#healthyliving – Page 2 – True Vine Living

Limited Benefit

*I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7*

Read Time 3 Minutes

As a personal trainer, one of my passions is to encourage others to feel their best physically and guide them to make those changes happen in their lives. My ability to help clients has been altered recently just like all of our lives have been changed by our present crisis. Our global pandemic caused by Covid-19 has been changing lives daily for about two months now and appears to be extending into what seems like an unknown time-frame. Most of our activities are confined to home and online. While we are doing this to save lives, we may be worried about all of the negative effects that this “shut-in/shut-out” time period may have on our country and our own lives. Of course, we can make the choice to stay positive knowing we are helping others by adhering to these measures and make the most out of this unusual period in our history. We can emerge stronger in mind and in spirit!

I also believe that we can emerge stronger physically. There is so much that we can do with this time at home to increase our physical well-being and strength no matter what our current fitness level may be at the moment. I believe that God wants us to be strong in both aspects of wellness…body and soul with the reminder from His word that the training of the body comes with limited benefits.

“…the training of the body has a limited benefit,
but godliness is beneficial in every way,
since it holds promise for the present life
and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

At first glance, this Bible verse might make us think that God is simply telling us not to think about the physical, but only think about the spiritual. We may take it as a negative spin on taking time for our bodies. However, the word “benefit” is a positive word. The definition of benefit is an advantage or profit gained from something. In some Bible translations of this verse the “limited benefit” is referred to as “of some value”. The point being in 1 Timothy 4:8, is that there is benefit from the training of our bodies while we live on earth in the physical realm. It is not wrong to take care of our bodies physically…there is value in training and being strong in body. God just wants us to have our focus in the right balance. While there is some value in taking care of our bodies during our time on earth, it is limited. Therefore, do not confuse that value with the higher value of godliness. The benefit of growing spiritually far outweighs the physical because of it’s beneficial promise to help us now in the present and for eternity. We should keep the right perspective that God wants us to have, but not deny our physical well being by taking steps to help our body be strong and well. In fact, there are multiple places in the Bible where God makes analogies to the physical training of the body to help make the point that what is good for the physical body while alive on earth has far greater value for us spiritually. Both are good, but only if we heed His instructions for our lives in their entirety.

“Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

“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. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:11-13

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
-Thomas Jefferson

Again taking care to be physically strong and well is good and of some benefit as long as we hold to the truth that the pursuit of spiritual growth, righteousness, and sanctification are the ultimate benefit that God desires for our lives. They hold supernatural value for the present and for eternity.

Therefore with the keeping of the right perspective, whether you have been regular at physical fitness or have never been motivated to be physically active, you can capitalize on this time. For those who are naturally motivated to workout and stay fit, it’s just a matter of adjusting to to the limitations for exercise opportunities. Much can be done with very little equipment right in the home. For those who have never been physically active, the “stay home stay safe” order and the stir crazies that have come with it may prompt the desire to begin partaking in activities that can get you moving and feeling better. So get up and get moving and build a strong body. I believe that God lets us know that it is a good thing when put in the right proportion of walking with Him daily!

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. -Proverbs 31:17

We’re not in Narnia!

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

Read Time 3 Minutes

“Why it is she that has got all of Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!” These words were spoken by Tumnus the faun in C.S Lewis’s novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He was referring to the spell that was cast over Narnia by the White Witch.

The Confluence of The Big Thompson River and The Fall River- Estes Park, CO

Lately, it feels like our country…our world has been cast under a spell called the Corona-virus! A spell that has harmed people directly with sickness, taken lives, and affected everyone world-wide with shut downs, lock downs, and economic peril! However, we are not under a spell! This is not Narnia! While we are shut in and shut out, the natural things of this world are waking up around us! Everyday, more is in bloom. Birds are chattering all about. At the confluence of two rivers, you will find such a dancing of waters coming together flooding the banks from the melting snow! It is not winter anymore, it is spring!

Let this bring us joy, whether we are able to take a short walk with our dog, or perhaps only look out our window, or possibly just step outside and hear the birds for a few minutes. Let this beautiful spring remind us that there is still order. Things are actually under control. God knows what is going on. He’s got this. He works all things together for the good of those that love Him (Romans 8:28). For those that know Christ, he is working in each of us right now to draw us more deeply to Him. Hopefully, the circumstances will draw others to Him for the first time as everyone is pondering their needs and their futures during this time. The God who takes care of the birds and makes the flowers bloom will take care of us too (Luke 12:22-31)! It may not be what we think we need, so we must rest in the sovereignty of the One who created the heavens and the earth and whose ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Let us rest in the refreshment and the tranquility that comes from being renewed each morning by Christ’s love for us. Let the spring that is awakening around us remind us of His love that renews our minds, our spirits, and our strength. Let it wash over us with an endless peace to carry us through each day!

This is not Narnia…always winter and never Christmas. For in our world, even when things can appear to be gloom and doom, we have Christmas EVERY day! We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born. He is our greatest gift…the gift that keeps giving, the gift that fills us, the gift that never stops giving, and the gift that is eternal. We don’t have to have Christmas just once a year. If we ask Jesus to live in our hearts and be our Lord and Savior, we have him 24/7…365 days a year, and for eternity. As spring is blooming all around us, we are nearing the time of year that we celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection. He died and rose again so that we may have a new life in Him and so that we can live forever with Him in Heaven. With that kind of certainty, we can face the temporary uncertain days with a renewed confidence!

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

Let’s take notice of the new life budding around us each day in this tumultuous world, and let it serve as a reminder that our Creator has all things under control. Let our spirit be renewed with the abundance of the beauty around us!

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;
hey shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Interrupted!

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

Read Time 4 Minutes

In the past few weeks all of our lives across the United States as well as most of the world have been interrupted by Covid-19. Even if we have not personally contracted the virus and hopefully will not, we are all effected by the quarantined environment we are living in daily. Grocery store shelves are empty of basic needs, restaurants, businesses. schools, and churches are closed for now, and new vocabulary and guidelines are developing such as “social distancing” and “working remotely”. It is certainly an unsettling time and pushes our minds to think of scenarios we are not used to thinking about here in America.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. ²³For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ” Luke 12: 22-23

I find myself thinking each day as I eat a meal prepared at home, how thankful I am for that food on my table! Although, I have always been thankful to God for provisions, it is much more heightened in light of the growing reality that even in America our abundant lives we have become so accustomed to can be interrupted!

As a Christian we can draw on the truths of God’s promises to supply all of our needs and to be our stronghold through uncertain times. However, if you are like me…even when we know these truths, we can find ourselves allowing anxious thoughts to creep into our minds. We fear things our minds imagine that goes beyond the reality. These fears are fed, of course, by all the panic and media coverage going on all around us. The struggle is real to choose the way God wants us to think. We often live in our own strength that wants to feed on fear and anxiety which is not of God. This reminds me that even the Apostle Paul struggled with being pulled in this way. He tells us in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

Paul struggled like we do, but he also learned the secret to doing life and living above fear! He shares in Philippians 4: 12-13, “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Himwho strengthens me.”

In the last few weeks, our lives have drastically been interrupted by Covid-19! It helps me to remember that if we purposefully set our mind on the truths and promises from God’s word, we can begin to realize that He does supply all of our needs. However, those needs may not be what we are used to thinking we need. If everything were stripped away from us, God would still give us what we need to endure all things. He will give us strength and peace for whatever circumstances He allows us to encounter. If you really think about it, HE IS ALL WE NEED! Paul showed us that by praying and singing hymns to God even when he had been beaten and thrown in prison (Acts 16).

Maybe this interruption can be looked at positively as a time to draw near to God in a new and deeper way! A time to praise Him, love others more expressively, and shine a light on a world that needs Him desperately!

When fear and anxiety begins to set in, it helps me to remember to ^“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.

Remote Exercise

A result for me from the corona-virus outbreak has been the closure of the YMCA where I had just begun building up my clientele. I am thankful that I have been able to put a spin on the remote work environment. Instead of holding training sessions with clients indoors, we have moved outdoors, and I am able to still meet their needs by holding personal training sessions at a local park. We have been using stairs, paths, piers, park benches, and rails to aid us in getting a good physical workout. Not only is it helping each person to stay fit in body, but I believe it is helping them and myself to stay fit in spirit too! The outdoors is refreshing and rejuvenating…a place where you can marvel at God and let Him wash peace and tranquility over you!

I encourage you to take advantage during this restricted time to get outdoors where there is plenty of space to social distance while getting a good workout for your body and soul! Walk at a quick pace along paths, jog up and down stairs, use a park bench to do inclined push-ups and tricep dips. There are many cardio and strength training exercises that can be done with very little equipment. Get creative, get outside, and get moving to beat the Covid-19 blues!

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

No to Resolutions…Yes to Goals!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Read Time 4 Minutes

In my first blog post, I wrote that my reason for starting this blog was to “share encouraging words as often as possible highlighting my love for Christ first, and then my love for fitness and health”. Recently, I shared in my blog about living free of fear and on the ability to take a leap of faith in this new year. I hope that each of us may live this year in a way where we are feeling that freedom because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Now, I want to write a few ideas about working towards health and fitness goals as we start this year. I know that I need to muster up motivation and energy to make mine happen. It helps me to remember that “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).

Ring in 2020…a new year and a new decade! This is the traditional time to make bold New Year’s Resolutions. If you are like me, it can be hard to take the time to make these resolutions happen in our busy fast paced lives. New Year’s Resolutions are usually great intentions with big ideas and hopes, but often fizzle quickly because they are general statements with little planning put into them.

Many times, these resolutions revolve around health and fitness desires. If we want to get serious about making some fitness goals, it might be helpful to take some time to make thoughtful goals with a plan that can be achieved in steps over the entire year. Using the acronym SMART might help in developing goals.

Image by Katie Kerpel – The Balance 2019

Try creating a plan that would be time-based each month towards an attainable goal. Goals are more easily reached in increments that can be measured along the way. Accomplishing each small step gives a sense of achievement and celebration along the way!

There is a saying that the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. So even with a SMART plan, don’t go it alone. Give it to our Lord daily through prayer.

Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life. Psalm 54:4

One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions is changing one’s body composition (fat loss or building lean body mass). Here are some general guidelines adapted from the National Academy of Sports Medicine that can be worked into SMART goals if this is your desire. Try starting with one guideline at a time and adding another one each month until new habits are formed over the year resulting in a better healthier you!

*Make small decreases in food and beverage calories. Choose a food or drink to give up that you know is not good for you. (ex. soda or chips)

*Increase physical activity.

*Distribute protein, carbohydrates, and fat throughout the day and at each meal consuming less than 10% of calories from saturated fat.

*Choose more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. (Fiber and complex carbs aid in hunger control)

*Limit alcohol consumption.

*Try 4 to 6 smaller meals a day to help control hunger, minimize blood sugar fluctuations, and increase your energy.

*Avoid highly processed foods.

*Drink plenty of water (9-13 cups per day).

The combination of trying these modifications to your diet and increasing forms of exercise at the same time should start you on your way to reaching your health and fitness goals.

Enery Snack

One of my favorite snacks I make is a mixture of natural roasted almonds, dried cranberries, and a few chocolate chips to add extra enjoyment for the taste buds. You can use this snack as one of your smaller meals in a day or use it as an after workout snack. The snack is packed full of good nutrients for your body. Almonds provide protein and dietary fiber as well as calcium, iron, potassium, Vitamin E, and Magnesium. Dried cranberries are another great source of fiber and have disease-fighting antioxidants. The added sugar to dried cranberries can make them high-carb, so look for varieties that are sugar reduced. Use chocolate chips that are high in cacao…60% or the higher the better to provide your body with less sugar and more health benefits of antioxidants.

I like to roast my almonds by laying them flat on a cookie sheet and cooking them at 475 degrees for 7 minutes or until you hear one or two begin to pop. Let them cool and then mix them with low sugar dried cranberries and high cacao chocolate morsels…and ENJOY!

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31

May God bless your 2020 with much love, joy, peace and a year filled with health and wellness!

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

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!