Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Journey to Health



9 years ago I felt like the Lord told me to get in shape because He wanted me for the long haul. I was overweight and had hypertension. The Doc said that I needed to do something about it. Choosing not to go with medication, I decided to look into another alternative. I began to find some incredible information that inspired me to start my journey to health. I have learned that we are all different and that we each need to find what works for us in our health journey. I am finding that there are many out there who want to get healthy and I believe that it is important that you come to the understanding that this is not going to be another diet, (I don't believe in diets) but will be a lifestyle change.

Years ago my husband, our two boys and I started going to a gym in our town. It became an important part of our family time. Our daughter was too young to join us at the time. We stopped working out for 16 years and have just started back up again. This time our daughter, who is married with 4 children, has joined us and is excelling at it. 
                                                                                         
I think it is important that we take care of ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and our spirits. One of the things I've noticed in the church is that there are many who take care of their souls and spirits but don't think it matters to take care of the temple of the Holy Ghost. I think its time to see a change and that we get our whole person well. 

I'm 58 years old and I feel great. I've found for me that lifting weights is something my body thrives on. When I come out of the gym I feel alive. I've released toxins out of my body and I know that the muscle that is coming will be burning fat. The thing is that we all need to find what works for us. Some like cardio better than lifting weights. The point is that we just need to move. Our bodies were not meant to be sedentary. 
For women especially, it’s really important that we keep muscle on our bodies. The older we get, the more muscle we lose and muscle is what burns the bad fat off. I told my daughter that the best thing she could do is work out and keep the muscle on because it will pay off when she gets my age. 

Both my daughter and I have a personal trainer, which I highly advise, even if it’s just for a short time. They are trained to help you learn what is just right for you. Our trainer helps us with our diet and tells us how much protein, good carbs and good fat we need to eat to keep us going. Do you know that you are supposed to eat at least 70 grams of protein a day? If you are lifting weights it’s supposed to be much more than that. It’s not about eating less; it's about what we call eating clean. I eat small portions every 2 hours. I try to have a protein, a good carb, and a good fat in that mix. I find myself having to eat so much food. Another thing that is important for your body is to drink lots of clean, filtered water. If you can't get filtered, squeeze a lemon in your water every day. Water alkalizes your body, which is very important to good health. 

Do I think that Christians should work out and stay fit? Yes, I do. I see far too many believers who are sick. For the most case, if they would take some steps into taking care of themselves, they would see great improvement. We as Christians should in every way (body, soul and spirit) be well and thriving for ourselves, our families and for the world to see!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

2013


When thinking about this year, 2013, and asking God what was on His heart for this year I heard 3 things: hope releasers, crazy favor, and deeper into Him. Two of these I want to talk about in this blog.
On my Facebook page I posted,  A hope army is rising up this year in 2013. If you feel despair, its not you. You are one to march to the beat of hope!
 I posted this because I woke up one morning feeling a weight of despair after God had spoken to me about being hope releasers. I have learned that most of the time when I feel a negative affect, its not me and that it is only a sign pointing to what God is really doing. We know that God is good and He is kind and that He always has a good plan.
Another thing I have learned is that when Im experiencing these kinds of spirit moments, there are many who are usually feeling the same thing. I dont know about you, but it brings some relief to know that there are others who are also feeling what Im feeling. It tells me that Im not crazy and even more so- God is up to something good.
 Since I have preached that message, my sister has died, my brother in law has died, and my sister in laws mom, as well. It has been such great loss to our family. BUT deep within me, there is hope. My world will not crash and I can still release a hope that is eternal. I watched my sister in law stand strong in her hope in Jesus in the mist of great sorrow and grief when her husband died. How? Her strong tower, Jesus.
Theres an old hymn that says My anchor holds within the veil. What does that mean? This brings me to my second point.
God is calling us in deeper. I feel a pulling in me to walk closer than I have ever walked before. My anchor is Him and in my time with Him. The veil is that secret place with Him. Why do I feel Him calling us in closer, deeper? Is it to get more revelation in scripture, more answers to our life, or more strategies for prayer? I dont think its any of those. What I think is that its for Him to tell us how much He loves how much He loves the world and how much He love me/us.
 Bill and I recently watched the Bible series on the History channel. I have watched many movies on Jesus (probably all there is out there) but this one was different. When Jesus came on the scene in this series, I was so impressed with the character and how they presented him. I saw Him pretty much the way I see Jesus, full of life and huge love. I really liked this Jesus. He actually loved life and he laughed. He would get so happy when someone was healed. But most of all, the love of the Father was demonstrated through Jesus eyes. I remember saying, Now thats the way I see Jesus. Jesus loved big and He still does and He is calling us into deep places with him.
I was listening to John Arnott at a conference and he was talking about the Fathers love and telling stories of the renewal. It was so refreshing and as he talked I could feel the presence of God come in to the room. It was like a big, heavy, warm blanket that wrapped me up. It was His love and when this love comes to you, it deposits in you a strength that will carry with you through the hardest times. That is our anchor and we get it within the veil.  
 2013, if we choose, will be a year of great hope. You and I can give it and live it. And if you will choose to go in deeper with Him, He will lavish His love over you and in you.

Selah