Psalms – True Vine Living

Hold Your Horses

Read Time 5 Minutes

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Oh to wait…it’s one of the hardest things to do! I think it is often so hard because we think in our minds that we know just what we need and just what the answer should be in any particular moment or time period. We think we know because it is based on our extreme focus on our own emotion. We forget that our judgement might be clouded by emotion. We also do not have the bigger picture…we might think we do, but we only have what is visible right in front of our eyes. As a Christian, we can remember that we are blessed beyond measure to know the One who always has the big picture and who will always do what is the absolute best for us if we can just “hold our horses” and wait for Him!

There is mystery in the waiting when we rely on God. Mystery can be exciting! We don’t know how our events will unfold or when or what the end result will be, but when we are trusting Him, we can be confident that it is just that…mystery and not uncertainty. What you can be certain of is that God will reveal himself to you in special ways, He will bless you along the way, He will give you strength to endure, and He will grow you in ways that you do not anticipate. How He accomplishes this for each one of us is as unique to our lives as we are each perfectly and individually created by Him. Therefore, we can begin to find joy in the mystery of waiting and trusting God with our path and the outcome of our situation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

While in a waiting period, there is much we can do to enhance our our lives and shift our focus from our uncomfortable situation to healthy productivity. Here are some suggestions:

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Let God know your heart and your petition. (Philippians 4: 6-7) Let your prayer life grow and blossom as you also read His word and listen for His voice.
Read God’s promises, memorize His promises, and trust in His promises.
Get creative and use the gifts and talents that you have been blessed with to make a difference in your time of waiting.
Be active and exercise. I’m not saying this simply because I am a personal trainer. It is true that exercise is healthy not just for your body, but for your mind and emotions too!

When I am getting weary and frustrated in the waiting, I sometimes think about some brave men who had to endure one of the toughest periods of waiting. These men were POWs during the Vietnam war. Read the following excerpts from a lecture given by Navy Captain Gerald Coffee (who lived in a 3 X 6.5 foot cell for 7 years), and see how even in the most extreme of circumstances there is much one can do to stay strong, have peace, and be victorious in perseverance:

“I prayed a lot,” Coffee said. “At first I expected God to do everything for me, but when I realized that this would be my life for a while, the nature of my prayers started to change. Instead of praying, ‘Why me?’ I started to pray, ‘How can I change?’”

“I used to walk miles inside my cell, just shuffling back and forth,” Coffee said. “I also used my bed for both push-ups and sit ups. It was important for me to continue exercising because I didn’t know when I was going to be released.”

“You would think that with nothing to do, your mind would become unused, but the opposite happened.” Coffee said. “The other prisoners and I found anything and everything to talk about. We picked each other’s brains for all our information, which included memorizing and composing poems.”

“There was this one guy who was chained to his bed and had his arms locked behind him,” he said. “Every night the other prisoners and I would tap on his walls ‘G B,’ which mainly meant ‘God bless,’ but also meant, ‘I’m praying for you. Hold on in there. We are with you.”

“All those years, the Vietnamese tried to rape our spirits and our faith, but they couldn’t do it,” he said. “I was never really alone in that cell. Not with Him by my side.”

Sometimes we have no choice but to wait. At other times, we may have the ability to make a decision to change our course. In those cases we must be careful not to act on impulse or out of frustration or another emotion. We must seek God and be willing to wait as He leads.

So remember, whatever you’re waiting circumstances are, when the waiting gets hard…hold your horses and wait patiently until the waiting time is lifted. Take action in the waiting by exercising your mind using the creative talents that God has blessed you with. Exercise your body physically which also helps your mental and emotional state. And pray, pray, pray! Trust God! Praise God in the waiting! Develop a closer walk with Him! Anticipate the growth and the blessings you will experience through the waiting and then when the waiting is over in His perfect timing!

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

The Waterfall Experience

Read Time 5 Minutes

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.” Revelation 1:12-15

My husband, Michael, is a pastor. Recently, he shared a message on this scripture in Revelation. The passage paints a picture of the majesty of our Savior, Jesus, as He was revealed to John on the island of Patmos in the Book of Revelation. In this description of our resplendent Savior, the part that sinks into my heart the most is “His voice was like the roar of many waters”. One Biblical translation describes His voice as “the sound of cascading waters”!

Have you ever sat beside a rushing roaring river before letting the loud and rhythmic sound drown out all your stress? Have you ever refreshed yourself by a gushing waterfall letting the spray rejuvenate your mind and body? Close your eyes for a minute and let your senses paint that picture in your head. There is just something about moving water that is both calming and invigorating! Now take that picture in your head…the power of the mighty flow of the water along with its tranquil and relaxing effects and picture it as Jesus’s voice speaking truth into your life! Picture His arms wrapped around you. He is speaking strength and peace into your life and will hold you up in His promises of perfect care!

While physically visiting a waterfall can be a wonderful refreshment and definitely a tangible reminder of God’s creation and love for us, you can experience that waterfall experience daily when you hear God’s voice!

I hear God’s voice in a variety of ways. It can be powerful and majestic like the waterfall when I am out in nature and enjoying His creation. His voice tells me He is mighty and in control! I have nothing to fear, and He wants to shower me with the riches of His beauty. I also hear Him when I am praying. Comforting thoughts and reminders of His goodness come to me as I talk quietly with Him. I hear His voice when I read His word. It reminds me of His promises and that He will never leave me! There are also times that He gives me clear answers by opening doors and making a path clear!

When you know Jesus as your Savior, you have the ability to hear His voice in different ways. When you know Him personally, that voice like the “roar of many waters” flows through you always and can provide rejuvenating refreshment daily. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded to listen and tap into all His goodness!

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Psalm 29:3-4

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. ” John 10: 27-28

What do God, waterfalls, and exercise have in common?

Rejuvenation! Healing! And, when kept in the right perspective and truth, Wellness! Acknowledging that God is our ultimate Healer, we can then fully partake in waterfalls and exercise as resources He gives us that aid in achieving a state of wellness!

In keeping with the purpose of my blog to connect faith and fitness, I believe that God and our relationship with Him must come first. When we are connected to the “True Vine” and have peace and wellness in our soul, then we are much better equipped to successfully engage in activities that help our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

With that said, there is much scientific evidence to support that both waterfalls and exercise reduce stress, lower anxiety, and promote health. When talking health and science, it is important to realize and accept that God and science are not separate. Our Creator is the master scientist! It is not randomness that created the healing effects of waterfalls. It is not a coincidence that our bodies thrive on appropriate physical activity. God is the creator of the science behind all the functions of nature. He knew what He was doing when he designed natural resources and their usefulness to us including our health. He perfectly designed all the intricate workings of our bodies and has always known what parts of nature would offer health benefits and what physical activities would aid us in being fit.

“For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Taken from the collective research of multiple sources, there is scientific evidence supporting that being near waterfalls and other frothing water sources produces positive health benefits. Some of these benefits mirror the benefits of exercise and its effects on the body.

When you are in the presence of a waterfall, by a rushing river, or watching ocean waves roll in, there is a reason you feel refreshment. When water molecules collide, they release negative ions into the air. When you are breathing in air that has a higher ratio of negative versus positive ions, your bloodstream receives some healthy benefits. High levels of negative ions boost energy and aid in positive mood, and have even been found to suppress serotonin levels. Thus being near splashing water can help ward off depression and reduce anxiety. These effects also support the general findings from research that people who spend time in nature are often happier than those who don’t. Therefore, there should be much motivation to make plans to spend time in His creation and bask near a beautiful waterfall, river, or ocean setting!

For some, it is not as easy to get out into nature frequently and enjoy the benefits regularly. Location and availability make a difference too. More thought and planning may have to go into making a trip. However, most individuals can partake in some form of exercise regularly. The benefits of exercise are widely known in our society. It has also become common knowledge that fitness activities help more than just the physical side of building strength and improving balance and flexibility.

Much like the waterfall effect, regular exercise helps you emotionally and mentally by boosting your energy and altering your chemical balance to give a positive mood and better outlook on life! Exercise is also known to reduce stress and anxiety and aid in helping to make improvements in depression. The benefits of exercise can grow when individuals take a break from “screen time”…much like when you are out in nature!

Both waterfall exposure and exercise can help people sleep better too! It is clear that the advantages of both being near water and taking part in fitness offer a multitude of healthy rewards towards being well!

For a real supercharge, plan hikes to involve ocean, river, and waterfall experiences. Make sure to linger by the water and soak up the positive effects! Spend time praising God, the Master creator and scientist, who has made it all perfectly possible!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who live in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.”
Psalm 24: 1-2

What Are You Waiting For?

Read Time 2 Minutes

Are you waiting for healing? Are you waiting on a relationship? Are you waiting for direction on your next steps? Are you waiting on a hurt to heal? Are you waiting and wondering when something will end? Are you waiting on a prayer to be answered? Are you waiting on God to show up?

Sometimes the waiting can be agonizing. Don’t lose heart! God is not going to show up…God is already there! He is in the midst of everything you are waiting for!

“Lord, You have searched me and known me.
²You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
³You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
⁴Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
⁵You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
⁶This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

⁷Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
⁹If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
¹⁰even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”—
¹²even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.” Psalm 139: 1-12

Waiting is tough! Especially when we are feeling bad, sad, and lost! Here are a few things you can do while you wait:

1. Wait expectantly!

“At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.” Psalm 5:3

“Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;” Psalm 37: 7

2. Believe God’s promises and hold to them even when you aren’t feeling it!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
⁶think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Think back and remember all the times God has rescued you in the past. Thank Him! When we remember what He has done for us, we remember His faithfulness. We remember His love. Praise Him for what He has done. This can turn our focus of self-pity to a refreshing focus on Him. We will remember that He meets all of our needs. We will remember that we are more than conquerors through Him!

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11

“My soul, praise the Lord,
and do not forget all His benefits.” Psalm 103:2

4. Take a nature walk or drive and marvel at His Majesty! Remember that the God who is the Maker of heaven and earth cares for you!

“I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

“When I observe Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You set in place,what is man that You remember him,
the son of man that You look after him?
You made him little less than God
and crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8: 3-5

5. Finally, remember that there is reward in the waiting.

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

May you find special blessings from Him today while you wait!

Lauren Had a Little Lamb

“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Read Time 4 Minutes

Some years ago my daughter, Lauren, raised lambs for FFA. During her high school years, she raised 4 lambs…one each year. Not only was the experience new and maturing for Lauren, it was for me as well!

There is something very special about lambs! They are very Biblical, and represent the great depth and meaning of our relationship with Jesus in various ways. Watching Lauren’s relationship with each lamb develop and culminate each year became a beautiful real life illustration to me of some very special Biblical truths. It didn’t take long to realize the importance of the shepherd to the lamb…in this case, the shepherdess.

The photograph above came to my attention recently and inspired this blog post. The lamb’s name in the picture is Tova which is the Hebrew name meaning “The Lord is Good”. I want to use the photographs I’ve shared of Lauren and her “little” lamb (120 lbs) to illustrate a few truths about lambs and their shepherd. Most importantly, I want to illustrate the beauty of our relationship with Jesus, our very own Good Shepherd!

First, unlike any other animal, sheep depend on their shepherd for every single thing! A dog or a cat or most other animals can fend for themselves and protect themselves to some degree when left in the wild. Sheep can do nothing apart from their shepherd! During Lauren’s high school experience, it quickly became evident that each lamb at the barn knew their shepherdess and grew extremely attached! Lauren fed, watered, bathed, comforted, supplied medical care, sheared, weighed, corrected behaviors, and exercised her lamb. One year, her lamb, Maverick, wanted to butt himself against the bars until he bloodied his head. Lauren stayed much longer with him and provided her body to be the barrier between him and the bars until he trusted her and changed his behavior. She provided everything for her lamb, and her lamb would bleat passionately for her as she would walk towards it’s pen. Her lamb would follow her wherever she would go in the barnyard!

In Psalm 23: 1-3, the Bible lets us know that Jesus is our Good Shepherd:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.”

In John 15:5, Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him, we can do nothing!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”

Lauren’s relationship with her lamb certainly demonstrated what it can be like when we let Jesus be our Shepherd. We will lack for nothing!

The second thing that the picture above illustrates for me is that when we are abiding in Jesus, we can run with Him and leap with Him and experience great joy with Him…even through the dark and difficult times, we can experience delight in Him! Look at the joy in both Lauren and Tova’s faces as they leap together over the ropes! This can be us with Jesus when we follow Him!

“I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

The next picture illustrates another depth of our relationship with Jesus. There are times when we face difficult circumstances and even with the joy in our hearts, we can experience sad emotions. Sometimes, we just want comfort and rest and to be held by Jesus. He is there for us then too! This picture of Lauren and Tova was taken on auction day. It was a stressful time for sheep. However, you can see that Tova was resting in perfect peace when Lauren was holding her. Tova DID make auction, and her future was certain slaughter, but still…she rested in Lauren’s loving arms.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
*Psalm 4:8*

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Finally, Lauren’s shepherdess days reminded me of the most amazing thing in the Bible…Jesus switches roles. While still being the Good Shepherd for us; ultimately, He becomes The Lamb. He willingly goes to The Cross allowing Himself to be slaughtered for us…for our sins!

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Let us run, leap, and experience the joy of the Perfect Lamb! Let us rest in His arms when comfort is needed! Let us remember that without Him, we are nothing!

Mere Breath!

You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. *Selah*~ Psalm 39:5

Read Time 2 Minutes

“Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!” Psalm 39:5

This verse reminds me that our lifetime is just a fleeting moment in eternity. The idea that our life is just a mere breath or only a vapor as some Bible translations tell us, can be a scary thought. It can make us question what is the significance of our brief life on earth. If you are not a Christian, it is terrifying!

On the other hand, this idea that “mortal man is only a vapor” can bring us great comfort when we know the One who makes life worth living…the One who, through Him, gives us eternal life in paradise (John 3:16; John 14:6; Luke 23:43). Our struggles, hurts, sicknesses, and heartaches are short-lived in comparison to our forever life in Heaven.

But what about this time we have on earth, if it is but a mere breath? What is the significance? What are we to do with it? How will we make the most out of our life right now in 2021 while we wait for our forever paradise?

First, we can know that God has plans for us right now and in eternity. He is working all things for our good…ALL! That means right now and forever. He has plans for us too…plans to prosper us and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; John 14:2). Even our present troubles prosper us when we are refined though Christ and made more like Him. We grow in maturity and wisdom and gain new levels of comfort and peace through hardships when we are living in Him. This is not harmful…it is beautiful and it is fruitful…it makes us come forth as gold (Job 23:10)! It can shine a light to others too!

No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

In Ecclesiastes, the whole theme is about there being nothing new under the sun. Everything is “hebel” a Hebrew word meaning vanity, a vapor, a puff, a breath…meaningless! The author discovers, however, that without God, “hebel” is all life is, but WITH GOD, every breath counts and every breath is full of meaning!

It’s 2021! Let’s make every breath, every moment, every thought, and every action count for His glory and His kingdom! Happy New Year!

Marking Time

Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. Ecclesiastes 5:18

Read Time 5 Minutes

As 2020 draws to a close, I find myself like many Americans wanting to check off another day, and get this year concluded! Weary is how this year has left me, and I have often felt myself succumb to the feeling of just “marking time”. It has been a struggle to overcome this attitude in light of all the events that have unfolded this year!

Covid-19 with it’s deaths, sicknesses, and all the politicalisms that are attached to this virus have worn our spirits thin. Businesses closing, jobs lost, school children learning in isolation, depression, suicides, and a huge lack of trust in leaders are additional results of this pandemic. People have felt alone in hospitals without family being allowed to visit. Assisted living facilities have been on lock-down. Weddings and other celebrations have been whittled down to the bear minimum. Add to that a divided country, riots, and a crazy election, and you have many great big reasons to leave this year behind!

The struggle this year has been personal. My husband and I had just made a major move a couple of months prior to the onset of 2020. We moved from Texas to Washington far away from family and friends and all the familiarity that came from having lived in Texas for 47 years of my life. We moved because God led my husband to pastor a small church in Bremerton, WA. I retired from 28 years of teaching and started my own personal training business. We came with the excitement of God’s plans for us and the enjoyment of getting to make new friends. Still, we knew that any big move or change has its challenges. These changes along with the combination of all the events during this historic year have certainly tested my endurance. Church services had to go to online for a time period and continue to be altered. My business has for the most part been shut down by the pandemic. Quite honestly, this year has been testing the daily “trusting God” part of my faith as I wrestle with a variety of feelings each day.

Over the years I have had a good share of difficult times in my life that have grown my faith. I’ve experienced tragic death, unexpected divorce, rejection and deception, and major medical trauma. Through these trials, I was able to learn first hand how God gets me through every trial and works all things for my good. I have grown deeper in my walk with Him through these experiences and hardships. I have learned to know great sorrow, but also have JOY as I walk hand in hand with God navigating troubled times. I’ve learned to believe and trust that no matter what comes my way, God will sustain me. However, even with all I have experienced and learned, God does not seem to be finished refining my faith. I’ve asked God this year, “Why after all I’ve been through and all I have learned and know about Your all sufficiency, do I struggle with anxiety and other emotions in 2020?” I think this year, He has shown me that He wants me to rely on Him even more every moment of the day! He is not just for the major trials that knock us off our feet. His strength is for every aspect of our day in order to conquer the enemies of anxiety, fear, self-pity, and isolation. He wants to take me into an even deeper walk with him. For this, I am thankful. God loves me so much that He keeps growing me and drawing me closer to Him!

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

I think what I have felt this year, many others have felt as well… “Let me just check off another day and move on”. I know that God has been telling me not to have this attitude and to not let the negative feelings have any control over me. I think what God is teaching me through 2020 is not to just MARK TIME when I feel overwhelmed with wrong feelings, or I feel disenchanted. He wants me to live each day to the fullest making the most of every moment that He gives me. Each day He gives me is not a mistake, it is a gift!

The following verses reveal that we are certainly not meant to “mark time” with the days that God gives us. These verses are a dose of good medicine for me, and maybe they can help you as well to finish out 2020 victoriously through Him (Philippians 4:13) making the most of every day!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,accepting one another and forgiving one another…” Colossians 3:12-13

“The Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most temporal part of time–for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays.”
― C.S. Lewis, quote from The Screwtape Letters

Who knows what 2021 will have to offer, but with God on our side (Psalm 118:6), we can make every day count! There is much to accomplish in the work God has given each of us, moments to show care towards others, and time to love God with all of our heart and spend time with Him every day. I want to finish out this year having learned better how to make all moments count and not just check off another day. Hopefully, by sharing my struggle this year, I have used my time today well and offered some encouragement that might help you too! Keep looking up!

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

Your “Joy Bucket”

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11

Read Time 3 Minutes

Think about walking through a wooded area where the bushes are in full production just ready for the picking of the plumpest juiciest blackberries. It’s a beautiful sunshiny day with just the right cool breeze. With bucket in hand, you plan on picking and filling the bucket with an overflowing amount of blackberries to take home for making pies, jam, and other blackberry treats to delight yourself for days to come. If you allowed yourself to get sidetracked with the sticks and brush in your way and began filling your bucket with the debris along your path, your bucket would not hold the tasty berries. You would go home depleted instead of being refreshed with the ability to be satisfied with delectable treats for the coming days. Think about this picture as you continue reading my blog post.

Times are tough right now! It seems as though our country is turned upside down. For some in America, the Covid-19 is very upfront and real. Some have tested positive, some have sadly died from the virus, and healthcare workers see it all first hand. For others, the issues have been financial struggles…maybe even the loss of a business. I think for all of us, the times have been very mentally and emotionally challenging. From corona-virus, to protests and riots, to demonstrations of love versus hate, to continued deep divisions in our country both politically and personally, it is very hard to be positive!

During my life, I have encountered and navigated through some very difficult and heartbreaking times. These struggles have helped me to grow in my faith and learn to rely whole-heartily on God to supply my every need, my every comfort, and my complete peace. I have even learned how to experience true joy right along with sorrow.

I am desiring to do the same during these trying times, but it seems very hard. I find it a daily struggle to stay positive and grab hold of all the peace and joy available to me through God in the midst of so many negative issues in our country. A couple of nights ago, it became clear to me why I have been struggling with this matter of joy. I have the head knowledge and the experiential knowledge of joy, and I have been praying to feel God’s peace and joy during these tough times; however, I was forgetting a very important action on my part. I was forgetting to actually REJOICE! When I choose to rejoice, then the “joy bucket” in me begins to be filled up. Because each day seems to be filled with so much negativism in the media and in the conversations of so many, the negatives have been the focus and what I have been piling in my bucket. The negatives we are all facing were the big things in my mind that were depleting my “joy bucket”. I needed to adjust my thoughts by beginning with the action of rejoicing.

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

I am now consciously taking action each day. I am choosing to REJOICE in who I am in God. Just the simple fact that I am His puts me in an overriding victorious circumstance at all times no matter what is going on in this world. I am His, a child of the one true King. My life will always be abundant because He is always good to me. He promises to get me through anything I face in my life. I am secure in eternity because of my salvation through Jesus Christ. Because He lives, I can face each day with confidence. With this kind of security, why would I not choose to rejoice every day! I hope that you too can choose with full confidence and peace to REJOICE in knowing God, His goodness, and His Son, Jesus! Join me in filling our “joy buckets” with all the fullness of His goodness today!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11

Stay Calm in the Storm

YMCA Mission Statement: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Read Time 3 Minutes

Over the last couple of months, I have been adjusting to the big changes of moving from Texas to Washington. One of those changes has been starting up my new personal training business and all that goes with being an independent business owner. God has greatly blessed me in this pursuit! I was able to contract with the YMCA, and now I am working with clients in a beautiful thriving facility. I am once again helping women reach health and fitness goals. However, just as I have begun to build my business, our country has been thrust into a state of emergency with the COVID-19. We are experiencing circumstances like we have never experienced before in our country. Much is shutting down to try and stop the spread of this virus, and that is effecting all of our lives in many ways!

I shared the following post on Facebook in an effort to offer some comfort and assurance during this unprecedented time, and I wanted to add it to my blog to give encouragement to anyone who might read my blog. WE CAN remain calm and even HAVE a PEACE which surpasses all comprehension in our present circumstances:

I know who goes before me I know who stands behind The God of angel armies Is always by my side The one who reigns forever He is a friend of mine The God of angel armies Is always by my side And nothing formed against me shall stand You hold the whole world in your hands I’m holding on to your promises… (Chris Tomlin)

God is bigger than Coronavirus, bigger than any pandemic, bigger than a shortage of toilet paper!In this world though, we will have trouble and there seems to be a lot of it!

Whether you’re trying to remain on the sidelines of the present circumstances using a sense of humor as you look at the frenzy, or you are feeling some anxiety rising in you…our lives are all beginning to be highly effected by the craziness going on! I’m thankful that the Y continues to remain open right now and I am able to work with clients and continue building my business, however, nothing looks very certain over the next few weeks.

In all of this though, we can experience peace!

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

God doesn’t promise us an easy life in this world, but He does promise a peace that surpasses all comprehension. And He does promise us His unfailing help.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

This kind of peace begins with salvation…“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

Jesus endured a horrific death on the cross to pay for our sins and make the way for us to be in Heaven for eternity. The moment we ask him to be our Lord and Savior, we instantly can begin to feel the peace and the help to deal with ALL our present circumstances. You can feel that kind of peace for your daily life now because you know for certainty where you will spend your forever!

We can tackle anything when we know Jesus, because we know we will be victorious over every struggle, every epidemic, every sadness, and even death!

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

May your day and weeks to come be filled with the PEACE that surpasses comprehension!

Washington cherry blossoms bloom while it’s still winter.

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” Martin Luther

Living Free in the New Year: Part One

Free from Fear

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6: 26-27

Read Time 4 Minutes

“Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You. ” Psalm 56:3

One of the biggest fears most of us have is the fear of what we will lose. Some of us have already lost a lot and are fearful of what we will lose next. Some have not experienced much loss yet, but know that they will by looking all around at what others have lost…loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of loved ones, loss of life. If you are like me, my greatest fear is to lose a close loved one…spouse, child, parent, sibling. How can you look forward with excitement to what will happen in 2020 if you allow yourself to be gripped by fear?

I have lost close loved ones in my life (2 times…one by death and one by being rejected). Yet through those tragedies, I learned to let go of fear. It can creep back at times, but (using my daughter’s recent words), “You’ve got to catch yourself when that begins to happen, and you can’t let yourself spiral”. How do you not spiral? I have learned through experience that when you are stripped of something precious to you, you can still find joy by not just having faith in God, but by clinging to God through faith to sustain you through every moment of every day. If and when the terrible thing happens, you WILL be okay with HIM…the pain, the sadness, the grief will give way to growth, strength, a deeper walk, wisdom, peace, and yes, even JOY when you are are clinging to Him. That is how you do not grow bitter, how you let go of fear, how you live above the sufferings while you are here on earth, and how you remember that the time we have here is just a moment in eternity.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

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. Psalm 90:10

Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love
so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

When I was 7 years old, my mom, sister, and I were waiting at home for my step-dad to get finished at the airport with a flying lesson and come home because we were all going shopping when he came back. Instead, we got a knock at the door. Three strangers entered and announce the tragic news that he and 3 other men had been in a plane crash and all 4 men lost their lives. In one instance what was a happy day turned into a nightmare. At that young age, I had not developed my own faith to understand the truths of how God can sustain you through such times. However, I had a beautiful example that God placed in my life to help teach me and grow me in the way of true living in Him, my mother. She handled herself and my sister and I with gentle love and strength that she not only attributed to God but modeled daily through our sorrow. She could have been angry and bitter. She could have sunk into her grief leaving us to struggle through our own confusion and sorrow with little help, but she did not. She was the extension of God’s sustaining love to us and the beginning to my deepening walk with God.

Your reliance on God during a time of great loss might just be an example and a witness to someone else! Many years later in life, I had another big loss! This time my own faith grew to even deeper levels as I walked hand in hand with God. This time, I got to do for my daughter what my mother did for me years ago!

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalm 55:22

IF you were to lose “everything” this year, would you be okay? Say, YES, and live abundantly in 2020 free from fear and free to enjoy all daily blessings from above…free to LIVE and free to LOVE unhindered!

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

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!