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.

Sweet to the Soul: Health to My Bones

By Nina Medrano –

As a mentor, I rely on the counsel of the Holy Spirit and on the Word of God to bring freedom and healing to the hearer. It is always such a sweet benefit to me when the Holy Spirit inspires and anoints a prayer modeled after the precious Word of God. Recently, the Spirit of the Lord inspired such a prayer modeled after Psalm 133.

Abba, Father, as we stand before Your presence, in one accord, in agreement with your Word, in the spirit of unity, I ask that you would release your precious anointing oil and pour it upon the heads of our leadership: government, churches and households. I ask that you would align our thoughts, our wills and our emotions to the will and the Word of God. May we learn to take every thought captive and bring it to the obedience of Christ in everything we do.

Let the precious ointment run down our eyes. Give us eyes to see your works in our lives; open our spiritual eyes of understanding. Let your oil continue to run down to our ears, and give us ears to hear the voice of Your Spirit and remove all blocks and hindrances and all other voices that hinder us from hearing your voice. Let your oil continue to run down over our mouths. Your Word says that the tongue is unruly and undisciplined. We yield our tongues to Your Lordship and we ask you to cleanse and purify our tongues from wicked words and anoint us to speak pleasant words that heal, cleanse and restore the hearers. Place Your hand upon our mouths and fill us with Your Word. We will speak Your word and we will not be afraid!

Let your precious oil run down our necks and shoulders. Remove the stress of this world and if there be any yoke of stiff-neck stubbornness and rebellion, we ask for forgiveness. Release your anointing that breaks off the yokes of bondage off our necks and replace it with the yoke of Jesus which is easy and light. Let your oil run down upon our arms and hands. Forgive us for trusting in the arms of our own flesh and defiling the works of our hands. We place our trust in the arm of God and God alone! Cleanse our hands and make them worthy of ministry and able to deliver many from the yokes of bondage.

Let your precious oil run down our garments down to our feet. Anoint our feet and our lives to walk and live out the gospel of Your kingdom in our private lives as well as in our public lives.

Let the anointing of Your Holy Spirit so settle upon our lives like the dew of Mt. Hermon and just like the frightful, thick fog that descends upon the mountain of Zion; so let Your Spirit descend upon us!

And, there, oh Lord, command your blessing, even life forevermore. We humbly ask for this type of anointing from Your Spirit in Jesus name, amen and amen.

Nina Medrano, a West Texas country girl, enjoys writing, ministry to women and playing with her two Jack Russell Terriers, Daisy and PepperJack.

10 Common Mistakes in Relationships

By Julie Morris –

Are you having problems in a relationship but can’t put your finger on what’s wrong? See which of these mistakes you’re making:

1. It’s His Fault—Joe is so busy playing the blame game with his boss that he doesn’t pay attention to things he’s doing to contribute to the problem. Do you ever play the blame game?

2. I’m Out Of Here—Mark doesn’t like his wife’s nagging so he works late every night, and tunes her out when he’s home. Do you withdraw either physically or emotionally from people rather than address the problem directly?

3. I’m An Exploding Volcano—Judy thinks it’s not very Christian to be angry so she stuffs her feelings toward her husband until she has more than she can hold. Then she explodes like a volcano and tells him all the horrible things she’s been thinking…and then some. Do you ever stuff your feelings until you explode?

4. I’m Her Holy Spirit—Dick feels that it’s his job to judge his wife, tell her when she’s wrong, and direct her every step. Do you try to take the Holy Spirit’s place?

5. If Only He’d Change—Brenda believes that she can never be happily married to her workaholic husband. She spends hours every day watching soap operas and reading romance novels to escape her emptiness. She is so stuck in her “if onlys” that she does nothing positive to deal with her problems. Do you live in the “if onlys”?

6. I’m Good Because I’m Submissive—Joann has a terrible fear of confrontation. She’ll do anything to keep from having an argument. She rationalizes her wimpiness to confront her husband’s ungodly behavior by calling it “submission.” Do you make excuses not to confront wrong behaviors?

7. He Deserves It—Mary’s boss is making her miserable. He piles more on her than she can do, complains constantly and never gives her a compliment. She gossips about him to anyone who will listen and does sloppy work to get even. Do you do unbecoming things and excuse them because of what others do to you?

8. If You Don’t Hear Me, I’ll Talk Louder—George has a real temper. If his 10-year-old son can’t understand when George explains his homework, he screams the instructions at him. Do you scream at someone, rather than trying to explain in a clearer way what you’re trying to say?

9. Here, Let Me Fix You—William only means to help his grown daughter with his constant stream of unasked-for advice, but he is alienating her instead. Do you feel compelled to give advice?

10. I’m Busy Doing God’s Work—Maryann teaches two Bible studies and is president of the women’s ministry at her Church. Her husband and children feel like they’re not as important to her as the things she’s doing. Do you treat your loved ones like your work is #1?

Look back over these mistakes and identify the ones you’re making. What are some things you can do to change? You’ll be amazed to see the blessings that come when you invest just a few minutes a day thinking about these things and praying for God to give you the willingness and ability to relate in a better way.

Adapted from Guided By Him…to a Thinner, Not So Stressed-Out You, by Julie Morris.

Julie Morris (julie@guidedbyhim.com) is the author of 12 books, a dynamic motivational speaker and founder of two Christian weight-loss programs: Step Forward (www.stepforwarddiet.com) and a lighter and easier version of Step Forward, Guided By Him (www.guidedbyhim.com).

To Love Another Person Is to See The Face of God

By Marty Norman –

Recently I saw a student production of Les Miserable at the local community theatre in For Worth, Texas. All I have to say is wow, the power of this production! And these were high school students. As surely as I stand, I testify that their voices rivaled those of Broadway stars. It was amazing.

A long time has passed since I last saw the production. I had forgotten the depth of the story, how pertinent and timely its message is for today.

The story takes place in France in the late 1770s, during the time of the French Revolution. The plot revolves around a number of mini-plots with the common denominator the transforming power of love.

Love permeates everything: the love of a mother for a child, a man for a woman, a man for his God and a man for his country. Sound familiar? Almost every song or conversation was about God, prayer, forgiveness, redemption, salvation or un-forgiveness.

Biblical, isn’t it?

What struck me most was the contrast between the two main characters, Jean Val Jean and Javert.  If I didn’t know better I would have thought, in a different time and place, that these two could have been Peter and Judas or at least representatives thereof.  In addition, they both were symbolic of everyman, for there isn’t a man or woman who, when he comes to the end of his life, doesn’t have to make the same choice as they made: to choose God and his plan for salvation or eternal damnation.

This contrast between light and dark was highlighted in song and drama. The first character, Jean Val Jean, was a thief, clearly a sinner, and he knew it. In the middle of his sin he came face to face with a priest who, acting as the hands and mouth of Jesus, poured out unconditional love in the midst of sin. This encounter was life-changing, forcing him to take a deep look at himself. In so doing he recognized his sin and cried out to God for forgiveness. He then turned his life around, experiencing a metanoia not unlike Paul’s on the road to Damascus. He then dedicated his life to serving God and his fellow man. Sounds like a Peter to me.

The second man was also a sinner. Javert, a policeman, spent his entire life following the law. But his eyes and ears were closed to truth. Only when faced with the truth of himself did he make a choice.  Encountering the unconditional love and self-sacrifice of Jean Val Jean, his large ego and even larger pride would not let him receive the forgiveness offered. He commits suicide rather than face the truth about himself, thus choosing eternal damnation and separation from God. Sounds like a repeat of the Judas story, doesn’t it?

So what is the lesson learned?

I believe it is more a question than a lesson.  The question being, which one are you?  A Judas or Peter? A Jean Val Jean or Javert?

As believers most of us are Peters. As a Peter, our job is to be aware of the many Judas’ and Javerts that are out there. Knowing their plot and their end, we should all be spurred to give a helping hand, one that offers the transforming power of a loving father who reaches down from heaven through the gift of his Son, to meet each of us in the middle of our sin and reconcile us to himself.

Just like Les Miserables, this Jesus play has a powerful ending too. No longer miserable, we, His people, are now joyous as we join the cast of thousands who enter into the great drama of heaven, receiving the applause, taking curtain calls, and accepting bouquets of roses as  we  choose the kingdom of light over the kingdom of darkness.

And there’s no better production than that, student or otherwise!

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