Sometimes life feels like this…

You’re being dragged along by your own agenda and the busyness of the life your living. Most if not all of our busyness is self-inflicted. We schedule sports leagues for ourselves and our children, music lessons, parties, etc… Driving from one thing to the next constantly on the go and being stressed out the whole time and not really enjoying life, just being busy. No time for setting down as a family to eat a meal. There’s barely time to swing by a drive thru window. Sometimes I get to work on Monday and am asked “How was your weekend?” And I can’t remember all that I did. All that comes to mind is that it was busy. Life doesn’t have to be that way. A prolonged life of busyness can lead to many health problems: ulcers, insomnia, heart conditions, increased blood pressure, decreased immune system, infertility, digestive problems and depression just to name a few.

So, who do you turn to put things in perspective? The right answer is the one who created us. God. He made us so He knows what we need. And what does He say?

Ps. 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God”
Ex. 20:9-10 “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work”

We need to work but not mindlessly. Work on things that will matter in 5 years. If it won’t matter in 5 years maybe we shouldn’t be wasting time on it. Remember it’s okay to rest. In fact it’s not a suggestion. God commands it. Let go of the handle once and a while and float and rest. This applies to all aspects of life: physically, mental, spiritual. Many kids don’t know how to rest because they’ve never seen it modeled. Sit them in a park without an iPod, XBOX 360, Internet or cell phone and it’ll drive them crazy. Let’s lead from the front and show our children and the coming generations how to work hard, eat right and REST.

Still No Shortcuts

I was highly disappointed the other day when I received a magazine in the mail from a shop I buy my whey from loaded with a ton of marketing lies lightly dusted with fragments of truth. I read these statements:

“Warning: Massive muscle gains ahead. 21 Supplements for industrial–strength results”
“Just one pill will cause Extreme fat loss and mind alteration.”
“The most potent concentrated Pre-Workout formula ever.“

Just to quote a few. The problem is that deep down inside there is a part of me that wants to believe statements like this are true. These marketing people are no different than the old time tonic and elixir salesmen of days gone by. They make absurd claims. Sell their products. And then when their name gets a bad reputation and sales drop off they just change the label and tweak the ingredients in order to sell it to the next guy. The idea of paying some money, taking a potion and receiving results sounds great. But, don’t be deceived. There are no short cuts for hard physical work, rest and dietary discipline.

Job 15:31 Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.

Save your money and avoid nasty side effects by working out, eating right and getting proper sleep. Don't waste time looking for short cuts when you could be pursuing your goals.