Why was I ever born?

Why was I ever born?  Many people throughout human history have asked that very question. Some feel like every turn in life brings more trouble.  Lot’s go through things so traumatic they want to throw their hands up in the air and give up.  They are asking the very same thing the prophet Jeremiah asked many years ago (Jeremiah 20:18, NLT), “Why was I ever born?  My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.”  Have you asked why you were born?  Is life throwing you the proverbial curve ball of trouble and pain around every corner?

There is nothing we can do to get rid of the circumstances this world throws our way.  There are things that happen that simply do not make sense.  There are many pitfalls that lead us down the path of wondering why we were ever born; however, there is a major pitfall that remains a blind spot in most peoples lives.  This major pitfall is that “Culture Strives after Success.”  No one wants to be a failure, so on the surface success sounds like a valiant goal. 

We have become so 
success oriented that we even give participation trophies to kids.  I have achieved something; even to the point that I have achieved participating!  We strive so much for success that we over extend ourselves financially to buy a vehicle/house out of our price range.  Striving after success inevitably leads people down Gloom Street, onto the exit of Despair, and finally screaming onto Agony Parkway. If you are not satisfied with life and know why you were born before you win that game, get that promotion, get that trophy, or get that new car/boat/house/toy, then you won’t be satisfied and know after you receive them either.

So what is the alternative for success?  It is significance!  Stop striving after success and become significant.  Success at its core is inward/me focused while significance is outward/others focused.  Jesus lived a life of significance. The world looks to the cross and sees failure, but he longed for significance.  Jesus changed everything about life on earth through significance.  Most successes in life are quickly forgotten and prove to have little lasting meaning.  Significance lasts. 

Three things to help you move from striving after success to being significant:

1.         Love (1 Corinthians 13): Love is not a mere emotion of how I feel on the inside, but an outward direction of will.  Love asks, “How can I help and serve you?”

2.         Generosity (Luke 6:38): There are many things you can give to be significant to someone such as time, talents, money, friendship, food, forgiveness, a listening ear, and you fill in the blank.  When you are hurting and feeling down, decide to be significant towards someone else.  Be generous to someone else in great need.

3.         God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:33): The truest meaning of life can only be found when we look for it through the Creator Himself.  So seek him through reading and following the Bible, through prayer, through worship with other believers regularly in church, and serving others. 

Most will continue striving after success and many will find it, but they will still be left wondering why they were ever born.  Choose to be significant and see how you view life differently.  You can see life through the eyes of Jesus.  When life knocks you down, and it will; get up and be significant in someone else’s life!

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad

Join the #JesusFollower team by texting @jesusfo to 81010 to receive 2-3 Biblical texts per week to challenge and encourage you.

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10 Easy to Remember Commandments of Health and Fitness (Commandment 3): Eat COMPLEX carbohydrates; avoid SIMPLE carbohydrates

There is a lot more to carbohydrates than we will tackle in this blog.  The idea is to make us aware of what we are putting into our bodies for fuel.  What you use as fuel is vital to a well running body and complex carbs over simple carbs is best. Simple carbohydrates cause you to continually crave more and more.  Have you ever just eaten one cookie or one chip.  Even when you take one out and roll the bag back up; you still go back for more.  Complex carbohydrates will not make you have that crash feeling after the buzz of what simple carbohydrates gives you. 

Examples of complex and simple carbohydrates:

Complex Carbohydrates include 100% whole-grain (bread/pasta), starchy vegetables (potatoes; sweet potatoes; beans; peas; lentils), oatmeal, and brown rice.

Simple Carbohydrates include sugar, syrups, fructose, fruit juice, enriched flour, cookies, white rice, white bread, crackers, candy, French fries, chips, doughnuts, and soda.

Best and worst:

The point is to make us aware of the basic concept of which carbohydrates are better for us than others.  One of the best foods on these lists is the sweet potato; however, don’t add a bunch of butter and sugar to it.  One of the worst items on these lists are sodas, even diet sodas!  Just because they say it is “all-natural” does not mean it is good for you.

 

Bread in our culture:

Bread is not a good way to get your carbohydrates.  Many breads are high in calories and added sugar.  Avoid bread where enriched flour is the first ingredient such as white bread and wheat bread.  Make sure if you are going to eat bread the first ingredient is 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat and it is low in added sugar.

Hidden sugars:

There is hidden sugar (simple carbohydrates) in foods that you don’t think about such as in spaghetti sauce.  We are not striving to avoid all carbohydrates, but we want to avoid as many hidden sugars as possible.  Yogurt is good for you, but make sure the kind you get is not full of sugar!  It is also amazing all the hidden sugars found in salad dressings, barbecue sauces, dried fruits, and energy drinks.  Check the labels.

Cooking trick:

Instead of adding crackers (simple carbs) when making salmon patties or meat loaf; add oatmeal (complex carbs). My family has never noticed the difference and it is a better for you too!

Alternatives:

Instead of cookies, eat a piece of whole fruit.  Instead of potato chips, grab a handful of lightly salted peanuts.  Instead of soda, slice an orange into water and drink throughout the day.  Instead of sugar; try a little xylitol or stevia.

Don't forget to click the links to check out Commandment 1 and Commandment 2.

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad

Join the #JesusFollower team by texting @jesusfo to 81010 to receive 2-3 Biblical texts per week to challenge and encourage you.

Also follow on Facebook by going to facebook.com/pastorchadh

10 Easy to Remember Commandments of Health and Fitness (Commandment #2): Fiber is your Friend

As a child growing up, fiber was the last thing on my mind.  Tasting good was top on my priority list!  I do remember seeing people putting this powder stuff in a glass of water, drinking it down, and stating as I got older I would start thinking more about it too.  Well, I’m 44 years old and have been increasingly thinking about it over the last 10 years of my life.  Fiber is your friend and all the healthy benefits will not be discussed in this short blog, but hopefully this will draw your attention to the necessity of fiber no matter your age.

The National Fiber Council recommends 32 grams of fiber a day for a healthy adult.  According to Columbia University Institute of human nutrition, the average American consumes 10-15 grams per day.  Make no mistake about it, if you are taking in about 10 grams of fiber a day, then don’t jump up to the 32 grams tomorrow. Take note; a big jump like that would be a shock to your system.  Fiber is a good cleaning agent for your body.  All the people with children holler, “Potty break!!”  Needless to say, gradually building up to the 32 grams per day is the best way to gooooo (pun alert)!

It is important for us to remember to take care of our bodies as much as humanly possible.  I know Paul is not talking about eating healthy in this passage; however, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) give us insight that we are to take care of our bodies.  “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

What are some good sources of fiber?  If you look up fiber or see it on a label, then you will see words like soluble and insoluble.  In a nutshell (pun alert), both are good for you and needed.  Here is a list of some good foods that are high in fiber: Beans; 100% whole grains; brown rice; popcorn (watch the butter & salt); nuts & seeds; fruits (w/skin); berries; oatmeal; vegetables; dietary supplements.

Don’t forget to check out “Commandment #1: Know Your Why” if you have not read it.  And don’t forget, before starting any new health and fitness plan; check with your personal doctor!!

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad 

Join the #JesusFollower team by texting @jesusfo to 81010 to receive 2-3 Biblical texts per week to challenge and encourage you.

Also follow on Facebook by going to facebook.com/pastorchadh