Spiritually Healthy

 35. Another year. Another 365 days to offer thanks for what has been given.  Was it what I expected? Of course not. Were there moments of doubt and fear? Absolutely. Did I trudge through it all, pressing towards the mark (Phil 3:14)? Yes, though often with little strength.  Now as I begin a new year with a new age, what will I do? Well for one, I will "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 I want to make it my aim (and this is a constant readjusting!) to do the will of God - no matter my circumstances. It is very easy to let the mind slip into thoughts of fear and anxiety, especially when it seems like things never change. But, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Every thought. While that is hard, I make that my aim. When those fears of anxiety threaten to overwhelm me (and this is very easy to do), I must bring them under the obedience of Christ. I must remember

Yesterday my sisters and I worked outside the whole morning. We are in the process of doing a lot of yard work that consists of trimming trees, clearing brush, burning said brush...the works. The weather was beautiful and just right for the tasks that we three sisters set for ourselves.  I have made it my little project to clear a small-ish area for my long awaited flower garden. And as I set about cutting small trees, clearing palm bushes, raking up leaves, loading the wheelbarrow, dumping the wheelbarrow (and repeating that process many times over!), I realized just how easy my thoughts turned to wanting to give up and walk away from what I was doing.  Of course it was hard work. My back hurt, my hands were red and sore from using the trimming/cutting tools, my body warm from the constant walking and bending down - all of these natural things that occur from being a human living in a sinful world. But as I continued to work, and begin digging up the soil to prepare it for the next st