Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

I had no idea I would receive such  encouraging and loving responses from all of you regarding my last post.  I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your words of encouragement.  I got back on the treadmill this morning with so much more confidence than I had Monday when I got off.  I pushed myself until the running was almost pleasant...I tend to have 1 of two problems when I run; my muscles hurt or I get out of breath.  If my muscles hurt, I run slower and never get out of breath.  If they don't hurt, I can run faster but get out of breath.  So, I've noticed that once the brief pain is gone, I can run faster....did you hear me...FASTER!  Today my friends I ran and ran and ran...I was shocked when I finished my 3 miles in a little over 39 minutes.  SHOCKED I tell you!

I wanted to keep going but I'm on a bit of a routine and don't want to stray too far but you know what, I might just add that extra 1/2 mile or mile to my next run.  Can you believe it???   I tell you what, it's God.  This is a God thing.  He makes me so strong!  I honestly have told myself...if Jesus can carry the cross, beaten and battered with sign of hope ahead, I can run, I'd better run.  I need to be the healthiest woman, strong and mighty to do the work I have ahead of me for the Lord.  I pray about my body.  I pray that God gives me strength and makes me the best me I can be to serve Him.  The other thing I need to start praying about is my diet.  I need to start trusting that God gave my body the right signals to tell me when I need to eat and how much instead of looking at the clock and saying it's time to eat.  He gave us water, that's easy.  I could drink of His life giving water all day long but I find I need to "be still" in order to do it.  I'm seeing a correlation between the health of my body and the health of my spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:15 - 20 (New International Version)

¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?

¹⁷But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

 Our bodies are the temple (home) of the Holy Spirit!  We need to care for our bodies the best we can, showing respect and appreciation to God, our creator.

John 17:22, 23a, 25-26 (New International Version)

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me.

25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Christ dwells in us! And we in Him! ..... keeping Christ as center in our emotional, spiritual and physical lives will keep us whole, healthy and in unity.  No matter what physical state your body is in, please remember how much God loves you and that He does hold every moment of your life in His hands.  Keep Christ the center of your "temple" and seek Him with all of your health needs, He is faithful to direct us when we ask  .http://www.fitfortheking.info

So, now that you have encouraged me...I'm encouraging you.  I should probably also stop assuming that all of my readers are men because a handful of e-mails I received were from men.  So, to all you ladies and gentlemen out there who happen to read my little blog in my little corner, I encourage you.   Our Father is encouraging you.  Hey, if you are one who is in the same boat as I am, keep it up.  We can do it!