Pursuing Wellness: Week 10 - More Commitment

Hello again! How are you doing in your Pursuing Wellness journey?

I have to admit, I'm glad mine is coming to an end so that I can launch into the future with what I've learned. I'm realizing as I approach the last two chapters of the First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ study, that Pursuing Wellness is a life-long commitment. I will have to continue to build on and implement what I've learned. That will definitely be a challenge!

I can also see how this program is entirely different from every other health or diet planned I've used. With the foundational points built around Scripture, it will be impossible to forget what I have learned. Each time I come across one of those significant memory verses, I will certainly be challenged to be live for Christ in my mind, soul, and especially body.

As a quick reminder, anyone can participate in Pursuing Wellness, beginning at any time, using the First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ book as a study guide and simply dropping by here to answer the accountability questions each week. Essentially, you have three options:

1. If you are starting today, go to this post - Introduction.
2. If you started on June 12th, continue with the next week listed on the sidebar, according to how many weeks you have already completed. Work your way through and leave a comment / link at that particular post.
3. If you are picking up from the original start date, then you will be moving along with me and should be up to Week 1o in the book. Our questions are contained below in this post.
   

Let's get going with our checking in:

Answer these questions in a comment below or in a post at your blog. (I will do the same, so that I am an active participant!) Be sure to leave a link!

1. Share one wellness success and failure from the week.
   
   
2. Share one wellness goal for the upcoming week.
   
   
3. Share one significant point learned from completing the Begin With Christ homework. (click here to order the book from Amazon ) If you'd like, you can share your thoughts based on these points raised:
   
   
   • Until this week, what has been your definition of commitment?
   • How does that line up with God's perspective?
   • How does having an accountability partner in this journey help you remain committed?
   • In what areas of your life or health have you faced opposition? Did you persevere? What was the end result?
   • What is your commitment to the Pursuing Wellness journey?
     
   
   
4. Share your weight loss, if you so choose.
   
   
5. Share one way others can specifically pray for you in your pursuit of wellness.

Don't forget to leave a comment below with your link or email address, so that we can send you a note of encouragement.*

Remember, this is simply an effort of sisters-in-Christ encouraging one another to be physically and spiritually healthy for the glory of God. I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to sharing the journey ahead!

Only because of Him,

Share with others...

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Click Here for All Pursuing Wellness Posts

You can also find a listing of each week of study on the sidebar!

Please join in at any time, and feel free to go at your own pace!

*Mister Linky will no longer be available at Extravagant Grace. Please leave a comment with a link to your blog/post. I'd LOVE it if you would also enable email, according to this great set of instructions, leave your email in the comment, or email your comment directly to me at extragrace at gmail dot com. I want to be in touch with you and the easiest way for me to do that is through email! THANKS!

Powering Up Adds Fuel to the Fire

Pastor and author Jack Graham offers a solid new addition to anyone's bookshelf in his latest title, Powering Up: The Fulfillment and Fruit of a God-fueled Life. Inspired by an ordinary experience with trying to get his TV to work, he walked away thinking, "What would it look like to power up our relationship with God when life hits a glitch and the juice seems to stop flowing?"

His answers to powering up our walk fill the pages of this book. It is an easy to read, reflective journey, peppered with illustrations from the real lives of real people and well as relevant Scripture passages. As I find true with male authors, it lacks flowery and poetic language but matter-of-factually delivers a spiritual inventory, seeking to challenge and equip the reader with tools needs to power up every aspect of their life.

Here's a quick word from the publishers:

Fatigue, inconsistency, and complacency can easily permeate our spiritual lives, especially when facing seasons of trial. We may become weary in maintaining a disciplined prayer life, become enslaved to hard-to-break habits, have difficulty controlling our thoughts, our mouths, and our appetites. The result is often a defeated life distanced from Christ.

In Powering Up, Jack Graham points to Christ and expounds God's Word to remind readers that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us. Graham also casts vision for the church, that she may display Christ to the world as God equips her to execute his work for his glory.

Graham delivers a book worth reading, presenting a wonderful personal challenge for a new believer through a seasoned Christian to live a life powered up by the work of Jesus.

Wordfilled Wednesday & 24 Verses: 1 Peter 4:10

and

Enjoy This Verse

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Welcome to Wordfilled Wednesday, which also happens to fall on the same day as my 24 Verses journey, so if you don't mind I get to use one verse for both! As always, feel free to use the graphic at your blog. It is my gift, because of His grace, to you!

The purpose of Wordfilled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father). You can do so by posting a verse and include a photo or graphic that communicates its message. If you have a short thought related to the verse, feel free to write about it, but with so many gals participating, I would like to encourage you to use Wordfilled Wednesday to be about God's Word alone! This way we can soak in God's Word first and foremost today!

I hope to visit your blog over the next week. However, with summer vacation upon us, family coming into town this weekend, my twins 4th birthday on Monday (blessing!), and my sweet spiritual-daughter returning (today) from a month long missions trip, I won't be at the computer much. Please know how much I appreciate you, even if I don't get to leave you a comment this week!

By His Grace,

Visit Amy at 160 Acre Woods next week
for Wordfilled Wednesday!

Leave your link below and enjoy visiting other WFW posts!

Stretch 4 Life DVD

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a DVD about stretching. Would it be entertaining, like an exercise video? Would it be informative?

I've had my fair share of injuries and physical therapy, so I know a bit about stretching. Like most women, however, I need an extra kick in the pants to keep on with the healthy routine. I was hoping that the brand new Stretch 4 Life DVD would offer inspiration and technique. Now that I have it in hand, I'm looking forward to sharing it with my mom, who is currently recovering from a neck injury.

This DVD isn't about jazzing up exercise or burning calories. It is an informative and instructive video on how to stretch every part of the body. Here's what the publisher's have to say about it:

Flexibility is an important aspect of overall health and well-being. The body has an enormous and amazing way of healing, and incorporating simple stretching exercises can be extremely helpful in speeding up recovery as well as in maintaining good physical fitness. Licensed massage therapist and educator Lori Walter has developed Stretch 4 Life, a proven and effective tool for people of any age and level of muscular fitness. By using this full body stretch routine, relaxation and flexibility can easily be achieved. The Stretch 4 Life DVD and manual are a wonderful resource for anyone who wishes to pursue enhanced health and well-being. This fabulous routine will also help reinforce healthy habits.

With this practical and easy to use program, Stretch 4 Life will enable anyone to achieve increased flexibility. Tailor any stretch sequence you need to aid in your journey to better health. Individuals can get started with only a few simple stretches to begin the healing process. Later, as the range of motion and strength improve, individuals can increase the specialized plan by simply incorporating additional stretches from the manual and DVD.

Lori Walter is a licensed massage therapist and stretch instructor. She has developed this Stretch 4 Life routine over her 13 years of work with the goal to help people heal and repair their structural integrity. For more information or to place and order, visit www.Stretch4Life.com.

If you are looking for a basic stretch program that is focused and comprehensive, Stretch 4 Life will meet your needs.

Because of Him,

Prayer Day!

It is the 29th, so let's pray for our communities,
the ministries we are involved in,
as well as our government and leaders.

Bruise those knees, girlfriends!

Pursuing Wellness: Week 9, Filled with the Spirit

Welcome back! I hope you are finding this adventure in Pursuing Wellness a rewarding, albeit difficult at times, journey! As a quick reminder, anyone can participate in Pursuing Wellness, beginning at any time, using the First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ book as a study guide or simply dropping by to answer the accountability questions each week. Essentially, you have three options:

1. If you are starting today, go to this post - Introduction.
2. If you started on June 12th, continue with the next week listed on the sidebar, according to how many weeks you have already completed. Work your way through and leave a comment / link at that particular post.
3. If you are picking up from the original start date, then you will be moving along with me and should be up to Week 9 in the book, and our questions are contained below in this post.
   

So Let's get going with our checking in:

This week's work was definitely a challenge for me, simply because I was sick with a flu-like bug for almost the whole week. Exercise and healthy eating was swallowed up by sleep and days of dry toast. As such, my answers to my questions will be somewhat vague, as my ability to process the information was a little blurred. Nonetheless, I want to press on, for your sake and mine.

Answer these questions in a comment below or in a post at your blog. (I will do the same, so that I am an active participant!) Be sure to leave a link!

1. Share one wellness success and failure from the week.
   
   
2. Share one wellness goal for the upcoming week.
   
   
3. Share one significant point learned from completing the Begin With Christ homework. (click here to order the book from Amazon ) If you'd like, you can share your thoughts based on these points raised:
   
   
   • What did you learn about where the Spirit takes up residence?
   • Did that fact change how you feel about caring for your body?
   • What does the Spirit do for us?
     
   • Would you be willing to share the sins of excess in your life?
   • What song of worship fills your mouth with praise fitting for today?
     
   
   
4. Share your weight loss, if you so choose.
   
   
5. Share one way others can specifically pray for you in your pursuit of wellness.

Don't forget to leave a comment below with your link or email address, so that we can send you a note of encouragement.*

Remember, this is simply an effort of sisters-in-Christ encouraging one another to be physically and spiritually healthy for the glory of God. I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to sharing the journey ahead!

Only because of Him,

Share with others...

<center><a href="http://www.extravagantgrace.net/2009/01/pursuing-wellness.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/extragrace/pursuingwellness.jpg" /></a><br/></center><br/>

Click Here for All Pursuing Wellness Posts

You can also find a listing of each week of study on the sidebar!

Please join in at any time, and feel free to go at your own pace!

*Mister Linky will no longer be available at Extravagant Grace. Please leave a comment with a link to your blog/post. I'd LOVE it if you would also enable email, according to this great set of instructions, leave your email in the comment, or email your comment directly to me at extragrace at gmail dot com. I want to be in touch with you and the easiest way for me to do that is through email! THANKS!

Give Them More of the Word

Crossway Publisher's has recently shared two wonderful books with me, which at first I thought were simply for kids but have since decided have an equal blessing for parents and teachers alike.

Let's Explore God's World, by Debby Anderson, is a classic children's book, with beautiful illustrations and simple to read language that wonderfully incorporates Scripture. It is certainly a modern-day lesson, full of tips on recycling, reusing, and environmental stewardship, but not in a political agenda sort of manner. Instead, my delighted three-year-olds soaked in the colorful illustrations while picking up a few new ways to appreciate and care for God's creation. I am delighted to add this book to our children's library.

The second book I looked at was A Family Guide to the Bible, by Christin Ditchfield. I have to admit, at first I thought this was going to be similar to a devotional book and found myself puzzled at how to use it. But on a close review, I realized this isn't necessarily a book to read to your middle school children, but rather a resource to get up to speed on the history and relevance of the Bible so that as a parent, teacher, Sunday school, or VBS assistant, you would have the answers at a moments notice.

The author explains what's in the Bible, where to find it, and how it all fits together. She provides an easy to comprehend format--including a summary of the history, authority, and message of the Bible, key verses and words, practical study tips, reading plans, maps, and much more.

With all Ditchfield included, this is a worthy resource to put on an accessible shelf and use through the years for spiritual growth and training.

By His Grace,

Wordfilled Wednesdays ~ Galatians 2:20-21

Sometimes, I like a simple design that has nothing but words. It forces me to concentrate on the message and not be distracted by the beautiful graphics. The Lord is impressing GRACE upon me again, and the power of His blood at work in my life. I pray you take an extra minute to consider the power of grace offered to you by our Lord Jesus Christ today, too.

Be sure to visit Amy at 160 Acre Woods to link up with you WFW post.

By His Grace,

A Brand New Father's Day

May I share something very personal with you? I hesitate to do so because some things ought to be private, especially in our relationship with the Lord. But I feel such an urging to share my heart today because it really does testify of God's extravagant grace. I am certain that what I have to share may challenge many of you to take the next step in your faith walk.

Many of you know that my father has not spoken to me in 18 months. It has been a difficult season of grieving, healing, grieving again, and most recently a profound healing. I've dreaded father's day even in the midst of celebrating my husband. This morning was markedly different. My heart overflowed with gratitude and love for my Heavenly Father like never before. I was tugged out of bed by the Holy Spirit earlier than any other morning in the past few weeks. I poured a hot cup of coffee, snuggled into my chair, and began to write in my prayer journal. The outpouring of my heart took me by surprise, and God's answer was life-transforming. I want to share it with you. You need this truth, too, on what should be the best day of the year -- celebrating our Heavenly Father.

6.21.09 Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! You are my only dad. Really. It is sad, but also good. I can turn to you and know that I am loved and provided for. That is more than most have in this world--more than they know or realize. You have been so good to me. You have brought me through trail and challenge. You have given me good things and hardships to develop my character, cause me to see my own depravity, and recognize my need for a Savior. Thank you, Lord. I am who I am because you are who you are. You made me. You know all the days of my life. You are proud of me, love me, and cherish me. Thank you, Abba. Thank you for making me feel like a beloved daughter today instead of as an orphan. You have not left me -- no way, no how. Thank you, DAD! Thank you! Please, Father, all that I ask of you today is for you to fill my father's heart with yourself and draw him near to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

I sat in silence for a short time, anticipating my Bible study homework. But I was distracted by the thoughts spewing around in my mind.

"You are a disappointment."

I knew, because of much pain and healing this past week that the Enemy was on me again. He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He is the father of lies, and wanted to rule my mind and rob my joy. So I did what I am learning to do. Pray! Again! I picked up my journal,

Lord, the lie that I hear over and over again is that I am my father's "greatest disappointment." I know this is not true. What he said is that he is disappointed in me. I know that he spoke from hurt, and I know it is about much more than me. Yet emotionally, I process all this as "You are a disappointment." This is the greatest lie Satan spins my way. What is the truth you have for me? Jesus what do you say about this? Speak, for your servant is listening.

I sat quietly. I begged again for truth from the Word. I sat longer. Jesus spoke.

You are not a disappointment and you already know that...because you are saved by GRACE through faith not by works. (Ephesians 2:8)

Your worth is in the cross. Is my death not enough for you? Is it not enough to prove my love for you through my death and resurrection? For proving that you are worth dying for. You are loved, because of who you are -- my daughter -- not because of what you do.

What a life-transforming truth that hit me straight in the heart, like never before. I prayed again and came to one more profound truth...

Thank you Jesus for speaking your truth to me. Help me to live in it today and always.

Disappointment is the earthly expression of a broken heart being put on another soul that can not heal it.

My sweet friends, you are not a disappoint to the Lord, either. You don't need to be more than you are. You worth is not wrapped up in what you do, what you accomplish, what label you carry, how many followers or hits you have, what role you play in any of your relationships. You are a child of the Most High God who sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He rose again and sits at the right hand of the Father. He is our righteousness. He is our worth. Is His life in exchange for yours not enough? Now live like you know it is!

By His Grace, always and only,

Worship the Lord, yield yourself to His truth!

God's Seal

I wasn't quite sure what to expect at a "Seal Release," as I am not a huge marine animal activist nor do I pay any attention to animal rescues. I think my sensitive nature demands a disconnect when it comes to animals because I get so easily attached and emotionally drained. (I struggle with this tendency with people, too!) But when my eldest daughter asked to go to see a rescued seal release, having learned about it through a visit to the local aquarium, it was hard to turn her down. It was free, not to far away, and something educational. I had no idea there would also be a spiritual component to the whole experience. Let me show you, as pictures tell a thousand words.

Meet Lucifer. Yes, a terrible name for a seal, but apparently it describes his personality. He was brought down to the beach in a dog crate, which was opened on the sand about 15 feet from the water. Apparently gray seals can be a bit aggressive as well as resistant to being returned to their natural environment. Instead of heading to the water, they often head toward the onlookers or run down the beach. The red boards are meant for protection.

Lucifer wasn't at all keen about coming out of the crate. He cowered long enough to make me wonder if we'd be there through lunch and dinner. I knew how he felt. I often want to stay in the familiarity of captivity rather than experience the freedom of the unknown.

Slowly, he made his way fully out of the crate, looking around at the two dozen spectators. We were all very excited, until Lucifer turned completely around, heading right back to his crate. The wise handler already had it shut. She had done this thing before and was well prepared for Lucifer to return to the comforts of his recent home.

Returning was not an option. He caught on quick, turned back around, weaved back and forth on the beach, before finally entering the water. The irony is he kept looking back. It reminded me of Lot's wife, although Lucifer wasn't turned to a pillar of salt. You should have seen the look in his eye. They pierced my heart. What a lost soul!

How often I want to look back, head into the comforts of my familiar past, instead of pressing forward toward the great wide open experience before me. For Lucifer the seal, the confines of a crate felt more secure than the freedom of an ocean. But his handlers knew his life was destined for the ocean blue, like my Handler knows my life is created to serve set free in Christ, not held captive by my past. I am marked by God's seal, the blood of Christ. With that comes a future of freedom and purpose, not captivity.

Are you sealed by God? Are you living like that? Or are you still sticking close to the crate of captivity and sin?

God's timing is always perfect. This morning, I received this very appropriately named devotional from Anne Graham Lotz. Enjoy!

God's Seal
by Anne Graham Lotz

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:9, NKJV

In the Garden of Eden, God had been with man.
In the Old Testament, God had appeared to man.
In the Tabernacle, God had dwelt among men.
In the history of Israel, God had spoken through man.
In the Gospels, God was visible as Man.
But at Pentecost, God became available to dwell in man!

Until that Pentecost two thousand years ago, people were saved by faith in Jesus Christ, even though they didn't know His Name. Their faith was demonstrated by the obedient sacrifices they made at the temple as they symbolically looked forward to the cross. Since Pentecost, we are still saved by faith in Jesus Christ. But our faith looks back to His sacrifice, which has already been made on our behalf at the cross. Additionally, we now have the experience of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who seals our "rebirth," or "conversion." Do you bear God's "Seal" of authentic conversion?

from the AnGeL Ministries Website
For more about The Joy of My Heart

By His Grace,