This is a great visual that I learned from Joyce Meyer. What if you went to a church and it was clearly not taken care of. Paint peeling off the walls, broken pews and walls, windows so dirty you couldn't see the light shining through? It would make you wonder about why the pastor was allowing his church to fall apart because his church is his instrument for celebrating the glory of God, yet if he doesn't respect the church enough to take the time to keep it in good condition, what does this say about his relationship with God?
The same question applies to your own body. It's your God given instrument for experiencing life on Earth and for doing good works. It is the home of your spirit where God dwells. To do the work you were meant to do, you need to keep it in shape. If you let your body get too shabby or sick, it will be a constant distraction. you will not be able to experience the Presence of God and His joy and peace anymore than you could in a church building that was uncomfortable, falling apart, or aesthetically demoralizing.
I guarantee you that in my new healthy body, it shines and glows and brings way more people to the Lord than it did when I was out of self-control and living a more flesh filled life.
Many have seen my quote that says "More God inside = less of me outside". That means that the Holy Spirit lives in us, but we can get so fleshy that we fill up with selfishness and He has so little room to work inside us, but if we would push the flesh out and give the Holy Spirit all the room to work in us, then we can do amazing things, including getting less of us outside :o).
So take a look at your church. Does it need some major renovation? If so, let's get that church fixed up before it completely falls apart. Now is your chance to rebuild and restore that beautiful building God has given you. If you are already reconstructing and cleaning up, then keep motivated and keep fixing it up and know that everyone is going to be lined up to attend your brand new beautiful church. Let that light shine through your windows!
I remember I used to always believe I had a large frame or "big bones" when I was overweight. I convinced myself that because of that, I could never be skinny or small. What I didn't know is my poor skeleton was suffering quite a bit being 242lbs because I am actually a small frame.
Do you know what your frame size is? I did some research and was baffled at the different ways to measure. One way said I was a medium, one said I was a small, so I was determined to find an accurate way to figure it out. I found a wonderful calculator that takes the measurement of your wrist and elbow breadth to determine your frame size.
To find your elbow breadth, extend your arm forward so that it is horizontal and parallel to the ground. Turn your hand so your palm is uppermost. Bend your elbow so your forearm is at 90º to the ground. Use the forefinger and thumb of your other hand to locate the narrow part of your elbow joint. Use your same forefinger and thumb as a gauge to determine your elbow breadth by measuring the gap between them with with a ruler or tape measure.
Using this measurement and the measurement of your wrist, Click HERE to find out what your frame size is.
Now, that you know your frame size, how does this help you? Well, you could go to a silly weight chart and try to figure out what your weight should be according to your frame, but personally, I like to not let the world dictate to me what I should weigh. I am a small frame, but I weigh closer to a large frame person, but I wear a size 6 on top and size 4 on the bottom. I just do NOT fit those charts! Knowing my frame size just helps me to better understand my body and how God made it and that is it. Nothing else.
To tell you the truth, the size of a person's heart is what is most important :o)
1. Breakfast restores sugar levels after up to 12 hours of not eating.
2. It is extremely difficult to get all of your necessary daily nutrients without breakfast.
3. Adults who skip breakfast are less mentally and physically efficient for longer periods during the day. Studies also show that skipping breakfast can take as much as 7 years off your life span.
4. People who eat breakfast are more successful at losing weight and sticking to a diet.
5. Athletes who skip breakfast train less effectively.
6. Eating breakfast can raise metabolism by as much as 10 percent.
7. People who eat breakfast regularly are more likely to rate their health as "excellent" or "good."
8. Missing breakfast increases your chance of heavy machinery and factory accidents.
9. Eating breakfast has been shown to increase concentration.
10. Eating a bigger meal in the morning and a smaller meal at night optimizes your daily energy levels.
I skipped breakfast for most of my life and so it was very hard to make myself eat it each day, but I cannot begin to tell you the difference it has made. I truly saw the most dramatic changes when I began eating a healthy breakfast everyday. Now, I cannot imagine my day without it! A good sign of a high functioning metabolism is that you feel hungry when you wake up. Remember, breakfast doesn't always have to be eggs and cereal, you can choose any type of healthy food to eat, just do whatever it takes to get yourself to eat it and I promise, you will see a major difference in your life.
Details of 10 Reasons To Juice
Enzymes! Fruit and vegetable juices provide a convenient source of enzymes. Although people don't think of them much, enzymes are extremely important to health. They spark the essential chemical reactions we need to live. They are necessary for digesting food, for stimulating the brain, for providing cellular energy, and for repairing all tissue.
Juicing prevents disease. Many studies point out that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can prevent disease.
The complete package. When you juice, you get the whole package--all the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. This means natural nutrients in natural proportions, not added sugars, like those found in juices on supermarket shelves.
Healthy sugar. No, this is not an oxymoron. Juices contain simple sugars that we need for energy; however, because they are combined with other healthful nutrients, they are not harmful, as are refined sugars.
Less digestive work. When you drink juice, you save your body energy; it doesn't have to do as much digesting. It also helps maintain your supply of digestive enzymes--you do not use as many.
Quick absorption. When you drink juice, the nutrients get to you quickly!
Protein from nonmeat sources. Although fruits and vegetables do not contain large quantities of protein, their juice can be a convenient carrier. Simply add some brewer's yeast, wheat germ, or whole grains to whatever you're juicing. These give you protein without the fat that meat contains, and protein that is quickly and easily absorbed by the body.
Phytochemicals. Heard of them? They are substances in plants that are linked to good health and to prevention of specific diseases. They are found only in fruits and vegetables, and juicing is a great way to get them.
Specific vitamins and minerals. When you juice raw fruits and vegetables, you get specific vitamins and minerals in a natural, easily absorbable form. Looking for beta carotene? Drink carrot juice. Looking for potassium? Try a green juice, or blackberry juice.
Liquids. We need liquids to remain healthy, and juicing is a good source of liquids.
