God’s Heaven on Display

Want to see God’s heavens on display? Walk through this photojournalism by Kirby Runyon.

Fostering a Loving Atmosphere in a Home: The Essence of a Home

Love is not a feeling, affection, kindness, passion, romance, sex or even compassion. These emotions or state of being may be ways God has provided for us to express love toward people, places, animals and even God, Himself, but love is God.

Read more of this article by Dr. Pamela Randolph.

Rest your Mind

Imagine a sports car traveling 80 miles an hour. Imagine capturing a camera shot of events past, present and future—some beautiful, some fearful, some regretful, some prideful. Imagine a “to do” list with no end in sight. Imagine a choir of voices consisting of your mother, father, teacher, pastor, friends, boss all creating a cacophonous of sounds and somewhere there is your voice. This is your mind.Read more of this blog by Etta Malcolm at Embodied Spirituality.

The Real Source of Power

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

I have always been physically active. Recently, however, I have started homeschooling my 6 and 4 year old daughters. This means, obviously, that they are with me all the time. So, it is much more difficult for me to take time out to exercise. I would much rather use my free time to do other things… like sleep!

It is also a great effort to provide healthy meals for my family. If I do not provide them, they will not happen. It takes effort and planning. Sometimes- many times truthfully- I just don’t feel like doing it. Not to mention the fact that I really, really like comfort food and chocolate and all other manner of unhealthy things!

For the last few years, I have struggled with this. I mean, is it really so bad to eat that candy bar? What’s the big deal? It’s just one candy bar. Why can’t I just sit down and watch that one TV show that totally takes my mind off my day and allows me my version of a “nothing box”? Other people watch hours of TV without giving it a second thought. Why can’t I just watch this one show? Read more of “The Real Source of Power” by Kirsten Nelson.

Pectineus Stretch

This muscle is a small muscle that lies from your pubic bone to the shaft of the femur (upper leg bone). The action this muscle produces is hip adduction (bringing the leg towards the midline of your body) and hip flexion (bringing your knee up towards your chest). If you sit a lot during the day, such has sitting at a computer desk; this muscle may be tight resulting in back pain or radiating pain down one of your legs. If you don’t find yourself sitting a lot, but play sports like soccer or football this muscle actually produces the action of kicking a ball. Either way, pain or no pain, straining your leg muscles or sitting at a desk all day, this muscle can become tight and needs to be stretched. Include the following stretch in your cool down stretching routine or add it to a daily stretch after leaving work.

Here’s how:

Step one: Standing in front of a wall or counter split your legs bringing your left leg back and keep your back knee straight. Your front leg, right leg, the knee will bend slightly.

Step two: Rotate your back foot in towards the midline of your body. You will notice when doing this motion that your hips will also rotate towards the right if it is your left leg that is back and rotated inwards. Bring your hips back to a neutral position.

Step three: Once you have brought your hips back to a neutral position tuck your but in, posterior pelvic tilt. You should feel a stretch deep in front top portion of your leg. Hold the stretch of 20 seconds and perform 3 repetitions on each leg.

This exercise can be tricky so let me know if you are having a hard time feeling the stretch.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

My Prayer-An Embodiment of Me

If I were to examine my prayers, what would they reveal about me? Are they “me” centered? Are they pertaining to only the affairs of my life? Read more of this blog by Etta Malcolm at Embodied Spirituality.

Survival of the Fittest

“Predation of one animal upon a weaker one is a fact of life in the natural world. “Survival of the fittest” is a law that emphasizes that fact. Therefore, some people argue that to better our chances of survival, we need to be physically fit. However, shouldn’t there be something more meaningful that governs us, as human beings?
I believe there is.” Read more of “Survival of the Fittest” by John Gallegos in the current issue of LiveLiving Christian Health and Wellness emagazine, “Physical and Spiritual Fitness with Power”.

Plank with a Knee Twist

We have had one full week into the New Year and hopefully most of you are still running strong with your New Year’s resolutions. Don’t allow boredom to creep into your exercise routine. Always look for new ways to train your muscles and ways to challenge your body. As you know, I love doing moves that target multiple body parts. This week, I am challenging you to a new version of the plank that I recently learned how to do. If you have been following my blogs and trying the exercises I post, then you are already familiar with the standard plank and the plank with an arm twist. Now I am adding to your workout the plank with a knee twist. If you can do the upper body why can’t you do the lower body? This exercise works your shoulders, arms, abdominals, glutes, calves, and hamstrings.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Position yourself in the plank position: Weight on hands and balls of feet / toes. Shoulders should line up with your wrist and you support your body with your hands. Your body should be in a straight line. Don’t let your stomach sag towards the floor.

Step 2: Bend your left knee forward toward your waist and then to the right side of our body. Cross your leg underneath your body holding for 3 seconds. Then pull your left leg back, straightening the knee and lifting your leg up towards the ceiling.

Step 3: Lower your leg /foot back towards the floor / starting position. Repeat same movement on right leg. That is one repetition. Do 12-15 repetitions for 1 set.

Don’t say this is too hard for me to do because anyone can train their body to perform this exercise, just break each sequence up until you are able to progress to the next position and until you can perform the entire move. Start with a standard plank until you can hold it for a solid 30 seconds to 1 minute. Next, add the knee bend and cross over under the body on each side. Finally, add extend and lift after the cross over and then you are able to do the exercise. Never say I can’t.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 NIV

Random Thoughts

When 2011 rolled in, I wasn’t promising myself that I would eat healthier, exercise more or procrastinate less, I was making a promise to myself to build a thought life that would reflect the world that I wanted. With that said, I promised God that I would watch my thoughts because my thoughts determined my mental attitude, and my mental attitude determined my action.Read more of this blog by Etta Malcolm at Embodied Spirituality.

Why is the Church in Trouble

Our bodies were designed to move. Obesity is at an all time high because so many of us are not exercising and not eating well. We ride in our cars instead of walking. We take the elevator instead of the stairs. We park in the nearest parking space at the grocery store instead of walking the distance. Some of us work to an extent that we seem chained to our desk. Obesity is not just a problem, it is an epidemic and it’s costing the body of Christ. In LiveLiving’s new emagazine issue, “Physical and Spiritual Fitness with Power”, Dr. Kara Davis tells us why the church is in trouble. Read more.