Your Temple

It won't be a surprise to anyone that really knows me that my attention span tends to run a little on the short side. I have 4 books started right now of which I'll probably finish 3-at some point if I don't start another one which I probably will if it looks more interesting. My dining room is currently half mopped-just the truth. I thought I wanted to clean last night but really-I didn't :) And it might be a character flaw but I can seriously mop half my floor and go to bed without being bothered in the least bit. I'm definitely not a "have to have everything tied up with a neat bow before I can sleep" kinda person. Not even kinda :)

I love that our bodies are referred to as temples. I'm not getting any awards for temple caregiver-believe me. I'm sure my temple would like a little more sleep most weeks. My temple would probably like a lot more discipline and some gentle care instead of a run at the speed of light on fumes existence!

Which is why it has surprised me that in this season of such mess with my throat I'm actually to the place where I've really enjoyed the discipline of a liquid diet. Don't get me wrong-I'll be doing a cartwheel in the parking lot if I get the go ahead to eat my regular food again, but I've been pleasantly surprised at the mind clearing season these months have been. Do you even know how much food occupies our lives? It's amazing. Where to eat. What to eat. How much to eat. What to do if we eat too much. Not feeling well because of what we eat. Cooking and cleaning up what we eat. Deciding on food at the grocery store - etc. etc. etc. It's not a bad thing. We're human! We have to eat, but does it have to take up sooooooo much of our existence?

I'll tell you, though difficult at first, giving up sugar and flour was incredibly freeing. I don't think it's for everyone. I think if I started eating sugar and flour again I would gain a million pounds by Friday. It's a commitment-for a lifetime. A commitment I pray about every single day. Satan knows when we're weak we're tempted to change our resolve. I try to remember how much better I feel and in humility stand against temptation. There's NO way I've done this without the help of the Lord-for real. I still remember the very first night when everyone I know(it seemed!) was eating cake that day thinking I can't do it it's too hard!! But I'm sooooo glad I stuck to it. It's the plan God had for me to help rebuild my temple and we're stillllllllllllll workin on it-sometimes more with a wrecking ball!

And this most recent battle with my throat has been strangely freeing as well. It just doesn't take that much time when your options for food are in liquid form. Are you going to drink a smoothie or juice or milk? There ya go. Those are your options :) Now I realize drinking liquids for the rest of my life is not a viable option. But I'm thinking health wise about how I can incorporate the lessons of these weeks into a plan for my life. I don't think God just hands out trials without expecting us to learn something from them.

Matthew 6:25 (The Message)
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

I have a friend from college who serves her family brown rice for dinner once a week. That's it-brown rice. They donate the cost of their regular meals for those days to World Vision who serves children who are literally in tears over having rice to eat. She's teaching her children young that it's not about what you eat, but being thankful that you have food at all to eat. Last Christmas as a family gift they donated some seed for corn to their families so they could grow their own food. When she told them about it at the dinner table her 6 year old burst into tears. When she asked her what it was she said, "I'm just so happy they can have corn now too with their rice!" Precious!

Turns out health wise our bodies would run better if we'd eat a little lower on the food chain. I am so convicted lately that 90% of what we eat we don't need and it isn't doing a bit of good for our bodies (aka-temples). Don't worry-I'm not going to grow my hair into dreadlocks and make my own granola over an open flame in my backyard! But I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility lately to care properly for this temple. The Holy Spirit lives here (why I'll never know!), but He does! I know it's the Holy Spirit's role to make us into the image of Christ, but I don't want him to always have to work as hard as he has been!! I want him to be comfortable here. I want this temple to be a place where he can flow freely and not have to stop every 5 minutes to say, "Look-you're being dumb again!" (does the Holy Spirit say dumb? I have no idea!)

I think the emphasis is usually on over eating when it comes to our temples, but since this is such a vast audience, I will also say that I think it's a sin to not properly feed our temples. Not eating enough to sustain us will lead to just as many if not more health related issues that personally I also see as a spiritual issue. Satan loves to trap us into extreme thinking. Not eating enough is just as bad as eating too much. Period. If you have trouble with eating disorders pray that God would help you be discerning and trust Him to provide for your daily needs. And get professional help if you need it-seriously.

I had a huge answer to prayer this morning that was so encouraging. I had a test run at the ENT a few weeks ago that showed large amounts of acid in my esophagus. He said to be sure I checked with my dentist at my next checkup because that much acid even for a short time would cause serious tooth decay. Let's just say I'd like my teeth not to decay while my throat is acting crazy! Well, the verdict was NO DECAY-at all!!! None! The dentist said my teeth did not look like a person's with acid reflux AT ALL! He also said with that level the back teeth at least should be showing signs, but nope! Not a spot! Yippee!

What changes can you make to help turn your temple into a place where the Holy Spirit wants to dwell? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

MUAH! Brenda