Spiritual

The Bible tells us there is a battle raging all around us. It is a spiritual battle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of darkness, a battle that has a genuine impact on our lives today and a battle that our lives impact in a very real way. War is waging in the spiritual realm, with consequences in eternity and here on earth. And whether we realize it or not, every one of us is involved. We’re all warriors on one side or the other. This battle is fought on different fronts. It takes various forms. We experience it on different levels, in different seasons of our lives. For many of us, the fight for health and wellness is where we’re most aware of it. It’s a battle worth fighting because the stakes are high. The enemy of our souls knows that if he can keep us feeling sick

It started as soon as Rob left for the hospital. A dear saint from our church was hauled away by EMS for respiratory distress, and Rob was on his way. I started with the leftover meatloaf. Then, crackers and brie. Then, half a Hershey bar, bowl of Blue Bell ice cream, the other half of the Hershey bar, and finally, the fuzzy remains of a box Hot Tamales candies left here after Christmas. As Gari Meacham would say, “What the blaze!” What the blaze is right. Something deep in my soul got scared. I certainly was not hungry. But, I needed reassurance. I needed quick comfort. I needed company. I needed reassurance that my dear friend would be okay. As a pastor’s wife, I know you should not have favorites in church, but this man is everyone’s favorite! I felt so afraid that I would not be able to bear

The week between Christmas and New Year’s, I traditionally set aside time for “reflection and projection.”  I spend this time reflecting on the previous year and considering and project my goals for the coming year. Practicing biblical wellness encourages setting goals in every area of your life–body, soul, mind, and spirit. (Mark 12:30-31) You may have done the same. How are you doing with your goals? An essential part of goal keeping is writing out your goals and sharing those goals – here goes! My Goals for 2021 MY BODY Working closely with my rheumatologist, he encourages me to keep my weight on the lower end of my healthy weight range for joint health. That means I have some work to do. It is also important that I keep my body strong by developing and maintaining my muscle mass and bone density. My plan: Eat to fuel my body. Track

I just returned from spending five days with my sister. On September 30, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a definite wake up call for her. When she found the lump, she knew in her spirit that it was more than just a cyst.  This discovery started her on a much-needed path toward health and wellness. She immediately started making changes. Her eating became healthier by cutting out sugar and processed food and choosing food in the simplest form.  She also increased her exercise by hiking and incorporating hills to increase cardio and stamina. As a result of these changes, she lost almost 25 pounds from the time of diagnosis to the date of surgery (5 weeks). The benefits of these simple changes resulted in excellent blood work and much-needed strength and stamina for post-surgery recovery. After a double mastectomy, there is diminished strength in the upper body

What is one word that sets First Place for Health apart from other wellness and weight-loss programs? In a recent meeting with First Place for Health leaders, I asked that very question. The answers were all really good: community, accountability, freedom, non-judgmental, balance, faith, truth, and love. All of these words are correct but can be wrapped in two other words: Jesus Christ. FP4H is a Christ-centered wellness program. Jesus said it himself, “the son of man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”  And wow, are we lost. Lost in hopelessness, lost in guilt and shame, and lost in defeat. We cannot find our way to a healthy lifestyle, much more to an abundant life!   Through Christ, we have strength, peace, rest, wisdom, comfort, healing, joy, forgiveness, and POWER! Because in Christ:   ·      We can choose to live free from shame and guilt, even

Feeling a bit glum these days? It feels like COVID 19 affects every part of our person, body, soul, mind and spirit! I’m coming up with my personal checklist to make sure I am not falling into a dangerous mind set. So dangerous that I revert back to old habits like thinking food will get me out of the pit! Check out these ideas: Go outside – Studies show stepping outside into the sunshine can have a positive affect of your mood. Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin. You get it naturally when directly exposed to the sun. It has lots of benefits like aiding in absorption of calcium, boosting your immune systems, and helping grown healthy bones and teeth. Stretch – Stand up and touch your toes. I have to do this several times a to keep my hamstrings from tightening up and keeping my artificial

I remember the day I knew I was different. Actually, my mother pointed it out to me with the comment, “What’s wrong with you?” Growing up with four sisters, I could be quite selfish with my stuff. I started working my first job at 14 and had my own money to buy clothes. Of course, my sisters borrowed my stuff all the time and would “ruin” it somehow. But not really. I was just selfish. After I came to Christ the fall of my senior year in high school, the transformation miracle started. My mom noticed that I no longer cared if my sisters took my stuff.  And thus the comment, “What’s wrong with you?” It was just her way. It really would have been more accurate to say, “What’s right with you?”  What the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is an absolute truth. In Christ, we are new