lent challenge day 23

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 23

In our physical bodies we need strength, endurance and flexibility.  We have strength through Jesus Christ.  He helps us in our endurance too.

Endurance exercises also know as cardiovascular exercises are needed daily.  It used to be, the College of Sports Medicine recommended 20- 30 minutes of cardiovascular conditioning 3-5 times a week as a minimum requirement.  Although this is still true, they now recommend we aim for an hour of exercise or 10,000 steps a day.

 In our culture, we are very sedentary.  The average American only gets 3500 steps in a day.  We also have a very high rate of adult onset diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.  Research shoes that fit individuals are less likely to develop adult onset diseases.  This is big news for our very sick culture; even our children are developing adult onset diseases.  Endurance exercises are things like walking, bicycling, running, swimming.  How can you fit in your endurance training today and avoid being sedentary?

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” NKJ

John 13:17  “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” NKJ

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

This afternoon at 3:30 pm (CST) we are having our weekly meeting at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Sparta.  Please come if you can.  You can also attend via teleconference.  Below is the teleconference information: 

605-475-4000

Access code  424844#

Hope you can attend!

Lent challenge day 22

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 22

Good Morning,

  STRENGTH

 Be strong in our bodies and in our faith.  Muscle strength is necessary to help our skeletal system be supported. Our muscles also support our internal organs.  If we keep ourselves strong physically we are able to continue to do many of physical things we have enjoyed since our youth.  I know of a woman who waterskied on her 80^th birthday.  I know of a 90 year old man who dances every dance the band plays, once a week.  I also know people by age 30 feel they are to old to do the things of their youth.  If we use our bodies they will perform for us.  If we neglect them and stop using them they will not be able to help us. 

IF YOU DON’T USE IT YOU LOOSE IT!!!

We have heard this before.  It is not only true in our physical bodies but also in our minds and our faith.  When we intentionally set our minds on our faith we will continually remember that we can trust God in all things.  Let’s continually feed our minds with His word, which fuels our faith and keeps us strong.

Jeremiah 31:25  “For I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 21

Lent Challenge Day 21

STREGTH

Our physical bodies need strength.  In order to get strength we need to work our muscles.  We work them to fatigue and let them rest and fatigue them again.  This tearing down the muscle and letting it rebuild stronger is how we get stronger.

Today I was reading Psalm 40 this chapter reminded me how fragile we can feel and when we call on Him we become strong.  I can see in my own life how my faith has become strong through continually having to trust Him when I have been broken.  Because of the continual breaking I have learned that what ever comes my way He can rebuild me.  I am so thankful for this faith.

Sometimes when we are stressed we can turn to other things instead of God to give us strength.  In the past I have turned to gossip, complaining, food, alcohol…do you find your strength in Him?  Or are you reaching for something else first?

Psalm 40:2  “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 20

Lent Wellness Challenge day 20

We are half way there!!   How are you doing?  Holy? Healthy? Happy?

Don’t worry if you have not been perfect or even if you have given up.  Start fresh and just pick one behavior at a time.  Confirm this is a behavior you know aligns with God’s will.

1 John 5:14 “ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: KJV

Today let’s talk about the importance of strength training.  We need muscle tone and strength to have strength in our physical bodies.  We can get this strength by lifting weights, doing floor exercises or isometric exercises.  We will see benefit from a simple 15-minute workout three times a week.  In our work outs, target all our major muscle groups.  Strength training is important especially as we get older.  The average person after age 40 looses one pound of muscle each year.  We can combat this with a good strength training routine.  We will go over this further at our group meeting and exercise class Thursday. (Please come or you can attend via teleconference)

Proverbs 31:17  “She giridith her loins with strength , and strengtheneth her

arms.” KJV

Today, with the renewed strength of a Monday morning what are you plans for exercise, specifically strength training?

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 19

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 19

I am getting a late edition out today.  I have been working at the Fire House for the past three days and my time is not my own, plus I just lost the last hour of work because I messed up my save.

We all have things that don’t work out quite right.  It is what we do with those frustration moments that can make or break our day.  We will be tried.  That is a given.  When I am feeling frustrated I remember  “All things work out for good for those who love God”.  This is the faith I hang my hat on daily.  Many things do not work as quickly as I would like, or the exact way I would like them to.  God sees all and is the rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6) 

Life style changes are this way; sometimes slow to see the desired result.  I know that when we keep on keeping on in the right direction we will get to a better place.

Hebrews 11:25  “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; KJV

A powerful tool to stomp out frustration is prayer.  Let’s pray for each other today that today and each day forward we can be lead by Faith regardless of what goes wrong.

Mathew 18:19-20 “ Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” KJV(I could not get these to appear in red letters they are the words of Jesus.)

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 18

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 18

Today I really struggled.  I have been doing so well this Lent season and today I wanted to eat everything!

Stinking Thinking is what can keep us stuck in our old ways.  When Lt. Rob mentioned the pizza I immediately said,  “Bad idea” to my self.  But as he kept mentioning it, I started thinking of how good I have been and how pizza wasn’t really a treat, so I could eat it without breaking my Lent vow.  There was my excuse and I ran with it.

1 Corinthians 6:12  “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:  all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

I caught myself later in the day really being obsessed with food.  Which is not where I have been with food these past weeks.  I had to do something to get my mind off it!  I took a break and exercised.  I felt much better and then I felt hungry.  Some days it is more difficult to do the right thing then other days. 

 I realized that I am over tiered.  When we lack enough sleep we can compensate by over eating.  People who do not get enough sleep tend to be 25 pounds or more over weight.  When I am over tiered I also forget to honor God.  Most of us need 8-10 hours of sleep a day.

Today I hope we each have a wonderful day!  If you are tiered or stressed sleep and rest in His love.   “Stinking Thinking” attacks all of us.  Attack back with the word of God!

Proverbs 3:5-7  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 17

Lent Challenge Day 17

  Some of us cannot imagine keeping this up for a lifetime.  Change is difficult.  We can desire to change because we are fed up with the extra weight or lack of energy and then because change is difficult we decide that our old ways maybe aren’t that bad and we’ll be Ok if we just forget it.

About eight years ago I felt that way about my drinking.  I had tried to quit hundreds of times and I finally said Forget it.  I can’t do it why try?  Then I tried one more time.  I am so glad I did not give up.

When I quit drinking it was a major lifestyle change.  Alcohol had become my friend and I was lonely with out it.  I had to relearn how to entertain myself and be happy in my new lifestyle without looking back.  I still have to use those techniques when I give up ice cream, snacking, over spending.  I don’t think of “I can never do this behavior again” I just think “I can do this today, until I go to bed tonight”.  (Sometimes I go to bed early to help me make it)

Turning from the old to the upward call of God is not the easiest path.  But it is worth it.  Don’t worry about the rest of your life.  Just take one day at a time.  Make one choice at a time, moment by moment. 

We can do this!  We can do it in joy!

Matthew 7:13-14  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

1 Timothy 6:6  “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 16

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 16

1 Timothy 6:6  “ But Godliness with contentment is great gain.” KJV

1 Timothy 6:11-12  “But thou, O man of God, flee things and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” KJV

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN!!!

I believe when I am acting within His laws to the best of my ability, covered by His mercy, grace and love I am not only content but I am HAPPY!!!!!!!!(Psalms 144:15)

Attitude is Altitude!!!  We are on a wellness quest this Lent season.  Are we enjoying it?  Many times at my seminars I have participants do a laughing exercise.  Recreation, having fun is important in life.  I know from my personal experience happiness is something I choose, not something I just have. 

 Often I need to do things that are not on my fun list, laundry, and dishes, toilets SNOW SHOVELING! Yet when I choose to do what ever I am doing in joy for Him I feel joy.  We can take this attitude in to all areas of our life. 

Today, ask yourself “ am I approaching this lifestyle change from a lack perspective or a spirit of joy?”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

We will be addressing this very subject at this afternoons meeting.  If you cannot attend in person you can attend via conference call at 3:30 pm CST.

Call (605)-475-4000

Access code is 424844#

Lent challenge day 15

It is good to snack a couple times during the day to keep our metabolism up and from getting to the “ I am starving mode”.  We have to pay close attention to what we snack on and how much.

Lent Wellness Challenge day 15

Portion size is a very important part of weight management.  Many people are able to have success on a variety of diets because they limit their caloric intake by limiting their portion sizes. Often there is measuring involved and when the diet is over the portion sizes go back up along with the weight.  I have had much success with eyeballing portion size.  This is easy to do and therefore I can make it a life style choice and not a diet.

 You will see this listed on the Nutrition page of my Website:

http://faithcenteredfitness.com/nutrition.html

 When we concentrate on eating all the portions we need and the correct portions we will be focusing on a lifestyle solution.

Eating while driving, munching from the bag, snacking randomly while cooking make it very difficult to determine how much we consume. Today compare your portion sizes to the ones on the wellness challenge charts or the portion sizes listed on the products you buy.  How do you compare?

Another key factor in weight management is how we think of food.  Ask yourself this; do you think of food as necessary nutrition or entertainment?

 What you think of the Website info and how you are doing on portion size?

Ecclesiastes 5:19  “ Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift from God.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent challenge day 14

Lent Challenge day 14

I am being successful this Lent challenge on my sweet decrease.  A good friend of mine is also being successful on trying not to eat food inappropriately.  The difference in our approach is I am focusing on the behavior I want to do and she is focusing on the behavior she wants to avoid.  Today let’s all focus on the behavior we want in our lives a see if that doesn’t help us more.

If I concentrate on the thing I do not want to do, it make me want to do it.  An example;

The only thing I do not want to do today is eat chocolate cake.  My desire becomes chocolate cake even if I normally don’t think about chocolate cake.

The only thing I do not want to do today is drink.  My desire becomes having a drink.

Let’s set our minds on our desired behavior only.  Think of what we want in our lives. 

An example;

I see myself taking time with God every morning before the kids and husband get up.

 I will eat my fruits and vegetable requirements before I have a cheat food.

I will have one cheat food a day and it will be a FDA recommended portion.

When we set our minds on the things above, the behaviors you want to accomplish we keep our hearts focused on the positive.  If we set our minds on our fleshly desires they grow.  They can grow even if we are setting our mind against them.

Romans 8:1  “There are therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 13

Lent Challenge day 13

Happy Spring!!

Spring makes me think of summer.  Summer makes me think of swimming and biking and water skiing.  I am thankful that the Lord has put upon my heart to decrease the large amount of sugar I was eating.  I am starting to lose weight and I needed to in order to fit into my summer wardrobe.

Last weekend we had a Women’s retreat at Barker Lake Lodge.  It was wonderful!  I was reminded that God is a God of abundance.  An Evangelist spoke in the afternoon.  She gave testimony to how God provided for her over and over again, often at the last minute.  She just had to trust and walk in faith.

 I tried to quit drinking over and over again; I have tried to quit mass amounts of sugar over and over again.  God is a God of abundance. I can feel him freeing me from my sugar addiction.  I need to keep doing my part and not turn back to it.  He can and will give us what we need.  This includes the strength to keep on keeping on.  Trust and believe today our strength is made perfect through Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 12:19)  If you are turning from an old destructive life style pattern call on His strength when you romance the idea of how the old undesirable behavior is acceptable.

Mathew 5:37 “Let your Yes be Yes and you No, No.  For what ever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Proverbs 23:7 “ A  s a man thinkith in his heart so shall he be”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 12

Lent Wellness Challenge Day 12

Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to be a Key Note speaker at a Women’s retreat at Barker Lake Lodge in Winter, WI.   I was one of three speakers and about 50 women.  It was a great day!

This reminded me of how important it is for us to be helping each other stay strong in Jesus and strong in our physical bodies.  Many times when we encourage each other we encourage each other to take a load off.  Today, let’s try to encourage each other to go the extra mile for our Lord in all areas of our lives, especially in our physical bodies.  Sometimes the best way to encourage others is to give heart-felt examples of what works for us.

When you read this email, please send back a quick update of what is working for you this Lent Challenge.  When we share how we succeed we can inspire others to do the same.

What is working for me to stay on track with eating only one normal size dessert a day is remembering I am doing this to honor God through Lent.  I tell myself “ I love God more then I love being a gluttonous dessert eater.  I can do this at least through Lent.”  Yesterday was tempting; there were lots of great looking desserts there. I concentrated on eating the healthful food choices and was satisfied to do so.

1 Timothy6: 6  “But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

lent wellness day 11

Lent Challenge day 11

Good Morning,

   We have concentrated on keeping our hearts right through the powerful gift of Jesus this first quarter of Lent. 

Mathew 6:33 “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Let’s continue to have that be our focus as we move through Lent and through our lives.

1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Our physical health is very important!  Many of us think of ourselves as “to busy”.

Many of us are.  Our priorities need to include taking care of our physical bodies.  If you feel you are to busy, make time.  We have one life here on earth and one body.  No one else can take care of your body for you.  We need:

Sleep

Rest-de-stress

Recreation

Exercise

Nutrition

Hygiene-keep on keeping on

Medical and Dental care

If we want to achieve our goals in this Lent Challenge and our long range goals in life we need to make a commitment to Honor God by taking care of His temple our bodies. 

How are you going to take care of your temple today?

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 10

Lent Challenge day 10

Good Morning,

   I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day.  St. Patrick spread the good news of the Gospel to Ireland.  He used the Three-leaf clover to illustrate Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Father- Heavenly Father, Creator

Son- Jesus, Savior, washes our sins clean, we can have a relationship with the Father

Holy Spirit- Helper, who helps us live as Jesus taught us.

Listen to the VOICE OF TRUTH.  We have been given the Holy Spirit as our helper.  Sometimes we can believe a lie and not the voice of truth.  Lies that come into my head are; you can’t do it, why try? No body cares what you have to say, a little gossip is not that bad, I don’t have time to reach out ,  it was only a white lie, You really screwed up, just forget trying, give up.  Do you recognize any of these?

If we believe the lies of Satan we can give up our goal of living a Life pleasing to God.  Today let’s make sure we are listening to the Voice of truth.  My friend Judy pointed out to me, God is incapable of doing anything bad.  When bad, defeated thoughts enter our head they are not of God!

Today, let’s concentrate on listening to the VOICE OF TRUTH and squash any lie that enters our head.

Hebrews 13:6 “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” KJV

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

lent wellness day 9

Lent Wellness challenge day 9

Good Morning,

   We have established that we need to have good quality sleep as a building block for good health.  This week that is more difficult with the time change.  When we don’t get enough sleep we can let stress get to us.  My tip for today is:

CAST YOUR CARE FOR HE CARES FOR YOU!! (1 Peter 5:7)

There are so many things that we cannot control in our lives.  We can stress out about them but when we do it can lead to self-destruct behaviors.  Today, if the spirit of worry or fear creeps up upon you, chose His love.  Perfect love casts out fear.  (1 John 4:18)

Last night I had a horrible dream, we were at war and I was in the war zone. My only defense was prayer and trust.  It was only a dream but it sure seemed real.

Psalm 145:18  “ The LORD is near to all who call upon Him:  To all who call upon Him in truth,”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

lent wellness day 8

Lent Challenge day 8

Good Morning,

Based on our comments, most of us seem to struggle with giving up the old and pressing toward the upward call of God.  That is what we are doing, pressing forward to His upward call.  When we decided on the behavior we were going to give up for Lent, we picked a behavior that will honor Him.  When I focus on Honoring Him in my behavior I find the extra strength it takes for me to keep on keeping on.

Moving forward is letting go of the past.  Jesus died that we are saved and that we may have and enjoy our present life.  Forgiveness is key!  Yesterday I gave a presentation that was pretty good.  I find myself tempted to rehash it over and over.  I did what I did.  I forgive myself for the parts that I could have done better.  I learn from it.  I let it go.  I cannot do anything to change the past.  Today I will try to stay in my present moment.  Accepting His forgiveness moment by moment, I will use His strength to keep on keeping on.

Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” KJV

John 10:10 “ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy” I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” KJV

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 7

Lent Wellness Challenge day 7

For the past six days I have successfully given up extra dessert.  I have managed to stay with one normal size serving of dessert a day. (You know a miniscule amount like a half a cup of ice cream.)  During the past couple days I have started reverting back to my cheese and crackers habit. I will try to use the 1 Corinthians 10:23 verse again today “ all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”NKJ

Next I need to look at why I am reverting back to old habits. 

1.     I feel justified in my excuse.(since I have been so good with dessert)

2.     I am not eating my fruits and vegetables first.

3.     I am being lead by my feelings and not the truth.

Today Let’s all try to make sure we are being lead by the truth, His word.  Find a Bible verse that motivates you in your desired behavior change and please share it with our group.   WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! 

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

lent wellness day 6

Lent Wellness Challenge day 6

Good Morning,

I have been working at the Fire House this weekend, with plenty of opportunity to eat sweets.  I started yesterday with an excuse…”Do you think this cringle is a dessert or breakfast item? “  I said to my co-worker.  He said, Lots of people eat a cringle for breakfast it is pure sugar.  I had my excuse!  Then I heard a small voice inside my head that said, “I love God more then I love cringles” I backed off the cringle and ate fruit and vegetables.  Later that morning I realized the cook did not buy ice cream so I decided to eat a normal size portion of the cringle for my dessert.    I then remembered the verse Christina brought up at last weeks meeting.

1 Corinthians 10:23 “ All things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

I learned that even if I have a great excuse to go back to my old ways, I am better off to stay in my solution and honor God.

Be fit and be blessed and be solution oriented today!

Kimberly

Please share the Bible verses that have helped you this week

PS. I am very thankful that the cook did not buy ice cream, so at least I was able to stay with my one normal size dessert for the day.

lent wellness day 5

Lent Wellness challenge day 5

Spring ahead!!!  Let’s spring ahead into a holy, healthy happy lifestyle!!

Be careful today, if you are apart of daylight savings time you most likely lost an hour of sleep last night.  Some of us can let this time change effect us for days.  Sleep is a very essential part of good health.  The average adult needs at least 8-10 hours of sleep a day.  Good quality sleep is key.  In order to get this high level of sleep we need to have bedtime routines, sleep in quiet, dark environments and sleep in a regular bed verses crashing on the couch when we can.  People who do not get enough good quality sleep tend to be 25pounds or more over weight.  Sleep deprivation can have the same effect on our bodies as intoxication, inability to concentrate, irritability, and lack of coordination.  To ensure success in our Lent wellness challenge.  Let’s make sure we are getting enough sleep.

Psalm 4:8  “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 4

Lent Wellness challenge day 4

Sometimes when we leave old patterns behind it can hurt.  Our old undesirable behaviors have become a friend to us.  Our comfort behaviors, destructive as they can be, feel just that, comforting.  When I first quit drinking I really missed drinking.  Quitting drinking was one of the best choices I have made in my life.  It gave me the ability to walk in His love.  Before I quit, drinking had become my God.  Most of you are not alcoholic.  Yet, many of us rely on things to comfort us that are not God.  I have used ice cream, exercise, cheese, soda, co-dependent relationships, gossip, and complaining to comfort me before I even asked for His help.  Today, when it feel painful to give up the old and walk in the new, don’t look back just push forward in the upward call of God.  Knowing that His comfort is exceedingly greater then the momentary pleasure we can get from our comfort behavior.

 1 Peter 5:10  “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” KJV

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

PS (To comment on the post you do not have to sign in just hit comment and hit open form.)

Lent wellness day 3

Lent Wellness challenge day 3

Good Afternoon,

  I am working at the Fire House today so I am off my schedule. 

Yesterday, we had a great meeting.  Thank you those who were able to attend.  Most of us in this group want to be more focused on God and live healthier life styles.

A common problem we have is our excuses.  You know them, I don’t have time, I don’t think I can, I tried but it doesn’t work for me…We can find an excuse to not get out of bed in the morning if we want to.  When we give into our excuses we cannot change our lives.  Today and each day forward when the voice of excuse comes upon us let’s immediately squash it with a solution. 

An example:

 I don’t want to exercise because I don’t have time.  Solution, make time even five minutes on the hour counts.

I can’t stop eating these sweets.  I quit!  I can’t do it anyway.  Solution: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I am going to put this sweet down and I am going to get out of the kitchen.

If we are going succeed in conquering our excuses we need to ask God for his help and keep turning our mind and actions to Him and  our new desired behavior.  Do not worry about how hard it seems.   Just keep the goal in mind and any thought that does not line up with your goal dismiss it.

Proverbs 23:6-7”Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinkith in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saithith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”

Concentrate on solutions and avoid excuses!!!

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 2

Lent Wellness day two

Good Morning,

I hope your day went wonderful yesterday.  Today Let’s try to focus on Holy, Healthy and Happy thoughts and actions.   This type of thinking will help strengthen us to carry on in our desired behavior change.

Holy= Mathew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”
Have you prayed today?  Have you read His word?


Healthy= 1 Corinthians 6:19” Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
 How are you treating yourself today?  Are you honoring your Lent promise?  Are you treating yourself with His love?  Are you treating your body as His temple?

Happy= Psalm 144 “Happy are people in such a state, happy are people who’s God in the Lord”)
Have you acted in accordance to His word?  (Have you done something nice for someone else?


As we move forward in our Lent challenge let’s make sure each day these three things are on our list.

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Ash Wednesday/ 1st day of Lent

Lent Wellness day One

Good Morning,

Today is Ash Wednesday.  Today is officially the first day of Lent.  We have been preparing our hearts for this season the past couple of days.

Write down the one behavior you are going to fast or that you are going to do with a daily commitment this Lent season.

When you are tempted to break this commitment tell yourself, “ I love God I am doing this to honor Him” 

This is not a sacrifice.  Jesus paid the price of sacrifice for us.  This is a way for us to honor God.   His GRACE saves us not our works!  If you mess up don’t worry about it, just keep on keeping on.  Ask Jesus for strength, as a believer; you are already forgiven for everything yesterday, today and in the future.

Honoring God in all I do and all I am has been a pinnacle decision, which has helped my life tremendously.  The goal of this wellness challenge is to get us all to be more focused on honoring Him in our daily lives.  We are starting during Lent because this is a powerful time; it is a measureable time frame, ending Easter Sunday.  Hopefully we will take our honoring behavior into our daily lives throughout the year.

1 John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwellith in him, and he in God.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

**** 1 John 4 is a great chapter and relatively short***********

Please respond to this email with a respond to all or comment on the blog.  We will do better at honoring Him if we pray for each other and communicate with each other.

Lent wellness prep day 5

Lent wellness (prep day 5)

Good morning!

   What a beautiful morning it is too!  Today I found a quote from Joanie Yoder,

“The Bible is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions.”

PERFECT!!!!!

Psalm 121:2 “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

Psalm119: 33 “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statues; and I shall keep it unto the

End.”

My life is easier to manage, my weight easier to control, my temper more easily conquered through the help of the Lord.  By my self I have fallen so many times.  With Jesus I may still fall, but I am caught.  He saves me; He continually forgives me and gives me the strength to keep on keeping on. When I spend daily time in His word I feel His strength and am given encouragement to do what He wants me to do.  Have you enjoyed your bread today?

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent wellness day 4

Lent Wellness Challenge

Good Morning,  

    Old habits are hard to break.  But, we can do it!!!!  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!  In order to leave the old behind we need  to desire new habits in our hearts.

Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinkith in his heart so shall he be.”

Today, concentrate on what your healthful, well life looks like.  Some of us need to eat less and exercise more, some of us need to spend less money, some of us need to cast our cares upon Him and live in His peace.  Some of us need to do all these things and then some.  Today, envision what you need to do to live a better life and pray that He give you the strength to do so.  

2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom; to who be glory for ever and ever.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

PS  Only change concentrate on one behavior at a time.  Taking on to much, at once can be overwhelming.

Loving ourselves

Lent wellness day two

On Thursday, at our Sparta groups I noticed how important it would be for each of us to continually remember we are worthy children of God.  We deserve to have kind loving thoughts toward ourselves no matter how many times we fail or fall short. Jesus suffered and died for each of us so that we could be forgiven.  This forgiveness is for everything, yesterday, today and tomorrow.  We live in continual forgiveness.  Today and each day forward when we are tempted to say or think negative condemning thoughts toward ourselves try saying this,” I am a beautiful child of God, I am forgiven through Christ Jesus I will not put myself down because He died to bring me up.  I am His and I am worthy through Him!  We all need to love ourselves with His love and not to compromise this at all!!

Psalm 63:3 “Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Lent Wellness Challenge

Welcome to the Lent Wellness challenge.  Thank you for sharing in this challenge.  I am confident that together we can improve our lives through Christ’s love.  This Lent season I pray that each of us can be devoted to living a holy, healthy, happy life style.  I encourage each of us to share our struggles and successes.  I believe by doing so we can help each other be solution oriented.  Our goal is to dedicate the 40 days of Lent as a time to honor God through our thoughts words and deeds. By doing this, we will be in a better place by Easter Sunday.  I cannot think of a better way to honor our King then to walk in His word.

Take some time to fill out the attached questionnaire (some of you have received these at our meeting) and think about what behavior you know that if you gave it up consistently for the next year, your life would be better.  Right it down.  Right down why you want to change this behavior.

Find a Bible verse that supports your decision.  If you need help, with any of it including finding the verse please just call or e-mail.  I want to help you.

Today remember to trust God and ask Him in. 

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”

Mathew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

How did you do today?  Did you try to practice one holy, healthy and happy behavior?

You can respond to all.  I hope to get a blog going soon.  Those of you with weight loss goals did you change anything today?

Lent does not officially start until Wednesday the 9^th.  Starting to think of Holy, Healthy, and Happy is good to do now.  Starting Wednesday we will fast a behavior.

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly

Please introduce yourself briefly to the group and tell us how you did today, or yesterday.  Depending on when you read this email.  Most emails will come in the morning and will be much shorter.

Lent Wellness Challenge

Fit Bit with Kimberly

Lent Challenge

Today I was reading in Hebrews 11.  Faith; “is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.”  This chapter is full of great acts of faith.  In todays’ world we are continually being enticed to follow our feelings and fleshly desires.  This Lent season I challenge you to follow your faith.  Let your actions match your faith.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  We all have different fleshly desires; gluttony, slothfulness, gossip, complaining…This Lent let’s help each other walk in His word and follow our faith.

  “It is easier for me to love God more then I love my bad habits especially during lent”

Kimberly Ann Mathews

Please join me in this Lent challenge.

Email me at Kimberly_annswers@yahoo.com

Or call me at 608-487-4879

http://faithcenteredfitness.com/events.html

If you are in the Sparta area we will have weekly meetings in addition to daily online support.  This will challenge will be online through a blog format.

Be fit and be blessed,

Kimberly