Introducing: The Life and Times of a small horse farm, it's human and animal family,living in the middle of the big woods of Pennsylvania. We're all journeying through life, enjoying the blessings of a great God, he has revealed His great love for us in His Son!

Monday, April 7, 2008

A New Day

It looks like spring is finally springing on the farm, small signs of life are everywhere. The deadness is being transformed. Today was a time for change. I have been neglecting my health and the care of the body I was given. So, I decided to start walking in the a.m. before the day's work begins. I have several "issues" (bursitis in my hip and plantar fascitis in my heel) that may make it a challenge(can we say pain), but we'll see how it goes. It is always a joy to start your day out in the Lord's creation, with evidence of his handiwork new with each turn. I reached the end of our road this morning and startled a herd of deer, they never saw me coming. My neighbor's draft horses munched their hay, and geese, on a mission, were honking across the sky. It is such a blessing to live in this place where evidence of God is all around. Of course, we were able to find that evidence in the (more) concrete jungle of our former life, it is inescapable.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
I'm also starting some dietary changes, I've been cutting out the coffee and trying to make better choices in general. All of these are great, but if I neglect my true source of strength and health, I will not succeed. Because, although these changes may be good, the change God looks on, is my heart. Am I drawing nearer to him, desiring more of Him and his Word? It is natural for us humans to try to fix our problems on our own, but we end up spinning the treadmill, and getting nowhere. God will not let anything else be my Saviour-not me, not friends, not success, not family. He is the only Saviour. I'm thankful for Christ's death on the cross, He pardoned me for all of the sinful choices I've made, like allowing myself to be satisfied with "things" rather than Him. I want to make better choices for my physical health, but, more importantly, I want to make "healthy" choices for my heart. I need a daily intake of God and His Word to grow and change.
Romans 12:1 by the mercies of God...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 comments:

Sandy kimmel said...

Johanna,
First, I wanted to comment on your last post:WOW! Great poem. I loved it. You are so good with words, that dear friend is a real gift and I am enjoying yours.
I will pray for your new beginnings. Healty choices are so hard, they shouldn't be but they are. We so want to pamper our desires and cater to our fleshly wimperings; at least I do.
Be Blessed,
Sandy

Johanna said...

Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words, that also is a gift! I really enjoy writing.
Walk day one was really hard (after the walk,) the body was screaming ouch! But I didn't cave and walked again this morning and it was better. Everything in me was saying don't go, Praise God, I went, small victories :)