Fitness and Faith

I discovered Morgan Farr when a friend asked me to read her website. She is a young voice with passion for truth, bringing a biblical spin to so many things. In this Health UPGRADE, she connects health to ministry.

"What if the temple walls were crumbling," Morgan asks. "Would you repair them?

I (Dawn) know where's she's going with this. It's simple-but-profound truth.

Morgan continues ...

Imagine a temple of the Lord that has fallen in to disrepair. You would want to clean it up, get things working and in a way that welcomes people in to your ministry.

Did you know the exact same thing applies to our bodies? 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

How awesome is our God? He calls us to ministry and He gives us this awesome body to accomplish His glory.

Your body is your temple; it is your responsibility to keep it in good repair. So let me ask you: How is your temple? Are you satisfied with it? 

I am not talking about what it looks like; I am talking about what you can do with it. Can you do everything that you need and want to do? If not let me encourage you, health and fitness are vital to having a successful ministry! You have to take care of your body to use it for God’s glory. After all, it is His body, not yours. 

So here is my list to help you UPGRADE your ministry by taking care of your temple.

1) Pray about it!

The hardest part about getting healthy and fit is having the discipline to stay motivated and focused. Ask God to help you stay on track and to manage your time well. My favorite verse to pray for discipline is 2 Timothy 1:7 which says, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

2) Eat Right!

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

I will tell you a secret, fitness is achieved 60% in the kitchen and 40% in the gym. There are a ton of healthy recipes on the internet that you can access for free! My number one advice; cut out sugary drinks and replace them with water. Instead of chips for a snack, try some cut up veggies. Meals don’t have to be super complicated or expensive to be healthy.

3) Get Moving!

Your body is a gift from God; use it. No matter where you are in the fitness spectrum, you can start today. No access to a gym? No problem.  Get up and take a walk. Play with your kids in the back yard. Put canned food into shopping bags and lift them. Got young kids? Try doing squats while holding them. It is exercise for you and they will have a blast “helping mommy.”

You can absolutely do this! Remember what it says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  

It isn’t enough to just read your Bible and do studies. We are called to stand out, to be different.

John F. Kennedy said:

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”

We owe it to ourselves and to our Creator to take care of the temples he has given us and use them for His glorification.

What steps can you take today to start taking care of your temple?

Morgan Farr is an Army wife currently stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas with her wonderful husband Brian. She is a homemaker that dedicates her free time to ministering to other Army wives through Bible studies, one-on-one interactions and physical training. Morgan writes about her transition out of feminism and into biblical womanhood on her blog.

Graphic of Temple: WikimediaCommons, Italy Modena Jewish Temple

Mom, Don't Forget to Take Care of You!

Melissa Mashburn, a busy pastor's wife, knows the importance of caring for herself so she can be strong to care for others. She shares this Upgrade for moms (with solid truth for all women).

As moms," Melissa says, "we wear many hats, we are a referee, a tutor, a police officer, a maid, a chef, a boo-boo kisser, a nighttime cuddler and also a taxi."

Oh how well I [Dawn] remember those busy days of motherhood. I gave and gave and gave, and it wasn't long before I felt depleted. I needed to step off the motherhood treadmill sometimes!

Melissa continues ...

Yes, we are always on the go and usually with our kids in tow. We manage our households with great care and grace, but when was the last time you actually did anything for yourself ... or better yet, by yourself.

Did you just shake your head and giggle a little? I think you did.

I know you might be thinking, “How on earth can I stop and do something just for for me? Don’t you know how many things there are to do right now?”

Listen mom, I know you’ve been running around getting a ton of things done for everyone else in your family, but do me a favor and don’t forget to take care of you too. The Psalmist said God cares for us:

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall (Psalm 55:22 NLT).

But it's good for us to cooperate and take care of ourselves too!

You know when you are on a plane getting ready for take off and the flight attendant does the safety instructions? They always say, "In case there is a change in cabin pressure the masks will drop down. You need to place your mask on first before helping children or anyone else."

As a mom, that used to really bother me. But then I realized that if you don't, then you won't be able to help anyone else in an emergency. The same holds true in your everyday, ordinary life.

Taking care of you doesn’t mean you neglect all those other things, it simply means doing things a little differently so that you can enjoy the peace and perspective that comes when you do something just for you.

My kids aren’t little any longer. I learned along the way that I could be a better mom to them by taking care of myself a little in the process. It will take some planning and coordination on your part, but when you do take time for yourelf, you will actually be giving yourself the margin you need when life gets stressful and hectic.

Here’s a few ways you can take care of you:

1. Don’t forget your quiet time - Start your day in prayer, even if it means getting up earlier than you normally do. 

2. Make time for your marriage - Once a month, schedule a "date day" with your husband. Go ahead and hire the babysitter, and block the date on the calendar.

3. Call upon your girlfriends - Schedule some time for you to go get some coffee, lunch, a manicure, or something you can do and enjoy, either alone or with friends.

Get creative on how to make that happen:  babysitting swap with a friend, or even share a babysitter between the two families.

4. Get involved at your church, preferably in a Bible study or a community group. Get connected with other women and/or couples.

Here’s a tip though ... go into it with open hands. Life can get complicated, and even the best laid plans don’t always come together the way we would like them to.

By having your hands open, you release all the stress and pressure to make things “perfect” and allow room for life to happen even in the middle of the change. Rest in God's loving care: You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care (Job 10:12, NLT).

Making it a priority to take care of you isn’t a selfish thing, it’s not even something that “other moms” get to do. It’s a chance to stop and count your blessings in the midst of being a busy mom.

Go ahead, try it today.

What about you? What’s one way you can take care of you this week?

Melissa Mashburn passionately pursues God daily, taking her ordinary life and placing it as her offering to Him. She is a writer, speaker, mom, pastor’s wife, and trained communicator through CLASSeminars, with extensive background in Women’s and Kid’s Ministry, and her passion is helping women “keep it real” in their lives and ministries. Melissa is married to her best friend, Matt (20 years), and they have two teenage boys. She loves to relax with a great book and giant cup of coffee. You can find her at Mel’s World with Melissa Mashburn.

Your Ministry Needs You to Make Time to Rest - Part 2

Yesterday, Melissa Mashburn shared some warning signs so we can determine if we need more “rest” in our ministry. Melissa ended with these words:

“I, I, I...me, me, me. What I can do on my own, without leaning on God or listening to what He wants me to do next. When what we really need to do is just lay it all down and give it back to Him. It’s not ours anyways. It’s always been His."

Melissa continues today with some “steps to get ourselves back on track.”

She says …

When you see yourself showing some of those signs that you are past due for some rest, here are three things you can do to help get back on track.

1. The first thing I do when I can tell that I haven’t made rest a priority is PRAY.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10, ESV).

You can’t move forward on your own, so by inviting God to renew your spirit you have just humbled yourself before Him; and then, and only then, can you start to hear His will more clearly.

2. If you have hurt, offended or snapped at anyone because you’ve gone too long without rest, then stop and take a moment to go to that person and ask for forgiveness.

It is not always easy, but it is the right thing to do-for you, for them, and for your ministry.

3. Pull out your calendar—go ahead, grab it now while you are thinking about it—and schedule time to rest. I know, it might sound silly, but we schedule everything else, why not schedule in time to rest.

Rest looks different for different people.

Take some time to seek out what kind of rest you need:

• Sleep
• A good book
• A day at the spa
• An afternoon out shopping with your friends
• A day where you stay in your PJ’s all day
• Or time to work out and have some "you time"

Get it on the calendar now. Start small, but start.

Your ministry needs you to make time to rest. You can’t go at full speed all the time in ministry, it’s just not sustainable for the long haul.

Let’s look to the only One who lived a perfect life—Jesus. Even He took time to rest, to pull away, to seek solitude ... and He was Jesus!

Sweet friends, we have a lot of ministry left to do. Which of those signs that you are past due to rest resonated the most with you? What does rest look like for you?

You are doing a great work, but don’t forget that He is still doing a great work in you too. Make time to rest and your ministry will be all the better for it.

Oh yeah, there will still be stuff to do, things left uncrossed off your to-do list; but girl, this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon and God has so much more in store for you.

What has God taught you about the kind of rest you need in ministry? Which of Melissa's three suggestions would make the biggest difference for you ... right now?

Melissa Mashburn is a southerner transplanted in South Florida. She’s been married 21 years to her best friend, Matt, and they have two teenage sons. Melissa’s heart is to encourage women to live with an authentic faith in their everyday, ordinary lives. Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith. is the heartbeat of her writing and ministry. Melissa is a pastor's wife and the Kids, Women's and Volunteer Ministry Director at her local church. As a speaker and author, she says she love “every crazy minute of ministry life.” You can find Melissa online at her blog and on Facebook.

Your Ministry Needs You to Make Time to Rest - Part 1

Melissa Mashburn is a busy pastor's wife. She understands the stresses of ministry and the need for rest. In this two-part post, Melissa calls us aside to UPGRADE our ministries.

Before she shares her heart about rest, Melissa quotes Madame Jeanne Guyon:

"Rest. Rest. Rest in God's love. The only work you are required now to do is to give your most intense attention to His still, small voice within.”

Five hundred and eight times, rest is mentioned in the Bible (NLT), yet it seems to be one of those things that gets pushed off the calendar for “another day” for most of us in ministry. The calendar is always overbooked with appointments, meetings, and discipleship and ministry events. The possibilities change day to day, and yet the heart of what we do remains the same–loving God, loving others.

Being in ministry for almost fifteen years, I have learned the hard way how important it is to make time to rest. I have run myself (and at times my family) ragged trying to meet all the demands that come with being in ministry.

The cherry on top of all that is that my husband is also in full-time ministry—which means, for our family, we both run at full speed all day long for the church and for those placed in our lives.

I absolutely love what I do. I consider it an honor to be used for His Kingdom in any means possible. Naturally, I already run at full speed most days. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But in the naivety of my youth while in ministry, I neglected to see the importance of making time to rest.

So here I am, bumped up, bruised and at times completely worn out.

Ministry is tough, people are complicated and it gets messy at times, but when you make time to rest in the midst of your ministry, you gain much needed perspective and time to renew.

If you are in ministry, whether at your local church or online, there are always going to be things that need to be done—that’s a given. What my heart is for you today is that you would be in your specific ministry for the long haul.

We need women who are passionately pursuing the purpose God has for them. Every single one of us has an important message to share, and unfortunately, I’ve witnessed far too many women in ministry who come out of the starting blocks charging full on, only to fall out of the race after a few short years because they didn’t make time to rest.

We need you, your family needs you, and the people God has placed around you need you for the long haul. So, let’s get real and practical here.

How do you know if you have already gone too long without making time to rest?

Signs You’re Past Due for Some Rest

• You are grumpy and/or moody.
• There is a general irritableness about you.
• You get frustrated or offended easily.
• It feels like everyone is out to get you.
• You feel like you are the only one working hard.
• You find it hard to pray for someone who has come to you for prayer.

Any or all of these could be a warning sign that you have gone too long without making time to rest.

 You know how I know? Because I have felt every single one of these things a time or two (or more) in my time in ministry. Um, yes … even as a pastor’s wife and ministry leader. I’m not proud of it, but if any part of what I have learned can help you as you go on your journey, then it is absolutely worth it.

Guess what happens as a result of any of those things listed above? Your ministry suffers. Your family suffers. Your own personal walk with God gets crowded out, because at that point you are no longer listening to His voice, but rather, your own.

It comes down to this: it’s a control issue.

If I can just... 

If I would...

When I get this done, then... 

I, I, I...me, me, me. What I can do on my own, without leaning on God or listening to what He wants me to do next? What we really need to do is just lay it all down and give it back to Him. It’s not ours anyways. It’s always been His.

Are you identifying with any of the six “Signs You’re Past Due for Some Rest”? Tomorrow, discover three things you can do to get back on track and get the rest you need.

Melissa Mashburn is a southerner transplanted in South Florida. She’s been married 21 years to her best friend, Matt, and they have two teenage sons. Melissa’s heart is to encourage women to live with an authentic faith in their everyday, ordinary lives. Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith. is the heartbeat of her writing and ministry. Melissa is a pastor's wife and the Kids, Women's and Volunteer Ministry Director at her local church. As a speaker and author, she says she love “every crazy minute of ministry life.” You can find Melissa online at her blog and on Facebook.

Bless Your Heart

Pamela Christian had been working in ministry for more than ten years when she died and was revived through defibrillation. Now, with her Bless Your Heart Campaign, she devotes her life to increasing awareness, seeking to save not only physical lives, but spiritual lives too. I asked her to share this health UPGRADE.

"You could literally save a life simply by being aware," Pamela says.

When I first read about Pamela's campaign, I wondered whether I could ever help save a woman's life, but awareness is a great start. “Helping women everywhere become aware,” is the slogan for Pamela’s campaign and an excellent consideration for each of us.

Pamela continues…

In 2002, I joined three women for the first time to play tennis. I wanted to play well so they’d invite me back. As a result, I was very nervous, or so I thought. While warming up, my symptoms worsened. It became apparent that my condition was far more serious than nerves.

After a series of events, a call was made to 9-1-1. Six minute and twenty-one seconds afterwards the EMT’s arrived and began administering advanced life support. I heard the Paramedic announce that he’d inject fifty cc’s of lidocaine, not once but twice, in an effort to get my heart regulated.

The upper and lower chambers of my heart were beating out of sync. The EKG showed my heart beating around 300 beats per minute. A person my size, at full exertion, playing tennis on a good day, should have a maximum heart rate of about 190 beats per minute. After, my heart went into Ventricular Fibrillation, it then stopped. I flat-lined.

I was dead for about one full minute or more, during which time my soul and spirit entered a different dimension—one no human words can describe. I refer to it as the threshold of heaven.

I knew I was in the center of God’s sovereign care.

There was a white light off in the distance but it didn’t beckon me. I was aware that I was a wife and mother and that I was not able to be with my family, but I knew they were also in God’s sovereign care.

The EMT’s cut my clothing, then using the “zappers,” two-hundred joules of power surged through my body. I could feel myself being drawn back and I heard my name being called. “Pam, Pam, are you with us? Pam come back.”

I felt my soul and spirit returning, and in all honesty, I was utterly agitated that I was brought back. It’s an amazing story that can be heard in part on my web site. [Read it ... it's wonderful! - Dawn]

What I suffered is called sudden cardiac arrest. Until recently it was called sudden cardiac death, because no one survived. A victim’s chances of survival are reduced by seven to ten percent with every minute of delay until defibrillation. Now, with the greater accessibility to defibrillators about five percent of witnessed victims survive.

Here’s what you can do to help save lives:

• Encourage the women you love to care for themselves. Completing a Heart Disease Risk Assessment and getting a copy of Bless Your Heart, Your Health, Your Life! A Lifestyle Plan that Puts You in Charge are two good first steps.
• Learn how to use defibrillators. Today most public places have defibrillation kits easily accessible. Very literally, you could save a life.
• According to 2 Timothy 4:2, be ready in season and out, to share the hope of Christ. Consider getting Examine Your Faith! Finding Truth in a World of Lies, to help you confidently share the Gospel, available through my site, in book stores or online.

Which of these awareness steps could help you during a heart-crisis event? Do you know how to use a defibrillator?

If you didn't read Pam's whole story about that eventful day, here's your second chance!

For over twenty years, Pamela Christian, “the Faith Doctor,” has compassionately helped people discover and live in life-giving truth. Teaching, as a keynote speaker, radio talk-show host and apologist (Biola University), Pamela uniquely helps people embrace confident faith and the eternal hope it provides.