It's a God Thing

I love it when God lets me know I'm on the right or wrong track. My last blog post I shared my commitments to change for 2015, actually beginning today, 12/28/2014.  I attended church today, and the teaching was along similar lines.  The pastor encouraged making real, purposeful, meaningful, measurable changes.  He suggested making your change or resolution one of surrender (meaningful requiring surrender to something important), simple, short, specific, and shared (share with someone who will help hold you accountable.  

You can watch the teaching here: 

 http://pccwired.org

Plans for 2015

Do you make resolutions?  Many do, but I usually don't.  However, next year is different.  I am making a fresh start, but not waiting till Thursday 1/1/2015 to do it.  I plan to start this Sunday, 12/28/2014, the first day of the week. I also will recommit every Sunday, us humans frequently mess up, but to avoid derailing myself, I'll recommit each week.  What am I commiting to?  improving my all over health- physically, mentally, intellectually, financially, and spiritually.  I am sharing this with you as part of my accountability.  

Physically, I am committing to planning my week of meals ahead, and sharing these plans with my 16 yr old son and accountability partner.  He and I are working together to improve our health and fitness.  I am also in a few Facebook groups about health, this helps with accountability too.  Additionally, I have Skinny Fiber, which helps decrease my appetite. I am so impressed with Skinny Fiber's results, I even sell it. I am not one to jump on the network marketing bandwagon, but Skinny Fiber really works!  I also commit to working out at the gym 2-3 days per week.  I hope to eventually get to 4-5 days a week, but let's go one step at a time.  I will also do my yoga dvds 2-3 days per week. 

Mentally, I am listening to and reading positive, edifying, uplifting info.  I especially like reading and listening to Dani Johnson.  I learn so much and it really lifts my spirits. Additionally, I plan to set aside more quiet time.  Time to "Be still and know that He is God." Psalm 46:10

Intellectually, I commit to reading my peer reviewed journals, and  reading my daily updates from AANP and Medscape. I also commit to listening to more Reach MD and Doctor Radio to further my knowledge.  I commit to using this knowledge daily in my practice as a NP in an ongoing effort to be the best NP I can possibly be. 

Financially, I am 100% committed  to living the "Baby Steps" taught by Dave Ramsey.  Also, fueled by the financial advice of Dani Johnson. I will get out of debt, and build wealth.  I commit to "live like no one else now, so later I can live and give like no one else."Dave Ramsey.  

Spiritually, I commit to reading scripture daily.  It may be a verse, a chapter, or a book, whatever it is, daily I will read. I also commit keeping The Father's Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3).  

Do you have anything you want to commit to?  Share it with me, lets do this together, encouraging each step along the way.

Bible Verses

I was thinking today about a verse today. In this verse, the adversity of the Enemy and the goodness of Yeshua (Jesus) comes out: 

"Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up. Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you. Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering. You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm.   him be the power forever and ever. Amen. " 1 Peter 6-11

Holiday Ponderings

I must confess, I used to be a huge fan of Christmas.  I couldn't wait to celebrate and remind everyone, "Jesus was the reason for the season."  However,  I learned several years about the pagan origins of Christmas.  I continued to learn and explore thanks to G_d bringing people in my life with more knowledge and experience than me.  See "Truth or Tradition" by Jim Staley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg5-v0SPRgk&sns=em

Also, you can easily research the origins of Christmas or other holiday online, such as at: such as Hope of Israel.  http://www.hope-of-israel.org/cmas1.

I am now much more excited and happy over commanded feasts of the Bible such as Passover, and Sukkot (see Leviticus 23).  I am also excited over feasts based on or mentioned in the Bible, but not commanded, such as Hannukah and Purim.  

My husband and kids still like celebrating Christmas, therefore, our house is a blend of Hannukah and Christmas.  We celebrate the triumph of the Temple and maintaining lit candles despite running low on oil for the lamps, see this link: http://www.chosenpeople.com/main/holidays-and-festivals/186-hanukkah-countdown-to-messiah. 

We also celebrate Christmas despite it's pagan origins in support of my husband's headship of the home and his desire to celebrate it (http://m.livescience.com/25779-christmas-traditions-history-paganism.html).  

Do you celebrate Hannukah? Christmas?  Kwanza or any blend of them?  What traditions do you participate in? 

Hope your holiday is fabulous!!

Joycelyn

Homemade Soup-

Homemade soup can be really helpfull in losing weight, not to mention delicious!  I make bone broth in the crock pot, strain off bones, let it sit in the fridge overnight, and remove fat from the top in the morning.  I pour the broth in the crock pot, add veggies, meat (chicken in this case), and spices/ herbs.  Cook on high for 6- 7 hours.  My family loves noodles, we serve their soup over egg noodles.  I love the soup plain, and prefer to avoid the simple carbs of noodles to aid in weight loss.  What are things you do to aid in weight loss or improved health efforts. 

Weight Challenges

Do you have weight challenges?  Does you appetite seem to never end?  Do you crave sweets?  Do you crave salty or crunchy? Do you feel like certain foods call your name?

I've struggled with weight most of my life.  I'm more of a homebody when not at work, so exercise takes real will power and persistence.  My favorite exercise is Zumba and Yoga.  I also lift weights, but again, I have to push myself to do it. I absolutely crave starches, especially breads and chips.  I like sweets too- ugh!  I've seriously tried almost every diet out there: Atkins, Zione, Weight Watchers, Diet Center, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, Fast Metabolism Diet, Purium, Suzanne Summers, South Beach Diet, Dr Gann's Diet of Hope, and more. The one I am on now is the only one I can say has worked, and allows me to eat a variety of foods with little restrictions.  I lost weight on each of the above programs, but was unable to maintain it. Trim Healthy Mama is able to be worked in as a lifestyle with out too much fuss.  My family likes the recipes, and I like the ingredients aren't too hard to find.  Also, there is s ton of support available of Facebook from others who are working on the same diet and lifestyle plan. 

I also use Skinny Fiber, http://joycelync.sbc90.com.  

This has made so much difference.  I take Skinny Fiber capsules, made of special fibers and enzymes.  You can check them out online at the link above.  These capsules have decreased my appetite so much.  You are instructed to weigh yourself once before you start, then don't weigh for 2 weeks.  This allows your body to adapt to the fullness sensation and encourage weight loss.  The directions are to take 2 capsues 30 min. prior to lunch and 2 prior to dinner with a full 8oz or more of water.  I vary this a bit, I take 1 before breakfast, 1 before lunch, and 2 before dinner.  This variation helps me.  You can vary it to your lifestyle a bit, just make sure you drink plenty of water.  I am

so thankful for the appetite help without the side effects of Western medicine, and at a price far less than going to any weight loss specialist.,

What are your Health and Fitness challenges? What solutions or helpful techniques have you discovered or tried to help combat the challenge?

Work with Passion

"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."

Col 3:23-24

"Entreleadership" by Dave Ramsey is a wonderful book I recently read.  I must admit here, I am a total Dave Ramsey fan.  I've read several of his books, listened to his audiobooks, and I frequently listen to his podcasts. I'm a big fan.  In Entreleadership, Dave talks about working with a passion and working with a purpose.  I've been pondering this recently.  Do you work with a passion?  Do you work with a purpose?  Life is too short not to work at something you love, care about, and are skilled at.  If you don't have a job that meets this criteria for you, pray God will show you the path he has designed for you.  He will lead you to a job that meets your passion and purpose if you ask him and follow His directions.  "Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6

Prayer

I am reminded daily about the importance of prayer.  I see so many folks struggling in their journey, and the strength they are able to glean through prayer.  People often wonder how to pray, if it has to be flowery words with lots of "thee's and thou's". Yeshua (Jesus) taught us to pray as in Matthew 6: 9-13

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

I find, however, there are times even this is too much.  There are times when "Help" is all we can say and trust God knows the needs of our heart.  We can talk to Abba (our father) as we talk to our deepest confidant, our dearest friend, our closest family.  He is all this and so much more. When others let you down, He is always there.  He made us in his image (Genesis 1:27), he knew us in our mother's womb (Jer 1:5), He even knows the hairs on our head (Luke 12:7).  He wants us to talk to Him, and also to listen (Psalm 46:10).

Bless you all out there! 

Don't forget to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Pray for One

Our pastor challenged us a few weeks ago and again today to pray each day for one person or family.  Pray they are welcomed into the body of Christ, pray they find love without conditions, pray they receive Abba's unconditional love, pray they accept Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord and Savior.  I pass this to you- who will you pray for?