devotion – Page 4 – True Vine Living

GPS to the Rescue

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Read Time 4 Minutes

I was recently making a short 70 mile trip to see my daughter at college. There are 2 routes available for this destination…one that sticks to main highways and one that takes a more “country road” path. Both ways are very familiar to me as I attended the same college. On this particular day, I wanted to take the favorite country path. I checked the forecast before leaving that morning and there was a 30% chance of rain for later that afternoon. I set out excited to see my daughter soon!

It wasn’t long into my drive that rain began earlier than expected. I reached a stretch of road that was under construction, and in that stretch, the rain became a torrential downpour! So much so, that I could barely see 3 feet in front of me. There was no place to pull off due to a concrete wall because of construction. The lanes narrowed and there were many oncoming construction vehicles coming the opposite direction with their lights beaming in my already blinded vision. What had always been very familiar to me seemed foreign for the moment, and I felt a little fear rise inside of me. My hands griped the steering wheel with a very tense hold, and I began to pray for safety. Then the road forked and in my path were road blocks and a sign that said road ended. It was still pouring and there were no signs for a detour. I didn’t even recognize where I was along the route. I was able to pull over at this point. Because of our modern technology, I was able to pull up GPS and be guided along a new path. Soon I was on my way again just as the heavy rain began to let up.

I thanked God for getting me get through those intense moments safely. Sometimes, I scoff at all the modern technology such as GPS because I like to use old fashioned ways. On this day, I was thankful for GPS. It made me think about how just as the GPS guided me to safety and back on my path in a murky situation, God does that too on an exponentially larger scale for my whole life. I think others might have already made this analogy before, but on this day, the analogy that God is my GPS for doing life struck me wholeheartedly! I thought, “GPS…God Provides Security”!

Sometimes we get ourselves off the path that God has for us. Sometimes, we are blindsided by life. Whatever the circumstances are, God desires to always help us and guide us on the path that is His will for our lives. This road trip experience just reminded me to always look to God for directions, security, and peace of mind. He is the ultimate GPS!

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Ever Feel Lost at the Gym?

Joining a gym is a great first step to becoming a healthier you! Many people join with that goal, but then feel at a loss for how to use all the equipment or even how to progress themselves along to reach their goals. A gym can sometimes feel very intimidating. As a personal trainer, helping woman learn about equipment as well as techniques for exercise and progression are some of the ways I help them. In a sense, a personal trainer can serve as a GPS for the gym and for your workout life.

Here are a few tips on maneuvering through the gym…

Usually, people are very friendly at gyms. If you’re not sure about how to use a piece of equipment, just ask someone who works there or another gym member.
If you see another gym member using balls, steps, ladders, dumbbells, battle ropes, or anything in the gym in new or interesting ways, strike up a conversation and learn something new.
Once you know how to use some of the equipment or weights properly, learn ways to progress. You can progress by increasing the weight by small amounts over time. Or you might choose to increase the number of reps using the same weight. You can also increase sets such as 2 sets of 15 to 3 sets over time.
Exercise with a friend and help each other learn.
Also, you can Google just about anything for exercise…just pay attention to the source as you would with anything you Google.
Have fun and don’t give up on working towards your fitness goals! Fitness is a good thing for body and soul!

^”For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

Every Breath I Take

Read Time 2 Minutes

A few days ago, I came across the old 1983 song, “Every Breath You Take” by The Police. As songs sometimes do, it got stuck in my head. With just a small twisting of the words, though, I found that I was rewriting the song in my mind to reflect my heart’s desire and my heart’s absolute need. I certainly fail and don’t always do it, but this is how I want to live…continually connected and abiding in Jesus…the True Vine:

Every breath I take, every move I make, every bond I make, every step I take, Let it be from You.

Every single day, every word I say, every time I play, every night I pray, Let it be from You.

Big changes are happening in my life…a relocation move of over 2000 miles, a new state to live in, a new climate, new friends, a new church, a new home, and a new adventure with God. I can only handle it by walking hand in hand with God moment by moment.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Maybe you remember the tune to the classic hit by The Police. I hope that my little play on words will offer you encouragement as you walk through your day.

May I remember that with every step I take, ” Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
And light unto my path. ” Psalm 119: 105

Morning Vibes

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Read Time 4 Minutes

Today I read in Psalm 90:10, “Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; Indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.” I thought to myself…this is so true. Although, there are many highs in life, so often it seems that there is constant struggle or sorrow to deal with. Sometimes it’s big events and sometimes it’s a day to day struggle in areas to overcome. I have had some big sorrows in life, and sometimes, I have just had day to day stresses that can wear me down.

Then, a few more verses down in Psalm 90:14, I read…”Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.” I thought to myself…this is so true!!! Despite the big sorrows and the daily grind in life, I cling to God who provides me with refreshing love every morning and because of that I can choose JOY all the days of my life…when things are good and when things are bad. The greatest JOY I have in life is a PEACE He gives me. I have felt it in the worst of times.

May you feel God’s PEACE and choose His refreshing JOY every morning no matter what you face. One day soon because our days are fleeting, God promises to those who know Him… “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.” Revelations 21:4

Know that “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

We can have JOY amidst our trials, and one day it can be all JOY and no more troubles. In the meantime…”Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
prefect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Active Living

“Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends.” Thomas Jefferson

Purposefully living an active life is becoming more realized today as an absolute need as many are acknowledging that the more sedentary culture of convenience and computers is having adverse effects on our physical well-being and health. Whether young or old, our bodies need activity, movement, and purposeful exercise to stay comfortable and well. As a personal trainer, I have had the privilege of helping women learn some strategies for achieving goals that make their bodies and overall self feel better. Many of my clients are aging clients who have realized that they need to exercise to enjoy life in their 60’s and beyond. Whether their goals are weight loss, building back lean muscle, working on balance and flexibility, stress reduction, or just being able to play with their grandchildren, a variety of exercise variables are helping them to achieve a better quality of life. Exercise should include a variety of activities that combine working on balance, flexibility, core stabilization, cardio, agility, and strength.

I like to begin every morning with flexibility training by doing a few stretches that make me feel better for the day ahead. If you don’t already, try working on some of these aspects of exercise and strive towards a better healthier you!

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14

The “Pear”fect Day

Read Time 4 Minutes

We try very hard to plan perfect days. We try to plan perfect dinners, get-togethers, vacations, and special moments. So often though, things do not go as planned.

Recently, on a trip to the breathtaking Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest to visit my dad and step-mom, Lindsay, my husband and I had perfectly splendid adventures mixed with a few imperfect moments. One of those moments was when we were taking a morning hike that we had been looking forward to up a coastal ridge to see the beautiful vast view of the ocean from Ebby Landing. Well, fog settled in on our hike hiding the ocean view completely! Then, the drizzle of rain started. Because of our distance, we were drenched to the point of sloshing water in our shoes by the time we arrived back at our car. It was an interesting and fun hike with it’s own beauty in the fog, but rather disappointing for the effort we put into the hike to not see the views we had been anticipating.

Now, why did I title this article “The Pear-fect Day”? Back at my dad’s home that afternoon, I was enjoying the absolutely lush garden that Lindsay has created in their back yard! I found the pears on her pear tree a reminder to me of perfect peace!

The pear has represented important inner and outer qualities to many cultures over much of history. It was a sacred fruit in Greek and Roman mythology…”a gift from the gods”. It has represented over time and cultures…longtivity, comfort, fertility, immorality, prosperity, grace and nobility, inner peace, and affection. It has symbolized physical and spiritual nourishment.

For me, the pears growing on this particular tree reminded me of God’s perfect peace we have through knowing his son, Jesus Christ. The Bible makes many references to fruit and one of my favorite Bible verses is:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

These pears reminded me that when we are living in Him, and He is living in us, we are filled with the nature of Christ. That means we are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We can in turn bear these fruits when we are staying connected to the “True Vine”.

“Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4

This means that in those imperfect moments or days we can feel and express peace. We can find the joy and goodness in every moment even when things don’t go as planned.

There is one thing completely perfect in this world and that is “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” James 1:17.

“Pear This”… for a Healthy Snack

A pear is a complex carbohydrate and even though it is sweet, it is low on the Glycemic Index and also rich in fiber.

When I got home from Whidbey Island and restocked our refrigerator with groceries, I had to include some pears. I nourished myself spiritually and physically by enjoying sweet slices of a pear “paired” with slices of smoked Gouda cheese for a healthy snack. I thought about what the pear reminded me of on my trip while providing myself a complete protein (Gouda) and a complex carbohydrate rich in fiber (the pear). So grab yourself a pear today and while you are enjoying the nutritious and delightfully sweet taste, remember that we can strive to live a life filled with love, joy, and peace even during the very imperfect times by staying connected to the “True-Vine” who is the “founder and perfecter of our faith”!

“…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3

A Fresh Aroma!

Read Time 2 Minutes

Fresh basil and my first time to make homemade Bruschetta!

Bruschetta! I craved it, so I made it…something that I usually save for the restaurants! I wasn’t disappointed. Not only was it super flavorful and tasty, but just having the fresh basil plant in my kitchen filled my cooking space with a sweet pleasing aroma adding to the whole atmosphere of preparing a meal and enjoyment of eating dinner. I’m not sure which I took pleasure in more…the making and eating of bruschetta or having the fresh basil fill the atmosphere!

Basil is a member of the mint family, and the many varieties are known for their gratifying aroma and flavorful taste. Basil has been a medicinal remedy throughout history for things such as stomach irritations and even bug bites. More recent studies suggest that sweet basil may provide other health benefits too from reducing memory loss, depression, and blood pressure to possibly helping in the prevention of certain cancers.

The fresh basil in my kitchen today reminded me of how we can be a pleasing and fresh aroma to others all around us in our daily lives.

^”For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,…” 2 Corinthians 2:15

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Shine Your Light and Be the Pleasant Aroma for Someone Else Today!

The Happy Ones

Read Time 3 Minutes

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite animal books included a chapter entitled “The Happy Ones” and it was all about the sea otter’s playful and happy ways. The sea otter immediately became one of my favorite mammals and still is today.

My childhood book and a picture of a sea otter that my daughter drew for me in honor of my love for otters.

However, don’t let the “happy ones” who have been observed playing tag with each other fool you with their fun-loving antics. They have hard lives too. Meeting their basic needs for food and survival can be tough sometimes, but still otters serve as a reminder, that even when days or times in life can be very difficult, we can choose to play, and we can choose joy-filled living.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5 :16-18

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

I love the lines from the song called “Joy” by Mercy Me…”Count it pure joy when the whole world comes crashin’ Hold your head up and keep on dancin’.”

The “Fun” Factor in Exercise

Speaking of playing tag , dancing, and having fun, as a personal trainer, I have learned that keeping clients motivated and happy means there needs to be a “Fun” factor to exercise. Only a small percentage of people really think exercising is fun.

Did you know that doing weight-bearing exercise not only builds muscle, but it also strengthens bones. You can achieve greater bone density and strength by working against gravity. Resistance training, walking, jogging, climbing, and even dancing are examples of weight-bearing exercise.

There is no disputing that exercise at some level is important for all people. Some individuals live very active lifestyles and make fitness a regular part of their lives. Many more do not, and the result is a rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer to name a few. Our lives are busy, fast paced, but also more sedentary. Making exercise a fun and more recreational part of our lives can help reduce chronic disease, help lower aches, pains, and injuries due to stress, as well as build muscle and bone mass making us stronger and feel better. We can reduce our stresses and anxieties by adding physical activity to our weekly routines and have fun with it too.

Make a goal to include at the minimum 45 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week. Be creative and make it fun. Think of ideas for indoors and outdoors. Some possibilities:

Turn on music in your home and dance** Shoot baskets outside or play any kind of ball with someone else**Go swimming** Take a walk and talk with a friend** Find a nature trail to go on a hike** Grab some dumbbells and take them outside to work your arms** Start your morning by doing various stretches that feel good to your body** Join a gym** Try working with a personal trainer to gain some ideas and exercise structure to build your routine from** Try a local boot camp for outdoor fitness fun** Google different exercise classes in your area and just try something new!

Bottom Line…Get moving and try to have FUN doing so! The many physiological, physical, and performance benefits are well worth it!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Read Time 3 Minutes

“Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your rightousness.”

2 Corinthians 9:10

Aren’t we so glad to rejoice with thanksgiving that God loves us so much and provides for our every need! The thing is though, that as much as that knowledge brings us great peace and comfort when we trust in God for our needs, He has so much more for us to truly deepen our walk and live abundantly in Him! When we seek Him with all of our heart because we dearly love Him, we grow to greater depths of joy.

The sunflower symbolizes adoration and loyalty. All flowers need the sunlight. The sunflower; however, is devoted to the sun. It doesn’t just grow in sunlight, it turns it’s flowering face towards the sun and tracks the sun. It grows taller and taller reaching towards the sun.

Let us be more like the sunflower today and turn our face towards God our Father. Let us adore Him and devote ourselves to Him. See where that kind of loyalty takes you today to new heights of joy and peace. When we realize that the other stuff in our day pales in comparison to the glory of our Creator, we can live on a plane above our daily grind and circumstances.

Spend a few minutes this morning in prayer and devotion to God our Father who loves us so much that He gave us His one and only Son, Jesus Christ! (John 3:16)

Fun Food Fact: The Sunflower Seed

The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower and one sunflower may have up to 2,000 seeds!

Looking for a snack packed with health benefits? The sunflower seed with its flavorful taste, its role in satiety (feeling of fullness), and its jam packed richness of vitamins and minerals make it perfect for munching on or sprinkling on salads and pastas!

Sunflower seeds are a high source of Vitamin E which has anti-inflammatory effects and plays a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The seeds are also rich in magnesium which in addition to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, also reduces blood pressure, and improves blood sugar control. They are low on the (GI) scale (glycemic index) which makes them a good source of complex carbohydrates. These are just a few of the health benefits of the sunflower seed, so sprinkle a way to a heart healthy day!

Want to make sunflower seeds into a complete protein snack which means it has all 8 essential amino acids…mix sunflower seeds with peanuts for a 1/4 cup tasty snack.

So, “Rise and Shine” and give God the glory today! Make it a heart healthy day in more than one way!

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37