Motivational Monday

Just Because We CAN Do Something Doesn't Mean We Should....

I have been having the BEST time this summer, 
how about you?

 I wanted to share with you about my new opportunity to serve my church.

I was asked to teach a Cross Fitness class on our church campus every Wednesday night and 

I am absolutely having a blast! 

Since my usual speaking/teaching ministry during the year is through the school year, 

and my summer is free, I thought I would say "Yes" to this.

The first night was great- there were about 12 or so people who showed up and then the following week, it was about the same.

This week we had a large group, very mixed, FUN group!

Thank you all for coming!

Here are some pics-

Fitness seems to be the new buzzword and people are becoming so much more aware of their health!

Many of us are getting fit in the area by taking some of the classes at Saddleback,

shoot, they offer something everyday- 

Yoga on Mondays and Wednesday mornings,
 Zumba on Tuesday nights, 
MY CLASS "The Cross Fitness" class on Wednesday nights, 
Cardio Kick-boxing on Thursday nights 
and I''m not sure what is on Fridays, 
but on Saturday mornings there is another Boot Camp taught by Tony Lattimore- 

ALL FOR FREEEEEEEE!!!

Anyhow, this week I was thinking about The Cross Fitness Class and how hard we all worked,
 and that if we only work out and don't change our eating, 

we may get stronger and have more endurance,
 but it is the food that is the BIG game changer.

I've also had a couple of the gals ask me about food /snacks and there are so many ideas in my head about where to start, that I decided to make a list of flat out "NO's".

Absolute NO's.....

If you want to change your body, you will have to change what you feed it- 

To change what you feed it, 
your desire to change must outweigh your desire to stay the same, 

or the desire for comfort-

I get it- 

we eat what we like, 

but IF you want to make some changes and to want lose some of the reason you may have high blood pressure, or shortness of breath, or get taken off some of that medication, or you just want to lose some body fat, you have got to make a decision that you are going to say "NO!"
You will have to say, "NO"  to some of the things you used to say "yes" to.

And the funny thing- 

 I wonder why there has to be a LAW to have people wear a seat belt.

Why wouldn't you if you know it would potentially save your life if you were in an accident?

Why would you smoke if you know it causes lung cancer not only in you, 

but in anyone that breathes your smoke?

Why do I eat fried food when the oil and fat outweigh any benefit to eating that food?

Because WE want to, and we CAN, and we have NO reason NOT to.....

No one is going to stop you from buying that "ka-ka", 

it is all about money.

You eat poorly, you keep the fast food restaurants, doctors and pharmacies in business.

I hope this makes you mad,

mad enough to do something about it-

I got that mad.

I care about my body, my children's bodies, my husband's body, 
so I decided to make some adjustments to what I provide in my home. 

 I am responsible for 99% of what my family eats and so are you- so think about that.....

if your child is overweight,

 think about what is in your cupboards. 

What YOU have put in YOUR cupboards and YOUR family are feeding themselves with....
There is a battle going on!

Enough of my mini-rant-  

Top 10 Edibles You Should Say "NO" To:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup - this is bad stuff
2. Fried Foods- they make them taste good with all the bad stuff
3. Sugar-white sugar is so bad- all candy, etc.
4. Corn- yes- look into it- corn turns into some kind of poison in your body!
5. Soda- ALL soda, diet, too.
6.White Flour- anything that has flour in it!( breads, cakes, pastries, donuts, crackers)
7. Hydrogenated oil- use coconut oil
8. Margarine 
9.Fatty beef- go for lean turkey or chicken
10. Ice Cream- change it for a Skinny Cow or Non-fat chocolate pudding w/whipped cream!
11. Potato chips (or corn chips)- too much salt, and yes, I DO know how good these bad boys taste!

12. GMO's - genetically manufactured organisms, it even sounds gross. Yes, they are added into so many foods that what we are eating today is drastically different than the food we used to eat.

Here are some things you should say "YES" To:

1. Blueberries- ALL berries!!
2. ALL green leafies- letttuce, romaine, kale,  not too much dressing but enough to make them edible!
3.Salmon/tuna
4. Nuts (almonds & walnuts are the best) in moderation
5. Water, lots and lots- add lemon, orange to add to the enjoyment!
6. Chia seed or Flax seed 
7. Wheat flour
8. Brown rice or even better, Quinoa - soooo good!
9.Protein Bars- always have one in your purse of bag in case of an emergency
10. Greek Yogurt- yum! It has protein in it, too!
11. Oatmeal- I eat this with Chia/blueberries EVERY morning!
12. Protein shakes- I drink a shake every morning and after every workout! (feeds your muscles!)
13. Pop chips, Rice chips as an alternative to potato chips/corn chips

I'm doing a study on Nehemiah and in the chapter we are studying, Nehemiah had a job that provided food and drink that the King was accessible to - but because his people were having to suffer so the King could have all he had, 

Nehemiah decided he wouldn't eat the food the King ate or drink what the King drank. 

He would eat what his people were eating.

Just because he COULD indulge didn't mean he HAD TO.

We eat so much that we don't NEED- I'll be the first to admit it.

A box of Hot Tamales is $1.00, not a lot of money for something that gives me pleasure. 

But as  got to thinking about that- I realized that the pleasure I receive is temporary- 

it provides me with no real nutritional value and cost me a dollar. 

Do I NEED my Hot Tamales? 

Maybe once a month I can justify it (during that time), but really, no, I don't.  

So I reaaaaaallllly try to only eat them when someone gives them to me, 

which is usually a gift.

So what about you? 

What do you think you might need to say "NO" to today- 

just one item on this list will get you started.

 Stick with that for a week and see what happens.

Then add another- this is a list that my family sticks to pretty good,

 but I am by all means NOT a legalist when it comes to life. 

When we are at a party, the kids can drink soda, but it is not an everyday thing- 

fried foods maybe once every two weeks, if that.

If I can do it- so can you.

I grew up in a home where there were chips in the cupboard and snacks all around!

I've had to change what I put into my cupboards so that I can change what goes into the mouths of the people I love!

Here is my prayer for you:

Father God,

Thank you for this reader and friend!

Thank you for his/her body, mind and spirit.

Lord, 

we come to you today to ask for your wisdom, for your power and your spirit of discipline that you freely share with us when we believe.

I ask that this reader would feel convicted today to "give up" something that he/she has been eating 

that is not edifying to the body you have given him/her.

I pray that your Sprit would move him/her to release the selfish desire to fill him/herself with something that is not healthy or beneficial to his/her body,

but would choose to feed his/her body with

only foods that are nutritious and beneficial to his/her body.

I ask this in Jesus' Holy name!

Amen!

Think about it-

What will you give up this week?

What can you really live without?

Is God prompting you to give up something you don't need?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Have a blessed day!

EVERYTHING

EVERYTHING

What if God asked you for everything?

"EVERYTHING?",

you ask.

Yes,

everything.

Guess what?

He wants it!

In Mary DeMuth's new book, due to be released in October,

she helps us as believers SEE,

see that yes,

God

does

want

EVERYTHING.

He wants ALL of us.

Everything that we think,

everything that we feel,

everything that we do.

He wants our minds,

our hearts

and our actions to be 

HIS.

Curious?

(I hope so!)

Here is a quote to entice you!

I am one of 100 very blessed people.

I have NO idea why I was chosen,

but I was!

I get to be a very special part of a very special team:

Mary's Launch Team.

So, as I read through the chapters I will share little nuggets 

from this pot o' gold!

Back to the question:

What if God asked YOU for everything?

What would you struggle to give Him?

I do struggle, right this very minute to give Him ALL of me,

 thankfully,

 I've seen it all too clearly through reading this book.

I've given Him my faith,

my relationships,

my family,

and my life,

but not ME,

my heart and soul-

in my entirety...

But the Lord calls us to-

He calls ME to.

 “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” 

Gal. 5:25 nlt.

In Chapter 3 Mary writes:

"He wants all of us, all the time, our minds and hearts deeply engaged with His so we will joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for us."

I yearn to joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for me,

how about you?

Thoughts?

Hope you are having an absolutely wonderful week!

Avoidance

JAPAN

Can you even believe these pictures?

They look like something taken out a movie.

Oh, yes, an old Godzilla movie,

after all, this is

JAPAN.

Please forgive my sarcasm.

It is being used to cover my

grief

and

shock.

I found another picture that made me burst into tears...

it was a hand sticking out of the rubble.

I'm of Japanese descent,

1/2 third and 1/2 fourth generation,

have never been to Japan,

but have cousins there.

I would be considered

"faux"

Japanese.

Too Americanized...

But, I cannot help but feel a personal pain in my heart for Japan

and especially the

26,000

who are either

dead or missing....

I have totally avoided watching any news about the tsunami,

it's devastating..

overwhelming...

almost nauseating...

But...there is HOPE.

The Japanese are doing what they do best,

working together,

helping each other,

supporting one another.

This is an email my mom sent me:

"For those who wonder how JA's were able to 'gaman' and live through what happened to us as U.S. Citizens during World War II, 'On the Ground' by Nicholas D. Kristof describes it very well. Trust you will agree.

But the Japanese people themselves were truly noble in their perseverance and stoicism and orderliness.

There’s a common Japanese word,

“gaman,”

that doesn’t really have an English equivalent,

but is something like “toughing it out.”

And that’s what the people of Kobe did, with a courage,

unity

and common purpose that left me awed."

"This stoicism is built into the Japanese language.

People always say “shikata ga nai” – it can’t be helped.

And one of the most common things to say to someone else is “ganbatte kudasai” –

tough it out,

BE STRONG.

Natural disasters are seen as part of Japan’s “unmei,” or fate –

a term that is written by combining the characters for movement and life.

I remember reading an ancient account, I believe from 16th century Jesuit visitors, of an earthquake devastating a village,

and then within hours the peasants began rebuilding their homes."

In the midst of this disaster, the Japanese people have come together.

But, I'm still praying for the Japanese.

For strength,

for perseverance,

and

most of all,

for their

souls.

85% of the Japanese are Buddhist.

Less than 1% are Christian.

Please pray for the Japanese...

"I will build them up and not tear them down;

I will plant them and not uproot them.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD.

They will be my people,

and I will be their God,

for they will return to me with all their heart, "

(says the LORD.)

Jeremiah 24:6-7

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our

troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any

trouble

with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Let him who walks in the

dark,

who has no light,

trust

in the name of the Lord

and rely on his God.

Isaiah 50:10