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Thought: Intentionally Exercising

Exercising has never been one of my strengths. So when the doctors told me to exercise daily as part of the recovery process (see Thoughts from a Concussion), I decided to go for a casual walk each day.

My "casual" exercise got shattered a few weeks ago when the doctor informed me that I had to get my heart rate up. If I wanted to recover, I needed to exercise with a whole heart, not just walk so I could check exercise off my list for the day.

As I've been forcing myself to exercise more intentionally, I've been thoroughly blessed. It pays to work at something rather than just going through the motions.

My conversation with the doctor (and the resulting exercise) has got me thinking about spiritual exercise. So often, I approach walking with the Lord like I was walking--in order to check a box. I may be reading the Bible, but I'm not really digging in, searching for God's wisdom and heart. Yet the rewards of truly exercising ourselves for godliness are ever so much greater than those even of physical exercise. In fact, they're priceless.

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

Story: A Soldier with a Mission

When Timothy first joined the army, he was so excited. He knew he was fighting an important war. Above all, his heart thrilled at the thought of serving underneath his captain--the one who had saved his life and enlisted him in his army.

His enthusiasm bubbled over into everything he did and to everyone he met. Whatever task he was assigned--whether big or small--Timothy had attacked with joy and enthusiasm. He might not see how, but he knew the drills and tasks before him were all part of an important war. Otherwise, the captain wouldn't have assigned them. And he knew that after the war ended, the captain would take them all to live in the new kingdom together. When other soldiers annoyed him, Timothy let their words fall off his shoulders. His enemy would like nothing more than to get them to waste their energies in anger at each other!

You could say Timothy was a soldier with a mission. He knew why he was there, whom he was serving, and where he was going. And he let that knowledge put a joy and delight into everything he did.

But as the weeks went by, Timothy gradually lost sight of the big picture. He, like so many of his fellow soldiers, got caught up in just making it from day to day. He still did his drills and tasks, but he did them as a man checking a box. He began allowing other soldiers' comments irritate him. Worse still, he began being critical of others. Timothy was no longer a soldier with a mission.

One day, Timothy bumped into another soldier named Zach. Zach was struggling with a lack of joy and asked Timothy for advice. Timothy tried to help, but his words sounded hollow to himself. Where was his own joy?

His conversation with Zach caused Timothy to remember the big picture--to remember why he'd enlisted in the first place. He remembered what the captain had done and promised to do for them. He began praising in his heart again instead of complaining. Slowly but surely, he remembered why he was there, whom he was serving, and where he was going. And as he did, his zeal and joy returned. There was no need to just make it through the day. Once again, he was a soldier with a mission.

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Tidbits on Math--From a Christian Perspective

Here are the most recent posts from the Math from a Christian Perspective Blog.

Letting the Fear Go
Are you afraid of math...or of teaching it? Check out the newest math blog post for a quick encouragement.

Homeschool Tip: Checking the Box

By Cris Loop
These past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time cooking. And not just cooking, but meal planning and grocery shopping as well. For those of you who know me, you know that I'm more of a cleaner than a cooker, an improviser than a planner. The whole area of food planning and preparation is not of special interest to me, and in the past, I would have gladly turned those tasks over to anyone who would take them. Obviously though, in one way or another, I've fed my family for years. But I did this in a check-the-box sort of way, if you know what I mean. This summer, however, circumstances required me to really focus on cooking. Instead of shrinking away, I chose to embrace the task. As I've done so, I'm actually finding myself enjoying wearing an apron!

So what does this have to do with homeschooling? Maybe not much, and maybe a lot. As many of you are going back to a more academic schedule this time of year, it might be a good time to evaluate if there's any box-checking going on in your home. If you, like me, have areas you look at with dread, be willing to admit it to yourself, to others, and to God (after all, He already knows). Then ask God for His solution. Perhaps it's simply that you need to choose to thank Him for the task even though you don't like it...or maybe it's not something He would have you doing. But whatever the case, there's nothing like the joy of watching Him teach you and show you things through the area that used to be one of dread.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23

Hymn/Poem: Looking Ahead

Inspired by Hebrews 11-12, Psalm 90:12, and Hebrews 6:19.
Looking ahead,
Laying treasure above,
By faith seeing beyond today--
Lord, give us eyes to see what is truly true.

Looking ahead,
Jesus endured the cross,
Saw the joy, despised the shame--
Lord, help us look to Him who now sits on high.

Looking ahead,
By faith the saints of old,
Saw the reward, and they endured--
Lord, let us view life through the eyes of faith.

Looking ahead,
Numbering our days,
Anchoring our hope in Heaven--
Lord, teach us to live with eternity in view.