health

November 2, 2022

Week 2 – Be Free

Wellness Revelation Bible Study by Alisa Keeton

This week we studied Week 2 in the Wellness Revelation Bible Study! Be Free!!! The focal verse for the week was Romans 12:1.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1

Here are the main points that I got out of the chapter 2 reading:

  1. We often fill ourselves with things that we think will bring us satisfaction, things that we put value in or on. However putting value on things that don’t truly satisfy will steal from us, rather than actually bring fulfillment. For me, food was one. I thought it was bringing me comfort when my emotions were in a negative place. But, what it really brought was addiction, shame, an out of shape body, tiredness, and spiritual bondage in my mind.
  2. Even when I thought I was trying to make changes by dieting or exercising, I was still enslaved because the food consumed me….shopping, menu planning, prepping, logging, counting calories or carbs, or whatever (depending on the diet).
  3. Good things (that God created for our good…..like food) can be used incorrectly. And, when used incorrectly it gives birth to sin, which gives birth to bondage or addiction. What starts as a necessary behavior (eating for survival) becomes more about the food, and less about God’s goodness and fuel. Eating becomes a false high and takes us captive to receive momentary payoffs. Oh….this is SO TRUE!
  4. Once we become enslaved, we lose our sensitivity to God. God wants to heal our brokenness, the deep places that caused us to turn to food instead of Him. I know for years I did not realize the deeper issues. He has begun revealing those to me over time, gently, and for my good. I pray you allow Him to do the same with you!
  5. How we live our lives is how we express our worship. Everything we do can point to Him, giving others direction who may be seeking a better way. But, it can also lead others astray, if we are not living our lives in worship to God alone.
  6. He desires to reveal to us the areas we are not fully committed or believing in Him, so that He can live out His power through us, giving us purpose and His strength. Then, He gets the proper glory and we receive joy. Idols will be a distraction to us during this process.
  7. Moses delivered God’s message: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” (Ex. 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; and 10:3). I never really paid attention to the second part of that command…..so that they may worship me. But, there is a purpose for it being there….God can’t truly be worshipped when the devotion is split, and when the Israelites were in slavery to Pharoah, their devotion was to him! To be free, is to worship God alone!!
  8. We cannot trust our minds to know what is best for us! My mind, because of satan, can be very deceptive! Fasting is a way to break free from our own desires, and to concentrate on God and what He desires for us. We can achieve some clarity from the mental fog that satan keeps us in. It clears our eyes to see and opens our ears to hear from God. It also gives our control over to God….in faith. And, it brings Spiritual healing. Isaiah 58:6-8 tells us that when we truly fast with our mind set on God alone, “[our] light will break forth like the dawn, and [our] healing will quickly appear.”
  9. We fight satan’s temptations with the Word of God. When we fast from things that comfort us, (food, or whatever it is that comforts you….sometimes it’s Netflix or social media for me, too!) we are released from our chains so that we can become strong in Christ! We fast to enable Him to develop our hearts and minds to respond to others like He does.
  10. This is the fasting God loves:
"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord with answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'"
Isaiah 58:6-9, ESV

In the RESPOND section, I noted that this wellness journey is about Love having His way with us. We are simply seeking Jesus and the freedom that comes from drawing closer in relationship with Him. This section focused a lot on fasting. And, some great steps to take as you prepare to fast. Some of those were:

  1. Set aside a time that works best for you and your schedule to fast. No stressful, busy days, but days that you are in a restful state of mind.
  2. Talk to God off and on throughout the fasting period, especially when you feel hungry. In those moments turn to God’s Word, “ingest” it, and pray. Because your body is free from chemicals, digesting, and metabolizing, we can be excited about the mental space we are creating for the Lord to speak! Our hearts and minds are being cleansed, or detoxed! In our weakness, His Word makes us strong and comes to life.
  3. Stay hungry to connect and realign with the Lord. When you can’t settle yourself or find peace, it’s time to end the fast.
  4. Drink lots of water, stay hydrated. Juice is also acceptable.
  5. Journal what the Lord is showing you.
  6. Expect mild symptoms….hunger pains and irritability were a couple I experienced. If you are used to a lot of caffeine, headaches will probably occur.
  7. Be cheerful! Don’t walk around as though you’re weak, or sad because of the lack of food. Don’t think about how “strong” you are for being able to fast. Smile and be joyful for what the Lord will do in and through you.

Then the hunger scale was discussed. A scale of 1-5. 1 being ravenously hungry. 5 being stuffed. With 2 – 4 being where you want to fall. 2 being hungry, 3 being content, and 4 being satisfied. By learning to be more aware of hunger and how it feels, and how it has affected your eating habits, you will be changed by God and for Him. Don’t eat just because your bored, or mindlessly while you’re watching t.v. Weight gain occurs when we are no longer paying attention to our God given body and what it’s telling us, and eat rather, out of habit. Practice being mindful with the hunger scale. This will carry over to all aspects of being healthy and whole.

The next section talked about using the Moving Forward Journal. Record your food and drink. Complete the hunger scale. Write out the weekly memory verse because it will help to renew your mind. Be sure to spend time in prayer and quiet time. When we are quiet before God we can hear Him speak. Often times we don’t hear Him because we don’t quiet our minds. The Wellness Revelation is a springboard to a holistic life: mind, body and spirit! We obey so we can become disciplined, and God gives us the strength for this. I loved the detail Alisa Keeton, the author, went into when it came to how to do a quiet time, breathing deeply, allowing the words of the Word to read you. Let it come alive and live it out. Meditate on the Word and allow it to soak into your soul. Eat the Word – read slowly and digest so that it saturates your mind. Think – ask questions and dig deeper, journal, think on it throughout your day. Pray – allow the Holy Spirit to translate so that you understand it fully. Ask for further insight. Listen and strengthen your connection with Him. Live – give Him opportunities to use the Scripture sometime throughout your day. Then, it went into logging your food (as long as this is not a bondage thing for you). This kind of log can be helpful for plateaus or points where you are feeling stuck. And, lastly the drink log. I found this one very helpful because I know I struggle to drink enough.

And, the last section talks about slowing down to truly seek God and ask Him to be all that we need. Acknowledging His blessings. Pray before eating, be grateful for the fuel. Approach it like breathing. Be mindful. Take all things to the Lord in prayer before acting….and this includes eating. Prayer takes place in the heart, the words don’t matter. It’s the attitude of the heart that does.

The next section was RENEW. Once again, the Lord did some work on me! #5 asked Why do you think people exchanged the glory of God for images of people or animals (referring to Romans 1:21-25). How have you used food or other substances to fill a need? I truly believe that it’s the Israelites wrong thinking or skewed mindset (thoughts and questions put there by satan to confuse or cause a lack of belief in God). Mindset has been my biggest struggle in my journey. And, I’m coming to realize that satan is what really keeps me stuck. I’ve used food to fill a false need for comfort when stressed out, sad, or overwhelmed. Satan tries to make me believe that food is where I feel comfort, when it’s a lie! Only Jesus truly satisfies. Then, #6 asked What Galatians 4:8 says about slavery and idolatry? It says we were slaves BEFORE knowing God. But, because we know Him, we should no longer remain as slaves. He has set us FREE! Do I believe I am free? That’s where the struggle lies….in the mind and in our beliefs. If I’m free, why do I live as though I’m not when it comes to food? Hmm…..tough questions!! Then, #7, referring to Philippians 3:18-21 with a focus on vs. 19 asked, What happens when we set our minds on earthly things? We are destined for destruction, which is exactly what satan wants. We continue to live in shame and guilt, never feeling like we can overcome. We don’t believe we have already overcome with Jesus! Anyone else? Or is this just my struggle? Then, #8, referring to Proverbs 23:20-21, What does this say about gluttony? How is it that poverty can result from gluttony? Gluttons become poor and lazy because it’s a trap. It takes from us physically, mentally, and spiritually. It causes us to disbelieve in ourselves and in God. It steals self-confidence. It steals freedom, and it keeps us from trusting and relying on God. Then, #9 asked us to describe the poverty in our own lives. I said: I don’t feel respected. I don’t feel valued by people. I feel looked down upon or judged. I get “stuck” in my lack of belief in God’s freedom and in my own ability. That’s me being very vulnerable! Then, #10 asks, How might your relational poverty be similar to the experience of people who live in developing countries? I said the feeling of not being wanted or cared for. The loneliness. The lack of belief in God and self. More vulnerability!

Lastly, was the RELATE section. Here I just want to focus on #1. What do I fear most? What do I love most? and Finish the “If only ___________________________, then I would be complete” statement. For fear, I put not being accepted for who I really am. Not continuing in the hard places and falling back into bondage (ex. working out, eating healthy, renewing my mind, pursuing Jesus and what He has planned for me.) Not becoming all God desires for me. And, then of course fear that any of my family members don’t know or aren’t growing in Jesus. For love, I put time with Jesus, God’s Word, Feeling in control (which I noted is an idol) and Feeling accomplished (also an idol). Yikes! And, to close here are my If only statements:

If only I reached my health goals, I’d be respected, and people would love me more, accept me more, and want to listen to me.

If only I pursued my dreams, I would be successful.

Then I asked myself, Is my idol me? money? success? And, is it wrong to desire respect? Jut some things to think about.

This week we will begin Chapter 3. I typically don’t fast during week 2. I typically wait until week 4. If you would like to fast, and you’d like an easy way to remove some of those foods that might be negatively affecting you and your body, reach out to me and I’ll share what’s been working for me!

See you next week when we will dive into week 3! What did you take away from week 2? I’d love to hear!

Love,

Dena

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October 26, 2022

Week 1 – Embrace God’s Purpose, Desire, and Design

There’s always so much that I underline and take away from my readings. Chapter 1 of the Wellness Revelation was no exception!

I did this study in May this past spring into summer. When I went through it the first time, I underlined in green, and answered questions in the book. This time around, I will underline in purple and answer the questions in my notebook. It’s amazing the difference in underlining and answers each time you do a study! God always speaks in different ways!

The main things I took from the reading section of Chapter 1 were:

  1. In God’s wisdom and kindness, He wants to keep our hearts from bondage and destruction.
  2. He has given each of us a purpose, so that He can show us His power, and so that He will be glorified through us. (Exodus 9:16)
  3. We must give up our control, and allow Him to do the work through us. It’s not about us becoming more disciplined, or “doing” all the right things. We’ve tried that before.
  4. What we really want is love, to belong without the fear of rejection. We want meaning and purpose.
  5. We are planted and growing in His purpose, His power, and His strength. We cannot do His work in our own strength.
  6. We must surrender all of ourselves to Him, with a humble and softened heart.
  7. He desires for us to be holy – set apart from common use and dedicated to God – and whole – Christ in mind, Christ in heart, Christ in soul, and Christ in strength. When we are holy, we are whole.
  8. Through Christ, our broken, damaged, and impaired selves can be completely restored.
  9. We are His design, and as we search the Scriptures, we can discover more about what He was thinking as He designed us.
  10. How we care for the creation (ourselves), is a reflection of our Creator. It matters.

In the Respond section I noted Luke 14:26-30. When you start something, finish it!

In Your Action Plan, I think the parts that stuck out the most were that I realized the biggest obstacle that’s kept me from making positive health changes has been not believing I can actually reach my goals. It’s truly been a struggle in my mind. I must get in the right mindset, allow God to change my thoughts and renew my mind. I have to stop relying on myself, because I know I can’t do this without Christ working in me.

In the Renew section, the Lord really did some work!!! #4, referencing Leviticus 11:44, asked what keeps me from living a holy and whole life? I believe my negative thinking keeps me stuck, not believing in myself. And, then…..here’s the BIG ONE: Ultimately not believing God can do the work through me! This is satan keeping me in a stronghold, and believing the lies that I will fail again! Then, #5, referencing Proverbs 14:12, Where am I following a way that “appears to be right”? And, how might it be a stumbling block toward improving holiness and wholeness? This one really had me reflecting….I think I find it difficult to find a balance between good habits and doing these habits with a mindset of box checking, rather than a heart fully devoted to Christ and change. Doing great habits with the wrong mindset or in my own strength is a huge stumbling block because it makes me “appear” to be good, but inside I’m not. Woah….that was some hard truth. Then, #6, referencing Genesis 1:27, What does my image say about Him? Well, obviously, it ought to reflect Him. However, when I eat foods that don’t serve me or my body, I don’t feel like I’m reflecting Him at all. I feel my image says that my God can’t beat this stronghold. That was another tough truth to digest! Then, #7, referencing Ephesians 4:22-24, What hope does this passage give about how my life can be transformed in all areas, including my physical and spiritual health? The hope is knowing that I can put off or get rid of my past ways, my corrupt and messed up mind, and I can be made new in my mind, new in my body, an new in my spirit because Christ’s power lives in me!

In the Relate section, the parts that stuck out the most were #5, referencing Genesis 3:11, Who told you…..? This is where satan’s lies come into our minds. I wrote just a few down… Who told you you aren’t good enough? Who told you you’re a failure? Who told you you’ll never reach your weight loss goals? Satan likes to repeat these kinds of lies over and over in my mind to keep me stuck. Then, #6, we were to write down various lies that we have been living as truth. I wrote down several, just like the ones I wrote in #5. And, this is where some deeper work can be done! I HIGHLY encourage you to write down lies as they enter your mind, and then come up with a counter to those lies through Scriptures of truth. I have started doing this, and plan to keep doing it, even if I get a stack of 3×5 cards over an inch thick! This is the hard and heart work I need! I need to dispel the lies, and renew my mind with God’s truths! So, on one side of the card, you can write the lie, and on the other write a Scripture or two that dispels the lie with the truth of the Word. I’ll share a few I’ve started on. This will be a long process, but I hope to keep digging into this even if it takes me a year or more just working on one or two a week!

Front side of the 3×5 cards
Back of the 3×5 cards

This week we will cover week 2! If you are doing this study with us, please join our Facebook group where we will all share what we are learning! I’m so excited to see what everyone is learning!

Love,

Dena

October 19, 2022

Wellness Revelation Overview

This week I want to give a quick overview of what we will cover each week of our Wellness Revelation Study. Then, your homework will be to study through Chapter 1. Next week I will share insights I’ve picked up from the first chapter, and we will start working through Chapter 2. I hope you will also share with us any insights you learn along the way! I believe sharing with one another will make the study even better than it could be on it’s own!

Here is the overview:

Week 1: Embrace God’s Purpose, Desire, and Design

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

Ephesians 3:20

Week 2: Be Free

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

Week 3: Live Out His Purpose For You

“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.

I Corinthians 6:12

Week 4: Rest In His Strength And Sufficiency

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Week 5: Renew Your Mind

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Week 6: Attend To Matters Of The Heart

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Week 7: Be Transformed

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Week 8: Press On

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:12

I also want you to note that in the back of the book is a Wellness Revelation Workout Calendar. This is a great way to gently ease into exercise in a way that also renews your mind. I HIGHLY recommend it! If nothing else, just try it out and see what you think. You can access free resources here and the daily videos at this link. Once you see the “calendar” just click on the words for each day to watch the videos. I also have to mention the Revelation Wellness Podcast! It is another way to renew your mind while moving your body! And, there is also guest speakers, as well as Be Still and Be Loved episodes on rest days. One of my favorites for mind renewal is this one!

Have a great week tackling Chapter 1, and I’ll meet you back here next Tuesday to see what Transformations have occurred!

Love,

Dena

October 12, 2022

Wellness Revelation Bible Study Introduction

How would your life be different is you could lose what’s weighing you down and be free to live the life you were created for?

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could embark on a single program that would help you get both physically and spiritually fit, while freeing you to pursue God’s dreams and goals for your life?

Maybe you have always struggled with your weight, riding a constant roller coaster of numbers that go up and down. Or maybe you find yourself increasingly stressed out by the world and all its demands.

In The Wellness Revelation, certified fitness professional Alisa Keeton will challenge you to get fit with God so that He can free you to find your purpose. She teaches you that when you become fit physically and spiritually, you will be better equipped to love and serve others. The Wellness Revelation will change the way you perceive yourself and the way you live.

Included in this eight-week journey are teachings from Alisa, fitness training, Bible study, small group questions, and more. Alisa will encourage you to love God, get healthy, and serve others, and she will provide you with the tools to do so with courage, confidence, kindness, and freedom.

It’s time to make a change from the inside out.

-Alisa keeton -Author of The Wellness revelation and founder of revelation wellness

I am so excited to get started with this study! This week we will just cover the introduction as I’ve had several people still want to jump in, so if that’s you, it’s NOT TOO LATE! You can still order the book here, and jump in with us! Also, don’t forget to join the Facebook group to have a community to support, discuss, and grow together with! You can join that group here!

What I loved about the introduction was that the focus was an “exercise” of faith. This is not a program that you strive to do “better”, but one in which you lean into the Lord, and allow Him to transform you from the inside out. When we learn to do this, we are better able to love and help others. Calories in = receiving the fulfilling love of God so that you can give away His love to someone else = calories out. The world is waiting for us to be “fit” for love!

In the next eight weeks, lets move closer towards our true selves – the people who embody God’s love. We will face many obstacles throughout this journey, but we are on a quest to exchange the old lies we’ve believed for His truth, and to be truly set free! This will be a transforming and renewing journey, where we become more of the people we were always meant to be!

Please share what you are excited about or concerned about as you embark on this journey! We are here to support and encourage one another, so the more we share, the more we will get out of this study!

*Disclaimer: I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Love,

Dena

Still on the Journey, but the difference is already showing!!
Join me as I dig back into the Bible Study that helped jump start this journey!
September 7, 2022

Transformation Tuesday – Meal Planning

I don’t know about you, but one of the most difficult things about living a healthy lifestyle is meal planning! So, I thought I would share today how I plan my meals and make grocery lists, so that I don’t have to think about it! Imagine having a months worth of meals already figured out and a grocery list to go along with it? It’s an amazing feeling.

The first amazing resource that I requested for Christmas and got was a Cultivate What Matters Meal Planner & Grocery List Pad. Now, I probably don’t use it as intended, but I am definitely using it in a way that serves me! And, I LOVE it! At the top it has Week #________ and I want this week’s meals to be: _______. I just put weeks 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the first blank, and in the second, I wrote Favorite Breakfasts, or Favorite Dinners. I don’t typically need to plan lunches because I’ll eat leftovers from the night before. Then, I choose my favorite cookbooks and recipes, and started writing them down on the days of the week. I also made a note next to each on which cookbook it came from and the page #, so I can easily locate it when I’m ready to make my grocery lists or prepare the meals. I have used Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living recipes, (if you purchase the kit, the recipes are sent from me to you, and you get access to a Facebook community with more tips and more recipes!) Saving Dinner Recipes, The Daniel Plan Recipes, Trim Healthy Mama Recipes, and New Life Promise Recipes (that I got through a subscription service on one of my many diet plans). After I randomly choose the meals, I go through them and separate them by the protein (chicken, beef, salmon, sausage, etc). I wanted my weeks to be balanced and so I spread out the proteins amongst the weeks as equally as I could. I also pay attention to whether it’s an ethnic dish so that I don’t have all of the Chinese or Mexican the same week. The recipes I choose are whole foods, without junk. Organic Meats and veggies when possible, and nothing with a long list of ingredients. I am currently choosing gluten, dairy, and soy free products. And, thankfully I’ve found some plant based alternatives for gluten and dairy. And, I love Braggs Coconut Aminos for an alternative soy sauce and Nutritional Yeast adds an amazing buttery flavor in several foods. I don’t use pasta unless it’s a brown rice variety, and no bread (I haven’t found a gluten free bread that I like, yet…..if you know of some, comment below, I’d love to try some out)!

After I have chosen 4 weeks of breakfasts and dinners, I look up the recipes and write down the groceries needed for each week. The list can go right on the right hand side of the Meal Planner & Grocery List Pad. I’ve used it like this once, and you could just reuse each month. However, in the future, so that I can mark things off as I go, or not add to the list if I already have the ingredients, I think I’m going to make a master grocery list for each week and just highlight or put a checkmark by each item needed, then I can cross it off when I’ve gotten it. And, then just reprint for the next month. Still super easy, but not so messy as using a repeated shopping list on the Meal Planner Pad.

Though this takes a little while to set up, once it’s done, it’s done. And, I no longer really have to think about anything. I keep the Meal Planner Pad in the kitchen on the current week, and if I don’t like the meal I wrote down for a particular day, I just choose another one for the week. This past week, I knew we would not be home one of the days, so I only had to purchase 6 days worth of groceries! Also, to make it easier, I have copied the recipes for each week and put them all together with that week’s menu plan. Then, I don’t have to dig out my cookbooks!

Like I said, it has taken some time to get this set up and organized, but I just worked on it a little bit at a time until I got through 4 weeks. Now, I’m reaping the reward of being organized, having meal plans, and having grocery lists all ready to go!

As a disclaimer, I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.
I hope this was helpful, I know it’s been a life saver for me! It’s definitely helped transform my life by keeping me organized and sane when it come to meal planning and keeping me healthy!

With Love,

Dena

August 30, 2022

Let’s Talk About Working Out

It’s Transformation Tuesday, so I wanted to chat a bit about working out today. There are four things that I feel are super important in transforming my thinking when it comes to working out. I will share those below then expound on them.

  1. View working out as an act of worship or gratitude.
  2. Choose a consistent time & place to workout.
  3. Have a plan and schedule for what you will do.
  4. Choose things that you enjoy doing.

Making a shift in my thinking when it comes to moving my body has been truly transformational! I used to hate to sweat, I dreaded working out, and viewed it more like a chore than something I looked forward to. Now, because I listen to the Revelation Wellness podcast, my mind is being transformed! I now look forward to working out! It’s been a shift in my mind towards gratitude that I am able to move my body, and of worship to the Lord for giving me the energy, strength, and mobility to do so!

The next important step is choosing a time and place to workout. For me, it’s at 8:30 a.m., right as I get home from dropping my daughter off at school. I go to the gym near my home, or work out in my living room (depending on the day).

Third, have a plan and schedule for what you will do. I workout Monday through Saturday, and rest on Sunday. This is my schedule:

Last, make sure you choose exercises that you enjoy! I love to cycle to get my heart pumping (indoor or outdoor). I love the results of how Pilates shapes me and takes inches off. And, I love the stretching and relaxation that Yoga provides. I also enjoy swimming, so I might do that to get my heart pumping when I have access to a pool. The point is to choose things that are best for you!

I hope this has been helpful! The thing I hope you will most take away is that the mind shift is the MOST important! Changing the way you think about working out will make it a much more enjoyable activity. And, getting into a regular routine is also very helpful!

Let me know some ways that help you stay motivated and what your favorite ways to move are in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!

Love,

Dena

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August 23, 2022

It’s not easy being vulnerable, but it’s time…

Are you in bondage like I’ve been? Let’s connect!

I am a mess. Seriously, a big mess! I feel like God is taking me on quite a journey to humble me and show me that I am nothing without Him. And, I am finally realizing this truth….I am nothing without Him, but everything with Him.

All my life I have struggled with being on time, procrastination, perfectionism, people pleasing, keeping my home clean and organized, sticking to a schedule, etc.

It took some hard knocks for God to get my attention and show me that I was trying to work my way into His favor, and in the process I was putting up many idols that were blocking true intimacy with Him. I was a believer, yes. I read my Bible often and did Bible Studies. I did all the “right” things, but I came to realize that oftentimes I was doing them to check off a box, or to make myself look right in my own eyes and in other’s eyes. I didn’t realize that my heart was not right. You see, you can learn, yet not understand….and that is where I was at. It’s also possible to learn, but not change, not take the action needed to make the changes God wants to make in your life. I would read the Scriptures, and pray, but there were passages that I just didn’t “get”. A couple of those were Matthew 15:11-32 (with a focus on vs. 25-32), and Luke 10:38-42. The first passage is about the Prodigal Son. I related so much with the older son and didn’t “get” why the one that was so wrong got such a great reward, when the older son had never done anything rebellious and didn’t get any accolades. (I was the compliant child and had carried that into my adulthood, but felt like all my hard work never paid off, it rarely felt like anyone even noticed). The second passage is about Mary and Martha, and Jesus rebuked Martha for trying to work hard and serve, when Mary was just sitting at the feet of Jesus. I didn’t “get” that. (Again, I would do things to try to prove myself, but instead would be put down or things would go unrecognized). But, like I said, the Lord has taken me on a journey and revealed so many things to me, and I am so grateful!

I would say the journey of revelation started about 6 years ago. I used to be very political and share my beliefs on social media. I believed that there really was only one way to vote, and that was Biblically, and if you were a Christian, that’s the way you should vote. I upset some church members on a few occasions when I would post my views (which I felt were the right views, the Biblical views). Some of them blocked me and never said anything. But, a few of them called me a bigot, and other harsh names. I just took it as persecution for standing up for my faith. However, one time a lady messaged me and really let me have it. She told me that she would never allow her son into my Sunday School class with my radical beliefs. That hurt me to my core. It upset me so bad that I really had to pray and ask God to help me to forgive her, and show me where I might be wrong (because remember, I didn’t believe I was wrong). God showed me through that, as well as many other trials I went through, that I was a prideful person. Pride is what caused Satan’s fall! I certainly did not want to have that as a character trait! I saw others as “worse” than me. I didn’t see people through Jesus’ eyes. He created us all and loves us all the same. He loved me before I even knew Him, and Romans 5:8 tells us that “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He died for everyone while we were still sinning, while we were the worst of the worst. He loved us that much! I knew then that I needed to learn to see people the way Jesus saw people. I also learned that Jesus is all about relationships. He went out of His way to be with the sinners, the unlovely, the untouchables. I knew that I needed to do the same; to get rid of the idols of pride, perfectionism, people pleasing and more. I needed to focus on building genuine relationships with people. I needed to love even the unlovely, and God allowed me to do that, which was also a period of growth for me. So pride is where He began His work in me.

Next, He started working on my perfectionism. Like I said, I have struggled my whole life with keeping my home clean! I still do! This doesn’t sound like perfectionism, because you’d think if I was trying to be perfect, my home would also be perfect! Well, that’s not exactly how I am. I hold such high standards for myself, that I then become overwhelmed by the mess, and procrastinate starting because I don’t even know where to begin. And, I have such high standards that they are unrealistic or nearly impossible to meet. So, instead of moving forward, I freeze and get nothing done, or very little, until it piles up and gets worse and worse, and I can’t ignore it anymore. But, by then it’s so bad, that I can never get things the way I want them, so I tell myself, it’s not even worth trying. I now believe it’s a serious sickness in my mind, a way that Satan keeps me stuck! So, I ditched perfection, and have learned to just do my best. I still struggle with overwhelm and procrastination sometimes, but practicing good habits and routines definitely helps.

Then, God showed me that there was more He wanted to work on in my life. He’s great at that! And, I’m sure, as long as I’m listening, He will keep revealing more! That more was another struggle that I’ve had for years! (Over half my life now.) A struggle that I’ve just lived with, and teetered back and forth on for so long that it just seemed ‘normal’. He opened my eyes to my weight issue. I have known that I’m obese for a very long time. In fact, I’ve tried just about every diet program out there. (Weight Watchers, Weigh Down Workshop, Flat Belly, First Place, The Daniel Plan, New Life Promise, Noom, counting calories with apps or on logs, and I’m sure there was probably more than these). However, none worked for the long haul. I’d lose for awhile, and then I’d lose the battle and start regaining. It was a terrible cycle, over and over again. I always felt like God could use me more if I’d just get the weight off. However, I never saw this as anything more than food addiction, or emotional eating. (Even calling it an addiction was something new to me). However, God began to show me that this eating problem was actually not just an addiction, but a stronghold in my life. Food had become an idol. Something I’d go to instead of God. I also viewed weight loss and exercise as a chore, something that was hard to do, and not enjoyable. But, then I was introduced to The Wellness Revelation. I’d been through “Christian” weight loss programs before, but nothing that connected my heart, mind, and spirit like The Wellness Revelation did. The Lord completely renewed my mind, and He is continuing to change my heart, and is showing me that His power and Spirit are in me! And, because of His power in me, I can do anything I set my mind to, even the hard things! And, I have to say that this has been a JOY, not something that is a chore. The food has been exceptional, and exercise is something I view as worship and gratitude! I am able to use my body for health and wholeness, and as an act of worship. Movement now is freeing, as is eating whole and healthy. Some days are harder, because breaking a stronghold is not easy. Satan still tries to tempt me or make me see myself in ways other than the Lord sees me. But, I am excited to continue this journey, and this time I am confident that the Lord will take me to complete freedom and my body, mind, and spirit will continue to transform in the process.

He is a good God, and releases the captives, and He is releasing me! I have to share this with others in hopes that someone else may want to join me on this journey! If that is something that interests you, please leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to connect with you and share even more!

With love and in Christ,

Dena

July 6, 2021

Health, healing, weight loss, balance, increased energy and mealtime connections?

In January of 2021, I decided once again, (yes this has happened far too often), that it was time to lose weight. At the time, I had a high energy 7 year old, (now 8) and I was turning 48 that month, and I was worn out, out of energy, and exhausted all the time! Well, for the first time ever, nothing I tried was working. I’ve tried so many weight loss programs over the years, and ALL of them work, when you just DO them! But, not this time. I was doing ALL the right things, AND working out, and seeing my weight fluctuate up and down daily without really moving the scale. It was super frustrating to say the least.

Let’s back up a little bit to October 2019. I was severely depressed, probably one of the worst depressions I’ve ever faced where I felt incapable of doing much of anything besides studying the Word of God, and taking pictures of nature. Both were good choices that filled my mind with peace, but I still couldn’t beat the sadness in my heart. I was unmotivated to accomplish anything else and I was experiencing extreme anxiety on top of the depression which made my mind believe things about people that were not true (but felt 100% true, at the time). People that loved me, I thought were my enemies, and that made me feel super alone. This depression had begun in August of 2018, so had gone on for over a year at that point, and to live that way was awful. I cried every single day, many times multiple times a day. I had the hope of Jesus in me, but felt like I had no hope at all. I thought I was trusting Him, but actually I had become prideful, and believed only my way was the best way, and because my prayers were not answered the way I thought God should answer them, I didn’t know if God really was hearing my prayers or answering me. Of course, now I know that God was grieving right along with me. He felt my pain. And, He still has a plan unfolding that is far greater than anything I ever could have imagined.

About September of 2018, a dear friend invited me to Celebrate Recovery. I know it sounds like a place for people to go that have addictions, but in reality, it’s for every person, everywhere. We all have habits, sin, hang ups, issues, so we all could benefit from this ministry. I’m an introvert, so it took me quite awhile to warm up and share anything in the small groups, and when I did, the tears flowed freely. And, the people there showed me the great love of God that I’d been blinded to. He loved me, flaws and all, even with my imperfections, insecurities, and belief that no one was really for me. I learned there, that no matter what ANYONE else thought of me, God deeply loved me…. As I was, mess and all.

Back to October of 2019…. Someone invited me to an online Pampered Chef party. Now, I loved Pampered Chef, I’d even been a consultant twice before in the distant past (my twenties and possibly early thirties). But, I had never heard of an online party, because when I sold, it was in homes and all on paper … Nothing online at all … Not even a website! So, I was very intrigued. I attended and loved every bit of it and since I could do this business online from home, and still homeschool (which anyone who knows me, knows I’m super passionate about, and did not want to give up), I signed up!

Celebrate Recovery and Pampered Chef both helped bring me out of my depression. Once I became a part of my PC family, I was encouraged, lifted up, and was inspired to be the best possible me. I started taking baby steps in cleaning up around the house, homeschooling more consistently, and I was rocking the Pampered Chef business! I was rocking it so much that I promoted to a Director in my first 6 weeks!! Then, I promoted again in March of 2020, and again in May of 2020! Despite Covid, I was doing amazing!

So, because I was doing so well, I wanted to improve all the areas of my life! And, weight has been a struggle for such a long time, I decided it was time in January of 2021. And, I also chose my word for the year: self-control. Something else that I struggle with, not just in my eating habits, but in many areas. But, this time even when using self-control, I still wasn’t seeing results that I wanted to see.

Fast forward to May of 2021. Another dear friend of mine had been going to school to become a health coach and was trying to launch her business after finishing school. I decided to hire her to help me. I figured, why not? I’d be helping her launch, and I could benefit along the way! Win….win!

We started with a Detox where I ate homemade bone broth soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 weeks. Thankfully it was REALLY good soup!! Lol. I made it through that, then the day after I finished, my family and I left for vacation! I was terrified I’d undo all that I’d already accomplished! (I had lost 20 lbs already, and my gut was getting healthy!) But, I was determined. I packed my own healthy foods for while on the road, and I made many of my own meals…. Which, by the way, were all delicious! I now eat whole, healthy foods, and I believe I can sustain this for life!

My goal now, besides continuing to lose weight, get more healthy and energetic, and boosting my confidence, is to help all of you to see how easy it is to tweak just a few things to get healthy, but even more than that… To help all of us create mealtime connections. I feel like in the beginning of Covid, we were forced to stay at home and make our own meals and reconnect with our families. However, as things have gotten more back to normal, are we losing that connection again? It’s so hard to make mealtimes together as a family a priority anymore! But, I believe there is a way to do it, and to make it a time of meal prepping, cooking together, cleaning up together, and memory making all wrapped into one…. All while feeding our families whole, healthy foods that everyone enjoys! My hope is that I will be able to provide you with tips and tricks, ideas, and tools that will help you and your family make mealtimes more meaningful and full of life giving connection. Our world needs connection, especially in the age of social media and cell phones, which so often distract rather than help! I plan to post to my social media sites, and right here at least once a week offering mealtime connection content. I hope you will stick around and see what I have to offer!