Nov
30
2009
These are the positive affirmations I’ve tweeted on Twitter during the last 50 days. If you’re using Twitter and would like to receive them daily, you might want to follow me on Twitter.
Read my blog post on how to use Bible scriptures to make affirmations in your own life.
These affirmations are truth for those who believe in the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross. As you read these, I urge you to speak them as truth in your own life.
Affirmations Based on Scripture
God’s unfailing love for me never ends. Lamentations 3:22
The God of hope fills me with joy and peace as I trust in Him. Romans 15:13
God’s power enables me to live a healthy lifestyle. 1 Corinthians 4:20
God does not ignore my prayers or withhold his unfailing love from me. Psalm 66:20
As I turn from sin towards God I experience wonderful times of refreshment. Acts 3:19-20
God gives me rest when I’m weary and joy when I’m sad. Jeremiah 31:25
My cheerful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22
The God of Israel gives me power and strength. Psalm 68:35
Read more of this article »
Nov
25
2009
Lifestyle Factors and Your Health
By some estimates, approximately 40% of all deaths in the United States are premature (at least 900,000 deaths annually) and are due to unhealthy lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, misuse of alcohol and drugs, and accidents. Other contributors to early death include genetic predisposition (30%), social circumstances (15%), poor access to quality health care (10 percent), and environmental exposures (5%). (David Anderson, Ph.D., StayWell Health Management)
So more than any other factor, it’s our lifestyle that causes us to be unhealthy. Changing old unhealthy habits is not easy but it’s essential if we want to become healthier and live a better quality of life.
God’s Power is Available to You
“God’s way is … an empowered life.” 1 Corinthians 4:20 – The Message
God wants to assist us in living a healthy life and He has given those who believe in Jesus a helper – the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17) Just one of many blessings we receive as followers of Christ is that we have God’s power in us to live the kind of life that He wants us to live and this includes the ability to make desired lifestyle changes.
The Bible tells us that the same mighty power that raised Christ from his grave is available to us who believe in Jesus. (Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 1:19-20)
One key to being empowered by God’s Spirit is to recognize that in our own strength we can not do what we can in God’s strength and power. We must recognize this and depend on the supernatural power of God to work in us. We must submit and surrender to God and embrace the spiritual truth that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Your Body is God’s Temple
Because God’s Holy Spirit lives in those of us who have accepted Jesus into our hearts, our bodies are His temple ( 1 Corinthians 3:16) Therefore, we have a responsibility to care for His temple. It’s an awesome thing that God’s Spirit in us empowers us to live in such a way that we can care for His temple as a matter of love and worship to God. One beneficial by-product is that by appropriating God’s power, we can live a lifestyle conducive to good health.
My Prayer for You
Like the Apostle Paul, I pray that the “eyes of your heart” might be open and that you are able to understand and appropriate the power that is available to you to make any lifestyle changes you might want to make….. all for the glory of God! ( Ephesians 1:18 and Ephesians 3:14-21)
Questions to Reflect On
Are you trying to make lifestyle changes in your own strength?
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, do you believe God’s Holy Spirit lives in you?
Do you embrace the truth that the same power that raised Jesus from his grave is available to help you in making changes in your life?
Resources Related to God’s Power & Healthy Lifestyles
Article – Surrender – A Spiritual Exercise For a Healthier Life
Website – Spiritual Help: Steps to Peace with God
To assist in making lifestyle changes - Wellness Coaching
Other blog posts about God’s power
Nov
23
2009
I’ve started reading a new book, Prescribing Faith – Medicine, Media, and Religion in American Culture by Claire Hoertz Badaracco. Today I read the chapter titled Belief and Wellness: Medical Pluralism and Healing.
This chapter is one of the most concise writings I have read that explains the mind-body connection from a medical or scientific perspective. Among other topics, Badaracco discusses the following in the context of health and healing:
- The stress and relaxation responses
- Prayer, meditation and contemplation
- Mindfulness
- Habits of thinking
- Negative emotions – the anxiety pandemic
- Allostatic load
- Memories and remembered wellness
- Suffering
- Neurogenesis
- The role of physicians and practitioners
- Personal transformation
- Media’s impact
As I read this chapter, I was not surprised to read that most all of the principles she mentioned about the findings of many researchers in this field of religion/spirituality and health are also principles that the writers of the Bible captured thousands of years ago. These principles or spiritual truths were provided to us by our Creator, God, and science is beginning to get a handle on them – to understand them from a medical perspective. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Our role as believers in Christ or as seekers of the truth, is to believe and understand the truth that is recorded in the Bible… and then to apply it to our life… in the way we behave and the way we think.
More and more it is clear to me that our purpose in life is to be in a right relationship with God – to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – and to love and serve others with the special gifts He has given us. (Mark 12:30-31) When we do this, God is glorified. This is our purpose for being on this earth.
As we practice the principles found in the Bible – as we obey God out of love (John 14:15,23), one of the outcomes, in general, is a high quality of life including good health. (John 10:10) This is how God designed things to work. Good health and well being should not be the motivator for practicing the Christian faith, but it’s often an outcome of putting into practice God’s principles that He’s provided us with in the Bible.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Badaracco’s book and to understand the impact that media, and in fact my writings, might have on people’s understanding and impression about the religion/spirituality-health link.
More Resources on the Spirituality/Religion-Health Link
Article - Spirituality and Your Health – Understanding the Connection
Article – Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind
Article – His Instruction Manual … Our Guidebook for Healthy Living
Poster Presentation – The Spirituality-Health Connection: Why It Exists A Christian perspective on this link supported by 194 scripture passages and 41 key principles.
Web Page – How God Designed Us
Web Page – Stress, Your Health and Faith
Nov
20
2009
Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report that reflects obesity and diabetes rates by counties. The estimates, in this week′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are the first to provide county–level snapshots of obesity across the United States.
Wide sections of the Southeast, Appalachia, and some tribal lands in the West and Northern Plains have the nation′s highest rates of obesity and diabetes.
For data on obesity and diabetes in your county see this link.
Personal Wellness Coaching
If you personally struggle with your weight and it’s affecting your health, I invite you to consider a complimentary wellness coaching session with me to explore whether this service might be beneficial for you. Read how my wellness coaching can help you make lifestyle changes.
Other Resources on Obesity
Blog posts on obesity
Scripture listing for weight loss and weight management
Article – Spiritual Exercises to Help You Know God and Manage Your Weight
Article – Overweight? Find Freedom From Overeating
Nov
17
2009
On the 7th of November I married my sweetheart, Janice LaVore. Our ceremony was filled with God’s presence and love and we’re so happy that most of our family and a few close friends were able to join us.
As I mentioned in my post last week, this ministry would not be what it is without the support and encouragement from Janice. I am truly a blessed man to have her as my wife.
A honeymoon week on Grand Cayman Island was a terrific way to unwind, rest, relax and to begin this new chapter of our lives. I’ll share just a few photos that capture the fun and enjoyment of our first week together.
Thanks for your prayers and well-wishes.
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me and my bride
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after the reception
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swimming with stingrays
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life is good!
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Janice with a hand-picked bouquet
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at sunrise on our last day
Nov
07
2009
I’ve prepared this post in advance and scheduled it to be published automatically so that I can share some exciting news.
At this hour, I’m standing at the altar of my church being wed to my best friend, soul mate and sweetheart, Janice. Spiritually, she is my crown.(Proverbs 12:4)
This ministry would not be what it is without the support and encouragement Janice has given me over the last three years and I would not be the man I am today without her in my life. I am truly a blessed man to have her in my life and now as my wife.
We will be enjoying the beauty and peace of the Caribbean while we spend a week on Grand Cayman Island….. and perhaps I’ll post a picture or two after we return.
Have a terrific week!
Nov
06
2009
Last week I made a blog entry on Beliefs About God. During my personal quiet time today I read Charles Stanley’s In Touch Magazine devotional titled Know What You Believe, based on 2 Timothy 1:12-14. Because this devotional speaks directly to what I wrote about on the 31st, I thought it would be helpful to include it here for your reading in it’s entirety:
All people have a belief system, whether they realize it or not. Even those who claim there is no God have faith that He does not exist. What we believe affects every area of our lives and shapes every decision we make, yet few of us take the time to really think about what we accept as true.
All belief systems have a foundation. Some people base their convictions on what fits their lifestyle, reasoning, and desires. However, Jesus calls His followers to adapt life to their faith in Him and the authority of His Word.
Anytime we add other philosophies or ideas to Scripture or pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe, we create our own version of faith based on personal reasoning. God’s Word is the only true and reliable foundation for belief, because it contains the recorded thoughts of an eternal, all-knowing God. All other concepts must be measured against it to determine their validity.
Knowing what the Bible says is essential for developing a sound system of beliefs founded on the truth and wisdom of God. This world will offer you a variety of philosophies which sound good but are laced with lies. A faith anchored in the Scriptures is your protection against deception.
Each time you face a problem or decision, search for the answer in Scripture. Begin your day by reading the Word and asking God to help you understand what He is saying. He loves communicating with you, and as you spend time with Him, He’ll open your mind to know His thoughts.
I also read a short piece by Oswald Chambers in His Utmost for His Highest devotional that was titled Intimate Theology based on John 11:26. He wrote about the importance of our most intimate personal beliefs.
Because our beliefs serve as the basis for our behavior, and our behaviors largely determine our health and well-being it’s critical that we know what we believe and why we have those respective beliefs.
Thinking about this topic caused me to consider the following question I will challenge you to reflect on.
Questions to Reflect On:
What is your single most important personal belief that has the most significant impact on how you live your life and effects your health? Is there a supporting scripture that this belief is based on?
Additional Resources:
Wellness Devotional – Beliefs About God
Wellness Coaching to Help Change Unhealthy Behavior
My Beliefs and the Basis for The Faith and Health Connection Ministry
Nov
03
2009
When I first saw this painting, it really got my attention… especially the nature of the corpse on the ground. My heart sank for a moment as I reflected on the souls of people that have not experienced God’s grace as a result of accepting his love. This picture inspired this blog post.
A War for Our Souls
There is a war going on for the souls of so many, many people. The evil one, or Satan, represented by a demon in the picture above, wants us all to spend eternity in hell and he wants our life on this earth to be a ‘living hell.’ God, on the other hand, represented by the angel, wants us all to live a full and rewarding life and to be with him in heaven for eternity after we leave this earth. In the painting, God is watching over the battle that is taking place daily in our lives.
This is a life-long, prolonged war that we are in with the devil, not a short-term battle like those fought between opposing forces of two armies that last a period of hours or several days.
Be assured that Satan is roaming around throughout our entire lifetime looking to take us down. Scripture tells us that ‘our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8) We are also told that he deceives and leads the whole world astray in Revelation 12:9.
If we get caught up in listening to and believing the lies of Satan, it can take away the identity that God wants us to have in his Son, Jesus. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are a new person when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Satan wants us to believe otherwise. He wants us to develop thinking patterns that reinforce his lies and to have low self esteem that results from those lies.
How to Engage in the War
The good thing is that the Bible instructs us on methods to engage in the war with Satan. One of 18 ‘Spiritual Exercises’ I’ve identified is that of Thinking Spiritual Thoughts. The Apostle Paul provides us guidance about what our thinking ought to be like on a daily basis.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
We are told in Ephesians 6:14 to “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth.” When we put on the belt of truth we are reminding ourselves of the truths of God found in the Holy Bible. The more we can fix our minds on these truths, day in and day out, the more we will be successful in repelling the lies that Satan sends our way.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12
Our Reward – Full Salvation
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls…. therefore, prepare your minds for action.” (my italics) 1 Peter 1:8-9, 13
God wants you and me to not only live eternally with him but to experience a full and complete life when we are are this side of heaven!
To receive God’s full salvation… the full and complete wholeness that he wants you to experience, including a life of living well, you must guard against the lies of Satan and think on the truths found in God’s Word – the Holy Bible.
Questions to Reflect Upon:
Do you make a practice of monitoring your thinking patterns and are they in line with God’s guidance found in Philippians 4:8
Do you know what God says about you as his child and as a new creation once you’ve received his love by accepting Jesus as your Savior?
Where is your soul headed after you die on earth?
Additional Reading on the War for Our Souls
Article – Thinking Spiritual Thoughts – Renewing Your Mind
Read more about The Armor of God.
Blog Post – The Value of Speaking Positive Affirmations
An Invitation to Join God’s Family
Nov
03
2009
I wanted to pass along information about an online magazine that many of you might want to know about.
The Fit Christian is published bi-monthly by His Work Christian Publishing out of Ketchikan, Alaska. There are typically articles on exercising, healthy recipes, gardening and a spotlight on a Christian athlete. You can elect to receive the magazine free by email.
Enjoy!
