The Pursuit Of Shalom

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs‬ ‭16:24‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)
How we speak. How we act. How we desire. How we spend money or time. On food is very much alongside the relationship you have with it. You can eat out of fear of getting “fat”. You can eat out of emotions (of which I’m so guilty of!). You can eat out of boredom. Or you can because you’re hungry. We choose how we: Approach. Appreciate. Advise it!

Getting into my early teens I was so convinced on getting “skinny”. I would eat crumbs of things to have the “flat stomach” I always dreamed of having. I even went as far as ordering teas or shakes, going vegan for two weeks to just maintain my skinniness for that summer. Afterwards when summer had passed away I realized how much my relationship with food became terrible to the point where I was ALWAYS on a “diet” instead of a lifestyle change, a Diet life was what I was consuming daily nothing but what kept me skinny whether it was just eating one meal a day or nothing at all that’s what I did to maintain skinny.

I can’t eat that because it won’t make me “skinny”. Lose weight to be “Skinny”. I’m not “skinny” enough to wear that.

I finally started working out, which in my mind gave me a little leeway to sneak bad food in to my diets, it was a constant up and down situation! And so was my weight, and my mental health. Having a healthy relationship with food started when overtime I went with a group of friends enjoyed a scoop of ice cream and no guilt was felt! Because having a “bad” meal or snack is by no means the end of the world. It may slow ya down a bit, but the fellowship the laughs the joy in just freedom of friends and my scoop of ice cream. But I always made sure I didn’t indulge because that’s where my guilt would lye, I would feel so mad at myself for “cheating” on my diet that I would eat more. Which never ended well. Eat out of nutritional value, mental health and physical health.

Things that will fuel your body. Restore your muscles. Promote your mental health. Strengthen your state of mind. Because those are the things that will fuel you daily!

•Counseling • Social Media

• Medicine • The News

• Doctors • Music

• Hospital’s • TV Shows

Joy comes in moments, rare chosen ones.

“Joy” is found in “The Happiest I’ve ever been in my life”. “Living My Best Life”.“I have my thirties to grow up! Twenties are for parties.”

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Mental Health has become a Money Business instead of actual outreach of encouragement and help. And Joy has become based upon your body, money,family, job, title, vehicle or reputation. And many more things that are changing. Feeling based. And not reliable. Joy is often found when you’ve just gotten out of rock bottom and you’ve found “your happy”. Often people go back to tragedy because there helpline wasn’t strong enough or wasn’t able to with hold all that the person needed from it. Depression. Anxiety. Are real issues that need a real helpline need a real shovel to dig them out not a peak to the light then close the doors. Tragedy is sold because it’s something we all have in-common, it’s what catches the eye. And hits the heart! Because we’ve all been there a today, tomorrow, a year ago or decade. Life, people and places have had impact.

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:12-14‬ ‭ESV

Be the example in mental health you never had yourself, find Joy in Christ, if we abide in him. He is the vine we will bear fruit! Persistence is key, because your feelings are not always going to open that Bible, hit your knees or sing as loud as you can in worship:)

Mental Health Awareness is very important. Being there for someone doesn’t mean loaning a million dollars. It could be a listening ear. Pray with them. Speak words of endurance over them. Just being there says more than anything:)

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs‬ ‭17:17‬ ‭ESV