I've been watching a lot of the Olympic games over the past week. It's amazing to see the physical strength that can be developed in an athlete. World records are being broken all the time as these competitors unleash the capabilities that have been built up in them through training over many years. I was especially amazed at the gymnastic rings event. Look at this guy! He holds this "superman" position for several seconds without moving at all. How is this possible??!!
Not quite where I'm at right now. We love to have dinner on our screened-in porch each night. I have always carried out a tray with our glasses, cutlery, and a water jug on it. Probably weighs 5 pounds and, yet, it seems like when I hold it in front of me it is so heavy that it's pulling my chest to the floor. My back is hunched over and I have to pause to breathe when I set it down on the table.
I'm thankful, though, that I'm still able to easily drink the glass of water and lift my fork full of food to my mouth to satisfy my hunger ... (although cutting food with a knife can be difficult!).
I am so envious of my neighbours when I see them go for a "power walk" past our front yard. I was able to do that in January; but today, if I'm walking fast, I need to pause for a big breath by the time I get to the end of our driveway!
I know that God wants us to take care of our bodies - because we were made in God's image! And I'm trying to take care of my body as best as I can by exercising daily. Not to put on muscle mass, but to keep the muscles active and maintain my core strength and balance. In the end, though, I believe my spiritual strength is far more important than my physical strength.
"Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come." 1 Timothy 4:8
At the end of my life on this earth, my body will be turned to ashes and it won't exist any more. But my spirit can and will live on in Heaven thanks to the sacrifice that Jesus made for me - and you - by dying on the cross for my sins. I am so thankful for that. So I'm really trying to focus on "Godly living": being kind and respectful to my family and friends; praying for God's will to be done in and through me on a daily basis; sharing God's love with everyone I communicate with. And this isn't as easy as it seems sometimes! But I'm counting on my Olympic Trainer - The Lord God Almighty - to get me where I need to be!
I've updated my prayer request list which you can find at the top of the website. I so appreciate your prayer support. If your prayers and mine are in alignment with God's Will, they have such a powerful effect. There can be moments during the day when all of a sudden my emotions brighten like a light switch was turned on, and I know it is a result of God answering your prayer request. God wants me to be filled with hope and your prayers take me to that place. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Check out the new prayer points. More updates next week after my Neurology appointment!