Time for a Check Up?

I apologize for not posting more the last few days. We have had an in-law crisis and houseguests since Saturday. Things are improving a little. My neice is having surgery on her wrist Friday. It is broke in two places. Please pray for her. As always, Sista Cala has been faithful to send her Worship Wednesday post, and I actually got it posted in time! I will get back to my regular posts soon.

The other day I received a brochure regarding a Health Screening that would be available in the coming days. It was addressed to my late mother, but it was "junk mail" so I trashed it. Not long afterward, the idea for this post came to mind. I retrieved the brochure and began to read. It went something like this: Dear Mrs._____, Family Friendly Church in your city may not be the location that you typically think of for administering life saving screenings. However...

Then statistics were given as to how many people had participated in these screenings. The numbers showed a certain percentage of folks that had no symptoms yet the tests had revealed life threatening problems. The closing statement on the brochure was one encouraging the recipient to talk to their physician about these life saving screenings.

Well my friend, it touched my heart to know that these folks were interested in the well being of a woman that had been deceased since 2001. Really, I used to get upset when this sort of mail came. I would reply with a sarcastic, "if you are so interested in my mother's health, you would know that she is 100% well and walking the streets of Glory."

Now, I am sure that didn't send a good witness to them. I have asked the Lord to forgive me. It just goes to show that they really want to serve people regardless of their address. lol.

Seriously though, the local church a place for valuable life saving screens? What better place to be screened for the clogged arteries of doubt, the aneurysms about to rupture from concealed bitterness, the deep vein thrombosis of envy or greed, and the many other ravages of sin? Yes indeed, untold millions have been saved by taking advantage of these services. Many with no outward symptoms have come to know their true conditions and sought out the Surgeon of surgeons.

They have undergone life saving procedures as they have gone to the Great Physician with their test results. They have received additional instructions to prevent any recurrence of their ailments. The Doctor is always in should they need further counseling. No appointments are necessary to see Him. BTW, He is a heart doctor specializing in transplants. He is also a brain surgeon, neurologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, and is an expert in all the disciplines of medicine. No wonder His references can fill the pages from Genesis to Revelation.

Do you need a check-up or a complete exchange transfusion? See the Great Physician today. He can do what no other doc can do.

Fit 4 Life

Physical fitness is a perennial resolution for many. One reason it tops the list again and again is a failure to make exercise a permanent addition to one's lifestyle. Exercise has many documented benefits. It improves circulation, increases muscle tone and strength, invigorates the body, feeds more oxygen to the brain, and increases overall feeling of well-being. Yet these advantages will not manifest until the mind and body are trained to exercise automatically.

Becoming a better Christian tops Sister Spiritual's resolution list. She says she wants to pray more, read the Bible more and spend more time working for the Lord. The clock alarms at 5am, she slides sleepily from her bed to the floor near by. "Dear Lord', she mutters. There is a draft, but she wants to follow through with her New Year's resolutions. Her knees begin to ache, her thighs start to cramp, even her elbows stiffen as she rests them on the bed. "Why don't I just pray lying in the bed?" she says to herself. And so begins the end of the keeping of resolutions.

On to number two on her list. She takes her Bible and stumbles into the dining room. She sits at the table and tries to focus on the words. She thinks, "A cup of coffee would be nice."
She leaves the Bible on the table and goes to the cupboard. Then she remembers,
"We're out of coffee. I guess I'll just have some juice. Maybe a piece of toast and jam......"

Dear reader you know how the rest of the story goes. One distraction after another. Soon it becomes too much trouble to pray and read in the mornings. So Miss Spiritual decides to do these things at night before going to bed. This effort also fails, for many nights she is just too tired to follow through. After a few days of these frustrating efforts, Baby girl just quits. She says to herself, "I'll do better next year." Thus spiritual exercise becomes a perennial resolution.

Spiritual training supplemented with the power of the Holy Spirit and working out in the gym of God's presence is key to transforming into the likeness of Jesus.

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly, For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." I Timothy 4:7,8 NIV

Verse 16 adds; "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Praying for your continued success as you train in His Service, PT2006