Prevention Part One

Most people will be diagnosed with a major illness in their 40's on up. It is interesting that most do not know how they got that disease and will just blame old age. It does not have to be this way. This is what my mission is all about, spreading hope. You see, God gave us our bodies to take care of. He has supplied us with everything we need to take good care of ourselves. I am not saying that every case is the same. We have many examples in the Bible that tell us that God can allow suffering for His purposes. These few paragraphs are not to say it is God's will for EVERYONE to be healthy. But He equips us for what we need to at least try. So my words today are about prevention.

Statistics say that 2/3 of all cancer is diet and lifestyle related. That screams prevention! I am hopeful to find the cure just like anyone else. But it looks like for most cancers the cure is staring us right in the face...Prevention! So what does prevention look like? That will be a loaded answer coming but here are just a few things I have seen through research. Once you have studied this stuff long enough you begin to feel like it is just common sense. However, America doesn't get it. Obesity is an epidemic and there are too many fad diets to count.

Almost every time I talk about this I have someone say, “Yeah well my grandma smoked three packs of cigarettes a day and lived on donuts! She lived until she was 92! You might as well enjoy life and all the food God put here!” Statements like these are twisted in so many ways. First, God didn't make cigarettes and donuts so grandma was eating man-made food. Plus, you don't know how she felt on a daily basis, probably run down with headaches and an addiction that took her focus off God. Again, no hate mail...I'm sure your grandma was loved and special. I don't know how she lived as long as she did. The point is that although you may have inherited good genes you still have to be aware of steps you can take to combat the illness. I am not just talking about a major negative diagnosis you receive when you are much older. I am talking about the day to day as well....feeling energetic and focused, knowing you are honoring God in your choices, headache and addiction free. It is possible that the past is making you feel the pain you are feeling today.

So how do we prevent illness? I am not the biggest expert but I do speak from experience. My whole family (husband, myself and kids) used to like many battle the flu every year. Along with that, chronic colds and horrible Bronchitis. Let me repeat, EVERY YEAR. Most people run to get a pointless flu shot while I have discovered what has kept us sick free for over 2 years is prevention. It is not an accident that we live a very healthy lifestyle and haven't been sick. Prevention involves keeping your immune system up. We have gotten itty bitty colds. The last time I was sick with a cold was last Christmas. My immune system was down because I allowed stress to consume me. I didn't sleep hardly at all for 5 days and we were not eating the way we normally do. So that was my last cold. It is almost November! But I am thankful we haven't had the flu in years! That excites me and I just want to share it with everybody because I feel like I have information that can help!

My pastor said a few months back during a service (he was talking about salvation and needing Jesus): “What if you had a cure for cancer and you didn't share it? That would be wrong of you to not share something that you know would help so many people. Jesus is the answer and you need to share Him with others, otherwise it would be wrong of you to not share when you have the answer for so many people.” So many truths lie in that short statement. It would be wrong for me to not share this information with people because it can help not only your health but your everyday life that snowballs into other people's lives and effects your God given purpose. Prevention is the key and over the next few posts I will list ways prevention can play a part in helping you be healthy physically.

Betcha didn't know.....

Here are some things about me maybe you didn't know!

*I still do not own a real cell phone. I think I'm the last one on the planet but I have one in my purse for emergencies only!

*I absolutely love cheese w/ everything and on everything!

*I love animals and want to cry when I see something dead on the side of the road.

*I wish I had a cow, for a pet and milk.

*I love to rearrange the furniture in my house then do it again in a few months.

*I cannot stand those leeches that are sometimes on the sidewalk. I actually get sick to my stomach just thinking about them and their snot trail.

*I have a fetish when it comes to dark water. I will not go swimming at night or in deep water that is dark enough to not really know what is swimming beneath.

*I really miss the show “King of Queens”.

*I do not have enough time to watch TV nowadays.

*I have never been a huge cat lover but I love my Moe sooooo much!

*I refused to listen to country music in high school because it seemed like a fad, but now I LOVE it!

*When I was 12 I was the biggest New Kids on the Block fan. I had the posters, pins, even a scrapbook I made about them. I loved Jordan. I'm not impressed at all with their comeback.

*I don't like beans not because of their taste but for their muddy texture!

*I do not like to play card games, don't know why. I only like creative games like “Apples to Apples” or “Balderdash”, etc.

*I miss Chris Farley.

*My sensitive stomach is motivation for me to eat healthy.

*I have never been to another country. My dream is to go to Israel and stand on the Mount of Olives.

*Fall is my favorite time of the year since I have moved to a place that has seasons.

*Denominational issues get under my skin.

*I really miss the beach!!!

*I can exist on 8 hours of sleep but would thrive on 10-12. The 10-12 hours never happens!

*I thought Crocs were the ugliest thing ever when they first came out. Now I wish I had a pair!

*I am soooo tired of moving. And that is putting it mildly.

*I get elated helping people with health issues. I feel God's pleasure when I get to share this message with those that want to hear!

*I am excited, scared, nervous, and happy to be in the center of God's will....church planting.

*Tim wrote songs and sang them to me at night on the beach when we were dating.

*We have a positive view of Amway.

*I LOVE Little House on the Prairie! I watched that show religiously when I was a kid. I was able to get some of the seasons this summer at the library. Summer and I watched them all summer long.

*I was sort of a tomboy when I was little. We had 3 wheelers and rode them all the time, jumping canals.

That's all for now...anyone have any of these in common with me?

Holding Hands...

I had so many errands to run today. Tim took Micah and Summer to school this morning and a few minutes after they left, there it was. Summer had left her lunch box on the counter. Not a big deal, I had to go out anyway to run a number of errands so I would just drop it off on my way. We arrive at the school and are getting out of the van and Jake says, "Can you hold hand?" I reach out and stick out my index finger and he grabs hold of it--which is the only way he likes to hold hands. As we were walking together he is talking away and I just got kind of deep in thought. When will the day come when he no longer will hold onto my finger like this? It will not be long before I am dropping him off at school like the other two. When is he going to say words the right way (for example: decor-oceans for decorations or hoopo for hippo, etc)? When will he be too old for me to sing Jesus Loves Me to him for nap and bedtime? When will I no longer see him suck his thumb while cuddling with his toy elephant he's in love with named "Ellie"? I could really go on and on. I am sad for when this day comes because it comes when you don't really notice. I am soon going to have no babies in the house! What will this be like? It is all I have known for eight years. Too often I am caught saying, "I can't wait for...." and usually it is for the kids to be a little older so we can do more together as a family. But in just a blink it's all going to be changed. Today I am going to live in the moment. Just being thankful for this exact day I am in. The process of church planting is constantly having us making plans for the future. Not that there's anything wrong with a little preparation. It just becomes a problem when that is the entire focus. I want to take advantage of every moment, today. Well, not every moment...I could really do without the tantrums in parking lots :)

A Little Perspective....

The next time you are having a bad day, the next time you feel alone, the next time you wonder what the future holds, the next time you are frustrated with the economy, election, weather, the kids, your spouse, money problems or anything that life throws your way....

watch this video and gain a little perspective.....



What love my Jesus has for me and you. My heart aches for not giving Him my undivided attention. I see this video and it reminds me of my need for Him as my Father, best friend, provider, shelter, protector, MY JESUS.

Granola

Homemade Granola

If you have never made your own granola, you are missing out! This is a weekly staple in our house. It makes a great healthy snack. Store bought granola can be pricey and I have found that I already have all the ingredients on hand. So I thought I would share my recipe with everyone.

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup nuts (optional)
1/4 cup sesame seeds (optional)
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup honey
flax seed (optional)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup orange juice (optional)

Mix all together and spread out on a cookie sheet. Bake 35 min. at 300 degrees. Make sure you stir it every 10 min. so that it doesn't burn. Optional: After baking you can add raisins, dried fruit or seeds to taste. Enjoy!

Daniel

My mind is all over the place. I have so much to say and I hope it translates well. Here goes one of my many entries on health! I have so much to write about on this topic but will stick to what I am feeling at the moment! This past week I have been studying the book of Daniel. In fact, not too long ago I got home from my ladies Bible study. We always have great discussion around the table. I love digging into the Word together and then hearing how it applies to our life! I have studied Daniel before (Beth Moore—awesome!) but am currently doing a study where we study every book of the Bible. Every week we will go to the next book and so now we are in Daniel. It has been great to get a deeper understanding of how the Bible all fits together.

Let me give a brief summary of something impacting from Daniel: (taken from chapter 1) Daniel was to serve in the king's palace. He insisted on not defiling his body. Defiling his body would be to partake of the same food everyone else was eating in the palace. God had special laws that forbid His people to eat unclean meats (pork, shellfish, wine, etc.). These meats God calls “detestable”. The Israelites were spared all kinds of diseases and illnesses by obeying these dietary laws. Daniel asked permission from the chief official to eat vegetables and water. The official thought he would get in trouble because Daniel and his men would be very malnourished. Daniel insisted that they test this for ten days. All was agreed upon and at the end of the ten days the Bible says that Daniel and his men looked healthier and better nourished than any of the men that ate the unclean meats. I have in my notes that as a result of Daniel's obedience God gave him health, wisdom and understanding. Under that I have that trusting the Sovereign God brings God's power.

For once I would love someone, a pastor, a teacher, anyone, to camp out on this chapter. As new testament believers we are free from this law that forbids us to eat unclean meats. However, people use that as a crutch that will allow them to eat these unhealthy things. God didn't just pull things out of the air to forbid them to eat. He gave a very specific list of things that to this day if consumed brings about high cholestorol, unstable blood pressure, illness (from a low immune system), and obesity (which that alone leads to a number of things but the highest on the list is heart disease). They were unclean thousands of years ago when God called them detestable and they are not any better now! Is it a sin to eat unclean meats? No. Christ came and freed us from this law. But if you want to be healthy and lower your chances of disease it would be a good idea to try to eliminate these things from your lifestyle. It's very common for Americans to have bacon and eggs for breakfast and then a ham sandwich for lunch followed by a pork chop dinner. And we are wondering why as a nation we are suffering from obesity.

Here are some quick facts about pork: Pigs eat everything and anything including their own waste and young. Disease and toxins get into their bloodstream and are released into their flesh. Pigs don't sweat which is a way to release toxins. Research has shown that people that live too close to pig farms have been sick because of dangerous gases. 70% of pork contains parasites. If you press down on a pig's hoof green pus comes out. Think of that next time you make a ham sandwich.

I understand the point in Daniel was that he was obedient and God honored that. I just get frustrated when we fail to know the whole context. Another side note is that Daniel's diet of eating only vegetables and water for 10 days is a great detox plan. But I will have to go into that at another time!

Please no hate emails! :) This is why I have a blog. I just want to educate and share what I am learning!

Everywhere you go, everything you do, everything you hear is about our suffering economy.

We are taking a Dave Ramsey course on Wednesday nights. It has been so great having a plan for our finances. It is exciting to be eliminating debt and building our savings. I love paying cash for everything. We have learned so much in the past 6 weeks. I am a detailed person so I like having everything in it's place. We have been able to teach our children the same principals. I believe it honors God when we are being good stewards of our money (just like our health-but that's for another day!).

Everything we have is Gods...our money, our health, our children, our marriage. What's interesting is that we can be so neglectful in realizing that every choice we make regarding these areas is our act of worship to Him. It will change your whole perspective on life when you are living a life of worship. It's not that you are making decisions in a legalistic kind of way but in a way that says you want to honor God in your choices. It's a "here's all of me" kind of attitude.

So what can I do today about the economy? Blame the president? Blame Americans for being ignorant? Feel hopeless? Be fearful? I don't like what's going on in the economy either. However, Jesus paid quite a price for us to trust Him completely. I refuse to get entangled in fear over something God is in complete control of. Today I choose to trust in His provision and live as many moments as possible as an act of worship! ...Romans 12:1