Tag: #prayer

The Fun Side of God

“Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Read Time 5 Minutes

Ready, Set, Go, And STOP! At the beginning of this year, I wrote a blog post called, “2021…Ready, Set, Go”. Shortly after, I stopped writing. I started off the year inspired to live a victorious 2021 through Christ who strengthens me no matter what the year held. Now it is September. How am I doing?

At times I feel fatigued with life and the world around me. I stopped writing for a variety of reasons including the drain of everything surrounding the pandemic, our country, and the world. I really began to feel that I wasn’t living the victorious way that I had hoped. Recently, I realized that victories can be small and can be daily! Just overcoming obstacles on a given day by grabbing God’s hand and ending the day at peace is a victory. Waking in the morning after a hard day before and feeling God’s new mercies available to me is a victory!

Then, just a couple of weeks ago, right in the middle of a continuing pandemic, I had the opportunity to visit Juneau, Alaska. Yes, I had a chance for recreation and refreshment in the form of a visit to “The Last Frontier” State! In the midst of chaotic times and a very weary country (Covid-19 issues, divisiveness through media and politics, controversies, and confusion), I played! And, God reminded me that in addition to Him being All-powerful, Almighty, and many other perfect characteristics, He has a fun side! This is the multifaceted side of God that creates, that wants to delight us, and that wants to shower gifts on us! He certainly did all of that for me in Alaska!

He is a fun Father! As a parent, I wanted to create delightful experiences for my daughter as she grew up. It was a joy to watch her have fun in every new adventure or every new activity that I provided for her pleasure and growth. Just think how much more God wants to shower us with amusement and happy experiences as our Heavenly Father. He loves us and loves to give us good gifts! He is the ultimate Creator. Creating is fun, and God wants us to enjoy his majestic creations. It was evident to me that God must have been having great gratification being the Creator when I saw the amazing environment of Alaska. When I spied for the first time a sparkling blue glacier calving, I thought to myself, God must have had fun creating the scene that I was viewing! I also felt that He must be feeling great joy that I was happily immersed in His beautiful creation, for I am His daughter, a daughter of the one true King!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

My experience went beyond just being awakened to God’s fun side. It also reminded me of what a personal God He is to each one of us. He showed me that the fun He was allowing me to experience was a very personal gift from Him to me. Each daily adventure seemed to be perfectly timed. I encountered sunshine, rain, misty low clouds, and mild temperatures…all which seemed unmistakably to work well with each activity. Also, as cruise ships disembarked many tourists to flood the area, I somehow began or ended my excursions around the cruise ship crowds without any awareness of their schedule. Thus, I had a very quiet and peaceful time as well as private moments in Alaska.

On top of all of that, I received answered prayer! My favorite part of God’s creation is His animals. I prayed that I would have animal encounters and I especially wanted to see a bear. Oh!!! He must have been having such a wonderful time watching me play! God provided multiple humpback whale sightings. One such sighting was in a very secluded moment when I had just stepped out of the car to take in the views of Auke Bay. I first heard the distinctive sound of blow and then turned to look. There were 2 humpbacks feeding very near the shore…I believe, a mother and her calf! He also allowed me to see four mountain goats feeding and resting on the steep mountainside while on a boat tour. On that boat ride while I was taking a picture of the mountain goats, a Pacific white-sided Dolphin leaped 2 times right by the side of the boat! The glistening two-toned creature is still vivid in my mind. Seals were added to my list of animal sightings as I witnessed them lounging on the sea ice.

And finally, on the last morning in Alaska, I saw my bear! Not in the wild on a hike, but very boldly strolling down the sidewalk in front of gift shops! He seemed to be doing his own souvenir shopping and then turned a corner and climbed over a fence before disappearing. Once again, there were very few people around. I know God was delighting in my delight in that moment as he answered my prayer!

My reflection on this Alaskan adventure includes more than the reminder that God is fun. More importantly than that is the fact that the same God who created mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and amazing animals is not only personal, He lives in me! My heart is His home. In that reality, I can face everyday in victory…in confidence, and even in joyful playfulness!

Also, as I watched the antics of the animals, it struck me that they were so relaxed in a potentially dangerous and harsh environment around them. They were not worried about what the next day would bring. The seals were totally at ease as the glacier calved giving them a ride on the sea ice. Their behavior seemed to amplify the fun of life as they bobbed in the wavy water as though they were in the lazy river at a water park.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  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?” Matthew 6:25-26

So… Ready, Set, Go! Take some time to recreate! Have some fun! God is in control!

“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

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!