I hope you have enjoyed this series for Goal setting and planning!?!?!  Today’s post will conclude this series!  All the posts this year up until this point, have lead to today’s post.  Making Goals,  Making a prayer plan, Equipping yourself with the right tools are all steps towards a successful, positive outcome.  If you have missed any of the posts in the series scroll all the way down and you will see all the links from the past posts.

It all comes down to healthy habits of living.  Resolutions and diets do not last.  Today we will ask ourselves important questions and give ourselves a Health Check.  

How Valuable is Your Health?  What is your health costing you?  

We have become a society that works more, cooks less and spends less time maintaining our physical and spiritual health.  Maybe it’s time for a reset to start targeting in on what is most important and view how valuable our health really is.  

Money can buy you many things but it can’t buy you good health.

Money can buy

A Gym Membership     But it can’t buy you exercise
Workout Clothes          But it can’t buy you Motivation
Running Shoes             But it can’t buy you Encouragement
A bike                          But it can’t buy you Commitment
A fit bit                        But it can’t buy you Determination, Endurance, Perseverance

You get my point.  Circumstances always change.  Life Happens.  There will always be a reason to make an excuse of why you can’t be healthy.  Making good choices is key to developing habits of healthy living.

Equipping yourself with the knowledge now will help prepare you to make wiser choices later (Click to Tweet)

What motivates me? How much something costs?  Do I Know the ingredients in what I eat?  What am I really putting into my body?   These are good questions to ask yourself.  

Let’s start with food.
Fast Food-  Average cost of Big Mac Meal $6-$8 1-2 Big Mac Meals/week over 10 years= $7,280 

Average Cost of an Angioplasty procedure (plaque removal from cardiac arteries) vs. Open Heart surgery= $30,000- $200,000 (Long term effects of eating fast food plaque build up in arteries)

Is buying cheaper food with chemicals in it (High Fructose Corn Syrup) worth it in the long run?  To see the long term effects of eating fast food everyday click here.   

Even though fast food is the cheaper, faster and a more convenient option it really does more damage in the long run than it does good.  Over time it will buy you things you might not want, like high blood pressure, diabetes or even open heart surgery.  It is important to know the difference between what is healthy and what is not. 

The rushed mentality is also what we do in our spiritual lives.  Instead of equipping our hearts with God’s truth and wisdom, they are filled with worldly expectations, activities, hurriedness and busyness (fast food diet).  In the long run it will fill your life with things you might not want, like disappointment, discouragement or despair.  I for one am guilty at times, of feeding my spiritual appetite a fast food diet.  I then look around and wonder why my life is a mess, when I didn’t even seek or ask God for help in the first place.   

Health is one of the most valuable things in your life, it’s important not to neglect it and give yourself a health check once in awhile.  Resolutions, diets and pure will, will never work on their own.  God’s truth and promises are bigger than your circumstances.  That is why it is so important to keep your focus on God and not your circumstances.  

It’s time to ask What unhealthy habits are still lingering in your life?

Matthew 8:17  “He took over our infirmities and carried our diseases.”  (Click to Tweet)

God has designed you to be healthy.  He knows what is healthy and what you need.   We all can’t run a marathon or join the olympics but there is a balance of being healthy and not.  God did not create you to live on a fast food diet (for physical and spiritual health).  His truth and love are what provide nourishment and sustenance for your spiritual appetite and will eternally satisfy them.

How can God use you for his plan if you have physical strength and have spiritual weakness or vice versa?  

You are meant to be both physically and spiritually healthy.  God uses these 7 habits to equip and prepare you for his abundant blessings to be filled in your life.  

Here are 7 Healthy Habits of Living that will Help You to Stay in a Pattern of Success:

1.  Eating Healthy–  Know the ingredients in your food, Plan Meals, drink plenty of water, stay away from processed foods, eat a clean diet, decrease sugar and alcohol intake are all ways of eating and staying healthy.  I love my crockpot.  I don’t know what I would do without it.  Planning and preparing meals ahead of time helps me make better and healthier choices.  Your body will thank you for it.  Join a recipe club, join a clean eating group, just do this with someone else to help keep you accountable.  Two websites I recommend to help with clean eating, meal planning and community are the Gracious Pantry and Faith and Food.   A book that helps you incorporate faith, family, fitness and food is the Daniel Plan by Rick Warren.  The more you know the more you grow and stay healthier!  “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 

2.  Reading the Bible–  Staying in God’s Word and Bible Study is clean eating for your soul.  Reading the Bible and Bible study help you stay connected with God’s truth and wisdom to help you make wise choices.  Staying in God’s word everyday helps you to be better equipped for what God has in store for you.  Join a local Bible Study at a church, host a Bible study in your home, do one on-line.  It doesn’t matter where you do Bible study what matters is staying consistent .  Do what works for you in what season of life you are in.  

• Join a group–  It helps build community, build relationships and helps you stay accountable.
• Start a Bible Study–  Great ones from LifeWay (Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer) or Proverbs31 Ministries.
•  Sign up for daily devotionals to be sent right to your inbox.  I recommend Daily Hope by Rick Warren.
• Start Bible Reading Plan– Download the Bible App to start a daily Bible Reading Plan

These are all great ways to help you stay in God’s word and deepen your relationship with him.  Hearts and minds become transformed when we fill them with God’s word, his truth.   “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”  Colossians 3:16 

3.  Prayer– “Be Faithful in Prayer.”  Romans 12:12 Prayer is so important.  It keeps you in direct communication with God.  Prayer helps maintain, strengthen and deepen your relationship with God.  There is no wrong way to pray, just pray.  God is always listening.  You don’t have to be eloquent or say elaborate words, just pray what is in your heart.  God does not judge your prayers.  When praying, pray for yourself, your needs and wants, pray for others, your family, loved ones, pray for our leaders of our country, your community, your church, our world.  Here are 4 great ways to help deepen and strengthen your prayer life.  

• Prayer journaling 
• Make a war/prayer room (From the Movie ‘War Room’)
• Join a Prayer group or find a prayer partner-  Pray with others
• For more Prayer Resources click here.  

4.  Being in Community in Relationship With one Another–  The best way to set yourself up for a pattern of success is to Join a group!  There is nothing better when faith, fitness and food can be done together in community with each other.  It builds relationships, strengthens bonds and helps you learn healthy habits of living!  In groups you will be held more accountable, be encouraged and grow physically and spiritually!  There is a great website that does all 3 check it out at Faith and Food.

5.  Exercise–   “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:8  What we do in this life matters.  Maintaining good health through diet and exercise not only prepares us for this life but for life to come as well.  Exercise may seem hard and difficult at times but the hard work and discipline are well worth it.  Your body is meant to be treated like a temple.  Your health and the time you invest in maintaining your health is invaluable.  There will be times you will have to exercise your faith.  You will go through trials you don’t understand.  God’s love is greater and he is with you.  I promise this exercise will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).  The commitment, dedication, sacrifice and hard work are minimal compared to the multitude of rewards you will receive in the long run.  Join a group get an accountability partner.  Seek the advice from experts;  trainers, nutritionists, doctors, etc.

6.  Positive Attitude–  “A joyful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22   A thankful heart is a happy heart.   Keeping your focus on God and not your circumstances help maintain an attitude of gratitude keeping you going in a positive direction.   If you feel a bad case of negativity coming on ask God in prayer to help you look at your situation from a new perspective.  Here are 7 Ways a New perspective can Impact Your Life.

7.  Rest– “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29  Rest is important for the physical and spiritual well being.  It helps clear your mind and heart, to think more clearly and make better decisions.  You are no good when you are running around trying to do a hundred things!  You were meant to have rest!  You were not meant to carry your burdens ‘yoke’  on your own.  Your burdens are meant to be given to God.  When you do, you will find rest.  Jesus is the way to God and peace in your life.  God isn’t just part of your plan to put on your ‘to do list,’ He is the Plan!  He is the one who transforms you and allows his blessings to overflow within you!

​We all have our weakness.  Like how does the seafood man always know when I am in the grocery story to announce the seafood specials?  There will be temptations.  There will be times you are tired and weary.  There will be times you fall short.  You can rejoice because You can always rely on God’s strength to get you through.  He is enough.  He is our Strength!

This may seem overwhelming.  Pick one physical and one spiritual habit to work on first.  No one is perfect.  No one can ever live up to worldly expectations of doing it all.  You will always fall short.  But thankfully you can be set free from worldly expectations and approval when you hold on to God’s truth and promises.

YOU MATTER! YOU WERE MADE TO SUCCEED!  YOU ARE LOVED!  YOU ARE VALUABLE! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  I hope you keep asking yourself the important questions!  Keep your focus on God and he will set your paths straight on a road to better health!  Keep Going, Stay in the Pattern and you WILL be set up for Success!  You Can Do It!

Did you like this blogpost?  Please share with others! Want more encouraging messages? Subscribe to my blog and an encouraging message will be sent right to your inbox!  Or Join Me on Periscope Tuesdays at 12:15pm EST and Saturdays at 10:30am EST.  Watch Replays on katch.me.  ​

I Pray you will have a blessed week and God will lead you to a life of Good Health that leads to Healthy Habits of Living! I would love to hear from you! Leave Comments Below!

Freedom.  We all want it and all seek it.  It is something that many of us have but is often taken for granted.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines freedom as the quality or state of being free, the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.  Many may interpret this definition of freedom as being free to do whatever they want, whenever they want to do it.  In actuality this mentality gets us into trouble.

The other day I was wrestling with our six year old son.  I leaned over to kiss his cheek he then said with annoyance “Moommmyyy! There’s NO KISSING in Wrestling!”  Oops!  I had just crossed the line!  Just as I crossed the line wrestling with our son, there are many other invisible boundaries in our lives.

These invisible boundaries are what keep us safe and in order.  There is the boundary of the legal law, when the line is crossed there are consequences.  There are boundaries in marriage, when the line is crossed there is damage done to relationships.  One may think there are no boundaries in Freedom, but it is quite the contrary.  There are boundaries in freedom and when the line is crossed chaos and disorder enter.    

Where are the Boundaries of Freedom?

Freedom will always be found when you live in the boundaries of God’s Truth and Love for you. His Freedom is eternal and never runs out.  

How do you stay within the boundaries? Through

• Acknowledging–  God as the authority, that he is the one in control 
• Faith and Trust–  Believing God is enough and all you will ever need
• Acceptance of God’s truth–  means finding your Acceptance, Value, Worth and Identity in God.  

Many think living within these boundaries, take away your freedom to live, but in actuality it is where you will find the most freedom.  Have you ever read the Bible stories about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack and Abendago?   They did not go along with what the crowd thought.  They stood firm in God’s truth and walked away from worldly truth and acceptance.  Imagine what would have happened if they coward to worldly persecution?  We would have never seen God’s power of being able to shut the mouths of lions and protect men from a fiery furnace.  Even though these men were up against some scary circumstances, God protected and delivered them.  In God’s truth they found places of Freedom.  

Freedom is something we all desire, but in reality some of us will never attain.  Maybe because it is often sought after in the wrong places. (Click to Tweet)

You Will Never Find Freedom In:
1.  Worldly truth, Expectations and Approval–  There will always be someone who has more than you.  Seeking these things only lead to wanting more and will never provide eternal satisfaction or fulfillment the way God can.
2.  Doubt and Un-forgiveness–  These things can’t live together with Freedom.
3.  Clutter, baggage, disorganization –  All of these things along with Chaos and cannot reside together with freedom.

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”  1 Corinthians 14:33 

You Will Always Find Places of Freedom IN:
1.  Humbleness–  James 4:6 “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
2.  Contentment–  Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have.”
3.  Forgiveness– Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
4.  God’s Truth and Love–  John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

​Most Importantly –  There is Freedom in Release!  By Surrendering worldly truth, worldly expectations, worldly approval, your control, your plan, chaos, busyness, hurriedness, clutter, disorganization, doubt and un-forgiveness to God, he will fill you with so much more of what He Desires for you.  God’s Boundaries are not meant to keep you captive but to set you Free!  

​God does not desire for our lives to be filled with disorganization, chaos or disorder, But to be filled with His peace, his Love, His Freedom.  (Click to Tweet)

God’s Love is Boundless.
Living inside the boundaries of God’s truth and love does not mean there is an end to his love. God’s love crosses all boundaries.

In His boundaries of truth and love you will find:
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place where we can’t find peace
There’s no end to his Amazing Grace
Lyrics From David Crowder “I am”

God isn’t interested in you having a good life but to have the Best Life Ever!  The Same way God protected and delivered Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abendago is the what  he will do for you, if you let him.

What things has God asked you to walk away from in 2015 in order to experience His peace and freedom for you?

Would you like to have more Places of Freedom in 2016?  Where have you found places of Freedom?  Please Share!

Did you like this blogpost?  Please share with others! Want more encouraging messages? Subscribe to my blog and an encouraging message will be sent right to your inbox!  Or Join Me on Periscope Tuesdays at 12:15pm EST and Saturdays at 10:30am EST.  Watch Replays on katch.me.

May your week be Abundantly Blessed with God’s Truth and love for you! I would love to hear from you!  Leave Your Comments Below!

Tis the Season……
Everyone is getting ready for Holidays.  Preparing baked goodies, getting ready for parties and buying Christmas gifts!  It takes a lot of time, preparation and planning to find the perfect gift for that someone special.

Have you ever received a gift so perfect you remember the joy and excitement you felt when you opened it?  I bet you could tell me what the gift was and how you felt when you received and opened it.

As a parent, I bet you can remember that special gift you gave your child and the joy you received watching them open it and their reaction after receiving it.

Giving Gifts is a great way of showing another person that they are special and how much you care for them.  A gift is only a gift if it is received, accepted then opened, otherwise it’s just a box with a gift in it.  What good is a gift if it is never opened and received?

I am sure many of you have heard the phrase ‘The reason for the season.’  Christmas is not only a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus but to give and open gifts.  Did you know that God has given you gifts to open this Christmas?

Here are 7 Gifts God has Given to You that He’s Waiting for you To Open:
God himself is the gift, but here is what he gives you when you open His gifts.  

1.  God’s Power–  God offers us the most amazing things when we open up his power.  God has the power of forgiveness, healing, restoration, renewing you, redemption, to drive out fear, building strong foundations and giving you strength.  God’s power is endless and is able to do the impossible.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

2.  The Holy Spirit–  When we open God’s power, we receive the most amazing gift of the Holy Spirit.  We receive God’s power because of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is God fulfilling his promise that he is always with us and will never leave us.

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17

3.  His Promises–  There are over 7,000 promises in the Bible and God will keep every single one of them.  He is the God of promise.  We can trust in his promises.  God is a God of peace, hope, joy, love, freedom, faithfulness, grace and so much more.  When you open up his promises you receive all of his promises, they will never disappoint or fail you.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus​.”  Philippians 4:19

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

4.  His Truth–  We discover more of who we are and who God really is in his truth for us.  God’s truth never changes, it stays the same no matter how this world changes. God has given you one of the best gifts of all, The Bible.  It is filled with his Truth and Promises that you can trust in.  Opening the Bible is one of the best ways to receive all of God’s gifts. It will equip you, prepare you and unlock God’s power within you.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32
“The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.”  Proverbs 24:5

5.  Salvation– “For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 God loved us so much that he sacrificed his only son, someone who never sinned, but took our place for our sins.  God’s salvation not only offers eternal life in Heaven, but salvation from our sin, from our struggles in this world.  ​When we have Christ, we have freedom.  What’s so amazing about this gift is everyone has the opportunity to become Saved, Salvation is available for all no matter who you are.  Unfortunately this gift is the one that is frequently not opened.

6.  Eternal Life–  Not only has God given us the gift of life, but has given us the unimaginable gift of eternal life in Heaven when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

7.  His Lovingkindness–    James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above. God’s Love and His gifts are perfect in every way.  If he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t offer you all of these gifts.  These gifts are His way to show how much He really Loves You!  What’s so amazing about these gifts is you don’t have to wait until Christmas to open them, they are available for you to open Now!  When you open God’s love you receive all of his gifts of grace, peace, hope, freedom and joy!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8 

Did you know that You are God’s gift?  You are his perfect gift.  He makes all things beautiful.  And you my friend are God’s beautiful gift.  The same way you receive joy watching your child open a gift, is the same way God receives joy when you open your gifts he has given you.  God’s gifts are meant to opened, don’t leave them sitting in a box.   Have you opened all of God’s gifts he has given to you?  If not don’t wait until it’s the perfect time to open them, open them now!

God gives the most amazing gifts!  Don’t forget to open up the most important gift of all this Christmas, God himself.  When you receive God, you receive His gifts.  

Wishing you much Peace this Christmas Season!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

What Gift(s) has God given you that you cherish the most?  Please share below! Give thanks to God this holiday season for the gifts he has given you.  If you would like to hear weekly encouraging messages, Subscribe to my blog and receive a FREE Ebook “The Jericho Prayer,” it will be sent right to your inbox!

Join me next week for an encouraging message of the kindness of Christmas!  have a Blessed Week!

Subscribe

Email Address First Name Last Name Submit

Last week I shared 3 Valuable Lessons I learned from the Karate Kid.  I think we have all seen the movie The Karate Kid from 1984.  Remember the scene when Mr. Miyagi was teaching Daniel son how to wax the cars, wax on, wax off?  Daniel son did not know at the time that he was being prepared for something greater.  ​The same way Mr. Miyagi was preparing and equipping Daniel son to fight the enemy, is the same thing that God does for us.

“But you will not even need to Fight.  Take your positions, then stand still and watch the LORD’S VICTORY.  He is with You.  Do not Be Afraid or Discouraged.  Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with You!”       2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT

This week on Periscope I introduced a Prayer Tool to help you when you are under attack from the enemy.  Instead of Wax on Wax off,  Pray Off, Pray On.  Pray off the lies of the enemy, to empty your hearts and pray on God’s truth to fill your hearts with his truth.  His truth will not only fill you abundantly more with His love, joy, hope and freedom, but prepares and equips you for what he is preparing You for.  We don’t have to fight our battles alone.  God will fight our battles for us, only if we let him.  

Click on the video to view the Prayer Tool.

Video no longer available from Katch.me.

For more encouraging messages, Join Me on Periscope Tuesdays at 12:15pm EST and Saturdays 10:30am EST.

Remember we are not alone!  God will be with you wherever you go and will be holding you by your hand (Joshua 1:9)!  When struggles start creeping in remember, wax on, wax off!  For more powerful Prayer tips visit my Prayer Page where I share 10 Ways to Make Prayer Most Effective in Your Life. 

Do You Have Powerful Prayer Tip you would like to Share?  Please Share How is Prayer Most effective in Your Life?  Leave Comments Below.  Have a Blessed Week!

Have you ever been in a situation you are concerned about that causes you to start spinning the wheels of worry?  That then takes you down paths of ‘What If?’  Usually these paths lead to no where good.  They lead only to more Worry, more Doubt, more Fear and more Anxiety.   Worry creates a vicious cycle that takes away our ability to enjoy life’s present moments.

Worry is our way to try to control the situation and to try to handle things on our own.  Even though you know worry will never get you anywhere or change your situation, you still do it.  The only thing worry does is take away your joy and steal your ability to be present in the present.  Your situation will happen whether you worry about it or not.   Worrying will never add a single hour to your life (Matthew 6:27), nor will it change your circumstances.  There will always be something to worry about.  How you respond to your situation, will allow you to be able to enjoy life’s present moments.  

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34 (Click to Tweet)

It is easier said then done to say ‘Do not worry,’ but It Is possible to learn how to be Present in the Present and not allow worry to steal your joy anymore.  When worry starts seeping in remind yourself of these 3 things.  

        How to Live in the Moment and Take One Day at a Time–

1.  Seek God first in Prayer–  Instead of worrying about your situation, start prayingabout it.  If you put the same amount of energy into praying as you did worrying, imagine what God could do with your situation.  Worry takes God out of the equation.  Allow him to walk with you in your struggles, by seeking him in prayer.  Lay it on him, give God all of your worries, fears, anxieties and doubts.  Tell him every detail.  God will use what you are going through for something better, your struggle is never wasted.

2.  The Power of Gratitude–  A thankful heart is a happy heart.  Sometimes your situation can seem somber, but when you look around at all that you have been blessed with, it can make your situation seem not so bad.  Life isn’t about picking and choosing all the good moments and Then rejoicing in them, it’s about learning how to accept and embrace all of the moments, whether they are good or bad and rejoicing in them.
​Being Thankful will help you:

• Live in contentment with what you have, which turns what you have into enough and more than you will ever need.  
• Change your focus to something positive keeping your focus away from your worry. 
• To experience joy now by embracing your circumstances and not waiting until your circumstances change.    

3.  Be Present in the Present–  Don’t go ahead of God.  As a mother I am always telling our young children hold my hand in the parking lot.  I tell them if they try to go ahead of me, cars will not see them and they could be hit by a car.  The same thing with God,if we go ahead of him in our worries and fear, he cannot be the God we are asking him to be.  He cannot protect us from what we are worrying about in the first place.  The best way to be filled with His Peace, is to be Present in the Present.  Being Present allows God to keep you safe, fill you with His peace and to live in contentment. Let God handle it, He’s got it.  Trust in His Ways, I promise they are so much better and greater than ours.

God has designed you for so much more.  Not to live a life filled with worry but with His eternal hope, peace, joy and freedom.  Allowing God to have your worries, doubts and fears will allow him to turn them into something so much better. When worry starts to seep in, stop to pray about what is troubling your heart, thank God for all you are thankful for and don’t allow yourself to go ahead of him.  Stay Present in the Present.  It will help you to Live life in the Moment and Take One Day at a Time.  I promise God is with you and will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)!  

Are you a worrier?  Do you allow worry to take away life’s present moments?  How do you get through what you are going through during hard times?  

I would love to hear from you, Leave your Comments Below!  May the God of Peace Fill you with Hope as you Trust in Him!  Have a Blessed Week!