Physical Health

2010-01-04T23:16:00.005-05:00

1. Spiritual Health
a. I Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
b. Why do we want to be physically healthy? Do we want to look like the people in the magazines, do we want people to comment on how great we look or do we want to honor God’s temple and glorify Him with our bodies?
c. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
d. If we want to be physically healthy, we have got to be spiritually healthy and let the Lord control our bodies! Have you ever thought about giving God the glory in your eating habits, sleeping habits, or exercising habits?

Let’s see what God says will bring us good health…

“Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

1. Trusting God, surrendering to Him, walking in humility, fearing the Lord and shunning evil will make us healthy!

“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22

2. Paying attention to God’s word and walking in obedience makes us healthy.

“A cheerful look brings you to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30

3. Having a cheerful attitude and giving encouragement gives health. Just a smile can change a person’s whole countenance.

2. So we have seen that God wants us to be healthy. He created us in His image and He wants us to glorify Him with our bodies. We need to be healthy beings. Does that mean that we need to be paper thin or look a certain way? Absolutely NOT!! Do not confuse the world’s definition of “healthy” with God’s! Healthy does not equal thin!!

Focusing on Him, let’s look at six essentials for healthy living…

A. Develop a relationship with God
We’ve covered this already so now we need some practical application…time with the Lord every day reading and thinking about His word AND time in prayer with Him—speaking AND listening. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

B. Eat a healthy breakfast
1. You have always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day right? Well, how many of us skip it on a regular basis because we are too busy trying to get the kids out the door or rush to our “to do” list?
2. We NEED breakfast…and we need it to be healthy!!
3. Breakfast is when our body refuels its glucose (blood sugar). Glucose is needed for our brain and is our body’s main energy source. It also helps fuel the muscles needed for physical activity throughout the day. Breakfast is important for weight loss and weight management as well. It gets our metabolism kicking in the morning and curbs our hunger throughout the day. There is a saying “Have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper.” Great words of wisdom. Our fat burning processes are most active in the morning and our fat storage processes are most active in the evening.
4. Ok, so breakfast is important…so what do we eat?
a. Whole Grains (bagels, waffles, muffins, cereals, oatmeal…)
b. Milk, yogurt, fruits, veggies
c. Breakfast smoothies
d. Ham on toasted English muffin
e. Rice with apples, nuts, and cinnamon
f. Fruit Juice

C. Eat AND drink healthy all day long!!
1. We as women need to start eating nutritionally NOT emotionally! To do this we need to #1 pray…ask God to control our eating habits and to allow us to develop healthy eating habits that keep His temple the way He desires. #2 we need to make some decisions about how and what we eat.
2. Our society revolves a lot around food. We think about it, talk about it, crave it and desire it. This year let God change your desire to Him and make food what it is—a substance to keep us alive and healthy! “But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” 1 Cor. 8:8
3. Let your prayer for this new year be to “taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8…not chocolate or pasta or whatever…find delight in God NOT in food!

4. Practical Application:
a. More veggies and fruits (hide them if need be…”The Sneaky Chef” by Missy Chase Lapine)
b. More WATER!! Get rid of the carbonation and the caffeine! Find refreshment in water! Water maintains our mineral balance, helps clear waste from the kidneys, and helps keep digestion on track. Cut your body weight in half and that’s the number of ounces of water you should drink daily…if you are active or it’s hot—drink more!
c. Portion Control!! …"for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” Prov. 23:21 the more food we put in our body, the more sluggish we become. It affects not only our physical health, but our mental and emotional health as well. When the Lord provided the manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness he gave them the perfect portion. They ate only what they needed. Read Exodus 16 sometime and see how the Lord provides exactly what we need (Matthew 6 speak of this as well). We don’t NEED seconds or a huge helping the first go around…we want itJ, but we don’t need it. Our body functions better if we aren’t painfully full!
d. If you have a problem with portions or with eating healthy try planning out a month’s menu of healthy meals and only cooking what you need!! Try not to have enough for leftovers or seconds! Try OAMC and freeze it in perfect portions. Go to http://summit2tmh.wordpress.com for OAMC websites and ideas or try www.sparkpeople.com ...
D. Practice Contentment
1. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph. 4:32-32
2, Give and receive love, forgive people, be kind and watch what happens to your emotional and physical health!!
3. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” Phil. 4:4-7, 12b-13
4. Let the Lord teach you this year the secret of contentment…it is a God given thing not something we can attain on our own!
5. Find rest this year in God alone…not food, not friendships, not physical beauty, not TV, computers or books!!
6. “My soul find rest in god alone: my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” Psalm 62:1-2
7. READ PSALM 91—write a prayer back to God!!!!!!!!
8. Matt. 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
9. Prov. 19:23”The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”
10. 1 Tim. 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
11. “Be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
12. Rejoice in your family, rejoice in your home, rejoice in your finances, rejoice in your body image…”rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
E. Sleep
1. Ps. 127 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for the Lord gives to His beloved even in their sleep…”

2. Our bodies need 6-10 hours of sleep a night depending on the individual. God knows our “to do” list. Let’s give it to Him and rest in Him like we learned above! SLEEP dear sisters…we need it!
3. Sleep helps our learning and memory, metabolism and weight, mood and concentration, cardiovascular health, and immune function.
4. It affects our mood dramatically, our emotions, and our health. God gives to His beloved even in their sleep so how do we train ourselves to sleep?
a. Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule
b. Don’t have caffeine 4-6 hours before bed & minimize daytime use.
c. Get regular exercise
d. Develop a regular bed time and go to bed at the same time each night.
e. Try and wake up without an alarm clock
f. Attempt to go to bed earlier every night for a certain period
g. Don’t eat or drink too much before bed (try not eating past seven o’clock at night)
h. Cut down on TV before bed

F. Enjoy Activity
1. God did not call us to be lazy and sluggish (look up verses on those…there are plenty!!). He wants us to be healthy and to be able to accomplish His will—go where He needs us to go, do what He wants us to do and say what He needs us to say. We need to move our bodies and keep them ready and available for God’s will.
2. Physical activity helps with digestion and improves our emotional state and quality of life. So how can we put physical activity into our lives?
a. Turn off the TV (or if you are dying for some TV—make it an exercise video that you like…dance, kickboxing, Pilates, etc)
b. Play with your kids—run around with them. Play ball, chase, tag, wrestling, etc. Being active with your kids is the best way for parents with children to get exercise. Ride bikes or rollerblades. Go for a hike (we have LOTS of great hiking trails within 15 minutes of here and a plethora of trails and waterfalls up in North Georgia). The dishes can wait…spend at least 20 minutes a day with your kids doing something physical. What a blessing it will be for all of you…physically and emotionally!
c. Laugh hard! What a work out for your belly and it releases so many wonderful endorphins! Even the Proverbs 31 woman “is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come”.
d. Grab a partner. If you have someone who you are accountable to you are more likely to stick with something. Your kids or your husband can be your partner around the house…play with them, dance with them, do workout videos with them, or play the Wii for real with them! A friend can be your partner to walk with in the mornings during the week (Swift Cantrell has a great walking track!)
e. Do some simple moves to work target areas on your body. I recommend “8 Minutes in the Morning to Lean Hips and thin Thighs” by Jorge Cruise for those of you who don’t have a lot of time. It doesn’t take a lot of time to work your muscles…it just takes determination and desire!f.

f. Have sex regularly with your spouse. Yes, I said sex! It is biblical to have sex REGULARLY!! It is a great workout, gives lots of endorphins, and is a wonderful marriage saver!! “do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” 1 Cor. 7:5

Bible Book of the Month

2009-05-30T22:25:00.006-04:00

Women’s Ministry
Bible Book of the Month

Purpose:
Develop a dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) in order to learn the mind and will of God, as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Develop Bible reading and study skills while growing a passion for God’s word, a deeper intimacy with the Author while living a life of faithful surrendered service to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Verse:
“All scripture that was written in the past, was written to teach us, so that through the endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Objective:
1. The group will focus on one book in the Bible each month. Some books have numerous chapters and may require several months to complete.
2. The group will meet once a month and critique, discuss, and review key elements of the book, or chapters if the book has numerous chapters.
3. The group will begin by evaluating each chapter of the book with the basic questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.
4. The group will identify at least one verse in each chapter to focus on and discuss during the meeting.
5. The group will be encouraged to memorize key scriptures in each Bible book.

Month of June
Philippians

Verse - Memorize
Philippians 1:9

Revival

2009-04-05T16:40:00.002-04:00

I am sitting here at this computer with a HUGE grin on my face as I am so excited at what God is doing!! In my own life He has begun a transformation of my heart and my will that I have never experienced before. And He is doing the same in hearts around me and throughout the world. Revival is such a strange word. Usually the thought that comes to mind with it is a preacher screaming about God's wrath and the fear of hell. Just recently someone said that revival is not what you are running from, but it is what you are running to. How true are those words. My dear ladies, it is time for revival!! Revival of our hearts, revival of our minds, revival of our will. It is time for us to run FROM the world and its deception and emptiness and run TO the amazing arms of our savior.

My dear Tapestry ladies, I am so excited about what God is doing here at Summit. I am watching the excitement growing over knowing Him deeper, surrendering to His leading, and walking in His peace and love!! I am watching Him raise up women to lead, women to love, women to mentor, women to teach, women to disciple, and women to learn!

What an exciting time this is of humbling ourselves before Almighty God and realizing how much He loves us and what He wants to accomplish in and through us!! Are you ready to begin the journey of revival??

This blog will be our constant communication with you over all events the Lord raises up, Bible studies being offered, fellowships taking place, missions opportunities, and general edifying applications for our everyday life. We want to partner with you in your journey that the Lord is weaving for you. We want to encourage and support you in your everyday walk with the Lord. Walk with us, talk with us, and let's glorify the Lord together (Ps. 34:3)

Tapestry Women

Physical Health

Bible Book of the Month

Revival