Lately Sean and I have been on a health kick trying to lose those extra “honeymoon” pounds from all the traveling we did on the road. It feels great to get back on track with not only our eating, but also the daily exercise! 

Running is one of my favorite things to do and as I was running this morning I realized it was not one of my favorite things at that very moment… it was hard. The whole time I was playing mental tricks on myself. At times I wanted to stop because my joy for running had quickly turned to agony, but then I would have a quick turn of emotions to encouraging words of ‘keep going’ and ‘you can do it!’ In the end, I finished the 3-mile loop. Was I fast? Absolutely not. But, did I stop? NO, I finished! I made it through all the ups and downs of the Texas hill country. 

Our daily walk with the Lord is kind of like that. 

This past month, our Pastor has encouraged us to take on the Proverbs Challenge. Each day you read the chapter that corresponds with the day of the month. As I was running this morning I was reflecting on Proverbs 9, which we had talked about a couple of Sunday’s ago in church. 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” – Proverbs 9:10-12

Following the Lord is not easy nor is it something we can do just now and then. Just like this “health kick” everyone gets on after they see a few extra pounds occur around their mid-section. We know what we should do – Eat good, exercise daily – so we will pick up a good trend for a month or two and then fall back into the comfortable ways of fast food, which causes a lack of energy to make time for the daily exercise our body needs.

Our daily walk with the Lord is just like our body. It needs to be nourished and it needs to be fed daily. We need to make time for the Lord.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

In order to keep the extra pounds off and maintain your weight you must have a daily healthy lifestyle that you enjoy. In order to continue to lean on not your own understanding, but on the Lord you must have a daily relationship with the Lord. As a young Christian, I constantly struggled with living for the Lord daily. I would have this “high” for the Lord for a couple of months and then gain the extra pounds of the temptations of the world around me. I lived in a vicious cycle of a high-low lifestyle instead of a creating a constant flow in my life. 

So tell me: If we can spend millions of dollars a year in America to keep up our physical appearance through gym memberships, diet pills, meal plans, etc. Then why can we not spend a couple minutes a day to work and continue to develop our spiritual health?

“The more you know God, the more you are around Him, the more you seek and know His will for your life.” –Pastor Larry, CBC Bulverde

We might feel like we are never growing closer to the Lord or we still do not know our purpose for our life, so I challenge you to ask yourself, when was the last time you reached out to Him in prayer? When was the last time you opened your bible? When was the last time you said, ‘Hey God, I can not do this alone, I need you.’ ?

In order to know your purpose and in order to know God more, you have to be seeking Him daily. Seeking His will for your life starts with seeking Him first.

Seek the Lord and I promise, He will make your paths straight.

It is time to stop viewing our Father like just another "health kick". 

It is time to create a healthy lifestyle and daily seek Him first.

Radiating HIS love Everyday,
Jenny Nuccio

The other day I was digging through some old books that my mom had put in the back room of the house. I came upon a cute little journal with the word LOVE printed on the front of it. 

As I opened the pages, memories rushed back to me. It started with June 25, 2009, I had written:

[Beginning of Journal Entry]
“Jambo! (Hello) After traveling for over 32 hours, we finally made it. As we came in late last night (around midnight) you could not see a thing. The only thing I really remember is the peace I had when I arrived. We woke up this morning or I should probably say afternoon around 12:30PM, and then quickly went to lunch. And I was shocked at what I saw. The darkness that we had driven through last night and all of it was finally lit up. We were right on the Indian Ocean! It was beautiful and the weather is so nice with the warmth of the sun on my face and the cool breeze coming off the ocean. I feel so spoiled amongst this beauty. God used this picture to remind me of how blessed I am.

Psalm 42:11, “put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Coming onto this trip, I viewed it as just another ‘trip’. A trip with responsibilities attached and then we were flying here I realized how wrong I was.

I am here for the Lord, to serve the Lord and to live through the Lord. This is what I am here to do. This is what I am made to do. Am I ready? Of course not, but I am willing to throw my heart on the line and serve the Lord. I am in Mombasa, Kenya to leave a mark on the people. And if I at least make a change in one person’s life or in no ones at least I know I have planted a seed for the Lord to become fruitful within each one of them.

Philemon 1:4-7 ‘I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.’”
[End of Journal Entry]

It has now almost been five years since my first step on Kenya soil and as I look back, I am in complete shock of everything the Lord has done in my life and in the life of the people I serve in Kenya. God is good, all the time.

My eighteen-year-old self taught me a valuable lesson the other day. She taught me that in midst of where I am or what I am doing that I am always a servant for Christ. She reminded me to give it all to the Lord, to put my heart on the line for the Lord and to serve. Serve with all my might. She reminded me that the Lord is not just in scripture, but He is in the beauty of the sun, He is in the people we pass by, He is Here, right now. Our God is our Father, our Savior and our best friend.

When was the last time you said hello to Him? 
He is there, waiting for you, waiting for us to engage in His presence.

Let Him set a fire in your soul that you cannot contain or control.
And as you give Him your everything, let Him fill you up with all of Him.

Radiating HIS love Everyday,
Jenny Nuccio