Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Rev. Janet Stobie
Our Bodies, Amazing!
Last month we received this email from my son, who lives in China: “Later today I’m having surgery on my lower back to fuse some vertebrae. I’ll be the bionic man. They’re going to use Titanium.” He hadn’t been complaining about back pain so we were shocked and then worried. Back surgery is always scary. Four days later, we were surprised to learn that he was up, walking. In three weeks, he flew home. Amazing!
When my grandson was three he shut a door on his hand. One of his little fingers was severed from the last joint. My daughter rushed Chris and the finger to the hospital. The doctor literally glued that finger back together. Within a few months the finger was totally healed.
Responsibilities, worries, busyness, can cause us to forget that our bodies are awesome. I know that I often begrudge the time for sleep, because I have too much living to do. We’re often dissatisfied with our bodies. We want to be thinner, taller, stronger. If only our hair was straight, or curly, thicker or thinner. We each have our complaints.
For the next month I encourage you to take time to appreciate the wonder of your body. When you get up each morning, instead of complaining about work to be done, or loneliness to be endured, give God thanks for your eyelashes that protect your eyes so skillfully. Give thanks for knees that still bend at least a little, for skin that miraculously heals after scrapes and cuts, for fingers that feel the smoothness of satin and the coarseness of sand. Make a list of the wonders of your human body. You too will be amazed.
“I praise you, God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14
**
With the encouragement of her congregations, four years ago Jan published her first book of short stories which has sold out. Jan writes a monthly devotional for a local newspaper and is welcomed as a storyteller at fundraisers and group meetings. Jan is married. Together she and Tom have five grown children and seven grandchildren. Visit her blog
Exercise Time - a poem by Earl Silver
Exercise Time
Everybody stand
Feet firmly placed
Rock slightly forward
Weight on your toes
Vigourously shake your hands and arms
Raise your hands
To chest height
Bring your hands together
Over your heart
Take a long deep breath
Hold it for thirty seconds
Breathe it all out
Empty your lungs
Then as you breathe in
Use both hands and
Peel away one onion skin layer
That is wrapped around
Your heart
Practice daily
Until its palpitations stop
Earl Silver
**
Earl worked as a carpenter and contractor in the Napanee area for over 30 years. He lives with his wife, Linda, on Spring Hill in Deseronto, Ontario. They have three grown daughters and four grandchildren. He builds houses for a living and writes poetry for pleasure.
Books can be purchased through www.essencebookstore.com or www.essence-publishing.com
Everybody stand
Feet firmly placed
Rock slightly forward
Weight on your toes
Vigourously shake your hands and arms
Raise your hands
To chest height
Bring your hands together
Over your heart
Take a long deep breath
Hold it for thirty seconds
Breathe it all out
Empty your lungs
Then as you breathe in
Use both hands and
Peel away one onion skin layer
That is wrapped around
Your heart
Practice daily
Until its palpitations stop
Earl Silver
**
Earl worked as a carpenter and contractor in the Napanee area for over 30 years. He lives with his wife, Linda, on Spring Hill in Deseronto, Ontario. They have three grown daughters and four grandchildren. He builds houses for a living and writes poetry for pleasure.
Books can be purchased through www.essencebookstore.com or www.essence-publishing.com
Without Me you can do nothing - Brenda Leyland
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Brenda Leyland of It’s a Beautiful Life blog
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
It took me a long to time realize that these words Jesus spoke in John 15:5 also apply to the whole area of fitness and healthy living. I used to believe that if a person had a strong enough willpower, they could be successful at whatever they set their mind to accomplish. But the wall I kept banging into was the fact that, while some people seemed well equipped to stick to their decisions, alas, I wasn’t one of them.
The moment I said I was going on a diet, that’s when all dormant desires for chocolate-covered-anything jumped to attention, like a bull to a red flag. How many Monday mornings did my co-workers and I agree this was the week we would begin our diet in earnest, only to fight the temptation of coffee treats brought by someone not on a diet
For years I lamented that I did not have a strong enough self-will. I felt cheated and at a disadvantage. Was I, from the beginning, destined to fail, just because I didn’t have the ability to stick to it? Were other people destined to succeed, all because they had a stronger willpower than I did?
But I realized it was folly to think that. God is not a respecter of persons and He did not give some an edge to succeed while others are destined to be less successful. Through Christ, He has given us all the ability to be overcomers in every area of our lives, including our diet and fitness choices.
Over a period of time, the Lord helped me see that it wasn’t about me trying harder or being stronger-willed; it was about recognizing the absolute truth that there is nothing I can do without Him. It was not a sign of weakness to admit it; rather, admitting it set me free from trying to do this thing by myself. What a relief!
When I’m tempted to revert back to my old habits of doing it in my own strength, He’ll remind me. He’s the one that makes me a winner, an overcomer… every time.
****
Brenda has a passion to see people find healing and wholeness in every area of life. Her interests include heart-to-heart conversations over coffee, gardens, reading, writing a monthly newsletter for Mary Kay consultants, and blogging. She is currently working on a book about healthy living tips based on the Book of Proverbs. Brenda enjoys a more leisurely pace of life in the company of her newly-retired husband and their mostly retired cat, Miss Kitty.
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
It took me a long to time realize that these words Jesus spoke in John 15:5 also apply to the whole area of fitness and healthy living. I used to believe that if a person had a strong enough willpower, they could be successful at whatever they set their mind to accomplish. But the wall I kept banging into was the fact that, while some people seemed well equipped to stick to their decisions, alas, I wasn’t one of them.
The moment I said I was going on a diet, that’s when all dormant desires for chocolate-covered-anything jumped to attention, like a bull to a red flag. How many Monday mornings did my co-workers and I agree this was the week we would begin our diet in earnest, only to fight the temptation of coffee treats brought by someone not on a diet
For years I lamented that I did not have a strong enough self-will. I felt cheated and at a disadvantage. Was I, from the beginning, destined to fail, just because I didn’t have the ability to stick to it? Were other people destined to succeed, all because they had a stronger willpower than I did?
But I realized it was folly to think that. God is not a respecter of persons and He did not give some an edge to succeed while others are destined to be less successful. Through Christ, He has given us all the ability to be overcomers in every area of our lives, including our diet and fitness choices.
Over a period of time, the Lord helped me see that it wasn’t about me trying harder or being stronger-willed; it was about recognizing the absolute truth that there is nothing I can do without Him. It was not a sign of weakness to admit it; rather, admitting it set me free from trying to do this thing by myself. What a relief!
When I’m tempted to revert back to my old habits of doing it in my own strength, He’ll remind me. He’s the one that makes me a winner, an overcomer… every time.
****
Brenda has a passion to see people find healing and wholeness in every area of life. Her interests include heart-to-heart conversations over coffee, gardens, reading, writing a monthly newsletter for Mary Kay consultants, and blogging. She is currently working on a book about healthy living tips based on the Book of Proverbs. Brenda enjoys a more leisurely pace of life in the company of her newly-retired husband and their mostly retired cat, Miss Kitty.
Sitting Ducks
I own a tear-away daily calendar that features a funny cartoon "Rubes". This cartoon by Leigh Rubin had me laughing out loud. Can you relate?
Good Nutrition While Traveling
Christian Fitness offers great videos on Nutrition Tips. Check this one out on how to eat healthy while traveling.
Blessings on the road to health!
Blessings on the road to health!
God's Pharmacy
The following post arrived in my email inbox recently. I’m not sure if it’s entirely factual but I thought it interesting to consider anyways.
God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye.
The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart.
Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones.
These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.
Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes
look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits
look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like the body's cells.
Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears, which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
How fun grocery shopping this week!
God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye.
The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart.
Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones.
These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.
Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.Sweet Potatoes
look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits
look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.Onions look like the body's cells.
Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears, which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.How fun grocery shopping this week!
Gourmand or Gourmet? - Brenda Wood
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Brenda Wood author of God, Glutton and You, a Bible study
“I ate a bunch of chocolate bars because I couldn’t get my hands on a bottle of whiskey. I stopped overeating because it gave me the same effects as the booze.” (A Recovering Alcoholic)
That statement opened the eyes of this long-time gourmand. A gourmand is a greedy, ravenous eater, a glutton, a slave to appetite, eating only because food is available. Such was I. Cold turnip, gravy by the quart or delicate desserts were all the same to me. Like my alcoholic friend, I learned that food was a drug. It calmed and satisfied me with its quantity, seldom with its taste.
When I asked Jesus into my life, He began to sort out my eating issues. Gradually he wooed me from 16 years of bulimia. Gently, he spoke to my lack of self-control. He whispered that everything was permissible, but that not everything was beneficial. He explained that He alone would be my master. (1 Corinthians 6:12-13)
When I tried to ignore my physical health while steeping myself in the spiritual, God pointed out that I do not have the right to neglect my bodily health.
‘He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavours to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide’ (Proverbs 18:9,AMP).
Oh.
So then you might well ask, “Brenda, are you thin?” No, I am not, but I am thinner. (Anyway, the sin is gluttony, not overweight. The Bible says we are ‘light’ in the Lord, Ephesians 5:8)! Little by little, God is changing me. I no longer binge and purge. I think of myself now as a gourmet, a connoisseur, one who carefully selects and savours every bite.
Most of the time, I’m in command of my taste buds and hunger because I have self-control. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control but we have to live them out in the physical. The fruit of the Spirit is……………… self-control (self-restraint, continence). (Galatians 2:22-23, AMP)
The gourmand me used food as my comforter. The gourmet me delights in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I want Him to fully enjoy His home. My body. His temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
**
Brenda Wood, Innisfil, Ontario
Author - God, Glutton and You, a Bible study
-Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Commonsense Living
“I ate a bunch of chocolate bars because I couldn’t get my hands on a bottle of whiskey. I stopped overeating because it gave me the same effects as the booze.” (A Recovering Alcoholic)
That statement opened the eyes of this long-time gourmand. A gourmand is a greedy, ravenous eater, a glutton, a slave to appetite, eating only because food is available. Such was I. Cold turnip, gravy by the quart or delicate desserts were all the same to me. Like my alcoholic friend, I learned that food was a drug. It calmed and satisfied me with its quantity, seldom with its taste.
When I asked Jesus into my life, He began to sort out my eating issues. Gradually he wooed me from 16 years of bulimia. Gently, he spoke to my lack of self-control. He whispered that everything was permissible, but that not everything was beneficial. He explained that He alone would be my master. (1 Corinthians 6:12-13)
When I tried to ignore my physical health while steeping myself in the spiritual, God pointed out that I do not have the right to neglect my bodily health.
‘He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavours to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide’ (Proverbs 18:9,AMP).
Oh.
So then you might well ask, “Brenda, are you thin?” No, I am not, but I am thinner. (Anyway, the sin is gluttony, not overweight. The Bible says we are ‘light’ in the Lord, Ephesians 5:8)! Little by little, God is changing me. I no longer binge and purge. I think of myself now as a gourmet, a connoisseur, one who carefully selects and savours every bite.
Most of the time, I’m in command of my taste buds and hunger because I have self-control. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control but we have to live them out in the physical. The fruit of the Spirit is……………… self-control (self-restraint, continence). (Galatians 2:22-23, AMP)
The gourmand me used food as my comforter. The gourmet me delights in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I want Him to fully enjoy His home. My body. His temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
**
Brenda Wood, Innisfil, Ontario
Author - God, Glutton and You, a Bible study
-Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Commonsense Living
Walking and Meditation – Darlene Hull
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Darlene Hull of PraiseWalker
Have you ever thought of combining your workout with meditation?
When I first started walking seriously, I was often bored by the lack of stimulation walking provided. I started in the early morning in the dead of winter, and there was nothing to see. Listening to music was awkward because it was all different beats. Listening to nothing caused my mind to wander in a thousand directions (I'm ADD) and I found that frustrating and exhausting.
I had recently heard about the Anglican Rosary and as someone who is fascinated by all things contemplative, I had begun to explore it. Unfortunately it was hard to find the time to sit and meditate with it.
I finally landed on the idea of praying the Rosary while I walked. I typed up the prayers on business cards, filed them in a business card wallet with lots of pockets, and headed out the door.
At first, it was awkward because I needed to read the cards. In the dark. Without tripping over something and killing myself. After a while, though, I began to memorize the prayers, and as I memorized, I added new ones to the list. Soon I had a system of prayer that took 5 kilometers to walk out. Not only that, but I found the rhythm and repetition of the prayers helped my mind focus and stopped the constant flood of “vain imaginations” that tended to fill my mind. I also found that when worries or concerns popped into my head, I would just allow them to co-exist peacefully with the prayers I was chanting. Often the problem would be solved or erased by the prayer I was chanting at the time. Usually I found that I was able to simply give God the issue, and the simultaneous verses and prayers I was reciting would allow me to truly let the issue go, allowing God to deal with it as He saw best.
The Anglican prayer beads are prayed with prayers you can make up yourself by putting Bible verses together, or by formatting ancient prayers of the church. The series that I use has a combination of both. If you're interested, you can check out these sites:
· King of Peace
· Prayer Beads for All
· Gigi Beads
**
Darlene Hull is an “ever-morphing mom”, passionate about her faith, her husband (married 18 years), her kids (two teenagers whom she home schools), and all the wonderful facets of health. She is currently working towards a ministry degree, in addition to getting her qualification as a fitness and nutrition coach. You can read more about her adventures with walking and prayer (along with other topics!) at her website
Have you ever thought of combining your workout with meditation?
When I first started walking seriously, I was often bored by the lack of stimulation walking provided. I started in the early morning in the dead of winter, and there was nothing to see. Listening to music was awkward because it was all different beats. Listening to nothing caused my mind to wander in a thousand directions (I'm ADD) and I found that frustrating and exhausting.
I had recently heard about the Anglican Rosary and as someone who is fascinated by all things contemplative, I had begun to explore it. Unfortunately it was hard to find the time to sit and meditate with it.
I finally landed on the idea of praying the Rosary while I walked. I typed up the prayers on business cards, filed them in a business card wallet with lots of pockets, and headed out the door.
At first, it was awkward because I needed to read the cards. In the dark. Without tripping over something and killing myself. After a while, though, I began to memorize the prayers, and as I memorized, I added new ones to the list. Soon I had a system of prayer that took 5 kilometers to walk out. Not only that, but I found the rhythm and repetition of the prayers helped my mind focus and stopped the constant flood of “vain imaginations” that tended to fill my mind. I also found that when worries or concerns popped into my head, I would just allow them to co-exist peacefully with the prayers I was chanting. Often the problem would be solved or erased by the prayer I was chanting at the time. Usually I found that I was able to simply give God the issue, and the simultaneous verses and prayers I was reciting would allow me to truly let the issue go, allowing God to deal with it as He saw best.
The Anglican prayer beads are prayed with prayers you can make up yourself by putting Bible verses together, or by formatting ancient prayers of the church. The series that I use has a combination of both. If you're interested, you can check out these sites:
· King of Peace
· Prayer Beads for All
· Gigi Beads
**
Darlene Hull is an “ever-morphing mom”, passionate about her faith, her husband (married 18 years), her kids (two teenagers whom she home schools), and all the wonderful facets of health. She is currently working towards a ministry degree, in addition to getting her qualification as a fitness and nutrition coach. You can read more about her adventures with walking and prayer (along with other topics!) at her website
Sharon Graham Speaks on CNN
"You know everywhere you turn it seems there's information about how to eat better, lose weight and get in shape."
"So why are so many Americans unhealthy and overweight? Registered Nurse and Lifestyle coach Sharon Graham has some answers."
Blessings on the road to health!
"So why are so many Americans unhealthy and overweight? Registered Nurse and Lifestyle coach Sharon Graham has some answers."
Blessings on the road to health!
True Health -- Rachel Curtis
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Rachel Curtis of P31 Fitness.
True health begins internally and should be exemplified externally. The balance of Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional well-being needs to be our goal in this life. Health is a matter of peace, balance, and contentment with ourselves, our surroundings, and our life.
We must take care of ourselves physically, so as we can be at our best emotionally for others. Many often think that this is a selfish approach, but that is the far from the truth. We are designed to be “whole-body” beings, and everything works in harmony. If one of our pieces in our lives is out of balance, it effects the other parts of our lives.
I believe that taking the call from the Lord to take care of the “temples” He has given to us is the purest way of fulfilling our true purpose in life. We must aim to find a balance in living as a Christian in this world even when it comes to health, fitness, and nutrition. Although this may not seem like an important area, it is vital to our attitudes, thoughts, actions, and overall well-being. Our spiritual lives are directly connected to our physical walk as well. God made so many parallels in the Bible about our bodies, exercise, and how to best serve Him, that it is something that can’t be ignored in the Christian life.
Taking the time to be healthy with the Lord, be healthy with our food choices, be healthy with our activity level, and be healthy in our relationships will make lasting impressions on our health and the health of those surrounding us each day.
To learn more about P31 Fitness, please visit www.p31fitness.com
True health begins internally and should be exemplified externally. The balance of Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional well-being needs to be our goal in this life. Health is a matter of peace, balance, and contentment with ourselves, our surroundings, and our life.
We must take care of ourselves physically, so as we can be at our best emotionally for others. Many often think that this is a selfish approach, but that is the far from the truth. We are designed to be “whole-body” beings, and everything works in harmony. If one of our pieces in our lives is out of balance, it effects the other parts of our lives.
I believe that taking the call from the Lord to take care of the “temples” He has given to us is the purest way of fulfilling our true purpose in life. We must aim to find a balance in living as a Christian in this world even when it comes to health, fitness, and nutrition. Although this may not seem like an important area, it is vital to our attitudes, thoughts, actions, and overall well-being. Our spiritual lives are directly connected to our physical walk as well. God made so many parallels in the Bible about our bodies, exercise, and how to best serve Him, that it is something that can’t be ignored in the Christian life.
Taking the time to be healthy with the Lord, be healthy with our food choices, be healthy with our activity level, and be healthy in our relationships will make lasting impressions on our health and the health of those surrounding us each day.
To learn more about P31 Fitness, please visit www.p31fitness.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
