INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH EVERY DAY
On June 26 I retired after being pastor of Main Street Baptist Church in Doylestown for 35 years. I’ve taken some time to look back at the main lessons God has taught me during that time. Here’s one:
Healthy living has always been a top priority of. As a child I became convicted of the importance of proper diet, rest and exercise. God has blessed me with excellent health even though I am 70. It’s taken time and effort, but it has been worth it.
God has given me one life and one body in which to live that life. While I have no desire to stay on this earth longer than God wants, I can affect the quality of my time here. Being a good steward of what God has given me includes stewardship of my body. Eating healthy food is a must. Getting enough rest and sleep are also essential. Exercise is crucial, not optional.
Although exercise takes time I know I have gained more productive time than I have lost. I function more efficiently all day and sleep better at night when I exercise. I rarely get sick and have missed hardly any time due to illness my whole life. My quality of life is better. I save money and time by not visiting doctors and being in the hospital. I set a better example for others. I enjoy life better. I even enjoy my times of exercise each day. The last several years my wife has been running or biking with me several times a week and these have become special times for us to share together as well. I travel to India yearly and am able to keep up a very active schedule in difficult living conditions while there. So I know the time I have invested in exercise have been well worth it in all ways.
I owe it to my family and church, my wife and children, myself and especially to God to be a good steward of all he as given me, including my health and body. So do you!
1 Kings 19:3-6 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. … Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
Ps 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves.
1 Cor 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
What are some of the good things you do to stay healthy?
Is God convicting you about your stewardship of your body? Where is improvement needed: diet, rest or exercise (or more than one)?
Write down several steps you can take starting today to become a better steward of your health.
Pray and ask God to give you the self control needed to make these changes starting now.
INDIA UPDATE: Learning to sew may not seem like anything special to women in the USA. Anyone here who wants to learn can, but very few want to. There is simply no need. In India it is vastly different, though. Learning a skill like sewing makes all the difference between starvation and life for many women and their children. They can make their own clothes, plus earn extra money by sewing for others. Many Christian ministries in India offer free sewing lessons for women who want to learn. Pastors Moses’ church offers several of these classes throughout the year. A Bible devotional is presented at each class, and special evangelistic messages are also given. The women are offered a New Testament when they are done with their class. Usually several women will come to the Lord and start attending church as a result of this. This is one of the few ways to reach Muslim women as well.
PRAY FOR
The translation and printing of the book Preaching & Teaching the Bible
Plans for the January10-Feb 9 Conferences, both in India by Pastor Moses and here by Jerry
Needed finances for the book and upcoming conferences (Make payable to Christian Training Organization, send to Jerry Schmoyer, 252 W. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901).
Jerry Schmoyer
Christian Training Organization
india.christiantrainingonline.org/