Health is something we take for granted when we are young.  We usually feel good, our bodies are young and energetic and your mind can’t comprehend being old.  You assume your body will never wear out.
 
So, how can we learn to take care of ourselves so we will feel great when we get old?  I think the best way to answer this question is to just take care of yourself because it is the right thing to do.  Don’t think in terms of getting old.
 
First, remember the importance of water.  Our body is composed of 75% water and we lose 8-10 cups of water a day, and that doesn’t take into account a very hot day or exercise.  Water is very important for brain function as well.
 
Seniors, take note that over the age of 65, your natural thirst for water diminishes.  It doesn’t mean you don’t need more water, on the contrary.  Hypertension, kidney stones, circulation problems, arthritis, and indigestion can be directly or indirectly related to not enough water intake.
 
Secondly, the latest studies show walking is one of the most important exercises you can do.  It also exercises your brain to keep it alert.  If you are young, please don’t ruin your life by sitting in front of the TV or computer.  Limit yourself to eight hours a week, unless it is for homework or regular work.  Life will just pass you by if you do.  Get out and enjoy life.  Learn to appreciate nature.  The birds will sing you a concert of praise!
 
Thirdly, think of what foods you are eating.  Think of your body like your automobile.  Would you put junk in your gas tank?  Then don’t put junk in your body.  As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” 

What would happen if you bought a new car and never changed the oil or gave it a tune up?  It would wear out before its time.  Your body is no different.  Take care of it when you are young, and things will go much better for you when you are old.
 
These are only a few helpful hints, but remember–you can only live once so let’s do it right!

Jesus would say to you this day:

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18-20 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)

I know it is hard to wait on God’s justice.  I know from experience, but it will come if He is who He says He is, which we all know that He is.  He must honor His Word.   A perfect God must hate evil and injustice or He wouldn’t be perfect.  He wishes all to repent but if people choose to be like Pharoah and continue to harden their hearts, justice will be quick (sudden) and without remedy.  Then, all will know Jesus is Lord. 

In the meantime, you are commanded to pray for those who persecute you whether they are in the secular community or the Christian community.  You MUST forgive.  Carrying a grudge only hurts you and changes you for the worst instead of for the better.

Isaiah 65:6
Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence but will repay; yes, I will repay into their bosom
Isaiah 65:5-7 (in Context) Isaiah 65

Psalm 150 (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 150

 ¹PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!    ²Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!    ³Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!    ⁴Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!    ⁵Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!    ⁶Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

“I just wanted to help,” wailed Ann.

“I know you did but you made matters worse,” exclaimed an exasperated Bob.

Do those words sound familiar? Well, they should.  We all could recall memories when we made matters worse even though we meant well.   So, how do we know when to help, when to open our mouths, or when to keep them shut?  It can be a dilemma.

I think the first step is to step back.  Take a deep breath.  In other words, think it through.  Don’t just rush in.  When a judgment call is required, always remember the golden rule–”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  To paraphrase, how would you want to be treated in a similar situation?  Would you want advice, or just want company–in other words, do you want a friend that will just “be there for you.”

The second step is if you decide to get involved, make SURE you have all the facts.  Too many times, and I have seen it over and over again, people rush in and take action without getting them.  Always remember, there is ALWAYS two sides to every story, and if you are not interested in both sides, I highly recommend you stay OUT of the situation. 

The third step is to assess the seriousness of the situation.  Is it really all that serious, or is somebody’s emotions out of control as to make the situation look more serious than it is.  This is where the phrase “let it rest over night” is a good rule to follow.  Things do quite often look different in the morning.  Before you write that angry letter or leave that angry phone message, let it rest.  If you are really that angry with someone where you can’t let it rest (and I have been there, done that), go ahead and write your angry letter and hold nothing back.  Get it out of your system, but whatever you do, do NOT send it.  After 24 hours, read it again and you will probably want to re-phrase some things. You also may find out in the mean time that you flew off the handle without having all the facts.

Sometimes when someone’s pain is too overwhelming as in a death in the family, usually just “being there” is a good rule to follow.  Don’t flood them with Bible scriptures or unwanted advice.  Usually, if people want advice, they will come to you, you won’t have to go to them.

So, in conclusion, whatever the situation, the old phrase “stop, look, and listen” is a good thing to remember.

  ²⁰For the creation (nature) was subjected to^]frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it–[yet] with the hope

    ²¹That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

    ²²We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.

    ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).

For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it–[yet] with the hope

    ²¹That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

    ²²We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.

    ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).

Isaiah 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

⁶And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatted domestic animal together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 65:25 (Amplified Bible)

²⁵The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy Mount [Zion], says the Lord.

Have you ever watched Little House On The Prairie or The Waltons and say to yourself , “this isn’t reality?  It just is too idealistic.”  Well, perhaps it is in the narcissitic society we live in today, but was it so idealistic in the time period these shows were cast in when times were hard and everybody had to band together to survive?  What made these marriages work?  What do they both have in common? 

As a psychology major, I analyzed the characters in these two shows and came to the conclusion they both had one thing in common–they both loved their spouses more than themselves.  That is the key.

One well known concept in psychology is that we as individuals don’t know ourselves near as well as we think we do.  In other words, we can say we love our spouse more than ourself, but do our actions betray us?

So how does one do it?  It is easier said than done.  One well-known Christian counselor that has written many books on making marriage and family work is Dr. Gary Chapman.  I haven’t read all his books, but I do like The Five Love Languages.  In this book he describes men and women as having one distinct love language that they respond to more than the others.  The five love languages are:  Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.  One marriage couple that was counseled, the wife complained that she doesn’t feel loved as her husband never spent any time with her.  His reply was “what do you mean you don’t feel loved?  I shower you with gifts and flowers…”  The problem was gifts wasn’t her primary love language, but quality time was.

All relationships involve conflict, but how we handle the conflict is the key to success.  All relationships take work, give, and take.  If you want a good marriage you must work at it.  If you aren’t willing, then you probably aren’t cut out for marriage.  There is nothing wrong with being single.  We just need to recognize that we don’t get married because it is the cultural thing to do.   Marriage is a completely different lifestyle and if you aren’t ready to give up “yourself” then don’t do it.

Jesus would say to you this day,

“When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?  The Lord is is His holy temple, the Lord sits on His throne in heaven.” Psalm 11:3-4

Isn’t David’s question ours?  David doesn’t answer his question with an answer.  He answers it with a declaration–”The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord sits on his throne in heaven.”

God is unaltered by our storms and not frightened by our problems.  It is important to recognize that God dwells in a different realm.  He occupies another dimension.

“My thoughts are not like your thoughts.  Your ways are not like my ways.  Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Is the eagle disturbed by traffic?  No, he rises above it.  Is the whale perturbed by a hurricane? No, he plunges beneath it.  Is the lion flustered by the mouse standing directly in his way?  No, he steps over it.  Though we may not be able to see his purpose or his plan, we entrust him with our very lives.

God is for you.  Your parents may have forgotten you, your teachers may have neglected you, your siblings may be ashamed of you, but within reach of your prayers is the Maker of the oceans, God. (excerpts from America Looks up by Max Lucado)

What words of encouragement!! But, one question–how do we apply them to our lives?  We know this is the way we are supposed to feel, but we can’t seem to soar above our feelings.

Oddly enough, this is okay.  We NEVER want to invalidate our feelings or anyone else’s feelings.  We just need to DEAL with our feelings.  We just need to recognize that feelings aren’t fact.  Just remember that feelings are fickle so don’t put your trust in them.  Put your trust in God’s Word that He will come through with justice for you.  Also remember that your thoughts control your feelings.  If you dwell on the negative in your life, you will be feeling negative most of the time. 

You might journal in your spiritual diary, “Okay Lord, my feelings may or may not be justified, but I will dwell in the Holy Tabernacle of your Word.  I will spend more time in your word because that is how you speak to your children.  I will pray more and remember that this life is only temporary.  I will dwell on the wonderful future I have with you in eternity.  I will get “out of myself” today, and see what I can do to brighten the life of someone else.Today is the day the Lord has made, let me rejoice and be glad in it.”

 Jesus would say to you this day from Revelation 1&2&21

⁷Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 ⁸I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty

 To The Church of Ephesus: ⁴Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

 ¹And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

 ²And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 ³And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 ⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 ⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 ⁶And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 ⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

 ⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

God’s justice always comes–sometimes sooner rather than later and sometimes later rather than sooner.  Be of good cheer this day and remember always praise the Lord even if you don’t feel like it.

We all know what a fast is.  The thought of going without food makes us grimace.  But, what about a 40 day fast from wrong thinking?  What is that?

Pastor Gregory Dickow has a revolutionary plan to help people change their negative thinking little by little.  I personally haven’t gone on the fast, but I have heard him talk about it many times, and there are multitudes of wonderful testimonies from those that have.

It is true that we “are what we think.”  Our thoughts do  control our feelings.

Today, I would encourage you to log onto his website and prayerfully review it and see if this program is for you.  Just log on to:   www.changinglives.org

In conclusion, please remember Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

If you are the latter, and there are many, why do you suppose that is?  Have you done something to displease God?  Are you practicing sin somehow in your life? Does God play favorites?

Another aspect to consider, is that maybe God loves you too much to allow you to become a spiritual “fat cat” totally insensitive to the pain and suffering around you. You might have been specifically selected for a divine purpose, and God is testing you to make sure you can fulfill that purpose, and are serving Him for the right reasons–not what He can do for you, rather what you can do for Him.

Perhaps it is not what you are doing that is wrong, rather what you are NOT doing. People are dying by the thousands daily, going into an eternal damnation. How much do you care? Enough to witness daily? Look around you. Can you see all the hurting people around you? Can you feel their pain? What have you done to ease their pain? A simple gesture like baking cookies and taking it to a local orphanage, or other charitable organization may be what God is looking for. In other words, get out of yourself. “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over.” Luke 6:38

Remember, we have nothing to be discouraged about.  Jesus is coming again.  The dispensation of grace is closing and the new dispensation of the Milennium is on the horizon.  Are you truly ready?  So, look at yourself in the mirror, smile, and say “Jesus loves me.”

Why be positive you might ask? After all, if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.
Everything in my life “went south” you might say.

How do you respond to life when it hands you a lemon? The answer is to “make lemonade.” Look at it this way. If your finances are in disarray, for example, you can either be positive or negative, but either way, your finances are in disarray. So, why not be positive? Being negative isn’t going to improve your finances, but being positive will. 

So, whatever has you making lemonade, smile and praise the Lord anyway.  Dig deeper into the Word of God to find a solution and never be afraid to ask for help, and remember I John 4:4–”greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”