Starting Anew

By Cami Checketts –

I love the fresh autumn air! There’s a feeling of starting again, becoming organized, finishing up those projects it was too hot to do all summer, eating homegrown produce, getting on a schedule, and hopefully fitting an exercise routine into that schedule.

As most of you know, I had a baby last month. Being on a schedule is still a bit out of reach for me, but once I hit that six-week postpartum mark it’s time to at least attempt some semblance of organization, revisit my former life and hopefully someday fit in those old jeans (it is horrid to still be wearing maternity clothes after the baby is born!).

But getting back into an exercise routine is not easy. I’ve been shocked by how painful it is. When you’re in shape and exercise vigorously, it hurts but it’s a productive, feel-good kind of hurt. When you’re out of shape and/or recovering from something, this exercise-induced hurt is a miserable, I-want-to-sit-down-on-the-side-of-the-road-and-call-my-husband-to-come-get-me kind of hurt. I keep promising myself, and I want to promise any of you who are just starting out, that it will get easier. Someday it will feel good to push myself again. But how do you get to that point?

Motivation – First of all we need the motivation. That part seems easy to me. I’m very motivated to lose the pregnancy weight, to fit into my clothes again, to feel good, to be healthy for myself and my children (most especially my baby who gets all his nutrients from Mom right now). There are plenty of reasons or motivators to get into shape and eat healthy, but if you’re like me I’m gung-ho in the morning, but by mid-afternoon I’m justifying why I need some cookies or ice cream. “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41 KJV). So how do we keep that motivation strong in our minds and get through the tough times when exercise hurts or we don’t have time to fit it in… or we really, really need a slice of chocolate pound cake?

Promises – I make promises to myself. If I work out four days a week, I get to sit down on Friday afternoon and read a good book (if I can talk the boys into it). If I hit my water goal every day, I can get specialty lemonade on my Saturday night date. If I eat five fruits and veggies each day, I can have a treat (because if I say, “absolutely no treats,” the entire family suffers).

Deals – Another thing that really helps me is to make deals with other people. Promise your friend that you’ll meet at the gym or go on a walk each morning. If one of you flakes, you have to take your friend to lunch or she has to babysit your toddler for a few hours. Husbands work great for deals. When I hit my “normal” weight, my husband has money set aside for me to go shopping for new clothes. (If I could just figure out where he hid it!)

Help – Turn to the source Who cares about you in all aspects of your life. It’s not wrong to pray for help and strength to be healthy. The Lord wants us to take care of ourselves and feel good; doing so means we can serve and love His other children more.

I hope that you can all enjoy this beautiful time of year and that you will use my suggestions for positive motivation to improve your health in some way.

Cami Checketts is a wife, mother of four boys, exercise scientist, and author. Her latest book, The Sister Pact, is in stores now. www.camichecketts.com

Alone at Midnight

By Jane Thornton –

Gaze darting hither and thither, I stretched my lids as wide as possible. Midnight, alone in my bedroom. In the basement.

I’d been fine while huddled under the covers reading. But frequent yawns nagged me to get some sleep. School would come bright and early. As soon as I laid my novel on the bedstand, fear whispered in my ear.

Shadows thickened. Something rattled in the hallway. My drowsiness vanished and nerves screamed to take cover. Just outside my door on the right, loomed the cavern of the staircase. To the left lurked the fearsome portal to the dangers of the outdoors during the witching hour.

My choices were slim. To find haven with my parents, I’d have to scramble up the dark steps and traverse the length of the house, which included wall-to-wall, gaping windows. My sister’s room was much nearer, but I’d have to pass the outside door. Neither option appealed. Still, I needed to be near a live, breathing person. If I didn’t find refuge, my heart would burst from my chest.

I gathered all my nerve (and my teddy bear). Taking a gulp of air and holding it to sustain me through my flight, I leapt from my bed and clambered across the landing, throwing a wild glance at the outside door. I skidded around the corner and raced for Nancy’s room. Slithering to a stop (on the side of the bed farthest from the door), I panted and tapped my soundly sleeping sister’s shoulder.

“Nan,” I hissed. “Can I get in bed with you?” I poised with my fingers already grasping the blanket.

“No.” The muffled voice was grumpy.

“Please!” Tears choked my throat as I begged. “I won’t take up much room, I promise.”

After much pleading, combined with threats, she grudgingly allowed me three inches on the edge of the mattress. I lay with my hand literally dangling to floor to support most of my weight. But I was satisfied to feel safe.

Over the years, I have been blessed to have little legitimate cause for real terror. A couple of brushes with Peeping Toms encompass the extent of the menace I’ve faced. Most of my scares have been experienced vicariously with characters of books.

Snuggled securely in my armchair, I like to ponder how I would react to a true threat. Forgetting my hysterical reactions to eyes at the window and bumps in the night, I prefer to give myself credit for great potential bravery. I look ahead to the worst that could happen and imagine I could handle it.

My confidence and logic might not hold up in the heat of the moment – if I ever have to face it. But even if I melt into a quivering puddle of incoherency, my faith rests on a kernel of truth. Whatever I face, God will be with me. And when all perils end, I will be with Him.

“Because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5b-6)

The Mentor

By Heather Allen –

If you have been part of a church for more than a millisecond, you’ve realized there’s an in crowd. At times I have been in, with all the right lingo pouring out, right smack in the A list. At times I have been out, splitting my time between figuring out how to get in and convincing myself why I don’t really want to be there.

I met a woman I considered a mentor. Of course, she had no idea who I was. But I tried to move into her life anyway. The problem was other people wanted to move in too, and before I knew it the only spot left was the basement closet…not exactly the hotspot. Not a place the owner visits much, just here and there when looking for holiday decorations or an old pair of boots to lend out. On those rare occasions when she would visit me, I sat on the edge of my seat hoping she would see something worthwhile in me, hoping she would invite me to the living room. She is something and if she likes me, maybe I’m something too. Perhaps the only thing worse than never meeting someone you greatly admire, is meeting, and realizing they could care less. I decided if she could just see the real me, things would be different. She would care.  I did everything I could to show her I was worth her time. I vacillated between feeling like a circus performer trying to juggle every new act just to get her attention, and a sell-out. Of course she was always polite, but when I heard her say she was deeply lonely, I was astonished.

The question I wanted to dismiss, stared at me. Like a child, repeatedly told to go to bed, it stalled, waiting. I rolled on my side, turning my face away. I began reading Galatians.  But I confess, I found it hard to move past chapter one. There, in black and white was the mirror I could not shield my eyes from.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10, NIV).

The Creator, the one who organized every living being, blowing breath on dust, didn’t just invite me over for an afternoon of conversation & coffee.  He asked if He could move right into me. How could I look past His deep, steady love? Why fill the chasm with approval that can be bought?

Trust His love. May it be the rain that cascades over, coursing through veins, bringing life.

Heather Allen spends most of her time carrying for her hubby and 3 kids.  Check out her blog: http://www.thebloodknot.blogspot.com/

Get Fit by Rocking Your World

By Courtney McArthur –

A new trend is rocking the world of fitness!

Zumba is a dance class that incorporates international music with hip hop and other dance moves. The class normally is an hour long and provides a vigorous cardio work out. On average, a person can burn from 400 to 800 calories in one Zumba class. The most common dance moves found in a typical Zumba class are the cumbia, reggae ton, salsa, meringue, mambo and axe.

Even though Zumba is a dance class, no training is required before attending. Another benefit of Zumba: no equipment is required. The only fee would be the membership at the gym where Zumba classes are offered. The classes are taught by certified instructors who, in my experience, are filled with energy and a passion for what they do. They are there to help you lose weight in a fun and healthy way.

Zumba is seventy percent Latin or international music and thirty percent music chosen by the instructor. Instructors receive the original lyrics to each of the songs in the foreign language and a copy in English so they can understand what the song is saying. That way, they can make sure that there is no profanity in any of the music. It’s refreshing to be able to have a fun, hip and pure workout class.

I was so nervous before my first Zumba class! I have no experience dancing and was scared I would make myself look silly, but I discovered that almost everyone feels the same way. I found that the dance moves were a little intense at first. I had a hard time catching on and actually doing the moves correctly. It took me roughly three classes before I got comfortable with the different dance moves. I have to admit that I’ve been doing Zumba for a year now and some of the moves are still hard for me.

Even though the class pushes me and is difficult at times, it is such a great way to just let go and have some fun.  In fact, Zumba is so much fun that many prefer to call it a Latin-based party instead of a workout class.

Katie Newton, a senior at Auburn University and certified Zumba instructor says, “I believe in a full mind body workout. When you put your soul into the workout, it can get you through anything, even when your mind and body leave you. That’s why I love Zumba I get lost in the music!”

So next time you are having a hard time getting to the gym, bring some friends and try a new fun workout. Not only will you be burning calories, but you will be having a blast doing it!

Courtney McArthur is a junior at Auburn University. She is very passionate about trying new workouts, staying in shape and having fun while doing it.

How to Pray for Your Kids

By Teresa Lusk –

Every parent’s knees should hit the floor on behalf of our children, young or grown. What should you pray for them other than their safety? What you pray for you kids is unlimited (Ephesians 6:18, NIV) but there are seven prayer suggestions I’d like to share.

Pray that your children (1) Love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind (Mathew 22:37, NIV). If they love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, they will have received salvation and have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are not promised to be spared heartaches and disappointment, but we can ask God (2) to put a hedge of protection over our kids. Many of us get caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. If you have ever been in a “that was close” situation, we could contribute that to God watching over us and possibly someone praying for our safety and protection. Why not cover our own kids with prayer for protection from harm, danger and people’s carelessness.

So much is put out in the world for our kids to fall astray: porn, drugs, alcohol, out-of-control friends. Asking the Lord (3) to build them up in purity of mind, soul, body and spirit will give them a weapon they can use against the world’s pressures. If they are pure in mind, they are less likely to fall into porn or lustful desires. If they have purity of soul, their mind, will and emotions will be covered, and purity of body means they keep it clean as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lastly, their purity in spirit will allow them to walk by the spirit and not by the flesh.

How many times do we hear on the news about a passionate criminal who was recently brought to justice? Well, if our kids (4) know how to submit to authority, problems with the law, with their bosses and any other government authority will not be a challenge for them. Wrap them in petitions for their ability to submit to their higher ups.

Most of us have gone in and out of many relationships and career choices. What if you would have heard God’s calling on your life since you were young? It may have saved you time, effort and heartache. (5) Hearing God’s calling on their life is essential. Why not ask God to reveal Himself to them at a young age so they can start pursuing their calling?

If we could all pick our children’s spouses I bet we would. We are in America and that will not be happening! The Lord Himself can (6) pick and set apart our kids’ spouses for them, though. Divorce rate is already high. Let Him be the One who picks and sets apart that special person for your child.

Finally, Americans are in serious debt with no savings, and when one looses a job there is nothing to sustain them except hopefully their faith. If our children are equipped with financial wisdom from a young age (7) they may be able to escape the financial sins of our of generation and our society.

All of these points are only a tiny view of what we can pray for our children. One way to discover what we can pray for them is to look back at our own mistakes, the mistakes of our family generations before, and the happenings of the world around them. Entrust them to the Lord and be faithful in our concession to pray at all times and about all things!

Teresa G. Lusk is the author of Good Enough to be a Homemaker and CEO and is a Motivational Speaker. Visit www.teresalusk.com for more information.

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