooses to not have sex, it can be from "moral standards" instilled as a child, or fear of contracting a STD or HIV. 

On that same note, abstinence stops at sex. Everything else is permissible. The kissing, hugging, touching, sucking, bumping and grinding, the porn to entice..basically everything with the exception of insertion in the vaginal area. ( I say that because some would consider themselves abstinent if they participate in oral sex). On the contrary, purity encompasses abstinence, but it is so much more complex. It starts with a relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ. People will not understand the concept of purity without a relationship with His Son. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, it states that the natural man will not understanding the things that a spiritual man does. God does not only command Christians to be abstinent in action only, but to live pure lives. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Now what is the difference? Abstinence stops at sex, and purity starts with the thoughts. We know that if you sow a thought you reap your words. We know there is life and death in the power of the tongue, so our words become our actions, actions become our habits, which leads to our character and turns into our destiny. We should strive to keep our thoughts pure so we do not place ourselves in a compromising situation. (Phil 4:8) Purity comes through direction through His word, conviction and obedience. God's word says we are to wait until marriage to have sex. That is the command. We are not waiting because we do not have anyone, out of fear, or out of convenance...we are waiting to Honor our Father's command. Abstinence, or even celibacy as some would call it, can be conditional. It can change if you fall in love or if you get tired of waiting. When you're obedient to God, you must be pure no matter how you are feeling that day. So people may ask. Is abstinence for everyone? Absolutely. We know medically this is the best way to prevent circumstances such as a disease or pregnancy. We also know emotionally, you can save yourself from someone "breaking your heart." Symbolically you can see it as a piece of your heart torn and given to that person who you became sexually intimate with. So abstinence CAN be practiced by all people, religions, sexual orientations, etc. But purity is something that only a believer can truly understand and embrace.

Now the good news: You may be reading this and say...hmm I have been practicing a abstinent lifestyle and not a pure one. How can I start with my thoughts and not be in an uncompromising position trying to stop at sex. Well my Pastor at church told us their are 4 D's. Direction, Decision, Determination and Discipline. You have to be determined and disciplined. Watch who you hang around so you do not become like them. This does not mean shelter yourself from all those who aren't Christian but make sure there is a balance. The worst thing I think are people who create holy-huddles and never allow their light to shine and their salt to give flavor as God called us to do. (Matthew5:13)  Make sure you are the leader in what is talked about in your non-Christian circle so they don't begin influencing you (1 Timothy 4:12)In addition,  monitor closely what you watch and listen to. Much of our media (TV, movies, music, and magazines) are driven by sexual themes.

Lastly, we all understand that this is an area of life that may be difficult but understand that  God is a forgiving God if you are to mess up. We have the promise of 1 John 1:9 that states "If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness." By that promise you will be cleansed. But I encourage you to rely on Holy Spirit within you to keep you from falling. And when you do repent, ask God to help you in this area. Listen when wisdom cries out and be obedient to it (Proverbs 1). I guarantee you, if you surrender this area of your life to God, He will keep you. No matter what you already have done He is a God of restoration. Believe that. I encourage you to start today living a pure lifestyle.