"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3
There's a popular trend toward self-care. Have you noticed it? There are a plethora of self-care guides suggesting ways to manage everything from exhaustion to appetite through cocktails of autonomous effort. I find myself with unsettled feelings over this self-care movement. Why? One simple reason, self. The very phrase "self-care" should raise eyebrows. In and of our self, there is no lasting...
I read a quote recently that struck me. American Journalist Sydney J. Harris wrote, "Middle-age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, "Why bother?" Bullseye! This topic has been swirling around in my mind for months. For those of us not quite in the prime of our youth and not quite menopausal, we find ourselves in the chasm of the middle. The middle can be an uncomfortable place. It's a place I'm becoming well acquainted...
"And not only this, but we too, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection]. For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure."...
God desires the best for you. Do you believe that? His will for you is good. Are you convinced of it? The Word of God promises that God's will is to prosper us. His will is to give us hope. His will and desire are that all of His children know Him intimately and having a saving knowledge of the truth. HIs will is to give us a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude. His will is to bestow upon us generously all the strength and wisdom we need to be victorious in this life. THAT is the true will of...
"For in the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11
One of my favorite quotes is from Abraham Lincoln. He said, "Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” I find that to be such a powerful challenge and a profound parallel to Hebrews 12:11. This holiday season, you will be faced with many small decisions. You'll decide whether to have...
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you,...
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. If I'm honest though, that wasn't always true. In fact, when eating disorders were a real struggle for me, I would experience anxiety over the very thought of Thanksgiving for weeks leading up to it. I would get anxious because historically Thanksgiving was a day when my eating disorder spun out of control. The day would inevitably end with me feeling sick and ashamed. Now, on this side of healing, I’m so thankful to be able to celebrate the...
Scripture: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His faithful loves endures forever." Psalm 118:1
Reflection: Have you ever heard the term, "What you allow increases"? It's basically saying that when we partake in something once, our human nature is to do so more and more. For example, we are gluten-free by necessity. When my son eats gluten his body has an adverse reaction. However, the side-effects are not so severe that they completely debilitate him, they simply keep him from feeling...
Scripture: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]." Matthew 6:24
Reflection: Most of us don't intentionally offer our hearts to false Gods. Most of us don't intentionally go into the pursuit of better health or weight loss ready to bow to the process above all else. The truth is though,...
Scripture: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Reflection: Life is ever-changing. It's one thing we can count on this side of heaven! This year has been a profound reminder of that truth, hasn't it? Sometimes change brings with it excitement and joy. Other times, change can take our breath away, and feel as though the rug has been pulled straight out from under us. Maybe you're experiencing personal change, maybe a healthy journey, a move, a change in...
Nourish: Discover God's Perfectly Balanced Plan for Your Body and Soul Encouragement and practical knowledge for living a healthy spiritual & physical lifestyle, inspiring you to get healthy from the inside out.
Devotions for a Healthier You A devotional filled with scriptures, encouraging stories, and tips on keeping a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
100 Simple & Delicious Recipes for Clean Eating An inspirational cookbook chock-full of healthy, innovative yet simple recipes.
