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Real Dudes,
Our church has been going through the Book of Acts this year. This past Sunday our Youth Pastor made a statement that stood out to me and I’d like to share it with all y’all as well. The phrase "filled with the Spirit" is used more than fifty times. Luke, the author of Acts, found it pretty important to drive this concept home for all believers. What our Youth Pastor pointed out that was convicting to me was this… “You’re either full of the Holy Spirit, or full of yourself.” Men…be honest with yourself, which would you admit to, full of the Spirit, or full of self? Just something to chew on and repent of if self is the focal point in your life. May each of us live as though we’re filled with the Holy Spirit. Practicing His Presence, Nate https://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-filled.html
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What’s on my mind?
For many of you who know me, I am an insurance agent and that means you should be careful asking me questions about health insurance, because the answer is never short in my line of work. So…I will keep this insurance reference real short! Minnesota has been in the news a lot, but few people down in our world know that Minnesota has been in the insurance news recently, as they just passed the Paid Medical Leave Act (PFML), which requires all employers to provide paid time off for employees, up to 12-weeks a year. What does this have to do with Jesus, you ask? Well, I was having a nice talk with Brother Nate Smith (OxStrong Co-founder and Legendary Pastor), last week and he was telling me he was headed over to Minneapolis with this daughter for volleyball tournament and naturally I got on the topic of what a mess the new paid time off leave is for our company because there has been over 50,000 claims filed in less than a month and we are in a supply-chain meltdown. Anyway…after I came up for air from complaining, I turned the mic back over to Nate, and he mentioned how busy he and his family are and all the challenges that we all seem to face in our lives, one time or another. Then suddenly God spoke to me and I told Nate that it is okay to for any man to take a break and restore their energy because Jesus was given a human body by God so that he could feel the love, the pain, and yes the stress like all of us have in our lives. In fact, Jesus was disciplined in dealing with stress…here are some examples:
Mark 6: Verse 31--“Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat (Jesus and his Disciples), Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Men, these are stunning pillars of how to be successful and to endure in peace in this human world. Jesus has paid time off for you, men. Be realistic about your commitments, your goals, rest, be invitational, be obedient, BE OXSTRONG!! Real Dudes,
Last December my wife had some Kohl’s cash to use up before they expired. So we went there to find both of us a new outfit for our Christmas Eve services at Church. I was able to find a sweater that worked, but the discouragement came when I started looking at some pants. Knowing where I was with my weight I’d have to go up a size in order to make this work. That was it…I was done. I was determined not to go a size up just to accommodate my poor habits. So I passed on purchasing pants and got by with what I already had in my closet. Right then and there I knew what my new year’s resolution was going to be…be done with what I knew was holding me back. I just want to take the rest of this time to walk you through how I chose what to refrain from. First, I had to identify my road blocks…the internal struggles. It was me. I was in my own way. I was my own worst enemy. That which was going into my body was getting there because I was allowing it to. Also, I had to be willing to identify my common excuses/justifications. I would try to convince myself that it was just muscle weight gain. Maybe all brands had their clothing running smaller than they used to. Each morning I would spend a minute or two stretching my shirts when I put them on so they wouldn’t be tight around my stomach area. Maybe I'll just learn to be content with this weight...it's becoming my new normal, surely this is typical as people grow older, right? Secondly, I had to be willing to identify the causes, and then be determined enough to do something about it…the external struggles. If what I was allowing in was causing the weight gain and discomfort (bloating), then I had to learn to despise it. If it was going to hinder my goals, then I had to quit it cold turkey. What was strange is that I knew it was making me feel awful, yet I was continuously running back to it. James 4:17 (NLT) Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. Proverbs 26:11 (NLT) As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Lastly, just remember that the process has its challenges, but the results are so rewarding. Everyone’s bodies are made differently, so pick a challenge that works for you. I knew that I didn’t need to go on a specific diet. I just needed to get rid of the things that were holding me back. So for me personally…I stopped drinking coffee, pop, anything carbonated, and I stopped eating cereal. In one month I was able to drop 12 pounds, just by cutting out those things I identified as my road blocks. Being 12 pounds less feels great. I have no desire to gain those 12 back. Like I said, it wasn’t about a specific diet, it was about retraining my habits and finding alternatives that were better for me. So now I drink more water, Matcha and other teas, I eat yogurt for breakfast and watch how much I intake at any meal. I had to fight through some caffeine withdrawals and hunger urges, but that didn't last long…this has truly helped me to stop focusing on food so much. Reducing the amount of intake (and sugars) has made it so that I no longer feel like I have to eat until I’m full. Amazing how sugary foods convince you that you need just one more bite, that leads to another bite…finding it difficult to land on a stopping point. Again, I know this has worked for me. If this is something that you struggle with, then let me encourage you to do some honest self-evaluation when identifying the cause(s). Don’t be content with where you’re at…remove the excuses and do something about it. Why do I say all of this to us today? The Apostle Paul reminds us of a very important truth in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) He says, “19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” Since our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit I just want you to reflect on how you’ve been treating your own temple. Is what you’re allowing into it reflecting that you’re “glorifying God with your body”? Men…we are not our own. I pray that each of us will understand that and start living differently if weight gain has become an issue. Some people joke about their weight…maybe that’s a way to help them cope with the hurt inside and bad habits, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You CAN do something about it. Start small, celebrate the small victories, and find your new mindset/lifestyle more rewarding. Become addicted to good health and fitness, rather than always focusing on food. Cheering for y’all. Practicing His Presence, Nate Smith |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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