Have you seen this phrase floating around?

I chuckle every time I see it because it kind of makes folks like me in the fitness world spin their heads a bit. I mean, honestly. Why are we spending all this time on our bodies if we are going to die anyway? Well, the point of this post is not to address that issue (because that will take another 1000 words!) but instead to address a bigger point.

Eat Right. Exercise Daily. Die Anyway: Why I Do What I Do www.claresmith.me

I’ve struggled with my whole place in the blogging world ever since day 1. For 3 years, I’ve considered changing my message, watering down my message, or even shutting down. I feel like I tow this very interesting line in the fitness world. Christians may be put off by me because I urge them to push further in how they steward their body and energy and I don’t exactly go around wearing capri’s or long sleeve t shirts when I exercise. 🙂 Non-christians don’t get me because I get all “Jesus” on them as I incorporate Scripture and a spiritual focused view of health. I have struggled for a while to figure out exactly where I fall!

But God has been very good to me over the past 3 years as He’s helped me sort out who I was and exactly WHAT my message is.

I am a fearfully and wonderfully made daughter of the King created with a unique talent, skill, and bend towards physical, emotional, and spiritual health.  I am doing exactly what I was created to do! I may be one of the few Christian fitness bloggers out there, but I’ve had a renewed energy this past year to really use the message that God has placed so passionately on my heart with vigor to those who God brings to me!

I am tired of the fitness name being marred and the priority of health to be viewed as shallow or vain.

I am tired of women treating their bodies like trash cans or like another god.

I am tired of satan chaining my dear sisters in Christ to guilt or a negative self -image.

I, so badly, want to represent a fresh way of thinking to the Believers in this world and any others who may find it intriguing.

But I also have another message. I want us to be ready for the REAL life.

♥♥♥

I read an article recently by Dr. Russell Moore in which he referred to our current life now as the “pre-life” and eternity as our REAL life!

“Your eternity is no more about looking back to this span of time than your life now is about reflecting on kindergarten. The moment you burst through the mud above your grave, you will begin an exciting new mission—one you couldn’t comprehend if someone told you. And those things that seem so important now—whether you’re attractive or wealthy or famous or cancer-free—will be utterly irrelevant in the face of an exhilarating new purpose, one that you were prepared for in this era but one that is far more than a mere sequel to your best life now.

Let’s talk about eternity. But it’s no mere “afterlife.” Instead let’s start thinking of this little puff of time, the next eighty or so years, as what it is: the pre-life.” Dr. Russell Moore

This is why I do what I do! Yes–God has given us these vessels called bodies to “do life”. We eat, walk, talk, and sleep with them,  but there’s a big trump card here that we all get to. Death. And because we are only on earth here for a short period in comparison to eternity, I want you ready for eternity!

This post has been processing in my mind for some time, but what clinched it for me was this total God moment. I am going through a Bible Study now by Beth Moore, “To Live is Christ”. We talked a few weeks ago about spiritual gifts. As we were watching Beth Moore speak on the video, a gal next to me wrote me this note.

Eat Right. Exercise Daily. Die Anyway. Why I Do What I Do: www.claresmith.me

 

It brought me to tears because I was like, YES! This is it. My gift is not wasted. I should not feel ashamed that I am not a super conservative blogger, or a self focusing fitness nut. I am just…ME! Beth Moore says, “Your spiritual gifts are given TO you but not primarily FOR you. Gifts are a way for God to be seen in you.” It gives me so much purpose to come alongside you and encourage you in these areas.

I realize that I am not going to appeal to everyone and that’s ok. I constantly tell myself to feed the people that God has brought to “my table”. For those of you who come to it every day–sometimes multiple times a day–I cannot tell you what it means to serve you. Thank you. If you ever think of it, please pray for me. I am a flawed, imperfect woman. I do not take what I do lightly and I can use all the spiritual support that I can get!

So that’s my heart. Do I want you to have a full, energetic life (that can run races, hold bags of groceries, and walk in full inner and outer confidence) — um–YES! But I also want you to get you ready for the real life because you are going to spend it somewhere for a long, long, long, long time and I want you fit for our King and a heavenly kingdom more than any 90 year kingdom on earth!