After two years of living in Alabama and trying the work-out at home method (consisting of pilates, P90x and running around our neighborhood) Josh and I decided to join the gym. All of our methods failed when we tried to do it on our own. I'd walk outside to run, sweat just from the heat of the sun, and turn around and go back inside. It wasn't fun. So we finally took control of the matter and decided that driving 15 minutes to the other side of town was worth it to get back in shape.

We've always been active people, never really had to work at it. Both of us played sports in high school and college. I even worked up in the mountains during the summer and we'd go hiking. It came easy for us when we we had different outlets to keep us active. But as we've grown older we've become more and more comfortable with the sit on the couch and watch TV lifestyle. In fact, sometimes we even tell ourselves that we deserve it after a hard day of work. We soon realized that "letting ourselves go," as people call it, was a lot easier than imagined. We knew we had to take action and develop a routine that would help us stay in shape. That's when we said, hello gym!

It crossed my mind today, that letting ourselves go is not just something we do physically. I think we do it spiritually as well. We become undisciplined in our prayer lives, distracted by all the things of the world, we say we're going to do something about it... but never really do. I know, because I've been there. There are days when getting out of bed is literally an effort for me. That's how deep I've sunk in the hands of the enemy. He wants to keep us content with being a big, fat, lazy Christian. No offense. But just as sitting in front of a TV watching a health show doesn't make you healthy, attending a church service and listening to a preacher doesn't mean you're in good spiritual health. It's all about the exercise - or putting into use, as the definition states. You see... my muscles are broken down from an intense work-out I had the other day. But they will soon be built up stronger than ever before! That's what happens with us spiritually if we remain faithful to the Lord. Even when it's difficult, and hurts and you want to give up after just feeling the heat. If we remain faithful... He will use every situation, every exercising of our faith, to make us so much stronger.

There is a phrase that I see every time I enter the gym, "The mind will always give up before the body." And it's so true. We need to renew our minds daily to stay focused on the goal. One of my favorite verses, Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." So what are you doing today to transform your mind and prevent from letting yourself go, both physically and spiritually?

 

You may have noticed in my last video, that I changed scenery a bit. Instead of the usual backdrop of me on my couch in the living room... I went outside in our little backyard and sat on an old bench that was left there by the previous owner. I thought it was cute, so we never moved it. Even though it probably has seen it's better days, I am grateful for this little treasure that was left behind.  It's a good place to read a book, write a song, enjoy the peace and quiet... or just sit and watch our pup, Heidi, run around. It's a beautiful place to just be inspired.

So many social networks. So many gadgets and ways to keep up with friends. And yet we still find it hard to do sometimes. But I'm happy to say... not this week! Josh and I were blessed to spend some time with three couples we love. We realized just how blessed we were to have friends our age who love the Lord and are striving to live a life dedicated to Him! If you haven't noticed, it seems that in the 20-somethings age group... committed followers of Christ are hard to come across. Too many things to cause distractions - college, careers, dating, parties, sports games... the list is endless. To see people our age that have chosen to give up the pleasures of this world and surrender their lives to the Lord is inspiring. It gives me so much hope for the future of the church!

Thursday through Saturday, we were able to visit with a few of our college friends - Michael and Mindy (and their little girl, Emma). We haven't seen them in over two years - since we moved from Jacksonville, FL. They just recently took a ministry job at a church near Tallahassee and are much closer... this called for a visit! I was able to host a little Thirty-One party for Mindy as well. Cute stuff, check it out here!

Saturday night we hung out with some great friends of ours, Steve and Amanda. Amanda was a small group leader at Watermark for almost two years... and one of the best at that! They moved to Troy after they were married in March, so we have really missed spending time with them. We went to TGIF for dinner and then to see Captain America! I think I am actually starting to get "into" these super hero movies, lately. :)

Then, Sunday night we went to a late dinner at La Parilla with our friends Evan and Jessica. Evan and I grew up in youth group together. He's now the youth pastor at a church in Georgia and also leads a band called Skyview. Jessica, his sweet wife is a nurse and is pregnant with their first child, a little boy named Elliot. We spent most of our dinner talking about our love for missions and music. What a blessing to share the same passions with people. :)

The Lord has allowed us to cross paths with some great people, and we love getting to meet those who share the same passion and joy for the Lord and His ministry. Like I said, it is rare to meet people our age who are serving in the church... or even attending church at all, to be honest. But I am very thankful for where we are at right now. I looked out at the 2nd service congregation at Watermark Church yesterday morning... and was blown away at the lack of grey hair! Haha! No offense to my grey-haired friends, but this is not the cultural norm for churches nowadays. To see a room full of young, lively individuals was a blessing! I pray that there continues to be a revival amongst our generation... and that people will seek more than what this decaying world has to offer! There is so much joy found in Christ and sharing it with others is only part of the reward. :)

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17