The Uterus is a Muscle You Know! (day 18)

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Do you ever go into your day knowing that you are not really prepared?  I mean really not prepared?  I have.  I am not sure that I can explain how my mind works - I know my husband would tell you most of the time he has no clue how my mind works.  But it is hard to explain to others what you really don't understand yourself.  I am sure that I am going to embarrass myself when I tell you the events of this morning; it lends new weight to the word humility.
There is a passage in Philippians 2 which talks about the humility of Christ and how he "didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing...being made in human likeness...he humbled himself..."  So in a very small way I am seeking also to humble myself before you all in the hopes that we can all learn something. 
O.K. back to my story, so I woke up this morning and decided that I should work out.  But I really didn't feel like putting my clothes on so I ran downstairs in my pj's with my workout DVD in one hand and my shoes in the other.  I didn't even bother to put on socks.  So picture with me, bedhead hair, moose jamies (which I bought in Seattle), shoes (no socks).  I did not eat anything nor did I drink anything.  I turned on the workout and began to warm up.  I have a new DVD which I think I will really like, it is called Rio Butt Lift - I figure I could use a bit of a butt lift.  The guy is from Rio I think, and he is an extremely energetic dancer as are all of his hot babes who don't sweat and smile all the time.  The things they do with their hips - I have No idea how they accomplish that.  But anyway, I actually got a really good workout, sweat pouring, heart pumping.  When the workout was finished (I managed to get almost to the very end) I ran upstairs and jumped in the shower.  Suddenly I began to feel extremely light headed, and I thought for sure I was going to lose my dinner from the night before (because I had not had breakfast of course).  I began to sweat - how does one sweat in the shower for heaven sakes?  I bent over double with the most terrible pains I had experienced since childbirth.  "What the heck is happening?"  I asked myself, picturing at the same time my family having to drag me naked from the shower.  "I haven't even shaved my legs," I thought irrationally (every woman's fear - having to go to the hospital unprepared).  I managed to wrap a towel around myself and then get to the bed.  The pain continued to get worse and I seriously thought I was going to have to call for help so I dragged myself to the closet and got dressed before again depositing myself on the bed soaked in sweat.  Even the dog heard my distress and tried to give me some comfort in her own doggy way. 
At this point I didn't want to call 911 so I did the next best thing, I called my brother-in-law who is a nurse, he said it sounded to him like the vagus nerve which runs the length of the body and can cause all of the symptoms that I was experiencing save the terrible cramps.  But he bade me lie still and drink some water which I did.  He had some concerns with the cramping and I told him I have an o.b. nurse friend and he agreed it would be a good idea to give her a call, which I did. 
I called my friend Debbie the o.b. nurse and interrupted her pedicure, describing once again my symptoms and she listened intently and this is how our conversation went,
"Did you eat anything before you worked out this morning?" She asked.
"Ummmmmmm No," I replied.
"Did you drink any liquids before your workout?"
"No, I didn't" I replied again, somewhat sheepishly.
"Did you properly cool down after your workout?"
"Well, no I guess not," I admitted.
"Well, my dear," she kindly said, "When you don't take care of yourself beforehand then your body is going to react negatively.  Not eating and drinking a little something before your workout, not cooling down and then jumping into a hot shower all contributed to a drop in blood pressure.  Your Uterus is a muscle you know," she continued with confidence, "it will contract - thus the cramping."
Convinced now that I was not going to die I thanked her profusely. Whew! I had learned a valuable lesson.  Being prepared is not only good it is quite necessary.
Preparing for the workout is just as important as the workout.  Does that mean that you shouldn't wear your jammies while exercising? No, that's o.k. but having an attitude where you rush through is truly not the best option.
It made me think how many times I don't prepare myself spiritually before my day.  Remember back when we studied the temptation of Christ?  Satan tempted Jesus by telling him that he should tell stones to become bread.  Jesus responded by quoting scripture, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"  
So the Word of God is able to help us with every day that we live and every circumstance that we go through.  It is up to us to prepare well by studying His word so that we can be well prepared.  My dear sisters lets not take the words of Jesus lightly!  When we begin to scour the Word of God for answers we will be amazed at what we find.  Being prepared is a beautiful thing and it also doesn't hurt to have brilliant nursie friends to call in a crisis either! 

Homework 
This week we have been looking at perseverance and what that looks like for us as we choose to continue to live healthier lives both in mind and body.  Before we begin studying this particular passage lets get a bit of background on what was happening historically.  The Israelites (God's chosen people) had disobeyed God by not putting their trust in Him.  As a result they were punished.  They spent 40 years wandering the desert Numbers 14:26-35.  The events of Deuteronomy cover only a week or two of the 11th month of the 40th year that the Israelites had been wandering in the desert.  Imagine what the Israelites must have felt as once again they were positioned to enter the land that God had promised them.
     Read Deuteronomy chapter 8 aloud
Read again vv. 1-5
1.  Have you ever been given a second chance after learning a lesson?  Write this in your journal and jot down some of the benefits of the lessons you learned during this time.
2.  Describe a time if you can where you disobeyed God.  In what ways were you humbled?  List some of things out.  Did you have to confess to a friend or loved one?  What was that like?
3.  During the time of discipline God caused them to hunger but then fed them.  Has there ever been a time that God has caused you to hunger for Him and how has He fed you during this time?  Did He give you a friend to talk to or perhaps a special verse that got you through it?  Write it out in your journal.
4.  Have you been tempted to give up during that difficult time?  What rewards did you receive when you worked through it?
5.  As you read through those five verses what words stood out to you?  Write them down.  What did you learn about God in these verses?  What did you learn about yourself?

Challenge
Are you working out every day?  I want to encourage you dear sisters to continue to press toward the mark and not forget that preparation is just as important as the workout itself both physically and spiritually.  Spend good quality time with the Lord so that he can strengthen you in your inner spirit. And keep up the good work you can do it.  At the end of this week we are going to take it a step further so hang on it's going to be a fun ride!