Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Diane Stephenson of My Healthy Living blog
Plants stop growing, and we toss them in the garbage. If children don't grow properly, we seek medical help, fearing the cause. When a puppy is smaller than the rest of the litter, we call it the 'runt'. Often no one wants the runt.
We were created to grow. We need to eat the right kind of food, drink lots of pure water, breathe clean air and get proper rest. We also need regular exercise. When we are young, our parents see to these things, but when we grow older, we take on that responsibility for ourselves. Or not! Why do I speak of physically growing in adulthood? Our cells are continually dying and being renewed, a different type of growth yet essential.
Spiritually we must grow. Before we experience salvation we are dead in our sin. When we are born again, we begin to grow. We need the right food--the Word of God. We need good 'air'--the atmosphere of heaven. The Living Water, Jesus, is indispensable to healthy growth. And we need to rest in the Lord, worry-free. It’s imperative to consistently exercise our faith. All these contribute to increased spiritual stature.
Often we are unaware of the growing process. It's only as we look back that we see where we were and how far we have come. I have traveled a long road over the nearly forty years I have been a Christian, through valleys, over mountaintops, and sometimes in dark pits. I have known periods without growth as well as growth spurts. There have been long periods of slow, continual growth. Through it all, I see how much I have grown in the Lord. I know Him more intimately, and am so thankful that God does not leave us alone. He knows our hearts, and when we reach out to Him, even in our ignorance and in our immaturity, He is there to take us forward.
He has a destiny planned for each one of us. Are we willing to grow into the person He created us to be? I may still be far from the goal, but I have positioned myself to grow in the knowledge of the Lord through the study of His Word, in relationship with Him through prayer and worship, and in the ministry and gifts He has given to me by doing what I have been called to do. I wholeheartedly desire to grow in grace. How about you?
**
Visit Diane’s blog, My Healthy Living, where you can learn general information about health, information about her business and regular spiritual messages interspersed with photos to add a little beauty.
Life's Treadmill by Belinda Burston
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Belinda Burston of Whatever He Says blog
Until lately, I was on a treadmill that had nothing to do with fitness and I didn’t know how to get off. My lifestyle was hardly an inspirational model for others.
I was overwhelmed by my busy life. I told myself that soon things would settle down, but weeks went by and the pace didn’t let up. It didn’t occur to me that I was responsible for any of this.
My home and habits were in bad shape:
· I was not getting sufficient rest
· My finances were two months behind
· Every storage space in our home bore testimony to the “make room by pushing and piling,” philosophy, including the fridge and I hated the disorder
· I wasn’t taking time to plan and prepare healthy meals
· I ate junk food late at night for energy
· I told myself I didn’t have the luxury of time for exercise
Then a sudden health crisis resulted in emergency surgery and a recovery time of several weeks. Some major plans had to be cancelled. I had no choice but to stop completely.
I consider this crisis as a gift from God. It was an opportunity to stop the insanity. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to life as I had been living it. Slowly, I regained my sense of peace and my soul and spirit healed along with my body.
A quote from Peter Scazzero, in his devotional book, The Daily Office (p.15), summed up the essence of my problem:
“It was a favourite theme of C.S. Lewis that only lazy people work hard. By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding, and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for you.”
My lessons and commitments:
1. I have a finite store of energy that must be respected and stewarded. I will no longer push myself beyond healthy limits
2. I choose to get adequate sleep and relaxation in order to replenish my energy
3. I am responsible for the state of my schedule; for what I say yes to and take on. I will grit my teeth and say no. Even to good things that I would love to do, if there is no spare room in my schedule
4. We are blessed with an abundance of healthy food in Canada and I will invest time in planning and preparing meals that nourish my body and keep it strong for life
5. Exercise is energizing and important to maintain fitness for the long haul. I will incorporate it several times into every week—my preference is walking our family dog or my Leslie Sansome exercise DVD, Walk Away the Pounds
**
Belinda is a manager in the field of Developmental Services. She is a member of The Word Guild and of the Writers Nest writing group, and she blogs at http://www.whateverhesays.blogspot.com/
Her favourite verse is Hebrews 12:12 & 13:
So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall, but will become strong.
Until lately, I was on a treadmill that had nothing to do with fitness and I didn’t know how to get off. My lifestyle was hardly an inspirational model for others.
I was overwhelmed by my busy life. I told myself that soon things would settle down, but weeks went by and the pace didn’t let up. It didn’t occur to me that I was responsible for any of this.
My home and habits were in bad shape:
· I was not getting sufficient rest
· My finances were two months behind
· Every storage space in our home bore testimony to the “make room by pushing and piling,” philosophy, including the fridge and I hated the disorder
· I wasn’t taking time to plan and prepare healthy meals
· I ate junk food late at night for energy
· I told myself I didn’t have the luxury of time for exercise
Then a sudden health crisis resulted in emergency surgery and a recovery time of several weeks. Some major plans had to be cancelled. I had no choice but to stop completely.
I consider this crisis as a gift from God. It was an opportunity to stop the insanity. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to life as I had been living it. Slowly, I regained my sense of peace and my soul and spirit healed along with my body.
A quote from Peter Scazzero, in his devotional book, The Daily Office (p.15), summed up the essence of my problem:
“It was a favourite theme of C.S. Lewis that only lazy people work hard. By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding, and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for you.”
My lessons and commitments:
1. I have a finite store of energy that must be respected and stewarded. I will no longer push myself beyond healthy limits
2. I choose to get adequate sleep and relaxation in order to replenish my energy
3. I am responsible for the state of my schedule; for what I say yes to and take on. I will grit my teeth and say no. Even to good things that I would love to do, if there is no spare room in my schedule
4. We are blessed with an abundance of healthy food in Canada and I will invest time in planning and preparing meals that nourish my body and keep it strong for life
5. Exercise is energizing and important to maintain fitness for the long haul. I will incorporate it several times into every week—my preference is walking our family dog or my Leslie Sansome exercise DVD, Walk Away the Pounds
**
Belinda is a manager in the field of Developmental Services. She is a member of The Word Guild and of the Writers Nest writing group, and she blogs at http://www.whateverhesays.blogspot.com/
Her favourite verse is Hebrews 12:12 & 13:
So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall, but will become strong.
Superior Scribblers Award
Thanks to Susan at Notes from Innisfree for awarding Fit for Faith the Superior Scribblers Award
The blog award rules are as follows:
Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to visit and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor! Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
The 5 bloggy friends that I'm passing this award to (in no particular order) are:
Midlife Odyssey - A woman’s journey through midlife – the challenges, the tears and the joy. Let’s journey together by Denise Rumble
Future Tense - News, ideas and thoughts about the rapidly-changing writing, publishing and retailing industry... and about Christian publishing in Canada in particular.
In God’s Image – exploring the intersection of faith and fitness by Kate Wicker and Cathy Adamkiewicz
One Day at a Time by Maureen Breakspear
To Love, Honor and Vacuum by Sheila Wray Gregoire
Why not visit these blogger friends and leave a note to congratulate them on receiving the Superior Scribblers Award!
Wii Fit by Fern Boldt
Our summer series of articles from guest bloggers continues with Fern Boldt
Wii Fit
Who would have thought one incident could have made such an impact on my life?
That’s what happened this past Christmas when our son and his family came for a visit toting a Nintendo Wii Fit. It was an instant success at our house. My husband and I soon purchased our own and started bowling after dinner. Almost every morning for the past five months I’ve weighed in, found out my Wii Fit age for that day and done some aerobics. We made little “Miis” to represent most of our family and some friends. When I do the ten-minute run around an imaginary island, I recognize my kids, grandkids and friends running along with me. I greet them and keep on running.
After running in place in the house for several weeks, I thought to myself, “Why couldn’t I do this outside?” Never mind the fact that I’ve never run more than a few feet before and am soon to start collecting an old age pension! Well, I tried it. I tucked my kitchen timer in my pocket and set it for ten minutes. I ran five minutes away from home and five minutes back with a lot of huffing and puffing, and some walking in between.
Next, I ran ten minutes and took a long walk after. Then I got the brilliant idea of running an entire 2 km. Now I do it three times a week. I look forward to the mornings when I run. It gets easier and easier.
The results of all this? I’ve lost 15 lbs. since January and feel better than I have in a long time.
If you don’t have the Wii Fit, try it. The grandkids play on it all Sunday afternoon. Great competition and great fun!
**
Visit Fern at her blog
Wii Fit
Who would have thought one incident could have made such an impact on my life?
That’s what happened this past Christmas when our son and his family came for a visit toting a Nintendo Wii Fit. It was an instant success at our house. My husband and I soon purchased our own and started bowling after dinner. Almost every morning for the past five months I’ve weighed in, found out my Wii Fit age for that day and done some aerobics. We made little “Miis” to represent most of our family and some friends. When I do the ten-minute run around an imaginary island, I recognize my kids, grandkids and friends running along with me. I greet them and keep on running.
After running in place in the house for several weeks, I thought to myself, “Why couldn’t I do this outside?” Never mind the fact that I’ve never run more than a few feet before and am soon to start collecting an old age pension! Well, I tried it. I tucked my kitchen timer in my pocket and set it for ten minutes. I ran five minutes away from home and five minutes back with a lot of huffing and puffing, and some walking in between.
Next, I ran ten minutes and took a long walk after. Then I got the brilliant idea of running an entire 2 km. Now I do it three times a week. I look forward to the mornings when I run. It gets easier and easier.
The results of all this? I’ve lost 15 lbs. since January and feel better than I have in a long time.
If you don’t have the Wii Fit, try it. The grandkids play on it all Sunday afternoon. Great competition and great fun!
**
Visit Fern at her blog
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