Craving the Good Stuff

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the LORD is good." -1 Peter 2:2-3

For anyone who has been around me for the past couple of months, my newly refreshed zeal for working out and health and fitness might come across as a bit, well, intense. All it took was a Groupon to test out this Crossfit thing and I was hooked and have been telling any-and-everyone about it! Being back in the competitive, challenging environment where I am constantly pushing myself and my limits is something the competitor in me has missed so much, and is something I thought I'd never be able to truly experience again after I left the Spartan weight room. I've loved it so much that I, dare I say it, have even willingly been getting up for 6am workouts! (Now that is truly something I thought I would never miss from college!).

Besides fulfilling the need for a physical challenge and good workout, being involved in Crossfit has had other great benefits for me, namely being around other highly motivated people who are amped about health and fitness as well. It really is a contagious environment! And it was contagious enough for me to try out a diet/cleanse challenge with some of my fellow Warriors. For most of past month I took part in the 24-day Advocare Challenge... no refined sugars, no processed foods, no alcohol, not much dairy or wheat products... pretty much just eating smaller meals consisting of super clean foods like fruits, veges, proteins, and healthy starches and fats more frequently throughout the day to keep my metabolism high and allow my body to absorb the right nutrients the right way. At first I thought it'd be really tough but once I got into it, planned, and started feeling the benefits and results (more energy, feeling better overall, getting trim and tight), it was great. Not to mention I was being held accountable - not only personally because I was paying to be part of a this challenge and wanted to see good end results - but also by others in my Crossfit box.

But why would it be called a "Challenge" if there wasn't something, well, challenging about it? There were many aspects of the challenge that required a significant amount of self-discipline and planning: If I didn't have fresh food around (which unfortunately required a lot of expensive grocery shopping!), it was easy to slip up... If I didn't plan meals and have good food packed for the whole day, it was easy to slip up... If I didn't tell people around me what I was doing so I was held accountable at work or when going out with friends, it was easy to slip up... If I had sweets or other unhealthy foods in sight ("Out of sight, out of mind!"), it was easy to slip up...

I had to constantly remind myself of my ultimate goal (getting trim, losing weight, maybe winning the overall challenge, and most importantly developing a healthy lifestyle) and had to always put myself in a position and environment to succeed in order for the challenge and cleanse to work. And by setting myself up to succeed, even though I would never have classified myself as an unhealthy eater before, I truly started craving good, healthy, whole foods as I got into it and saw the results I was looking for... Except for pizza. The wholeeeee time during my challenge, the only unhealthy food I craved was pizza. So naturally, this was the first thing I splurged on when my 24 days were complete and I had my final weigh-in. And that pizza was gooood. Real good. And yet, while I was licking my fingers after stuffing my face, I knew I would regret my indulgence. After all, what was one of my main goals of the challenge? To develop a healthy lifestyle and cut out processed foods that clog everything up! And sure enough, later that day and even the next day, I really did feel like crap. Mentally from giving in and 'cheating' myself and physically from the effects of unhealthy food after a month of being so clean and good. And what's worse? It became that much easier to give in here and give in there now that my '24-days' were up and I had already indulged once.

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The parallels between this and my spiritual life are so evident! Just as I was craving the 'good stuff' for my body because I felt more nourished and healthier and energized and simply better.... my soul, too, ought to crave and have an eager desire for 'pure spiritual milk.' This milk is referring to God's Word, which is unadulterated, and complete, and perfectly refreshing and satisfying. It would only make sense that my soul would crave and run after such a thing!

But again, just as my cleanse proved to be challenging and took a lot of effort to follow, craving this pure, spiritual milk for my soul can be a challenge as well. Just as I had to set myself up to succeed by packing and planning the right food, telling people about my diet to help with accountability, and keeping bad food out of sight, the same is true for me as a child of God. I have to pack and eat the right food - God's word - more than anything else, because filling my soul with things of this world will not truly nourish me.... I have to surround myself with fellow Christians who will keep me accountable to consuming this pure milk and following God's Word because it is a difficult path to take alone.... I have to put myself in situations where I will not be tempted because I am not strong enough to say no to the 'sweets' the devil puts in front of me.

And unfortunately, just as I craved and gave into pizza, I far too often give in to and even crave sin. Just like the pizza, it tastes and feels so good in the moment but once the rush is gone I am left feeling empty, malnourished, guilt-ridden, and frustrated.... frustrated that I gave in when I knew better and frustrated that I hurt my Savior and disobeyed and dishonored my God. And what's worse yet, is when I am not consistently feeding my soul with God's perfect and abundant fare, my sinful self says it is easier to give into those quick and easy sins that only immediately satisfy while convincing me that the pure, spiritual milk I truly need is not really that appetizing... that it doesn't allow me to have any fun or variety... that it is bland and boring. How far that is from the truth! I am told over and over again that the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul and to taste and see that the Lord is good, that the man who takes refuge in Him is blessed!

How can this be when the whole world and my own sinful self are telling me otherwise? Because here, in God's Word, I am reminded of His love for me... here I am able to get to know my Creator and Savior on a personal, intimate level... here I am shown my sins through His law so that I might recognize my immense need for a Savior... here I am taught about Jesus my Savior and His perfect life and death he lead on my behalf... here God leads me down the narrow path toward salvation... here I hear God whisper my name and tell me all my sins are forgiven, even those sins of indulgence when I knew better... here I comforted by His love.... here I can read and witness to God's omnipotence and never-failing promises... here I am given peace, hope, and joy as I hear God speak truth into my heart.... here I am given a glimpse of God's glory.... here I am truly refreshed and continue to want more.

So...

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
-Isaiah 55:2-3

The Sparty Countdown... #2 & #1

This is it! The best of the best! Here are the top 2 things I have come to love and will miss the most from college:





#2 - Competing on the Big Stage
Big Life. Big Stage. Big 10. We've all seen the commercials and heard the slogan, and wow, is it ever true. I have been so blessed to have competed for MSU in the Big 10 - the best volleyball conference in the nation - where every single night is a battle, most likely against a Top-25 team. Cathy would always give us the analogy that we were performers - actors you could say - and the court was our stage. We were putting on a performance for the crowd and in order for it to be a successful production, we had to get all of our 'lines' or 'acts' right and work together. Boy, am I going to miss that stage.

I'm especially going to miss that stage because I am a competitor through and through. And I don't think I ever felt more exhilaration and excitement competing than when I did on the big stage donning my green and white. It may have taken me most of my career to let go of any inhibitions and of the fear of making mistakes or not pleasing coach; but once I finally did let go, the complete freedom and joy that I felt and played with was indescribable. I loved playing volleyball and I loved competing! And I think the best part was knowing that all the while I was able to give God the glory because I finally figured out that it wasn't about me, or the stats, or coach, or even the wins (as hard as that is to say!). It was about using my gifts to their fullest and just having fun glorifying Him. And that is where my joy and excitement and competitiveness were able to flow from so purely.

Even more than missing the joy and freedom and excitement I felt competing will be all of the little things that went into game-day and my competition. Competing with my teammates and working through the struggles to have great team dynamics and chemistry... thinking through and practicing the game plan and strategy... the adrenaline rushing through me during a game and especially during the critical moments... the determination, the intensity, and the look of being in the zone and seeing it my teammates as well... the awesome physical and mental feeling of getting that huge block... the stare-downs... the overpass fisty 5-foot-line kills... being one step ahead of the competition and just smiling knowing that we're going to win and can't be stopped... and celebrating after a huge point (or even the little ones, in my case). Oh, what I wouldn't give for another 'jump spin-fist pump-stomp' combo celebration! I wish competing and playing could last forever (and I'm sure to many people it seemed like it did with my redshirt year!) but my achey-breaky-grandma body has had enough, and I think the NCAA has a few rules about my eligibility being up as well.... But competing for Michigan State University has definitely been one of my favorite things and something I will always cherish and carry with me.

#1 - My Christian Communities 

As if the rest of my countdown wasn't enough to prove God's goodness to me throughout my time at MSU, he richly blessed me with amazing Christian fellowship and communities: my church - Shepherd of the Hills, Athletes in Action, and our team bible study. These 3 communities in conjunction with most of my best friends - who are also fellow brothers and sisters in Christ - have been the most important people to me throughout my career because of the foundation we share on Christ and the way they have spurred me on in my faith. It's so obvious that there was something so right about all of these people, because after saying goodbye to each 'group' after my final meeting or service, I cried... a lot. It was hard and sad to say goodbye to the communities that have helped mold me and support me in my walk with the Lord. And I don't think I fully appreciated the ease and simplicity with which I was able to walk into these uplifting and sound communities. Being on a team, having an athlete campus ministry, finding a wonderful church... it was all just there. Now I know and pray I will always be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, but nothing will ever quite compare to walking and living daily life with teammates and fellow Christian athletes in a similar environment.

Throughout college the importance of Christian fellowship has been made so apparent to me. God showed up in a BIG way and showed me that despite my resolve and stubbornness and firm convictions, I couldn't maintain true devotion with Him alone. I was weekly and daily fed the truth at church and encouraged and loved on by my congregation. I was able to be supported, poured into, and uplifted by fellow believers at AIA. And I was able to live daily life in fellowship and learn how to honor God in volleyball with some of my believing teammates. I was presented with differing beliefs and views which challenged me and made me turn to God, I was surrounded by friends that had the same convictions as me, I was held accountable in word, actions, and love by fellow believers, and I was poured into and challenged to have an outward-centered faith that didn't keep my salvation to myself. Although, again, it is painful to say goodbye to all of the amazing people that have impacted me and helped me stay on the straight and narrow path, I first of all know that my goodbye is simply a "see you later," and second I know God will continue to show up in my life and surround me people that will help me stay close to Him in the future.


In case you haven't been able to tell, I have loved and been incredibly blessed during my 5 years at Michigan State. These Top 10 moments and things are what I have come to love most and will always cherish. And I think the greatest part about all of this is that because the best of the best consist of all people and relationships, I can actually carry this part of MSU on with me into the future. I praise God for opening up the door for me to attend State in the first place and seeing me through safely and beautifully to my graduation today.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."