What’s for Lunch?

Nick: I love hamburgers, especially for lunch. In fact, I am craving one right now just thinking about it. Mmmmm. However, if I eat too much unhealthy food, like burgers and fries, it affects how I feel. And if I eat healthy stuff, I have more energy and vitality. What I consume affects what I produce. The same is true with what we consume in our minds.

This blog post is written by Carolyn Crowell (be sure to check out her blog here), who I am forever grateful to teaching me about star tipping at camp this past summer. I thought they were all crazy until I tried it myself. Anyway, she’s got some great thoughts on how what you read influences how you act.

Carolyn: I have learned something interesting about myself. Whatever I read is what begins fuel my life. I pick up some magazines from the library about eating healthy and I begin to eat better. I read a few blogs on de-cluttering my life and I begin cleaning out my house. I read a book on physical fitness and I resume a more diligent exercise program.  I am influenced by what I consume in this way. Considering this particular trend has brought to mind Joshua 1:8 which says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” I used to think of this prosperity and success as a specific event that happens after being faithful to meditate on God’s word. However, in looking at my own tendency to act out what I read, I think it is affirming that what we feed on is what will fuel our thoughts and actions. When our thoughts and actions are directed by the Word of God the natural outflow of that will be success.  This challenges me to evaluate what I am eating spiritually on a regular basis. I find when I take the time to sink my teeth into God’s Word, and other books that encourage and train me spiritually, I begin to see where I need to be leading our preteens with fresh vision and passion.

Most recently, I have been reading texts and Scripture for a class I am taking. The overall theme is apologetics. Digging into this has reminded me just how much I desire to see the preteens in my sphere of influence have a sound theological understanding. I want them to be able to articulate to others what they believe and have the ability to respectfully defend those beliefs to others that have different worldviews. As a result, we will be doing a series on apologetics in January with our preteens. So far, I have brainstormed a list of lesson topics before I begin looking at what resources are available. I am excited that as you and I spend time meditating on the Bible, God will give successful direction to us as we lead. What is feeding your life and ministry right now? Where are you receiving your motivation and vision from?

Carolyn Crowell is the preteen leader at Sunshine Hills Church in Delta, BC. Yes, she is a Canadian and proud of it! Check out her blog at canadianpreteens.blogspot.ca. She is a veteran at star tipping, happily married to Ed and the mom of four boys. Yes, that’s right, four boys (she deserves a medal). She’s also pursuing a BA of Theology at Pacific Life Bile College. So, yeah, she is a pretty busy lady!