Short and sweet today. Back to basics. Simplistic.

It goes with what are we eating, how are we moving, what are we living for, what are we believing? Start a plan of figuring out, how you can live for God, totally…..what area has been left out of the mix. Look Up! Live Up! Walk it Out!

Here’s Truth from The Message:

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle alone, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life–even though invisible to spectators–is with Christ in God. He is your life. Kill off every thing connected with that old way of death. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of God. You’re done with that old life.

Let very detail in your life–words, actions, whatever–be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

Colossians Chapter 3–The Message

with joy,

Debbie

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Don’t make an eating plan, an exercise plan, or a goal weight a GOD. Rather commit your way to God, ask Him for His plan for you and then OBEY Him.

It’s hard to get on track physically, so stay with it.  Pray about your health choices and allow God to give you, your own plan. There is enough information out there to draw from, but allow the Holy Spirit to customize for you. Keeping in mind that the custom plan might be for today, and could be tweaked again later.

For me, there are two words that help simplify eating these days. Lean and Green. For the most part, Lean Protein and Veggies,  needs to be my diet. I didn’t like that answer when the Dr. gave that to me through some medical diagnosis this year. I hated this idea and new plan, and cried ( stupid) over my meal plate for a few weeks.

I had to face that, white foods are not good for me, because I am over 50 and have diabetes in the family history. Sugar, white flour and the yummy foods made with both, are not my friends.

I hated coming to that conclusion, but God is the one who brought me there. Does this mean I never eat them? No.  I didn’t eat them at all for a few months, but then God lead me to something called “Carb-Cycling” which means paying attention to carbs, which means  that I might not eat them at all 4-5 days and eat them in small moderation on the other days. This has been a balanced approach for me, and is even possible with as much travel as I do.

I feel much better when I am not overloaded with either carbs/sugars or bad fats. I have come to love good fats/ such as olive oil, avocado, nuts! Some days I don’t even desire bread on the days that I have given myself permission to have it. When I do have carbs, they are usually whole wheat.

I used to focus on what I could not eat, and cry. Now I try to focus on what I can eat and maximize that list, allowing for a small portion of treat now and then. But the treat must have some nutritional value (nuts/seeds,  pumpkin, oatmeal, low fat dairy) There are many wonderful foods that are healthy for us!  Too many to count!

It’s easy to skip the importance of physical health when faced with the joy of ministry and the opportunity to serve Christ in meaniful ways. Whether ministry is a vocation or volunteer position, it’s important not to take our health for granted. The following breakdown was taken from Mad Church Disease, and is the Ellison research of 568 senior pastors. This could apply to anyone who is doing ministry and forgetting about the importance of their own physical health.

“When my husband and I got married in 2003, both of us were right around our ideal weight for our height. We had also started working in ministry that year. Now, I’m not saying that the two are entirely related or that ministry “made” us gain weight, but because we didn’t manage our schedules and plan our meals well, over the course of the next three to four years, we each gained thirty to forty pounds!” Anne Jackson/ Mad Church Disease.

• 71 percent of all ministers are overweight by the average of 32.1 lbs. One third are overweight by 20-25 lbs.
• Two thirds of all ministers skip meals
• 83 percent eat food that they know they shouldn’t
• 50 percent get the recommended minimum of exercise ( 30 min a day/ 3 times a week)

Pray today about a plan specific for you. The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all truth, so the Holy Spirit can very specifically lead us to what our body needs and what our personal plan should be.

Today’s Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times that I take my health for granted. I am sorry. Help me to get on track and stay on track. Help me to follow after you by respecting my body as your temple and vessel. Make your way for me known to me.

Holiday Treats

Dryers Grand Light has a holiday ice cream out called PUMPKIN
It has 1/2 the fat and is only 100 calories.

Yoplait Yogurt Parfait in Lemon, is as good as lemon pie, for 100 calories

Atkins Chocolate Granola Bar is a delicious meal replacement

skinny latte ( tall size) are a low cal, good for you treat. Skinny meaning, nonfat, sugar free.

Vanilla Protein shake with some canned pumpkin in it and a dash of pumpkin spice is a delicious pumpkin pie type of treat.

Medifast bars are delicious and really work for me when traveling. I can eat one every 3 hours when it’s impossible for me to get to healthy good food. This also works when shopping and running errands. Each are only 100 cal, and have 11 gram of protein and low sugar grams. They really keep you full and blood sugar balanced. Purchase at a medifast store or online.

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I have just finished reading a very good book, Mad Church Disease, by Anne Jackson, published by Zondervon. I highly recommend this book!

It has alot to do with the crazy cycle we get into as Christians who serve, either as a volunteer or paid staff. In the process we can lose ourselves, our physical health, our emotional health and often our relational health. It sneaks up on us, because after all, we are serving Jesus…and in serving, we expect to burn out and sometimes even pride ourselves in it. We act like burn out is a spiritual gift, hard work is expected and applauded and things like physical, emotional, spiritual and relational health are often not discussed in church circles. Doing more, or Doing great are things discussed, while the practical aspects of our physical/spiritual lives are not.

This book has gone hand in hand with what God is placing in my own heart about making sure I am honoring God in how I take care of my body. I will admit, that after several weeks of slacking on exercise and clean eating, I am finding it hard to get back on track. Why? habit.

Remember, habits are formed quickly. In just 30 days the tide can change. We must pay attention to what we do repeatedly. I read in a magazine article yesterday the reminder to eat well 90% of the time, giving yourself freedom to slack a bit…but only 10% of the time. What you eat 90% of the time is what will make the biggest difference in your life.

Author Anne Jackson says, ” Moderation is a terrible word to use when discussing things like exercise and lattes and dessert and fried chicken. The word wisdom is much more appropriate. We have become a society plagued by terrible physical health. I honestly don’t know how we live as long as we do ( maybe it’s all those preservatives!). We eat when we’re not hungry. we seldom exercise. WE are convinced we’re caffeinated robots who can thrive on four hours of sleep a night.”

Today’s Truth 1 Timothy 4:8

“Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

This verse does not dismiss exercise, it actually says it has some value. The New Testament frequently references athletic training as a discipline that parallels spiritual discipline.

I used to exercise alot when I was younger. I became a bit of an aerobics fiend back in the days of Jane Fonda’s aerobics craze. I also walked alot…and I mean alot. But, once I became a single parent it became hard to fit any of that in. I let exercise slip from my life, dusting off my workout shoes from time to time, but for the most part… NOT!

Exercise to me was about having a good figure, and little about honoring God. I didn’t realize it was a discipline that would be “taking care of” my body. In the same way I change the oil in my car and have tune ups…exercise is keeping my body in working order. Funny thing is, when diagnosed with lung problems a few years ago, a respitoray therapist told me that exercise was to increase lung function and heart health, as well as keep the muscular system strong. Never did this guy mention a size 6! I have to admit, I had always looked at exercise as a sister to dieting, and never did it unless I was on a diet or wanting to wear a smaller size. But, all bodies need to be tuned up, exercised, stretched and worked a bit each day…to keep us functioning for God at our optimal level.

How about you? Is exercise part of your life? Brushing your teeth is…shouldn’t exercise be? Well, just food for thought…now I have to end today’s blog to get on the treadmill before I go to work.  I have promised receipes this week, so I will add one at the end. Send me your healthy receipes and I will post on the blog.

Today’s Prayer

Father, help me to see the big picture of honoring you. Give me the grace, conviction and strength to do what I can do, trusting you with what only you can do.

Southwest Easy-Oven Chicken- 6 servings 241 cal each ( 4 pts ww)

• 1 Cup chicken broth
• One 15 oz cn black beans rinsed and drained
• One 15 oz can of red kidney beans rinsed and drained
• 3/4 c. mild salsa
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/ 2 tsp salt
• 1 lb boneless chicken breast cut into 2 ” pieces.

350 oven, 13×9 baking pan

combine the broth, beans salsa and garlic in pan. add the chicken and baste with liquid.

Bake stirring once until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced, about 45 min.

Good with a green salad. Can be used with high fiber or low carb tortillas, as a wrap, or burrito, or just on the side.

No time to Cook? Try the of of Progresso’s Soups that are marked on the front label with the weight watchers 0-2 point value. They are delicious, especially in these colder days. And, a food taster who is very slim told me that vegetable soup actually helps her stay healthy, given that she has to eat many rich foods in her tasting jobs. So, try adding low calorie/low point soups into your day, it will save you up to 500 cal for the meal you choose to make soup, or if dinner, soup and salad.

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